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Did you leave Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria? We want to hear about the experience. Send us a message via text, iMessage or WhatsApp at +1-347-322-0415.
(CNN)Before Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico on September 20, there already was an unprecedented migration from the Caribbean island to the mainland United States -- at least in part because of the US commonwealth's financial crisis. After the storm, academics are starting to use words such as "exodus" and "stampede" to describe the massive outflow of people. "This is the greatest migration ever from Puerto Rico since records have been taken," said Jorge Duany, a professor of anthropology at Florida International University. Some reasons for the migration are obvious: Millions of Americans living in Puerto Rico were left without power or running water because of the Category 4 hurricane. Schools were closed. Jobs lost. There seemed to be little hope on the horizon. Puerto Ricans are American citizens and can move to the states without visas or other paperwork. And so, many did. Yet the scope and shape of this diaspora remain mysterious. So far, estimates of its size have been based on airline traveler data, which some academics consider unreliable because flying off the island doesn't necessarily mean you're going to migrate. Florida school enrollment numbers have added clarity, but they only cover students who showed up in the Sunshine State, not the entire nation. Read MoreTo get a clearer picture of the migration patterns, CNN analyzed data from two federal government agencies obtained under the US Freedom of Information Act.
Together, the data sets from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the US Postal Service show Puerto Ricans appear to have migrated to all 50 US states in the aftermath of Maria. Puerto Rico 'exodus': How CNN analyzed and mapped the dataAs of November 11, FEMA received at least 10,600 applications for disaster assistance from ZIP codes in 50 states and Washington, according to FEMA data provided to CNN.The applications may represent households, not individual people. The average Puerto Rican household is made up of about three people, according to the US Census Bureau.In total, FEMA received more than 1 million applications for aid related to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico -- indicating nearly everyone who asked FEMA for help under its Individual Assistance programs did not leave the island after the storm. Still, the data appear to show a substantial increase in the outflow of people from Puerto Rico. "It sounds possible that we're on pace for a historic net outmigration to the US" from Puerto Rico, said Jens Manuel Krogstad, an editor at the Pew Research Center. "In 2015, the net outmigration was about 64,000 people. And so, from the numbers you described, it sounds like it's possible that even after just a few months we're already on pace to overshoot that."
Separately, between October 1 and December 31, the US Postal Service received at least 6,590 change-of-address requests -- nearly five times the amount received during the same months the previous year -- from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands to the 50 states and District of Columbia. The Postal Service received about 2,900 additional requests to change addresses within Puerto Rico, according to the data, suggesting that while some people left Puerto Rico, others moved within the storm-battered island.Neither data source is a precise measurement of hurricane-related migration. It's possible that some people changed their addresses for reasons unrelated to Hurricane Maria. FEMA applicants could have listed current addresses in the states for reasons other than migration. They may have listed a relative's address in the states even if they did not move away from Puerto Rico, a FEMA representative said.Several demographers and disaster experts said these methods of counting -- tracking disaster-assistance claims and official changes of address -- may substantially undercount the true number of people who fled Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. That's because not everyone who leaves Puerto Rico also files a disaster claim with FEMA, and of those who did file and also moved, some may have listed the address of a relative or friend rather than their new location, said Alexis Santos, a Penn State University demographer who grew up in Puerto Rico. Others may move away from the island without knowing exactly where they will land, he said, making it difficult to track relocations based on this paperwork. Further, people in Puerto Rico are disinclined to use change-of-address forms -- even in normal circumstances, Santos said. He finds it especially unlikely that everyone who moved in the frantic aftermath of Hurricane Maria took the time to file those requests. "That process -- we normally don't do it," he said. "We use our mom's address or something. Still, my uncles receive letters at my grandmother's house.""I don't know how representative that is of everyone who's left," William H. Frey, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who studied the Hurricane Katrina diaspora, said of the findings. More interesting, he said, is what the data say about where people are going.
Among the surprises: Migrants appear to have moved to every US state. FEMA applicants listed current ZIP codes in 48 states -- including 11 households in Hawaii, seven in Alaska, three in each of the Dakotas and two in Wyoming. US Postal Service data suggest people moved after the storm to at least 49 states -- all but Alaska -- plus Washington, D.C., the US Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands. "There are people going to South Dakota to work on farms and turkey factories," said Edwin MelΓ©ndez, a professor of urban affairs and planning at Hunter College in New York and director of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies. Migrants primarily follow the patterns family members and friends have set before them, he said, but they also seek out steady jobs wherever they might be available."People are looking for any kind of job they can get," said the Pew Research Center's Krogstad. "And if (the job is) in Alaska, they're willing to give it a shot."That happens a lot with migration," he continued. "It's what happened a lot over the past 25 years with migration to the Midwest (United States) from Latin America -- people moving to small towns that previously had not seen much demographic diversity."
Florida appears to be the top destination for Maria migrants -- by far. More than half -- 52% -- of households that filed claims with FEMA from the states did so from Florida, which is the closest state to Puerto Rico geographically and has been the top destination for Puerto Ricans in recent years. Outside Puerto Rico, the top six counties for FEMA claims -- Orange, Osceola, Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough and Polk counties -- all are in Florida, according to the FEMA data. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford -- a metro area in central Florida already known as a mecca for Puerto Ricans -- is the top metro area for applicants outside Puerto Rico.Other top states for migrants were New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Texas and Connecticut, all of which already had sizable Puerto Rican populations.
US Postal Service data tell a similar story, with about 40% of address change requests from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands listing new ZIP codes in Florida. Other top locations for these requests, which include mail-forwarding requests as well as actual change-of-address orders, included Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas and Massachusetts, followed by the US Virgin Islands. It is logical that hurricane victims would move to locations where large numbers of Puerto Ricans already are established, demographers and academics said. "I would imagine that a lot of people were already thinking about leaving Puerto Rico and this was the final blow," said Carlos A. SuΓ‘rez Carrasquillo, a lecturer in political science at the University of Florida. "I am sure that in some cases people were desperate and either left with the humanitarian flights that happened initially or were able to amass money to leave."
What does all of this mean for US politics? Puerto Ricans tend to vote left of center, and many have expressed outrage at the way the Republican White House has handled the federal response to the disaster. And while, yes, Puerto Ricans are American citizens even in the Caribbean, they can't vote for president or elect voting members of the US Congress unless they establish residency in the states. Florida has become a particular focus of attention since it has welcomed so many migrants. Gov. Rick Scott in October declared a state of emergency because so many people were arriving. Florida schools have seen more than 11,500 new students from Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria hit, according to data provided by the Florida Department of Education on February 6. Still, there remains too little information to argue that Maria migrants will sway elections, said Daniel Smith, a professor of political science at the University of Florida. Are you part of the 'exodus' from Puerto Rico?Tell CNN what the move has been like for you or your family. Send us a text, iMessage or WhatsApp at +1-347-322-0415."I have to wait and see," Smith said. "Certainly, one could look at analogous situations (like) the displacement of folks following Katrina in New Orleans. I don't think the lesson we learned from that is that those who were displaced -- or who stayed home -- became more politically active. I haven't ever seen any evidence of that. ... If not, why are we assuming some supra political participation among the migrants of Puerto Rico to the mainland? There is certainly, in many people's eyes, good reason for them to become politically engaged and mobilized and to have a clear vote choice. But I'm a realist and I know there are many barriers to participation."Among them: These are disaster victims we're talking about, said SuΓ‘rez, the University of Florida political scientist who also is Puerto Rican. "If they were traumatized by the experience of the hurricane, the last thing they (may) want to do is think about politics." The other question is how long people will stay put. Lori Peek, director of the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado Boulder, followed migrants for years after Hurricane Katrina hit the US Gulf Coast in 2005. People moved several, if not a dozen, times, she said. Some returned home. "It was unbelievable, and at times almost unbearable to the heart and mind, to track that amount of displacement in such a short period of time" after Katrina, she said. "One moment -- one point on a map at a singular time -- doesn't actually at all tell the story of what displacement means, especially for the most low-income and disadvantaged people. They're oftentimes living very mobile and very uncertain lives, and when you throw a disaster in, everything is in play. And everything is in transition for such a long period of time."
Some academics said they find the focus on US politics to be somewhat myopic given the context of what's happening to more than 3 million people still living in Puerto Rico."What will happen to them?" said Pew's Krogstad. "Even before the storm, Puerto Ricans on the island significantly lagged Puerto Ricans on the mainland on a variety of economic measures -- like child poverty and median household income. "The concern is that these gaps are going to grow even wider.""To be frank," said SuΓ‘rez, "not only is it self-serving, but it also fails to reflect the desperate conditions and the grating inequality under which the people on the island of Puerto Rico live. That aspect gets lost. This is a place where people are the most desperate."
Demographic shifts may only make the situation worse. The island population has been declining since 2004, at least partly because of Puerto Rico's debt crisis and, more recently, government bankruptcy. All signs pointed to continued population decline, even before Hurricane Maria, according to demographers. The consequences for Puerto Rico could be stark. The population is aging. Maria may help sap the island of vital workers. That could further stall the economy, leading to decreased tax revenue and government services. "You're losing people and you're in an economic depression," said MelΓ©ndez of the Center for Puerto Rican Studies. "The people are what keep businesses open -- restaurants and policemen and all of that. So to the extent that the population is declining, you have a problem with economic recovery."No US states are shrinking in the way that Puerto Rico is, Krogstad said. "If you compare Puerto Rico to other US states, there really isn't any comparison.""Puerto Rico has seen a net decline of 500,000 people to the US mainland over the past decade or so," he added. "These are huge shifts. We haven't seen migration (out of Puerto Rico) of this scale since the World War II era."Before the hurricane, this alarmed demographers. Now, doomsday scenarios aren't all so difficult to imagine.Lyman Stone, an economist working with the Puerto Rican Financial Oversight and Management Board to develop population projections, said his early analysis of airline data from the US Department of Transportation shows 179,000 net airline travelers left Puerto Rican airports for the states between September and November. Stone estimates the island's population will continue to shrink. If the island rebounds relatively quickly from Hurricane Maria -- which he terms a "weak Maria" effect -- then perhaps the population will stay closer to 3 million in the next decade. If problems on the island snowball, pushing more people out -- which he terms a "strong Maria" effect -- Stone estimates Puerto Rico's population could plunge below 2 million by 2040. These are rough estimates, he said, but the trend is clear."In 10 years, Puerto Rico will have less than 3 million people and still be headed quickly towards 2.5 million or lower," he said. "Once below that level, I don't think it will come back above 2.5 million -- effectively ever."Beyond that, Stone said, only questions remain: Will another hurricane hit? Will Congress provide enough money to help rebuild? Will people return to Puerto Rico -- or will more flee? Time will tell.CNN's Curt Merrill contributed to this report. Additional graphics by India Hayes and Sean O'Key. | 3news
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(CNN)Russell Westbrook of the Washington Wizards has notched his 182nd career NBA triple-double, breaking Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson's record for the most in league history.The record had stood since 1974, the year Robertson retired."Russell Westbrook, I'm very happy for you," Robertson said in a recorded video message. "Your family is very proud of you. And I salute you for all your accomplishments in the game in basketball."The record-breaking moment occurred Monday night during the Wizards' game on the road against the Atlanta Hawks, when Westbrook snared his 10th rebound with a little more than 8:30 to go in the fourth quarter. He finished with 28 points, 21 assists and 13 rebounds in the game, a 125-124 Wizards' loss.Westbrook, in his 13th NBA season, has 36 triple-doubles this season.Read MoreIt once seemed like this was a record that might never be broken. The only other NBA players who have recorded more than 100 career triple-doubles are Hall of Famers Magic Johnson (138) and Jason Kidd (107).READ: Eddie Hearn: 'The razzmatazz is important,' says boxing promoterThe NBA's new all-time triple-double π. pic.twitter.com/1oRS3CwTiaβ NBA (@NBA) May 11, 2021
"It's just a blessing," Westbrook told reporters after the game. "You put so much into the game. You put (in) so much time. You sacrifice so much. To be able to be mentioned with guys like Oscar and Magic and Jason Kidd, those guys, it's something I never dreamed about as a young kid growing up in LA. I'm truly grateful for moments like this."Normally I don't like to pat myself on the back, but tonight I will just because I'm so grateful for the ones before me and so blessed and thankful for the man above for allowing me to go out and do what I do. I take this job very seriously."Now it's hard to see anyone taking the record from Westbrook. As for active NBA players, the closest to Westbrook on the all-time triple-double list is LeBron James, who is fifth with 99. Next is James Harden, in eighth with 58."It's an incredible feat," James said in a video message. "If someone had to do it, why not you?"Said Kidd: "You left me a long time ago. But you're going to go down as Mr. Triple-Double."Westbrook said he's not sure if anyone will break his record.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"At this point, I'm just trying to take it all in myself, honestly," Westbrook said. "I guess we'll see in another 50 years or so. I don't know."A triple-double occurs in a basketball game when a player records double figures in three of the major statistical categories. Most often, this occurs when a player has double digits in points, rebounds and assists, but other statistical categories include blocks and steals.Entering Monday night, Westbrook was averaging 22 points, 11.6 rebounds and a league-leading 11.5 assists per game on the season. | 5sport
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(CNN)The Bernhard Langer story begins 12 years before his birth.His father, Erwin, had been a motorcycle courier in the German Army in the Second World War. At the end of the conflict, he was detained by Russian troops and herded onto a train destined for a prisoner of war camp.In the dead of night, Langer Sr. made a break for it, leaping from the train to what he hoped would be his freedom.Follow @cnnsport
"The Russian troops were shooting at him, but it was dark so they missed him," says his son. "Had one hit him, there wouldn't have been a Bernhard Langer for sure."Langer Jr. could be forgiven for having an aversion to military life. After being conscripted to the Air Force at the age of 19, with his golfing career beginning to take off, he suffered a serious back injury that threatened his chances of playing the game again.Read More"I hurt my back really seriously with a stress fracture and was in hospital for six weeks," he recalls. "It was a tough time, and I remember thinking I probably wasn't going to play golf again."But I'm very fortunate. I'm 58 in August, and I've played nearly 40 years of golf since then without having surgery."On Thursday, Langer will tee off at The British Open at St. Andrews for what he admits could be the last time.JUST WATCHEDLanger reflects on first Masters winReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLanger reflects on first Masters win 07:24That he made it to the very top of his sport -- he has won two Masters Green Jackets and was a two-time runner-up at the British Open -- is something of a surprise.When he was growing up, neither his father -- who went on to become a bricklayer after the war -- nor his mother Wally, a waitress and a keen gardener, played golf or had any interest in the game. The Langers were a relatively poor family, and getting involved with golf was an idea his brother had to make a little cash."When my brother was 13 or 14, he rode his bicycle up to the local golf course five miles away to earn money as a caddy," Langer recalls. "I remember I was nine and being amazed when he came home with a few Deutschmarks."So I was like: 'I want to do that' -- a chance to earn money for sweets or treats, which we never had. So first of all, I loved golf for the money it gave me but it didn't take me long to get a love of the game."There were just four clubs between the two siblings: a two-wood, a three-iron, a seven-iron and a putter that was crooked.Despite the paltry equipment, Langer's passion for the game became so great that he deliberately flunked both his English and maths exams at high school in order to ensure he returned to his local school, where there was more chance to play."At the high school, I was there until five or six and then had three hours of homework so there was no time for golf," he explains. "At the local school, I could play every afternoon. I try not to tell that story too often as I don't want to discourage young people from studying!"But it was a move that paid off. His grasp of the game led to him becoming a trailblazer, the first German of any note to achieve anything on the European and PGA Tours and an inspiration for the likes of former world No.1 Martin Kaymer to follow.Langer, speaking as an ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, one of the British Open's patrons, was part of a European golfing elite that included Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam, and achieved his first Masters victory in 1985.JUST WATCHEDTom Watson prepares for final Open appearanceReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTom Watson prepares for final Open appearance 07:04Having met his wife Vikki not long before that -- the couple are still together today, and have four children -- he left Augusta confused by a nagging empty feeling in the wake of what should have been the high point of his life.That all changed when he was taken to a Bible meeting by fellow golfer Bobby Clampett three days later. There, golfing minister Larry Moody showed him a verse from the Bible. In John 3.3, it says: "Truly, truly I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."Casting his mind back to the encounter 30 years ago, Langer says: "I'd gone to church for 27 years or something, but this was different -- I liked it more the way it was explained. "It quickly became clear what was missing in my life. I didn't have a personal relationship with God or Jesus Christ."Once I made the decision, it became a huge part of my life: how I treat people, how I look at the world, how I look at politics. It affected everything."We're so involved with the here and now we have for 70, 80 or 90 years when it's all about the eternal ranks. Our life is just a fleeting moment compared to eternity."He is not ashamed to admit there have been times when his faith has been tested. On the golf course, the most high-profile was the straightforward missed putt that cost Europe the chance to win the 1991 Ryder Cup. It is something Langer is still asked about nearly a quarter of a century on, and he says: "There are times in life where are you either drawn closer to God or else your faith gets weakened. That was one of those times."It would be easy to say: 'Why did God not help me make that putt?' but life as a Christian is not always easy."Somewhat befittingly for a religious man, he reached another peak by winning a second Masters in 1993 -- on Easter Sunday."Easter is what sets Christians apart," he continues. "Jesus was risen and no one else has risen from the dead. It was also particularly sweet because of something I said eight years before."When I won my first Masters, I said: 'Jesus Christ, I couldn't believe I'm four shots behind Curtis Strange' on live TV. I got a lot of people writing in, saying: 'How dare you take Jesus' name in vain?' This was a chance to make amends and give him glory."Langer will make a rare return to the men's Tour -- he predominantly plays on the Champions Tour -- at this week's Open. The heroics of those past Masters are not to be expected, with Langer just happy to have the chance to play at St Andrew's, the home of golf, once more.With it, waves of nostalgia have washed over him."It will be hard to play that last round when it happens," he says. "It could be this year, I don't know. I just have to enjoy it." | 5sport
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(CNN)Midway through the first half of Barcelona's game against Sevilla earlier this month, Neymar hit a glorious free-kick that cannoned off a post and hit the goalkeeper's back before rolling slowly all the way along the goal-line. The ball was scrambled away as Luis Suarez tried to turn it in.It summed up the Catalans' afternoon. Several times Suarez uncharacteristically fluffed his lines; they hit the woodwork three times. But Sevilla grew into the game and emerged 2-1 winners, inflicting Barca's second La Liga defeat of the still-young season.Follow @cnnsport
So is there a crisis at the Camp Nou? Much too early to say that, but there is certainly an injury crisis. And one of those out is the talismanic Lionel Messi, who is out until late November with a knee injury.One exiled Barcelona fan watching the game in Cordoba raised his eyes to the heavens as another chance against Sevilla went begging and said, "The trouble is, when we have no Messi other teams can play normal football."Ronaldo vs. Messi: The 2015-16 goal raceRead MoreOr as Spanish sports journal Marca put it: "No Messi, no dominance."There was evidence of that both against Bayer Leverkusen in the recent Champions' League game and against Sevilla.Barca's opponents could be more expansive, worry less about the usual front three of Neymar, Suarez and Messi. Leverkusen certainly took the game to Barca in the Nou Camp, and led for much of the match. Sevilla had won just once in their opening six games, but pressed forward with growing confidence as the game went on. Who would dare commit men forward while the deadly trio of Barcelona's forward line lurk around the half-way line? Luis Enrique: "It's incredible that we only scored once given how the game went" #FCBlive #SevillaFCB pic.twitter.com/4poKhlanP8β FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 3, 2015
Barca's next La Liga game is on October 17th against Rayo Vallecano, whose Luis Farina recently said on the club's website: "It's true Messi makes a big difference and if he's not there it will help us a little bit."Messi, who made his La Liga debut on October 16 2004 in the Catalan derby against Espanyol, brings extraordinary versatility to coach Luis Enrique's squad.Beyond his goal-scoring prowess, he can drift in from the right and drop deep. He can drive at defences, play and receive passes in tiny spaces around the edge of the penalty area. He also has a unique ability to change the angle of attack, with long-range passes that make his next move impossible to predict.At the recent Aspire4Sports congress in Berlin, former Barcelona and Holland icon Johan Cruyff contrasted Messi to Ronaldo. Of the Portuguese around whom other stars revolve at Real Madrid, Cruyff said: "He's a goalscorer. He'll never be that creative player around whom you build a team ... But Messi is much more of a team player; he passes the ball, produces so many assists."Cruyff: "The best is Messi. For me, there's a great difference between being a great player and a goalscorer." #UCL pic.twitter.com/i1yPlgQvlZβ Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 7, 2015
When he's absent, supporting actors suddenly have to become the main attraction, and that's not an easy transition -- even for world-class players like Suarez and Neymar.And Messi has rarely been absent, starting 56 games in all competitions last season, before taking part in the Copa America and then a pre-season tour with Barcelona in the United States. Too much football? It's not only Messi that's out. Andres Iniesta, who pulls many of the strings in midfield, was absent in Seville after picking up a hamstring injury in midweek. The versatile Rafinha is out for the season. And many Barca fans think Xavi's maturity and calming influence is sorely missed. He left at the end of last season to ply his trade in Qatar. Una semana despuΓ©s, seguimos avanzando. Cada vez queda menos. pic.twitter.com/amWILxxCzFβ AndrΓ©s Iniesta (@andresiniesta8) October 6, 2015
As Cruyff -- who was Barcelona coach for eight years - puts it, "For me the most important thing is always the team, and for that Xavi was one of the best Barca players, because he was always at the heart of the team, he controlled the pace, the passes, when he needed to drop back."Even with Messi in the line-up, Barca's defence has looked surprisingly fragile at times this season. In the European Super Cup, they conceded four (against Sevilla); another four against Celta Vigo in La Liga and four against Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.They've conceded nine goals in seven league games, compared to 21 in all of last season.At one time or another Dani Alves, Jordi Alba and Gerard Pique have all been missing through injury and suspension. Thomas Vermaelen is still out with a calf injury sustained in mid-September.That may explain part of the problem, but against Sevilla and Leverkusen Barcelona also looked vulnerable at set pieces, and against Celta vulnerable to the quick counter-attack. The international break should have helped with recuperation but a hectic schedule now follows with six games in three weeks. That's where the strength of a squad tells. And Barca's is looking a little threadbare. Besides those injured, the Catalan team lost Pedro, a selfless understudy and perennial substitute for the front three, to Chelsea in August. The players brought in over the summer -- Arda Turan and Aleix Vidal -- can't play until January because the one-year transfer ban imposed by FIFA for contravening rules on registering players under the age of 18. Last season, especially once Suarez had served his ban for biting, Enrique's starting XI was quite consistent. Messi played in all 38 La Liga matches. There were changes, of course, but the pattern was largely undisturbed, especially during the second half of the season, when Barca went into overdrive.For that very reason, it would be hard to argue that Barcelona are in crisis before the first leaves of autumn fall given the top of La Liga is uncommonly tight. Barcelona are fourth, level on points with Real Madrid, with both teams just a point behind leaders Villarreal.The next edition of "El Clasico," as the match between the two rivals is known, takes place on November 22nd and could have a major bearing on the rest of the season.That's the match when Barca hope Messi will be back.Read: Ajax opens 'School of the Future' | 5sport
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Story highlightsNigeria into semifinals of Africa Cup of Nations after beating Ivory Coast 2-1 on SundayLate goal from Sunday Mba puts "Super Eagles" into a last-four clash with MaliIvorians had been favored with star players such as Didier Drogba and Yaya ToureBurkina Faso beat Togo 1-0 after extra time in last quarterfinal at NelspruitAnother Africa Cup of Nations, another failure for the Ivory Coast's "golden generation."But while Didier Drogba may never get the chance to lift the continent's coveted trophy, another African football superpower is on course to end its own long wait for success.Nigeria set up a semifinal clash with Mali by beating the seemingly perennial tournament-favorite Ivorians 2-1 in Rustenburg on Sunday.The "Super Eagles" have not won the title since 1994, a year the team reached fifth in the world rankings -- the highest by any African nation.Since then Nigeria has had to settle for three third placings between 2002-10, and didn't even qualify for last year's tournament.Read: FIFA probes player with 'four birthdays'It was a period of turmoil, as the country's president Goodluck Jonathan at first banned the national side for two years after a poor showing at the 2010 World Cup before world ruling body FIFA threatened even harsher sanctions, and the ruler backed down. Photos: Drogba dropped by Ivory Coast Photos: Drogba dropped by Ivory CoastDrogba dropped by Ivory Coast β Substitute Didier Drogba (left) celebrates with Yaya Toure after the midfielder put the Ivory Coast 2-0 ahead near the end of the Africa Cup of Nations Group D match against Tunisia in Rustenburg.Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: Drogba dropped by Ivory CoastDrogba dropped by Ivory Coast β Former Chelsea star Drogba had been dropped from the starting line-up for the first time in his international career, having been taken off during his country's opening match after failing to impress.Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: Drogba dropped by Ivory CoastDrogba dropped by Ivory Coast β Manchester City star Toure, the two-time African player of the year, netted his second goal of the tournament in the 88th minute. Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: Drogba dropped by Ivory CoastDrogba dropped by Ivory Coast β Another substitute, Didier Ya Konan (No. 13) sealed the Ivorians' second successive win with the third goal at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: Drogba dropped by Ivory CoastDrogba dropped by Ivory Coast β Striker Gervinho, who plays for English club Arsenal, scored the opening goal in the 21st minute. He also netted a late winner in the opening match against Togo. Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: Drogba dropped by Ivory CoastDrogba dropped by Ivory Coast β Emmanuel Adebayor helped Togo bounce back from that 2-1 defeat as the Sparrowhawks' captain scored in a 2-0 win against Algeria which put the Ivorians into the quarterfinals and eliminated the north Africans with one match still to play.Hide Caption 6 of 6 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in Mali Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliPhotos: Mali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers transport in a pickup truck a dozen suspected Islamist rebels on Friday, February 8, after arresting them north of Gao. A suicide bomber blew himself up on February 8 near a group of Malian soldiers in the northern city, where Islamist rebels driven from the town have resorted to guerilla attacks.Hide Caption 1 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliPhotos: Mali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malians look at the charred motorcycle used by a suicide bomber before he blew himself up near a group of Malian soldiers on February 8. The act marked the first suicide attack in the embattled west African nation since the start of a French-led offensive to oust the Islamists from Mali's north, where they had controlled key towns for 10 months.Hide Caption 2 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliPhotos: Mali military battles Islamist insurgents β A convoy of French army vehicles head toward Gao on February 7. France is mulling over when to hand off its four-week-old intervention to U.N. peacekeepers. Hide Caption 3 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A man searches through the ruins of a building destroyed by French airstrikes in Douentza, Mali, on Tuesday, February 5. The town was retaken by French and Malian troops in January. Hide Caption 4 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A child holds up a machine gun round found in the ruins of a building destroyed by French airstrikes in Douentza, Mali, on February 5.Hide Caption 5 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A child leads a donkey cart past a destroyed Malian army armored vehicle near Douentza, Mali, on February 5. Hide Caption 6 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malians welcome France's President Francois Hollande as he arrives in Timbuktu on Saturday, February 2. French-led troops are working to secure the area against Islamist militants.Hide Caption 7 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A man sweeps the red carpet at Mali's Mopti airport on January 2 before the arrival of Hollande and Mali's interim President Dioncounda Traore.Hide Caption 8 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French soldiers patrol next to the Djingareyber mosque, on January 31, in Timbuktu, Mali. The city was recaptured on January 28, by French-led forces in their offensive against Islamist rebels who have been occupying Mali's north since last April. Hide Caption 9 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French air strikes destroyed this vehicle outside the northern Malian city of Gao.Hide Caption 10 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Men play boules, a game that was forbidden under Islamist rule. on January Wednesday, 30, in Gao, Mali. Gao, once a key Islamist stronghold, was retaken on January 26 by French and Malian troops.Hide Caption 11 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A Malian soldier tries to disperse looters in Timbuktu, Mali, on Tuesday, January 29. Malian and French forces have been battling Islamist militants to loosen their grip on the country. France was the colonial power in Mali until 1960. Hide Caption 12 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β People cheer along a road in Ansongo, a town near the northern Malian city of Gao, as troops from neighboring Niger enter the city.Hide Caption 13 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A man waves a French flag as residents celebrate the arrival of Niger troops on January 29 in Ansongo.Hide Caption 14 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Niger troops enter Ansongo on January 29.Hide Caption 15 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers enter the historic city of Timbuktu on Monday, January 28. Hide Caption 16 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French soldiers flying back from Timbuktu arrive at the French army base camp in Sevare on January 28.Hide Caption 17 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A man prays in the recently liberated town of Douentza on January 28.Hide Caption 18 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Wounded Malian soldiers rest after receiving medical care at the Polyclinique of Kati on Sunday, January 27.Hide Caption 19 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers wait at a checkpoint near Sevare on January 27.Hide Caption 20 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A French soldier walks through the bush in central Mali on January 27.Hide Caption 21 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers wait at a checkpoint near Sevare on January 27.Hide Caption 22 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A Malian soldier stands amid debris Saturday, January 26, in the key central town of Konna, which has been under French and Malian army control since last week. It was taken on January 11 by Islamist groups.Hide Caption 23 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers walk past the bullet-riddled wall of a house in Konna on Saturday, January 26.Hide Caption 24 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A Malian soldier looks at the wreckage of an Islamist rebel's armed pickup truck in Konna.Hide Caption 25 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Ammunition lies on the ground in Konna.Hide Caption 26 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers escort journalists in Konna.Hide Caption 27 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers patrol a street of Diabaly on January 26.Hide Caption 28 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Ali Ag Noh, right, stands with his family in front of his house on Friday, Janurary 25, in the village of Seribala, Mali, after his cousin and brother-in-law, Aboubakrim Ag Mohamed, and a cattle rancher, Samba Dicko, were shot dead on January 24, allegedly by the Malian Army. According to Noh, Mohamed, a Tuareg, and Dicko were shot in the head in Seribala after being accused by two Malian soldiers of being Islamists or aiding Islamists.Hide Caption 29 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Members of the French army arrive at a base camp in Sevare, Mali, on January 25. French and Malian troops advanced on the key Islamist stronghold of Gao after recapturing the northern town of Hombori as the extremists bombed a strategic bridge to thwart a new front planned in the east. Hide Caption 30 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers ride a motorcycle in a street of Merkala, on Thursday, January 24, 2013 as the first of the 6,000 troops pledged by African nations to support France started heading north.Hide Caption 31 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A Malian soldier armed with a machine gun watches a herd of cattle crossing a bridge over the Niger River on January 24. Mali's military offensive against militants controlling the northern half of the country has gathered pace in the past two weeks, with backing from France and other international allies.Hide Caption 32 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in Mali Mali military battles Islamist insurgents β A French army convoy travels near Segou, in south-central Mali, is on its way to Diabaly on January 24.Hide Caption 33 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A woman who fled northern Mali sits at a camp for internally displaced persons in Sevare on Wednesday, January 23. The EU announced 20 million euros of extra humanitarian aid to help Malians fleeing fighting, its second such donation in as many months. Hide Caption 34 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A soldier rides on the back of a scooter outside Diabaly on January 23.Hide Caption 35 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in Mali Mali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malians walk past a destroyed truck mounted with a machine gun on Tuesday, January 22. The truck was used by militants and destroyed during airstrikes by the French air force.Hide Caption 36 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers patrol Diabaly on January 22. Hide Caption 37 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in Mali Mali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers walk past destroyed army barracks as they patrol in Diabaly on January 22, 2013.Hide Caption 38 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A French soldier mans his post on January 22 near the city of Diabaly, Mali.Hide Caption 39 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A French soldier stands guard in front of charred pickups used by Islamist rebels in Diabaly, Mali, on Monday, January 21. The Malian military says it has gained control of the town of Diabaly, a key advance in the battle against Islamist militants in the north.Hide Caption 40 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A Malian soldier walks past a army building that was taken by the jihadists before being destroyed during aerial bombing in Diabaly on January 21.Hide Caption 41 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A Malian soldier searches through debris after aerial bombing in the city of Diabaly on January 21.Hide Caption 42 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A French soldier looks around after arriving in Diabaly on January 21.Hide Caption 43 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French soldiers unload military equipment from an aircraft on January 21.Hide Caption 44 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian youths look on as French soldiers drive through Niono on Sunday, January 20.Hide Caption 45 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β The French Army conducts operations in Mali on January 20.Hide Caption 46 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A Malian soldier holds a machine gun on top of a jeep on the road back from the town of Mopti, Mali, on Saturday, January 19. Hide Caption 47 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French soldiers of the 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment stand with their equipment in front of a helicopter on January 19 at an airbase near Bamako, Mali. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on January 19 that France now had 2,000 troops on the ground in Mali as part of a drive against Islamist militants holding the north of the country.Hide Caption 48 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French soldiers of the 5th Combat Helicopter Regiment relax on January 19 at the airbase near Bamako.Hide Caption 49 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A French soldier from the helicopter regiment stands guard at the airbase on January 19.Hide Caption 50 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers check the identity of passengers in a bus coming from Mopti on January 19.Hide Caption 51 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French President Francois Hollande, left, speaks with soldiers who are due to leave for Mali, during a meeting in Tulle, France, on January 19.Hide Caption 52 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers sit in a truck on their way to Niono, Mali, on Friday, January 18. Hide Caption 53 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A Malian child looks out from a bus as Malian army soldiers check vehicles and passengers in the city of Niono on Friday, January 18. Malian troops, with help from France and a U.N.-mandated African force, are fighting al Qaeda-linked Islamist militants.Hide Caption 54 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers man a checkpoint in Niono on January 18.Hide Caption 55 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Togolese troops board a plane to Bamako, Mali, on Thursday, January 17, at the Lome airport in Togo. Troops from West African countries are heading to Mali as part of a U.N.-mandated African force to fight the insurgents. Hide Caption 56 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Helmets belonging to soldiers of the Nigerian army are prepared to be sent to Mali at the Nigerian army peacekeeping center near Kaduna, Nigeria, on January 17.Hide Caption 57 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in Mali Mali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian soldiers stand guard as Mali's President Dioncounda Traore speaks to French troops at an air base in Bamako, Mali, on Wednesday, January 16.Hide Caption 58 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in Mali Mali military battles Islamist insurgents β A Malian soldier adjusts his weapon as President Traore speaks to French troops at an air base in Bamako on January 16.Hide Caption 59 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French army soldiers stand on armoured vehicles as they leave Bamako and start their deployment to the north of Mali as part of the Serval operation on Tuesday, January 15. Hide Caption 60 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A French flag is hung on a van in Bamako as French troops start a deployment in the north of Mali on Wednesday. Hide Caption 61 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French troops prepare their Sagaie armoured all terrain vehicles from the Licorne operation based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, at the 101st military airbase near Bamako on Wednesday.Hide Caption 62 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in Mali Mali military battles Islamist insurgents β French troops from the Licorne operation based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, arrive at the 101st military airbase near Bamako on Wednesday to reinforce the Serval operations, before their deployment in the north of Mali.Hide Caption 63 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian police patrol in the capital of Bamako on Sunday, January 13. Hide Caption 64 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Malian police patrol Bamako on Sunday.Hide Caption 65 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A British army Boeing C-17 cargo plane from British Brize Norton base lands Sunday at the Evreux military base in France to take supplies to Bamako. Hide Caption 66 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French soldiers prepare cargo for a British plane en route to Bamako on Sunday at the Evreux military base. Hide Caption 67 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β A French armored vehicle rolls onto a British army aircraft to be taken to Bamako on Sunday in Evreux.Hide Caption 68 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Workers adjust chains on a vehicle load in the C-17 in Evreux on Sunday.Hide Caption 69 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Internally displaced Malians from Timbuktu chat at a makeshift cafe in Bamako on Sunday.Hide Caption 70 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β French President Francois Hollande, right, speaks with members of Malian associations in France during a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Sunday.Hide Caption 71 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Muslim men protest French military action in Mali outside the French Embassy in central London on Saturday, January 12. About 50 Muslim protesters gathered outside the embassy.Hide Caption 72 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β Protesters wave signs outside the French Embassy on Saturday in London.Hide Caption 73 of 74 Photos: Photos: Fighting Islamists in MaliMali military battles Islamist insurgents β The interim president of Mali, Dioncounda Traore, speaks after a ministerial Cabinet meeting in Bamako on Friday, January 11. Malian authorities declared a state of emergency throughout the country on Friday as the army launched a counteroffensive against Islamists who were pushing south.Hide Caption 74 of 74JUST WATCHEDNigerian president: Boko Haram 'threat'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNigerian president: Boko Haram 'threat' 07:33Under the guidance of former international player Stephen Keshi, Nigeria came through Group C with a win and two draws this month and then beat a side that the coach called "the top team on the continent.""I want to thank God for this wonderful victory, and sincerely thank my players for everything they did today. I hope we can keep going to the final," the former Togo and Mali coach told reporters ahead of Wednesday's semi in Durban."Ivory Coast are the top team on the continent with lots of quality, so we tried to speed up and try to catch out players like Drogba and Yaya Toure."I'm glad my team is progressing in every game -- there is great discipline in the team and I just hope we keep going that way."Read: Fear and loathing in EgyptNigeria took the lead just before halftime when Emmanuel Emenike's free-kick went straight through Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry for his third goal of the tournament in South Africa.Cheick Tiote leveled with a header from veteran captain Drogba's free-kick on the left, but Sunday Mba gave Nigeria victory as he beat three men and unleashed a 20-yard shot that was deflected past Barry.The 24-year-old is one of five Nigeria-based players in the 23-man squad -- none from the country's top league featured in the 2008 or 2010 finals."The boys showed character. When I played for Nigeria I had to fight, fight, fight and they did that today," Keshi said."When the Ivorians leveled we tried to defend and work out our tactics, and we scored again. Sunday came up with a beautiful, beautiful goal."Ivory Coast coach Sabri Lamouchi took responsibility for his team's surprise exit.JUST WATCHEDStampede kills 60 in Ivory CoastReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHStampede kills 60 in Ivory Coast 01:27JUST WATCHEDCourt: Shell pays no damages in NigeriaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCourt: Shell pays no damages in Nigeria 03:36"I put forward the team I judged to be the best to pose problems to a good Nigeria side," said the Frenchman, who took over after last year's penalty shootout defeat in the final against Zambia."Of course our aim was to win the title, and for certain players this could be their last chance so, yes, there is disappointment in the dressing room."It's a great sadness for me as the players were working with one objective -- to win this Nations Cup -- but it proved not to be enough."Drogba and most of the Elephants squad will now head back to Europe -- the 34-year-old will join his new Turkish club Galatasaray, where Ivory Coast teammate Emmanuel Eboue also plays.Two-time African player of the year Yaya Toure will go back to England with his brother Kolo to help Manchester City's faltering Premier League title defense.Meanwhile, Burkina Faso won the battle of first-time quarterfinalists in Sunday's other game, beating Togo 1-0 after extra time at Nelspruit.Jonathan Ptroipa headed the only goal from a corner in the 105th minute to set up a clash with four-time champion Ghana at the same venue on Wednesday. | 5sport
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(CNN)On April 4, 1968, Jesse Jackson was 26 years old. He was in Memphis, Tennessee, traveling as an aide to Martin Luther King Jr. in an effort to rally support for a sanitation workers' strike started that February over dangerous working conditions and the deaths of two men who were crushed to death in garbage compactors. Memphis Mayor Henry Loeb had refused to meet with workers or recognize their union. They marched in downtown Memphis wearing and carrying what have become iconic sandwich boards and placards emblazoned with the words, "I Am a Man."Local politicians of the time say that the strike was all but broken until King came to Memphis to re-energize the sanitation workers. The trip to Tennessee came amid preparations for a massive demonstration to highlight the issue of poverty in America, The Poor People's Campaign. Tensions were high at the time for King, who had come under censure for an increasingly vocal stance against the Vietnam War and whose Southern Christian Leadership Conference was facing criticism from a younger generation of black activists who deemed their strategies and tactics too moderate for the urgency of black America's problems.Rev. Jesse Jackson When James Earl Ray fired his rifle from a boarding house across from the Lorraine Motel, striking King and ending his life, Jackson was among those present. On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of that devastating moment, I spoke with Jackson -- former presidential candidate, legendary activist, founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and elder of America's struggle for racial equality -- about what he remembers and what King's legacy has been. Looking back across the decades, Jackson remembered how reluctant and exhausted King was when he traveled to Memphis, that King dreamed in the days before his death of the possibility that fellow activists who at times disagreed with him -- like H. Rap Brown, Stokely Carmichael, Roy Wilkins, and Whitney Young -- could forge unity. Jackson recalled the power of King's darkly prescient "I've Been to the Mountaintop Speech," the sound of the gunshot and the wound that always reopens when he travels back to Memphis. This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.Read MoreCNN: When you remember Dr. King, what first comes to mind?Jesse Jackson: Coalition. During his last years, there was a multicultural group of us together, from Appalachia and from the Smoky Mountains, Native Americans from the reservations, Latino allies and Cesar Chavez in the southwest country, and folks from New York and throughout the American South. We had a multicultural focus on how to end poverty at home. Whether you were an Appalachian coal miner or a chemical worker, whether you were in the Delta of Arkansas or you were in the cities, we wanted to end poverty and end the war in Vietnam. CNN: What most stays with you about the day of his death?Jackson: That he would rather have been somewhere else. We were in a staff meeting about coming to Memphis, because the sanitation workers had been killed. At that time he was being attacked because of his Vietnam war position. The press was challenging his position. Colleagues were attacking him. Ministers locked him out of the pulpit.So he called me in on a Saturday morning, and he said he had a migraine headache. He asked me what his options are. One, he said, was that maybe, "I'll just quit. Maybe we've done the most we can do in 13 years. We won the Montgomery bus boycott, we won the civil rights acts of 1964 and 1965, we're moving in Chicago." But he said, "I can't quit, because I can't go back."Jesse Jackson and Andrew Young at the site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death."You know," he said, "we've got to go to Memphis first. Those sanitation workers do very necessary work. If they don't clean things up, the doctors can't perform surgery. They work in the stench and with diseases abounding. These are very necessary workers. And they deserve rights. And then we'll go to Washington and do civil disobedience."And so he prayed to God for strength. He came on to Memphis, met with the sanitation workers, met with the ministers. And on that afternoon before, with all of us talking, he said, "I don't feel like speaking tonight. Jesse, maybe you should go. Andy, you should go." He wasn't feeling that well. But we went over to Mason Temple. It was raining very hard. We walked in the door, the people started cheering. He came in and that's when he walked through the aisle and gave the "Mountaintop" speech. He said this was a good time to be alive. He talked about the plane [to Memphis] he had been on. There was a threat that someone might put a bomb on a plane. He talked about that: "And some began to say the threats, or talk about the threats that were out. What would happen to me from some of our sick white brothers? Well, I don't know what will happen now. We've got some difficult days ahead."We thought the reference was to the plane, and not to what happened the next day, okay? And he said: "But it really doesn't matter with me now, because I've been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind."JUST WATCHEDMLK assassination 50 years laterReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMLK assassination 50 years later 03:26[Elsewhere in his remarks, King referenced sacrifice for the struggle in ways that came to be forever marked by his death the following day: "Now, let me say as I move to my conclusion that we've got to give ourselves to this struggle until the end. Nothing would be more tragic than to stop at this point in Memphis. We've got to see it through. And when we have our march, you need to be there. If it means leaving work, if it means leaving school -- be there. Be concerned about your brother. You may not be on strike. But either we go up together, or we go down together. Let us develop a kind of dangerous unselfishness." He continued: "Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I'm not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over."] It was just the rhythm of the speech. The next day, we were excited. We went to work on some songs for that night. We came out of the door around five minutes to six. We were late, because we were supposed to be leaving at five. Dr. King said, "You don't even have a shirt and tie." We were supposed to be going to dinner. I said, "For eating, you need an appetite, not a tie." He laughed. We laughed, you know, we joked that way. He was on the balcony [of the Lorraine Motel] at that time, I was on the ground level. And Ben Branch [editor's note: In previous interviews, Jackson has identified Branch as being in the parking lot, with Dr. King calling down to him] had been brought from Chicago as a musician. He had played the song "Precious Lord" the week before, in Chicago, on saxophone. And [King] said, "Play my song tonight," and Ben said, "I will."And then we hear, "Pow!"JUST WATCHEDRev. Jesse Jackson recounts the 60's ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRev. Jesse Jackson recounts the 60's 03:00The bullet hit him in the throat. He had been shot in the neck. It was a tremendous moment. I heard some voice say, "Get low!" We dashed to the steps. The picture of Andy Young and I, and others, the picture of us pointing up...we were there. The police were coming toward us with drawn guns and we said, the bullet came from that way, that's where the bullet came from.I will say this. Atlanta was his Bethlehem. The meeting at Mason Temple could be a kind of Gethsemane. And the balcony of the Lorraine [Motel] could be Calvary. And after the Crucifixion is the Resurrection, the birth of new hope. I believe there's come a whole new world, driven by his spirit. When you think from the balcony of the Lorraine Motel to the White House with Barack Obama as president, we never stopped fighting. We never stopped moving, or building coalitions. And we're still fighting a war on poverty.CNN: Where do you see Dr. King's legacy today?Jackson: When those kids were killed in Parkland, Florida, our cup ran over. Something happened [after the tragic shooting] that was magical. They were marching on the agenda of banning assault weapons and having more background checks. We have nonviolence for another generation, none of their protests were violent. They are multicultural, multiracial, and on message: ban assault weapons. That's part of the same dream [that King had]. It's part of the same resurrection spirit. CNN: What have you thought about when you've returned to Memphis over the years?Jackson: Every time I go back, it pulls a scab off and the wound is still raw. Every time, the trauma of the incident. His lying there. Blood everywhere. It hurts all the time. [In 1968] I left the scene and went and called Mrs. King. She was in the bed, reading. And I said, "Mrs. King?" I said, "He has been shot." She said, "I'll come right away." And then someone else called her and told her he was dead. Whenever I go back, I feel the force of the incident. Follow CNN OpinionJoin us on Twitter and FacebookAs we move away from 2017, the year of Charlottesville, and into 2018 and beyond, what of Dr. King's legacy will you take into your next challenge?He freed for us the right to vote. There are [almost] four million blacks in the South who are unregistered. Two and a half million who are registered didn't vote the last time around. And yet we won the race in New Jersey for the African American lieutenant governor [Sheila Oliver]. We won the race in Virginia, where we had to struggle over a Confederate statue. We won the race in Alabama against Roy Moore. And I think that what we're beginning to see now is a defining moment β [for the] the discipline of our vote. Voting is the crown jewel of our struggle. There's a resistance that we're still fighting, in our politics. Secretary Carson wants to remove discrimination from the mission of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary DeVos wants to privatize education, Attorney General Sessions says that the Voting Rights Act was an intrusion on states' rights, [and] there's President Trump who has shamelessly race-baited. We are facing a headwind. We are going forward, but it is a tug of war. | 3news
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Story highlights"People braked and then crashed" in heavy smoke, police sayThe Friday night crash left seven dead and 51 injuredPolice are "surely looking at accountability," a spokesman saysSmoke from a bonfire and fireworks show caused a fiery weekend crash on a highway in southwestern England that killed seven people, police said Sunday. The Friday night pileup involved nearly three dozen cars, and 51 people were injured, said Anthony Bangham, assistant chief constable for the Avon and Somerset police department. "It was smoke and not fog that caused vehicles and people entering into the area to brake as it was impossible to drive though. So people braked and then crashed," Bangham said. The heat from burning vehicles damaged a 60-meter (195-foot) stretch of the M5 highway near Taunton, about 240 km (150 miles) west of London, police said. But Bangham said that despite earlier fears, the death toll is not expected to rise. He said "an event on the side of the carriageway" was the source of the smoke. He did not identify the name of the event or the organizers but said, "We're surely looking at accountability.""We will look at who gave the permission, what permission had been given and how the event was organized," Bangham said. The crash occurred on the eve of Guy Fawkes Day, the annual commemoration of a failed plot to blow up Parliament and assassinate King James I in 1605, a holiday usually marked with fireworks and bonfires.Police were working to clear the highway Sunday evening, and the road is expected to be open in time for Monday morning's rush hour, he said. | 3news
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Moscow (CNN)Tributes are pouring in for Senator John McCain, but the remembrances in Russia have been less than charitable."As a good Christian, I wish peace and rest to all the irreconcilable enemies of my Motherland," said Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of the Russian television network RT, on Twitter. "Of course, in the next world."Andrei Medvedev, a Russian journalist, shared a similar view."John McCain was a real enemy of my country," he wrote on Facebook. "A straight, sincere, Russophobe to the bottom of his heart." In Russia, Medvedev argued, McCain "saw a threat to America, his country, and therefore wanted with all his might for Russia to disappear as quickly as possible. And he himself tried -- and urged others to help him -- so we would no longer be on the map of the world."Read MoreJohn McCain was viewed by many Russians as the ultimate Cold Warrior.Pro-Kremlin politicians and Russian state television also piled on, vilifying the man and his political legacy, particularly when it came to Russia. State-run channel Rossiya-1 called McCain, "the main symbol of Russophobia" on the Sunday night broadcast of the news program Vesti. No mention was made of McCain's principled stand against torture, his willingness to hold the US defense industry to account or his other legislative accomplishments. But Vesti did note that it was a Soviet-made missile that knocked McCain's A-4 Skyhawk out of the sky over North Vietnam in 1967, resulting in the future senator's lengthy stay at the Hanoi Hilton prison. 'Hatred of Russia'In death, McCain was cast as an adversary, albeit grudgingly acknowledged as a strong one. "Honest in his hatred of Russia," said Oleg Morozov, a senator, the news agency RIA-Novosti reported. "A highly ideologically driven politician," said Konstantin Kosachev, the chair of the foreign affairs committee in the Russian senate.It seems easy to guess why some Russians did little to disguise their glee over McCain's death. After all, this was the man who slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin in a 2017 Senate speech as a "killer," and "that butcher and thug and KGB colonel." JUST WATCHEDDaughter, Trump react to McCain's death ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDaughter, Trump react to McCain's death 02:14But antipathy toward McCain ran deeper. In Russian state media and in official pronouncements, McCain was usually portrayed as the ultimate Cold Warrior, the personification of an anti-Russian national-security establishment in Washington bent on encircling and undermining Russia. Hence the obsession in Russia with McCain's support for regime change in Iraq, Libya or Syria. Alexey Pushkov, another prominent Russian senator, recalled engaging in a debate with McCain on the Syria crisis at the World Economic Forum in Davos."He was preoccupied only with regime change in Syria," Pushkov said on Twitter. "At what cost, and what forces would come to power in Damascus after that did not concern him." McCain didn't live to see the overthrow of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Pushkov added. "Politics and fate decided otherwise," Pushkov said. "McCain's plans to restructure the world under the total hegemony of the United States will not come true."That point -- that McCain sought to impose some sort of Pax Americana on the rest of the world -- is the thread that unifies much official Russian commentary about McCain. And it speaks volumes about how the Kremlin views Washington, even in the era of President Donald Trump. Interestingly, the Vesti obituary focused in part on McCain's tenure as chairman of the International Republican Institute, a democracy-promoting organization that is funded by grants from the US State Department, US Agency for International Development, the National Endowment for Democracy and a number of European foundations and aid agencies. The organization's work on election monitoring and democracy promotion may seem innocuous, but the work of IRI and similar nongovernmental organizations is often depicted in Russia as something sinister. In the official view, these NGOs are little more than a thinly disguised cover for US-led efforts to interfere in the politics of other countries, including Russia. Perhaps more than anything, it was McCain's support for pro-democratic revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine that provoked the Kremlin's ire. Russian media suggested that the senator was ultimately directing his efforts at a larger target: Russia. Mourned in other post-Soviet countriesUkrainian President Petro Poroshenko called McCain's death "sad news" for the people of that country.Sunday's Vesti broadcast showed a clip of an interview with the senator by a Russian television crew in which he warned that there would be consequences for Moscow if it interfered in Ukraine's internal affairs following the Maidan protests there. No surprise, then, that some of the biggest outpourings of support came from those post-Soviet countries. "Sad news for all Ukrainian people," said Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko. The "world is worse place without him," tweeted former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. In life, and in death, McCain touched a nerve in the post-Soviet space. One has a hard time imagining who will take his place in the Kremlin's imagination as the Russophobe-in-chief. | 3news
