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(CNN)A mural of slain journalist Lyra McKee has been painted in the center Belfast, Northern Ireland. McKee, 29, was shot by the New IRA while reporting on rioting last month in the Northern Ireland city of Londonderry, which is referred to by Irish nationalists as Derry. The McKee mural, which features words from a letter that the journalist wrote to her 14-year-old self, was painted by Dublin-based artist Emma Blake as part of the Hit the North Street Art Festival. My friend Lyra McKee lost her life seeking the truthIt's just opposite of the Sunflower Pub, a short walk from St. Anne's Cathedral, where McKee's funeral was held. The 29-year-old investigative journalist and Belfast native was known for reporting that explored the aftermath of The Troubles -- the decadeslong conflict between Irish nationalists and British unionists in Northern Ireland that left more than 3,500 people dead -- and her activism in the LGBTQ community.She is the first journalist to be killed in the United Kingdom since 2001, according to nonprofit organization the Committee to Protect Journalists.Read MoreThe New IRA, a dissident republican group, admitted responsibility in a statement to The Irish News and offered its "full and sincere apologies to the partner, family and friends of Lyra McKee for her death."Journalist Peter Taggart contributed to this report.

Story highlights89 people were killed in a terror attack at an Eagles of Death Metal concert in ParisThe band's singer says fans tried to hide in dressing room but were killed; one survivedIn first interview since attack, singer Jesse Hughes says fans died trying to save each other (CNN)The lead singer of rock band Eagles of Death Metal has described how fans were slaughtered in the group's dressing room as they tried to hide from Islamist gunmen during the Paris terror attacks.Jesse Hughes, the frontman for the California-based alternative rock group, said just one person in the dressing room survived -- a fan who hid under the singer's leather jacket."Several people hid in our dressing room and the killers were able to get in and killed every one of them, except for a kid who was hiding under my leather jacket," Hughes said, in an emotional interview with Vice. The interview was the first the group has given since 89 people were killed, and more 100 injured, when gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed their concert at Bataclan theater on November 13, taking hostages.Jesse Hughes, left, and Josh Homme of the Eagles of Death Metal perform in Los Angeles in October.Among those killed was 36-year-old Briton Nick Alexander, merchandising manager for the band's European tour, and Thomas Ayad, Marie Mosser and Manu Perez, who worked at Universal Music France, the band's label. Read MoreHis voice breaking, Hughes described how fans lost their lives trying to save each other during the attacks."People were playing dead and they were so scared," he said. "A great reason why so many were killed is because so many people wouldn't leave their friends. ... So many people put themselves in front of people."JUST WATCHEDBataclan survivor: Dancing saved my lifeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBataclan survivor: Dancing saved my life 03:00Vice released a short clip of the interview with Hughes and co-founder Josh Homme, who is also the lead singer of popular alternative rock band Queens of the Stone Age, ahead of the release of the full interview this week.Earlier the band had released a statement on social media mourning the loss of life and insisting that "love overshadows evil."In the wake of the attacks, fans on social media urged people to buy or stream the band's cover of Duran Duran's 1982 hit "Save a Prayer" in a bid to push the track to the top of the UK charts as "a statement of peace, love, and support."

Budapest (CNN)The minutes tick away in swimming's equivalent of purgatory: it's the last call room.For some it must feel like hell. But for Hungary's Katinka Hosszú this is a space of serenity. This is a space where she starts to embrace victory, drawing strength in her pursuit of gold.Follow @cnnsport A post shared by Iron Lady (@hosszukatinka) on Jul 5, 2017 at 8:05am PDT Why? Because the 28-year-old believes races are defined by mentality, to the extent that they are largely settled before swimmers have even entered the pool."I do believe that basically in the last call room before the race ... it's pretty much done," Hosszú tells CNN Sport ahead of the 17th FINA World Championships, currently taking place in Budapest."It depends what kind of mentality you go in with. I do believe that. It's about how ready you are ... after that, the race is going to happen exactly [as you imagine.]"Read MoreAs she moves from the last call room to the pool and the starting block, Hosszu's psychological preparation intensifies."When I walk out, I don't even see the crowd," Hosszú says. "I don't even hear anything. I usually listen to music, so I'm already in my zone. I have my lane, I have my black line, and that's it." Iron LadyHosszú, winner of three golds and a silver at Rio 2016, can justifiably lay claim to being one of the most versatile female swimmers of all time. While the majority can only dream of mastering a single stroke or distance, the Hungarian is the concurrent world record holder in all five individual medley events.The first swimmer of either gender to accumulate $1 million in race prize money, she was the undisputed choice for FINA Swimmer of the Year in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Everyone seemed to enjoy watching the women's 2free except this guy. Calm down man. pic.twitter.com/MyS9x5a9Gt— Josh Prenot (@JoshPrenot) December 13, 2015 However, that success has been forged on the anvil of some tough times.Hosszú left London 2012 brokenhearted and empty handed, having finished an arm's length outside of the medals in the 400 meters individual medley -- a result that would set the tone for the Games."I was pretty much depressed," she admitted in an interview with NBC in 2015. "I wasn't even sure if I wanted to swim."Thanks to her husband Shane Tusup, a national backstroke swimmer at his peak, Hosszú wasn't allowed to consider walking away for long.Having met as freshman at the University of California, Tusup replaced Hosszú's coach Dave Solo and began spending every waking hour by her side.His fervent, occasionally unforgiving manner has attracted criticism, and Hosszú herself has previously told CNN Sport "when he's on the pool deck, he's my coach, not my husband."But there's little doubt it's a partnership that works.Under Tusup, Hosszú has undergone a similar subdivision of the self -- leaving the girl from Baja behind."When I step on the block, you see the 'Iron Lady,' she explained. "Katinka Hosszú is back in the hotel or home with her personal issues, but the 'Iron Lady' has no excuses and will fight to bring out my best."Grandfather's predictionOn day one in Rio, Hosszú shattered the women's 400m medley milestone of 4:28.3 set by China's Ye Shiwen in 2012.She had conquered her demons and won gold, reaching the pinnacle of her sport and fulfilling the prophecy of her grandfather, László Bakos."He put a lot of work into my swimming," says Hosszú. "He was the one that told me, since I was four years old: 'You are going to be an Olympic champion.'Bakos had been her coach in their native Baja until the age of 13; over two decades on, Hosszu's journey was crystallized in a single gesture. Finally!!! This is the best feeling to hang my Olympic medals on my grandpa's neck! He thought me to swim and started my swimming career! Thank you grandpa!!! Végre!!! Ez nekem a legnagyobb jutalom, nagypapám nyakába akasztani az olimpiai érmeket! Ő tanított meg úszni és alapozta meg az úszópalyafutásomat! Köszönöm Papa!!! A post shared by Iron Lady (@hosszukatinka) on Sep 17, 2016 at 9:23am PDT "That one moment I was able to put all those medals around his neck," she smiles."That was something that made my whole swimming career, and everything I ever went through, all worth it."READ: 'I locked myself in my room for four days' - Michael PhelpsJUST WATCHEDHungary gets ready for FINA championshipsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHungary gets ready for FINA championships 02:37Five years on, Hosszú traveled to the 17th FINA World Championships, which started on July 14, in imperious form with the backing of the Budapest crowd.She looks forward to seeing her family and friends, but won't be taking anything for granted.

(CNN)When he was 20 years old in 2010, Kyle Beach was pursuing his NHL dream when he was called up to the Chicago Blackhawks as a "Black Ace," a prospect player who could be available to play for the NHL club if needed. It was a couple of weeks later, Beach, now 31, said in an interview Wednesday with Canadian sports television station TSN, that his life "was changed forever." On Tuesday, the NHL announced it had fined the Blackhawks $2 million for what the league described as "the organization's inadequate internal procedures and insufficient and untimely response" relating to the team's handling of ​alleged incidents of sexual misconduct involving former video coach Brad Aldrich in 2010. The league says it punished the team following an independent investigation. The Blackhawks commissioned a probe after a lawsuit was filed over the 2010 incident earlier this year by an unidentified hockey player, according to the report. The independent investigation determined that on May 8 or 9, 2010, there was a sexual encounter between Aldrich and the unidentified 20-year-old player, who was a member of the Blackhawks' minor league affiliate team, at Aldrich's apartment. The player alleged that Aldrich sexually assaulted him while Aldrich contended that the encounter was consensual, the report reads.Beach, who now plays professionally in Germany, has come forward as the "John Doe" in the report and as "John Doe" in the lawsuit. On Wednesday, he expressed "a great feeling of relief and vindication" and that "it was no longer my word against everybody else's." Chicago Blackhawks statue vandalized with paint and an indigenous rights phraseBeach also said he wanted to come forward and put his name on this. Read More"To be honest, it's already out there," Beach said to TSN. "The details were pretty accurate in the report, and it's been figured out. But more than that, I've been a survivor, I am a survivor. And I know I'm not alone. I know I'm not the only one, male or female. And I buried this for 10 years, 11 years. And it's destroyed me from the inside out."Following TSN's interview with Beach, the Blackhawks released a statement, saying the club commended Beach in coming forward."As an organization, the Chicago Blackhawks reiterate our deepest apologies to him for what he has gone through and for the organization's failure to promptly respond when he bravely brought this matter to light in 2010," the statement said. "It was inexcusable for the then-executives of the Blackhawks organization to delay taking action regarding the reported sexual misconduct. No playoff game or championship is more important than protecting our players and staff from predatory behavior."'Focus on the team and the playoffs'Blackhawks president of hockey operations and general manager Stan Bowman and senior vice president of hockey operations Al MacIsaac resigned Tuesday after their alleged roles in the matter were detailed in the investigation conducted by law firm Jenner & Block, LLP.According to the investigation report, MacIsaac, then the Blackhawks' senior director of hockey administration, became aware of the incident on May 23, 2010, and dispatched team mental skills coach and team counselor Jim Gary to interview the player, who said that Aldrich had pressured him to have sex and threatened his career if he refused.Later that day, the investigation report said, a meeting of Blackhawks senior leadership was convened to discuss the situation.Bowman recalled, according to the investigation report, that then-president John McDonough and then-head coach Joel Quenneville "made comments about the challenge of getting to the Stanley Cup Finals and a desire to focus on the team and the playoffs." Just hours earlier, Chicago had won the Western Conference Championship to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. Quenneville currently is the head coach for the Florida Panthers.Chicago defeats Tampa Bay to claim Stanley Cup championshipWhen discussing the situation years later with another team employee, MacIsaac said that McDonough wanted to avoid negative publicity during the playoffs. Bowman recalled McDonough telling the group he would handle the situation, according to the investigation report.But Aldrich continued to travel and work with the team, per ​the investigation report, throughout the playoffs, and the investigation found no sign that any action was taken to address the situation until June 14, after the season had ended. The Blackhawks' policy, at the time, was that all reports of sexual harassment would be investigated "promptly and thoroughly."The report said, "Our investigation uncovered no evidence, however, that McDonough or anyone else either contacted Human Resources or initiated an investigation between May 23 and June 14."During the interim, the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup on June 9, and during a team celebration on June 10, Aldrich allegedly made a sexual advance toward a 22-year-old team intern. The intern rejected Aldrich's advance, but did not report the incident, the investigation report reads. It was not clear from the report how the alleged incident involving the intern ultimately came to light."The failure to promptly and thoroughly investigate the matter not only violated the Blackhawks' own sexual harassment policy in effect at the time, the decision to take no action from May 23 to June 14, 2010, had real consequences, including allegations involving an additional unwanted sexual advance by Aldrich to a Blackhawks' intern before he was ultimately separated from the Club," the NHL said.Aldrich was paid severance and had his name engraved on the Stanley CupOn June 14, 2010, McDonough informed team human resources about the incident and the May 23 team leadership meeting. McDonough said, according to the director of human resources, "it was decided that the group would not alert Human Resources or do anything about the incident during the playoffs so as not to disturb team chemistry." McDonough told investigators he did not recall this conversation.Nearly a decade later, the Blackhawks fired McDonough. The team did not state the reason for the firing on its news release last year. The team said, "it was the right decision for the future of the organization and its fans."The director of human resources met with Aldrich on June 16, 2010, offering him the option of an investigation of the incident with the unnamed player or resigning. Aldrich opted to resign and no team investigation was ever conducted, according to the investigation report.Aldrich received severance and a playoff bonus. His name was engraved on the Stanley Cup. He received a championship ring and was allowed to take the Stanley Cup to his hometown for a day, per ​the investigation report.These teams faced pressure to change their Native American names. Here's what's happened since"The only way I could describe it was that I felt sick, I felt sick to my stomach," Beach told TSN of watching Aldrich interacting with the team when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup."I reported this and I was made aware that it made it all the way up the chain of command by 'Doc' Gary and nothing happened. It was like his life was the same as it was the day before. The same every day. And then when they won, to see him paraded around lifting the Cup, at the parade, at the team pictures, at celebrations, it made me feel like nothing. It made me feel like I didn't exist. It made me feel like, that I wasn't important and ... it made me feel like he was in the right and I was wrong."Aldrich went on to work with USA Hockey, the University of Notre Dame and Miami University in Ohio, according to the investigation report. He also worked at Houghton High School in Houghton, Michigan, where he was arrested and pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a minor in 2013.CNN has reached out to MacIsaac, Quenneville, Aldrich and McDonough for comment. CNN has attempted to reach out to Gary for comment.In a statement Tuesday, Bowman said, "The team needs to focus on its future, and my continued participation would be a distraction. I think too much of this organization to let that happen." Bowman also stepped down from his position as general manager of the 2022 US Olympic Men's Hockey Team, according to USA Hockey.The Blackhawks organization apologized to its fans in a letter published Tuesday, saying, "It is clear the organization and its executives at that time did not live up to our own standards or values in handling these disturbing incidents. We deeply regret the harm caused to John Doe and the other individuals who were affected and the failure to promptly respond. As an organization, we extend our profound apologies to the individuals who suffered from these experiences. We must -- and will -- do better."CNN's Jill Martin contributed to this report.

(CNN)"Owoooo!"Wolves are associated with howling at the moon -- a common myth that's become widely accepted over the ages. Despite the fictional tale, it hasn't stopped people from connecting the moon with the furry animals. The first full moon of the year is known as the wolf moon, and will appear the evening of Monday, January 17. The moon was named after wolves that were thought to howl more frequently this time of year, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Read MoreIt will peak at 6:51 p.m. ET or 11:51 p.m. GMT. To catch a glimpse of the moon, look above the horizon in the east-northeastern direction, according to NASA. Some moon gazers may spot a bright star near the full moon. It's Pollux, a star that's part of the Gemini constellation, NASA said. Both Jupiter and Saturn will also be visible, NASA noted, but they'll be opposite the moon above the southwestern horizon. More than a wolf moonAstronauts experience 'space anemia' when they leave EarthThere is a cornucopia of names for the January full moon besides the wolf moon, including the Old Moon and Ice Moon.Hindus refer to it as Shakambhari Purnima, which marks the last day of Shakambari Navratri, an eight-day holiday honoring the goddess Shakambhari. People in India often bathe in holy waters during this time, NASA said. Assiniboine people who live in the Northern Great Plains in the United States call this the center moon because it is around the middle of winter, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. Algonquin people located northeast of the Great Lakes, also in the US, call it "squochee kesos," which means, "sun has not strength to thaw." The Cheyenne people of the Great Plains call it "moon of the strong cold." Full moons and supermoonsThere are 12 full moons in 2022, and two of them qualify as supermoons.Definitions of a supermoon can vary, but the term generally denotes a full moon that is brighter and closer to Earth than normal and thus appears larger in the night sky.Some astronomers say that the phenomenon occurs when the moon is within 90% of perigee -- which is its closest approach to Earth in orbit. By that definition, the full moon for June as well as the one in July will be considered supermoon events.Here is the list of the remaining full moons for 2022, according to the Farmers' Almanac:• February 16: Snow moon• 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 moon, each one carries varied significance 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.NASA will launch mission to an unexplored world in 2022A 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.A 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 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 showersThe new year kicked off with the Quadrantid meteor shower, which peaked during the first week of January.The next meteor shower, the Lyrid meteor shower, doesn't peak until April.Here are the other 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 21-22Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. If 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. If you're able to find an area unaffected by light pollution, meteors could be visible every couple of minutes from late evening until dawn.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 to adjust to the darkness -- without looking at your phone -- so the meteors will be easier to spot.

Story highlightsPair mutually decided to end collaborationBecker joined coaching team in late 2013Djokovic didn't name a replacementThe Serb slumped in the second half of 2016 (CNN)Another chapter was added to Novak Djokovic's tumultuous year when the Serb announced he was parting company with coach Boris Becker, ending a fruitful partnership that produced six grand slam titles in three years. Speculation that the German wouldn't be part of Djokovic's team next year has been rife and when the retired six-time grand slam winner couldn't confirm to CNN late last month with the campaign over that an agreement was in place to continue their collaboration, a split seemed the inevitable conclusion. Indeed, Djokovic took to social media to break the news late Tuesday. JUST WATCHEDAndy Murray reflects on No. 1 ranking ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAndy Murray reflects on No. 1 ranking 01:46"After three very successful years, Boris Becker and I have jointly decided to end our cooperation," Djokovic said on his official Facebook page. "The goals we set when we started working together have been completely fulfilled, and I want to thank him for the cooperation, teamwork, dedication and commitment. Read More"On the other hand, my professional plans are now directed primarily to maintain a good level of play, and also to make a good schedule and new goals for the next season. In this regard I will make all future decisions."If the last sentence suggests Djokovic -- who didn't name a replacement -- wants more control of what lies ahead, no one could argue with the success he enjoyed with Becker, who worked alongside Marian Vajda. The Slovak was Djokovic's main coach prior to Becker's arrival and appears to be sticking around. Read: India cash crisis delays Federer comebackThank U ! We had the time of our life ...#teamdjokovic pic.twitter.com/n6uZRd4m1O— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) December 6, 2016 Becker, in the aftermath of Djokovic's announcement, posted on Twitter: "Thank U ! We had the time of our life," adding the hashtag of "teamdjokovic." Success then slumpDjokovic doubled his output in the last three years from six majors to 12, shifting from being simply one of tennis' "Big Four" to its leading member. Skeptics of Becker were thus proven wrong. The 29-year-old Djokovic authored one of the best seasons in tennis history last year, winning three majors and playing in all four grand slam finals. The off-season did little to cool Djokovic: He bagged the Australian Open and French Open this year -- the latter title completed his grand slam collection -- to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win four straight majors. Read: Djokovic completes collectionBut Djokovic, by his lofty standards, slumped thereafter. He admitted that "private issues" played a part -- he hasn't elaborated -- and that his motivation waned following Roland Garros. Wrist and arm injuries didn't help, either. Djokovic, after winning six titles in the first half of 2016, won one from July onwards. He wept after losing in the first round of the Rio Olympics to Juan Martin del Potro -- an Olympic gold is the lone piece of hardware missing from his overflowing trophy cabinet -- and fell in the US Open final to Stan Wawrinka when the tennis gods gave him a smooth path to the final. Becker wasn't alongside Djokovic at October's Shanghai Masters or at the Paris Masters several weeks later.JUST WATCHEDBecker: Reaction to coaching job surprised me ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBecker: Reaction to coaching job surprised me 08:01Instead, former Spanish pro Pepe Imaz joined Djokovic in the French capital, where the Serb lost his No. 1 ranking to Andy Murray. Imaz has known Djokovic's younger brother Marko for a while but his philosophy, for a tennis coach, is certainly atypical. "The focus of our training is of course to help players develop their tennis abilities helping them reach their highest professional level but we give absolute priority to the person's well-being, feelings and emotions," declares a paragraph on the website of Imaz's tennis school in Spain. When Becker and Vajda rejoined Djokovic at London's World Tour Finals, they sat on the opposite side of Imaz in the player box. Follow @cnnsport Djokovic managed to make the final, yet with the No. 1 ranking on the line, he struggled badly in a straight-sets defeat to Murray. Have your say on our Facebook pageCoaching movesBecker, Stefan Edberg and Ivan Lendl -- all multiple grand slam winners -- traveled the circuit for a time coaching Djokovic, Roger Federer and Murray, respectively, but now only Lendl remains. Visit cnn.com/tennis for more news and videosDjokovic is the highest profile, but not the lone player, to cut ties with their coach in the off-season. Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic and top-10 women's pros Madison Keys and Johanna Konta also ended their partnerships with Carlos Moya, Thomas Hogstedt and Esteban Carril, respectively.

London (CNN)Throughout his time as UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has tried to distance himself from the insinuation that he is the British equivalent of Donald Trump, a comparison that the former US President himself was keen to make.But one of Johnson's most recent policy proposals has undeniable echoes of what became the cornerstone of Trump's claim that he was the legitimate victor of the 2020 presidential election. On Tuesday, Queen Elizabeth set out the Johnson government's legislative agenda for the coming year in what is known as the Queen's Speech. The document is written by the government and read out by the UK head of state in the Houses of Parliament. In the address, the Queen said that under the new Electoral Integrity Bill: "Legislation will be introduced to ensure the integrity of elections." The government claims the new election rules would protect postal and proxy voting, and clamp down on voter intimidation.Read MoreControversially, however, the new legislation would require voters to show identification to cast their ballots at a polling station. The Queen opens UK Parliament in her first major event since Philip's deathWhile the government claims that this will give voters "confidence that their vote is theirs, and theirs alone, by tackling electoral fraud," the reality is that such offenses are extremely rare in the UK. Stuart Wilks-Heeg, reader in politics at the University of Liverpool, explains that what gets recorded as an allegation of electoral crime is wide-ranging and often based on archaic laws. "This can range from offering voters free food or refreshments, something which became an issue during the EU referendum when pro-remain campaigners offered croissants to voters, to the address of a printer being left off a leaflet." In the vast majority of these cases, no action is taken. At the more serious end of the scale -- such as impersonation at polling stations, destroying ballot papers and intimidation -- the number of allegations of such incidents reported to police that are then reviewed by the electoral commission is tiny. Matt Hancock, Johnson's health secretary, was forced to admit on Sky News that there were only six instances of voter fraud at the country's last general election in 2019, a poll that over 47 million people were registered to vote in. Why, then, is Johnson and his government doing this? A simple explanation could be that the UK government is putting on a performance for its core voter base: socially conservative voters in England. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he campaigns in Llandudno, north Wales on April 26, 2021Election crimes have taken place in several areas with high populations of black and minority ethnic voters.The most high-profile case of serious election crime in recent memory was in the London borough of Tower Hamlets, where former mayor Lutfur Rahman was removed from office after being found guilty of electoral fraud through impersonation and postal vote fraud among other offenses. More than two-thirds of Tower Hamlet's population are from ethnic minority groups. Of course, Rahman is the guilty party here and the population of Tower Hamlets were the people he defrauded, but that doesn't necessarily stop people from falsely conflating minority groups with electoral crime. It doesn't take a huge leap to see that socially conservative English voters see a policy tackling election fraud and view it as a policy aimed at punishing ethnic minority groups. Critics of the move point out that parliament's own data suggests the policy will disproportionately affect ethnic minorities. A parliamentary report published last year found that while 76% of the UK adult population holds a driving license, "38% of Asian people, nearly a third of people of mixed ethnicity (31%), and more than half of Black people (48%) do not." However, even this provides evidence to suggest that the way the policy was announced was designed to cause controversy in a way that would play to Johnson's debate. While the Queen's Speech and accompanying documents were vague in what counts as identification, the Cabinet Office quietly issued a press release saying that a very broad range of documents, that in some cases are more likely to be held by these groups, would be acceptable. Engineered storm or not, some members of Johnson's Conservative party are appalled by the proposal. "It's a form of passive discrimination and a bad solution in search of a problem that seems not to exist," says David Davis, a former Conservative cabinet minister. "It seems to me that stripping hundreds of thousands of people of their right to vote because they don't have ID with them on election day is far worse than a handful of people casting fraudulent votes." Boris Johnson with Queen Elizabeth IIThe echoes of voter suppression have not gone unnoticed among Trump supporters in the United States. Jenna Ellis, a former legal adviser to Trump, gleefully tweeted at another electoral lawyer, "is the Queen racist?" And Conservative commentators Charlie Kirk and Kyle Becker joked that the left would try to cancel the Queen and that she was triggering the left. Leaving aside the fact that the Queen has no input on the Queen's Speech and simply reads out the words placed in front of her by the government of the day, if the measures did suppress minority voters, it would benefit Johnson as these groups on the whole do not vote Conservative.This is on the whole also the case in the United States. Even though Joe Biden lost some of the minority vote that Hillary Clinton gained in 2016, the divide between racial and ethnic minority groups still hugely favored the Democrats in 2020. Since Biden's election of Joe Biden, the states of Georgia and Florida have signed into law rules that would suppress the votes of minority voters. As we learned through the numerous times Trump's claims of electoral fraud were rejected, it is also not a major problem in the US. Pro-Trump supporters storm the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. The Brennan Center has previously found that most incidents of voter fraud are traceable to "other sources, such as clerical errors or bad data matching practices" and Trump's own attorney general said that there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. Voter suppression is a sinister reality of the divisive politics that many Western democracies are now living through. And the more that like-minded groups join up in their efforts to stop people they don't like from voting, the more valid their actions might seem to onlookers. So, perhaps Johnson should have thought twice before sending one of the most popular figures on the planet to read out policy that was catnip to US politicians who are seeking new and creative ways to smooth their path to victory in the future.

