text
stringlengths 1
112k
⌀ | label
class label 6
classes |
|---|---|
New York (CNN Business)WeWork was supposed to be one of the most high-profile Wall Street debuts of the year. Instead, it's rapidly shaping up to be one of the most high-profile IPO debacles in recent memory. In the month since WeWork's parent company first publicly filed paperwork for an IPO, it has attempted to defuse investor concerns and outside criticisms by promising to add new board members, announcing an overhaul of its corporate governance structure and having its CEO repay millions for a trademark he had sold to his own business. If that's not enough, every day seems to bring reports of the company's potential IPO valuation falling further and further from its private market valuation of $47 billion. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that The We Company's IPO valuation could dip below $20 billion. On Friday, CNBC reported the valuation could fall below $15 billion. Not to be outdone, Reuters reported Friday that it could be as low as $10 billion.The coworking space provider's apparent willingness to move forward with its public offering, even at such a steep discount from its prior valuation, suggests the money-losing business feels pressure to raise money now. The We Company reportedly wants to tap a $6 billion credit line that is contingent on it raising at least $3 billion in an IPO completed before the end of the year. A spokesperson for WeWork declined to comment for this story, citing quiet period rules ahead of a public offering. Read MoreWeWork is effectively fielding intense scrutiny and criticism less for being an anomaly in the tech industry than for the many ways it is a poster child for the worst excesses of other tech unicorns -- the term used for private companies valued at $1 billion or more -- going public this year.WeWork makes sweeping corporate governance changes in advance of its IPOLike Uber (UBER), The We Company lost well over $1 billion in the year before it went public. Like Lyft (LYFT), Pinterest (PINS) and others, WeWork's parent company looked to give its founder outsized voting control over the business. And like these and other companies, WeWork had a lofty private market valuation that proved to be a harder sell on Wall Street.Wall Street investors might have been "more tolerant" of these red flags if WeWork's IPO wasn't coming after a series of lackluster public market debuts this year, according to Kathleen Smith, principal at Renaissance Capital, which manages IPO-focused exchange-traded funds. Shares of Uber and Lyft are both hovering around all-time lows, well below their IPO prices, as investors worry about their path to being profitable. WeWork names first female board member ahead of IPOWeWork had other issues, too. The company confirmed in its IPO prospectus that it had "entered into several transactions" with its CEO Adam Neumann, "including leases with landlord entities in which Adam has or had a significant ownership interest," which it said could "present potential for conflicts of interest." Neumann's wife, Rebekah, also sits in the C-Suite and was originally empowered to form a committee to pick her husband's successor as CEO under certain conditions. "Investors are saying: 'You are showing me by the way you set up the governance that you don't care about me. You haven't shown me I can trust your business yet'," Smith said. On Friday, in its latest attempt to keep its IPO from capsizing, WeWork's parent company announced it had scrapped the plan for Rebekah Neumann to set up a committee to pick the next CEO, instead relying on the board. The company also said its founders, including Neumann, would receive super voting shares with 10 votes per share instead of 20, an improvement but still potentially allowing for a disproportionate influence over the company.Inside WeWork, one couple wields controlWhether WeWork ultimately goes public at a $20 billion valuation, a $10 billion or not at all, its turbulent road to Wall Street -- and the flurry of changes announced in recent weeks -- could prove to be a reality check for the wider startup industry. For years, Silicon Valley has enabled, if not outright encouraged, startups to seek stratospheric valuations, bleed eye-popping amounts of money and institute little to no checks on a founder's power. Now, the public market is signaling that yes, in fact, there are limits to what they'll back. "Maybe this is a wake-up call for others who want the opportunity for the public market to be an outlet for raising capital," Smith said. "Investors kind of care."Sara O'Brien contributed to this report | 0business
|
(CNN)Limpopo, in the heart of South Africa, is resource-scarce and poverty is severe. Many households do not have access to running water or electricity. For most, walking is the only mode of transport. Yet professional cycling team Dimension Data for Qhubeka finds its motivation in this disadvantaged corner of the world, and is using professional sport to better people's lives. Bright young thingsTakings its name from its principal sponsor (Dimension Data) and the Nguni word for "progress," this South African team has exploded on the cycling scene after starting out as a small, third domestic division crew. The team's young riders (all are under 23) spend eight months of the year training in Tuscany, Italy in the hope of making it to the world team.JUST WATCHEDItaly, training ground for top African cyclistsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHItaly, training ground for top African cyclists 05:21"Last year when we thought about creating the team, we went out to find the best riders in Africa," says Hein Badenhorst, coach of the continental team. "There's an abundance of talent in Africa that doesn't have the opportunity to come here and race."Read MoreREAD: The tribe dying for their cowsThe South African team has risen from a small domestic third division crew through to the world stage, but has never forgotten its rural Limpopo connection, taking its name from its principal sponsor and Qhubeka, an Nguni word meaning 'progress' or 'perform'. One of the brightest hopes for African cycling is Eritrean Merhawi Kudus, 22."From year to year I'm getting more motivated and more confident. Sometimes I am close to the world class riders. I dream and I have opportunities in the future," he says.Team Dimension Data lining up in France in June this year.Rio 2016: They fled their homes. Can these refugee athletes play in the Olympics? Cycling ambassadorsThe team has made some incredible gains. Last year, rider Daniel Teklehaimanot from Eritrea becoming the first African to claim the title "King of the Mountain" in France last year, and with it the prestigious polka dot jersey.Daniel Teklehaimanot racing in the Tour of California, in May 2016.Cycling has traditionally been out of reach for many of South Africa's schoolchildren. Of the 16 million children in South Africa, 12 million walk to school, and in rural areas more than two million walk at least an hour to school each way. It's a significant reason behind why only 55% of children who enroll in grade one pass their twelfth grade.Tour de France 2015: Daniel Teklehaimanot makes history for AfricaTo address this issue, the team launched a bicycle education empowerment program. Since starting the project two years ago, Qhubeka has donated 65,000 bicycles to fifty schools across the country -- and it's having results."It has been about two and a half years and we are already seeing a marked increase in school attendance," says Anthony Fitzenhry, founder of Qhubeka, who notes there's been a 20-30% increase in pass rate among participants.Ethiopia: Site of the Ark of the Covenant?"A bike is a means to an end," says Dimension Data team principal Doug Ryder, "and a means to an opportunity." It's an approach the team hopes will nurture a new generation of potential competitors.JUST WATCHEDRepresenting Africa in top cycling competitionsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRepresenting Africa in top cycling competitions 08:26"If we want to succeed in our African dream, we need more people across the African continent to ride bicycles," says Ryder. "If you look through Africa, nobody rides a bike, because there's a perception that if you ride a bike, you're too poor to own a car."READ: Cape Verde's transgender hero"We thought if we could create a hero on a bicycle, then we could change the perception and we could make it cool to have a bike," he adds."Africa has developed the best endurance runners, [so] why not cyclists?" | 5sport
|
Washington (CNN)After more than two decades of development and testing, Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet has made its combat debut. The Israel Defense Forces announced Tuesday on Twitter that its version of the aircraft -- dubbed the F-35 "Adir" -- is already flying in operational missions. "The Adir planes are already operational and flying in operational missions. We are the first in the world to use the F-35 in operational activity"— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) May 22, 2018
"The Adir planes are already operational and flying in operational missions. We are the first in the world to use the F-35 in operational activity," the IDF tweet said. Israel greets first F-35 fighter jets from USIsraeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin said the stealth fifth-generation aircraft was used to strike two different targets in the Middle East, The Jerusalem Post reported. The F-35 fighter jet is touted as the future of military aviation; a lethal and versatile aircraft that combines stealth capabilities, supersonic speed, extreme agility and state-of-the-art sensor fusion technology, according to Lockheed Martin, the plane's primary contractor. Read MoreHowever, the aircraft, which is the most expensive weapons system in history, has also drawn sharp criticism in recent years after facing a long list of setbacks -- including problems with the software, engines and weapon systems. And critics have continued to express skepticism about the F-35's combat capability despite reassurances by US military leaders who say the kinks are being worked out. The US Air Force became the first military service to declare its version of the F-35 ready for combat in August 2016.The Marine Corps accomplished a significant milestone last year by deploying its variant to Japan -- the aircraft's first permanent overseas deployment. But Israel's announcement on Tuesday marks the first time that the F-35 has been used in an actual combat situation -- a significant moment given the program's checkered past. Over the past five decades, Israel has sought to maintain its superiority in the skies over the Middle East -- perceiving many threats in its neighborhood, including the Syrian conflict and missile attacks from Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group based in Lebanon.In recent years, Russia has also introduced its S-300 and more advanced S-400 surface-to-air missiles systems in Syria -- a challenge to Israel's regional air superiority.Israel acquired the F-35 in response. The fighter can fly virtually undetected but stealth technology does not guarantee a jet can fly unseen.US shows off new F-35 fighter jets ahead of US-South Korea drills Nicknamed the "Mighty One" by the Israeli press, the F-35 is part of a $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding between Israel and the US covering a 10-year period beginning in 2019.The Israeli Air Force has ordered 50 F-35s from the US -- each with a price tag of more than $100 million. It received its first aircraft in 2016 and declared its fleet operationally capable in December of 2017. CNN's Ian Lee contributed to this report. | 4politics
|
(CNN)Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti says the next time a member of his team is racially abused he'd be happy for the Serie A side to stop playing.Ancelotti was speaking after his side was beaten 1-0 by Internazionale in Milan on Boxing Day in a league game that was marred by racist chanting towards Napoli's Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly and fan violence before the match in which a 35-year-old man reportedly died.Mi dispiace la sconfitta e sopratutto avere lasciato i miei fratelli!Però sono orgoglioso del colore della mia pelle. Di essere francese, senegalese, napoletano: uomo. ⚽ #InterNapoli 1-0🇸🇳 #KK26 #famiglia💙 #ForzaNapoliSempre💪🏿 #DifendoLaCittà pic.twitter.com/f9q0KYggcw— Koulibaly Kalidou (@kkoulibaly26) December 26, 2018
On Thursday, Serie A announced Inter will play two league games at the San Siro behind closed doors and that the 27-year-old Koulibaly had been given a two-match ban.The Napoli coach pointed to Koulibaly's dismissal in the 80th minute as the game's turning point, suggesting the defender had been severely "shaken" by the abuse."The red card determined the result. We were pushing towards the end but we were affected by going down to 10 men," Ancelotti told the Napoli website.Read More"It's a shame because three times we asked for the match to be suspended for the racist chanting towards Koulibaly."Visit CNN/com/sport for more news, features and videosEuropean governing body UEFA instructs that a player or team found guilty of racist conduct must be suspended for at least 10 matches. Referees are instructed to stop, suspend, or even abandon a match if racist incidents occur."It shook him -- he's a good-mannered player and he was bombarded by the stadium," added Ancelotti."Despite our requests and the chanting, the game wasn't suspended. I think it should have been. Next time we'll stop playing ourselves, whatever happens."It was impossible for him to be calm -- he cares a lot about the issue of racism and he commits a lot of time to the matter, including in society."What happened today is unacceptable -- not just for us but for Italian football as a whole."Milan police chief Marcello Cardona told a media conference he's going to ask the public safety department to ban Internazionale transfers until the end of the season and also the closure of part of San Siro stadium until March 2019, according to Repubblica.Inter did not immediately reply to CNN's request for comment.According to Italian media reports, 35-year-old Daniele Belardinelli, who was an Inter fan, died after being hit by van driven by Napoli fans."The van driven by Napoli ultras was stopped by Inter ultras who wanted to fight and were using chains and sticks," reported Il Corriere della Sera.Four Napoli fans were also stabbed in violent clashes ahead of the game, said Repubblica. Nel 2018 non si può morire per una partita di calcio. A inizio anno convocherò al Viminale i responsabili di tifoserie e società di serie A e B, affinché gli stadi e i dintorni tornino a essere un luogo di divertimento e non di violenza.— Matteo Salvini (@matteosalvinimi) December 27, 2018
According to Cadorna, 100 Inter fans had attacked Napoli supporters' minibuses arriving in the city for the game.However, according to mobile phone footage, Belardinelli was hit by a vehicle, likely a dark SUV and not one of the Napoli minibuses."You can't die for a football game in 2018," tweeted Italy's hard-line interior minister Matteo Salvini."At the beginning of the new year, I will summon the leaders of the Serie A and B football clubs and supporters so that the stadiums and surrounding areas will once again become places of fun and not violence."Three Inter fans have been arrested, added Cadorna. Milan police were not immediately contactable when called by CNN International.Koulibaly reacts after receiving a red card.READ: Fans back idea of points deductions to curb racismMilan mayor makes promiseKoulibaly was initially booked for a foul on Matteo Politano, but after sarcastically applauding the referee he was red carded.Substitute Lautaro Martinez then scored a stoppage-time winner for Inter, while Napoli finished the game with nine men after Lorenzo Insigne was also sent off.Koulibaly later tweeted: "I'm sorry for the defeat and above all for leaving my brothers. But I'm proud of the color of my skin. To be French, Senegalese, Neapolitan: man"Milan mayor Beppe Sala, an Inter supporter, said on Facebook that the next time he hears racist chanting at the San Siro he'll stand up and leave. He also apologised to Koulibaly on behalf of himself and the city of Milan.In 2017, Ghanaian footballer Sulley Muntari said he received racial abuse every game playing in Italy's Serie A.JUST WATCHEDSulley Muntari: Racism happens every gameReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSulley Muntari: Racism happens every game 03:31Playing for Pescara at the time, Muntari walked off the pitch after hearing abuse and later told CNN Sport that he'd support a player boycott in protest against racism.READ: Football owner says he'd quit the sport if forced to form a women's teamLast month a study of 27,000 fans from 38 countries -- conducted by anti-racism group Kick It Out and live-score app Forza Football -- revealed 60% of respondents said they would support points deductions, while 54% of supporters said they had witnessed racist abuse while watching a game."Clubs or countries whose supporters are racially abusive should face harsher sanctions, including points deductions," said Lord Ouseley, chairman Kick It Out. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsA year ago, the Nepal earthquake changed the life of 10-year-old Maya GurungDoctors amputated her left leg; life looked bleak for the village girl Then a second quake altered her life again, in a way no one could have imaginedCNN's Moni Basu returns to Nepal to find a ray of hope in a nation still in despairKathmandu, Nepal (CNN)On this hot April day in the Nepalese capital, Maya Gurung wears black tights under a striped knee-length dress. She is trying not to be conspicuous, but other details give her away.At 4 feet 10 inches, she towers over classmates barely out of toddler stage. At lunch, she is the only one who doesn't need a bib. And all the other children call her Maya didi, using the Nepali term of respect for an older sister. Maya will be 11 soon and only recently made it to kindergarten. Still, it is a triumph she has come this far.Maya is not from this bustling city, which lures mountaineers aiming for Everest and tourists mesmerized by the Himalayan kingdom's rich history and culture. She comes from a remote and rugged place not frequented by outsiders. She is one of six children in a family that lives off the land and livestock in Kashi Gaon, a village in Nepal's mountainous Gorkha District. Maya helped her mother with cooking, cleaning and fetching firewood and water. She was destined to be married at a tender age and grow old within the confines of her birthplace.Read MoreShe knew little of the world outside. Life's possibilities escaped her. But a year ago, on April 25, the earth shook violently for a minute, and in those 60 devastating seconds, Maya's life was forever changed.Her left leg was crushed and could not be saved. Several days later, a second quake rattled Nepal, bringing down more buildings, ending more lives. On that day, Maya's trajectory changed again, but in a way no one could have predicted. The second quake gave her a rare second chance at life in a nation ravaged by nature's cruelty.Ten-year-old Maya Gurung lost a leg in the earthquake a year ago but gained something else: a chance at a new future.
Nearly 9,000 people died in Nepal in the 7.8 magnitude earthquake and the 7.3 aftershock; millions of lives were shattered. Recovery has been so slow that some people here say their country will never be the same. Centuries-old buildings and temples lie cracked or in ruins, like festering national wounds. In many areas, the rubble remains. Thousands live under makeshift shelters fashioned from plastic, bamboo and corrugated tin. Maya might have been one of them.I first met her just days after the first quake in the Kathmandu hospital where her leg was amputated. She was confined to a bed; thick bandages covered her fresh wound. I visited her several times and when I left, I carried with me an image of a frightened little girl, traumatized and howling in pain.A year later, I returned to the Nepalese capital to learn if anything good had blossomed from the horror. A new beginningI arrive at a large house on the outskirts of the city, eager to speak with Maya. My first glimpse of her on this trip is vastly different. She is sitting on a sunny porch, amid pots of pink geraniums and pinwheel petunias. The garden is lush with flowers and organically grown vegetables. She has been on holiday during the Nepali new year break and has just returned from a short trip home to see her family in Kashi Gaon. The next day, she will return to Angel's Garden, the kindergarten she has been attending for almost a year.She gets up from her chair, and I can see she looks healthier. She has traded the cement-like millet porridge that filled her belly in the village for finer fare like rice and chicken curry.Except for her limp, it's hard to tell she is missing part of her left leg, her prosthetic concealed on this day by yellow pants and dark socks. There are few hints of the tragedy that befell her.She plays with Luna, the dog that belongs to the owners of this house, a family that has embraced her as their own. She speaks very little, but I attribute that to timidity. She is a quiet, reserved girl.In this part of Kathmandu, in this house, there are no telltale signs of the events a year ago that splintered thousands of lives -- except in the kitchen. There, a white board is filled with family scribbles and these words:"Great Earthquake of 2015. April 25. May 12."Maya recites phrases in English in her kindergarten. She will soon turn 11 and hopes to catch up to children her age.
A bleak futureApril 25 last year fell on a Saturday, and that morning Maya had no school. She woke up and walked up the hill to carry back drinking water for her family, like she did every morning. There was no indoor plumbing or potable water at the family's home. The dirt paths in Kashi Gaon are steep, uneven and laden with rocks, pebbles and boulders. Maya has grown adept at navigating them. Everyone gets accustomed to walking long distances in Gorkha; it's a way of life in Nepal's mountainous districts, the only way to get around.Maya's father, Bhim Bahadur Gurung, is an uneducated man who worked the fields growing barley and maize or tending goats and cattle. The prize of his hardscrabble life: his house and wife and children.Maya's baby sister was only 3 months old and her mother, Mukni, depended on her elder daughter as a vital extra set of hands. Though Maya walked 50 minutes to school on weekdays and had made it to the fourth grade, education was not the family priority. Almost 40% of the women in Gorkha District are illiterate. That Saturday morning, Maya finished her chores and set off with her uncle Dami and his 5-year-old daughter, Manisha, to graze cows. They made their way to lower ground and drifted far from Maya's home. At 11:56 a.m., the earth rumbled under Maya's feet. Her entire world was moving and it felt as though the Himalayas would swallow everyone whole. A storm of boulders, rocks, parts of houses and other debris came hurtling down the mountainside.Dami gathered the two girls and began running for shelter. He tried to dodge the rocks but could not. A boulder crushed Maya's left foot and lower leg. She screamed in pain as her uncle, also injured, carried Maya and his own badly bruised daughter, trying to get back to their village.Maya's parents did not know where she was. Her father returned from the fields to an apocalyptic sight. Almost every house in Kashi Gaon, including his family's, lay flattened or badly damaged. Gorkha was one of two districts that were hardest hit.Bhim Bahadur searched frantically until he finally found his daughter, wrapped her leg in rags and tried to find help. The few medical facilities in Kashi Gaon that are equipped to treat earthquake injuries were reduced to rubble. JUST WATCHEDNepal then, and now ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNepal then, and now 02:33It took time for rescue helicopters to navigate Gorkha District's hilly terrain. Maya's mangled leg remained untreated. Finally, on Sunday, Bhim Bahadur hopped aboard a Nepalese army chopper with Maya. But when it stopped to pick up more of the injured, he was ordered off. He watched the helicopter lift to the sky, carrying his daughter away, thankful for the aid she would get but anxious that she would face her darkest moments alone.He hitchhiked, boarded buses and walked to Kathmandu. He searched hospital after hospital until he finally found Maya four days later. She was at Tribhuban University Teaching Hospital, where many earthquake victims were receiving free or low-cost care.Hot tears streamed down her dust-caked cheeks. A green woolen blanket covered her from the waist down on bed number 41. She grabbed her father tight. Bhim Bahadur's relief was short-lived. He soon saw the bandage on Maya's leg, with a date scribbled on it. Doctors told him they were forced to amputate from the shin down, that it would have been much worse had they taken her leg above the knee.It didn't matter. He knew instantly what the future held for his daughter.Nepal's steep and rocky land would show her no mercy. She would no longer be able to help out at home and would have to be carried everywhere. And when she grew older, who would take care of her? No man would want her as a bride. Life in Nepal is filled with uncertainties for poor people like Maya. The earthquake made lives even more ominous.Maya, who towers over classmates, otherwise tries to blend in by wearing tights over her prosthetic even when it's warm. The Good SamaritanJwalant Gurung shares a last name with Maya, common to Nepalis who belong to the Gurung ethnic group. But he might as well be a foreigner. His life is that different from hers. Jwalant, 40, grew up in Kathmandu, the son of a former soldier in the British Army's famed Gurkha Regiment and a pioneer in Nepal's trekking industry. His father, Dinesh Gurung, worked in the nation's first trekking company and then launched his own, Crystal Mountain Treks, in 1990. Jwalant earned an MBA from the University of Washington and worked a few jobs before he returned to his true love: the mountains. He took over his father's business after he retired and now competes with about 1,700 other travel agencies that help guide the thousands of foreigners who flock to Nepal each year to hike and climb in the Himalayas.Jwalant, the city slicker, is as adept at traversing the terrain of Gorkha District as the villagers. But he is more than a mountaineer.For his MBA project, he organized a fundraising climb of Washington's Mount Rainier to further rural education in places like Kashi Gaon. Since then, his charity, 3 Summits for Nepal, has built six schools and is in the process of finishing two more. He believes in the power of education. He's seen it in his own home, where his parents, over the years, have taken in children from disenfranchised families and given them a chance to improve their lots in life.A year ago, on April 25, Jwalant was on a scouting trek on the Kopra Ridge, a route in the shadows of the snow-capped Annapurna range. When the Earth began convulsing, Jwalant ran for his life and made it back safely to Kathmandu, where he began helping earthquake victims. Singla, a village near the epicenter, was home to one of his guides and several of his porters. The disaster had become personal.By May 12, Jwalant had walked for two days and reached the village of Rumchet with tarps, medicine, blankets and rice. That was when the second quake, a massive 7.3 aftershock, struck.More homes crumbled or stood precariously on ledges, waiting for a landslide to take them down. In the chaos, Jwalant spotted a girl traveling with her family. She was missing her left leg and one of her brothers was carrying her on his back. Jwalant wanted to help.His friend, Bibek Banskota, was an orthopedic surgeon whose father, also a doctor, had returned to Nepal from America many years ago to treat underprivileged children from remote villages. Jwalant knew Bibek would agree to examine the girl.It wasn't easy to convince Maya's father, but Jwalant assured him he would take care of his precious daughter. He brought her back to Kathmandu, where she was treated at the Banskotas' nonprofit Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children, which specializes in pediatric orthopedics. In the weeks that followed, Maya settled into Jwalant's house and was fitted with a prosthetic. Outside the hospital, rows and rows of tents provided shelter for earthquake victims desperately needing care. Inside, Maya's life had taken an unexpected turn.Maya gets ready for school. Because she is still growing, she must periodically be fitted with a new prosthetic. City life for a village girlThe house with the garden where I first see Maya again belongs to Jwalant's parents, Dinesh and Anita. Maya is spending her last day of vacation there before returning to Kathmandu and the start of the new school year.Two of the children Anita and Dinesh have taken in over the years are also here on this day. Ashmaya is 15 now; Nirmala, 25.Ashmaya fell ill with meningitis as a child, and it left her completely blind. Anita, a retired teacher, pays for her education at a nearby boarding school.Nirmala is the daughter of a rickshaw puller who was sponsored by an Italian tourist to attend Anita's school. But after three years, he vanished and Anita took Nirmala under her wing. She earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and works for Crystal Mountain Treks. "Nirmala has become like my own daughter," Anita tells me, looking with pride at the young woman dressed in jeans and a North Face shirt.In Nirmala, Anita sees what Maya could be one day. But the transformation won't be easy. The village schools in Nepal are often crowded and lack resources and good teachers. Maya was in the fourth grade, but her knowledge and skills were on nursery level when she arrived at her new school in Kathmandu. She didn't speak much. She didn't know any English or even Nepali -- she communicated in the Gurung dialect.Jwalant's world was alien to Maya. She was plucked from a poor village in one of the poorest countries in the world and suddenly exposed to a lifestyle of upscale restaurants, gyms, private cars and shopping malls.And it was not just the shock of leaving Kashi Gaon for Kathmandu. Maya was still coping with her own earthquake trauma. "It will take time," Anita says. "Maya is not very open with us. When she first came here she knew nothing. But she has learned many things -- to stay neat and clean, wash her hands before eating, combing her hair. She has learned the alphabet and is speaking a little bit."Anita pats Maya's shoulder and continues: "Had Jwalant not met her, what would have happened to her? She is the luckiest girl." Later in the day, the family gets ready for a friend's wedding. Anita has decided to take Maya with her, as part of her education.Weddings in this part of the world can be extravagant events, lavish displays of wealth. At the rented party hall in central Kathmandu, men are in suits and women in expensive silk saris. Maya wears a simple cotton kameez (a long tunic) over black jeans and socks to cover her prosthetic. She follows Anita around. In the receiving line, she cannot take her eyes off the bride, resplendent in a coral sari with gold brocade. Maya is not always able to express her hopes and fears. But I can imagine her thinking about the day she might become a bride, about looking like a princess. Perhaps now there is a chance to realize those dreams.The wedding, Anita tells me, is a good life experience for Maya. Maya thinks so too, especially after two servings of ice cream. But everywhere she goes are reminders of who she is and where she came from. Two teenage girls sit next to Maya and ask what grade she is in. Kindergarten, Maya answers. The girls look surprised and size her up. Nirmala feels compelled to explain. "She came from a village."Maya washes her clothes outside the home of a family that has given her a new life in Kathmandu.
A winnerThe next morning, Maya returns to Jwalant's house in the city. It's where he was raised. The trekking business consumes the ground floor; Maya sleeps upstairs in the room that once belonged to Jwalant's sister. Maya's kindergarten, Angel's Kingdom, is a 10-minute walk from the house. Anything longer than that becomes too painful. When she went home during the break, she walked eight hours to reach her parents' place, the prosthetic leg chafing her skin until it was bloody. Jwalant takes Maya to see her orthopedic surgeon every three months. Because she is still growing, she has to be fitted with a new leg periodically. When she reaches adulthood, Jwalant hopes to get her a high-tech prosthetic, perhaps titanium.At school, Maya smiles and plays with the innocence of her 5-year-old cohorts. She rarely talks about the earthquake; she says she doesn't remember everything that happened. Who could blame her if she has willed her memory to be fuzzy? In the heat of summer, her teachers encourage her to remove the prosthetic, but Maya refuses. She wants to look normal.Jwalant enrolled her at Angel's Kingdom because the small school emphasizes creativity and uses alternative ways of teaching. (Learning by rote tends to be more common in Nepal.) The children are encouraged to draw, sing and interact. Maya, says Jwalant, was starving for all these things. He shows me her first-term report card -- a series of As and only one B for spelling. "She is very talented," wrote a teacher, "but needs to improve her speaking ability."The grades are no doubt lenient, but Jwalant says Maya has changed during the past year. She is no longer the scared little girl he ran into on a rugged mountainside. Underneath Maya's fragile facade, Jwalant sees a quiet strength. "A child that age to have lost a leg like that, to have gone through all that trauma, she's definitely a winner," he says. "I've not seen her sit in the corner and cry, or cry for her parents. I know if I had lost my leg I'd be angry at the world ... but you don't see that in her."Maya's father says he is content to have his daughter live with Jwalant in Kathmandu. He recognizes the constraints on her if she returned to the village, and he has come to understand the value of schooling."I will let her stay as long as she can stay," he says. "She has to be happy."But caring for Maya isn't always easy for Jwalant, who is not married and does not have children of his own. Maya calls him "Dai," the Nepali term for older brother. I ask if he thinks of Maya as a daughter."I think I'd say I'm like a godfather because she does have parents, and I don't want to take that from them," he says. "I do love her."Joyful moments like this seemed unattainable just a year ago as Maya lay wincing in pain in a hospital bed. Luck -- and fateIt's instinctive to think of Maya as a lucky girl, especially in the greater context of Nepal. In some places I visited on my return here, the earthquake feels fresh, as though it struck yesterday. That's how slow the recovery process has been. Hundreds of thousands of Nepalis, including those in Maya's village, are living in temporary or unsafe housing, desperate for assistance so they can get their lives back on track. "I definitely think she was lucky to run into me that day," Jwalant tells me one evening. "But on the other hand, she lost a leg. I don't know how you weigh one against the other."From disaster, he says, came a chance for one little Nepali girl, a chance to learn, to grow, to lead a full life that may have been denied her had she remained secluded in her village, mired in a life of poverty.But as much of a dreamer as Jwalant may be, he is also a pragmatic man. He acknowledges that saving Maya in a moment of utter despair is not enough. Success requires a toughness on Maya's part. She will not succeed, he tells me, if she doesn't have a will of steel. I look at Maya as she plays with Jwalant's puppies. They crawl over her back and on top of her head. She smiles and giggles like any young girl. I could not have imagined this scene the first time I saw her wincing in pain on a hospital bed.The earthquake a year ago threatened Maya with lifelong misery. The second tremor created a twist so fortuitous that it made hope possible amid destruction and despair. But her fate in post-earthquake Nepal remains undetermined. Ultimately, only Maya holds the key. | 2health
|
Story highlightsGhana 1-0 MaliEgypt 1-0 Uganda (CNN)Ghana danced its way into the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinal thanks to a hard-fought win over Mali in the coastal city of Port-Gentil.After heartbreak at the end of an epic penalty shootout against Ivory Coast two years ago, the Black Stars will now have their sights set on ending a 35-year barren run in Africa's most prestigious competition.Follow @cnnsport
Saturday's match mirrored Ghana's opening round victory over Uganda, as Avram Grant's side dominated for large spells but could count itself somewhat fortunate to come away with all three points.Fresh from his man of the match performance against Uganda, Christian Atsu was once again the outstanding player in the first half.STATS | Check out the full-time stats! Which team had the better overall performance? #CAN2017 #GHAMLI pic.twitter.com/5IWDNhr7Yh— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 21, 2017
The Newcastle loanee's victim this time around was Mali's Hamari Traore -- a clever nutmeg took Atsu past the left-back and his low cross found the Ayew brothers in the box.Read MoreHowever, there was no telepathic understanding between siblings, as Andre contrived to prevent Jordan a simple tap-in and scuffed his own effort wide.It wasn't long, though, before Ghana's dominance paid dividends.One long free-kick forward was controlled exquisitely by Jordan Ayew. The Aston Villa forward then whipped a delightful cross into the box for captain Asamoah Gyan to head home his 49th international goal.The Ghanaian players huddled together and performed their trademark choreographed celebration, much to the delight of the group of Black Stars supporters gathered behind the goal.READ: Deja vu for reigning champion Ivory Coast?READ: Algeria on brink of early exit, Senegal qualifies for quarterfinalREAD: Aged 44, Egypt's Essam El-Hadary breaks tournament recordREAD: Host Gabon on verge of exit, heartbreak for Guinea-BissauJordan Ayew continued to be a thorn in Mali's side, flitting around outside the penalty area and this time testing Oumar Sissoko with a shot of his own.Gyan, now Ghana's all-time top goalscorer in AFCON competition, continue to lead from the front and saw another effort fly narrowly wide.Have your say on the CNN Goal of the Week:— CNN Football (@CNNFC) January 18, 2017
Bakary Sako appeared to be the only Mali player with any attacking endeavor. The Crystal Palace winger was relentless in tormenting Ghana right-back Harrison Afful, though any quality end product was at a premium.Manager Alain Giresse's half time team talk had its desired effect, as Mali began the second period with a greater sense of urgency.Sako's inviting cross towards the far post was met by Moussa Marega but he could only head straight at Razak Brimah, before blazing a close-range effort over the crossbar just minutes later.Yves Bissouma -- a half time substitute -- provided a much-needed injection of quality and Mali dominated for large periods of the second half.Only a combination of poor finishing and reflex saves from Brimah denied Mali an equalizer, as Sako followed up his poor free-kick with a volley that stung the palms of the Ghanaian stopper.Ghana becomes only the second team to qualify for the quarterfinals, joining Senegal as the only two teams with a perfect record so far.Pharoahs leave it lateOnce the kings of AFCON with three successive titles between 2006 and 2010, Egypt failed to qualify for any of the subsequent three editions.After comfortably topping its qualifying group this time around, coach Hector Cuper has set his sights not only on lifting the trophy, but also reaching the 2018 World Cup in Russia.STATS | Check out the full-time stats! Which team had the better overall performance? #CAN2017 #EGYUGA pic.twitter.com/WBWl5Zwzvp— CAF (@CAF_Online) January 21, 2017
Although a last minute Abdalla El Said goal gave Egypt a win over Uganda Saturday, the Pharaohs will have to improve if they are to go deep in this competition.Unsurprisingly, Mo Salah was again Egypt's biggest threat going forward. Some sumptuous footwork deceived two Ugandan defenders, before the 23-year-old -- who has nine goals for Roma already this season -- saw his shot blocked.The 'Egyptian Messi' was certainly living up to his nickname and looked a class above the rest of the players on the field. This time comfortably shaking off the advances of Hassan Wasswa, Salah clipped an inviting ball across the face of goal but an absence of Egyptian attackers inside the box saw another chance go begging.In a rare foray forward, Tonny Mawejje -- Uganda's best player in the defeat to Ghana -- broke between Egypt's lines but dragged his shot harmlessly wide of Essam El Hadary's goal.Otherwise, Uganda's best chance came off an Egyptian boot. Joseph Ochaya's teasing cross was awkwardly sliced away from goal by Ahmed Hegazy, affectionately dubbed "the Alessandro Nesta of the pyramids."JUST WATCHEDThe secret behind Aubameyang's success ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe secret behind Aubameyang's success 01:49Teenager Faruku Miya -- Uganda's star outfield player -- had been anonymous so far, but thought he had provided the assist for a Uganda opener early in the second half.The Standard Liege midfielder put the ball on a plate for Ochaya, but the 23-year-old had strayed several yards offside before turning the ball past El Hadary.For all their huffing and puffing, Egypt's Pharaohs rarely troubled Denis Onyango in the Uganda goal, despite the domestic African Player of the Year struggling with a knee injury for much of the second half.Uganda, meanwhile, continued to attack with verve and its confidence grew as the match wore on. The ever lively Ochaya drew the loudest cheer of the night from the crowd after evading two Egyptian defenders with some audacious keepy-ups.But for all their attacking intent, Uganda's players ultimately had their hearts broken.Egypt's players celebrate El Said's winning goal.A poor delivery into the box prompted a rapid Egyptian counter-attack, which culminated in Salah cleverly holding the ball up before laying it into the path of El Said to fire through Onyango's legs.It was a sickening way for Uganda's tournament to end, but this young group of players certainly has plenty to look forward to.Egypt, on the other hand, knows a draw against the already qualified Ghana will guarantee it passage through to the quarterfinals. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsPopulist movements in Europe have a large online followingSupporters rail against multiculturalism and Islamic extremismSome parties compete in elections with growing successThey distrust government and the justice system as well as Europe's political elite. They rail against multiculturalism and believe their national identity is being swamped by immigration and their culture strangled by Islam. They are implacably hostile to "big money" -- banks and other financial institutions. They are getting organized, online and off, and thriving amid Europe's eurozone crisis."They" are populist groups and parties from Scandinavia to Hungary. Some compete in elections with growing success, picking up protest votes that yield seats in government and the European Parliament. Others are street movements like the English Defense League and Bloc Identitaire in France that eschew the political process. But they have one thing in common: a growing following through social media. A new survey by the think tank Demos found that 14 prominent populist movements in Europe had 436,000 Facebook followers between them -- with the far-right British National Party and the Austrian Freedom Party each having more than 80,000. Of those followers, 32% were younger than 21. Demos asked supporters of these populist groups on Facebook to respond to a survey -- and more than 12,000 did. The survey found the supporters were predominantly young men, more likely to take part in protests than other groups and highly disillusioned with mainstream politics. Only 20% of these online supporters trusted their national governments. And the vast majority listed immigration and Islamic extremism as their greatest concerns. Significantly, while a majority of those surveyed disavowed violence, 26% regarded it as "acceptable to achieve the right outcome." Among followers of Bloc Identitaire in France and CasaPound Italia in Italy, the proportion rose to well over 40%. CasaPound is named after American poet Ezra Pound, who supported dictator Benito Mussolini, and its leader told the Guardian newspaper this week that the fascist leader was the group's "point of reference." Several supporters of Bloc Identitaire last month staged a "white die-in" on the streets of Dijon as a protest against perceived inaction by the authorities after the murder of a white teenager. This mind-set has already led to a violent response among a tiny minority, as the Norway massacre earlier this year -- and admitted to by suspect Anders Breivik -- showed. Breivik purportedly authored a 1,500-page manifesto critical of Muslim immigration and European liberalism. The sort of grievances that motivated Breivik are echoed throughout the Demos survey. One supporter of the English Defense League wrote: "No way can a Muslim race bring their rules to our country." Another respondent identifying himself as a supporter of the Dansk Folkeparti, which has 25 seats in the Danish parliament, reflected a view widely held among respondents: "The foreigners are slowly suffocating our lovely country. They have all these children and raise them so badly that in three or four generations there'll be no ... well-behaved children at all." A supporter of the German group Die Freiheit said his priorities were "human rights...against Islamisation of Europe and intolerance by Turkish and Arabic immigrants towards gays and Jews," an unusual twist on the traditional phobias of the far right.By country, supporters of the French National Front and Bloc Identitaire were the most concerned about immigration, while followers of the Dutch Freedom Party were the most likely to rate Islamic extremism among their top concerns. The party, part of the current coalition government in the Netherlands, is led by Geert Wilders, who has described Islam as a 'fascist' religion.While some respondents were openly racist, others were more concerned that Muslim immigrants avoided assimilation. "Prevent the oppression of Islamic women," wrote one Swedish respondent, "by banning the burqa in public places." Many respondents share a loathing of what they see as a corrupt and complacent political class. A Facebook follower of the French National Front lamented "the desperate lies of the MPs, the comfortable way in which they live while the French face a multitude of problems such as insecurity, mass immigration..." A supporter of the Northern League in Italy, which has a significant presence in the national and regional assemblies, commented "I hate politicians; they are all disgusting, especially when they get to the armchair of power." This sentiment feeds into a gloomy assessment of Europe's future among followers of these populist movements. Asked whether their country was on the right track, supporters of French, British, German and Belgian groups were the most downbeat, with fewer than 10% optimistic about the future.Increasingly, the sentiment appears to be feeding growing hostility toward the European Union. Large majorities of supporters in all but one group (the exception being the Northern League in Italy) regard the EU as a waste of money, with inadequate control over its external borders, and hold it responsible for a loss of cultural identity. Demos says the survey shows how the convergence of virtual and real-world political activity "is the way millions of people -- especially young people -- relate to politics in the 21st century." The challenge to European politicians, as they lurch from one crisis summit to the next, is to ensure this alienated generation does not desert civic society altogether. | 3news
|
Story highlightsRory McIlroy two shots off the lead at BMW Masters in ShanghaiWorld No. 1 is trailing European Ryder Cup teammate Peter Hanson of SwedenSecond-ranked Tiger Woods is three strokes off the lead at CIMB ClassicMcIlroy and Woods will face off in a one-on-one exhibition event on MondayWorld No. 1 Rory McIlroy put himself in a good position to defend his BMW Masters title on Friday, firing a seven-under-par 65 that left him two strokes off the lead held by Ryder Cup teammate Peter Hanson in Shanghai.The duo, both part of Jose Maria Olazabal's team which clinched a thrilling victory against the U.S. last month, pulled away from the field at the Lake Malaren in the second round of the $7 million tournament -- which is this year sanctioned by the European Tour following its inception in 2011.Hanson went one shot better than PGA Championship winner McIlroy, with the world No. 25 carding 64 to finish on 14 under at the halfway stage."It was a very good day," the 23-year-old McIlroy told the European Tour's official website after a round which included seven birdies.JUST WATCHEDDuke supports young golfersReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDuke supports young golfers 04:29JUST WATCHEDLPGA winner reveals Olympic ambitionsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLPGA winner reveals Olympic ambitions 04:13JUST WATCHEDGreatest sporting drama of all time?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGreatest sporting drama of all time? 05:43"I played very well -- a little better than I did yesterday. I hit the ball a lot better, and gave myself plenty of opportunities. "When I did need to make a par putt here or there, I was able to save those, and overall it was just a very good round of golf and obviously in a great position going into the weekend."Hanson is in a strong position to clinch a sixth career title on the European Tour, although his day got off to a poor start with a bogey at the par-four first hole before going on to card nine birdies over the remaining 17."It's amazing how many good rounds come together after a bogey on the first," said the 35-year-old Swede. "It's pretty soft so you can see yourself shooting some low scores here. "I'm happy with the way I played so far and I know it's going to be a tough one coming up against the world No. 1 these last couple of days on a golf course he obviously loves. He won here last year." Hanson's compatriot Robert Karlsson shot 64 to be third, three shots behind McIlroy and one ahead of British Ryder Cup hero Justin Rose (68).World No. 5 Rose is competing with McIlroy to top the European Tour's "Race to Dubai" money list. He can rise above McIlroy into pole position if he pockets the $1.16 million first prize this weekend.He was tied for fourth with overnight leader Jamie Donaldson of Wales, who slumped to a 74 after his opening 62, and Ireland's Shane Lowry, who won the Portuguese Masters a fortnight ago.After the conclusion of this event McIlroy will remain in China for a one-on-one match play contest with 14-time major winner Tiger Woods.World No. 2 Woods is also playing in Asia this weekend. The American is tied for fifth at the PGA Tour's CIMB Classic in Malaysia after shooting a four-under par 67 in the second round.Woods was three shots adrift of compatriot Robert Garrigus, who led by two shots in Kuala Lumpur after a second sucessive 64 on Friday.South Africa's Jbe' Kruger also shot 64 to be second, while first-round lead Troy Matteson of the U.S. was tied for third with Australian Greg Chalmers -- a shot ahead of Woods, Kevin Na and Brendon de Jonge. | 5sport
|
This story was excerpted from the July 8 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)Remember last month's G7 summit? British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, basking in his role of host after a year of sterile Zoom diplomacy, implored his fellow leaders to vaccinate the whole world against Covid-19 by the end of 2022. But when the spin about the Cornwall huddle supposedly being one of the most vital global summits ever had faded, it became clear that the rich nations club had fallen disastrously short in globalizing the miracle of vaccines. The group promised 1 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines to poorer nations. US President Joe Biden, who backed lifting patents on Covid vaccines, pledged to buy 500 million doses alone. The UK offered 100 million. This sounds a lot. But around 11 billion shots are needed to protect the global population. It's not surprising that world leaders took care of their own nations first. Politicians in democracies obsess about keeping power. But the rich nations failed to use their fortunes and unique assets to build the kind of infrastructure that might speed global vaccinations and end the pandemic. World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned on Wednesday that the vaccine deficit was "driving a wave of death" in parts of Africa, Asia and Latin America. "From a moral, epidemiological or economic point of view, now is the time for the world to come together to tackle this pandemic collectively," he said. The failure to do so is becoming clear even as nations like the US and the UK benefit from their own high vaccination rates and reopen. Their progress is being threatened by the more infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus, which first emerged in India -- an area of low vaccine penetration. Experts fear the next variant that evolves in vast pools of unvaccinated humanity might evade the vaccines that are restoring the developed world. Read MoreIn June, Meanwhile asked: "If the G7 can't come up with a plan to vaccinate the world, what is it for?" It's still a good question. But there's another chance. Another summit -- this one also involving large developing nations -- is set for Rome in October. G20, it's over to you. 'The Haitian diaspora is upset and in search of answers' The assassination of Haiti's President sent shock waves through his compatriots living in the United States, and sparked concern that a country already scarred by its violent history, political tumult and natural disasters is in for even more pain. "The Haitian diaspora is upset and in search of answers," Vania Andrew, publisher of The Haitian Times, an influential newspaper for the Haitian diaspora in the US, told Meanwhile. "Although Jovenel Moise was wildly unpopular, with several calls for him to step down, there's still a feeling of disappointment given what this indicates for the state of the country. Folks are scared about what's to come next and there are very real fears about whether or not violence in the streets will ensue. "This generation of Haitians in the diaspora is living in two worlds, where they are confronted with the challenges of being Black in America, championing Black Lives Matter, fighting against gun violence and impacted by what they see happening with George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and the countless other Black Americans that have died at the hands of police, while also dealing with the persistent political and social problems in Haiti that also have racial and class undertones. "For a while Haitians in the diaspora were hopeful about Haiti's future, especially given the outpouring of support for the country in the wake of the 2010 earthquake. There was a sense that Haiti was going to build back bigger and better. Folks left their corporate jobs and stability in the US to be a part of that reawakening for Haiti, and sadly the reality has been the complete opposite, and Moise's assassination is the final nail in the coffin for them. "This is a generation of change. Anyone who had a nonprofit, a business, an idea for initiatives that support sustainability in the country, will now think twice on whether Haiti is worth it." | 3news
|
(CNN)The heavily partisan process of redrawing congressional districts ahead of the 2022 elections has resulted in a drop in competitive seats nationwide as the parties in power draw lines to protect their incumbents. But California will stand as a notable exception as the final maps drawn by an independent commission are expected to yield at least seven -- and as many as 10 -- competitive seats as well as a wild scramble for current House members to figure out what districts they will run in.CNN spoke to more than a dozen political strategists, redistricting experts and campaign aides from both parties as California's congressional maps were being revised and refined over the past few weeks to gather their perspectives on how the state's most competitive races are shaping up.The Golden State's redistricting commission approved final maps late Monday night, drawing a total of 52 districts -- one fewer than in the past because of slower population growth. Overall the map still favors Democrats, who hold 42 of the state's current congressional seats, compared to 11 held by Republicans. Independent redistricting panels aim to draw fairer maps but still invite controversyBut Republicans are bullish about their prospects for pickups in 2022 because of the difficult political climate Democrats are facing. In 2020, Republicans flipped four of the state's congressional districts, including the special election win of GOP Rep. Mike Garcia in the 25th District, which covers portions of northern Los Angeles County and is anchored by Santa Clarita. Republican strategist and redistricting expert Matt Rexroad said his assumption is that "2022 is going to be a very good year for Republicans overall," but he noted the GOP may have a more uphill struggle with the new maps in the cycles that follow. "There's several seats in here that I think are seats that Republicans might even be favored in in 2022, but I don't know how that would look in, like 2028, as they continue to change," he said. Read MoreCalifornia's independent commission largely ignored existing congressional lines and the home addresses of the state's politicians, which more partisan processes have been criticized for taking into account, as they created the new maps. After Monday night's initial vote, the commission plans to leave the maps untouched for several days for public review, before giving final approval to the new districts as soon as December 26 and turning the maps over to the secretary of state.But California's battlefield for the 2022 elections is still taking shape, with a complex game of musical chairs expected over the next few weeks. Recent iterations of the maps placed as many as three incumbents in the same district and some of them may leapfrog into different districts if it improves their odds of winning. Members of Congress are not required to reside in the districts where they run, although running outside of their home districts sometimes opens candidates up to attacks on the campaign trail. Democratic Rep. Karen Bass, who is running for Los Angeles mayor, is one of nearly two dozen House Democrats not running for reelection next year. Members of California's delegation account for four of the 23 retirements in the House Democratic Caucus so far, opening up some opportunities for newcomers. Rep. Karen Bass is leaving Congress to run for Los Angeles mayor. Other members heading for the exits include Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard, who represents portions of south and east Los Angeles; Alan Lowenthal who represents Long Beach; and Jackie Speier, who represents southern San Francisco and San Mateo County. Sam Oh, a Republican strategist who is the general consultant for Orange County GOP Reps. Young Kim and Michelle Steel -- two members who won some of the toughest 2020 congressional races in California, predicted that there would be "a lot of campaign calls over the holidays to discuss every possible option" on both the Republican or Democratic sides. "Each campaign will do their due diligence to ensure that whatever seat they run for gives them the best long-term viability," Oh said. "They'll be polling, looking at demographic trends and having very interesting team discussions in the next couple of weeks here as people start announcing for seats."A competitive field in Orange CountyCalifornia's redistricting commissioners made major changes to the highly competitive areas of Orange County that will affect the fortunes of Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, as well as Steel, Kim and the Democratic contenders who had been lining up to challenge them.Commissioners essentially drew Porter, Steel and former Rep. Harley Rouda -- the Democrat vying for a rematch with Steel -- into the same seat, creating a long coastal district that encompasses Seal Beach and Huntington Beach to the north, continuing south through Costa Mesa and Newport Beach to an area south of Laguna Beach, while folding in much of the Democratic-leaning city of Irvine, where Porter lives.Porter intends to run in that new 47th District and Democratic strategists view it as a solid opportunity for her given her popularity and huge war chest, and the fact that President Joe Biden won by double digits in that area. But in an unusually pointed statement Wednesday, Rouda said that the new coastal district includes 70% of the area that he represented while serving in Congress between 2018 and 2020 (before he was defeated by Steel). He added that he "learned via Twitter that Representative Porter has left the district that includes 70% of her constituents, and is now running in my coastal district."Rouda said he believes he is the "most electable Democrat" in that new district but said that he would spend the holidays with his family and "evaluate all the options laid before us." Porter campaign spokesperson Jordan Wong said she would be running in that district because it "includes her home city of Irvine, where she lives, and where her three children attend public school." But Wong hinted at challenges ahead, noting that "roughly two-thirds of voters in the 47th District have not previously been represented by Congresswoman Porter" and said "she looks forward to introducing herself to these voters and running a positive and spirited campaign, as she did to win close races in 2018 and 2020."Rexroad cautioned that no one should count out Republicans in that new district, noting that his analysis shows former Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox won just under 49% of the vote in that area in 2018 and that GOP candidates often overperformed former President Donald Trump in Orange County. Democratic Rep. Katie Porter intends to run in the new 47th District. Though Steel, a first-generation American who immigrated from South Korea as a young adult, lives in that coastal district, she announced Wednesday that she would run in a new Orange County district just to the north that looks more favorable to Republicans. That newly created 45th District encompasses much of Little Saigon, an area with a high concentration of Vietnamese voters where Steel campaigned heavily and did well in 2020.Several GOP strategists noted that Steel has built strong relationships with the diverse Asian communities in areas like Westminster and Garden Grove that are part of that new district and she has deep roots beyond her current district, because of her service on the California State Board of Equalization and as a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Nearly 37% of the eligible voters in that district are Asian -- which is on the higher side for southern California -- creating a diverse battlefield for both parties."Californians today are facing so many challenges -- from high taxes to concerns over affordability, crime, and the quality of education our children receive," Steel said in a statement Wednesday. "Although the district lines have changed, my mission has not. I have spent my entire career as a public servant fighting to protect California taxpayers, to lower crime rates, and to hold government accountable when it fails the people, and I will continue to do that work."Democrat Jay Chen, a small business owner and lieutenant commander in the US Naval Reserves who is one of the party's top recruits, had announced that he would challenge Kim. But he plans to run in the new 45th District, creating a highly competitive matchup with Steel.Kim's current 39th District -- which had encompassed pieces of Orange, Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties -- was also sliced and diced under the new lines. She announced Wednesday that she will run in a new, geographically larger inland Orange County district to the south and east, which looks as though it will be far more favorable to Republicans. That new 40th District includes communities that Kim currently represents like Yorba Linda and Chino Hills as well as a large swath of territory in Porter's current district, including parts of Orange and Tustin, continuing farther south through Laguna Hills, Mission Viejo and Rancho Margarita."From day one, I have been committed to serving Southern California and that commitment does not change with updated district lines. The out-of-touch policies we see from Nancy Pelosi and Washington politicians are hurting our communities and I'll continue to fight to combat inflation, lower taxes on Californians, and bolster our national security," Kim said in a statement. A boost to Latino power in the Central Valley Three of the most competitive seats in the Central Valley have been those held by Democratic Rep. Josh Harder and Republican Reps. David Valadao and Devin Nunes, who announced earlier this month that he is leaving Congress to head up Trump's social media venture. Under the new lines, territory that had been held by both Nunes and Democratic Rep. Jim Costa ended up in the new 21st District, which is more Democratic than Nunes' current seat. Costa announced Tuesday that he will run in that new seat.The commission made some dramatic changes to Harder's seat, essentially splitting it in two with a dividing line in and around the population center of Modesto, where Harder went to high school. But later in the process, the commission spent much of its time trying to boost the percentages of eligible Latino voters in three of the Central Valley districts to increase Latino influence in future elections in keeping with the Voting Rights Act. Democratic Rep. Josh Harder represents one of the most compeitive seats in the Central Valley under the existing map.During that process, Harder's fortunes improved as greater portions of Modesto were added back in to his district, which is the new 13th District. The competitive seat now runs farther south through the Central Valley, sweeping up large portions of Costa's district, which is making it unclear how they will sort out their home turf. Rexroad noted that there may also be an opportunity for the GOP in a newly created 9th District just to the north, which encompasses Stockton and San Joaquin county. Rob Pyers, research director with the California Target Book, a comprehensive guide to the state's political data, noted that the commission essentially moved many Republican voters in the Central Valley into the current district of House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy as they were boosting the influence of Latino voters in other districts, creating more difficult contests for some of McCarthy's neighboring Republicans in 2022.The consolidation of GOP areas made Valadao's district more competitive by a couple of points, Pyers said, by dismembering his Kings County home territory -- where his family farms alfalfa, almonds corn and wheat -- while splitting up the Republican vote in a number of towns and cities."The seats objectively get worse for Republicans in the Central Valley versus 2020, but the national environment" -- which favors the GOP -- "could counteract that," Pyers said.Valadao, who lost his perennial swing seat to Democrat TJ Cox in 2018 and then won it back last year -- will face a tougher race in 2022, both because of the way the commission has drawn the new lines and because he is facing a strong challenge from Democrat Rudy Salas, a California assemblyman and former member of the Bakersfield City Council, as well as from several others.Redistricting commissioners shifted Valadao's district farther south from an area near Hanford -- where he was born and raised -- so that his new district encompasses less of the areas around Fresno and more of the bluer areas around Bakersfield. Allies of Salas hope that shift will give the Democratic challenger an edge since he is best known in the Bakersfield area.GOP Rep. David Valadao won his seat back in 2020 after being defeated in 2018. But Robert Jones, a Republican strategist who advises Valadao, said the congressman is not daunted by the challenge even if the district ends up looking more Democratic. He noted that Valadao won in 2020 in a district Biden won by about 10 points and has historically done better with Latino voters than other GOP candidates. "The Hispanic communities are going to be put together in districts that are going to be really competitive (with voters) really evaluating candidates outside of party labels," Jones said. "We win a good share of votes, and have cross-over votes, all over the district. There's no part of the district that we don't compete in, and if it goes a little bit in one direction or another from the current lines, I think we're going to be competitive."Swing seats in northern Los Angeles and San Diego countiesThe redistricting commission also made some major changes to the Republican seat held by Garcia, a Santa Clarita native and former Navy fighter pilot. Garcia managed to flip California's current 25th District -- which Republicans had lost in 2018 -- back to the GOP in a 2020 special election after Democrat Katie Hill resigned from Congress amid controversy. Trump endorsed Garcia in that race. In 2022, Garcia is facing a rematch with Democrat Christy Smith, as well as a challenge from Democratic newcomer Quaye Quartey, a former Navy intelligence officer, among others. Smith, a former member of the state assembly, only lost to Garcia by 333 votes in the 2020 general election, underscoring the competitiveness of the area.Garcia faces some challenges under the new lines in what will now be the 27th District. The commission has removed conservative portions of the Simi Valley from his district and added bluer areas of the San Fernando Valley. Despite Garcia's conservative voting record, however, he has not shied away from running in areas that have typically been challenging for Republicans and political observers on both sides believe the seat will remain competitive.GOP Rep. Mike Garcia participates in a ceremonial swearing-in on Capitol Hill in 2020 after flipping a blue seat red in a special election.The most competitive seat in San Diego county will be the coastal district of Democratic Rep. Mike Levin, who also represents part of the southern Orange County coast. Though there were some territory swaps, the redistricting commission appears to have essentially maintained the status quo in San Diego County, preserving two Democratic seats in the city of San Diego and along the San Diego coast that are held by Democratic Reps. Sara Jacobs and Scott Peters, although their residences were drawn into the same district).Republican Rep. Darrell Issa's seat covering parts of East County, San Diego had looked more competitive at various points during the process, but now looks fairly safe for the GOP. A win for voters who sought competition Paul Mitchell, a redistricting expert with the Sacramento-based firm Redistricting Partners, said for all the complaints that have emerged with California's tedious process -- and the line-drawing that unfolded over hundreds over hours on videoconference -- the state's voters will at least have confidence that partisanship did not play a central role.When they passed two ballot measures to create the independent commission in 2008 and 2010, voters "didn't want politicians drawing districts to advantage political parties and incumbents, and they've completely won in that regard," Mitchell said. "None of this reflects where politicians want these lines to be drawn. None of this reflects where the political parties want these lines to be drawn.""People might not like where their city is drawn with another city, or they might not like the political implications of the lines," he added. "But they can't say that they don't know why a line was drawn where it was, because it's all done on video."This story has been updated with additional developments Wednesday. | 4politics
|