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(CNN)It's something Azadeh Shahshahani dreads hearing.And something she says she's heard too many times already.Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced last week that a man who'd been detained at the privately run Stewart Detention Center in South Georgia died after contracting coronavirus. The 57-year-old, identified by Mexican authorities as FΓ©lix Montes de Oca Marcelino, had been hospitalized for weeks when he died in Columbus, Georgia, on January 30.It was the first death in ICE custody since President Biden took office. And immigrant rights advocates describe it as a glaring reminder of what they argue his administration needs to do: stop using private prison contractors to detain immigrants."Their interests are not providing people the best care that they need. Their interests are in maximizing their profit," says Shahshahani, legal and advocacy director for Project South. "And therein lies the problem." Read MoreAttorney Azadeh Shahshahani has argued for years that the Stewart Detention Center should be shut down.CoreCivic, the private company that operates Stewart, maintains that the health of detainees and staff are its top priority. "This commitment is shared by our government partners and we have worked closely together with them to respond to this unprecedented situation appropriately, thoroughly and with care for the well-being of those entrusted to us and our communities," spokesman Ryan Gustin said in a written statement detailing numerous safety protocols put in place during the pandemic.Private contractors save taxpayers money and are better able to handle fluctuations in migrant populations, he said, describing their role in the US immigration system as "valued but limited.""The government would have to spend billions to build its own detention facilities and employ thousands of new federal workers," Gustin said. "Additionally, ending the use of private contractors like us would lead to more and worse humanitarian crises."The Biden administration has already said it's pulling away from some private prisonsGrowing government use of private prisons has sparked debate for years. And in 2016, the Justice Department announced it was "beginning the process of reducing -- and ultimately ending" the use of privately operated prisons, stating they don't meet the same level of safety and security as government facilities. That policy shift was quickly rescinded after President Trump took office.In his first week in office, the Biden administration put it back on the table, directing the Justice Department not to renew contracts with private prisons.But that decision didn't apply to other government contracts with private prison companies.Shahshahani, who's campaigned for years to shut down Stewart and other similar facilities, says it should. JUST WATCHEDDHS secretary reacts to tapes of family separationsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDHS secretary reacts to tapes of family separations 01:43"That seems like an immediate next step that they could take," she says, "cutting out the role of private prison corporations in the imprisonment of human beings."Asked about the President's plans this week, press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden has "spoken about his concern with these facilities in the past." But she added that the White House didn't want to get ahead of newly confirmed Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on the matter."But we'll have more β we'll defer to the secretary of Homeland Security for more specifics about the path forward," Psaki said when asked why privately run ICE facilities hadn't been included in the executive order Biden signed.In response to questions from CNN about whether the possibility of ending ICE detention contracts with private companies was being discussed, the Department of Homeland Security said it's "committed to ensuring that all those in our custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments." "Secretary Mayorkas will review many immigration policies in the weeks to come," the statement said, "including detention policy."Some advocates want the government to go even furtherGroups that support immigrant detention facilities argue the practice ensures detainees will appear in immigration court and also protects public safety.Immigration law requires detention in some cases, but advocates have long argued that officials have a large amount of latitude in who they choose to hold behind bars.Some groups have been pressing for years for an end to the civil detention facilities that hold immigrants facing deportation, arguing that inhumane conditions inside these facilities endanger detainees' health.And since Biden took office, the calls for action have intensified. "This is an opportunity to reset and end the mass immigration detention system that we have, to end this system as we know it," says Denise Bell, researcher for refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International.White House reaches out to immigrant advocacy groups that seek urgent action from BidenFor years, ICE has outsourced a large part of its detention operations to the private sector. A 2016 report found that about 65% of people ICE detained were held in for-profit facilities.Detaining immigrants has been a default response for too long, Bell said, "particularly with the involvement of private companies running a lot of these facilities.""We have a multi-million dollar industry here," she said. "There are built-in incentives to detain people."Gustin, the CoreCivic spokesman, dismissed those allegations as "broad generalizations from special interests playing politics rather than looking at the facts."The fact is we don't set immigration policies -- the federal government does. We don't control immigration patterns -- they change based on numerous geopolitical factors," he said. "We also don't enforce immigration laws or decide why or for how long people are detained." The number of people in ICE custody has decreased significantly in recent months as the agency released detainees due to health risks during the pandemic, and advocates argue that scaling back even more and shutting down facilities is more in reach than it's ever been. There are less than 15,000 people detained in ICE facilities currently, according to the agency's latest statistics. That's far less than the average daily population in ICE custody in the 2019 fiscal year, 50,165 people. "The current number should only trend down," Silky Shah, executive director of Detention Watch Network, said on a recent call with reporters. "This has shown us that moving away from detention is actually something we can do."Nearly half the Covid-related deaths in ICE custody have been tied to one facilityOn January 16, ICE officials notified the Mexican Consulate in Atlanta that Montes de Oca, who'd been held at the Stewart Detention Center in southern Georgia, was sick with Covid-19 and in serious condition, Mexico's foreign ministry said in a statement. Two weeks later, he was dead.Stewart, located in a rural area far from public view, was the focus of CNN's 2018 four-part series, "Inside America's Hidden Border."It's one of the largest ICE detention facilities in the country. And according to the latest data from ICE, it's currently the facility where the largest number of detainees have been held this fiscal year, with an average daily population of 773 as of January 11.Since the pandemic began, Stewart has also ranked among the facilities with the largest number of detainees who've contracted coronavirus -- and the largest number of Covid-related deaths. Inside America's Hidden BorderMore than 480 detainees there have tested positive for Covid-19 since February 2020, according to the agency's latest statistics. Only one other facility -- the La Palma Correctional Facility in Arizona, has seen more positive tests.Four Stewart detainees who contracted coronavirus have died since the pandemic began -- the largest Covid-19 death toll tied to any one immigrant detention facility in the country. There've been a total of nine Covid-related deaths in ICE custody since the pandemic began.Asked about the higher number of deaths tied to Stewart, ICE spokesman Lindsay Williams said the agency couldn't release any additional information, due to its ongoing investigation of the recent death. "ICE is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive, agency-wide review of this incident, as it does following all deaths in custody," the agency said in its statement announcing the death.2020: The death toll in ICE custody is the highest it's been in 15 yearsGustin, the CoreCivic spokesman, said the company has "rigorously followed" guidance from local, state and federal health authorities."Stewart Detention Center has followed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, which have evolved over time, since the onset of the pandemic, and we're continuing to work closely our government partners to enhance procedures as needed," he said.Shahshahani says she and other advocates who've been decrying conditions at Stewart for years are devastated, but not surprised, by the numbers.Even before the pandemic, she says, officials weren't doing enough to provide adequate medical care at Stewart.She hopes the new administration will change course before the death toll climbs again. | 3news
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Story highlightsOperations to repair Malala's skull and help her hearing "were a success," the hospital saysQueen Elizabeth Hospital: She is stable, "awake and talking to staff and members of her family"Saturday's five-hour surgery is the latest step on a long road to recovery for the teen activistIn October Taliban gunmen shot her in the head and neckPakistani teen activist Malala Yousufzai was in stable condition at a British hospital on Sunday after undergoing surgeries to repair her skull and help her hearing, officials said."Both operations were a success and Malala is now recovering in hospital. Her medical team are 'very pleased' with the progress she has made so far," the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham said in a statement. "She is awake and talking to staff and members of her family."READ: Malala's recovery crosses key thresholdSaturday's five-hour surgeries were the latest step on a long road to recovery for Malala, who was shot in the head and neck by Taliban gunmen in October for speaking out in favor of education for Pakistani girls.Last week doctors said they would use a titanium plate to cover an opening in her skull, and give her a cochlear implant to partially restore hearing in her left ear. Photos: Photos: Malala's recovery Photos: Photos: Malala's recoveryMalala's road to recovery β Malala Yousafzai returns to school for the first time at Edgbaston High School for Girls in Birmingham, England, on March 19, 2012. The 15-year-old said she had "achieved her dream."Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Photos: Malala's recoveryMalala's road to recovery β Malala was one of seven people featured on the cover of Time's 100 most influential people edition of the magazine in April.Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Photos: Malala's recoveryMalala's road to recovery β The teen was discharged from Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England, in February 2012.Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Photos: Malala's recoveryMalala's road to recovery β Malala Yousufzai, 15, reads a book on November 7, 2012 at the hospital.Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Photos: Malala's recoveryMalala's road to recovery β Malala talks with her father, Ziauddin. She was attacked for advocating for girls' education in Pakistan.Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Photos: Malala's recoveryMalala's road to recovery β Malala sits up in bed on October 25, 2012 after surgery for a gunshot wound to the head.Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Photos: Malala's recoveryMalala's road to recovery β Malala recovers at Queen Elizabeth Hospital on October 19, 2012 after being treated. Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Photos: Malala's recoveryMalala's road to recovery β Pakistani hospital workers carry Malala on a stretcher on October 9, 2012 after she was shot in the head by the Taliban in Mingora.Hide Caption 8 of 8JUST WATCHEDMalala thanks supportersReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMalala thanks supporters 00:52JUST WATCHEDThe schoolgirl who took on the TalibanReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe schoolgirl who took on the Taliban 02:26READ: Malala's journey from near death to recoveryThe plate was necessary to replace a section of her skull about the size of a hand, which doctors removed to relieve swelling after the shooting. And the inner ear implant will restore some function to her damaged ear, doctors said last week.The 15-year-old became an international symbol of courage after she was shot by Taliban gunmen last fall for her crusade about girls going to school.She had blogged fearlessly about girls' education and accused the Taliban of thriving on ignorance. The Taliban forbid girls in the classroom and have threatened to kill anyone who defies them.Malala was in a school van on October 9 when the gunmen stopped the vehicle and shot her at point-blank range.She was flown to the British hospital six days later.Doctors there discharged her last month, and she has been recovering with her family at a temporary home nearby. Her father, who had been an educator in Pakistan, is now employed at the Pakistani Consulate in Birmingham.On Sunday, officials said Malala would remain hospitalized until she is well enough to be discharged.READ: Pakistan's Malala: Global symbol, but still just a kid | 3news
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London (CNN)Britain is in the middle of a coronavirus disaster. It has one of the highest fatality rates in the world, with at least 52,000 Britons dead from the disease. The UK government's usual cheerleaders in the right-wing media are eviscerating it on a near-daily basis. But critics say that instead of tackling the crisis head-on -- perhaps with a reshuffle of his ministerial team; a shakeup of government policy; or the announcement of an inquiry -- Prime Minister Boris Johnson has engaged in a tactic of an altogether more Trumpian style. He has launched a culture war. The lead story in Britain's heavyweight Sunday Times newspaper last weekend was a leak of a plan to block measures that would have made it easier for trans people to change the gender on their birth certificate.As protests inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement swept across the UK, the Prime Minister condemned the violent removal of a statue of a slave owner, and portrayed the daubing of graffiti on a memorial to Winston Churchill an effort to "photoshop the entire cultural landscape." An American policeman killed George Floyd. Now Europe is re-examining its colonial historyAnd while his government struggles in the face of the onslaught of Covid-19, Johnson announced the merger of two big government departments -- the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which oversees the UK government's foreign policy, and the Department for International Development (DFID), which runs aid policy. The purpose: To fulfil a policy aim favored by the conservative right that foreign aid should be tied to the UK national interest. Read MoreJohnson's government is sitting on a thumping 80-seat majority. It could do anything it wants. Yet experts say the Prime Minister -- a former journalist who is an instinctive campaigner -- appears to be indulging in what amounts to a re-election effort four years before the date of the next poll. The mystery is -- why? "His reflex is to go back to newspaper commentary and to write columns on statues, to seed stories in the press about trans issues, because that's a way of mobilizing his own base and to throw a hornet's nest at his opponents," Robert Saunders, a British political history expert at Queen Mary University of London, told CNN.That base is considerably larger than it used to be, and includes many voters in areas that were formerly strongholds of the opposition Labour Party, like the former industrial towns of the English Midlands, Wales and northwest England. Many of those voters were drawn to Johnson by his straightforward electoral promise to "get Brexit done."Johnson made a slew of announcements this week. That promise was fulfilled when Britain officially left the European Union at the end of March, and the debate switched from an ideological "in or out" battle to the practicalities of trade and fishing rights. With Brexit largely resolved in the minds of the electorate, the Conservatives might be seeking a new way to "reinforce the impression that the Labour Party only stands for liberal, educated young people, and does not really have a sense of what is going on in middle England," said Tim Bale, a professor of politics at Queen Mary University of London.By stoking the divisions that emerged from Brexit, the Prime Minister's team "are hoping to keep the flame of polarization alive by generating other issues that are likely to trigger the same adversarial feelings," he added.The polemicistInflaming the opinion of social conservatives is a skill set Johnson nurtured as a journalist. In the 90s, as the Daily Telegraph's Brussels correspondent, he made a name for himself with bombastic articles that portrayed the EU as a regulatory nightmare, according to British journalist Tom Baldwin in his book "Ctrl Alt. Delete." From misleading stories about attempts to ban bendy bananas and introduce smaller condoms, Johnson's coverage, along with that of other rightwing newspapers, contributed to a growing euroskeptic British media environment.His stint as the pro-immigrant London mayor, between 2008-2016, made him a household name, but he downplayed that social liberalism as he took aim for 10 Downing Street. By the time the 2016 Brexit referendum came around, critics say Johnson's jingoism was on steroids. The former London mayor, by now a Conservative MP, energetically spearheaded a cynically populist and xenophobic leave campaign. Johnson was a key figurehead in the Vote Leave campaign.Targets included the EU, Europeans living in the UK, and even US President Barack Obama -- at whom Johnson lashed out for opposing Britain's exit from the EU. In a column in the Sun newspaper, Johnson suggested that Obama removed a bust of wartime leader Winston Churchill from the Oval Office because of "the part-Kenyan President's ancestral dislike of the British empire." Johnson's dog-whistling added to the straightforward narrative of an island nation under siege, an effective distraction from more prosaic concerns like access to the single market. "A culture war is fundamentally about distraction," Saunders added. "You're trying to distract your opponent from issues that you don't want to talk about and move them onto issues that you do."Pejorative language Johnson's campaign, of course, worked. Britain voted narrowly to leave the EU in June 2016. After being voted in last July as new Conservative leader and Prime Minister. His administration, accused of being stacked with yes-men, has however struggled to shake off its campaigning mindset. Culture war issues are not just an instrumental technique "to shore up the base and expand it," Bale added. "Some people around Johnson literally believe this stuff and do think traditional British values are under threat from a 'cancel culture,' which they think is inimical to the traditions of this country."Johnson's rhetoric has come back to haunt him as Black Lives Matter protests in the UK have turned into a fuller discussion on racial injustice and structural racism in Britain. The Conservative party was in their crosshairs, with critics pointing out Johnson's habit of using racist language in his past columns, including his 2002 description of "flag-waving piccaninnies," an offensive term used to describe black children. Johnson apologized for the comments in 2008. In 2018, he compared burqas to "letterboxes," and the Muslim women who wore them as "bank robbers."A statue of Winston Churchill outside Parliament was daubed with the words, "was a racist," during a protest in June. The Prime Minister has struggled to address the concerns of protesters, flip-flopping between empathy and denial, while refusing to condemn US President Donald Trump for his response to the US protests. After stating "Black Lives Matter" in a statement published in the afro-Caribbean newspaper the Voice, Johnson issued a series of tweets against the removal of statues, saying protests had been hijacked by extremists after a statue of Churchill, of whom Johnson wrote a widely panned biography, was defaced with the words "was a racist." He continued to equate the anti-racism protesters with violence, and declaim the sanctity of the now boarded-up Churchill statue, in a Telegraph column on Sunday. He reserved one paragraph to condemn the "patently racist" far-right groups, who clashed with police officers last Saturday as they targeted Black Lives Matter demonstrations.'The UK is just as bad as America'Johnson announced the launch of a Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities, which will also examine why white working-class boys fell behind in school. Downing Street policy chief Munira Mirza has reportedly been tasked with helping to set up it up.But in the last five years, there have been at least four reviews into structural racism in the UK -- which have included around 200 recommendations addressing deaths in custody, the criminal justice system, and the Windrush scandal. There's no need for another inquiry, say campaigners, especially one in which a leading role is played by Mirza, who wrote in a 2017 Spectator article that an "anti-racism lobby" was peddling a "culture of grievance."The Prime Minister defended his aide in Parliament on Wednesday, saying he was a huge admirer of Mirza as she is "brilliant thinker about these issues." Instead, critics say, the government would do well to enact the recommendations of those previous reviews. "Implement them, that's what Boris has to do. And then the Black Lives Matter protests can stop and we can get on with dealing with coronavirus," said the author of one of those reports, opposition Labour MP David Lammy, who used a Financial Times article to accuse Johnson of starting a culture war as a distraction from the government's handling of racial inequality.Johnson said the new commission would learn "very fast" what changes needed to be made, according to PA news agency. Far-right groups came into London last weekend to protect mounments and target Black Lives Matter protesters. Encouraging majoritarian fearsAs the last four years have shown, minority groups have been easy targets in populist upheavals. Official statistics from the UK Home Office show that hate crime increased during and immediately after the EU referendum.Times journalist Rachel Sylvester reported in 2019 "Number 10 has been polling 'culture war' issues, such as transgender rights, to see whether they can be weaponized against Labour in northern working-class constituencies."That came to fruition last week after J.K. Rowling published a lengthy blog post that linked her opposition to trans women using single-sex spaces to her past experience of domestic abuse. Later, the Sunday Times said the leaked plan included upcoming rules to stop single-sex female spaces like toilets from being used by "those with male anatomy."Trans activists call J.K. Rowling essay 'devastating'The Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz Truss, told a select committee in April that by the summer she would be putting in place "the protection of single-sex spaces, which is extremely important." While not commenting or disputing the Sunday Times article, a Number 10 spokesperson said it shared the position of the Government Equalities Office led by Truss. "Johnson is a pound shop Trump, slightly more acceptable and less utterly crass," Christine Burns, a trans campaigner and author of "Trans Britain: Our Journey from the Shadows," told CNN. "Just as Brexit emboldened people to be racist," to roll back on transgender rights at such a febrile moment "is not just emboldening people to be transphobic in their language, but also to use physical force," she warned.The axing of the Department for International Development (DFiD) demonstrated Downing Street's preference for ideology over capacity, according to David Hudson, Professor of Politics and Development at the University of Birmingham. "It is somewhat astonishing that it has happened right now in a middle of a pandemic [when] the government and civil service are massively stretched," Hudson told CNN. The merger, criticized by three former Prime Ministers, would lead to less transparency on how aid is spent and risks diluting DFID's poverty alleviation agenda, he said. Johnson defended the move on Tuesday, saying: "for too long, frankly, UK overseas aid has been treated as some giant cashpoint in the sky that arrives without any reference to UK interests or to the values that the UK."Boris Johnson desperately needs his lockdown gamble to pay offJohnson has also refused to countenance an extension to the Brexit transition period despite trade policy experts insisting that that Britain needs more time to negotiate a trade deal, especially in a pandemic. All this is happening as the government is struggling to convince the public that its strategy to handle the coronavirus outbreak has been "world-beating," according to Johnson -- whose pledged track and trace system for June has been beset with problems. The UK's long-delayed attempt to build a homegrown coronavirus tracing app was abandoned on Thursday in favor of joining efforts led by Apple and Google.Will Johnson focus on governing rather than rule via press release as Britain's economy nosedives, the country faces "appalling levels of unemployment, and probably further waves of the pandemic?" Saunders asked.There are one of two routes the UK could go, he added. The public's "patience for these stunts might diminish" and Johnson focusses on "talking about jobs, employment, and health policy," he said. "Or the stunts are going to have to become nastier and more divisive to hold the public's attention." | 3news
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Story highlightsVictoria Azarenka battling to be fit for Australian Open after having minor surgery on toeWorld No. 1 pulls out of Friday's semifinal against Serena Williams at Brisbane warmup eventU.S. Open champion Williams will play Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in finalAndy Murary into semis of men's event, while Novak Djokovic will play in final of Hopman CupWorld No. 1 Victoria Azarenka suffered a blow in the preparations to her Australian Open title defense on Friday, pulling out of a much-anticipated rematch with Serena Williams due to a toe problem.The Belorussian was due to play her U.S. Open final conqueror in the semis of the Brisbane International, her first top-level warmup event for the season's opening grand slam -- which starts on January 14.World No. 2 Maria Sharapova is also battling to be fit for Melbourne, having withdrawn before the beginning of the Brisbane tournament due to a collarbone problem."It's a right toe infection -- it's been there for about 10 days and it's been getting worse," Azarenka told reporters. "I had to take action on it, which I did yesterday -- it was a minor surgery, I had to take something out of my toe. And unfortunately I didn't have enough time to recover to be able to play the semifinals today."The 23-year-old won her first grand slam title in Melbourne last January before going on to top the rankings and become the WTA Tour's leading prize money winner for 2012. Photos: Djokovic hurt after crowd barrier collapses Photos: Djokovic hurt after crowd barrier collapses Djokovic hurt β Novak Djokovic composes himself in the aftermath of an incident when a spectator barrier collapsed at the Hopman Cup.Hide Caption 1 of 3 Photos: Djokovic hurt after crowd barrier collapses Barrier collapse β Novak Djokovic goes down on his haunches after an spectator barrier collapsed as he was signing autographs. Hide Caption 2 of 3 Photos: Djokovic hurt after crowd barrier collapses Doubles return β Djokovic returned to play with Ana Ivanovic in a mixed doubles match for Serbia against Italy.Hide Caption 3 of 3 Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering career Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering careerKim Clijsters' glittering career β Kim Clijsters retired from professional tennis for a second time at the U.S. Open in September 2012. The Belgian won four grand slam titles in a 15-year career which included a two-year break between 2007 and 2009. Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering careerFamily act β Kim Clijsters with daughter Jada and the 2010 U.S. Open trophy after beating Vera Zvonareva in the final.Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering careerDancing queens β Clijsters came out of retirement the previous year, having taken time out to have her first child. She defeated Caroline Wozniacki in the 2009 final after receiving a wild-card entry to the season's closing grand slam.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering careerNew York, New York β Clijsters had a love affair with New York. Here she climbs into the family area after the 2005 U.S. Open final after beating France's Mary Pierce 6-3 6-1 to clinch her first grand slam title.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering careerInitial retirement β The Belgian suffered a shock 6-7 (3-7) 3-6 loss to Julia Vakulenko in 2007 in what proved to be her final match before retiring for the first time. Clijsters took time away from the sport to raise her family and gave birth to Jada in 2008.Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering careerThree and easy β Clijsters defended her Flushing Meadows crown in 2010, avenging her defeat by Russia's Zvonareva in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon -- a loss she told CNN "hurt her the most."Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering careerAussie Kim β Clijsters enjoys popularity in Australia thanks to ex-boyfriend and male tennis star Lleyton Hewitt. She was overcome with emotion after defeating Li Na of China to clinch the 2011 Australian Open -- the fourth grand slam title of her career.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering careerFinal split? β The daughter of a footballer and a gymnast, Clijsters is renowned for her on-court splits -- an ability which originated from her early years on clay courts but was later transferred to other surfaces.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering careerFinal defeat β Clijsters' final singles match was a loss against unseeded British teenager Laura Robson in the second round of the 2012 U.S. Open. She also competed in the mixed doubles competition with Bob Bryan, but they too lost in the second round.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Kim Clijsters' glittering careerThank you and goodbye β Clijsters put on a series of farewell matches in her homeland to say thank you and goodbye to her hoards of Belgian fans.Hide Caption 10 of 10 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Serena Williams of the United States celebrates defeating Victoria Azarenka of Belarus 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in the 2012 U.S. Open women's singles final on Sunday, September 9, in New York. See more U.S. Open action here.Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Williams celebrates her win against Azarenka.Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Williams poses with the championship trophy in front of photographers.Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Williams looks on during the women's singles final match.Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Williams celebrates match point after defeating Azarenka.Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Williams waves to the crowd before receiving the championship trophy.Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Azarenka returns a shot.Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Spectators in a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium watch the women's singles final match.Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Williams reacts strongly in her match against Azarenka.Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Williams returns a shot against Azarenka on Sunday.Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Azarenka returns a shot against Williams.Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Williams runs to make a shot against Azarenka.Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Williams slides while returning a shot.Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Azarenka emerges from the shadows.Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: 2012 U.S. Open Women's Final2012 U.S. Open women's final β Williams serves during the women's singles final match.Hide Caption 15 of 15 Photos: The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka Photos: The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka Humble beginnings β World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka has come a long way since first picking up a tennis racket in her native Belarus. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka Charitable cause β However, she still considers the Eastern European nation to be her home. Azarenka is pictured with former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki (right) at a children's cancer center in Minsk in 2010.Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka First taste of tennis β Azarenka (far left) first became involved in the sport when her mother started working in a tennis center in her native Belarus. Her first coach was Valentina Rzhanih (also pictured).Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka Young gun β Azarenka eventually had to leave Minsk to fulfil her ambitions, moving first to Marbella in Spain for a brief spell before settling in Arizona.Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka Wimbledon winner β Azarenka was a Wimbledon champion at the age of 14, winning the girls' doubles title in 2004 with compatriot Volha Havartsova.Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka Winning ways β Azarenka won the junior titles at the Australian Open and U.S. Open in 2005, finishing the season as junior world number one. She burst onto the senior scene the year after.Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka Grand slam champion β Less than a year after she briefly considered quitting, Azarenka became the first player from Belarus to win a grand slam singles title when she beat Maria Sharapova in the 2012 Australian Open final.Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka Number one β Azarenka cemented her number one status by winning 14 straight matches after the Australian Open, collecting two more trophies.Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: The tennis journey of Victoria Azarenka Tips from the top β Azarenka is still seeking to improve, and has added two-time grand slam champion and former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo to her coaching team. Hide Caption 9 of 9"I had to make sure I could be fully recovered and ready for the Australian Open. It's a compromise I kind of had to take," she said. "The doctor had told me I wouldn't be able to play for three, four days, but today I saw him in the morning and he said it was actually much better than he thought -- he expected a much worse outcome. So maybe two days and I can start slowly."Williams, who last month also had toe surgery, will play Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in Saturday's final."I had that toe problem just a couple of weeks ago and it's painful -- God, it's so painful. Doesn't sound painful, but it is. You can't walk with that. I hope she gets better fast," the American said."I'm definitely doing enough to prepare and be ready. I feel like even though I didn't play a match tonight I played some really good matches here."Pavlyuchenkova ended the dream run of Lesia Tsurenko, a 116th-ranked Ukrainian who only made it into the main draw as a lucky loser from the qualifiers."What can I say about Serena? There's so much to say -- she's just a great champion," the world No. 36 said of the Olympic and Wimbledon titleholder.Williams is seeking her 47th career title, already holding the record among active players -- her older sister Venus is second with 44."There's some chance, but with her power and the way she can serve, it will be difficult," Pavlyuchenkova said.Read: Murray overcomes heat factorMeanwhile, defending champion Andy Murray moved into the semifinals of the Brisbane men's event with a 6-4 7-6 (7-3) win over Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin on Friday.The world No. 3 will next play Japan's Kei Nishikori, who he beat in last year's Australian Open quarterfinals.Fifth seed Nishikori earned a semi spot by beating Alexandr Dolgopolov, the 2012 Brisbane runnerup.The other semifinal will be between 2006 Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus and 21-year-old Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, who upset Austrian seventh seed Jurgen Melzer.Read: Djokovic stunned by TomicWorld No. 1 Novak Djokovic will play in Saturday's final of the Hopman Cup teams event after he and Serbian playing partner Ana Ivanovic whitewashed Germany 3-0 in Perth on Friday.Djokovic thrashed veteran Tommy Haas 6-2 6-0 then former women's No. 1 Ivanovic -- whose injury in 2011 meant the pairing could not play in that year's final -- defeated Tatjana Malek 6-0 6-1 in just over half an hour.They also won the mixed doubles to complete a third successive victory in Group A and set up a clash with Spain's Fernando Verdasco and Anabel Medina Garrigues, who won all three of their Group B matches. | 5sport
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London (CNN)Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex are reportedly planning an official tour of Africa with their new royal baby, fueling existing speculation that the couple are considering a longer-term move to the continent.The two-week tour, which would take place when their baby is around six months old, would focus on youth empowerment, education and conservation, the Sunday Times newspaper reported.Opinion - Prince Harry and Meghan right to skip that newborn photo op"They hope to take the baby with them but will make a decision nearer the time. Potentially, Meghan and the baby could do some, if not all, of the trip," the paper quoted a royal source as saying. Buckingham Palace did not deny to CNN that the trip is being planned.Commenting on the latest rumors, Buckingham Palace said they could not comment on the specific report and that "any official visits or tours undertaken by any members of the royal family are announced in the usual way."A report by the same newspaper last week claimed the royal couple are considering moving to Africa for up to two or three years after their baby is born. Read MoreAccording to the report, David Manning -- the former British ambassador to the US and special adviser on international affairs to Prince Harry -- has proposed a plan for the pair to take on a more international position that could build on their work for the Commonwealth.Opinion - Harry and Meghan, Africa doesn't want youA decision is not expected until 2020, the paper said. Meghan is due to give birth any day with the couple's first child.It isn't known which African countries Harry and Meghan might be considering moving to, but there are 19 Commonwealth nations on the continent, including South Africa, Nigeria, Uganda and Ghana. The couple have already visited North Africa on an official royal engagement, touring Morocco in February.The popular pair have long been rumored in the British media to be at odds with some members and traditions of the royal family.Recently, some tabloids have also criticized their plans to keep details of their child's birth private, skipping the recent royal tradition of having a photo call with the world's media hours after a baby is born. CNN's Kieron Mirchandani and Schams Elwazer contributed reporting. | 3news
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Story highlightsDoctors say he is stable but not out of dangerThe prince is the son of the Dutch queenHe was airlifted to a hospital in InnsbruckHe is in intensive careA member of the Dutch royal family was severely injured in an avalanche at an Austrian ski resort Friday, local authorities told CNN.Prince Johan Friso, 43, a son of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, was skiing outside the bounds of the ski resort with friends at the resort of Lech am Arlberg when he was hit by an avalanche, a spokesman for the state of Vorarlberg said.No one else in the group was affected, the spokesman said.The prince was under the snow for a "short period of time," the spokesman said. He was wearing an electronic beacon that helped rescuers quickly find him, he said.The prince was airlifted to a hospital in Innsbruck, where he is in intensive care, authorities said. Doctors described the prince as stable but not out of danger, according to a statement from the queen.Lech am Arlberg is in Austria's Vorarlberg state, a popular skiing area in western Austria.The region's avalanche agency reported there was a considerable to great chance of avalanches in Lech on Friday. It cited new snowfall on top of a packed layer of snow that could cause snow slabs to slide off.The prince gave up his right to the throne when he married in 2004 without Parliament's permission. He and his wife live in London with their two daughters. | 3news
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Story highlightsA gay couple in Massachusetts is targeted by vandals who stole their rainbow flag, egged their homeMore than two dozen homes in the neighborhood put up rainbow flags in solidarity (CNN)When a Natick, Massachusetts, couple returned from vacation last week, something personal was missing from their house. It wasn't a TV, nor was it jewelry. Cari and Lauri Ryding had put up a rainbow pride flag after the shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. The flag was gone when they got home from their holiday. "We were reeling that someone took the flag," Cari said. "What were people thinking about us?" The next day, they noticed their house had also been egged.Read More"Are people hating you, what you stand for? That's what creates more anxiety than anything else," Lauri said. Soon after, neighbors began to take action. More than two dozen homes put out rainbow flags. "The ages of 5-16 were all out on their bikes delivering flags," one neighbor told CNN affiliate WCVB. "I filled up with tears driving down the street," Cari said. Natick Police did not return CNN's request for comment, but told Cari and Lauri they are investigating the incident. "The biggest story here is not about the flag, it's not about us," Lauri said. "Love conquers hate -- that's the bottom line." | 3news
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Moscow (CNN)Russian police appear to have discovered one of the country's most grisly cases of cannibalism after pictures of dismembered bodies were found on a phone belonging to one of the main suspects, Russia's state media reported Monday.The gruesome case in the southern Krasnodar region has led to the arrest of a 35-year-old man and his wife, both of whom are alleged to have murdered as many as 30 people since 1999 and consumed parts of the bodies, Russian media reported. Police have identified seven victims so far.The crimes were uncovered when a cell phone, which included images of the man posing with a dismembered female victim, was found on a street in Krasnodar earlier this month. The remains of the woman were found in a bag nearby the following day, according to the official news agency RIA Novosti. At first, the man denied having killed the woman, claiming he had found the remains and had taken photographs of himself with them, before losing his phone.A source told state news agency RIA Novosti that many of the details of the case were yet to be confirmed, but added that "at the moment, law enforcement had discovered a glass jar with a canned hand."Read More"According to the owner of a cell phone that had been lost before, this is one of those hands with which he made a selfie," the source told RIA Novosti.The source told RIA Novosti that so far the man had admitted to only two murders -- that of the female victim identified in the cell phone photos, and of another person in 2012.CNN has reached out to the Investigative Committee in Moscow for confirmation of the details of the case, the latest in a string of serial killings in Russia. Earlier this year, former policeman Mikhail Popkov was charged with 60 additional murders in addition to 22 that had already resulted in convictions. He carried out the killings over nearly twenty years. CNN's Tim Lister reported from Moscow. James Masters wrote from London. | 3news
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Story highlightsFrance and U.S. all-square after first of Davis Cup quarterfinalSpain take 2-0 lead in tie against Austria; Serbia tied 1-1 with Czech Republic in PragueCroatia and Argentina also tied at 1-1 in Buenos Aires The United States are tied 1-1 with France after the first day of the Davis Cup World Group quarterfinal at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune, France. France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga gave the hosts the initiative with a four-set 7-5 6-2 2-6 6-2 win over Ryan Harrison in the opening rubber. But the United States hit back to level the tie as big-serving John Isner fired nine aces in a straight-set 6-3 6-2 7-5 win over Gilles Simon."I took the court very confident," Isner said, DavisCup.com reported. "To me no matter who I was going to play today, I was going to feel confident no matter what. So that was the case today," he added. "I went out there and I played very well, simple as that. I was very happy with how I played and I am happy that I was able to help the team out." The U.S., who are without Andy Roddick or Mardy Fish, will look to the Bryan brothers (Bob and Mike) to edge them into the lead tomorrow as they face Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau. Meanwhile in Castellon, Spain took a firm hold on their tie against Austria as Nicolas Almagro and David Ferrer recorded straight set wins over Jurgen Melzer and Andreas Haider-Maurer respectively. The five-time champions, who are without the services of an injured Rafael Nadal, can now clinch the tie on Saturday with victory in the doubles. Almagro was on court for just under two hours in his 6-2 6-2 6-4 win over Melzer while world No.5 Ferrer demolished Haider-Maurer 6-1 6-3 6-1 to continue his unbeaten status in Davis Cup singles matches. "I won relatively easily and am happy with my game. Maybe the opponent played a little bit bad and made many mistakes but I played very solid and consistent," Ferrer said, DavisCup.com reported.Over In Prague, Serbia, who are without the services of World No.1Novak Djokovic, got off to a bad start against the Czech Republic as Tomas Berdych cruised to a straight-set win over Victor Troicki 6-2 6-1 6-2.But Janko Tipsarevic overcame Radek Stepanek in a five-set thriller 5-7 6-4 6-4 4-6 9-7 to level the tie. The winners will face either Argentina or Croatia who are battling it out in Buenos Aires.That tie is nicely poised after Croatian No.1 Marin Cilic beat David Nalbandian 5-7 6-4 4-6 7-6 6-3 before Juan Martin del Potro hit back leveling the match with a straight sets victory over Ivo Karlovic 6-2 7-6 6-1. | 5sport
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(CNN)Motorsport and sustainability are finally on converging paths, says the woman dubbed the "female Elon Musk." As the MotoE World Cup prepares for its sophomore season, Livia Cevolini, CEO of the series' motorcycle manufacturer Energica, believes technology and shifting public opinion mean zero emissions racing is ready to go mainstream. "Finally, we're able to commit to each other," the 41-year-old Italian told CNN. "Motorsport is a big part of our everyday life, and environmental technologies have to be the same. So, it's good to see that we're able to commit to each other and collect attention from new people."Read MoreREAD: How a remote desert is powering the electric vehicle revolution Livia Cevolini is pioneering electric motorcycling and women in motorsport.'Fan favorites'Cevolini founded Energica in 2014, aged just 36, in her home town of Modena, Italy's motor racing heartland.The company counts the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, and fellow two-wheeled manufacturer Ducati as neighbors, and its racing heritage runs deep. While she studied engineering, Cevolini interned with the Ferrari F1 team. Giancarlo Minardi, founder of the Minardi F1 team -- which he eventually sold to Red Bull -- is a company director. Energica's engineering pedigree also takes in the space industry, as well as motorcycle racing -- CTO Giampiero Testoni worked with both the Fantic MotoGP team and CRP Racing. Cevolini accepts that some bike purists may remain reluctant to accept MotoE, but sees it as a natural progression for racing."Electric bike racing has to face the obstacles that any change in racing brought in terms of acceptance and recognition," she told CNN. "We have seen it many times in motorcycle racing already, with the changes from two-stroke to four-stroke engines (500cc to MotoGP) and with the introduction of Moto3 and Moto2 categories. "All of these have emerged through time as fan-favorites, and MotoE will do just the same." READ: 'Your body is the limit to how fast, not the car'Cevolini sits on one of her company's Energica motorcycles.PotentialThe technical challenges for the development of the category are already falling away, she believes. "In our first year we were able to match the Moto3 times on more than one occasion -- which is an incredible achievement," she said. "So more than obstacles, I see potential in the near future."MotoE has proven its worth as a series already, Cevolini believes: "The motorcycles are all the same, so there are big battles. They're having a lot of fun, both the riders and the public." She added: "People are changing quickly their minds. So even if we think that it's slow, it's not so slow. It's going fast."READ: Fire destroys entire fleet of electric bikes ahead of championshipREAD: Phoenix from the flames -- MotoE takes to the circuit just months after fire An Energica electric motorcycle.
Musk comparisonThe fledgling race series has helped sales of Energica's road bikes, the company says. Energica is expecting 2019 revenues of about $3.5 million, which would represent 50 percent growth on 2018. Its order backlog for 2020 is already equal to 40 percent of its entire 2019 revenue, it claims. "We are a relatively small and young company with a clear identity and a great mission," Cevolini says. "We are already seeing the benefits on our involvement in MotoE in terms of visibility and technology developed on track." Growth, she believes, will be organic. "We are pioneering electric motorcycling in an organic way," she says. "So, in five years I see Energica as a well-established institution with a global reach, and a brand that is recognized as a history-making manufacturer in electric motorcycling." The comparisons to Tesla founder Musk are flattering, Cevolini smiles. "It is obviously an honor to be associated to Elon Musk, someone who has changed the game and revolutionized the car industry," she says. "We want to lead by example as much as he did, but also do it our own way: car and motorcycle industries have some things in common, but also many differences."READ: Shark-fin styling for new Formula E carJUST WATCHEDExtreme E is the 'future of off-road racing'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHExtreme E is the 'future of off-road racing' 02:50Ferrari hero She does however, have a male role model from closer to home."Being from Modena, and the fact that Energica dug its roots in the Italian motor valley, I can't help but look up to Enzo Ferrari: a true 'agitator of men' -- as he used to define himself," she says. As a female CEO in an industry notoriously dominated by men, Cevolini admits she has faced challenges. She told CNN it was difficult to be taken seriously when she founded the company. "It still is difficult," she says. "Things are changing, but I think it's also a push for ourselves as women in the technological world, and male world, to be better than them." That need to "be better" than her male counterparts has been a motivation, and even an advantage, she believes. "There are more and more women that are passionate about motors -- and showing that they can be very good at the business level," she says. "It is important to demonstrate that, as a woman, you are as good as a man, or even better -- and once you do, surely this becomes an advantage. I am here because I have the know-how, the competence to be here."JUST WATCHEDWhere does the lithium for batteries come from?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhere does the lithium for batteries come from? 01:37 Women in motorsportProgress has been made for women in the bike racing world, too: MotoE counts Spanish rider Maria Herrera among its ranks, and her compatriot Anna Carrasco made history in 2018 when she won the World Supersport 300 Championship. But the change isn't confined to the track, according to Cevolini. "Actually, I've seen more and more engineers, female engineers in our world, in the paddocks, in the racing world, in the industrial world, so things are changing," she says. Cevolini's advice to other women aspiring to enter the world of motors and motorsport is simple: "Go for it. Do your job, take your studies very seriously and choose something you really like. Be always prepared and ready. Invest in your career. Don't look at the others and don't necessarily do what 'you're supposed to'." As MotoE prepares for pre-season testing in Jerez next month, the Italian sees a bright future for sustainable sport. "We have to change our world... we have to commit to our planet with the right technology, because (sustainable sport) has to be anyway fun. So, it's so important," she says. "This is the right time." | 5sport
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(CNN)A Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic strike bomber has crashed in Russia's northwestern region of Murmansk. The accident occurred at 1:40 p.m. (5:40 a.m. ET) as the long-range bomber was attempting to land, according to Russian state news agency TASS, citing law enforcement officials. The warplane had four crew members onboard: the commander, co-pilot, navigator and operator. Two crew members have died and two have survived, according to law enforcement officials, TASS reported.It was not immediately clear what caused the plane to crash. Russia's 'invulnerable' nuclear missile ready to deploy, Putin saysRead MoreThe Tupolev Tu-22M3 is a supersonic long-range bomber which entered service in Russia during the 1980s. The aircraft is capable of performing nuclear strikes as well as conventional attacks and anti-ship missions, according to Jane's by IHS Markit.President Vladimir Putin claimed last year that Russia would soon unveil new weaponry that can render NATO defenses "completely useless," including a new hypersonic missile system. After a December 26 test of the missile, which the Russian leader claims is "invulnerable" to US defenses, Putin said: "Russia is the first in the world to receive a new type of strategic weapon and this will reliably ensure the security of our state and of our people for decades to come."The Avangard hypersonic system was tested from the Dombarovsky military airbase in southwest Russia, reported TASS. | 3news
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Story highlightsChelsea loses at home against bottom of table Queens Park RangersFormer Chelsea player Shaun Wright-Phillips scores only goal of the gameLuis Suarez scores twice as Liverpool wins 3-0Everton comes from behind to defeat Newcastle 2-1Rafael Benitez was only just beginning to win over Chelsea's supporters -- now he'll have to do it all over again.The Spaniard, who replaced Roberto Di Matteo as interim manager at Stamford Bridge in November, could only look on in horror as his side suffered a humiliating home defeat by Queens Park Rangers.It will do little for Benitez's popularity with many Chelsea supporters still angry at the removal of Di Matteo and the arrival of the former Liverpool manager. "A lot of things went wrong today," Benitez told reporters."We knew we were playing against the bottom of the table side and we spoke about that. "We knew we had to be focused but we did not have the tempo and some players may have been tired. "It was going wrong against a side who played deep and were organized."This was supposed to be a routine victory for Chelsea against a Rangers side which had managed just one league victory all season.Redknapp returns to EPL management with QPR jobBottom of the table and favorite for relegation, Harry Redknapp's side faced its west London rival as huge underdog.After all, last season's European Champions League winners had won their four previous league games, including an impressive 2-1 triumph at Everton last Sunday. Photos: Man Utd seven clear going into 2013 Photos: Man Utd seven clear going into 2013Dutch delight β Substitute Robin van Persie (L) celebrates after sealing Manchester United's 2-0 win over with West Brom, scoring his 14th league goal this season.Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: Man Utd seven clear going into 2013Fergie's roar β Alex Ferguson shouts at assistant referee Andy Garrett in scenes reminiscent of the midweek 4-3 win over Newcastle, after which the United manager was widely criticized for harrassing match officials.Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: Man Utd seven clear going into 2013Rain rain, go away β The match was cleared to go ahead after a late pitch inspection following days of rain in the UK. Groundstaff remove waterproof covers which protected the playing surface.Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: Man Utd seven clear going into 2013Tempers flare β It was pouring down in Norwich, where second-placed Manchester City won 4-3 despite having Samir Nasri (R) sent off following this clash with Sebastien Bassong, who was booked.Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: Man Utd seven clear going into 2013Dzeko denied treble β Edin Dzeko had put the visitors 2-0 ahead inside five minutes, and the recalled Bosnian striker was involved in the decisive fourth goal -- his shot hit the post and rebounded into the net off Norwich goalkeeper Mark Bunn, who was credited with an own-goal. Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: Man Utd seven clear going into 2013Bale booked for diving β Tottenham went third with a 2-1 win at Sunderland but the victory was marred by Gareth Bale's third booking this season for alleged diving -- the Wales winger will now be suspended for the next match against Reading. Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: Man Utd seven clear going into 2013Gunners blitz Magpies β Theo Walcott (C) scored a hat-trick to inspire fifth-placed Arsenal to a 7-3 home win against Newcastle, while substitute Olivier Giroud (R) also netted twice. Hide Caption 7 of 7 Photos: Schmeichel's Champions League tips Photos: Schmeichel's Champions League tipsGreat Dane β In the absence of suspended skipper Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel captained Manchester United to European Champions League glory in 1999. United trailed Bayern Munich 1-0 heading into the 90th minute, but stunned the Germans by scoring twice in a matter of minutes to seal a famous 2-1 success. The win completed an historic Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble.Hide Caption 1 of 5 Photos: Schmeichel's Champions League tipsDortmund's destiny? β Schmeichel is backing Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund to pull off a shock and lift the Champions League for the second time in their history. The German title winners have been lauded for topping a group which contained Real Madrid, Manchester City and Ajax.Hide Caption 2 of 5 Photos: Schmeichel's Champions League tipsMagical Messi β Lionel Messi has been unstoppable in 2012, scoring a record 90 goals so far this calendar year. Barcelona will be looking to win the Champions League for the fourth time in seven years.Hide Caption 3 of 5 Photos: Schmeichel's Champions League tipsNo way Jose? β Jose Mourinho has already won the Champions League with two different clubs -- Inter Milan and Porto. Despite an indifferent start to the Spanish league season, Schmeichel is confident Mourinho has the ability to lead Real Madrid to a landmark 10th European triumph.Hide Caption 4 of 5 Photos: Schmeichel's Champions League tipsA United front β Manchester United sit top of the English Premier League as the season approaches its halfway point, but Alex Ferguson's team has leaked goals all season. Schmeichel thinks his old club will need defender Nemanja Vidic to return to his top form if United are to stand any chance of reaching May's Wembley final.Hide Caption 5 of 5JUST WATCHEDSchmeichel: Spain has best national teamReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSchmeichel: Spain has best national team 02:06Even with Benitez's decision to rest the likes of Eden Hazard, Ashley Cole, Ramires and Juan Mata, Chelsea was expected to see off a QPR side which had already lost 12 of its 20 league games.Not since 1979 had Rangers won in the top-flight at Stamford Bridge and few gave them a chance of claiming a first away success of the league campaign on this occasion.After conceding three goals against Liverpool during an embarrassing first half performance on Sunday, there was a more resilient look to this QPR side.The home side were fortunate not to be reduced to ten men on four minutes when Marko Marin threw himself into a wild and dangerous challenge on Stephane Mbia.The Germany winger was shown only a yellow card for the tackle, which could easily have resulted in a straight red.While Chelsea had plenty of possession and worked goalkeeper Julio Cesar on a couple of occasions, the home side was unable to muster that moment of magic to claim the lead.Lampard double inspires ChelseaLampard thought he had put his side ahead on 66 minutes only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.Chelsea's failure to turn possession into goals allowed their opponent to grow in confidence.Suddenly, QPR began to look dangerous on the counter-attack, soaking up pressure before pushing forward in search of an unlikely winner.That winner did eventually come with 12 minutes remaining and when it arrived, it was provided by a man who used to wear the Chelsea blue.Shaun Wright-Phillips, who spent three years with the club between 2005-2008, showed his former employers how to finish, slamming home from 20-yards to send shockwaves around Stamford Bridge.The result leaves QPR five points adrift of safety with league games against Tottenham, West Ham and Manchester City to come this month.Quite what Chelsea's prospective signing Demba Ba thought of the team's performance is unknown, but with the Newcastle striker sat in the stands, the Blues flattered to deceive.While Ba was busy watching Chelsea, Newcastle was suffering a 2-1 home defeat by Everton.Papiss Cisse had given Newcastle a second minute lead before Leighton Baines' stunning free-kick and Victor Anichebe's strike won it for Everton.David Moyes' side are now just two points behind fourth place Chelsea, while Newcastle sits two points above the relegation zone.Chelsea striker Sturridge joins LiverpoolElsewhere, Liverpool cruised to a 3-0 win over Sunderland thanks to two goals from Luis Suarez.The Uruguay international took his tally to 15 Premier League goals for the season with Raheem Sterling having opened the scoring on 19 minutes.Liverpool, which completed the $19.6 million signing of Chelsea striker Daniel Sturridge Wednesday, now sits eighth in the table.Manager Brendan Rodgers also confirmed that midfielder Joe Cole is holding talks with former club West Ham after enduring an unsuccessful spell at Anfield.He told reporters: "I spoke to Joe earlier. He is a really good lad and has been brilliant during my time here in terms of as a human being. "He is obviously speaking with West Ham at the moment and if they can get something organised, it will be a terrific move for Joe." | 5sport
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Story highlightsFour shirts ripped and one ball burst during France-Switzerland matchSwiss star Zherdan Shaquiri made light of incidentPUMA blames a fault in the production process$160 Adidas football deflated after a tackle (CNN)It's a sector worth billions of dollars, but the sport apparel market has been left red-faced during a major soccer match following a number of product malfunctions.With a distinct lack of goals in the Euro 2016 Group A draw between Switzerland and France, television pundits and social media had a field day discussing a match that delivered four ripped shirts and one burst football in what has been labeled "Shirtgate."Follow @cnnsport
Switzerland's new Arsenal midfielder Granit Zhaka had to change his shirt twice during the match in Lille, while ordinary-looking tussles also left striker Breel Embolo and forward Admir Mehmedi with gaping rips in their PUMA kit."I hope PUMA doesn't produce condoms," Switzerland winger Zherdan Shaquiri quipped in an interview with Swiss newspaper Blick.#francesuisse ...LOVE the #Puma shirts in this game! Absolute evidence of shirt pulling,which is against the laws of the game! Magic PUMA!β Ray Hudson (@RayHudson) June 19, 2016
PUMA, which is the tournament's third biggest kit supplier after Nike and Adidas, said its analysis of the Swiss jersey had discovered that in one batch of material, "yarns had been damaged during the production process, leading to a weakening in the final garment."Read More"This can happen, if the combination of heat, pressure and time is not properly controlled in the manufacturing process," added the PUMA statement."The tight fitting ACTV jerseys are made of an elastane and polyester material mix. The defective material was used in only a limited number of Swiss home jerseys."PUMA added that it had checked the inventory of all the jerseys of the teams wearing its kit at Euro 2016 and was confident "such an unfortunate incident does not happen again."'Deflategate'Adidas didn't emerge unscathed from Sunday's equipment brouhaha -- notably when Switzerland's Valon Behrami tackled French forward Antoine Griezmann in the second half, his studs puncturing and immediately deflating the $160 Adidas football that is Euro 2016's official ball.An Adidas spokesperson told CNN the company is "looking into what happened and how this could have occurred". "It should be pointed out that incidents of this nature are extremely rare."Kit deals, sponsorships and player endorsements are big business for the leading sports brands.Adidas has been the Euro's number one kit supplier since 1996, and as the one of the tournament's main sponsors, has the rights to create and market the official match footballs.JUST WATCHEDRonaldo? Zlatan? The A to Zs of Euro 2016ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRonaldo? Zlatan? The A to Zs of Euro 2016 03:00Fueled by its Euro 2016 sponsorship and deals at the Copa America, the German sports brand predicts its football apparel sales will reach a record $2.8 billion (2.5 billion Euros) in 2016.As for top players, Adidas' partnership with France's Paul Pogba has an estimated value of over $4.5m, while Nike's deal with Portugal's three time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is worth over $21.5m.READ MORE: Brotherly love tested at Euro 2016PUMA has historically lagged behind the big two in the battle of the football brands, but in 2014 inked a Β£160 million five- year kit deal with Arsenal, the largest in football history.Swiss star Xhaka has recently moved to Arsenal from Borussia MΓΆnchengladbach, but judging by PUMA's statement, by the time the new English Premier League kicks off in August, the manufacturer has already ironed out any snags in the durability of its shirts.