Aomi Urban Sports Park, Tokyo (CNN)As night descended on Tokyo, the climbing wall at the Aomi Urban Sports Park was bathed in light.It was there that Janja Garnbret became the first woman to win a gold medal in sport climbing at the Olympics, thanks largely to masterful bouldering and lead performances.Garnbret, widely considered the favorite ahead of the women's combined final, completed two of the three bouldering "problems," while none of the other climbers managed to solve one.She then climbed higher than her competitors on the lead wall to wrap up the victory and become the first Slovenian woman to win a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. The 22-year-old Garnbret finished with five points, well clear of the Japanese duo of Miho Nonaka in silver on 45 points and Akiyo Noguchi, who is retiring after the Olympics, in bronze on 64 points. Read MoreGarnbret competes in the bouldering element of the women's sport climbing final.Those three climbers faced a nervous wait before the results were confirmed at the end of the lead discipline. When her victory was official, a visibly emotional Garnbret put her head in her hands before embracing Slovenia's coaching team. "This was the hardest competition in my entire career ... I felt like the whole pressure is on me, that the whole world has decided that I'll win the gold medal," Garnbret told reporters. "It's not like that. It's a combination (of scores), anything can happen because all the girls in the finals are super strong. You can't just say that you will win a gold medal. It was definitely super hard, especially mentally hard."READ: 13-year-old bronze medalist Sky Brown on empowering a new generation of skateboardersSpeed world recordThe dark clouds that spread across Tokyo's skyline made for a dramatic backdrop against the bright lights of the climbing wall, a temporary structure erected for the Olympics. Spectators are unable to attend Olympic events in Tokyo with the city under a coronavirus state of emergency, but that didn't stop members of the public from trying to catch a glimpse of the climbing action from a nearby street -- even with the presence of security officials and signs advising otherwise. For many, this will be the closest they come to the Tokyo Olympics. Those inside the venue included competitors from Thursday's men's combined final and many off-duty volunteers who cheered on eventual medalists Noguchi and Nonaka. From left to right: Nonaka, Garnbret and Noguchi celebrate their medals in Tokyo.The final, which followed Alberto Ginés' gold medal for Spain in the men's combined, tackled three disciplines: speed, bouldering and lead. The climbers' standings in each discipline were then multiplied together, with the winner being the athlete with the lowest score. The speed component, which sees climbers compete in head-to-head races, was won by Poland's Aleksandra Miroslaw in a blistering world record time of 6.84 seconds. However, Miroslaw, a speed specialist, saw her medal chances dented with eighth-place finishes in bouldering and lead. Garnbret placed fifth in speed, her weakest discipline, setting a personal best of 7.81 seconds in the process, before showing her class in bouldering and lead to take an emphatic victory by 40 points. Garnbret poses with her gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Nonaka and Noguchi both scored consistently across the board to round off the medal positions. It was the fourth time in the Tokyo Olympics that Japan has won multiple medals in a single event."We have been leading sports climbing in Japan," Noguchi told reporters. "There were only two slots for Japanese athletes and both of us were able to get the medals and I'm very happy about that."The close of the women's combined final saw climbing's Olympic debut in Tokyo come to an end. Added to the program to attract younger audiences, climbers across the four days of competition showcased their skills against the backdrop of loud music and animated support from stadium announcers.

Story highlightsEngland beat Argentina 21-8 at TwickenhamTries from Hughes and Rokoduguni seal win (CNN)There were 81,683 rugby fans at Twickenham to watch England's victory over Argentina but, for a few moving minutes before kick-off, you couldn't hear any of them. A lone bugler played the Last Post as the stadium fell silent to remember those who have lost their lives in conflict, including 27 England international players who were killed in World War I.Follow @cnnsport Prince Harry, who completed two tours of Afghanistan during his 10-year Army career, was in the stands to support England who wore red poppies on their shirts.So it was fitting that a serving soldier, Lance Corporal Semesa Rokoduguni, scored the try that secured the 21-8 victory on what was otherwise a frustrating day for his team."To get over and score a try, on Remembrance Day, that means a lot," said Fiji-born Rokoduguni who is still attached to the British Army as a reconnaissance driver of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guard. Read MoreSemesa Rokoduguni (right) and Nathan Hughes stand for the national anthems "I dedicate my try and the win to my regiment and the boys out there."The pre-game tribute was particularly poignant for Rokoduguni who, just a week into a six-month 2011 tour of Afghanistan, witnessed a colleague lose both legs after stepping on an improvised explosive device. "A couple of my mates out there have been through quite a hard time, even in the regiment. Some of the guys were casualties out there, so for me to be out there representing them made it an emotional day for me.Prince Harry takes part in a minute of silence prior to kick off at Twickenham Family traditionRokoduguni, 30, joined the Army as a 19-year-old in 2007, following a proud military tradition in his family that stretches from his great-great grandfather to his father, Ilaitia, who is a staff sergeant with the United Nations peacekeeping force. After some eye-catching performances for the Army's rugby team, including a hat-trick against the Navy at Twickenham, young Rokoduguni was offered a professional contract by Bath in 2012 and, just two years later, made his England debut against Fiji, the country of his birth."It says on my contract that I'm a soldier first and a rugby player second," said Rokoduguni who, despite his busy rugby schedule, tries to spend as much time with the Army as possible. Rokoduguni scoring a try for the Army against the Navy at Twickenham in 2012 "Before the season started I went up there [Scotland] for a couple of days because we used to deal with tanks, but now we've moved to Jackals so I had to get used to those new vehicles."I won't get up there again until the end of the season. I'll do a couple of courses and basically be a soldier again."Ready for any opportunityJUST WATCHEDCNN interviewed Rokoduguni back in 2013ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN interviewed Rokoduguni back in 2013 03:00Rokoduguni was called back into the England squad this Autumn for the first time in 12 months thanks to an impressive run with Bath which saw him score seven tries in as many games.He came on as a replacement for the concussed Mike Brown early in the match at Twickenham and his second-half try was one of very few highlights in an underwhelming performance by the world's second best side.Rokoduguni signed a professional contract with his club Bath in 2012 The Lance Corporal has now scored in each of his three international appearances and he hopes that he's done enough to retain his place for Saturday's game against Australia."All I can do now is focus on the things I can control; my performance on the training field so that I keep banging on the door," he said. "I will review my stuff from [the Argentina game]; things I need to work on and improve, then train as hard as I can. I have to be ready for any opportunity that comes across."'Grindathon'It was England's 11th consecutive home victory but they struggled to create chances and Argentina, who missed five penalty kicks, enjoyed the majority of possession in what was described as a "grindathon" by England head coach, Eddie Jones. At one point during the match, angry Jones was caught by TV cameras launching a foul-mouthed outburst in the stands after a mistake by his team -- he was asked about it in the post-match news conference."We want to play good rugby so I don't think there's any reason why I shouldn't be frustrated," said Jones, who has said from day one that his main focus is winning the 2019 World Cup in Japan.Eddie Jones admitted his players were not at their best Value for money?Jones reacted angrily when asked if fans paying roughly $131 for a ticket got value for money from the performance."I'm not an economist, I'm not a businessman," Jones said. "All I do is coach a rugby team and I try to get them to play as hard as we can. We might not have played well, but we played hard so I'm disappointed in the question. "I'm sorry guys if you didn't think we tried. I'm really disappointed."Australia up nextTwo of England's Lions stars, Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje, were rested for the Argentina game but are expected to return for the biggest test of the autumn against Australia, who beat Wales 29-21 in Cardiff on Saturday.Jones, 57, who was born in Australia, expects his players to be "much better" after another week's training and he's relishing the prospect of playing the Wallabies, a side he coached between 2001 and 2005. Australia pose for a photo after beating Wales in Cardiff Go to CNN.com/sport for more stories & features"We're hoping Australia bring their absolute best game so we can see where we're at," said Jones who has lost just one of his 21 games as England coach and beaten Australia four times in that period. "We've got a very clear vision of how we want to play against them, it should be fun. I'm obviously not going to share it with you though."

(CNN)When United States and Polish officials signed a deal to support more combat troops in Poland, the country's foreign minister, Jacek Czaputowicz, said the move put American troops where they needed to be."The presence of American troops in Poland enhances our deterrence potential because we are closer to the potential source of conflict," Czaputowicz said in a joint appearance Saturday with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Analysis: Trump's Germany troops pullout may be his last gift to Putin before the election"It is important that they should be deployed in Poland, and not in Germany," Poland's top diplomat said. "The art of war assures us that the capability of deterrence is higher if the army is deployed in the right place."The boost for Poland is part of a Trump administration plan to pull some 12,000 US troops from Germany announced last month. While 1,000 of those will join 4,500 US troops already in Poland, others will move to Belgium or Italy or back to the US, available to be sent back to Europe or other world hotspots should the need arise.For decades, US personnel stationed in Germany have been viewed on both sides of the Atlantic as the foundation of the post-World War II order. At the height of the Cold War, the US maintained up to 400,000 troops in Europe, the majority in Germany. Read MoreAs was the case in decades past, the potential source of conflict remains Russia -- and the threat of possible incursion, as alluded to by Czaputowicz. However, elected officials in the US and among its NATO allies said the move to reposition troops could actually benefit Moscow.JUST WATCHED37 times President Trump was soft on RussiaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH37 times President Trump was soft on Russia 06:25Republican US Sen. Mitt Romney last month called the plan "a grave error" and "a gift to Russia." The head of the German Parliament's foreign relations committee, Norbert Roettgen, tweeted: "Instead of strengthening #NATO it is going to weaken the alliance. The US's military clout will not increase, but decrease in relation to Russia and the Near & Middle East."How could that "military clout" decrease? Deterrence is one example.The last large US reduction of its troop presence in Germany occurred in 2012. Two years later, Russian troops moved into the Crimea and Moscow annexed the Ukrainian territory, spiking tensions with NATO.Russian armored vehicles drive on the road between Simferopol and Sevastopol in Crimea on March 17, 2014. US and European military experts tell CNN the new troop reduction plan would provide few benefits on any potential future battlefield, and certainly not enough to justify its enormous cost, estimated to be in the billions of dollars.Specifically, the Trump administration plan pulls 11,900 troops from Germany, redeploying 5,400 of those elsewhere in Europe and sending the remaining ones back to the US with some of them rotating back to Europe at some point.Key movements include command and control centers going from Germany to Belgium as well as Army airborne troops and Air Force F-16 fighters moving from Germany to Italy. Where is the right place for US troops?Nick Reynolds, a land warfare research analyst at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, doesn't see much benefit from the US plans."Moving ground troops to Belgium and Italy puts them farther away from areas in which they are likely to be needed," Reynolds said. "Even if they went to northern Italy, and a crisis happened to occur in southeastern Europe, transport links would make moving them slightly more time consuming."Consider where the possible flashpoints are.In a paper written earlier this year, before the troop movements were announced, Iulia-Sabina Joja, a post-doctoral fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, painted three scenarios that involve conflict around the Black Sea, including new flareups with Ukraine near the Crimea.Getting ground forces in numbers to those spots from Italy means getting them through the mountains of the Alps, which would not be in the way of a move from Germany. Even though Poland is closer to Russia, the potential Black Sea hotspots and another possible flashpoint along the border with the NATO allies in the Baltics, boosting troops in that country isn't necessarily the answer, Reynolds said."If ground troops were moved to Poland then they would potentially be able to get to where they were needed faster, though they also start (depending where they are in Poland) to become vulnerable in the (unlikely) event of a Russian offensive that achieves operational surprise," Reynolds said.Paratroopers from US Special Operations Commands Africa and Europe board a US Air Force C-130, at Malmsheim Airfield, Germany, May 23, 2019.Bastian Giegerich, director of defense and military analysis at the International Institute of Strategic Studies in London, questioned the effectiveness of rotating troops back into Europe from the United States."Aside from being expensive, troops on rotational deployment will struggle to develop a similar degree of local knowledge and links to host nation armed forces," Giegerich said.And while rotational deployments would give the Pentagon some flexibility to respond to hotspots worldwide, there is a price to be paid in the European theater: Fewer boots on the ground mean less deterrence than if they were there, Giegerich said."It is a fine balance to strike -- the ability to respond to contingencies around the globe with a bigger strategic reserve pool in the US might make it somewhat more likely that those contingencies arise in the first place," he said.Retired US Army Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, now a CNN military analyst, has years of military experience in Europe, beginning in 1975 and continuing intermittently until 2011.JUST WATCHEDAdvisers feared Trump's military decisions would lead US to warReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAdvisers feared Trump's military decisions would lead US to war 05:47"Germany is key, because it is central to both the 'old Europe' to the west and the newer states to the east," Hertling said. "The rail and airports are terrific in Germany, and given its centralized position and ease in dealing with the government of Germany, we could fly anywhere, as well as bring allies into the training center at Grafenwoehr," he said. The Trump administration's German pullout sacrifices those efficiencies, Hertling said."The POTUS saying he's going to put forces into Italy and Belgium makes no sense. Italy is south of the Alps, with challenges in the government, and Belgium is west -- farther away from the eastern block of nations."And then there's the cost. Hertling points out the US military has spent billions over the years to make Germany its central location in Europe. Pulling out of those bases means spending money on new infrastructure that's already been paid for in Germany.Numbers vs. locationBut where US troops are in Europe may be missing a bigger point, said Reynolds, the RUSI analyst. "What is a more important issue is that the US does not keep adequate forces in Europe if the intention is to be able to quickly respond to a contingency involving Russian aggression," he said.And the NATO allies can't do the job alone. "NATO forces are also working with too few units compared to the size of Russian forces that they would potentially face, at least until larger and heavier US forces could arrive from the continental US," Reynolds said.JUST WATCHEDBiden adviser: Trump trying to take digs at MerkelReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBiden adviser: Trump trying to take digs at Merkel 11:41The Trump administration's pullout from Germany doesn't address another US/NATO deficiency in Europe -- it doesn't have enough runways that can handle alliance fighter aircraft."This is absolutely the issue that NATO faces in the air domain with being unable to adequately disperse its aircraft -- particularly fighter and strike aircraft, which need longer and better-reinforced runways -- to avoid having them concentrated on a few airfields that are therefore easier to target with long-range precision fires, either destroying the aircraft on the ground or negating their ability to use airfields by rendering the runway unserviceable," Reynolds said.In any event, the plan would take years execute and Congress would have to find the billions of dollars needed to make it happen. And with a US election less than three months away, new thinking could emerge with a possible new occupant of the White House.The Germany pullout is far from a done deal.CNN's Ryan Browne, Zachary Cohen and Nic Robertson contributed to this report.

Story highlightsLandmark exhibition celebrates centenary of Captain Scott's expedition to the South PoleShow brings together writings, photographs and personal items from ill-fated tripCurator describes expedition as "incredibly poignant story" of "extremes"Scott's camp still stands in the Antarctic, preserved as he left it a century agoIt is 100 years since British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott set off on his ill-fated journey to be the first man to reach the South Pole. Now, for the first time, writings, photographs and items from the arduous Terra Nova expedition, which lasted from 1910 to 1913, have been brought together for public display. "It's a story of immense heroism," said curator Kay Smith at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge, where the exhibition is taking place. Entitled "These Rough Notes: Captain Scott's Last Expedition," the exhibition includes fragile journals and letters written by the men who set out to traverse the Antarctic wastes, and features the last journal Captain Scott ever wrote, as well as his final letter to his wife. It also includes pictures taken by photographer Herbert Ponting, showing scenes of ice caves, frolicking penguins and the men relaxing at their camp, Cape Evans, in preparation for the assault ahead. "He was one of the finest photographers of the 20th century," said Smith of Ponting. "Scott realized that expeditions like this, just like today, run at a loss, so he realized that once he got to the South Pole and back, he would have to give lecture tours, and would need photographic records," she continued. Also included in the exhibition are items from the company's midwinter's day festivities in June 1911, which they celebrated in lieu of Christmas with a big meal and a "tree" they decorated with little flags. On display are the paper hats they made for themselves as well as a menu one of the men fashioned in the shape of an Adelie penguin. But it is the journals, letters and notebooks that tell the story best."It's a once-in-a-hundred-year opportunity to read this material and actually see the handwriting," said archivist at the institute, Naomi Boneham."A lot of it has been quoted, but actually seeing the handwriting and seeing how shaky their hands were from when the weather was so extreme, is slightly different from seeing a typed page," she continued. A hand-produced newspaper by the so-called "Northern Party," who were trapped for months in an ice-cave during a perilous geological expedition in 1911, are blackened with soot from the blubber-burning stove the men used in order to stay warm. The final, tortuous journey to the South Pole is also brought to life through the writings and photographs on display. "When they set off on November 1st with the ponies, the dogs and the motor sledges, it's all very upbeat, they're not setting out to die, they're setting out to reach the South Pole, hopefully to be the first but if not the first, then one of the first people to be there," said Boneham. But the farewell letters from the last three men standing -- Scott, Dr. Edward Adrian Wilson and Henry Robertson (Birdie) Bowers-- are written in the knowledge that they were dying and are, said Boneham, "very personal."Heart-rending photographs of the team finding rival Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen's tent already at the South Pole complement the written details of their arduous journey there -- and cast a shadow on their harrowing and ill-fated journey back. It is through their writing that we now know the story of Captain Lawrence Oates, one of the five men to reach the Pole, who suffered horribly from injury and frostbite on the way back and walked out into a blizzard in order to save his companions. "It's an incredibly poignant story to walk out into a blizzard to try to save your companions and then to have them die too," said Smith. "For them to know they were dying and to sit there writing letters, it can't fail to make you emotionally involved," she continued. Scott, Wilson and Bowers died of starvation and exposure in their tent in late March 1912. Months later, a search party found them, along with their last letters and journals. Smith believes people remain fascinated by this tale of endurance because it involves extremes: Of temperature, of effort and of emotion.But, she said, "The story is actually much better than fiction. It's a tremendously heroic story, and it's real."Cape Evans still stands today, preserved almost exactly as Scott and his men left it a century ago. You can visit it, but, Smith said, much like then, "It does rather depends on your wallet."