Story highlightsSuspect Darren Deon Vann, 43, was convicted of aggravated rape in 2009Indiana authorities have found seven women's bodies since Friday; Vann is in custodyThe suspect's confession led to six of the possible homicide victims, police sayVann has been charged with in the death of 19-year-old Afrikka Hardy (CNN)The investigation of a man suspected in the deaths of at least seven women in northwest Indiana could expand to other states and stretch back decades, authorities said.The Indiana-born Darren Deon Vann is a convicted sex offender from Austin, Texas, police said. Vann attacked a 25-year-old Hispanic female at an Austin apartment in December 2007, according to Jason Clark, Texas Department of Criminal Justice Public Information Office.He struck the victim several times, strangled and raped her, Clark said.Vann was convicted of aggravated rape in 2009 and after serving five years in jail, he left for Indiana in July 2013, police said.Read MoreBefore his release from prison, Vann was registered as a sex offender in the state of Texas, but informed prison officials that he would be moving to Gary, Indiana, according to Clark. Texas officials alerted Lake County, Indiana, that Vann would be moving there and to their knowledge, he did register as a sex offender in Indiana, Clark said. Darren Vann led authorities to several bodies in Indiana, police say.Afrikka Hardy, 19, was the first woman found, on Friday, according to authorities.Anith Jones, 35, of Merrillville, was one of the victims, a mayor's spokeswoman says.Up to this point, Darren Deon Vann has only been charged in the death of 19-year-old Afrikka Hardy, whose body was found in a Motel 6 in Hammond over the weekend, Hammond Police Chief John Doughty said.But officials in the neighboring city of Gary say there's much more to this case."The initial murder investigation led to the confession of six other murders committed by Vann with those bodies being recovered in the city of Gary in abandoned structures," a statement said.All of the bodies in Gary were found within 5 miles of each other.Vann cooperated, gave police descriptions and accompanied officers to certain locations, the chief said.Asked why Vann chose to cooperate, Doughty said he wanted to cut a deal with prosecutors but didn't provide further details."It was just something he wanted to do. That's all I can say," he said.Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson echoed the notion that Vann had helped with the investigation."He certainly was cooperative. He led (police) to the locations of these bodies," she said. "Whether he was eager or not, I'm not in a position to say that."Doughty stopped short of calling Vann a suspected serial killer, but left open the possibility if police are able to connect the convicted sex offender to any of the six women found in Gary over the weekend."If we directly attach him to it, we can make that assumption," he said, adding that Vann's statements lead authorities to believe there are "possible other victims." Some cases may date back 20 years, based on what Vann has told police, said Doughty.Gary Police Chief Larry McKinley said news of the killings and a possible serial killer has left the community scared."It's put the community of Gary on heightened alert," he said. "Any time you have this type of crime that happens in the city, in any city, there is some fear."Vann has a recordRecords show Vann was arrested on unspecified charges while living in Cherry Point, North Carolina, in 1993.JUST WATCHEDMan confesses to murdering 7 womenReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMan confesses to murdering 7 women 02:35He was convicted of aggravated rape in 2009 from a 2007 case, the Austin Police Department said in a statement. After serving five years in jail, he left for Indiana in June 2013, police said.Vann is not a registered sex offender in Austin.The police department there said detectives would be conducting a review of potentially related cases, asking anyone with information to contact its missing person and homicide cold case units.Vann also had a conviction in Lake County, Indiana, that was "not in the sex offender category," Freeman-Wilson said.Court records show Vann was accused of breaking and entering and intimidation in 2004.Vann had registered his sex offender status in Indiana and authorities made one of their regular checks with him in September.Text messagesIt was a string of text messages that lead police to Vann, Doughty said.Vann, 43, hired a prostitute through the backpage.com site serving Chicago and arranged a Friday meeting at a Motel 6 in Hammond with Hardy, the chief said. The person who arranged the meeting, whom Doughty described only as "a facilitator," later texted Hardy and received "suspicious texts" she believed were from Vann, the chief said. She and another person went to the motel to check on Hardy, according to a probable cause affidavit. They found her body in a bathtub and signs of a struggle in the motel room.Using a phone number provided by the facilitator, police electronically tracked Vann down, the chief said. Vann told police he "messed up" and expressed surprise that he was found so quickly, Doughty said."He admitted his involvement in the Hammond incident" and began leading police to other bodies in Gary, Doughty said.Seven women totalPolice found three of the bodies at three abandoned houses in Gary early Sunday morning. Later that night, they found three more bodies -- one at a new location and two at one of the places where bodies were found earlier Sunday, Doughty said. Hardy and three other women have been identified. Doughty and the Lake County Coroner's Office identified two of the women as Teaira Batey, 28, and Christine Williams, 36. Chelsea Whittington, a spokeswoman for Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, identified the other two as Hardy and Anith Jones, 35, of Merrillville, who had been missing since October 8. Hardy had recently moved back to Indiana from Colorado, after graduating from high school and living in Aurora, Colorado, for 5 years with her mother Lori Townsend."I can't tell her I love her anymore. I can't give her hugs. I can't give her kisses," she told CNN affiliate WLS. "She was supposed to come home for Thanksgiving." In an interview with affiliate KDVR, Townsend called Hardy her "rock.""She was my best friend. She was my everything, Townsend said. "When I didn't have anything, she was all I had."Batey's boyfriend, Marvin Clinton, said her death leaves a big hole. The couple have a 2-year-old son."That's going to be the hardest part about it," he told WLS. "Because he loved his mama, and she loved him. It's devastating."The coroner's office said Williams and Hardy were strangled to death. The coroner listed two of the Jane Does as homicides but didn't elaborate on the cause of death. Doughty declined to say how the other five women died.As for a motive, Doughty told reporters, "I don't have a specific reason he does this."CNN's Poppy Harlow, Chad Weaver, Miguel Marquez, Marina Carver, Chuck Johnston, Ronni Berke and Joe Sutton contributed to this report. | 3news
|
Newark, New Jersey (CNN)There was no way Rachel Hodge could do it all. The single mother of two daughters is very driven: She works full time at a hospital and is studying for a bachelor's in social work to further her career. With no family close by, she cares for her two girls, ages 5 and 11, alone, paying the bills, cooking the meals, doing the laundry. And she's fine with that. "You have to push yourself ... if you want to be able to get where you want to be," she said. But when her children's schools in Newark, New Jersey, announced the near inevitable -- that learning for fall would be online to counter the coronavirus pandemic -- something had to give.Her older daughter Gianna would have the maturity and ability to focus on virtual classes, but that was going to be impossible for Vanessa, a kindergartener. Her daycare would not have the support and quiet that a young child would need.Read MoreRachel Hodge and her daughter Vanessa now both have evening classes.Hodge told CNN she was direct with the teachers at Vanessa's KIPP charter school: There would be days when she would not be in class. She did what she could to try to catch Vanessa up in the evening, but the little girl could only attend the critical first year of school on Hodge's days off."I really didn't know how I was going to do this," Hodge said. "I was upset with myself that I had to sacrifice her education so I could be able to work."Vanessa was not alone is missing school. Teacher Meredith Eger told CNN that there were students at the KIPP school who were absent from the first day in September all the way through the month and into October. That set off alarm bells in the school administration. Meredith Eger has seen her evening students begin to thrive."They realized that they needed something to help those kids," Eger said. "It's not just assuming that the child ... is absent because they don't want to be online, or the parent doesn't want them to log on, or we just don't feel like it."The schools ended up offering evening classes from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. And Hodge jumped at the opportunity. "The school was a big stressor for me, for myself and the kids," she said. Night school "alleviated a lot of the stress and anxiety and also my worries of 'Is she getting the adequate quality education that a kindergartener should be able to get?' "Eger was at first hesitant to take on the night classes but then volunteered for the extra hours. During the day, she has 28 students online. Then 11 more at the evening classes. The results were immediate. And long lasting.Hodge says Vanessa is now able to work mostly independently in the new routine."We have a few scholars that were absent the majority of September and almost all of October, but then the second we started the evening learning program, they have not missed one day," she said. "Now, getting into end of week nine, I'm seeing a big difference. I'm seeing most of the kids sitting down, staying seated, their eyes are on the screen, they're doing the work."Even beloved public schools may lose students foreverIt's not the in-person classroom learning that teachers, children and parents yearn for, but both Hodge and Eger say they see the students forming relationships as well as learning their numbers and ABCs -- all critical parts of kindergarten. Night classes for both Vanessa and herself means more scheduling and prioritizing for Hodge but she is happy that her younger daughter understands you're supposed to go to school every day. "It's been really hard doing this on my own and working in the hospital, trying to make ends meet and being able to go to school to further my education," Hodge said. "I'm very fortunate that she's able to have a school that puts parents at top notch of priorities."She looks forward to Vanessa and Gianna getting back to being in school full time, mostly because that's what they need. But it will also give Hodge a little break on her days off -- perhaps for some time to herself or at least the chance to do the laundry in peace. | 3news
|
Story highlightsA woman reporting live for Belgian TV was gropedCologne has been in the spotlight over sexual assault since a mass incident during New Year's celebrationsThe reporter said the men involved spoke German (CNN)The city of Cologne, Germany, fell back into the spotlight of sexual assault this week, when its annual street Carnival kicked off.A woman reporting from the city center for a Belgian broadcaster was groped live on television, and police are searching for a suspect.The city has been on high alert for sexual assault after hundreds of women filed criminal complaints of having been groped on New Year's Eve by men described as being of North African or Arabic origin. A handful of the complaints alleged rape.But Thursday's incident during a celebration called Women's Carnival does not appear to be related. The men taunting Esmeralda Labye in the lead-up to the harassment appear to be of European origin."I'd like to emphasize, and this seems important me, that the incident has been caused by young men speaking German," she said.Read MoreLive reportAs Esmeralda Labye delivered her live report for RTBF, one man kissed her on the neck.As Labye delivered her live report for RTBF, men behind her began making obscene gestures. A man kissed her on the neck, she said. Then someone whispered a proposition into her ear.Because of the heightened police presence for the massive public event, in which tens of thousands of revelers celebrate and alcohol consumption is high, she was not concerned things would get out of hand."As I was waiting to wrap up my live, one of the three men touched my breast. At that moment, I lost my temper. I turned and told them in English: 'I won't allow this to happen twice! Don't touch me. Don't touch me.'"Three men standing around her left, she said.RTBF, a CNN affiliate, has decided not to re-broadcast the video of the incident but has published two still images. The station filed a criminal complaint with Cologne police to help expedite the investigation."The station expresses respect and support for its colleague journalist and disgust and condemnation for the attackers," RTBF said in a statement.Continued workAfter the incident, Labye decided to finish out her work day, RTBF said. "Cologne's mayor's office apologized to the station for these acts and gave its support to our colleague journalist and promised police security if needed."A 17-year-old boy recognized himself in the shot behind Labye and turned himself in to police in the company of his mother, Cologne police said, but he said he had not harassed the reporter. After reviewing the footage, police decided it corroborated his claim and let him go.CarnivalCarnival is celebrated in many traditionally Catholic regions. It is intended as a last goodbye from the pleasures of the flesh before the onset of Lent, a time in which observant Catholics give up some pleasures, or fast, to reflect the biblical story of Jesus' fasting in the desert before beginning his public ministry.But the celebration has grown in many places into a bawdy secular street party. During Thursday's Women's Carnival, police in Cologne, a city of roughly 1 million residents, lowered its threshold for stepping in during possible incidents and detained at least 190 people. "With the rise in alcohol consumption, the potential for aggression unfortunately also rose in the evening," police said. "Police forces on duty had to step in more and more to prevent escalation."Police registered more than 220 criminal complaints, most of which involved personal injury. At least 18 complaints were sexual in nature, ranging from sexual insult to a possible attempted rape.Carnival in Cologne: Costumes, beer... and a lot more security | 3news
|
Story highlightsThe funeral takes place at St. Paul's Cathedral next WednesdayMore than 2,000 invitations are being sent out for the serviceQueen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will be among the guestsSurviving U.S. presidents and Hillary Clinton are invited to attendPrime Minister David Cameron's office has released plans for the funeral of Britain's first woman prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, next Wednesday. Here are the details:Where: St. Paul's Cathedral in London. The cortege travels the two miles from the Palace of Westminster to St. Paul's through central London, via The Strand.When: The cathedral doors will open at 9 a.m., and guests are asked to be seated by an hour later. The service is due to start at 11 a.m. Invitations: More than 2,000 invitations are being sent out. They are color-coded. VIP invitations are white, and those guests will be seated under the cathedral dome. A red or green stripe designates port or starboard.Other colors denote specific areas of the cathedral.JUST WATCHEDDoes Thatcher deserve a state funeral?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDoes Thatcher deserve a state funeral? 06:08JUST WATCHEDNot everyone's mourning Thatcher's deathReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNot everyone's mourning Thatcher's death 02:27JUST WATCHEDWas Thatcher an inspiration to women?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWas Thatcher an inspiration to women? 03:27St. Paul's has a capacity of 2,300 and is expected to be full for the service.Dress code: Decidedly formal, encompassing "full day ceremonial" without swords; morning dress (black waistcoat and black tie) or a dark suit; and for the women a day dress with hat. Those with medals and honors may wear them.On the guest list:-- Family members, including Thatcher's twin children, Carol and Mark-- Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip-- All surviving former British prime ministers-- All surviving former U.S. presidents-- A Ronald Reagan family representative-- A Nelson Mandela family representative-- Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton-- Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife, Cherie-- All surviving members of Margaret Thatcher's Cabinets-- The current UK Cabinet-- First ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland-- Ed Miliband, leader of the opposition Labour Party-- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso-- Former South African President F.W. de Klerk-- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper-- Former Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney-- Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad of Malaysia-- Former Prime Minister John Howard of Australia-- Former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich-- Former UK chiefs of staff-- Peers and members of UK Parliament-- Falklands War veterans-- Archbishop of York John Sentamu-- Broadcaster David Frost-- Actress and author Joan Collins-- Internet pioneer Sir Tim Berners-Lee-- Singer Katherine Jenkins -- Singer Michael Crawford-- Singer Shirley Bassey-- Broadcaster and journalist Andrew Neil-- Advertising magnate Maurice Saatchi-- Conservative Party associatesUnable to attend:-- Former U.S. President George W. Bush-- Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush-- Nancy Reagan, widow of Ronald Reagan-- Mikhail Gorbachev, former Soviet leader-- Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge-- Prince Harry-- Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of CornwallREAD MORE: Thatcher's legacy in focus as UK plans funeralREAD MORE: UK lawmakers pay tribute to former PM Margaret ThatcherREAD MORE: Why Margaret Thatcher was both icon and outcast | 3news
|
(CNN)In an emotional court hearing, a former Washington, D.C., police officer was sentenced to a year in federal prison Wednesday for illegally dealing guns, two of which were linked to deaths. "I just want to take a moment to apologize to everyone in the courtroom," Richard Wince, 51, said through tears before his sentencing in federal court in Richmond, Virginia. "I understand I made a mistake, and mistakes have consequences." One of the guns Wince sold was an AK-47 used by a troubled former Marine reservist to kill himself, according to court records. Another was used in a homicide in Washington, authorities said in court on Wednesday. A third gun was used in a robbery.Read MoreCop convicted of illegal gun dealing sold weapon used in murder Wince told US District Court Judge M. Hannah Lauck that he got caught up in conduct that he said became "reckless." But he said his crime was inconsistent with his 30-plus years of service in the military and law enforcement. "It doesn't define the person I am or have been," Wince said. His wife of 28 years wiped away tears as he spoke. Lauck told Wince she could see he had genuine regret. But she also pointed to the fact that he had continued selling guns even after being warned by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives that one of his weapons ended up in the possession of a convicted felon. "You were on notice," the judge said pointedly. Lauck added that she found the number of weapons involved, and the circumstances under which some were recovered, "extremely troubling." She told Wince if she could sentence him to look into the eyes of the family of suicide victim Isaiah Janes, that's what she would do. Janes, 29, was barred from possessing weapons as a result of his stay in a psychiatric facility in June 2016, according to court records. After his release, Janes attempted to buy a 12-gauge shotgun from a Dick's Sporting Goods in Rhode Island. But when the clerk ran a background check and learned that he was what's known as a prohibited possessor, the sale was denied. Janes bought the gun from Wince in a parking lot later that month, according to court records. The officer did not conduct a background check. Janes killed himself with the gun about two weeks later. When Wince was first visited by the ATF in October 2015 about the gun that turned up in the possession of the felon, he told agents he was a hobbyist and only occasionally bought and sold firearms over the internet.JUST WATCHEDFlaws in gun background check system cost livesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFlaws in gun background check system cost lives 01:58 As such, he would not have been required to conduct background checks on buyers or keep records on guns he bought and sold. Lauck seemed dismissive of the notion Wince was a hobbyist, citing the military-style weapon the officer sold Janes shortly before he killed himself. "I don't know what kind of hobby involves an AK-47," the judge said. "That weapon is for mass murder," she added. "It's not for hunting." At various points in the hearing, the prosecutor, Wince's defense attorney and Lauck each expressed frustration with the federal statute that governs unlicensed gun dealing. The statute does not provide a specific number of weapons sold over a period of time that would require someone to obtain a license. Wince admitted selling up to two dozen firearms after being contacted by the ATF. Wince's defense attorney, Elliott Park, called the law "unconstitutionally vague." Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter S. Duffey, who prosecuted Wince, told Hauck he wasn't a fan of the law either. "I don't understand why they couldn't set a number," he said. But Duffey also said Wince's background as a law enforcement veteran should have told him what he was doing was wrong. "Of all people, Mr. Wince should have known better," Duffey said. | 3news
|
(CNN)For the 1.8 billion Muslims around the world, the Hajj is considered a spiritual pinnacle. Each year, up to three million pilgrims descend on Mecca -- the epicenter of the Muslim world -- to seek redemption, to forgive and to be forgiven.Wrapped in white cloth, worshippers embark on the five-day pilgrimage, considered one of the five pillars of Islam. All Muslims who are physically and financially able are required to make the journey to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.Mecca is meant to be the bedrock of Muslim unity, with the Hajj lauded as a place where pilgrims shed class, race, and nation. In his 1964 pilgrimage, less than a year before his assassination, black civil rights activist Malcolm X marveled at the "spirit of unity" between white and non-white Muslims -- he later disavowed many of his beliefs about racial separation on returning to the United States. But as Saudi Arabia has taken a more muscular approach to foreign policy with the rise of a young Crown Prince, Mecca has emerged as a political fault-line. A diplomatic spat between Saudi Arabia and Canada over a human rights statement resulted in the closure of one of the main flights between Canada and the kingdom, reportedly complicating matters for hajjis, or Muslim pilgrims.A bruising Saudi-led 2016 embargo on Qatar, and the dissolution of diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 has also disrupted pilgrimages for nationals of those countries in recent years. In Yemen, the ongoing war between Houthi rebels and Saudi-backed forces has all but trapped millions of would-be Yemeni pilgrims. Read MoreStill, Mecca is brimming with over 1.5 million international pilgrims this year, according to Saudi officials. These are devout Muslims who tenaciously pursue the pilgrimage, enduring the inconveniences of an arduous journey and sidestepping hurdles put in place by a difficult political climate whose temperatures continue to climb, and ignoring a string of unbecoming stories about the Hajj, including stampedes, fires and sexual harassment. They prefer instead to focus on spiritual nourishment that the Hajj promises to supply.
Entering Mecca Many pilgrims converge on the city weeks before the start of the Hajj rituals.Worshippers wear special white garments -- men wrap themselves in seamless, stitchless cloth, while women wear a simple white dress and headscarf. The clothing is said to symbolize human equality and unity before God.Pilgrims begin the Hajj with a circular, counter-clockwise procession around the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure that Muslims believe the Prophet Abraham from the Old Testament constructed. It's the most sacred shrine of Islam.The Prophet Muhammed made the first Islamic pilgrimage in the year 628 AD, when he set out to Mecca with 1,400 of his followers. Mecca is considered to be a city for all Muslims and only Muslims. Non-Muslims are denied entry at all times.Because of the centrality of the holy sites to the Muslim world, the Saudi monarch's preferred title is "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques," referring to the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet's Mosque in nearby Medina. Saudi authorities manage the entry and exit of pilgrims through strict visa applications and have a dedicated Hajj ministry, employing 40,000 workers. In the last 10 years, 24 million Hajj pilgrims have visited the city. Thousands of civil servants are deployed to the pilgrimage each year.
A global tent cityTo go through the six steps of the Hajj, pilgrims walk in massive processions, shoulder-to-shoulder with Muslims from more than 80 different countries. Together they share meals, prayers and very close living quarters."Groups of West Africans in colorful garb, almost singing verses from the Quran. Old Chinese couples, groups of blonde Europeans and Americans; it felt as if we were watching the entire world walk past," wrote CNN's Schams Elwazer who covered the pilgrimage for CNN in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
Sermon on the summit For the third major Hajj ritual, Muslims gather at Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammed is believed to have delivered his last sermon.Upwards of a million pilgrims sit on the mountain, blanketing the site in white, while umbrellas used to shield the worshippers from the sun provide flashes of color.This is the climax of the pilgrimage. Muslims perform day-long prayers, incantations and recitations from the Quran. It is not uncommon to see worshippers shed tears as they reach this peak of spiritual cleansing. Saudi Arabia's top clerics traditionally lead a Hajj sermon on this site.
Gender and HajjMecca is the only Islamic holy site where men and women all pray together and perform all the Hajj rites together. In most mosques, women and men are assigned separate areas for worship, and when one room is available, women are expected to pray behind the men.Authorities only segregate men and women at the Hajj in terms of sleeping arrangements.According to the Brookings Institute's study on Hajj pilgrims, hajjis report more positive views of women's abilities and a greater concern for their quality of life after performing the pilgrimage. They are also more likely to favor educating girls and encourage female labor participation. Still, reports of sexual harassment have plagued the ritual of late. Earlier this year, five women told CNN about their experiences with sexual abuse at the pilgrimage. One British woman, who preferred to remain anonymous, said she had never been sexually assaulted before going to the Hajj, where her breast was forcefully, and painfully grabbed as she headed into the Grand Mosque. "Talking about sexual assault is difficult enough and talking about it in connection with the Hajj, which is a pillar of Islam, is even harder because it is sacred," she said. One unnamed Saudi official said the allegations were being taken seriously by authorities, although it is not immediately clear if the kingdom has taken extra steps against harassment at the pilgrimage this year. Dress codes for women are strict and even a wisp of hair escaping from the required headscarf can prompt frowns, or worse, from the crowds.
Stoning the devilDuring the "stoning of the devil," pilgrims lob rocks at three pillars, known as the "Jamarat," symbolizing the rejection of the devil's temptation.The ritual marks the beginning of the four-day Eid al-Adha holiday, known to Muslims as the "big Eid."Muslims celebrate the Adha -- the Arabic word for "sacrifice" -- by slaughtering sheep and distributing the meat to the poor.This is also the most dangerous part of the pilgrimage. People stream back and forth between the pillars and the Kaaba, posing a major crowd control challenge for organizers. Many have been wounded or killed by stones thrown from further back within the crowd.Two years ago, more than 700 people were killed and nearly 900 were injured in a stampede while performing this ritual.Since then, Saudi authorities have spent millions of dollars renovating the area, making it multi-layered instead of a flat plain, and renovating the pillars.
Becoming a HajjiAfter five days, the Hajj comes full circle and worshipers return to the Grand Mosque for their final prayers.For pilgrims and Saudi civil servants alike, the end of Hajj is the time to return to family and celebrate the remainder of Eid al-Adha.At home, the pilgrims are greeted with fanfare. Congratulations from neighbors pour in and their homes are usually decked out in festive lighting.The Hajji now has a somewhat elevated social status. A person who has completed the pilgrimage can add the phrase al-Hajj or hajji (pilgrim) to their name.
This story was first published in August 2017 and has been updated. CNN's Gianluca Mezzofiore, Kevin Taverner, Byron Manley and Schams Elwazer contributed to it. | 3news
|
(CNN)Sweden recorded its highest death tally in 150 years for the first half of 2020, according to the country's official statistics office. Between January and June this year, 51,405 deaths were registered -- more than 6,500 fatalities (or 15%) over the same period in 2019. This is the highest number of deaths in Sweden during the first half of the year since 1869, when the country was struck by famine and 55,431 people died.Sweden has recorded its highest number of deaths during the first half of the year since 1869, when the country was struck by famine. Pictured, a cafe in Stockholm. The country also experienced the lowest population increase since 2005, with a surplus figure of 6,860 in 2020 that was less than half that of the previous year. Immigration figures saw a reduction of 34.7% from the same period in 2019, with the figures primarily dropping in the second quarter between April and June. Read MoreJUST WATCHED'No proof,' Official defends Sweden's controversial Covid-19 moveReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'No proof,' Official defends Sweden's controversial Covid-19 move 02:06Unlike most countries, Sweden did not go into a lockdown when the pandemic spread across Europe in early spring. Instead, there was an emphasis on personal responsibility, with most bars, schools, restaurants and salons remaining open. Despite the more relaxed approach, only 7.3% of people in Stockholm had developed the antibodies needed to fight the disease by late April -- well below the 70-90% needed for herd immunity.By early June, the country's coronavirus death toll was at more than 4,500. According to Johns Hopkins University, it now stands at 5,802. Much of the criticism around Sweden's response has focused on the high death rates in care homes. Sweden's chief epidemiologist Anders Tegnell admitted in June that the country's Public Health Agency "didn't know that there would be such a big potential for the disease to spread in elderly care homes, with so many deaths."Sweden did not go into lockdown when the pandemic spread across Europe in spring and most places in the country's capital, pictured, remained open. But he told Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter: "There are things that we could have done better but in general I think that Sweden has chosen the right way."In an interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour in July, Tegnell again defended the country's approach. "I think that we still believe the strategy has served us very well in many different aspects," he said. "I know that the death toll is very high. It's not extremely high if you compare it to countries like Belgium, Netherlands, or UK, which are countries which in many ways have a much more similar epidemic than our neighboring Nordic countries."There is really no proof that saved people in long-term care facilities in Sweden."He said that when the authorities saw the problems in care homes, advice was distributed and cases dropped quickly and were now almost at zero.Tegnell on Thursday explained that Sweden was not recommending the use of face masks, which are considered key to reducing the spread of the virus by many other countries, because they could encourage people to take more risks."It is very dangerous to believe face masks would change the game when it comes to Covid-19," Tegnell told the Financial Times."Face masks can be a complement to other things when other things are safely in place. But to start with having face masks and then think you can crowd your buses or your shopping malls -- that's definitely a mistake," he added.Sweden has also paid a heavy economic price, despite not locking down. Hospitality and tourism businesses told CNN they had taken a huge hit, and manufacturers have been cut off from international supply chains.Nearly 50% of the country's economy is largely built on exporting goods overseas, and the global crisis has destroyed international demand.Sweden's economy is predicted to contract by more than 5% with hundreds of thousands losing jobs. | 3news
|
(CNN)Actors Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are promising to match every donation up to $1 million for refugees fleeing war in Ukraine, the couple said on social media. "In 48 hours, countless Ukrainians were forced to flee their homes to neighboring countries. They need protection. When you donate, we'll match it up to $1,000,000, creating double the support," Reynolds wrote Saturday on Twitter in promoting donations to the United Nations refugee agency.Lively posted a UNHCR photo on Instagram showing a child, saying the agency is "providing life saving aid." Putin orders Russian deterrence forces onto high alert as troops battle for control of Ukrainian citiesUkrainians crowded onto trains and waited in long lines for hours to leave the country after Russia invaded neighboring Ukraine on Thursday. About 368,000 refugees have managed to leave, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported Sunday. EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said Sunday the European Union needs to prepare for millions of refugees to arrive.Read More"It's very difficult to guess how many, but I think we should be prepared for millions," Johansson said. The UN agency said that because of "years of violence," more than 2 million people had left Ukraine even before Russia troops invaded last week, and almost 3 million people in Ukraine will need humanitarian assistance this year. "Those fleeing for their lives need immediate shelter, protection and safety," the non-profit USA for UNHCR said on the site where donations can be made. | 1entertainment
|
Story highlightsBrazilian company hopes that its "sugar seats" will feature at the 2014 World CupBraskem already has a deal with Amsterdam ArenA to install its green plastic chairsDutch group is also involved with development of two soccer stadiums in Brazil for 2014Braskem has agreed green deals in European market with several big corporationsFootball fans could find themselves sitting in seats made from sugar when Brazil hosts the FIFA World Cup for the first time in 64 years.Brazil has long led the way when it comes to soccer skills, and the country has also shown considerable innovation in developing new technologies. The two worlds may meet in 2014 as one of South America's biggest chemical companies hopes to show the way forward with its eco stadium solutions."What we are doing here is showing the world that we have an alternative. You can produce plastics from a renewable source," says Fabio Carneiro, Braskem's commercial director for renewable business.Sugarcane is an abundant crop in Brazil, and the firm hopes that it will provide a competitive edge over its renewable energy rivals.As well as biofuel, it is used to make green plastic -- derived from plant sources rather than carbon fossil fuels such as oil.A landmark deal has already been struck with Amsterdam ArenA, the home of Ajax football club, to first install 2,000 such "sugar seats" and eventually replace all 54,000 of the existing ones in the Dutch stadium.JUST WATCHEDBrazilian boom benefits football ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBrazilian boom benefits football 02:18JUST WATCHEDFIFA in Brazil beer feudReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFIFA in Brazil beer feud 03:26JUST WATCHEDBrazil's World Cup preparations slowedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBrazil's World Cup preparations slowed 02:21JUST WATCHEDBrazil gets ready for 2014ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBrazil gets ready for 2014 03:09"This technology is not really new, it's a technology from the 1970s," explains Braskem's corporate marketing director Frank Alcantara. "We had, at that time, a lack of ethylene. We developed this kind of technology to develop ethylene from ethanol. This new technology that we are using now was developed about six years ago. We started producing on a commercial basis since last year in September."The plant in Triunfo in the southernmost state of Rio Grande do Sul is the first in the world to produce ethylene from ethanol and then create green polyethylene, Alcantara says.At this stage it makes up a small proportion of the company's total output, but -- with 12 stadiums still being built or refurbished -- the World Cup could provide the perfect stage to spur significant expansion."We are talking to the people that build the arenas. We want to have the solution in Brazil that we can have sugar seats made from 100% Brazilian sugarcane. It would be very, very nice for everybody," Alcantara says.The Amsterdam ArenA group has a partnership with Braskem's parent company Odebrecht and the multinational Petrobras to develop the renovated Fonte Nova stadium in Bahia state for the World Cup.ArenA chief executive Henk Markerink believes the sugar seats could feature at the tournament as Brazil's national team seeks a record-extending sixth title and first since 2002."There's a high probability to do so. The ethanol is a real Brazilian product, and the resources are available in Brazil," he says. "This will be a very interesting product for World Cup stadiums. Because it's a Brazilian product I'm sure it'll be supported on the Brazilian side. We hope this product will be pushed as much as possible."The Dutch group is also working on the new Arena das Dunas venue in the northern city of Natal, which will have an extra year to be completed as it will not be used for the 2013 Confederations Cup event which will also be held in Brazil.While Amsterdam ArenA has the goal of being the world's first carbon-neutral venue by 2015, the Brazilian stadiums did not have the same sustainability aims inbuilt when football's ruling body FIFA awarded the tournament in 2007. "But we are trying to get as many elements into those stadiums. One of the things is using rain water in a careful way and also using solar energy as much as possible," Markerink says. "The designs for the World Cup stadiums were from 5-6 years ago and we were not involved then. We are trying to retro-fit these things."He says the Amsterdam ArenA has made big steps to achieving its goals -- changing to recyclable or reusable materials, negotiating deals to use "waste" energy from local suppliers and becoming independent in part through solar energy. Talks have begun to purchase two big windmills."In a day to day situation we can already provide our own electricity; on match days when we peak in our usage, we have to get energy from the net," Markerink says."In the day we deliver energy to the net."The ArenA's model is centered on profitable fulltime operation, meaning the venue is used for concerts and other entertainment events as well as sport.A similar approach is being introduced in Bahia, where the group is showing organizers not just how to build the stadium but also how to run it and sustain it in the long term -- including a deal with the local university to make sure suitable workers will be trained and available."One of the concerns always, especially from the government, is that there won't be any white elephants left after the World Cup, that stadiums won't be used anymore," Markerink says. "We are focused very much on a user program so that the stadium in every sense has a place in society. This stadium is in a very interesting city with a lot of music and dance and entertainment and shows."He says Amsterdam's main challenge now is to reduce patrons' reliance on cars to get to the arena. This means promoting public transport, and therefore cutting carbon dioxide levels.One such tactic is combined tickets incorporating travel, match entry and dining options.But for Braskem, the big obstacle is convincing stadium contractors -- the 12 venues are all being built in private-public partnerships with the government -- that green technology is better than traditional means."The most important thing with our product is you can put it straight in the processing machines and you don't need any kind of investment. They don't have to adapt their machinery," Carneiro says. Ever-increasing clearance of Amazon rainforest is a big environmental issue in Brazil, but Alcantara says this is not a problem with sugarcane, which can't grow properly in such wet climates."We still have a lot of land that we can use much better in the way of producing goods," he says.This has been a landmark year for Braskem's green arm, with deals agreed with big corporations such as Proctor and Gamble, Danone, Nestle, Tetra Pak and high-end fashion house Chanel.From 2013 Braskem will also be able to produce green polypropylene, which will increase its range of plastics alternatives. In football terms, that could mean deals to provide goal nets"Once the customer decides and says, 'I'm just going to buy renewable material,' we will have the material and we will be able to produce it more," Carneiro says. "We still have to develop a lot of technology. We are doing it, we are investing a lot to develop this kind of material. It is much more important that the customer decides they want to go towards this material."Alcantara says the company will continue to push the cause of fossil fuel alternatives."We announced we were going to make polyethanol in 2007 and we did it. We have a very risk-taking culture at our company, so we just announced it and we did it. Now we are ready to do much more. We can fulfil that -- it is a market need, a real one." | 5sport
|
London (CNN)A transgender man who gave birth with the help of fertility treatment lost his legal fight to be registered as the child's father, rather than its mother, in the UK High Court on Wednesday.Born female, Freddy McConnell transitioned to become a man and was legally recognized as male when he became pregnant in 2017, giving birth in 2018. The 32-year-old took legal action after a registrar told him that UK law required people who give birth to be registered as mothers on birth certificates. This establishes the first legal definition of the term "mother" in English common law.In ruling with the government, Andrew McFarlane, the president of the High Court's family division, deemed that being a "mother" referred to being pregnant and giving birth, regardless of whether that person, in law, was a man or a woman.I'm saddened by the court's decision not to allow trans men to be recorded as father or parent on their children's birth certificates. I fear this decision has distressing implications for many kinds of families. I will seek to appeal and give no more interviews at this stage.— Freddy McConnell (@freddymcconnell) September 25, 2019
Read More"There is a material difference between a person's gender and their status as a parent," McFarlane ruled. "Being a 'mother,' whilst hitherto always associated with being female, is the status afforded to a person who undergoes the physical and biological process of carrying a pregnancy and giving birth. "It is now medically and legally possible for an individual, whose gender is recognized in law as male, to become pregnant and give birth to their child. Whilst that person's gender is 'male,' their parental status, which derives from their biological role in giving birth, is that of 'mother.'"McConnell, a multimedia journalist for UK newspaper The Guardian, started taking testosterone aged 25 and a year later had surgery to remove breast tissue. In 2016, he stopped taking testosterone and subsequently his menstrual cycle restarted before he became pregnant using sperm from a donor. JUST WATCHEDTransgender soldiers fighting Trump's military ban ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTransgender soldiers fighting Trump's military ban 05:50A feature-length film called "Seahorse," documented McConnell's journey. On Twitter, McConnell said he would appeal. "I'm saddened by the court's decision not to allow trans men to be recorded as father or parent on their children's birth certificates," he wrote. "I fear this decision has distressing implications for many kinds of families. I will seek to appeal and give no more interviews at this stage."In praising McConnell, the judge said the case was an "important matter of public interest" and that there was a "pressing need" for the UK's legislators to address "square-on" the status of a trans male who has become pregnant and given birth to a child. Existing legislation and UK and European human rights case law, McFarlane said, did not directly engage with the central question. McFarlane ruled: "The issue which has most properly and bravely been raised by the claimant in this claim is, at its core, a matter of public policy rather than law. It is an important matter of public interest and a proper cause for public debate." In July 2019, McFarlane had removed McConnell's right to anonymity after UK media organizations successfully argued that the publicity surrounding McConnell's film and the public interest in the question of how the state recognized parenthood meant his identity should be known. | 3news
|
Lagos, Nigeria (CNN)Three brothers from a known sporting family have been jailed for siphoning cash from their foundation, UK's National Crime Agency said.Ex-footballers Efe Sodje, 46, and Stephen Sodje, 43, and ex-rugby player Bright Sodje, 51, were found guilty of diverting cash from the Sodje Sports Foundation (SSF) set up in 2009 to help children in Nigeria's oil-producing Niger Delta region.They were jailed for 18, 21 and 30 months respectively by a judge at the Central Criminal Court in London in 2017.The NCA said the brothers used their status and business connections to garner support and donations but failed to remit the funds to the charity.The brothers used around £63,000 raised from charity events between 2011 to 2014 for their own gain, according to the NCA.Read MoreThey organized charity football matches and black-tie dinners over the period to raise funds, but none of it got to the children, the agency said on its website. Donors also sent around £34,000 to their accounts. The brothers' 2017 convictions can only now be reported after a judge lifted reporting restrictions on the case after a verdict was reached in a criminal trial against another of the brothers -- former Premier league footballer Okeremute 'Sam' Samuel. Sodje, 39, was tried alongside his brothers but was cleared in the initial 2017 trial. He was later prosecuted in a separate money laundering trial which ended on January 14 this year, the agency said.Sam Sodje arrived at the Old Bailey, London on December 12, 2016 where he faced charges of fraudulent trading in relation to running of the Sodje Sports Foundation.The Sodjes are a family of 11 siblings born in Greenwich, southeast London to Nigerian parents, according to UK media reports. Efe played professional football for several clubs in the UK and represented the Nigerian national team at the 2002 FIFA World Cup."Bright, Efe and Stephen Sodje promoted themselves as generous, community-minded, figures when they were knowingly defrauding people who thought they were helping deprived children in Nigeria," NCA deputy director Chris Farrimond said in a statement.The NCA said its financial investigators revealed the movement of money in and out of the foundation to establish "there was no charitable purpose" for most of the foundation's existence.The NCA worked with the UK's Charity Commission to secure the prosecutions against the three brothers.D.J. Campbell arrested in English match-fixing investigationAnother Sodje brother, Akpo, is still wanted in connection with the fraud charges. The NCA said he fled the UK during the investigation and an arrest warrant has been issued for his arrest. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsFrance confirms the death of senior Islamist militant Abdelhamid Abou ZeidAbou Zeid was a commander of al Qaeda in the Islamic MaghrebFrench and African forces have been fighting Islamist militants in Mali since JanuaryAbou Zeid was killed in the Ifoghas Mountains, where the hunt for militants continuesFrance confirmed for the first time Saturday that Islamist militant Abdelhamid Abou Zeid was killed amid fighting by French forces in northern Mali late last month.Abou Zeid's death in the Ifoghas Mountains had been widely reported but the French government declined to confirm it pending the results of DNA testing. The death of one of the major figures in al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb "marks an important stage in the struggle against terrorism in the Sahel," said a statement from the office of French President Francois Hollande.Report: Al Qaeda kills French hostage held in MaliAbou Zeid was considered one of the group's most ruthless commanders, having seized at least a dozen foreigners for ransom.The French president's office said there was no new information regarding a second man reported to have been killed in the fighting in northern Mali, jihadist commander, Moktar Belmoktar. DNA testing was also being conducted to confirm his death. Belmoktar is believed to be behind a large scale attack at an Algerian gas plant in January that left dozens of hostages and militants dead. At the beginning of this year, Abou Zeid joined other Islamist forces making a push southward toward the capital, Bamako. But when the Islamist advances prompted a French intervention, he moved to the area around the less accessible city of Kidal, close to the virtually impenetrable Ifoghas Mountains.French minister: 'Tons' of Islamists' heavy weapons found in MaliFrench and allied forces, including Malian and Chadian troops, have made significant inroads in recent weeks combating Islamist extremist fighters in Mali. But fighting continues in the remote northeastern part of the West African nation.Nearly 50 aerial sorties were flown in the past few days, most of them in the Ifoghas Mountains region and along the Niger river between Gao and Timbuktu, the French Defense Ministry said Thursday.French ground forces, supported by troops from Chad, have been hunting armed terrorist groups in amongst the valleys of the massif, the ministry said.French involvement in the conflict began on January 11, the day after militants said they had seized the city of Konna, east of Diabaly in central Mali, and were poised to advance south toward Bamako, the capital.In total, 4,000 French soldiers are deployed in Mali, according to the French Defense Ministry website, alongside 6,300 troops from Chad and the African-led International Support Mission to Mali.Islamist extremists carved out a large haven in northern Mali last year, taking advantage of a chaotic situation after a military coup by the separatist party MNLA. France using DNA to identify Islamists killed in Africa | 3news
|
(CNN)The English Football Association is facing an investigation by European football's governing body UEFA over the fan disorder that occurred inside and around Wembley Stadium at Sunday's Euro 2020 final.Ahead of kick-off, a number of fans without tickets had tried to force their way into the stadium.The English FA is also facing four UEFA charges relating to "the invasion of the field by its supporters," the throwing of objects and the lighting of fireworks as well as "disturbance" during the national anthem.In a statement on Tuesday, UEFA said it had opened disciplinary proceedings against the English FA as well as a separate investigation into events involving supporters which occurred inside and around Wembley at Sunday's Euro 2020 final.General view inside Wembley Stadium during the UEFA Euro 2020 Final.The English Football Association announced on Monday it will carry out a "full review and investigation" into the security breach.Read More"Security and stewarding numbers for the UEFA EURO 2020 Final exceeded the requirements for the match and were greater than any other previous event at Wembley Stadium," said an FA spokesperson in a statement sent to CNN on Monday."However, the behaviour of the people who illegally forced their way into the stadium was unacceptable, dangerous and showed total disregard for the safety and security protocols in place."No steward or security staff should be subjected to this type of behaviour and we thank them for their support on the night. We also apologise to anyone at the match whose experience was affected by this unprecedented level of public disorder."After a follow-up email from CNN on the security breach at the London venue, as well as further inquiries on some of the videos showcasing violence inside the ground, a Wembley Stadium spokesperson condemned "the behaviour of a group of people that forced their way into Wembley Stadium before the EURO 2020 Final.""These people are an embarrassment to the England team and to all of the true fans who wanted to enjoy one of the most important matches in our history.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosA pitch invader gestures as he runs on the pitch during the Euro 2020 final."We will work with the relevant authorities to take action against anyone who is identified to have illegally forced their way into the stadium."Sunday's showpiece was the first major international soccer final England had reached since 1966. However Italy emerged victorious after a penalty shootout.A total of 53 people were arrested at Wembley on Sunday. They were among the 86 arrests the Met Police made for a number of offences in London in relation to the final, including public order breaches, assault, drunk and disorderly conduct and criminal damage, police said in a statement."The unacceptable scenes we saw yesterday were a small number of people intent on using the football as an excuse to behave appallingly towards other members of the public and officers," deputy assistant commissioner Laurence Taylor said in a statement. | 5sport
|
(CNN)Despite a tumultuous period on and off the pitch, Barcelona is now the most valuable soccer club in the world, according to Forbes.Valued at $4.76 billion, the Catalan giant heads the Forbes rankings for the first time after narrowly pipping fierce rivals Real Madrid to the top spot this year. Real is valued at $4.75 billion but currently holds the bragging rights on the pitch after its 2-1 win the El Clasico on Saturday. It's a rare piece of good news for Barcelona, which has had its fair share of problems over the last year.Historic debts, reported by Spanish newspaper El Mundo to be more than one billion dollars, forced Barcelona into a fire sale of some of the most important figures in its playing squad and recent presidential elections will hope to quell the animosity within the ranks. Read MoreIt's also trying to keep hold of star player Lionel Messi, who made public his desire to leave Barcelona last year and who subsequently criticized the club's hierarchy after having to stay. In February 2020, Barcelona also issued a statement to say it "categorically" denied responsibility for the publication of Messi's $672 million contract in El Mundo.The contract would make Messi the highest-paid athlete in sports history and the club said it would take legal action against the newspaper "for any damage that may be caused as a result of this publication."READ: The making of Bayern Munich's wonderkid Jamal MusialaBarcelona and Real Madrid are ranked first and second in Forbes' rich list. Club values rise despite pandemic Whilst Barcelona and Real occupy the top two spots on the rich list, Champions League winner Bayern Munich takes third spot, being valued at $4.22 billion.World's most valuable soccer clubs -- Forbes1. Barcelona: $4.76bn2. Real Madrid: $4.75bn3. Bayern Munich: $4.215bn4. Manchester United: 4.2bn5. Liverpool: $4.1bn6. Manchester City: $4.0bn7. Chelsea: $3.2bn8. Arsenal: $2.8bn9. Paris St-Germain: $2.5bn10. Tottenham: $2.3bnIt means Manchester United drop out of the top three into fourth, as the club continues its rebuilding process on the pitch. United had previously topped the rankings 11 times in the last 16 years. United's Premier League rivals Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur also make up the Top 10, with Paris Saint-Germain sitting amongst them in ninth. On average, the value of the Top 20 richest clubs in the world has risen 30% in the last two years, according to Forbes, despite the devastating impact Covid-19 has had on the game. "The pain is far from over, with a worsening decline in matchday revenue during the current season, as most of the teams in Europe's top leagues still permit few fans to attend games," wrote Forbes' Mike Ozanian.Whilst Real slip to second in the overall rankings, it remains top in terms of commercial revenue, according to Forbes. Through sponsorship deals, advertising and kit deals, the club brought in $424 million last season. It still holds the most valuable shirt and kit deals in the world of soccer. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsThe evidence presented is "strong enough to look into the matter seriously," says mayor's aideDetails of the treasure hunters' claim are being passed to government ministries to examineThe train reputedly went missing in 1945, at the end of World War II (CNN)The evidence behind a claim by treasure hunters in Poland to have found a legendary Nazi train packed with gold is strong enough that the government has been asked to investigate, local officials said.News of the two treasure hunters' supposed discovery in a sealed tunnel in Poland's mountainous southwestern Walbrzych district made headlines last week.The train reputedly went missing in 1945, at the end of World War II, when the Soviet Red Army was closing in on the forces of Nazi Germany.As local lore has it, the train left Wroclaw, then part of Germany and known as Breslau, for Walbrzych, but never reached its destination.Arkadiusz Grudzien, assistant to the mayor of Walbrzych, told CNN Thursday that the train has not yet been found -- but that the claim by the two men had been passed to government level, to be studied by the defense, treasury, culture, and finance ministries.Read More"We can confirm that if it is indeed where these men claim it is that it is on the territory of Walbrzych," he said. Under Polish law, a 10% "finder reward" would apply to the two men if the train is found, he said, but reports that they would be given a cash reward are wrong."At the moment, the train has not been located, but we believe the evidence presented to be strong enough to look into the matter seriously," he said.Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, Walbrzych deputy mayor Zygmunt Nowaczyk said the discovery had been made within the territory of Walbrzych city -- but that he was not at liberty to share the exact location."Also I would like to add that that this 'find' belongs to the National Treasury legally."The two treasure hunters, a German and a Pole, contacted the Walbrzych district council earlier this month to report their claim -- but said they wouldn't reveal its exact location without a guarantee that they will be awarded 10% of the value of the treasure, local official Marika Tokarska said last week.Guarantees aside, local historian Joanna Lamparska told Polish station TVN24 last week that the story seemed to her to be unsubstantiated."In my opinion, perhaps the person who reported this pointed officials to a different place from the other train," she said.Concentration camp survivor: 'It was like something out of hell'CNN's Antonia Mortensen and Vasco Cotovio contributed to this report. | 3news
|
(CNN)The sale and carrying of plastic bottles is to be banned in French stadiums from July 2022, the French government announced Thursday in a statement. The move is part of measures to limit violence from fans against players or staff on the pitch during matches. Clubs will be able to put the measure in place from today, if they so wish, a statement from the ministers of interior, justice and sport said. It added that the French Football Federation has announced its desire to apply the rule for the next match of the national team. The ministers agreed that when a player or referee is injured on the pitch by a projectile from the stands, as a rule the match in question will be completely stopped, the statement said. READ: French league game abandoned after player hit in head by water bottle thrown from crowdRead MoreMarseille's Dimitri Payet is hit by a water bottle thrown from the crowd during a match against Lyon in November.An obligation will also be placed on clubs to install measures to stop projectiles from being thrown on to pitches from the stands (for example, the installation of nets), the statement added. This will be integrated into the rules of the Professional Football League. The League will also establish an audit of video surveillance systems at stadiums to identify and sanction "trouble makers" at matches, the statement said. France is also considering a fine issuable by a police officer on the spot for anyone attempting to smuggle flares or fireworks into a sporting arena or use them therein, the statement said. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosIn recent months French football has been marred by several instances of projectiles being thrown on to the pitch during top-tier sporting matches.This resulted in a viral image of stewards protecting Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar with riot shields when he took a corner kick at a match in Marseille in October. | 5sport
|
(Reuters)World number two Aryna Sabalenka said she got vaccinated against Covid-19 after having to miss last month's Indian Wells tournament because she contracted the novel coronavirus.The Belarusian, speaking on the eve of the season-ending WTA Finals in Guadalajara, Mexico, had previously expressed concern about the vaccines, saying she was worried about how quickly they had been produced and which one might be the best for her."I think I'm clear right now because in Miami I did the vaccine, Johnson & Johnson," the 23-year-old told reporters on Tuesday."Hopefully, I'm safe because I don't want to stay in quarantine any more. It's not a lot of fun."Sabalenka hits a forehand against Leylah Fernandez of Canada in the women's semifinals of the US Open.Sabalenka said she could not move for four days after testing positive last month.Read More"I stayed in the room for 10 days. I was doing some workout there, but it wasn't enough," she said. "I didn't have taste, I didn't have smell. Wasn't really an amazing time."Sabalenka is the top seed at the WTA Finals after world number one Ash Barty decided not to travel to Mexico. She will face Spain's Paula Badosa in her first match on Thursday.The WTA Finals, contested by the world's top eight singles players and eight doubles teams, was relocated to Mexico from Shenzhen due to Covid-19 travel restrictions in China. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsPSG agree deal to sign David Luiz from ChelseaThe Brazil international could become the most expensive defender everFrench club were recently sanctioned by UEFA under new Financial Fair Play rulesThey may have just been sanctioned by UEFA for breaching Financial Fair Play rules but Paris Saint-Germain is showing no sign of putting away the checkbook.The French champions announced an agreement has been reached with Chelsea late Friday to sign Brazil international defender David Luiz subject to the player passing a medical and agreeing personal terms.Neither club confirmed the extent of the fee agreed although reports earlier in the day had suggested a figure in the region of £40 million ($67 million) was likely."Paris Saint Germain, Chelsea and David Luiz would like to confirm that they reached an agreement regarding the terms of an upcoming transfer of the Brazilian defender that would occur during the next transfer window which is due to start on 10th June 2014," read a statement released by PSG.JUST WATCHEDVieira predicts Champions League finalReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVieira predicts Champions League final 02:10JUST WATCHEDRemembering a football legendReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRemembering a football legend 02:01JUST WATCHEDThe big bucks behind the Champions LeagueReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe big bucks behind the Champions League 01:54"In accordance with the player's wish to prepare for and play in the World Cup in his home country in the best possible conditions, both clubs and David Luiz wished to reach an agreement as soon as possible."If the $67 million fee reported is correct it will make Luiz the most expensive defender ever, overtaking the $57 million PSG paid to sign Thiago Silva from AC Milan in 2012.How the Parisians aim to incorporate the deal into their commitments to comply with UEFA's new financial regulations remains unclear, however.Selling players or increasing revenues is a possibility but president Nasser al-Khelaifi has publicly stated his intention to continue to invest in the team.PSG were sanctioned last week along with English champions Manchester City for breaking FFP rules which aim to stop clubs getting into unmanageable debt or allow wealthy benefactors to give top teams and unfair advantage.Backed by the Qatar Investment Authority, PSG have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on some of the world's best players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Edison Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi in recent years.The club claimed any losses incurred on these transfers was wiped out with a huge and back-dated sponsorship deal with the Qatar Tourist Authority but UEFA concluded that although this deal was valid it was heavily overvalued.As a result, PSG were found to have exceeded the permitted losses of $62 million over the course of the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons and accepted a fine of $83 million and a squad capped at 21 players rather than the usual 25 for next season's Champions League campaign. | 5sport
|
(CNN)Chris Robshaw only took up rugby at the behest of a mother desperate to get her three boys out of the house.More than two decades on, the England captain is 100 days away from leading his country at the 2015 Rugby World Cup on home soil.Follow @cnnsport
For a player pushed into the game by a single mother desperate for her three sons to burn off some energy, he calls it "surreal."Struggling with dyslexia, rugby was a chance for Robshaw to express himself fully outside of the classroom -- where he dreaded being asked to read aloud in class."Rugby proved to be my escape," admits the 29-year-old.Read MoreRobshaw has overcome all manner of hurdles, the most tragic of which was the death of his father Alan of a heart attack when he was five.But for critics of his on-field performance, this year's Six Nations Championship was seen as his coming of age. Robshaw earned plaudits for not giving an inch in a prematch standoff with Wales and, from there, the player and his side went from strength to strength. England ultimately missed out on the trophy to Ireland in a final-day thriller.It was an uncomfortable ending for Robshaw, but he is no stranger to discomfort."As part of a team building exercise at Harlequins [his rugby club] a few of us did standup comedy," he recalls. "It was horrific -- there's no other way to describe it. It was about being comfortable in an uncomfortable environment."Robshaw turned the joke on himself with lines like, "Did you hear the one about the dyslexic who turned up at a toga party dressed as a goat?" It warranted the odd laugh and, looking back, he says he was "happy just to get through it."JUST WATCHEDDan Carter's quest for another cupReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDan Carter's quest for another cup 01:48In the same vein, he has undertaken acting lessons. Not with an Oscar in mind but again to test his personal boundaries.There may be more headline-grabbing players in the England squad but Robshaw toils and scraps, putting his body on the line for club and country."When Dad died it was extremely tough for me," he revealed. "Being young I don't remember it as much as some of the rest of the family (Robshaw is the middle of three brothers.) But it was really tough for me, my family and my Mum, who gave us the most amazing opportunities."I'm sure we gave her plenty of moments of challenges and she was forever taking me places. She gave me that belief but also that work ethic."Mum Patricia runs two nursing homes and is the first person to step in to cover if someone is sick. This, says her proud son, entails working a night shift despite having done a full day's work already, or walking five miles to one of the homes when her car was snowed in."That infused in me the work ethic and I think it's the same with my brothers," adds Robshaw.Older brother Alex, 31, is a city trader while James, 26, works in sports hospitality. The pair are also extreme skiers but, with Robshaw's rugby contract, when the family get together on a skiing holiday, he simply has to stay at home.Robshaw attended the notoriously sporty Millfield School, whose diverse alumni range from the former FIA president Max Mosley to Desperate Housewives actress Nicollette Sheridan. The school is also known for its work with dyslexic students."The dyslexia and the rugby were my two reasons for going there," admits Robshaw. "As a kid I didn't appreciate it at the time being picked out but looking back it was extremely beneficial for me. "They paired you up with similar people and you had that understanding. But I just didn't enjoy the study. For me, sport was my avenue."He tried his hand at it all before eventually settling on rugby, which led to him being offered a £4,000-a-year ($6,000) academy contract with Quins, the club he followed as a boy, on leaving school.A litany of injuries followed -- a broken metatarsal, a broken fibula and anterior cruciate ligament damage. He feared his contract would be terminated and that his rugby career was over before it began.But then director of rugby Dean Richards allayed his fears and kept the faith. In turn, Robshaw has repaid the club with a Premiership title and European silverware. He remains a one-club man and he has seen the team's support grow from just one stand to 15,000 supporters each week, one of the best attendances in England.Off the field, his partner is the soprano Camilla Kerslake, who was the first artist signed to Take That singer Gary Barlow's record label.While they may look like a celebrity couple, Robshaw laughs at idea of Barlow popping over for dinner."Well, I wouldn't go that far," he tells CNN, in an interview on behalf of England team sponsor BMW for their Sweet Chariot Road Show. "But with my rugby and Camilla working in the music industry we do get to meet some cool people so that's good fun."But Robshaw, who met Kerslake when she was performing at a charity dinner in 2011, prefers the quieter life, walking his dog around London's Richmond Park or focusing on his burgeoning business empire.Coffee club @BWRwinchester With @kevinlatouf. pic.twitter.com/y9fEzVNzQf— Chris Robshaw (@ChrisRobshaw) June 3, 2015
He boasts a coffee and wine shop in Winchester, Black White Red, as well as a coffee shop at the Stoop where Harlequins play. He's also just launched an events company called Zeus.And he is far from a silent partner in it: "I read about a former NFL player (Junior Bridgeman) who now owns like 100 Wendy's franchises in the U.S."He would get stuck in and work washing the toilets or flipping burgers. So I try to get stuck in when I can, packaging coffee so I get a better understanding of how it works. I appreciate rugby can't last forever."So don't be surprised to find yourself served by a World Cup-winning captain if things go to plan later this year.For Robshaw, it will be a first World Cup. He made England's initial squad of players for the last tournament in 2011 but missed the cut.So what will it mean to lead his country in a home World Cup, which gets under way on 18 September, and potentially lift that trophy? "Lifting the trophy would mean the world to me. We're definitely aiming to do that. The boys who've played at past World Cups have told me what an incredible spectacle it is. I can't wait."Who will win the 2015 Rugby World Cup? Have your say on CNN Sport's Facebook page | 5sport
|
Story highlightsLondon's Metropolitan Police say they arrested man Wednesday afternoon, but won't release nameCantona's representatives couldn't be immediately reached for commentPolice: Suspect cautionedAlleged victim, a man, didn't need medical assistance, police sayFormer Manchester United star Eric Cantona was arrested and cautioned Wednesday in London on suspicion of assault, Britain's Press Association reported.London's Metropolitan Police confirmed that they arrested and subsequently cautioned "a man in his mid-40s on suspicion of common assault," but declined to release his name.Police were called about the incident at about 1 p.m. The alleged victim, a man, did not require medical assistance, police said.CNN could not immediately reach Cantona's representatives for comment.Police in Britain can issue a caution to people for minor crimes. By accepting a caution, the suspect admits the offense and is released.The caution is not a conviction, but it can be used as character evidence in trials for any other crime.The French 47-year-old Cantona retired from football at age 30 but made his mark at Manchester United. The club's fans voted him as their player of the century in 2011. | 5sport
|