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(CNN)Here is some background information about the trials and execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.FactsHussein was charged with premeditated murder, imprisonment and the deprivation of physical movement, forced deportation and torture. Seven other defendants stood trial with Hussein: Barzan Hassan, Taha Yassin Ramadan, Awad al-Bandar, Abdullah Ruwaid, Ali Dayem Ali, Mohammed Azzawi Ali and Mizher Ruwaid. The Dujail case was tried first because experts believed it was the most straightforward and easy to prove case.Read MoreTimelineJuly 8, 1982 - Residents of the Shiite Muslim town of Dujail, Iraq, fire on Hussein's motorcade. In retaliation, about 150 residents are executed.March 19, 2003 - The second Gulf War begins, code named Operation Iraqi Freedom.December 14, 2003 - The US Department of Defense announces Hussein has been captured in a cellar, or "spider hole," at a farmhouse in Tikrit on Saturday, December 13, 2003. June 30, 2004 - The Coalition turns over legal control of Hussein and 11 other former top Iraqi officials to the interim Iraqi government, but they remain in the physical custody of the US for security reasons.July 1, 2004 - Hussein makes his first appearance in court at his arraignment and is charged with a variety of crimes, including the invasion of Kuwait and the gassing of the Kurds. He pleads not guilty.November 2004 - Hussein's family fires his chief lawyer Mohammed al-Rashdan, accusing him of using the trial to seek personal fame. Rashdan is replaced by Ziad al-Khasawneh.July 7, 2005 - Hussein's chief lawyer Khasawneh resigns because he says the American defense team is trying to take over the case.July 17, 2005 - The Iraqi Special Tribunal (IST) files the first criminal charges against Hussein for the 1982 massacre of 148 people in Dujail. Other charges will be heard at separate trials.August 23, 2005 - Hussein confirms that he has fired all his previous lawyers and is now solely represented by Khalil Dulaimi.September 6, 2005 - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani says Hussein has confessed via videotape, audiotape, and signed confessions, to giving the order to gas thousands of Kurds in the late 1980s.September 8, 2005 - Chief attorney, Dulaimi, denies that Hussein has confessed to ordering executions and waging a campaign against Kurds in which thousands of people are said to have been killed.October 19, 2005 - Hussein's trial begins in Baghdad. He and seven other co-defendants appear before Chief Judge Rizgar Amin and plead not guilty to the torture and murder of Iraqi citizens in Dujail in 1982.October 20, 2005 - The lawyer for Bandar, Saadoun al-Janabi, is kidnapped and murdered one day after he appears in court for the opening of the trial.November 8, 2005 - Adel al-Zubeidi, a lawyer for one of Saddam's co-defendants, Ramadan, is killed and another lawyer wounded during a drive-by shooting.December 27, 2005 - Three more lawyers join the defense team: Saleh al-Armoti, Ibrahim al-Mulla and Tayseer al-Mudather.January 15, 2006 - Chief Judge Amin resigns after complaints that he is too lax with the defendants in the trial.January 23, 2006 - Iraqi officials name Chief Judge Raouf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman to replace Amin.January 29, 2006 - Judge Abdel-Rahman warns defendants that he won't tolerate political speeches in the courtroom. Hassan, Hussein's half-brother, tests the judge by calling the court the "daughter of a whore." Hassan is then forcibly removed from the courtroom. In response, several members of the defense team leave the courtroom in protest.February 2, 2006 - Hussein, his seven co-defendants and their defense team boycott the proceedings and plan to stay away from the trial until Judge Abdel-Rahman is removed from the court. April 4, 2006 - Hussein and six co-defendants are charged by the Iraqi High Criminal Court with genocide relating to the Anfal campaign against Iraqi Kurds in the late 1980s. This will be a separate trial from the current one relating to the 1982 Dujail massacre.May 15, 2006 - Judge Abdel-Rahman formally charges Hussein and seven other defendants with crimes against humanity. Hussein refuses to enter a plea.June 21, 2006 - Defense attorney Khamis al-Ubaidi is kidnapped from his home by men dressed in Iraqi police uniforms, and murdered. Ubaidi had been defending Hussein and his half-brother, Hassan. In response, all seven defendants in the trial said they will go on a hunger strike until their attorneys are put under international protection.July 27, 2006 - Court adjourns to deliberate a verdict in the Dujail trial. August 21, 2006 - A new trial against Hussein begins. He and six co-defendants are being tried on genocide charges for their role in the 1980s campaign, Operation Anfal, in which 100,000 Kurds were killed. If convicted, they could face the death penalty.September 19, 2006 - Chief Judge Abdullah al-Amiri is removed from the case after telling Hussein that he wasn't a dictator. September 20, 2006 - New Chief Judge Mohammad Orabi Majeed Al-Khalefa replaces Amiri.November 5, 2006 - Hussein is sentenced to death by hanging for the 1982 Dujail massacre. Co-defendants Hassan and Bandar receive death sentences. Former Vice President Ramadan is sentenced to life in prison. Abdullah Ruwaid, Dayem Ali and Mizher Ruwaid receive 15-year sentences. Azzawi Ali is acquitted for lack of evidence.December 26, 2006 - An appellate chamber of the Iraqi High Tribunal upholds Hussein's death sentence. Judge Aref Shaheen reads the decision of the court and says it is the final word in the case. Therefore, Hussein's execution must take place before January 27, 2007, under Iraqi law.December 30, 2006 - Hussein is hanged a few minutes after 6:00 a.m. Baghdad time. | 3news
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(CNN)Drag culture's far-reaching influence on society was affirmed on Wednesday, when Australian entomologists announced they have named a fly species after RuPaul -- the titan of drag queens.The soldier fly, whose Latin name is Opaluma rupaul, is adorned with bold rainbow colors and is bound to catch the attention of anyone that comes across it -- much like the drag icon herself. Bryan Lessard -- also known as "Bry the Fly Guy" in scientific circles -- of Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), is responsible for naming the species and he says there were myriad reasons why he chose the moniker.'RuPaul's Drag Race' welcoming first trans man contestant "I'd been watching a lot of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' when I was examining the specimen under the microscope, so it was on my mind!" Lessard told CNN. "And I really wanted to give this group of flies a memorable name because it needs the attention -- the first specimen of this RuPaul fly was collected over a hundred years ago and sat neglected in a museum collection until someone with the knowledge of that group came along to name and document them."Many of the 13 new soldier flies Lessard named are from areas affected by Australia's devastating 2019-2020 bushfires -- which is part of the reason he wanted to give at least one of them a name no one would forget. Read More"These species would have burnt and no one would have cared if I hadn't given them a name," Lessard said.Opaluma rupaul is characterized by its iridescent colors.The RuPaul fly is just one of 150 new species to be named by CSIRO recently -- and it isn't the only one to be named after a pop culture figure.The organization has also named three newly discovered, rare beetles after characters from PokΓ©mon -- the Japanese anime series that spawned an entire franchise of video games, toys and trading cards. The beetles are named Binburrum articuno, Binburrum moltres and Binburrum zapdos after three rare PokΓ©mon: Articuno, Moltres and Zapdos. And, 10 years ago, Lessard bestowed the name of another giant of popular culture upon another fly. He named the Scaptia beyonceae fly after the "Queen Bee" herself -- BeyoncΓ© -- in a move that he said was deemed in "poor taste" by some more traditional entomologists but which led to an increase in interest in the species.Lessard says part of the reason why the CSIRO is giving attention-grabbing names to insect species is to encourage greater interest amongst the public in invertebrates and to highlight the important role they play in biodiversity.Opaluma rupaul is difficult to miss, thanks to its sparkling appearance."Usually, it's the cute and cuddly koalas that get all the attention when it comes to conservation efforts," Lessard explained. "And the invertebrates are ignored -- despite the fact they're the essential workers of the ecosystem that pollinate native flowers and agricultural crops that are grown to give us food. If we didn't have that service from invertebrates, the world would be a terrible place."Beyond inspiring greater interest in invertebrates and encouraging the next generation of entomologists and scientists to seek out new species, Lessard also hopes that naming the soldier fly after an LGBTQ+ icon like RuPaul will let young LGBTQ+ people know that there are other gay scientists out there and that there is a place for them in the world of science."As a gay scientist, it took me a long time to feel comfortable in my own skin in a very traditional field of science -- in entomology," Lessard said. "I think it's really important for the next generation of LGBTQ+ scientists to know that they're being represented in the workplace, as we give the names of legends in the community to memorable species." | 3news
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Johannesburg, South Africa (CNN)Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, is suing a British newspaper, alleging that it illegally published a private letter to her father, as her husband Prince Harry launched an extraordinary and emotional attack on UK tabloids.Harry accused the Mail on Sunday of selectively editing the letter to disguise "lies" the paper had told about the Duchess -- a claim that the tabloid specifically denies. And he alleged the British tabloid press was waging a campaign against Meghan that mirrored the treatment meted out to his mother, Princess Diana, who died in 1997 when her car crashed as it was being chased by a paparazzo on a motorbike."Unfortunately, my wife has become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press that wages campaigns against individuals with no thought to the consequences -- a ruthless campaign that has escalated over the past year, throughout her pregnancy and while raising our newborn son," Harry wrote in an online statementHarry wrote the statement himself, and it was published unedited, a royal source said. The Queen and Harry's father, the Prince of Wales, were informed of the proceedings, the source told CNN.Read MoreThe royal source added that the lawsuit relates to a story published by the Mail on Sunday in February, which was based on a handwritten letter purportedly sent by Meghan to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, shortly after the Duke and Duchess got married last year.When the Mail on Sunday printed the Duchesses' personal letter, it was redacted substantially, said the royal source."This particular legal action hinges on one incident in a long and disturbing pattern of behavior by British tabloid media," Harry wrote in his statement. "The contents of a private letter were published unlawfully in an intentionally destructive manner to manipulate you, the reader, and further the divisive agenda of the media group in question."Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visits Action Aid to participate in discussions during the royal tour of South Africa on October 01, 2019 in Johannesburg.Law firm Schillings, which is representing the Duchess, said legal proceedings had been initiated against the Mail on Sunday, and its parent company Associated Newspapers, over the misuse of private information, infringement of copyright and breach of the UK's Data Protection Act 2018.A Mail on Sunday spokesman said: "The Mail on Sunday stands by the story it published and will be defending this case vigorously. Specifically, we categorically deny that the Duchess's letter was edited in any way that changed its meaning."Asked about the announcement of the lawsuit, John Wellington, managing editor of The Mail on Sunday, would not comment on when paper found out about the lawsuit, or on which law firm was representing the company.Harry and Meghan are currently traveling in southern Africa. The timing of the lawsuit is not related to their travels, but rather to specific legal advice, a palace source told CNN Tuesday. The source asked not to be named discussing the couple's private business.But royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams described the lawsuit's timing as "unprecedented." "The timing of this, before one of the most successful tours in royal history has ended, is truly unprecedented," Fitzwilliams said in a statement. "Since [the Duchess] owns the copyright of her correspondence she is likely to have been advised that they have an excellent chance of winning the case though it will bring issues regarding her family to the fore.""One must assume that they expect this case to be settled out of court which is customary for cases involving the royals." Fitzwilliams added that only four royals had appeared in court before: the Prince of Wales (later King Edward VII) in 1870 and 1891, Viscount Linley (the son of Princess Margaret) in 1990 and the Princess Royal in 2002. "If this were to go to court it would be sensational," he concluded.David Banks, a journalist and expert in media law, told the PA news agency that if the action did end up in court "it could be the privacy case of the century." Banks added that a trial could ultimately backfire against the Sussexes and lead to more disclosures about the Duchess' relationship with her father. He also cited the case of singer Cliff Richards, who successfully sued the BBC over its coverage of a 2014 police raid on his home which resulted from a sexual assault allegation. The singer denied the allegation and never faced charges. During the lawsuit against the BBC, Richards appeared in court and detailed the effect the reporting had on him, Banks said. "It would be very powerful if Meghan does or Harry does as well. It is very unusual for royals to do. I can't think of a case in living memory," he added. 'My deepest fear is history repeating itself'In his statement, Harry said that he and his wife believed in "objective, truthful reporting" and that the couple regarded the freedom of the media as a "cornerstone of democracy." But he also said that he felt some reporting about his wife was "bullying" and that he feared "history repeating itself" -- a reference to Diana, who was the target of intense media attention."My deepest fear is history repeating itself. I've seen what happens when someone I love is commoditised to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person," he said."I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces."The racist online abuse of Meghan has put royal staff on high alert Harry's strongly worded statement signals a wider battle with the UK tabloid media over what the Duke sees as a "double standard" of their reporting. "The positive coverage of the past week from these same publications exposes the double standards of this specific press pack that has vilified her almost daily for the past nine months; they have been able to create lie after lie at her expense simply because she has not been visible while on maternity leave," the duke wrote. "She is the same woman she was a year ago on our wedding day, just as she is the same woman you've seen on this Africa tour."His unfiltered condemnation of the British tabloid press is likely to worsen the already fractious and sometimes difficult relationship with the royals. Some of the traveling media on the tour have taken Harry's full-throated attack personally while pointing out that there has been a significant amount of positive coverage.Roy Greenslade, former editor of the Daily Mirror newspaper and media commentator, said Wednesday that he thought the Mail on Sunday was "on pretty thin ground."Speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Today program, Greenslade added that he thought the lawsuit was a "risky move" on Harry's part. "Not so much the legal action, because I think they could very well win that, but I think his statement attacking the whole press for the sins of one particular newspaper ... I think there is a risk there that you are going to alienate the people who carry so much of the positive material, as they have done this week as well," he explained.Greenslade continued, "The press, particularly the tabloid press, is less powerful now than it was during his mother's era and probably less powerful than it's ever been... Is he taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut here? I think he may well find that this is counterproductive."It is not the first time the British royal family have taken legal action against a media outlet. Back in 2017, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were awarded 100,000 euros in damages after French magazine Closer published photographs of Catherine sunbathing topless during a 2012 vacation. In 2006, Prince Charles also won a court battle against the Mail on Sunday over the publication of extracts from his private journals. | 3news
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Story highlightsBayern Munich beat Hoffenheim 2-0 in BundesligaSeven straight league wins for Bayern from start of seasonFranck Ribery scores both goals at Allianz ArenaSchalke up to third after 3-0 win over struggling WolfsburgFranck Ribery scored both goals as Bayern Munich made it seven straight Bundesliga wins with a 2-0 defeat of Hoffenheim Saturday.The Bavarian giants suffered a Champions League setback in midweek when they lost 3-1 to BATE Borisov in Belarus, but responded in style at their Allianz Arena.Second-placed Eintracht Frankfurt play at Borussia Moenchengladbach Sunday, with the win leaving Bayern five points clear at the top.French international star Ribery was on target after 19 minutes as he made full use of a fine pass from Thomas Mueller.Visitors Hoffenheim battled hard, but goalkeeper Koen Casteels was beaten for a second time just after the break as Ribery fired home after good work from Mario Mandzukic and Toni Kroos."The team played very smart, we were very clever," Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes told AFP."Ribery was outstanding, not only because of the two goals, but because he has also back-tracked and won balls for us in defense.With defending champions Borussia Dortmund not in action until Sunday, Schalke took advantage to move into outright third with a 3-0 win over Wolfsburg.Former Schalke coach Felix Magath is now in charge of the Wolves, but his return to Gelsenkirchen's Veltins Arena was spoiled by home goals from Jefferson Farfan, Ibrahim Afellay and midfielder Roman Neustaedter.Their third straight loss left Magath's men second from bottom.In other action, Hamburg continued their improvement with a 1-0 win at Bavarian side Greuther Fuerth -- Son Heung-Min's first-half goal giving them three points to move up the eighth.Mainz and Freiburg also enjoyed home wins over Nuremburg and Fortuna Dusseldorf respectively.Friday night's action saw Werder Bremen slump to a 3-1 defeat at Augsburg. | 5sport
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Story highlightsWorld No. 1 Rory McIlroy under the weather in bid to complete double money list winsHis tennis star girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki is accompanying him in SingaporeRain delays have caused havoc with the tournament's schedule, meaning early startsThe $6 million event may be reduced to 54 holes for the second year in a rowRory McIlroy's bid to clinch the European Tour money list has been hit by bad weather in Singapore -- and the world's No. 1 golfer has revealed that his tennis star girlfriend is not enjoying the experience.Caroline Wozniacki traveled to Asia to be by his side after her season ended last weekend at a tournament final in Bulgaria, but the couple -- dubbed "Wozilroy" -- has had to put up with rain and early-morning starts."Nearly 12 hours at the golf course already today! @CaroWozniacki really enjoying her holiday this week... Not!!," he wrote on Twitter, where he posted a less than flattering picture of the Dane slumped asleep on a desk.McIlroy, unable to complete his first round on Thursday, came back early to post a one-under-par 70 and was then level after 12 holes when the second round of the $6 million event was again halted."Now I remember why golf isn't my sport! Waking up at 5.15 isn't really my thing lol... #notamorningperson," Wozniacki posted on Twitter. Photos: Duel at Jinsha Lake Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeGolden Gong β Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods look on in amusement before banging a ceremonial gong to mark the start of their "Duel at Jinsha Lake." Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeTiger Paw β Both McIlroy and Woods, pictured above, had their handprints immortalized in clay as a lavish ceremony featuring drum majorettes and fireworks preceded their clash in the Chinese city Zhengzhou. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeNumber One β World No. 1 McIlroy cannot keep a straight face as the players pose at the first green, ahead of a clash reported to be paying the pair a combined total of $2 million. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha Lake"Barely-controlled chaos" β "The scene was barely-controlled chaos," wrote Sports Illustrated's Alan Shipnuck. "Some 3,000 fans streamed across the fairways, with soldiers locking arms in a human fence to keep the throngs off the greens." Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeHigh Jinks β A course marshall practices kung fu as she awaits the golfers' arrival. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeFiring Line β "On the tee boxes there were so many camera clicks it sounded like machine gun fire," Shipnuck wrote. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeModel Display β Local golf fans talk with one of the models who inhabited the greens in their evening wear in scenes seldom seen on any golf course. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeWater Hazard β Woods tries to maintain focus as a luxury boat passes by, with the clubhouse car park also boasting a collection of Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, Aston Martins and Maseratis. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeNext Generation? β Young fans show their support for McIlroy and Woods in a country that is seen as the next great market for golf to conquer. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeOn the Charge β McIlroy never trailed Woods after starting with a birdie, going on to card a five-under-par 67 -- one less than the world No. 2. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeJob Done β McIlroy awaits his trophy on a day that coincided with the launch of the multi-million-dollar "Golf Villas" to be built around the Jinsha Lake course. Hide Caption 11 of 11 Photos: Love match. Rory takes on Sharapova for Caroline Photos: Love match. Rory takes on Sharapova for CarolineRory and Caroline doubles act β Love match. Caroline Wozniacki welcomes her boyfriend Rory McIlroy onto the court at Madison Square Garden.Hide Caption 1 of 3 Photos: Love match. Rory takes on Sharapova for CarolineRory prepares to tee off against Sharapova β Wrong sport Rory ! McIlroy addresses a tennis ball golf style with Maria Sharapova at the other end.Hide Caption 2 of 3 Photos: Love match. Rory takes on Sharapova for CarolineRory dazzles with his tennis skills β Golf ace Rory McIlroy shows he is a dab hand at tennis with a backhand return against Maria Sharapova.Hide Caption 3 of 3 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 15McIlroy could add to his PGA Tour money list title by winning in Singapore, where officials face the prospect of cutting the tournament to 54 holes for the second year in a row if the disruptions continue.However, he is battling illness which may mean he has to wait until next week's Hong Kong Open title defense or the season-ending World Tour Championship in Dubai before he can emulate Luke Donald's feat last year."I'm struggling a bit and not feeling 100%," the 23-year-old told reporters. "Maybe it's a good thing that the humidity is so high because I might be able to sweat it out."This time last year McIlroy was suffering with an illness suspected to be Dengue Fever, and he ended up finishing second in the Race To Dubai standings behind Donald.England's world No. 63 Simon Dyson shared the lead with 631-ranked Chapchai Nirat of Thailand when Friday's play was finally stopped, with both on six under par.Half the field had not played since Thursday, including veteran American Phil Mickelson and fellow major winner Padraig Harrington -- who were both down the field after the opening round. | 5sport
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(CNN)Donald Trump talked about his Christian faith Saturday, but said he's never sought forgiveness for his sins. Trump, who also made headlines for questioning Arizona Sen. John McCain's heroism Saturday, made the comments about his faith during a Q&A at the Family Leadership Summit in Ames, Iowa.The event is a gathering sponsored by several socially-conservative Christian organizations, including the Family Research Council, a socially conservative lobbying organization; Liberty University, the world's largest evangelical university; and the National Organization for Marriage, a group established to prevent the legalization of same-sex marriage. Trump, who told CNN earlier that he is both anti-abortion and anti-same-sex marriage, said people are surprised to learn about his Christian faith."People are so shocked when they find ... out I am Protestant. I am Presbyterian. And I go to church and I love God and I love my church," he said.Read MoreModerator Frank Luntz asked Trump whether he has ever asked God for forgiveness for his actions.RELATED: Largest archdiocese to pray for immigrants in wake of Trump remarks"I am not sure I have. I just go on and try to do a better job from there. I don't think so," he said. "I think if I do something wrong, I think, I just try and make it right. I don't bring God into that picture. I don't."Trump said that while he hasn't asked God for forgiveness, he does participate in Holy Communion."When I drink my little wine -- which is about the only wine I drink -- and have my little cracker, I guess that is a form of asking for forgiveness, and I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed," he said. "I think in terms of 'let's go on and let's make it right.'"Follow @CNNpolitics CNN's Mark Preston contributed to this report. | 4politics
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Moscow (CNN)Russians are casting votes to pick regional legislators and officials in an election seen as a serious test for the pro-Kremlin United Russia party. About 160,000 candidates are seeking seats in local parliaments and 20 regions are electing a new governor, according to the Central Elections Committee.The vote comes a few weeks after the suspected poisoning of Russia's leading opposition figure Alexey Navalny. He fell ill on a tour to Siberia where he met local candidates taking part in his project called "Smart Voting" and filmed investigation reports on the activities of local United Russia members.The "Smart Voting" strategy promoted by Navalny urges Russians to vote tactically in support of a single candidate on any ballot most capable of unseating an incumbent from United Russia.Navalny unveiled "Smart Voting" during local elections in Moscow and St. Petersburg in 2018, costing United Russia dozens of seats in regional bodies. This year, Navalny headquarters runs the platform under the "Nullify United Russia" slogan in an apparent reference to a recent constitutional amendment resetting the clock on Vladimir Putin's presidential term count.United Russia's popularity declined in the past years as its image has been marred by unpopular reforms and corruption scandals, many of them exposed by Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation, with Navalny himself giving the party a moniker "the party of crooks and thieves."Read MoreA man votes at a polling station in Novosibirsk, Russia on September 13, 2020.This is the first election Russia has held since the vote on controversial constitutional amendments that gave Putin grounds to stay in power until 2036.The vote spans three days between September 11-13 in an attempt to limit crowds and prevent the spread of coronavirus, a practice adopted in the July vote on constitutional amendments, which independent monitoring organizations say lowers voting transparency and makes it easier to falsify votes."Early voting traditionally makes the election process much less transparent," monitoring organization Golos said in a statement. "The lack of proper public control is especially important, given that on the first day of voting the methods of administrative mobilization of voters were massively used and local administrations actively interfered in the work of election commissions." Sergei Boiko, a City Council candidate and the head of opposition leader Alexei Navalny's Novosibirsk headquarters, speaks to reporters in the Siberian city on September 13, 2020. The vote could turn into a popularity test for the ruling pro-Putin United Russia party in a year that has seen a controversial pandemic response from Russian regional leaders, record-low approval ratings for Putin, and unrest in some regions over pressing local issues such as the arrest of popular governor Sergey Furgal in the far-eastern city of Khabarovsk.Opposition volunteers linked to Navalny attacked with unknown liquid in SiberiaThe protests in Khabarovsk have raged for weeks since July. Furgal, often referred to locally as "the people's governor," beat a Kremlin-backed candidate from the ruling United Russia party in the 2018 local elections in a surprising single round. He refused to drop out of the race under pressure from his Kremlin-backed opponent, who had offered to allow him to serve as his deputy. He has been portrayed as disloyal to Putin and the Kremlin.The results of this vote could serve as a bellwether for the key 2021 elections to the State Duma, Russia's lower house of the parliament, where United Russia controls the majority of the seats. | 3news
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Story highlightsChuck Blazer says he took bribes in connection with World Cup bidding and TV rights for regional tournamentBlazer is a former FIFA bigwig and was also a top official for CONCACAF He pleaded guilty to 10 felonies in 2013 after reaching a plea agreement with U.S. prosecutors (CNN)Chuck Blazer, a former FIFA executive committee member and a key player in the ongoing corruption investigation into international soccer's governing body, admitted that he and other officials took bribes ahead of the 1998 and 2010 World Cups, court records show.In a 40-page document that federal prosecutors released Wednesday, Blazer tells the court that he and other members of the FIFA executive committee took bribes between 2004 and 2011 and helped South Africa land the 2010 World Cup.Blazer, who was on FIFA's executive committee from 1997 to 2013, also describes facilitating a bribe in connection with the 1998 World Cup bidding process. U.S. officials have said in another court document that the bribe that Blazer helped to negotiate was paid by Moroccan officials to an unnamed member of FIFA's executive committee. Morocco's bid for the Cup was unsuccessful. France was award the 1998 finals.
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"During my association with FIFA and CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football), among other things, I and others agreed that I or a co-conspirator would commit at least two acts of racketeering activity," he says in the newly released court document. Read MoreRead the transcript here. Blazer, who is now 70, pleaded guilty in 2013 to conspiracy to commit racketeering, wire fraud, money laundering, income tax evasion and failure to report foreign bank accounts. The court document, from November of that year, is a transcript of Blazer's appearance before a judge in the Eastern District of New York. As part of a plea agreement, he waives his indictment and pleads guilty to the 10 felonies.In the transcript he reveals he has rectal cancer, coronary artery disease and diabetes, but says his cancer prognosis is good and he is holding up reasonably well even though he is wheelchair bound. His guilty plea was recently unsealed after 14 more people were indicted in the United States last week in connection with the massive scandal. Nine FIFA officials, as well as five sports media and marketing executives, were charged by U.S. prosecutors over alleged kickbacks of more than $150 million dating back over 20 years. Blazer has not yet been sentenced.JUST WATCHEDBlazer: I took bribes for French, S. African World CupsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBlazer: I took bribes for French, S. African World Cups 02:33At one point, Blazer was the No. 2 man in the soccer governing organization for CONCACAF. He had amassed $11 million in unreported income, said Richard Weber, director of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division.Some of that money came from kickbacks he received in conjunction with broadcast rights for five Gold Cups, a regional tournament featuring the United States, Mexico and other teams in CONCACAF.Why is the U.S. bringing down the hammer on FIFA?Once the government cornered him with the tax evasion allegations, Blazer reportedly wore a hidden microphone to record other soccer officials at the 2012 London Olympics.Blazer, an American who is lives in New York, left CONCACAF in 2011 and FIFA two years later.Sepp Blatter resigns: What's next for FIFA? | 5sport
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(CNN)When the US intelligence community first picked up signs in the fall that Russia could be preparing a new attack on Ukraine, President Joe Biden directed his administration to act -- and fast.Wary of repeating mistakes made in 2014, when the US and Europe were caught off guard by Russia's annexation of Crimea, Biden directed his national security team to use every tool possible to try to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin while a possible invasion was still assessed to be several months away, a senior US official told CNN. "What we have been doing is very calculated," the official said. "But we only have about a four-week window from now" to pull it off, he added.The response began with a flurry of intense diplomatic activity in early fall, including a trip by CIA Director Bill Burns to Moscow to warn Putin directly against making a move. But as Russian troops continued to amass near Ukraine's border, the quiet diplomacy quickly evolved into stark, public warnings to Putin to back down or face harsh sanctions and increased US military assistance to Ukraine. Top Biden officials are now emphasizing that the consequences would go above and beyond anything Russia faced after its land grab in 2014. Read More"The sanctions we imposed on Russia in 2014 were largely intended to inhibit the medium-to-long-term development of specific Russian state-owned firms by restricting their access to US capital markets and technology," a White House official said. In contrast, the options on the table now "would be overwhelming, immediate and inflict significant costs on the Russian economy and their financial system."The intelligence community came under fire in 2014 when Biden was vice president, over what some lawmakers said was a failure to predict Russia's incursion into Crimea until it was too late. And after that attack, Biden's push to arm Ukraine and impose extremely severe sanctions on Russia was largely overruled by President Barack Obama. Now in charge, Biden has wanted to do things very differently, officials said. "This administration has been much more proactive, and there is more of a realistic sense now that Putin is capable of absorbing a lot of pain in an effort to impose costs on the US and our allies," said New Jersey Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski, who served as the State Department's senior most human rights official from April 2014 to January 2017.That has resulted in far more robust intelligence-sharing with Ukraine about Russia's planning than anything that occurred in 2014, sources familiar with the process said -- partly because the Ukrainian government is "a more reliable partner" now than it was then, said one former senior NATO official, and partly because Biden firmly believes Ukraine cannot be left out of any discussions that concern its future. The administration also shared unusually detailed intelligence early on about Russia's movements with NATO, G7 and European allies early on, European diplomats told CNN. "I did not see this same level of coordination in early 2014," said the former senior NATO official, who retired in September 2021. "This administration has been much more multilateral in their approach -- that is new, and it's the result of leveraging a lot of positive work that has been done amid the Covid-19 pandemic to increase political cohesion and the exchange of information among partners." However, Malinowski and other officials noted the situation now is different from 2014 in important ways."What Putin is potentially preparing for here requires taking actions that are much more visible than what we saw in 2014," Malinowski said. "The forces he is amassing are exactly the forces you would amass if you were preparing for an all-out land invasion of the country, which is not what happened in 2014 with Russia's little green men." The Russian military is also "in a very different place in terms of capability, force structure, and posture compared to 2014-2015," said Michael Kofman, the research program director in the Russia Studies Program at CNA. And the US has a much better understanding of that, said the former senior NATO official. "We have increased intelligence capabilities, an increased eastern base posture, better satellite imagery, more political cohesion," the former NATO official said. "That has all allowed the US and its allies to be much better forewarned than in 2014." Still, current and former officials told CNN they see some similar mistakes being made -- and similar signs from Russia that it is not taking the US threats seriously. "I am definitely seeing things that are being done better in terms of them taking the threat seriously and working very closely with our allies, which I think is essential," said Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, who served as commanding general of United States Army Europe from November 2014 to December 2017."But there are still a lot of mixed messages coming out of the White House and a couple of unforced errors that the Kremlin must be quite happy with," Hodges said, including Biden's disclosure earlier this month that sending US troops to Ukraine is not on the table."I agree this is not the time for US military action," he said. "But why announce that? That was basically a concession while the Kremlin has only increased their demands."Biden's comment also reinforced Russia's belief that, especially after the withdrawal from Afghanistan, the US will not want to get bogged down in another war overseas.The National Security Council is similarly wary of sending certain kinds of equipment and weapons to Ukraine that might be viewed by Russia as provocative, like air defense systems, at a moment when the US and its allies are trying to get Moscow to de-escalate. Obama refused to provide Ukraine with lethal aid at all, also wary of provoking Russia further -- but that restraint did nothing to deter the continued attacks by Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine or get Russia to relinquish Crimea. "The biggest thing that provokes the Russians," said Hodges, "is when we look weak and disjointed." An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that while the military assistance the US has already provided is "greatly appreciated," it would not be enough to deter the kind of attack the Russians seem to be planning. "The US military assistance, although greatly appreciated, is primarily aimed at deterring a 2014-15 green men and other Russian-orchestrated proxy attacks," the adviser said. "Urgent air and missile defense technology is needed to confront an all-out Russian attack, and this has been requested over a month ago. There is confusion in Kyiv as to why this is being withheld in light of such overwhelming intelligence the Biden administration has shared."This story has been updated with comment from a Ukrainian presidential adviser. | 4politics
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Moscow (CNN)Interpol holds its general assembly this week in Dubai, and the meeting has become a new flashpoint in the ongoing confrontation between Russia and the West.Delegates will cast votes on Wednesday for a new president of the international police organization. And a leading candidate for the job is Alexander Prokopchuk, currently Moscow's most senior Interpol official.That has critics in Washington and in Russia up in arms. The reason? Russia, they say, has a track record of using Interpol's systems to crack down on and pursue the Kremlin's political foes.On Monday a bipartisan group of US senators released a letter saying the election of Prokopchuk would be "akin to putting a fox in charge of a henhouse."After ex-Interpol chief's disappearance, his wife is publicly fighting Chinese authoritiesWhile the president of Interpol is not in charge of day-to-day operations -- the secretary general holds that responsibility -- the holder of the position can influence its overall strategy.Read MoreIn their letter, the senators urged the Trump administration and members of Interpol's general assembly to oppose Prokopchuk's candidacy, saying it would undermine its credibility."Russia routinely abuses Interpol for the purpose of settling scores and harassing political opponents, dissidents and journalists," the letter said. "Alexander Prokopchuk has been personally involved in this intimidation strategy which ultimately seeks to weaken democratic institutions and embolden Putin's authoritarian regime. If elected as president by the members of Interpol's general assembly on Wednesday, we have no doubt that Mr. Prokopchuk will further institutionalize the abuse of Interpol red notices and block ongoing efforts at meaningful reform."Leader needs credibilityOn Tuesday, the US threw its backing behind another candidate. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo endorsed Kim Jong Yang, a South Korean police official who is currently the acting president of Interpol, for the job on a permanent basis."We encourage all nations and organizations that are part of Interpol and that respect the rule of law to choose a leader with credibility and integrity that reflects one of the world's most critical law enforcement bodies. We believe Mr. Kim will be just that," Pompeo said at a news conference in Washington.An aide to US Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican on the Foreign Relations Committee and one of the senators behind the bipartisan letter, said Tuesday that his office was working with the US Justice Department and US State Department to lobby Interpol member states against voting for Prokopchuk.Louis Shelley, a transnational crime expert and director of the Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center at George Mason University, called the potential election of a Russian as Interpol's president a "catastrophe for international criminal justice."The president of Interpol establishes the agency's working committees and "has an influence on policy," Shelley said."It's not as if it's just some figurehead," Shelley said. "It totally politicizes the organization and provides that Interpol becomes a political tool of an authoritarian government."The potential appointment of Prokopchuk has also drawn criticism from Russia's embattled opposition. Leading Putin critic Alexei Navalny said Monday on Twitter his supporters had "suffered from abuse of Interpol for political persecution by Russia."Calls for reformUS-born businessman Bill Browder also says he has firsthand knowledge of how the Russian government uses Interpol to settle political scores: He said the Russian government has issued a string of "red notices" in attempts to arrest and extradite him. In a press conference Tuesday, Browder said that if a Russian now becomes the head of Interpol, new rules to prevent Russian abuses must be imposed."Or if that's not possible, it may be time to create an international law enforcement that just consists of countries that abide by the rule of law," " Browder said, Putin critic Bill Browder says Interpol has abused its position.Browder has been the driving force behind the Magnitsky Act, which was signed into law in the US in 2012 and blocks entry into the US and freezes the assets of certain Russian government officials and businessmen accused of human rights violations. The act is named after Sergei Magnitsky, Browder's lawyer, who died in Russian custody in 2009.Observers say the Kremlin has made a priority of weakening or even overturning the Magnitsky Act, even as several other countries have adopted similar laws to deter corruption and human-rights violations.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that the US was "meddling" in the election of a new Interpol chief, amid rising opposition to the possible appointment of a Russian Interior Ministry official to head the international agency.JUST WATCHEDWife of ex-Interpol chief fears for her lifeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWife of ex-Interpol chief fears for her life 03:30Asked in a conference call with reporters to comment on the letter from the US lawmakers, Peskov said: "We haven't seen the actual letter, but we've read media reports about it. I guess this is meddling in an electoral process in way, in the election of an international organization. How can we think of it otherwise? This is a very telling move."That the vacancy exists at all is itself controversial. The organization's Chinese former president, Meng Hongwei, recently went missing on his return to China; Chinese authorities transmitted what they claimed was his resignation letter to Interpol. His wife, Grace Meng, says Interpol was too quick to accept the Chinese version of events.In a statement Monday, Human Rights Watch criticized the police organization's "curious unconcern about its disappeared ex-chief.""This is extremely disappointing and worrying behavior from an organization that is supposed to protect people from abuses of power, not aid and abet such infringements," a spokesperson for Grace Meng said.David Shortell wrote from Washington, DC. CNN's Matthew Chance contributed reporting from Moscow and Saskya Vandoorne contributed reporting from Paris | 3news
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Story highlightsU.S. Open takes place at Oakmont, PACourse hosts record ninth U.S. OpenPhil Mickelson seeking career grand slam Tiger Woods still not fit (CNN)It's known as a war of attrition and a game of patience where accepting your fate is key, but this week's U.S. Open at Oakmont ups the ante.The storied venue outside Pittsburgh hosts a record ninth U.S. Open, and provides a brutal backdrop for the year's second major.Oakmont Country Club is often called the "hardest" course in golf, and the tournament will be packed with compelling storylines. Phil Mickelson, who will turn 46 on Thursday's opening round, is vying to finally win a U.S. Open after a record six runner-up spots. Victory would complete the career grand slam of all four major titles, and make him the oldest champion ahead of 45-year-old Hale Irwin, but the veteran left hander has not won since the 2013 British Open. What makes Oakmont so special?https://t.co/EVBraAUJSz pic.twitter.com/n2E3fKf877β USGA (@USGA) June 2, 2016
READ: Will Mickelson conquer his great nemesis?Read MoreThe world's top three players -- Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy -- resume their battle for supremacy, all hoping to add to their major hauls and enhance their status in the history of the game.Can surprise Masters champion Danny Willett prove he is not a one-major wonder, or will another unsung player step into the limelight?Will Oakmont live up to its roguish reputation? "It's probably the hardest course in the world on any given day without messing with the set up," Australian Geoff Ogilvy, the 2006 champion, told CNN's Living Golf.The U.S. Open is often seen as the toughest of golf's four majors to win, with tight fairways, thick rough, slick greens and punishing pin placements. Par is considered a good score.The infamous Church Pews bunkers come into play on the third and fourth holes at Oakmont.'No train wrecks'Tournament organizer Mike Davis, executive director of the USGA, says the aim at a U.S. Open is to create the "most complete test of golf.""They are going to test your shot-making abilities, your strategic and course-managing skills and they are going to test your nerves, too," Davis told Living Golf.Ogilvy, who handed Mickelson arguably his most devastating U.S. Open defeat 10 years ago, added: "U.S. Opens really are kind of damage-control tournaments -- making a four instead of five, making a five instead of a six. Not having train wrecks." READ: Tiger Woods to miss U.S OpenOakmont, which opened in 1903, is a wide open expanse of former farmland featuring no water and almost no trees.JUST WATCHEDIs Oakmont the toughest course in golf?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIs Oakmont the toughest course in golf? 03:03The difficulty lies in severe bunkering -- including the infamous "Church Pews" row of bunkers on the third and fourth holes -- and hugely undulating greens, "which make Augusta's look flat and easy to putt," according to Ogilvy. "I really think it is the hardest golf course we've ever played," Mickelson told reporters in Memphis last week. "A lot of golf courses, when it challenges you tee to green the way Oakmont does, it usually has a little bit of a reprieve on the greens, and you really don't at Oakmont."Oakmont Country Club was born in 1903 on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. READ: Why Jason Day is 'Tiger-esque'Australia's Day heads into the week looking to cement his status as world No. 1 and add to his 2015 U.S. PGA title, while Spieth is the defending champion after triumphing at the controversial Chambers Bay last year.The 21-year-old Spieth, who had just won the Masters for his maiden major, became the youngest U.S. Open winner in 92 years when he profited from Dustin Johnson's three-putt on the final hole 12 months ago.JUST WATCHEDLife Begins at 52: Wes Short's Milestone ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLife Begins at 52: Wes Short's Milestone 02:30But the Texan will have his own baggage to contend with at Oakmont after blowing a five-shot lead with nine holes to play in his defense at Augusta in April. Spieth even had to endure a heckler shouting "Remember the Masters" as he clinched a PGA Tour win in the Lone Star state last month.READ: Jordan Spieth's Masters disaster - ultimate choke, or one-off blip?Like fellow 20-somethings Day and Spieth, Northern Ireland's world No. 3 McIlroy is also in form with a recent victory to his name as he looks to add a fifth major title and first since the 2014 U.S. PGA.McIlroy won the U.S Open at a rain-softened Congressional in 2011, two months after his own Masters collapse when he squandered a four-shot lead heading into the last day. JUST WATCHEDU.S. Open previewReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHU.S. Open preview 09:30This week's tournament will be without Tiger Woods after the former world No. 1 announced he has not recovered sufficiently from multiple back surgeries. The 40-year-old, who won the last of his 14 majors at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in California, has not played since last August.'Fat Jack'One man who unlocked Oakmont's secret was Johnny Miller, who charged to victory with a final-round 63 -- the joint lowest score ever in a major -- in 1973.Other notable stagings at Oakmont include the legendary Ben Hogan's fourth major title in 1953 during a still unmatched run of victories in that year's Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.READ: Can space tech help you hit it like Tiger?Oakmont is also where a 22-year-old Jack Nicklaus served notice of his future greatness by clinching the first of his record 18 major titles.The rookie from Ohio defied the taunts of "Fat Jack" from the massed fans of local hero Arnold Palmer to beat the reigning Masters champion in an 18-hole playoff.Follow @cnnsport
"Now that the big guy is out of the cage, everybody better run for cover," Palmer, then a five-time major champion, said afterwards.At the other end of the major-winning scale, this week will feature a 52-year-old U.S. Open debutant.Texan Wes Short Jr. has finally qualified for his first U.S. Open, having first tried as a teenager in 1982. His only other major appearance is at the 2006 U.S. PGA Championship, where he missed the halfway cut.Who will win the U.S. Open? Have your say on CNN Sport's Facebook pageLike this story? Get more at cnn.com/golfJUST WATCHEDTake a look at Rio's Olympic golf courseReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTake a look at Rio's Olympic golf course 08:28 | 5sport
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(CNN)Sometimes winning isn't everything. Just ask football fans from England and Belgium, many of whom would rather their team loses Thursday night's Group G encounter. Follow @cnnsport
Both countries have already guaranteed qualification for the World Cup's round of 16, courtesy of victories against group stage rivals Panama and Tunisia. What's at stake is which team takes top spot -- a position that would traditionally ensure an easier path through the latter reaches of the tournament. Except this time around, with many of the big teams underperforming, and one half of the draw stacked with dangerous opposition, it's actually the reverse that's true. Read MoreWhile the winner will potentially have to face the likes of Brazil and France en route to the final, the losing team could make it all the way to Luzhniki Stadium on July 15 having only overcome Sweden and Denmark in the quarterfinals and last four. READ: Germany crashes out of World Cup group stagesJUST WATCHEDTheresa May's surprise World Cup giftReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTheresa May's surprise World Cup gift 00:46Belgium manager Roberto Martinez certainly seemed tempted by the proposition in his pre-match press conference, openly admitting victory against England wasn't his chief concern."We have qualified and that was the priority," said Martinez. "Now we need to look at our individual players. We want to perform well but the priority is not to win. That is the reality, we have put ourselves in this situation, we wanted to qualify and we have done that." I reckon England should try to win the group. Keep winning, keep developing, don't assume they'd beat Sweden or Switzerland, don't assume they'd lose to Brazil (who may not beat Mexico). Leave all that stuff to clairvoyants. Just win games.β Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) June 28, 2018
Martinez, who has already said he will rest all-time top scorer Romelu Lukaku, added: "I think tomorrow's a celebration. "Two teams can celebrate being qualified for the knockout phase."England boss Gareth Southgate was more pragmatic, though his words could later be seen as naΓ―ve should a beaten Belgium breeze through to the final."We have no idea who, when or where we will play," said Southgate, stressing the dangers of plotting a path through a tournament that has already thrown up no shortage of major shocks. "We're just pleased we're in the next round." #BEL and #ENG battle it out Thursday. Finishing second in Group G rather than first means a potential #WorldCup quarterfinal against #BRA could be avoided. So with both teams already through, should England and Belgium play to win or lose?β CNN Sport (@cnnsport) June 27, 2018
After all, any projections would be rendered immediately and embarrassingly irrelevant, should the two sides fail to overcome their last 16 opponents: either Japan or Colombia. "We've not won a knockout game since 2006," shrugged Southgate. "So, why we are starting to plot which would be a better venue for our semifinal is beyond me really." 'Winning mentality' According to sports data company Gracenote, Southgate's men have a 24% chance of reaching the last four should they emerge as group winners, but a 35% chance should they finish second. But the other side of the argument is that the value of instilling a "winning mentality" and generating "momentum" cannot be underestimated. "We're building a team that everyone back home can see are passionate to play for England, that want to win every time they go out and are improving every time," stressed Southgate."We want to win. That would mean we top the group and then we can move forward. I go back to the fact we're trying to develop a winning mentality and I can't imagine a situation where I talk to the players about anything else. It just wouldn't be authentic for what we've been trying to build for the last two years."The potential route to the World Cup final for England & BelgiumGroup H winners Last 16 - Colombia/Japan/SenegalQuarterfinals - Brazil/MexicoSemifinals - France/Argentina/Portugal/UruguayGroup H runners-upLast 16 - Colombia/Japan/SenegalQuarterfinals - Sweden/SwitzerlandSemifinals - Spain/Russia/Croatia/DenmarkWhile it is indeed hard to envisage a manager instructing his team to lose, it's not without precedent. The winners of an infamous 1998 Tiger Cup group stage contest between Thailand and Indonesia would have to face relative powerhouse Vietnam in the next round while the losers would face the apparently weaker Singapore. As a result, both teams tried to throw the match. With the score level at 2-2 and time running out, Indonesia's Mursyid Effendi turned and deliberately kicked the ball into his own net to ensure defeat. Both teams were fined $40,000 by governing body FIFA for "violating the spirit of the game." Effendi was banned from international football for life. Should England and Belgium play to win or lose? Have your say on CNN Sport's Facebook page or on Twitter using the hashtag #CNNWorldCuAnd there's further warning signs for Belgium and England, should they be plotting any foul play in the pursuit of eventual glory. Both Thailand and Indonesia lost their semifinals anyway. Singapore, the underdog, went on to lift the trophy.Fair play? While both sides are unlikely to be so brazen, one outcome that could occur at the Kaliningrad Stadium Thursday is a draw. And given both sides are level on points, goal difference and goals scored, top spot would be then decided by fair play. In such a scenario, whichever team accumulates the most cards over the course of the group stage would finish second. So could we see a foul in the dying stages end up determining the destiny of these footballing nations? JUST WATCHED1-on-1 with Geoff Hurst: 'It changes your life'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH1-on-1 with Geoff Hurst: 'It changes your life' 02:23Players deliberately getting booked isn't all that unusual, according to former referee Mark Halsey, who officiated in the Premier League for 14 years and was in charge for numerous high-profile international fixtures.Mark Halsey refereed at the highest level for over a decade. Halsey recalls a Premier League game from 2011 when a player approached him quite literally asking for a yellow card. "He's just said 'listen, look, we've got a game Tuesday. If I don't get cautioned now and get one Tuesday, I'll miss the big derby on the Saturday," Halsey told CNN. "So he just asked me if I could show a yellow. And I did actually."I said to him, 'Alright, we've got 10 minutes to go, when I give a free-kick against you' -- and I knew I would because he's that sort of player -- 'just leather the ball 50 yards away and I can caution you for dissent.' Visit CNN.com/sport for more news and features "If you've got big games coming up and you're on four yellow cards, one more means you get suspended. I just said to him, 'Don't do nothing stupid.'"He came up to me at the end of the game and said, 'Thanks for that Mark.'" | 5sport
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Story highlightsThe white paper gives more details on the UK government's negotiating strategyTheresa May gave a speech last month which outlined her prioritiesLondon (CNN)The British government formally set out details for the first time Thursday of its strategy for Britain's departure from the European Union.The 77-page "white paper" was published a day after lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of a bill that once finalized would give May the authority to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty -- the formal process of leaving the EU.It contained few clues about the government's overall strategy that were not evident in a speech delivered by Prime Minister Theresa May in January. But it fleshed out aspects of May's plan in some key areas.The white paper said: β’ The UK will seek a "new strategic partnership" with Europe. While the UK would leave the EU single market and customs union, it would seek to keep "elements" of the free-trade zone. Read Moreβ’ No "cliff-edge" Brexit. The government said it would seek transitional arrangements to minimize the impact of Britain's departure front he EU.β’ Early targets for trade deals would be the US, China, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, India and states in the Persian Gulf. It would seek "continuity" of arrangements with other countries that are currently covered by EU deals.β’ The government hopes for an "early" agreement on the status of the 2.8 million EU nationals who live in the UK. It expressed disappointment that a number of EU states had blocked attempts to sort the issue out before formal divorce talks begin.β’ It offered no guarantee on the status of the Irish border. The government said only that it would "aim" to protect the common travel area that exists between Northern Ireland, which is part of the UK, and the Republic of Ireland, which will remain in the EU. The issue is a key part of the deal that brought peace to Northern Ireland. The-United-Kingdoms-Exit-From-and-Partnership (PDF)The-United-Kingdoms-Exit-From-and-Partnership (Text)In a foreword to the white paper, May said Britain approached the negotiations anticipating success, not failure.Brexit Secretary David Davis speaks in the House of Commons."The House of Commons has voted overwhelmingly for us to get on with it. And the overwhelming majority of people -- however they voted -- want us to get on with it too," she said. David Davis, the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, told the House of Commons that Britain wanted the "European Union to succeed, politically and economically" and so would approach the negotiations in the "spirit of goodwill" and for both sides' mutual benefit. Immigration: 'Nobody will be thrown out'Around 2.8 million EU nationals live in the UK, many of them Polish. Around 1 million UK nationals live in other member states, 300,000 of them in Spain. Protestors demonstrate against Brexit in Parliament Square.Resolving the status of both groups was an "early priority", the white paper said. It indicated frustration with other EU states that it had not already been dealt with. "The government would have liked to resolve this issue ahead of formal negotiations," it said.While welcoming the contribution of migrants to Britain's economy and society, the white paper said there had been "record levels of long-term net migration in the UK and that sheer volume has given rise to public concern." It cites pressure on housing, infrastructure, public services and downward pressure on wages for those on the lowest incomes."We will design our immigration system to ensure that we are able to control the numbers of people who come here from the EU," it says. "In future, therefore, the Free Movement Directive will no longer apply and the migration of EU nationals will be subject to UK law."Pressed in the House of Commons by opposition Labour spokesman Keir Starmer, Davis said EU nationals would not be forced to leave the UK. "I am not going to be throwing people out of Britain and for him to suggest that is outrageous," he said.Irish border: 'Aim' to keep current arrangements Under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which brought an end to sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland, there is currently an open border between the north and south. Any change to this arrangement would imperil the peace process, critics have warned.However, there are doubts that the UK could maintain an open border with an EU member state -- and the white paper acknowledges the doubts, saying only that the government "aims" to maintain the current arrangements.Speaking last month, May said that finding a solution to the border issue would be "an important priority," adding that "nobody wants to return to the borders of the past, so we will make it a priority to deliver a practical solution as soon as we can."Trade: 'No need to start from scratch'The government will seek to retain a large part of the country's current trade arrangements with the EU, but emphasizes the need to boost trade with other states, citing growth in its exports to South Korea, China, Brazil and Mexico.The paper reiterates May's recent announcement that Britain will not remain in the union's single market but will instead seek "the freest and most frictionless trade possible in goods and services between the UK and the EU."Brexit secretary David Davis outlined plans in the House of Commons.But the document made it clear that the UK wanted to retain some parts of the present single market arrangements, saying it "makes no sense to start again from scratch" in areas where rules have existed for years.The government will seek the freest possible trade in financial services, a key sector for Britain's economy.Several prominent financial institutions based in London have suggested moving jobs to EU states to remain part of the single market. From within the EU, Britain has been able to provide financial services across the union under a common set of rules and regulatory authority -- access known in the sector as "passporting."More than 5,000 UK firms use passporting to provide services to the EU, while around 8,000 European firms use the instrument to provide services to Britain, and UK-based financial institutions have lobbied the government to try to retain passporting rights.The government hopes to seek new opportunities and reform policy in the agriculture, food and fisheries sectors, which the paper described as "currently heavily influenced by EU laws."Security: 'Deepen security cooperation'The government says it will continue to work with the EU in fighting terrorism and maintaining security, adding it is "uniquely placed to develop and sustain a mutually beneficial model of cooperation."It says that the UK is "driving or co-driving" approximately half of the Europol projects against organized crime, and cites the extradition of more than 8,000 individuals accused or convicted of a criminal offense to other EU countries under the European Arrest Warrant.It reiterates its willingness to work with EU allies over criminal matters, security and cyber security while upholding its commitments to NATO.It also highlights that it will "seek a strong and close future relationship with the EU with focus on operational and practical cross-border cooperation."Transition: 'No cliff-edge'The government says it wants to deliver a smooth, orderly exit and to "avoid a disruptive cliff-edge" as Britain leaves the European Union.The government envisages finalizing a deal within the expected two-year period after triggering Article 50, but seeks a phased transition after that, to maintain stability and give businesses and institutions time to adjust.It does not give a timeline for how long the whole process might take, saying some elements will be phased in faster than others. But it stresses Britain will not seek an "unlimited transitional status" which would be good for neither side. CNN's David Wilkinson contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlightsPascal Wehrlein is hungry for more Formula E podiumsGerman has made the switch from Formula 1"I need this environment" he says of Mahindra team (CNN)Season Five rookie Pascal Wehrlein is discovering the 'E' in Formula E also stands for early mornings. "The mornings start at five or six o'clock," he tells CNN's Supercharged. "It's not my time!"I don't like to wake up so early."Each of the 13 races on the calendar is a frenetic one-day festival of racing, with the first practice session beginning as early as 07:30am local time and the E-Prix just eight hours later. With qualifying and media duties to squeeze in too, it makes for a thrilling day at the track unlike any other form of motorsport. Read MoreWehrlein was involved in arguably the most exciting ePrix in the sport's five seasons at the previous race in Mexico City.The German almost led from start to finish after a scintillating drive in qualifying left him in pole position, but his car's battery died just a few meters from the finish line and allowed Lucas di Grassi to steal victory.Making life easier Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonFormula E 2018/19 β The 2018/19 Formula E season proved to be a thriller, with the exciting new Gen2 cars boasting top speeds of 280km/h. Eight different drivers won the first eight races in a season that went down to the wire.Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonFrenchman Jean-Eric Vergne became the first double champion in the sport's history, defending the title he won last season thanks to three race victories.Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonRobin Frijns won his second E-Prix of the season, storming to victory in the final race of 2018/19 in New York.Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonFormer world champion Sebastian Buemi claimed his first victory of 2018/19 at the first of a double-header in New York.Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonJean-Eric Vergne strengthened his grip on the title with his third victory of the season in Bern, extending his lead to 38 points at the top of the championship.Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonBerlin, race 10 β An ecstatic Lucas Di Grassi celebrated in style after dominating the Berlin E-Prix to close the gap at the top of the drivers' championship.Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonFormula E finally got its first repeat winner of the season in race nine, as Jean-Eric Vergne led from pole to finish to secure his second victory of the season.Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonDutch driver Robin Frijns claimed victory in Paris on the day his country celebrated its national King's Day. The Envision Virgin Racing man was the eighth different driver to win the eight races so far this season.Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonMitch Evans victory at the Rome ePrix was Jaguar's first in motorsport since 1991. The Kiwi is the only driver to score points in the seven races so far this season.Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonSanya, race six β Jean-Eric Vergne put an end to a miserable run of form that saw him go pointless for three straight races by taking victory in Sanya, the first time the championship had visited the south China cityHide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonHong Kong, race five β Edoardo Mortara backed up his third place in Mexico by claiming top spot in Hong Kong, Venturi's first ever victory in Formula E. Sam Bird had initially crossed the line in first place but after a four-hour investigation, was demoted for smashing into the back of race leader Andre Lotterer.Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonMexico City, race four β Former world champion Lucas Di Grassi celebrates his victory at the Mexico ePrix, arguably the most thrilling race in the sport's five seasons. Race leader Pascal Wehrlein's battery died just meters from the line, allowing Di Grassi to swoop past on the inside and snatch victory.Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonSantiago, race three β On a sweltering afternoon in Santiago, Chile -- the hottest ePrix in history -- Sam Bird stormed to victory at the Parque O'Higgins Circuit. After finishing third overall last season, the Briton will have hopes of coming out on top this time around.Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonMarrakesh, race two β Jerome d'Ambrosio followed up his podium finish in Saudi Arabia with victory in Marrakesh -- his third in Formula E -- to take an early lead at the top of the championship.Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: The 2018/19 Formula E seasonAd Diriyah, race one β The season got off to a thrilling start in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, as Portuguese driver Antonio Felix da Costa edged out Jean-Eric Vergne and Jerome d'Ambrosio to claim the second Formula E win of his career.Hide Caption 15 of 15READ: Photo finish in Mexico E Prix as race leader's battery dies on the lineREAD: Will Formula 1 follow Formula E and switch to electric power to survive?Despite the setback, the Formula E rookie remains optimistic about the season ahead."We spend a lot of time in the car during the day," enthuses Wehrlein, who is making his debut for the competitive Mahindra team alongside race-winner Jerome D'Ambrosio."I really like it [but] we don't have a lot of time in a race weekend -- it's just 30 minutes and 45 minutes practice, so to get used to the track and the set-up is tough. Visit CNN.com/Sport for more news, features and video"But I have a great team behind me which is helping a lot and Jerome has a lot of experience. They're making my life a bit easier!"In spite of having to master the early mornings, Formula E is providing a new dawn for Wehrlein's motorsport career.The 24-year-old drifted out of Formula 1 at the end of 2017 after spells at Manor and Sauber where -- despite three points-scoring finishes -- he struggled to show his full potential. JUST WATCHEDWill Formula E merge with Formula One?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWill Formula E merge with Formula One? 01:39He had arrived with Mercedes backing and was even tipped as the next Lewis Hamilton after becoming the youngest winner of the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) at 20.But after his six-year relationship with the Silver Arrows ended last December, Wehrlein was left wondering 'what next'?The answer was Formula E and he was free to join Mahindra in time for round two in Marrakesh.'I need this environment'"It's been great," says Wehrlein, despite his Moroccan debut ending with a collision on the first lap."They welcomed me straight from the beginning and everyone is so nice. View this post on Instagram P2 πΎ Thank you @mahindraracing β€οΈ A post shared by Pascal Wehrlein (@pascal_wehrlein) on Jan 26, 2019 at 3:12pm PST "After Marrakesh the team was happy because Jerome won the race but everyone came to me and said: 'It was not your fault and we're behind you and next time it's your turn.'"So many kind words and I need this environment. In this environment I can deliver the best performance -- it's great to have that."Wehrlein, who has also recently signed as a development driver for Ferrari, has wasted no time paying back Mahindra for their support with sizzling drives in Chile and Mexico. On the sweltering streets of Santiago, a fast-finishing Wehrlein almost snatched victory from Virgin Racing's Sam Bird."It was close," explains Wehrlein. "With two laps to go I started a move but then I had to slow down because of the temperature. "I felt I could have done more and finished the race in first but I'm happy with second and there should be some room for improvement."Hungry for moreJUST WATCHEDExtreme E: 'Blue Planet meets Dakar Rally'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHExtreme E: 'Blue Planet meets Dakar Rally' 02:07The progress Wehrlein promised soon came in a mesmerizing Mexico E-Prix. The German was on course for a pole-to-flag win until his car agonizingly ran out of energy at the final corner and slowed with the checkered flag in sight. A five-second penalty for cutting a chicane as he coasted over the line meant Wehrlein was ultimately classified in sixth."Aside from the last lap, I'm happy with how the race went and with my first pole position," he said after the race.Asked how he felt after his first podium in Chile, Wehrlein smiles: "Very good, very good and hungry for more."This could be Wehrlein's time to shine in Formula E -- even if it means getting up at the crack of dawn. | 5sport