Story highlightsThe most pressing task is to identify the ISIS cells already in Europe and the relationships between themInvestigators are looking back at critical moments when key terror figures might have been stoppedServing and former U.S. officials have been candidly critical of European security shortcomings (CNN)First came the breakthrough: the arrest of Salah Abdeslam last Friday in the Brussels suburb of Molenbeek. Then came the catastrophe: a sophisticated attack in two high-profile locations involving a cell of at least five suspected terrorists.For the Belgian authorities, it was a case of one step forward and many steps back in just a few days.In the race to identify and apprehend what appear to be loosely connected cells in and around Brussels, Belgian authorities often seem to be struggling to join the dots. And they are not alone. Multiple ISIS plots being planned in Europe, investigators sayAcross Europe, security agencies are scrambling to keep up as ISIS opens a new front on the continent, involving dozens and perhaps hundreds of trained operatives. Read MoreGovernments are playing catch-up in intelligence sharing, tackling the supply of illicit weapons, improving the tracking of suspects and deradicalization initiatives. Rob Wainwright, the director of the European Police Agency often called Europol, told CNN Thursday: "The fragmented intelligence picture around this dispersed community of suspected terrorists is very challenging for European authorities." Europol has the job of assimilating the work of more than 600 agencies across the European Union.Surprises pop up Photos: Terror attacks in Brussels Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsAn injured woman leaves the airport in Brussels, Belgium, after two explosions rocked the facility on Tuesday, March 22. There was also an explosion at a subway station in the city.Hide Caption 1 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsWindows are blown out after the deadly attack at the airport.Hide Caption 2 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsA police officer directs passengers in a smoke-filled airport terminal.Hide Caption 3 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsTwo wounded women are seen in the airport.Hide Caption 4 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsThis photo from inside the airport was shared by Jef Versele on Facebook.Hide Caption 5 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsSubway passengers walk along the tracks following a blast at the Maelbeek metro station.Hide Caption 6 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsA private security guard helps a wounded woman outside the Maelbeek metro station.Hide Caption 7 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsWounded people are treated outside the subway station.Hide Caption 8 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsRescue teams evacuate the subway station.Hide Caption 9 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsPolice officers guard the area around the subway station.Hide Caption 10 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsPeople react as they walk away from the Brussels airport.Hide Caption 11 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsA man with blood stains on his sweater leaves the airport.Hide Caption 12 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsPassengers leave the airport after the attack.Hide Caption 13 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsA young girl looks out of the window of a bus after airport evacuations.Hide Caption 14 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsPeople stand near the airport after evacuations.Hide Caption 15 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsPassengers gather outside the airport.Hide Caption 16 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsPolice officers stand guard near the Maelbeek metro station.Hide Caption 17 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsA police helicopter flies above the area near the subway station.Hide Caption 18 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsPeople embrace outside the Brussels airport.Hide Caption 19 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsPeople are led away from the airport after the attacks.Hide Caption 20 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsA victim receives first aid near the Maelbeek metro station.Hide Caption 21 of 22 Photos: Terror attacks in BrusselsAmbulances arrive at the airport.Hide Caption 22 of 22The most pressing task is to identify the ISIS cells already in Europe and the relationships between them. But Abdeslam -- captured in Brussels last week and the only survivor among the Paris attackers -- is no longer cooperating with Belgian investigators, according to his attorneys. It's not known whether Mohamed Bakkali, suspected of being one of the leading figures in the Paris plot, has provided any information. He was arrested at the end of November. Last week, as part of their long search for Abdeslam, Belgian police descended on a property in the Forest suburb. They believed it was empty but might provide some forensic evidence. Instead, they ran into a gunfight and shot dead a 35-year old Algerian called Mohamed Belkaid. Two others escaped the property. Only then did they establish that Belkaid was one and the same as Samir Bouzid, a name he had used to travel across Europe like from Syria last year with Salah Abdeslam. As Bouzid, he had also sent money to the cousin of Abdelhamid Abaaoud, who was killed in the French police raid on an apartment in Paris last November. An arrest warrant for "Bouzid" was issued in November, after surveillance images were circulated of him at a Western Union office. Profiles of the Brussels terror suspectsNajim LaachraouiAnd then there's the man who accompanied Belkaid to the Western Union office. He went under the alias Soufiane Kayal. It only emerged last week that he was really Najim Laachraoui, suspected of being involved in making the bombs for the Paris attackers and thought to have been one of the suicide bombers at Brussels airport. Laachraoui had a college education in electromechanics and the authorities knew he had gone to Syria in 2013. He was the subject of an international arrest warrant in 2014, but he managed to return to Belgium using his alias.Belkaid and Laachraoui are believed to have been the quarter-masters of the Paris attacks, in contact with the Bataclan group as they began their attack. Exemplars of the new threatJUST WATCHEDOfficials: ISIS made significant gains in bomb makingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHOfficials: ISIS made significant gains in bomb making 02:30They exemplify the new threat: senior members of cells that include bomb-making, transport and financial functions to plan complex attacks in more than one location simultaneously. The scale of their ambitions was indicated by the discovery of more than 30 pounds (14 kilograms) of TATP explosives and other bomb-making ingredients from the house in Schaerbeck that the bombers left early Tuesday morning. What we know about the Brussels attacksThe fact that Abdeslam moved among safe-houses in the Brussels area for more than 120 days suggests Belgian authorities have few informants in Muslim communities. After the Paris attacks, French officials grumbled about how much of the preparation was done in Belgium. Finance Minister Michel Sapin reopened the wounds Wednesday when he said there was a "lack of will on the part of some Belgian authorities, perhaps a naivety." Sapin said Belgium had failed to integrate its immigrant population.But the French Prime Minister Manuel Valls suggested the problem went far beyond Belgium, saying Europe had closed its eyes "to the rise of extremist Salafist ideas in neighborhoods where a mix of drug trafficking and radical Islam have led youth astray."The sharing problemKhalid El BakraouiOne of the problems for authorities across Europe is the number of suspects that have returned from Syria with new identities secured on high-quality forged documents that have been used to rent property or cars and send money. Khalid El Bakraoui, who was the suicide bomber on the Brussels metro Tuesday, had rented the Brussels apartment raided last week under a false name and another property used in the preparation of bombs for the Paris attack. Both he and his brother Ibrahim were well known to police for a record of violent crime involving weapons. ISIS is believed to have a supply of blank Syrian passports seized from government offices during its advance last year. At least two of the Paris attackers entered Europe on fake Syrian passports.Serving and former U.S. officials have been candidly critical of European security shortcomings -- comparing it to the silo mentality of U.S. agencies before 9/11. They say there is too little sharing of intelligence across and even within borders. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton entered the debate Wednesday, reviving an old U.S. complaint that European banks could do more to stop terrorist financing. And she added: "Many European nations don't even alert each other when they turn away a suspected jihadist at the border or when a passport is stolen... It's actually easier for the United States to get flight manifests from EU nations than it is for EU nations to get them from their own neighbors.""It's time to make good on the promise of establishing a new unified European border and coast guard to strengthen the continent's external borders," Clinton said in a speech in California. Balancing security and freedomThe European Union has been examining the sharing of passenger information for six years. The European Parliament is due to consider the issue in April, but some members oppose the idea on privacy grounds. At the heart of the problem is the sharing of information on Europe-wide databases."That will require difficult discussions with European Parliament, because we're sensitive about balance between security and freedom," de Kerchove said.Meeting in Brussels on Thursday, European interior ministers promised to accelerate work on integrating those databases and a European wide automated fingerprint recognition system. Experts from member states will be drafted in to the European Counter Terrorism Center. But many of the ministers' recommendations will have to go to the next EU summit, which is in June. Why Belgium? Five reasons why the terrorists struck there Speaking with CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday, the EU's Counter-Terrorism Chief Gilles de Kerchove acknowledged problems in getting member states to act. "I do my best to put pressure, to confront them with blunt figures, and we are making progress, but not quickly enough."Ibrahim al BakraouiTurkish officials have also complained that would-be jihadists from Europe they have identified and deported have subsequently been released. One of them: Ibrahim al Bakraoui, who set off a suicide bomb at Brussels airport Tuesday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Wednesday he had been deported from the Turkish border town of Gaziantep back to Europe. "Despite our warning that this person was a foreign terrorist fighter, Belgium authorities couldn't find a link to terrorism," he said. Belgian Interior Minister Jan Jambon acknowledged Thursday that it was "justified that people ask questions -- that people ask how is it possible that someone was released early, and we missed a chance when he was in Turkey to detain him." On Thursday, Jambon and Belgium's justice minister offered their resignations over their failure to track Bakraoui but were asked by Prime Minister Charles Michel to stay on.Turkey claimed last year it had flagged to French authorities one of the men who would later take part in the Paris attacks but received no response. 'Open' Europe at riskJUST WATCHED'We don't feel Belgian'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'We don't feel Belgian' 04:52European governments have begun to grasp the urgency of the challenge. Belgium has doubled the budget for its intelligence services and introduced legislation to detain terror suspects without charge for longer than previously; France introduced a state of emergency and provided police with new powers. But there is a sense that European governments are behind the curve, struggling to cope with a surge in terrorism and a flood of migrants.The vision of an open Europe enshrined in the Schengen Agreement of 1985 is at risk amid a brittle public mood. Valls said as much Wednesday. "If populism [in Europe] is on the rise, it's because words are not translated into deeds," he warned.Right-wing parties in Germany, France and Britain have used the infiltration of terrorists among the surge of migrants to demand tougher curbs on the influx. And the recent provincial elections in Germany indicate the message has resonated with some voters. The anti-immigration AfD (Alternative fur Deutschlan) party seeing a surge of support in three states. The European Union has agreed to a deal with Turkey that would allow Turkish nationals to travel visa-free to the European Union in exchange for closer Turkish co-operation in handling the migrant crisis. That in turn has unsettled many Europeans, with a poll for the ZDF network last week showing that 79% of Germans doubted Turkey would uphold its end of the bargain.Another terror attack would further sour the mood as well as undermine the foundations of an open, tolerant and multicultural Europe. And that's just what ISIS wants.

Jeremy Paris, the executive director of the Committee for a Fair Judiciary and a principal at The Raben Group, was chief counsel for Nominations and Oversight of the Senate Judiciary Committee from 2008-2013. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion on CNN. (CNN)The pandemic that President Donald Trump has so profoundly failed to manage now threatens his administration's top priority: installing Judge Amy Coney Barrett to fill the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat on the Supreme Court.Jeremy ParisThe White House ceremony where Trump announced the nomination may have been a Covid-19 superspreader event, with at least 12 attendees later testing positive for the virus. Two Republican members of the Judiciary Committee -- North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and Utah Sen. Mike Lee -- who will consider the nomination are among those who have been infected.In light of these cases, Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham's plans to start hearings next week are perilous. Moving forward with the nomination at this time and speed tramples on transparency, democracy and respect for the will of the millions of people already voting throughout the country. Given that several Republican senators met with the nominee, some in person and without masks, moving forward with the hearing isn't just misguided -- it's reckless.The Judiciary Committee, which met last week, has already jeopardized the health and well-being of senators, their staff and the scores of hardworking people who make Capitol Hill run, including Capitol police, custodians and clerks. Graham and the rest of the committee must not put them at risk by repeating that mistake on an even bigger scale.As one of the lead staffers who was responsible for six Supreme Court hearings, I know what a huge undertaking and duty this is. Senators and staff should strive to make the process transparent and accessible to journalists and the American people -- as well as fair to the nominee and the advocates who both oppose and support her. The entire nomination process should be conducted with thoroughness and care on behalf of the nearly 330 million Americans who will have no direct say in whether Barrett is confirmed, despite the decades she could spend on the bench making life or death decisions that affect us all. Read MoreSame-sex marriage at risk as Supreme Court gets more conservativeThe need to safeguard the health and safety of our leaders calls for a halt in the Supreme Court proceedings. Respect for democracy and for the legacy of RBG, which Barrett has been apparently hand-picked to undermine, demands one. Yet, according to recent reports, Graham and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insist that these hearings will happen come hell or high water, even though Senate Republicans have refused to take up additional relief for Americans trying to pay rent, educate their kids, keep their businesses open and seek medical care during the pandemic. There is nothing comparable in the modern history of the Senate. Republicans are seeking to fast-track a process that takes, on average, about 70 days, with less than a month to go before a national election, and hold hearings, debates and votes during a pandemic that has upended nearly every sector of American life.Now that the pandemic is not only at the Senate's doorsteps, but within its chambers, Graham and McConnell might not have enough healthy Republican senators to make a quorum or win votes in the committee or the full Senate. The potential of missing senators adds a degree of procedural difficulty to the Republican high wire act, reducing, if not eliminating their advantage in numbers. (Sen. Ron Johnson, who has also tested positive for Covid-19, said he would do everything he can to vote for Barrett, even if it means turning up in the Senate in a "moon suit.")Democratic senators should make use of all of the rules they can to stand in the way of this nomination. Doing so is not an act of discourtesy or political theater -- it is their responsibility as senators to refuse to participate in an unconscionable power grab which would hurt the people they are elected to serve.Trump's one hope to win WisconsinRepublicans can still push this nomination through -- but that doesn't mean they should. And their extreme haste, even in the face of an infectious virus, must be called out. This is an attempt to override the will of American voters, most of whom believe whoever wins the presidential election should make this pick.It is an attempt to put a new justice on the bench to overturn Roe v. Wade and accomplish what Trump promised and failed to do -- take away health care for millions by striking down the Affordable Care Act. It seems to be an attempt to potentially decide an election if Trump, whose campaign has filed multiple lawsuits to stop the expansion of voting by mail or use of ballot drop boxes, decides to challenge the results of the election in court.The majority of Americans don't want to see the Supreme Court overturn the Affordable Care Act or Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve officials warned that an economic recovery would be much slower without a stimulus bill. But it seems McConnell and his Republican caucus do not care what the American people think -- what they care about is their own ability to control the government and the nation's political agenda through the Supreme Court and lower federal courts. Republican senators refused to consider former President Barack Obama's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia in 2016. Now, despite many of their own claims in 2016 about respecting the will of the people and holding off on a nomination until after the elections, they will try to force this nomination of Barrett. It would take just a handful of Republican senators to stop this farce by refusing to take up a vote. Since appeals to conscience and courage have not worked so far, we need to appeal to their hopes for political survival. Do they want to go down with this degraded ship? Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer set the right tone when he said, "Let me be clear: if Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans move forward with this, then nothing is off the table for next year."If Democrats manage to win control of both the White House and the Senate in November, they must use the painful lesson of this illegitimate Supreme Court nomination as a call to action to restore the courts and repair our democracy.

A version of this story appeared in CNN's Meanwhile in China newsletter, a three-times-a-week update exploring what you need to know about the country's rise and how it impacts the world. Sign up here.Hong Kong (CNN)As the world grapples with the new Omicron coronavirus variant, China is determined as ever to eliminate Covid-19 within its borders -- but it hasn't been able to achieve that ambitious goal for the past seven weeks.Since October 17, China has reported at least one locally transmitted case everyday, as local outbreaks continue to flare up one after another with increasingly short intermissions.While its caseload pales in comparison with those of many countries -- including the United States, which is averaging more than 100,000 new cases a day -- the unceasing flareups underscore the growing challenge China faces to keep infections at zero.For more than a year, China has been highly efficient in curbing local outbreaks with mass testing, snap lockdowns, vigilant surveillance and extensive quarantines -- all the while keeping the border tightly sealed.As proof of the success of these measures, not a single Covid-related death has been reported in the country since late January. Read MoreMore recently, however, authorities have resorted to ever more stringent measures, quarantining not only residents who have been in direct contact with an infected person, but also secondary contacts and people who happen to be in the same general area at about the same time. The killing of a corgi shows how government power has grown unchecked in China in the name of Covid preventionIn the past seven weeks, nearly 10,000 tourists were trapped in Inner Mongolia for a week after a lockdown was imposed over dozens of cases; Shanghai Disneyland was shut down over a single confirmed case known to have visited the park; high-speed trains were stopped midway through their journeys to Beijing when close contacts of confirmed cases were found among crew members; and some local Covid prevention workers even killed pets during home disinfection while their owners were away in quarantine.These strict measures eventually succeeded in bringing infections in those specific localities down to zero -- but not for long.Over the past week, more than 300 cases have been reported in Inner Mongolia, this time in Manzhouli, a crucial port of entry bordering Russia. The local government imposed a snap lockdown, and the city is currently rolling out a 9th round of mass testing for its more than 150,000 residents -- but that still isn't quick enough in the eyes of higher authorities. Over the weekend, the city fired two officials for their "slow and weak response" to the outbreak -- one for delaying the transfer and quarantine of more than 100 close contacts, and the other for his poor management of quarantine hotels, state media reported. Another four officials were criticized for their lackluster performances.Local officials across China have been fired or punished for failing to contain Covid flare-ups. The goal to keep infections at zero has placed tremendous pressure on local authorities -- often sending them into overdrive in imposing unnecessarily draconian measures, sometimes at the disproportionate expense of disruption of daily lives.While mainstream Chinese public opinion still appears to support the government's zero-Covid policy, excessive local measures have sparked discontent and criticism in some regions, such as the southwestern border town of Ruili and the Ili prefecture in Xinjiang.In addition to Inner Mongolia, cases have been detected over the past week in the country's largest cities, from Beijing and Shanghai to Guangzhou. The provinces of Heilongjiang, Shaanxi, Hebei and Yunnan also reported cases. China extols isolation as countries rush to impose Omicron travel bansChina remains one of the last countries attempting to maintain zero-Covid, as the rest of the world learns to live with the virus. But the arrival of the Omicron variant has sent nations in a scramble to impose travel restrictions -- and if anything only strengthened China's intent to keep its borders tightly sealed. (So far China has yet to detect Omicron.)A recent study by mathematicians at the country's prestigious Peking University has found that China could face more than 630,000 Covid-19 infections a day if it dropped its zero-tolerance policies by lifting travel curbs -- which would "almost certainly induce an unaffordable burden on the medical system," the report said.It concluded that China should not give up zero-Covid for the time being, until there are "more efficient vaccinations or more specific treatment, preferably the combination of both."Over the weekend, Zhong Nanshan, a top Chinese respiratory disease expert and government adviser, proposed two prerequisites for the lifting of the zero-tolerance approach: one is for the fatality rate of Covid-19 to drop to around 0.1%, and the other is for the basic reproduction number of Covid to drop between 1 and 1.5, meaning every infected person will spread the virus to an average of 1 to 1.5 people in a susceptible population.In August, researchers who studied a Delta variant outbreak in Guangdong province estimated Delta's basic reproduction number to be 6.4 -- which is much higher than the coronavirus variant first detected in Wuhan. The World Health Organization says it is not yet clear whether the new Omicron variant is more transmissible than Delta.

(CNN)The ex-president of a leading Portuguese soccer team will stand trial along with 43 other defendants for allegedly ordering an assault on the club's football players in May 2018, a judge ruled in Lisbon on Thursday. Former Sporting Clube de Portugal president Bruno de Carvalho is accused of being the mastermind behind the attack and was charged with 44 crimes of kidnapping -- which is termed as "terrorism" under Portuguese law -- aggravated threat, violent assault, possession of forbidden firearms and breaking and entering. Judge Carlos Delca decided to go ahead with the trial saying none of the defendants brought forward any evidence "capable of shaking the foundations of the accusation," court documents seen by CNN show.Read MoreREAD: Real Madrid and Gareth Bale saga is a 'Rubik's Cube to solve'READ: The foreign footballers giving up their passports to become ChineseCarvalho will stand trial for allegedly ordering an assault on the club's football players. Social media criticism The defendants were charged after a group of around 50 fans attacked Sporting CP players and staff in May 2018, at the club's training ground, after the team failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Seven of the team's players later terminated their contracts with the club.Four of them -- Rui Patricio, William Carvalho, Gelson Martins, and Bruno Fernandes -- were part of Portugal's 2018 World Cup squad. The training ground incident followed repeated public criticism by then president Carvalho who became famous for using social media to criticize the squad.In April 2018, he claimed to have suspended 19 first-team players after a Europa League defeat by Atletico Madrid, although he deleted the post on social media and most of the players featured in their next game. Carvalho, who has since been voted out of office by club members, reacted to the court decision on Facebook writing "those who purposefully allow someone to be continuously roused, slandered, and defamed is a criminal ... and a coward!"READ: World's best soccer stars are playing too muchREAD: Chelsea bans six fans, one for life, for racist abuse of Raheem SterlingBruno Fernandes was one player who terminated his contract with the club after the attack.Awaiting trialThe former Sporting president will await trial in freedom along with four other defendants who have to present themselves at a local police precinct every two weeks.One of the remaining defendants, Nuno Mendes, the leader of the supporter group known locally as "Mustafa," has been remanded in jail due to an additional charge of drug trafficking. The other defendants will await trial under house arrest.Sporting is one of Portugal's largest soccer clubs, having won the Portuguese League 18 times.The club is also famous for its youth academy as it is where former FIFA players of the year Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo began their careers.

MoscowRiot police fired warning shots into the air, used stun grenades and arrested more than 200 people to deter tens of thousands of Belarusians who marched through Minsk on Sunday to demand veteran leader Alexander Lukashenko leave power.Mass demonstrations have flooded the capital for 12 straight weeks since a disputed election, ratcheting up pressure on the embattled leader of 26 years who rejects accusations the vote was rigged and says he has no intention of quitting.This week Lukashenko partially closed the border to the west, replaced his interior minister and said that any protester who lays a hand on officers policing the protests should "at least leave without hands."Tens of thousands of people swept through Minsk in at least two columns, the Nasha Niva newspaper reported.The Vesna-96 rights group published the names of 221 people who had been detained.Demonstrators stand with their hands up in front of riot police in Minsk on Sunday.Read MorePolice officers detain a protester on Sunday. Senior police officials have threatened to use firearms against protesters if needed."The situation is really alarming and everyone's mood is tense," one protester who requested anonymity said by phone."Police buses and equipment are constantly driving past the column. It feels like people are ready for any kind of escalation."A witness told Reuters that riot police used force to disperse marchers who had marched towards Kurapaty, a site on the outskirts of Minsk that is a memorial to victims of execution by Soviet secret police."People got to a field near Kurapaty, (police) buses pulled up and chased after people at top speed, then they started throwing grenades. What's more, they were throwing them into the thick of the crowd," the witness said by phone on condition of anonymity.A man in civilian clothing chased a resident through a courtyard near one protest route firing a paintball gun at them in footage published by the RFE/RL media outlet.Video posted on opposition social media showed a crowd of people chanting "We believe, we can, we will win!" while marching through the streets. The video footage could not independently be verified.Mobile phone internet in the capital was unavailable and several metro stations were briefly closed down.

Story highlightsScientists have said it's clear that Earth is entering its sixth mass-extinction eventStudy: A third of the 27,600 species are shrinking in terms of numbers and territorial range"What is at stake is really the state of humanity," study author saysJohn D. Sutter is a columnist for CNN who focuses on climate change and social justice. Follow him on Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook or subscribe to his email newsletter. (CNN)Many scientists say it's abundantly clear that Earth is entering its sixth mass-extinction event, meaning three-quarters of all species could disappear in the coming centuries. That's terrifying, especially since humans are contributing to this shift. But that's not even the full picture of the "biological annihilation" people are inflicting on the natural world, according to a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Gerardo Ceballos, an ecology professor at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, and his co-authors, including well-known Stanford University biologist Paul Ehrlich, cite striking new evidence that populations of species we thought were common are suffering in unseen ways. "What is at stake is really the state of humanity," Ceballos told CNN. Listening for the amphibian apocalypseTheir key findings: Nearly one-third of the 27,600 land-based mammal, bird, amphibian and reptile species studied are shrinking in terms of their numbers and territorial range. The researchers called that an "extremely high degree of population decay." Read MoreThe scientists also looked at a well-studied group of 177 mammal species and found that all of them had lost at least 30% of their territory between 1900 and 2015; more than 40% of those species "experienced severe population declines," meaning they lost at least 80% of their geographic range during that time. Looking at the extinction crisis not only in terms of species that are on the brink but also those whose populations and ranges are shrinking helps show that "Earth's sixth mass extinction is more severe" than previously thought, the authors write. They say a major extinction event is "ongoing." "It's the most comprehensive study of this sort to date that I'm aware of," said Anthony Barnosky, executive director of the Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve at Stanford University, who was not involved in the study. Its value, Barnosky said, is that it makes visible a phenomenon typically unseen by scientists and the public: that even populations of relatively common species are crashing."We've got this stuff going on that we can't really see because we're not constantly counting numbers of individuals," he said. "But when you realize that we've wiped out 50% of the Earth's wildlife in the last 40 years, it doesn't take complicated math to figure out that, if we keep cutting by half every 40 years, pretty soon there's going to be nothing left."We have 20 years -- at the very most -- to prevent mass extinctionStuart Pimm, chair of conservation ecology at Duke University in North Carolina, summed up the the concept this way: "When I look out over the woods that constitute my view from my window here, I know we no longer have wolves or panthers or black bears wandering around. We have eliminated a lot of species from a lot of areas. So we no longer have a functional set of species across large parts of the planet."This is an important point to emphasize, Pimm said. But the new paper's analysis risks overstating the degree to which extinction events already are occurring, he said, and the research methodology does not have the level of granularity needed to be particularly useful for conservationists. "What good mapping does is to tell you where you need to act," Pimm said. "The value of the Ceballos paper is a sense of the problem. But given there's a problem, what the bloody hell are we going to do about it?"Often, scientists who study crisis in the natural world focus on species that are at high and short-term risk for extinction. These plants and animals tend to be odd and unfamiliar, often restricted to one island or forest. You probably didn't notice, for example, that the Catarina pupfish, native to Mexico, went extinct in 2014, according to the paper. Or that a bat called the Christmas Island pipistrelle is thought to have vanished in 2009.Climate confusion is back, and it's dangerousMeanwhile, as this research shows, entire populations of other plants and animals are crashing, even if they're not yet on the brink of extinction. Some of these are well-known. Consider the African elephant. "On the one hand, you can say, 'All right, we still have around 400,000 elephants in Africa, and that seems like a really big number,' " Barnosky said. "But then, if you step back, that's cut by more than half of what their populations were in the early part of last century. There were well over 1 million elephants (then). "And if you look at what's happened in the last decade, we have been culling their numbers so fast that if we kept up with that pace, there would be no more wild elephants in Africa in 20 years." Twenty years. No more African elephants. Think about that. Barn swallows and jaguars are two other examples, according to Ceballos, the lead author of the paper. Both are somewhat common in terms of their total numbers, he said, but their decline is troubling in some places. Such population crashes can, of course, lead to inevitable extinctions. And currently, scientists say that species are going extinct at roughly 100 times what would be considered normal -- perhaps considerably more.Packing up because of climate changeThere has been some dispute lately about whether the Earth's sixth mass extinction event already has begun or is simply on the horizon, but there is little disagreement among scientists that humans are driving an unprecedented ecological crisis.And the causes are well-known. People are burning fossil fuels, contributing to climate change. They're chopping down forests and other habitat for agriculture, to the point 37% of Earth's land surface now is farmland or pasture, according to the World Bank. The global population of people continues to rise, along with our thirst for land and consumption. And finally, but not exclusively, poachers are driving numbers of elephants, pangolins, rhinos, giraffes and other creatures with body parts valuable on the black market to worryingly low levels.All of this is contributing to a rapid decline in wild creatures, both on land and in the ocean.Ceballos' paper highlights the urgency of this crisis -- and the need for change."The good news is, we still have time," he said. "These results show it is time to act. The window of opportunity is small, but we can still do something to save species and populations." Otherwise, "biological annihilation" continues.