(CNN)A judge has ruled that ethical veganism qualifies as a philosophical belief protected under UK law.Jordi Casamitjana, an "ethical vegan," claims he was dismissed by his employer, animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports, in April 2018 because he informed colleagues that their employer's pension fund was "being invested in companies that experiment on animals" and non-ethical funds -- a claim the charity has rejected. Ethical vegans not only follow a vegan diet, but also oppose the use of animals for any purpose, such as animal testing.At an employment tribunal on Friday, judge Robin Postle said he was "satisfied overwhelmingly" that ethical veganism meets the criteria of the Equality Act to qualify as a philosophical belief. In a short summary judgment, Postle declared that veganism "clearly in my view meets all the criteria; It is a philosophical belief, not just an opinion."Read More "It is cogent, serious and important, and worthy of respect in democratic society," he added.Vegan sneakers set to be next sustainable plant-based craze in 2020Casamitjana brought the landmark legal case to court on Thursday, hoping to force a change to Britain's Equality Act that would see veganism included as a philosophical belief protected from discrimination.The law, passed in 2010, defines "religion or belief" as one of the nine "protected characteristics," which include race, sex, pregnancy and maternity and sexuality, making it unlawful for employers to discriminate on those grounds.For Casamitjana to qualify for protection under the act, his lawyers had to prove that veganism is "a belief and not an opinion," that it has "a certain level of cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance," and that it is "worthy of respect in a democratic society, compatible with human dignity and not conflict with the fundamental rights of others."Casamitjana expressed his satisfaction with the judgment. As we mark World Vegan Day, here are four great reasons to give animal products a miss"I'm extremely happy with the outcome of this hearing and for the words of the judge who clearly understood what ethical veganism is. I didn't expect to have a judgement today but the overwhelming weight of the evidence we have provided seems to have been sufficient for the judge to conclude that I'm the ethical vegan I say I am, and that ethical veganism is a protected 'non-religious philosophical belief,'" he said in a statement. "I am not alone. Many people have supported me because they, or their friends, have experienced discrimination for being ethical vegans. Hopefully, from my dismissal, something positive will come by ensuring other ethical vegans are better protected in the future," he added. Peter Daly, the employment lawyer representing Casamitjana, said the recognition of ethical veganism as a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 would have "potentially significant effects on employment and the workplace, education, transport and the provision of goods and services."A vegan man claims Burger King cooked Impossible Whopper alongside meat"I'm pleased with how the hearing today has gone and we look forward to receiving the full judgement in due course. This was the first of a two part employment tribunal. Now the question of ethical veganism has been determined by the judge, the litigation will move on to determine the lawfulness of Jordi's treatment by the League Against Cruel Sports," Daly said in a statement. Casamitjana argued that identifying as an ethical vegan involves "much more than just not eating food with animal ingredients," and is a "philosophy and a belief system" encompassing most aspects of his life.Rhys Wyborn, employment partner at law firm Shakespeare Martineau, who acted for the League Against Cruel Sports, said: "Although an interesting point of law, this hearing was preparation for the real crux of the matter: why Jordi Casamitjana was dismissed. In view of its animal welfare value, the League did not contest the issue of whether ethical veganism itself should be a protected belief, with the League maintaining that it's irrelevant to the core reason for the dismissal. "The League is now looking ahead to the substantive hearing in this case and to addressing the reason for Mr. Casamitjana's dismissal, which it maintains was due to his misconduct and not the belief he holds." | 3news
|
Story highlightsSloane Stephens will play Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the Australian OpenStephens beat Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski, while Williams eased past Maria KirilenkoDefending champion Victoria Azarenka into the last eight after win against Elena VesninaFormer world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki beaten by Russian Svetlana KuznetsovaAs a child, Sloane Stephens decorated her bedroom walls with pictures of the Williams sisters. Later this week, the 19-year-old will play third seed Serena Williams in her first grand slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open.Stephens, seeded 29th, battled hard on Monday to see off the challenge of Serbia's Bojana Jovanovski 6-1 3-6 7-5 and set up a last eight tie with 15-time grand slam winner Williams.The pair played each other in the recent Brisbane International event, with Williams emerging with a 6-4 6-3 triumph.Read: Can Sloane succeed Serena and Venus?"You've just got to go and treat it like another match," Stephens told a post-match press conference. "It wasn't like, 'Oh, my God, I played Serena, I'm going to be so great at all these other things because she just taught me so much.'JUST WATCHEDHow do you beat Serena Williams?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow do you beat Serena Williams? 01:19JUST WATCHEDIs Serena Williams the greatest ever?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIs Serena Williams the greatest ever? 04:12JUST WATCHEDWilliams sisters show off dancing skillsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWilliams sisters show off dancing skills 01:54"It was just another match, regular match. Little things that you just take and move on. That was two weeks ago now, three weeks ago ... I played seven other matches or eight other matches, so I'm kind of past what happened then."But I think definitely just treat it as another match. You just go out and do your best."Williams continued her imperious run of form with a 6-2 6-0 defeat of Russia's No. 14 Maria Kirilenko. The 31-year-old is aiming to secure a sixth success at the Melbourne grand slam.World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka could face Williams in the semifinals. The defending champion eased into the last eight with a straight-forward 6-1 6-1 win against Russian Elena Vesnina."I was focused and in control from the beginning," said Belarus' Azarenka. "That was important for me. I feel like I'm improving from match to match. I just want to keep going the same way."Next up for Azarenka is another Russian in the shape of Svetlana Kuznetsova, who got the better of former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki. Denmark's Wozniacki is still searching for the first grand slam title of her career."You obviously don't feel great when you lose, so I think that's pretty obvious," explained 10th seed Wozniacki. "But it was a close game. I had my chances and I didn't take them. I could have won but I didn't."I'm encouraged about the way I played and the way I came out of some situations and the way I was playing the points. Obviously I would have loved to have won today, but it didn't happen." | 5sport
|
Story highlights Ukraine: "Russia resorts to political and military provocations" rather than full Minsk implementationHeavy weapons still in place; hundreds of violations recorded (CNN)Peace in eastern Ukraine remains tenuous as a spate of violations of a newly implemented ceasefire continued into Wednesday.A day after the head of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) warned the ceasefire had failed, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel urged Kiev and Moscow to hold fast to the agreement.Despite assurances given by both parties, he said, the "ceasefire is not holding.""We can only urgently appeal to both sides to implement the agreements we have reached -- otherwise, we will risk an intensified military escalation with many other civilian victims and a continuation of the standstill in the political process," Gabriel said in a statement."Even the most intense negotiating efforts are in vain when there is no political will to implement them."Read MoreBoth sides had agreed to the withdrawal of "heavy weapons and full compliance" with the ceasefire, which was supposed to start Monday, Gabriel said.At the United NationsSpeaking Tuesday at the headquarters of the United Nations, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier revealed there had been "no signs of the withdrawal of the weapons."JUST WATCHEDRussia okays passports issued by East Ukraine separatistsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRussia okays passports issued by East Ukraine separatists 02:43"The crisis in and around the Ukraine continues to be a major source of tension and instability in Europe," he said. Zannier had been invited by the Ukraine delegation of the Security Council to speak before the chamber.He told the Security Council that the OSCE was "monitoring the ceasefire and are ready to observe the much-needed withdrawal of heavy weapons."Ukraine: Everything you need to know about how we got hereContinued violationsZannier told reporters that there continued to be a number of violations and that the impact on civilians in the disputed regions was becoming "increasingly significant."JUST WATCHED'People are being killed every day' in UkraineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'People are being killed every day' in Ukraine 04:58"We will need to keep pushing and activate the international community also to put pressure on the sides to implement" steps to ensure the ceasefire holds.His appearance came just before the organization's principle deputy chief monitor told CNN that there were about 200 ceasefire violations overnight Tuesday local time. The number is in addition to hundreds more observed since the ceasefire nominally began Monday.Alexander Hug, principle deputy chief monitor of the OSCE's special monitoring mission to Ukraine, told CNN's Clare Sebastian that about 100 of those violations were explosions, indicating that heavy weaponry, such as tanks and mortars, is still in place.Unlike the last few weeks, when critical infrastructure was cut off, there is no immediate crisis as of now, but any of these explosions could knock out a power line and make things worse, Hug added.Zannier said relations between the West and Russia remain "strongly adversarial" and that "in Europe, we increasingly see the impact of an approach to the post-Cold War phase (of cooperation) with a Cold War mentality." Russia: 'We're not returning our territory' Crimea to UkraineZannier: Putin moves jeopardize frameworkZannier said there was a "very real risk of escalation" in fighting in the region and that Russian President Vladimir Putin's executive order to recognize travel documents from the de facto, pro-Russian separatist authorities in disputed areas of eastern Ukraine "complicates the implementation of the Minsk agreement." The latest ceasefire is a renewed attempt to enforce the Minsk peace protocol -- the framework for peace in the region that has repeatedly failed since it was first partially implemented two years ago.Putin effectively withdrew from the Minsk agreement last week by signing an executive order recognizing travel documents issued by separatist authorities in the region.Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Russia is recognizing the travel documents "for humanitarian reasons."JUST WATCHEDThe Cold War: Then and nowReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe Cold War: Then and now 01:40But at a Security Council briefing Wednesday, the Ukrainian delegation said Russia isn't fully living up to its end of the deal. "Instead of full and good-faith implementation of the Minsk commitments, Russia resorts to political and military provocations, blackmail and political pressure," the delegation said in a statement. In addition, Ukraine said, the Trilateral Contact Group -- representatives of Ukraine, Russia and OSCE -- "should pay particular attention to achieving immediate and unconditional release of Ukrainian citizens, who remain illegally detained as hostages or political prisoners in the occupied areas of Donbas and in Crimea, as well as in the Russian Federation."What is the Minsk agreement?The Minsk agreement, which was negotiated in 2014 but never fully implemented, calls for the "bilateral cessation of the use of all weapons," and the decentralization of power in the region "with respect to the temporary status of local self-government in certain areas of the Donetsk and the Lugansk regions."At the time, then-Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk spoke of the deal with guarded optimism."We had just two options: bad, and worse," he said. "So we decided at this particular period of time to get the bad option. Probably this option will save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers, and I hope this option will save lives of Ukrainian civilians, of innocent people, who are under a constant shelling of Russian-led terrorists.""It's better to have this new deal rather than not to have (it)," he said. "But we do not trust any words or any papers. We are to trust only actions and deeds."CNN's Richard Roth contributed to this report. | 3news
|
(CNN)Jude Bellingham, a promising 17-year-old English footballer who signed with top German club Borussia Dortmund this week, has called the racist comment he received on Twitter following his move to the Bundesliga team "disgusting." On Thursday, Bellingham posted a screengrab of the now-deleted message on Twitter which called him an "overrated talent" and said "Black people only think about money."In a statement, West Mercia Police said officers were investigating racist comments made on social media towards a 17-year-old from North Worcestershire, England. Inspector Lee Page said officers are "thoroughly investigating these abhorrent comments" and added that the police had contacted the victim and the victim's family. Christian Kabasele says racism online 'is worse' than incidents in stadiumThough the user has deleted the tweet and deactivated the account, Twitter has taken action on the account as it violated the company's Hateful Conduct Policy.Read MoreA Twitter spokesperson told CNN that during the current football season in the UK, the company had suspended nearly 300 accounts and "taken action" on nearly 6,000 examples of abuse and hateful content. "We are continuing to proactively engage and collaborate with our valued partners in football to identify ways to tackle this issue collectively," the spokesperson said. Midfielder Bellingham signed for Dortmund on Monday for a fee widely reported to be more than $26 million. He played his final game with his boyhood club, Birmingham City, on Wednesday and was visibly emotional at the final whistle. Dortmund said in a statement to CNN that the club "strongly support and stand with" Bellingham. "There is absolutely no room for racism and all forms of discrimination at Borussia Dortmund," the statement read.Earlier this month a 12-year-old boy was arrested in connection with racist threats made to Wilfried Zaha, a star player for English Premier League side Crystal Palace. In a recent interview with CNN Sport, footballer Christian Kabasele said racism online was often worse than when he had been targeted in stadiums. Watford player Kabasele said he received numerous abusive posts on his personal social media accounts and urged platforms to do more in tackling the issue. Neither Twitter or Instagram replied to CNN's request for comment at time of publication. Bellingham is the latest talented English youngster to opt to develop his career in the Bundesliga, following in the path of Jadon Sancho who quickly became an England international after joining Dortmund from Manchester City in 2017. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsCOP21 climate talks to be held in Paris just weeks after deadly terror attacks shook the citySecurity concerns have led to the cancellation of planned protests, amid fears large gatherings could be targetedParis (CNN)"No, no, no, no, no, the COP21 will be held."That was the answer of French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius when asked whether the U.N. Climate Conference known as COP21 would be moved or postponed after the terror attacks in Paris on November 13. It was an answer as predictable as the question was inevitable. To call off such a major gathering of world leaders in the French capital would have been an unthinkable surrender to terrorism. JUST WATCHEDWill French economy suffer in wake of Paris attacks?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWill French economy suffer in wake of Paris attacks? 02:14But the security headaches involved in accommodating nearly 150 heads of government and an additional 40,000 visitors and delegates are daunting. And the summit is due to run for nearly two weeks -- even if many of the major players will likely be in Paris for barely 24 hours. France has dedicated 2,800 police and gendarmes to ensuring the security of the summit venue at Le Bourget, on the northern outskirts of Paris. A further 8,000 officers have been deployed to secure the country's borders. Altogether 120,000 police and gendarmes have been mobilized across France, according to the Interior Ministry.Read MoreThe government had announced at the beginning of the month that border controls would be imposed ahead of COP21 -- in what Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve then called a precaution against "a terrorist threat or risk to public order." Perhaps it's no coincidence that several members of the group involved in the Paris attacks crossed from Belgium into France just before those controls were reintroduced. Normally, French land borders are open because the country is a party to the Schengen Agreement on free movement within much of the European Union.In the wake of the attacks, and after the threat from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) that they were the first in a "storm," French authorities are further reinforcing border checkpoints. Searches and arrests continue in an effort to break up suspected militant networks. Cazeneuve said Thursday that more than 300 people had been arrested since November 13, of whom some 200 remain in custody. JUST WATCHED Paris Climate Conference: COP21 ExplainedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH Paris Climate Conference: COP21 Explained 02:09The greatest threat is not to the summit site at Le Bourget; it is fairly self-contained and divided into three main venues, with the public area separated from the main conference center, which is accessible only to accredited delegates and press. "Everything is being organized to maximize security at the conference itself, and its surroundings," Cazeneuve said.Terror groups tend not to target summits precisely because of the levels of security. But there are instances where they have staged attacks to coincide with such events -- most notably in London in July 2005, when four suicide bombers detonated explosives on the city's underground and bus network, just as the then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair hosted the G8 summit. 5 things to know about COP21This is one reason French authorities have banned public demonstrations planned to mark COP21. After the recent attacks, they announced they "had to reconsider the authorization of marches for the climate planned in Paris and other cities in France on November 29 and December 12. It was a difficult decision to make but in the present context, the safety requirements are the priority."All public rallies in Paris have been banned since the attacks, and providing security for a march of tens of thousands of people while keeping the summit itself safe would have been a logistical nightmare. There was also the risk of panic in the event of some sort of explosion; a firecracker set off a stampede in the Place de la Republique days after the recent attacks.The government has said that "all events taking place in closed spaces that can easily be made secure will be maintained."So the main casualty of the enhanced security will be the voices of dissent. Many groups had planned on using the platform of COP21 to draw attention to specific causes or to lobby for greater urgency in tackling climate change. One such group was cycling from western France to protest against plans for a new airport. Most environmental NGOs have accepted the ban and are looking to get their message out in different ways. JUST WATCHEDNations prepare for Paris Climate SummitReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNations prepare for Paris Climate Summit 02:20"The security context can't be allowed to prevent all forms of public expression," said Alix Mazounie of Le Réseau Action Climat. Coalition Climat 21, an alliance of civil society groups that had been heavily involved in the Paris protests, pledged earlier this week to try to continue with public demonstrations within the city in close consultation with the police.It said in a statement on Wednesday that it would try to find an "alternative form of citizen mobilization." Can we avoid climate apocalypse?Some groups are thinking of ways to get round the ban with artistic performances in central Paris. Others are considering outright defiance -- but heavy fines may deter many people from challenging the ban. But some complain the ban targets groups which have criticized the summit agenda for being too tame. "We have the feeling that the demonstrations that have been authorised or denied have been filtered politically," said Jean-François Julliard, president of Greenpeace France.For ordinary Parisians, still in a state of shock after the attacks of Friday 13th, the summit may reinforce a sense of being under siege.Roads from the main airports will be closed to deal with the VIP influx, including the autoroutes A1 and A6 -- akin to closing two busy Interstates. Interior Minister Cazeneuve has urged Parisians not to use their cars on those days. Companies have been asked to postpone deliveries and allow employees to work from home.Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has announced free public transport from noon on Sunday until Monday night to help alleviate the gridlock. Some 70,000 additional seats will be available on the Paris metro and buses, at an estimated cost of $10 million.Bloomberg: U.S. climate 'crazies' are being forced to accept realityCNN's Sandrine Amiel contributed to this report. | 3news
|
Story highlightsBelgian special operations forces raid a property in Molenbeek, a Brussels suburb that has a history of links to extremismTwo of the Paris attackers hailed from Molenbeek, a Belgian prosecutor spokesman saysSeven people had been arrested earlier in raids in Molenbeek, but five have been released (CNN)The search for the perpetrators of the Paris attacks has led authorities across the Belgian border to an impoverished suburb of Brussels with a history of links to terror plots.Belgian special operations forces, clad in balaclavas and with bomb disposal robots at the ready, cordoned off two streets as they raided a property in Molenbeek, a suburb of the Belgian capital, on Monday morning, according to a CNN team at the scene.Jean-Pascal Thoreau, a spokesman for the Belgian federal prosecutor, later told CNN that no one was arrested in the raid.Terror in Paris: What we know about the attackersEarlier, Belgian state broadcaster RTBF, citing the country's Federal Justice Department, had reported that police had made one arrest during the raid, but had not apprehended Salah Abdeslam, the French citizen at the center of a manhunt for his suspected involvement in the terror attacks.Read MoreGet up to speed: Everything we know so farCNN MapTwo of those who attacked Paris on Friday have been identified as French citizens who lived in the Brussels suburb, Thoreau told CNN on Sunday, while two cars involved in the Paris shootings had Belgian license plates, according to his office.Seven people were arrested earlier in raids in Molenbeek after the Paris attacks, but five of them have been released, Thoreau told CNN on Monday.Among those released was Mohammed Abdeslam, brother of the wanted man. Thoreau told CNN that the released Abdeslam brother did not know his brother's whereabouts.Authorities hunt for a French nationalLeading exporter of jihadistsThe developments have brought renewed focus on the threat posed by jihadist networks in Belgium, a country that, according to one analysis, has exported more jihadists to the conflicts in Syria and Iraq per capita than any other Western European nation. JUST WATCHEDISIS claims responsibility for Paris attacksReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHISIS claims responsibility for Paris attacks 03:17According to figures released by the International Center for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence in January, an estimated 440 Belgians had taken up arms for Sunni extremist groups in the Middle East, a per-capita figure about double that of France, and four times that of the UK.Molenbeek has a large, predominantly Muslim population of first-, second- and third-generation immigrants from North Africa that has gained an unwelcome reputation as a hotbed of jihadism.Belgium's minister of justice, Koen Geens, told CNN's Ivan Watson on Monday that his country had "a foreign fighters problem," and he cited Molenbeek as an example of an area where more needed to be done to combat the threat.In January, police raided a suspected ISIS terror cell in Verviers in eastern Belgium, killing two men who were alleged to be on the brink of a major Paris-style attack.The cell members, including the man alleged to be orchestrating the plot from abroad, Belgian-Moroccan Abelhamid Abaaoud, all hailed from the Molenbeek area and were suspected to be ISIS veterans who had returned from fighting in Syria, according to a counterterrorism official.JUST WATCHEDWhy is terror recruiting so successful in Belgium?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhy is terror recruiting so successful in Belgium? 02:36Police found automatic weapons, police uniforms and chemicals to make TATP, the powerful explosive that the Paris attackers also used Friday. Inside the foiled Verviers terror plotTwo houses in the suburb were also raided after Ayoub El Khazzani, a Moroccan national, opened fire with a Kalashnikov rifle on a high-speed train from Paris to Amsterdam in August. The prosecutor's office said he had spent time in Molenbeek before the attack.The neighborhood's links to extremist Islam extend back decades. Bassam Ayachi, a French citizen and Salafist cleric, founded the Centre Islamique Belge (CIB) in Molenbeek in the early 1990s -- an organization that Belgian authorities say espoused hardline, pro-al Qaeda views and recruited jihadist fighters.The Belgian capital was also the site of atrocities in May 2014 that left four people dead at Belgium's Jewish Museum. Mehdi Nemmouche, a radicalized French citizen who had spent a year in Syria, has been extradited to Belgium, where he awaits trial. And an arms dealer from the city was arrested for allegedly providing arms to Amedy Coulibaly, the ISIS sympathizer who attacked a Paris kosher supermarket in January.Terror in Paris: What we know so farDangerous cocktailMolenbeek Mayor Francoise Schepmans told CNN after January's Verviers raids that the suburb was aware of the problems it faced with a cocktail of high unemployment among youths, disaffected young Muslims and jihadist propaganda. JUST WATCHEDParisians to terrorists: 'We are not afraid'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHParisians to terrorists: 'We are not afraid' 01:42In February, a Belgian court convicted the leader of the Islamist group Sharia4Belgium and several followers on terror charges of sending jihadist fighters to Syria. The offenses were committed in Brussels, Antwerp, Syria and Turkey."There are several people who left here to fight in Syria. And some who came back. That's the danger," Schepmans said. Abaaoud, who authorities suspect orchestrated the Verviers plot from Greece, is believed to have joined ISIS in Syria in early 2014, Guy Van Vlierden, editor of a blog on Belgian foreign fighters, told CNN this year. At some point, his 13-year-old brother joined him there, becoming the youngest Belgian jihadist in Syria.After the Verviers plot was foiled, Abaaoud evaded European authorities' efforts to apprehend him. He later was featured in an ISIS propaganda magazine, claiming to have returned to Syria.Who were the Paris attacks suspects?Geens, the Belgian justice minister, told CNN on Monday that the jurisdictional divisions in the Brussels police force could hamper police efforts against the jihadist threat. Brussels has 19 municipal mayors in charge of six police zones with their own local police forces."The fact that Brussels is politically and -- as to its police forces -- a little bit more divided than one would expect from such a big city creates additional problems as to surveillance," he told CNN's Watson."The main thing is the local and federal police have to work together continuously. Simple and normal criminality which has nothing to do with terrorism -- but like false papers, false passports, weapon trade -- are flourishing in certain suburbs of Brussels like in Molenbeek, and we absolutely have to counter these things with the help of local services."'Trying to talent spot' Western jihadistsIn an interview with CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank in August, Alain Grignard, a senior member of the counterterror unit in the Brussels federal police and a lecturer on political Islam at the University of Liege, said the perpetrators of the Verviers plot fit a typical profile of Belgian jihadists: "men in their early 20s mostly from the Molenbeek district of Brussels moving in circles with a track record of delinquency and petty crime." "They were radicalized very quickly, and when they came back from Syria they had no fear of death," Grignard said in the interview, published in the Combating Terrorism Center's publication, the CTC Sentinel. Cruickshank is also editor-in-chief of the CTC Sentinel."These guys had maybe more experience in gun battles than our own commandos."Like many European jihadists, they were an outgrowth of the "inner-city gang phenomenon," he said, who had already revolted against Western society through petty crime and delinquency before having their antisocial approach "legitimized" by a radical strain of Islam.JUST WATCHEDInside the Bataclan concert hallReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHInside the Bataclan concert hall 01:23"These youngsters are getting quickly and completely sucked in. The next thing they know they're in Syria and in a real video game," he said.He told Cruickshank that the terror threat in Belgium, fueled by the trail of young jihadists to fight in Syria and Iraq, had "never been higher in all the years I've been working on counterterrorism." "To give you an idea of the scale of the challenge, in the past two years we've charged more people with terrorism offenses than in the 30 years before that," he said. "It's impossible to do surveillance on everybody."Since 2012, he said, al Qaeda had been "trying to talent spot" Western jihadists on the battlefields of Syria for use in potential operations against the West, while ISIS had appeared more focused on state building. But since the start of the U.S.-led air campaign targeting ISIS, the concern had grown that ISIS would also focus on directly targeting Western countries. "And the worry is that competition between al Qaeda and the Islamic State will see both groups try to outdo each other with attacks in the West," he said.Names of victims begin to emergeCNN's Paul Cruickshank, Ivan Watson, Nima Elbagir, Sebastian Knoops, Margot Haddad, Brian Walker, Stephanie Halasz, Vasco Cotovio and Antonia Mortensen contributed to this report. | 3news
|
(CNN)The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday proposed scaling back the requirements around storing and releasing waste from coal-fired power plants, despite also finding an increase in toxic leaks from waste pits. The proposals would relax Obama-era rules from 2015 about the disposal of toxic wastewater and coal ash from the power plants. Coal ash, a mix of fine powder and sludge that is a by-product of burning coal, is commonly stored in pits and landfills. The wastewater can contain dangerous metals such as mercury and arsenic.The proposals would reduce costs to plant operators at a time when the coal industry is struggling and the number of coal-fired power plants is declining. The Washington Post and The New York Times first reported the administration's planned announcements.Coal ash contaminating groundwater nationwide, groups sayThe stricter 2015 regulations are becoming more expensive for operators, the Trump administration said, because it was discovered that "more surface impoundments regardless of liner type are leaking" compared to the Obama administration's estimate four years ago.Ninety-two percent of coal ash ponds are leaking, according to Lisa Evans of the environmental law organization Earthjustice, which opposes the proposals. "So much more harm is occurring than the Obama EPA expected," Evans told CNN. Read MoreThe Trump administration estimated the changes would save power plant operators around $215 million every year. It also said its changes to wastewater rules would result in fewer toxic discharges by allowing new methods of compliance, such as filtration systems. It also allow plants to use a membrane filtration system to filter wastewater and then release it.The administration would allow operators to request extensions of deadlines in 2020 and give them an additional eight years to comply -- until December 2028. Environmental advocates raised concerns the rules would exempt certain plants from compliance. "These rules are supposed to safeguard our water from toxic pollution, but the laundry list of loopholes proposed by the Trump EPA threatens to completely undo the protections," said Thom Cmar, an attorney with Earthjustice.In a statement, Abel Russ of the Environmental Integrity Project said, "This administration will stop at nothing to save the coal industry a few bucks."The rule relaxation comes as companies in the coal industry claimed in court that the current rules were unaffordable and as the Trump administration has taken a "pro-coal" stance. This story has been updated with additional developments Monday. | 4politics
|
Story highlightsGermany win Euro 2013 women's championshipBeat Norway 1-0 for sixth straight titleGerman goalkeeper Nadine Angerer saves two Norwegian penaltiesAnja Mittag scores only goal of the match in the second half German goalkeeper Nadine Angerer achieved the rare feat of saving two penalties in a major football final to help her side beat Norway 1-0 Sunday to win Euro 2013.Angerer kept out spot kicks in either half with substitute Anja Mittag scoring the only goal of the match in Solna in Sweden just after the break.It was enough to give Germany an unprecedented sixth straight European Championship crown, with the last two under legendary former player and now head coach Silvia Neid.An uneventful first half came to life when Norway were awarded the first of their penalties as Catherine Dekkerhus hit the turf under challenge from Celia Okoyino da Mbabi.Penalty saveAngerer, incensed by the earlier award of a corner to Norway just before the penalty incident, channeled her aggression to keep out Trine Ronning's penalty with her knee.Read: USA claim Olympic football gold after beating JapanGermany took the lead just after the halftime break with Mittag tapping in from close range after excellent work by Okoyino da Mbabi.Norway responded with a surging run from Caroline Hansen brought to an abrupt end to lead to the award of a second penalty.This time Solveig Gulbrandsen stepped up to attempt to score, but her effort was too close to Angerer, who fended it away.Germany enjoyed more good fortune when Maren Mjelde's cross was turned in by Ada Hegerberg, but she was rightly flagged for offside.Deserved winners But the reigning champions were deserved winners, with Nadine Kessler's late low shot and an earlier header from Leonie Maier both hitting the woodwork.Still looking for their first Olympic gold medal, Germany have dominated at European level, winning eight of the 11 championships staged, with Neid being involved in them all.The result also continued two-time winner Norway's losing run in Euro finals to Germany, this there fourth and doubly frustrating thanks to Angerer's heroics.Norway had also beaten Germany in the group stages of the competition, but could not repeat the feat when it really mattered. | 5sport
|
Franz Josef Land, Russia (CNN)The Russian military plane touched down in heavy wind and light snow, then slid across the icy tarmac. That the large, four-engine Ilyushin Il-76 airlifter could land at all on the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, is a testament to Moscow's growing military might in this remote part of the world. Russia recently expanded the runway at its Nagurskoye air base on the archipelago to 3,500 meters long, meaning it can land and refuel most of its military aircraft here, including jet fighters to patrol the polar skies. Asked whether this also meant Russia's heavy strategic bombers, like the TU-95 "Bear," were able to operate from here, Maj. Gen. Igor Churkin proudly confirmed they could. "Of course they can," he boasted, pointing to a briefing chart of the base. "Have a look. We can land all types of aircraft on this base." Read MoreRussia's armed forces granted media organizations, including CNN, rare access to the military's northernmost outpost on the island of Alexandra Land, earlier this week, perhaps a show of force ahead of a meeting of the Arctic Council, a high-level group of eight nations bordering the northern polar region where this year Russia took up the chairmanship of the Council. It's one of a growing number of Arctic bases that Russia has built or upgraded in recent years. Construction on the base, known as the Arctic Trefoil, was completed in 2017. It lies just 160 miles (257 kilometers) east from the easternmost part of Norway's Svalbard archipelago -- NATO territory. The new base is built to house around 150 soldiers and is designed to ensure that Russia's Northern Fleet can be autonomous and self-sufficient. It's all part of what President Vladimir Putin says is a key effort to bolster Moscow presence in the Arctic to ensure the "the future" of Russia. The base has what the Russians describe as a state-of-the-art radar station to monitor movements by NATO ships and aircraft. The air commander said the troops up here frequently track US and other aircraft they deem to be adversarial. The army also paraded to journalists two powerful coastal defense rockets it has placed on Franz Josef Land, which it says can hit ships or land targets more than 200 miles offshore. The Russian army paraded to journalists its Bastion coastal defense missile system it has placed on Franz Josef Land, which it says can hit ships or land targets more than 200 miles offshore. "Just yesterday, we saw a NATO reconnaissance plane. We accompanied it for four hours by transmitting all the information to the higher command centers, the positions of the plane and its trajectory, in which direction it was heading," Churkin said. "The enemy will not go un-noticed." CNN was unable to independently verify his claims. But it is clear that the great power competition is heating up in the Arctic, and Russia views this base as a key asset in that struggle. The White House has been watching Russia's military buildup with increasing concern. Ahead of the Arctic Council, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US has "concerns about some of the increased military activities in the Arctic." Blinken and Lavrov hold first high-level meeting of Biden's presidency as US-Russia tensions simmerBlinken came face to face for the first time as Secretary of State with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday on the sidelines of the Arctic Council in Reykjavík. Blinken said "it's no secret" that the US and Russia "have differences." Lavrov responded by saying Russia was prepared to discuss "all issues on the table" but added that, "we greatly diverge when it comes to our assessment of the international situation and our approaches towards how we should resolve it." Putin on Thursday threatened to "knock out" the teeth of foreign foes wanting to "bite" off parts of Russia's territory. Without naming or specifying anyone, Putin said critics complained that his country's vast energy resources belong only to Russia and said developing Russia's armed forces was the only solution. "They should know, those who are going to do this, that we will knock out everyone's teeth so that they cannot bite anymore ... and the key to this is the development of our Armed Forces," he said during a televised conference call. Even the fact that the four-engine Ilyushin Il-76 airlifter could land at all on the Franz Josef Land archipelago in the middle of the Arctic Ocean, is a testament to Moscow's growing military might.Inside the navigator's area of the Ilyushin Il-76 cargo plane.Territorial claims Russia has gone to great lengths in recent years to expand its territorial claims to the region. In 2007, Russian divers in a submersible planted a Russian flag on the Arctic Ocean seabed at the North Pole. The move was criticized by then Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay, who said: "This isn't the 15th century. You can't go around the world and just plant flags and say, 'We're claiming this territory.'" The flag-planting may have been a symbolic move, but since then Russia has been methodically strengthening its airfields and bases at multiple locations on its Arctic coast. The nerve center for Russia's Arctic push is its Northern Fleet, headquartered in the closed military city of Severomorsk on the coast of the Barents Sea, 830 miles from Alexandra Land. The Northern Fleet has recently acquired a variety of new ships and submarines to increase its capabilities, but it also has jet fighters, air defense systems and intelligence assets under its command, the head of the Northern Fleet told CNN during the tour. Under the UN Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), coastal nations with territory inside the Arctic Circle have jurisdiction to exploit natural resources within 200 nautical miles from their coastal baselines. However, in order to claim control over more of the seabed, countries can submit scientific evidence to the UN that their continental shelves have extended. Russian battlecruiser Peter the Great is photographed docked in Severomorsk. In March this year, Moscow also submitted two new addendums to the UN, seeking to expand the international definition of the limits of its continental shelf. The main reason for the increase in tensions in the Arctic is global warming. As temperatures rise and the polar ice caps melt, more of the Arctic is becoming accessible both for military operations and economic activity. Russia quickly realized its far north would soon become a new frontier, so has developed a major strategy to develop the area. That rests on three main pillars: military strength, domination of the Northern Sea Route -- an increasingly viable trade route between the West and Asia as the polar ice further recedes -- and the exploitation of natural resources like gas and minerals in the Arctic. Moscow's claims to the Arctic are not without merit, as around 53% of the coastline of the Arctic Ocean is Russian territory. Lavrov days before the Arctic Council reiterated Russia's claim to the area saying: "It has been absolutely clear for everyone for a long time that this is our territory, this is our land, and we are responsible for our Arctic coast to be safe. Everything that our country does there is absolutely legitimate." Dmitri Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center think tank, told CNN that a big part of Russia's interests is indeed about reaping the "economic riches" of the area. Some experts believe around a quarter of the world's undiscovered oil and gas reserves could be located in the Arctic region, and Russia is keen to tap them. Moscow has already built a liquid natural gas installation and shipping facility on the Yamal peninsula in northern Russia. The project relies heavily on cooperation with China, which has also been eyeing up the newly accessible region. Beijing even declared itself a "near Arctic State" in 2018 much to the dismay of the United States."I made clear that it is a communist fiction for China to be a "near-Arctic nation" when you are 900 miles from the Arctic. This pangolin's nose under the Arctic tent went on for too long -- we did what we do by calling out simple reality. #ChinaIsNotNearArctic," then outgoing US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a tweet in January of this year. The race for the Arctic has already led to disputes between Russia and NATO allies. In 2018, the US sailed an aircraft carrier into the Arctic Ocean for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union as part of massive NATO military drills. "The American and NATO armed forces have become accustomed to performing regular drills alone or in groups of surface warships. We haven't had that since the post-World War II era," Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, the commander of Russia's Northern Fleet, said during CNN's brief visit to Severomorsk. This competition between Russia and the West is probably here to stay, and the reason is simple, according to Trenin of the Carnegie Moscow Center. "There are things to be exploited, areas where you could can make real money, lots of resources available there, natural gas and rare metals so Russia is developing it," he said. But Trenin added there is also a "powerful military element" to Russia's expansion in the Arctic. "If you look at the globe, rather than at the map, then you would realize that the shortest route between US missile bases and Russian targets is not over the Atlantic, but it's over the Arctic."And similarly," he said, "for the Russian missiles pointed at US targets."Anna Chernova contributed to this report. | 3news
|
London (CNN)London Mayor Sadiq Khan stood up for Rep. Ilhan Omar and the rest of "The Squad" as he joined dozens of British politicians in condemning US President Donald Trump's "blatant unashamed racism" against the four Democratic congresswomen.Writing on Twitter on Thursday, Khan said the four women "represent hope for the future." The Mayor, who like Omar is Muslim, added that "their home is America, but their message crosses borders."Khan, who has clashed with Trump on previous occasions, was also among British politicians who signed an open letter of solidarity along with almost 14,000 other signatories. This was addressed to Omar, the Minnesota representative, and her three colleagues Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.The letter, written by the campaign group Hope Not Hate and circulated on Thursday, said: "We are disgusted by Donald Trump's attack on you. His blatant, unashamed racism has appalled people around the world."Read MoreThe message was also signed by opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn and two trade union general secretaries.London's mayor compared President Trump to an 11-year-old child"You embody the best of America. Its diversity is its strength," the letter said, adding: "Thank you for showing the world that America can still provide leadership to be proud of, even when the White House has abdicated that role. We stand in solidarity with you."The support came after Trump spent significant portion of his Monday campaign rally in Greenville, North Carolina, attacking the congresswomen. As Trump made a litany of accusations against them, the crowd chanted: "Send her back!" Trump made no effort to stop the chant, pausing during his remarks as the chant grew louder.Khan and Trump have repeatedly sparred in public, most recently during the President's state visit to the UK in June. The London mayor wrote it was "un-British to roll out the red carpet" for Trump since his behavior "flies in the face of the ideals America was founded on -- equality, liberty and religious freedom."Trump reacted by calling Khan a "stone cold loser," a remark Khan later told CNN was "the sort of behavior I would expect from an 11-year-old."Love and solidarity will always trump hate. These progressive congresswomen @RashidaTlaib @IlhanMN @AyannaPressley @AOC represent hope for the future - their home is America, but their message crosses borders.https://t.co/PLMwOK0frL— Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) July 18, 2019
Trump has been attacking the four congresswomen since on Sunday when he told them to "go back" to their "crime infested" countries. Three of the four were born in the US, while Omar was born in Somalia and came to the US as a refugee in 2000. She became an American citizen when she was 17, according to the New York Times.Omar responded to the Greenville rally with a tweet on Wednesday evening, quoting poet Maya Angelou."You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise," she wrote.CNN's Betsy Klein contributed to this report. | 3news
|
Story highlightsWilliams the subject of a topiary display at the Chelsea Flower Show"The Williams Story" features a life-size topiary Formula One car and pit crewThe display has been awarded the annual horticultural event's prestigious gold medalWilliams have thanked other F1 teams for their help following garage fire in SpainThe floral, serene surrounds of London's Chelsea Flower Show seem a million miles from the screeching, full-throttle action of Formula One.But the two worlds have merged in a unique and award-winning way thanks to the Williams F1 team and a British tree nursery."The Williams Story" is a topiary display which depicts the history of the nine-time constructors' champions, from their origins in 1977 to Pastor Maldonado's historic victory at the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this month.And, in keeping with the green shoots of recovery which were visible during Williams' first race win in eight years, the piece features a life-sized topiary Formula One car.The eye-catching display, which also boasts a pit crew sculpted from living trees, has been handed a gold medal at the prestigious annual British horticultural event.JUST WATCHEDForce India travel to MonacoReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHForce India travel to Monaco 03:27JUST WATCHEDThe magic of the Monaco Grand PrixReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe magic of the Monaco Grand Prix 04:02JUST WATCHEDF1 legends describe challenges of MonacoReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHF1 legends describe challenges of Monaco 02:31JUST WATCHEDA virtual tour of the Monaco Grand PrixReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA virtual tour of the Monaco Grand Prix 02:13"Winning the gold medal is a fantastic achievement," Williams founder and team principal Frank Williams said. "I saw it for the first time (this week) and was taken aback by its scale and attention to detail. "The Chelsea Flower Show is a uniquely British occasion and to be successful at this illustrious event is a great honor. I hope the public enjoy the display as much as the judges."The topiary took over three years to complete and was sculpted using a fast-growing plant native to south-west China.The honor provides Williams with a timely boost ahead of this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, with the team looking to build on Maldonado's win -- the first by a Venezuelan in the history of the sport.Williams' celebrations were cut short by a fire in the team garage, a blaze which left seven people in hospital.The incident also resulted in Williams losing vital parts and equipment, but the team's chief operations engineer Mark Gillan moved to thank the other F1 manufacturers for the support they have shown."The team's preparations for Monaco have been somewhat hampered by last Sunday's garage fire," Gillan said on the official F1 website."But the impact of the fire has been mitigated by what can only be described as a Herculean effort by the factory and our suppliers to restock both the damaged equipment and car parts."We would also like to thank the generous offers of help from the other teams, highlighting once more the excellent sportsmanship that exists in Formula One and high levels of camaraderie throughout the pit lane." | 5sport
|
Story highlightsWomen take on giant waves off MauiPeahi wave is known as "Jaws"First women's big-wave event (CNN)They hurtle down huge walls of water defying injury or worse, but these are not your typical big-wave warriors.For the first time, women competed alongside the men in the Pe'ahi Challenge -- a surfing event at the infamous "Jaws" break off the Hawaiian island of Maui. Follow @cnnsport
Riding liquid mountains more than 30ft high, 12 pioneering women braved giant surf in the inaugural Women's Big Wave Tour event.Congrats @paigealms, Women's #PeahiChallenge winner & Big Wave World Champion!! 🏆 #DontCrackUnderPressure @TAGHeuer pic.twitter.com/A34aF0cHWa— World Surf League (@wsl) November 12, 2016
"We're incredibly proud to be introducing a women's event this season," Big Wave Tour commissioner Peter Mel told the World Surf League website ahead of the competition."These ladies are some of the most dedicated, passionate and talented big-wave surfers on the planet. It will be phenomenal to witness them tackle Pe'ahi."Read MoreJaws, which is officially known as Pe'ahi, was first ridden in the 1990s by surfers using a colleague driving a jet ski to tow them in to the wave.The huge swells -- sometimes up to 60ft high -- were initially thought to move too fast to paddle into like traditional surfers, but the paddle-in movement has grown in recent years.The jet skis are also used to rescue fallen surfers from the impact zone before another huge set of waves crashes over them.The surfers are highly tuned athletes who train specifically for the challenge of riding big waves, including the ability to hold their breath for long periods of time in the event of being held underwater by the violence of the waves. 2016 #BigWaveTour #PeahiChallenge Highlights pic.twitter.com/UXxFKeClXh— World Surf League (@wsl) November 12, 2016
Maui local Paige Alms, 28, won the women's title at Pe'ahi, while another Hawaiian Billy Kemper topped the 24-strong men's competition. "I still feel like it's kind of a dream, but I can't believe it," Alms told the World Surf League after her win. "What a blessing to be out there with just a couple girls. That was special, for sure."Women have long lobbied for a big-wave event but organizers have typically argued there was insufficient strength in depth to warrent a competition.Some big-wave spots such as Mavericks at Half Moon Bay in California were considered too dangerous for women, although the Titans of Mavericks event will also feature a women's competition this year.Surfing in giant waves can be deadly even for the most experienced surfers. Famous big-wave rider Mark Foo drowned at Mavericks in 1994, while Hawaii local Todd Chesser died surfing a huge swell on an outer reef off the North Shore in 1997. | 5sport
|
Paris (CNN)A court in Paris will hear a landmark case accusing the French government of taking inadequate action to combat climate change.The case is part of a lawsuit launched two years ago and the hearing will start Thursday, a judicial source confirmed to CNN."Great day for #climate justice," tweeted Greenpeace France, one of the plaintiffs in the case.The lawsuit was launched by four NGOs, including Greenpeace France and Oxfam France, following an online petition that gathered 2.3 million signatures -- the largest in French history, according to the organizers.Climate activists took to the streets near the Paris administrative tribunal Thursday morning. Images provided by the NGOs showed a giant banner which read: "We are 2.3 million."Read MoreThe signatories hope the court will "compel the State to take all necessary measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions" to meet the 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) target set by the Paris Agreement, says the online petition.Activists brought a landmark case accusing the French state of inaction on climate change.The Paris Agreement, a pact signed into effect in 2016 by almost all the world's countries, seeks to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).Currently, the world is set to warm by 2.7 degrees Celsius (4.86 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century, according to the Climate Action Tracker (CAT) -- a non-profit analysis group which tracks government climate action. This will bring more extreme storms, heatwaves, greater sea level rise, and, for many parts of the world, worse droughts and rainfall extremes.French campaigners also want recognition of "the State's climate inaction, that is to say the non-compliance by France of its commitments."Joe Biden's climate plan could put Paris Agreement targets 'within striking distance,' experts say "Greenhouse gas emissions under this government's five-year term dropped at a pace that was twice as slow as the trajectories foreseen under the law," the NGOs said in a joint statement.In a legal memo seen by the NGOs and Le Monde newspaper in June last year, the French Environment Ministry denied that it failed to comply with its legal obligations to fight climate change and asked for the case to be dismissed.One of the arguments invoked by the government is that it cannot be held "solely responsible" for climate change in France, according to quotes of the memo published by Le Monde."France makes up around 1% of the world's population and emits around 1% of the planet's greenhouse gases each year," it said. "A substantial part of this pollution comes from industrial and agricultural activities," but also from "individual choices and decisions which it is not always possible to influence," the memo continued.Climate change lawsuits spreading around the world, says reportCNN has contacted the Environment Ministry for comment.A verdict in the case is expected within 15 days, the NGOs said in their statement.Legal action on climate change has become a global phenomenon, according to a report published July 2019. By that date, lawsuits had been launched against governments and corporate interests in 28 countries, according to a report from the Grantham Research Institute at the London School of Economics and Political Science.Researchers found that, while the US was the global leader in terms of climate change litigation, the prevalence of such lawsuits had spread worldwide.Sandrine Amiel and Gaëlle Fournier reported from Paris, France. Jack Guy wrote from London. | 3news
|
(CNN)Jurors in the manslaughter trial of Kim Potter, the White former Minnesota police officer who says she mistook her firearm for her Taser and fatally shot Daunte Wright, concluded deliberations for the day Tuesday after earlier asking what they should do if they can't reach a verdict.They are expected to return Wednesday after deliberating just over nine hours Tuesday and more than five hours the day before. "If the jury cannot reach consensus, what is the guidance around how long and what steps should be taken?" jurors wrote in one of two notes to the court Tuesday. Judge Regina Chu sent them back to work after rereading an earlier instruction that they "deliberate with a view toward reaching agreement if you can do so without violating your individual judgment."Jurors also asked the court that zip ties securing the weapon to an evidence box be removed so the handgun can be held during deliberations. Read MoreChu allowed the zip ties to be removed so the gun -- which she said is not loaded and is fully secured -- can be handled by jurors.Potter, 49, has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree and second-degree manslaughter in the killing of Wright, a 20-year-old Black man.Wright was shot in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, in April after police pulled him over for an expired tag and an illegal air freshener. During the stop, officers learned he had an outstanding warrant and attempted to arrest him, but Wright pulled away and tried to drive off in his vehicle.As video of the incident shows, Potter yelled "Taser" repeatedly before she shot Wright with her handgun. She then said, "Holy sh*t! I just shot him!" She added: "I grabbed the wrong f**king gun, and I shot him." She resigned from the department days later.The core of the case is the jury's interpretation of Potter's fatal error: Was it, as the prosecution argued, due to her recklessness and negligence? Or was it an unfortunate accident that does not rise to the level of a crime, as the defense has argued?More than 30 witnesses, including Potter herself, took the stand during the trial's eight days of testimony. An emotional Potter testified for hours and broke down in tears several times as she described the "chaotic" moments that led up to the shooting."I was very distraught. I just shot somebody. I'm sorry it happened," she said, crying, in court. "I'm so sorry."JUST WATCHEDFormer police officer Kim Potter becomes emotional during testimonyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFormer police officer Kim Potter becomes emotional during testimony 02:05Under cross-examination, Potter said Wright had not threatened the officers before she fired. She said she did not remember much of what happened after the shooting but acknowledged she did not help treat Wright's injuries or check on her fellow officers.Potter was far from a rogue officer. She testified that before that day she had never deployed her Taser or fired a handgun while on duty, and she had never had a complaint against her.The fatal shooting -- just miles from where former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin stood trial for killing George Floyd -- set off days of unrest in Brooklyn Center after a summer of coast-to-coast protests over how police treat people of color.Ex-police officer Kim Potter weeps, says she's 'sorry' as she recalls fatally shooting Daunte WrightIn closing arguments, Assistant Minnesota Attorney General Erin Eldridge argued Potter made a series of bad choices during the traffic stop that led to the fatal mix-up."Accidents can still be crimes if they occur because of recklessness or culpable negligence," the prosecutor said. "It's not a defense to the crimes charged."The defense has characterized the killing as an unfortunate accident that should not be considered a crime. "Everybody makes mistakes, nobody's perfect," said attorney Earl Gray. "This lady made a mistake and a mistake is not a crime."He also argued Potter was within her rights to use deadly force to protect a fellow officer, who was reaching into the vehicle when Wright attempted to drive away."Even though she didn't know she was using it, she had the right to, and that's what the law is," he said.CNN's Ashley Killough, Carma Hassan, Brad Parks and Anna-Maja Rappard contributed to this report. | 3news
|
(CNN)Tennis' grand slam circuit switches its focus to Paris following the Australian Open, but Roland Garros will have a different look for this year.🏟️Philippe-Chatrier court's roof is ready ! How does it work ? #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/Mgybr7s1yw— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) February 5, 2020 The French Open is one of the most historic competitions in the world, but the clay court venue has been brought bang up to date with the addition of a retractable roof. The structure covers Roland Garros' main stage, the Philippe-Chatrier court, in a bid to rid the biggest matches of those pesky rain delays. The roof, which will take approximately 15 minutes to close, is made up of 11 individual trusses -- each weighing 330 metric tons -- and took eight months to assemble, according to organizers. READ: Margaret Court criticizes John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova over protestREAD: Djokovic says tough upbringing in Serbia made him 'hungrier for success'The construction work of the newly built roof of the Philippe Chatrier central tennis court.Read MoreIt took a total of eight months to fit the structure. The individual components were made in workshops near Venice over a period of two years and will cover a surface area of one hectare in total. The French stop of the tennis tour is the last major to fit a retractable roof to join Wimbledon, the Australian Open and the US Open. Nadal eyes record JUST WATCHEDRafael Nadal: Story of a tennis legendReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRafael Nadal: Story of a tennis legend 02:08The new roof will undergo multiple tests ahead of the start of this year's tournament which is due to begin on May 24.The king of clay Rafael Nadal will be bidding to extend his record to 13 French Open titles but will face stiff competition.Both Australian Open finalists -- Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem -- are in dangerous form and could pose the most serious threat to Nadal's superiority. However, another grand slam victory for Nadal would also put the Spaniard level with Roger Federer on 20 career major titles. | 5sport
|
(CNN)Fresh off breaking onto the biggest stage possible with her debut grand slam victory, Emma Raducanu is enjoying the success that comes with it. Upon her return to the UK following her US Open victory earlier in September, the 18-year-old picked up one of the most famous doubles partners imaginable. In an event commemorating Raducanu and other British champions from Flushing Meadows, she took to the court with the Duchess of Cambridge in London. The Duchess of Cambridge and Raducanu in action.Kate is a patron of the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), and Raducanu called it a "perfect day for some tennis."Raducanu stunned the tennis world when she won the US Open in an extraordinary run in which she didn't drop a set. Read MoreShe became the first qualifier ever -- man or woman -- to win a grand slam title, having entered the tournament ranked 150th in the world. However, during the event Friday, she announced that she has split with coach Andrew Richardson following her win. Richardson accompanied Raducanu for the US Open, coaching her on her remarkable journay to the grand slam title. However, she says she is now looking for a more experienced coach. "Where I was at after Wimbledon, I was ranked around 200 in the world, and at the time, I thought Andrew would be a great coach to trial so we went to the States but never did I even dream of winning the US Open and having the run I did and now I'm ranked 22 in the world, which is pretty crazy to me," she said. The Duchess of Cambridge plays a game of tennis with Raducanu."I feel like at this stage in my career, and playing the top players in the world, I realized I really need someone right now that has had that WTA Tour experience at the high levels, which means that I'm looking for someone who has been at that level and knows what it takes."And especially right now because I'm so new to it, I really need someone to guide me who's already been through that." | 5sport
|
Story highlightsThe case stems from the fighting in Croatia's Krajina regionAnte Gotovina commanded a military district; Mladen Markac headed a police unitSerbia's president calls the action "a political decision and not a legal ruling"Two top Croatian commanders previously convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Balkan wars were acquitted Friday.The International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia ordered the release of Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markac and reversed all of their convictions.Read more: Genocide count dropped in Karadzic trialGotovina and Markac participated in an ethnic cleansing operation in Croatia's Krajina region between July and September 1995, the court ruled last year..Gotovina, a general who commanded Croatia's Split military district during the mid-1990s war that led to the disintegration of Yugoslavia, had been sentenced to 24 years in prison. Markac, who headed the Interior Ministry's Special Police, received an 18-year prison term.Read more: Ratko Mladic: Brutal villain to many, hero to othersBut the court's Appeals Chamber found errors in the ruling, including the failure to find "the existence of a joint criminal enterprise" intent on permanently and forcibly removing Serb civilians from the Krajina region. Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic's office issued a statement criticizing the development."The tribunal has made a political decision and not a legal ruling. This will continue to destabilize the situation in the region and it will open old wounds," the statement said. | 3news
|
(CNN)An Australian state is offering a reward for information after several people reported finding sewing needles or pins in strawberries.The government of Queensland has offered $100,000 Australian dollars (about $71,510) to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for the strawberry contamination."Whoever is behind this is not just putting families at risk across Queensland and the rest of Australia -- they are putting an entire industry at risk," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said in a statement."I would urge anyone with information that may be relevant to this incident in any way to contact police as soon as possible," she said.On Wednesday, the Queensland Health Department issued a health alert in response to the contamination. The health department is advising consumers to cut up strawberries before eating them. Queensland Police have also launched an investigation.Read MoreThe health department said three brands of strawberries have been recalled. The affected brands are Berry Obsession, Berry Licious and Donnybrook Berries.Reports of contaminated strawberries have also surfaced in the neighboring state of New South Wales, but police say they do not know if the same person or a copycat is responsible.New South Wales police said the Love Berry, Delightful Strawberries and Oasis brands may also have been contaminated. | 3news
|
Story highlightsNico Rosberg wins German Grand Prix at HockenheimExtends lead in Formula One title raceMercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton fights his way through field for third placeFelipe Massa survives spectacular first lap crashNico Rosberg capped a memorable week by winning the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim but Sunday's race will also be remembered for a frightening opening lap incident involving the unfortunate Felipe Massa.The veteran Brazilian was clipped from behind by McLaren's Kevin Magnussen and his Williams performed a spectacular somersault before ending in the safety gravel at Hockenheim.There were immediate fears for his safety but soon allayed by the Twitter account of his team. "Big crash for Felipe but he is out the car and heading back to the garage," it said.JUST WATCHEDRosberg's lessons from World Champion fatherReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRosberg's lessons from World Champion father 04:27JUST WATCHEDRosberg: 'We definitely haven't peaked'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRosberg: 'We definitely haven't peaked' 02:19Read: Rosberg on pole after Hamilton crashes outIt was the second race in a row in which the 33-year-old Massa has been the victim of a first lap incident, his hopes at the British Grand Prix ended when Kimi Raikkonen of Ferrari careered off.Earlier in the season, Massa was also involved in a 300 kph collision at the Canadian Grand Prix, accusing rival driver Sergio Perez of being "dangerous" as they battled for fourth and both ended in the barriers.The safety car was immediately deployed but on the resumption Rosberg, who had been on pole, took command and drove untroubled to take the checkered flag for his seventh career F1 victory.Since retiring while in the lead at Silverstone, Rosberg has married his long-time girlfriend Vivian Sibold, signed a contract extension at Mercedes and seen his beloved German football team win the World Cup.Read: Rosberg signs new contract at MercedesThe victory extended his title lead over teammate Lewis Hamilton to 14 points. "It's fantastic," he said in the post race interviews."It's an amazing feeling to win at home. It's a very special day."Britain's Hamilton had the rub of the green in his home grand prix, but his luck deserted him this weekend, crashing out in qualifying with a brake problem.Read: Hamilton takes advantage at SilverstoneIt led to a change of brake disc and a five-place grid penalty so starting from 20th. JUST WATCHEDJenson Button's triathlon trainingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJenson Button's triathlon training 00:45JUST WATCHEDThe reality of being a Formula One driverReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe reality of being a Formula One driver 03:56He cut a swathe through the field and initially looked to be on a two-stop strategy which may have given him the opportunity to challenge Rosberg.His second stop came on lap 32 of 67, but he pitted for a third time just seven laps later after Adrian Sutil spun his Sauber and was left stranded in the middle of the track.Race stewards decided not to put the safety car out out for the second time and at this point Hamilton's engineers pulled him in for a third stop.He still looked set to overtake Massa's teammate Valtteri Bottas for second, but the Finn drove superbly to hold him off in the closing stages.Reigning four-time champion Sebastian Vettel got the better of great rival Fernando Alonso of Ferrari for fourth place.Vettel's Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo of Australia took sixth.Read: Hamilton and Rosberg's rivalry and echo of the past | 5sport
|
(CNN)The massive crater appeared violently and explosively in the Siberian tundra last year -- a powerful blowout of methane gas throwing ice and rock hundreds of feet away and leaving a gaping circular scar in the empty and eerie landscape. It was the 17th hole to appear in the remote Yamal and Gyda peninsulas in the Russian Arctic since the first was spotted in 2013, mystifying scientists. The craters are thought to be linked to climate change. Drone photography, 3D modeling and artificial intelligence are helping to reveal their secrets."The new crater is uniquely well preserved, as surface water hadn't yet accumulated in the crater when we surveyed it, which allowed us to study a 'fresh' crater, untouched by degradation," said Evgeny Chuvilin, lead research scientist at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology's Center for Hydrocarbon Recovery in Moscow.It was also the first time researchers have been able to fly a drone deep into a crater -- reaching 10 to 15 meters below ground, allowing them to capture the shape of the underground cavity where methane had built up. Chuvilin was part of a team of Russian scientists who visited the crater in August 2020. Their findings were published in the journal Geosciences last week.