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(CNN)As if there was any doubt, LeBron James celebrated his 36th birthday in style.Not only did he top score for the Los Angeles Lakers in a 121-107 victory over the San Antonio Spurs, but his 26 points marked another milestone for James.He has now gone 1,000 consecutive games with a personal score of 10 points or more. The last time he made a single digit score was January 5 in 2007, when he made eight points against the Milwaukee Bucks.James passed Michael Jordan in March 2018 to take the number one spot on the all-time list with 867 consecutive games of at least 10 points. READ: How does LeBron James stack up against basketball greats?It has been just under 13 years since LeBron James has played an NBA game and scored fewer than 10 points.Read MoreSpeaking after the game, James shook his head in disbelief at having reached the milestone."I just go out and try to prepare and be the best every night when I step on the floor," he said"And if I'm in uniform, I've got to do things to help our team win. If that's scoring, rebounding, defending, assisting, doing the little things, and just be available for my teammates throughout the course of the game when I'm on the floor and also on the bench. "And I've been fortunate enough to do that in my career for the majority of it. So, I give a lot of credit to my teammates and my coaching staff that I've had throughout the course of my career that has allowed me to be who I am and has allowed me to use my influence for the better of the team as well."Lakers forward Anthony Davis also shook his head in amazement at James' scoring streak."It's good, because we know we're able to build a team and build our schemes around it," Davis said. "It's good when you have a consistent player, and it makes our jobs a lot easier."READ: LeBron James could play with his son in the NBA after extending contract with Los Angeles LakersCongrats to @KingJames on scoring 10+ PTS in 1,000 consecutive regular season games! pic.twitter.com/vUwuiWhqThβ NBA (@NBA) December 31, 2020 Point guard Dennis Schroder added: "He's a hell of a teammate, a hell of a player, and he's a legend."According to James, good food and wine was on menu to finish off his birthday celebrations."I'm just heading back to the hotel. I've got some wine waiting on me," he said. "Probably my teammates will stop by, or there's a meal room here that we have our meetings in that we might stop down there and watch some TV, drink some good wine, may even have some tequila tonight."James also referenced the brand of tequila -- "shout out Lobos" -- he invested in earlier this year. He even extended an invitation to reporters, saying: "We have a seat at the table for all you guys whenever you guys want to join, make sure we keep our six feet apart so we don't get in trouble, but other than that we can all toast to each other." | 5sport
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Story highlightsManchester United go 15 points clear at top of English Premier League Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa scores hat-trick in 4-0 demolition of Norwich CityRafa Benitez ends turbulent week on a positive note as Chelsea beat West Brom 1-0Shinji Kagawa scored a hat-trick as champions-elect Manchester United crushed Norwich City 4-0 at Old Trafford in the English Premier League on Saturday. It was a 39-year-old Welsh winger that was expected to hog the headlines this weekend but Ryan Giggs, who was due to play his 1,000th game, was left out of Alex Ferguson's squad. Instead, it was the 23-year-old midfielder from Kobe whose face will be plastered over the back pages of Sunday's newspapers. The Japan international opened the scoring with a fine volley in first-half stoppage time before grabbing a second, then a third in the 76th and 87th minutes as United finished another game in rousing fashion. Wayne Rooney added a fourth in injury time to complete the rout to send the Red Devils 15 points clear at the top of the table and coasting towards a 20th League title.Rafa Benitez's week finished in more positive fashion as Chelsea beat West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge -- Demba Ba getting the only goal of the game in the 28th minute.JUST WATCHEDDel Piero's Juventus love affairReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDel Piero's Juventus love affair 03:56JUST WATCHEDJuventus midfielder: Stop racismReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJuventus midfielder: Stop racism 00:51JUST WATCHEDMarcel Desailly's Ghana regretReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMarcel Desailly's Ghana regret 03:09JUST WATCHEDCNN FC: Has Barcelona's golden era ended?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN FC: Has Barcelona's golden era ended? 22:33Read: EPL to introduce goal-line technology The win lifts the Blues to third in the table above Tottenham Hotspur who play Arsenal at White Hart Lane on Sunday. Everton are now two points behind the Gunners after a comfortable 3-1 win over 19th place Reading at Goodison Park. Marouane Fellaini headed home the opener in the 42nd minute before Steven Pienaar doubled the lead in the 59th minute. Belgian striker Kevin Mirallas added a third seven minutes later with Hal Robson-Kanu getting a consolation goal for the visitors six minutes before the end. Luis Suarez also scored a hat-trick on Saturday as Liverpool trounced Wigan 4-0 at the DW Stadium. Stewart Downing gave the Reds the lead in the second minute before the Uruguayan striker took center stage. The treble means Suarez is now the top goalscorer in the Premier League this season with 21 goals. The win lifts Liverpool to 7th in the table. At the foot of the table, Queens Park Rangers closed the gap between themselves and second-from-bottom Reading to three points with a 2-1 win away to Southampton. Third-from-bottom Aston Villa take on Manchester City on Monday.A Jack Collison goal earned West Ham United a vital three points against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. The win, their first in three games, lifts them to 12th.There was no post-cup hangover for Swansea City as Michael Laudrup's League Cup winning side beat Newcastle United 1-0. The game between Sunderland and Fulham ended in a 2-2 draw. | 5sport
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Story highlightsJavi Martinez completes $50m move from Athletic Bilbao to Bayern MunichBayern chairman accuses Bilbao of "refusing to cooperate" with German clubTottenham Hotspur complete the signing of Moussa Dembele from FulhamFormer Bayern goalkeeper Michael Rensing moves to LeverkusenBayern Munich completed the $50m signing of Spanish midfielder Javi Martinez from Athletic Bilbao, on Wednesday.Martinez, part of the victorious Spain squad at the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship, had a $50m release fee in his Bilbao contract, but was required to pay the amount himself, which created huge tax liabilities for the player and complications for the German club. Bayern's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummennigge described the transfer as "very complicated" and accused Bilbao of "refusing to cooperate from the very first day" of negotiations."We've had tax and legal problems to solve over the last few days, but fortunately we've succeeded," he said."The player has made an indirect contribution by foregoing a large sum of his salary. Our management is convinced the player will do very well with us," he added.JUST WATCHEDReversal of football fortunes in China?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHReversal of football fortunes in China? 02:12JUST WATCHEDFinancial fair play too late for some?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFinancial fair play too late for some? 02:52JUST WATCHEDFootballers' salaries surgeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFootballers' salaries surge 01:52JUST WATCHEDFrench football club spends bigReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFrench football club spends big 02:45JUST WATCHEDManchester United goes publicReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHManchester United goes public 05:06Despite being only 23, Martinez has made 201 appearances for Athletic Bilbao and was a key member of the side that enjoyed a surprise run to the final of last season's Europa League. The Basque native can play in central midfield, or as a center-back. "Bayern are one of the best teams in Europe, and the whole world," Martinez told the club's website. "There are so many top players here, all of them fantastic footballers. That's hugely motivating for me. And naturally, I'm looking to win trophies,"In the English Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur announced the signing of Belgian midfielder Mousa Dembele from London rivals Fulham. "We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement with Fulham for the transfer of Mousa Dembele," Tottenham announced on their website. Neither side confirmed the fee involved, but it is believed to be in the region of $24m. Dembele was signed as a striker for Fulham from AZ Alkmaar ahead of the 2010-11 season, but thrived for the club after moving into a midfield role"Dembele originally joined Fulham as a forward, although his ability to drive forward with the ball and his eye for a pass saw him played in an attacking midfield role last season, a move that proved a huge success," explained a statement on the club website.Tottenham will be hoping the 25 year old can replace Luka Modric, after the creative Croatian midfielder completed his moved from Spurs to Real Madrid earlier in the week. "Following two full seasons at Craven Cottage, the Club would like to thank Mousa for his contribution and wish him well throughout the rest of his career," Fulham said in a short statement on their website. In Italy, AC Milan further strengthened their attacking options with the capture of Bojan Krkic on a year long loan from Serie A rivals Roma. Krkic joined Roma from Barcelona last summer for $15m, but the Spanish club have the option to re-sign the player next summer for $16.25m. After making more than 100 appearances for Barcelona, Krkic enjoyed a fruitful debut season in Italy, scoring seven goals in 33 appearances. AC Milan will be hoping the young forward can help replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who moved to Paris St-Germain earlier in the season. In his final season at Barcelona, Krkic was, coincidentally, chosen to replace Ibrahimovic as Barcelona's number nine after the Swedish striker moved to AC Milan.Also on Wednesday, Bayer Leverkusen completed the signing of former Bayern Munich goalkeeper Michael Rensing, who was released by Cologne following their relegation last season. "We have signed an experienced and high quality back up for our number one," explained Leverkusen managing director Wolfgang Holzhauser on the club's website. "We've made this move as we are involved in three competitions."North German side Hamburg have also made moves to strengthen their side before the close of the transfer window. Czech midfielder Peter Jiracek has moved from Wolfsburg, signing a four year contract with the Rothausen. In Spain, Atletico Madrid strengthened their defence with the capture of Domingo Cisma from Racing Santander. The defender played for Atleti's youth teams and declared he was "back to stay" at the club, despite only signing a one year deal. "A special group of players is being assembled here and I hope my arrival will increase the competition for places," he said. Real Betis have completed the signing of French born Poland international Damien Perquis from Sochaux. Perquis has signed a three year contract after impressing during his brief appearances at Euro 2012. | 5sport
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Story highlightsRoman Abramovich sponsors youth charitySends kids to international matchesChildren and carers attended Euro 2016 (CNN)He's spent billions of dollars fulfilling dreams of Chelsea fans across the world -- now Roman Abramovich has helped fund a group of children's trip of a lifetime to Euro 2016.The Chelsea owner is the largest donor of the "Fulfilling Dreams" charity, which sends kids suffering with serious illness to football matches across the world.Read: Iceland president-elect forgoes fizz to watch heroesA group of 55 children from Israel and their carers watched three matches at the finals in France this month courtesy of the charity, which is run by 23-year-old volunteer Gilad Salter.The group saw Slovakia's last-16 game with Germany in Lille."It was four years ago that I decided I really wanted to do something for the community," Salter, who runs a small business which organizes trips abroad for young people, told CNN.Read More"Taking kids to the 2012 European Championship finals in Ukraine was brilliant but I wanted to do something bigger.Read: Twitter explodes with delight after shock Iceland win"I just didn't have the funds, so I opened an organization and went to meet with donors to help finance the project."Salter's charity, which is a non-profit organization and runs solely through the generosity of volunteers, has received acclaim from Israeli media for its work.Abramovich became aware of it through Avram Grant, a former Chelsea and Israel coach.They attended three games while in France."I couldn't believe how generous he was," Salter says of the Russian. "He sent us some money and said, 'Thank you for doing something so special -- it's my honor to help you.""I think what appealed to Mr. Abramovich was the fact that this was a charity run by volunteers, with nobody benefiting financially.Read: Italy eliminates Euro champion Spain"We had a meeting with all the kids going on the trip and we sent him an email with some photos. He's really interested in what we're doing and wants to help."According to Forbes, Abramovich is worth $7.9 billion and is the 151st richest person in the world. A Bloomberg report released in 2013 claimed that Abramovich donated $310 million to charity from 2010-2012.Abramovich also helped part-finance a trip to the World Cup in Brazil two years ago.The group, which visited Brazil two years ago, has also been sightseeing around Paris and visited Euro Disney.Salter, a Manchester United fan, has been liaising with charities across Israel to find children who fit the criteria for a place on the program."We try to take different children on our trips to make sure everybody gets an opportunity," he says."I think this year we've only got a couple who have been before -- but sadly that's because we're worried they might not be around in another two years."JUST WATCHEDEuro 2016: Iceland commentator screams for his teamReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHEuro 2016: Iceland commentator screams for his team 01:13Such statements bring home the reality of everyday life for some of the children involved.Though Israel didn't qualify as one of the 24 nations taking part, the kids were able to see the stars of world champion Germany play twice -- including the last-16 victory over Slovakia.They also witnessed the Republic of Ireland's shock win over Euro 2012 runner-up Italy.The group was treated to plenty of excitment at Euro 2016, with watching Germany the highlight."Going to the Euros means the world to me," Priel, a 15-year-old with cerebral palsy, told CNN. "I can't really describe what an impact that this experience will have upon my life."A spokesman for Abramovich told CNN: "He is generous with a lot of worthy causes, many of which are focused on helping children."Fulfilling Dreams fits that profile, providing a wonderful service to some very special kids and helping them to live out their dreams of being able to travel to major football tournaments."JUST WATCHEDAre Ronaldo and Bale in your Ultimate XI for Euro 2016?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAre Ronaldo and Bale in your Ultimate XI for Euro 2016? 01:34Keep to date with all the latest from Euro 2016Who will win Euro 2016? Have your say on our Facebook page
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Story highlightsTunisia and Gabon secure second wins in Africa Cup of Nations Group C Last minute goal from Issam Jemma gives Tunisia 2-1 win over NigerCo-hosts Gabon later beat Morocco 3-2 to join Tunisia in last eight Bruno Mbanangoyes grabs dramatic winner for Gabon in stoppage timeTunisia and co-hosts Gabon secured dramatic last-gasp victories to reach the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations Friday.Tunisia needed a final minute goal from Issam Jemaa to beat Niger 2-1 while Gabon came from behind to beat Morocco 3-2 with their winner in the eighth minute of added time.It left them tied on six points and assured of a place in the last eight, while Morocco and debutants Niger are going home and are pointless with a match to play in Group C.The first game in Libreville saw Niger put up a brave challenge and Tunisia coach Sami Trabelsi was relieved by his team's victory."We knew Niger would be well organized and rigorous on the counter attack. The spirit of my team was there for all to see. Thank God we were able to win, thank God," he told AFP.Tunisia were ahead after only three minutes when Youssef Msakni beat several defenders before shooting home.Blog: Expect more shocks at the Africa Cup of NationsBut within five minutes Niger were level as William Tonji Ngounou scored their first ever goal in the Africa Cup of Nations finals.Niger had the better chances to win the match, but a point was cruelly snatched from them by Jemaa's late strike.That was forerunner for the drama of the second match of the evening at the Stade l'Amitie stadium and an incredible finish which sent the home fans into wild celebrations.Gabon looked set for a 2-1 victory as second half goals from Daniel Cousin and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had put them in control after Houssine Kharja's first half opener for Morocco.But in the first minute of added time Morocco won a penalty and Kharja equalized with his second of the match.Then up cropped Bruno Mbanangoyes to curl home a free kick in the eighth minute of stoppage time of a remarkable encounter. | 5sport
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London (CNN)Prince Harry has wished Meghan, Duchess of Sussex a happy birthday on social media, paying tribute to his "amazing wife."The duchess turned 38 on Sunday, and her husband took to Instagram to mark her birthday. View this post on Instagram Wishing HRH The Duchess of Sussex a very Happy Birthday π β’ 'Happy Birthday to my amazing wife. Thank you for joining me on this adventure!' - Love, H PhotoΒ©οΈPA/Doug Peters A post shared by The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (@sussexroyal) on Aug 4, 2019 at 12:00am PDT
"Wishing HRH The Duchess of Sussex a very Happy Birthday," the post read, followed by a birthday cake emoji. Posted on the couple's official Instagram account, the post and was signed off by the Duke of Sussex, "Love, H."The picture shows the duchess during the royal couple's first tour together, when the couple traveled to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Tonga.Read MoreThe Queen joined her grandson in wishing Meghan a happy birthday, posting "Happy Birthday to the Duchess of Sussex" to her official @TheRoyalFamily Instagram page. View this post on Instagram Happy Birthday to The Duchess of Sussex. π The Duchess was born on this day in 1981. π· PA Images @sussexroyal A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily) on Aug 4, 2019 at 1:03am PDT
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, also marked the day by posting a birthday message to Meghan on their Instagram account @KensingtonRoyal, as did The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall from their @ClarenceHouse account. On Friday, Harry and Meghan asked followers of their SussexRoyal account to submit suggestions about which groups they should follow on Instagram. The royal couple follow a different set of charities and causes each month to highlight the work they do."For the month of August we look to you for help. We want to know who YOUR Force for Change is," the couple wrote in a message on their official Instagram account.Meghan is launching a workwear capsule collection for charity"Over the next few days please add your suggestions into the comments section: someone you look up to, the organisation doing amazing work that we should all be following, an account that inspires you to be and do better (or that simply makes you feel good), or the handle that brims with optimism for a brighter tomorrow."The message said that 15 accounts will be chosen on Monday August 5, and will be followed for the rest of the month.Although Meghan has been on maternity leave following the birth of her son -- whose full name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor -- she guest-edited the September issue of British Vogue, which came out on Friday. Also called "Forces for Change," its cover features a number of prominent women whom Meghan said she was "inspired" by.CNN's Rob Picheta contributed to this report. | 3news
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London (CNN)A British Member of Parliament says she believes she was the victim of racial profiling, after she and a friend -- who are both Black -- were stopped by police while driving in London on Sunday. Dawn Butler, an opposition Labour MP and former shadow equalities minister, was stopped by police while driving in the east London borough of Hackney. She filmed herself telling police "the way you do it (stop and search) is wrong," adding "you cannot drive around and enjoy a Sunday afternoon whilst Black because you're going to be stopped by police."Labour MP Dawn Butler has told Sky News she believes she was the victim of racial profiling after the car she was in was stopped by police in the London borough of Hackney.Sky News has contacted the Metropolitan Police for comment.Read more here: https://t.co/iOMAaC3J7o pic.twitter.com/xNw4sIaN82β SkyNews (@SkyNews) August 9, 2020
Responding to reports of the incident, London's Metropolitan Police said on Monday that an officer "incorrectly entered the registration into a police computer which identified the car as registered to an address in Yorkshire." Black and Hispanic drivers in Austin, Texas, are disproportionately stopped by police, report says"Once the mistake was realised the officer sought to explain this to the occupants; they were then able to continue on their way," the police statement said, adding that no searches were carried out. Read MoreLast week, restrictions were reimposed in parts of Northern England, including North West and West Yorkshire, after a surge in coronavirus cases. But Butler told Sky News that the incident was an example of racial profiling, saying: "We're two Black people in a car driving through Hackney and they thought 'We'll stop them,'" she said. Despite the police statement mentioning Yorkshire, a Met police spokesman said the coronavirus restrictions were not the reason the car was stopped. He told CNN on Monday that it was "not because of Covid," without elaborating further.Earlier this year, UK government data showed that between April 2018 and March 2019, there were 38 stop and searches for every 1,000 Black people in England and Wales, compared with four for every 1,000 White people.And an exclusive CNN/Savanta ComRes poll found that Black people in the UK are twice as likely as White people to say they have not been treated with respect by police.British athlete Bianca Williams calls for 'rigorous' investigation into handcuffing incidentIn an interview with Sky News, Butler said that profiling cars not from the area was a "ridiculous" way to police. "The institution is racist," she said. "The other police officers came and said 'I can't see what's in the back of your car,'" Butler told Sky. "But you don't need to see what's in the back of the car," she said. "There is an institutional racism in the police -- we know that. And it needs to be.. It needs to be taken out. It is cancerous and it needs to be cut out of the police force," she said. "This is a police service that's supposed to police everyone and I understand that there are issues and they need to be dealt with, but deal with it in an equitable way. Don't deal with it in an unfair way and a biased way or a racist way, deal with it properly." Butler said that while she had a "polite" conversation with one of the policemen, another police officer "inflamed the situation so much.""I was getting irritated and angry at the way she was approaching me," she said. "And I think it's just such a bad way to treat people."The incident comes a month after British athlete Bianca Williams accused the Metropolitan Police of racial profiling after she and her partner were stopped and searched while driving. Team GB sprinter Williams had been in the west London neighborhood of Maida Vale with her partner, Portuguese 400-meter record holder Ricardo dos Santos, and their three-month-old son when they were stopped and handcuffed by police.The Metropolitan Police subsequently apologized to the couple for "distress caused," though it did not apologize for the traffic stop itself. Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has said the department will review its handcuffing procedures. | 3news
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(CNN)When Maria Sharapova announced her retirement, it brought to an end the career of one of the most bankable stars in sporting history, a woman who transcended tennis to become a global sports marketing icon.Max Eisenbud, the man responsible for helping the five-time major singles winner from Russia become the top-paid female athlete for more than a decade, thinks he has found another player with similar potential: Amanda Anisimova.Tall, blonde, of Russian descent and with a rare tennis talent, Anisimova resembles Sharapova in more ways than one. "Obviously, there are similarities, it's hard to go away from that," Eisenbud, the head of IMG Tennis who has overseen the careers of players including Sharapova and Li Na, China's first grand slam singles champion, told CNN Sport "I am the agent, they're both very attractive, they both have Russian roots, all that kind of stuff. There are those similarities that will always be there. But they are very different personalities."Read MoreAmanda Anisimova's agent is Max Eisenbud, who was key to developing Maria Sharapova's profile.READ: Tennis event organized by Novak Djokovic under fireA star is bornBorn in Freehold, New Jersey, to Russian-born parents, Anisimova moved to Miami with her family at the age of three. In 2017, she won the US Open junior title, beating another gifted teenager, fellow American Coco Gauff.At Roland-Garros last year, the then 17-year-old Anisimova dethroned defending champion Simona Halep of Romania to become the first player born in the 2000s to reach a major semifinal. Although she would lose to the eventual champion, Ashleigh Barty of Australia, in the last four, a star was born. Anisimova's run in Paris "really caught a lot of people's attention," said Eisenbud, who extended her agreement with clothing giant Nike in November.In January, Anisimova joined Serena Williams as the only other tennis player to endorse American sports beverage maker Gatorade. She also recently signed a multi-year partnership with Therabody, a Los Angeles-based tech wellness company whose percussive massage therapy device is widely used by elite athletes the world over. With both Nike and Gatorade looking to boost their female athlete roster, and Sharapova and Williams nearing the end of their careers, the timing of Anisimova's rise couldn't have come at a better time, according to Eisenbud. Although he dismissed media reports in October suggesting the Nike deal was worth $100 million, Eisenbud said it was "probably one of the biggest clothing deals out there."Anisimova reacts to defeating Halep in Paris.READ: The 17-year-old who stunned French Open champion Simona Halep'Brand Maria Sharapova'Sharapova was born in Russia but moved to the US at the age of eight. Ten years later, she became a global star when she beat Williams for the 2004 Wimbledon title.The former world No. 1 quit the sport in February, having earned a total of $325 million in endorsements, prize money and appearances, according to Forbes. That's second only to her long-time adversary Williams, who has made more than $350 million during her career."Maria has been very successful," Anisimova told CNN Sport in March. "It's really cool she has her own candy line and she has many exciting things for her now that she is retired, and she can go back to those things," said the young American, whose tennis idols growing up were Sharapova and Serena Williams.ROME, ITALY - MAY 16: Maria Sharapova of Russia in action against Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia during day four of the Internazionali BNL d'Italia 2018 tennis at Foro Italico on May 16, 2018 in Rome, Italy. "I have my own brands that I have signed with and I am really excited to produce some things," said Anisimova, adding she always runs business decisions past her older sister, Maria Egee, a former tennis player who has become a successful Wall Street banker. "Maybe I'll create my own lines or something I am interested in. But I have my own thing going on," she added.Creating "Brand Maria Sharapova" isn't a blueprint for marketing future stars such as Anisimova, Eisenbud said. "Certainly, I think there is not a cookie cutter; I don't think maybe necessarily what worked for Maria or Li Na will work for Amanda," he said."When Maria won in 2004, there was no social media, and now there is. That's a big difference ... The brands want different things. It's all about what we're doing on social."Social media offers a big opportunity to develop Anisimova's profile, according to Eisenbud.READ: Maria Sharapova's complicated legacySocial mediaAnisimova's presence on social media was one of the reasons Therabody was keen to start working with the 18-year-old. "She is an up-and-comer, and we want to be able to support her," Dr. Jason Wersland, founder and chief wellness officer of Therabody, told CNN Sport. "She's got a big upside in tennis. And that's not the only reason that we chose to work with her; it was this well-rounded approach to things."Sending my love and prayers to anyone who is struggling and reading this. What is going on is devastating. This has caused so many people their lives, health, jobs, etc. It's amazing seeing how many people have been working so hard to fight this and be in this together β¬οΈ pic.twitter.com/FBYPMTDlubβ Amanda Anisimova (@AnisimovaAmanda) March 21, 2020 Searching for a way to help him deal with debilitating pain following a motorcycle accident in 2008, Wersland invented a percussive massage therapy tool called Theragun, which uses frequency to alleviate sore muscles. The partnership is all about educating people about the product and promoting the brand, which Anisimova, who has been using Theragun for years, will do through her social media channels.Outdoor fitness π₯΅ pic.twitter.com/4nJVg42EGYβ Amanda Anisimova (@AnisimovaAmanda) May 29, 2020 Wersland has been struck by Anisimova's poise and maturity at such a young age. "She's got such a cool energy about her ... She's got charisma. I really enjoy her perspective.""She is just really down to earth," added Eisenbud. "That personality trait can be attractive to a lot of brands ... but I think in the end, she is going to be a real big winner, and brands want to be associated with that."Serena Williams' coach Patrick Mouratoglou has been impressed by Anisimova.TragedyAnisimova's rise up the rankings was halted by tragedy in August, when she withdrew from the US Open shortly before the start of the event following the sudden death of her father and coach, Konstantin."It took a little bit of time for me to enjoy the game again," said Anisimova, who didn't play again until January. "But I am now finally getting back into it. I am doing it for myself and also for my dad."Although all professional tennis has been suspended since March because of the coronavirus pandemic, the sport is set to resume in August. Anisimova, who played four events before the pandemic struck, took a few weeks off at the start of lockdown before resuming her training. She is scheduled to play an invitational charity event in Charleston, South Carolina, at the end of this month. "She's pretty tough, and very driven and very professional," says Eisenbud of Anisimova.'Real deal'Tennis insiders have no doubt the American teenager is the real deal. "She has incredible timing and every time she hits the ball, she hurts her opponent," Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams' long-time coach, told CNN Sport during last year's French Open."She can improve a lot in her movement and I'm sure she will. She is working hard; she has good people around so she'll be very dangerous." Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features and videosAlthough Eisenbud held off on signing big corporate deals until Sharapova had won a major, he didn't do so with Anisimova. Yet he isn't concerned about the extra pressure the endorsements may bring."She's got Russian blood, so I am not too worried about that. She's pretty tough, and very driven and very professional," he said. | 5sport
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Washington (CNN)Nearly two years after receiving an inquiry from Senate Homeland Security Committee chairman Ron Johnson, the State Department is finally revealing details about its investigation into multiple deaths and illnesses that occurred shortly after Americans drank alcohol at Mexican resorts, CNN has learned.The response, obtained by CNN, said that two bars were ultimately shut down by Mexican authorities after the State Department pressured them to inspect a number of establishments.It was sent to Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, last month by the State Department's Office of Inspector General. Johnson first wrote to enquire about the cases involving allegations of tainted alcohol in October 2017.The timing of the OIG's response coincides with a more recent string of mysterious tourist deaths in the Dominican Republic.Americans are far more likely to be killed in the US than in the Dominican RepublicIn several of those cases, families have alleged that the victims became ill just after consuming alcohol, leading the FBI to look into whether tainted alcohol might be a factor there as well.Read MoreWhile there is no indication of a link between the incidents that occurred in Mexico and the more recent cases in the Dominican Republic, the response to Johnson's 2017 letter highlights several concerns related to the US government's handling of inquires involving American tourists abroad.Johnson sent his letter to the State Department just months after the death of a 20-year-old woman from Wisconsin named Abbey Conner in January 2017. She and her brother Austin lost consciousness soon after consuming alcohol at the pool bar in the Iberostar Paraiso del Mar on the first day of their family's vacation. Abbey was found face-down in the shallow end of the pool, nearly drowned, and died days later after being airlifted to a hospital in Florida."According to Ms. Connor's family, and other victims who have since come forward, the consumption of allegedly tainted alcohol at Mexican resorts has led to violence, physical abuse and even death," Johnson's letter to the State Department states. "I respectfully ask the Office of the Inspector General to examine how the Department monitors, records and reports overseas incidents involving physical abuse or death after the consumption of potentially tainted alcohol." 'Formal report would not be appropriate'Despite prompting a wide-ranging probe into the issue, which included reviewing every complaint made to the State Department about possible bootleg alcohol, interviewing the people involved and significant coordination with the Mexican government, the Inspector General ultimately concluded that a "formal report would not be appropriate."The response explains, "OIG faced several challenges in completing this review, including the fact that victims often did not report incidents of unregulated alcohol to the department, which significantly limited the number of cases on which OIG could base any generalizable findings," it states. "In addition, OIG's review was complicated by the fact that the guidance for consular personnel who face these types of situations is general and sometimes advisory, mainly because of the complex and variable nature of the incidents themselves."US warns travelers about tainted alcohol in Mexico However, the lengthy response does detail the inner workings of how this inquiry was handled as a result of pressure on the State Department, and details some of the actions that were taken as a result of the review.Ultimately, the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs did provide OIG with a list of 15 complaints that it has received since 2017 related to the consumption of unregulated alcohol by Americans in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, the most visited by tourists from the US.Two bars shut downThe State Department pressured the Mexican government to inspect 30 bars, restaurants and hotels. Two bars -- including one that served Abbey and Austin Conner -- have been shut down as a result. Raids were conducted by Mexican authorities that did end up finding "a significant amount of alcohol of 'undetermined origin'" and led to the identification of one supplier of questionably-sourced alcohol.Ten thousand gallons of this alcohol was seized -- although according to the OIG, none tested positive for any dangerous substances. And the State Department's work led to the Mexican government opening an office staffed with bilingual attorneys to help American tourists file police reports.The response makes no mention, however, of multiple incidents reported in various media outlets that Mexican officials had, in other raids, seized hundreds of gallons of alcohol allegedly tainted with methanol, a toxic form of alcohol that is used in fuel, antifreeze, windshield wiper fluid and solvents. It can cause blindness and death. Those findings are included in the Conner family's wrongful death lawsuit against Iberostar, filed last year.The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, which has reported extensively on the Mexican cases, reports that it has heard from more than 200 people who believe they encountered tainted alcohol in Mexico, and the paper cites a 2017 Mexican government-spearheaded study that found that as much as 36% of all alcohol consumed throughout Mexico is produced illegally and unregulated. The OIG's response did detail some of the difficulties American families of victims faced in getting help from the State Department while in Mexico, which some families described as "insensitive," "bureaucratic," or virtually nonexistent. At times families were told by State officials that they could not help them navigate the Mexican law enforcement or healthcare process.The family of one woman who died was told the State Department couldn't help them at all submitting a police report when the Mexican government refused to let them file one.In one case, a man had to wait until the next day for assistance filing a police report, despite reporting he was drugged and sexually assaulted after drinking tainted alcohol.Yet despite recording the summaries of various reported cases, OIG did not express an opinion as to whether extensive handling of alleged cases of tainted alcohol in Mexico falls under the State Department's area of responsibility."OIG cannot draw definitive conclusions about any individual consular officer's compliance with Department policies in these cases," their response to Johnson's letter says, since State Department guidance on this issue remains vague.An official with the inspector general's office told CNN their investigation is now closed. "We were really limited by our jurisdiction, in what we could look at," the official said. "We mostly had to focus on the actions of the State Department. And it did put a lot of pressure on the Mexican government to do thorough inspections."The official said the Mexican government was receptive to the US's urgings to do something aboutβ the problem, but added, "Mexico doesn't want to lose tourist dollars. It's a huge source of revenue."Gary Davidson, an attorney for the family of Abbey Conner, continues to seek answers and compensation for the family's loss. "There is basically homemade liquor down there, circulating in the community of hotels -- and a lot of the hotels are buying it," he told CNN. | 4politics
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Kent Sepkowitz is a physician and infection control expert at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN. This piece has been updated to reflect the latest news. (CNN)The Omicron coronavirus variant is now spreading at warp speed. It has become the dominant coronavirus strain, accounting for 59% of all new cases as of Christmas Day, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Kent Sepkowitz Data that has been collected in South Africa, where scientists first discovered this variant from samples collected on November 12, and the UK, where the variant was detected on November 27, is providing us with a sense of what to expect: exponentially rising Covid case counts placing yet another strain on already beleaguered health care systems, post-holiday disappointments and, for those caught in the surge, fevers, aches and other Covid-19 symptoms. Thankfully, most reports so far demonstrate that Omicron infection, relative to Delta or other variants, causes a less severe infection, with a lower hospitalization and case fatality rate. As information accrues, attention is turning back to where it always seems to land: vaccination. However, this time, it is not only about the unvaccinated -- though they remain at high risk for infection. Rather, the focus is on the high rate of vaccine evasion demonstrated by Omicron among recipients of the recommended two-shot series of mRNA vaccines (Moderna or Pfizer/BioNTech).Read More In the last few weeks, reacting both to Omicron and clear evidence of fading immunity to the Delta variant after six months, public health authorities strongly encouraged already vaccinated individuals 16 and older to receive a third dose -- the booster -- pronto. On Monday, the US Food and Drug Administration expanded booster eligibility to 12 to 15 year olds, while shortening the interim period between the second dose and booster dose to five months for all eligible individuals. Adding the third shot clearly is effective against Omicron as well, with National Institutes of Health data on the Pfizer vaccine showing that protection after three doses can reach about 80% effectiveness. Preliminary data from Imperial College London on both mRNA vaccines used in the US places the protection from a third dose between 55% and 80%. As former NIH director Francis Collins and UK leaders noted, booster-induced immunity is also critical for reducing the risk of severe symptoms, even if a breakthrough infection should occur. The last thing Biden needs All this scrambling to come up with the best approach has created a great deal of uncertainty. Vaccine and public health experts, however, have been through this sort of adjustment in mid-air many times before. In 2009, for example, facing the H1N1 influenza pandemic, experts decided to add an additional, newly constituted vaccine to the routine seasonal influenza shot. Owing to the arduous, multi-month production time required for influenza vaccines, the remedy -- a new vaccine using the same old technology -- was not available until much of the pandemic had passed. At other points, experts have determined that an additional shot of an already available vaccine (aka a "boost") was recommended to subdue an observed rise in "breakthrough" cases: vaccine programs to prevent measles, mumps and rubella, among other infections, have been adjusted to include an additional shot after a sustained uptick in cases among the already vaccinated was observed. Plus, the notion of giving a vaccine three or even four times to kickstart initial immunity is quite familiar for public health officials. An example of this is the remarkably successful US program to curb hepatitis B with a comprehensive three-vaccine series. For some people who have a sluggish initial response (5% to 15% of the overall population), a second round of three shots -- six vaccines in all -- is required to confer immunity.This was all done soberly, quietly and without public protest or intimidation. It also was done without each "breakthrough" infection being viewed as calamitous or clear evidence of vaccine program failure due to bad judgment and false promises or political hocus pocus and Big Pharma greed. Manchin is letting down West Virginians like me So where does all of this leave us? Clearly, everyone eligible must receive a booster and, long-term or until a new group of vaccines demonstrates otherwise, the standard Covid-19 vaccine schedule must be a three-vaccine series for everyone, with the possibility of additional vaccinations if the data demonstrates the need. In short, we need to have a flexible mindset about what constitutes the "primary vaccine series" and be open to the possibility that, as with so many other infections, we may need to periodically top up our immunity. In this regard, it should be noted that Israel, which led the call for a third vaccine, has now begun to administer a fourth after seeing breakthroughs months after the third vaccine. The months ahead will be scary as we will inevitably watch Covid cases rise, but they will also be exciting on the vaccine front. For example, a very futuristic-sounding new class of vaccine that uses recombinant nanoparticle technology to present a bit of Covid-19 spike protein to the body's immune system has just received World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use listing (EUL), a prerequisite for distributing the vaccine to nations under the COVAX program. For now, though, the basics are these: For triply vaccinated persons, the appearance of Omicron just as Christmas and New Year's celebrations were about to begin was extremely discouraging but health-wise, it may have been miserable, but surely was not a catastrophe.Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's newsletter.Join us on Twitter and Facebook For unvaccinated persons -- well, here we go again. As President Joe Biden has grimly and accurately forecast, given our current understanding of Omicron, those without immunity can anticipate a "winter of severe illness and death." Perhaps the Omicron surge will accomplish what the Alpha and Delta surges before it failed to do: convince people to protect their own and their community's health. Hope springs eternal. Finally, the sudden appearance of the rampaging Omicron variant might finally teach us all that the when and how and where of the next Covid-19 variant simply can't be predicted. For our New Year's resolution, perhaps we should all simply stop trying. | 3news
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Story highlights Agency for Cristiano Ronaldo says he was not trying to evade Spanish taxesProsecutors accuse the Real Madrid star of defrauding authorities of $16.4 million in tax (CNN)Real Madrid and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo has been accused by prosecutors in Spain of defrauding Spanish authorities of $16.4 million in tax between 2011 and 2014. Follow @cnnsport
In a statement, the prosecutor's office said Ronaldo, a four-time Ballon d'Or winner, had used a "business structure" -- created in 2010 -- to hide the revenue generated by his image rights from the Spanish treasury, describing the breach as "voluntary" and "conscious." The 32-year-old -- the world's highest-paid sports star according to Forbes -- has been charged with four crimes against the public treasury. The statement said the Portuguese became a Spanish tax resident in January 2010 and, in November 2011, opted to follow the Spanish tax regime that applies to foreigners working in the country. Agency: No attempt to evade taxesRead MoreGestifute, the agency representing the Portugal captain, said in a lengthy statement posted on its website the matter is a complex financial one."Cristiano's lawyers consider that regarding what the solution to this case ends up being -- as well as their consequences -- they should be confined to the administrative field rather than the criminal one," the statement said. There was no attempt to evade taxes, Gestifute said.Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice in Real Madrid's recent Champions League final win over Juventus.READ: The match that changed footballREAD: Messi set to avoid prison READ: Ronaldo scores twice as Real make history In 2016, Barcelona's Lionel Messi, who for the last decade has vied with Ronaldo for the title of world's best footballer, was fined $2.3m for defrauding the Spanish tax authorities. The Argentine, 29, had also received a 21-month jail sentence but avoided prison as it was the forward's first offense. According to Forbes, Ronaldo has earned $93m over the last 12 months, with his salary accounting for $58m and endorsements $35m.READ: The numbers that define a Champions League legend READ: Ronaldo bust draws mirthVisit cnn.com or more news and videos The Real star -- his club's all-time leading scorer -- has also enjoyed a stellar 12 months on the field, guiding Portugal to Euro 2016 success last summer and helping his club win the Spanish league and Champions League in the 2016/17 season. | 5sport
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Story highlightsKurdish forces are among the most effective on the ground against ISISBut their role in anti-ISIS operations has put allies at odds (CNN)Nowhere is the messy geopolitics of the fight against ISIS in Syria and Iraq more complicated than in the question of the Kurds.The United States supports Kurdish groups in both Syria and Iraq as critical assets in the battle against the terror group. But key US ally Turkey considers one of those groups to be terrorists -- and says it killed as many as 200 YPG fighters in airstrikes in al Bab, northern Syria in October.In recent days, the Turkish government has also detained nearly a dozen pro-Kurdish lawmakers, in what Turkey's semi-official news agency Anadolu said was a terror investigation. Hundreds of people who turned out to protest against the arrests clashed with police in Istanbul on Saturday.But across the border in Iraq, Turkey enjoys a close relationship with the semi-autonomous Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in the north. Read MoreIt even has at least 1,000 troops stationed in northern Iraq, training police and volunteers for anti-ISIS operations with the blessing of the KRG -- and much to the annoyance of Iraq's central government, another vital US ally.Confused? Let's break it down.Female YPG fighters walk to a checkpoint on the outskirts of the destroyed Syrian town of Kobane.Who are the Kurds?The Kurds are an ethnic group in the Middle East who have never had a nation state of their own, resulting in Kurdish nationalist movements across the region. They make up a sizable minority in a number of Middle Eastern nations, comprising about 10% of the population in Syria, 18% in Turkey, 15-20% in Iraq, and nearly 10% in Iran. CNN MapKurdish fighters in northern Iraq, known as Peshmerga, and in northern Syria, known as the People's Protection Units or YPG, have proven some of the most effective fighting forces on the ground against ISIS.Mosul: Most intense day of fighting since offensive beganTurkey is battling Kurdish militantsFor decades, Turkey has been facing a violent insurgency from the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK -- a banned group that first took up arms against Turkey in 1984, seeking an independent state for the Kurdish minority concentrated in the southeast of the country.Tens of thousands have been killed in the conflict, which resumed in earnest after a peace process collapsed in 2015.The PKK is considered a terror group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Turkey considers Syrian Kurdish fighters as terrorists, while its ally the US supports themThe main Kurdish militia force in northern Syria, which lies on Turkey's southern border, are the People's Protection Units, or YPG, often referred to as the armed wing of the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a Syrian Kurdish opposition party.Turkey and others view the PYD and YPG as an offshoot of the PKK, indistinguishable from the separatist group banned in Turkey, says Fadi Hakura, a Turkey expert at Chatham House. Kurdish YPG fighters fighting on the front line against ISIS.As such, he said, members of the YPG are considered terrorists, and Ankara has worked to drive them from Syrian territory along its southern border, fearing that an entrenched Kurdish canton there would fuel momentum for an independent greater Kurdistan that could claim Turkish territory.When Turkish tanks rolled into northern Syria in August, their military efforts were focused not just against ISIS, but also the YPG -- groups that were already fighting each other.The Kurdish haven in the middle of Syria's warThe United States, on the other hand, draws a distinction between the YPG and the banned PKK, providing significant support to the Syrian Kurdish group as a critical fighting force against ISIS and other Islamist groups in volatile northern Syria. This has complicated the relationship between Washington and Ankara, its NATO ally and key partner in the fight against ISIS. For their part, the YPG/PYD acknowledge that they draw inspiration from imprisoned PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan, "but are careful not to link themselves openly" to the banned group, says Hakura.But Turkey has a good relationship with Iraq's KurdsDespite Turkey's tensions with Kurds at home and in Syria, it enjoys close economic and political ties with Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq, which lies to Turkey's southeast. Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityMembers of the Iraqi federal police wave the country's flag as they celebrate in the Old City of Mosul on July 9, 2017. Iraq declared victory against ISIS forces in Mosul after a grueling monthslong campaign. The battle to reclaim Mosul, the last major ISIS stronghold in Iraq, has been underway since fall 2016.Hide Caption 1 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityThis injured girl was found by Iraqi forces as they advanced against ISIS militants in the Old City of Mosul on Monday, July 3. She was carried away for medical assistance.Hide Caption 2 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA suspected ISIS fighter is held in a basement while Iraqi forces continue to push for control of the Old City of Mosul on Monday, July 3.Hide Caption 3 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi Special Forces soldier exchanges fire with ISIS militants in the Old City on Friday, June 30.Hide Caption 4 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA bomb explodes near the al-Nuri mosque complex on Thursday, June 29. Iraq's military has seized the remains of the Great Mosque of al-Nuri. Iraq and the United States have accused ISIS of blowing up the historic mosque. Hide Caption 5 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityMembers of the Iraqi Federal Police hold a position as US-led coalition forces advance through the Old City on Wednesday, June 28.Hide Caption 6 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityThe remnants of Mosul's ancient leaning minaret are seen in the Old City on Sunday, June 25. ISIS' claim that US warplanes were responsible for the destruction of the minaret is "1,000% false," US officials told CNN.Hide Caption 7 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityTwo boys comfort each other after their home collapsed during fighting between Iraqi forces and militants in Mosul on Saturday, June 24. The boys, who are cousins, said some of their relatives were still under the rubble.Hide Caption 8 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi soldier helps transport a girl as residents flee their homes west of Mosul on Friday, May 26.Hide Caption 9 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityDisplaced Iraqis make their way through rubble after evacuating their homes in a neighborhood of west Mosul on Wednesday, May 17.Hide Caption 10 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi man tries to extinguish a burning car during fighting in Mosul's western Rifai neighborhood on Tuesday, May 16.Hide Caption 11 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA member of the Iraqi counterterrorism service secures a building as troops push toward Mosul's Al-Oraibi western district on Sunday, May 14.Hide Caption 12 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA smoke cloud rises on the front line as the Iraqi Emergency Response Division advances in west Mosul on Saturday, May 6.Hide Caption 13 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA wounded man is transported in western Mosul on Friday, April 21.Hide Caption 14 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi federal policeman smokes during a break from battle on Wednesday, April 12.Hide Caption 15 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA member of Iraq's security forces stands guard in eastern Mosul as smoke rises from the ISIS-controlled western section of the city on Friday, April 7.Hide Caption 16 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqis visit a bath house on the southern outskirts of Mosul on Wednesday, April 5.Hide Caption 17 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityFlames billow from an explosion in Mosul during a clash between Iraqi forces and ISIS fighters on Sunday, March 5.Hide Caption 18 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityFamilies are forced to evacuate as Iraqi forces advance in western Mosul on Thursday, March 2. The number of internally displaced people has surged as the offensive effort has intensified. Hide Caption 19 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityMosul residents cross a damaged bridge in the al-Sukkar neighborhood on Saturday, January 21.Hide Caption 20 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityFrench President Francois Hollande and French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, right, view territory held by ISIS during a visit to a military outpost near Mosul on Monday, January 2. Hide Caption 21 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA young girl takes part in a Christmas Day Mass at a church in the predominantly Christian town of Qaraqosh. The area's churches were heavily damaged by ISIS militants before the town was freed by Iraqi forces during the Mosul offensive.Hide Caption 22 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqi Shiite fighters ride through a desert area near the village of Al-Boutha al-Sharqiyah, west of Mosul, on Friday, December 2. Hide Caption 23 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityInternally displaced Iraqis who fled the fighting in Mosul watch as a civilian drone films them at the al-Khazir camp on Thursday, December 1.Hide Caption 24 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi soldier searches a home for ISIS militants after Iraqi forces retook the village of Al-Qasr on Wednesday, November 30.Hide Caption 25 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqi soldiers transport a comrade who was injured during a battle near the village of Haj Ali on Tuesday, November 29.Hide Caption 26 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA man mourns during the funeral of four Iraqi paramilitary fighters who were killed in battles in the town of Tal Afar.Hide Caption 27 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityDisplaced civilians return to the village of Tall Abtah on Friday, November 25, after Iraqi forces retook the village from ISIS.Hide Caption 28 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqi civilians sit on the ground in Mosul on November 24. An Iraqi officer addressed the group, demanding to know the whereabouts of alleged ISIS militants who opened fire on troops a few days earlier.Hide Caption 29 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn injured baby receives treatment at a field hospital in Mosul on November 15.Hide Caption 30 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA woman cries Sunday, November 13, after seeing the St. Addai church that was damaged by ISIS fighters during their occupation of the Keramlis village.Hide Caption 31 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi special forces soldier prays next to a Humvee before troops pushed toward Mosul's Karkukli neighborhood on November 13.Hide Caption 32 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA Kurdish Peshmerga fighter holds part of a defused bomb planted by ISIS militants in Bashiqa, Iraq, on Friday, November 11.Hide Caption 33 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA member of Iraq's special forces guards two suspected ISIS fighters found hiding in a house in Mosul on November 11.Hide Caption 34 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi woman displaced by war holds her cat near a checkpoint in the Iraqi village of Shaqouli, east of Mosul, on November 10.Hide Caption 35 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqi troops watch a broadcast of Donald Trump's acceptance speech in a house in Arbid, on the outskirts of Mosul, on Wednesday, November 9. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi congratulated Trump on his win and said he hoped for continued support in the war on ISIS.Hide Caption 36 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityUS Marines install equipment at a coalition base in Qayyara on November 9.Hide Caption 37 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi forces member investigates a mass grave that was discovered after coalition forces recaptured the area of Hamam al-Alil on Monday, November 7.Hide Caption 38 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqi children witness a man being interrogated by a member of the Iraqi army at a base next to the Al-Intissar neighborhood of Mosul on November 7.Hide Caption 39 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA civilian man who fled the fighting trims his beard after reaching an Iraqi army position in Mosul on November 7.Hide Caption 40 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityChildren play in debris created by an airstrike in Qayyara on Sunday, November 6.Hide Caption 41 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityFemale members of the Freedom Party of Kurdistan sing as they hold a position near Bashiqa on November 6.Hide Caption 42 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA baby is passed through a fence back to his mother at a refugee camp in the Khazir region on Saturday, November 5.Hide Caption 43 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityPeople line up to receive food at a refugee camp in the Khazir region on November 5. Thousands are taking refuge in camps set up for internally displaced people.Hide Caption 44 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqi soldiers pass near a bridge destroyed in an airstrike in Qayyara on November 5.Hide Caption 45 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqi soldiers patrol an alley on the outskirts of Mosul on Friday, November 4.Hide Caption 46 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA suspected member of ISIS is detained at a checkpoint near Bartella, Iraq, on November 4.Hide Caption 47 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqi families pack into a truck to be moved to camps on Thursday, November 3.Hide Caption 48 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi special forces soldier searches for the location of an ISIS sniper in Gogjali on November 1.Hide Caption 49 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA man fleeing the village of Bazwaya carries a white flag as he arrives at a checkpoint on November 1.Hide Caption 50 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi soldier receives treatment after being injured during clashes with ISIS fighters near Bazwaya on October 31.Hide Caption 51 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi soldier navigates through a shattered windshield as coalition forces advance on Bazwaya on October 31.Hide Caption 52 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityArchbishop Yohanna Petros Mouche, center, performs Mass in the liberated town of Qaraqosh on Sunday, October 30.Hide Caption 53 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityChildren play in a camp for internally displaced people near Kirkuk, Iraq, on October 30. More than 600 families from Tel Afar, a town west of Mosul, have been living in the camp since ISIS took control of the area in 2014.Hide Caption 54 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityDisplaced families are seen on the road near Qayyara on Saturday, October 29.Hide Caption 55 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityU.S. military personnel take cover in a bunker after a mortar alarm was sounded at a coalition air base in Qayyara on Friday, October 28. Hide Caption 56 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityWomen and children grieve over the grave of a family member at a Qayyara cemetery damaged by ISIS on October 27.Hide Caption 57 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityResidents of Qayyara wait for distribution of food and water rations on October 26. Local water sources have been contaminated by the burning oil and sulfur.Hide Caption 58 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraq's counterterrorism forces advance toward ISIS positions in Tob Zawa on October 25.Hide Caption 59 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key citySoldiers give first aid to an injured boy in Tob Zawa on October 25. Hide Caption 60 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityKurdish Peshmerga forces take positions as they start to move toward the Imam Reza and Tizxirab villages of the Bashiqa district on Sunday, October 23.Hide Caption 61 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqi forces distribute fruit in the village of al-Khuwayn, south of Mosul, after recapturing it from ISIS on October 23.Hide Caption 62 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityKurdish security forces detain a suspected member of ISIS in the eastern suburbs of Kirkuk on Saturday, October 22.Hide Caption 63 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityAn Iraqi forces member helps a man push a car as they arrive at a refugee camp in Qayyara on October 22.Hide Caption 64 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key citySpent bullet cartridges litter the street around the Jihad Hotel, where ISIS militants battled Iraqi security forces in Kirkuk on Friday, October 21.Hide Caption 65 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityGen. Abdel Ghani al-Asadi, who leads Iraq's counterterrorism forces, sits in Bartella on October 21 after the town was reclaimed.Hide Caption 66 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityPeshmerga fighters look over a village during an assault near Bashiqa on Thursday, October 20.Hide Caption 67 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityIraqi forces head toward the front lines near Qayyara on Tuesday, October 18.Hide Caption 68 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityA Peshmerga fighter peers up from an underground tunnel in the liberated town of Badana on October 18. ISIS fighters have built tunnels below residential streets to escape from airstrikes.Hide Caption 69 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityKurdish security forces take up a position near ISIS-controlled villages on Monday, October 17.Hide Caption 70 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key citySmoke rises from a suicide car bomb attack carried out by ISIS in the village of Bedene on October 17.Hide Caption 71 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityMembers of the Iraqi coalition gather around a fire at Zardak mountain ahead of the offensive.Hide Caption 72 of 73 Photos: Mosul: Iraqi-led forces push into key cityPeshmerga forces deploy in the dark near the village of Wardak early on October 17.Hide Caption 73 of 73The Kurdistan Regional Government, a semi-autonomous administration which presides over the predominantly Kurdish region of northern Iraq -- with the might of the Peshmerga military, a key force in the battle for Mosul, behind it -- has developed a deepening relationship with Turkey in recent years, says Hakura.JUST WATCHEDMosul's importance explainedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMosul's importance explained 01:49Among other things, the KRG had proved an important export market for Turkish products, and a growing source of energy for Ankara. And the KRG's nationalist agenda was viewed by Ankara as less of a threat to its interests than that of Syria's Kurds, says Hakura. For one thing, there was more affinity among Kurds in Turkey for the PKK and PYD than there was for the KRG, he said."Turkey's feeling is that the KRG does not have territorial aspirations in Turkey itself, compared to the PKK and YPG," he said. Peshmerga forces attack ISIS targets during an operation to retake Mosul.Will Turkey's strike on Syrian Kurds affect relationship with KRG?While both the KRG and the PKK harbor Kurdish nationalist aspirations, the relationship between the groups has waxed and waned over the years, says Hakura. In recent times, the relationship has diminished as the KRG's ties with Turkey have grown. JUST WATCHEDIraqi Kurdish leader on Mosul, cooperation with BaghdadReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIraqi Kurdish leader on Mosul, cooperation with Baghdad 09:09"At times, they've enjoyed an alliance of convenience where their interests converged," said Hakura.The two movements stem from quite different political traditions -- the PKK an anti-feudal, nationalist movement, the KRG operating according to a more tribal model of governance -- and there have been tensions between KRG President Massoud Barzani and Ocalan.As such, Turkey's strikes on Kurdish militants in northern Syria last month were unlikely to affect Ankara's relationship with the KRG. Ankara says 160 to 200 Kurdish fighters were killed, although the HDP, a predominantly Kurdish political party in Turkey, says 14 people died."I doubt that the KRG will express any displeasure beyond rhetoric," said Hakura. "They will avoid any rupture with Ankara."Massoud Barzani, the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government.Turkey's military support for the KRG has angered another US ally That relationship, between Ankara and the KRG, has proven another pressure point complicating anti-ISIS efforts in recent times, with Iraq -- another vital ally in the fight -- objecting to the presence of Turkish troops in northern Iraq.The troops have been at a camp in Bashiqa, near Mosul, training police and volunteers for the fight against ISIS under an agreement with the KRG. Baghdad has objected to their presence, saying they are there without the central government's permission, but Turkey has insisted on the legitimacy of its stake in the future of the region, fueling tensions between the countries. While the Peshmerga are a large part of the operation to drive ISIS from its stronghold in Mosul, northern Iraq, Baghdad is unhappy about the challenge to its authority presented by the Turkish troops' presence -- and ultimately is concerned about the independence aspirations of the KRG, says Hakura.For Ankara, said Hakura, the troop presence is about expanding its influence in northern Iraq and helping to shape the outcome of the battle there -- an area that is heavily Sunni, like Turkey, and has a sizable community of Turkmen, a group ethnically related to the Turks. | 3news
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Story highlightsThe new filter reminds users to register to vote by May 22Young people are less likely to be registered and less likely to vote than older peopleFacebook and Instagram are also reaching out to young votersLondon (CNN)Snapchat has launched a new filter in the UK reminding people to register to vote in the general election on June 8."Find your voice!" says a command, "Register to vote by 22nd May!"The feature on the social media app will be available for 48 hours for UK users. The aim is to reach young voters, who are statistically much less likely to be registered than older voters and less likely to turn out on polling day.The bespoke filter is the result of a collaboration between Snapchat and the UK Electoral Commission, which runs campaigns before every major poll to encourage voter registration.The new Snapchat filter encourages UK users to register to vote in the general election. "This is a new way of engaging young voters," an Electoral Commission spokesperson told CNN. "We haven't done this before. We're thinking about where our audiences are and how we can engage with them.Read More"Young people might not be reading newspapers or watching the news," she said. "But they are on Snapchat."Some might not know the deadline is coming up or they might assume they're already registered."Bite the Ballot, which tries to empower young citizens to be more involved in politics, approves of the initiative. Can left-wing populism win the UK election?"This shouldn't be seen as just a gimmick," said the organization's Josh Dell. "It's a very effective way of making people aware of the need to get registered."The impact of this can only be positive."Chelsea Dalby, 23, one Snapchat user from Sunderland in northeast England, has more mixed feelings. "I don't think it would encourage people to vote but it's probably going to make people more aware of the election," she said.Another user, Emily Pentland, 23, who lives in Durham, also thinks the filter will raise awareness although education is needed to engage young people with politics."I think politics awareness should be encouraged in schools from a young age," she said, "because a lot of people our age don't really understand politics and the impact it will have on our future."Where Donald Trump got his real powerThe latest available Electoral Commission data (from December 2015) shows that 34% of 18 to 24-year-olds are not registered to vote, compared with just 4% of over-65s. Both the EU referendum in June 2016 and the Prime Minister's announcement of a snap election a few weeks ago generated big spikes in registrations, particularly among young people.But many may still be missing from the register."Anyone who is eligible to vote at the General Election should be able to take part," said Craig Westwood, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commision, in a statement. "However, if you're not registered to vote by the deadline of 22 May, then you won't be able to have your say. We're urging anyone not yet registered to do so as soon as possible."The Commission is also working with other social media platforms to encourage people to get signed up.Earlier this month, posts reminding people to register appeared in the Facebook newsfeeds of UK users. Registration reminders will also appear on Instagram in the days before the deadline. | 3news
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(CNN)Drug smugglers have come up with some novel ways of moving their goods around the world undetected, but a recent incident at Barcelona airport involved a surprisingly low-tech approach.A man was arrested after drugs were found underneath his hair piece, according to Spain's national police.The Colombian national had hidden half a kilogram of cocaine, worth around 30,000 euros ($34,000), under an oversized wig. He was rumbled by police officers who noticed him looking nervous as he passed through security after flying in from Bogota, reported Reuters.Police released photos of the man -- one with the wig on, and the other showing the package of drugs stuck to his head -- but did not identify him. "His hair is going to fall off!" they jibed. Officer traveling with Brazilian president Bolsonaro caught with 39 kilos of cocaineSpanish police smash drug ring smuggling cocaine-infused plasticHe was arrested at the end of June, according to Reuters.Read MoreIn May, Spanish police arrested 12 members of a crime ring which smuggled cocaine-infused plastic products from Colombia before extracting the drug at three specialized laboratories.The gang, led by grandparents and parents of the same family, was capable of producing more than 600 kilograms of cocaine each month, the national police force said in a statement.And in June a Brazilian Air Force officer traveling with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was arrested after he was caught with 39 kilograms (roughly 86 lbs) of cocaine in the city of Seville, southern Spain. | 3news