A version of this story appeared in the January 21 edition of CNN's Royal News, a weekly dispatch bringing you the inside track on Britain's royal family. Sign up here. London (CNN)After the Queen's actions to retire Prince Andrew last week, questions have been raised about his remaining constitutional duty.As Counsellor of State he may still be called upon to pick up some of the Queen's duties if she were temporarily out of action due to illness or if she was traveling.Under the Regency Act 1937, the group that the monarch can empower are the next four in line to the throne who are over the age of 21. Those royals are Princes Charles, William, Andrew and Harry (after skipping over the Cambridge and Sussex children due to their young age). The late Prince Philip, as the sovereign's spouse, would also have been included if he were still alive. Read MoreTo activate the counsellors, the Queen issues a directive known as Letters Patent to formally grant authority to two or more counsellors so they can fulfill many of her daily duties that keep the state ticking over. For example, attending Privy Council meetings, signing routine documents and receiving new ambassadors to the UK. They aren't allowed to do the big stuff such as appointing a Prime Minister or deal with Commonwealth matters -- that would have to wait until she was back.Reports emerged in the UK this week suggesting palace officials were considering removing Prince Andrew and Prince Harry from their crucial roles as they are no longer actively working for "the firm." Harry isn't even resident in the UK.Buckingham Palace has not commented on the speculation, but constitutional experts say it makes sense because the Regency Act was drawn up with counsellors in mind that are senior royals already working closely with the sovereign and who understand the everyday duties of the monarch. Prince Charles speaks with his younger brother, Prince Andrew, at a thanksgiving event marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012. "You're meant to have a little bit of flexibility as to who can act as Counsellors of State because if the Queen is taken unwell and she's unable to act, then you have people who can just step in and ensure that all the documents that the Queen would normally just approve in her red boxes just get dealt with in the normal way and the process of government just continues rolling on as smoothly as it normally does," Craig Prescott, a lecturer in law at Bangor University in Wales, tells CNN.He says the current situation "limits what Charles and William could do" but that a solution seems "quite straightforward."Rather than removing Andrew and Harry from the group -- which would require an Act of Parliament -- Prescott says other royals should be added to the group through a new Regency Act -- as was done for the Queen Mother when she was made an additional Counsellor in 1953."You allow for other members of the royal family to become Counsellors of State -- Princess Anne and Prince Edward, for example. If they don't do that, then you could end up with a real headache," Prescott says.Constitutional experts suggest candidates to become Counsellors of State include the Queen's other children, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. He says the palace is likely already exploring how to resolve the present issue to avoid any possible obstacles impeding day-to-day operations of the government, according to his research."I've seen documents in the National Archives, from the 1970s, where they've coordinated diaries of different members of the royal family to ensure that there were sufficient numbers of Counsellors of State in the country to act if required," he says, highlighting an example of the Queen's sister Princess Margaret who was once asked to return from the island of Mustique earlier than intended to make sure a gap in schedules was covered.He adds: "It is something that they take seriously and so that would lead me to think that they're taking this problem seriously and thinking about how to solve it."What is clear is that there isn't enough slack in the system as it's currently set up. What if Charles or William aren't available when they are needed? The only two options would be to pull Andrew out of retirement or Harry back from America. How would the government react to that? And what if they refused?ROYAL TEA BREAKDuke of York social accounts shut down.Prince Andrew's Twitter account has been deleted, days after the Queen stripped him of his honorary military titles and charities. Visitors to his 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." Buckingham Palace has also updated its official website to reflect moves taken by the royal family to distance themselves from the Queen's second son, who is facing a civil sexual assault trial in the US. Read more here.DID YOU KNOW?Here's another royal story you may have missed this week: Prince Harry's security row.The Duke of Sussex is making a legal challenge to a UK government decision that prevents him from personally paying for police protection for himself and his family when they are in the UK, according to his legal representatives. Harry's legal team said they had initiated the legal challenge in September of last year but decided to make that information public now "in order to set the facts straight" because of a leak in a British tabloid newspaper.Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, speak onstage during Global Citizen Live, New York, on September 25, 2021 in New York City.Prince Harry wants to bring his son Archie and baby daughter Lilibet to visit from the US, but he and his family are "unable to return to his home" because it is too dangerous, a legal representative said in a statement Saturday. In particular, Harry's privately funded US security team "cannot replicate the necessary police protection needed" while they visit the UK, the representative added.The claim follows an incident in London in the summer of 2021 when the prince's security was compromised as he left a charity event, the statement added.Get the whole story here.WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING?Queen 'shocked and saddened' by Tonga eruption. The Queen has offered her condolences to Tonga after a massive volcanic eruption took place on January 15, about 20 miles from the islands of Tonga. The eruption left much of the country covered in volcanic ash and caused a tsunami that led to flooding. "I am shocked and saddened by the impact of the volcanic eruption and tsunami in Tonga. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Tonga, as you work together to recover from the damage caused. It must be incredibly difficult for those who are unable to contact friends and family while communications are disrupted, and I hope that they will soon be restored," the Queen sent to His Majesty Tupou VI, King of Tonga, according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace. (Reporting by CNN's David Wilkinson)PHOTO OF THE WEEKThe Cambridges returned to duties this week after taking a break over the holiday season. Their first engagement of 2022 saw them head to the Foundling Museum in London to learn more about the care sector and meet representatives from across the system. Here they are pictured listening to Britain's former track and field athlete Kriss Akabusi, left, during the visit. A day later, the pair headed to Lancashire where they met healthcare professionals to hear about their experiences during the pandemic.POSTCARDS FROM ROYALS AROUND THE GLOBEOne of the panels on the Golden Coach, named "Tribute from the Colonies," depicts people of color from the colonies kneeling in subordination to a young white woman who represents the Netherlands, while presenting her with gifts, according to the Amsterdam Museum, where the coach is housed.Dutch royal family to temporarily stop using Golden Coach.King Willem-Alexander has said the Dutch royal family will temporarily stop using the Golden Coach until "the Netherlands is ready," following criticism of colonial ties to the horse-drawn carriage. "Our history contains much to be proud of. At the same time, it also offers learning material for faults to recognize and to avoid in the future," King Willem-Alexander, the ruling monarch in the Netherlands, said in a video message published on the royal family's verified YouTube account last week. "We cannot rewrite the past. We can try to come to terms with it together. That also applies to the colonial past. Instead, a collective effort is needed that goes deeper and lasts longer. An effort that unites us rather than divides us." The carriage -- known colloquially as "De Gouden Koets" -- has been at the center of fierce debate in recent years. Find out more about this story here. "Let us not be bystanders to injustice or prejudice. After all, surely our personal values are measured by the things we are prepared to ignore. Let us therefore learn from those who bore witness to the horrors of the Holocaust, and all subsequent genocides, and commit ourselves to keeping their stories alive, so that each generation will be ready to tackle hatred in any of its terrible forms." The Duchess of Cornwall delivered a plea at a Holocaust memorial event in London on Thursday. Camilla delivered a powerful speech in London where she spoke of the lasting impact of Anne Frank's diary -- 75 years after it was first published. While in attendance of the annual Anne Frank Lunch for Holocaust Memorial Day (which is on January 27), the duchess also lit a candle in memory of the victims, alongside Auschwitz survivor Eva Schloss, the 92-year-old stepsister of Anne Frank.

Story highlightsAtita Verghese is India's first female professional skateboarderShe teaches children to skate and also volunteers to build skate parksShe founded Girl Skate India, a collective that aims to inspire more women to pick up the sport (CNN)When Atita Verghese stepped on a skateboard for the first time, it wasn't her own. She'd been loaned the board from a male friend. That gesture, she says, was the most pivotal moment of her life so far, guiding her towards a ground-breaking career as India's first professional female skateboarder. "I felt like nothing existed outside of that skate park," the 23-year-old skater tells CNN. "That moment I had -- it was perfect." In 2015, she co-founded Girl Skate India, an initiative that teaches girls how to skate, promotes gender equality and brings together skateboarders in India through workshops.At the end of 2015, the group organized 12 skaters from nine countries to embark on an all-female four-city skate tour -- the first in India -- using the sport to empower underprivileged girls around the country.Read MoreIf anyone is an advert for the power of the skateboard, it's Verghese. Rebel with a cause Atita Verghese during the Girl Skate India tour in 2015.Growing up in Bangalore, Verghese had a strong female role model in her mother, Nalini.After Verghese's father passed away when she was eight years old, Nalini became the breadwinner, running a guesthouse and bringing up her two daughters alone.Rebellion against social norms was in Verghese's DNA. Before Verghese was born, her mother -- a non-Muslim -- was attacked with acid by strangers for wearing Western-style clothes, in the small village of Hassan, in southwest India, where she lived. "The only explanation was that (the perpetrators) got annoyed by what she was wearing," Verghese says. Nalini preferred shorts and skirts to saris. Women, back then, were expected to wear "modest" traditional outfits, Verghese says. "She was known mostly to be seen mostly in Western outfits that were sometimes too much for the villagers to handle, apparently," Verghese explains, adding that the attack took place in "a village that was way more closed-minded than Bangalore city."Miraculously, Nalini escaped without any scarring, but the perpetrators were never caught. "She was really lucky," says Verghese, "but her clothes were burnt."Verghese also didn't conform to her conservative society's ideas of how a girl should act.I was doing a lot of pranks ... none of the girls were doing things like that.Atita Verghese"Growing up, I played football, basketball, hockey. I swam. I also did long-jump -- all of it," she tells CNN."I didn't study or get the best grades in school. I was always getting in trouble. I was doing a lot of pranks and things. They would expect that from the boys -- none of the girls were doing things like that."Her teachers warned that she would become a failure if she continued acting this way, she says. Verghese didn't let their opinions hold her back. Welcome to the skate parkIt wasn't until 2013, when Verghese was 19, that she got on a skateboard -- a sport that has only started to gain popularity in India during the past decade. It was friend Abhishek Shakenbake who introduced her to the sport in a skate park in Bangalore, where they are both based."He would meet me (after school) with a skateboard," Verghese remembers. "I was really curious and was like, 'What is it?'" He taught her "a few of the basics."A self-taught skateboarder who picked up the sport in 2010 after a law school classmate brought him a skateboard from overseas, Abhishek, now aged 31, co-founded HolyStoked Collective in 2011. It went on to become one of the biggest skate shops in Bangalore. During a workshop, Verghese teaches kids how to skateboard."(Skating) was kind of an outlet for most of us," Abhishek tells CNN. "We didn't all have skateboards, but there were more of us coming together to skate -- so we decided to start a crew to ... find a solution for problems like (lack of) space and equipment."Back in 2010, there must have been, like, six people who were skating in India, according to our (Abhishek and his fellow skaters) research. We found maybe only two other people who were skating before us." 'I just wanted some girl power'Verghese turned out to be a quick learner. But still without her own board, she had to wait for other skaters at the park to take breaks, then ask to borrow theirs.Towards the end of 2013, Abhishek had a surplus of skateboards and was gifting them to those he thought had a serious interest in the sport -- Verghese was selected. Back then, the skatepark was a male-dominated realm, but Verghese says no one has ever asked her why she was there. It was perhaps obvious that she was in her element. Two other girls came along "for a short time" before dropping out, she says. Not content with just skateboarding for fun, Verghese started working with HolyStoked, organizing skateboarding classes for youngsters in Bangalore. But she wanted to put together events in other regions to get more people into the sport. In 2014, Lisa Jacob, a Paris-based skateboarder, traveled to India and was advised by friends in the skateboarding world to get in touch with Verghese. At the time, Verghese was in Kovalam, Kerala, building a skate park with Sebastian Indian Social Projects (SISP), a local NGO that uses skateboarding and surfing as incentives to get disadvantaged children who have dropped out of school back into the classroom. Jacob, along with Netherlands-based skateboarder Louisa Menke, joined Verghese on the project. "Lisa's been in the skateboard scene for about 20 years now, so she knows a lot of people," explains Verghese. "We were talking about what we could do to kick off the scene a little bit (in India)."In 2015, Girl Skate India -- an international collective of female skaters who engage with underprivileged youngsters through skating -- was born.In December that year, the group put on the first ever tour of female skaters across India, featuring 12 women from nine countries.Skaters on the tour included Chloé Bernard of Marseilles, France; Monica Shaw of Melbourne, Australia; Berlin-based Linda Ritterhof of Germany; and Roxana Cernicky of Liege, Belgium.The project was entirely self-funded. "Everyone took care of themselves," Verghese says.The group traveled to Kovalam, Bangalore, Goa and Hampi, where they put on skate workshops and skate yoga lessons, as well as built ramps.Verghese works with various charities, including SISP, which uses activities like skateboarding to incentivize kids to study."I learned how to use the tools and how long to wait for the concrete and the different steps that go into actually building a concrete skate park," she explains. "After that there was a whole fire spreading across the country because people just wanted to build more and more."For Verghese, forming the collective came from a desire to motivate women to pick up skateboarding -- but that was not all. "I wanted to skate with girls, honestly. It was selfish," she admits."I just needed some girl power in this part of the world, where there's hardly any of that. I wanted more girls to come skate, and spread the word so that hopefully it would get other girls interested."The beginning of a movementAfter the tour wrapped up in January 2016, Verghese, then 22 years old, had become a well-known face on the international skateboarding circuit. But it wasn't because she was taking part in competitions, of which there are "hardly any" in India, she says.I didn't know how big it was going to end up being.Atita Verghese"I guess the skate world is really small ... so if you do something that stands out, you get noticed," she says. "For me, I think this tour kicked things off faster and (gave me) a wider reach, as there were people from nine different countries on it."(People) absolutely loved what I did. I was shocked ... I didn't know how big it was going to end up being."Girl Skate India put out a short film about their work, which ended up being shown in 20 locations worldwide. "Something special was happening," she says. "I think it was important to show the rest of the community what we were doing, because otherwise they wouldn't know."Today, Verghese works with various organizations all over the world as a volunteer, including international non-profit Make Life Skate Life, which has built free skate parks in Bolivia, Jordan, Ethiopia, and Myanmar, as well as India, and Janwaar Castle, which aims to unite children and break the caste system in India through skateboarding. Verghese works on building a ramp inside a skate park.To date, she has helped build four skate parks in India, as well as one in Belgium. HolyStoked as a collective has built around 10.As her reputation has grown, she has worked as a skate stunt double in commercials and appeared in UK rock band Wild Beasts' "Alpha Female" music video. In 2016 Vans India became her sponsor; others include UK-based sports company Extreme, and US brand Stanley Tools.Although she's often referred to as India's first female professional skater, Verghese says that she's not quite on pro level outside of the country. "It's quite different when it comes to India and the rest of the world. I don't know if I would say that on an international level I'm a pro-skater, because that would mean you either get your own deck model, or your own shoe model." A growing sceneWhether she's an international pro-skater or not, the difference Verghese has made to the skateboarding scene in India is undeniable."It's great Atita is doing this, not just skating for herself, but taking it forward, trying to put it out there," Abhishek says."So many girls have been getting into skateboarding during the past couple of years. I would say a lot of them might have been inspired by seeing her, the work she's done.""In India, they need that. They need to see other girls succeed."Abhishek acknowledges that India can still be a frustrating place for women. Skateboarding, he says, can be a way "to channel this angst that you have in a positive way." "(Women in India) just need to push the boundaries and go a bit further than what is expected of them," Verghese says.Because skateboarding is such a new sport, he also feels it has given Verghese, and other women, a chance to make it their own, before society creates gender-based stereotypes around it. In India ... They need to see other girls succeed.Abhishek, founder, HolyStoked"In India, if a girl goes ahead and does something which she's not supposed to -- in terms of what social norms dictate -- automatically there's a bunch of people who get offended and (say) 'This is not our culture,'" Abhishek says."But with skateboarding, it's something new. Either way, it's not our culture," he adds. Verghese agrees it's a blank canvas. "In the US, for example, people think skateboarders are rebels. If they're in the skate park they're up to no good," she says. "These things (stereotypes), they don't really exist (in India), because the scene is really new."For her part, Verghese has used skateboarding as a chance to embrace a different female identity -- one that has allowed her to cut her hair short, have facial piercings and wear clothes that are not typically feminine.Like her mother, she is challenging female stereotypes."Yes, it strays from the typical ideal of femininity," she says of her look. "Many people were confused looking at me when I had shorter hair, (and were) unsure of my gender when they'd see me skate."

(CNN)Lionel Messi's statistics speak for themselves.On Wednesday, in front of an adoring home crowd at the Camp Nou, he made it 700 appearances, 613 goals and 237 assists.Messi rewrote the record books once again as he scored one and set up two others as Barcelona claimed top spot in Group F with a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.He becomes only the second Barcelona player to reach the landmark after Xavi Hernández, who made 767 appearances. No one in the history of the club has won more than Messi, who has 34 trophies to his name.Messi has now scored 613 goals for Barcelona. And 34 could become 35, should Messi and Barcelona navigate its way to another Champions League title. Read MoreIf you thought this milestone for Messi would be a quiet one, you'd have been rather wrong. Within half an hour, he was teeing up Uruguayan teammate Luis Suarez to open the scoring, and just five minutes later Suarez was repaying the favor, playing Messi in to fire home his side's second of the night.It would only be right for a man making his 700th appearance to score his 613th goal for the club — and Messi coolly dispatched the ball into the back of the net. The lethal strike duo now have 800 goals between them for Barcelona. Leo #Messi ➕ @LuisSuarez9 = 8️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ goals for Barça6️⃣1️⃣3️⃣ for the 🐐1️⃣8️⃣7️⃣ for the 🔫 pic.twitter.com/8LbUP2wew3— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 27, 2019 The goal was made even more special, too, by the fact it was the 34th different European opposition Messi had scored against -- a Champions League record. And Messi was far from done. His scintillating performance continued into the second half as his surging run and delicate pass enabled Antoine Griezmann to secure the win.Dortmund did offer a late rally with young English star Jadon Sancho providing a moment of real quality, turning and firing a rocket past Marc-André ter Stegen in the Barcelona goal.But it was too little, too late for the German side, whose early sloppiness had crushed them already.The only blight on an otherwise excellent night for Messi was a yellow card. Apparently, even 700 games can't teach you to stay on your feet. Messi looked on in disbelief as he was booked for diving in the second half.Messi receives a yellow card for diving on an historic night for the Argentine.But that moment won't make the headlines. His wider performance and statistics will. Borussia Dortmund center back Mats Hummels perhaps summed Messi's night up best.[He] "is the best footballer I've ever seen -- period," Hummels told UEFA.com after his teammates were left mesmerized by the Argentine.His numbers are truly staggering. Even when they are broken down, they seem hard to process. He's scored one goal in a game on 218 occasions, two goals in a game on 125 occasions, three goals in a game on 40 occasions, four goals in a game on five occasions. And five goals in a game on one occasion.Not bad for a man who is only 32 years of age.

RomeSicilian Mafia turncoat Giovanni Brusca, the man who detonated the bomb that killed judge Giovanni Falcone in 1992, has been released from jail after serving a 25-year sentence, causing grief and anger among the relatives of those he killed.Brusca, 64, was arrested in 1996, four years after the attack that killed Falcone, his wife and three policemen. After turning state turncoat he helped prosecutors in their crackdown against the Cosa Nostra clans.The Falcone killing, followed two months later by that of fellow anti-mafia magistrate Paolo Borsellino, was one of the most notorious episodes in Italy's long and violent struggle against organized crime.Brusca, known as the "people-slayer," has confessed his role in over 100 murders, including the death of a 14-year-old boy, Giuseppe Di Matteo, who was killed and dissolved in acid because he was the son of a mafia informant.Suspected mafia fugitive was living on a Caribbean island. Then police saw his YouTube cooking videos"He has collaborated with justice only to get the benefits, it was not a personal, intimate choice," Rosaria Costa, the widow of a policeman who died in the Falcone bombing, told daily newspaper Corriere della Sera.Read MoreMaria Falcone, the sister of the judge, said she was "saddened" by the news but that the law gave Brusca the right to leave prison.Brusca supplied investigators with information on several deadly Cosa Nostra attacks carried out in the 1980s and 1990s and testified in a trial over alleged negotiations between Italian officials and mobsters to stop the bombings.Brusca -- who had already been granted temporary leave from prison on several occasions -- will be on parole for four years, Italian media reported."Regardless of what one may think of the atrocities he committed at the time, there was a collaboration... Let us not forget that he gave information on bombings both in Sicily and in mainland Italy," chief anti-mafia prosecutor Federico Cafiero De Raho told Reuters."Clearly, the judges believed this was the appropriate jail term," he added.Several Italian politicians condemned Brusca's release."This is not the 'justice' that Italians deserve," said Matteo Salvini, head of the right-wing League which leads in opinion polls.