Read MoreClimate changeThe drone took around 80 images, allowing the researchers to build a 3D model of the crater, which is 30 meters deep -- imagine three buses end to end.Study author Igor Bogoyavlensky, of the Oil and Gas Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, served as the drone pilot and said he had to lie down on the edge of the 10-story deep crater and dangle his arms over the edge to control the drone. "Three times we got close to losing it, but succeeded in getting the data for the 3D model," he said.The model, which showed unusual grottoes or caverns in the lower part of the crater, largely confirmed what scientists had hypothesized: Methane gas builds in a cavity in the ice, causing a mound to appear at ground level. The mound grows in size before blowing out ice and other debris in an explosion and leaving behind the massive crater. What's still unclear is the source of the methane. It could come from deep layers within the Earth or closer to the surface -- or a combination of the two. Permafrost is a huge natural reservoir of methane, a potent greenhouse gas much more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat and warming the planet. Warmer summers -- the Arctic is warming two times faster than the global average -- have weakened the permafrost layer, which acts as a cap, making it easier for gas to escape. Some experts estimate that soils in the permafrost region hold twice as much carbon as the atmosphere does, making the region extremely important in the fight against climate change."Climate change, of course, has an impact on the probability of gas blowout craters appearing in the Arctic permafrost," Chuvilin said.With the use of satellite imagery, the researchers were also able to pinpoint when the crater formed. They believe the mound would have exploded at some point between May 15 and June 9, 2020. The crater was first spotted during a helicopter flight on July 16, 2020.The timing was not random, according to Chuvilin. "This is the time of the year when there's a lot of solar energy influx, which causes the snow to melt and the upper layers of the ground to heat up, and that causes changes in their properties and behavior."While these craters have appeared in a very sparsely populated region, they do pose risks to Indigenous people and to oil and gas infrastructure. The holes are usually found by accident during helicopter flights or by reindeer herders.
Mapping and predicting crater blowoutsWhile 17 craters have been documented so far, it's not known how many there are in total or when the next one could blow out. Scientists don't yet have good tools for detecting and mapping the gas emission craters, although a team at the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Massachusetts is trying to change that. To log changes in the Arctic landscape, and perhaps ultimately predict where the next blowout crater might occur, the researchers have devised an algorithm to quantify changes to features such as the height of mounds and the expansion or shrinking of lakes on the Yamal and Gyda peninsulas.The crater is 30 meters deep. Scientists made a 3D model of it by using images taken by a drone. The scientists' model correctly predicted all seven craters that had been reported by scientists by 2017 and revealed the formation of three new ones. The researchers also found that the craters are just one unsettling sign that the northernmost reaches of our planet are undergoing radical changes. Some 5% of the 327,000 square kilometers the team surveyed saw abrupt changes in landscape between 1984 and 2017. These changes included ground collapses, the formation of new lakes and disappearance of others, plus the erosion of river bends, according to the research, which published in the Geosciences journal in January.The Arctic sea ice has shrunk to the second lowest number ever recorded, and scientists say it will get worse"These craters represent a ... process that was previously unknown to scientists," said Sue Natali, Arctic program director at the Woodwell Climate Research Center and coauthor of the study, in a statement. "The craters and other abrupt changes occurring across the Arctic landscape are indicative of a rapidly warming and thawing Arctic, which can have severe consequences for Arctic residents and globally." | 3news
|
London (CNN)Prince Andrew's Twitter account has been deleted, days after the Queen stripped him of his honorary military titles and charities.Visitors to the prince's official Twitter page, @TheDukeofYork, which has previously been tagged in posts by the official royal family Twitter handle, are now met with a blank page and a message stating "this account doesn't exist."The bio on the page used to read "The Official Twitter Account for The Duke of York" and his own tweets were signed off with "AY," according to PA Media news agency. An account on YouTube is also no longer available, PA Media reports. The prince still appears to have an official Instagram account, though this has recently been made private, meaning followers must request access to the page.What to know about Prince Andrew's sexual abuse lawsuit in the USBuckingham Palace has also updated its official website to reflect moves taken by the royal family to distance themselves from the Duke of York, who is facing a civil sexual assault trial in the US.Read MoreWhen contacted by CNN Thursday, Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "Changes have been made to reflect the recent statement from Buckingham Palace regarding The Duke of York."On the British monarchy's official website, the Queen's second son still has a page reflecting his dukedom. However, at the top of the Duke of York page, it now refers to the Queen's January 13 statement announcing his loss of titles and patronages."Prior to stepping back from public life, The Duke of York undertook a wide range of public work, with a strong economic and business focus," a statement on Prince Andrew's page now reads.On a separate subhead, titled "Supporting the Queen," Andrew's former duties are detailed in the past tense. For example, it states: "An important part of The Duke of York's role was to support The Queen's work as Head of State. He did this through representing Her Majesty at events and visits in the UK and abroad; receiving Heads of State and Government officials, and attending state and ceremonial occasions."Last week, a New York judged ruled against a motion by Andrew's legal team to dismiss a civil lawsuit brought against him by Virginia Giuffre, who alleges she was trafficked by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and forced to perform sex acts with the prince at the age of 17. Andrew has vigorously denied those claims.Sign up to CNN's Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and what's happening behind palace walls. | 3news
|
(CNN)In the space of one hour and eighteen minutes, Maria Sharapova's life would change for ever.On a sunny Saturday afternoon in July 2004, she stepped onto Wimbledon's Centre Court as an unknown 17-year-old and walked off a household name.Follow @cnnsport
The precocious Russian teenager with the infectious, gleeful smile had beaten the world No. 1 and reigning champion Serena Williams.With that victory in the final, Sharapova became the third-youngest woman in history to be crowned champion at the All England Club."I remember a moment with my coach after winning a quarterfinal at that Wimbledon," Sharapova tells CNN's Don Riddell as she reflects on her victorious run to a first grand slam title. JUST WATCHEDSharapova on her rivalry with SerenaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSharapova on her rivalry with Serena 04:05Read MoreREAD: Sharapova aiming to play at Tokyo 2020"I was having my food after the match and a lot of people were coming up to me and saying 'congratulations' and wanting to take a picture -- people I've never met in my life. "I just noticed this wave (of people) and so did my coach," added Sharapova, referring to Mauricio Hadad. "He immediately came up to me and he was almost whispering in my ear."Okay, things are changing," she vividly remembers him telling her. "They've changed right now from this moment. You're a semifinalist at Wimbledon. You're 17 years old. You have to put those horse blinders on."Sharapova describes that victory as a pivotal moment in her career.The endorsements and sponsorship deals began to rain in, kickstarting 'Brand Sharapova.'JUST WATCHEDMaria Sharapova on her return from a drugs banReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMaria Sharapova on her return from a drugs ban 03:52That Sharapova had so much to gain from a single victory only served to emphasize the opposite for her beaten opponent."Look, I think Serena, in that particular match, had everything to lose compared to myself," she says. "I mean, I was the underdog. If I lost that match, I would be the happiest kid on the planet. "Wimbledon finalist? Who would have thought? No one expected that from me. She's a two-time defending champion, there's a lot more on the line and I think I sensed that. "That didn't scare me, it only wanted me to win more."Sharapova pictured at Hamptons Magazine's Celebration in New York As grand slam tournaments wear on and the number of players dwindle, the locker room becomes a quiet, empty place."You feel like you're the only two people on the planet," Sharapova says, reliving that private moment. "You share a lot of moments with them. "It's like you're so connected but yet you're so far apart because they're your competitors."Sharapova celebrates winning her first grand slam title In her book, Sharapova lucidly describes the way she heard Williams sobbing in the locker room after the final. Intruding in that most personal and painful of moments is something Sharapova believes Williams has never forgiven her for."Obviously it was a disappointing loss to her because she was expected to win," she says. "I'm sure she expected to win that match, another Wimbledon final. "So I think that disappointment really, it stirred something up. She didn't want to lose to me again."Though that day belonged to Sharapova, their head-to-head since makes for grim reading for the Russian. Not since 2004 -- a run stretching 13 years and 18 matches -- has she tasted victory against Williams."Well, I say she's owned me," the 30-year-old admits bluntly. "Which she has."Hiding in the shedSisters Venus Williams and Serena Williams have dominated their sport for almost 20 yearsJust a few years earlier, Sharapova recalls seeing Serena -- and her sister Venus -- for the first time while she was attending the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida.The coaches suspended lessons so the students could watch the Williams sisters practice for the few days that they were there.Sharapova's father insisted she go too, to "watch these incredible athletes," she recalls him telling her. "I want you to watch, and I want you to just look in their eyes to see the desire and the passion, to see how they play the game," was Yuri Sharapova's advice.Not wanting to give the sisters the "satisfaction" of seeing her in the stands, Sharapova found an unconventional hiding place from which she could observe."Okay, there's a wooden shed behind the court," she explains. "It was like a video shed, where they do video analysis. "And so I went in that shed and I was like peeking through this little hole and just witnessing years of my life before me."They were already grand slam champions at the time and just a few years later it was really as if someone took me and put me in a television screen and put me up against Serena Williams."Arriving in AmericaEleven years before Sharapova was crowned Wimbledon champion, she landed at Florida airport with her father -- the pair had only $700 to their name.Her mother, Yelena, had planned to join them but wasn't permitted due to visa restrictions. It would be two years before they would see each other again.Yuri had planned for someone to pick them up from the airport, but that person never arrived.Barely able to speak a word of English between them, they were stranded in a new country in the middle of the night with nowhere to go.Sharapova is all too aware that had it not been for fate, good fortune or the kindness of strangers, her story could have been completely different.Sharapova was knocked out in round 16 of the US Open -- her first grand slam since her return from a drugs ban"It's 2:00 am and nobody is there and where do you go?" she says. "What do you do? Who do you call? And then, there happens to be a couple that you meet on the plane that takes you to their hotel room," she recalls. "You end up staying on the floor and just those experiences, like, who were the saviors? Who? When we're young, we always say 'stay away from strangers,' but those were the strangers that really helped us get to where we are today."Throughout her career Sharapova has painted herself as the underdog, as if it were her against the world.She believes this backs-against-the-wall approach stems from her time bouncing around tennis academy dormitories, always being an outsider, never quite fitting in."I was with kids that were much older than I was, that had very different interests, that stayed up late, that didn't take their sport as seriously as I had," she recalls. "So I think we're maybe on different goal career paths and I realized that from a young age. And I think part of that isolated me. "It became a habit and it became so repetitive that I didn't even notice it, but it was absolutely lonely in those times."Drug banSharapova held a press conference to announce she had failed a drugs testREAD: Sharapova ban reduced on appeal READ: Sharapova return generating buzzOn March 7, 2016, Sharapova called an impromptu press conference to announce she had failed a drugs test.The prohibited substance meldonium -- an over-the-counter heart medication commonly used in the countries formerly comprising the Soviet Union -- had been found in a regulation test she had taken following her Australian Open quarterfinal defeat to Serena Williams.Though at the time Sharapova accepted "full responsibility" for taking the drug, to this day she vehemently denies knowingly taking a banned substance that would aid athletic performance.Initially prescribed meldonium in 2006 "both as a cardio-protective agent and as a preventative agent for diabetes," Sharapova claimed she wasn't aware the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had added the drug to the prohibited substance list on January 1, 2016 -- 18 days before the start of the Australian Open."It was shocking," she said, describing her emotion upon hearing of the failed test. "It was surprising. It was a lot of emotions. So much uncertainty, I think. That was the toughest emotion that I had to deal with."JUST WATCHEDWhy would athletes use meldonium?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhy would athletes use meldonium? 01:15But questions about the legitimacy of Sharapova's defense still remain. How had nobody in her team of agents, doctors, dieticians, lawyers and advisers not notice the addition of meldonium to the prohibited substances list?As the final sentence of the independent tribunal investigating the case said: "She is the sole author of her own misfortune."Many leading figures on the tour, most notably Eugenie Bouchard and Caroline Wozniaki, have been vocal in their disapproval of Sharapova's return to the circuit and the wildcards she has received.Sharapova, however, remains unfazed by the criticism."I think if the reaction was coming from fact, I think I would take them into account," she explains. "But when the reactions come from just the personal opinion, or things that are not based on facts, there's no time for me to think about that."Can Sharapova win another grand slam? Have your say on our Facebook page. RetirementSharapova is adamant she never believed the drug ban would end her career, although she admits not knowing how long the ban would be was "scary."Despite the ban shaving 15 months off her career, the five-time grand slam champion believes it gave her a new lease of life.Prior to her positive test, she admits to seriously entertaining the idea that 2016 would be her last year on the professional circuit.After suffering multiple shoulder injuries in her early twenties and undergoing surgery, Sharapova was unsure whether her body could continue to cope with the rigors of the tour, much less whether she had the desire to continue playing."To keep doing that grind, six days a week, for hours on end," she says. "Competing at 18, 19 tournaments a year and doing it over and over. "You know, it's a combination of things that get you to a high, whether it's a ranking or a high position and all those things have to come together. "I always knew that I had a passion for the sport, but I just felt like I would just one day want to sit on the couch. And I don't know, sitting on the couch gets pretty boring."Sharapova says she would like to end her career on her "own terms" but, as of yet, doesn't know herself what this means.Visit CNN.com/tennis for more news and features"I don't know if it's a grand slam, I don't know if it's another victory, I don't know if it's a personal victory. I don't know," she says. "I think we know so many things. We know scheduling, we know events, but all I know is things that I've achieved. I know all those things. I know what I'm capable of. I know how much desire I have. "And I still feel like I have a lot to bring."This story's headline has been updated with an additional quote from Maria Sharapova and makes clear that the coach she talks about at Wimbledon in 2004 was Mauricio Hadad. | 5sport
|
Douala, Cameroon (CNN)The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said a report into a stadium crush in the Cameroonian capital of Yaoundé will center on who closed the gate at the Olembe Stadium.At least eight people were killed and 38 injured in Monday's incident during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) game between Cameroon and Comoros.The crush occurred at the south entrance of the stadium as fans attempted to watch the round of 16 match, which ended in a 2-1 victory to Cameroon."If [the gate] was open, [spectators] would have walked through and it was closed for inexplicable reasons," CAF president Patrice Motsepe said during a press conference on Tuesday."If that gate was open as it was supposed to we wouldn't have had this loss of life."Read MoreMotsepe also vowed that such an incident will "never happen again" at an AFCON tournament, adding that "there were things that should have been foreseen."A purse is seen on the ground in the aftermath of Monday's crush. He said: "There is zero tolerance, absolute zero tolerance in the circumstances which could result in people being injured at a stadium or losing their lives.It was also confirmed at the press conference that the AFCON quarterfinal due to be played at Olembe Stadium on Sunday will be moved to Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé, subject to approval from CAF's executive committee.AFCON: Underdog Comoros will have to face Cameroon without a recognized goalkeeperA statement from the government of Cameroon said 31 people were lightly injured and seven were seriously injured in the crush."Facing this tragedy, the seriousness of which has provoked emotion and consternation, the Head of State [Paul Biya] sends his saddest condolences to the badly hit families, as well as his wishes of a speedy recovery to the injured, to whom he sends the profound compassion of the entire nation," the statement added.The deceased were taken to the Yaoundé Emergency Centre, while the injured were divided between four health facilities in Yaoundé.In a statement on Tuesday, FIFA -- football's global governing body -- sent "deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims who lost their lives."It added: "The thoughts and prayers of the global football community are with the victims, the ones who have been injured in this incident, and all the staff of both CAF and the Cameroonian Football Association at this difficult moment."At least eight people were killed in the crush during game between Cameroon and Comoros. Monday's incident came a day after another tragedy in the capital.At least 16 people were killed when a fire tore through a nightclub early Sunday, according to a government statement. Another eight people were seriously injured and are in intensive care.At a news conference held at the scene, the director of the Yaoundé Central Hospital said several people were in critical condition.Explosions from fireworks caused the ceiling at the Liv Nightclub to catch fire, resulting in two strong explosions that caused panic among those in the venue, according to the statement from the Cameroonian Ministry of Communication. Biya ordered an in-depth investigation into the incident and sent his condolences to the victims' families, the government statement added.CNN's Joel Kouam reported from Cameroon and Mitchell McCluskey wrote from Atlanta. CNN's Niamh Kennedy, Nimi Princewill and Schams Elwazer contributed to this report. | 5sport
|
Brussels (CNN)Only four European countries countries are now measuring below a crucial level of Covid-19 cases, according the latest figures Monday, as the continent struggles to contain fresh outbreaks.The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control's (ECDC) coronavirus alarm threshold is 20 cases per 100,000 people on a seven-day average. Beyond that, the agency says, the risk of Covid-19 is high, with a very high probability of infection, while vulnerable individuals face a "very high impact" from the disease.And the situation is looking precarious. Only Germany (18.4 cases per 100,000), Finland (15.5), Cyprus (14.6) and Norway (13.9) fall below this case threshold, ECDC data showed on Monday. At the other end of the scale are the Czech Republic (167.6), the Netherlands (140.3) and France (120.3).The death rate has also been rising in Europe and sustained increases in case levels have been recorded in 27 countries, the agency said Thursday in its weekly report.Countries are also introducing new restrictions in order to curb the spread:Read MoreIn Ireland, the National Public Health Emergency Team has reportedly recommended placing the whole country on the highest level of restrictionsIceland has brought in a range of new rules, including restrictions on gatherings and the closure of some leisure facilities.France's capital is on the verge of a fresh lockdown, with the greater Paris area classified as a "maximum alert" zone. The Czech Republic has entered a state of emergency.Central districts in Berlin have been classified as risk areas by Germany's health body. Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is self-isolating after participating in a meeting that was attended by a person who subsequently tested positive for Covid-19. She tested negative for the virus for the second time on Monday.And the health authority in England admitted that thousands of infections had not been included in the UK's coronavirus case tally due to a "technical issue."Paris faces new lockdownParis is on the verge of a fresh lockdown as coronavirus cases surge in France.Prime Minister Jean Castex confirmed that the greater Paris area will be classified as a "maximum alert" zone, forcing bars to close, with measures in effect from Tuesday. Countries across Europe set grim Covid-19 records as restrictions are reimposedA press release from Castex's office said the region has crossed the three thresholds that would put it in such an alert category: disease incidence rate, incidence rate for the elderly and occupancy rate of resuscitation beds by Covid-19 patients.As part of measures expected to stay in place until October 16, restaurants will remain open providing they respect new health measures, but gyms will stay closed and the sale and consumption of alcohol in public spaces after 10 p.m. will be forbidden, Paris police chief Didier Lallement said. Organized public gatherings of more than 1,000 and gatherings of more than 10 will be banned, although demonstrations will be allowed, Lallement said. On Saturday, the country recorded 16,972 new Covid-19 cases over 24 hours, surpassing last week's previous daily record. According to Aurélien Rousseau, the head of Paris' health authority, more than 36% of ICU beds in the region are currently occupied by Covid-19 patients. Ireland mulls highest restrictions Ireland's chief medical officer Dr. Tony Holohan will on Monday meet the Covid-19 Oversight Group of top civil servants to discuss the latest National Public Health Emergency Team recommendations, which suggest placing the placing country under Level 5 restrictions -- the highest level of measures, RTÉ reports. If introduced, Level 5 restrictions would see all retailers except those deemed essential closed, while social gatherings would be restricted and people restricted to exercising within 5 kilometers of their homes.EU leader enters self-isolationUrsula von der LeyenEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is self-isolating after participating in a meeting that was attended by a person who subsequently tested positive for Covid-19, she announced on Twitter. Von der Leyen said on Monday that she tested negative for the virus, and would continue to self isolate until Tuesday evening, having previously announced that she tested negative for the virus last Thursday. Under Belgian government rules, von der Leyen is required to quarantine for seven days after coming into contact with a Covid-19 positive person.Eric Mamer, the EU Commission's chief spokesman, said von der Leyen would not be able to attend Tuesday's European Parliament plenary session or the EU/Ukraine summit. Czech Republic in state of emergencyA state of emergency has been introduced in the Czech Republic -- which saw some initial success in curbing the spread of the virus -- to help to curb the country's accelerating growth of new Covid-19 cases, and to to relieve pressure on the health care system as a total of 1,841 new cases were recorded on Sunday. The 30 days of measures -- the second state of emergency implemented this year -- will enable the authorities to legally declare and enforce various anti-coronavirus measures without government approval, according to the health ministry. According to the restrictions, which are not as as draconian as they were during the first state of emergency from March to May, primary schools will remain open but secondary schools will close in the most affected areas for two weeks. Singing is banned in all schools, while no more than six people are allowed at tables in bars and restaurants, which can remain open until 10 p.m. Indoor events are limited to 10 people and outdoor events to 20 people, while operas, musicals and other singing performances are banned for two weeks. Religious services are limited to 100 people and singing is banned during religious services. No more than six people are allowed at tables in bars and restaurants in the Czech Republic, which has implemented a second state of emergency.Thousands of cases were missed off UK figures The number of reported coronavirus infections in the UK jumped on Sunday to a new daily record of 22,961 on Sunday, nearly double the previous record for a single day, as it emerged that thousands of infections were not included in previously published daily figures, according to Public Health England (PHE).The agency admitted that they failed to report a further 15,841 positive cases between September 25 and October 2 because of a "technical issue," it said in a statement. The majority of these cases occurred in recent days, PHE said.The UK's opposition Labour Party criticized the government's failure to report the infections at a time when a second wave of positive cases are being seen across the country, calling the mistake "shambolic."Sunday's significant increase in reported cases means the UK's total has now surpassed more than half a million infections since the start of the pandemic.Sections of central Berlin at riskLarge parts of central Berlin have been classified as risk areas after the areas surpassed the country's crucial incidence rate of 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.The districts -- Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Mitte, Tempelhof-Schoeneberg and Neukoelln -- have been labeled red on the website of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), the German agency for disease control and prevention. As of Monday morning, Germany has more than 300,000 coronavirus cases, according to the RKI. The death toll has climbed to 9,534. On Friday, Germany reported 2,673 new coronavirus infections -- its highest number of daily infections since April 18.New rules in IcelandNew restrictions came into effect in Iceland on midnight on October 5, as virus cases have continued to rise since mid-September. According to the restrictions, in force until October 19, gyms, pubs, clubs and casinos are to be closed, and no more than 20 people can gather, with some exceptions including for parliament and funerals.Primary and secondary schools will remain open as usual, but colleges and universities will not permit more than 25 people in the same space. CNN's James Frater reported from Brussels. Amy Woodyatt wrote from London. Inga Thordar, Sharon Braithwaite, Frederik Pleitgen, Stephanie Halasz ,Tomas Etzler, Pierre Bairin, Jonny Hallam and Livia Borghese contributed reporting. | 3news
|
London (CNN)Prince Andrew has said that the Queen has given him permission to step back from public duties "for the foreseeable future" following a firestorm of criticism over an interview about his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement on Wednesday evening, the Duke of York said he "unequivocally" regretted his relationship with the disgraced financier and was willing to aid in any ongoing investigations. "It has become clear to me over the last few days that the circumstances relating to my former association with Jeffrey Epstein has become a major disruption to my family's work and the valuable work going on in the many organizations and charities that I am proud to support," Prince Andrew said. "Therefore, I have asked Her Majesty if I may step back from public duties for the foreseeable future, and she has given her permission."A royal source told CNN that the Duke of York took the decision to step back from public duties following discussion with the Queen, Prince of Wales and others. The source said the decision was for the best, and that nothing was more important to any of the family than the institution itself.Opinion: Prince Andrew interview is a PR nightmare and a national jokeRead MoreAndrew's statement comes just days after a controversial interview with BBC Newsnight, in which he denied allegations that he had sex with an underaged woman who said she had been trafficked by Epstein. In a 2015 federal court filing, Virginia Roberts Giuffre alleged that Epstein forced her to perform sex acts with several prominent men, including Prince Andrew in 2001, when she was just 17. All of them have denied the allegations. During the BBC interview, the Queen's second son said he had taken his elder daughter to a party at a pizza restaurant on the night it is claimed he had sex with Roberts Giuffre. Prince Andrew also claimed that for many years, he could not sweat, countering allegations made by Roberts Giuffre that he was "sweating profusely" before they had sex. The Prince also repeatedly said the two had never met, despite the existence of a photograph that appears to show Andrew with his arm around Roberts Giuffre.The Duke of York also told the BBC that he had seen nothing that struck him as suspicious when he was around Epstein.Epstein -- who was first convicted of sex crimes in 2008 -- died by apparent suicide in August while awaiting trial on federal charges that he sexually abused underage girls and ran a sex trafficking ring. Epstein had pleaded not guilty."I continue to unequivocally regret my ill-judged association with Jeffrey Epstein. His suicide has left many unanswered questions, particularly for his victims, and I deeply sympathize with everyone who has been affected and wants some form of closure," the prince said Wednesday. "I can only hope that, in time, they will be able to rebuild their lives. Of course, I am willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations, if required."More companies are ditching Prince AndrewThe development comes as a number of companies sever ties with the Duke of York in the wake of the broadcast of the interview on Saturday. British telecommunications company BT said it would withdraw support from an online skills training program if it did not drop Prince Andrew as a patron."In light of recent developments we are reviewing our relationship with the organization and hope that we might be able to work further with them, in the event of a change in their patronage," BT said in a statement about the Duke of York's Inspiring Digital Enterprise Award (iDEA). Cisco, KPMG and Standard Chartered have also distanced themselves from Prince Andrew's entrepreneurship scheme Pitch@Palace. Prince Andrew's timeline for when he met Epstein has also come under scrutiny. In a letter to the Times of London in 2011, Prince Andrew's then-personal secretary Alastair Watson wrote that the Duke of York first met Epstein in the early 1990s -- not 1999, as Prince Andrew claimed in the BBC interview."Finally, there has been widespread comment on the Duke's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein," Watson wrote. "The Duke has known Mr Epstein since being introduced to him in the early 1990s. The insinuations and innuendos that have been made in relation to the Duke are without foundation."Prince Andrew and the Jeffrey Epstein scandal has thrown a fireblanket on Brexit and the UK electionBut Prince Andrew told the BBC that they "met through his girlfriend back in 1999 who -- and I'd known her since she was at university in the UK," referring to British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.In a response to the conflicting timelines, a palace spokesperson told CNN: "The Duke's words in his interview speak for themselves." CNN is attempting to reach Watson for comment.Prince Andrew was also asked during the BBC interview about photographs that showed him with Epstein in Central Park in 2010, after Epstein was a convicted sex offender.Prince Andrew said he had gone to New York to break off contact with Epstein as a result of the conviction."I've questioned myself as to why did I go and what was I doing and was it the right thing to do," he said. "Now, I went there with the sole purpose of saying to him that because he had been convicted, it was inappropriate for us to be seen together." | 3news
|
The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writers. CNN is showcasing the work of The Conversation, a collaboration between journalists and academics to provide news analysis and commentary. The content is produced solely by The Conversation. (The Conversation)An Asian water dragon hatched from an egg at the Smithsonian National Zoo, and her keepers were shocked. Why? Her mother had never been with a male water dragon. Through genetic testing, zoo scientists discovered the newly hatched female, born on Aug. 24, 2016, had been produced through a reproductive mode called parthenogenesis.Parthenogenesis is a Greek word meaning "virgin creation," but specifically refers to female asexual reproduction. While many people may assume this behavior is the domain of science fiction or religious texts, parthenogenesis is surprisingly common throughout the tree of life and is found in a variety of organisms, including plants, insects, fish, reptiles and even birds. Because mammals, including human beings, require certain genes to come from sperm, mammals are incapable of parthenogenesis.READ MORE: The link between fertility and longevity -- new researchCreating offspring without spermSexual reproduction involves a female and a male, each contributing genetic material in the form of eggs or sperm, to create a unique offspring. The vast majority of animal species reproduce sexually, but females of some species are able to produce eggs containing all the genetic material required for reproduction.Read MoreFemales of these species, which include some wasps, crustaceans and lizards, reproduce only through parthenogenesis and are called obligate parthenogens.A larger number of species experience spontaneous parthenogenesis, best documented in animals kept in zoo settings, like the Asian water dragon at the National Zoo or a blacktip shark at the Virginia Aquarium. Spontaneous parthenogens typically reproduce sexually, but may have occasional cycles that produce developmentally ready eggs.READ MORE: Scientist at work: Endangered ocelots and their genetic diversity may benefit from artificial inseminationScientists have learned spontaneous parthenogenesis may be a heritable trait, meaning females that suddenly experience parthenogenesis might be more likely to have daughters that can do the same.How can females fertilize their own eggs?For parthenogenesis to happen, a chain of cellular events must successfully unfold. First, females must be able to create egg cells (oogenesis) without stimulation from sperm or mating. Second, the eggs produced by females need to begin to develop on their own, forming an early stage embryo. Finally, the eggs must successfully hatch.Each step of this process can easily fail, particularly step two, which requires the chromosomes of DNA inside the egg to double, ensuring a full complement of genes for the developing offspring. Alternatively, the egg can be "faux fertilized" by leftover cells from the egg production process known as polar bodies. Whichever method kicks off the development of the embryo will ultimately determine the level of genetic similarity between the mother and her offspring.The events that trigger parthenogenesis are not fully understood, but appear to include environmental change. In species that are capable of both sexual reproduction and parthenogenesis, such as aphids, stressors like crowding and predation may cause females to switch from parthenogenesis to sexual reproduction, but not the other way around. In at least one type of freshwater plankton, high salinity appears to cause the switch.Advantages of self-reproductionThough spontaneous parthenogenesis appears to be rare, it does provide some benefits to the female who can achieve it. In some cases, it can allow females to generate their own mating partners.The sex of parthenogenetic offspring is determined by the same method sex is determined in the species itself. For organisms where sex is determined by chromosomes, like the XX female and XY male chromosomes in some insects, fish and reptiles, a parthenogenetic female can produce offspring only with the sex chromosomes she has at hand -- which means she will always produce XX female offspring. But for organisms where females have ZW sex chromosomes (such as in snakes and birds), all living offspring produced will either be ZZ, and therefore male, or much more rarely, WW, and female.READ MORE: We discovered why giant pandas are black and white: here's howBetween 1997 and 1999, a checkered gartersnake kept at the Phoenix Zoo gave birth to two male offspring that ultimately survived to adulthood. If a female mated with her parthenogenetically produced son, it would constitute inbreeding. While inbreeding can result in a host of genetic problems, from an evolutionary perspective it's better than having no offspring at all. The ability of females to produce male offspring through parthenogenesis also suggests that asexual reproduction in nature may be more common than scientists ever realized before.Biologists have observed, over long periods of time, that species that are obligate parthenogens frequently die out from disease, parasitism or changes in habitat. The inbreeding inherent in parthenogenetic species appears to contribute to their short evolutionary timelines.
Current research on parthenogenesis seeks to understand why some species are capable of both sex and parthenogenesis, and whether occasional sexual reproduction might be enough for a species to survive.Mercedes Burns is an assistant professor of biological sciences at the University of Maryland in Baltimore County. Burns has previously received funding from the National Science Foundation.Republished under a Creative Commons license from The Conversation. | 3news
|
(CNN)All patients have been moved to nearby hospitals after a fire broke out at a hospital in Istanbul, Turkey's state-run media Anadolu reported Thursday evening, citing Turkey's Minister for Health.Firefighters continued to tackle the blaze several hours after the fire started on the roof of the Taksim Training and Research Hospital in Gaziosmanpasa, a district in the northern part of the city. About 70 patients were evacuated.Hasan Tahsin Usta, mayor of Gaziosmanpasa, said that the fire, which spread down the outside of the building, was almost under control and no casualties had been reported, according to Anadolu. Footage posted to social media showed flames on the hospital facade.Yangın büyük ölçüde söndürüldü. pic.twitter.com/zSrTKtSQoj— Önder Çelik (@ondercelik36) April 5, 2018
Speaking to CNN Turk, Bahriye (who did not give her last name) said she was with her mother, a patient in the hospital, on the second floor when the fire broke out.Read More"I just heard many noises, people were screaming and yelling," she said. "There was no fire alarm, just people screaming. I opened the door, it was all smoke. You couldn't see anyone, all of a sudden smoke came inside our room.... Flames were outside the window -- that's why we were so scared."She said she called for help and someone came and carried her mother, who could not get up unaided, out of the hospital. "It was so dark and I went after them but I don't know how I got downstairs," Bahriye said. She lost her mother in the process. "I still don't know where my mom is," she said. The fire broke out on the roof of Taksim Training and Research Hospital in northern Istanbul.At first response, patients who could be moved had been evacuated and intensive care patients were being held in a safe location inside the hospital, Istanbul Gov. Vasip Sahin told reporters.As night fell, Minister for Health Ahmet Demircan said all patients had been moved to nearby hospitals by ambulance, according to Anadolu.Firefighters from several districts of Istanbul responded to the emergency and worked with medical teams to bring patients to safety while hospital staff worked to salvage medical equipment as the evening progressed. Sahin said that the fire had been confined to the outside of the hospital and that the evacuations had been carried out due to smoke entering the building.The patients were taken by ambulance to private and public hospitals in the area, according to Sahin. He said the cause of the fire was not yet known and that several prosecutors had already been tasked with investigating the blazePresident Recep Tayyip Erdogan was informed by the minister for health, Anadolu reported.CNN's Gul Tuysuz, Hamdi Alkshali, Isil Sariyuce and Hande Atay Alam contributed to this article | 3news
|
(CNN)Newly-crowned Olympic champion Nathan Chen has told CNN that he still hopes to stand on the podium to celebrate Team USA's figure skating silver in Beijing.Chen and his US teammates missed the opportunity to collect their medals from the figure skating team event on Tuesday due to an ongoing doping scandal involving Russian athlete Kamila Valieva.The USA was beaten to gold by Valieva and the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) on Monday, but the medal ceremony was delayed as news emerged that a member of the ROC's team had tested positive for a prohibited substance.On Friday, the International Testing Agency (ITA) confirmed that the 15-year-old Valieva had failed a drug test taken before the Games in December, testing positive for banned heart drug trimetazidine.Russian anti-doping agency allowed Kamila Valieva to compete in Olympics despite failed drug test"The medal ceremony is definitely a very special part of the Olympics, and for those that should get a medal, I truly hope that they can," Chen told CNN's Coy Wire.Read More"Whatever happens, happens. But I do hope that we will have this opportunity to share that as a team."The ROC could be stripped of its gold medal following the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) announcement Friday that it will be taking its case against Valieva and the ROC to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).The ROC said that Valieva had "repeatedly passed doping tests" while already in Beijing and that it is taking measures to keep Valieva's "honestly won" gold.A decision is needed before Valieva's next event -- the women's singles short program -- on Tuesday, wherein she is favorite to win gold.The figure skating team competition at the Olympics features four disciplines -- men's and women's singles, ice dance, and pairs -- executed across a short program and a free skate. Points are awarded based on where a country ranks in each of the eight components, with the top five teams from the short program advancing to the free skate. The winner is the team with the most points at the end of the competition. 'A lot of things are still in my mind right now'Addressing the case, Chen said that he believes "things will become more clear" in due course."There's certainly a lot of variables that are coming into play, but at the end of the day, all I can really control is how much I can do," Chen said. "Certainly, as athletes, you want to be able to have as fair a playing field as possible.For Team USA's Nathan Chen, 'blood, sweat, tears' led to Olympic gold "A lot of things are still in my mind right now and I don't actually know the details of everything going on, so I can't come to a clear conclusion. But as things unfold, things will become more clear."Having won silver with his team on Monday, Chen added a stunning gold medal in the individual event on Thursday.The 22-year-old took his first Olympic title in masterful fashion, setting a new short program world record on Tuesday before sealing victory with another excellent showing in the long program.In doing so, he became the first American since Evan Lysacek in 2010 to win a men's figure skating gold medal. | 5sport
|
New York (CNN Business)The bombs in the Ukrainian capital went off as CNN was broadcasting live on-air."There are big explosions taking place in Kyiv right now," Matthew Chance, a senior international correspondent for the network, said as he broadcast from a rooftop shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the Russian invasion of Ukraine.Chance had been speaking to anchor Don Lemon when the missiles unexpectedly landed in the distance. The CNN correspondent heard the thunderous sound of the beginnings of war at the same time viewers at home did. Over the next 12 hours, Chance offered viewers what they have come to expect from the cable news channel during times of conflict and war: a raw, on-the-ground view of the shifting scene around him.Chance left his initial rooftop location and took viewers to a wooded area where Ukrainian forces were taking defensive positions. Then he visited an airfield taken over by the Russians.Read MoreThroughout it all, audiences at home were able to watch Chance try to make sense of the rapidly developing situation with him in real-time."Frankly, we didn't even know the Russian forces were going to be here," Chance said from the airfield from which he was broadcasting. "We came to speak with them ... but it only emerged during the conversation that they're all Russians and there are no Ukrainian military forces in sight -- although I can hear them because they've been shooting ferociously."'Fierce fighting' rocks Ukraine as Russia launches major invasionIt was a stunning moment to see playing out on live television -- and Chance was only one of several CNN journalists broadcasting live from the region as all hell broke loose. The network had correspondents and anchors fanned out across the region, broadcasting from multiple cities and on both sides of the Ukrainian-Russian border.The coverage contrasted CNN with other television networks that had slimmer resources in the region and were more often seen discussing the perilous situation with guests from studios in the US.In fact, the television coverage on display from CNN harkened back to images seen on the network during the Gulf War and Iraq War, when CNN bested its competitors and offered an exclusive window into the scenes playing out on the ground. But this time, the action was eerily unfolding in Europe, invoking comparisons to the two world wars which arose from that continent.Each of the other networks did, of course, bring their viewers special coverage with correspondents in Russia and Ukraine.And, at times, the danger to crews broadcasting from standup locations inside hotels was also apparent.NBC News correspondent Erin McLaughlin broadcast live on MSNBC as she took shelter in the parking garage of her Kyiv hotel when an air siren started wailing in the city."We were in our hotel and we heard the siren go off," McLaughlin said on "Morning Joe."On CBS News, correspondent Charlie D'Agata said he could hear fighter jets overhead as he broadcast from a balcony in Kyiv. And on ABC News, Ian Pannell also described seeing an aerial fight, reporting that his crew had "seen and heard more attacks," including "two fighter jets fighting low."Over on Fox, correspondent Steve Harrigan described "black smoke coming up" from an explosion behind him, "probably a missile." | 0business
|
Story highlightsAtletico Madrid's defeat to Vallecano gives Barcelona a 12-point lead in SpainCatalan side thrashed Getafe 6-1 in midday kickoff as six different players scoreMario Balotelli's AC Milan surrender fourth place in Italy to city rivals InternazionaleLyon's defeat gives PSG a six-point lead in the French title raceBarcelona's Sunday celebrations started early with a 6-1 romp over Getafe, and ended late with a slip-up by second-placed Atletico Madrid which has all but ended the Spanish title race.Atletico's 2-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano gave Barca a commanding 12-point lead with 15 matches to play, as third-placed champions Real Madrid languish another four points adrift. "It was an unusual time to play but we had a party in the stadium," the Catalan side's assistant coach Jordi Roura said after the midday kickoff at the Camp Nou, where more than 85,000 fans turned up."The players were at an extraordinary level. They were intense from the first minute," added Roura, who is running the team while Tito Vilanova is receiving cancer treatment in New YorkAlexis Sanchez opened the scoring in the sixth minute with his first league goal this season before Lionel Messi netted for a record-extending 13th successive La Liga game before quarter of an hour had been played -- his 35th in the competition from 23 appearances.Read: Ronaldo fires warning to Manchester United Photos: Messi and Balotelli spot on Photos: Messi and Balotelli spot onMessi makes point – Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (right) celebrates after scoring from the penalty spot in the 1-1 draw against Valencia.Hide Caption 1 of 3 Photos: Messi and Balotelli spot onSuper Mario – Mario Balotelli marked his return to Italy's Serie A with both goals in AC Milan's 2-1 win over Udinese, the second coming from the penalty spot deep into time added on. Hide Caption 2 of 3 Photos: Messi and Balotelli spot onBalo's back – Balotelli had opened the scoring just 25 minutes into his debut with a left-foot volley at the San Siro.Hide Caption 3 of 3 Photos: El Tigre: Falcao on fire Photos: El Tigre: Falcao on fireThe Tiger – Nicknamed "El Tigre" as a boy by his friends, Radamel Falcao has torn apart defenses all over the world. Atletico paid out $53 million to take him to Spain from Porto in 2011 and he more than repaid that fee, firing 36 goals in his first season and leading the club to the victory in the Europa League.Hide Caption 1 of 5 Photos: El Tigre: Falcao on fireDeadly duo – Falcao's impressive form has seen him mentioned in the same breath as Barcelona magician Lionel Messi. The Colombian scored a wonderful goal at the Camp Nou to open the scoring in December but Messi grabbed two as Barca eased to a 4-1 win.Hide Caption 2 of 5 Photos: El Tigre: Falcao on fireStar man – Atletico is enjoying a successful season with the club second in La Liga, through to the semifinals of the Spanish Cup and also in contention to retain its Europa League title. Falcao has been central to the team's impressive run of form, scoring 18 goals in the league so far this term.Hide Caption 3 of 5 Photos: El Tigre: Falcao on fireWorld Cup dream – Falcao hopes to lead the line for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His nation has not appeared at the finals since 1998 but holds the third of four automatic qualifying places in the South American group.Hide Caption 4 of 5 Photos: El Tigre: Falcao on fireCelebrity status – Falcao and his singer songwriter wife Lorelei Taron are both in the celebrity spotlight. It's a role to which the player has had to grow accustomed since becoming a worldwide phenomenon.Hide Caption 5 of 5 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich list Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listLeading the way – Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listReal deal – Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has become an integral part of the club's success both on and off the pitch with the Spanish giant leading the Football Money League table for the eighth year in a row.Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listBarca brand – Leo Messi's goals and success has been key to Barcelona's ability to draw in fans and broadcasters at will. It is the fourth year in a row that the club has finished second in the Football Money League table behind arch-rival Real Madrid.Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listUnited on course – Robin van Persie, a $38 million summer signing, has helped Manchester United reach the top of the Premier League as it looks to wrestle the title back from rival Manchester City. United, which has recently signed a record shirt deal with General Motors, has been tipped to overhaul the top two over the coming years.Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listHide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listBavarian bonus – Bayern Munich, which recently appointed Pep Guardiola as its new manager for the 2013/14 season, remain in fourth position. The German giant reached the Champions League final last season where it was beaten by Chelsea.Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listSpain dominates football's rich list – Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listChelsea chasing – European Champions League holder Chelsea is fifth in the money list. The London club has spent big money in recent years including the $80 million purchase of Spain striker Fernando Torres.Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listLooks who's watching – Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listArsenal up there – .Arsenal stays sixth in the table despite it's failure to win a single trophy since 2005. The club has also seen big name departures with Cesc Fabregas joining Barcelona and Robin van Persie moving to Manchester UnitedHide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: Spain dominates football's rich listCity slickers – Manchester City's Premier League title win catapulted the club up the Football Money League table and into seventh position. City's revenue grew to $452.6 million, the largest absolute and relative growth of any Money League club.Hide Caption 11 of 11 Photos: David Beckham through the years Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – David Beckham is a man of many talents. Not only is he one of the most famous names in sports, but he's also one heck of a model. Tommy Hilfiger has now recognized the 38-year-old former soccer player as the No. 1 underwear model of the century. It's just one of several career highs for Beckham, seen here modeling Emporio Armani underwear in a 2009-2010 ad campaign.Hide Caption 1 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham makes his England debut at a World Cup qualifying match against Moldova in 1996.Hide Caption 2 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham celebrates his goal against Colombia in the 1998 World Cup.Hide Caption 3 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – As a player on Manchester United, Beckham cools down during the FA Charity Shield match against Arsenal in 1998.Hide Caption 4 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – At the 1998 World Cup, in a second-round match against Argentina, Beckham was sent off for kicking out at Diego Simeone. England lost the match on penalties and was eliminated, with Beckham becoming a hate figure for some fans.Hide Caption 5 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham poses after a news conference in Awaji-shima Island, Japan, in 2002.Hide Caption 6 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham poses with Beyonce, left, and Jennifer Lopez in Madrid during a presentation of the new Pepsi "Samourai" in 2004.Hide Caption 7 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsA name brand – Beckham acts as England's captain during the 2004 European Championships in Portugal.Hide Caption 8 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham waves after a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna in 2007.Hide Caption 9 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – The midfielder celebrates with his sons in 2007 after Real Madrid won the Spanish League title by beating Mallorca.Hide Caption 10 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham makes an appearance to promote his fragrance "David Beckham Intimately Night" in Sydney in 2007.Hide Caption 11 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham reveals his new No. 32 jersey after his loan move to AC Milan in 2008.Hide Caption 12 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham controls the ball during a 2010 World Cup qualifier.Hide Caption 13 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham, during his time with the Los Angeles Galaxy, walks toward the line judge to have a chat during Game 1 of the MLS Western Conference semifinals in 2009.Hide Caption 14 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham arrives at Sydney International Airport in 2010.Hide Caption 15 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – David and his wife, Victoria, arrive at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey in 2011.Hide Caption 16 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – The Beckhams attend the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in West Hollywood, California, in 2012.Hide Caption 17 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham celebrated his second MLS Cup in December 2012 when he decided to leave with a year left on his contract and seek one final challenge in Europe.Hide Caption 18 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham passes under London's Tower Bridge in a speedboat carrying the Olympic Torch in 2012.Hide Caption 19 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham poses with Paris Saint-Germain President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, left, and PSG sports director Leonardo during a news conference announcing his new gig in January 2013.Hide Caption 20 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham waves after PSG played Brest in his final home match in May. Beckham had signed on with the team just a few months prior to his retirement. Hide Caption 21 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Beckham and his daughter, Harper, make their way through a crowd in New York in February. Harper, Beckham's fourth child, was born in 2011. Hide Caption 22 of 23 Photos: David Beckham through the yearsDavid Beckham through the years – Since retiring from soccer, Beckham has tried his hand at acting. It was announced in March that he will appear in a special edition of the UK classic sitcom, "Only Fools and Horses," to raise money for a good cause. Hide Caption 23 of 23David Villa and substitute Cristian Tello scored in the second half before Getafe hit back through striker Alvaro Vazquez, but then Andres Iniesta and defender Gerard Pique netted in time added on."We felt great on the pitch, a lot of people were able to make it to the stadium and the atmosphere was fantastic," Pique said."It wouldn't be an inconvenience if we had to play at the same time in the future."Read: Messi signs new Barca contractAtletico striker Radamel Falcao scored his 19th league goal this season, putting him third in the Pichichi standings behind Real's Cristiano Ronaldo -- who took his tally to 24 with a hat-trick in Saturday's 4-1 win over Sevilla.However, it came far too late -- the last kick of the match -- as Vallecano moved up to fifth place on goal difference above Valencia thanks to first-half goals from Guinean striker Alhassane Bangoura and Brazilian forward Leo Baptistao.Real Sociedad moved up to eighth with a 2-1 win at Zaragoza, while Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol eased relegation worries with a 4-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.ItalyMario Balotelli scored his second successive penalty for AC Milan to rescue a 1-1 draw at Cagliari, but his team surrendered fourth place in Serie A to city rivals Internazionale.Balotelli took his tally to three goals in two games since signing for $30 million from English champions Manchester City with an 82nd-minute spot-kick, but the Italy striker also missed a late chance to snatch victory.Inter won 3-1 at home to Chievo to move within a point of third-placed Lazio, as striker Antonio Cassano scored in the second minute then defender Andrea Ranocchia restored the lead with a header after Luca Rigoni's equalizer, and Diego Milito added the third in the second half.GermanyFreiburg moved up to fifth in the Bundesliga following Sunday's 1-0 win at home to lowly Fortuna Dusseldorf.An 87th-minute goal from Czech player Pavel Krmas put Freiburg above Mainz and Hamburg on goal difference.Mainz drew 1-1 at second-bottom Augsburg, while Hamburg crushed second-placed defending champions Borussia Dortmund 4-1 on Saturday.FranceLyon's title hopes suffered a blow in Sunday's 3-1 home defeat by Lille, which meant Paris Saint-Germain ended the weekend with a six-point lead.Third-placed Marseille also dropped points, drawing 1-1 at Evian -- who moved out of the bottom three on goal difference.PSG beat Bastia 3-1 on Friday, with star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring a penalty for his leading 21st goal this season. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsRussia state ordered to pay almost 50,000 euro in damages, costsEuropean Court of Human Rights rules that the law reinforces stigma against gay people (CNN)A European court has ruled that Russia's so-called "gay propaganda law" is discriminatory, promotes homophobia and violates the European Convention on Human Rights.The law bans "propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations around minors" and was justified by Russia's Duma as a necessary measure to protect children from homosexual influence. On Tuesday the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France found that three gay Russian activists were discriminated against and their right to freedom of expression violated when they were fined for protesting against the law.Nikolay Bayev, Aleksey Kiselev and Nikolay Alekseyev staged protests between 2009 and 2012, holding banners stating that homosexuality is natural and normal, and not a perversion, according to the court ruling. The activists had appealed to higher Russian courts without success.Russia's Justice Ministry denied the law was discriminatory or that it restricted freedom of speech, and said it would appeal the ruling within three months, state-run media TASS reported. Read MoreThe law is just one of many that the Duma has passed in the name of upholding what it sees as traditional family values. In January, it decriminalized some cases of domestic violence as part of this drive. JUST WATCHEDGay men tell of brutality in ChechnyaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGay men tell of brutality in Chechnya 02:50It also comes amid allegations of a brutal crackdown on gay men in the Russian republic of Chechnya. Witnesses have told CNN that hundreds of gay men have been held and abused in detention centers because of their sexual orientation. In April a Chechen government spokesman called the allegations of a crackdown "an absolute lie," and denied that gay men exist in the republic.Homosexuality was decriminalized in Russia 1993, but homophobia and discrimination is still common.Russia fails to protect LGBT people: HRW reportThe law considered by the European court was first passed in the country's regions but became national legislation in 2013.The court found that the law "served no legitimate public interest," rejecting suggestions that public debate on LGBT issues could influence children to become homosexual, or that it threatened public morals. "Above all, by adopting such laws the court found that the authorities had reinforced stigma and prejudice and encouraged homophobia, which was incompatible with the values -- of equality, pluralism and tolerance -- of a democratic society," the court document said. After the ruling was announced, TASS reported that the Justice Ministry disagreed with it, saying: "The relevant acts did not establish any measures aimed at banning homosexuality or its official censure, did not contain any signs of discrimination and, in its general sense, did not allow excessive action by public authorities."The court decided by six votes to one that Russia must pay around 49,000 euros in damages and legal fees to the three activists.The court in Strasbourg is responsible for the European Convention on Human Rights, which applies to all 47 members of the Council of Europe, including Russia.But President Vladimir Putin in December 2015 signed a law that allows Russia's Constitutional Court to decide whether or not to implement rulings by international courts. | 3news
|
(CNN)Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has now had Covid-19 twice, but when asked by reporters Monday whether the Ravens have spoken to him about getting vaccinated, he was noncommittal on vaccines. "I just got off the Covid list, so I've got to talk to my team about this and try to see how they feel about it," he said. "I'm going to keep grinding as much as I can about it, and go from there."He was asked again if he would get vaccinated. "We'll see. Talking to the doctors. We'll see," he said. He later added he felt getting the vaccine was a personal decision. "I'm just going to worry about that with my family, keep my feelings to my family and myself. I'm focused on getting better right now. I can't dwell on that right now on how everybody else feels -- just trying to get back into a great routine," he said.Read MorePro athletes and leagues are sometimes at odds over vaccines, much like the rest of America Jackson tested positive for the second time in July before training camp and said he was upset by it. "What the? Again?! It was crazy. I was heartbroken because I wasn't looking forward to that all. Right before camp it was like, not again. Not right now. But it's over with," Jackson said, adding he was fatigued and slept a lot. "But I'm glad to be back. Ten days being off, I didn't like it at all," he said. Jackson first tested positive in late November 2020, according to the NFL Network and ESPN. It was during this time the Ravens were struggling to manage a Covid outbreak among players -- at one point placing 20 players on the Reserve/Covid-19 list. Vaccinated players that test positive and remain asymptomatic are eligible to return after testing negative twice in a 24-hour span, according to league protocols. Unvaccinated players are required to quarantine for 10 days and then test negative before they're able to return.Jackson said Monday he didn't feel that having an unvaccinated quarterback was a disadvantage to the Ravens. "I'm just going to follow the NFL protocols as much as I can, best I can. I'm not worried about it. Last year I came off Covid, I felt like we did pretty good," he said. "This year, I'm trying to do the same thing if anything. Just like I said, I'm going to follow the protocols."Jackson's noncommittal to the vaccine comes as the NFL and other leagues try to combat vaccine hesitancy among players. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley tweeted in June he'd rather retire than get a vaccine, but in July said he was not "anti or pro vax. I'm pro choice." CNN's Homero De la Fuente, Jill Martin and Ray Sanchez contributed to this report. | 5sport