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(CNN)Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will explore the place from which their royal titles originate on Wednesday as they make their first official visit to Sussex. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have a busy agenda ahead of them as they embark on a whistle-stop tour that will see them take in Chichester, Bognor Regis, Brighton and Peacehaven along England's south coast. The pair will first journey to Edes House in the cathedral city of Chichester where they will get the opportunity to see a rare copy of the American Declaration of Independence. Two Harvard researchers unearthed the second known parchment copy in England back in 2015; the other is on display at the National Archives in Washington. The "Sussex Declaration" -- a rare parchment copy of the American Declaration of Independence -- was found at the West Sussex record office.The Duke and Duchess will then open the new Engineering and Digital Technology Park at the University of Chichester in Bognor Regis. The site has been designed to offer practical experiences in partnership with local industry.Later on Wednesday, Harry and Meghan will travel to the seaside city of Brighton and Hove, where they will stop by the Royal Pavilion, the former royal residence of the Duke's ancestor, King George IV. Read MoreThe pair will then head to the Survivors' Network, a charity that supports people who have suffered sexual violence and abuse. A file photo of the Royal Pavilion in August 2017. The final engagement of the day for the royal couple will see them meet young people at the JOFF Youth Centre in the town of Peacehaven. Queen Elizabeth II conferred the titles of Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the pair on the morning of their wedding in May. The only previous person to hold the title of Duke of Sussex was an anti-slavery campaigner and supporter of rights for Catholics and Jews, according to the Royal Collection. Prince Augustus Frederick, son of George III and Queen Charlotte, gained the title in 1801. Meghan is the first person to hold the title of Duchess of Sussex. | 3news
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(CNN)Before Covid-19 hit, elders living on the Navajo Nation were already among the most vulnerable.As the virus spread, their situation became even more dire.On the Navajo Nation, spanning more than 27,000 square miles across parts of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico, an estimated 30% of residents don't have access to running water, making early hand washing guidance impossible to adhere to.Many other factors put them at greater risk: a lack of resources, information and access to masks and medical care on top of poor infrastructure and insufficient housing conditions.At one point, the Navajo Nation experienced Covid-19 infection rates that were among the highest per capita in the United States. While the number of new cases has been trending downward, Navajo elders are still dying at alarming rates.Read More"There are many, many elderly people on the reservation that are homebound and alone," said CNN Hero Linda Myers, whose non-profit provides lifesaving supplies for Native American elders. "Some of our elders live 60 miles from a grocery store. Many of them are traditional and don't have running water or electricity." To date, the Navajo Nation has reported nearly 9,000 positive cases of Covid-19 and 453 deaths. More than 60% of the deceased were age 60 and older. Linda Myers' team has ramped up efforts to bring lifesaving help to Navajo elders during the pandemic.Myers has spent decades supporting Navajo elders through her non-profit, Adopt-A-Native-Elder -- which currently serves more than 750 people ages 75-105. She says 26 elders in her program have died. And the pandemic has only increased the elders' isolation and fear. "We have ... families with the virus at different hospitals (across the reservation)," Myers said. "One of our elders lost her son, her daughter, her sister and her sister's daughter."Losing Navajo elders is devastating, Myers says, not just to families and loved ones, but for Navajo history. "They hold the life for their families. They carry on the traditions, the ceremony, the language, the weaving. All the things come from these elders' teachings," she said. "It's a piece of history, a piece of culture."Myers, who lives in Salt Lake City and makes trips to the reservation several times a year, is working with donors and partners on the ground to deliver food, masks and other supplies to the elders during the pandemic. "When the virus hit, we quickly turned everything into food certificates, knowing special diets, knowing special medical needs," she said. "We have sent $225,000 worth of food certificates to our elders to help them sustain themselves, to allow them to get the right kind of foods, the fresh foods, the fresh meat, so that they're not just relying on canned food items."The Navajo Nation has implemented some of the country's most extensive lockdown orders, including curfews, closures and other restrictions. But the new rules also pose a new set of challenges for those in remote areas. "Our elders ... have to go sometimes 18 miles to pick up their water. They wait in long lines. They have to haul their water barrels," Myers said. "With the trading post closed, they have very little access to the kinds of things that are traditional things for Navajo people."To that end, Adopt-A-Native-Elder has also ramped up efforts to send yarn to elders who support themselves through weaving. Marie Nez weaves a rug in her home on Navajo Nation."While they're in lockdown, they've been able to weave. They send us the rugs. We list them on our website for sale. So we're helping them still sustain themselves in their traditional way," Myers said.All proceeds from the sale of the rug go directly to the weaver. The organization is also working ahead to get truckloads of firewood delivered to all of its elders in time for winter, when temperatures on the reservation can dip below zero. "Firewood -- six or seven loads of firewood -- makes a huge difference in keeping the elders warm all day and all night," Myers said.Myers, who has known these elders and their families for more than 35 years, says her work is ongoing and she's inspired by supporters coming together in a time of crisis. "I like to focus, too, on the good and positive that I see. The biggest thing is that people have stepped up. It's brought more people to awareness," she said. "It's really made a difference." Want to get involved? Check out the Adopt-A-Native-Elder website and see how to help. | 3news
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Story highlightsPortugal 3-3 Spain Ronaldo scores hat trickPortuguese scores late freekick to level (CNN)One of the most eagerly anticipated games of the opening days of the 2018 World Cup did not disappoint as Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick, made history and earned Portugal a draw in an enthralling contest against a Spain side eager to put a tumultuous week behind them. The Real Madrid star, aiming to lead his country to glory in what is likely to be his final World Cup, scored from a fourth-minute penalty which he himself earned and put Portugal ahead once again after Spain goalkeeper David de Gea carelessly allowed his long-range effort to slip through his fingers. Follow @cnnsport
But with Spain leading 3-2 thanks to a Diego Costa brace and a superb 30-yard effort from Nacho, Ronaldo stepped up with just minutes remaining to magically curl a freekick into the top corner and pull his country back from the brink of defeat. It was an astonishing ending and a performance which lit up the tournament. It should come as no surprise that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, scorer of 43 goals for Real Madrid this season and widely regarded as one of the greatest to have played the game, etched his name into the history books in the process -- becoming the first man to score in eight consecutive major tournaments and only the fourth to score in four separate World Cups. Read MoreIt was the 51st hat trick in World Cup history -- and the 51st of the forward's glorious career. Aged 33 years and 130 days, the Portuguese is now also the oldest player to score a World Cup hat trick. In the 88th minute, Ronaldo steps up after Gerard Pique concedes a foul on the edge of the box.Ronaldo had previously not scored for Portugal from any attempted freekick.De Gea is helpless as Ronaldo's freekick hits the net.In describing his display as his best in a World Cup, Ronaldo told reporters: "I'm happy with the team too because we played well. I think the result was fair in the end."Portugal coach Fernando Santos said that it was Ronaldo who "carried our team.""Cristiano has great physical strength but his mental strength is very impressive as well," added Santos. "He has played at the highest level for a long time now and knows how to handle those moments."The result puts Group B -- currently topped by Iran who beat Morocco 1-0 earlier Friday -- in the balance, though both reigning European champions Portugal and 2010 World Cup winners Spain will be expected to progress to the knockout stages.Is Ronaldo the greatest ever? Have your say on our Facebook page. SCHEDULE: Group games fixture listREAD: Ronaldo and Messi's last chance?A week like no other for Spain It had been an eventful week for former champions Spain, one of the World Cup favorites before the Spanish Football Association surprisingly sacked its manager 48 hours before the start of the tournament. Julen Lopetegui, unbeaten in his 20 games in charge of the Spaniards coming into this tournament, had angered president Luis Rubiales, who had felt "compelled" to dismiss the 51-year-old after finding out mere minutes before the official announcement that the coach would succeed Zinedine Zidane as Real Madrid boss. From his role as director of football, former Spain and Real defender Fernando Hierro moved into the hotseat, claiming that he planned to "change as little as possible" and that his team would "fight for the World Cup."Describing the atmosphere of a news conference as a funeral on the eve of the competition, captain Sergio Ramos had to remind the media assembled that his team was about to compete in his sport's biggest competition. Any pessimistic Spanish heart would have sunk further within minutes of this brilliant match starting as Ronaldo scored from the spot, having forced Nacho into a calamitous tackle with a cute stepover. Ronaldo scores from the spot to open the scoringREAD: World Cup in numbersREAD: World Cup is changing the lives of Iranian women READ: Mystery over empty seats at World Cup gameThere was little gloom among Spain's players, however, as they displayed a mastery of the ball for which they are famed and superbly equalized through Costa. The Atletico Madrid striker raced onto a long ball after a tussle with defender Pepe -- some called for a foul -- and twisted and turned before firing low into the corner for what was his first shot on target at a World Cup. Portugal -- aiming to become only the fourth country to win the European Championship and World Cup back-to-back -- were always dangerous on the counter-attack and it was a rapid move into opposition territory which ultimately led to their second, giving them possession in the final third.Ronaldo's low shot shouldn't have led to a goal, but De Gea, regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the world, allowed the ball to slip from his grasp and momentum swung back Portugal's way. Costa kneels on the pitch as he scores Spain's second goal.Spain's defender Nacho celebrates what looked to be the winner.Spain, however, epitomized the fighting spirit their new manager spoke of in the build up to the match and struck in the 55th minute after a David Silva free-kick allowed Sergio Busquets to head the ball across goal for Costa to tap in from four yards. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features and videosThree minutes later Nacho struck to make amends for his earlier error only for Ronaldo to steal the show at the Fisht Stadium, taking his tally to 84 goals in 151 internationals and further enhancing his status as one of the finest to ever have played the beautiful game.How social media reactedFormer England defender Rio Ferdinand was among the millions to tweet their astonishment at Ronaldo's feats on a balmy evening in Sochi. Toni Kroos, Ronaldo's Real Madrid team mate and Germany midfielder, described the forward as the "best in the world," while AC Milan great Franco Baresi said there were "no words" to describe the 33-year-old's display.Best individual performances in the history of #WorldCup from Cristiano Ronaldo. pic.twitter.com/5ePh0MUcciβ KroosT8 (@KroosT8) June 15, 2018
I can't breathe.... it's illegal what @Cristiano is doing at the #WorldCupRussia #FIFA2018 #FIFAβ Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) June 15, 2018
Amazing @Cristiano no wordsβ Franco Baresi (@FBaresi) June 15, 2018
Greatest goal scorer of all time. #Ronaldo #PORvESPβ Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) June 15, 2018
Scores a #hattrick...in a #WorldCup β
π one of best GKs in world β
π biggest International rivals β
51st of career β
#Ronaldo is Unbelievable!! Produces on the biggest of stages over and over! π pic.twitter.com/rQW58tBDFIβ Faye White MBE (@faye_white) June 15, 2018
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Story highlightsItalian tire manufacturer unveils new tires for upcoming Formula 1 season Softer compounds and new constructions to increase overtaking and pit stops Tires will officially make 2013 debut at testing in Jerez, Spain at beginning of FebruaryFirst F1 race of season is in Melbourne, Australia on March 17Changes to tires will make Formula 1 racing faster with more overtaking in 2013, according to the sport's official tire supplier Pirelli. Unveiled at the Italian company's headquarters in Milan on Thursday, the new look tires include softer compounds and new constructions which could lower lap times by up to 0.5 seconds, the company says. Pirelli say the objective of the changes to the "P-Zero" dry weather tires and the wet "Cinturato" range is "to improve performance and increase thermal degradation, to ensure at least two pit stops per race and open up more strategic options for all the teams." Paul Hembery, Pirelli's motorsport director said in a statement: "The goal is to continuously set new challenges for the drivers and to ensure that all the teams start the new season on a level playing field when it comes to the tires.""Through accumulating more information with each grand prix last year, the teams eventually fully understood the tires, after a spectacular start with seven winners from the first seven races. The result at the end of the year was races with less competition and sometimes only one pit stop. This phenomenon was also observed in 2011, disappointing many fans ... " he added.JUST WATCHEDF1's spiritual home in the U.S.ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHF1's spiritual home in the U.S. 03:06JUST WATCHEDNASCAR's 'Bad Brad' on beer & traditionReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNASCAR's 'Bad Brad' on beer & tradition 01:26"Our 2013 range of tires mixes up the cards once more to help overtaking and ensure two to three pit stops per race." Color changes to the tire sidewalls have also been made with orange replacing silver to denote hard compound tires. Pirelli say the teams were given the chance to sample the new compounds during free practice in Brazil last November but the tires will make their official debut at Formula 1 testing in Jerez at the start of February. The first race of the new season gets underway in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday March 17. | 5sport
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Story highlightsTrump invited three guests whose family members were allegedly killed by criminals living in the US illegallyVOICE's job will be to work with victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrantsWashington (CNN)President Donald Trump used Tuesday's joint address to Congress to call attention to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants, inviting guests affected by such crimes and describing a new office he has ordered created to report them. As mandated by Trump's executive order signed last month, the Department of Homeland Security announced in implementation guidance issued last week that it would create the Victims Of Immigration Crime Engagement office, or VOICE. "I have ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create an office to serve American victims," Trump said Tuesday night. "We are providing a voice to those who have been ignored by our media, and silenced by special interests."What did Trump order?In establishing the office as called for in Trump's January 25 executive order, DHS Secretary John Kelly ordered the reallocation of any department resources currently going to advocating for undocumented immigrants that can be re-routed to fund the office.Read MoreVOICE's job will be to work with victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. Trump called in his order for the office to issue reports once a quarter "studying the effects of the victimization by criminal aliens present in the United States."Critics worried over Trump's call to report crimes by undocumented immigrantsHow did he make his case?Trump invited three guests whose family members were allegedly killed by criminals living in the US illegally, acknowledging them individually as he described his recent crime reporting initiative.To make his point, Trump in his speech recognized Jamiel Shaw, Susan Oliver, her daughter, Jenna Oliver, and Jessica Davis.Shaw's teen son, Jamiel Shaw Jr., was murdered by a gang member living in the US illegally. Susan Oliver and Davis' husbands were Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver and Detective Michael Davis, who were killed in the line of duty in California. An undocumented immigrant is charged with their murders. "To Jamiel, Jenna, Susan and Jessica: I want you to know -- we will never stop fighting for justice," Trump said. "Your loved ones will never be forgotten, we will always honor their memory."JUST WATCHEDTrump's speech to Congress in 90 secondsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTrump's speech to Congress in 90 seconds 01:30Why is it controversial?The line about creating VOICE in Trump's speech elicited some audible groans from Democrats in the chamber.Along with a similar provision in the executive order requiring weekly reports about crimes committed by undocumented immigrants designed to name and shame sanctuary cities, critics fear the measures are designed to skew public opinion unfavorably toward immigrants. Studies conducted by organizations that support pro-immigration policies have found that immigrants commit crimes at a lower rate than the general public, findings that supporters of hardline immigration policies say don't matter. "The point is that every crime that is committed by someone who is here illegally is a crime that would not occur if they weren't in the country," said Hans von Spakovsky, a legal expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation. Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth, on the other hand, called the initiative "horrifying" and said Trump was exploiting his guests. "Especially this VOICE program, I find horrifying," Duckworth told CNN. "And for him to bring guests who suffered such tragedies, but to use it as a political point when it comes to undocumented immigrants, is sad. I wish he would have -- he touched on DREAMers a little bit -- but really no real discussion about he was going to go about doing this other than build more walls."Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles President Alfonso Aguilar, a one-time Trump supporter and conservative immigration activist who has been back and forth on his feelings on Trump's agenda, said he liked the rest of the President's statements in the speech on immigration but not VOICE. "The majority of undocumented immigrants are good hard working people," Aguilar told CNN's John Berman on "Newsroom" Wednesday. "A small minority, and you're absolutely right, smaller than those in the general population, engage in criminal activity. So it is blown out of proportion. I don't know -- I think the office is just going to keep statistics and things like that, but I think if they do the research (they'd) realize that the majority of undocumented immigrants are really not involved in criminal activity."Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders criticized Trump's use of victims of tragedy to promote his agenda. "The murder of anyone is a tragedy, and our hearts go out to all families who lose a loved one to violence," Sanders said in a Facebook post. "But let's be clear about what Donald Trump is doing tonight in inviting family members who saw a loved one murdered by an undocumented immigrant. He is stirring up fear and hatred against immigrants and trying to divide our nation."Trump admin sets stage for mass deportationsSanders also mentioned victims of hate crimes by non-immigrant perpetrators, wondering why Trump did not mention them. "President Trump, any murder is a tragedy. Don't use these tragedies to stir up divisions by race and nationality," Sanders said. "The obvious intent of a provision like that is to provide a misleading view of what sanctuary jurisdictions are really doing," Omar Jadwat, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants' Rights Project, told CNN in January. | 4politics
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(CNN)With a difficult summer behind him, Lionel Messi says he is determined to "fight for everything" at Barcelona this season. The Argentine forward drew level with Pele's record of 643 goals for a single club at the weekend and he could surpass that mark as Barcelona faces Real Valladolid on Tuesday.Messi, who came close to departing Barcelona in August amid a fall out with the club's hierarchy, says he has renewed focus for the remainder of the season."The truth is today I'm good, but I was really bad all of summer, since before summer, because of how the season ended," he said in an interview with Spanish TV channel La Sexta."Then came what happened in summer, the burofax and all of that. Then honestly I dragged that into the beginning of the season. Nowadays, I'm good.Read More"I have the motivation to seriously fight for everything we have in front of us ... I know the club is facing a complicated moment, at the club and team level, and that makes everything around Barcelona difficult, but I have motivation."Messi looks on during Barcelona's draw with Valencia on Saturday. Messi previously said he had wanted to leave Barcelona "all year" and claimed a clause in his contract meant he could do so for free, but the 33-year-old was ultimately forced to stay as the club disagreed and wasn't willing to reduce its β¬700 million ($897 million) release clause.He also said his love for the club meant he had no intention of taking the matter to court and dragging out a legal dispute.Barcelona is currently fifth in La Liga and eight points behind leader Atletico Madrid after a rocky start. READ: Blink and you'll miss it -- Raphael Leao scores fastest goal in Serie AREAD: Manchester United fires six past Leeds'Horrible' without fansOn Monday, Messi picked up his seventh Pichichi trophy as last season's top scorer in La Liga, bettering Telmo Zarra's record of six awards. He scored 25 goals in 33 league games last season as Barcelona finished second behind Real Madrid and has netted six times so far this campaign.Upon collecting his fourth consecutive Pichichi trophy, Messi spoke of the difficulty of playing without fans in stadiums. "It's horrible to play without fans. It's not a nice feeling," he told Marca. JUST WATCHEDSergiΓ±o Dest on playing with Leo MessiReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSergiΓ±o Dest on playing with Leo Messi 01:33"Not seeing anyone in the stadium makes it like training, and it takes a lot to get into the game at the beginning. That's why we see such even games. "It's very hard to beat whoever you are playing against."The pandemic has caused football to change a lot, and for the worse. We are seeing it in games. Hopefully after all this is over, we can get people back into the stadiums and get back to normal."Patrick Sung Cuadrado contributed to reporting. | 5sport
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Story highlightsMexico returns to F1 calendar after 23 yearsGrand prix to be held at revamped circuitRace is a sellout, with home hopes resting on Sergio Perez (CNN)Once upon a time in Mexico, Formula One cars rode the bumps and high-speed curves to claim the checkered flag at one of the sport's favorite venues.World champions Jim Clark, Nigel Mansell, Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost counted themselves winners of the North American sizzler at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.A new chapter is about to be written in 2015, and a new champion crowned, as the top tier of motorsport returns to Mexico after a 23-year hiatus.What will F1 fans find at the November 1 race? From high altitudes and homegrown heroes, CNN's The Circuit will steer you through all the action to be found on and off the track.RED-HOT HISTORYRead MoreThe Mexican Grand Prix has been part of the Formula One World Championship just 15 times since 1963. Its F1 history is short, but very sweet."It's a stunning place," Britain's Nigel Mansell, who won the last staging in 1992, told CNN. "You have to adapt your driving style at the circuit because there's 20% less aerodynamic grip there. Winning there twice, and in front of the Mexican fans, was just so dynamic!"JUST WATCHEDFormula One make a comeback in MexicoReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFormula One make a comeback in Mexico 02:41Mexico was dropped from F1's world tour in 1970, returning in 1986 before disappearing again six years later. Its resurrection in 2015 is as hotly anticipated by the F1 community as a Mexican chilli."Mexico is hugely important to F1 because it has a terrific history," motor racing journalist Maurice Hamilton told CNN. "It goes right back to the 1960s."There's also a huge passion there. In 1970 when they tried to run the grand prix, the crowds went on to the edge of the track. "We go to some places and there's no tradition, no history, it's soulless and people don't turn up -- that's not the case in Mexico."THE TRACKThe Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez is named after brothers Ricardo and Pedro Rodriguez, who were both killed in motor racing accidents: Ricardo in 1962, aged 20; Pedro died nine years later at the age of 31. They are idols of Mexican motorsport and Pedro remains the only driver from his country to win a Formula One grand prix, taking the checkered flag in South Africa in 1967 and Belgium in 1970..@SChecoPerez drives Pedro RodrΓguez's BRM P153 during yesterday's inauguration of the @autodromohr #MexicanGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/5Uq3Te243xβ Auto Racing Live (@AutoRacingLive) October 4, 2015
There may be a sense of sentiment and history about the circuit, which sits in the public Magdalena Mixhuca Park to the east of Mexico City, but it has had a major facelift for the return of F1.As well as new pit and paddock buildings and grandstands, it's estimated that 50% of the track layout has also been tweaked with the famous high-speed, banked Peraltada corner ditched in favor of a new Turn 12. At the 1990 Mexican GP, Mansell famously went round Gerhard Berger's McLaren at Peraltada to steal second place for Ferrari on the last lap, while Senna had two accidents on the tricky curve.Fanatics may rue the corner's demise but there is a surprising F1 first to look forward to -- the new section of track will take a diversion through the Foro Sol baseball stadium, home to the Diablos Rojos del Mexico (Mexico City Red Devils)."Fans will have an amazing vantage point from the stands of the baseball stadium," CNN sports anchor Amanda Davies says of the new section. It is also worth watching out for some slippery action during Friday practice as, just like the new circuits in Sochi and Austin, the Mexican asphalt is expected to lack grip before it "rubbers in" over the race weekend.LOCAL HEROGet ready for a mega Mexican wave for homegrown racer Sergio Perez.The Force India driver becomes the first Mexican to race at a home grand prix for 45 years, and his podium finish at the Russian GP three weeks ago made the front page of national newspapers.JUST WATCHEDMexico's new F1 heroReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMexico's new F1 hero 03:38"It's more than 15 years since I've raced in my home country with my fans, my people and my family," Perez told CNN. "It will be very special to come back after so many years. To have a Mexican Grand Prix makes me very proud."Perez, who goes by the nickname "Checo," is not yet as famous as Mexico's football and baseball stars but his handsome face is used to advertise telecoms companies Telmex and Telcel on billboards and televisions nationwide.The 25-year-old comes from Guadalajara, 340 miles northwest of Mexico City. Famous as the birthplace of the "Mexican Hat Dance," it is near the city of Tequila which gave its name to the famous spirit. If Perez does well at his home race he might just enjoy both on Sunday evening. FORMULA ONE vs. FOOTBALL FEVERWhen it comes to sports, football has pole position in Mexico. The national team has reached the World Cup quarterfinals twice, and the domestic top tier Liga MX is hugely popular. "There is definitely huge interest in football here, especially just days after Mexico defeated USA in the Confederations Cup playoff," said Davies on her tour of Mexico City. "We also spotted lots of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Chelsea shirts in the streets."Along with soccer and baseball, Mexico's national sports include the rodeo-like charreada, bullfighting and lucha libre (free wrestling)..@SChecoPerez front page news here in #mexicocity #cnnthecircuit #parklife #f1 pic.twitter.com/emULGsc0F2β Amanda Davies (@AmandaJDavies) October 15, 2015
Motorsport does have strong roots in Mexico, however. As well as F1, there is a NASCAR Mexico series -- where Perez's elder brother Antonio is among the racing ranks -- and a rally on the gravel roads of Guanajuato joined the World Rally Championship in 2004."Mexicans have an impulse to believe we are much better at individual sports such as boxing, diving, Taekwondo and motor racing," explains Mexican F1 fan Cesar Talamantes. "Many people have never seen a sports car in their life but as soon as they hear a Ferrari they immediately know what that is. "The Mexican character is romantic and nostalgic, and Mexico City's autodromo is named for two fallen brothers."I believe the Mexican Grand Prix has a place in history, maybe not for results, not for the legends like Prost, Senna and Mansell, but for the feeling of the people who follow this sport of man and machine."The cheapest three-day tickets for the 2015 Mexican Grand Prix, priced at 1500 pesos ($91), sold out in just one minute, with all tickets now snapped up. HEADY HEIGHTSMexico City is the highest stop on the F1 calendar at 2,250 meters -- or 1Β½ miles -- above sea level.The capital's thin air means there is less oxygen to breathe, so all teams -- and especially the drivers -- will be pushed to their physical limits.Luckily, many drivers now include altitude training as part of their preseason preparations. Newly-crowned world champion Lewis Hamilton may have the edge there too as he does the bulk of his winter training at his home in Colorado's Rocky Mountains.Despite meticulous preparations, the Mexperience.com blog warns that the capital city throws up a unique set of challenges to acclimatise to."Mexico City is also in a valley surrounded by mountains and flanked by two volcanoes," it explains. "The mix of altitude, heat and smog can be quite uncomfortable." The thin air traditionally took its toll on F1's speed machines too, but engine grunt is unlikely to be affected in the modern era of turbo hybrid engines.CAPITAL GAINSF1's peripatetic community always bubbles with anticipation about a new stop on the sport's world tour, and a visit to Mexico's capital promises plenty of new adventures."Mexico City is a real mix of old and new," Davies reports. "Stunning buildings like the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the cathedral are juxtaposed with incredible new architecture like the stunning Soumaya museum and plenty of Starbucks."There's a vibrancy walking around the streets, with newspaper sellers walking up and down in rows of traffic and shoe shiners on each corner too."The Mexican stereotype is "narco" guy with a gun, a big moustache and a bottle of tequila. It's not the reality in most of the country.
Talamantes, who will make the trip from the northern city of Monterrey for his first home GP, describes Mexico City as a "megalopolis.""There are around 20 million inhabitants and the usual troubles of traffic, pollution, protest rallies, but the crime rate is low proportionally speaking," he adds. "The weather is fine. Not so hot, nor cold. It's definitely a fun place and vibrant place to go out."With so much to occupy the ancient city's inhabitants, F1 fever might not have hit the capital just yet. "F1 excitement seems relatively low key," says Davies, who visited in early October. "There's a dummy Force India car in a shopping center owned by Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim and a few team billboards."The people I've spoken to say they are excited but that they don't know too much about the race. But the GP did sell out in days and organizers are now building more stands to accommodate the demand."MEXICAN FLAVORFrom tacos to tequila, Mexico food tingles taste buds around the world, while the avocado -- now a super-food staple of the Western diet -- originated there. What can F1 expect on the menu at the Mexican Grand Prix?"The food is amazing!" Davies reported. "There is also a real desire from the locals to push the visiting F1 contingent away from the commercial view of Mexican food. "There are little stalls on street corners selling tacos but menus are far less stereotypical than the food we see served up in Mexican restaurants abroad."Esquites, made from sweetcorn, lime and sour cream, are seriously yummy!"DAY OF THE DEADF1 can expect a colorful fiesta in Mexico as the country prepares for its indigenous Dia de los Muertos -- Day of the Dead -- festival. Mexico's Day of the Dead is just around the corner! Here's how to experience the festival:
http://t.co/kLwubY2Qzl pic.twitter.com/SFUR2cmSnAβ Wanderlust magazine (@wanderlustmag) October 15, 2015
The national holiday, which honors deceased loved ones, begins on race day and ends late on Monday, which means F1's celebrations can go on long into the night."Dia de Muertos won't be incorporated as part of the race," says Talamantes. "But the environment around it will be immersed in it. "It's a national holiday in Mexico, a day to visit our loved ones' graves and to celebrate and remember the loved ones still around us."NEW MEXICOSombreros, mariachi music and "Speedy Gonzales" -- the return of the Mexican Grand Prix is an opportunity to end national stereotypes."The stereotype, mostly from Hollywood movies, is a picture of the "narco" guy with a gun, a cowboy hat, a big mustache and a bottle of tequila," describes proud Mexican Talamantes."Sadly that character is a reality in some isolated places but it's not the reality in most of the country. "The idea of a successful Latin American, whether that is Mexican Perez or Venezuelan Lotus driver Pastor Maldonado, would be an inspiration.F1 is also a billion-dollar business with international prestige, and returning to the North American nation is also seen as proof that modern Mexico has plenty of potential."It's important because it shows the international community trusts Mexico," adds Talamantes.MEXICAN PASSIONJust like with any new entry on F1's hit parade of races, there is always one adage worth remembering ..."Expect the unexpected!" says Talamantes, who is excited about traveling to his first grand prix. "The new facilities, the nostalgia for the old track, the struggle among the teams and, between all this, the expectation and nerves of the Mexican fans to see their own 'Checo' do well."If there is one thing that hasn't changed from the first GP in 1963 to the next in 2015, it is the Mexican passion for motorsport. What's your favorite F1 race? Tell us on CNN Sport's Facebook page | 5sport
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(CNN)This year, new technologies will enable more drivers to take their hands off the wheel while on the road. But that doesn't mean their cars will be fully self-driving -- that day still remains far in the future. Automakers like General Motors (GM), Ford (F) and Stellantis (the company formed in the recent merger of Fiat Chrysler and Groupe PSA) are introducing -- or upgrading existing -- technologies that allow drivers to completely take their hands off the steering wheel and pull their feet away from the pedals for long stretches of time. But these systems will still be limited in their capabilities. Drivers will still be required to pay constant attention to the road, for instance. In the words of automated driving experts, these systems are "feet off" and "hands off," but they will not be "eyes off" or "mind off." For the time being, these systems will only be used on limited-access divided highways with on-ramps and off-ramps. On these roadways, there are no pedestrians, bicyclists, or double parked trucks. Vehicles with this technology will be able to drive at relatively high speeds, but only in simple traffic situations.First introduced on the Cadillac CT6, General Motors' Super Cruise technology allows for hands-free driving on highways. An improved version is coming out this year.Bryan Reimer, a transportation researcher with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's AgeLab, said it will be decades before people can buy truly self-driving cars in which humans ride solely as passengers.Read MoreUntil then, people will experience greater levels of "collaborative driving," in which people still play a critical role by overseeing the computers and machinery operating the vehicle and by driving themselves in complex situations, he said. Keep your eyes on the roadStill, the technology that will be rolled out by the major automakers this year will do more than most so-called Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, or ADAS, do now. Tesla's Autopilot -- currently considered one of the most advanced systems -- still requires drivers to regularly grasp the steering wheel, even though the car will hold a lane, change lanes and even take highway interchange ramps on its own. Driver assistance systems in cars from other automakers like Mercedes, BMW, Audi and Nissan, also require drivers to regularly grip the steering wheel.Tesla's new Autopilot is amazing. But please keep your eyes on the roadGM's Super Cruise system allows drivers to completely let go of the steering wheel while driving on selected highways. It was introduced in 2017 on the Cadillac CT6 sedan, which was discontinued last year. An improved version is coming this year on the Cadillac Escalade SUV and the Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans.This new Super Cruise system will handle lane changes on its own when requested by the driver using the turn signal. It will also be easier to turn the system on, according to GM.Super Cruise only works on highways that have been previously laser-mapped in three dimensions by the company. That detailed 3D map data is combined with "regular" digital maps to allow the vehicles to stay in their lanes even while navigating curves and avoiding other vehicles. GPS positioning and the vehicles' radar sensors and cameras are used to enable drivers to unhand -- and unfoot -- all the controls.Drivers still need to pay attention, however. A camera above the speedometer and tachometer makes sure the driver is looking at the road at all times. Or, at least, almost all the time. If the driver looks away from the road for more than a few seconds, the system will stop working.That's important because Super Cruise, like other ADAS, isn't intended to replace a human driver. It's just supposed to relieve the driver of the mundane tasks of maintaining a lane position and avoiding other cars. But it can be tempting to think the machine has it all under control."We're human. I mean, I'm no longer fully engaged in this," said MIT's Reimer. "I'm willing to, you know, perhaps trust the automation a little more than I should until something goes disastrously wrong."Ford's electric Mustang will offer hands-free driving technology next yearThere have been fatal crashes when Tesla drivers ignored warnings to keep their hands on the wheel while using Autopilot. With Super Cruise, Reimer said, GM has done a good job of guarding against driver inattention by requiring that drivers watch the road. Tesla cars do not have the sort of driver monitoring in place.Consumer Reports has ranked the Super Cruise system as the best and safest of the ADAS they've tested, largely because of that driver-facing camera, said Kelly Funkhouser, head of connected and automated vehicles at the consumer group. Tesla's Autopilot would rank higher than Super Cruise, she said, if Tesla vehicles also directly monitored driver attention. A similar system, called Active Drive Assist, will be introduced by Ford on the new F-150 and Mustang Mach-E. Stellantis, which makes Jeep vehicles, will offer its own hands-free driving system on the new Jeep Grand Cherokee L later this year. This system also seems like it will operate largely the same way as Super Cruise, although Stellantis is not revealing technical details yet.Too good to be true?These hands-free driving systems are probably as close as car buyers will get to a real self-driving vehicle for a long time -- despite some automakers' claims to the contrary, experts say.Tesla has said it will roll out its Full Self-Driving software in the early part of this year and has been beta testing a version of the software. But Tesla's claim has been met with skepticism by many. Tesla has blown past several of its self-imposed deadlines before and there are doubts about whether the technology will even be "self-driving.""They will oversell their features for sure," Funkhouser said. Tesla has claimed that its Full Self-Driving software, which adds capabilities to Autopilot, will allow a vehicle to steer itself even in urban environments.For now, Tesla still warns that drivers must pay attention at all times while any of its vehicles' driver assistance systems are operating.Microsoft joins in a new $2 billion investment in GM's self-driving car companyReimer said the sensors in Tesla's cars simply will not allow for genuine self-driving in complex environments in the near future. Specifically, Teslas lack the lidar sensors most experts say are needed for a true self-driving car. Lidar bounces laser light off surrounding objects, and times how long the light waves take to return to sensor. In this way, it builds a three-dimensional image of a vehicle's surroundings moment-by-moment. Radar does the same thing with radio waves, but lidar provides a much more detailed picture."To complete the ability, to get what I would call a robust and reliable model of the environment around the vehicle, you would need to add a fourth sensing technology, in addition to cameras, radar and ultrasonics," said Kay Stepper, senior vice president for automated driving and driver assistance engineering at the auto parts supplier Bosch. "Now [you'd have to add] lidar."MIT's Reimer agrees. Without the accuracy of lidar, it just isn't possible to completely release humans from the task of driving."Doing it successfully nine out of 10 times is probably feasible," said Reimer. "Doing it reliably enough that I'm willing to walk on the street [with these cars around]? Different story." GM and Ford's hands-free systems do not use lidar sensors, but they still require a human driver to pay attention at all times. 'I'm not drunk, it's my car:' Tesla's 'full self-driving' gets mixed reviewsTesla, which generally does not respond to media inquiries, did not answer emails and calls about its plans for its Full Self-Driving system. Tesla CEO Elon Musk has said in the past, though, that the system will be reliable and safe thanks to advanced artificial intelligence software that has "learned" from the millions of miles driven by Tesla vehicles. With drivers' permission, Tesla's self-driving software runs continuously in a background "shadow mode.""They will not release an actual full self-driving product for some time, possibly several years, barring major breakthroughs," Brad Templeton, an autonomous driving industry consultant, said of Tesla. "Even with a major breakthrough they won't do it this year or next."Funkhouser pointed to Tesla's other recent advancements, such as giving its cars the ability to recognize and respond to stoplights and stop signs. In Consumer Reports' testing, she said that technology was found to be unreliable, failing to stop at some stop signs and then slamming to a halt needlessly at some yield signs. She expects Full Self-Driving to be something similar."So what I have been expecting to see is a little bit more of this gimmicky type of stuff that's not actually very useful," she said. | 0business
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Story highlightsThe FIA tells Red Bull to change the hotly-disputed floor of the team's carThe RB8 has an isolated hole on its floor, which is against F1 regulationsRed Bull lead the Formula One constructors' championship after six racesSebastian Vettel and Mark Webber are joint second in drivers' standingsMotorsport's governing body the FIA has told Red Bull to modify the floor of its controversial Formula One car ahead of this weekend's Canadian Grand Prix.Australian Mark Webber drove the RB8 to victory at last month's Monaco Grand Prix, but rival teams questioned the legality of a hole in the car's floor located in front of the rear tire.FIA rules dictate the floor of an F1 car must be "continuous, rigid (no degree of freedom in relation to the body/chassis unit)" and "impervious."It has now taken the step of issuing a note to teams in order to reinforce the laws of the sport, with two-time constructors' champions Red Bull set to make the appropriate modifications.Red Bull's RB8 causes a stir"Red Bull are expected to revise the much-talked-about 'holes' in their car's rear floor ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix," read a statement on the sport's official website.JUST WATCHEDTake a ride with F1 champ Vettel ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTake a ride with F1 champ Vettel 02:34JUST WATCHEDFernando Alonso: 'We will fight'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFernando Alonso: 'We will fight' 03:49"Other teams had interpreted the rules to mean only floor slots are allowed and the FIA has now made clear that it will consider enclosed holes illegal from the Montreal race onwards."Webber and two-time world champion teammate Sebastian Vettel are tied for second in the drivers' standings, with Red Bull also leading the constructors' championship after six races.The hole in the RB8's floor was initially approved by FIA scrutineers, and the Austrian-owned marque have been running with their current setup since April's Bahrain Grand Prix. | 5sport
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Paris (CNN)Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy says there is no evidence to support allegations he illegally accepted money from Libya to finance his 2007 election campaign."I am accused without any physical evidence," Sarkozy wrote in an opinion piece published Thursday in French Newspaper Le Figaro.A source close to the case told CNN Wednesday that the 63-year-old had been placed under formal investigation for illicit campaign financing, passive bribery -- illegally receiving money -- and concealment of embezzlement of Libyan public funds. Sarkozy has also been placed under judicial supervision, a step investigators in France can take to limit the movements of a suspect, according to the source. It's not clear what specific restrictions have been placed on Sarkozy. The former French leader was summoned for questioning Tuesday, which he voluntarily attended, according to an official at the court.Read MoreThe official, who did not want to be named, said Sarkozy was being investigated by anti-corruption authorities.Sarkozy, leader of France from 2007 until 2012, has been dogged by accusations of financial wrongdoing.In July 2012, shortly after he was ousted from office by the Socialist François Hollande, police raided Sarkozy's home as part of an investigation into alleged illegal assistance from L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt during the 2007 election campaign. Those charges were eventually dropped in 2013, but another investigation was opened the following year, and in February 2017 a judge ordered Sarkozy to face trial.That came after an embarrassing loss for the former President, as an attempt to return to frontline politics saw him finish third in the Republican party's presidential primary. The winner of that race, François Fillon, was subsequently defeated by centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, who eventually won the presidency after a runoff against National Front leader Marine Le Pen. CNN's James Griffiths contributed reporting. | 3news
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Story highlightsTrump's moves on religion dovetail with other initiatives appealing to staunch conservativesMuch of Trump's evangelical support last year appeared to derive not from who he is but rather who he was notWashington (CNN)In recent weeks, the Trump administration has plunged into fights long sought by the religious right, issuing a 25-page memo bolstering legal protections for people of faith, rolling back employers' requirement for birth-control coverage and reversing a policy that included LGBT employees under US anti-discrimination law."I pledged that, in a Trump administration, our nation's religious heritage would be cherished, protected, and defended like you have never seen before," President Donald Trump said on Friday at the Values Voter Summit in Washington.Β "That's what's happening.Β ... We are stopping cold the attacks on Judeo-Christian values."Donald Trump probably likes saying 'Merry Christmas' more than youOverall, the Trump administration has revved up the culture wars, appealing to religious conservatives and recalling elements of President Ronald Reagan's administration which emphasized positions against abortion rights and for school prayer, and, in one of his Justice Department's first moves, sought tax-exempt status for the fundamentalist Christian Bob Jones University in South Carolina, despite its racially discriminatory practices.As candidates, both Trump in 2016 and Reagan in 1980, won office with significant support from white religious conservatives.Trump, however, drew a greater percentage and now seems even more intent on catering to that constituency.Read More"Bureaucrats think they can run your lives, overrule your values, meddle in your faith, and tell you how to live, what to say, and how to pray," he asserted on Friday, vowing to enhance religious interests.Trump's emphasis could shape his policy efforts in upcoming months. His administration is working to reverse a tax-code provision preventing churches from endorsing politicians, withdraw federal funding from Planned Parenthood, and engage in legal disputes against LGBT people claiming bias and in favor of Christian individuals or entities who say, for example, that they are being excluded from secular aid programs or have been penalized for declining to serve gay customers.In 2016, according to CNN polling, Trump won 61% of white Catholics, compared with Hillary Clinton's 37%. Trump won 80% of the white evangelical voters, compared to Clinton's 16%. In 1980, Reagan took 52% of white Catholics to Carter's 39%. Trends for evangelicals were not documented in 1980, yet Reagan was plainly helped to the White House by groups such the Moral Majority, founded by Baptist minister Jerry Falwell -- whose namesake son became an early and enthusiastic supporter of Trump in 2016.Trump: 'We are stopping cold the attacks on Judeo-Christian values'Much of Trump's evangelical support last year appeared to derive not from who he is but rather who he was not: Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton.That was the posture of Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary in North Carolina. Trump was his "18th choice" among the Republican field (he favored Florida Sen. Marco Rubio), but Land found himself joining Trump's evangelical executive advisory board and then being "pleasantly surprised" by his actions on religion since his January inaugural.Like Trump, Land believes religious conservatives are under siege in America today. He praised the President for the move to exempt more employers, based on religious objections, from the contraceptive insurance-coverage requirement of the Affordable Care Act."I think he likes us," Land said, referring to evangelical Christians. "I don't think he is just using us. ...Β I don't think he was ever around evangelicals very much until he ran for president. ....Β We're not exactly thick on the ground in Manhattan or Queens."Land said he is heartened by the presence of Vice President Mike Pence, a former Indiana governor and congressman long identified with the religious right.Attorney General Jeff Sessions, another forceful presence for conservative Christians in the administration, issued the 25-page October 6 memo designed to protect "religious observance and practice" in employment, contracting and other areas. It would enhance the ability of employers and others claiming a religious objection -- for example, to hire or serve a gay person -- to win exemptions from anti-discrimination law.Exclusive: Evangelicals urge more action from Trump against alt-right"Trump's action and policies turn religious liberty on its head," said Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. "Through his Muslim [travel] ban, the president has shown outright hostility toward an entire faith. At the same time, his administration has embraced the deeply troubling idea that religious freedom is a blank check to discriminate and to harm others."Β Mach referred to the various travel restrictions dating to January that the Trump administration has applied to predominantly Muslim countries and the Trump position favoring a Colorado baker who declined to make a wedding cake for two gay men. That dispute is currently before the US Supreme Court.Some religious organizations contend Trump's initiatives would impinge on religious liberty rather than foster it. The Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty has criticized the travel ban for disfavoring Muslims and opposes lifting the so-called Johnson Amendment, which bars nonprofit organizations from endorsing or opposing candidates.Holly Hollman, the group's general counsel, said a change in the tax law could turn houses of worship into "partisan outposts."For many critics, Trump's initiatives run contrary to the religious liberty and are better seen as igniting the resurgent culture wars.Said Hollman, "He is appealing to something that is not so much religious, but is cultural." | 4politics
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(CNN)Germany's foreign minister said Monday that the European Union could "no longer completely rely on the White House," echoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's veiled criticism of US President Donald Trump a year ago and amplifying a war of words between the two allies. Heiko Maas' comments came a few hours after Trump described the European Union as a "foe" that has "taken advantage" of the US over trade and NATO, and on the same day as a bilateral summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.In an interview with the Funke media group, the Social Democrat politician said the US President's statement on the EU "unfortunately shows once again how wide the political Atlantic has become since Donald Trump has been in office."The EU's relationship with the US must change if it is to continue, Maas said, insisting that this could be achieved only with a "self-confident and sovereign Europe."Trump's reality-bending visit with US alliesHe urged Europe to close ranks and avoid divisions, even when faced with what he described as "absurd" tweets from Trump.Read More"We can no longer completely rely on the White House," Maas said.At a campaign rally last May, four months into Trump's tenure, Merkel made a similar point, without referring directly to the US. "The times when we could completely rely on others are, to an extent, over," she said, making clear that the realization had come "in the last few days," -- days that saw a G7 meeting where Trump blasted his European allies over NATO obligations and made clear that he was willing to act alone on climate change and trade.Maas' comments Monday signal a continuing deterioration of US-German relations. The latest spiral was triggered by Trump's accusation that Germany is a "captive" of Russia because of its reliance on the oil-rich state for energy supplies, and propelled further by his repeated criticism of a planned oil pipeline to Germany during his trip to Brussels and London last week.Speaking to Germany's BILD newspaper Sunday, Maas warned Trump against making any unilateral deals with Putin at the summit Monday, while welcoming the prospect of dialogue between Washington and Moscow."He who offends his partners risks losing in the end," he said. Merkel responds to Trump: 'I have witnessed' Germany under Soviet controlIt is not the first time Maas has spoken critically of the US President. At an event in Berlin last May, the then-justice minister described the US as "incapacitated" in both domestic and foreign policy and said he welcomed the grassroots opposition that had arisen in the US in response to Trump's election victory. In June this year, three months into his tenure as foreign minister, Maas gave an interview to Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung in which he strongly criticized Trump's decisions to renege on the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear treaty, the negative effects of which would directly affect Europe, Maas said.Trump's "America first" doctrine is damaging, he said: "Nothing in that will make the world better, more secure or more peaceful," he said. | 3news
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(CNN)The Bush family has left an indelible mark on American politics, stretching back four generations to when Prescott Bush represented Connecticut in the US Senate.In the decades since, the Bush family has produced two presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush; the governor of Florida, Jeb Bush; and the current Texas land commissioner, Jeb Bush's son George P. Bush.From their blue-blooded start in politics to the personal tragedies that shaped them, here are five things you may not know about this famously secretive family.George H.W. Bush's daughter Robin died as a toddlerWhile George W. and Jeb are public figures, their siblings Neil, Marvin and Dorothy have mostly managed to stay out of the spotlight. Even if they're not household names, anyone who has followed the Bush family is likely aware of their existence.Read MoreHowever, there was a sixth Bush sibling. Born on December 20, 1949, Pauline Robinson "Robin" Bush came several years after brother George.Unfortunately, she would not live long enough to see her 4th birthday.In March 1953, a month after Jeb was born, the Bush family received the devastating news that Robin had leukemia. A local doctor told the Bushes that doctors had never seen a white blood cell count that high and there was nothing they could do for her.Doctors said Robin Bush only had a few weeks left to live.Determined to fight, George and Barbara took Robin to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York to undergo experimental cancer treatment. She lived for six months.Robin's death was devastating for the family, and George and Barbara would always say that she was the first person they would see when they got to heaven. Both are buried next to Robin at the Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station, Texas.The Bush family included three generations of college cheerleadersGeorge H.W. Bush was an accomplished baseball player. He played in the first two College World Series tournaments, and he met baseball legend Babe Ruth as a player at Yale.However, even with his prowess on the field, he was a team player. Following in the footsteps of his father, Prescott, George H.W. was also a cheerleader while at Yale.Keeping the family tradition alive, George W. Bush served as the head cheerleader as a high school senior at Phillips Academy and kept cheering while at Yale.George H.W. Bush narrowly escaped a horrifying fate during WWIIAfter learning about the attack on Pearl Harbor, George H.W. Bush was intent on serving. In 1942, he enlisted in the US Navy to train as a pilot the same day he graduated from high school, and nearly a year later he became the youngest pilot in the Navy at the time. By the fall of 1944, he had flown in more than 50 combat missions.More about "The Bush Years"On September 2, 1944, he flew his most dangerous mission β one that he would never forget. While on a bombing run to Chichi Jima island, his plane was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire. After escaping and parachuting into the ocean, he found a life raft and paddled against the tide taking him toward Japanese-occupied territory.Luckily for him, a US submarine that was in the area, the USS Finback, spotted him and saved him from certain death.Of the nine US airmen who escaped from their planes that day, Bush was the only one to evade capture and the horrible fate that awaited them. It was discovered that the captured servicemen were beaten, tortured and executed. Several of those unfortunate airmen also had parts of their bodies cooked and fed to Japanese officers.George W. Bush quit alcohol cold turkey after his 40th birthdayGeorge W. Bush has been sober for several decades, but his reputation for drinking and partying is legendary. As a younger man, he had run-ins with the law that stemmed from his drinking, and he was known for drinking what he called "the four B's" -- beer, bourbon and B&B liqueur -- sometimes all in one sitting.However, that all changed after his 40th birthday.During a trip to Colorado Springs to celebrate his birthday with family and friends, George W. had one too many drinks and woke up the next morning with a really bad hangover. He went for his morning jog and had to stop in the middle of it because of his hangover, which is not something he had done before.While there were other factors at play, this was the final straw that made him realize it was time to quit. It was not easy, but he quit alcohol cold turkey that day and has not had a drop since."God's work within me began in earnest with Billy's outreach," Bush wrote in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal about American evangelist Billy Graham. "His care and his teachings were the real beginning of my faith walk β and the start of the end of my drinking. I couldn't have given up alcohol on my own. But in 1986, at 40, I finally found the strength to quit. That strength came from love I had felt from my earliest days and from faith I didn't fully discover until my later years."George H.W. Bush went skydiving to celebrate his 80th, 85th and 90th birthdaysGeorge H.W. Bush certainly was not afraid of heights. A former Navy pilot, he flew dozens of missions and logged countless hours in the air.So, it should come as no surprise that the former pilot celebrated his 80th, 85th and 90th birthdays by skydiving.While his first jump wasn't under the most ideal conditions, as he was forced to bail from a burning airplane during a combat mission in WWII as he jumped to safety, he would go on to (voluntarily) jump out of planes seven more times.His eighth and final jump came on his 90th birthday. With the help of an ex-military jumper, he landed near his home in Kennebunkport, Maine, with members of his family waiting on the ground for him. | 4politics
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(CNN)The Houston Texans announced Monday the hiring of defensive coordinator Lovie Smith as the franchise's next head coach.Smith has previously served as a head coach twice in the NFL for 11 seasons with the Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He joined the Texans' staff prior to the 2021 season from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was the school's head football coach from 2016 to 2020.Smith, who is Black, is the second person of color to be hired as an NFL head coach this offseason. The Miami Dolphins announced Sunday they hired Mike McDaniel, who is multiracial, as their new head coach.The NFL made a rule to boost diversity in upper ranks. It's not what 'my father intended it to be'"I have so many friends, family, teammates and coaches to thank for supporting me and helping me continue to do what I love, which is teaching and developing players," said Smith, per a team statement. "I understand the responsibility I have to this organization and this city to develop a championship-level program. I'm ready to get to work and build it together.""A proven winner, Lovie has shown the ability to develop players both on and off the field for years," said Texans general manager Nick Caserio. "We had numerous discussions with countless coaches, executives, and players, and what revealed itself is that Lovie has both the leadership and people skills it takes to lead us forward.Read More"We both understand how much work is in front of us, but we embrace the responsibility and look forward to continuing to build a program that can have sustained success."Smith takes over as head coach of the Texans from David Culley, who was fired at the end of the regular season.Smith spoke on the NFL's diversity issuesDuring a news conference Tuesday, Smith did not shy away from addressing the limited number of Black head coaches in the NFL when asked about the issue."I realize the amount of Black head coaches there are in the National Football League. There's Mike Tomlin and I think there's me, I don't know of many more. So there's a problem, and it's obvious for us. And after there's a problem, what are you going to do about it?" Smith said. Smith also voiced his opinion on how to bring greater diversity to the NFL coaching ranks, saying people in positions of power -- head coaches and general managers -- need to be deliberate about "trying to get more Black athletes in some of the quality control positions just throughout your program."The NFL commissioner called league's lack of diversity 'unacceptable' and vowed for change. Brian Flores' attorneys aren't convinced"If you get that, they can move up, that's one way to get more," he said. "It's not just an interview, if you're interviewing a Black guy, it's about having a whole lot of guys to choose from that look like me. And it's just not about talk, you look at my staff, that's what I believe in. And letting those guys show you who they are. That's how we can increase it, then it's left up to people to choose. We all have an opportunity to choose, and that's how I think we'll get it done."Caserio said no one can refute the lack of Black coaches in a predominantly Black league. "That's an issue the league has to address, and I think they're committed to addressing, and I think collectively all of us, whatever our roles are, we have to be willing and committed to be part of that change too, whatever that looks like."Brian Flores, the former Dolphins head coach who is currently suing the NFL, New York Giants, Denver Broncos and Dolphins for alleged racial discrimination, was interviewed for the head coaching position with Houston.After the hiring of Smith was announced, lawyers representing Flores said they were happy the team hired a Black man to lead the Texans but "would be remiss not to mention that Mr. Flores was one of three finalists for the Texans' head coach position and, after a great interview and mutual interest, it is obvious that the only reason Mr. Flores was not selected was his decision to stand up against racial inequality across the NFL."Caserio said at this point, the lack of diversity in coaching in the NFL just needs a solution. "I certainly don't have all the answers," he said. "I can't even begin to fathom what that answer or solution is, but to be a part of the solution, that's what we can make a commitment to doing." | 5sport
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Story highlightsJohn Cook: Climate deniers rely on a common set of techniques to dispute the scienceCook: Knowing deniers' tactics can help inoculate people from a misleading view of realityJohn Cook is the Climate Communication Fellow for the Global Change Institute at the University of Queensland. He created the website Skeptical Science.com, which won the 2011 Australian Museum Eureka Prize for the Advancement of Climate Change Knowledge. Cook co-authored the college textbook "Climate Change Science: A Modern Synthesis" and the book "Climate Change Denial: Heads in the Sand." In 2013, he published a paper analyzing the scientific consensus on climate change that gained worldwide media attention, being mentioned by President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. It was awarded the best paper of 2013 published in Environmental Research Letters. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his. (CNN)There is overwhelming scientific evidence that humans are causing global warming. Nevertheless, a small proportion of the population continues to deny the science. This can be problematic when the small number denying climate science includes half of the U.S. Senate. John CookHow do you identify climate science denial, and how do you respond to it? To address denial properly, you need to understand the telltale techniques used to distort the science. It turns out all movements that deny a scientific consensus, whether it be the science of climate change, evolution or vaccination, share five characteristics in common: 1. Fake expertsNinety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that humans are causing global warming. This has been found independently in a number of studies, including surveys of Earth scientists, analysis of public statements about climate change and analysis of peer-reviewed scientific papers. How might one cast doubt on the overwhelming scientific consensus? One technique is the use of fake experts. We see this in online petitions such as the Global Warming Petition Project, which features more than 31,000 scientists claiming humans aren't disrupting our climate. How can there be 97% consensus when 31,000 scientists disagree? It turns out 99.9% of the petition's signatories aren't climate scientists. They include computer scientists, mechanical engineers and medical scientists but few climate scientists. The Global Warming Petition Project is fake experts in bulk.Read More2. Logical fallaciesThe reason why there's a 97% consensus is because of the many lines of evidence that humans are causing global warming. Human fingerprints are being observed in heat escaping out to space, in the structure of the atmosphere and even in the changing seasons. Another denialist technique used to counter the weight of evidence is the logical fallacy. The most common fallacious argument is that current climate change must be natural because climate has changed naturally in the past. This myth commits the logical fallacy of jumping to conclusions. It's like finding a dead body with a knife sticking out of its back, and arguing that the person must have died of natural causes because humans have died of natural causes in the past. The premise does not lead to the conclusion.3. Impossible expectationsWhile many lines of evidence inform our understanding of climate change, another source of understanding are climate models. These are computer simulations built from the fundamental laws of physics, and they have made many accurate predictions since the 1970s. Climate models have successfully predicted the loss of Arctic sea ice, sea level rise and the geographic pattern of global warming. However, one technique used to cast doubt on climate models is the tactic of impossible expectations. Some people argue that climate models are unreliable if they don't make perfect short-term predictions. However, a number of unpredictable influences such as ocean and solar cycles have short-term influences on climate. Over the long term, these effects average out, which is why climate models do so well at long-term predictions.4. Cherry-pickingSigns of global warming have been observed all over our planet. Ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are losing hundreds of billions of tons of ice every year. Global sea level is rising. Thousands of species are migrating toward cooler regions in response to warming. The ocean is building up four atomic bombs worth of heat every second. One way to avoid this overwhelming body of evidence is through the technique of cherry-picking. For example, a persistent myth is that global warming stopped in recent decades. This is done by focusing on one slice of our climate system -- the surface temperature record. Further, it relies on cherry-picking short time periods. This ignores the long-term trend and more importantly, ignores the many warming indicators telling us that our planet continues to build up heat. 5. Conspiracy theoryThe global surface temperature record is constructed by teams across the world, each compiling their own independent record. These different efforts, each using their own methods, paint a consistent picture of global warming. Climate science deniers reject this coherent evidence with conspiracy theories. The thousands of scientists across the world who develop these temperature records are regularly accused of faking their data to inflate the global warming trend. Of course, critics produce no evidence for a global conspiracy. In fact, a number of investigations into the scientists' methodology has concluded that they conducted their research with robust integrity. How do the conspiracy theorists respond to each exoneration? By expanding their conspiracy theory to include the investigators!The link between conspiratorial thinking and science denial has serious and practical consequences. Conspiracy theorists are immune to scientific evidence, as any evidence conflicting with their beliefs is considered part of a conspiracy. The implication is that the most effective approach is not changing the mind of the unchangeable. Rather a more fruitful approach is communicating the realities of climate change to the large, undecided majority who are open to scientific evidence. A crucial part of the puzzle is explaining the techniques of science denial. This has the powerful effect of inoculating people against the misinformation of climate science deniers.Follow @CNNOpinion