(CNN)Sweden's Jimmy Durmaz was subjected to a torrent of online racist abuse in the aftermath of his side's dramatic World Cup defeat by reigning champion Germany Saturday.Sweden midfielder Jimmy Durmaz brings down Germany's Timo Werner, leading to the free kick that sent the Swedes to defeat.The 29-year-old substitute was targeted after giving away a free kick deep into stoppage time that led to Toni Kroos firing home a spectacular German winner.Durmaz, born in Sweden to Assyrian parents who had emigrated from Turkey, played down the abuse that had appeared on his Instagram account after the 2-1 defeat."It's nothing I'm bothered about," he told reporters. "I'm here proud and representing my country."Toni Kroos celebrates a dramatic last-minute winner to save Germany's hopes.Durmaz's teammate John Guidetti hit out at those responsible for the racist posts.Read More"He ran and fought the whole game, it's unlucky -- it's completely idiotic to subject him to hate for that," Guidetti told reporters.Sweden had taken a first-half lead against Germany courtesy of Ola Toivonen's neat finish.Ola Toivonen gave the Swedes a shock lead after 32 minutes.Defeat for Germany, which lost its opening group game against Mexico, would have led to it failing to make it past the opening round for the first time since 1938.But Marco Reus equalized soon after the break to drag Germany level, and even though the Germans were reduced to 10 men when Jerome Boateng was sent off for two yellow cards, the reigning champions prevailed.Marco Reus celebrates after bringing Germany level in the opening minutes of the second half.Kroos' late strike led to angry scenes between the two benches, with Sweden coach Janne Andersson accusing Germany of taunting his side."Some of them celebrated in a disrespectful way in my opinion," Swedish substitute Pontus Jansson told reporters.Sweden head coach Janne Andersson shakes hands with Germany's Joachim Löw.."There was a lot of feelings, we had just let in a goal and lost the game, so it was pretty sour."Maybe there was unnecessary anger (from me), but they apologized afterward so it's just a case of accepting it. There were a lot of feelings in the heat of the moment."

(CNN)Gay animals deserve to celebrate Pride Month, too.The ZSL London Zoo is home to the famous gay penguin couple, Humboldt penguins Ronnie and Reggie. To celebrate the pair and similar animal couples, the zoo plans to give a "Pride makeover" to its Zoo Night event on July 5. In addition to regularly scheduled Zoo Night festivities, the zoo will teach about gender, mating and same-sex animal pairings.Zookeepers have also designed a special banner for the Penguin Beach home where Ronnie and Reggie live.The banner reads, "Some penguins are gay. Get over it," a homage to Stonewall's "Get Over It" campaign against LGBT bullying.Read MoreThe famous pair's love storyRonnie and Reggie got together in 2014, according to a press release. A year later, they adopted an egg that was abandoned by another couple, sharing parenting duties of their chick Kyton until he fledged the nest.Though their baby is now grown, Ronnie and Reggie are still going strong and are often found snuggling in their nest box.The zoo is home to 93 penguins total, and Ronnie and Reggie are not the only same-sex couple, the zoo said.

Story highlightsErik Guay, 35, wins super-G world titleBecomes skiing's oldest world championJoins recent list of mid 30-something champions (CNN)He might be 35, but Canadian veteran Erik Guay just became a ski world champion to join the recent list of mid 30-somethings proving age is just a number.It's only February and already Roger Federer, Serena Williams and Tom Brady have shown that the youngsters don't have a monopoly on vim and vigor.Sometimes age and experience can trump youthful exuberance.Follow @cnnsport Erik Guay won the world super-G title at the age of 35.Guay hadn't won for almost three years when he became skiing's oldest world champion with victory in the super-G at glitzy St. Moritz Wednesday.JUST WATCHEDSport's all-time great comebacksReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSport's all-time great comebacks 01:24The 2011 downhill world champion edged out Olympic champion Kjetil Jansrud, 31, with fellow Canadian Manuel Osborne-Paradis grabbing third on his 33rd birthday.Read MoreGuay's achievement comes three days after 39-year-old quarterback Brady steered the New England Patriots to a remarkable Super Bowl victory after trailing the Atlanta Falcons 28-3 in the third quarter.It was Brady's fifth Super Bowl title, all with the Patriots, coming 15 years after his first. In both games Brady was named Most Valuable Player.READ: Patriots' Super Bowl win -- sport's greatest comeback?READ: Patriots stun Falcons in Super Bowl thrillerJUST WATCHED18 reasons to love Roger FedererReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH18 reasons to love Roger Federer 02:02Federer is another 35-year-old still performing at the top of his game.The Swiss won a men's record 18th grand slam singles title last month when he beat Spain's Rafael Nadal in a thrilling five-set Australian Open final. It was Federer's first grand slam title since Wimbledon in 2012 and first final since the 2015 US Open.Also in Melbourne, Serena Williams struck a blow for "older" women with a record 23rd grand slam singles title at -- yep, 35. READ: Federer savors "extra special win"READ: "We'll party like rock stars" - Federer READ: Serena beats sister Venus for record 23rd majorJUST WATCHEDAustralian Open 2017: the best ever?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAustralian Open 2017: the best ever? 02:13Bucking the trend is Tiger Woods, whose comeback from injury at the age of 41 suffered a setback in Dubai last week.Playing in only his second full-field event for 17 months to rehab from back surgery, Woods pulled out of the European Tour's Dubai Desert Classic after round one, citing "back spasms."JUST WATCHEDTiger Woods: the US must "unite"ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTiger Woods: the US must "unite" 02:58READ: Tiger Woods pulls out of Dubai event with "back spasms"READ: 20 years of Tiger Woods -- where it went right, and wrong Fortunately, Sergio Garcia was able to fly the veterans' flag with victory in Dubai at the age of 37. However, the Spaniard's win was shortlived respite for the old guard. Japan's 24-year-old Hideki Matsuyama won the Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour later that day to continue his duel with Justin Thomas, 23, as golf's hottest property.In football, 44-year-old Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary also made headlines when he saved two penalties to take his side into the Africa Cup of Nations final earlier this month. However, El-Hadary was denied a fairytale finish when Cameroon lifted the trophy with a 2-1 win in Libreville. READ: AFCON 2017 -- unfancied Cameroon shock EgyptREAD: El-Hadary, 44, targets history Photos: Skiing's speed queenLindsey Vonn clinched her eighth World Cup downhill title for a record 20th crystal globe in 2016 despite missing the end of the season to recover from a hairline fracture of her left knee.Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Skiing's speed queenCan Vonn become the GOAT? The 32-year-old is just 10 World Cup wins behind the all-time record of 86, held by Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark.Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Skiing's speed queenAfter just nine weeks out, she is ready to return to skiing after a broken arm and severe nerve damage in her right hand, at this weekend's World Cup races in Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Skiing's speed queenShe fractured her left knee in February 2016 in a crash during a World Cup super-G race in Soldeu, Andorra, but raced the combined event the next day before calling an end to her season.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Skiing's speed queenVonn bagged her 37th World Cup downhill win in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, in January 2016 to move ahead of Austrian Annemarie Moser-Proell's record. She added another victory a couple of weeks later in Garmisch, Germany.Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Skiing's speed queenVonn's public profile went galactic when she dated star golfer Tiger Woods for two years from 2013-2015. Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Skiing's speed queenGolden girl Vonn won the Olympic downhill at Whistler in 2010 and added bronze in the super-G.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Skiing's speed queenVonn won the first of three straight World Cup overall titles in 2008 at the age of 23. She added a fourth in 2012, but is still chasing Moser-Proell's record of six overall crystal globes.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Skiing's speed queenLindsey Kildow -- as she was then before marrying fellow skier Thomas Vonn -- won her first World Cup race with victory in the downhill at Lake Louise, Canada, in 2004.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Skiing's speed queenShe made her Olympic debut in Salt Lake City in 2002 as a 17-year-old, finishing 32nd in slalom and sixth in the combined slalom/downhill event.Hide Caption 10 of 10Back to skiing, and the 32-year-old Lindsey Vonn is still the one to beat on the women's speed events. The American failed to finish in Tuesday's super-G at the World Championships in St. Moritz but is hot favorite for the downhill title Sunday. Vonn, the 2010 Olympic downhill champion, won her 77th World Cup race in January, nine weeks after recovering from a broken arm and nerve-damaged right hand. She is the second most successful skier of all time, behind Sweden's Ingemar Stenmark with 86 World Cup wins.The youth are the future. The oldies, it seems, are the present.

(CNN)Once more, tensions are rising in Ukraine.Reports that the Russians are moving military hardware some 250 kilometers from the border have raised eyebrows in Washington. And Ukrainian forces have deployed combat drones along the battle lines that separate them from pro-Russian separatists in the Donbas region. The front lines of the conflict -- a standoff stretching hundreds of miles from northern Ukraine to the Sea of Azov -- have barely moved in five years. On Monday, US Defense Department spokesman Admiral John Kirby said the Pentagon was "aware of public reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine." Satellite imagery has shown Russian hardware -- including self-propelled guns, battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles -- on the move at a training ground roughly 186 miles (300km) from the border.Read MoreBut Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Monday it had recorded no "additional transfer of Russian units, weapons and military equipment to the state border of Ukraine." How the West made the most dangerous version of Putin On Tuesday, the Defense Ministry said an estimated 90,000 Russian troops were located "near the border and in the temporarily occupied territories" as well as in the Black Sea.Ukraine's Defense Ministry added that Russia had established a practice of "transferring and accumulating military units for the purpose of maintaining tension in the region and political pressure on neighboring countries."Kirby said the US was watching closely: "I can't speak for Russian intentions, but we are certainly monitoring the region closely, as we always do. Any escalatory or aggressive actions would be of great concern to the United Sates." On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "The movement of our military equipment or army units across the territory of the Russian Federation is exclusively our business."Russia has never threatened anyone, is not threatening, and does not pose a danger to anyone," he insisted.Observers say Russia's actions are worth keeping a close eye on. "At the moment it is a developing situation. It's not 'nothing happening' and it doesn't mean that there will be an offensive op tomorrow," says Michael Kofman, a fellow at the Wilson Center who researches Russia's military. Closer view of armored units and support equipment in Yelnya, Russia. 'Provocation' claimsWe've been here before -- several times -- since the separatists, with Russian backing, entered eastern Ukraine in 2014.Heightened tensions have, in the past, come to nought. Russian units gathered near the border last spring -- setting off alarm bells in western capitals -- but eventually returned to base. But hopes that the frozen conflict might be defused through negotiations sponsored by European governments and the US are moribund. Russian forces are massing on Ukraine's border. Bluff or not, Putin is playing with fireRussia has responded swiftly to Ukraine's use of Turkish-made combat drones for the first time in the conflict. One of those drones struck a separatist position last week. "We observe attempts to carry out provocations, elicit some reaction from the militia and drag Russia into some kind of combat action," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Russian state television Monday. Popular Russian TV host Vladimir Soloviev went further, saying Ukraine was provoking the separatist-held "Republics" into taking "retaliatory measures, which means a major war. Under these circumstances, Moscow will be confronted with a serious choice." Russian rhetoric towards Ukraine has hardened in recent months. Both President Vladimir Putin and his predecessor, Dmitri Medvedev, have penned essays describing Ukraine as a vassal of the West -- even going so far as to suggest it is not a real country. JUST WATCHEDOn GPS: Zelensky on Russian threats and US support (September 2021)ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHOn GPS: Zelensky on Russian threats and US support (September 2021) 06:50In a long article in July, Putin said "the formation of an ethnically pure Ukrainian state, aggressive towards Russia, is comparable in its consequences to the use of weapons of mass destruction against us." "True sovereignty of Ukraine is possible only in partnership with Russia," he wrote.Self-propelled artillery is pictured in this image supplied by Maxar.Combined arms units are pictured in Yelnya, western Russia on November 1 in an image supplied by Maxar.Pivot from east to westMoscow's strategy is aimed at deterring Ukraine's flirtation with closer ties to NATO and the European Union, a pivot from east to west that would stoke historic Russian fears of encirclement. Those fears deepened when the former Soviet Baltic states joined NATO, along with several ex-members of the Warsaw Pact, such as Romania and Poland. Just last month, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reiterated US support for Ukraine's "reorientation," pledging "continued US support for Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and Euro-Atlantic aspirations." Ukraine joining NATO would be an "extremely dangerous" move that would trigger retaliatory measures from Russia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko retorted. Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Peskov condemned what he said were "aggressive expansionist tendencies, especially on the part of NATO and other countries," adding that "Russia has always taken measures to ensure its security and will continue to do so." In Ukraine, Defense Secretary Austin calls on Russia to stop 'persistent cyberattacks'The US, which already supplies Javelin anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, also promised to support Ukrainian forces through security assistance, including efforts to enhance the country's maritime capacity. US warships regularly patrol the Black Sea -- much to Russia's ire. Russia's latest weapon in the conflict is not camo-painted. Instead, it comes through a pipeline. The Nord Stream 2 (NS2) gas pipeline connecting Russia to Germany is near completion, and that worries Ukraine -- which has been a transit route for Russian gas through its extensive network of pipelines."Putin is telling everyone to their face: 'You allow NS2 to become operational or you won't get any more gas,'" according to Yuriy Vitrenko, chief executive of Ukraine's Naftogaz. Vitrenko told the Financial Times that "[If] there will be no physical transit going through Ukraine, it increases the chances of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine."The White House said at the weekend that US President Joe Biden had spoken with German Chancellor Angela Merkel about efforts "to ensure that Russia cannot manipulate natural gas flows for harmful political purposes." As yet, there are no signs that all the adversarial language is translating into a higher level of hostilities along what's known as "the line of contact," but Russian calculations are never easy to gauge.

Story highlightsWild duck tests positive for H5N8 virus in Germany'We must now talk about a Europe-wide epidemic' German official saysNo human cases of H5N8 have been reportedEuropeans are worried about a possible continent-wide bird flu epidemic after a wild duck tested positive for the H5N8 virus in northeast Germany, authorities said. The virus was first discovered earlier this month in domesticated birds at a turkey farm in Germany with subsequent outbreaks on poultry farms in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.Authorities say that the first wild bird case strengthens the suspicion that the source of the European outbreak lies in the wild bird population. "We must now talk about a Europe-wide epidemic," said Till Backhaus, the agriculture minister of the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where the wild bird was found. He ordered all poultry farmers in his state to keep their animals inside enclosures and away from wild birds. This month over 200,000 ducks, turkeys and chickens were killed in Europe to control the outbreak, according to the World Organization for Animal Health. Once the virus is discovered in select birds, the entire flock must be destroyed, according to health officials. There have been no human cases of H5N8 reported, according to the World Health Organization, but the agency said other avian flu strains have infected humans in the past. The H5N8 strain in Europe "appears to be highly pathogenic," meaning that it is highly likely to cause disease and death in poultry. It's not known how the virus reached Europe, but the WHO said surveillance zones have been put in place around affected farms to prevent the spread of the disease. World's first H5N6 bird flu death reported in China

(CNN)State investigators in North Carolina are looking into the voter registration of Mark Meadows, the former Republican congressman and White House chief of staff who pushed baseless claims of voter fraud to try to overturn the 2020 election results. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation confirmed to CNN Thursday that its Special Investigations Unit is investigating allegations that Meadows registered to vote in 2020 at a home where he never resided. The investigation is being carried out in conjunction with the North Carolina State Board of Elections. A long list of investigations and lawsuits involving Donald TrumpThe state attorney general's office agreed to ask the SBI to investigate Meadows' voter registration after a local district attorney referred the matter to the North Carolina Department of Justice's Special Prosecutions Section, Nazneen Ahmed, spokesperson for Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, said in an email to CNN. "We have asked the SBI to investigate and at the conclusion of the investigation, we'll review their findings," Ahmed said.The investigation comes after The New Yorker magazine reported that Meadows registered to vote weeks before the 2020 election at a mobile home in Macon County, where he allegedly never lived or even visited.Read MoreThe article quoted the unnamed former owner of the McConnell Road property in Scaly Mountain, North Carolina, as saying that Meadows' wife "reserved the house for two months at some point within the past few years -- she couldn't remember exactly when -- but only spent one or two nights there" and that Meadows himself had never even "spent a night in there."North Carolina voter records show Meadows registered at the Scaly Mountain address on September 22, 2020. He voted absentee by mail in the 2020 general election. That registration is still active.Records show Meadows voted early in person in Transylvania County in the 2020 March primary, as well as in the 2018 primary and general elections. Before that, he was registered and voted in Jackson County.The North Carolina voter registration form instructs a person to provide their residential address -- "where you physically live" -- and to check a box indicating whether they have lived at the address for 30 or more days. If not, a person must list the date they moved to that residence.A spokesman for Meadows declined to comment to CNN.Macon County District Attorney Ashley Welch, a Republican, sent a letter Monday asking the attorney general's office to "handle both the advisement of law enforcement agencies as to any criminal investigation as well as any potential prosecution of Mark Meadows."Welch said she was "unaware of any allegation of voter fraud surrounding Mark Meadows" until she was contacted by several news media outlets last week. Republican leaders face threat of revived Freedom Caucus in GOP-led HouseIn the letter, Welch said she was recusing herself because Meadows made a 2014 contribution to her campaign and had appeared in advertisements endorsing her candidacy for district attorney. "The allegations in this case involve potential crimes committed by a government official. Historically I have requested the attorney general's office to handle prosecutions involving alleged misconduct of government officials. It is in the best interest of justice and the best interest of the people of North Carolina that the attorney general's office handles the prosecution of this case," Welch wrote.Welch's office had no further comment beyond releasing the letter. CNN's Gabby Orr contributed to this story.

Story highlightsWebber won nine F1 grands prix in a 14-year careerAustralian had fierce rivalry with Red Bull teammate VettelWebber is now a race winner for Porsche in the World Endurance Championship (CNN)Just like he is on most topics, no-nonsense racing driver Mark Webber is pretty unequivocal on who will play him in the film of his life. "Eric Bana," says the ex-Formula One racer, referring to the Australian actor, during a pit stop at CNN's London headquarters.The dashing Australian's rise from the fastest pizza delivery boy Down Under to an F1 title contender has a blockbuster script with bust-ups, high-speed crashes, and a pretty decent love story too.Webber won nine grands prix in his 14-year career and finished third in the drivers' championship in 2010, 2011 and 2013 before giving back the keys to his F1 car two years ago.JUST WATCHEDFormer F1 driver talks about the future of Formula OneReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFormer F1 driver talks about the future of Formula One 02:19Since quitting F1, the 39-year-old survived the biggest crash of his career, when his Porsche hybrid smashed into a wall and caught fire at Brazil's Interlagos circuit, and grieved as close colleagues lost their lives in other racing series.Read MoreDespite this Webber says: "I went into the car virtually fearless."A new autobiography - "Aussie Grit" -- plots Webber's racing journey but he also revealed to CNN more on his riveting rivalry with Red Bull Racing teammate Sebastian Vettel, his new career racing Porsches and why he's always too busy to wash his hair.Follow @cnnsport What's a true story that you've left out of your autobiography?That I very rarely wash my hair.Who would play you if the book was made into a film?Eric Bana. He's a mate, he's an Aussie and he's got a bit of Aussie grit.JUST WATCHEDMark Webber back in the go-kartReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMark Webber back in the go-kart 02:32What's the toughest lesson you've learned in life so far?The best lesson I've learned is not to judge people quickly. The toughest lesson is maybe thinking you're prepared and you're not prepared. You need to be more prepared than you think you do. You do your best at the time but don't trivialize what you might need to be prepared for.Why do you race cars?I loved karting as a youngster and I wanted to move up and drive something quicker, more demanding, more challenging. Testing myself on the hardest tracks in the world and against the best guys in the world, it was an incredible, rewarding profession. The competition was a huge factor. You've seen some of those you raced against during your career -- including Dan Wheldon, Justin Wilson and Jules Bianchi -- killed in motorsport accidents. Why are racing drivers prepared to take the ultimate risk?Well, we have a huge amount of trust in our abilities. We know that it's very, very rare for people to be able to do the job that we do, that's something which we don't trivialize. For a huge majority of my career, I went into the car virtually fearlessIt's a top-end profession. Pushing the cars to the limit, pushing ourselves to the limit, we enjoy being in that tight envelope. We gain a lot of experience.Yes there can be consequences that you might not foresee. For us a big problem is mechanical failure on the car.The three of names you mentioned they were involved in pretty freakish accidents and they can happen. Read: Justin Wilson dies following IndyCar crashIt is motorsport and we are doing 200 mph. So you can have injuries and you can have fatalities unfortunately in our sport. But we accept that. For a huge majority of my career, I went into the car virtually fearless. You've had some big accidents from Le Mans 1999 to Brazil 2014 (both driving sports cars). Is there an intangible thrill you get from driving despite the dangers?You only discover that when you don't do it as often, which I'm doing now although I still race quite a lot with Porsche in sports cars.JUST WATCHEDBehind-the-scenes at the McLaren Technology CentreReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBehind-the-scenes at the McLaren Technology Centre 04:04I've had friends who've had to stop racing because of injuries and you see them struggle with that because it's not on their terms, it's a huge hole for them.In many ways racing drivers are relatively simple but we know the way we see things -- the way we absorb high speed is very rare and unique. That's what is difficult to simulate and you do miss that when you don't have it. You are now a race winner with Porsche in the World Endurance Championships. How does it feel? The biggest difference, and the thing I'm enjoying most at this stage in my career, is the team component.Did I want to do this championship when I was 22, 25, 28, 30? No, I wanted to be in F1 and I loved that. It was a personal and rewarding profession for myself. Now I'm in a team and the drivers are all open. We talk and help each other as much as we can in terms of getting the most out of the car because we share the driving duties. The cars are still very quick. These cars are the closest things to F1 in terms of lap time and that's very important to me. Do you miss anything about F1?Not really. I got the timing perfect, which was really good. Working with (Red Bull chief technical officer) Adrian Newey was really good, those guys get the best out of you. I keep an eye on it. I'm knowledgeable and I like watching the sport but Formula One doesn't consume my life now in the way that it used to. I don't need to smash it down my throat and watch every F1 practice and qualifying session on TV.The beast wins again. 919 @Porsche pic.twitter.com/te2KII4fF6— Mark Webber (@AussieGrit) September 21, 2015 Thankfully I'm still in the car and I'm pretty fortunate to be working with Porsche. They've got a lot of really good guys and we strive to push each other. I don't miss F1 a huge amount. What three things would you change about F1?To make the cars quicker, more access for the fans, and more noise.Is Bernie Ecclestone the man to lead F1 forwards?He's been at the helm for so long and he's done a lot of incredible things for the sport, the drivers have a lot of respect for him because of what he's done.Sebastian got more out of me than I would have ever got out of myself. It was important that he was on the other side of the garage.We've all seen the template he's had to make the sport so exclusive. Is it hard for him to understand some of this new media and digital era? It could be. But there are still a lot of other things that he has nailed and has done well, he loves his old style of going about and deciding where the promoters have these events, and he'll stick to those rules which he's had for a long time, that's just the way he is.Who should replace him?Well, I hope it's not just an army of people to do that job, we still need someone who's at the helm and who's a visionary for the sport. What's your best F1 memory? My first F1 win -- Germany 2009.And your worst?Losing the world championship in 2010.Was Sebastian Vettel the driver that ended your career or who ignited it?He got more out of me than I would have ever got out of myself. It was important that he was on the other side of the garage, and I retired completely on my terms. You and Sebastian were such fierce rivals at Red Bull Racing between 2009 and 2013. How do you reflect on your relationship with Sebastian now?Still pretty positively. At the time it was horrible to manage the whole scenario and it was uncharted waters for the whole team. 2010 was a pivotal year, it was the first time that the team had fought for the championship and the first time Sebastian or I had fought for a title.JUST WATCHEDSebastian Vettel: 'I'm here to win'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSebastian Vettel: 'I'm here to win' 01:51Seb won the first world championship in 2010 and after that it was pretty much a no-brainer that the results were probably going to go that way. He had the momentum and he deserved all that, no question about it, but at the time it was all played out in the media.Those rivalries are great for sport. Sometimes we crashed into each other on the track and there were big flashpoints. It was hard inside the team to keep us two working together.Sebastian won four world titles with Red Bull, will he win more titles with Ferrari?Yes.Should you have left F1 earlier than you did?Probably, maybe one year. It wasn't just Red Bull, I suppose it was the sport. I'd been in the sport so, so long. I was very fortunate to have the career that I did, I really enjoyed operating at that level, and racing against those guys.Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Seb got more out of me than I ever would if I had been racing on my own. Any sportsman or woman can relate to the last two or three years. It's tricky to hang on and have the contradictory gut feeling, "How do I manage getting away from this?"JUST WATCHEDFernando Alonso: The makings of a championReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFernando Alonso: The makings of a champion 04:24Has Alonso made a mistake joining McLaren-Honda?(Sighs). At the moment, but he's going to have to be patient to get the fruits.What's in your luggage for a race weekend?Boys' training gear. I always have running and cycling kits.How did you become a Manchester United fan?It got smashed into me by (long-term partner) Ann at home. She's a huge fan as well. I watched them win the treble in 1999, that was pretty much one of the first football matches I watched in its entirety. You start to have a bit of a dig and I did some research on the Busby Babes and what the club stood for. I know Fergie (former manager Alex Ferguson) wasn't everyone's cup of tea but in the end he delivered so many good results. I've been to United a lot to watch them play.What do you miss most when you're traveling?My dogs. I've got two, Simba and Shadow.My mate. 12 years years old, and still rocking it. pic.twitter.com/b8ZbZ5HaLh— Mark Webber (@AussieGrit) July 1, 2015 How do you relax?I enjoy my coffee, so chilling out having coffee with mates. A bit of training too, I love being in the outdoors. Does the Mark Webber story end here or will you have a sequel to scribble?Well there are many exciting things on the radar. We could do things with the Aussie Grit brand. I'm an outdoor junkie and I do a lot of adrenalin or endurance sports, so we've got some ideas.Who's your favorite F1 driver? Tell us on CNN Sport's Facebook page