|
(CNN)A former Bosnian Croat general has died after apparently swallowing poison as a judge at the Hague upheld his 20-year sentence for war crimes.Footage from the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) showed 72-year-old Slobodan Praljak tilt his head back and drink from a small glass bottle as the presiding judge read out the verdict."Slobodan Praljak is not a war criminal. I am rejecting your verdict with contempt," Praljak shouted before swallowing the liquid.The judge was then heard immediately suspending proceedings and asking for the curtains to be drawn. An ambulance was at the building shortly and paramedics raced up to the courtroom, Reuters reported.The courtroom was being treated as a crime scene, an ICTY spokesperson told CNN.Read MoreCrotian Former General Slobodan Praljak drinking a small bottle of liquid during a Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague on November 29.Croatia's Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic, later confirmed the former general had died and offered his condolences. "On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and on my own behalf, I want to express my deepest condolences to the family of General Slobodan Praljak," Plenkovic said, according to a tweet from an official government account. The nature of the substance ingested by Praljak was not immediately clear.Praljak, a former assistant defense minister of Croatia and commander of the Croatian Defense Council, was appealing a jail term of 20 years in prison.He was one of six former Bosnian Croat leaders found guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including the rape and murder of Bosnian Muslims, in 2013. Slobodan Praljak enters the Yugoslav War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands on Wednesday. Praljak played an important role in securing weapons and ammunition for the Croatian Defense Council army, according to the original indictment.The offenses, which date to between 1992 and 1994, were part of a wider conflict that followed the breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the early 1990s.The appeal judges upheld the findings of an earlier trial that implicated the Croatian regime under then-President Franjo Tudjman in a criminal conspiracy with the goal of "ethnic cleansing of the Muslim population" of parts of Bosnia to ensure Croatian domination.The Bosnian Croat leadership, along with Croat leaders, wanted to make this territory part of a "Greater Croatia," the ICTY said when the case first went through the court.The six received sentences that ranged from 10 to 25 years. No further appeals are possible.CNN's Laura Smith-Spark contributed to this report. | 3news
|
Story highlightsVideo from scene shows police, onlookers tending to 3 men, two of them in fatiguesMinistry of Internal Affairs official says explosion is a suspected terror act (CNN)Police officers are among the two dead and 15 wounded after an explosion during a peaceful protest in the eastern city of Kharkiv, Ukraine's Interior Ministry said Sunday. Four people belonging to a group that received training in Belgorod, Russia, have been arrested, Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov of Ukraine's National Defense and Security Council said on his website. A gun was also confiscated. JUST WATCHEDKerry: Russia actions are 'simply unacceptable'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHKerry: Russia actions are 'simply unacceptable' 01:08Though there were reports that someone threw an explosive device from a vehicle, the blast appeared to be caused by a remote-controlled device, Turchynov's statement said. Footage from the rally shows an estimated 500 people marching through a Kharkiv street, many hoisting Ukrainian flags, when the explosion sends rally participants and onlookers scurrying for cover. Police and others rush to treat three people -- two men, one in camouflage fatigues and another who appears to be in civilian dress, lying motionless on the ground and a third man in camouflage who seems to have suffered shrapnel injuries to his legs. Read MoreJUST WATCHEDCitizens terrified in UkraineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCitizens terrified in Ukraine 01:42Turchynov's statement and media outlets reported a casualty toll lower than the one provided by the Interior Ministry. The Interior Ministry and Turchynov agreed that one policeman was among the dead and five officers were among the wounded.'I saw two dead, lying in blood'One eyewitness told the Kiev Post that the blast could have been deadlier. "The march was delayed by 10 minutes, then just as people started to move, we saw the explosion go off just 100 meters away, to our left and on the road side. It seemed like the device was hidden in the snow near a tree," Dmitriy Komaykov told the newspaper."Luckily a truck was maneuvering there, and it took most of the shrapnel. I saw two dead, lying in blood, just next to the truck, which was completely torn apart by metal shards. Can you imagine if it had been later? My wife and I went to the march with our baby daughter and our older son."The explosion is a suspected terrorist act, said Anatoly Dmitriev, head of the Kharkiv region of Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs. Kharkiv has been placed under the highest level of terror alert as a counterterrorism operation is under way, Turchynov said.JUST WATCHEDDay of remembrance, reflection in UkraineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDay of remembrance, reflection in Ukraine 02:19Sunday's rally marked the first anniversary of the bloodiest day of protests in Kiev's Maidan, or Independence Square, against the country's then-Russian-leaning leader and in favor of closer ties to Europe.Some 49 people died on February 20, 2014, and close to 100 more suffered gunshot wounds when, according to protesters, government snipers opened fire on them.Two days later, President Viktor Yanukovych fled the country, prompting Ukrainians to declare "victory in the Maidan" and promise a new day for a country long torn between its neighbors, Europe to the west and Russia to the east.JUST WATCHEDThe deadly day that changed KievReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe deadly day that changed Kiev 03:35Kharkiv has been the target of numerous attacks in recent months. According to a Foreign Policy report, the Interior Ministry has declared that 700 separatists have been detained in the city, and several attacks have struck Ukraine's second-largest city since October. Among them: a grenade attack on military warehouses on October 19; a November explosion at a pub popular with local volunteers and activists; a Christmas bombing at a furniture store; a January bombing at a courthouse that injured 14; and a February bombing of a notary's office. In response to the attacks, police have begun guarding Kharkiv's "strategic infrastructure" and have upped security at supermarkets, Foreign Policy reported Friday. U.S. calls out RussiaSunday's attack came a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, appearing in London, blasted Russia for its "land-grabbing in Ukraine" and threatened additional sanctions. Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolution Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionUkrainian demonstrators gather in Kiev's Maidan, or Independence Square, on February 21, 2014, a day after the bloodiest day of revolution protests. Nearly 50 activists were killed and hundreds more injured in clashes in the square on February 20, 2014. The street protests soon led to the ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych and triggered a chain of events that included Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and fighting in Eastern Ukraine with pro-Russian separatist forces. Hide Caption 1 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA protester aims a gun in the direction of suspected sniper fire in Kiev on Thursday, February 20. Thousands of demonstrators had packed Independence Square since November when President Viktor Yanukovych reversed a decision on a trade deal with the European Union and instead turned toward Russia.Hide Caption 2 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionPolice use water cannons against protesters in Kiev on February 20.Hide Caption 3 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionAn injured protester is carried away from Independence Square on a stretcher February 20. Hide Caption 4 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionCaptured police officers are led away by protesters in Kiev on February 20.Hide Caption 5 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionHide Caption 6 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA woman on February 20 mourns over protesters who were killed during clashes.Hide Caption 7 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters rebuild barricades in Independence Square on February 20.Hide Caption 8 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionRiot police face protesters in Kiev on February 20.Hide Caption 9 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters man a barricade on the outskirts of Independence Square on February 20.Hide Caption 10 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionAn injured protester is evacuated from Independence Square on February 20.Hide Caption 11 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA priest walks with a cross and shield during clashes in central Kiev on February 20.Hide Caption 12 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionMedics embrace in the lobby of the Hotel Ukraine on February 20.Hide Caption 13 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA high-ranking police officer, left, and a representative for the protesters speak with each other near the Cabinet of Ministers in Kiev on February 20.Hide Caption 14 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters light Molotov cocktails in Kiev on February 20.Hide Caption 15 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters clash with police in Independence Square on February 20.Hide Caption 16 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters move up an embankment in Kiev on February 20.Hide Caption 17 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionAn injured demonstrator is carried away from Independence Square on February 20.Hide Caption 18 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA protester shouts during clashes with police on February 20.Hide Caption 19 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters run from a burning barricade in Kiev on February 20.Hide Caption 20 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA protester rolls a tire toward burning barricades on February 20.Hide Caption 21 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters advance to new positions in Kiev on February 20.Hide Caption 22 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionFireworks explode over protesters in Independence Square on Wednesday, February 19.Hide Caption 23 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA protester throws a Molotov cocktail in Kiev on February 19.Hide Caption 24 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters clash with police in Independence Square on February 19.Hide Caption 25 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters use a compressed air cannon to launch a Molotov cocktail toward police lines in Independence Square on February 19.Hide Caption 26 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA protester hurls a Molotov cocktail toward police on February 19.Hide Caption 27 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionPolice take cover behind shields as fireworks go off in Kiev on February 19.Hide Caption 28 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionPolice form a barrier in Independence Square on February 19.Hide Caption 29 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters throw rocks at riot police in Independence Square on February 19.Hide Caption 30 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionIndependence Square smolders during protests on February 19.Hide Caption 31 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionRiot police officers rest against a column in Independence Square on February 19.Hide Caption 32 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionAn injured protester is moved out during clashes with riot police in Kiev on February 19.Hide Caption 33 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters protect themselves with shields as they clash with police in Kiev on February 19.Hide Caption 34 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters sleep on the floor inside a Kiev monastery on February 19.Hide Caption 35 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA protester rushes through a broken door in the regional prosecutor's office in Lviv, Ukraine, on February 19. Police said the unrest has spread to western Ukraine, with protesters attacking police and local government offices in a number of regions.Hide Caption 36 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters in Lviv burn papers from a government building on February 19.Hide Caption 37 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA protester runs during clashes with police in Kiev on Tuesday, February 18.Hide Caption 38 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionViolence between police and protesters escalates February 18 in Kiev.Hide Caption 39 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters burn a car in central Kiev on February 18.Hide Caption 40 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA protester stands atop a barricade in Kiev on February 18.Hide Caption 41 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters clash with riot police outside Ukraine's parliament in Kiev on February 18.Hide Caption 42 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA rainbow forms over a protester ducking for cover in Kiev on February 18.Hide Caption 43 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionRiot police protect themselves during clashes in Kiev on February 18.Hide Caption 44 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionHide Caption 45 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionA protester is engulfed in flames while running from the clashes in Kiev on February 18.Hide Caption 46 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionRiot police detain a protester in Kiev on February 18.Hide Caption 47 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters invade the main office of the ruling Party of Regions in Kiev on February 18.Hide Caption 48 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionRiot police shield themselves during clashes with protesters on February 18.Hide Caption 49 of 50 Photos: Ukraine's 2014 revolutionProtesters throw stones toward riot police in Kiev on February 18.Hide Caption 50 of 50"We are confident that over the next few days we are going to make it clear that we are not going to play this game, not going to sit here and be part of this extraordinarily craven behavior at the expense of the sovereignty and integrity of a nation," he said. Moscow has repeatedly denied that it is arming separatists and sending its own troops over the border, but Kerry said satellites and other technology show it's "no secret" what is happening in Ukraine. "We know to a certainty what Russia has been providing to the separatists, how Russia is involved with the separatists," he said.JUST WATCHEDFall of Debaltseve sends shockwaves through regionReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFall of Debaltseve sends shockwaves through region 02:41A ceasefire that went into effect February 15 remains in doubt, as a separatist offensive to take the key strategic town of Debaltseve ended only Wednesday when rebels took over the town. Shelling also picked up last week in the city of Donetsk and clashes have been reported around the southern port city of Mariupol.Ukraine's National Defense and Security Council said Friday there had been 300 instances in which the latest truce was violated, and the news agency Ukrinform published a map Saturday showing how the eastern portion of the country is still racked by violence. The ceasefire agreement -- signed February 12 in Minsk, Belarus, among the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France and Germany -- aimed to curb this violence. It is supposed to be followed by the withdrawal of heavy weaponry to create a buffer zone, the release of prisoners and steps toward new elections.Journalist Victoria Butenko in Kiev and CNN's Laura Smith-Spark and Lindsay Isaac contributed to this report. | 3news
|
Story highlightsNepali-speaking Gorkhas are demanding a state within IndiaThree people have been killed and up to 60 injured Region-wide strike has left tourism and tea industries in ruinsNew Delhi (CNN)The sleepy hills of India's northeast have erupted into violence, as calls for a separate state for the area's Nepali-speaking Gorkhas gain traction. The protest movement -- now entering into its ninth day and showing no signs of resolution -- is centered around the tea producing region of Darjeeling, in West Bengal, home to the country's largest concentration of ethnic Gorkhas. As many as three people have been killed and up to 60 injured, in ongoing clashes between protestors and local paramilitary forces. Earlier this week, military troops were drafted into the region in a bid to help quell tensions, which have hurt the region's tea and tourist industries. The protests are part of a wider regional strike as called for by the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) -- an ethno-nationalist political party spearheading the statehood movement -- that has seen the local economy paralyzed, as workers abandon their posts and take to the streets in their thousands. Crisis deepens Read More Darjeeling, a popular tourist destination in India, is best known for its sprawling tea gardens, lush green hills and panoramic views of snow-clad mountain ranges. Hundreds of Indian and foreign tourists have fled the area since the unrest began. Who are the Indian Gorkhas?In 1816, the Treaty of Sugauli was signed between the government of Nepal and the British East India Company following the Anglo-Nepal war, in which Nepal ceded some of its territories, including Darjeeling, to the British. After Indian Independence, the ceded territories continued to be a part of present-day India; the Nepali-speaking majority in Darjeeling and adjoining areas, also called Gorkhas, became a part of West Bengal -- a state of Bengali speakers. The creation of modern day West Bengal became the springboard for an ethnically-driven battle for a separate state of Gorkhaland. In the 1980s, under the leadership of Subash Ghising, the movement's separatist demands intensified, leading to the death of over 1200 people. The bloodshed was finally brought to an end with the creation of Gorkha autonomous council, and the introduction of self rule in Darjeeling.Ethnic gorkhas, from Nepal and India, were part of the British Army for nearly 200 years.On Friday protestors offered a 12-hour window for more than 7,000 boarding school students to safely evacuate the hills -- home to some of the best boarding schools in India. Father Divya Annandam, Vice Principal at St Josephs School, told CNN some school dormitories are already facing food shortages. The crisis started in mid-May when the government of West Bengal, the Eastern Indian state of which Darjeeling is a part, made Bengali language courses compulsory in schools across the state. The government's decision was viewed with hostility among the area's Nepali-speaking community."We are very different from the rest of the state of West Bengal. Our language, our tradition, our culture, our heritage, our geographical condition, it doesn't match with rest of the state, with the whole other population of West Bengal," Roshan Giri, Secretary General of GJM told CNN. "For Gujratis, they have Gujrat, for Biharis, they have Bihar, for Punjabis, they have Punjab...why not Gorkhaland for Gorkhas?" Giri questioned. Indian supporters of the separatist Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) group shout slogans while demonstrating during an indefinite strike called in Darjeeling on June 19, 2017.
Gorkhaland demandsBut what started as an agitation against a change in the school curriculum quickly escalated into a revival of a century-old demand for a separate state for the Indian Gorkhas, the original inhabitants of the area. Activists claim as many as three protestors died in "indiscriminate police firing" on Gorkhaland supporters on Saturday, a claim that the police have denied. Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday appealed "to the people living in Darjeeling and nearby areas to remain calm and peaceful." He urged the protestors to not resort to violence and resolve the issue through mutual dialogue. Indian army personnel patrol amid clashes between security personnel and protesters, June 16, 2017.
But outraged Gorkhaland proponents have vowed to not to give up."This is our final push...and we are resolved to fight until our demand is met," said Giri."The West Bengal government is trying to crush our democratic movement by using police ... Gorkhaland is a legitimate demand within the framework of the Indian constitution," Giri added. The state government's calls for talks this week were refused by GJM officials, who have said they will now only enter into dialogue with the Indian Central Government in Delhi. Indian Buddhists hold candles as they take part in a vigil to pay respects to those killed in clashes with police during an indefinite strike in Darjeeling on June 19, 2017.
Tea industry The indefinite strike and the government clampdown has left tourism and the tea industry -- the backbone of the local economy -- in tatters. "Darjeeling's tea industry has suffered a direct loss of more than $18 million already due to the current unrest," Kaushik Basu, Secretary General of Darjeeling Tea Association told CNN. Women carry plucked tea leaves through the Darjeeling hills.Basu estimated a revenue loss of $55 million for the local tea production if the strike prolongs. This is the peak of tourist season in Darjeeling, also known as 'Queen of the Hills.' Thousands of tourists would normally flock to Darjeeling around this time of the year. But local tour operators said there is not a single tourist in sight. "The hills are virtually empty," Summit Periwal, a local tour operator told CNN. CNN's Karma Dolma Gurung contributed to this report | 3news
|
(CNN)Germany's Social Democratic Party voted to renew a coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, paving the way for her fourth term after nearly six months of political deadlock. The postal ballot saw 66% vote in favor and 34% against the grand coalition, SPD treasurer Dietmar Nietan announced Sunday. The new government could be in place by the end of March after the federal election on September 24 saw both parties lose a record number of votes and left few coalition options for Merkel.Merkel has led Europe's largest economy since 2005. If she finishes her fourth term, she will have been in power for 16 years -- equaling Helmut Kohl as the country's longest-serving chancellor.Merkel's future is in the hands of a 28-year old named KevinMore than 460,000 SPD members were eligible to vote on the coalition deal reached by the two parties last month.Read MoreHow did we get here? Germany's September 2017 election was supposed to be an easy victory for Merkel's CDU, and she was expected to cruise to her fourth term in office as Chancellor.Instead, voters revolted against the status quo. Both CDU and the SPD barely maintained their status as Germany's top parties, suffering record losses and losing millions of votes to the far-right nationalist party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), which took nearly 13% of the vote.Months of painful negotiations The surprise result spurred months of painful negotiations, as Merkel's party tried to hammer out a coalition agreement. After coalition talks between the CDU, the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the Green Party collapsed in November, a renewal of the so-called Grand Coalition (or "GroKo") was the only remaining multiparty option.Former SPD leader Martin Schulz had ruled out a new GroKo, but was forced into negotiations as the alternative prospect of new elections loomed. Widely blamed for the turmoil within his party since the election, Schulz stepped aside last month. Andrea Nahles, a former minister of labor and social affairs, is likely to be confirmed as the party's first ever female leader at a party conference in April.What does this mean for Merkel?For 12 years, Germany has been led by the indomitable "Mutti" -- or "Mother" -- Merkel. Under her leadership, the CDU has been seen as a Europe-wide emblem for liberal-minded conservatism that refuses to collaborate with the xenophobic far right -- in stark contrast to Austria's Christian Democrats.JUST WATCHEDMerkel's party receives lowest support in yearsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMerkel's party receives lowest support in years 01:59More than a million refugees entered Germany in 2015 as a result of Merkel's open-door migration policy, sparking a heated national debate about immigration and integration in the country.In October, Merkel agreed to aim for a limit on Germany's refugee intake, marking a significant retreat from her previous rejection of a cap.The proposed limit was one of a number of compromises Merkel has been forced to make with conservative sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU), since September's disastrous election results.While "Mutti" will be breathing a sigh of relief after Sunday's vote, she still faces many more challenges -- not least of which is divvying up ministerial portfolios with her new coalition partners. Ministry positions will be announced in the next few weeks. And for far-right AfD?The coalition deal means the far-right AfD is now the lead opposition party in parliament. The AfD was founded in 2013 and its virulently anti-immigration platform proved popular with voters in the September election. The party surged into third place in the election, the first time in decades that a far-right, openly nationalist party had won seats in Germany's federal parliament.CNN's Atika Shubert, Nadine Schmidt and Duarte Mendonca contributed to this report | 3news
|
Story highlightsDonetsk health authority says 16 people died in overnight violence, 32 were injuredActing President says 13 soldiers were killed in Donetsk; a 14th soldier died in LuhanskUkraine PM urges emergency U.N. meeting, accuses Russia of trying to derail election NATO chief says there may be signs Russia is preparing to pull back forces from border areaSixteen people were killed an attack overnight on soldiers in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, local health officials said, in the latest spike in violence ahead of the weekend's presidential election.At least 13 of those who died in Donetsk were soldiers, according to acting President Oleksandr Turchynov. Another soldier was killed in a strike on a military convoy in the Luhansk region, the Defense Ministry said earlier, bringing the death toll overnight to at least 14 Ukrainian troops.Donetsk region's Health Department said 16 people had died in total and that 32 were hospitalized across the region, but did not specify how many were soldiers.In the Donetsk attack, an armored vehicle at a checkpoint in Volnovaha was hit by rocket-propelled grenades and mortars, which caused ammunition on board to ignite, the Defense Ministry said. JUST WATCHEDFormer heavyweight champ for mayorReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFormer heavyweight champ for mayor 02:21JUST WATCHEDPutin again pledges to pull troops backReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPutin again pledges to pull troops back 02:34JUST WATCHEDMemories of MaidanReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMemories of Maidan 13:06 Photos: Photos: Crisis in Ukraine Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A man looks at a bullet shell next to a destroyed car after a gunfight between pro-Russian militiamen and Ukrainian forces in Karlivka, Ukraine, on Friday, May 23. Much of Ukraine's unrest has been centered in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where separatists have claimed independence from the government in Kiev.Hide Caption 1 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – The body of a pro-Ukrainian militia fighter lies along a road in Karlivka on May 23.Hide Caption 2 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A woman walks past a destroyed car after Ukrainian government forces fired mortar shells during clashes with pro-Russian forces in Slovyansk, Ukraine, on May 23.Hide Caption 3 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A pro-Russian activist carries a ballot box away from a polling station in Donetsk, Ukraine, as he prepares to smash it on May 23.Hide Caption 4 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Local citizens help support a woman at a rally protesting shelling by Ukrainian government forces in the village of Semyonovka, Ukraine, on Thursday, May 22.Hide Caption 5 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Bodies covered with blankets lie in a field near the village of Blahodatne, Ukraine, on May 22, as a Ukrainian soldier smokes next to his armored infantry vehicle.Hide Caption 6 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian soldier rests inside an armored personnel carrier at a checkpoint near Slovyansk on Wednesday, May 21. Hide Caption 7 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Yekaterina Len cries outside her home after it was hit by mortar shells during fighting between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian soldiers in Slovyansk on Tuesday, May 20. Hide Caption 8 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian soldier stands guard on the road from Izium, Ukraine, to Slovyansk on Monday, May 19.Hide Caption 9 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A new recruit gets his hair cut at a training camp for the Donbass Battalion, a pro-Ukrainian militia, in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine on May 19.Hide Caption 10 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian armed militants guard a checkpoint in Slovyansk on May 19, blocking a major highway to Kharkiv.Hide Caption 11 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian militants detain three men on Sunday, May 18, in Kramatorsk, Ukraine. The men are suspected of spying for the Ukrainian government.Hide Caption 12 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A bodyguard of insurgent leader Denis Pushilin stands in front of a statue of Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin during a pro-Russia rally in Donetsk on May 18.Hide Caption 13 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian militants guard a checkpoint outside Slovyansk on Saturday, May 17.Hide Caption 14 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Employees of the Ukrainian company Metinvest clear away debris in a government building in Mariupol, Ukraine, on Friday, May 16, after pro-Russian separatists relinquished their hold on it. Hide Caption 15 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian activists argue in Mariupol about how to thwart the upcoming Ukrainian presidential elections.Hide Caption 16 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian gunmen take up positions to fight Ukrainian national troops at a checkpoint outside Slovyansk on Thursday, May 15.Hide Caption 17 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A mortar shell sticks out of the ground at a checkpoint near Slovyansk on May 15.Hide Caption 18 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A man surveys the damage to his home after a mine exploded during an exchange of fire between pro-Russian militants and government troops outside Slovyansk on May 15.Hide Caption 19 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A man examines ballots at a printing house in Kiev, Ukraine, on Wednesday, May 14. The ballots will be used in early presidential voting on May 25.Hide Caption 20 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – People collect mortar shells in front of a burnt-out Ukrainian military vehicle near Oktyabrskoe, Ukraine, on May 14.Hide Caption 21 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Two men collect parts of a Ukrainian armored personnel carrier, destroyed May 14 in what the Ukrainian Defense Ministry called a terrorist attack near Kramatorsk.Hide Caption 22 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A member of a "self-defense" squad smashes a slot machine with a sledgehammer Monday, May 12, at an illegal club in Slovyansk.Hide Caption 23 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – People celebrate with fireworks in Donetsk on May 12 as separatists declared independence for the Donetsk region.Hide Caption 24 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Roman Lyagin, a member of a rebel election commission, shows referendum results to journalists at a May 12 news conference in Donetsk. Pro-Russian separatists staged the referendum asking residents in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions whether they should declare independence from Ukraine. Hide Caption 25 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – An armed pro-Russian separatist takes up a position near Slovyansk on May 12.Hide Caption 26 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A man with a "self-defense" unit checks people's identification in Slovyansk on Sunday, May 11. Hide Caption 27 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A person leaves a voting booth in Luhansk, Ukraine, on May 11. The Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine voted on controversial referendums to declare independence from the government in Kiev. Acting Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov called the vote "propagandist farce."Hide Caption 28 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Two men react after Ukrainian national guardsmen open fire on a crowd outside a town hall in Krasnoarmiysk, Ukraine, on May 11.Hide Caption 29 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian woman votes at a polling station in Donetsk on May 11. Hide Caption 30 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainians line up to cast their votes at a polling station in Donetsk on May 11.Hide Caption 31 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A voter casts her ballot in eastern Ukraine's independence referendum in Slovyansk on May 11.Hide Caption 32 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – An armed pro-Russian man sits below a flag of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic at the barricades on a road leading into Slovyansk on May 11. Hide Caption 33 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Black smoke billows from burning tires used to prevent government troops' armored personnel carriers from passing through in Mariupol on Saturday, May 10. Hide Caption 34 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – The mother of Dmitriy Nikityuk, who died in a fire at a trade union building during riots in Odessa, Ukraine, cries next to his coffin during his funeral on Thursday, May 8. Hide Caption 35 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian soldier keeps guard at a checkpoint near Slovyansk on May 8.Hide Caption 36 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A pro-Russian activist stands with a Russian national flag outside the regional Interior Ministry building in Luhansk on Wednesday, May 7.Hide Caption 37 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, right, inspects an armored personnel carrier in Slovyansk on May 7.Hide Caption 38 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – An armed pro-Russian separatist takes a position by the railway lines near Slovyansk on Tuesday, May 6.Hide Caption 39 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A relative mourns by the body of 17-year-old Vadim Papura during a service in Odessa on May 6. Papura died after jumping out of a burning trade union building during riots on May 2.Hide Caption 40 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A pro-Russian gunman holds his weapon while guarding the local administration building in Slovyansk on May 6.Hide Caption 41 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian supporters lead blindfolded men in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk on Monday, May 5.Hide Caption 42 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian policemen check documents at a checkpoint near the northeastern city of Izium on May 5.Hide Caption 43 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian soldiers stand at a checkpoint near Slovyansk on May 5.Hide Caption 44 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian Cossacks sit outside the regional administration building in Donetsk on May 5.Hide Caption 45 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian militants who were arrested during a Ukrainian unity rally are greeted on Sunday, May 4, after being freed by police in Odessa. The men released Sunday had been detained after bloody clashes in Odessa, which ended in a deadly blaze. Forty-six people were killed in the bloodshed.Hide Caption 46 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A pro-Russian militant reacts after being freed on May 4 in Odessa. Hide Caption 47 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian militants clash with police as they storm the police station in Odessa on May 4.Hide Caption 48 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – An Orthodox priest, in front of the administration building in Donetsk, blesses a pro-Russian activist May 4 as people gather to honor the memory of fallen comrades in Odessa.Hide Caption 49 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Red carnations are left inside the burned trade union building in Odessa on May 4. Flowers, candles and photos of the dead piled up outside the charred building, a day after brutal clashes and the fire claimed 46 lives.Hide Caption 50 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian protesters light candles in Donetsk on Saturday, May 3, to honor the memory of fallen comrades in Odessa.Hide Caption 51 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A woman cries in front of the burned trade union building in Odessa on May 3.Hide Caption 52 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A man walks past burning tires near Kramatorsk on May 3.Hide Caption 53 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian activists beat a pro-Ukraine supporter trying to save the Ukrainian flag that was removed from a flagpole outside the burned trade union building in Odessa.Hide Caption 54 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian protesters gather in Donetsk to honor the memory of comrades who died in Odessa.Hide Caption 55 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A portrait of Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin is part of a barricade in the center of Slovyansk on May 3. The city has become the focus of an armed pro-Russian, anti-government insurgency that aspires to give the eastern regions of Ukraine full autonomy. Hide Caption 56 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A pro-Russian activist sits in front of policemen guarding the burned trade union building in Odessa on May 3.Hide Caption 57 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – People lay flowers and candles at the burned trade union building in Odessa on May 3.Hide Caption 58 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian soldiers arrive to reinforce a checkpoint that troops seized Friday, May 2, in Andreevka, a village near Slovyansk. Two helicopters were downed Friday as Ukrainian security forces tried to dislodge pro-Russian separatists from Slovyansk, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said.Hide Caption 59 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Police take cover under shields as pro-Russian activists storm the prosecutor's office in Donetsk on Thursday, May 1. Eastern Ukraine was a heartland of support for President Viktor Yanukovych, who was ousted in February.Hide Caption 60 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A pro-Russian activist is wounded after storming the prosecutor's office in Donetsk and clashing with riot police on May 1. Hide Caption 61 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian activists storm the prosecutor's office in Donetsk on May 1. Police fired tear gas and stun grenades in an effort to disperse the activists.Hide Caption 62 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – An injured Pro-Russian activist speaks with an armed protester during clashes with police in front of the regional administration building in Donetsk on May 1.Hide Caption 63 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian activists storm an administration building in the center of Luhansk on Tuesday, April 29. Hide Caption 64 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russia militants, armed with baseball bats and iron bars, hold flares as they attack people marching for national unity in Donetsk on Monday, April 28. Hide Caption 65 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Detained observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe arrive to take part in a news conference Sunday, April 27, in Slovyansk. Vyacheslav Ponomarev, the self-declared mayor of Slovyansk, referred to the observers as "prisoners of war."Hide Caption 66 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian troops stand guard behind a barricade made of sandbags at a checkpoint about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from Slovyansk on April 27.Hide Caption 67 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Relatives and friends of a man killed in a gunfight participate in his funeral ceremony in Slovyansk on Saturday, April 26.Hide Caption 68 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – U.S. troops arrive at an air force base near Siauliai Zuokniai, Lithuania, on April 26. The United States is conducting military exercises in Poland, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. The exercises are, in part, a response to the ongoing instability in Ukraine.Hide Caption 69 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian government troops in armored vehicles travel on a country road outside the town of Svyitohirsk in eastern Ukraine on April 26.Hide Caption 70 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russia armed militants inspect a truck near Slovyansk on Friday, April 25. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has accused the West of plotting to control Ukraine, and he said the pro-Russia insurgents in the southeast would lay down their arms only if the Ukrainian government clears out the Maidan protest camp in the capital, Kiev. Hide Caption 71 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russia militants keep records of their duty in Slovyansk on April 25.Hide Caption 72 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian troops take position near burning tires at a pro-Russian checkpoint in Slovyansk on Thursday, April 24. Hide Caption 73 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian special forces take position at an abandoned roadblock in Slovyansk on April 24.Hide Caption 74 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian special forces member takes position in Slovyansk.Hide Caption 75 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Cossacks carry a coffin into a church in Slovyansk on Tuesday, April 22, during a funeral for men killed in a gunfight at a checkpoint two days before.Hide Caption 76 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, left, talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk during a meeting in Kiev on April 22.Hide Caption 77 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – An armed pro-Russian man stands on a street in Slovyansk on Monday, April 21.Hide Caption 78 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Demonstrators attend a pro-Russian rally outside the secret service building in Luhansk on April 21.Hide Caption 79 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Cars are burned out after an attack at a roadblock in Slovyansk on Sunday, April 20.Hide Caption 80 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A resident inspects burnt-out cars at a roadblock on April 20. Hide Caption 81 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A pro-Russian militant is seen at the roadblock near Slovyansk on April 20.Hide Caption 82 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Armed pro-Russian militants stand guard at a roadblock near Slovyansk on April 20. Hide Caption 83 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A masked man stands guard outside a regional administration building seized by pro-Russian separatists in Slovyansk on Friday, April 18. Hide Caption 84 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – People walk around barricades April 18 set up at the regional administration building that was seized earlier in Donetsk.Hide Caption 85 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to the media after a nationally televised question-and-answer session in Moscow on Thursday, April 17. Putin denied that Russian forces are involved in the unrest in eastern Ukraine, though he did say for the first time that Russians were active in Crimea before the peninsula voted to join the country.Hide Caption 86 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian riot police officers stand guard during a pro-Ukrainian demonstration in Donetsk on April 17.Hide Caption 87 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Masked pro-Russian protesters stand guard in front of the city hall in Mariupol on April 17.Hide Caption 88 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry reaches out to shake hands with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the start of a bilateral meeting to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The meeting took place April 17 in Geneva, Switzerland.Hide Caption 89 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A masked gunman stands guard near tanks in Slovyansk on Wednesday, April 16. Hide Caption 90 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian helicopter flies over a column of Ukrainian Army combat vehicles on the way to Kramatorsk on April 16.Hide Caption 91 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A masked pro-Russian gunman guards combat vehicles parked in downtown Slovyansk on April 16.Hide Caption 92 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A man talks with Ukrainian soldiers as they are blocked by people on their way to Kramatorsk.Hide Caption 93 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian soldiers sit atop combat vehicles on their way to Kramatorsk.Hide Caption 94 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian Gen. Vasily Krutov is surrounded by protesters after addressing the crowd outside an airfield in Kramatorsk on Tuesday, April 15.Hide Caption 95 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian activists guard a barricade April 15 outside the regional police building that they seized in Slovyansk.Hide Caption 96 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian troops receive munitions at a field on the outskirts of Izium on April 15.Hide Caption 97 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Armed pro-Russian activists stand guard on top of a Ukrainian regional administration building in Slovyansk on Monday, April 14.Hide Caption 98 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A pro-Russian activist carries a shield during the mass storming of a police station in Horlivka, Ukraine, on April 14.Hide Caption 99 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Russian supporters attend a rally in front of the security service building occupied by pro-Russian activists in Luhansk on April 14.Hide Caption 100 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A man places a Russian flag over a police station after storming the building in Horlivka on April 14.Hide Caption 101 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Men besiege the police station in Horlivka.Hide Caption 102 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – The Horlivka police station burns on April 14.Hide Caption 103 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian police officer receives medical care after being attacked at the police station in Horlivka on April 14.Hide Caption 104 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian supporters beat a pro-Ukrainian activist during a rally in Kharkiv on Sunday, April 13.Hide Caption 105 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian activists escort a man outside the secret service building in Luhansk on April 13.Hide Caption 106 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian protesters guard a barricade in Slovyansk on April 13 outside a regional police building seized by armed separatists the day before.Hide Caption 107 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Armed pro-Russian activists carrying riot shields occupy a police station in Slovyansk on April 12.Hide Caption 108 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A group of pro-Russian activists warm themselves by a fire Friday, April 11, in front of a Ukrainian Security Service office in Luhansk.Hide Caption 109 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk speaks April 11 during his meeting with regional leaders in Donetsk. Yatsenyuk flew into Donetsk, where pro-Russian separatists occupied the regional administration building and called for a referendum.Hide Caption 110 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian young men look over the fence of a military recruitment office in Donetsk on Thursday, April 10.Hide Caption 111 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Armed pro-Russian protesters occupy the Security Service building in Luhansk on April 10.Hide Caption 112 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Members of the self-proclaimed government the "Donetsk Republic" vote April 10 during a meeting at the seized regional administration building in Donetsk.Hide Caption 113 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian lawmakers from different parties scuffle during a Parliament session in Kiev on Tuesday, April 8.Hide Caption 114 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Workers clean up on April 8 after pro-Russian separatists and police clashed overnight in Kharkiv.Hide Caption 115 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian protesters burn tires near a regional administration building in Kharkiv after police cleared the building on Monday, April 7.Hide Caption 116 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A masked man stands on top of a barricade at the regional administration building in Donetsk on April 7.Hide Caption 117 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Protesters wave a Russian flag as they storm the regional administration building in Donetsk on Sunday, April 6. Protesters seized state buildings in several east Ukrainian cities, prompting accusations from Kiev that Moscow is trying to "dismember" the country.Hide Caption 118 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian protesters clash with police as they try to occupy a regional administration building in Donetsk on April 6. Hide Caption 119 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian activists hold a rally in front of a Ukrainian Security Service office in Luhansk on April 6. Hide Caption 120 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A young demonstrator with his mouth covered by a Russian flag attends a pro-Russia rally outside the regional government administration building in Donetsk on Saturday, April 5. Hide Caption 121 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian soldier guards a road not far from Prokhody, a village near the Russian border, on April 5. Ukrainian and Western officials have voiced alarm about Russia's reported military buildup on Ukraine's eastern border. Hide Caption 122 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian cadets at the Higher Naval School embrace a friend who has decided to stay in the school during a departure ceremony in Sevastopol, Crimea, on Friday, April 4. Some 120 cadets who refused to take Russian citizenship left the school to return to Ukraine.Hide Caption 123 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Soviet military veterans take part in a flower-laying ceremony at the Soviet-era World War II memorial in Sevastopol on Thursday, April 3. Hide Caption 124 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian soldiers conduct a training session on the Desna military shooting range northeast of Kiev on Wednesday, April 2. Hide Caption 125 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Russian soldiers prepare for diving training in front of a Tarantul-III class missile boat Tuesday, April 1, in Sevastopol.Hide Caption 126 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – People pass by barricades near the Dnipro Hotel in Kiev on April 1. Hide Caption 127 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – People walk past a train loaded with Russian tanks Monday, March 31, in the Gvardeyskoe railway station near Simferopol, Crimea.Hide Caption 128 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Russian solder sits in a tank at the Ostryakovo railway station, not far from Simferopol on March 31.Hide Caption 129 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev speaks about the economic development of Crimea during a meeting March 31 in Simferopol.Hide Caption 130 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Members of the Ukrainian National Guard take part in military exercises on a shooting range near Kiev on March 31.Hide Caption 131 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A woman cries Sunday, March 30, during a gathering to honor those who were killed during protests in Kiev's Independence Square.Hide Caption 132 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A woman and child walk past a line of police officers during a rally in Kharkiv on March 30.Hide Caption 133 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian soldiers take part in a training exercise at a military base in Donetsk on Saturday, March 29.Hide Caption 134 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Demonstrators protest Friday, March 28, in Kiev, displaying police vehicles they seized during earlier clashes with authorities.Hide Caption 135 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Members of the Right Sector group block the Ukrainian parliament building in Kiev on Thursday, March 27. Activists called for Interior Minister Arsen Avakov to step down after the recent killing of radical nationalist leader Oleksandr Muzychko, who died during a police operation to detain him. Muzychko and the Right Sector are credited with playing a lead role in the protests that toppled Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych.Hide Caption 136 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian tanks are transported from their base in Perevalne, Crimea, on Wednesday, March 26. After Russian troops seized most of Ukraine's bases in Crimea, interim Ukrainian President Oleksandr Turchynov ordered the withdrawal of armed forces from the Black Sea peninsula, citing Russian threats to the lives of military staff and their families.Hide Caption 137 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian marines wave as they leave a base in Feodosia, Crimea, on Tuesday, March 25. Hide Caption 138 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Russian sailors stand on the deck of the corvette ship Suzdalets in the bay of Sevastopol on March 25.Hide Caption 139 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian militia members remove a resident as Russian troops assault the Belbek air base, outside Sevastopol, on Saturday, March 22. After its annexation of Crimea, Russian forces have consolidated their control of the region.Hide Caption 140 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Soldiers in unmarked uniforms sit atop an armored personnel carrier at the gate of the Belbek air base on March 22. Hide Caption 141 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Russian sailor holds the Russian Navy's St. Andrew's flag while standing on the bow of the surrendered Ukrainian submarine Zaporozhye on March 22 in Sevastopol.Hide Caption 142 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Russian President Vladimir Putin signs the final decree completing the annexation of Crimea on Friday, March 21, as Upper House Speaker Valentina Matviyenko, left, and State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin watch. Hide Caption 143 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian serviceman leaves a Ukrainian military unit that Russian soldiers took control of in Perevalne on March 21.Hide Caption 144 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian border guards run during training at a military camp in Alekseyevka, Ukraine, on March 21.Hide Caption 145 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Russian soldiers patrol the area surrounding a Ukrainian military unit in Perevalne on Thursday, March 20.Hide Caption 146 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian protesters remove the gate to the Ukrainian navy headquarters as Russian troops stand guard in Sevastopol on Wednesday, March 19.Hide Caption 147 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russian forces walk inside the Ukrainian navy headquarters in Sevastopol on March 19.Hide Caption 148 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A member of pro-Russian forces takes down a Ukrainian flag at the Ukrainian navy headquarters in Sevastopol on March 19. Hide Caption 149 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Alexander Vitko, chief of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, leaves the Ukrainian navy headquarters in Sevastopol after pro-Russian forces took it over on March 19.Hide Caption 150 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Russian flag waves as workers install a new sign on a parliament building in Simferopol, Crimea's capital, on March 19.Hide Caption 151 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Russian military personnel surround a Ukrainian military base in Perevalne on March 19.Hide Caption 152 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Nameplates on the front of the Crimean parliament building get removed Tuesday, March 18, in Simferopol.Hide Caption 153 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – From left, Crimean Prime Minister Sergey Aksyonov; Vladimir Konstantinov, speaker of the Crimean parliament; Russian President Vladimir Putin; and Alexei Chaly, the new de facto mayor of Sevastopol, join hands in Moscow on March 18 after signing a treaty to make Crimea part of Russia.Hide Caption 154 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Demonstrators hold a Crimean flag at Lenin Square in Simferopol on March 18.Hide Caption 155 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian soldiers stand guard at a checkpoint near Strilkove, Ukraine, close to Crimea on Monday, March 17.Hide Caption 156 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Former boxer and Ukrainian politician Vitali Klitschko addresses reporters in Kiev on March 17.Hide Caption 157 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Ukrainian troops stand guard in front of the Ukrainian Parliament building in Kiev on March 17.Hide Caption 158 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian man applies for the National Guard at a mobile recruitment center in Kiev on March 17.Hide Caption 159 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Civilians walk past riot police in Simferopol on March 17.Hide Caption 160 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian soldier stands on top of an armored vehicle at a military camp near the village of Michurino, Ukraine, on March 17.Hide Caption 161 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Policemen stand guard outside the regional state administration building in Donetsk during a rally by pro-Russia activists March 17.Hide Caption 162 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Armed soldiers stand guard outside a Ukrainian military base in Perevalne on March 17.Hide Caption 163 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A man holds a Crimean flag as he stands in front of the Crimean parliament building in Simferopol on March 17.Hide Caption 164 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Crimeans holding Russian flags celebrate in front of the parliament building in Simferopol on Sunday, March 16.Hide Caption 165 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A Ukrainian police officer tries to shield himself from a road block thrown by pro-Russia supporters in Kharkiv on March 16.Hide Caption 166 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – Pro-Russia demonstrators storm the prosecutor general's office during a rally in Donetsk on March 16.Hide Caption 167 of 168 Photos: Photos: Crisis in UkraineCrisis in Ukraine – A woman leaves a voting booth in Sevastopol on March 16. See the crisis in Ukraine before Crimea votedHide Caption 168 of 168The second attack hit a convoy of vehicles in Rubizhne in the Luhansk region, the ministry said. It added that "terrorists" blocked a bridge with "civilian provocateurs" and then opened fire using the people as human shields.No independent confirmation of the claims or response from separatist forces in eastern Ukraine was immediately available.Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk called for an immediate emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council following the reported violence, which came as the interim government in Kiev prepares to hold presidential elections Sunday."We will provide evidence that it is Russia trying to escalate the conflict, attempts to seize Ukrainian state border checkpoints and scuttle the presidential election," he was quoted as saying by his office.Tensions remain high in Donetsk and Luhansk, where pro-Russia separatists staged a referendum on independence this month and control key public buildings in a number of towns and cities.Ukraine's Central Election Commission said Wednesday that 13 out of 34 local election commissions in Luhansk and Donetsk were "blocked," or under the control of militia, the official Ukrinform news agency reported.Three others "are operating but under threat of seizure," it said.NATO chief: Signs of Russian troop activityKiev and the West have accused Russia of supporting the separatists and have urged Moscow to take steps to de-escalate the crisis.Eastern UkraineNATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said Thursday that there were indications that Russia may be preparing to pull back some of the forces it has amassed near Ukraine's border.On Monday, the Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered tens of thousands of troops near the Ukraine border to return to their bases but added the withdrawal could take some time. NATO has seen "limited" Russian troop activity "that MAY suggest that some of these forces are preparing to withdraw," Rasmussen said via Twitter. "It is too early to say what this means, but I hope this is the start of a full and genuine withdrawal."His remarks came a day after a U.S. defense official told CNN the United States had seen the first preliminary signs that Russian forces might be preparing to move away from Ukraine's eastern border.Rasmussen cautioned that most of the Russian force deployed near the border remains there and that Russian military exercises continue.But he added, "Any meaningful, comprehensive and verifiable withdrawal would be a first step from #Russia into the right direction."JUST WATCHEDBig names ditch Putin's partyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBig names ditch Putin's party 02:45JUST WATCHEDUkraine candidate Poroshenko leads pollsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUkraine candidate Poroshenko leads polls 02:48JUST WATCHEDEstablishing order in MariupolReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHEstablishing order in Mariupol 02:54Yatsenyuk was more skeptical, dismissing Russia's claims of a pullback as a "bluff," according to a statement from his office."Even if the troops are pulling back, armed terrorists trained in Russia illegally break the state border of Ukraine with the direct assistance of Russia," he said.Ukraine cites 'provocations'Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said Thursday that Ukrainian border guards had again stopped armed militant groups trying to bring weapons and ammunition across the border from Russia.These attempts occur with "the full connivance of the Russian authorities and unlawful inactivity by Russian border guards," it said in a statement."These and other provocations by Russian side in Ukraine are regarded as attempts to disrupt the presidential elections on 25 May and destabilize the situation in the eastern region of our country."Ukraine's Interior Ministry also reported armed border clashes which, it said, left five border guards injured and one suffering a concussion following a grenade blast.Moscow, which blames the unrest roiling its neighbor on far-right, ultranationalist groups, denies having direct influence over the pro-Russia militants in Ukraine.NATO and the United States have previously estimated the size of the Russian force gathered near the border with Ukraine at around 40,000 troops.The United States, which along with other Western countries has sanctioned Russia for its disputed takeover of Ukraine's Crimea region, has threatened additional punishment for Russia if it fails to pull its troops back.Diplomats meet over Prince Charles reportSeparately, Russia's deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom is meeting a senior UK Foreign Office official Thursday in London amid controversy over comments reportedly made by Prince Charles.The Russian Embassy requested the meeting Wednesday, two days after Charles reportedly compared Putin to Adolf Hitler during a trip to Canada.A statement will be given after the meeting, the Foreign Office said.According to the Daily Mail newspaper, Charles made the offhand comment during a tour of the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia, while talking with a Polish woman who told the British royal how she'd escaped the Nazi Holocaust by fleeing to Canada."The prince then said, 'And now Putin is doing just about the same as Hitler,' " the newspaper quoted the woman as saying, referring to Russia's annexation of Crimea in March.CNN has not been able independently to confirm the conversation.Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said that "if these words were really said, they undoubtedly do no honor to the future British monarch," according to the ministry's website."We find the use of members of the British royal family by Western media in a propaganda campaign against Russia on the difficult international issue of the situation in Ukraine unacceptable, outrageous and low," Lukashevich is quoted as saying.Representatives for Charles declined to comment."However, we would like to stress that the Prince of Wales would not seek to make a public political statement during a private conversation," Clarence House said in a statement.Some Russian troops at Ukraine border may be 'packing up'Prince Charles draws fire for reportedly comparing Putin to Hitler | 3news
|
Story highlights92% of pollution-related deaths occur in low and middle income countriesPollution, including heavy metals are damaging to kids' brains (CNN)The fatal effects of pollution are seen across our planet.In 2015, nearly one in six deaths, an estimated nine million worldwide, was related to pollution in some form -- air, water, soil, chemical or occupational pollution, according to a new report published Thursday in The Lancet.Air pollution is by far the largest contributor to early death, according to the new research produced by The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health. This form of pollution is linked to 6.5 million fatalities in 2015. Water pollution, responsible for 1.8 million deaths, and workplace-related pollution, which led to 0.8 million deaths, pose the next largest risks, the report noted.