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(CNN)Former Vice President Joe Biden is dominating President Donald Trump in the latest polls. No, the election is not over yet, and Trump still has a non-negligible chance of winning.But a look through history reveals that Biden is in a better position at this point than any challenger since 1936, when the first scientific polls were taken in a presidential race. The ABC News/Washington Post poll released on Sunday was the latest poll to indicate Biden's strength. Biden led Trump by a 55% to 43% margin among likely voters. The poll was the third high quality national poll published this week that had Biden up by at least 10 points and above 50%. The other two being from CNN/SSRS and Fox News. Indeed, the average of polls has Biden at around 52% or 53% and up by somewhere between 10 and 11 points. This is an unprecedented position for a challenger with a mere 23 days to go until Election Day. View Trump and Biden head-to-head pollingRead MoreIn the 21 previous presidential elections since 1936, there have only been five challengers who led at this time. Of those five, only one (Bill Clinton in 1992) was ahead by more than 5 points. None of those five were earning more than 48% of the vote in the polls. In other words, Biden is the first challenger to be above 50% at this late juncture in the campaign. This also continues to mark a massive difference with the 2016 campaign. While Hillary Clinton was ahead of Trump by as high as 7 points in October 2016, she never came anywhere close to approaching 50% of the vote. Trump merely had to win the lionshare of the undecided or third party voters (who would bolt their candidate) to earn a victory in 2016. Even if every undecided or current third party voter went to Trump now, he'd still be down about 5 to 6 points nationally. That's never been the case with an incumbent since 1936 at this point. Of course, it's the Electoral College that matters. There are very few universes in which Trump could win the Electoral College, if he were to lose nationally by 5 to 6 points. New polls out on Sunday from CBS News/YouGov demonstrate that Biden's above 50% in some key battlegrounds. He leads 52% to 46% in Michigan and Nevada. In Iowa, a state that Trump took by 9 points in 2016 and is not anywhere close to must win for Biden, the race is tied at 49%. A look under the hood reveals why Biden is in such a strong position. Since the coronavirus pandemic began, Covid-19 has either been, or been within the margin of error of being the nation's most important problem in Gallup polling. Visit CNN's Election Center for full coverage of the 2020 raceThe three challengers in the polling era (Jimmy Carter in 1976, Ronald Reagan in 1980 and Bill Clinton in 1992) who defeated incumbents have all been trusted more than the incumbent to deal with what Americans thought was the nation's most important problem. None, however, were trusted by more than 50% of the voters. Today, Biden has a huge advantage over Trump when it comes to the pandemic. The clear majority (59%) of likely voters in the last CNN poll said Biden would better be able to handle the outbreak. Just 38% said Trump would do a better job than Biden. As I noted in July, the only issue that really matters is Trump's handling of the coronavirus. He's failing in the minds of voters right now. The result of which is a majority of those same voters favor Biden to be the next president of the United States. | 4politics
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(CNN)Destiny Britt has given the Covid-19 vaccine a lot of thought and has no plans to get vaccinated anytime soon. "Don't take it as when people don't want to take the vaccine as being rebellious," she said. The 21-year Atlanta native is skeptical of the vaccines thanks in large part due to the legacy of Tuskegee syphilis study, she says. Yet, some experts say this isn't the only reason why some younger people may still be hesitant months after the vaccines became available. Despite the research she's done, Britt worries about the potential rare side effects of the vaccines, like myocarditis, a condition that causes inflammation of the heart. "But how do I know that that small percentage won't be me?" she asks.Read MoreAs Covid-19 deaths hit record lows, those dying are younger and more disproportionately Black than before Britt's continued distrust comes as Covid-19 deaths have fallen dramatically across the United States. Average daily deaths are less than a tenth of what they were at the peak of the pandemic, according to data from Johns Hopkins University -- but nearly 300 people are still dying of Covid-19 each day in the US.Yet, people who died of Covid-19 in May were younger and more disproportionately Black than those who had died of Covid-19 throughout the pandemic, a CNN analysis of CDC data shows. And Americans who are still dying of Covid-19 are "overwhelmingly" unvaccinated, Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN's Jake Tapper last week.Generally, vaccine coverage among young adults has been lower and increasing more slowly over time, compared to other age groups, according to a report published recently by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their intent to get vaccinated is also lower. If the weekly pace of vaccinations continues at the rate from the week of May 22, only 57.5% of people under the age of 30 will have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine by the end of August.The CDC report shows the weekly rate of newly vaccinated adults drop 18-29 years old have slowed from 3.6% to 2%. The CDC director says of the 20 million young people who've been vaccinated there have only been about 300 reported cases, which is just .002%.Britt, who works at an Atlanta record label, says she doesn't trust the vaccine and instead trusts her own immune system.Destiny Britt"I would just rather go take vitamin C or make sure that I'm eating healthier just to make sure that on my end it'll be better for my body to fight off rather than just taking the vaccination."Britt asserts that she knows Covid-19 is real and she continues to wear a mask at work and around friends and family.But it's the mindset among younger people like Britt that worries experts."Chances are you're not going to get that sick. However, even individuals with mild illness could have long-lasting symptoms, said CNN medical analyst Dr. Leana Wen."There are people who have lost their hair, people who continue to have loss of the sense of taste or smell. Individuals who have difficulty concentrating memory, lapses, nerve and muscle pain," she said.CDC researchers met last week to discuss the very rare cases of myocarditis and pericarditis that have been reported among mostly young men and teens, who've been recently vaccinated.A 'tough nut to crack': States race to vaccinate young adults against Covid-19They concluded that the benefits of the mRNA vaccines far outweigh the risks. Wen explained that even if you get myocarditis, chances are you will recover from it within days versus if you get Covid-19 you could get very ill and have long-lasting consequences. "There is this pervasive narrative that somehow young people don't get sick and don't die from coronavirus, which is just not true," she said.Wen has taken care of young people who have difficulty with concentrating, with chronic fatigue and even walking down the block because they have had Covid-19.Stepping up outreach effortsBritt lives in Georgia -- a state with some of the lowest vaccination rates in the country and where Covid-19 deaths were among the highest just last week.As the White House partners with organizations and private companies to incentivize adults under 30 to get vaccinated, some corporations like Axe, a men's grooming company, are holding events at places like an Atlanta brewery to lure in younger people. Black people are the most undervaccinated racial or ethnic group in the US. More than 45% of the US population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, but coverage among Black people is less than half of that, at about 22%."These lower rates may be due in part, to vaccine hesitancy, but they may also be due to inequities in vaccine access," Dr. Lisa Cooper, founder of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Equity, told CNN. "Many African Americans in the South live in rural areas with limited access to health care facilities. Furthermore, many people may have other stressors related to housing, food, or job insecurity, which may be preventing them from getting vaccinated."Julius Thomas is the CEO and founder of the non-profit, "The People's Uprising," and Britt's friend. She also volunteers with the group.Ironically, the non-profit is planning on holding vaccine drives this month to target people like Britt."Go to skating rinks, go to Topgolf or places like the BeltLine where you know young people congregate," Thomas says.Julius ThomasThomas hopes Britt will eventually come around."We really are pushing that hard because we care about you that hard," he says. But Britt is steadfast in her skepticism.Although she knows the Black community continues to die of Covid-19 at a higher rate than any other group, she says there's no telling if and when she may ever get vaccinated. "I just need to make sure that it's been around for some time where I know specifically what the side effects are." CNN's Jen Christensen and Deidre McPhillips contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlightsTwo Spanish women hope to pave way for new generation of female ridersMaria Herrera, 19 is from Toledo; Ana Carrasco, 18, is from MurciaCarrasco is the first female rider to score points in the Moto3 clas (CNN)At a rain-lashed Silverstone this month, an extraordinary MotoGP story was taking shape. Maria Herrera, a 19 year old Moto3 rider from Toledo, Spain, had started from 14th on the grid and despite the appalling conditions, the petite Laglisse Husqvarna rider had scythed her way through the field to fourth place.Follow @cnnsport
Back in the Husqvarna garage, flanked by the team's crew, Herrera's father hopped from foot to foot in nervous anticipation, glued to the monitors as, through the swirl, his daughter fought her ground.Then, 11 laps in, with Herrera in fifth position, disaster struck. Her foot slipped on a pedal and she swerved to a slippery part of the track, where she crashed.Excellent. Female GP racer Ana Carrasco on the grid at Assen last weekend. #brollydolly @EverydaySexism pic.twitter.com/3SgGZBVVehβ JDMC (@MotoClark) July 2, 2014
The teenager remounted, but her Husqvarna stalled. She tried desperately to bump start it back to life, but her shot at history had gone -- for now. Fifth would have been the best result by a female rider in Moto3.Read MoreReturning to the garage, Herrera embraced her father, sad disappointment etched on her face, pride on his.Close familiesClose families are common in motorsports and the Herrera clan is no exception."My father introduced me to riding, he was a rider, and since I was little I started riding motorbikes," Herrera, standing among spare bike parts and race leathers in her team's trailer, told CNN. "I was six years old. My father raced bikes, but he was not famous."My family always supported me," she added. "My father always took me training and my family is always involved with me."Painful injuriesAlso racing at Silverstone was 18-year-old Ana Carrasco.Returning after a lengthy rehabilitation from a badly broken humerus -- her second serious injury of a painful season -- she was forced to retire.Like Herrera, Carrasco -- the first female rider to score points in the Moto3 class -- had paternal influence behind her entry into the sport."My father was a mechanic, and a rider," she told CNN over the noise of the Silverstone paddock. "They got me a bike when I was three years old, and I started back then."Β‘Ya estamos en Misano, maΓ±ana empezamos a trabajar! / Already in Misano, tomorrow start the work!π #MisanoGP #goforit pic.twitter.com/HN91xyjURkβ Ana Carrasco (@AnaCarrasco_22) September 9, 2015
At first she says, racing was purely for fun: "The first year was like a game, no pressure, nothing, only for playing."As the stakes have got higher, so her family have begun to worry about her. "My family was really relaxed, but now they are becoming nervous," she laughs.Tough for a womanCarrasco admits that reaching Moto3 hasn't been easy. "I think for all the riders it is difficult to come to the world championship, but for me it was a little bit more; but for another part it's better to be a woman, because nobody is here, so I think it's good."Acabando el dΓa de la mejor manera , entrenando para Misano !! @karento eres un grande! Jajaja (Idalio) pic.twitter.com/uSrKi6UZPhβ MarΓa Herrera MuΓ±oz (@MariiaHerrera_6) September 7, 2015
She says gender is irrelevant on the track, although she does believe the boys try a little harder when they're racing her. "On the track it's the same to be a woman or a man; they try a little bit more when they are with me, but I don't care," she added.The MotoGP community has always welcomed her, she says. "I never feel different. My team is always protecting me, but I have a good relationship with people, with the other riders, so I feel comfortable here."Female-friendly sportThis open atmosphere is something Ignacio Sagnier, MotoGP's communications manager, is proud of. "I think there's a lot of evidence that MotoGP is a female-friendly sport," he told CNN."We have two women competing in Moto3 right now, and in the past we've had others in the old 125cc and 250cc classes. Of course it is also a very physically challenging sport, but you can see that with the right preparation anyone -- male or female -- can achieve good results."Read: Women in F1: Bernie Ecclestone - 'They don't want to take responsibility'Herrera also admits that Moto3 was daunting at first.JUST WATCHEDLone WolffReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLone Wolff 03:27"At the beginning I felt the pressure, but little by little it got better and I felt more comfortable with my motorbike and the team," she explained.She has received plenty of support from across the grid. "There are lots of riders in MotoGP who try to help me, and I'm very happy because I think I'm slowly securing my place in the team."Role modelAprilia MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista has been a major influence. "Alvaro is my role model," said Herrera, smiling. "He's from my village and I train with him a lot, so I really appreciate him. He's a very hard-working rider and he gives me a lot of advice."JUST WATCHEDMotorsport's leading ladyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMotorsport's leading lady 02:55Like Herrera, Carrasco has quickly become an established figure on the grid, with her broad, infectious grin and relaxed demeanor. Traversing the world with the MotoGP circus is something she clearly enjoys."I like the traveling, many countries, and all the people, it's really good," said Carrasco. "But also it's difficult because for studying -- it's difficult -- because you are not at home and you don't have a lot of time."Read: Women in F1: Susie Wolff 'may quit at end of 2015'When she is back in the city of Murcia where Carrasco grew up, life remains grounded and ordinary. "Where I live it's different, because all the people know me for all my life, so it's like, 'Hey Ana,' it's normal."MarquezBoth riders have caught the eye of reigning MotoGP world champion Marc Marquez. "They have talent and they can achieve great things in Moto3, both have already got some points," he told CNN."I know Maria well and she can be fighting in the top 10. She won a race in the Spanish Championship two years ago and this year in Silverstone she was unlucky to crash when she was in fifth position."Grid Girls and Grid BoysSo what do Herrera and Carrasco think about the "Grid Girls" that sashay around the paddock and hold umbrellas over the riders on the grid?Herrera isn't a fan. "I don't like it," she said. "I've always told my father that I don't like it. It's only good for the sponsors."A year ago Carrasco went one step further, arriving on the grid at the Dutch MotoGP with a male model -- naked from the waist up -- causing an amused stir at the track.Β‘Primeras vueltas al circuito de Misano, me encanta, maΓ±ana gas!βπ / First laps to Misano circuit, tomorrow gas!!βπ pic.twitter.com/S2vT1rejNJβ Ana Carrasco (@AnaCarrasco_22) September 10, 2015
Sagnier says umbrella holding "Grid Girls" are here to stay, for now at least: "There are no plans to change anything regarding the 'Grid Girls,' but it is really up to the individual teams and the riders," he told CNN."If a rider prefers to have a 'Grid Boy' like Ana Carrasco did in Assen last year then that is great -- it was fun for everyone to see."The top prizeThe big question for both women is whether they can reach the MotoGP class."That is the dream," says Carrasco smiling. "Now I don't think about this, because now we are in Moto3, and we need to continue improving, then think about Moto2 and then we will see."Herrera, too, is focused on Moto3."I think next year, when I know the circuits better, it will help me achieve better results, and in time we'll be able to fight for the championship."JUST WATCHEDThe humble F1 team leaderReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe humble F1 team leader 03:54The biggest obstacle is the brute strength needed in the top class, argues Sagnier. "MotoGP is extremely physically demanding," he said. "The bikes are much more powerful than Moto3 and Moto2. I think that's the biggest challenge for female riders, as it is for male riders."But, in Moto3 and Moto2 I think we will see more women as genuine contenders for the World Championship before too long."However, Carrasco dismisses the idea that women aren't physically enough to race. "This is always difficult, but you can train for this, it's not a problem I think."New bloodLooking ahead, Sagnier sees more women entering the sport. "As well as Ana and Maria in Moto3 we have more girls rising up through the lower categories, so I suspect it is just a matter of time."Marquez believes women must get a chance in the top class. "Why not? Of course it's not easy and not everyone can be in the world championship," said the Spaniard."Ana and Maria have talent and have worked hard from the beginning, they deserve this opportunity." | 5sport
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This was excerpted from the March 16 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)President Joe Biden has ringed two days β May 1 and July 4 β on the calendar of every American. By the first deadline, he says he will force states to make every adult eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine. And if all goes well, sufficient citizens will be immunized to attend parties on Independence Day.Biden is taking a gamble; setting dates against which you can be judged is always risky in politics. He is sure to face a backlash if vaccination delays nix his timelines. The pandemic has long busted expectations and its murderous hold on the world, with the help of new viral mutations, means no one can really know when it will end. And the White House's plan to set up a national vaccination booking website has some Democrats shuddering, as they remember the glitchy portal that hampered the rollout of Obamacare.But Biden may not be as far out on a limb as he appears. His pandemic strategy has been noticeably un-Trumpian as he underpromises and over delivers. With more than two million jabs going into arms a day, he's easily going to blow past his call to inject 100 million doses in his first 100 days. At least 69 million Americans have already had one dose of vaccine and more than 37 million are fully vaccinated. Many states may have already expanded the eligibility for vaccines themselves by May 1.That would make Biden's pledge, delivered in his primetime address on Thursday night, a neat line that makes him look good for little cost. After many years in the White House and Congress, the President understands that nothing gets the creaky machinery of the federal government moving like a public order from the commander-in-chief, so setting symbolic deadlines might force the race to vaccinate to step up a gear.After so many months of bad news, it's quite something to see the giddiness of people who have already got their shots in a new season of hope. If everything goes well, the long-awaited light at the end of the tunnel might just be the fireworks bursting in air on America's birthday.Read More'We are sharing what we have with them. They should be sharing with us'The US has accepted 24 countries' offers to vaccinate American diplomats stationed there -- but has no plans to offer vaccines to foreign diplomats on its own soil, reports CNN's Kylie Atwood. "It is incredibly frustrating," said a senior European diplomat in Washington. "We are sharing what we have with them. They should be sharing with us. Vaccines are going to get diplomacy up and running, we need to be vaccinated." Politico first reported on the diplomats' growing frustration. Postcard from JerusalemPeople show off their "green passes" in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv on March 5, 2021.My family and I just moved from London to Jerusalem, where I'm taking on a new role as correspondent here. It would be a big move even pre-pandemic. But during Covid-19, the differences between the two cities are stark.When we left London toward the end of February, it was a city still under strict lockdown -- nearly everything from schools to restaurants were closed. Even meeting up with friends at a park was technically banned. Then we arrived in Israel, which has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world -- and where nearly everything has opened back up (with capacity limits) for those with a "green pass," a certificate that shows vaccination or recovery from Covid-19.As newcomers, we still had to quarantine, but once that ended, it felt like we were in a normal city. Restaurants are busy, people out shopping, kids going to school. Bars and eateries at the city's famous Mahane Yehuda market have been packed with diners and drinkers β finally enjoying a nightlife scene that's been shut down for months. If it weren't for the face masks and many 'for rent' signs in empty storefronts, you'd almost think there was no such thing as coronavirus.Getting a vaccine here is easy, to the point that some people seem offended at the question, saying 'Yes of course I got my second dose more than a month ago!' For meetings, people expect me to come see them in person. It's honestly still a little unnerving. It feels like we've not only physically moved, but also moved forward in time β to the future that awaits cities and countries around the world as more and more people get vaccinated. Hopefully. β CNN's Hadas Gold writes from Jerusalem'That all countries are free to make their own political choices, free of coercion'Biden on Saturday joined a rare op-ed penned with fellow "Quad" leaders from India, Australia and Japan. "Over the course of these past months, each of us has grieved the suffering that our people and the world have endured. But in this dark hour, our partnership offers a spark of hope to lightβ―the path ahead," they wrote in the Washington Post. The alliance said it is trying to "ensure that the Indo-Pacific is accessible and dynamic, governed by international law and bedrock principles such as freedom of navigation and peaceful resolution of disputes, and that all countries are able to make their own political choices, free from coercion." | 3news
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Story highlightsRafael Nadal through to the semifinals at Barcelona OpenRain-delay forced Nadal to play conclusion of quarterfinal tie FridayWorld No.5 will face Milos Raonic in last fourSpain's Nicolas Almagro to play Philipp Kohlschreiber in other semifinalRafael Nadal extinguished any doubts over his long-term fitness after being forced to play two matches in less than 24 hours at the Barcelona Open.The 26-year-old recorded a 37th consecutive victory at Barcelona with a 6-3 6-0 quarterfinal win over fellow Spaniard Albert Ramos just hours after finishing off his rain-delayed third round match.After returning from a seven-month injury enforced absence with a knee problem in February, Nadal has reached six finals in six tournaments this year. Bad weather in Barcelona Thursday forced the World No.5 to complete his match against Frenchman Benoit Paire on Friday morning.Read: Nadal held up by rainA 7-6 6-2 win set up a last eight clash with Ramos, who Nadal swept aside in just 66 minutes following a commanding display."I played much better this afternoon than in the morning," Nadal told the ATP website.JUST WATCHEDThe story behind Sharapova's successReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe story behind Sharapova's success 06:26JUST WATCHEDCan 'Baby Federer' become a champion?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCan 'Baby Federer' become a champion? 04:54JUST WATCHEDTipsarevic's clay court master classReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTipsarevic's clay court master class 05:03"I'm very happy to be in the semifinals another time in a very important tournament."I'm enjoying the week playing here. I love the tournament. I know everybody well. It feels like home, always."Read: Djokovic takes Nadal's crownNadal, who lost out in the final of the Monte Carlo Masters to Novak Djokovic last week, is hoping to secure an eighth French Open title next month.The Spaniard had hoped to win a ninth consecutive title at Monte Carlo before suffering his first defeat at the clay court tournament since 2003.He will now hope to bounce back with Canada's Milos Raonic standing in between him and a place in Sunday's final.Raonic, who has lost both of his previous encounters with Nadal, overcame Tommy Robredo 6-7 6-3 7-6.Read: Wimbledon bonus for tennis starsIn the other semifinal, Spain's Nicolas Almagro will face Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.Almagro, ranked 12th in the world, defeated compatriot Juan Monaco 6-3 7-5 in a contest where he saved 10 break points."He had many break points and played really good, but I can rest now for a little bit and we'll see what comes tomorrow in the semi-finals," Almagro told the official ATP website. Photos: Wimbledon to put a lid on it Photos: Wimbledon to put a lid on itFlying high β The All England Club, which organizes the Wimbledon Championship, has revealed that it will build a new roof on No.1 Court.Hide Caption 1 of 4 Photos: Wimbledon to put a lid on itCentre of attention β The iconic Centre Court has had a retracting roof in place since 2009, which has allowed players to continue their matches during rain showers.Hide Caption 2 of 4 Photos: Wimbledon to put a lid on itTaking cover β The $152 million project will see a roof put on No.1 Court, which will take the number of covered seats at the venue to 26,500.Hide Caption 3 of 4 Photos: Wimbledon to put a lid on itFinished product β This is an artist's impression of the completed project, which is expected to be ready in time for the 2019 tournament.Hide Caption 4 of 4 Photos: Tennis still Sharapova's top priority Photos: Tennis still Sharapova's top priority Still motivated β Maria Sharapova won the French Open last year to become the 10th woman to claim all four grand slams. But she plans on playing for several years before pursuing her business interests. Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Tennis still Sharapova's top priority Comeback complete β At Roland Garros, Sharapova won her first major after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2008. Some thought she would never triumph at a grand slam following the injury. Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Tennis still Sharapova's top priority Shoulder woes β After a win in Montreal in July 2008, an MRI revealed that Sharapova had two tears in the tendon of her serving shoulder. Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Tennis still Sharapova's top priority Not quite ready β Sharapova attempted a comeback in 2009 when she played doubles in Indian Wells. But she still wasn't ready to return. Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Tennis still Sharapova's top priority German success β Once self described as a "cow on ice" on clay, Sharapova began her clay-court campaign last year by beating Victoria Azarenka in the Stuttgart final. Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Tennis still Sharapova's top priority Another title β Sharapova defeated Li Na in last year's final of the Italian Open, the perfect buildup to the French Open. Sharapova and Li are the two highest-paid female athletes in the world and share the same agent. Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Tennis still Sharapova's top priority Sweet success β Sharapova launched her own premium candy line, Sugarpova, with individual bags selling for $5.99. She has plans to expand to more markets, including Asia. Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Tennis still Sharapova's top priority Helping hand β Max Eisenbud, Sharapova's agent, first met the player when she was 12 at the renowned IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. Sharapova still lives nearby.Hide Caption 8 of 8 Photos: Nadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinals Photos: Nadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinalsNadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinals β Rafael Nadal stayed on course for a record-extending ninth consecutive title at the Monte Carlo Masters after beating Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the third round. Hide Caption 1 of 5 Photos: Nadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinalsNadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinals β World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, beaten by Nadal in last year's final, was again forced to test his injured ankle as he came from behind to beat Argentina's clay specialist Juan Monaco in three sets.Hide Caption 2 of 5 Photos: Nadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinalsNadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinals β Andy Murray, left, crashed out with a straight-sets defeat by Stanislas Wawrinka which means the British star will lose the world No. 2 ranking to the Swiss 13th seed's compatriot Roger Federer next week. Hide Caption 3 of 5 Photos: Nadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinalsNadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinals β Jarkko Nieminen reached the last eight of a Masters event for the first time since 2006 as the 31-year-old Finn upset Argentine fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro.Hide Caption 4 of 5 Photos: Nadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinalsNadal into Monte Carlo quarterfinals β Italy's world No. 32 Fabio Fognini will make his debut in a Masters quarterfinal after his upset win over Czech fourth seed Tomas Berdych.Hide Caption 5 of 5"I played really good today and that's the most important thing. I've felt great during this week and I'm going to fight to reach my first final here in Barcelona."Kohlschreiber, seeded eighth, saw off Slovakia's Martin Klizan in three sets before his quarterfinal opponent, Thomaz Bellucci, withdrew injured.Meanwhile, Juan Martin del Potro has withdrawn from next week's Lisbon Open.According to the tournament's organizers, the Argentine, ranked seventh in the world, has been suffering with a stomach virus.Read: Struggles made me strongerIn Stuttgart, defending champion Maria Sharapova overcame Serbia's Ana Ivanovic in 7-5 4-6 6-4 to ensure her place in the last four."It's good to face different styles of playing from different opponents," Sharapova told reporters."Ana is a bit more aggressive, while Lucie Safarova had a bit more variety in her game yesterday."I am happy to get through, but I had to push myself."It was a tough battle, it was hard to get my body going again after the last game, but it was good to get another three sets under the belt."JUST WATCHEDTennis Tips: Overhead shotReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTennis Tips: Overhead shot 01:30JUST WATCHEDTennis Tips: Forehand volleyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTennis Tips: Forehand volley 01:19JUST WATCHEDTennis Tips: Backhand volleyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTennis Tips: Backhand volley 01:23The World No.2 will face Germany's Angelique Kerber on Saturday after the home favorite saw off Kazakhstan's Yaroslava Shvedova 6-3 7-6."We both played well," Kerber told the WTA website."I was fully concentrated right from the first point and tried to make her move around and not let her get into the match -- luckily enough my tactics worked well today."It was extremely important for me to play as well as possible at my home tournament. "Reaching the semifinals is a big achievement for me. But I'm not going to put myself under any pressure. "I'm naturally going to have the crowd behind me - they've been supporting me so fantastically all week."In the other semifinal, U.S qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands will take on China's Li Na.Mattek-Sands, ranked 104th in the world, overcame Germany's Sabine Lisicki 6-4 6-2, while Li defeated fifth seed Petra Kvitova 6-3 7-5.The World No.5 was beaten in three sets by Mattek-Sands in their previous meeting at the quarterfinal stage of the 2011 Madrid Open and is expecting another tough test."I saw Bethanie play earlier on and she looks like a good, aggressive, player," Li told reporters. "We'll see how tomorrow's match goes." | 5sport
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Story highlightsThere are 50,000 volunteers at the Rio GamesSome are local, others travel from around the world to be part of the showRio de Janeiro (CNN)Behind the Olympic athletes, in breaks between rounds, and on the sidelines, there are people doing odd jobs that make the show run in Rio. Here are five of the weirdest (but necessary) jobs we've seen at the Olympic Games so far. 1. The people who literally hold up the cyclists at the start of the race(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)2. The lifeguards for Olympic divers (and swimmers)(Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)3. The guy who has to mop the street after a race(Photo: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/Getty Images)Read More4. The person who was to climb a ladder to clean the velodromeDidn't realise quite how steep the velodrome was until I saw that bloke going up a ladder to fix it.#Rio2016β Gordon Gordon (@leif5000) August 13, 2016
5. The ones who have to rake the sand in between rounds at beach volleyball (Photo: LEON NEAL/AFP/Getty Images) | 5sport
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(CNN)An Australian sportsman has become the country's first professional male soccer player to come out as openly gay. In a lengthy post published on the Professional Footballers Australia's (PFA) website Tuesday, 26-year-old former A-league player Andy Brennan said he had thought about coming out for years."I can finally come out and say it," he wrote. "I'm gay."Brennan signed with the A-league's Newcastle Jets for two seasons in 2015. He now plays for lower league Melbourne club Green Gully Cavaliers.The PFA confirmed to CNN that Brennan is the first professional male footballer to publicly come out. CNN has reached out to Brennan for comment.π£ "For people wondering why it is important for me to share this - the reality is, is that no straight person has to ever question how those around them might respond to their sexuality." In My Words @AndyBrennan36 https://t.co/LgZubghLZxβ The PFA (@thepfa) May 14, 2019
Read More"Being gay, in sport, and in the closet, it has been a mental burden of not knowing how those around you will react. It was a perceived pressure that consumed me," Brennan wrote in the Tuesday post. "In fact, I've only become comfortable with it in the last year, which means for the best part of the last decade -- most of my adult life -- I've been pretty unsure of myself. In all honesty, that's been pretty tough." View this post on Instagram It's taken me years to getΒ comfortable saying this - I'm gay. I was scared it would affect my friendships, my teammates, and my family. But the support of the people around me has been so great and helped me get to the final step; being completely open. Being open is the best way for me to feel most comfortable and be myself. So... carry on! π #owlyagoing A post shared by andybrennan36 (@andybrennan36) on May 13, 2019 at 11:50pm PDT
Brennan said his teammates and coaches "were and are truly amazing. The overwhelming response has been one of huge support and happiness."He added: "I think it's really important that they see that there's someone else who has come out, that there are many other people who are the same, and that it is OK. It is fine to be in a sporting environment and play, and people will accept you." | 5sport
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Story highlightsTiger Woods will claim the $10 million FedEx Cup prize if he wins the Tour ChampionshipWoods last claimed the FedEx Cup in 2009, while Brandt Snedeker is the 2012 championWoods, though, struggled in the first round and is nine shots behind leader Henrik StensonAny of the top five seeds at the Tour Championship will win the Cup if they win the tournament With a win at the Tour Championship, Tiger Woods will almost certainly be named PGA player of the year for the first time since 2009. Woods is surely also thinking about the $10 million bonus that comes with capturing the FedEx Cup. Woods is the top seed this weekend and as such is guaranteed golf's biggest payout if he conquers East Lake. But by no means is Woods an overwhelming favorite. In the sometimes confusing world of the FedEx Cup, one scenario is fairly simple: If any of the five seeds win the tournament -- the others are Henrik Stenson, Adam Scott, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar -- they will walk away with the multimillion dollar prize. "We control our destiny," Woods told reporters prior to the event. JUST WATCHEDNicklaus: Tiger will break my recordReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNicklaus: Tiger will break my record 00:50JUST WATCHEDWill Tiger Woods win another major? ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWill Tiger Woods win another major? 02:33JUST WATCHEDMickelson wins thriller at Muirfield ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMickelson wins thriller at Muirfield 01:31The 25 others lining up in Atlanta can win, too, although things have to fall their way. Woods' injury-hit year hasn't included a major and his drought will extend to six years by the time 2014 comes around. But he has bagged five titles, including two World Golf Championships, to make him player of the year favorite. If he is to win a sixth title in 2013, Woods will have to do it the hard way -- he trailed leader Stenson by nine shots following the first round and sat second last. Scott was a mere shot behind Stenson. If Scott triumphs at the Tour Championship and thus tops the FedEx Cup standings, he could edge Woods in player of the year voting. "It's been a great year for me for sure," Scott, who opened his account at majors at Augusta, told reporters in the buildup to the Tour Championship. "But I think this week counts so much for me in how the year will be remembered by myself and others. "There's so much to play for -- two trophies here this week and also potentially throwing my name in a player of the year debate. "I feel I've played a lot of good golf here but haven't capitalized on it." Stenson shot a six-under-par 64 despite nursing a wrist injury. | 5sport
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Story highlightsCaroline Wozniacki faces Ana Ivanovic in the final of the Tokyo OpenWozniacki battles past rising star Garbine Muguruza in three setsIvanovic overcomes top seed Angelique Kerber in second semifinalRomania's Monica Niculescu wins her second WTA Tour title in ChinaTwo former world No. 1s. Two tennis stars who have been unlucky in love with golfing partners. Two women who are getting their careers back on track.Caroline Wozniacki will take on Ana Ivanovic in Sunday's final of the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo in a battle of two players who have promised so much, but fallen frustratingly short.Wozniacki's fortunes have taken a remarkable turn for the better since Rory McIlroy called off their wedding -- with a phone call -- in May.While the golfer regained his best form immediately, winning two major titles in a month, Wozniacki's resurgence has been more gradual -- culminating in defeat to Serena Williams in this month's U.S. Open final.The Dane, who won the Tokyo title in 2010, is seeking the 23rd WTA Tour crown of her career, and second this year following July's Istanbul success.JUST WATCHEDAna Ivanovic fights to regain number 1 statusReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAna Ivanovic fights to regain number 1 status 03:20JUST WATCHEDIvanovic on life after tennisReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIvanovic on life after tennis 03:42JUST WATCHEDRory McIlroy & Caroline Wozniacki splitReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRory McIlroy & Caroline Wozniacki split 04:24JUST WATCHEDCaroline Wozniacki's biggest yearReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCaroline Wozniacki's biggest year 05:25She had to show her renowned fighting qualities on Saturday before battling to a 6-4 2-6 6-2 win over 20-year-old Spaniard Garbine Muguruza, who this season has reached the first two finals of her career, winning one of them."She was playing really, really well and very aggressively, but I just kept fighting and staying in there, and I think at the end I had just a little bit more energy than she did," Wozniacki said after her 22nd win in 26 matches since the hard-court swing began.The 24-year-old needs to improve on her 2-4 career record against Ivanovic, who holds the last of eight qualifying places in the race to feature at the season-ending championships in Singapore -- Wozniacki is ninth, with five slots yet to be decided.The Serbian, who had an on-off relationship with Australian golfer Adam Scott earlier this decade, has won three of her five finals in 2014 after rebuilding her game and ranking.Unlike Wozniacki, she has a grand slam title to her name -- the 2008 French Open -- but has not done so well in this season's majors since reaching the Australian Open quarterfinals in January.Ivanovic lost in the 2007 Tokyo final before it became a premier-level event on the tour, and the 26-year-old has another chance for Japanese success after knocking out top seed Angelique Kerber in Saturday's semifinals.She came back from 5-3 down in the opening set, winning 10 of the next 13 games to triumph 7-5 6-3 against the German -- who lost to Petra Kvitova in last year's final."In the beginning it really took me some time to adjust to her game. It wasn't like my previous matches," Ivanovic said after her 51st win this season, equaling her career best achieved seven years ago. "But once I adjusted and got more aggressive it started to go my way, and I'm really happy with the win today because she's always such a tough and challenging opponent."Meanwhile, Romania's Monica Niculescu won the second WTA Tour title of her career Saturday, beating France's Alize Cornet 6-4 6-0 in the final of the Guangzhou International Women's Open.American Varvara Lepchenko will play Czech Karolina Pliskova in Sunday's Korea Open final in Seoul.Read: Why Wozniacki is thriving againRead: Lessons from this year's grand slamsRead: Ivanovic searches for winning formula | 5sport
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Story highlightsSpain's Jorge Lorenzo will start Sunday's opening race of the MotoGP season in Qatar from pole positionReigning world champion Casey Stoner will start from second on the gridBritain's Cal Crutchlow will start third; Ex-champion Valentino Rossi finished qualifying in 12thSpain's Jorge Lorenzo will start from pole position at Sunday's opening MotoGP of the season in Qatar. The Yamaha driver finished 0.221sec ahead of reigning world champion Australia's Casey Stoner on the Honda.Britain's Cal Crutchlow will start from third on the Yamaha.It was the 45th time that Lorenzo, the world champion two seasons ago, has finished on pole during his career. "I am really happy with tonight's result. I had to push more than 100% to make pole position but I pushed to the limit and managed to make a perfect lap," Lorenzo said.Yamaha's American rider Ben Spies finished fourth fastest in qualifying, one place ahead of Ducati's Nicky Hayden.Champion Stoner sets early pace in QatarBut is was a disappointing start to the season for seven-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi. The Italian will start down in 12th place after finishing Saturday over two second off the pace. | 5sport
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London (CNN)For those who know how to curate the perfect Instagram feed and write a killer tweet, a career opportunity has come up in the royal communications team.On its jobs listings website, the royal household is searching for a Digital Communications Officer to find "new ways to maintain the Queen's presence in the public eye and on the world stage."The role, which will involve covering state visits, researching and writing feature articles and managing digital platforms, comes with a salary "circa Β£30,000, ($38,000) dependent on experience."Harry and Meghan unfollow William and Kate on Instagram -- for a good causeThe successful applicant will also secure "a comprehensive benefits package," 33 days' annual leave and free lunches. The permanent role is located in Buckingham Palace.The Queen is no stranger to social media -- in March this year, she published her first post on Instagram during a visit to London's Science Museum to the @TheRoyalFamily account. Read More"Today, as I visit the Science Museum I was interested to discover a letter from the Royal Archives, written in 1843 to my great-great-grandfather Prince Albert," she wrote in the post, using a touch screen iPad at the museum to send the message. Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-reigning monarch in British history.Hide Caption 1 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth was born April 21, 1926, in London. She is held here by her mother, also named Elizabeth. Her father would later become King George VI.Hide Caption 2 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth poses for a photo at her London home in 1928.Hide Caption 3 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth is seen with her uncle Edward, Prince of Wales, during a visit to Balmoral, Scotland, in September 1933. He would go on to become King Edward VIII in 1936. But when he abdicated later that year, Elizabeth's father became King and she became heir presumptive.Hide Caption 4 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II From left, Princess Elizabeth, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret wave to the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 22, 1939.Hide Caption 5 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth rides a horse in Windsor, England, in 1940. Her love of horses has been well documented.Hide Caption 6 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II A 14-year-old Elizabeth, right, sits next to her sister for a radio broadcast on October 13, 1940. On the broadcast, her first, she said that England's children were full of cheerfulness and courage.Hide Caption 7 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth shakes hands with an officer of the Grenadier Guards on May 29, 1942. King George VI made Elizabeth an honorary colonel in the Royal Army regiment.Hide Caption 8 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth, right, and Princess Margaret wear summer dresses circa 1942. Margaret is Elizabeth's only sibling.Hide Caption 9 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II With the Drakensberg Mountains behind her, Princess Elizabeth sits in South Africa's Natal National Park on April 21, 1947. It was her 21st birthday.Hide Caption 10 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II On November 20, 1947, Elizabeth wed Prince Philip, a lieutenant in the British Navy who had been born into the royal families of Greece and Denmark. After becoming a British citizen and renouncing his Greek title, Philip became His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. His wife became the Duchess of Edinburgh.Hide Caption 11 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Princess Elizabeth arrives at a state banquet in London in March 1950.Hide Caption 12 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth ascended to the throne in February 1952, when her father died of lung cancer at the age of 56. Here, she walks to the altar during her coronation ceremony on June 2, 1953.Hide Caption 13 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II is photographed on the balcony of Melbourne's Government House during her tour of Australia in March 1954.Hide Caption 14 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II From left, Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen Mother visit Epsom Downs Racecourse in June 1958.Hide Caption 15 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen holds her son Prince Andrew while his sister, Princess Anne, watches during a family holiday at Scotland's Balmoral Castle in September 1960. The Queen has four children, including sons Charles and Edward.Hide Caption 16 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II is seen during the state opening of Parliament in April 1966.Hide Caption 17 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth II with her oldest son, Prince Charles, in 1969. Charles is next in line for the throne.Hide Caption 18 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles adjusts his coronet during his investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales in 1969.Hide Caption 19 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen and Prince Philip wave from a plane ramp shortly before taking off from Tokyo in May 1975.Hide Caption 20 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen takes a portrait at Windsor Castle for her 50th birthday on April 21, 1976.Hide Caption 21 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen meets the crowds during her royal tour of New Zealand in 1977.Hide Caption 22 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth walks with some of her corgis at the Windsor Horse Trials in May 1980.Hide Caption 23 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen stands next to Prince Charles as he kisses his new bride, Princess Diana, on July 29, 1981.Hide Caption 24 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth takes pictures of her husband during a horse show in Windsor in May 1982.Hide Caption 25 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth drives her Land Rover during the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May 1992.Hide Caption 26 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II While at Buckingham Palace, the Queen and Prince Philip view the floral tributes to Princess Diana after her tragic death in 1997.Hide Caption 27 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen addresses the nation on the night before Princess Diana's funeral in 1997.Hide Caption 28 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles looks back at his mother after wedding Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in April 2005.Hide Caption 29 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen, second from right, greets a crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on April 29, 2011. Her grandson Prince William, third from left, had just married Catherine Middleton.Hide Caption 30 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen's signature is seen in the visitors book at Aras An Uachtarain, the Irish President's official residence in Dublin in May 2011.Hide Caption 31 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Madame Tussauds London reveals a wax figure of the Queen in May 2012.Hide Caption 32 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Prince Charles kisses his mother's hand on stage as singer Paul McCartney, far right, looks on at the Diamond Jubilee concert in June 2012. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations marked Elizabeth's 60th anniversary as Queen.Hide Caption 33 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen tours the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London in December 2012.Hide Caption 34 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II A boy in Belfast, Northern Ireland, takes a selfie in front of the Queen in June 2014.Hide Caption 35 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen enters the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle after attending a commemorative service for the Scottish National War Memorial in July 2014.Hide Caption 36 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen waits to give her speech during the state opening of Parliament in May 2015.Hide Caption 37 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth listens to her great-grandson, Prince George, outside a church where George's sister, Charlotte, was being christened in July 2015. George and Charlotte are the children of Prince William, left, and Duchess Catherine.Hide Caption 38 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen takes a photo with five of her great-grandchildren and her two youngest grandchildren in April 2016.Hide Caption 39 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen poses with four of her dogs on the private grounds of Windsor Castle in April 2016.Hide Caption 40 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen and Prince Philip wave to guests in London who were attending celebrations for her 90th birthday in 2016.Hide Caption 41 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth speaks to Evie Mills, 14, at a hospital in Manchester, England, in May 2017. Evie was injured in a bombing that took place as people left an Ariana Grande concert.Hide Caption 42 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen sits at a desk in Buckingham Palace after recording her Christmas Day broadcast in 2017.Hide Caption 43 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen arrives for the wedding of her grandson Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018. Hide Caption 44 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen laughs with Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, during a bridge-opening ceremony in Halton, England, in June 2018. It was Meghan's first royal outing without her husband, Prince Harry, by her side.Hide Caption 45 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen and US President Donald Trump inspect a guard of honor during Trump's visit to Windsor Castle in July 2018.Hide Caption 46 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen looks at her new great-grandchild, Archie, in May 2019. Archie is the first child of Prince Harry, second from left, and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. Prince Philip is on the far left. Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, is next to her at right.Hide Caption 47 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen welcomes Boris Johnson at Buckingham Palace, where she formally invited him to become Prime Minister in July 2019. Johnson won the UK's Conservative Party leadership contest and replaced Theresa May, who was forced into resigning after members of her Cabinet lost confidence in her inability to secure the UK's departure from the European Union.Hide Caption 48 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II An image of the Queen appears in London's Piccadilly Square, alongside a message of hope from her special address to the nation in April 2020.Hide Caption 49 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen rides a horse in Windsor, England, in May 2020. It was her first public appearance since the coronavirus lockdown began in the United Kingdom.Hide Caption 50 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen and Prince Philip pose for a photo in June 2020, ahead of Philip's 99th birthday.Hide Caption 51 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen and Prince Philip look at a homemade anniversary card that was given to them by their great-grandchildren Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in November 2020.Hide Caption 52 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen takes her seat alone at Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021. The ceremony was limited to 30 people, in line with England's coronavirus restrictions.Hide Caption 53 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen opens Parliament in May 2021. It was her first major engagement since her husband's death.Hide Caption 54 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen receives a Duke of Edinburgh rose from Keith Weed, president of the Royal Horticultural Society, in June 2021. The newly bred rose was officially named in honor of Prince Philip.Hide Caption 55 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen meets with US President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden in the Grand Corridor of Windsor Castle in June 2021.Hide Caption 56 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen drives her Range Rover as she attends the Royal Windsor Horse Show in Windsor, England, in July 2021.Hide Caption 57 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen attends the Royal Windsor Cup polo match and a carriage-driving display by the British Driving Society in July 2021.Hide Caption 58 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, left, greet guests during a Windsor Castle reception for international business and investment leaders in October 2021.Hide Caption 59 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen cuts a cake to celebrate the start of her Platinum Jubilee in February 2022. It has been 70 years since the Queen took the throne in 1952.Hide Caption 60 of 61 Photos: The life of Queen Elizabeth II The Queen meets with Rear Admiral James Macleod, the outgoing Defence Services secretary, and Macleod's successor, Major General Eldon Millar, at Windsor Castle in February 2022. It was a few days before Buckingham Palace announced that the Queen tested positive for Covid-19.Hide Caption 61 of 61Britain's royal family has millions of followers on its social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. The royal household has taken action in recent months to combat abusive comments on social media. The racist online abuse of Meghan has put royal staff on high alert The palace released a set of social media guidelines in March to request that "that anyone engaging with our social media channels shows courtesy, kindness and respect for all other members of our social media communities."The royal household warned that it reserved the right to hide or delete comments that do not comply with the guidelines, and would send inappropriate comments to law enforcement authorities. Kensington Palace has also asked social media firms to help tackle online abuse after abuse targeted the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex, Kate and Meghan. | 3news
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(CNN)The boxing world was shaken for the second time this week when Argentine boxer Hugo Santillan died after being injured in Saturday's fight with Uruguayan champion Eduardo Abreu.Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev died Tuesday after undergoing emergency brain surgery for a subdural hematoma sustained in his fight with Subriel Matias.The World Boxing Council said in a statement Thursday, "We have received the very, very sad news of the death of the 23-year-old Argentine fighter Hugo SantillΓ‘n, which happened today at the San Felipe Hospital in San NicolΓ‘s, Buenos Aires."Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev dies after sustaining injuries during fightSantillan passed out after the fight as the judges were announcing the decision, which was a draw. He was taken to San Felipe Hospital, where he was admitted with successive kidney failure, ESPN reported. Santillan's brain was swelling, which affected the rest of his organs, and he never regained consciousness. He underwent surgery for a clot in his brain and went into cardiorespiratory failure twice before dying of cardiac arrest, according to ESPN.Read More"The World Boxing Council and its President, Mauricio SulaimΓ‘n SaldΓvar, send Hugo's family and friends their deepest condolences, at this time of deepest grief," the council said. "Rest in peace Dear Champion." | 5sport
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Hong Kong (CNN)One of the most powerful weapons in the US Navy's arsenal made a rare port call in Guam over the weekend, sending a message to allies and foes amid increasing tensions in the Indo-Pacific, analysts said.The USS Nevada, an Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine carrying 20 Trident ballistic missiles and dozens of nuclear warheads, pulled into the Navy base in the US Pacific Island territory on Saturday. It's the first visit of a ballistic missile submarine -- sometimes called a "boomer" -- to Guam since 2016 and only the second announced visit since the 1980s."The port visit strengthens cooperation between the United States and allies in the region, demonstrating US capability, flexibility, readiness, and continuing commitment to Indo-Pacific regional security and stability," a US Navy statement said.The US Navy ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada arrived at Naval Base Guam on Saturday.Movements of the 14 boomers in the US Navy's fleet are usually closely guarded secrets. Nuclear power means the vessels can operate submerged for months at a time, their endurance limited only by the supplies needed to sustain their crews of more than 150 sailors.The Navy says Ohio-class submarines stay an average of 77 of days at sea before spending about a month in port for maintenance and replenishment.Read MoreIt's rare for one to even be photographed outside their home ports of Bangor, Washington, and Kings Bay, Georgia. The secrecy surrounding the ballistic missile submarines makes them the "most important survivable leg of the nuclear triad," which also includes silo-based ballistic missiles on the US mainland and nuclear-capable bombers like the B-2 and B-52.But with tensions brewing between the US and China over the status of the self-ruled island of Taiwan, and as North Korea ramps up missile tests, Washington can make a statement with its ballistic missile submarines that neither Beijing nor Pyongyang can, according to the analysts.JUST WATCHEDAnalysts warn of intensifying arms race across Asia (November, 2021) ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAnalysts warn of intensifying arms race across Asia (November, 2021) 03:55"It sends a message -- intended or not: we can park 100-odd nuclear warheads on your doorstep and you won't even know it or be able to do much about it. And the reverse isn't true and won't be for a good while," said Thomas Shugart, a former US Navy submarine captain and now an analyst at the Center for a New American Security.JUST WATCHEDTop US General issues stark warning on China's hypersonic missileReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTop US General issues stark warning on China's hypersonic missile 02:06North Korea's ballistic submarine program is in its infancy, and China's estimated fleet of six ballistic missile submarines is dwarfed by the US Navy's.And China's ballistic missile subs don't have the capabilities of the US boomers, according to a 2021 analysis by experts at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.China's Type 094 ballistic missile subs are two times louder than the US subs, and therefore more easily detected, and carry fewer missiles and warheads, CSIS analysts wrote in August.Besides the political signaling, the presence of the USS Nevada in the region presents another opportunity, said Alessio Patalano, professor of war and strategy at King's College in London."The presence of this type of boat -- especially in training and exercises -- adds an important opportunity to learn how to hunt those of other actors in the region," Patalano said.Chinese submarine's alleged surprise show highlights risk of the unexpected at sea "The DPRK (North Korea) is pursuing the development of such a type of a platform, and China already fields them. Honing in the skills to track them is as important as deploying them as strategic deterrent," he said.The last time a US Navy boomer visited Guam was in 2016, when the USS Pennsylvania stopped there.Analysts said tensions across the Indo-Pacific have significantly increased since that time, and more such military displays are likely from Washington in the current environment."This deployment reminds us that the nuclear order at sea in the (Indo-Pacific) matters, and whilst often outside wider public conversation, we are likely to see more of it in the development of regional strategic balance," Patalano said. | 3news
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(CNN)Preparation for this year's Australian Open has been unlike anything these professional tennis players have previously experienced.Some have been through a "hard quarantine" and unable to leave their hotel rooms at all for 14 days, while others have been allowed out to practice for limited hours during the day.However, there is one element of the upcoming tournament, set to begin on February 8, that will at least give the players some sense of normalcy. For the first time at a grand slam since last year's Australian Open, players will be met by the noise of a significant number of fans in the stands. Victoria state sports minister Martin Pakula announced Saturday that up to 30,000 supporters per day will be permitted entry when the tournament gets underway, around 50% normal capacity. This will drop to a limit of 25,000 people a day for the last five days when there are less matches. Read MoreFor certain players, like defending champion Sofia Kenin, it cannot be understated just how much of a boost a noisy and energetic crowd can provide to their game at crucial moments in a match."I think everyone obviously wanted the fans to be there," Kenin told CNN Sport's Christina Macfarlane from lockdown in her Melbourne hotel room"Everyone wanted to reconnect with them and somehow get life back to normal, because obviously the whole year without any fans, it was a big toll I'm sure on everybody, especially on me. "But I think we will all reunite, finally have some entertainment, have some excitement, you know, finally seeing the stands filled, maybe not 100%, but at least filled and some great energy coming from the fans and I think it's exciting because obviously everyone missed it. No one saw it. Sofia Kenin will be defending her title at the Australian Open."I think it's going to be quite loud, to be honest ... for sure when the slam starts. Also for the fans, they obviously miss seeing their favorite players play and they obviously want to be there and support their favorite players. So obviously it's going to be exciting and just finally going to be somewhat normal. I honestly cannot wait."I have great memories here. I've got my fans here, I'm excited to see them. I feel like it's going to be a big change for everyone, especially myself. Finally having that atmosphere, finally bringing some positivity to the game. The atmosphere is going to be high, loud, everybody cheering and I think it's going to be really exciting for us to play finally in front of our fans."READ: Australian Open tennis stars get creative with practice while stuck in hotel quarantineREAD: Rafael Nadal calls for 'wider perspective' from players in quarantine ahead of the Australian Open'Really thankful'Kenin was not among the 72 players required to undergo a "hard quarantine" on arrival in Melbourne. The 22-year-old was permitted to practice on a court for five hours a day, but had to spend the remaining 19 hours in her hotel room.Complaints from some players about their quarantine conditions prompted a backlash from some Australians, who were frustrated with the preferential treatment afforded to the Australian Open stars. In December, tens of thousands of Australian citizens and permanent residents were unable to return home due to the country's strict international arrival caps.On Tuesday, 2009 Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that some players needed to have a "wider perspective," something the philosophical Kenin has plenty of.READ: Djokovic says 'good intentions' were 'misconstrued' following backlash to list of proposalsJUST WATCHEDAustralian Open: Controversy surrounds tournament as players complain of lack of practiceReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAustralian Open: Controversy surrounds tournament as players complain of lack of practice 03:32"It's obviously the first time I've ever experienced something like this," she said. "But I'm obviously grateful for starters to Tennis Australia, to the Australian government for allowing us to be here. I know it's tough with other people who live here and they can't come here, so I'm obviously really grateful that we're able to come. "The tournament is going to happen now, an Australian Open, so obviously I'm really thankful for that. I know how hard it is on everyone, you know, trying to do everything and everyone is doing a great job. Craig [Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia] is doing a great job arranging things, Tennis Australia is doing everything [they can]. "Obviously it's a little bit different, but this is what it is. I knew this was going to happen. I was told that it was going to be two weeks strict quarantine, five hours you're leaving the hotel room and then 19 hours in the room, but luckily I have a great room. It's like a master suite. So, you know, I can't really complain, but I'm just grateful for this whole situation. "I'm at least going out, even if it's five hours and trying to do the best I can in those hours to make the most time of it."JUST WATCHEDRafael Nadal calls for 'wider perspective' from players ahead of Australian OpenReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRafael Nadal calls for 'wider perspective' from players ahead of Australian Open 14:25While the coronavirus pandemic meant 2020 became a complicated year for so many, for Kenin, it ended up being her breakout season.She followed up her victory at the Australian Open by reaching the final of the rescheduled French Open, where she lost to Poland's Iga Swiatek.Kenin's performances have seen her rise to No. 4 in the world rankings and she knows that coming into a grand slam as the defending champion for the first time in her career means she will have a target on her back."It's really special to go into the tournament and knowing I'm the defending champion," Kenin said, explaining that she feels mentally and physically prepared despite having to quarantine."There's pros and cons with that, but it's a good challenge for me and I'm happy to face this challenge. It's exciting and I obviously know it's going to be tough. "People will obviously try to play better against me. I mean, I guess everybody. When they play me, I feel like it's going to be a little bit tougher for me because, you know, they obviously have no pressure, but I'm just doing the best I can. I feel like I'm in form, I'm playing well and, you know, it's a new year. So let's just see how it goes. I'm just going to do my best." | 5sport
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(CNN)A Texas woman told police in 2002 that Georgia US Senate candidate Herschel Walker had threatened and stalked her, according to a police report obtained by CNN. The woman, a friend of Walker's ex-wife, told police that the football star had been following her, and had previously made "threats to her" and had "her house watched." The report did not specify the nature of the threats by Walker, who is now one of the highest-profile Senate candidates in the country and a close ally of former president Donald Trump, who endorsed him on Thursday. Over the years, two other women -- Walker's ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend -- have also accused him of making threats, telling authorities Walker claimed he would shoot them in the head. Their years-old accounts have resurfaced in recent weeks as Walker, who won national fame as a college football player at the University of Georgia, launched a campaign for the Peach State's battleground Senate seat. The third woman's account has not been previously reported. President Donald Trump is greeted by Herschel Walker at an event in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 25, 2020.The woman, who was in her late 20s at the time she contacted police, confirmed to CNN this week that Walker had threatened her, but asked not to be identified and declined to discuss the specifics of his threats. She stressed that she never dated or had a relationship with Walker. Walker's campaign declined to respond to the woman's allegations or discuss the 2002 police report. In response to questions about the incident, Mallory Blount, a campaign spokesperson, cited Walker's past struggles with mental health issues, which he's spoken about publicly. Read More"It is sad that many in politics and the media who praised Herschel for his transparency over a decade ago are now making false statements, stereotyping, attacking, and attempting to sensationalize his past just because he is a Republican Senate candidate," she said in a statement. Reports detail claims against WalkerIn the May 2002 report, which CNN obtained through a public records request, a police officer from the Dallas suburb of Irving wrote that he responded to a "prowler call" from a woman who said she believed someone was "sneaking around outside her house." The woman said she "felt she knew who the person would be" but was "very reluctant to tell me," the officer, Jason Mullins, wrote in the report. Eventually, the woman told Mullins that the person she suspected was Walker. About a year before calling the police, the woman told Mullins, she had had "a confrontation" with Walker and "he began calling her, making threats to her and having her house watched." It's not clear from the document what those threats entailed. She said that when she had recently seen Walker at a local resort, the former football star "jumped into" his vehicle and followed her "all the way to her house," according to the report. JUST WATCHEDA Herschel Walker candidacy is a total nightmare for Senate RepublicansReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA Herschel Walker candidacy is a total nightmare for Senate Republicans 06:18"She is very frighten (sic) of the individual and is afraid that he going (sic) to begin bothering her again," Mullins wrote. "She advised that she does not want him contacted under any circumstances as she feels this will only make the problem worse." Mullins wrote that he talked to the guard at the entrance to the woman's neighborhood, who said he hadn't seen Walker enter the area. Mullins, who is still working for the Irving police department, said that from what he could tell, the department didn't further investigate the woman's allegations. "Since she stated that she didn't want us to contact him, it's unlikely that we would have, but I can't tell you that for sure," Mullins told CNN. He said the woman's allegation appeared to have been taken as an "informational report" that would stay on file, instead of a "criminal offense report" that would be forwarded to police investigators. The report came around the same time that Walker's wife, Cindy Grossman, was divorcing him after nearly two decades of marriage. Grossman has spoken publicly about Walker threatening to kill her during their marriage. In a 2008 interview with CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, she said that Walker had held a razor to her throat, and at one point, "he held [a] gun to my temple and said he was going to blow my brains out." Grossman did not respond to CNN's request for comment this week. The threats continued after the couple was separated. In December 2005, Grossman filed for a protective order against Walker. Grossman's sister, Maria Tsettos, said in an affidavit submitted with the request that Walker had called her and threatened to kill Grossman and her then-boyfriend. He "stated unequivocally that he was going to shoot my sister Cindy and her boyfriend in the head," Tsettos said. One day that month, Grossman and her boyfriend were at a mall when Walker "slowly drove by in his vehicle, pointed his finger at (Grossman) and tracked (her) with his finger as he drove," according to the petition. Walker had called Tsettos threatening Grossman again earlier that day. The judge granted the petition for a protective order. The Associated Press first reported the case. Walker's book details mental health issuesWalker has spoken publicly about facing mental health issues during his marriage to Grossman, saying in interviews and writing in a book that he had been diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, which was previously known as multiple personality disorder. He said in the 2008 CNN interview that he didn't remember being violent toward his wife, but he didn't deny it and noted that one of the symptoms of his disorder was blackouts. In his book, Walker wrote that he sought help for his disorder after another violent episode in 2001, in which he drove around the Dallas area looking for a man who had failed to deliver a car he bought. Walker wrote that voices in his head told him to kill the man, and he imagined "the visceral enjoyment I'd get from seeing the small entry would and the spray of brain tissue and blood β like a Fourth of July firework β exploding behind him." He fought off the urges and went to a doctor, he said, and later wrote his book to destigmatize mental illness.