Story highlightsReport: Ex-News of the World royal editor says Diana passed him confidential informationClive Goodman says princess sent royal phone book, household details to his officeGoodman denies two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public officeHe says he didn't pay police for the confidential royal directoriesFormer News of the World journalist and royal editor Clive Goodman told a court in London Thursday that Princess Diana had leaked a royal phone book to him, UK media reported.Goodman, who denies two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, told the court that Diana had sent a phone directory and other details about the royal household to the newspaper's office in east London, the Press Association news agency reported.He said Diana, who separated from husband Prince Charles in 1992 after 11 years of marriage, had been in need of "an ally" at a very difficult time, the news agency said."She told me she wanted me to see the scale of her husband's staff and household, compared with others," the Press Association quoted Goodman as saying."She felt she was being swamped by people close to his household. She was looking for an ally to take him on -- to show there were forces that would rage against him."JUST WATCHEDDid Sienna Miller and '007' have a fling?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDid Sienna Miller and '007' have a fling? 01:36JUST WATCHEDDetails of royal messages revealed ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDetails of royal messages revealed 02:48JUST WATCHEDPhone hacking trial has UK media buzzingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPhone hacking trial has UK media buzzing 05:57One so-called "Green Book," containing confidential phone numbers of royals and their staff, arrived at his office in an envelope with his name on it, Goodman said.Goodman told the court he did not pay for the information, the Press Association reported.Charles and Diana divorced in 1996. Diana died a year later, after the car she was riding in slammed into a pillar in a Paris overpass. Her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, and their driver, Henri Paul, also died.Goodman is one of seven people on trial on phone hacking charges. Others include Rebekah Brooks, former chief executive of News International and onetime editor of The Sun and News of the World newspapers, and Andy Coulson, a former News of the World editor who went on to work for Prime Minister David Cameron. They deny the charges against them.The jury has previously been told that Goodman pleaded guilty in 2007 to phone hacking charges.The News of the World was closed down by News International, a UK division of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp., in 2011 amid public outrage over claims its employees had hacked the voice mail of a British schoolgirl who went missing and was later found murdered in 2002.

(CNN)Australia won the battle of the hosts to lift cricket's World Cup for the fifth time with a seven-wicket win over New Zealand in Melbourne Sunday.Chasing a modest 184 for victory in front of a world record crowd at the MCG, Steve Smith hit the winning runs with over 16 overs to spare.Follow @cnnsport Smith had shared a partnership of 112 with his captain Michael Clarke, who was dismissed for 74 with victory assured.Clarke, making his final one-day international appearance, was given a standing ovation the crowd of 93,013 as he walked off after being bowled by Matt Henry.JUST WATCHEDCEO: No one loved cricket more than PhilReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCEO: No one loved cricket more than Phil 01:07An emotional Clarke looked to the sky in silent tribute to his close friend Phillip Hughes, who died after being hit by a cricket ball in a match last November. Read MoreRead: Clarke eulogy at funeral of cricketer HughesThe tragedy cast an pall over the season and overshadowed the build up to cricket's 50-over showpiece, which was staged in New Zealand and Australia."We played this World Cup with 16 players and tonight is dedicated to our little brother Phillip Hughes," said Clarke at the trophy presentation.On top of the world... #GoGold http://t.co/Rurg00v0S5 #cwc15 #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/WGHQ8ZQDh3— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 29, 2015 New Zealand, which had topped its group after a narrow victory over old rivals Australia, was unable to repeat the feat on Australian soil and its fate was almost sealed from the very first over.Its captain and talisman Brendon McCullum was clean bowled for a duck by the outstanding Mitchell Starc and the Kiwis never full recovered from the early body blow.Read: Australia to meet New Zealand in finalJUST WATCHEDCricket giants prepare to faceoff at the World Cup ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCricket giants prepare to faceoff at the World Cup 02:06The Australia pace attack of Starc, Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner shared eight wickets between them, with only Grant Elliott (83) and Ross Taylor (40) offering much resistance.They shared a fourth wicket stand of 111, but the loss of three wickets for one run wrecked the recovery and New Zealand lost its last seven wickets for 33 runs to be bowled out for 183 runs in 45 overs.We played this World Cup with 16 players and tonight is dedicated to our little brother Phillip HughesMichael ClarkeKiwi paceman Trent Boult took the early wicket of Aaron Finch, but David Warner (45), Smith (56 not out) and Clarke clinched the latest triumph for Australia in the World Cup, which is staged every four years.Its victory over defending champions India set up the final showdown, while New Zealand beat South Africa in its semifinal.Boult ended as joint top wicket taker with Starc on 22, while Martin Guptill became the leading runs scorer when he reached 10, surpassing Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka, but it was little consolation for the beaten finalists.

Story highlights "We firmly stand by our program," British network ITV saysSarah Ferguson visited the children's home outside Ankara for a 2008 TV documentary"I stand strong in the face of the rights of children," the duchess saysThe UK Home Office says it has received a request "for mutual legal assistance"The Duchess of York faces charges in Turkey for going undercover and secretly filming children at a state-run home for a documentary, according to the semiofficial Anatolian news agency.The Ankara Prosecutor's office accused the Duchess of York of violating the private lives and rights of five children while filming the program for Britain's ITV network, Anatolian reported Thursday.A hidden camera was used during Sarah Ferguson's visit to the Children's Nurturing and Rehabilitation Center outside Ankara. She wore a disguise of a dark wig and headscarf for the filming.Opening the case, the Ankara chief prosecutor asked for a prison term of up to 22 years, six months, Turkish state TV reported.There are no details on when a trial might take place, if at all.A UK Home Office spokesman said: "It is not our usual policy to comment on individual cases. "However, the Home Office can confirm it has received a formal request for mutual legal assistance concerning Sarah, Duchess of York. It is not appropriate to comment further." The Duchess of York said in a statement: "I stand strong in the face of the rights of children, and I remain steadfast. Children are our future."ITV News spokesman Grant Cunningham said Friday: "ITV was made aware yesterday through media reports of charges related to our program being raised again."Charges were raised in 2008 and we said at that time that we firmly stand by our program and our position remains unchanged."The Duchess was accompanied by one of her two daughters, Princess Eugenie, to film the ITV Tonight program in Turkey.An ITV press statement at the time of the film's broadcast in 2008 said the duchess, as part of a reporting team, had gone "undercover in one of Turkey's worst institutions -- capturing images that will shock and horrify."The "hard-hitting" program was intended to "help investigate the treatment of mentally and physically disabled children," ITV said.The duchess and her other daughter, Beatrice, traveled to Romania to see how state orphanages run for the second half of the program.Sarah is a former member of the royal family, having been married to Queen Elizabeth II's son, Andrew, Duke of York. The couple divorced in 1996, after 10 years of marriage.

Story highlights U.S. spokeswoman: Separatist leader in Donetsk doesn't represent regionUkraine's border service says armed men freed a detained separatist leaderLuhansk's "people's governor" Valeriy Bolotov was wanted by the security service Tensions remain high in eastern Ukraine, with presidential elections just over a week awayArmed men clashed with Ukrainian border guards Saturday after a separatist leader was detained at a checkpoint. He was trying to re-enter the country from Russia, the Ukrainian Border Service said.The incident is the latest violent flare-up in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russia separatists staged a referendum on independence last weekend.Luhansk's self-declared "people's governor" Valeriy Bolotov -- who is wanted by Ukraine's Security Service -- was stopped at the Dovzhanskiy checkpoint, the border service statement said.Following his detention, about 200 armed men arrived at the checkpoint and demanded his release. The border guards tried to avoid bloodshed, but after an altercation, shots were fired. In the ensuing armed assault on the checkpoint, "the attackers" were able to take back Bolotov, the statement said.JUST WATCHEDUkraine ballots can they get to voters?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUkraine ballots can they get to voters? 02:18JUST WATCHEDVoters in eastern Ukraine cast ballotsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVoters in eastern Ukraine cast ballots 02:28JUST WATCHEDLiving in the president's compoundReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLiving in the president's compound 02:01 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 were no casualties in the incident, separatist spokesman Vasiliy Nikitin said. The fight involved about 150 fighters on each side, he said. Bolotov had gone to Russia for medical treatment after being wounded on Tuesday.Tensions remain high across the country's east, with just over a week to go before May 25 presidential elections.Separatist groups have declared "people's republics" in both Luhansk and Donetsk.Neither the West nor the interim government in Kiev consider the two regions' referendum on independence as legitimate.State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. government rejects Denis Pushilin, the self-declared leader of the Donetsk People's Republic, who asserted earlier this week that his region is not only independent, but also will ask to join Russia "These pro-Russia separatists have never been elected and do not represent the people of the region," Psaki said Saturday. "... Any decisions made about Ukraine must be taken by those with lawful authority, representing the citizens of Ukraine as a whole, and not under threat of foreign military intervention."Separatist leader: Donetsk region asking to join RussiaRussia slams Kiev military operationRussia's Foreign Ministry called Saturday for an end to what the Kiev government describes as an anti-terrorist operation against the separatists -- and questioned whether it was possible to hold elections given the militarized situation.In its statement, the ministry accused Ukrainian troops backed by aircraft of trying to storm the town of Slovyansk and of using heavy artillery to shell "civilian installations." "Such punitive action against its own citizens shows the hypocrisy of the Kiev authorities," the statement said, referring to an international pact agreed to last month which called for an end to violence.Ukraine's official news agency Ukrinform cited the nation's Defense Ministry Saturday as saying that Ukrainian forces continue to "fully control" the situation around Slovyansk, a stronghold of pro-Russia militants.The militants have put up 27 barricades around the town, where they still hold a number of public buildings, the Defense Ministry is quoted as saying.Report: Human rights worseningA U.N. report released Friday shows an "alarming deterioration" of human rights in eastern Ukraine, said the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay.The report paints a troubling picture, citing cases of targeted killings, torture, beatings, abductions and sexual harassment, as well as intimidation of the media.It also highlighted serious problems in Crimea, Ukraine's Black Sea peninsula that was annexed by Russia in March, particularly for the minority ethnic Tatar population.Russia's Foreign Ministry dismissed the findings of the U.N. report, saying it showed a "complete lack of objectivity, total inconsistencies and double standards."Kiev and the West have condemned the annexation of Crimea and accuse Moscow of backing the pro-Russia militants in Ukraine's east. Moscow blames the unrest in Ukraine on far-right ultranationalist groups.

Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and CNN political commentator, was a political consultant for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992 and served as a counselor to Clinton in the White House. He is the author of the new book, "You're Fired: The Perfect Guide to Beating Donald Trump." The opinions expressed in this commentary are his. View more opinion articles on CNN. (CNN)Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Appeals Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett, has been part of a shadowy group that recruits like-minded people and seeks to impose strict, even extreme, control over those below them. The group is ultra-conservative and is well on its way to taking control of your sex life, your family life, your economic rights, your voting rights. I am not referring to any religious group -- attacks on Judge Barrett's religious affiliations are, in my opinion, unfair, unwarranted, and unwise. As a faithful Catholic myself, I defend Judge Barrett's right to belong to the ecumenical People of Praise and for that association to never be held against her. What I do hold against her is that she has been part of a different group -- one far more powerful than a religious organization: The Federalist Society. Barrett was a member from 2005-06 and 2014-17. She ended her membership when she joined the appeals court, but she continues to be a panelist and speaker at Federalist Society events.As Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) has said (and I have written in my book), The Federalist Society is more than a group of right-wing lawyers sucking up for clerkships and judicial jobs (though it is that). It is also, Whitehouse alleges, a "vehicle for powerful interests, which seek not to simply 'reorder' the judiciary, but to acquire control of the judiciary to benefit their interests." Having studied the group, Whitehouse has concluded, "The evidence is that the Federalist Society is funded by massive, secret contributions from corporate right-wing groups that have big agendas before the courts." Citing reporting by the Washington Post, Whitehouse and fellow Senate Democrats Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) claim Federalist co-chair Leonard Leo, "is at the heart of a network of more than two dozen right-wing nonprofit entities -- groups that raised over $250 million between 2014 and 2017 alone...to promote far-right policies and legal doctrines and the judicial nominees who advance them." Read MoreOn abortion, Amy Coney Barrett doesn't speak for American ChristiansThe Senate Democrats' study cites Koch Industries and the Charles & David Koch foundations, the Scaife Foundation, the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation, and the US Chamber of Commerce as among the organizations funding The Federalist Society. The analysis suggests that more than a quarter of all Federalist funding flows through a group called Donors Trust, whose "structure hides the real identities of politically motivated megadonors." Whitehouse is a former federal prosecutor and Attorney General of Rhode Island. He is also a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. When Judge Barrett comes before that committee, expect more fireworks about her being part of the Federalist Society than any religious group. After all, many of us believe in an all-powerful God. Few believe in an all-powerful corporation. But those few seem to be in the driver's seat when it comes to selecting the members of the Supreme Court. The Federalist Society, according to former Trump White House Counsel Don McGahn, plays an outsize role in choosing the judges Trump nominates. McGahn told the pressure group as much in 2017, boasting that rather than outsourcing judicial selection to the group, Trump had brought them inside the White House. "Our opponents of judicial nominees frequently claim the president has outsourced his selection of judges. That is completely false," McGahn said. "I've been a member of the Federalist Society since law school — still am. So, frankly, it seems like it's been insourced." Amy Coney Barrett a perfect choice for half of AmericaThe Federalists, lawyers that they are, baffle us with BS about being "originalists," "textualists," and judges who "won't legislate from the bench." Baloney. They seek nothing less than a fundamental reordering of American life. On the economy, for example, Federalist member Justice Neal Gorsuch has ruled that a corporation had the right to fire a truck driver who refused to stay with his trailer, even though remaining with the trailer may have meant freezing to death. Corporations should have the power of life and death over their employees -- in Federalist Society America. In our personal lives, Federalist Society members seek to give government power over whether a woman can choose to have an abortion. Federalist hero Justice Clarence Thomas has written that Roe v. Wade is "without a shred of support" in the Constitution. After Roe, I fear the Federalist group on the court will come after contraception, marriage equality, and privacy itself. Think I'm overreaching? All four of the dissenters in the marriage equality case (Obergefell v. Hodges) were Federalist heroes: Scalia, Roberts, Alito, Thomas. And Justice Thomas has bitterly denounced the very notion of a constitutional right to privacy, excoriating the 1965 case guaranteeing married couples access to contraception as "a free-floating constitutional right to privacy." Thomas argues that "this general 'right of privacy' was never before considered a constitutional guarantee protecting citizens from governmental intrusion." In our civic life, our nation's most powerful Federalist role model, Chief Justice John Roberts, manipulated a fairly small case about an anti-Hillary movie into a wholesale rewrite of the nation's campaign finance laws to benefit big money corporate interests in Citizens United. He also gutted the Voting Rights Act, which Congress had reauthorized in 2006 by a vote of 98-0 in the Senate and 390-33 in the House. Sen. Ted Cruz: We are one vote away from losing our fundamental libertiesSo much for not legislating from the bench. While others are focused on November 3, Election Day, Trump's special interest base has another day in mind: November 10, when the Affordable Care Act comes before the court. If Judge Barrett becomes Justice Barrett, I fully expect her to eviscerate the patient protections in the Affordable Care Act. The case, California v. Texas, seeks to do through the courts what the GOP has failed to do in Congress: destroy the Affordable Care Act and its protections for Americans with pre-existing health conditions. This case is for all the marbles -- or, at least, a lot of them. The Center for American Progress estimated last year that 135 million Americans under the age of 65 have a pre-existing condition. The popularity of that provision has, I believe, made it politically impossible for elected Republicans to abolish it, despite at least 70 attempts. But rather than live with it, they want unelected, unaccountable judges -- with lifetime appointments -- to do their dirty work for them. Sadly, Judge Amy Coney Barrett seems willing to do so. "Chief Justice Roberts pushed the Affordable Care Act beyond its plausible meaning to save the statute," Ms. Barrett said in 2017, when Roberts was part of a court majority that ruled Obamacare is constitutional. Judge Barrett's selection may prove to be a big win for the base of Trump's party -- and by "base," I do not refer to the people who wear MAGA hats and risk their lives at Covid-19 super-spreader rallies. The real base: corporate powers who hide in the shadows and have nothing but contempt for those MAGA folks. Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookThose shadowy corporate interests are the winners in the Barrett selection. Judge Barrett could form a phalanx of Federalist icons that includes Roberts and Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh. Together they will have the power to make corporate interests even more dominant. The rest of us will simply be their handmaidens.

(CNN)The premier of Victoria plunged the region into a "state of disaster" on Sunday, announcing even stricter lockdown measures, introducing a nightly curfew and banning virtually all trips outdoors after Australia's second largest state recorded 671 new infections in a single day.Daniel Andrews told Victorians at a news conference that "we have to do more, and we have to do more right now," as the state battles to contain a devastating coronavirus outbreak that had already stripped residents of their freedoms, livelihoods and social interactions and made it an outlier from the rest of the country."Where you slept last night is where you'll need to stay for the next six weeks," Andrews said, announcing a curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. beginning Sunday evening and moving Metropolitan Melbourne into stage four lockdown measures.In that part of the state, only one person per household will be allowed to leave their homes once a day -- outside of curfew hours -- to pick up essential goods, and they must stay within a 5 kilometer radius of their home. Melburnians had already been under strict measures for most of July after the area was identified as the epicenter of Australia's second wave.The draconian new rules were spurred by more bleak Covid-19 figures. Seven new deaths were announced on Saturday, bringing the state's total to 123, and there have been 11,557 confirmed infections.Read MoreVictoria's state premier Daniel Andrews announces the new measures on Sunday.In addition, Andrews said the state has 760 "mystery cases," where "we cannot trace back the source of that person's infection." "Those mysteries and that community transmission is in many respects our biggest challenge and the reason why we need to move to a different set of rules," Andrews said. "The whole way through this, I promised to be upfront. So I'll say this now. This will be imperfect. And for a little while, there'll be more questions than answers," he added of the swath of new measures.The announcement caps an intensely difficult year for the state; Victoria last used its state of disaster distinction when bushfires were tearing through much of the region at the turn of the year. Andrews accepted that residents "will feel scared and sad and worried," but told them: "We are Victorians -- and we will get through this as Victorians. With grit, with guts and together.""I've had the job of leading this state for almost six years -- more than 2,000 days," Andrews said. "And today is by far the hardest day -- and the hardest decision."He noted that there will be "common-sense exceptions" to the lockdown rules, such as if a person's nearest supermarket is further than five kilometers away or if a parents needs to take young children with them when they go for a walk.Exercise can be taken for up to an hour a day, with one other person, but still within five kilometers of a person's home. All of the restrictions can be relaxed for "work, medical care or compassionate reasons."A resident of a care facility is taken to hospital on Tuesday as coronavirus grips Victoria. Patrolling police officers have been a frequent sight in Melbourne, a city of 5 million, in recent weeks -- as authorities seek to enforce rules on leaving home and on the mandatory wearing of face masks.Outside of Metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria will be placed under stage three restrictions starting at midnight on Wednesday meaning cafes, bars and restaurants must be closed. All schools in Victoria will also move back to online learning."All new restrictions will be in effect for six weeks from the date they are imposed.The state has been battered by the coronavirus pandemic far more severely than the rest of Australia in recent weeks, but other officials are on alert as they hope to prevent a second wave in their states.In New South Wales, Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Sunday "strongly recommended" that people wear masks in enclosed spaces where there is no social-distancing, at places of worship, and in areas with high community transmission. The state recorded 12 new cases on Sunday.CNN's Isaac Yee contributed reporting.