rRead MoreThe overwhelming majority of pollution-related casualties -- 92% -- occur among people living in low- and middle-income countries. And, one in every four early deaths in nations trying to industrialize rapidly -- such as India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, Madagascar and Kenya -- could be connected to filthy air, water, soil or other contamination. "Pollution disproportionately impacts the poor and the vulnerable," said Dr. Olusoji Adeyi, a commissioner and director of the health, nutrition and population global practice at the World Bank Group.In countries at every income level, disease caused by pollution is most prevalent among minorities and the marginalized."Children face the highest risks," said Adeyi. "It is important to translate awareness into action at the local, national, and global levels."Dr. Philip J. Landrigan, co-leader of the commission, said the problem is chemicals."There are thousands of chemicals out there and we know that people are exposed to them," said Landrigan. "We just didn't know enough about what chemicals are doing to people."Unlikely case study In the months leading up to the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China's air quality became a matter of international concern. Smog obscured the blue sky and distant buildings even on days the nation's Ministry of Environmental Protection reported excellent air quality.Quietly, the United States Embassy in Beijing acquired a stationary monitor to track particulates and later, three additional hand-held air monitors. Embassy officials "worked closely with the US EPA "to set up the rooftop air monitoring equipment, explained Noel Clay, a spokesperson for the State Department. To "put it gently," said Landrigan, people saw the US Embassy data as "unbiased" compared to the air quality data being released by Chinese officials. Embassy officials wanted the more reliable data to "make better daily decisions regarding the safety of outdoor activities," said Clay.Can China fix its mammoth water crisis before it's too late?Soon, though, the data gained a wider audience than intended."There's a lot of kids in China who are very internet savvy," said Landrigan. These kids figured out how to access the data, which was published online by the US Embassy, and once that hurdle was cleared, the Chinese citizens themselves "started buying monitors and doing their own testing and sharing their results over the internet." Accelerated by the US Embassy in Beijing, air quality data went viral across China. "It became a very powerful bottom-up influence that I think factored into the Chinese government's decision to do something -- they're actually taking major strides in China to control air pollution now," said Landrigan.Now he's seeing the same thing happen again in other regions of the globe. With the cost of a reliable air monitor priced around $100, said Landrigan, "more and more people around the world are starting on their own -- citizen scientists if you will -- to collect air pollution data."Traditional versus modernThe data for this new report comes from "two very credible sources," noted Landrigan: The World Health Organization and The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which is based at Seattle's University of Washington and is funded by the Gates Foundation. Data is collected by satellites and other monitoring technologies, which, due to increasing sophistication, provide more information today than in the past."For the first time, we pulled out and collected in one place all of the information on deaths caused by all forms of pollution combined -- in other words, air pollution, water pollution, chemical pollution, soil pollution, occupational pollution in the workplace -- and put it all together," said Landrigan who is also a professor of preventive medicine and pediatrics at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The very poorest countries have many fewer deaths from pollution than the people on the next rung up -- the lower-middle income countries, noted Landrigan. "This is not traditional pollution that is killing people in these rapidly industrializing lower middle-income countries, it's urban industrial air pollution -- chemical pollution," he said.Traditional pollution arises at the household level and is associated with profound poverty, said Landrigan. Household air pollution resulting from poorly ventilated indoor cook stoves and fecal contamination of drinking water are the major forms of traditional pollution. Modern forms of pollution are outdoor air pollution, chemical pollution, soil pollution and occupational pollution, all associated with modern industry, modern cities, modern lifestyle. "All of those are going up," said Landrigan, adding that the number of deaths associated with modern pollutions have increased year to year.Regulation and economicsThe other thing that's new about this report is that economists on the commission's team developed a separate analysis to calculate the costs that result from diseases caused by pollution, added Landrigan."Just look at the experience within our country," said Landrigan pointing out a graph in the report that shows how pollution decreased by 70% from 1970 to 2015 following passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970. "In that same 45-year period, the GDP has increased by 250%," said Landrigan, who noted this does not support arguments suggesting pollution regulation stifles the economy.Nicholas Burger, senior economist and director of the Center for Research and Policy in International Development at the RAND Corporation, said the numbers look right but this type of economic analysis is "incredibly difficult." Burger was not involved in the Commission or its report."Simply saying we've observed this level of growth and we've observed this level of pollution reduction is not enough to make a strong statement that absent the pollution reduction we would have seen the same level of growth --- or lower growth or higher growth," said Burger. It is necessary to understand what would have happened absent those regulations, noted Burger. And that's not easy to answer on the macro level. A spate of deadly disasters for the elderly"There's pretty strong evidence that pollution control policy -- pollution regulation -- does not adversely affect growth by as much as people often argue that it does or that we might tend to think that it does," said Burger. He added there are even some instances where researchers believe pollution policy has not harmed economic growth or perhaps even "enhanced growth.""You put a scrubber on a power plant to remove the harmful pollutants coming out of the stack of that power plant that is going to make that power plant less efficient -- that's basic physics," he noted. But the question is how much less efficient? Industry often comes up with ways to exceed the efficiency requirements of regulators. One theme that comes out of the regulation research is to never underestimate the efficiency and innovation abilities of Western industries, said Burger.Michigan officials charged in Flint Legionnaires' outbreakEven when regulations slow growth of one industry, then, other businesses providing goods and services to accommodate the new regulations may grow. Consider, though, that health care costs are also part of the GDP.It's extremely complicated trying to calculate "how the economy would reorient itself and reoptimize itself" with or without pollution regulations, said Burger. Still, Commission Co-leader Richard Fuller of Pure Earth, USA, an international non-profit, maintains that countries can have "consistent economic growth with low pollution" and he bases this opinion on the experiences of Western nations.Lessons from the West "If you just think about it, anecdotally in the West, we really did knock pollution on the head," Fuller said. The rules and regulations of the 1960s and 1970s made our water safe to drink and the air reasonably clean. "It's certainly enormously better than it used to be," said Fuller. When you see pictures of Beijing filled with "nasty, gunky air, that's how it was in New York City and in Pittsburgh and in Los Angeles back in the '60s and even in the '70s," he said. Meanwhile, in lower income countries, ministers of finance believe that you need to "allow pollution to happen in order to become industrialized," said Fuller. "If you adopt green growth strategies it's more likely -- according to the literature -- you will actually grow stronger because you won't have people sick or dying before their time." Poor health and early death requires people to look after others and this "costs" societies wanting to grow. "It's a key message in the report," said Fuller, who hopes the new report gets the development community to consider pollution "as an issue they should worry about it, an issue that should be on the global agenda."The pollution piece of the agenda has largely been forgotten because the planet is cleaner due to efforts made in the US and Europe, "but it hasn't had the same effort in the rest of the world," said Fuller.So what can people do?"People should go to www.pollution.org," said Fuller. While the data is not comprehensive, it's the best available for people to see what is happening in their own neighborhoods. "If you're not seeing what you're feeling, you can add your story," said Fuller. These civic contributions will be brought into policy discussions happening in the concerned country, said Fuller. The website, then, is "a place for people to have their voice get heard in a non-confrontational way."Exposure to air pollution before birth may shorten our lives Individual voices need to be heard, Fuller noted, because worldwide, children are vulnerable."The thing that worries me most in all this is the neurological damage that many of these toxins have," said Fuller. Heavy metals, including lead, damage kids' brains. Join the conversationSee the latest news and share your comments with CNN Health on Facebook and Twitter."My concern is if you release a toxin in China, it can end up in LA just as easily," said Fuller. Particulate matter travels, he said, with research demonstrating that carbon from burning coal in China is in air pollution in LA. "We need to look after it because they're going to poison us as well."CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to say one in six deaths was related to pollution and to identify RAND as a corporation. | 2health
|
(CNN)The United Arab Emirates welcomed 41 Afghan evacuees arriving from Tajikistan on Monday, including 25 members of the Afghan girls' cycling team.They are being processed in the UAE before heading to Canada to begin their new lives.One woman, who does not wish to be named due to safety reasons, told CNN she feared being a female athlete in Afghanistan once the Taliban took over."Oh my God, it is really tough to explain our situation in words," she said."It's really difficult because the main reason, specific reason, that I leave Afghanistan was because I was not secure as an athlete. I was doing sports in Afghanistan, but nowadays, that is not safe ... I was forced to leave my country."Read MoreFollowing nearly two decades of conflict, the Taliban reclaimed Afghanistan's capital and took over the country's presidential palace, barely a month after the US began the final withdrawal of military troops from its longest running war.On Tuesday, the Taliban announced the formation of a hardline interim government for the country, filling top posts with veterans of the militant group who oversaw the 20-year fight against the US-led military coalition.READ: 'Every risk that I took, it's all worth it': Abbas Karimi fled Afghanistan at age 16, now he's representing the Refugee Paralympic Team at Tokyo 2020A convoy of Taliban fighters patrol along a street in Kabul on September 2, 2021.'I want to prove that girls are capable'The Afghan cyclist's story of athlete evacuation is one of several to emerge from the Taliban's takeover, following on from the evacuation of the women's national football team last month.Former Afghanistan women's assistant coach Haley Carter told CNN how a "ragtag group" managed to coordinate the safe evacuation of 86 Afghan athletes, officials and family members.Carter worked closely with the team's former captain, Khalida Popal, who had also spoken to CNN last month regarding the plight of female athletes trapped in the country.Explaining how sport had become a conduit in the continued fight for women's rights, Popal's sentiments are echoed strongly in the cyclist's own words."We used to practice, we used to have competitions. We even used to compete with boys ... And we were happy," she added."But nowadays, it is really disappointing. It hurts us actually to see the situation that the girls will not be allowed."As a girl cyclist, as an athlete that I was doing sports in Afghanistan to stand for rights of human, mostly girls. "I am planning to go out of my country as I couldn't stay ... and I want to continue my sport and my education. I want to prove that the girls are capable, that girls have the right to do what they want. "They are allowed. They should be allowed to do their studies, to do any sport they want and to have a life that they are supposed to have."Changing The cyclist's revelations are made all the more poignant by the announcement of a Taliban official that women would not be permitted to play cricket and other sports.Ahmadullah Wasiq, deputy head of the Taliban's cultural commission, told Australia's SBS News that Afghan women should not play cricket and other sports in which they would be "exposed.""In cricket, they might face a situation where their face and body will not be covered. Islam does not allow women to be seen like this," Wasiq told SBS News.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosA Taliban fighter keeps vigil as spectators watch the Twenty20 cricket trial match being played between two Afghan teams 'Peace Defenders' and 'Peace Heroes' at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium in Kabul on September 3, 2021."It is the media era, and there will be photos and videos, and then people watch it. Islam and the Islamic Emirate do not allow women to play cricket or play the kind of sports where they get exposed."The International Cricket Council requires its 12 full members -- which includes Afghanistan -- to have a national women's team.In November 2020, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced it had awarded 25 female cricket contracts. | 5sport
|
Turner Sports is a division of WarnerMedia as is CNN International (CNN)Ask anyone who the original baseball great is and they'll tell you the same name: Babe Ruth.A seven-time World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, and a 12-time American League (AL) home run leader, Ruth played in Major League Baseball from the age of 19 until he was 40. Ruth was a vaulted star of baseball, the first great sports star in American history. He was baseball's Michael Jordan before the Chicago Bulls great's father was even born. He is undoubtedly a great of the game, yet he played at a time when baseball was segregated. Babe Ruth won the World Series seven times during a 21-year career.During first half of the 20th century, the major leagues of baseball were White only.Read MoreConsequently, many key Black figures in the early days of baseball in the United States are forgotten.One in particular, Andrew "Rube" Foster, is considered by many to be the father of Black baseball, and was instrumental in the foundation of the Negro National League in 1920. Andrew "Rube" Foster is considered by many to be the father of Black baseball.To mark the 100th anniversary of the Negro National League, Turner Sports produced a feature series, entitled "Field of Dreams...Deferred", which explores the history of Black baseball in the US.Senior vice president and creative director at Turner Sports' Drew Watkins told CNN that it was important to tell the story of the Negro Leagues, which has been slowly forgotten over time."The exploits of these players in these teams, however great they were, were not told the same way that the exploits of -- a lot of times -- their white counterparts playing professional baseball were," Watkins says."Everybody knows who Babe Ruth is. Of course, they know who he was. He's the guy, he's the best baseball player ever. This is the same time period that we're talking about. And these players, a lot of them, but if you go by the stories and the accounts, a lot of these players were, you know, as good, if not better."The father of Black American baseballFoster was a terrific player before he became a team owner and league commissioner. Foster had a large build, just like Ruth, but unlike Ruth he was primarily a pitcher rather than batter. In fact, many credit him with inventing the screwball.Legend has it that he was hired by New York Giants manager John McGraw to teach the screwball to the team's star pitcher Christy Mathewson, as the color line prevented Foster from playing for the Giants himself.Foster was made for bigger things than just playing thought. By 1910 he owned and managed his own team, the Leland Giants -- which later became the Chicago American Giants. Rube Foster (top right) played for the Chicago Leland Giants, which was managed and owned by Frank Leland, before taking over management and ownership of the team himself in 1911.A decade on, and after meetings with many different Black team owners, and the Negro National League was formed, with Foster installed as league president.Black Americans had their own league now, but racism was still rife. And as with contemporary life, racism manifested itself in the economic stability and logistics of the league.In the series, 'Field of Dreams...Deferred,' Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, says "the one fundamental difference" between the Major Leagues and the Negro Leagues was economic."Talent? No different," he says. "But the Major Leagues had more money. And they had their own stadiums."Black owners like Foster had to rent stadiums from White teams, which cut into profits. The series later explores the struggle for integration and it is revealed that part of the MLB's resistance to integration stemmed from White owners not wanting to give up the stadium rent income that was a necessity for the Negro Leagues to pay in order to put on games.MLB team and stadium owners were profiting off segregation in baseball as long as it existed.Subsequently, during the early days of the Negro National League, teams were on the road constantly due to not having a fixed home stadium. Teams also needed their own bus as they could not ride trains during a time of segregation. Many couldn't stay in hotels as they were for White patrons only. So, they slept on the bus floor. Additionally, they were unable to eat at many restaurants too.Under the ownership and management of Rube Foster, the Chicago American Giants won the first three Negro National League championships from 1920-22.It is estimated in the series by Larry Lester, a Negro League baseball author and historian, that White Major League players earned between six and seven times as much as their Black counterparts in the Negro Leagues.Despite the social and economic hardship faced by the leagues, they gain popularity and prosper. The first 'Colored World Series' takes place in 1924.A year earlier in the White-only MLB, Ruth won the fourth of his seven World Series titles and his only AL MVP award. In the same year, he won his only AL batting champion title. History was being made by both Black and White players and organizations in baseball, but society's overt and covert racism means only a few have been historically valued and kept alive by collective memory.Watkins says his team wanted to give a platform to keep these stories alive, and remember the Black baseball greats of the past that aren't held in the same regard as Ruth because of their skin color."It's an important thing to find the people who have the knowledge and to give them a platform to keep these stories alive because all things were certainly not equal," he says. "And the kind of record keeping and accounting and tracking of these stories, it's not just you don't hear about it because they actually weren't that good. No, they were actually pretty good. "You didn't hear about them because of the color of their skin, basically."Black empowermentAt the end of the 1920s, further and irreconcilable hardship came with the Great Depression. As Larry Lester puts it, "When we have an economic setback like the Great Depression, White America catches a cold. Black America catches pneumonia."Many Black Americans were out of work, so teams had no means of income coming through the turnstiles. Foster dies a year later of a heart attack, and in 1931, the Negro National League folds."The death of 'Rube' Foster devastated the Negro National League," Kendrick says. "But then you couple that with the Great Depression and it had virtually no shot."The league was later revived and Foster's impact had taken hold.Earlier this year, MLB teams wore Negro National League throwback jerseys with a badge commemorating the centennary of the league.While the story of the Negro Leagues of baseball may have been underrepresented in baseball history books, Foster's significance to Black Americans and the Black community in sport is not and should not be downplayed.Since 1971, players of the Negro Leagues have been considered for the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Some 35 "Negro Leaguers", including Foster, are among the 333 baseball figures currently enshrined in the Hall of Fame alongside White greats like Ruth.It is not just this accolade where the significance of figures from the Negro Leagues is found though.For Kendrick, Foster's story, and the story of the league, is one of economic empowerment and unprecedented leadership within the Black community.When the Negro Leagues folded following integration, the Black community lost sports team owners, executives and coaches -- and with that, the loss of Black role models in positions of power in sport that were not just players.In Major League Baseball now, there is only one Black owner: Derek Jeter, CEO of the Miami Marlins, who owns a 4% stake in the team -- but the majority owner Bruce Sherman is White.Derek Jeter, who owns a 4% stake in the Miami Marlins, is the only Black owner of an MLB team.It isn't just ownership where Black representation is noticeably low in American sport. Compared with the NFL and the NBA, the percentage of Black Americans playing in Major League Baseball (MLB) is far lower.In the NFL, nearly 60% of players are Black, while in the NBA as many as 81% of the players are as well. In the MLB, that figure is 7.8%.And in terms of fan interest, a 2019 study showed 5% of African Americans call baseball their favorite sport, as opposed to 37% who prefer football and 29% who prefer basketball. Perhaps that figure would be higher with more Black Americans in positions of power.By remembering the Negro Leagues and people like Foster, America remembers a story of Black empowerment.Andrea Williams, author of 'Baseball's Leading Lady: Effa Manley and the Rise and Fall of the Negro Leagues', says as the series closes, "If we were able to accomplish what we were able to accomplish in 1920 with far less resources, what are we capable of now? I think the legacy, honestly, is that we are more powerful than we know." | 5sport
|
Story highlightsDenmark deliver first major surprise of Euro 2012 with win over the NetherlandsMichael Krohn-Dehli scores winner for DenmarkMario Gomez scores for Germany in 1-0 win over PortugalDutch still have to play Germany and Portugal in Group BDenmark produced the first major surprise of Euro 2012 as Morten Olsen's side secured a 1-0 win over the Netherlands in Kharkiv.Famed for their Total Football approach, the World Cup finalists were left totally frustrated by a Danish side that was never fazed by the star-studded reputation of Bert van Marwijk's team.Michael Khron-Delhi scored the only goal of the game to leave Holland -- one of Euro 2012's heavyweights -- a real challenge to qualify from Group B and reach the knockout stages.Van Marjwik's side next play Germany, who beat Portugal 1-0 in Lviv thanks to Mario Gomez's second-half goal, in a game that never matched the drama of Denmark's victory.Denmark 1-0 HollandBilled as Group B's rank outsiders, Denmark had to ride their luck against a Dutch team that dominated possession for long periods in Kharkiv's Metalist Stadium.Amid those lucky breaks though Simon Kjaer and Daniel Agger in central defence showed plenty of steel and when the Danes did get hold of the ball they produced some intricate passing moves.JUST WATCHEDItaly: The curse of the EuroReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHItaly: The curse of the Euro 04:05JUST WATCHEDCould this be Holland's year?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCould this be Holland's year? 03:50JUST WATCHEDRuud Gullit: Euros will confront racismReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRuud Gullit: Euros will confront racism 03:08JUST WATCHEDFormer Polish striker condemns racismReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFormer Polish striker condemns racism 03:09JUST WATCHEDEuro racists face criminal sanctionsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHEuro racists face criminal sanctions 01:45Danish goalkeeper Stephan Andersen was also outstanding, notably when he thwarted Dutch substitute Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after the Schalke forward was sent clear by Wesley Sneijder's wonderful pass with the outside of his right foot.That Huntelaar. who scored 48 goals in all competitions last season for the German Bundesliga club, was left on the bench by Van Marwijk was the first surprise of Saturday's game. Before he was introduced in the second half, Huntelaar could only watch as Robin van Persie's eye for a goal went missing.A frustrating evening for the Dutch striker, who has scored 30 goals in the English Premier League for Arsenal this season, was encapsulated when he completely miskicked the ball early in the second half.Van Persie should have scored early on in the game but put his shot wide and later on in the first half the Arsenal striker was thwarted by Danish goalkeeper Stephan Andersen's alertness.Completely against the run of play, Krohn-Dehli gave Denmark a shock lead after he gathered Simon Poulsen's deflected cross and drilled a shot through the legs of Dutch goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg.Arjen Robben then curled a left-footed shot against the post as Denmark's goal continued to lead somewhat of a charmed life.The second half mirrored the first with the Dutch pinning the Danes in their own half, but the Danes refused to be cowed and after surviving a late handball appeal against Lars Jacobsen, Olsen's team held on to secure a memorable victory.Germany 1-0 PortugalSaturday's second game had been billed as one of the most intriguing of the Euro 2012's group stages but it rarely failed to live up to the pre-match hype.It offered the tournament a first glimpse of Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 60 goals for Real Madrid this season, but as to often the Portuguese forward flickered in and out of an international for his country -- in truth more out than in.Ronaldo has scored only five goals in 19 appearances during major internatioal tournaments and with Portugal adopting a strategy of containment he was never able to significantly influence the game.It was not until late in the second half that he forced Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into a save and for the most part Germany were able to minimize the Portuguese forward's threat.Soon after making that save Neuer had a fortunate escape when he misjudged Nani's looping cross, allowing the ball to bounce off the bar.The Bayern Munich goalkeeper quickly recovered his poise to brilliantly save from substitute Silvestre Varela, who had been set up by Nelson Oliveira's ingenious reverse pass.Nani then had a rising shot blocked by Holger Badstuber as Portugal finally put Germany under sustained pressure for the first time in search of an equaliser.Given that late surge of Portuguese attacking activity the question is why Paulo Bento's side only started to test Germany's defense after having gone a goal behind.Germany had arguably shaded a forgettable first-half, with Gomez going close early on with a header that was well saved by Rui Patricio, though Portuguese defender Pepe did hit the upright with a clever shot following a corner.But it was Gomez who finally broke the deadlock, connecting with Sami Khedira's cross from the right, cleverly guiding a header past Patricio. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsUEFA sets out punishments for clubs and nations whose fans are found guilty of racist abuseMember associations encouraged to follow similar stepsBerlin's Olympic Stadium to host Champions League final with Europa League final in WarsawWinner of Europa League expected to receive place in the Champions League from 2015After a year where football's name has been dragged through the mud by a series of racism controversies, UEFA has announced that players and officials will face a 10-match ban if found guilty of racist abuse.Following a meeting of UEFA's executive committee in London Thursday, the European governing body confirmed the bans would apply to its own competitions, while other national associations remain free to decide on their own punishments.The new tougher sanction comes just over a week after the English Football Association drew criticism for its plans to introduce a minimum five-match suspension for racism.Read: UEFA wants 10-match bans for racist abuse"An association should adopt the same or similar measures. UEFA has always acted in a way to try to convince people rather than impose," said UEFA general secretary Gianni Infantino at a press conference."I don't think you measure the way of fighting against racism in one simple measure and sanction.JUST WATCHEDBalotelli: I've had enough of racist abuseReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBalotelli: I've had enough of racist abuse 01:15JUST WATCHEDBoateng: Racism in football must endReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBoateng: Racism in football must end 04:09JUST WATCHEDWebb: Racism sanctions will send messageReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWebb: Racism sanctions will send message 00:57"The way I read the FA's decision is that it could be five matches and it could also be 15. The FA is sure their way of regulating is more correct for England."It's their decision but it doesn't mean they do more or less than us. Everyone has to do what they can do in this field."The FA is autonomous and knows best what is best for England to do in the fight against racism. It is probably one of the countries where the most has been done."According to details released by UEFA, clubs and national side's whose fans are found guilty of racist abuse will be punished with a partial stadium closure as a first offense, while a second offense will lead to a complete closure.Read: Balotelli threatens to walkOnly last week, AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli told CNN that he was prepared to walk off the pitch if racially abused once again.The Italy striker was subjected to "monkey chants" by visiting fans during Milan's goalless draw with Roma at the San Siro."I always said that if it (racism) happened in the stadium I will just do like 'nobody says nothing and I don't care,'" Balotelli told CNN.JUST WATCHEDBoris Becker: A champion's London tourReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBoris Becker: A champion's London tour 02:19JUST WATCHEDWembley Stadium: Home of world footballReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWembley Stadium: Home of world football 03:11JUST WATCHEDWho will win the Champions League final?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWho will win the Champions League final? 01:11"But this time I think I've changed my mind a little bit. If it's going to happen one more time, then I'm going to leave the pitch because it's so stupid."Balotelli is not the first player to have suffered racial abuse while playing for AC Milan -- one of the most revered clubs in Europe having won 18 league titles and seven European Cups.Read: Boateng wants refs to have stronger powersIn January, midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng walked off the pitch in disgust after being racially abused by a section of supporters during a friendly game at Pro Patria.Since then, UEFA has stated its intention to introduce stricter punishments for those found guilty of racism after being heavily criticized in the past for being too lenient.The new rules are intended to curb racism at clubs such as Italian club Lazio, which has been charged four times by UEFA so far this season, with the Italian side paying $300,000 in fines.Europe's governing body also plans to introduce the implementation of biological passports for players in the future.Biological profiles are built up by collating an athlete's drug test results over time, therefore making it easier to detect differences which could indicate the use of a banned substance.A new UEFA anti-doping program will also examine 900 samples given in the past five years to decipher whether steroids have been used.On Friday, UEFA is expected to announce changes to the Europa League with the winner set to be granted a place in the Champions League from 2015.Meanwhile, Berlin's Olympic Stadium will host the 2015 Champions League final, while Warsaw will welcome the finalists of the Europa League. | 5sport
|
(CNN)It may be a bloated, over-hyped spectacle, but the Super Bowl usually is good for a memorable moment or two.Some of them even happen on the field.From dramatic plays to big blunders to a certain dancing fish, here's a look back at some of game's most indelible moments -- in no particular order.2013: The Blackout BowlFans had barely returned to their seats for the second half of Super Bowl XLVII when a partial power outage smothered New Orleans' Superdome in murky dusk. The Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers left the field, people had to be rescued from a stalled stadium elevator and fans took to their phones to try and decipher what was going on. Some people joked that Beyonce's halftime show was so hot it fried the power. Play was stopped for 34 minutes while the electrical glitch was fixed. Many observers think the blackout stalled the Ravens' momentum and helped the 49ers storm back from a 28-6 deficit to make the game close.Read More1986: 'The Fridge' scores a touchdown The 1985 Chicago Bears were best known for hard-nosed coach Mike Ditka, star running back Walter Payton, their so-bad-it's-good "Super Bowl Shuffle" rap video and William Perry, a fun-loving rookie defensive lineman so enormous his nickname was "The Refrigerator." Late in the Bears' beatdown of the Patriots in Super Bowl XX, Dikta put The Fridge in the game at running back and watched him barrel into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown. The stunt amused TV viewers and helped make The Fridge a cult hero.1993: Michael Jackson's dramatic introAfter a Michael Jackson stunt double faked out the Rose Bowl crowd by popping up atop a large video screen, the King of Pop himself emerged from a stage in the middle of the field. As the crowd cheered and swarmed the stage, Jackson stood frozen in place. And stood. And stood ... for a full minute and a half. Finally, he broke into "Bad," "Billie Jean" and a medley of other hits, kicking off the modern-day tradition of Super Bowl halftime shows by big-name performers. Nobody could pull that introduction off today, though.1968: Vince Lombardi's players carry him off the fieldIt's one of the most iconic sports moments of the 1960s. Vince Lombardi, coach of the victorious Green Bay Packers, is hoisted off the field on the shoulders of his players at the end of Super Bowl II. Everything about it screams old-school: His suit and tie, the players' retro helmets, the fact that THEY WERE ACTUALLY CARRYING THEIR COACH OFF THE FIELD (teams don't do that anymore). It was Lombardi's last game as the Packers' coach.1984: Apple launches the Macintosh with '1984' adThe Raiders were blowing out the Redskins in the third quarter of Super Bowl XVIII when TV viewers were startled from their cheese dip by a striking TV commercial. The ad channeled George Orwell's dystopian novel by featuring a lone female athlete disrupting a drab, conformist society by hurling a hammer at a "Big Brother"-like figure. Let the revolution begin! Directed by Ridley Scott, the iconic spot plugged Apple's new Macintosh personal computer -- "Think Different," get it? -- and signaled the upstart company's arrival as a major player. It also helped make the Super Bowl an annual showcase for splashy, big-budget commercials.1973: The Miami Dolphins cap a perfect seasonThe game itself was sort of a yawner. But when the Dolphins beat the Washington Redskins, 14-7, in Super Bowl VII, they capped a 17-0 season and became the first NFL team to go undefeated on their way to a championship. Today, 45 years later, they remain the only team to do it. They were snubbed by the White House that year -- then-President Richard Nixon was a Redskins fan -- but President Obama made up for it by hosting them in 2013.1991: Whitney Houston's national anthem brings down the housePatriotism was at a peak during the Persian Gulf War in January 1991 when Whitney Houston stepped to the microphone in Tampa to sing the national anthem. And wow, did she nail it. Houston's soaring performance brought goose bumps to listeners around the world and was so popular it became a top-20 single, making her the only singer to turn "The Star Spangled Banner" into a pop hit. It was re-released after 9/11, and many consider it the finest version of the national anthem ever.2008: David Tyree's helmet catch It may be the greatest play the Super Bowl has ever seen. In the final moments of the game, with the New York Giants trailing 14-10 and facing third down, quarterback Eli Manning twisted away from three Patriots tacklers and heaved a pass downfield to David Tyree. The little-used receiver leaped in the air, wrestled the ball away from a Patriots defender and somehow pinned it to his helmet as he fell to the ground. The Helmet Catch, as it became known, gained 32 yards and instant renown. Four plays later, the Giants scored the winning touchdown, ending the undefeated Patriots' chance at a perfect season.1991: Scott Norwood misses game-winning kick Super Bowl XXV ended in agony for Buffalo Bills fans when Scott Norwood barely missed what would have been a game-winning 47-yard field goal in the final seconds. Norwood had hit more than 70% of his kicks that season, but this one sailed just wide to the right. The New York Giants erupted in celebration. The Bills and their fans stood stunned. The defeat marked the first of four consecutive Super Bowl appearances by the Bills -- all of them losses. Even today, if you want to make a Buffalo sports fan cringe, just go up to them and whisper, "Scott Norwood."1992: Thurman Thomas misplaces his helmetOh, the poor Bills. It was probably a bad omen when Thomas, their star running back, couldn't find his helmet on the sidelines at the start of the game. The Bills had to run two plays with his backup before Thomas finally found his headgear and dashed onto the field. The miscue personified the Bills' early-'90s Super Bowl woes and was the beginning of a miserable day for Thomas and his team, who lost 37-24 to the Washington Redskins.2004: Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunctionYes, it was the Nipple Seen 'Round the World. When Justin Timberlake closed Super Bowl XXXVIII's halftime show by tearing off part of Janet Jackson's costume, he did much more than briefly expose her right breast to 140 million people. The "wardrobe malfunction" sparked outrage, spurred an FCC crackdown on "indecency" and became the most TiVo-ed moment ever. Years later, many think the controversy was overblown and unfairly torpedoed Jackson's career. Timberlake, meanwhile, will be this year's Super Bowl halftime act.1993: Leon Lett's goal-line fumbleThe Dallas Cowboys were pounding the Bills (yes, them again) 52-17 late in Super Bowl XXVII when Cowboys lineman Leon Lett scooped up a fumble and rumbled, alone and untouched, some 60 yards towards yet another Dallas touchdown. But Lett began showboating as he neared the end zone, allowing Buffalo receiver Don Beebe to catch him and slap the ball from his hand at the one-yard line. The ball bounced into the end zone for a touchback -- and a little moral victory for the sad-sack Bills.2000: The Tackle With six seconds left in the game and the Tennessee Titans trailing the St. Louis Rams by a touchdown, Titans QB Steve McNair tossed a quick slant pass to receiver Kevin Dyson, who appeared on his way to a game-tying score when he was corralled by Rams linebacker Mike Jones at the 2-yard line. Dyson fell forwards, stretching his right hand -- and the ball -- towards the end zone as time expired. "Can he get in?" shouted incredulous announcer Al Michaels as the ball hovered inches from the goal line. "No, he cannot!" The Tackle, as it became known, is the most thrilling final play in Super Bowl history.2007: Prince performs in a downpour The rain was coming down in sheets before Prince and his band took the stage in Miami for Super Bowl XLI's halftime show. It had all the makings of a disaster. Water and electricity don't mix. Prince's two backup dancers would be tottering around a slippery stage in 5-inch heels. And yet when the producer asked Prince if he was OK to perform, he responded, "Can you make it rain harder?" Then the pop star went out and killed it, closing with a transcendent version of -- what else? -- "Purple Rain" as 70,000 fans waved flashlights and the elements raged around him. It was magical, and probably the best Super Bowl halftime show ever.1969: Joe Namath pulls upset after guaranteeing victoryNobody gave flamboyant Joe Namath and the upstart New York Jets much of a chance against the mighty Baltimore Colts, who were 18-point favorites. But three days before the game, a tipsy Namath boasted publicly, "We're gonna win the game. I guarantee it." It's the kind of reckless comment that gets pinned up in the opposing team's locker room and drives coaches crazy. But Namath backed it up, leading the Jets to a 16-7 win and cementing his Broadway Joe legend.2015: Katy Perry is upstaged by #LeftSharkDuring her campy halftime show, pop star Katy Perry rode in on a mechanical lion, dueted with Lenny Kravitz and flew over the stadium crowd on a shooting star. But that's not what anybody remembers. What they remember is Perry singing "Teenage Dream" against a cartoony tropical backdrop with palm trees, beach balls and two dancers in cuddly shark costumes. To the internet's great amusement, it soon became clear that the shark to the left of Perry seemed a little ... off. While the other shark followed the choreography, Left Shark flailed and spun around and seemed at times to be making it up as he went along. #LeftShark became a meme before halftime was even over.2015: The Seahawks' disputed play callIt's probably the most-criticized play call in Super Bowl history. Trailing New England 28-24, the Seahawks' Russell Wilson drove his team to the Patriots' 1-yard line with 26 seconds left. Since it was only second down and the Seahawks had a timeout left, everyone figured they knew what was coming next: a handoff or two to star running back Marshawn Lynch, who would go full Beast Mode and rumble into the end zone for the win. Instead, Wilson threw a slant pass to Ricardo Lockette that was intercepted by the Patriots' Malcolm Butler at the goal line. TV announcer Chris Collinsworth spoke for many stunned Seattle fans when he said, "I'm sorry, but I can't believe the call." | 5sport
|
Story highlightsManchester United beats Bournemouth 3-1Zlatan Ibrahomovic on scoresheetFirst EPL game for Jose Mourinho at Man Utd Liverpool beats Arsenal in 7-goal thriller (CNN)Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored on his English Premier League debut as Jose Mourinho's Manchester United made a winning start to its campaign at Bournemouth Sunday.The Swedish international striker was one of Mourinho's key summer signings after taking charge at Old Trafford and after scoring the winner in last weekend's FA Community Shield clash against Leicester grabbed the third in the 3-1 win at the Vitality Stadium.Ibrahimovic has previously scored on league debuts for Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Paris St-Germain, striking home from just outside the penalty area with a low shot.Manchester United's Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic was making his EPL debut for his new side. United was already 2-0 ahead after goals either side of half time from Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney. Adam Smith hit a late consolation for the home side, who woke up too late in its EPL opener.Another acquisition, Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Borussia Dortmund, also made his debut as a second half replacement for Mata, but record signing Paul Pogba had to sit it out after picking up two bookings for previous club Juventus.Read MoreMata, rumored to be surplus to requirements at United, was preferred to start by Mourinho and justified his inclusion by taking advantage of a double blunder from home defender Simon Francis.Juan Mata opened Manchester United's EPL account under Mourinho with the opener at Bournemouth.First his backpass saw Mata reach the ball ahead of home goalkeeper Artur Boruc, then the rebound hit Francis to leave the Spanish midfielder with the simplest of chances to score on 40 minutes.It was the first significant action of a scrappy half and the standard did not improve greatly after the break, with Rooney putting the visitors further ahead just before the hour.It was hardly a classic, Antonio Valencia crossing for Anthony Martial to scuff his shot that fortunately bounced up for Rooney to steer a clever header past Boruc.Wayne Rooney (right) scored his team's second goal with a cleaver header which evaded the Bournemouth goalkeeper. Ibrahimovic's sweetly struck effort soon afterwards injected a bit of quality, but the goal of the game came from Smith after fine work from Lewis Grabban.David de Gea was called into late action in the United goal as Bournemouth started to show the type of form that helped them survive its first season in the EPL, but the three points was never in doubt.Mourinho said after the match that "everything" about the United performance pleased him but would also have been delighted by the solid debut at the back of another new boy Eric Bailly from Villarreal.What pleased Jose most about today's #MUFC win? "Everything," he tells #MUTVHD. https://t.co/Nle9BQeJeo— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 14, 2016
Later Sunday saw a seven-goal thriller at the Emirates where Liverpool beat home side Arsenal 4-3.Arsenal took the lead through Theo Walcott, who had seen an earlier penalty saved before Jurgen Klopp's visitors hit back in devastating style to lead 4-1.Brazilian Philippe Coutinho was instrumental in the comeback, equalizing with a trademark free kick just before the interval.Philippe Coutinho turned the match in Liverpool's favor with a stunning double at the Emirates.Coutinho was involved as Adam Lallana put put Liverpool ahead before Coutinho added his second and a third from close range after a 19-pass movement.Summer signing Sadio Mane appeared to have made the three points safe with a surging run and shot for 4-1 until Arsene Wenger's side made a belated comeback.Sadio Mane grabbed the fourth for Liverpool with a stunning solo goal in the 4-3 win. Substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored in similar style to Mane, but with Simon Mignolet at fault, before Calum Chambers headed in a third.It added some gloss on a home display which had home fans chanting "you don't know what you are doing" in the direction of Wenger, reminiscent of last season's opening day defeat.Leicester City's dejected players traipse off after the champions suffered a shock 2-1 opening day defeat at promoted Hull City. The opening day of the season saw a shock defeat for last season's surprise champions Leicester City.Visiting promoted and managerless Hull City, Leicester was beaten 2-1, the first time a reigning champion had been beaten in a season opener since Arsenal at Manchester United in 1989.Adama Diomande put Hull ahead before Riyad Mahrez leveled from the penalty spot at the start of the second half after Demarai Gray had been fouled.Hull grabbed a vital three points when Robert Snodgrass drilled home his shot after after a poor clearance.Who win win the EPL this season? Make your predictions on our CNN Sport Facebook page | 5sport
|
(CNN)The Justice Department unsealed charges on Thursday against a 23-year-old Wisconsin man who allegedly told associates it was "satisfying" to assault US Capitol Police officers on January 6, 2021, and threatened to return to Washington, DC, with paintball guns that resembled an automatic rifle.Riley Kasper was arrested on Thursday and is facing six federal charges, including assaulting law enforcement using a deadly or dangerous weapon. He is scheduled to make his first appearance in federal court Thursday.According to videos highlighted in court documents, Kasper pepper-sprayed police officers who were standing between him and the Capitol building. In a Facebook message, Kasper said he was part of the first group to knock down the gate and force police to retreat."I pepper sprayed 3 cops so bad they got undressed and went home," he wrote, adding, "I basically organized my own little militia and we f--ing took over Congress.""I didn't drive 14 hours for nothing," Kasper added.Read MoreThe day after the insurrection, prosecutors say, Kasper brainstormed how he could disguise paintball guns as automatic rifles to trick and "incapacitate" police officers should he return to DC and described how "satisfying" it was to assault police."But yeah, one dude got pulled into the crowd and slammed on the ground on his back and his club, pepper spray, cuffs, radio everything got ripped from his belt," Kasper said in one message highlighted in court documents. Kasper said he "took out his baton" and screamed at the officer to "just go home.""I'm pretty sure dude thought he was gonna die that day lol," Kasper allegedly messaged.More than 245 people are facing charges for assaulting or impeding law enforcement on January 6, and overall, nearly 800 people have been charged in connection with the insurrection. | 4politics
|
Story highlightsRoger Ross Williams says he was shocked by the Dutch Black Pete traditionEvery year, Dutch people in the notoriously liberal country put blackface on as part of the holiday riteRoger Ross Williams is an African-American filmmaker whose short film "Blackface" debuted on CNN Digital in November 2015. Williams also directed the Oscar Award-winning short documentary "Music by Prudence" and the documentary "God Loves Uganda," which premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. He resides in Amsterdam with his husband. (CNN)The first time I saw the Dutch character known as Black Pete, or Zwarte Piet, my heart sank and I felt a little nauseated.For three agonizing weeks, many nonwhites (including myself) watch white Dutch people paint their faces black, their lips red, wear afro wigs, hoop earrings, and act like a bumbling and dimwitted servant who is kind to children.It's all part of a Dutch tradition that takes place during the Netherlands' most popular holiday, Sinterklaas. Roger Ross WilliamsSinterklaas arrives by steam ship from Spain around mid-November, along with his servants called Black Petes. The Black Petes give candy to the children and on December 5 -- the night before St. Nicholas Day -- go down the chimney and deliver presents before heading back to Spain. This has similarities to Christmas in the United States, but the Dutch celebrate both Sinterklaas and Christmas. The idea of the Black Petes dates back to a children's book published in the 1850s called "Sinterklaas and his Servant." Read MoreThe Dutch call it a fairy tale, but many nonwhites in the Netherlands call it a nightmare. They pull their kids out of school because they don't want them to grow up feeling that to be black in Dutch society is to be subordinate, inferior and an object of mockery.Most Dutch people do not believe that Black Pete is racist. They say he is just a fun character for the children. I know it sounds crazy, but they say he is a happy helper of Sinterklaas who loves being his servant. "They don't know what our tradition is," Jan van Wijk, chairman of the Dutch Saint Nicholas Society, says of Americans who think Black Pete is racist. "In the history, there (is) a good man -- Santa Claus -- and there is an enemy, a devil, and the devil is black." Black Pete, van Wijk explains, is transformed from an angry, black man to "a person who is friendly.""Black Pete is not racism, Black Pete is not a slave, he is the friend of everyone," he says.What they do not realize, or care to see, is that the idea of Black Pete himself is rooted in slavery. And what they fail to notice is that some of the nonwhite kids aren't laughing. Schools in the Dutch cities of Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht have begun to ban Black Pete, and the Amsterdam school system has issued an advisory against it.But, in the rest of the Netherlands, Black Pete is alive and well and some say is even having a renaissance of sort. Many Dutch have dug in their heels against a growing protest movement. There is something deeply unnerving when you see such a blatant display of racism head on -- that my appearance as a black man can actually be someone's caricatured costume. It's hard to believe that it's 2015 in the Netherlands, a country that many believe is enlightened and progressive.When I decided to make "Blackface," a short film about Black Pete, I had little knowledge of the giant cesspool of hate I was about to dive into. I didn't realize how popular and passionate many white Dutch are about a figure that they connect to fond memories from their childhood. They call it their culture, their tradition, and most are not willing to let it go. They feel passionate about it. They ignore that Black Pete is a common Western stereotype of people of African descent, just like Little Black Sambo and Al Jolson in the United States or Tintin in the Congo and in France. Those figures were used to reinforce European white supremacy fresh off the heels of slavery. This is Black Pete's legacy, and it cannot be divorced from history or from contemporary racism and xenophobia that persist in the Netherlands today, where Dutch politicians such as Geert Wilders engage in openly anti-immigrant rhetoric. Studies claim that nonwhite Dutch communities face substantial discrimination here. So, racism in the Netherlands is not just evident in the blatant face of Black Pete, but also in less visible ways. I know this firsthand because as word got out that I was making a film about Black Pete, my email, Facebook and Twitter feeds were flooded with messages claiming that I had no business interfering with their innocent children's holiday, telling me that I did not understand. They would start off saying that Black Pete is not racist and end by calling me a "stupid Black Monkey who should go back to Africa." That's when I realized that the Black Pete debate has hit a nerve in this country. It has reminded the Netherlands of the very significant role it has played in the slave trade, and of inequalities that it has benefited from. Maybe the reluctance to change is because of guilt -- but I think it's much more than that. I think that the Dutch have such deep-rooted white privilege that they actually have no way to connect to those outside of their reality. Their idea of themselves is based in centuries of brainwashing, which has told them that they are superior to the brown and black people of the world.They live in a country literally built on the backs of oppression. They cannot see the pain of their own nonwhite citizens, and they do not want to see it. The rest of the world does, and even the United Nations had to intervene and issue a statement from the committee of racial discrimination: "Considering that even a deeply rooted cultural tradition does not justify discriminatory practices and stereotypes, the Committee recommends that (the Netherlands) actively promote the elimination of those features of the character of Black Pete which reflect negative stereotypes and are experienced by many people of African descent as a vestige of slavery. The Committee recommends that the State party find a reasonable balance, such as a different portrayal of Black Pete and ensure respect of human dignity and human rights of all inhabitants of the State party." The ties to racism seem pretty clear when I open my inbox and see the word "nigger" from a pro-Black Pete Dutch person.I'm told that I should focus on the racial problems in my own country, instead of meddling in their innocent children's holiday. My answer to them is that the racism in the United States does not give them to right to ignore their own racism.All racism is wrong, and denying that it exists does not make it go away. In the Netherlands, there is a population of nonwhite people who, more and more, refuse to be treated as second-class citizens anymore.There is a change happening, and it feels like an exciting time to be here and be a part of it -- even if it is painful at times to experience. | 3news
|
(CNN)Michael Jordan has spoken out about the damage racial injustice has caused to the African-American community.Last week, the former Chicago Bulls star pledged -- alongside Nike's Jordan Brand -- to donate $100 million over the next 10 years to organizations dedicated to promoting social justice.Following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month, protests have spread across the US and around the world to highlight racial inequality. Floyd was killed after being pinned to the ground by a police officer who knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and features"We have been beaten down [as African Americans] for so many years," Jordan, a 14-time NBA all-star and principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets, said in an interview with the Charlotte Observer. Read MoreMichael Jordan addresses a press conference ahead of a game between Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets."It sucks your soul. You can't accept it anymore. This is a tipping point. We need to make a stand. We've got to be better as a society regarding race.JUST WATCHEDGoodell: NFL was wrong for not listening to playersReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGoodell: NFL was wrong for not listening to players 01:37"Face up to your demons. Extend a hand. Understand the inequalities. Sure, it's about bargaining for better police, but it's more. We have encountered racism to be somewhat acceptable in certain circles."Meanwhile, President Trump tweeted a response to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday, who said last week that the league was "wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier" and that it would "encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest."READ: Lewis Hamilton supports protestors who tore down statueREAD: Drew Brees tells Trump NFL protests have never been about the US flagIn 2018, the NFL announced that all players on the field should "stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem" before games. Could it be even remotely possible that in Roger Goodell's rather interesting statement of peace and reconciliation, he was intimating that it would now be O.K. for the players to KNEEL, or not to stand, for the National Anthem, thereby disrespecting our Country & our Flag?— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 8, 2020 "Could it be even remotely possible that in Roger Goodell's rather interesting statement of peace and reconciliation, he was intimating that it would now be O.K. for the players to KNEEL, or not to stand, for the National Anthem, thereby disrespecting our Country & our Flag?" Trump said on Twitter.A glaring omission in Goodell's statement was no mention of Colin Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback who began kneeling to protest police brutality in 2016. Kaepernick has been unassigned to a team since 2017.U.S. Soccer is considering repealing its policy which requires national team players to stand during the anthem, according to a report in ESPN.The report says that discussions about the new policy take place on Tuesday ahead of a formal vote that is expected on Friday.Midfielder Megan Rapinoe sparked the policy change when she kneeled in solidarity with Kaepernick in 2016. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsDuke of Cambridge will attend a 10-week agriculture management courseClasses will help the Duke understand issues affecting agricultural the United KingdomWilliam takes over the Duchy of Cornwall when Charles becomes kingBritain's Prince William is going back to school to prepare for when his father becomes the king.The Duke of Cambridge will attend a 10-week agriculture management course at the University of Cambridge starting in January, Kensington Palace announced Monday.What William, 31, learns during the Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership could help him when he takes over responsibility for the Duchy of Cornwall, an estate that includes farmland, from Prince Charles.The seminars, lectures and meetings are a "bespoke programme," meaning they are customized for William."The course has been designed to help provide The Duke with an understanding of contemporary issues affecting agricultural business and rural communities in the United Kingdom," the palace announcement said.Prince Charles is the patron of the Cambridge program, according to his website.Prince William's active military service came to an end in September after more than seven years.He is in the middle of a transitional year during which the Duke "is considering a number of options for public service," Kensington Palace said. | 3news
|
Story highlightsRare konik breed of pony revived in Poland and exported across EuropeRelated to the Tarpan, a prehistoric horse that once roamed the continentNazis were interested in the Polish horse because of purity of breedKonik ponies thought to be hardy and help ecosystems return to natural stateA small Polish wild horse that was used in Nazi experiments during the 1930s has become the center of wetland regeneration efforts across parts of Europe.The rare Konik breed is one of Poland's least known ecological exports and is believed to be descended from the Tarpan; a prehistoric horse that roamed wild in Europe until the end of the 19th century and whose last known individual died in a Russian zoo in 1909. Marek Borkowski, President of the Białowieża Forest Trust, says the group's breeding program has helped to stock reserves in Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands with small herds that graze on the woody stems of invasive bushes allowing indigenous growth to re-establish itself -- sometimes after decades and even centuries of agricultural use."Once farming stopped in these marshlands, bush began to grow, which limits the habitat for many marshland birds that need the open space," says Borkowski. "The horses graze on the bark and seedlings of these bushes, which limits its growth, allowing the marshland to survive."Borkowski says that the horses mirror the natural fauna that would have roamed the area in prehistoric times, helping to return land to its pristine condition."They are the closest breed to the original wild horse of Europe -- the type we see painted on caves in Spain and France 20,000 years ago," he says. "But because of Neolithic farming they were pushed out of most Europe except for small pockets in Poland, Russia and the Ukraine." Send in your photos from PolandIn one of the strangest stories of pre-war Poland, the Konik came to the attention of biologists in the 1930s who saw that horses in the Białowieża forest in Poland retained certain features of the Tarpan.Polish biologist Tadeusz Vetulani noticed that semi-wild horses used by peasants in Bialowieza Forest displayed the Tarpan's mousey dun color, their coats turning to white in winter, another Tarpan characteristic.While many regard America's mustang or the Australian brumby as a wild horse, zoologists say that strictly speaking these are really feral domesticated horses.Vetulani launched a re-breeding program, mating horses with strong Tarpan-like characteristics, in an attempt to regain the lost breed of horse.At the same time, the breed came to the attention of Lutz Heck, the director of Berlin Zoo who, along with his brother Heinz, the head of the Munich Zoo, began a re-breeding program.Heck was a committed Nazi and zoologist whose efforts to "re-breed" extinct species such as the prehistoric ancestor to the modern cow the Aurochs, received support from senior Nazis such as Hermann Goering. While the re-breeding of extinct species by mating animals of similar characteristics is regarded as impossible by modern science, the Nazis experimented with a program aimed at resurrecting prehistoric animals that reflected Nazi claims to racial purity.When the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, many of the horses in the breeding program of Vetulani were stolen and brought to Germany. The horses met a grisly end, most probably eaten by a hungry populace, along with many of the animals in Berlin and Munich zoos, in the closing stages of the Second World War."The best animals were taken to Germany and we don't know exactly what happened to them. It was only after the Second World War we started from scratch again," says Borkowski. "The Nazis didn't take all the animals," he says. "They didn't know the war would end the way it ended so they only took the best specimens. Later, well of course, they were busy with other things so there were still some horses left." Bison thrive in primeval Polish forestsJohn Wilson, the nature warden for Blean Woods at Kent Wildlife Trust, says the Konik -- first introduced to Britain in 1995 -- has been an instant hit with ecologists and conservationists."We've currently got them on the site of an old dairy; land which we say has been 'agriculturally improved' with herbicide or fertilizers," he says. "That lush green grass, however, makes it more difficult for the rarer, more specialized plants to flourish and eventually they disappear."The Konik are perfectly adapted to a variety of harsh environments, from wetlands to open forests, requiring little veterinary care for problems such as hoof rot that might afflict other horse breeds in similarly wet conditions.The grazing is introduced to take the nutrients out of the ground to take it back to a state where it's unimproved," says Wilson. "That takes a lot of time and a lot of grazing." Green hay from sites where indigenous plants grow is then spread on the site after grazing in the hope that some of the native species will establish themselves in the soil.The horses breed well and flourish without the need for the kind of intervention that so fascinated Nazi scientists, says Wilson."The Nazis were very interested in the whole idea of racial purity," he adds. "It seems it didn't just extend to human being, but to beasts as well." | 3news
|
(CNN)PSG star Neymar is facing a ban after being charged by UEFA following for his online rant in the wake of his side's Champions League defeat to Manchester United.Follow @cnnsport
Neymar was a helpless bystander, watching the last-16 tie from the stands due to injury, as referee Damir Skomina awarded Manchester United a controversial last-minute penalty after a lengthy consultation with VAR.United striker Marcus Rashford converted the spot-kick to send the English side through to the quarterfinals as PSG suffered yet more Champions League heartbreak.READ: PSG stunned by controversial last-gasp Manchester United penaltyREAD: Is VAR 'killing' football?Read More"This is a disgrace, they put four people who know nothing about football in charge of looking at the replay for VAR," the Brazilian wrote on Instagram after the match. Neymar could only watch on from the stands due to injury."It's just not possible!!! How is a guy going to hold his hand behind his back. Go f**k yourselves."The 27-year-old was furious after Skomina ruled that Presnel Kimpembe handled the ball in the penalty area and reportedly had to be restrained from entering the referee's office after the match.Neymar, the world's most expensive player after his $263 million transfer from Barcelona in 2017, could now face a three-match suspension in the Champions League, according to UEFA regulations."The case will be dealt with by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body with the date of the hearing yet to be confirmed," the statement read. | 5sport
|
(CNN)Roger Federer and his wife, Mirka, announced on Wednesday that they would be personally donating 1 million Swiss Francs ($1.02 million) to help the most vulnerable families in Switzerland impacted by the coronavirus outbreak.Switzerland has recorded more than 8,000 cases and 66 deaths due to COVID-19 and authorities have banned gatherings of more than five people in public spaces, with fines being given to those failing to adhere to the regulations. In a post on Instagram the Swiss star wrote: "These are challenging times for everyone and nobody should be left behind."Mirka and I have personally decided to donate one million Swiss Francs for the most vulnerable families in Switzerland."Our contribution is just a start. We hope that others might join in supporting more families in need. Read More"Together we can overcome this crisis! Stay healthy!"READ: Professional tennis suspended until June as coronavirus pandemic continues to impact sport View this post on Instagram These are challenging times for everyone and nobody should be left behind. Mirka and I have personally decided to donate one million Swiss Francs for the most vulnerable families in Switzerland. Our contribution is just a start. We hope that others might join in supporting more families in need. Together we can overcome this crisis! Stay healthy! Dies sind herausfordernde Zeiten für uns alle und niemand sollte zurückgelassen werden. Mirka und ich haben beschlossen, persönlich eine Million Schweizer Franken für die am stärksten gefährdeten Familien in der Schweiz zu spenden. Unser Beitrag ist nur ein Anfang. Wir hoffen, dass sich andere anschließen, um noch mehr bedürftige Familien zu unterstützen. Gemeinsam können wir diese Krise überwinden! Bleibt gesund! Nous vivons une période difficile pour nous tous et personne ne doit être laissé pour compte. Mirka et moi avons décidé de personnellement faire don d'un million de francs suisses aux familles les plus défavorisées en Suisse. Notre contribution n'est qu'un début. Nous espérons que d'autres se joindront à nous pour aider encore plus de familles dans le besoin. Ensemble, nous pouvons surmonter cette crise! Restez en bonne santé! A post shared by Roger Federer (@rogerfederer) on Mar 25, 2020 at 4:33am PDT The 20-time Grand Slam tennis champion's donation comes as sports stars, clubs and associations from around the world continue to help relief efforts amid the ongoing pandemic.Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have each donated €1 million ($1.1 million) to the cause.Earlier on Wednesday, top-flight Italian football club Inter Milan announced that its crowdfunding campaign had raised €658,000 ($712,890) for coronavirus research at Milan's Luigi Sacco Hospital.While on Tuesday, Pep Guardiola -- who manages the defending English Premier League champion, Manchester City -- donated €1 million ($1.08 million) to help with the fight against coronavirus in his native Spain. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsVonn wins giant slalom in Are Fourth straight WC win for VonnMikaela Shiffrin flies home with injuryMarcel Hirscher leads men's standings (CNN)There's simply no stopping Lindsey Vonn as she wrapped up a fourth straight World Cup victory Saturday on a bittersweet day for the United States ski team.Vonn, who scored a hat-trick of wins at Lake Louise last weekend in the speed disciplines, took the giant slalom honors at Are in Sweden to continue her domination of the 2015-16 season.But teammate Mikaela Shiffrin, one of her main rivals for overall World Cup honors, saw her hopes dashed by a knee ligament injury after a crash during the pre-race warmup. Photos: Vonn 'pushing as hard as I can' Photos: Vonn 'pushing as hard as I can'Champion again – Lindsey Vonn's face tells the story as she wraps up three World Cup wins in a row at Lake Louise -- for the third time in her skiing career.Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: Vonn 'pushing as hard as I can'Back on top – On Saturday, Vonn had beaten the field by a full second to record victory number two of the week.Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: Vonn 'pushing as hard as I can'Breathing space – No competitor came within half a second of Vonn in the week's three races.Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: Vonn 'pushing as hard as I can'Looking ahead – Vonn told reporters: "Just because I'm older, doesn't mean I've lost any desire to continue to win."Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: Vonn 'pushing as hard as I can'Into the lead – The three victories hand Vonn a narrow four-point lead over Mikaela Shiffrin in the overall World Cup season standings.Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: Vonn 'pushing as hard as I can'Lake Louise love affair – Vonn has now won 18 of her 41 World Cup starts at Lake Louise.Hide Caption 6 of 6Shiffrin, who was hot favorite to win Sunday's slalom event in Are after taking the opening two slalom events of the season, instead was flying home to the United States for further tests on a worrying knee ligament injury, she posted on her Facebook page."I have at least (an) MCL injury and bone bruising, hopefully no additional injury," she said, but her participation in remaining events in 2015 is in serious question.Read MoreThere was also a setback for American Ted Ligety in the men's giant slalom in Val d'Isere. Ligety, nicknamed Mr GS for his domination of the discipline, skied out on the first leg after a mistake.Troubled by a back injury, Ligety also posted a "did not finish" at Beaver Creek last week and has only one podium finish in six starts.It left the way clear for Austria's Marcel Hirscher to claim victory, adding to his two in Colorado.Felix Neureuther of Germany took second, with France's Victor Muffat-Jeandet completing the podium, both men over a second adrift over the two legs.I'm pumped!! 1st GS win since before I was injured!! #LV71 hoping @MikaelaShiffrin and @SarahHector are ok!! 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/QvH1VHDKpy— lindsey vonn (@lindseyvonn) December 12, 2015
Victory saw Hirscher leapfrog Norway's Aksel Lund Svindal in the standings as he bids for a fifth overall World Cup title and he further boosted his chances with an excellent second place in Sunday's first slalom of the season behind winner Henrik Kristofferesen of Norway of Norway.Hirscher made up ground with a superb second run, but was 1.09 second the 21-year-old winner. Neureuther finished third.What a thrilling race ! @H_Kristoffersen claims the win over @MarcelHirscher +1.09 and @FelixNeureuther +1.46 pic.twitter.com/OHh7vR8Xjl— FIS Alpine (@fisalpine) December 13, 2015 Vonn is also eying a fifth overall crown and gave her cause another boost with a narrow victory -- just 00.70secs faster than Eva-Maria Brem of Austria and 00.35secs ahead of third-placed Federica Brignone of Italy.She has a 104-point lead over Shiffrin in the overall standings after her 71st World Cup win from 347 starts.Read: Vonn-two-three at Lake LouiseShe had won a GS at Are in 2012 and used it to good effect."I watched playback of that win yesterday evening and I had plenty of confidence coming out of Lake Louise," she said.I have a new-found respect for people who take showers without putting weight on one leg. A one leg shower. #balance— Mikaela Shiffrin (@MikaelaShiffrin) December 12, 2015
Vonn did not compete in Sunday's slalom, her weakest discipline and with Shiffrin, winner of seven of the last eight World Cup slaloms also missing, the way was clear Petra Vlhova of Slovakia to claim her maiden victory on the circuit.Home hope Frida Hansdotter of Sweden finished second, but takes over from Shiffrin at the top of the slalom standings. Nina Loeseth of Norway finished third."It's an amazing day for me,"the 20-year-old Vlhova told the official FIS website. | 5sport
|
(CNN)They're skiing's answer to the Von Trapp family. Four brothers, three of who have competed in a Winter Olympics, with another about to make his Olympic bow at PyeongChang 2018.Ever since he can remember, Byron Wells' feet have been strapped to a pair of skis and sibling Jossi has been there to encourage him -- in the way only elder brothers can."It was one of my first memories skiing, I must have been three or four at that stage," Byron, now 25, told CNN. "I remember it being the first day of the season, we went up to the top of the ramp and I freaked out and said that I couldn't do it. "Jossi was sitting there getting all mad at me, yelling at me telling me that I can do it, that I did it last year and I just needed to hurry up."Read MorePyeongChang 2018The pair have come a long way in the intervening 20 years and are now part of a successful Wells sibling skiing quartet, also comprised of Beau-James and Jackson.It's always been an added extra for us traveling the worldAll four had aspirations of competing at PyeongChang 2018, though Jossi -- the eldest at 27 -- has been forced to withdraw through injury.Of the three fit brothers, Byron and Beau-James will be competing in the halfpipe, while Jackson takes to the snow in the slopestyle."It's kind of a bummer, but we've had our time off and had our share of injuries," Byron said of Jossi's absence. "But that's all just part of the game, he'll be over there with us supporting, so that's quite cool. It's quite exciting, it's definitely a bonus to have most of my family ... mum will be there as well. "It's always been an added extra for us traveling the world and doing all the contests with my brothers and whole family with us. It's been quite a blessing really."Since they were bickering on the snow in New Zealand as kids, both Jossi and Byron went on to become Olympians, qualifying for Sochi in 2014.Byron, however, was injured in his first training run so is now more determined than ever to achieve his "ultimate goal" of securing a medal.Beau-James, the second youngest at 22, also competed with his two older brothers in Sochi and had the honor of being nominated as New Zealand's flag bearer for PyeongChang 2018.The youngest sibling, 19-year-old Jackson -- who was in the media spotlight in 2016 after becoming the first skier to successfully land a "quad cork 1620" -- is appearing at his first Winter Olympics.Father and coach, Bruce Wells, couldn't be prouder."It's funny, as you go through life there just seems to be this evolutionary process," Bruce told CNN. "The different stages of your children's development and also having a number of them at different ages."They're all young men now and they're trying to live their own individual lives, but at the same time they're four brothers and they're all supportive of each other as far as the skiing side of things goes. "But they all have their own different interests that they all pursue away from the snow and I really encourage that and hopefully when they've all finished skiing they have something behind them they can go on with and be good citizens of the world."