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Another woman romantically involved with Walker later made similar accusations to Grossman's. Myka Dean, who told police she had an on-and-off relationship with Walker for 20 years, said he had threatened to kill her, according to a 2012 Irving police report. A police officer wrote that Dean said Walker "told her that he was going to come and sit outside her apartment and 'blow her head off when she came outside,'" the report said. "He then told [Dean] he was going to 'blow his head off' after he killed her." Dean expressed doubts about reporting the threat, the officer wrote, saying she didn't "want him to get in trouble" and becoming "pretty reserved." The officer noted that the department had had "previous contact" with Walker, citing another police report from 2001. The Irving police department declined to publicly release that report this week, saying it was being withheld "pending an Attorney General request for opinion." The allegation by Dean, who died in 2019, was first reported last week by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When asked about Dean's statement to police, Walker's spokesperson Blount said the candidate "emphatically denies these false claims," calling them an example of "political mudslinging." Dean's mother told the Journal-Constitution that she hadn't known about the allegations and added that "we are very proud of the man Herschel Walker has become." CNN's Drew Griffin, Nelli Black, Audrey Ash and Yahya Abou-Ghazala contributed to this report. | 4politics
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Story highlightsNovak Djokovic could miss Monte Carlo Masters tournamentWorld No.1 struggling to overcome ankle injuryTommy Robredo won first title in two years following Morocco successRoberta Vinci up to 12th in the world after Katowice Open title victoryNovak Djokovic faces a race against time to be fit for this week's Monte Carlo Masters after revealing he is struggling to overcome an ankle injury.The World No.1 suffered the blow after rolling his right ankle during Serbia's Davis Cup victory over the U.S. last week.The 25-year-old, who is based in Monte Carlo, is keen to compete in the tournament and will make a decision on Tuesday after being given a first round bye along with the other top seven players.Read: How Novak Djokovic rose to the top"I can't guarantee 100 percent that I'll be on court. I have to be realistic and cautious," he told reporters. "I've had three days of practice and I've been increasing the level each day.JUST WATCHED Radwanska: Playing Serena was toughReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH Radwanska: Playing Serena was tough 04:36JUST WATCHEDIvan Lendl: There are plenty of champsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIvan Lendl: There are plenty of champs 00:56JUST WATCHEDTommy Haas: My daughter motivates meReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTommy Haas: My daughter motivates me 02:26"If I have discomfort over the next two days, that would be an indication if I should or should not play. This is a strong event and there is no room for compromise. "This is the start of a new season on a new surface. To compete at a high level I must be 100% fit."With the clay court season about to kick off, Djokovic is keen not to take any unnecessary risks ahead of the Masters events in Madrid and Rome before going into the French Open next month.The six-times grand slam winner added: "I've been taping the ankle and doing all I can to be ready on the court. "I know there is a lot of expectation for me to play - no one wants me to be out there more than I do. I consider this a very special place and I'm extra motivated."I'm really encouraged by the progress over the last few days, it's much more than I would have expected it to be. I'll do everything in my power to play."Read: Enduring bromance of tennis' 'marathon men'Elsewhere, John Isner won his career title after overcoming Spain's Nicolas Almagro in the final of the U.S. Clay Court Championship.The home favourite, ranked 23rd in the world, picked up the $82,000 prize following a 6-3 7-5 victory.Meanwhile, Spain's Tommy Robredo claimed his first title in two years after defeating South Africa's Kevin Anderson 7-6 4-6 6-3 in the final of the Grand Prix Hassan II in Morocco.Robredo, 30, had not won a title since triumphing at Santiago in February 2011, but will now return to the top 50 following his success.The former World No.5 missed five months of 2012 with a leg injury but has begun to fight back after his ranking had plummeted to 471.JUST WATCHEDChris Evert: Grooming future championsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHChris Evert: Grooming future champions 04:22JUST WATCHEDRelaxing with RafaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRelaxing with Rafa 01:39 Photos: MiamI Masters Photos: MiamI MastersInjury woe for Williams β Venus Williams was forced to withdraw from the tournament after complaining of a lower back injury. The three-time Miami winner, who was set to face fellow American Sloane Stephens in the third round, hopes to return to action next month.Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: MiamI MastersWozniacki wobbles β World No.9 Caroline Wozniacki suffered a shock defeat by Spain's Garbine Muguruza -- a woman ranked 64 places below the Dane. Muguruza needed just 81 minutes to claim a 6-2 6-4 win and leave her opponent stunned.Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: MiamI MastersPole position β Agnieszka Radwanska edged through to the fourth round after seeing off Magadalena Rybarikova in three sets. Radwanska, the defending champion, won the first set 7-5 before losing the second 6-2. But the Pole, ranked fourth in the world, hit back to take the decider 6-3. She will face Sloane Stephens in the next round.Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: MiamI MastersLi back in business β Li Na continued her comeback from injury with a 6-2 6-4 win over American Varvara Lepchenko. The Chinese star, who missed seven weeks of action after sustaining an ankle problem during her Australian Open final defeat, will face Spain's Garbine Murgurza in the next round.Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: MiamI MastersAll over for Azarenka β Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka was forced to withdraw from the tournament with an ankle injury. "It was really obvious what the decision was couple days ago already," Azarenka told reporters. I just wanted to give my 100 percent possibility to play and today was my last test."Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: MiamI MastersSharapova hopes for Sunday best β Maria Sharapova will be hoping to progress to the fourth round Sunday when she takes on fellow Russian Russian Elena Vesnina. Sharapova, who won at Indian Wells last weekend, eased past Canada's Eugenie Bouchard 6-2 6-0 Friday following a power outage.Hide Caption 6 of 6"I'm very happy to win a title again after my injury," he told reporters."Those points will help me a lot in the ranking. The goal is to arrive in Roland Garros in the best form possible. After that I will sit down and have a look at my goals."Read: Serena Williams 'chills out' to clinch Charleston trebleIn Poland, Italy's Robert Vinci won the eighth singles title of her career after defeating Petra Kvitova 7-6 6-1 in the final of the Katowice Open.The win will propel the Italian up to 12th in the world -- her highest ever ranking. "I played a really good game today," Vinci told reporters. "Petra was playing very well and very aggressively in the first set, but I stayed with her and won the tiebreak, and things were better in the second set, probably because she was a little bit tired." | 5sport
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Stockholm, SwedenSwedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Monday he had handed in his notice of resignation, giving parliament's speaker the job of finding a new premier after the Social Democrat leader lost a vote of no-confidence last week.Lofven lost the confidence vote in parliament on June 21 after the Left Party withdrew its support, triggering frenzied talks as both the center-left and center-right tried to line up enough support to form a government. He had until midnight tonight to find fresh backing in parliament, enabling him to hand over the job of finding a new government to the speaker with the expectation of being reappointed, or to call a snap election.Lofven, a former union boss and welder, has headed a fragile minority coalition with the Greens since 2018, relying on support from two small center-right parties and the Left Party to remain in power.The center-left and center-right blocs are now evenly balanced in parliament and opinion polls show a general election might not change the picture.Read MoreIt took Lofven four months to form a government after 2018's inconclusive election. | 3news
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Story highlightsSpaniards will head to the polls SundayThere were no rallies Saturday, but images of candidates are everywhereConservative candidate Rajoy is leading pollsThe economy is the country's top issueThere were no campaign rallies in Spain Saturday, a traditional "day of reflection" before voters go to the polls Sunday. No rallies or political statements were permitted by law on the eve of the election. But large election posters with photos of the candidates remained in view throughout the country, and the two main candidates were pictured spending time with their families and collaborators.The opposition conservative leader, Mariano Rajoy, of the Popular Party, remained far ahead in opinion polls throughout the campaign and is widely expected to be elected as the next prime minister.As they had throughout the campaign, the candidates and the voters were expected to keep their focus on nation's troubled economy.In a sale of 10-year government bonds on Thursday, Spain was forced to offer investors nearly 7% in interest, a level that eventually led to bailouts for Greece, Portugal and Ireland, and is perceived as a tipping point for a potential financial bailout.JUST WATCHEDSpain's ghost airport ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSpain's ghost airport 02:38JUST WATCHEDImmigrants leave crisis-hit SpainReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHImmigrants leave crisis-hit Spain 02:34JUST WATCHEDWeak job market in Spain ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWeak job market in Spain 02:30JUST WATCHEDSpain health cuts angers staff, patientsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSpain health cuts angers staff, patients 02:35JUST WATCHEDAusterity hits Spanish pharmaciesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAusterity hits Spanish pharmacies 02:20JUST WATCHEDSpain battles 45% youth unemploymentReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSpain battles 45% youth unemployment 02:44In the closing days of the campaign, Rajoy has spoken repeatedly about the nation's deep economic crisis, which includes the sobering figures of 21.5% unemployment overall, a 45% rate of unemployment for young people, nearly five million working-age Spaniards without a job, a steep public deficit and only tepid economic growth. Some immigrant workers are also leaving the country.Rajoy, 56, insists his conservatives can get Spain back on the right footing. At his closing rally Friday night at a Madrid sports arena, he called on people to vote."The nation is going to tell the world that here we can and will do the right things," Rajoy told thousands at the rally, adding a criticism of the Socialist government. "And the fact there's been a government unable to rise to the occasion will be just a parenthesis, which is now over."Rajoy has said he would not cut pensions -- which the incumbent Socialist government earlier froze, to much criticism -- but he says all other issues are on the table regarding possible cutbacks to reduce the deficit.Rajoy also promises to consider tax cuts for businesses to encourage them to hire more workers. A Cabinet minister between 1996 and 2004 under conservative Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, Rajoy twice lost to Socialist Party leader Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in 2004 and 2008. But his conservative party swept to victory in regional and local elections last May, presaging what polls predict will be a prime ministerial triumph the third time around.Zapatero has called the early election and announced he would not seek a third term.Rajoy's chief challenger is Socialist candidate Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba. The 60-year-old served under Socialist Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez and most recently under Zapatero, rising to the positions of deputy prime minister and interior minister.Rubalcaba warned that the conservatives would cut into public health and education, the social programs which he said the Socialist party would fight to preserve, despite the economic crisis."Nothing is written in stone," Rubalcaba told a closing rally in the Madrid working-class suburb of Fuenlabrada, urging thousands there to get out the vote. "When there's a crisis and anguish," he added, the social programs "are the safety net." Spain's parliament has 350 seats, and many polls predict Rajoy will win a majority, which would give him a free hand to set policy. By contrast, if he wins the election but falls short of a majority, he would need to make deals with other parties.That might mean joining forces with the Socialists, or numerous smaller parties -- including nationalist parties from the northern Basque region and the northeastern region of Catalonia - which typically also win seats in the chamber.The economic protests across Spain during the past six months have been fueled by the young -- the so called 'indignants' -- but it's not clear how much impact the protesters will have on the results Sunday. The government says there are 1.5 million new voters who have turned 18 since the last elections in 2008.Esteban Guerrero, who's in his last year of journalism studies at university and has been active in the protests, said: "I think it's necessary to vote but that's not enough. People feel the elections won't change the situation. They won't stop the cutbacks."Guerrero, 25, sees his own prospects to get a job after college as bleak. "I think there's a pent-up rage. The workers and young people of this country are fed up," Guerrero said. "It's been years of frustration, over cutbacks and lower salaries."The polls in Spain are open Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (3 a.m. ET to 2 p.m. ET) and complete results are expected later that evening. | 3news
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Story highlightsBorussia Monchengladbach fail to take top spot in German leagueAugsburg move off the bottom of the table after surprise 1-0 home victoryWerder Bremen's win over Wolfsburg means two points separate leading five clubsSixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen lost ground on Bremen after being held by HannoverBorussia Monchengladbach's title hopes suffered a big blow on Saturday with a shock 1-0 defeat at bottom club Augsburg that stopped Lucien Favre's team moving top of the German Bundesliga.Gladbach stayed fourth, but just a point behind leaders Bayern Munich -- who travel to Stuttgart on Sunday.The North Rhine-Westphalia club's former player Jan-Ingwer Callsen-Bracker netted the only goal with a deflected effort in the 51st minute as promoted Augsburg moved above Freiburg.Werder Bremen beat Wolfsburg 4-1 to ensure that only two points separate the top five teams as the season nears the halfway stage.Schalke second after Berlin winBremen were on the end of the same scoreline last time out at Bayern, but took the lead after only 18 minutes when Greek defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos made no mistake from close range as goalkeeper Diego Benaglio could not gather Lukas Schmitz's free-kick.Claudio Pizarro combined with Aleksandar Ignjovski to double the lead just before the break, and Markus Rosenberg's solo effort made it 3-0 on 55 before Sokratis' replacement Marko Arnautovic added another.Marcel Schafer scored a late consolation for Felix Magath's side, who stayed 14th in the 18-team league.Sixth-placed Bayer Leverkusen have qualified for the knockout stage of the European Champions League, but lost ground on Bremen after being held 0-0 at Hannover.Hannover joined seventh-placed Stuttgart on 22 points from 16 games.Hoffenheim claimed ninth place with a 2-0 at Nuremberg as a goal in each half from Bosnian striker Vedad Ibisevic left the home side fourth from bottom.Nuremberg had U.S. international Timothy Chandler sent off soon after Ibesivec's 40th-minute opener, while Hoffenheim's Marvin Compper was also dismissed for illegally thwarting a late breakaway. Cologne climbed to 10th with a 4-0 victory that consigned Freiburg to the bottom, as young striker Christian Clemens and experienced Germany international Lukas Podolski both netted twice -- the latter taking his season's tally to 13 goals.Mainz moved a point above Wolfsburg after a 0-0 draw at home to Hamburg, who joined Hertha Berlin on 19 points.Hertha lost 2-1 at Schalke on Friday as the Royal Blues joined Bayern on 31 points. | 5sport
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(CNN)Their island getaways went bad in ways that sound similar: crippling stomach cramps, explosive diarrhea and malaise that lasted after they returned home. But in some ways, they consider themselves lucky. They survived their trips to the Dominican Republic. As reports of American tourists dying in the country continue to grab headlines, some travelers who fell violently ill tell CNN they wonder whether they may have escaped a worse fate.More than a dozen reached out to Kaylynn Knull and Tom Schwander, a Colorado couple who were the focus of a CNN story this month, to share their accounts of being sickened. CNN interviewed most of them. Their experiences ranged from what they felt was most likely food poisoning or a virus to what seemed to be dire reactions to chemical contaminants. Like the Colorado couple, several travelers said they smelled a strange, intense chemical odor in their hotel rooms before getting sick. Knull and Schwander said they were nauseous, drooling uncontrollably, sweating, teary-eyed and experiencing stomach cramps. Their sickness continued for days after they returned home. Their US doctors suspected possible poisoning by a compound found in insecticide, and the couple are now suing the owners of the resort. Read MoreOf course, travelers get sick all the time, and it's still not clear whether the deaths or sicknesses are connected. The FBI is assisting with toxicology testing in at least three of the recent American deaths. The bureau is analyzing samples from at least one deceased couple's minibar, according to a Dominican Republic Ministry of Health spokesman. Dominican officials have called the deaths isolated and have stressed that the country is safe. 'You're not going to die,' he told herTina Hammell, from northeastern Ontario, said she was in tears as she read about Knull and her boyfriend.Hammell, 49, and her husband, John, said they went to a resort in the Grand Bahia chain, Grand Bahia Principe Punta Cana, in 2016. They were looking forward to the trip -- a celebration of a successful sales season at a Yamaha dealership they run. On the second day of their trip, they retired to their room for a nap. Tina said she woke under the air conditioning unit in their room. "My throat and nose were on fire," she recalled. "It smelled like paint." "She jumped up and ran outside, coughing and hacking," John said. He was also overwhelmed. "It stung bad."Colorado couple: We were sickened at same Dominican Republic resort where 3 Americans diedThey called the front desk and a worker showed up to their room, they said, and sprayed what seemed to be a disinfectant. The Hammells demanded another room and there got a decent night's sleep. The next morning, Tina was in bad shape. She was nauseated and covered in sweat, had lost her voice and was increasingly struggling to breathe. The couple tried to take a walk, but she couldn't muster the strength. Chest pains set in. John and Tina went to the medical office on the property. It was closed, they said. They tried to eat and get some sleep. The following day, Tina was worse. John called for help from their room, demanding that management find a way to take them to another section of the sprawling resort where there was another medical facility. John broke down as he remembered watching helplessly as his wife's body began convulsing. She buckled into a fetal position and her hands twisted with muscle spasms. "She kept passing out while I was trying to hold her," he said. "I said, 'You're not going to die. You're not going to die.'"At the medical center, a doctor managed to revive Tina, John Hammell said, at one point using a defibrillator. She was transferred to a hospital where she stayed for at least four days and doctors found lesions on her lungs, medical records show. They checked out only because they couldn't miss their flight home, John Hammell said. Back in Ontario, the couple said, Tina saw doctors who told her that the Dominican Republic physician might have saved her life. But they couldn't figure out what caused her symptoms. "'You've been poisoned,'" John Hammell recalled physicians saying to his wife, "'but we don't know from what.'"Tina and John Hammell say Tina fell seriously ill after smelling fumes in their room at the Bahia Principe Punta Cana resort in 2016. Three years later, the couple says, doctors are treating her for lung and heart problems she said she did not have before her trip to the Dominican Republic, though doctors haven't been able to say for sure what the cause is. "I had no idea there were other people," she told CNN, weeping. Hammell has read news in the past month about some of the US tourists who have died or fallen ill. Those include some who stayed at the same resort, such as 51-year-old Yvette Monique Sport of Pennsylvania, whose sister, Felecia Nieves, told CNN that Sport died at the Punta Cana facility in June 2018. Nieves said her sister had drinks, including a beverage from the minibar, then took a shower and went to bed. Her fiancΓ© found her dead the next day. A year after Sport's death, her sister said the family still has not been given results of a toxicology test.Alba Mingo, the head of trade marketing at Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts, declined to comment on specific cases, citing the company's cooperation with authorities in the ongoing inquiry into the incidents. Mingo said the chain's health and safety policies include "sanitation and disinfectant efforts, strict quality standards for the food and beverage items we serve to our guests and an action plan to respond to any reported cases of illness. ... We regularly audit all hotels in respect to health and safety and consistently receive high certification scores for hygiene."'I will never go back there'Elsewhere in Punta Cana, Jake Spruill of Virginia told CNN that he and his family had a terrible vacation at the Majestic Elegance resort in 2017. He, too, described an overwhelming chemical smell in his room. He and his wife plus two family members and their spouses went to the Dominican Republic to celebrate Spruill's 40th birthday. When he and his wife opened their room, they were hit by "an incredibly, overpowering smell that I would consider a chemical smell."His throat and nose felt mildly irritated, he said. They complained to management. "The response was 'We cannot move you. I'm sorry, we can't move you,'" Spruill said.The couple left to spend time in the resort. When they returned, it smelled like someone had sprayed air freshener to cover the chemical smell. It didn't work. Dominican tourism minister calls spate of deaths 'exaggerated' "We decided to avoid the room at all costs," and try to let the air conditioner run, Spruill said. He and his family members "felt a little off." They were drinking, sure, trying to have a good time. But something didn't feel right, he said. His wife started to have gastrointestinal distress. His eyes burned and watered. Spruill's brother-in-law, Richard Brumfield, said when he went to his room he noticed a smell. "It was almost like adhesive," he said. "It was extremely noxious." Brumfield said that when he complained about the chemical smell, the hotel staff put scented candles in his room, which did nothing to help. Within three days, Brumfield said, he started to feel "deathly ill." He lost his appetite, had horrible stomach cramps and felt exhausted, symptoms that lasted nearly three weeks. He and Spruill said that they drank a shot of Patron at the resort that did not taste like Patron, and both suspect the alcohol was adulterated. Neither went to the doctor or ever received a diagnosis. When they got home, they didn't communicate with the resort. "I will never go back there," Spruill said. In a written response, Ricardo Espinosa, vice president of sales and marketing for Majestic Elegance, told CNN that "all the bottles used in our hotels, both in our bars and our minibars, are genuine and unadulterated." Espinosa did not address the smell the men described, but he stressed Majestic Resorts' emphasize hospitality and noted that the hotel has "a very good reputation and image."Deaths under investigationThose who came back from vacation to weeks of sickness have had new context for their experience since news of American deaths started to emerge a few weeks ago. As of last week, Joseph Allen of New Jersey, 55, became at least the ninth U.S. tourist in a little more than a year to die at a Dominican Republic resort, his family said. The cause of his death is unclear. Leyla Cox, 53, died June 10 in her room at Excellence Resorts in Punta Cana, according to the hotel. A statement from the resort, citing a forensics report, said she suffered a heart attack, but CNN has not independently verified that. Pennsylvania woman died days before Maryland couple at the same resort in the Dominican Republic Other deaths include Nathaniel Holmes, 63, and Cynthia Day, 49, who were found dead May 30 at Bahia Principe La Romana. Dominican authorities said both suffered internal bleeding, including in their pancreases, and that Holmes had an enlarged heart and cirrhosis of the liver. Day, authorities said, had fluid in her brain. Toxicology reports are pending, and an investigation is underway into the deaths. Days earlier, Miranda Schaup-Werner died at the same resort. She had a drink from the minibar, felt ill and sometime later collapsed and died. A preliminary autopsy cited by the Dominican Republic's Attorney General's Office said she suffered a heart attack, pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. Her death is also under investigation. Overall, a U.S. State Department official said, "We have not seen an uptick in the number of U.S. citizen deaths reported to the Department" in the Dominican Republic. The State Department said it is closely monitoring investigations, and that the FBI has said toxicology testing could take up to 30 days.The department has a standing travel advisory for the Dominican Republic due to crime, but it has not issued an alert related to the resort deaths. CNN's Bob Ortega, Madeleine Ayer, Rosa Flores, Drew Griffin, Nelli Black and Jake Rosen contributed to this report. | 2health
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Story highlights PM Cameron to hold emergency meeting on flood crisis SundayA young boy dies and others are hospitalized in a flood-hit areaEngland suffered the wettest January in 248 yearsForecasters warn of more bad weather to comeVillages cut off by floodwater, rail links severed and huge waves pounding coastlines.Powerful gales and torrential downpours battered southern Britain over the weekend in a fresh surge of extreme weather that has caused chaos across the country.And there is no letup yet. Britons face more misery, as forecasters are warning there will be little respite from hurricane-force winds and lashing rain that have seen hundreds of people forced from their homes.Britain has been hit by bad weather since early December, and swaths of southwestern England have been flooded in continuously stormy weather."We have another Atlantic storm bringing gales and heavy downpours to many parts of the UK this weekend," Paul Gundersen, Met Office chief meteorologist, said in a written statement."Monday is expected to bring a brief respite from the stormy conditions before more strong winds and rain set in from the west on Tuesday. This will bring the continuing risk of flooding and damaging winds bringing down trees to cause disruption to travel and power networks."Wettest January in 248 yearsEngland suffered the wettest January since 1766, and there are hundreds of flood alerts in force for low-lying areas in southern and central England and Wales. Photos: Flooding crisis in Great Britain Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β A car dealership's display model sits on a ramp above floodwaters in Datchet, England, on Monday, February 10. Britain has been hit by bad weather since early December, and swaths of southwestern England have been flooded in continuously stormy weather.Hide Caption 1 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Electricity workers unload sandbags February 10 to protect a substation in Datchet.Hide Caption 2 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β A resident in Wraysbury, England, walks through floodwaters on February 10. England just suffered its wettest January since 1766.Hide Caption 3 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Beatrix Thurner and her family's dog, Ruby, leaves their flooded house in Datchet on February 10.Hide Caption 4 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β A Datchet resident builds a flood wall with sandbags on February 10.Hide Caption 5 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Floodwaters cover train tracks in Datchet on February 10.Hide Caption 6 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Datchet residents carry sandbags on February 10.Hide Caption 7 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Police tow a Moorland, England, resident back to his flooded home to retrieve possessions on Sunday, February 9.Hide Caption 8 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β A man wades through floodwaters in Moorland on February 9.Hide Caption 9 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Floodwater is pumped into the River Parrett near Fordgate, England, on February 9.Hide Caption 10 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β A tattered Union Jack flaps around a lamppost in Moorlands on February 9.Hide Caption 11 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β A rescue worker pets one of 16 basset hounds that were saved in Burrowbridge, England, on February 9.Hide Caption 12 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Volunteers sort out food donations in Burrowbridge, England, on February 9.Hide Caption 13 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Moorland resident Hayley Matthews reacts as she talks about the flooding Friday, February 7.Hide Caption 14 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Royal Marines wade past flooded properties in Bridgwater, England, on February 7.Hide Caption 15 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β British Prime Minister David Cameron, second left, visits Goodings Farm in Fordgate on February 7.Hide Caption 16 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Royal Marines build a sandbag wall around a property near Bridgwater on February 7.Hide Caption 17 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β Prince Charles walks through floodwater near Muchelney, England, on Tuesday, February 4.Hide Caption 18 of 19 Photos: Flooding crisis in Great BritainFlooding crisis in Great Britain β A man walks beside the River Tone near Burrowbridge, England, on Wednesday, January 29.Hide Caption 19 of 19Gusts of up to 80 miles per hour, heavy rain and massive waves make up the latest extreme weather coming from the Atlantic Ocean and driven, meteorologists say, by a long and powerful polar vortex.Hundreds of people have already been forced out of their homes. And with the ground heavily saturated, any more rain will increase the flood risk across the country.In Chertsey, Surrey, where the River Thames burst its banks, a 7-year-old boy died and 17 people were hospitalized after falling ill, police said Saturday.Police said the cause of illness was unknown but "cannot rule out that there may be a link to flooding in the local area."Efforts were under way to build flood defenses in the area, where nearby homes were damaged and riverside benches and trees were submerged in the water.Soldiers and sandbagsPrime Minister David Cameron is promising government help for regions that have literally been under water for weeks now.He visited flood-hit Somerset on Friday and will chair a meeting of the government's emergency committee, known as Cobra, on Sunday to discuss the crisis."All Govt depts doing all they can to help those affected," Cameron tweeted last week following a similar meeting. Storm waves have been beating rocks and spraying mist onto coastlines in seaside towns, where many shops have been closed. Military personnel have been sent out to some areas to deploy sandbags and improve flood defenses. On top of flooding, the weather has caused some areas to be cut off from power as well as rail links.In one area, Dawlish, high tides and stormy seas destroyed a sea wall, causing a significant stretch of railway to collapse into the sea. Nearby homes and a road were also damaged.READ: Battered Britain awaits more bad weatherREAD: Record rainfall leaves parts of England under water | 3news
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(CNN)The New York Mets have fired general manager Jared Porter after he reportedly sent explicit pictures to a female reporter in 2016. ESPN reported that Porter sent unsolicited, explicit texts and photos "culminating with a picture of an erect, naked penis" to the female reporter when he worked for the Chicago Cubs as the team's Director of Professional Scouting and Special Assistant. Mets owner Steven Cohen tweeted Tuesday morning: "We have terminated Jared Porter this morning. In my initial press conference I spoke about the importance of integrity and I meant it. There should be zero tolerance for this type of behavior."According to ESPN, Porter allegedly sent 62 texts, including seven photos to the reporter that weren't answered.ESPN said it obtained the messages and images in December 2017 and interviewed the reporter but chose not to report the allegations at the time after the woman said her career would be harmed if the story was released.Read MoreCNN is attempting to reach Porter for comment.Mets president Sandy Alderson released the following statement on Tuesday. "The New York Mets have terminated General Manager Jared Porter, effective immediately. Jared's actions, as reflected by events disclosed last night, failed to meet the Mets' standards for professionalism and personal conduct."Porter participating in a Zoom call in December.ESPN contacted Porter on Monday evening and he reportedly acknowledged texting with the woman. ESPN reports he initially said he had not sent any pictures of himself, but when the network confronted him about how the text messaging shows he had sent pictures, Porter reportedly told ESPN: "The more explicit ones are not of me. Those are like, kinda like joke-stock images." Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosThe unidentified woman told ESPN: "My number one motivation is I want to prevent this from happening to someone else," she said through an interpreter. "Obviously, he's in a much greater position of power. I want to prevent that from happening again. The other thing is, I never really got the notion that he was truly sorry."According to ESPN, Porter apologized to the woman in 2016 by text after she reportedly told him that his messages were "extremely inappropriate, very offensive, and getting out of line." | 5sport
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Story highlightsThree flats were rented in September and October by persons using fake identitiesBomb making materials were found in one of the apartmentsThe trail for one of the suspects whose fingerprint was found, Salah Abdeslam, has gone cold (CNN)Belgian officials say they have identified three locations used by attackers who killed 130 people in Paris in November.The first one is an apartment in the Brussels, Belgium, neighborhood of Schaerbeek, where police turned up multiple clues -- including bomb making materials -- during a search on December 10. A fingerprint of Salah Abdeslam, a fugitive believed to have played a key role in the attacks, and DNA traces of Bilal Hadfi, one of the suicide bombers at the Stade de France, were recovered at the address. The stadium was one of multiple targets in the French capital when jihadists killed 130 coordinated massacre, using guns and suicide bombs, on November 13. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks the following day.The apartment had been rented on September 1 by a person using a fake identity, Belgium's prosecutor's office said.JUST WATCHEDBrussels: Inside a terror breeding groundReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBrussels: Inside a terror breeding ground 03:40Read MoreThe second property, a flat in Charleroi, was rented on September 3, also by a person using a false identity. In a search conducted on December 9, investigators found the fingerprints of Hadfi and Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the alleged ringleader of the attacks, who was killed in a raid by French security forces in the wake of the killings.No explosive material or weapons were found there. Full coverage: Paris Terror Attacks Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacks Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksA forensic scientist works near a Paris cafe on Saturday, November 14, following a series of coordinated attacks in Paris the night before that killed scores of people. ISIS has claimed responsibility.Hide Caption 1 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksPolice are out in force November 14 near La Belle Equipe, one of the sites of the terror attacks.Hide Caption 2 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksForensic police search for evidence inside the Comptoir Voltaire cafe after the attacks.Hide Caption 3 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksShoes and a bloody shirt lie outside the Bataclan concert hall on November 14. Most of the fatalities occurred at the Bataclan in central Paris.Hide Caption 4 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksSecurity forces evacuate people on Rue Oberkampf near the Bataclan concert hall early on November 14.Hide Caption 5 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksMedics evacuate an injured woman on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire near the Bataclan early on November 14.Hide Caption 6 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksPolice, firefighters and rescue workers secure the area near the Bataclan concert hall on November 14.Hide Caption 7 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksA man with blood on his shirt talks on the phone on November 14. He is next to the Bataclan theater, where gunmen shot concertgoers and held hostages until police raided the building.Hide Caption 8 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksPolice officers patrol the area around Notre Dame cathedral in Paris on November 14. Hide Caption 9 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksPolice officers patrol Paris' Saint-German neighborhood on November 14. Hide Caption 10 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksVictims of the shooting at the Bataclan concert venue in central Paris are evacuated to receive medical treatment on November 14. Hide Caption 11 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksA woman is evacuated from the Bataclan theater early on November 14.Hide Caption 12 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksForensics are working in the street of Paris after the terrorist attack on Friday, November 13. The words "horror," "massacre" and "war" peppered the front pages of the country's newspapers, conveying the shell-shocked mood. Hide Caption 13 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksRescuers evacuate an injured person near the Stade de France, one of several sites of attacks November 13 in Paris. Thousands of fans were watching a soccer match between France and Germany when the attacks occurred.Hide Caption 14 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksA survivor of the terrorist attack in the Bataclan is assisted following terror attacks, November 13. The violence at the Bataclan, which involved a hostage-taking, resulted in the highest number of casualties of all the attacks.Hide Caption 15 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksSpectators invade the pitch of the Stade de France stadium after the international friendly soccer match between France and Germany in Saint-Denis.Hide Caption 16 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksSpectators embrace each other as they stand on the playing field of the Stade de France stadium at the end of a soccer match between France and Germany in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, on November 13.Hide Caption 17 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksA body, covered by a sheet, is seen on the sidewalk outside the Bataclan theater.Hide Caption 18 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksRescuers evacuate an injured person on Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire, close to the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris.Hide Caption 19 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksWounded people are evacuated outside the scene of a hostage situation at the Bataclan theater in Paris on November 13.Hide Caption 20 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksA medic tends to a wounded man following the attacks near the Boulevard des Filles du Calvaire.Hide Caption 21 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksA woman walks past police and firefighters in the Oberkampf area of Paris.Hide Caption 22 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksA riot police officer stands by an ambulance near the Bataclan concert hall in central Paris.Hide Caption 23 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksWounded people are evacuated outside the Bataclan concert hall.Hide Caption 24 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksPolice secure the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, following explosions during the soccer match between France and Germany.Hide Caption 25 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksA wounded man is evacuated from the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, outside Paris.Hide Caption 26 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksSpectators gather on the field of the Stade de France after the attacks. Explosions were heard during the soccer match between France and Germany.Hide Caption 27 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksFrench security forces rush in as people are evacuated in the area of Rue Bichat in the 10th District of Paris. Hide Caption 28 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksPeople leave the Stade de France after explosions were heard near the stadium during a soccer match between France and Germany on Friday. Paris Deputy Mayor Patrick Klugman told CNN President Francois Hollande was at the match and was evacuated at halftime.Hide Caption 29 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksVictims lay on the pavement outside a Paris restaurant.Hide Caption 30 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksRescue workers and medics tend to victims at the scene of one of the shootings, a restaurant in the 10th District. Attackers reportedly used AK-47 automatic weapons in separate attacks across Paris, and there were explosions at the Stade de France.Hide Caption 31 of 32 Photos: Night of terror: Paris attacksFrench security forces move people in the area of Rue Bichat in the 10th District. A witness told BFMTV that firefighters were on the scene to treat the injured.Hide Caption 32 of 32The third property, a house in Auvelais was rented on October 5, by a person using a false identity. In a search conducted on November 26, investigators found mattresses but no explosive material or weapons were recovered.The rent and the deposits for the three premises were paid in cash to the respective landlords, the prosecutor's office said. Additionally, the investigation has shown that the vehicles used in the attacks stopped in the vicinity of the premises. Numerous traces retrieved during the three searches are still being examined.New pictures of key suspect emergeThe first images since the attacks of Abdeslam, the most wanted fugitive sought over the killing, were broadcast by a French network this week. They showed the suspect at a gas station in northern France the morning after the attacks, accompanied by two associates he had called on to drive him from Paris to Brussels.JUST WATCHEDNew images show fugitive Paris attack suspectReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNew images show fugitive Paris attack suspect 00:45There has been speculation Abdeslam may have intended to launch a further attack in Paris' 18th arrondissement, where he is believed to have parked a vehicle after dropping off suicide bombers at the Stade de France. A European counterterrorism official told CNN last month that investigators now believe he got cold feet and backed out of the assault.An ISIS claim of responsibility for the attacks referred to "eight brothers" when there were only seven attackers killed, and mentioned an attack in the 18th arrondissement when there was none.Abdeslam's older brother, Brahim, was one of the suicide bombers in the November terror attacks. Abdeslam was a childhood friend of Abaaoud, the alleged ringleader of the attacks, who was killed in a raid by French security forces in the wake of the killings.A senior European counterterrorism official told CNN last month that the trail for Abdeslam had gone cold.CNN's Tim Hume contributed to this report. | 3news
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Story highlightsTristane Banon says her life changed after Dominique Strauss-Kahn's arrestShe does not refer to Strauss-Kahn by name in the bookShe reprints 29 e-mails she received from journalists worldwideThe French writer who accused former International Monetary Fund head Dominique Strauss-Kahn of attempted rape published a book Thursday in which she described how her life changed once Strauss-Kahn was arrested in New York in an unrelated case.Tristane Banon, 32, never mentions Strauss-Kahn by name in "Le Bal des Hypocrites," or "The Hypocrites' Ball." Instead, she refers to him 15 times as "the baboon man" and "the pig" -- but left little doubt whom she is referring to.Banon recounted waking up at 3 a.m. on May 15 to news "the baboon man" had been arrested."He will no longer harm," she wrote. "He tried to hurt one too many in New York."Strauss-Kahn was pulled off a Paris-bound plane in May and arrested over accusations he sexually assaulted a maid in a luxury hotel suite in New York. Manhattan prosecutors dropped the charges against him in August amid questions about the credibility of his accuser, Nafissatou Diallo.Banon filed a criminal complaint in July against Strauss-Kahn alleging attempted rape in a 2003 incident. On Thursday, the Paris prosecutor's office found there was not enough evidence to support the charges, although authorities said Strauss-Kahn admitted "sexual aggression" against her. JUST WATCHEDNew book targets former IMF chiefReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNew book targets former IMF chief 02:06In her 120-page book, Banon recounts the media frenzy that followed Strauss-Kahn's arrest and how quickly she became hounded by journalists, old acquaintances and random people on Facebook.Only a few names are used in the book -- Banon's dog, lawyer and two friends. However, it is not hard to identify the left-wing politicians she heavily criticizes for not speaking out on her behalf."Can someone lose a heart like they lose kilos?" Banon writes in a clear reference to Francois Hollande, the new favorite to be the Socialist presidential candidate in 2012. Hollande lost a considerable amount of weight in 2010.In the book, Banon describes in detail the media frenzy that surrounded her at the time, writing of endless phone calls and text messages from journalists around the world. She publishes 29 e-mails in the book she received from French and foreign journalists requesting an interview. The book touches on Banon's reasons for taking her time to decide whether or not to press charges against Strauss-Kahn in the 2003 incident. Β Banon was criticized in the French press for hesitating on this point and for never speaking to the press.Banon wrote that she was not going to be pressured into making a decision."I don't want a jury made up of the media to decide for me, I don't want them to drag me into vengeance. So I keep quiet, I remain silent when really I want to scream, to yell, to break my television, to eat the newspaper, destroy my radio," she wrote. | 3news
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Story highlightsCage fighter Soa Palelei banned from meeting sick kids'The Hulk' "deeply hurt" by snub after raising over $43,000 for charity (CNN)A "cage" fighter who raised thousands of dollars for sick children has been told by an Australian hospital he's not welcome to visit them.This was the unusual dilemma Mixed Martial arts (MMA) fighter Soa "The Hulk" Palelei found himself in recently, after being banned from meeting with children at Princess Margaret Hospital, in Western Australia.Palelei competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), a MMA competition drawing on the disciplines of boxing, freestyle wrestling, judo, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and tae kwon do, among others. Created in the U.S. in 1993, the UFC now hosts around 40 live events around the world annually, and is particularly popular in Brazil, Canada, and Japan. Bouts can take place in boxing rings or in "the Octagon" -- an eight-sided "cage."MMA is legal in Western Australia but the state government has banned "cage" contests.Read MoreAlong with retired rugby player Matt Fuller, Palelei has already raised over $43,000 (AUS$61,000) for an upcoming charity challenge where they will workout 24 hours non-stop on an arm grinder -- a machine much like a bicycle for the arms.The pair won't be able to stop for a toilet break, having to keep one hand on the grinder at all times, as part of the fundraising event on October 17 for Telethon -- whose beneficiaries include the Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth.However, Palelei was told not to join Fuller on a photoshoot at the hospital, amid concerns revolving the level of violence in his sport.Visit Matt Fuller & I at 246 Rokeby Rd Subiaco tonight 6.30pm to 6.30am Sat in prep #24hrgrind for Telethon if you can't...Posted by Soa "The Hulk" Palelei onΒ Friday, October 2, 2015Palelei told CNN he was "deeply hurt" by the hospital's decision to ban him from the photoshoot, adding: "I'm also a person with a life outside of UFC, with a son who suffers from absence epilepsy, and not to mention all the charitable work I have done over the years."I am about to embark on a 24-hour challenge solely to raise funds that will directly benefit those children who I was not allowed to meet," added Palelei, who is also an ambassador for the Make A Wish Foundation, a charity which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.The 38-year-old is a UFC three-times world champion, with a black belt in Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. He is currently ranked 24th in the world in the UFC's heavyweight division. But the hospital stood by its decision."Following the significant media coverage of controversy surrounding UFC and 'cage' fighting, which is currently banned in Western Australia, a decision was made by the Princess Margaret Hospital Executive that it would not be appropriate to have a representative of the sport visit the hospital," a spokesperson from the health service said."Princess Margaret Hospital has a duty of care to its patients, their families and staff. With many people in the community having very strong views about this particular sport, due to its perceived level of violence, executive staff felt this was the best decision at the time."In 2013, Western Australia banned a multimillion dollar sporting event due to its use of the "cage," and it was moved to the state of Queensland instead.Soa "The Hulk" Palelei pictured during the UFC Fight Night event in Brisbane, Queensland, 2013. Western Australian Sport and Recreation Minister, Mia Davies, said: "The state government does not support the use of a fenced enclosure for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) contests, believing it is not in the best interests of the wider community to endorse or encourage participation of fighting in a 'cage.'"MMA contests are allowed in Western Australia in a boxing ring."A similar ban on the use of "cages" was lifted in the Australian state of Victoria earlier this year, with the first such contest now set to be held in November. Whether Western Australia will follow suit, remains to be seen.The UFC's website says "the Octagon's" walls and padded surfaces protect fighters from "falling or getting thrown out."Read more: Meet the female 'beast' of Ultimate Fighting Championships | 5sport
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Story highlightsCristie and Joseph Codd were reported missing Sunday The suspect had done odd jobs for the couple, authorities say (CNN)A North Carolina man facing murder charges in the death of a "Food Network Star" contestant had human remains in his woodstove, authorities say.Robert Jason Owens is accused of killing former contestant Cristie Schoen Codd, 38, and her husband, Joseph Codd, 45.Cristie Codd was five months pregnant, according to CNN affiliate WHNS in Greenville, South Carolina. Owens was a contractor and had worked at the couple's home in Leicester, a community 15 miles west of Asheville, authorities said Friday. Relatives reported the Codds missing Sunday after they could not reach either of them. Read MoreWhen authorities went to their home, some things looked out of place, which prompted an investigation, according to Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan.He did not elaborate on what was unusual, but authorities had said earlier that the couple's cars and dogs were at home.Suspicious activityA day after they were reported missing, authorities received a call about suspicious activity around Owens' home in Candler. "They (caller) identified that someone had come out and very suspiciously had left things in a Dumpster," Duncan said. "We responded and were able to locate items that we knew belonged to Cristie Schoen Codd."When investigators did an initial interview with Owens, he confessed to taking items from the victims' home, authorities said. Remains in woodstove Duncan said they obtained a warrant to search Owens' home and found human remains. "Parts of those were recovered from a woodstove at that residence," Duncan said. Those remains, he said, are undergoing a forensic analysis to determine whether they belong to the Codds. Confession to wife?In addition to the remains, Owens' wife told investigators that her husband confessed to killing Joseph Codd, according to the sheriff. Duncan declined to provide details on the motive or whether the suspect confessed to killing Cristie Schoen Codd as well. "From that point, there's not really a whole lot of detail we can get into," he said, citing an ongoing investigation. Owens faces various charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, murder of an unborn child and breaking and entering, according to WHNS. It said Owens allegedly broke into the couple's house and stole a laptop, gun and jewelry, citing investigators. It's unclear who his attorney is. Cristie Codd was a finalist on season eight of "Food Network Star," which airs on the Food Network. Follow @faithcnn | 3news