London (CNN)British Prime Minister Boris Johnson could be forced out of office next week as opposition lawmakers try to join forces to replace him with an interim administration in order to secure another Brexit delay.Senior Scottish National Party (SNP) MP Stewart Hosie told the BBC on Saturday there was a real chance a House of Commons no confidence vote could take place in the government next week. If Johnson lost that vote, he could be forced to let Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn try to form a minority government.Brexit is a tool for Boris Johnson to win an election. The EU is in no mood to do him any favorsCorbyn himself is a divisive opposition leader, having faced criticism for his vague Brexit stance and failure to stamp out anti-Semitism in the Labour Party. His approval rating of minus 60 points makes him the least popular of any opposition leader on record, and support for Labour is stuck in the mid-20s -- well short of the level required to win a majority in the UK Parliament.Hosie warned that sending Corbyn to Downing Street may be the only way to ensure the UK does not crash out of the European Union on October 31. For a vote of no confidence to succeed in Parliament, all opposition parties would need to support it.Read More"We have to do that because there is now no confidence that the Prime Minister will obey the law and seek the extension which Parliament voted for only a few weeks ago," Hosie told the BBC. Johnson has consistently used the controversial phrase "surrender act" to describe the legislation that Parliament passed to prevent a no-deal Brexit, which requires him to ask for an extension if he cannot get a new deal with the EU by October 19.Lawmakers have called Johnson's language "disgusting" in the Commons, with former Conservative MP Justine Greening calling it "deeply disrespectful" to Parliament.Johnson has said he calls the law "surrender act" because it was "intended to damage this country's negotiation position.""It would oblige us to stay in the EU for month after month at a cost of a billion pounds per month, it would take away from this country the ability to decide how long that extension would be, and it would give that power to the EU, it would absolutely undermine our ability to continue to negotiate because it takes away our ability to walk away from the negotiation," Johnson said.Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking at the Labour Conference in Brighton.While the SNP's Hosie suggested that the interim administration could be led by Corbyn, he acknowledged that the Liberal Democrats and many Conservative rebels who had the whip withdrawn have made it clear they would not put the Labour leader into Downing Street -- even if it was for a short period.However, Hosie warned it may be lawmakers' only choice if they're serious about blocking a no-deal Brexit."If we are serious about the extension that is the only game in town," Hosie said. "This is a short term procedure in order to get the extension to Article 50 and then to have an election."[The Liberal Democrats] need to stop playing political games [and] get on board with everyone else. If this is the only game in town, they need to play it or nothing," he added.Corbyn said Saturday that he had a "productive meeting" with opposition parties on Thursday, according to PA. The Labour leader reiterated to reporters that "our priority, all of us, is to prevent a no-deal exit from the European Union on the 31st."CNN's Zahid Mahmood contributed to this report.

(CNN)The Polish government has imposed a near-total ban on abortions, including the termination of pregnancies with fetal defects, delivering a major blow to pro-choice advocates in one of Europe's most devout Catholic countries. The unexpected announcement that the ruling would take effect on Wednesday sparked nationwide protests, despite a ban on gatherings due to Covid-19 restrictions. On Thursday the government extended the restrictions a further two weeks until February 14.More demonstrations against the ruling have been planned for Thursday and Friday in the capital Warsaw and towns across the country. The ruling, which was handed down by Poland's constitutional tribunal court in October, states that abortions may only be permitted in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is in danger. That announcement sparked weeks of mass protests, some of the largest the country had seen since the Solidarity movement of the 1980s, which helped end Communist rule, analysts say.Read MoreAbortion has emerged as one of the most divisive issues since PiS took power in 2015, promising poorer, older and less-educated Poles a return to a traditional society mixed with generous welfare policies, Reuters reports.The court's verdict was published in the official gazette late on Wednesday."This idiotic ruling will not prevent abortions," said Cezary Jasiński, a 23-year-old student, standing in front of the Constitutional Tribunal building in central Warsaw.A demonstrator gestures as people take part in a pro-choice protest in the center of Warsaw, on January 27, as part of a nationwide wave of protests against Poland's near-total ban on abortion.Last year's protests quickly morphed into an eruption of anger against the government, particularly among young people, suggesting PiS may face a fresh challenge from new voters in coming years.On Wednesday, officials said the government would now focus on assisting parents of disabled children, although PiS as well as its centrist predecessors have been accused by critics of not doing enough in that regard."The state can no longer take a life away only because someone is sick, disabled, in poor health," PiS lawmaker Bartlomiej Wroblewski said.The party denies opposition criticism that it had influenced the court, called the Constitutional Tribunal. It is one of the judicial bodies PiS overhauled during reforms that the European Union said has politicized the courts."No law-abiding government should respect this ruling," Borys Budka, leader of Poland's largest opposition party, the centrist Civic Platform, told reporters.Budka criticized PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński on Twitter: "By setting fire to Poland, he wants to cover up the traces of the government's defeat in the fight against covid, the failure of the vaccination program and the drama of entrepreneurs. But this time, he will not escape the responsibility."Access to abortion has declined even without the legislative curbs as more doctors refuse to perform them on religious grounds and many women seek abortions abroad.Pro-choice protesters hold banners as they march towards the Law and Justice Party Headquarters on January 27, 2021 in Warsaw, Poland.In a justification published on Wednesday, the tribunal left open the possibility of the parliament regulating some circumstances covered by the law.Marek Suski, a PiS lawmaker, said the party would consider introducing new rules that could allow the most extreme fetal deformities to be excluded. But political commentators say consensus between PiS and its arch-conservative governing allies would be difficult to achieve."In cases when the fetus doesn't have a skull or has no chance to live outside the womb, there should be a choice. We will work on this," Suski told public radio.Opinion surveys have shown some decline in PiS popularity in recent months, but an opinion poll by the government-affiliated CBOS pollster showed it edging back up to 35% this month, from 30% in October. PiS and its two small parliamentary allies won re-election in 2019 with a 44% share of the vote.

(CNN)It's back on. Or so it would seem.Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather is expected to once again come out of retirement -- this time for a one-off, three-round exhibition match on New Year's Eve against a kickboxer less than half his age. The bout, the main event on a 14-fight card to be held in Saitama, north of Tokyo, has been the subject of will-he, won't-he speculation, with Mayweather distancing himself from the promotion in November -- saying he had been misled about the conditions. His change of heart was reportedly reversed when Nobuyuki Sakakibara, head of RIZIN -- the organization hosting the fight -- flew to Mayweather's Las Vegas home for 11th-hour talks, agreeing to rules that would allow the boxer's legacy to remain unsullied.With everything seemingly settled, the 50-0 legend -- who's been assured that, as there are no official judges and no winner recorded unless there's a knockout, his unbeaten record will remain untouched -- has been coaxed back to Japan. US boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr and kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa of Japan pose on the stage during a weigh-in event at Saitama Super Arena.Read MorePosting to his official Instagram account from Tokyo on Monday, Mayweather said he would take home $9 million if he fought."What if I told you I was making $9,000,000 for 9 minutes of sparring in Tokyo Japan would you do the same if you were me? I like to call it a 9 minute walk thru," he said. View this post on Instagram What if I told you I was making $9,000,000 for 9 minutes of sparring in Tokyo Japan would you do the same if you were me? I like to call it a 9 minute walk thru. #Tokyo #Japan A post shared by Floyd Mayweather (@floydmayweather) on Dec 30, 2018 at 5:12pm PST Lingering doubtsBut even as the clock ticks down towards fight time, doubts remain over whether he'll actually show up. Mayweather did appear at a Tokyo press conference ahead of the event, as well as a promotional event with his opponent, the highly rated 20-year-old kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa -- also known as "Ninja Boy." Floyd Mayweather Jr. up for boxing bout with Khabib NurmagomedovEven Nasukawa, fresh from training in Las Vegas, has hedged, speaking hours before his opponent in Tokyo."I believe the fight will happen," he told Japanese media, referring to the doubts over his opponent's promise to show. "And I'll just perform to my 100 percent. I've been one that's essentially accepted challenges, but this time I'm a challenger. And I have no problem mentally." JUST WATCHEDMayweather: "I don't need to fight" in the UFCReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMayweather: "I don't need to fight" in the UFC 02:40Tale of the tapeAssuming the fight goes ahead, the edge is definitely with veteran Mayweather. Standard boxing rules prohibit any kicks -- Nasukawa reportedly faces a $5 million fine should he lash out with his legs -- and Mayweather holds a significant weight advantage. That said, Nasukawa has the speed and intensity to cause Mayweather problems.Floyd Mayweather Jr. would 'get smashed' by Khabib Nurmagomedov, says UFC bossThe idea of a cross-discipline fight is not new -- Muhammad Ali once fought Japanese wrestler Antonio Inoki, and Mayweather himself boxed the UFC's Conor McGregor in his last pro fight -- but interest, especially in Japan, has been high since Nasukawa was assigned to the fight. The youngster, who has a 28-0 record, said when the bout was announced that he relished the chance to meet Mayweather in the ring."It's the biggest moment in my life and I want to be the man who changes history. I'll do that with these fists, with one punch -- just watch," Nasukawa boasted. JUST WATCHEDFloyd Mayweather's most lucrative fightsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFloyd Mayweather's most lucrative fights 00:46Another paydaySo assuming he doesn't perform a last-minute about-face, what changed the former five-division world boxing champion's mind and coaxed him out of retirement? While he's been a consummate professional in an enduring career that's seen him garner 28 KOs, the chance for one more payday presumably ranks high for a man whose nickname is "Money." DJ Khaled, Floyd Mayweather Jr. charged with promoting cryptocurrency without disclosing they were paidWhile the purse hasn't been officially disclosed, Sakakibara said it would be the largest for an exhibition fight. It's thought to be as much as $18 million, which isn't out of the realms of possibility following Mayweather's social media post stating he would get half that much for the fight.Mayweather's assumed participation has been a huge driver for RIZIN, which has held 13 major events since its founding and is considered the largest MMA promoter in Japan.Mayweather speaks to the media during a press conference at a Tokyo hotel on December 29.In November, Mayweather told CNN "Talk Asia's" Anna Coren that it had "always been" one of his goals "to go outside the US and compete as a professional in what I love to do."Not short on confidenceThe legend's confidence remains as untouchable as in his heyday. At the pre-fight press conference in Tokyo, Mayweather said the bout would be "just another day.""I don't have to work hard in the gym for three rounds," he said. "I can basically do three rounds in my sleep, so I don't worry about that."Mayweather says he will fight Pacquiao againMayweather is also confident his record of staying on his feet won't be disturbed. "Throughout my career in boxing, as far as amateur, as far as professional, I never touched the canvas once," he said."Me getting knocked out or me getting knocked down ... I don't worry about it at all. If that does happen, I mean that's entertainment. That's all we need to see."New Year's TV events are a huge part of the Japanese cultural landscape, and most Japanese broadcasters run special programming.Combat sports have long been a key element of the evening's TV entertainment and consistently receive high ratings. The official stream of the matchup, on FITE.TV, won't show it in numerous countries, including the US, Mexico, Canada and Japan. It will be broadcast on network TV within Japan.

Rahila Gupta is an author and journalist. She has written several books, including "Don't Wake Me: The Ballad of Nihal Armstrong" and "Enslaved: The New British Slavery." Follow her on Twitter: @RahilaG. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely hers. Read more opinion at CNN. (CNN)Women have always been punching bags for men's anger in the patriarchal systems we live in. It comes as no surprise that rates of violence are up everywhere as the pandemic and its lockdowns push women further into men's deadly embrace. In Turkey, with its already high rate of femicide -- more than 400 women are killed every year -- the release of violent men from prisons during lockdown may have further aggravated the situation. Several incidents of domestic violence were reported including the killing of one woman. Women took to the streets recently to express their fury at the brutal murder of a university student, Pinar Guletkin, by her ex-boyfriend who strangled her, stuffed her into a barrel, burned it and poured concrete over it. Despite this appalling record on femicide, CNN reported last month that Turkey is debating its withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe (CoE) legally binding set of guidelines on combating and preventing violence against women. Critics of the treaty in Turkey claim it erodes "family values" and promotes "LGBT lifestyles." Women's groups in the country, fearful that violence against women will increase if the Istanbul Convention is dropped, have organized mass rallies. Wearing protective masks, women lined the streets of Istanbul to protest.But what is the evidence that international instruments work, especially in the absence of a commitment to gender equality? The CoE's 2018 report on Turkey found that it was in breach of the Istanbul Convention in several ways. However, there are no real repercussions, no decrease in trade or aid. Feride Acar, a former president of the group that monitors the implementation of the Convention, said limply that "it will have some negative consequences in terms of the CoE's perspective on Turkey." That is hardly likely to derail President Erdogan. Read MoreSince the failed coup attempt of 2016, Erdogan's assault on democracy has redoubled with thousands of academics, journalists and soldiers behind bars without due process. Violence against the Kurds continues both in southeastern Turkey and in the invasion and occupation of Rojava, across the border in Syria, particularly targeting Kurdish women. Such deep-rooted state misogynism does not bode well for women seeking protection from domestic violence. Turkish President Erdogan and his government's record of women's rights has come under scrutiny.It is the Kurdish regions that have been leading the way in radical policies to support women facing violence that go far beyond the Istanbul Convention. Municipalities in Kurdish enclaves in Turkey, such as Diyarbakir and Mardin in the southeast, exploited the already existing, powerful, local mayoral system to introduce their own women-friendly democratic administrations as far back as 2007.Local government there was run by a system of co-mayors, a man and a woman, a gender balance to be found at all levels. They introduced gender-responsive budgeting in recognition of the fact that poverty traps women in violent situations. They introduced gender-sensitive employment contracts -- any married man found to be violent would have half his salary paid to his wife; a man's contract would be terminated if polygamy or a child marriage were discovered or if he prevented his daughter or sister from going to school. They also set up and worked with women's support centers to minimize violence, unlike the central Turkish government, which represses women's groups who are critical of government by imprisonment of key activists and financial fines. Now those are what I call teeth. Of course, those teeth can be and have been pulled by Erdogan. A number of democratically elected Kurdish mayors have been arrested and replaced with government trustees who reversed these women-friendly policies.Across the border, Rojava -- an autonomous administration set up by the Kurds that is technically in Syria -- did not need the Istanbul Convention to set standards on violence against women either. Rojava: A safe haven in the middle of Syria's brutal warRojava's laws and policies arise from an understanding that patriarchy and capitalism go hand in hand, that both must be toppled in order to make progress on the issue of violence against women. The region understands that a culture of equality has to run right throughout society to minimize violence and that awareness raising across the population must be consistently carried out.Rojava has produced a battery of laws to criminalize domestic violence, so-called honor crimes and killings, forced marriage, child marriage and polygamy. SARA, a Rojava-based group that supports women escaping violence, believes that violent incidents have halved since the passing of this legislation. When a man is convicted of domestic violence offences, he is put in prison and given gender equality classes. It is only when he appears to have been rehabilitated that he is taken back to his wife -- if she agrees to have him back -- and the situation is monitored by the local commune's conflict resolution committee. I am not arguing that the Istanbul Convention does not have its uses. Even its minimal standards are too radical for misogynist states like Turkey. What I am saying is that its uses are limited and feminist energies would be better spent in campaigning for their local municipal areas to implement the good practice models outlined above. For the moment, the Rojava women's revolution has the freedom of action that has been snatched from Turkey's Kurdish enclaves, despite their attempt to fly below Erdogan's radar. Long may it continue to inspire us all.

Story highlightsObama and Putin could come face to face in France at D-Day commemoration French President Hollande dined with Obama before separate dinner with Putin No formal talks have been announced; Putin says he won't avoid anyone Obama said he would reiterate comments on Ukraine if leaders meetThe political pyrotechnics of a face-to-face encounter between U.S. President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin could eclipse a spectacular fireworks show set to illuminate the Normandy coastline to commemorate the D-Day anniversary.French President Francois Hollande has gone to great lengths to prevent such an uncomfortable meeting. On Thursday evening, Hollande dined with Obama before hosting a separate dinner with Putin. Talk about awkward dinner parties. Obama and Putin are among the leaders invited to take part in French ceremonies Friday marking the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings, which helped change the course of World War II.The two are likely to cross paths in France, Obama said, but no formal talks have been announced. If they should speak, Obama has said, he will give Putin the same message on Ukraine that he has given him in phone calls over past weeks and in his public statements. On Thursday, after a meeting of G7 leaders in Brussels, Belgium, from which Russia was excluded, Obama offered stern words about Russia's actions in Ukraine.JUST WATCHEDObama warns Russia over UkraineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHObama warns Russia over Ukraine 01:04JUST WATCHEDHow would JFK handle Ukraine crisis?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow would JFK handle Ukraine crisis? 03:44JUST WATCHEDVideo emerges of airstrike aftermathReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVideo emerges of airstrike aftermath 02:23Putin "has a chance to get back into a lane of international law," Obama said.Obama said Putin could start by recognizing Ukraine's new President-elect Petro Poroshenko, stopping the flow of weapons over the border into Ukraine and ceasing Russian support for pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine.Putin, in an interview with French television station TF1, did not discount the possibility of meeting with Obama. "As for my relations with Barack Obama, I have no reason whatsoever to believe he is not willing to talk to the President of Russia," he said. "But ultimately, it is his choice. I am always ready for dialogue, and I think that dialogue is the best way to bridge any gaps."The D-Day events also could bring Putin and Ukraine's Poroshenko face to face. Asked if he would speak with Ukraine's new leader, Putin said he will not "evade" Poroshenko or anyone else."There will be other guests, and I'm not going to avoid any of them. I will talk with all of them," he said, according to the Kremlin's translation.

Since the 2016 Brexit referendum we've been following a group of people in Romford, a town that overwhelmingly voted Leave, tracking their hopes and fears. These are their stories.London (CNN)It's a bone-chilling winter's morning in Romford, and mixed martial arts fighters Adam Larkin and Zeb McKinnon are in the midst of a verbal sparring match before their real workout begins."I bet you voted Leave, didn't you," Larkin says to McKinnon with a friendly punch on the shoulder."Me? Absolutely," replies McKinnon to the Remain voter, flashing him a devilish black mouthguard grin.McKinnon is in the majority in Romford, a town on the easternmost fringes of London with one of the highest numbers of Brexit voters in the United Kingdom. Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters Adam Larkin and Zeb McKinnon train at Romford's Mixed Martial Arts Clinic.But with just days until Parliament is set to vote on Theresa May's Brexit deal -- expected to be rejected -- the Prime Minister also has a fight on her hands.Read MoreThe clock is ticking on the UK's exit from the European Union on March 29 -- whether that will be with May's deal, no deal, or another scenario altogether is anyone's guess.Many Romford voters told CNN they felt sorry for the Prime Minister, caught up in Westminster's version of snakes and ladders.More than two years after the country voted to leave the EU, they say it's time for politicians to back her and "get on with the job." The Leave and Remain sparring partners Zeb McKinnon supports Leave, while his training buddy Adam Larkin voted Remain.Mid-morning at Romford's Mixed Martial Arts Clinic, and already around a dozen men have steam visibly rising from their heads in the chilly training ring.Among them are Brazilian jujitsu devotees Larkin, 42, and McKinnon, 39. With their separate blue and white kit, and contrasting heights, they couldn't look more different -- and their opinions on Brexit are just as opposed.Deal or no-deal, lorry driver McKinnon isn't bothered. Above all, he just wants the UK to "close the borders.""Immigration was the reason this country voted for Brexit," he said. "So if they don't close the borders, it's totally pointless."Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters work up at a sweat at the clinic that's been in Romford for over a decade.Meanwhile Larkin, Remain voter and head of operations at a local digital communications company, said a "deal needs to be done" to end the uncertainty of the past two years."I get frustrated by what looks like infighting among MPs -- it looks like nobody wants anything to succeed," he said.Larkin's biggest fear was that the political "bickering" would lead to a second referendum and "drag things out" for years to come."We need to be decisive and move on."The Pie and Mash shop manager with European tiesRobins Pie and Mash shop manager Ernie Holmes, 63, employs many European staff. A short walk from the fighting ring, Robins Pie and Mash shop still has a queue of white-haired customers spilling over from the lunchtime rush.Manager Ernie Holmes has for the past 35 years been at the helm of the family-owned cafe, which was founded eight decades ago. His staff includes a mixture of Eastern European workers -- some of whom have worked there for more than 15 years. But the Leave voter doesn't think his staff will be forced to pack their bags anytime soon, instead predicting nothing more than a "visa change" once Brexit happens."People seem to be fed up with it -- all we hear in the news is 'Brexit, Brexit, Brexit,'" said Holmes.Two of the father-of-four's children live in Spain, and he said he hoped migration "back and forth" would continue after Brexit. But Holmes also wanted to see a deal that "regulated" immigration -- and didn't leave the door open to "an influx of people coming at once.""Theresa May was thrown in the deep end, and now she's just trying to please everybody," he said, a constant stream of pies marooned in a sea of mushy peas emerging from the kitchen behind him."I think she's done the best negotiations with what she had."The political campaigner who wants a general electionRemain voter and Romford Labour party chair, Angelina Leatherbarrow. Seated among the colorful mismatched retro furniture of Romford's community arts and cafe hub -- called the "Retailery" -- Remain voter Angelina Leatherbarrow floats a completely different scenario."I would really like to see the House of Commons vote against her (May's) deal," said the 42-year-old business development manager of library services at a neighboring borough. Leatherbarrow's ideal scenario would be a "vote of no confidence so we can get a general election."Leatherbarrow with her daughters Martha (left) and Gwen. She said other issues -- like homelessness and poverty -- had fallen by the wayside in the face of "political handbag fighting" over May's deal.The mum-of-two also ran as a Labour candidate in the staunchly Conservative local elections, and said she'd had Daily Mail newspaper clippings on immigration shoved through her letterbox. "I think the way Brexiteers are being represented on TV -- of being loud and shouty -- has started to normalize that and make some people think it is legitimate to air those views," she said.Leatherbarrow didn't see any version of the deal that was better than one we have now -- "being in Europe."The market trader against a vote altogetherRomford Market stall trader and Leave voter Tony Geary admitted he felt "a bit" sorry for Theresa May.Just outside the Retailery, Romford's famous outdoor market is in full swing, with row after row of stall owners braving the cold to sell everything from flowers to leather goods. Tony Geary, his face tightly wrapped in a scarf, pins a yellow sign emblazoned with the words "Big January Sale" to his clothing stall, MGM Fashions.If it were up to the 51-year-old Leave voter, there would be no parliamentary vote on Tuesday at all.A babywear stall at Romford Market."Theresa May has put forward what she thinks is right for the country in her eyes," he said. "And that should be enough, we should go with that."Given the vote must go ahead, Geary believed Parliament should back May's deal and deliver Brexit -- for better or worse."It's like having a boss at work you don't get on with," said Geary, who has worked on Romford Market for almost two decades. "It doesn't make the whole thing work properly. So they should respect her, go with her, and deliver for the country."Just what MPs will deliver on Tuesday -- and the crucial months to come -- is anybody's guess.