'The best job a person could ever have'With an education in nursing and a passion for skiing, Bruce Wells was drawn to becoming a ski patroller in his native New Zealand, which he describes as "one of the best jobs a person could ever have."Soon after taking the role, Bruce recalls, he realized there was a huge difference between being a recreational and professional skier, though he never for a moment regretted his decision.Sometimes working up to an hour away from the nearest hospital by helicopter, Bruce and his highly-trained team were entrusted with mountain rescues in often hazardous conditions."That forced us into a position where we had to do some high level care up on the mountain," he said. "We had to have some pretty competent people around us. "It is remote in itself, plus what the weather can throw at you. It can be pretty atrocious out there at times. "I remember even working there for 30 years I could occasionally get quite geographically confused in a whiteout, that's for sure."Working daily in the mountains, it will come as little surprise, then, that Bruce soon introduced Jossi to the snow.With his wife Stacey, the sixth member of the well-oiled Wells machine, homeschooling the four brothers until they turned 18, Bruce regularly found time to train them on the slopes."On reflection, why the boys have been so successful I think the family factor has a lot to play in that and you know their mother has been always probably the key member of the family really," he said. "Being a coach herself, she'll certainly hold the boys to account for their performances that's for sure. If it's not quite up to scratch, she wants to know why. "And she digs in and asks those really hard questions that none of us really want to answer. It seems to work really well for us and so long may it last.""It's been a pretty exciting period""We wondered would this be a good thing or would this be a bad thing ... and it seems to work out for us.""Well they're doing it, so I should do it too"Sibling rivalry?Due to the individualistic nature of freestyle skiing, Bruce explains, the phrase "sibling rivalry" doesn't necessarily apply to his sons.With an element of subjectivity in the tricks and jumps, there has been more of a domino effect in inspiring the next youngest sibling, starting with Jossi."I mean we all say Jossi is the captain of the team," Bruce says of the family dynamics. " He was the oldest boy that broke through at the age of 14 into some major events in North America."But even when he was growing up, Jossi would go out and do something and Byron would see what he did and would try and copy it ... and then Beau would go: 'Well they're doing it, so I should do it too.' "Then that followed back down to Jackson as well. So maybe not so much a competitive part with each other. With the boys it was more like: 'Well if Jossi can do that trick, then I should be able to do that trick too.'"Despite traveling as a group for the best part of eight months every year, Bruce says arguments between the group are rare."I think generally we get on pretty well, the boys get on really well together," he said. "They're quite supportive of each other and they seem to put up with an old fella like me hanging around. "(We wondered) would this be a good thing or would this be a bad thing ... and it seems to work out for us."'Homebody'For a man who spends much of his life in different corners of the globe, Bruce admits he would rather not be traveling and would instead choose to enjoy a few simple home comforts.From the picturesque town of Wanaka on New Zealand's South Island, where every view looks like the picture on a postcard, the patriarch of the Wells family extends an invitation to his home -- but warns any visitor may never leave, such is its beauty."Oh yes, I love home. I love my home," he says. "I must admit I am a homebody, I'd rather not travel. I'd rather stay at home with my new ride-on mower, my trial bike and my wife."He recalls the advent of the "wonderful software" Skype and how much easier it has made being away from home, although admits he was initially skeptical about technology which would let you video chat with somebody on the other side of the world -- and all for free."It made that period, up to five months away at a time, much more bearable that's for sure," he says.Despite often wishing for the warmth of his own bed, Bruce appreciates how fortunate he's been to have seen the places he has -- and all in the company of his four sons."At this stage in life you do what you've got to do, and it's been a pretty exciting period."
| 5sport
|
(CNN)It was French maestro Zinedine Zidane who first inspired Lisa Zimouche to start kicking a football. The freestyler still remembers watching her hero lift the World Cup for France in 1998 and, from that moment, her heart was set. "I fell in love with how he played with the ball and I was like 'Oh, I want to play,'" she told CNN Sport. The 20-year-old French-Algerian has been immersed in the game ever since, first for PSG women's team as a teenager and later in the developing world of freestyle football. After deciding to take the bold leap into the more creative form, she practiced for up to three hours a day to perfect her tricks and flicks. Read More"I have this freedom to do whatever I want with the ball. I can play with music, I can play with my hands," she said on her decision to pursue freestyling as a career. "There is absolutely no rules, no boundaries." View this post on Instagram Desperately waiting for a person down to play against me 🤷🏻♀️⚽️ A post shared by Lisa Zimouche (@lisafreestyle) on Feb 3, 2020 at 10:38am PST READ: Teen sensation Haaland stuns PSG on UCL debut for Borussia DortmundPlaying in heelsZimouche now travels the world, wowing fans across the planet with her outrageous set of skills and challenging herself against stars of the game such as Luiz Suarez and Jesse Lingard. Even wearing heels she can embarrass her opponents. "It's very dangerous so I don't do it often but I like playing in heels because it's just something spicy. I just like to improve and try something new," she added.It's not just football stars who have come up against Zimouche. Her craft has also allowed her to play against the likes of Usain Bolt, Drake and Odell Beckham Jr. However, there is one particular star that's high on her wish list. "I would love to nutmeg Beyonce," says a laughing Zimouche. "I don't know if she's a fan of football but I would love just to meet her, to talk with her and to nutmeg her. That's huge." NUTMEG NO LOOK 👀 ❌ ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/3SE2709HX8— Lisa Zimouche (@Lisafreestyle) February 17, 2019 READ: How Thomas Partey risked everything to follow European football dreamSupportive family Surrounded by football as a child, Zimouche was encouraged to pursue her passion by her mother. Despite being a keen player herself, Zimouche's mum was not allowed to follow her dream but was determined to let her daughter live hers. And with an Instagram following of over two million people, Zimouche wants to inspire other women to follow in her footsteps. "I think the future is bright for women. We still have so much to do. We have a lot of things to change, people's mindsets," she said. "I just do my thing and if it can inspire people it's just the best feeling for me. My goal is to inspire young women and to show that my story is not special. "You can do that too. It's not something special, all women can do it."Watch the video at the top of the page to learn more about Lisa Zimouche's story. | 5sport
|
(CNN)Never one to do things by halves, Queen Elizabeth II showed off her sword skills Friday cutting a cake at a lunch organized by educational charity Eden Project. The Queen smiled and joked with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall as she swapped a knife for the longer blade to slice through a cake while visiting the organizers of the Big Lunch during the G7 summit in Cornwall. Just before hacking the pastry, the monarch quipped, "I don't think is going to work." The three royals were meeting local volunteers of the Cornish community to recognize their support for each other during the Covid-19 pandemic. G7 leaders were invited to join the Queen, along with other senior members of the family, for a reception before dinner Friday night. The dinner took place at the Eden Project, a striking collection of biomes, one of which is home to the largest indoor rainforest on earth.'Sometimes we get forgotten about'Read MoreFirst lady Jill Biden met the Duchess of Cambridge -- who might be the future Queen -- Friday, touring a school in Cornwall near the G7 summit where President Joe Biden is making his first international trip abroad.Eden Project launched The Big Lunch in 2009, a charitable project which encourages communities to eat, volunteer and spend time together. The Duchess of Cornwall, who assisted the Queen when cutting through the last part of the cake, is a patron of the Big Lunch. Britain's Queen Elizabeth II cuts a cake to celebrate The Big Lunch initiative at The Eden Project in Cornwall on Friday. The charity will be part of the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in 2022. The Queen, already the longest-serving monarch in Britain's history, will be the first to celebrate 70 years on the throne, with royal engagements to mark the occasion expected throughout the year.The Queen is celebrating the monarch's official birthday Saturday with a parade at Windsor Castle. Her actual birthday was on April 21 when she turned 95.CNN has launched Royal News, a new weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on the royal family, what they are up to in public and what's happening behind palace walls. Sign up here. | 3news
|
Story highlights18 stuffed animals worth about £100,000 ($142,000) were stolen in London last weekThey include a zebra, a sloth, a crocodile, a rhinoceros, a baboon and a king penguinPolice say they hope members of the public will recognize the items London (CNN)Police in London are optimistic that the thieves behind an audacious recent heist will have a harder job than usual concealing the loot.They've appealed to the public to keep their eyes peeled for the unconventional stolen goods -- a small zoo's worth of stuffed animals, including a chimpanzee in a top hat and necktie.The 18 stuffed animals, worth about £100,000 ($142,000), were taken in a burglary at a taxidermy warehouse in the London borough of Wandsworth last week, the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.The stolen items included lions, a giraffe, a zebra, a sloth, a crocodile, a rhinoceros, a baboon and a king penguin. Antiques, including a globe, were also taken, police said.The stolen stuffed animals include a sloth, a rhinoceros and a crocodile.The thieves used angle grinders to force their way into the premises, which had clearly been deliberately targeted, Det. Constable Edward Bird said.Read More"This was not a random crime, the burglars had came prepared and well equipped," he said.He said he hoped members of the public would recognize the items and help lead them to the thieves."The items they stole are of high value and are very distinctive. I am appealing for anyone with information to contact police, in particular I would ask anyone who deals in such animals to be on the look-out and contact police immediately if you are offered any of the stolen items." | 3news
|
Story highlightsU.S. ship graveyard now flourishing nature siteMallows Bay bidding for sanctuary statusSome vessels date back to American Civil War (CNN)They were built to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to aid the allied effort in World War I, but wound up unused, abandoned, stripped and finally scuttled.Almost a century on, the "ghost fleet" of Mallows Bay in the Potomac River, 30 miles south of Washington D.C., is positively brimming with life again.Nature has taken hold amid the rotting hulls and rusted bows of the scores of historic vessels, with flora and fauna inundating the areas where sailors and passengers once stood. "It has become this really amazing mecca for wildlife," Joel Dunn, president and CEO of Chesapeake Conservancy, told CNN. "You've got these osprey nests on the front of the boats, and heron rookeries, bats breeding in the hull of the ships -- it's a really rich wildlife and historical location." Read More Did you hear the news? This morning President Obama announced that for the first time since 2000, @NOAA has identified two new marine areas for possible designation as national marine sanctuaries. Learn more about the nominations and watch the President's announcement on our website, sanctuaries.noaa.gov! Top photo: A shipwreck in Mallows Bay-Potomac River, one of the two nominated sites being considered for sanctuary designation. (Credit: Don Shomette) Bottom photo: The wreck of the Northerner, which lies 130 feet below the surface in Wisconsin-Lake Michigan, one of the two nominated sites being considered for sanctuary designation. (Credit: Tamara Thomsen, Wisconsin Historical Society) #MarineSanctuary #MarineProtectedArea #Environment #Conservation #Shipwreck #LakeMichigan #PotomacRiver A photo posted by US National Marine Sanctuaries (@noaasanctuaries) on Oct 5, 2015 at 7:15am PDT Located near Nanjemoy in Charles County, Maryland, Mallows Bay is not only treasured by locals -- it could be on the brink of wider recognition thanks to efforts to designate it a national marine sanctuary. It is one of two sites -- the other is on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin -- being considered for sanctuary status by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).The announcement made by President Obama in October 2015 was the first time since 2000 that an official nomination for national marine sanctuary status had been made. If successful, Mallows Bay will join 14 existing ecological havens including the Florida Keys and Thunder Bay in Lake Huron -- one of the five Great Lakes -- where nearly 100 vessels have been discovered to date, earning it the nickname "Shipwreck Alley." Don Shomette, a marine archeologist helping efforts to get Mallows Bay listed as a protected site, is quietly confident the bid will succeed. "I took some folks from NOAA down there and they were stunned when they saw the place," Shomette told CNN. "We have 185 archeologically-documented shipwrecks in a 14-square-mile area, which makes it one of the most densely-populated places in the western world for historic vessels." Ghosts from the past Shomette is the author of "Ghost Fleet of Mallows Bay And Other Tales of the Lost Chesapeake" -- a book borne of a deep-rooted attachment to the site which began on a camping trip with his father in the 1950s."I was just into my teens. We went down the river in a small boat and camped at an old civil war wharf -- which is still there," Shomette recalls."We told ghost stories that night and the next morning the river was covered with fog — you couldn't see more than two feet. Over 220 ghost ships lay rotting in the waters of Mallows Bay. I've lived in DC for over a decade and never knew they were there, less than an hour's drive south of the city. This ship is from the 1920s but many of the ships are wooden hulled giants dating back to the Revolutionary War. Accessible only by kayak or skiff, most Washingtonians live their whole lives never seeing this place. That might soon change. Mallows Bay was just nominated to be one of our nation's newest @noaasanctuaries -- I hope it happens. Yesterday's paddle was certainly the most spectacular day trip I've ever done. And more people should explore it. Stay tuned for a small piece I'm writing about this magical place. Thanks to #onepatientman (seen here) for getting me out on the water, broken foot and all. #mallowsbay #paddle #kayak #orukayak #getoutthere #water #potomac #dc #history #ships #noaa #sanctuaries #preserve #water @natgeocreative @orukayak A photo posted by CLARE FIESELER (@clarefieseler) on Dec 14, 2015 at 4:32am PST "We started downriver and ran into a waterman and he said: 'Are you boys going to see the ghost fleet?' And it sent shivers down my spine. "About 10 minutes later we came underneath the bow of one of the ships looming out of the fog. It was just one of those memorable moments in a young boy's life."Several years later, Shomette conducted a painstaking survey of the site which revealed the presence of a confederate blockade runner from the American Civil War. Another, the Accomac, a steel-hulled ferry built in 1928, saw service in World War II before winding up in Mallows Bay in 1973 after it was decommissioned following a fire on board.The majority of ships clustered in Mallows Bay, however, date back to the early 20th century. The so-called "ghost fleet" was part of an unprecedented shipbuilding program undertaken by the U.S. to assist its European allies during World War I. "When America entered the war in April 1917, two out of four ships leaving a British, French or Italian port was being sunk," Shomette explains. "So the process of continuing the war was going to go in Germany's favor."Germany's tactic of "unrestricted submarine warfare" targeted not just military vessels but merchant and passenger ships too — the R.M.S. Lusitania, torpedoed in May 1915, was the most high-profile sinking, killing around 1,200 on board -- 10% of them Americans.'A million men building ships'With the allies needing boats, and fast, President Woodrow Wilson answered the call for help, setting up the Emergency Fleet Corporation to build and operate merchant and military fleets."Within a year we had a million men building ships, cutting the timber, mining the iron for them, building the machinery for them. At one point we became the greatest shipbuilding nation in the history of the world," Shomette says. "We had to create from nothing a shipping industry that was going to build a thousand wooden ships in 18 months -- normally it would take a year and a half to build a wooden steam ship." At Hog Island in Pennsylvania, one of three major steel shipyards built by the government, 50 shipways extended for a mile and a quarter down the Delaware River. At its peak, its 30,000-strong workforce was launching vessels every five to six days. Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest corners Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersNew kid in town – Billionaires who want to escape to the ends of the Earth would need a boat fit for an army; a warship that can sail the seven seas, and in style. Step forward, the SeaXplorer -- the toughest superyacht on the planet.Hide Caption 1 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersUncharted territory – It has been designed by Damen Group, one of the world's leading luxury shipbuilders, which also creates vessels fit for war. The Dutch firm hopes SeaXplorer will blur the lines between the two -- billing it as "the first purpose-built, Polar Code-compliant range of expedition yachts, with true global capability -- from extreme polar to remote tropical areas."Hide Caption 2 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersCloser to the action – "Our warships are very capable vessels that outperform any others, in terms of speed and range. But there's no luxury accommodation, purely just for crew," SeaXplorer's marketing manager Victor Caminada tells CNN. "That triggered us to see what a luxury vessel would require -- much more storage, spare parts. You need to be more self-sufficient than on usual superyachts when in tropical destinations, and even more so in areas where there's ice."Hide Caption 3 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersIce cool – Vessels breaking their way through Antarctic ice may be nothing new -- but for a luxury ship, it's unheard of. The SeaXplorer, however, is able to break new ground. Its designers say the patented Sea Axe double-acting hull means it can thrust through challenging ice up to a meter thick -- a result of thousands of hours invested into research and development.Hide Caption 4 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersBreaking the mould – "Few vessels can break through ice and the ones that can are not luxury yachts, they're 'ice-bergers,' which are effective but not very comfortable," Caminada explains. "With this concept, we have combined the two and added on superyacht accommodation for the owners to stay in."Hide Caption 5 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersNew frontier – Damen Group says 90% of superyachts never venture any further than the Mediterranean or Caribbean Seas. So will the yachting crowd be in any hurry to ditch the harbors of Monte Carlo and Saint-Tropez and sample more severe conditions?"Not everyone is into sitting in front of an anchor in Central Bay," Caminada says. "People, particularly young people, think there is a new way of having an extreme luxury holiday in a very cool fashion -- with the SeaXplorer now they can go to places they really haven't been able to visit before."Hide Caption 6 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersPart of the family – SeaXplorer comes in a range of three options, from 65 meters (213 feet) in length to 100 meters (328 feet). The smallest holds 32 guests and crew, while the largest caters for 80 people and weighs 7,000 gross tons.Hide Caption 7 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersGadgets galore – For a glorified warship, the SeaXplorer comes loaded with its fair share of billionaire toys. The 100 boasts two helicopters, two lifeboats, four zodiacs, one expedition RHIB, one dive support boat, one luxury tender, two submersibles and four wave-runners to have some fun with. Hide Caption 8 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersEarth's explorer – "People like to do new things, and one of those is to visit new places and do expeditions," Caminada says. "A younger generation of superyacht owners, or potential owners, want to do things like go in a helicopter or go skiing, or look at marvelous wildlife. But until now, superyachts have not been capable of doing that. This is the first boat of its kind."Hide Caption 9 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersStylish sailing – "You can visit all these new places with a level of comfort never seen before," Caminada says of the SeaXplorer's on-board experience, which includes a dive center, gym, sauna and swimming pool, as well as observation and sky lounges.Hide Caption 10 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersAll yours – The SeaXplorer can be ready for use within four years of signing on the dotted line. But how much will the world's toughest superyacht cost?"We've received very serious inquiries and are speaking to potential clients soon," Caminada says. "Unfortunately, we're not allowed to publish the price! But I can say it's a very sophisticated vessel with very high-end technology, which makes it expensive..."Hide Caption 11 of 12 Photos: Opulent icebreaker can reach earth's remotest cornersExpanding horizons – "It's a whole new clientele that this concept is going to appeal to," Caminada adds. "It's uncharted territory and it's going to be an eye-opener to a lot of people who are not into the traditional yachting world -- they might think, 'Now, this is something I'd like to do with a boat.'"Hide Caption 12 of 12Contracts to build the wooden cargo ships were sent out to shipyards across the U.S. There were eight different designs ranging between 270-300 feet (80-90 meters) in length. Nearly 400 were completed before the end of the war in November 1918. A handful were sold, some finding work ferrying cargo up and down the Pacific coast and to South America, Shomette says. But for longer, transatlantic trips they were considered uneconomical because of their size -- they could only carry around 1,800 tons of freight.In 1922, the majority were sold for a song to the Western Marine & Salvage company, which set about stripping out reusable metals and parts before burning and sinking the remains. The company went bust at the start of the Great Depression in 1929, and wildcat salvagers moved in to pick away at the scraps. In the early 1940s, Bethlehem Steel -- America's largest shipbuilder at the time -- set about what proved to be another doomed salvage operation.Back to natureThe vessels have since slowly slipped into nature's grasp, in some places completely consumed, almost unidentifiable. "At low tide all you see is these forest of things sticking up and at the north end of the bay," Shomette says. "It looks like shore, but it's ships -- bow to stern, bow to stern -- I call these the flowerpot ships. Each of those ships have become islands -- some have trees 30-40 feet tall ... It's very exotic, it's just beautiful." In the wider Chesapeake Bay area, ospreys have thrived in recent years after almost being wiped out by the pesticide DDT during the mid-20th century. The unique habitat of Mallows Bay has helped them and other birds of prey rebound in population since the agricultural insecticide was banned in the U.S. in the early 1970s. Photos: Ghostly underwater photo gallery Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryStrike a pose – It's not a ghostly apparition, but one of the photographs by Viennese artist Andreas Franke, which was displayed aboard sunken ship USNS General Hoyt S.Vandenberg and only accessible to competent divers. Hide Caption 1 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryWater works – After four months sitting at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, the photos became discolored with salt stains and algae. "The sea life had created new images. It's very cool, they almost look like Polaroids," said Franke.Hide Caption 2 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryPacking a punch – The pictures have now been displayed in a gallery on land; the Studios of Key West. "They're stunning photographs technically. But it also starts to veer into performance art," gallery director, Jed Dodd, said.Hide Caption 3 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryTime travel – The 12 images all feature the Vandenberg, which was a U.S. military transport ship during World War Two. In the 1960s it was used by the Navy as a missile range vessel, and in 1998 it starred in the sci-fi film Virus. Hide Caption 4 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryBrave new world – Sunk in 2009, the Vandenberg is now the second-largest artificial reef in the world, boasting a diverse range of marine animals and plant life.Hide Caption 5 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryDivers' paradise – "If you're a diver and you see a gallery down there, it's absolutely unique, something you'd never expect. The cool thing is, the shots are done on the same boat they're hanging from," Franke said.Hide Caption 6 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryDiving new depths – More than 10,000 divers visited the underwater gallery. "It's unique. Nobody has ever done a photography exhibition underwater before," said Dodd.Hide Caption 7 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryA new perspective – "One of the cool things with an underwater gallery is you're floating, so you can see the artworks from so many different angles," Franke said.Hide Caption 8 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryInspiring images – The Vandenberg's rich history gave Franke inspiration for his World War Two era scenes. A huge team of models, make-up artists and costume designers helped create the evocative photos in studio.Hide Caption 9 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryTesting times – Despite being protected between two sheets of plexiglass and sealed with silicon in a steel frame, the images were not left completely untouched by the ocean.Hide Caption 10 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryInteresting effect – "At the beginning we did one test on a smaller print and after two months it had no marks. But the bigger images were a little more flexible and more susceptible to water -- they're only 95% perfect but I'm still so happy with them," Franke said.Hide Caption 11 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo gallerySea here – "What works so beautifully is how the water has seeped in -- it's almost as if the ocean has become a collaborative partner in the process," Dodd said.Hide Caption 12 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryThe fish fantastic – "It's a huge empty ship with fish swimming around -- at 27 meters below the surface, the sunlight is this beautiful blue green color. I shot the models in the studio with the same lens, so the images matched," Franke said.Hide Caption 13 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryWork of art – Franke went diving on the Vandenberg six times, taking more than 1,000 photographs which he then whittled down to the final 12.Hide Caption 14 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryLights, camera, action – "I used an underwater camera to shoot open locations where I thought I could add people in," Franke said. Hide Caption 15 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryOcean is key – "For a place like Key West, where you're never more than a few blocks from the beach, people have a very special relationship with the water," Dodd said.Hide Caption 16 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryBaroque Barbados – Franke's latest project features 12 images on the sunken SS Stavronikita, off the coast of Barbados. Hide Caption 17 of 18 Photos: Ghostly underwater photo galleryEerie imagery – The artist was inspired by the Caribbean country's history as an English settlement and the abundance of coral. "The European style fits better with the yellow tones and growth," he said.Hide Caption 18 of 18 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle An image of what the $450 million superyacht "A" will look like when building is complete. The 143-meter vessel will boast cutting edge technology and a 54-strong crew to look after those on board.Hide Caption 1 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle The brainchild of Russian billionaire Andrey Milnichenko, who is worth an estimated $9 billion, it was designed by Frenchman Philippe Starck and has a glass observation pod at the base of the vessel.Hide Caption 2 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle Want to make sure your superyacht is at the front of the shipping register? The alphabetically-aware Melnichenko christened "A" so to make sure no boat could appear in front of it.Hide Caption 3 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle "A" is at the vanguard of boat design, following on from the 2013-built Solandge. It features a large covered swimming pool and an outdoor jacuzzi. The are three jet skis, two speedboats and a golden staircase centrally on board.Hide Caption 4 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle While Solandge has a cinema, Quattroelle houses an art gallery. It also has superyacht staples such as a vast swimming pool, jet skis, a speedboat and a large gym. Oh, and an eight-person spa.Hide Caption 5 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle Lit up in the night sky of Nice's harbour is Katara, owned by the Emir of Qatar. A 124-meter bed of luxury, it is one of the most closely guarded secrets on the seas.Hide Caption 6 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle A crew of 55 is on board Al Mirqab to look after its 24 guests. Entertainment options include a cinema to more than one outdoor bar, an indoor swimming pool and an outdoor jacuzzi. It belongs to Emir Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, of Qatar.Hide Caption 7 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle It is a feature of the Monaco Grand Prix for Force India team owner Vijay Mallya's boat Indian Empress to be moored in the harbor and to host a party or two. There have been rumors Mallya sold the boat but those remained unconfirmed.Hide Caption 8 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle A former World War II frigate, it was most famous as the yacht of Aristotle Onassis who revamped it at a cost of $4m and named it Christina O after his daughter. It underwent a more recent $50m refit and can be hired out.Hide Caption 9 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle Nirvana is built over six decks with a 7.5-meter swimming pool and a helicopter pad on the sundeck. Much smaller than the other yachts, it can host 12 guests in all with a master deck boasting a smaller pool and private deck.Hide Caption 10 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle Eclipse is the motor yacht of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich and is a staggering 163.5 meters long. Squeezed into that are two helicopter pads, two swimming pools, a disco, 24 guest cabins and a submarine that can submerge 50 meters.Hide Caption 11 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle The first of two entries from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. With a glass-bottom swimming pool, recording studio and submarine it is the height of luxury but is also loaned out for scientific research projects.Hide Caption 12 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle Allen's second-choice vessel is Tatoosh, a mere snip at $100m when he bought it in 2001. It created headlines when the son of the President of Equatorial Guinea hired it for £400,000 so the rapper Eve could perform for him.Hide Caption 13 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, emir of Dubai, owns this 158-meter monster named Dubai. The maximum 24 guests on board can enjoy the cinema, disco, gym, helicopter and submarine should they so desire.Hide Caption 14 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle The ninth largest yacht in the world when built, the Lady Moura has since slipped out of the top 30. Owned by Saudi Arabian businessman Dr Nasser al-Rashid, it houses a pool that can be indoors or out as the weather befits. It famously ran aground at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.Hide Caption 15 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle The good news is Serene can be hired, the bad news is that apparently cost Bill Gates $5m when he did so. Owned by Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Scheffler, the build cost $330m.Hide Caption 16 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle Built in 1989, this 90-meter boat is in the ownership of the crown prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan. At capacity it requires a staff of 71.Hide Caption 17 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle Covering eight floors, Topaz is thought to have cost in the region of $500m and stretches to 147m in length. Made in Germany, it's home is supposedly in the Cayman Islands but boasts owners from the United Arab Emirates.Hide Caption 18 of 19 Photos: Super yachts: From A to Quattroelle Once in the ownership of Oracle boss Larry Ellison, this boat was formerly known as Katana but now boasts the title Enigma and is owned by Aidan Barclay, the son of British billionaire David Barclay, who owns the Daily Telegraph. Enigma has a top speed of 30 knots.Hide Caption 19 of 19"They're sort of symbols for the Chesapeake Bay in a sense and a symbol for what the environmental movement can do when they put their minds to it," conservancy chief Dunn says. "To be able to see them on every dock, post and shipwreck in the Chesapeake is heartening and a story of great educational value for the public at large."Local streams also support rare fish species such as the longnose gar and the warmouth, says Dunn, and Chesapeake Bay is an important nursery habitat for striped bass."The Potomac River is a treasured resource. It's one of the major contributors of freshwater to the Chesapeake and it has this wonderful combination of history, recreational opportunities and natural beauty," Dunn adds. For Shomette, the educational benefits are key to the overall strategy plan. Along with encouraging more tourists to visit the area, he wants to see more kids kayaking around the vessels, like he did all those years ago, watching the ships and wildlife evolve. "One of the things we want to do is adopt a ship for the high schools, so a school can go out to its ship to find out what plants are growing, what features are devolving, what features are disappearing, occupation of birds," he says. "It would also contribute to the long-term assessment of that ship." Several hurdles remain before Shomette and Dunn can start celebrating, but they have reason to be optimistic of a positive decision next year.According to the Chesapeake Conservancy, more than 60 local organizations and constituents have already backed the proposal, and the response from two public meetings held locally in November has further buoyed their mood. "After the environmental impact statement and the public comment period, which is over on January 15, we can move forward. And hopefully we will have a dedication, if everything goes right, on the anniversary of the U.S. entry into WWI. "It's why we built the greater part of the vessels that are there." Click here for more information on the historic vessels in Mallows Bay | 5sport
|
(CNN)John Thompson Jr., the first Black basketball head coach to win the NCAA National Championship, died at his Arlington, Virginia, home on Sunday night, according to his family. He was 78. Thompson had been suffering from multiple health challenges, a family source said. The cause of death is unknown. He was surrounded by family and friends when he passed away. Thompson coached at Georgetown University for 27 years, leading the Hoyas to their lone title in 1984. He later spoke about being singled out as the first African American head coach to win the National Championship."I was very proud of winning the national championship and I was very proud of the fact that I was a Black American, but I didn't like it if the statement implied that I was the first Black person who had intelligence enough to win the national championship," he told ESPN. "I might have been the first black person who was provided with an opportunity to compete for this prize, that you have discriminated against thousands of my ancestors to deny them this opportunity." Read MoreVisit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresJohn Thompson has passed away aged 78. Taking over a team that had a 3-23 record, Thompson would go on to win close to 600 games, finishing after the 1998-1999 season with a 596-239 coaching record. He won the national coach of the year three times and also the Big East coach of year on three occasions.The legendary coach led the Hoyas to three Final Fours (in 1982, 1984 and 1985), 24 straight postseason appearances (19 NCAA, five National Invitation Tournaments), and seven Big East tournament championships. "Our father was an inspiration to many and devoted his life to developing young people not simply on, but most importantly, off the basketball court," said a statement from the Thompson family."He is revered as a historic shepherd of the sport, dedicated to the welfare of his community above all else. "However, for us, his greatest legacy remains as a father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. More than a coach, he was our foundation. More than a legend, he was the voice in our ear every day. JUST WATCHED'The first reality show': 'Hoop Dreams' at 25ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'The first reality show': 'Hoop Dreams' at 25 02:21Thanks For Saving My Life Coach. I'm going to miss you, but I'm sure that you are looking down on us with a big smile. I would give anything just for one more phone call from you only to hear you say, "Hey MF", then we would talk about everything except basketball....... pic.twitter.com/03yj4gZv5q— Allen Iverson (@alleniverson) August 31, 2020 "We will miss him but are grounded in the assurance that we carry his faith and determination in us. We will cherish forever his strength, courage, wisdom and boldness, as well as his unfailing love. We know that he will be deeply missed by many and our family appreciates your condolences and prayers. "But don't worry about him, because as he always liked to say, 'Big Ace is cool.'"Seventy-five of Thompson's 77 players who stayed all four years received college degrees and 26 of his players were drafted in the NBA, including Hall of Famers Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutumbo, Alonzo Mourning and Allen Iverson."I'm going to miss you, but I'm sure that you are looking down on us with a big smile," Iverson wrote in tribute to Thompson on social media.READ: 'We all have Hoop Dreams'Thompson played ball at Providence College and was drafted by the Boston Celtics, winning two NBA titles in his two-year career. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. Nakia McNabb contributed to this report | 5sport
|
Story highlightsLionel Messi scores his first international goal for Argentina in 16 games Gonzalo Higuain also nets a hat-trick in 4-1 victory at home to ChileCopa America champions Uruguay open World Cup campaign with victory2014 World Cup hosts Brazil beat Costa Rica 1-0 in friendly internationalLionel Messi ended his international goal drought to help Argentina make the perfect start to the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign under new coach Alejandro Sabella on Friday.Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat-trick in the 4-1 victory over Chile but of similar importance was Messi's first strike in 16 games for La Albiceleste.Handed the captain's armband by Sabella, Messi made it 2-0 in the 26th minute after combining with Higuain to end a run going back two years and seven months.Messi replied in kind to set up Higuain's hat-trick in the 63rd minute, while Angel Di Maria laid on his clubmate's other two goals.Chile, missing injured key players Alexis Sanchez and Gary Medel, had pulled it back to 3-1 through Matias Fernandez on the hour."It was important to get off on the right foot and we did just that," Higuain said in quotes reported by AFP, having also scored a treble in his last match for Real. "I liked a lot of what we did tonight. Now we have to keep this up." Sabella took over from Sergio Batista after Argentina lost in the Copa America quarterfinals on home soil in July, and his next task is a trip to Venezuela on Tuesday.Venezuela's campaign began with a 2-0 defeat at Ecuador on Friday, with the Copa semifinalists' most-capped player Jose Manuel Rey sent off with 12 minutes to play for a second yellow card.Strikers Jaime Ayovi and Christian Benitez gave Ecuador a commanding lead inside the opening 30 minutes. Copa champions Uruguay made a perfect start with a 4-2 victory at home to Bolivia.Strikers Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani helped make it 3-1 at halftime, while defender captain Diego Lugano netted his second goal with 18 minutes to play before Marcelo Martins' late consolation penalty.Copa runners-up Paraguay crashed to a 2-0 defeat away to Peru, who built on their third-place finish as striker Jose Paolo Guerrero netted both goals in the second half.Paraguay host Uruguay on Tuesday, while Peru visit Chile and Bolivia are at home to Colombia.Brazil, assured of a place as hosts of the 2014 tournament, beat Costa Rica in a friendly on Friday.Striker Neymar netted a 60th-minute winner before the home team had Heiner Mora sent off late in San Jose. | 5sport
|
(CNN)Wimbledon is hoping to cut down on the amount of plastic waste generated at this year's tennis championships.One big change is that all of the water bottles sold and given out at the two-week long tournament will be made from 100% recycled plastic that can be recycled once fans are done with them.Tournament water sponsor Evian says it plans to make all of its bottles out of 100% recycled plastic by 2025. The company said it hopes to sell about 420,000 bottles of water at this year's tournament, which runs from July 1 to 14.Spectators are also allowed to bring their own reusable water bottles and organizers say there are more than 100 fountains and water refill stations on the grounds.Wimbledon: Strawberries and cream -- a quintessential traditionAlmost 475,000 people attended Wimbledon last year, making it the largest single annual sports catering operation in Europe.Read MoreOrganizers say that cutlery and most of the drink cups used during Wimbledon are made from 100% recycled material and the containers used for their famous strawberries and cream are made from 70% recycled plastic.They sell an average of 166,055 portions of strawberries and cream each year.There will also be employees encouraging sustainability and making sure people throw their recycling in the right bins.Wimbledon has also stopped putting players' freshly-restrung rackets into plastic bags, which means 4,500 fewer bags will be used during the tournament.Glastonbury Festival bans single-use plastic bottles In June, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) signed on to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework."We believe that Wimbledon, along with other major events, has a vital role to play in helping to protect the environment, today and for the future, and we are proud to be a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework," said AELTC Chief Executive Richard Lewis in a statement.Organizers of Glastonbury, the huge UK music festival that wrapped up on June 30, banned single-use plastic bottles at the five-day event and sold sandwiches in 100% compostable packaging.The European Parliament voted in March to ban a variety of single-use plastic items, including straws and cutlery, by 2021. | 3news
|
Story highlightsAn F-16 pilot was nearly forced to eject from his aircraft over ISIS territory due to a fuel emergency last year, an incident that could have led to the airman's capture or deathThe brutal killing of Jordanian pilot Moaz al-Kassasbeh serves as a harsh reminder of the consequences for pilots who eject over ISIS-held territory (CNN)An F-16 pilot was nearly forced to eject from his aircraft over ISIS territory due to a fuel emergency last year, an incident that could have led to the airman's capture or death, the U.S. Air Force said.But the pilot was saved from having to abandon his aircraft due to the quick thinking of a nearby U.S. Air Force re-fueling plane crew. Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleet Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetB-52 Stratofortress – The first versions of this long-range heavy bomber flew in 1954. A total of 744 were built, the last of those in 1962. The Air Force maintains 58 B-52s in the active force and 18 in the Reserve. A single B-52 can carry 70,000 pounds of mixed munitions, including bombs, missiles and mines. The eight-engine jets have a range of 8,800 miles.Hide Caption 1 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetC-130 Hercules transport – A C-130J Super Hercules from the 37th Airlift Squadron flies over Normandy, France, June 3, 2015. First delivered to the Air Force in 1956, the C-130 remains one of the service's most important airlift platforms. More than 140 are still in active units, with more than 180 in the National Guard and a hundred more in the Reserve. The C-130 is powered by four turboprop engines.Hide Caption 2 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetAC-130 gunships – The AC-130H Spectre and the AC-130U Spooky gunships are designed for close air support, air interdiction and force protection. Armaments on the Spectre include 40mm and 105mm cannons. The Spooky adds a 25mm Gatling gun.Hide Caption 3 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetF-22 Raptor – The twin-engine F-22 stealth fighter, flown by a single pilot and armed with a 20mm cannon, heat-seeking missiles, radar-guided missiles and radar-guided bombs, can perform both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. The service has 183 of the Raptors, which went operational in 2005.Hide Caption 4 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetThe single-engine F-35A is the Air Force's eventual replacement for the F-16 and the A-10. The supersonic jets, which will be able to conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks, are just beginning to enter the Air Force fleet. Here, an F-35 Lightning II from the 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, flys at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, April 15, 2017.Hide Caption 5 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetB-2 Spirit bomber – The four-engine B-2 heavy bomber has stealth properties that make it hard to detect on radar. Flown by a crew of two, it has an unrefueled range of 6,000 miles and can deliver both conventional and nuclear bombs. Twenty B-2s are in the active inventory. They joined the fleet in 1997.Hide Caption 6 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetB-1B Lancer bomber – The four-engine jet can fly at 900 mph and carry the largest payload of bombs and missiles in the Air Force inventory. The Air Force has 62 B-1Bs in the fleet.Hide Caption 7 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetF-15 Eagle – The F-15 Eagle, the Air Force's main air superiority fighter, became operational in 1975. With a crew of one or two, depending on the model, the twin-engine jets are armed with a 20mm cannon along with Sidewinder or AMRAAM missiles. The Air Force lists 249 F-15 Eagles in its inventory.Hide Caption 8 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetF-15E Strike Eagle – The Strike Eagle is a version of the air superiority fighter adapted to perform ground-strike missions. With a crew of two, the twin-jet can carry and deploy most weapons in the Air Force inventory and operate in any weather. The F-15E was first delivered in 1988. The Air Force lists 219 in its fleet.Hide Caption 9 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetA-10 Thunderbolt – The A-10 Thunderbolt jets, nicknamed "Warthogs," are specially designed for close air support of ground forces. Key to their armaments is a 30mm Gatling gun. The pilot is protected from ground fire by titanium armor, and the plane's fuel cells are self-sealing in case of puncture. Hide Caption 10 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetRC-135U – The RC-135U Combat Sent, based at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, provides strategic electronic reconnaissance information to the president, secretary of defense, Department of Defense leaders and theater commanders.Hide Caption 11 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetAn F-15 Eagle takes off from the Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, flight line as two E-3 Sentries are seen in the background.Hide Caption 12 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetOV-10 Bronco – A 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron OV-10 Bronco aircraft fires white phosphorus rockets to mark a target for an air strike during tactical air control training. Hide Caption 13 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetA-29 Super Tucano – An A-29 Super Tucano taxis on the flightline during its first arrival, Sept. 26, 2014, at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia. Afghan Air Force pilots trained on the planes that will be used in air-to-ground attack missions in Afghanistan.Hide Caption 14 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetKC-135 Stratotanker – The four-engine KC-135 joined the Air Force fleet in 1956 as both a tanker and cargo jet. It can carry up to 200,000 pounds of fuel and 83,000 pounds of cargo and passengers in a deck above the refueling system. More than 400 of the KC-135s are flown by active, Air Guard and Reserve units.Hide Caption 15 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetF-16 Fighting Falcon – The single-engine jet is a mainstay of the Air Force combat fleet. It can perform both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions with its 20mm cannon and ability to carry missiles and bombs on external pods. More than 1,000 F-16s are in the Air Force inventory.Hide Caption 16 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetC-17 Globemaster transport – The four-engine jet joined the Air Force fleet in 1993 with a primary mission of troop and cargo transport. Each plane can carry up to 102 troops or 170,900 pounds of cargo. The Air Force has 187 C-17s on active duty, 12 in the Air National Guard and 14 in the Reserve.Hide Caption 17 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetC-5 Galaxy transport – The C-5, with a wingspan of 222 feet, a length of 247 feet and a height of 65 feet, is the largest plane in the Air Force inventory and one of the largest aircraft in the world. The first versions of the four-engine jet joined the force in 1970. The Air Force expects to have 52 versions of the latest model, the C-5M, in the fleet by 2017.Hide Caption 18 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetCV-22 Osprey – The Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines vertical takeoff, hover and landing qualities of a helicopter with the normal flight characteristics of a turboprop aircraft, according to the Air Force. It is used to move troops in and out of operations as well as resupply units in the field. The Air Force has 33 Ospreys in inventory.Hide Caption 19 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetE-3 Sentry AWACS – AWACS stands for airborne warning and control system. This four-engine jet, based on a Boeing 707 platform, monitors and manages battle space with its huge rotating radar dome. The planes have a flight crew of four supporting 13 to 19 specialists and controllers giving direction to units around the battle space. The Air Force has 32 E-3s in inventory.Hide Caption 20 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetKC-10 Extender – Based on the DC-10 passenger jet, the triple-engine KC-10 is a gas station in the sky with the ability to carry 75 people and 170,000 pounds of cargo. In its six tanks, the KC-10 can carry up to 356,000 pounds of fuel and dispense it while airborne. The Air Force has 59 KC-10s on active duty.Hide Caption 21 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetT-38 Talon – The twin-engine jet trainer, used by the Air Force to prepare pilots for the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15C Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-1B Lancer, A-10 Thunderbolt and F-22 Raptor, first flew in 1959. Almost 550 are in the active force.Hide Caption 22 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetU-2 – The single-engine, single-pilot U-2 is used for high-altitude reconnaissance and surveillance. Flying at altitudes around 70,000 feet, pilots must wear pressure suits like those worn by astronauts. The first U-2 was flown in 1955. The planes were used on missions over the Soviet Union during the Cold War, flying too high to be reached by any adversary. The Air Force has 33 U-2s in its active inventory.Hide Caption 23 of 24 Photos: In the U.S. Air Force fleetWC-135 Constant Phoenix – The four-engine WC-135 is used to fly through airspace to detect the residue of nuclear blasts. "The aircraft is equipped with external flow-through devices to collect particulates on filter paper and a compressor system for whole air samples collected in holding spheres," the Air Force says. It has two of these jets in the active force.Hide Caption 24 of 24The KC-135 Stratotanker was linked up with a group of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs in support of the U.S.-led coalition's air campaign against ISIS when it was approached by the F-16, the Air Force said on Thursday.The first sign of trouble occurred when the F-16 attempted to re-fuel but was forced to disconnect from the KC-135 after taking in only 500 pounds of fuel -- an amount that fell significantly short of the 2,500 pounds that the tanker expected to off-load.After a second failed re-fueling attempt, the F-16 pilot ran through his checklist and alerted the tanker crew that he was experiencing a fuel system emergency.Read More"Over 80% of his total fuel capability was trapped and unusable," a malfunction that could have forced the pilot to eject as his aircraft could only use up to 15 minutes of fuel at a time, the Air Force said in a press release.Instead of leaving the pilot to fend for himself, the tanker crew decided to diverge from its area of responsibility, and safely escorted the F-16 to its base while refueling every 15 minutes on the way to allied airspace."Knowing the risks to their own safety, they put the life of the F-16 pilot first and made what could've been an international tragedy a feel-good news story," said Lt. Col. Eric Hallberg, 384th Air Refueling Squadron commander. "I'm sure they think it was not a big deal, however, that's because they never want the glory or fame."The Air Force did not specify where, exactly, the incident took place and did not specify the country to which the F-16 belonged.US military: News, history, videos and opinionsThe brutal killing of Jordanian pilot Moath al-Kassasbeh serves as a harsh reminder of the consequences for pilots who eject over ISIS-held territory and are taken prisoner by the terror group.Footage and images released early last year by the Islamist extremists appeared to show the pilot in a cage, being burned alive.The video sparked global condemnation and prompted immediate promises of retaliation and protests in Jordan, one of more than 60 nations involved in the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.As of February 10, the U.S. and its coalition partners have conducted a total of 10,242 strikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.And despite escorting the F-16 pilot back to base, the KC-135 tanker crew completed the rest of their daily missions with 100% success, the Air Force said.What it is like flying in an F-16 | 4politics
|
This story was first published in 2016. (CNN)It was the movie that inspired a generation of skiers and popularized the concept of "extreme" skiing.It introduced mohawked bad-boy Glen Plake, a self-confessed drink-and-drug-fueled punk rocker, and showcased the cliff-jumping prowess of Scot Schmidt. And it highlighted the thrills and freedom of France's Chamonix valley, all set to a soaring pop soundtrack for the first time in a ski film.Even now, 30 years later, "The Blizzard of Aahhh's" remains the benchmark, and the film that ignited today's freeskiing movement. Read More"'Extreme' was really an unknown word then, but once 'Blizzard' came out you could get an extreme combo at Taco Bell," director Greg Stump told CNN from his central Oregon home.The film, released in late 1988, builds through sequences in Telluride, Colorado and Squaw Valley, California before Schmidt, Plake and Mike Hattrup come together for the stirring Chamonix finale, skiing steep slopes and tight chutes with Mont Blanc as a backdrop.That now-iconic trio came about by unfortunate chance after original crew member Lynne Wieland broke her back on the first day of filming. Now arguably the most recognizable skier on the planet, Plake wasn't even on the initial team sheet for France. "Seeing 'Blizzard' for the first time was like looking through a portal to the future I wanted for myself," 1990s freeskiing pioneer Mike Douglas told CNN. "This group of antiheroes were exactly who I wanted to be."Looking back, I would say 'Blizzard' was one of the key catalysts that launched the extreme sports movement."Visit CNN.som/Sport for more news, stories and featuresJUST WATCHEDFreeride World Tour: life in the extremeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFreeride World Tour: life in the extreme 01:31'Rockumentary'"The Blizzard of Aahhh's" (the apostrophe was deliberate, says Stump) was the director's fifth ski movie after a string of "goofy" moguls films.Here is Mike Powell's funny interview with me. Mike does a great job: https://t.co/GlVtxzsYTn— Greg Stump (@GregStump) November 22, 2016
A former North American freestyle champion and longtime radio DJ, Stump realized he could get a jump on the dominant Warren Miller ski movie franchise by using hot new sounds rather than stock studio music.The then 27-year-old went to England to tap up record producer Trevor Horn, whose ZTT Records label had released albums by bands such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Propaganda and Act.ZTT's Liam Teeling told him: "Stumpy, my boy, you can have our music for free but on one condition: that the film you're about to make is fantastic, because if it isn't it won't see the light of day." With his soundtrack sorted, Stump's next task was to recruit some of America's best "cool, unknown, hotshot skiers.""I had way hipper music, way hipper skiers, and comedy that wasn't cheesy," Stump recalls.READ: Speed climber Kilian Jornet: The decisions are mostly 'Is this going to kill me?'Scot Schmidt became one of the most famous skiers of his generation.To add some pedigree, he poached Miller stalwart Schmidt, a racer turned ski film star from Montana. Schmidt, then 26, took some persuading -- Stump's back catalog wasn't quite his fit -- but he couldn't resist the lure of Europe after a spell living in Verbier, Switzerland."Greg was a young renegade filmmaker and I wasn't paying him much attention because his films were pretty out there," Schmidt told CNN from his home in Santa Cruz, California."Then he said we're making a 'rockumentary,' we've got a budget and we're spending the winter in Chamonix. That was very interesting."READ: Snowboarders' 'scary' addictionThe charismatic Hattrup, a Stump regular and member of the US moguls squad, was also on the plane. Wieland, a US aerials and moguls champion who had appeared in Hollywood flick "Hot Dog ...The Movie," completed the lead threesome.But tragedy struck when Wieland broke her back after a bad landing while skiing at Chamonix's Grands Montets area. She was airlifted to hospital in Geneva and narrowly escaped paralysis, eventually making a full recovery.The crew were rocked, but knew they needed a replacement. Glen Plake became one of the most recognizable skiers in the world. 'Partying punk'It took some cajoling for Stump to call Plake, despite having included the south Lake Tahoe native in two previous films.Then 23, Plake had a foot-tall mohican haircut and a dangerous reputation. He was a talented moguls skier but had turned down a spot on the US team because of what he perceived as stereotypes. "I was raising hell, you know," Plake told CNN from his home in Chamonix. "I grew up in a gambling town as a mogul skier, which is about as punk rock as it gets. I was living fast and I wasn't really afraid to show it." Stump was wary of any of his outfit being the "ugly American" abroad. "I was just worried, I didn't want a wildcard -- which was what Glen was," he says.Hattrup led the lobby for Plake, a friend from the moguls circuit."A lot of people wrote him off as a partying, punk ski bum, which he was," Hattrup told CNN. "But he also took it to a whole new level from a professional standpoint. Glen certainly surprised a lot of people."Plake was a late callup to join the shoot in Chamonix.Plake had already been on a Stump shoot that season in Squaw Valley, renting skis to make sure he was aligned with the film's sponsor, K2.Always territorial, he made "darn sure" he put up the standout performance on his north Lake Tahoe rivals' turf.Photographer Bruce Benedict later asked Plake if he had a passport. He didn't, but drove to LA to get one. Shortly after, he got the call that would change his life. In the film, the Squaw sequence is billed as a "shootout" for the final spot in France. Stump admits the narrative was a later fabrication.Stump and Murray Ball filming a sequence on the Grands Montets in Chamonix. 'Mind blowing'Stump's vision for the film was to showcase the freedom of skiing in Europe compared with the strict controls governing out-of-bounds skiing at US ski resorts."We got into so much trouble and got kicked out of so many places trying to film the steeps in the US," he says. A 12-day storm hampered filming when they first arrived in Chamonix, but when the weather cleared they jumped on the first tram of the season up the Aiguille du Midi, a 12,600-foot rock spire towering above the town. The Aiguille du Midi accesses the Vallee Blanche and Mont Blanc massif."It's mind-blowing that area. It is something special, it's intimidating," Hattrup says.One of the first lines they looked at was a steep chute called the Couloir des Poubelles (dustbin, in French), which accesses the famous Vallee Blanche glacier.Schmidt said he would ski it "for sure." The camera then pans to Hattrup. Stump asks if he wants to go in."I was thinking, 'If you shut off the camera I'll tell you the real answer,'" Hattrup says. "But I let out this meek little timid 'yeah.' You can almost see the fear in my eyes through the mirrored lenses I was wearing."So began an odyssey following in the tracks of guide Murray Ball around some of Chamonix's classic ski lines, with songs like Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Warriors of the Wasteland" as a soundtrack."The whole Chamonix experience was quite eye-opening for all of us," Hattrup adds. "It exposed us to terrain and skiing we had never imagined."The crew took every opportunity to party in Chamonix, says Stump (left). 'I was a fugitive'Off the mountain, life was "full-on debauchery," according to Stump. "We had a budget and a thirst for European beer. We partied a lot," he says. Hattrup remembers epic, one-sided snowball fights against the French. Schmidt recalls down days exploring the Mont Blanc massif with New Zealander Ball. When filming was over, the crew headed home.Plake lived as a "fugitive" in France after filming of "Blizzard of Aahhh's" ended. All except Plake, that is. He was wanted in the US on previous drugs charges."I was in a lot of trouble, for one," says Plake, who picked up some construction work and integrated himself into the French community. "I mean, what was I going back for? I didn't have a job, and I sold my car to get to the airport. "I wasn't ever going to go back. I was literally looking into joining the French Foreign Legion. "I was looking at six or seven years in prison. It was pretty slam dunk. "By all definitions I was a fugitive."Instant hitStump went to work editing back home in Maine. "I looked at all the footage and I just knew," he says.He was so convinced he had the raw materials to make something special, he briefed a friend on exactly how he wanted the movie to be made in case anything happened to him.When the film was released it was an instant hit. Timing was everything, and in the thriving era of VHS, kids could endlessly re-watch their favorite movies at home. The magic ingredients included focusing on three main characters, a strong storyline, stunning cinematography, thumping music and Stump's liquid narration, according to Hattrup, though he didn't foresee it becoming "the quintessential ski movie."Stump worked through the summer of 1988 editing "Blizzard of Aahhh's." "At the premiere when I first saw the film I was really impressed, with the change of style, the editing, the music ... it just resonated with the crowd," Schmidt says.The interview requests came pouring in. Even NBC was on the phone.Stump got in touch with Plake. "Exactly how much trouble are you in?"Arrangements were made for a lawyer. In March 1989, Plake flew back to the US to join Schmidt on NBC's Today Show.Schmidt and Plake, dressed in a spangly stars and stripes suit with a towering mohawk, clearly inhabited a different planet to host Bryant Gumbel."He was baffled and didn't know what it was we were doing," Schmidt says.'Celebrity skiers'The crossover into mainstream media was the catalyst for the explosion of "extreme skiing."But the film's stars were uncomfortable with the tag, pointing to the big-mountain, steep-skiing exploits of French pioneers Patrick Vallencant, Jean-Marc Boivin and Pierre Tardivel."I knew the difference," Plake says. "We were California hot-doggers and cliff jumpers."What we were doing was not quintessential extreme skiing. Somebody asked me in an article a year or so later if I was a 'Chamonix extreme skier.' I said, 'No, but give me 10 years and I will be.' At that point I was missing an entire skill set."Hattrup was inspired by the Chamonix shoot and qualified as a mountain guide in the US, alongside a 27-year career working for K2. Schmidt's trajectory was already on the up, but it propelled him into "hyperdrive" in the ski world."To me there was no bigger celebrity on earth," Douglas said of Schmidt on his Salomon Freeski TV series. Now Schmidt splits his time between Santa Cruz and the private Yellowstone Club resort in Montana, where he is an ambassador and resident ski pro. Plake eventually did some jail time and community service for his drug charges. He quit drugs soon after and later turned his back on alcohol too.After his wedding in 1991, he and wife Kimberly took a honeymoon tour around 50 of America's lesser known ski resorts in 33 states, just turning up in their motorhome and skiing with whomever. It became known as the "Down Home Tour," and six more followed. Plake, who calls himself the "oddball" of the ski industry despite his longevity, was inducted into US skiing's Hall of Fame in 2010.Plake is still a keen ski mountaineer, climber and adventurer. TragedyPlake recently qualified as a ski instructor and is also going through his guide's training in Chamonix and California's Mammoth Mountain, where he is an ambassador.His work has taken him to Nepal, teaching skiing to aspiring mountain guides.It's a legacy of the 2012 tragedy on Nepal's Manaslu, the world's eighth highest mountain at 26,758 feet, when Plake and his climbing partners Gregory Costa and Remy Lecluse were swept away in an avalanche. JUST WATCHEDAvalanche survivor: It sounded like windReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAvalanche survivor: It sounded like wind 01:46Plake was lying shoulder-to-shoulder and chatting to Costa in their tent when the avalanche hit in the early hours of the morning. They plunged hundreds of meters down the mountain. When the slide stopped, Costa had disappeared. "I found every personal item in that tent except him and his sleeping bag," Plake says. "I found his glasses, his gloves, my jacket he was using for a pillow ..." Costa was never found. The body of Lecluse, who had been in a separate tent, was later recovered from a crevasse. In all, 12 people died in the avalanche.'Pact with God'"Blizzard" was Stump's ticket to Hollywood. He directed commercials, music videos and documentaries with the likes of Seal, Willie Nelson, Neil Young and the Beach Boys, as well as making a host of other ski films, including 2012's "Legend of Aahhh's." However, Stump decided to stop making "extreme" ski movies when Schmidt and snowboarder Craig Kelly had several near misses with avalanches, notably in British Columbia in 1996. "I'm not a religious guy but I made a pact with God: 'If you get these two guys off this face, I'll quit. I'll never put a friend in a dangerous situation again,'" says Stump, who is working on a couple of scripts for a new feature film set in a winter environment.Visit cnn.com/skiing for more news and videos"Blizzard" may be 30 years old, but for a generation it remains the spark that lit their skiing fire. | 5sport