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London (CNN)Since retiring from Major League Baseball two years ago, Alex Rodriguez's rise from the ashes of a drug scandal to adored on-air personality has been swift. Maybe it's his likable stance as a baseball analyst on network TV, or maybe it's his high-profile relationship with Jennifer Lopez. Or possibly, there is a sense of relief that his tumultuous career -- marked by a 2009 World Series win and 14 All Star selections, along with bloated contracts, accusations of steroid use, lawsuits and a lengthy suspension -- is over. "I fell from the top of the mountain, all the way to the ground," Rodriguez tells CNN while in London to promote next summer's games between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. "I call it ground zero and below." "I served the longest (drug) suspension in Major League Baseball history, and I came back and I keep coming back," he adds. "I'm still a work in progress, but I think it was a necessary evil for me, to kind of shift the paradigm." Read MoreRodriguez tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003, before penalties were in place, and admitted to using "a banned substance" after the results were leaked in 2009.Two years later, he was caught up in the investigation into the Biogenesis clinic that provided supplements like human growth hormone and testosterone to players. The Yankee slugger was the only player of the 13 suspended by MLB in 2011 to appeal, pitting him directly against baseball's league office. Though he never publicly admitted to buying performance enhancers from Biogenesis, he lost the appeal and was handed a 211-game suspension. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news and videos Alex Rodriguez (center, glasses) interacts with fans during the World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018. The former MLB slugger has changed his public perception since retiring in 2016. RedemptionIt is telling that MLB chose Rodriguez, 43, as its sole representative in London last month, such is his allure and redemptive power with the league.Redemption is a concept that Rodriguez has embraced as part of his rebranding, even delivering a "Baseball, Business & Redemption" lecture at South by Southwest in March. Rodriguez -- who earned over $441 million in salary, according to baseball-reference.com -- is one of the most talented athletes to grace a baseball diamond, but his on-field productivity was hardly matched by fan adoration. It was only four years ago that A-Rod sued MLB and the players association for the Biogenesis-related suspension. He eventually dropped the cases and sat out the entire 2014 season. Press referred to him as a "the best paid pariah in the history of sports" among other epithets.Yet Rodriguez served his penalty and played another season and a half. He finished fourth in MLB career home runs, before transitioning to an advisory role with the Yankees and taking on TV work. "I have the opportunity to help a lot of young players that can learn from my mistakes," he reflects during an interview with CNN World Sport. "Owning my mistakes, it becomes something even more powerful than pre-making mistakes, if that makes any sense." Rodriguez twice leans on a passage from motivational speaker Jim Rohn as he discusses rehabilitating his image. "You're an average of the five people you spend the most time with," he says. Part of the process was dedicating time to one of his favorite causes, the Miami-Dade chapter of the Boys & Girls Club of America, where he opened a new baseball field last year. "It saved my life," he says of the youth club. "In many ways it was a parent to me because my father was not around." View this post on Instagram Weekend in Paris β€οΈ#thankfulandgrateful A post shared by Alex Rodriguez (@arod) on Jun 16, 2017 at 5:37pm PDT Rodriguez's parents, who immigrated to the US from the Dominican Republic, split up when he was young. His mother Lourdes raised Alex and his two full siblings working as a secretary and waitress.The hardship led to a thirst for real estate and business investments that began early in his playing days. "Growing up, we always had to move because the landlord kept raising the rents and we couldn't afford it," Rodriguez says of his childhood living conditions in Miami, Florida "and it was tough watching my mother doing that.""I kind of made a promise to myself that if I ever could afford to trade places with the landlord that I would do that, and I bought my first duplex when I was in my early 20s."By the time Rodriguez signed his first big contract in 2000, the ballplayer flew to Omaha, Nebraska to receive tips from investing guru Warren Buffett. Nearly two decades later, he's parlayed that wisdom into A-Rod Corp, which owns and develops thousands of housing units, and invests in health clubs, auto dealerships and startups like esports team NRG. He even makes regular appearances as a guest entrepreneur on the reality TV series "Shark Tank."Coinciding with Rodriguez's business interests is his cover appeal, bolstered by his Instagram-ready lifestyle with J-Lo (she has nearly 83 million followers, he has two million).The two posed for a Vanity Fair cover story last year, shot by Mario Testino, headlined "J-Rod! Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez on Love, Beauty, and Redemption." (There's that word again: "Redemption" creeps up in eight other A-Rod headlines on a cursory internet search.) JUST WATCHEDA-Rod on esports: 'It's going to be a monster'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA-Rod on esports: 'It's going to be a monster' 00:48Foul territoryIn his two days of making the rounds with the British press, the three-time American League MVP recites the same quotes often, including those about his personal journey. "I was able to come back by turning the lens inward and by doing a lot of work," he says. He's in town to promote the MLS London Series between the Yankees and Red Sox scheduled for June 2019, and Rodriguez does it well. "I would give a lot of money to be a player ... in front of these great fans, and I may try and still sneak in with my pinstripes and see if I can get one at bat," he chuckles on camera.Rodriguez has shown so much magnetism and baseball candor in the TV booth that rival networks ESPN and Fox have allowed him to split duties between them. He even won an Emmy last year for his role with "MLB on FOX: The Postseason." Although Rodriguez is thankful for a second shot at making a living as a public personality -- "Grateful is an understatement," he says -- there are topics that roll into foul territory on this London trip.Rodriguez's baseball legacy, considering his checkered past, has been a topic of discussion among baseball purists for a decade -- but not one he is readily willing to entertain. Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesThe Boston Red Sox celebrate after winning the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, October 28, in Los Angeles, CA.Hide Caption 1 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesWorld Series MVP Steve Pearce celebrates with a teammate.Hide Caption 2 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesDavid Price of the Boston Red Sox poses with the World Series trophy after Boston's Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.Hide Caption 3 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesThe Boston Red Sox celebrate with the World Series trophy after their Game 5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.Hide Caption 4 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesAlex Cora of the Boston Red Sox celebrates his team's World Series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA.Hide Caption 5 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesThe Boston Red Sox celebrate their World Series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox won the deciding game 5-1.Hide Caption 6 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesThe Los Angeles Dodgers watch the eighth inning of Game 5 from the dugout.Hide Caption 7 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesMookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox is congratulated by his teammate Christian Vazquez after his sixth-inning home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5.Hide Caption 8 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesBoston Red Sox pitcher David Price reacts after retiring the side during the seventh inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 5.Hide Caption 9 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesMax Muncy of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to his seventh-inning fly out against the Boston Red Sox in Game 5.Hide Caption 10 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesSteve Pearce of the Red Sox celebrates his first-inning two-run home run against the Dodgers in Game 5.Hide Caption 11 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesDavid Freese of the Dodgers celebrates his first-inning home run against the Red Sox in Game 5.Hide Caption 12 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesRed Sox first baseman Steve Pearce celebrates scoring with outfielder Andrew Benintendi after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against Dodgers in Game 5.Hide Caption 13 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesDodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw throws a pitch against Boston in the first inning of Game 5.Hide Caption 14 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesBrock Holt of the Red Sox slides into second base on a one-out double to left field in the ninth inning of Game 4 at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, October 27.Hide Caption 15 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesPitcher Ryan Madson of the Dodgers leaves the game after giving up a home run to Mitch Moreland in Game 4.Hide Caption 16 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesMitch Moreland of the Red Sox hits a three-run home run in the seventh inning during Game 4. The Red Sox won the game 9-6 to take a 3-1 series lead.Hide Caption 17 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesYasiel Puig of the Dodgers celebrates on his way to first base after hitting a three-run home run to left field in the sixth inning of Game 4 of the series against Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez at Dodger Stadium.Hide Caption 18 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesMax Muncy of the Dodgers is doused with water after his winning run in Game 4.Hide Caption 19 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesThe LED board shows the score during the 18th inning of Game 3 of the World Series in Los Angeles on Friday, October 26. The Dodgers won 3-2.Hide Caption 20 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesThe scoreboard shows 12 a.m. as Game 3 enters the 17th inning at Dodger Stadium. The game ended one inning later on a walk-off home run by Dodgers' infielder Max Muncy.Hide Caption 21 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesIan Kinsler of the Red Sox is tagged out at home plate by Austin Barnes of the Dodgers on a throw from Cody Bellinger during the 10th inning of Game 3. The Dodgers won in the 18th inning of a game that set the record as the longest in World Series history.Hide Caption 22 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesDodgers third baseman Justin Turner fields a single by Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. during the third inning of Game 3 at Dodger Stadium.Hide Caption 23 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesDave Roberts of the Dodgers looks on from the dugout before Game 3.Hide Caption 24 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesAndrew Benintendi of the Red Sox makes a leaping catch in front of the Green Monster at Fenway Park on a ball hit by Brian Dozier of the Dodgers during the fifth inning of Game 2 of the series on Wednesday, October 24.Hide Caption 25 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesA fan holds up a sign during Game 2.Hide Caption 26 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesNathan Eovaldi of the Boston Red Sox pitches during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 2. Boston defeated the Dodgers 4-2 to take a two-game lead in the series.Hide Caption 27 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesCody Bellinger of the Los Angeles Dodgers narrowly avoids teammates Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez while making a catch during the sixth inning of Game 2.Hide Caption 28 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesMembers of the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 2.Hide Caption 29 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesA rainbow shines over Fenway Park before Game 2.Hide Caption 30 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesEduardo NuΓ±ez of the Boston Red Sox is doused with Gatorade after Boston's Game 1 win at Fenway Park in Boston on Tuesday, October 23.Hide Caption 31 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesMookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox steals second base ahead of the tag from Manny Machado of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning of Game 1. As part of Taco Bell's "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion, Betts' stolen base won everyone in America a free Doritos Locos Taco redeemable on November 1.Hide Caption 32 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesClayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game 1. Kershaw was given the loss after giving up five runs over four innings pitched.Hide Caption 33 of 34 Photos: In pictures: the 2018 World SeriesChris Sale of the Boston Red Sox pitches during Game 1 of the 2018 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Red Sox won the game 8-4 to take a one game lead in the series.Hide Caption 34 of 34Is the Hall of Fame an important milestone for A-Rod? "We can talk about that some other time," he deadpans during a follow-up interview for CNN.com.Rodriguez will be eligible in 2021 and a shoe-in for the Hall if not for his doping violations. MLB peers Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens -- who have both denied doping allegations and were cleared in federal probes -- have been on the ballot since 2013, with four years of Hall of Fame eligibility remaining.Pete Rose, an unexpected friend of Rodriguez's, has been permanently banned since 1989 for baseball gambling and is ineligible for the Hall. Rose admitted to gambling but denies betting against his own teams. Rodriguez met Rose in 2006 and sought hitting advice, according to ESPN. The two struck up a friendship that continues to this day. (Rose, perhaps, could use pointers on PR from A-Rod.)"Yeah, we're still friends," Rodriguez says of his relationship with baseball's all-time leader in hits. "I have a lot of respect for Pete." And what about Rodriguez's much publicized rocky rapport with former Yankee captain Derek Jeter? "Everything's good," he says, bluntly. READ: NBA's Kevin Love opens up on mental health 'stigma'READ: In divided US, NFL stars put their money where their mouths are"I'm fine with the credit I got (as a teammate). I don't have any complaints when I look back at my career," he adds. "I played hard, I loved the game, I prepared very hard for it, and what I did for my teammates was really for my teammates to know. It wasn't really to have a reputation outside of that."Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez pictured together earlier this year.Rodriguez's second mega-contract, a $275 million, 10-year deal with the Yankees, featured incentives for breaking the all-time home run mark, a feat that was derailed by injuries and the 2014 suspension. Instead, A-Rod stands fourth, only 66 home runs behind career leader Barry Bonds -- who Rodriguez names, with no irony intended, as the best player he ever faced.One slot ahead at No. 3 is none other than Babe Ruth. "I love it," Rodriguez says of his position, 18 home runs behind the Yankee great whose sale from the Red Sox in 1919 launched the "Curse of the Bambino.""Look, I'm a young man that came from South Florida with a single mother who had two jobs and we would count tips money," he recalls, "and my goal was to get a scholarship to the University of Miami ... and you're asking me about Babe Ruth?" The response is right on brand, and befitting of a redemption tour.The Boston Red Sox will play the New York Yankees at the London Stadium on 29-30 June. Ticketing information can be found on mlb.com/londonseries | 5sport
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London (CNN)Eight people involved in the London Bridge terror attack, including two who died, were among those honored for their courage in the UK's annual Civilian Gallantry List on Thursday. 20 people in total were recognized in the 2018 list, which is approved by the Queen. Three men rammed a van into pedestrians on London Bridge before stabbing dozens of people who were out enjoying a night in London's popular Borough Market area in June 2017.Spanish banker Ignacio Echeverria and Australian nurse Kirsty Boden were two of eight victims killed during the attack.Echeverria, was posthumously awarded the George Medal after he fought with knife-wielding terrorists armed only with his skateboard.Ignacio Echeverria has been posthumously awarded the George Medal for his bravery.Read MoreBoden, a nurse killed while attempting to help the wounded, received the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.Kirsty Boden was killed while attending to the wounded during the London Bridge terror attack.Florin Morariu, a Romanian baker who used two bread crates to fight off terrorists before hiding members of the public in his bakery, also won the Queen's Commendation for Bravery.Florin Morariu used two bread crates while attempting to see off the terrorists.Civilians Ellen Gauntlett and Justin Jones were awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery after providing first aid for an injured police officer at the scene.Three police officers also received awards for their bravery in tackling the terrorists.London's Borough Market reopens after terror attackBritish Transport Police Officer Wayne Marques suffered multiple stab wounds while attempting to fend off the terrorists with his baton, earning him the George Medal.Metropolitan Police Constable Charlie Guenigault won the George Medal after being stabbed repeatedly while attempting to help.Leon McLeod, a British Transport Police officer, received the Queen's Gallantry Medal, for his actions in helping victims in the aftermath of the attack. | 3news
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Story highlightsAmbassador's body arrives in RussiaDiplomats from Russia, Turkey and Iran meet to discuss situation in SyriaRussian team arrives in Turkey to assist with investigation into envoy's death (CNN)Russia warned it will not make "concessions to terrorists" a day after its ambassador was gunned down in the Turkish capital, Ankara.Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his country remained "determined to fight terrorism" after a meeting Tuesday in Moscow with his Turkish and Iranian counterparts.The man who opened fire on the ambassador was identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, a Turkish police officer. Tuesday's meeting had been arranged to discuss the situation in the Syrian city of Aleppo before Russian ambassador Andrey Karlov was gunned down Monday at the opening of an art exhibition in Ankara. It comes as an 18-strong investigative team of Russia's special agencies arrived in Turkey to help authorities with their inquiries. Photos: Shooting unfolds in front of photographerAndrey Karlov, the Russian ambassador to Turkey, speaks at the opening ceremony of a photo exhibit in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday, December 19. Moments later, he was fatally shot. Associated Press photographer Burhan Ozbilici was at the event and watched the assassination unfold.Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: Shooting unfolds in front of photographerThe man holds his gun up after shooting Karlov. The attack occurred at the Cagdas Sanat Merkezi modern arts center in Ankara. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said in a news conference that the gunman was Mevlut Mert Altintas, a Turkish police officer.Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: Shooting unfolds in front of photographerKarlov's body lies on the floor as the gunman stands nearby. Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: Shooting unfolds in front of photographerThe gunman gestures near the body of Karlov. In a video circulating on social media, the shooter is heard shouting, "Allahu akbar (God is greatest). Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria! Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria!" Russia has been instrumental in helping Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime in its push to retake the eastern sector of Aleppo, which had been held by rebels for nearly four years. Russia is also the most powerful ally of Assad's regime and has carried out airstrikes since September 2015 to prop up the embattled leader.Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: Shooting unfolds in front of photographerPeople cower after Karlov was shot. "Get back! Get back!" the gunman could be heard shouting in Turkish.Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: Shooting unfolds in front of photographerThe gunman stands near the body of Karlov. "Only death will remove me from here. Everyone who has taken part in this oppression will one by one pay for it," he said in the video.Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: Shooting unfolds in front of photographerTurkey's official Anadolu news agency reported that the gunman had been neutralized. But it was not immediately clear whether the attacker was killed or captured by police. Later, Turkey's Interior Ministry said Altintas had been killed.Hide Caption 7 of 7Envoy's body returned to MoscowRead MoreMarina Davydova Karlova bids farewell Tuesday to her husband, the late Russian envoy, in Ankara.Karlov's body arrived in Moscow late Tuesday. The ambassador was bestowed honors upon arrival in a ceremony attended by Lavrov, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and the widow of the deceased, according to Russia's Foreign Ministry.Earlier Tuesday, Lavrov said the tragedy made the talks even more urgent, according to Russian state-run news agency Sputnik."This tragedy makes all of us more determined to fight terrorism," Lavrov was quoted as saying. He hoped the talks would "create conditions for a more efficient delivery of humanitarian aid without making any concessions to terrorists," he said."It is necessary to establish all the circumstances of the organization and (the) execution of the terrorist act as soon as possible."Just paid our respects to our Russian colleague Andrei Karlov at airport. Sad day. Never want to do this again. pic.twitter.com/3RYcUeklAnβ Richard Moore (@UKAmbRichard) December 20, 2016
Cavusoglu said the attack was intended to "harm our relations and destroy all the achievements we have made together recently."He welcomed the investigative team from Russia, saying the two countries would work together to "uncover who is behind this vile and treacherous terror attack."Opinion: An acrid whiff of 1914?"Turkey and Russia have recently proven what they can achieve when they cooperate, not only to their own people but to the whole world," he said."We will maintain this cooperation in Syria in order to reach a political resolution and also extend the cooperation to other areas."He announced the street that houses the Russian Embassy in Ankara will be renamed in Karlov's honor. Turkish soldiers stand near the coffin of the Russian ambassador Tuesday at the Ankara airport.Shooter's relatives taken in for questioningOn Monday night, Altintas, the police officer, fired several shots at Karlov, shouting, "Allahu akbar (God is greatest). Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria! Do not forget Aleppo! Do not forget Syria!" JUST WATCHEDWhat do we know about the Turkish assassin?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhat do we know about the Turkish assassin? 01:26Video and photographs taken during the exhibition show that shortly before the shooting, Altintas had been standing behind Karlov while the envoy was making remarks. Turkish security forces eventually killed Altintas, Turkey's Interior Ministry said.Seven people were taken in for questioning in relation to the shooting, including the shooter's parents, sister, uncle and two other relatives. A roommate, a police officer, was also arrested, according to Turkish state news agency Anadolu.Altintas' uncle was released under "judicial control," or bail-like conditions, Anadolu quoted security sources as saying. According to Anadolu, the uncle was a former senior executive at a private school connected to cleric Fethullah Gulen, whose movement Turkey considers a terrorist group. The school was shut down after a failed coup in July. Emergency vehicles respond to the shooting of the Russian ambassador in Ankara.Anadolu also reported that books about al Qaeda and Gulen's movement, which the Turkish government calls the Fethullah Gulen Terrorist Organization, were found after a search of Altintas' home. Turkey alleges that members of Gulen's movement were behind the coup attempt.The failed coup triggered a wave of arrests, detentions and dismissals of those suspected of any involvement.Failed Turkey coup looked 'like a Hollywood movie'The rest of Altintas' relatives were taken in for questioning, the agency quoted security sources as saying. The ambassador's assassination came at a time of thawing relations between Russia and Turkey and at a pivotal moment in Syria in which Russia has been instrumental in President Bashar al-Assad's push to retake rebel-held areas.What do we know about the assassin?Putin: Shooting a 'provocation'Russian President Vladimir Putin said the killing was a clear provocation aimed at undermining not just the normalization of Russian-Turkish relations but also the "peace process in Syria" promoted by Russia, Turkey, Iran and other countries. "The only response we should offer to this murder is stepping up our fight against terror, and the criminals will feel the heat," Putin said in televised remarks.Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan echoed Putin's sentiments, saying "the Russian government and the Turkish republic have the will to not fall into that provocation."Putin will delay his annual news conference on Thursday in order to pay his respects to the slain ambassador, whose funeral will be held that day, Sputnik reported. Roles of Russia and Turkey in SyriaHuman rights groups and other countries have denounced Russia over its backing of the Syrian leader. Moscow, the most powerful ally of the Assad regime, has carried out airstrikes since September 2015 to prop up the embattled ruler. As one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia has used its veto powers to block a political solution to end the war.What you need to know about Aleppo The bombardment in Syria has drawn criticism from Western powers, with President Barack Obama on Friday accusing Russia of slaughtering civilians in the besieged city of Aleppo in concert with the Assad regime. Moscow has recently tried to distance itself from the assault in eastern Aleppo.Turkey's involvement in Syria is complicated. On one hand, the Turks are eager to help eradicate ISIS. On the other, Ankara has worked to drive Kurdish fighters from the Syrian side of the border. Meanwhile, the United States supports Kurdish groups in both Syria and Iraq as critical partners in the battle against ISIS.JUST WATCHEDAnalyst: More violence to come in TurkeyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAnalyst: More violence to come in Turkey 03:00Embassies closed All US embassy and consulates in Turkey were to be closed Tuesday after a separate incident, hours after the Russian envoy's assassination. Turkish police arrested a man who fired into the air with a shotgun outside the US Embassy in Ankara, Anadolu reported.Video fed by Turkish video news agency IHA showed security officers leading a handcuffed man into an unmarked police car as he shouted in Turkish, "I swear to God. Don't play with us." No one was injured. CNN's Sarah Sirgany, Madison Park, Sheena Jones, Sheena McKenzie, Sebastian Shukla, Eliott C. McLaughlin, Gul Tuyuz, Alla Eshchenko and Hande Atay Alam contributed to this report. | 3news
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(CNN)Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt won gold in the men's triathlon at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games following a bizarre false start which saw a media boat block about half of the competitors who were about to dive into the water to begin their swim.The incident sparked mass confusion at the beginning of the event as the starting gun went off with the boat still right in front of the starting platform. The pilot then had to hastily reverse out of the way while race officials recalled those who had started their swim."The starter's gun appeared to go off early while a boat carrying a camera crew was still in the start zone," reads an explanation posted on the Olympics' official blog.The athletes were sent back to restart the race once the boat was out of the way.After the restart, Norway's Kristian Blummenfelt went on to win gold -- his country's first medal at Toyko 2020 -- with a time of 1:45:04. Great Britain's Alex Yee claimed the silver medal and Hayden Wilde of New Zealand took the bronze.Read MoreKristian Blummenfelt won the gold medal for Norway.Blummenfelt said he was "surprised" by the incident with the boat, but in the end he saw it as "a positive thing" because it was "good practice."Speaking after the race, Blummenfelt said he would have been disappointed with anything other than a gold medal. Nationalist sentiment rises as China off to strong start at Tokyo OlympicsAsked at which point he realized he was going to win, Blummenfelt said: "When I was standing on the pontoon ready to go."Bronze medalist Wilde also spoke about the false start after the race. Pizza for Italy and Dracula for Romania. South Korean broadcaster apologizes for its Olympic 'inexcusable mistake' "I was caught up in that but it was kind of good but kind of annoying at the same time because I looked to the left and I was like, 'oh man, I've had a great start, this doesn't happen to me,'" said Wilde, who said it was "quite good" to get his arms moving over a short distance."But still, it kind of got the heart rate up a bit too much. It is what it is and you've just got to keep composed, and sometimes that happens and you've just got to roll with the punches." | 5sport
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Story highlightsGround-breaking new golf course under construction at Mission Hills in ChinaIt will incorporate traditional golf with aspects of crazy or mini golfOne of the holes has an 80-meter wide noodle bowl and giant chop sticksDesigners believe it could spark a new trend in China and wider marketIt's crazy golf on an insane scale -- a putting green swimming in a giant bowl of noodles and chopsticks, the Great Wall of China for a hazard, a fairway threading through Mayan ruins and a panda-themed hole.China is getting into golf in a big way ahead of the sport's reintroduction to the Olympics in 2016, and even its take on the mini version of the game is larger than life."Traditionalists will probably hate it," says design guru Brian Curley, principal partner in Schmidt-Curley, the company behind the 22 courses that make up the Mission Hills complex in Hainan Island."But this is real golf, with real clubs on real fairways," he told CNN.Just about everyone has tried their hand at crazy or mini-golf, a scale-down variant of the game which has the ability to delight and infuriate in equal measure.Read: Golf brings China, U.S. closer together with PGA Tour upgradeUsually situated at seaside resorts or other leisure locations, the prerequisites for success are a modicum of actual golfing skill, the ability to putt in a straight line or at unlikely angles off prominent obstacles -- and a large slice of luck.JUST WATCHEDChinese golf prodigy, 14, in U.S. Open ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHChinese golf prodigy, 14, in U.S. Open 02:00 Photos: Duel at Jinsha Lake Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeGolden Gong β Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods look on in amusement before banging a ceremonial gong to mark the start of their "Duel at Jinsha Lake." Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeTiger Paw β Both McIlroy and Woods, pictured above, had their handprints immortalized in clay as a lavish ceremony featuring drum majorettes and fireworks preceded their clash in the Chinese city Zhengzhou. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeNumber One β World No. 1 McIlroy cannot keep a straight face as the players pose at the first green, ahead of a clash reported to be paying the pair a combined total of $2 million. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha Lake"Barely-controlled chaos" β "The scene was barely-controlled chaos," wrote Sports Illustrated's Alan Shipnuck. "Some 3,000 fans streamed across the fairways, with soldiers locking arms in a human fence to keep the throngs off the greens." Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeHigh Jinks β A course marshall practices kung fu as she awaits the golfers' arrival. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeFiring Line β "On the tee boxes there were so many camera clicks it sounded like machine gun fire," Shipnuck wrote. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeModel Display β Local golf fans talk with one of the models who inhabited the greens in their evening wear in scenes seldom seen on any golf course. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeWater Hazard β Woods tries to maintain focus as a luxury boat passes by, with the clubhouse car park also boasting a collection of Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, Aston Martins and Maseratis. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeNext Generation? β Young fans show their support for McIlroy and Woods in a country that is seen as the next great market for golf to conquer. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeOn the Charge β McIlroy never trailed Woods after starting with a birdie, going on to card a five-under-par 67 -- one less than the world No. 2. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Duel at Jinsha LakeJob Done β McIlroy awaits his trophy on a day that coincided with the launch of the multi-million-dollar "Golf Villas" to be built around the Jinsha Lake course. Hide Caption 11 of 11President Barack Obama, who takes every opportunity to hit the fairways when not leading the Western world, even tried his hand at crazy golf while on holiday with his family in Florida in 2010. Making a par on his opening hole, he then had to watch as his nine-year-old daugher Sasha made a hole in one, besting her dad in front of the gathered ranks of the world's media. Obama might well be tempted to put his handicap on the line at the ground-breaking new course being constructed at Curley's Mission Hills Haikou development.Combining the wacky elements of mini-golf with the "grown-up" version of the game, the proposed 18-hole layout would leave little chance of aces by nine-year-olds -- but still plenty of chances of humiliation for the average golfer.Fantasy golfMindful of the impression that there is a "sameness" to the courses being churned out in their droves in the fastest expanding golf market in the world, Curley and his team wanted to come up with something that he felt would appeal to the wider Chinese public and other visitors to the resort.So instead of bunkers, rough and trees, the players will be faced with a replica of the Great Wall of China winding its way the length of a 400-meter par four hole.It also has a hole to rival the infamous "island green" seen at TPC Sawgrass in Florida, home of the the U.S. PGA Tour's Players Championship.That tricky 17th sees the best in the world attempt to hit their ball onto a tiny green surrounded by water, and spectators delight in seeing the likes of Tiger Woods find the lake.At Mission Hills' new course, set to open in 2014, the water is replaced by an 80-meter wide noodle bowl with 50-meter giant chopsticks. Photos: Golf's young prodigies Photos: Golf's young prodigiesHistory maker β Fifteen-year-old Lydia Ko is the youngest LPGA Tour winner in history courtesy of her win at the Canadian Women's Open. She was just 14 when she triumphed at the the New South Wales Open in January 2012, becoming the youngest player to win a professional tournament. She clinched the U.S. Amateur Championship two weeks ago.Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: Golf's young prodigiesGolf's young prodigies β Guan Tian-Lang, 13, made history as the youngest player at a European Tour event when he teed off at his home China Open in April 2012.Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: Golf's young prodigiesMaking the cut β However, he could not better the achievement of Jason Hak, who was 14 when he became the youngest player to make the halfway cut at a European Tour event at the 2008 Hong Kong Open.Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: Golf's young prodigiesThe future star β Japan's Ryo Ishikawa is the youngest male player to win a professional tournament. He was 15 when he triumphed at the Munsingwear Open in 2007, and has since gone on to become a top-level tour competitor.Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: Golf's young prodigiesYoung gun β Before Ko, Lexi Thompson was the youngest player to win on the women's LPGA Tour. The American was 16 when she triumphed at the LPGA Classic in Prattville, Alabama in September 2011.Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: Golf's young prodigiesDubai double β Thompson is the youngest player to win on the European Ladies' Tour. Here she receives her trophy at the Dubai Ladies Masters on December 17, 2011.Hide Caption 6 of 6 Photos: Golf's best coaches Photos: Golf's best coachesInstructor to the stars β David Leadbetter is recognized as one of the world's leading golf instructors, and has worked with stars such as Nick Faldo, Nick Price, Ernie Els and Greg Norman.Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Golf's best coachesTop teacher β Seen here with former child prodigy Michelle Wie in 2010, Leadbetter has established coaching academies around the world.Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Golf's best coachesTeaching the world β Leadbetter's golf empire has grown from his main academy in Florida to locations all around the world.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Golf's best coachesReaping the rewards β He says he has scaled back his on-tour coaching these days, but does a lot of corporate work and writing.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Golf's best coachesTiger's tutor β Butch Harmon made his name coaching Tiger Woods. Here he guides Woods during the 1995 Masters -- two years before his breakthrough victory at Augusta. Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Golf's best coaches'Lefty' learns β After splitting with Woods in 2004, Harmon linked up with the former world No. 1's greatest rival Phil Mickelson three years later.Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Golf's best coachesHaney's help β Woods spent six years with coach Hank Haney, seen here teaching a young Chinese golfer at the launch of his academy at China's Mission Hills Hainan in Haikou in 2010.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Golf's best coachesEurope's finest β Pete Cowen, seen here coaching fellow Englishman Simon Dyson, has been at the forefront of Europe's recent golfing dominance.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Golf's best coachesCoaching Clarke β Cowen has long worked with Darren Clarke, who finally won his first major title at this year's British Open.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Golf's best coachesThe next Tiger? β Cowen has also helped Clarke's fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, who this year claimed his first major triumph at the U.S. Open.Hide Caption 10 of 10Standing on the tee, players will not know whether to laugh or cry, and the degree of difficulty may not end there.Tiger Woods eyes long rivalry with McIlroyWind machineCurley is promising the addition of "man made" gale force winds on each tee, adjustable depending on the standards of the players and available by hitting a red button.There is a par-5 threading its way through Mayan ruins, while another green is created in the image of the "Birds Nest" Olympic Stadium in Beijing. Another hole is styled after China's favorite animal, the panda bear.On a conventional golf course, the degree of difficulty is often dictated by which tee the player chooses to play from. Leading professionals play from the tees furthest from the hole, while higher handicappers can opt to hit their first shot from much closer.On the Chinese fantasy course, one of the par-3s will give golfers the choice of hitting their ball onto a tiny green surrounded by lava rocks.In true mini-golf fashion, the other easier option at the volcano theme hole will let players hit towards a mound from which the ball will be whisked nearer the hole down a pipe.Curley and his team needed the permission of the owners of the complex before committing to the costly project, but Mission Hills' chairman Dr. Ken Chu is an enthusiastic backer."This will be a fun alternative for families, novices and children on holiday," he was quoted in the Asian edition of Golf Course Industry International.Only time will tell if Chu's faith in the project proves founded, but the Mission Hills group has already established itself as a host venue of leading professional tournaments.Last year the Hainan Island development staged the World Cup teams event for the first time, taking over from the Mission Hills complex at Shenzhen.This year Shenzhen was the venue of the prestigious HSBC-World Golf Championship event, won by Englishman Ian Poulter.The Ryder Cup hero conquered the conventional bunker-bound Olazabal course in 21 under par, but knowing Poulter's reputation as a golfing trendsetter, he will probably be itching to test his mettle on Curley's new wacky creation at the first opportunity. Schwartzel triumphs at Alfred Dunhill | 5sport
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(CNN)They're not my parents, but after two years of living in Ukraine, they grew to become my Tato and Mama -- Ukrainian for "mom" and "dad." Five years ago, they welcomed me into their home like a daughter -- now they're living under Russian bombardment, the sound of shelling punctuating every precious call.Tato, a white-haired man in his early 60s, tells me on the phone he can see explosions from the front yard of their home in a small village outside the northern city of Chernihiv. Mama, who's a few years younger, sobs as she tells me they have no water, no power, and no safe way to leave. Their only form of transportation is a rundown Soviet-era car that's so rusted you can see the ground rush by through a hole in the floor. And Mama's 91-year-old mother, Babusya, is so frail she rarely leaves her bed. Due to safety concerns, CNN is not publishing their photos or full names.Ukrainians in some other cities have been been able to flee their homes, escaping the Russian attacks via temporary evacuation corridors, but no clear route exists out of Chernihiv or their village. Read More"The enemy continues to launch air- and missile strikes on the city of Chernihiv," Vyacheslav Chaus, the head of the regional state administration said on Saturday. "Civilians are dying, many people are being injured. The enemy shells civilian infrastructure, where there is no military," he said. Before the war, we shared regular texts about pet dogs, and what food we were eating -- they were fascinated by my life outside Ukraine.Then, just over a week ago, Tato sent me a photo of black smoke billowing into the air from explosions near his village.His text: "If we survive, maybe we'll see each other."A black cloud of smoke above an explosion near Tato's house on March 3.A simple life Ukraine is not the same country I lived in for two years from 2017 to 2019 as a Peace Corps volunteer. Then, conversations with my host family used to be long, sitting at the kitchen table with tea, sharing simple stories about the season's harvest or my work with children. Tato and Mama don't have children of their own. Knowing I was Japanese-American, Tato learned Japanese words like "ohayo" which means "good morning." At night, we danced to Ukrainian and American 80s music -- they thought it would make their house feel more like home.The first night at their house, I felt a little awkward, so Tato barged into my room with an ABBA CD and motioned as if to dance. I pulled out my phone and played the music, one song after another. That night we used up a month's worth of phone data.
Mayumi Maruyama/CNN Tato and Mama's life was so different to my own. In Los Angeles, the city where I'd spent much of my adult life, I fell asleep to loud bar music and honking cars. In Ukraine, nights were so quiet I could only hear the sound of their dog's footsteps. Tato and Mama grew their own vegetables and raised their own chickens for food. During the spring and summer, they sold the flowers they grew in their backyard at the market in Chernihiv.Every day I used to take the bumpy 20-minute bus ride from my host parents' house to the city, where I'd work in the local cafe. It had a strong Wi-Fi signal, good coffee and thick slices of Ukrainian Kyivski tort, a layered pastry with cream and hazelnuts.After I returned to America in 2019, Tato, Mama and me would send each other video and text messages, and Facetime often.How to help the people of Ukraine During the first week of the war, they suggested they were carrying on with their normal routine -- waking at 6 a.m., feeding the chickens, and going to their part-time jobs. Babusya was still watching her favorite TV shows, even as bombs dropped on other cities.But on March 2, their tone changed. Tato sent me a message: "Mama, Babusya and I only eat 150g each" -- about the weight of an average potato.In the days since, it's become harder to reach them. My calls aren't answered. Text messages don't go through. All I can do is watch the destruction of their country unfold from afar. Russian forces now surround Chernihiv and video reveals the scale of the devastation.According to video posted to Telegram, a large crater lies between the local library and the city's football stadium, where Tato used to train for FC Desna Chernihiv as a much younger man.Chernihiv's football stadium has been damaged by Russian airstrikes.And just outside of town, satellite images show Chernihiv's local Epicenter K shopping center -- Ukraine's answer to Home Depot -- is now a hollowed, blackened shell. Satellite images show the charred remains of the Epicenter K supermarket in the city of Chernihiv. In less than three weeks, the unprovoked Russian invasion has dragged Tato and Mama from their peaceful, rural life into a geopolitical war of aggression they had no interest in joining. 'We live in Ukraine'Tato and Mama were born and raised in the Chernihiv area. From there, they've watched their country change dramatically throughout the decades -- from the fall of the Soviet Union, to the Orange Revolution in late 2004, the Maidan Revolution a decade later, and now war.They stayed through it all -- the area is home, and their family all live within 30 minutes' drive. This is how Ukrainians win the long warOn the first day of the invasion, Tato and Mama seemed to be more concerned about going back to their part-time jobs in construction and nursing than fleeing. "Why?" I asked. "There's a war." Tato just said, "We live in Ukraine."It has been four days since I last heard Tato's voice over the phone. The connection was shaky, and we were only able to talk for about a minute. "We don't have light," are the only words I could make out from our stilted conversation as the line cut in and out. When I call now, the phone goes straight to voice message: "This call cannot be received." In a text message, a friend who fled the village last Sunday tells me that her parents, who lived a 10-minute walk from Tato and Mama's house, escaped to Chernihiv after a bomb hit a home nearby. They left by car on Wednesday and saw that Tato and Mama were still there, but she didn't have any more information to pass on. On Friday, a senior US defense official said Chernihiv had been isolated and is under "increasing pressure." Russian forces are "right outside the city," the official added. Hours later, a shell hit hotel Ukraine, a local landmark in the city center within walking distance of Chernihiv Central Market, where Mama used to sell her flowers. An external view shows hotel Ukraine destroyed during an air strike, March 12.In March, temperatures hover around freezing, but now the city has "no electricity, almost no water, gas and heat," Chaus, the regional administrator said. Attempts to reconnect the power failed when Russian forces shelled the electricity network again, he added.When I lived in their village, Tato and Mama were very protective of me, especially my host dad. He had me wear a neon orange vest when we went mushroom picking, so he could always find me. Now I feel helpless to protect them. I stare at my phone. Text messages I sent to Tato last Sunday remain unread. I send the number for the Red Cross anyway, in case it somehow gets through. My last conversation with Mama on Monday was only second time I heard her cry. The first was when it was time for me to leave the village to go to Kyiv, a city steeped in history now under fire by Russian troops, just 9 miles (15 kilometers) from the city center.
Mayumi Maruyama/CNN "There is a shooting, we have to shelter...I love you," Mama said, from the home where in peaceful times they would be beginning to plant the seasons' harvest. "I love you, too." | 3news
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London (CNN)The dramatic outbreak of the novel coronavirus in northern Italy has forced European leaders to sharpen their thinking, as they attempt to contain a disease that has so far killed more than 2,800 people. Europe is prepared for handling outbreaks like this. The European Union has no formal role in setting health policy among its member states, however it does issue advice and coordinate efforts to prevent the spread of disease. That coordination is especially important when you consider that while many European nations share open borders, their governments do not trust and are not inclined to work with one another. The EU has been able to provide a forum and fill gaps in information where this has been the case. And for now, it appears to be working. No matter how well Europe is handling this current crisis, the outbreak is unintentionally fanning the flames of several live debates. A virus that originated in China and spread to two of Italy's most active economic areas, home to Milan and Venice, creates a perfect storm. It tangentially touches on many of the EU's current priorities and has the potential to affect them negatively both in the short and long term. Coronavirus spreads through Europe as France reports death of first nationalFirst, there is the perennial question of how effective the bureaucratic body in charge of the bloc is at dealing with continent-wide challenges. In terms of health, the EU can only really act as an advisory body, as healthcare ultimately falls to national governments. Read More"While the EU does a good job of spreading knowledge and calming down public opinion, it has no real powers and member states can go off in their own direction," says Andrea Renda, a senior research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies. He goes on to explain that what the EU needs is "coordination and trust." The coronavirus outbreak has also exposed the ever-shaky levels of trust between EU member states. "There's a meaningful lack of trust," says Mujtaba Rahman of the Eurasia Group. "There is a feeling in Italy that the numbers are high because the government has been aggressive in its policy response. There is also a feeling that other member states have lower numbers because they haven't been aggressive." Italy has tested more potential coronavirus patients than some other EU countries.In EU politics, trust matters. Smaller, poorer member states often argue that wealthier counterparts have greater influence in setting Europe's agenda. They say that has previously meant Greece having austerity measures imposed on it in exchange for financial bailouts or Malta being forced to take refugees fleeing wars in the Middle East. In areas like these, smaller states often feel as though they are negotiating with a gun against their head. This creates a problem for the EU when it needs these states to agree on larger, longer-term policy objectives that require agreement across the union. Which brings us to the next issue of what role the EU should be playing in an increasingly complicated, multi-polar world. The bloc is smarting from the near-total collapse of the Iran nuclear deal, which it previously hailed as a prime example of how it could exert its soft power to create a forum for real global change. The European Commission, under its new President Ursula von der Leyen, is attempting to increase the EU's geopolitical footprint. This outbreak has given the EU an opportunity to lay down a marker as a global leader. On Monday, the Commission announced $252 million in funding to prevent the spread. JUST WATCHEDSingapore tightens rules for entry from ChinaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSingapore tightens rules for entry from China 03:54While this is no small sum, it does raise questions as to how much of a global leader anyone can be on this issue. "On the leadership side I think it's more about having bodies that can enable coordination rather than one nation or body being a leader," says Adam Kucharski, associate professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. "Collaboration like in the UK and France is essential."This might explain why, of that $252M, over $130M will be spent outside the EU -- which could cause some to ask why the EU is trying to place itself at the center of this crisis. "As ever, the EU has two faces. On one side, it is the global leader that goes to Africa and China and drops money on the problem. On the other, it's an incomplete project that has little control over member states," says Renda. EU observers have noted that the money being sent to China comes in the same year that outgoing German leader Angela Merkel will host an EU-China summit in September. That event in Leipzig is Merkel's attempt to have the EU arrive at a common agreement on how best to engage with China.In a nutshell, the EU is desperately trying to find a way of balancing its relationship between China and the US, so as to not rely too heavily on either and avoid being squashed between them. It's a particularly difficult strategy to pull off at a time when the EU is being forced to treat China as both an attractive economic prospect and a security risk. The Trump administration is leveraging this security concern, implying that allowing China to build large parts of Europe's 5G network could affect Europe's relationship with the most powerful country on earth. "The handling of the outbreak might seriously affect European levels of trust in China and might make the EU think it safer to stick with Western countries. This trust issue might affect how willing EU nations are to work with China on 5G," explains Renda. JUST WATCHEDSeveral Italian towns under quarantine over coronavirusReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSeveral Italian towns under quarantine over coronavirus 01:34And it's here that we come back to the levels of trust and agreement among member states and how it might affect longer-term EU thinking. "It was already going to be hard to find a common EU consensus on China," says Rahman. "One of the reasons Merkel wants to stay on as leader through the summit is that she wants to build a consensus across Europe on China and sees this as a pre-requisite for a successful summit. But this will make that a tad harder."Trust, division and a lack of consensus are not new issues among EU member states. But, right now, they could provide the perfect fuel for many of the pending explosions waiting to erupt over the continent. Take, for example, the fact that this outbreak took place in Italy. The coalition government in Rome recently collapsed and the country is expecting an election in the near future. There is a very real chance that this will result in the election of the Euroskeptic populist, Matteo Salvini. The outbreak has provided nationalists with more loose threads to pull on than you'd immediately realize. Why continue to have open borders? Why is the EU sending money to Africa and China? However, the one that Salvini could cause the most trouble with is asking why Italy is being heavily encouraged to reduce its deficit by 0.6% this year? Italy's economy (the third-largest in the EU) is an ongoing concern for Brussels, as the consequences of an Italian recession could be worse for the bloc than even the Greek financial crisis. However, Salvini might argue that these targets, already arbitrary, are impossible to achieve when two of its tourist hotspots are not operating properly and the government is having to spend to contain the crisis. This, Rahman says, "is again reigniting the debate over the suitability of the EU's fiscal rules and the flexibility it allows members like Italy."How the coronavirus is impacting sportWhile this may all sound technical, an Italian financial crisis would have real consequences for people not just in the EU's economic bloc, but would ring alarm bells around the globe. And in times of financial uncertainty, populists are often free to run amok. "Most people accept that there's a good chance Salvini will at some point be PM," says Rahman. "Whether he is able to use the outbreak to bash Brussels, Berlin and exacerbate north-south tensions, is a question being asked in Brussels and the EU's institutions."So, while Europe might be handling the coronavirus outbreak reasonably well, everything that happens on the continent these days happens against the backdrop of an increasingly bizarre political situation. Months from now we might have put this epidemic to the back of our minds, but in European politics, memories are long and battles are fought over years, not months. | 3news
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Story highlightsNine aftershocks reported after initial quake"Catastrophic weather" blocking roads to some affected areasRome (CNN)The metro system and some schools in Italy's capital, Rome, were evacuated Wednesday following a series of powerful earthquakes that struck the heart of the country.An initial 5.3-magnitude quake hit central Italy this morning 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) west-northwest of Amatrice, a town devastated by powerful temblors last year, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported. While the epicenter was 90 kilometers northeast of Rome, the quake was felt strongly in the capital, sending people running from buildings in a panic.At least nine aftershocks have been reported since the initial quake, including one as strong as 5.7, and all at a shallow 10 kilometers deep or less, the USGS reported.(18gen-12:00) #Terremoto, proseguono controlli, 850 #vigilidelfuoco impegnati nel cratere. No richieste soccorso per coinvolti da crolli pic.twitter.com/du9KxJlrMEβ Vigili del Fuoco (@emergenzavvf) January 18, 2017
There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage, but firefighters told CNN that heavy snow blocking roads to some affected areas has hampered their initial assessment.Read MoreDisaster authorities in Rome said they had been inundated with hundreds of calls from residents. Officials have begun looking for cracks and damage to structures in Rome, many of them ancient and vulnerable from previous tremors.Monitoring 'minute by minute'Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni was in Berlin Wednesday, where he told journalists no victims had been reported in what he described as a "difficult day for our country.""But continuous quakes of such a scale are alarming for the people repeatedly hit, and it's something the government is dealing with," he said. "We are strengthening the deployment of the army to the affected areas, and we're monitoring the situation minute by minute."Italy's Fire Department said in a Twitter post that around 850 firefighters were engaged in the operation, but there had been no requests for rescues so far. People wait outside Rome's closed Colosseo metro station following a series of earthquakes.Concetta Nostro, a seismologist with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, told CNN that her organization was having difficulty monitoring all the tremors because of "catastrophic weather conditions." "All the regions concerned are being heavily affected by the snow and we don't know when this is going to end. The snow is preventing our teams from reaching those areas for now."Amatrice mayor: 'I have no words'All the aftershocks have hit around Amatrice, in the mountainous regions of Marche, Lazio and Abruzzo.Nearly 300 people died in central Italy in quakes around Amatrice in August, and the town center, once popular with tourists, was reduced to rubble.Many people evacuated the town of Amatrice after it was devastated by earthquakes last year.Another series of quakes hit the region in October, but the impact was small as most people had evacuated from the previous tremors."I don't know if we did something bad. That's what I have been asking since yesterday," Amatrice Mayor Sergio Pirozzi told the AFP news agency."We have got up to two meters of snow and now another earthquake. What can I say? I have no words."Italy lies atop the convergence of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates, making it the most vulnerable country in the Mediterranean to earthquakes.CNN's Barbie Nadeau reported from Rome, with Angela Dewan writing and reporting from London. | 3news
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(CNN)A planned UK tour by US evangelist Franklin Graham is in question after every venue booked by the preacher canceled planned appearances, following an outcry over his homophobic and Islamophobic comments.Graham -- the son of preacher Billy Graham -- has called Islam "evil," attacked laws increasing rights for transgender people, and told his followers that the legalization of same-sex marriage was orchestrated by Satan.Now, every venue booked by Graham as part of a lengthy summer tour of the UK has told him not to come. An arena in Newcastle upon Tyne became the seventh and final venue to cancel his scheduled appearance on Wednesday. The move follows similar decisions by venues in other British cities, including Birmingham, Liverpool and Sheffield.Graham, one of the most high-profile speakers in the US, is the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and an outspoken supporter of US President Donald Trump, whose election he believes was enabled by God. Graham has spoken at multiple rallies held by Trump.Read MoreFranklin Graham wants the nation to pray for Trump on Sunday. But other Christians call it propagandaHe has more than 10 million fans across his social media profiles, but has fueled anger for several of his past comments and stances.Graham has expressed support for conversion therapy and called homosexuality a sin and abomination. He called Islam a "wicked and evil" religion and falsely suggested former US President Barack Obama was "born a Muslim."In April Graham was also condemned for writing that Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg's homosexuality is "something to be repentant of, not something to be flaunted, praised or politicized."A petition calling for Newcastle's Utilita Arena to drop Graham had been signed more than 5,000 times, and the venue told CNN they made the decision "following talks with our partners and relevant stakeholders.""Franklin Graham's views are wholly inconsistent with our city, which is preparing to welcome huge celebrations and tens of thousands of people this summer for UK Pride," Ste Dunn, chair of the Northern Pride group, said on the petition site.Though his tour is currently without a venue, Graham has said he intends for it to continue and will make arrangements at alternative sites."We are still finalising where the Graham Tour will be held, but we want to be clear that the initiative and all associated training courses will take place on the same dates as originally planned," a statement on the BGEA's website says. CNN has contacted the organization for comment.Graham's father, Billy, is reported to have persuaded more than 3 million people to commit their lives to Christianity and his preaching was heard in 185 of the world's 195 countries, according to the BGEA. He died in 2018 at the age of 99. | 3news
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Story highlightsKarim Benzema scores twice in 4-0 win over Racing Santander to put Real Madrid 13 points clearEspanyol up to sixth despite only drawing 1-1 with GetafeJuventus return to top of Serie A with a 3-1 win over CataniaReal Madrid moved 13 points clear at the top of La Liga with a 4-0 win over Racing Santander at the Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday.Karim Benzema scored twice as Madrid notched up their 18th win in 19 matches since the end of September.The hosts went ahead in the sixth minute as Cristiano Ronaldo headed home from a Kaka cross.Santander made their task even harder when Domingo Cisma was sent off for handling the ball in the 38th minute and soon the deficit was doubled as Benzema scored from a tight angle moments before the break. Substitute Angel Di Maria netted a third in the 73rd minute before Benzema scored a fourth in the 89th minute. Barcelona can reduce the arrears to 10 points on Sunday if they beat Valencia at the Nou Camp.Espanyol are up to fourth place after claiming a point in a 1-1 draw with mid-table Getafe. Substitute Alvaro Vazquez gave Espanyol the lead in the 66th minute only to relinquish it a minute later when the referee awarded Getafe a penalty after Miku was brought down by Thievy Bifouma.Miku made no mistake from the spot. Meanwhile in Serie A, Juventus came from behind to beat 10-man Catania 3-1 in Turin.Pablo Barrientos gave the Sicilians the lead in the 4th minute before Andrea Pirlo put Juve back on level terms in the 22nd minute.Marco Motta's dismissal in the 65th minute saw Juve take control of the match with goals from Giorgio Chiellini in the 74th minute and Fabio Quagliarella seven minutes later wrapping up the three points. The win means Juventus now lead by two points but AC Milan can return to the top if they win at Cesena on Sunday. | 5sport
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