|
Story highlightsCarlsbad is golf's version of Silicon ValleyClub manufacturer Cobra uses space technology in driverRival company Callaway teams up with Boeing (CNN)Since golfers first bunted leather balls around Scottish links, they have searched for equipment to make them better -- and longer.From the original crude sticks to hickory-shafted clubs, through steel, titanium and carbon-fiber drivers, the game's "arms race" shows no sign of slowing. In fact, it has gone into orbit. Literally.Follow @cnnsport
In the constant battle to beat the competition, to help players hit the ball further than ever before, one company has gone to space to develop its latest clubs.READ: Why Jason Day is 'Tiger-esque'Read MoreCobra Puma, the brand favored by the world's fifth-ranked golfer Rickie Fowler, is pioneering materials and technologies tested on the International Space Station, via its partnership with the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS.)Its recent King LTD driver even features a "spaceport" -- a see-through window on the sole of the club allowing the golfer to view its inner makeup.READ: The world's best par-3 holes Other brands are also branching out too. Callaway has teamed up with aerospace giant Boeing to improve the aerodynamics of its XR driver, used by Masters champion Danny Willett. Others have sought inspiration from the field of automotive design. The battle for supremacy shows no sign of letting up, particularly in Carlsbad -- golf's equivalent of Silicon Valley -- where big names such as Callaway, TaylorMade, Cobra Puma and Titleist are based. JUST WATCHEDCould this change the way we play golf?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCould this change the way we play golf? 08:02"There are a lot of very smart people working and thinking about golf clubs every day," Cobra Puma's vice-president of research and development, Tom Olsavsky, told CNN."It can be very interesting if you go to lunch somewhere outside the building. You have to look around and make sure there are no competitors. READ: How 'brotherly love' fueled Willett's Masters win"We definitely feel like we're in an arms race. We're always challenging ourselves to beat the other guys."Despite a reported downturn, the golf industry is still worth about $70 billion in the U.S. alone. JUST WATCHEDWhere is golf heading in 2016?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhere is golf heading in 2016? 10:52Every year or so -- and more often for some -- the manufacturers bring out new products boasting extra distance, more forgiveness (which reduces the effects of a bad contact on the ball), better accuracy and more consistency.In drivers, distance is still the holy grail, followed by forgiveness. Some sacrifice one over the other, some try to do both.As well as developing new materials, manufacturers dream up all manner of gizmos to help the "story": moveable weights to alter ball flight; adjustable hosels to change loft and lie; channels; slots; turbulators; speed crowns; smartpads; pink, white, blue club heads. And those spaceports.The marketing departments go into overdrive. Sexy slogans are crafted. ObsoleteCallaway gave us "Forgiveness Meets Fast" and "Built for Outrageous Speed," then there's Cobra's "The Ultimate Distance Machine," Titleist's "Distance Without Compromise," PING's "Faster. Straighter. Longer" and TaylorMade's "The Definition of Distance."New club, new combination of buzzwords. New price tags. TaylorMade's latest M1 driver came with a recommended retail price of $499, while Callaway's XR was $349, Cobra's King Ltd. and Titleist's 915 D3 were $449 and Ping's G LS Tec was $399.READ: Why Tiger Woods turned down John Daly's beer invitationIt's a far cry from even the modern birth of the game's arms race almost four decades ago, when the first steel-headed "woods" were introduced.In 1979, golf salesman Gary Adams launched TaylorMade with his original metal wood, dubbed the "Pittsburgh Persimmon" in honor of the type of timber long used in traditional woods.The takeover of metal woods was more of a trickle than a torrent -- it wasn't until 1988 that a player using a metal wood won a major, when Curtis Strange lifted the U.S. Open with a TaylorMade Burner driver.Two years later, Ely Callaway -- a former soldier, textiles executive and wine maker -- tapped into the skills of workers from the fading aerospace industry in Carlsbad, California and launched his iconic over-sized Big Bertha metal driver. The race was on. Persimmon would soon be obsolete.American Dustin Johnson was the longest hitter on the PGA Tour in 2015.'Indisputably better'However, it's not a free-for-all.Myriad rules -- laid down by governing bodies the United States Golf Association and the R&A -- are in place to curb technology. To conform, clubs must not exceed 48 inches long, while the head of a driver must not be bigger than 460 cubic centimeters. Plus, there are strict laws that govern the "spring" of the face. Although there is a whacky world of non-conforming designs out there, the game's big-name manufacturers are working feverishly within these parameters. In 1980, when persimmon ruled, the biggest hitter on the PGA Tour was Dan Pohl with an average driving distance of 274.3 yards. In 2015, 40 players on the PGA Tour recorded an average of more than 300 yards, with the leader Dustin Johnson at 317.7 yards."The clubs are indisputably better," former Golf.com managing editor Eamon Lynch told CNN. "But no one is more willing to believe in the promise of a technologically advanced, store-bought solution than a golfer with a crappy swing."Bubba Watson wields his pink driver to devastating effect.IncrementalSo what's next? Manufacturers have differing views on where their focus should be, with moveable weights, face technology, head shape and weight all key battlegrounds.Most seem to agree that a club's center of gravity -- which affects launch, spin, feel and ultimately distance -- is the priority in the next few years."Some companies spend a lot of time talking about aerodynamics but we see that as a very small gain because club heads are already pretty aerodynamic," Cobra Puma's Olsavsky says.READ: Musical golfer on Brazil's party people"We believe the trend is low and further-back center gravity (CG). Better use of materials, investing in carbon fiber crowns and improved CG is where the industry is headed."Whether the gains will be incremental, or whether there will be another big leap forward, depends on your time frame."If you buy a driver every year, yes, you would see more incremental changes than innovative," Olsavsky adds."If you don't buy a driver very often -- say every four, five or six years -- the change will be pretty revolutionary and you will notice a big difference."Danny Willett won the Masters with a new Callaway driver in the bag. For the pros used to switching in and out of the best equipment, marginal gains are important."Callaway only bring products to me when they know it's going to perform better than what I've got at the minute," Willett told a Callaway prodcast. "I did a lot of testing with the XR driver at home over the winter and put it in the bag right away. It did exactly what they said it would for my game. It gave me more ball speed and control of my ball flight and it was a win-win." READ: Is the Players Championship really the fifth major?Not all amateur golfers are convinced."If they kept adding an extra five yards every time, we'd all be hitting it 350 yards by now," says Ed Light, an eight-handicap golfer from Cranleigh in Surrey, England. "For the price of a new one these days, I tend to think the money's better invested in good quality lessons."JUST WATCHEDDanny Willett claims first major at Masters tournamentReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDanny Willett claims first major at Masters tournament 03:01Nick Russell, a member at Surrey's Walton Heath club, added: "I think technology has helped, but it's not distance I'm looking for as modern clubs and balls all go a long way; it's forgiveness, with a club that sits well and is pleasing to the eye."I am maybe 10 yards longer now than 10 years ago, probably due to technology, but I arguably swing it a bit better too so it's hard to judge."READ: Jordan Spieth's Masters disaster -- the ultimate choke?The elephant in the room in terms of distance is ball technology.Similar amounts of R&D time and money have taken the ball from a hair or feather-filled leather orb to a sleek, dimpled urethane-covered missile.But many, including Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player, believe ball development should be reined back to ensure courses are not made obsolete by players hitting longer.The club makers, however, will continue pushing the envelope. Even into the final frontier.Like this story? Get more at cnn.com/golf What are your thoughts on golf's arms race? Have your say on CNN Sport's Facebook page. JUST WATCHEDAround Rio with one of Brazil's top female golfersReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAround Rio with one of Brazil's top female golfers 05:42 | 5sport
|
Story highlightsPirelli debuts 18-inch wheel as the sport tries to stay in touch with road car realityA switch to a more standard 18" wheel will be an incentive for other tire manufacturersThe taller tires will affect the aerodynamic flow, weight and suspension of the carsFormula One prides itself as the pinnacle of technical innovation and sports cars of the imagination -- but sometimes the sport needs bringing back down to earth.So on Wednesday Pirelli showed F1 a possible back to basics vision of the future as it debuted a new 18-inch tire -- a size fitted to many everyday road cars -- on the final day of the Silverstone in-season test.The concept tire is five inches taller than the sport's current 13" wheel and has a lower profile -- which means it's comprised of a larger wheel rim and less rubber.Lotus test driver Charles Pic trialled the new rubber at the high speed Silverstone circuit, the stage for Lewis Hamilton's British Grand Prix victory on Sunday.A former Marussia and Caterham racer, Pic set a lap time of one minute, 44.728 seconds on the new tire -- nearly 10 seconds off the fastest lap set on 2014 rubber.JUST WATCHEDHome of British motor racingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHome of British motor racing 03:57JUST WATCHEDA spin through the Silverstone circuitReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA spin through the Silverstone circuit 01:20JUST WATCHEDTaking a spin around the Red Bull RingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTaking a spin around the Red Bull Ring 01:20"We weren't looking for performance," Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery told reporters. "The priority today was to show people what a Formula 1 car would look like with a change in rim."From what I've seen and heard people seem to quite like the idea. Most people said it looked quite modern -- it didn't look strange."Pirelli could roll out the new tires as early as 2016.Producing F1 tires, which are the same specification as road car tires, would make it easier to share technology, as well as to reap the commercial benefits of being able to sell its customers replica F1 rubber."We don't actually make any 13" tires apart from for F1 and the GP2 and GP3 Series," explained Hembery."The tire today looks more like the product we sell on a regular basis."Our business is focused on large wheel diameters and 18" is almost standard for us, it's the sort of thing you get on a sporty road car."Others might say there's less advertising space so there is a strange conundrum."Our high end business is in wheels around 20" -- so that's the other discussion to have, should we be really going for a much bigger wheel? Maybe F1 needs to do something more dramatic."JUST WATCHEDCNN reporter takes on the Red Bull RingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN reporter takes on the Red Bull Ring 02:12JUST WATCHEDHow near-fatal crash changed Niki LaudaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow near-fatal crash changed Niki Lauda 04:02JUST WATCHEDF1 drivers battle to stay in the fast laneReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHF1 drivers battle to stay in the fast lane 02:47Assessing the tires after running on them for just 14 laps, Pic said: "The overall grip was very low and (the car) was five or six seconds off the pace, mainly for the reason that all the aerodynamics and the rest of the car are made for the tire we are running now and not the 18"."I think in the philosophy it will be a type of tire that will react quickly, so the reaction you get in the steering wheel is more nervous and each time you get a snap it's quicker."If we go one day to this type of tire it will be a big challenge first for the team because they will have to build a completely new car around it and it will also be a challenge for the driver."Asked by CNN if he liked the aesthetics of the tire he said: "Honestly, I thought they were a bit too big but maybe it was because it was the first time seeing them on the car!"Pirelli took over from Bridgestone as F1's official tire supplier in 2011 but a series of dangerous blowouts in 2013 left it reeling.After making substantial changes to its rubber, Pirelli's contract was renewed until the end of the 2016 season.A switch to a more standard 18" wheel might be an incentive for other tire manufacturers, such as Michelin, to consider a return to the sport.But any tire change will have to be agreed by the sport's governing body, the FIA, its commercial rights holder Formula One Management and the teams.The taller tires -- which are almost as high as the sidepods of the Lotus chassis -- will affect the aerodynamic flow, weight and suspension of the cars."We know what 18" will mean -- it's a bigger challenge," Hembery continued."There will be variations in pressure, there will be sensitivity on the car's camber and in F1 you go over the curbs a lot more so you do have an integrity challenge."Today is a first step and it's in the hands of the sport to decide what they want to do."After a major rule change, focused on new engine technology, for the 2014 season, the teams might be reluctant to embrace change again.As one team official whispered in the Silverstone pit lane during Wednesday's test: "Change is fear."JUST WATCHEDDriving through Gilles Villeneuve CircuitReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDriving through Gilles Villeneuve Circuit 01:20JUST WATCHEDThe fastest lap - Circuit de MonacoReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe fastest lap - Circuit de Monaco 01:20Hembery countered: "Change is expensive, change is challenging and I'm sure the team engineers will be scratching their heads going 'no, no, no.'"But others will be thinking maybe it is one of the aspects that needs to change in F1 to bring a different look and feel to the sport."The FIA might look more favorably on a tire development that would bring the sport closer to road car technology.This season's new engine regulations were partly designed to align F1 with the "greener" hybrid technology now seen as essential to the future of road cars.The future of the multimillion dollar sport -- which now only has Mercedes and Ferrari as the two major car manufacturers running teams -- also relies on its road car relevance for its long term survival.Could a change of tires be another step towards securing its future?It's all about the tires: Pirelli plan on holdPirelli comes out fighting over Formula One tire chaosMercedes and Pirelli face sanctions over F1 tire test | 5sport
|
Story highlightsHamilton hopes for street race in Beijing Says F1 stars need to show more character Chinese Grand Prix takes place on April 9 (CNN)When it comes to racing, Lewis Hamilton likes to do his talking on the track.But the three-time Formula One world champion, known for his aggressive driving style, isn't afraid to voice his opinions about the sport's future direction. Speaking candidly ahead of Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix, Hamilton floated the idea of F1 taking to the streets of the Chinese capital, Beijing. "I think Formula One has so much space to grow in different places ... we need a street circuit here in Beijing, for example -- that would be epic," Hamilton told CNN. "There's such a huge following out here and it has more chance to grow out here," he adds. "So that's what I'm hoping for in the future. I hope whilst I'm in Formula One that is something that happens." JUST WATCHEDF1 2017: New season, new cars, same rivalryReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHF1 2017: New season, new cars, same rivalry 23:04Read MoreThe Shanghai International Circuit has hosted F1 since 2004 and has become a favorite stop-off on the calendar. The Herman Tilke-designed track, shaped like the Chinese character shàng, combines sweeping corners with a 1.2-kilometer straight -- one of the longest in F1. The circuit is popular with drivers but so too is the warmth of the welcome from a relatively new F1 audience. With hoards of young Asians flocking to the pit lane for Thursday's autograph session, drivers get the rock-star treatment from fans eager to get a glimpse of their heroes or snatch a selfie. For Hamilton, who boasts a combined following of 12 million on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, the digital connection with fans is important. READ: Forza Ferrari! Sleeping F1 giant awakesREAD: New car 'beats the crap out of you'It's also a central mission for new owners, Liberty Media as it looks to attract more millennial viewers. "You're going to see Formula One be more proactive and a little bit edgier than it has been historically in driving celebrity and athlete personality," Sean Bratches, head of commercial operations told CNN in February."One of the things we are looking to do in the digital space is to elevate the personalities of the drivers." I love you @teamlhchina!! #Beijing #ChineseGP A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) on Apr 2, 2017 at 3:08am PDT Things are already on the move with teams and drivers granted more freedom to share videos and photos during race weekends."You've got to show more character," Hamilton says. "It's very important when you're out the car that you somehow are able to show your face because people are not able to see it when you've got a helmet on." 'Wheel-to-wheel racing'The 32-year-old, who has 53 race wins to date, would also like to see a return to more competitive races -- his Mercedes team won 51 out of 59 races from 2014-2016. "We need Formula One to be much closer and I think in 10 years' time that's somehow where Formula One needs to be," he says.Visit cnn.com/motorsport for more news and videos"It can be technical, it can be as advanced as it is today ... but it's got to be wheel-to-wheel. Close, close, heavy racing that keeps you even more on the edge of your seat than you are now." One suspects that Hamilton won't be worrying too much if he coasts to victory in Sunday's race. But with a resurgent Ferrari team fresh from victory in Australia already nipping at his heels and Red Bull not far behind, his dreams are, perhaps, fast becoming a reality. | 5sport
|
(CNN)The lot of three items put up for auction earlier this month by former first lady Melania Trump failed to reach its desired monetary threshold of $250,000 for an opening bid. When the auction for the three items -- a custom, wide-brimmed white hat worn by Trump during an official White House state visit, a watercolor of Trump wearing the hat and a non-fungible token (NFT) of the illustration with animation -- ended Wednesday night, there appeared to only have been five total bids on the auction items, each around the minimum requirement of 1,800 Solana tokens, the cryptocurrency selected by Trump as the only way for interested buyers to pay. While the minimum requirement of Solana tickets was met, the $250,000 threshold wasn't met because over the last two weeks, almost the entirety of the auction, the crypto market has taken a massive dive, with values of various currencies falling 20, 30 or even 40%, as was the case with Solana (SOL.)As a result of the lack of interest in Trump's items, an inflated opening bid amount and a plunging market, the "Head of State Collection" -- as Trump dubbed her lot -- appears to have sold for about $170,000, $80,000 below the anticipated opening bid. CNN reached out to Trump's spokesperson for comment on the auction.The lower price, and handful of bids, is an example of the fluctuating world of cryptocurrency, which can be extremely lucrative but is ultimately at the whim of an unregulated market. Bitcoin, perhaps the most recognized cryptocurrency, was down more than 20% during this month's crypto crash, signaling that even established forms of currency are subject to volatility.Read MoreTrump's foray into NFT sales began in December when the former first lady announced she was selling a digital piece of artwork depicting her eyes for $150 each. As with the latest auction, Trump's website states a part of the proceeds from the sales will go towards a charity to help foster children. Numerous requests by CNN to Trump's office asking for clarity on the exact portion have gone unanswered. | 4politics
|
Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. (CNN)Point your cameras toward the sky as February's full moon, nicknamed the snow moon, will make its appearance from midnight Tuesday to midnight Thursday, according to NASA.The snow moon will be at its brightest on February 16 at 11:57 a.m. ET, but the best time to view it will be after sunset. As a bonus, the moon will be above the east-northeastern horizon on Wednesday evening, which will place it near Regulus, a bright star. Webb telescope's first test images include an unexpected 'selfie'February's full moon will be generally visible in areas around the world that do not have dense cloud coverage. It will be below the horizon at the South Pole, though, and therefore not viewable from that area, according to Christine Shupla, education and public engagement manager at the Lunar and Planetary Institute. A large storm system forecast for the central and eastern United States is expected to bring cloud cover, making moongazing difficult Wednesday night into Thursday morning, especially for anyone east of the Rockies, according to CNN Meteorologist Haley Brink. The best places in the US to view the full moon will be portions of the Southwest and California, where clearer skies are expected. Read MoreNative American tribes in the northeastern US first used the name "snow moon" as a nod to the heavy amounts of snowfall that occurred in February, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Origin of rocket on course to slam into moon wrongly identifiedThe snowy conditions would also cause a scarcity in hunting resources, which is why other tribes referred to the moon as the "bony moon," "hunger moon" and "little famine moon." February's full moon also coincides with the important Buddhist festival Māgha Pūjā, which celebrates a historical gathering between Buddha and his first 1,250 disciples, according to NASA.There are 10 full moons left in 2022, with two of them qualifying as supermoons. Here is a list of the remaining moons for 2022, according to the Farmers' Almanac: • March 18: Worm moon• April 16: Pink moon• May 16: Flower moon• June 14: Strawberry moon• July 13: Buck moon• August 11: Sturgeon moon• September 10: Harvest moon• October 9: Hunter's moon• November 8: Beaver moon• December 7: Cold moonWhile these are the popularized names associated with the monthly full moons, the significance of each one may vary across Native American tribes.Lunar and solar eclipsesThere will be two total lunar eclipses and two partial solar eclipses in 2022, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac.Partial solar eclipses occur when the moon passes in front of the sun, but only blocks some of its light. Be sure to wear proper eclipse glasses to safely view solar eclipses, as the sun's light can be damaging to the eye.A partial solar eclipse on April 30 can be seen by those in southern South America, the southeastern Pacific Ocean and the Antarctic peninsula. Another one on October 25 will be visible to those in Greenland, Iceland, Europe, northeastern Africa, the Middle East, western Asia, India and western China. Neither of the partial solar eclipses will be visible from North America.This is the space graveyard where the International Space Station will be buriedA lunar eclipse can occur only during a full moon when the sun, Earth and moon align, and the moon passes into Earth's shadow. Earth casts two shadows on the moon during the eclipse. The penumbra is the partial outer shadow, and the umbra is the full, dark shadow.When the full moon moves into Earth's shadow, it darkens, but it won't disappear. Sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere lights the moon in a dramatic fashion, turning it red -- which is why this is often referred to as a "blood moon."Depending on the weather conditions in your area, it may be rusty, brick-colored or blood red.This happens because blue light undergoes stronger atmospheric scattering, so red light will be the most dominant color highlighted as sunlight passes through our atmosphere and casts it on the moon.A beginner's guide to stargazing (CNN Underscored)A total lunar eclipse will be visible to those in Europe, Africa, South America and North America (excepting northwestern regions) between 9:31 p.m. ET on May 15 and 2:52 a.m. ET on May 16. Another total lunar eclipse will also be on display for those in Asia, Australia, the Pacific, South America and North America on November 8 between 3:01 a.m. ET and 8:58 a.m. ET -- but the moon will be setting for those in eastern regions of North America.Meteor showersThis year kicked off with the Quadrantid meteor shower in January, but the next meteor shower won't peak until April. Here are the remaining 11 showers to watch for in 2022:• Lyrids: April 21-22• Eta Aquariids: May 4-5• Southern delta Aquariids: July 29-30• Alpha Capricornids: July 30-31• Perseids: August 11-12• Orionids: October 20-21• Southern Taurids: November 4-5• Northern Taurids: November 11-12• Leonids: November 17-18• Geminids: December 13-14• Ursids: December 21-22If you live in an urban area, you may want to drive to a place that isn't littered with city lights that will obstruct your view. Find an open area with a wide view of the sky. Make sure you have a chair or blanket so you can look straight up. And give your eyes about 20 to 30 minutes -- without looking at your phone or other electronics -- to adjust to the darkness so the meteors will be easier to spot. | 3news
|
Story highlights"Big Al" began blogging about his life in Homs, Syria, in September Stuck inside while war happens outside, he watches "The Simpsons," listens to Nine Inch NailsAl argues with his parents about whether to stay or leave SyriaMost protesters are young, like him. "I know my rights as a human being," he blogs In a concrete block apartment building in a working-class Syrian suburb, a young man who calls himself "Big Al" spends his days listening to Nine Inch Nails on his smartphone. He watches back-to-back episodes of "The Simpsons" on his laptop while he shovels a pan of brownies into his mouth.He loves to cook. It's the only thing keeping him going."I'm a big guy, and I like to cook and bake," he says. "Since I've been jobless for more than a year, and there are no activities to do, I get busy baking. In fact, I made more pizzas and cookies this year than I did in the past three years."When the electricity is on, there he'll be, in a tiny kitchen in his parents' apartment, stirring and sifting and tasting. He'll hear gunfire popping in the distance; sometimes the boom of a shell landing shakes the apartment. He is scared. Of course he is scared. Fear settles on everything. His eyelids are heavy. But what else can he do but keep on living?Officials: Syria's prime minister defectsIt's scorching hot in Syria, but Al always keeps the windows open a little. Pressure from explosions around his Homs neighborhood can cause glass to break. This is one of the lessons he's learned from war.Big Al lives in Homs, now full of burned out structures and rubble, such as this building.He's also learned to keep his laptop plugged in so it can soak up whatever electricity might come on, if it does. Al loves the Internet. To him, it's freedom. He can say what he wants and be who he would like to be, something like the goofy, happy guy he used to be before so many people started dying in his country.Al spends hours hunched over his keyboard, typing, working on his blog, Thoughts and Feelings of a Syrian Freedom Fighter. Its entries, thousands of words, white letters against a black background, are nothing like the usual bomb and body-count stories about Syria.Al's blog is a detailed diary of a young man's life interrupted, days and nights existing in two states: mundane, almost zombie-like boredom and then sudden, run-for-your life terror.He writes about sleeping through outages and waiting in lines for hours for a bit of bread. He describes venturing out to buy vegetables -- he and his parents have to get food somewhere -- and being caught in crossfire in the street. He says he drains whole days watching his collection of DVDs and peering through his window to watch young men around his age outside on his street, laughing and firing their guns into the air for no apparent reason than because they can. It's very difficult for journalists to verify information from inside Syria because the government has restricted access by international press. Media rely many times on video and other materials posted online to have an insight into what is happening there. Some have been proved to be fake, but CNN has carefully examined Al and his blog. He has given information that only someone inside Homs, a Syrian city in the center of much of the violence, would know.CNN believes these are his experiences.A friend dies; a blog is born"The big bad wolf is coming/ No one knows what he looks like."That is a line from Al's first post in September, nearly six months into a violent rebellion in Syria. Young people about his age had begun protesting in March 2011, chanting that they'd had enough of President Bashar al-Assad, whose family has held power for 42 years.He joined them. He thought it would work. Why wouldn't the result of their demonstrations in Syria be like the uprisings that sank dictators in Tunisia or Egypt? But weeks became months; summer came and went. More and more Syrians protesting al-Assad's rule died, typically in increasingly vicious clashes with the regime's military forces.By fall, Al realized his country was becoming a place he didn't recognize. He was worried. Things were really bad.Then they got worse, and very personal.In September, one of Al's good friends was killed in street violence.He wrote a poem about it in the voice of what he imagined his friend's killers thought. He wanted other activists to read it.We don't care if you're young or oldWe don't care if you're big or smallWe don't care if you're black or white, rich or poorYou're all the same in our eyesYou're all.. Nothing After he published it, he was shocked when people not only saw it but wrote to him. He decided to keep writing, "to tell the story from the beginning," he explained. He began using a Microsoft Word document to keep track of everything he experienced, which he would post whenever he could get access to the Internet.In a single post, "Life in Homs," published June 14, Al details a single day: He goes out to a bakery, stands in a line that balloons from 11 people to 100, buys a dollar's worth of bread and returns home.Around the time of the publication of this post, there are streams of reports in the media that are overwhelmingly horrifying.To suppress rebels fighting to oust al-Assad, human rights observers say, the president's forces are systematically torturing and killing children, shooting babies and other innocents, slaying whole families in their homes.Syrian security forces, soldiers and pro-regime militias are using sexual violence to torture people in detention and sexually abuse women and girls as young as 12 during raids, Human Rights Watch documented.Photojournalists captured images of blood-stained walls, suggesting executions were being carried out.On the other side of the fight, a leader of a rebel group said they had turned to making homemade explosives.The international community watched and waited, trying to gauge what was happening in Syria. It got some kind of answer the second week in June, when the United Nations peacekeeping chief said he thought Syria was locked in a civil war. Such a designation, experts have said, generally make it less appealing for foreign nations to become involved in the conflict.Big Al also watches the news when he can.He blogged June 14:"8:30 AM, I watched the news, got depressed and went back to bed (Since I don't have a business to go to, because it's been closed for over a year now, like most other businesses in Homs, but that's a story for another time). In bed I tried to check my email and twitter but I found out that 3G and GPRS aren't working. I don't have ADSL at home so I have no internet connection now. No big deal, I'm used to it. But unlike the previous six days we have fresh water since morning." On this day, after his morning breakfast trip to buy bread, he goes out again to buy vegetables. The trip quickly turns into a life and death situation. He is caught in a gunbattle between a tank and what seem to be random people shooting in the street. He turns his smartphone on the scene and records it."(There was) shooting and it was only 5 meters away from me. I was inside the store so I lied down on the floor next to the salesman. The glass shattered and the goods started falling from the shelves on us because the entire place was shaking badly."By the time the drama of the shooting ends, Al describes seeing families near the shop packing up and trying to leave. "As I was walking home, many families were packing their stuff in their cars and fleeing the neighborhood. Many left the area in the past week, and only a few are still living here. Some of them asked me if they can use the street I came from and I said no and told them to be careful."I arrived home at 1:30 PM, and found both of my parents standing on the balcony waiting for me, and that drove me insane more than what I just came from. Our balcony has been shot so many times before, and I have a collection of bullets from it. It's filled with holes and even my AC was shot a while back. "I went up and we had a really bad fight, and I did most of the yelling if not all."My mother told me that when she heard the shooting and I told her to leave me alone, she was so scared she couldn't think straight anymore. She found herself going out the balcony hoping to see me without thinking about her personal safety. My dad followed her and they both stayed out there until I came back."A few months ago, his neighborhood seemed like a safe place for people who lived around Homs, a city of half a million people. CNN isn't disclosing Big Al's neighborhood to protect his identity and safety."All empty houses got filled, even schools and abandoned buildings. The destruction of major markets in Homs left most people without jobs, so they saved what good they can save and started selling their products on the streets," he explained in an e-mail. He and his parents argue over whether they should leave their home. They always end up fighting over it, he said.CNN Inside SyriaBig Al said he and his parents have rounded up all their important possessions and put them in two suitcases. The bags are ready to go at a moment's notice.One suitcase has clothes; the other contains nonperishable food. A briefcase contains personal documents, money, medicine and jewelry. The family wrote a list of what they packed.In an April post, he wrote, "I've always said that I prefer getting killed than leaving my house and becoming a refugee, and I might prove this very soon. I won't leave my house to anyone. I live or die here. I know I'm not being smart with this decision, but that's who I am. I know my rights as a human being, and I will take them or die fighting for them."Complete coverage of the unrest in SyriaA good Ba'ath scoutAl says his friends have all left Homs; most have left Syria. His relatives, except for his parents, are also gone.His parents, he says, don't always understand why young people chose to demonstrate against al-Assad. He has told them his generation wants to be freer. He tells them they should have stood up when they were younger."I have to spoken to my parents about this a lot when they try to tell me what to do regarding the movement," he explained. "I tell them that they did nothing, so they don't have the right to tell us what to do." Early in his blog, Big Al posted several entries he called "chapters," lengthy entries that touch on major moments in his life.He recalls one incident from when he was a teenager. He was watching television at home when the station abruptly switched to classical music."Someone died. Someone important. ... My heart skipped a beat. It happened. I knew it happened before they say anything. Hafez Assad is dead. They announced it. I froze."I told my family and they didn't believe me." 'Hafez Assad can't die' my mom said in shock."We gathered in front of the TV. It's over. The dictator is dead... Is this over? Are we finally free of this family? Could this be real?"Hafez al-Assad had held power since 1970 after serving in the Syrian air force and rising in the ranks of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party. He and the entire al-Assad family, with their political connections and power, were known for taking on contracts in key industries like telecommunications, banking and oil.The cornerstone of Hafez al-Assad's rule, many say, is not growing the Syrian economy or expanding its reach in the oil sector. Rather, the al-Assad patriarch is known for a 1982 massacre in the western city of Hama, a beautiful and ancient metropolis with cobblestone streets and ornate buildings. An uprising took root there in the early 1980s, a movement that portended trouble for Hafez's grip on power.To quell it, government forces, led by Hafez's brother Rifaat al-Assad, shelled entire neighborhoods. There was no official death toll, but historians and human rights groups have said that between 10,000 and 30,000 Syrians were killed.Big Al had not been born."We were taught many things at a very young age, and those things were stuck in my head even though I didn't completely understand them," he wrote December 21 in a post titled "The Beginning." Big Al was raised in Homs. "Like many other boys, he joined the Baath Scouts when he was in elementary school. Just like everybody else in my generation, and I had absolutely no idea what does 'Talae3 Al Baath' mean ..."He posted some of the songs and mottos he learned as a child: " يحيا يحيا مين حبيب الملايينبطل تشرين الصامد أبو سليمان القائد"" 'Translation: Long live, the one who's loved by the millions, the hero of October, Abu Suliman the leader' Abu Suliman is what we used to call Hafez Assad, it changed to Abu Basel a while after."In Arabic, Abu means father; Basel, the name of Hafez al-Assad's eldest son, can mean lion or strong. Hafez al-Assad was born to a poor family but rose to lead the Arab Socialist Baath Party. Al remembers the first commandment of Al Baath Scouts. "We love our big Arab world, our country Syria, and Al Baath Party."Al's parents always told him how great Syria's leader was.When Hafez al-Assad died in 2000, his son Bashar al-Assad was rubber-stamped into power by Syria's parliament. Bashar Al-Assad had studied ophthalmology in London. Just before he took control of Syria, he married a stylish British-born woman. Asma al-Assad had worked as a banker in London.In the early 2000s, the first couple was photographed smiling and looking sharp. They went to art openings. Asma al-Assad aligned herself with charities for the poor and disabled. The al-Assads talked about making Syria more open and free. The international press deemed them modern and progressive."We had hope that Bashar is a better man, a more enlighten(ed) man, and of course, a more merciful man than his father was," Al blogged.During that time, national politics wasn't on Al's mind anyway. He was off to college and thrilled to distance himself from the country's military training, which he says he'd been forced to participate in -- if only to show up and go through the motions.Away at college, he thought he could get away with skipping all that."And most importantly, no stupid uniform and no mottos to repeat like a parrot without meaning any of them. I was about to have a space of freedom I never had before. And I'm gonna enjoy it," Al wrote.At first, Bashar al-Assad allowed more freedoms. Syrians were allowed to install satellite dishes. Private -- not state-controlled -- universities opened. Dial-up Internet connections were available. But by 2010, Syria was beset with incompetent and bribe-hungry government workers and police, Big Al blogged. So when the Arab Spring uprisings started and the people suddenly seemed capable of forcing change, "the tiny light of hope in every Syrian's heart tripled. Tunisia did it. Egypt did it. It is possible!" Al blogged."I live or die here" -- blog post April 18 Al rarely sleeps through the night. "I simply have no life anymore," he wrote in an e-mail. "A good night of sleep is a dream to people in Homs. Waking up in the middle of the (night) to the middle of unbelievable loud explosions is a common thing now."Sometimes, to drown out the sounds coming from outside, he'll put on his headphones and listen to music: Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Foo Fighters. His favorite, the one he plays when he can't sleep, is "The End" by the Doors."Jim Morrison," Big Al said, "is my idol." Not long ago, Al started thinking about what it would have been like to not be born in Syria. In a blog post, he writes about Steve Jobs, the late Apple CEO whose biological father is Syrian. Jobs was born in America and adopted by a couple in California.Al wondered, what if Jobs had grown up in Syria? "(He would) live a cheap house in a cheap area like Baba Amr or Khaldieh, and eventually get killed while the city is being bombed by the military or get arrested for tweeting something about freedom. "How many Steve Jobs could my city and my country bring to the world?" Al blogged. "How many Steve Jobs have been killed by Assad's army in the past 41 years?"Two men just talkingIn June, Big Al wrote in an e-mail, "We are in a stage where we just don't really care anymore. We're all depressed all the time, and we fight each other about everything." In a post titled "Is anybody out there?" he wrote, "No connection, no electricity, no food, no services, and an unbelievably vicious attack on the city."Al is often annoyed and bored with the redundant nature of his posts."Shelling, shooting, arresting, and chasing... The sounds of shelling and shooting were like any other day..."In March, he goes outside. It's snowing. Then, something that might seem extraordinary to people outside Syria: Al describes talking with a security forces officer in the street. "The streets were empty and the sounds of shelling could be heard every few seconds coming from afar, and shooting from nearby as well. I heard someone calling me from the darkness and couldn't see who it was, they told me not to be scares, but I wasn't anyway."I walked towards the voice and found a member of the security forces, he was wearing his uniform and holding his rifle and standing behind a wall. He asked me what I wanted and why I was there, and then he told me not to walk in that area at night and to be careful. He was nice to me and he even offered me some water if I didn't have any at home. I asked him what he thinks will happen next, he hesitated to answer, but it was obvious what he was trying to say."He mumbled something about Libya and Egypt, and that was enough. He's a good guy, but he was too scared to leave his barrier and join the free army. I asked him if he needed a place to stay in and I was hinting that I can help him leave Assad forces, but he didn't answer. I walked away from him without saying another word. I wish I could protect him, but I can't even protect myself."Later, Al would continue watching the same online videos as the rest of world, images that were so repulsive and violent, words seemed pointless. "By the end of March I didn't want to write anymore as I felt like I've been writing the same things over and over again. The situation in Homs didn't change for two months and every day is the same. A vicious circle of shelling, shooting, arresting, and chasing has been controlling us all for a long time and especially since early February."Today was the first day of the eight days Annan gave Syria to stop all types of violence, but seems like the regime misunderstood what Annan is trying to do as their attacks spread to new areas, and that's why I have decided to write again, as for the first time ever, I was able to see buildings being hit directly without leaving my house."A cheesy thought came to my mind since we're in April. The Syrian regime decided to fool Kofi Annan and the rest of the world by accepting to ceasefire on April 1st. This is the greatest April fool's of all time. Assad will call the Security Council on the 12th and be like "I GOT YOU! OH I GOT YOU GOOD!" and they'll laugh and forget about us forever."Survivor's guiltIn late May, at least 50 people, including 13 children, were killed when Syrian forces attacked the town of Houla in Homs province, anti-government activists said. Syria's government denied that its troops were behind the bloodbath, and a Foreign Ministry spokesman denounced a "tsunami of lies" against al-Assad's government. Videos posted on YouTube show demonstrations in cities across the country, including Damascus, Daraa, Idlib and the suburbs of Hama. "Oh Houla, we are with you until death," they chanted.Al published a blog entry May 29 recalling the Houla massacre. "Today started like any other day in my sad city Homs. Gunfire and shelling sounds could be heard every now and then, but that didn't stop the people from going out to buy food and other basic things."The streets in the safe neighborhoods turned into markets where sellers use the sidewalks to show their products, like vegetables, Hummus, bread, and sometimes shoes. But then again there are no real safe neighborhoods in Homs anymore. Mortar shells and gunshots can come out of nowhere to take lives. "Shelling in Houla started slowing down but not in other area, and that helped some people get inside to check what happened, and that's when the reports started coming."I will never forget that night. I can never forgive those monsters. And I ask you to not forget what happened there in Houla. That big scar in the face of all humanity will never fade away."Al feels a kind of guilt about what happened. "We are truly sorry we failed you Houla," he writes. "We are ashamed of ourselves."Last wordsAl's latest blog came July 29. It's long, a compendium of notes he's been keeping over the past few months. Much of it just a couple lines for each day. They read like the top lines of news stories. There are accounts of shells dropping and clashes in the street. An explosion has hit near his house and rattled the windows. It's been difficult to get online, he writes, and cell phone networks are down all the time. "June 20th, the numbers of casualties are increasing every day. The attacks have become more vicious than ever all over Syria. Still no cellphones, 3G, or Dial up."CNN continued to communicate with Al. He had been thinking a lot about the chance Syria seemed to have months and the initial optimism he felt in the days after a cease-fire negotiated by U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan earlier in the spring."The Syrian regime promised the UN/AL envoy Kofi Annan to execute his plan and ceasefire starting April 12th at 6 AM. "I woke up to see if the regime will do what they promised, and I must say that I didn't hear a single gunshot all morning. I know this regime too well, and I know they might break their promise at any point, but I took an oath to write what I witness and not lie about it, and in this case, the regime did what they promised. The soldiers, security forces members, and vehicles are still everywhere, but there's no shelling or shooting anywhere."Annan quit this week as the special peace envoy, casting serious doubt that a diplomacy could quell Syria's bloodshed. Annan cast wide blame for why his effort failed, including a "clear lack of unity" within the U.N. Security Council, the failure of the al-Assad regime to cooperate and Syrian rebels' continued fighting. But he did offer parting advice that there still could be reason to hope.Al recalls on his blog how his own optimism faded quickly after the first try at a cease-fire, an initiative that seemed to end as soon as it began."April 14th, the quiet mornings are over, and the horrible shelling sounds and smoke clouds are back at the same rate like Annan and his ceasefire plan didn't even exist." "The same view I saw back in April 3rd and 4th. Buildings being hit by missiles and getting destroyed in two different areas."I knew this was coming, yet I couldn't help but to feel overwhelmed."May was more of the same."May 28th, another unbelievable night of excessive shelling. I didn't count the explosions as they were too many. 3-4 explosions could be heard in a row at times, and that kept going all night and into the morning."On June 16, Al sees a helicopter flying over Homs. "A little after that the UN observers announced the suspension of their mission due to the increase of violence in Syria."More tanks have shown up in his neighborhood in the past few weeks. "My area has become a playfield for tanks and security forces are always around with their vehicles," he blogged. "And pickup trucks, and of course their guns.""I'm having such a bad day and have the worst feeling in my gut," Al recently wrote in an e-mail.His messages all seem like that now, resigned to whatever is coming. | 3news
|
Story highlightsBubba Watson pulls out of Players Championship to spend more time with young familyMasters champion will take a month off to concentrate on wife Angie and adopted son CalebThe 33-year-old couldn't be swayed by tournament's $9.5 million prize purseHe also skips this week's Quail Hollow event, where Webb Simpson leads after day oneEven by Bubba Watson's unpredictable standards, his decision to pull out of this month's Players Championship to spend more time with his family is an unusual one.The Masters champion revealed he is skipping one of golf's biggest tournaments -- often referred to as the fifth major, with $9.5 million total prize money -- to spend quality time with wife Angie and their recently adopted two-month-old son."I've decided to pull out of the Players. I need to spend more time with Caleb and Angie, plan to take at least a month off. The Players is one of the best weeks of the year but bonding with my son and wife is what it is all about right now," he wrote on Twitter."Sorry to disappoint fans but the Players has one of the best fields all year, tourney is more than fine without me," Watson said in another tweet. It seems the prestigious PGA Tour event -- boasting a whopping $1.7 million prize for its winner -- wasn't enough to tear Bubba away from baby.JUST WATCHEDWacky world of Bubba WatsonReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWacky world of Bubba Watson 02:36JUST WATCHEDBubba Watson: 'It's a whirlwind'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBubba Watson: 'It's a whirlwind' 04:31JUST WATCHEDBubba Watson on Augusta National's rulesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBubba Watson on Augusta National's rules 01:16"I feel blessed and excited that I get to spend quality time with Caleb and Angie in the next few weeks. I am lucky to play golf for a living, it allows me to pick my own schedule," he tweeted.Wells Fargo Championship leaderboardThe 33-year-old, who earned the nickname "Wacky Watson" for his oddball home videos on YouTube, will miss the Players for the first time since his debut in 2007. The American has missed the cut in three out of five trips to TPC Sawgrass, and recorded his best finish back in 2009 when he tied for 37th.Watson's decision has been backed by the U.S. circuit's governing body."We respect Bubba's decision in light of the unique and life-changing circumstances of the past month," said PGA Tour executive vice-president of communications Ty Votaw. "His focus on his family is admirable, as was his decision to honor his commitment to the Zurich Classic of New Orleans as defending champion. We look forward to having him back on the tour soon."Watson admitted ahead of last month's Zurich Classic that he'd rather be at home than defending his New Orleans title.It has been his only tournament since winning the Masters with a miraculous shot from the woods and onto the green in a playoff against South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen. Photos: Ernie Els: A father's love Photos: Ernie Els: A father's loveClose to home – Ernie Els is most famous for his golfing exploits, but as his career reaches its twilight years he is focusing on a cause dear to his heart. Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: Ernie Els: A father's loveA playful dad – The former world No. 1swings his son Ben over his shoulder during the fourth annual Els for Autism Pro-Am charity golf tournament, held in March 2012.Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: Ernie Els: A father's loveLearning from the best – Ben, seen here at another fundraising tournament in 2010, was diagnosed with autism when he was four years old. Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: Ernie Els: A father's loveBen diagnosed – Now nine, the youngster still struggles to speak and attends a specialist school in Florida. He is pictured here with his father in their former home in England in 2003.Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: Ernie Els: A father's loveSouth African roots – Els often returns to his native South Africa for vacations with his wife Liezl, Ben and daughter Samantha. He has invested heavily in the Cape region where he grew up, opening a golf foundation for disadvantaged youngsters, a wine and restaurant business and a resort.Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: Ernie Els: A father's loveA family's love – Els (pictured with Liezl with Ben in 2011) says he has met some families with three autistic children and admitted it would be "one of the hardest things in the world."Hide Caption 6 of 6 Photos: McIlroy reclaims top ranking from Donald Photos: McIlroy reclaims top ranking from DonaldDonald finishes down field – Luke Donald never recovered from an opening round of four-over 75 at Harbour Town Golf Links.Hide Caption 1 of 3 Photos: McIlroy reclaims top ranking from DonaldMcIlroy on top – Rory McIlroy replaced Donald as No. 1 despite a disappointing showing at the Masters in his last tournament. He spent this week with his girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki in Copenhagen.Hide Caption 2 of 3 Photos: McIlroy reclaims top ranking from DonaldPettersson wins by five shots – Carl Pettersson of Sweden won the RBC Heritage by five shots from Zach Johnson for his fifth PGA Tour title.Hide Caption 3 of 3Fresh from the media whirlwind that surrounded him since winning his first major at Augusta, Bubba failed to live up to the hype, finishing 18th at TPC Louisiana.He decided to miss this week's $6.5 million Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina, where some of golf's biggest names returned to action on Thursday.Former world No. 1 Tiger Woods was tied for 56th after the opening round, having shot one-under-par 71. The American, who won the tournament in 2001, was six shots off the lead shared by his playing partner Webb Simpson.Ryan Moore and Stewart Cink also carded seven-under 65 to be a shot ahead of a group of five players.World No. 2 Rory McIlroy's tactic of taking a long holiday before the tournament did not yield immediate results. The Northern Irishman, who will defend his U.S. Open title next month, finished the opening day at Quail Hollow equal 39th after a 70.Four-time major champion Phil Mickelson recovered from an early triple bogey to join Woods on 71. | 5sport
|
New York (CNN Business)Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are the latest cryptocurrency phenomenon to go mainstream. And after Christie's auction house sold the first-ever NFT artwork — a collage of images by digital artist Beeple for a whopping $69.3 million — NFTs have suddenly captured the world's attention.So what are NFTs?In the simplest terms, NFTs transform digital works of art and other collectibles into one-of-a-kind, verifiable assets that are easy to trade on the blockchain.Although that may be far from simple for the uninitiated to understand, the payoff has been huge for many artists, musicians, influencers and the like, with investors spending top dollar to own NFT versions of digital images. For example, Jack Dorsey's first tweet sold for $2.9 million, a video clip of a LeBron James slam dunk sold for over $200,000 and a decade-old "Nyan Cat" GIF went for $600,000. A CryptoKittyBut NFTs aren't exactly new. CryptoKitties, a digital trading game on the cryptocurrency platform Ethereum, was one of the original NFTs, allowing people to purchase and sell virtual cats that were both unique and stored on the blockchain. Read MoreSo why is the NFT phenomenon taking off now? "Some of that interest is from people who enjoy supporting the work of independent creators by purchasing their works," Artsy CEO Mike Steib told CNN Business. "Others are intrigued by the idea of taking a digital asset that anyone can copy and claiming ownership of it. The recent headline price records for NFTs seem to have been largely driven by newly minted crypto millionaires and billionaires looking to diversify their bitcoin holdings and more interest to the crypto ecosystem."Here's what else you need to know: What are NFTs?Non-fungible tokens, or NFTs, are pieces of digital content linked to the blockchain, the digital database underpinning cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin and ethereum. Unlike NFTs, those assets are fungible, meaning they can be replaced or exchanged with another identical one of the same value, much like a dollar bill. Move over, bitcoin. Ether is back and nipping at your heelsNFTs, on the other hand, are unique and not mutually interchangeable, which means no two NFTs are the same. Think of Pokémon cards, rare coins or a limited-edition pair of Jordans: NFTs create scarcity among otherwise infinitely available assets — and there's even a certificate of authenticity to prove it. NFTs are typically used to buy and sell digital artwork and can take the form of GIFs, tweets, virtual trading cards, images of physical objects, video game skins, virtual real estate and more. How to buy NFTsEssentially, any digital image can be purchased as an NFT. But there are a few things to consider when buying one, especially if you're a newbie. You'll need to decide what marketplace to buy from, what type of digital wallet is required to store it and what kind of cryptocurrency you'll need to complete the sale. OpenSea's marketplaceSome of the most common NFT marketplaces include OpenSea, Mintable, Nifty Gateway and Rarible. There are also niche marketplaces for more specific types of NFTs, too, such as NBA Top Shot for basketball video highlights or Valuables for auctioning tweets such as Dorsey's currently up for bid. A beginner's guide to crypto lingoBut be wary of fees. Some marketplaces charge a "gas" fee, which is the energy required to complete the transaction on the blockchain. Other fees can include the costs for converting dollars into ethereum (the currency most commonly used to buy NFTs) and closing expenses. If you're curious and want to know more about what it's like to purchase an NFT, we went ahead and bought one. (And yes, it is a cat.) How to sell NFTs?NFTs are also sold on marketplaces and the process can vary from platform to platform. You'll essentially upload your content to a marketplace then follow the instructions to turn it into an NFT. You'll be able to include specifics such as a description of the work and suggested pricing. Most NFTs are purchased using ethereum but can also be bought with other ERC-20 tokens such as WAX and Flow. How to make an NFT? Anyone can create an NFT. All that's needed is a digital wallet, a small purchase of ethereum and a connection to an NFT marketplace where you'll be able to upload and turn the content into an NFT or crypto art. Simple, right?-- CNN's Oscar Holland and Rishi Iyengar contributed to this report. | 0business
|