Story highlightsThe Arizona Cardinals hire Jen Welter to the team's coaching staffShe will work with inside linebackers and will coach throughout training camp and the preseason as a coaching internWelter made history as the first woman to play a nonkicking position in a men's professional football league as a running back (CNN)Another barrier has been broken in the NFL -- and for women in sports.On Monday, the Arizona Cardinals announced the hiring of Jen Welter to the team's coaching staff. It is believed that she is the first woman to hold a coaching position of any kind in the NFL. Welter will work with the Cardinals' inside linebackers and will coach throughout training camp and the preseason as a training camp/preseason intern."Coaching is nothing more than teaching," Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said Monday, according to the team's website. "One thing I have learned from players is, 'How are you going to make me better? If you can make me better, I don't care if you're the Green Hornet, man, I'll listen.' I really believe she'll have a great opportunity with this internship through training camp to open some doors for her."I'm honored to be part of the #BIRDGANG! Love the #footballfamily here with the #ArizonaCardinals #NFL... http://t.co/vPdmyKH2hi— Dr. Jen Welter (@jwelter47) July 28, 2015 Welter joins the short list of women's coaches in the "big four" professional sports in North America. The most notable is Becky Hammon, an assistant coach with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs. Hammon recently made news when she led the Spurs to the Las Vegas Summer League title this month as head coach.Welter also isn't the only female pioneer in the NFL this season. Sarah Thomas is the NFL's first female official, and she will be a line judge for the 2015 season. Read MoreIn February 2014, Welter made history when she suited up for the Texas Revolution of the Indoor Football League and played running back. In her first carry, the 5-foot-2-inch, 130-pounder was pummeled for a loss on the play, getting stuffed by Cedric Hearvey -- who is listed as 6-foot-4, 245 pounds -- of the North Texas Crunch. But Welter got right back up, and she immediately showed wasn't afraid."I said (to Hearvey), 'Is that all you got?' " Welter said after the play, according to The Dallas Morning News. "They (Crunch players) were getting all alive, and I had to say something. I didn't want them to think I was intimidated."Welter made history again this past February, becoming the first female coach in a men's professional football league when hired by the Revolution to coach linebackers and special teams.At the NFL owners meetings in Arizona in March, Arians was asked about the possibility of women coaching in the NFL."The minute they can prove they can make a player better, they'll be hired," he said.Soon after that, according to the Cardinals website, Arians heard from the coach of the Revolution, saying the organization had a woman on the coaching staff that was worth a look.Welter played 14 seasons of professional football, mostly in the Women's Football Alliance. She holds a master's degree in sport psychology and a doctorate in psychology, and she won two gold medals playing for Team USA in the International Federation of American Football Women's World Championship in 2010 and 2013.

Story highlights Camps appear dismantled, but about 50 to 60 migrants remain at onePolice are trying to shift migrants from makeshift camps near CalaisThe migrants don't want to leave, won't take steps to tackle a scabies outbreak, authorities sayCalais is a magnet for migrants seeking to reach Britain or claim asylum in FrancePolice in northern France moved in Wednesday on makeshift migrant camps near the port of Calais, prompting a standoff with the defiant residents -- many of whom have fled conflicts in Syria, Sudan and Eritrea.By late afternoon, a CNN producer observed that the migrants' tents had all been destroyed. One activist told CNN police were responsible. About a dozen police officers remained, along with 50 to 60 migrants who didn't know where to go. A local prefect reportedly told the migrants they can stay at the camp until Thursday. But Thursday is Ascension Day, a public holiday, so it's not clear if the migrants will be cleared out before Friday.Hundreds of migrants had gathered in the ramshackle camps, some seeking to claim asylum in France and others hoping to find a way to reach British soil.Mattheu Adt of international humanitarian organization Medecins du Monde, told CNN from one of the camps that police had asked the migrants to move to an undisclosed location, but that the migrants were refusing. Authorities also asked the migrants to shower and decontaminate their clothes, amid concern over an outbreak of the contagious skin condition, scabies, he said.Migrants refused to do that, Adt said, because of concerns their tattered tents would be gone when they returned.JUST WATCHEDBoat carrying migrants sinks off LibyaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBoat carrying migrants sinks off Libya 02:02JUST WATCHEDVideo shows naked migrants being hosedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHVideo shows naked migrants being hosed 01:53"They fear they will be arrested at the showers," said Cécile Bossy, an activist with Medecins du Monde.She said migrants were given scabies medication Tuesday night but didn't understand what it was for.Adt said the makeshift camp where he is located housed about 600 people, roughly half of them Syrian, and between 200 and 300 Eritrean and Sudanese.A spokesman for the charity Secours Catholique in Calais confirmed that police had arrived at about 6:30 a.m. local time at a camp and asked the migrants there to board buses to go to "decontamination" areas.Many of the migrants refused, he said. Earlier, police destroyed another camp -- which housed about 300 people -- with bulldozers, he said. The migrants have been involved in discussions with authorities but don't know where to go, he said.Official: Dismantling under wayAn official in Calais told CNN that authorities planned to dismantle the migrants' makeshift camps by the end of Thursday. Roughly 550 migrants lived in those camps, said Georges Bos, the associate chief of staff of the Pas-de-Calais prefecture -- the local branch of the French government."By tonight there will be no possibility left to go to these camps," he said.Bos said authorities had offered to take the migrants by bus to places where they could shower, adding that dismantling the camps was necessary to prevent further spread of scabies.He said that the prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region had told migrants their immigration status would not be checked and that no arrests would be made.It's not the first time French authorities have sought to move on the migrants who congregate in the area around Calais, many hoping to smuggle themselves into Britain inside freight trucks going across the English Channel. A camp in Sangatte was dismantled in 2002 and another known as the Jungle was broken up in 2009.But after each clearance effort, new makeshift camps spring up. 'Deafening silence'Medecins du Monde is one of a number of humanitarian and rights groups that signed an open letter to French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Tuesday voicing concern over the plight of the migrants."The situation in Calais is worsening in a deafening silence," it said. "About 700 foreigners, for the most part of Syrian, Afghan and Eritrean origin, fleeing conflicts, violence and persecution, are installed in the town."About 550 of those migrants are living in makeshift camps, the letter said, having claimed asylum in France or waiting to attempt the crossing to Britain. "They live in catastrophic sanitary conditions which have encouraged the development of a scabies epidemic." The groups were "stunned" last week to learn that authorities planned to clear the camps and tackle the scabies outbreak on Wednesday, the letter said -- without coming up with any alternative place of shelter for the large majority of people concerned."We can anticipate the effects of this expulsion ... inappropriate medical care, people wandering on the streets of Calais, daily police checks, violence, despair and the taking of growing risks to attempt a passage to the United Kingdom, which, since the start of the year, have already caused the deaths of several exiles," it said.The groups urge the French government to come up with a plan to tackle the sanitary situation in the camps while living up to its responsibility to protect the migrants on its soil.The letter was also sent to the French interior minister and the minister for health and social affairs.Would-be immigrants storm Spanish enclave on Moroccan coastItaly's Navy rescues 6,000 migrants in just four daysThe deadliest trek: Dying in the desert

Story highlightsMahdi Hashi's family wants to know how he came to be charged in a U.S. courtHashi came to Britain as a six-year-old, fleeing Somalia's civil warHis family claims he was pressured by Britain's MI5 secret service to become a spyHe vanished from Somalia in 2011 and reappeared in Brooklyn, charged with terror offensesMahdi Hashi came to Britain with his family as a six-year-old, fleeing the civil war in Somalia.He grew up in London. But his family says that when he turned 16, Britain's MI5 secret service asked Hashi to become a spy -- willingly or not. "They always used to tell him, 'you either work for us or you are guilty of being a terrorist,'" his father, Mohamad Hashi, told CNN.Mahdi Hashi filed an official complaint and his local lawmaker met with MI5 representatives. But, his family says, the pressure persisted. His father, returning from a pilgrimage to the Haj, was stopped at the airport by two people he claims identified themselves as working for MI5."I told them, listen, I'm on your side. As a father, I don't want my son to be in danger. And I don't want him to harm anyone. Put on the table what kind of proof you have against my son. Let's cooperate and work together as a parent," he said."But they never had anything -- which is what makes me believe that they had another agenda. Which is the one he always mentioned. That they want him to be an informant and work for them." This pressure was the reason for his son's return to Somalia, Mohamad Hashi said. "He never had peace here. He was being harassed all the time." Mahdi Hashi traveled to Egypt and Syria as a teenager. Then, in 2010, his family says, Hashi returned to Mogadishu. He got married, had a child and then, in December 2011, he disappeared.Stripped of citizenshipIn July last year, his family received a letter from Britain's Home Office stating that Hashi had been stripped of his citizenship for the "public good.""The reason for this decision is that the Security Service assess that you have been involved in Islamist extremism and present a risk to the national security of the United Kingdom due to your extremist activities," the letter says.Then, on December 21, 2012 -- almost a year after he disappeared -- Hashi turned up in a U.S. criminal court in Brooklyn, New York, charged with "material support" of a terror organization, Al-Shabaab, and allegedly training to be a suicide bomber. Two other men were charged with him."As alleged, these defendants are not aspiring terrorists, they are terrorists. They did more than receive terrorist training: they put that training to practice in terrorist operations with Al-Shabaab. Their capture and prosecution are important steps in the continuing campaign against terrorism," said George Venizelos, the assistant director in charge of the FBI's field office in New York, in a statement announcing the charges in December.Hashi denies all the charges, according to his American lawyer, Harry Batchelder. A statement from the FBI says Hashi was arrested in "Africa" by local police in August last year and then handed to the FBI.According to his lawyers, Hashi says he was detained in Djibouti in June. He saw cellmates beaten and tortured with electric shocks there, Hashi says. He claims he was given a choice in Djibouti: Sign a confession or be tortured.Eventually he was turned over to U.S. authorities, who flew him to the United States, Batchelder said. The lawyer cites the FBI as saying he arrived in late November.Hashi's British citizenship was stripped from him just a short time before he was put on a plane to the United States, Batchelder said.That move is being challenged before a special board of immigration appeal, he said. "But as of now, the British government has offered no assistance to this matter whatsoever."'New and improved rendition'Hashi's father doesn't understand how his son has ended up in a Brooklyn criminal court."He has never been to the United States even for a holiday. He has never threatened the United States. We don't know why he was taken all the way there," he said. From his parents' point of view, he was kidnapped and taken to the United States. Batchelder said Hashi's case is an example of a disturbing new trend he has heard called "new and improved rendition.""I mean that the agonies that were inflicted in earlier renditions, the government has reacted to that, but they still take people from foreign countries, bring them into the United States, and they're going to try him here," the attorney said."In my mind, that has long-term ramifications that, if carried out to their logical end, would mean the 20,000 people in Somalia are now eligible to be brought to the United States and tried in a U.S. court. That's a little bit disturbing, and that's an understatement."Because he is no longer considered a British citizen, Hashi has received no help from the British government. His mother told CNN it has changed the way she thinks of her adopted homeland. "When we came this country, it was (as) you know, asylum seeker," she said. "They said you are welcome. And now (they say) you are welcome to be hunted. For our kids, our brothers and sisters. The whole community, not only my son." Mahdi Hashi is now fighting to regain his British citizenship while in a New York detention center. But exactly how he disappeared off the streets of Mogadishu and reappeared in a Brooklyn courtroom remains a mystery.

Story highlights L.A. Lakers' Kobe Bryant ends career with a bang, scoring 60 pointsGolden State Warriors enter playoffs as top seed with unprecedented 73-9 recordCoach Steve Kerr says it was hard to imagine being a part of team to win this many gamesFor updates, stories, video and features about the NBA playoffs, go to cnn.com/nba (CNN)Golden State's remarkable regular-season run brought another record Wednesday night as the Warriors won their 73rd game.The Warriors drubbed the Memphis Grizzlies 125-104 to become the all-time winningest team for one season, besting the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls by one victory."It's a great way to finish off what was an amazing regular season. I just told our guys I never in a million years would have guessed that record would ever be broken," said Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, who played on the Bulls' record-setting team.Shooting guard Klay Thompson said the team played hard every contest."That's hard to do for 82 games," he said. "We're going to enjoy this tonight, but we have a quick turnaround this weekend."Read MoreThe Warriors are now 16 victories away from more glory as they are set to defend their NBA title in this year's playoffs. The top seed is theirs, assuring home-court advantage for the second year in a row."Congrats to the @Warriors, a great group of guys on and off the court. If somebody had to break the Bulls' record, I'm glad it's them," President Barack Obama's Twitter account said.Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 46 points, 30 of which came on 3-pointers.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also congratulated the record-setters."The team held itself to a high standard throughout the season, playing with purpose every night and captivating fans around the world with its free-flowing style, spectacular shooting and flair for the dramatic. Kudos to the entire Warriors organization," Silver said.NBA playoffsFor updates, stories, video and features about the NBA playoffs go to cnn.com/nba Stephen Curry: 'You've got to go for it'In an interview with CNN's Andy Scholes earlier this season, Stephen Curry didn't hide from it: The Warriors want this record."There's not many opportunities that you probably have to go after that record," Curry said at the time. "Obviously, going to win a championship, that's the main goal. But there's a reason that we're still talking about that '95-'96 Bulls team that was able to accomplish the 72-10 record. They were on a mission that year and ended up winning the championship as well. So that's kind of where we want to be.Curry, seen here April 7 against the Spurs at Oracle Arena in Oakland, California, leads the NBA in scoring with 29.9 points per game."But when you have a shot at history and being the best regular-season team in the history of the NBA, I think you've got to go for it."On Tuesday, Curry talked about staying in the present and slowing down to enjoy what's going on now."We put so much energy and effort into today. Enjoy it," Curry said. "Tomorrow's not promised, obviously, so why cheat that experience?"Michael Jordan: 'Go get the record'The Warriors' milestone victory came the same day that the NBA said goodbye to one of its longtime stars, Kobe Bryant, who went out with a flourish by scoring 60 points in a win over the Utah Jazz.For much of the 1990s, 2000s and beyond, Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers had been California's dominant pro basketball team. But that's no longer the case: The Lakers finished the 2015-2016 campaign with the Western Conference's worst record (and NBA's second-worst).Related: Warriors and Kobe in ESPN ratings shootout - who won?That's in sharp contrast to Warriors, who proved from the start they're California's best team, the league's best and, objectively speaking, history's best. They started the season 24-0, far and away the best start in NBA history. The previous longest win streak to start a season was 15-0, by the 1948-49 Washington Capitols and 1993-94 Houston Rockets. Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsThe Boston Celtics celebrate after winning the NBA championship in June 2008. It was the 17th title for the Celtics -- the most in league history. Take a look back at some of the greatest records set in the NBA Finals.Hide Caption 1 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsMost NBA titles (player): Bill Russell, seen here with legendary coach Red Auerbach, won 11 titles in his 13 NBA seasons. The big man won all of them with Boston, starting in 1957 and ending in 1969.Hide Caption 2 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsMost career points in the NBA Finals: Nobody's scored more than Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West, who put up 1,679 points over nine NBA Finals. West and the Lakers usually ran into the buzz saw that was Boston in the 1960s, but they did win a title in 1972. Fun fact: The NBA logo is a silhouette of West.Hide Caption 3 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsMost points per game in an NBA Finals series: Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls won six NBA titles during his career. But "His Airness" might have been at his peak in 1993, when he averaged 41 points in a six-game victory over Dan Majerle and the Phoenix Suns.Hide Caption 4 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsMost points in an NBA Finals game: The Lakers' Elgin Baylor scored 61 points during a Finals game against Boston on April 14, 1962. The Lakers won that game but went on to lose the series in Game 7, pictured here.Hide Caption 5 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsMost common matchup in the NBA Finals: The Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers have played each other 12 times in the Finals. The Celtics won the first eight meetings, but the Lakers broke the streak in 1985 and 1987, pictured here. The teams also split a pair of Finals in the 21st century. While the Celtics have a league-best 17 titles, the Lakers are right behind them with 16. The Chicago Bulls are the next closest at six.Hide Caption 6 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsMost Finals MVP awards: Michael Jordan was named the Most Valuable Player for all six Finals he played in. The Bulls guard holds his 1998 award here next to head coach Phil Jackson.Hide Caption 7 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsMost 3-pointers made in an NBA Finals game: Golden State's Stephen Curry hit nine 3-pointers in Game 2 of the 2018 NBA Finals. He had 33 points as the Warriors took a 2-0 series lead over Cleveland.Hide Caption 8 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsMost assists in an NBA Finals game: The Lakers' Magic Johnson had 21 assists in Game 3 of the 1984 NBA Finals. Boston won the Finals that year, but Johnson and the Lakers got their revenge one year later.Hide Caption 9 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsLowest-seeded team to win it all: The 1995 Houston Rockets -- led by future Hall of Famers Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon -- were the Western Conference's sixth seed when they went on to win the title. The Rockets also won the championship in 1994.Hide Caption 10 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsMost blocks in an NBA Finals game: Dwight Howard blocks a shot by the Lakers' Pau Gasol during the 2009 NBA Finals. It was one of nine blocks the Orlando center had in Game 4.Hide Caption 11 of 12 Photos: NBA Finals: The greatest recordsMost steals in an NBA Finals game: They called him "Big Shot Bob" for his clutch shooting, but Robert Horry was a fierce defender as well. Horry had a record seven steals in Game 2 of the 1995 NBA Finals. Horry won seven titles during his career: two with the Houston Rockets, three with the Los Angeles Lakers and two with the San Antonio Spurs. Only one other player -- John Salley -- has won NBA titles with three different teams. Hide Caption 12 of 12And what makes it all the more impressive is the Warriors dominated the first half of the season without their coach on the sideline. Kerr, who led the Warriors to a 67-15 record and the NBA championship last season, missed the first 43 games of the 82-game season because of complications from offseason back surgery. Luke Walton was the interim head coach until Kerr returned.Golden State forward Draymond Green said he didn't think at the time that breaking the record was realistic, even after the 24-0 start. But once the Warriors won their 50th game, he realized they were still on pace and it was a real possibility.Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr (right, talking to forward Draymond Green) was a member of the Chicago Bulls' 72-10 team in the 1995-96 season.But even after breaking the record Wednesday night, there's still work to do."In Chicago, they have a championship banner that says 72-10," Green said before the game. "If we don't win a championship, we're not approaching a banner that says -- God willing -- 73-9, unless you win a championship. As bad as I want this record, we need to get something else to go along with it."

Story highlightsScotland's Scott Jamieson misses out on a historic 59 at the Portugal MastersNeeding a birdie on the final hole to shoot the 59, he had to settle for par Jamieson moved into contention at the tournament, tied for second behind Paul WaringEarlier this year, Jim Furyk became the sixth player on the PGA Tour to tally a 59Scott Jamieson was so close to breaking new ground at the Portugal Masters on Saturday. No golfer on the European Tour had ever shot a 59, and there the Scot was on the 18th and last hole, needing a birdie to achieve the magical round. But Jamieson couldn't convert a roughly 15-foot chip and had to settle for a 60, instead becoming the 18th man on the European Tour to card that score. The world No. 110 couldn't hide his disappointment when he missed the birdie putt, sinking to his knees in front of expectant fans at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Course in the Algarve. "I said to Richard (his caddie) playing 17 I really want to make a birdie here so we have a chance of it going down the last and I could not have asked to hit a better shot in," Jamieson told the European Tour's website. JUST WATCHEDWatch fox steal golf balls ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWatch fox steal golf balls 00:47JUST WATCHEDHotshots with Bubba WatsonReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHotshots with Bubba Watson 04:23JUST WATCHEDNick Price: Career is dream come trueReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNick Price: Career is dream come true 05:18"It pitched just short of the hole.""When I birdied the 13th, I said to Richard then, 'A few more and we could be part of history.' I was definitely nervous but thinking about it from the tournament point of view the leaders are going to be a minimum of 16, 17 maybe 18 under going into tomorrow so that kept me going."Jamieson only made the halfway cut by a shot but now trails leader Paul Waring by merely two shots in a four-way tie for second. He won his first and only European title at the Nelson Mandela Championship in South Africa in December. Earlier this year, American Jim Furyk became the sixth man to shoot a 59 on the PGA Tour.

Story highlightsAllegations that British newspapers hacked phones caused an international scandalFor a time, the affair looked set to jeopardize Rupert Murdoch's global media empireIt resulted in the closure of the UK's biggest-selling newspaperFormer News of the World editor Andy Coulson found guilty of phone hackingAccusations that journalists at Rupert Murdoch's British newspapers hacked into the phones of politicians, celebrities and unwitting people caught up in the news -- including child murder victims -- rocked the country and severely bruised his reputation.The scandal forced the closure of Britain's top-selling paper, the News of the World, resulted in the withdrawal of his bid for the satellite broadcaster BSkyB, and led to criminal charges being laid against former senior News International figures, including his trusted UK chief executive Rebekah Brooks. It also led to a wide-ranging inquiry into press standards by Lord Leveson.Here is a timeline of the scandal:November 2005 - News of the World (NoW) prints a story about Britain's Prince William injuring his knee, prompting royal officials to complain to police about probable voicemail hacking.August 2006 - Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire are arrested for illegal phone hacking.May 15, 2007 - The Press Complaints Commission says it found no evidence of phone hacking at NoW.January 2007 - NoW royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire are convicted of conspiracy to hack into phone voicemails of royals and are jailed. Andy Coulson, the paper's editor, insists he is unaware of hacking but still resigns.July 2007 - Goodman and Mulcaire sue the tabloid for wrongful dismissal. Goodman receives £80,000 (currently $129,190), and Mulcaire receives an undisclosed amount. Coulson is hired as director of communications for Conservative party leader David Cameron, who becomes UK prime minister in May 2010.June 2008 - News Group Newspapers pays a £700,000 (nearly $1.13 million) settlement to soccer executive Gordon Taylor, whose phone was hacked by Mulcaire.November 2009 - Britain's Press Complaints Commission releases a report concluding that there is no evidence of continued phone hacking.March 2010 - Celebrity public relations agent Max Clifford agrees to drop his lawsuit against News of the World for a payment of more than £1 million ($1.6 million).September 2010 - Former NoW journalist Sean Hoare alleges that phone hacking was a common practice at the paper and encouraged by Coulson.January 21, 2011 - Coulson resigns as Cameron's spokesman because of coverage of the phone-hacking scandal.January 26, 2011 - London's Metropolitan Police launches a new investigation into voicemail hacking allegations at NoW.April 10, 2011 - News of the World officially apologizes for hacking into voicemails from 2004 to 2006 and sets up a compensation system for unnamed victims.July 4, 2011 - It is reported that News of the World journalists possibly hacked into then-missing teenager Milly Dowler's voicemail and deleted messages to free space, causing her parents to believe she was still alive.July 6, 2011 - Rupert Murdoch, CEO of News Corp., the parent company of News of the World owner News International, promises full cooperation with the investigation and calls the accusations against News of the World "deplorable and unacceptable."July 7, 2011 - News International announces that the July 10 edition of News of the World will be the paper's last.July 8, 2011 - Coulson is arrested. Goodman, the paper's former royal correspondent who served a four-month jail term in 2007, also is arrested on corruption allegations.July 10, 2011 - The 168-year-old News of the World publishes its final edition with the headline "Thank you and goodbye."July 13, 2011 - News Corp. withdraws its bid to take over British satellite broadcaster BSkyB, as Prime Minister Cameron announces a wide-ranging public inquiry into the British media.July 14, 2011 - The FBI launches an investigation into allegations that News Corp. employees or associates hacked into the phones of 9/11 victims, a federal source says.July 15, 2011 - Brooks resigns as chief executive of News International, as Les Hinton resigns as head of the Dow Jones division of the News Group Corp. and publisher of The Wall Street Journal. He was Brooks' predecessor at News International.July 16, 2011 - Rupert Murdoch apologizes to the British public with full-page advertisements in seven national newspapers.July 17, 2011 - Brooks is arrested on charges of suspicion of corruption and conspiring to intercept communications. She is released on bail after questioning.Metropolitan Police Commissioner Paul Stephenson -- who leads London's police and is the UK's highest-ranking policeman -- resigns. It comes after revelations that former News of the World executive editor Neil Wallis later became a communications consultant for police.July 18, 2011 - Assistant police Commissioner John Yates, who ruled two years ago that there was no reason to pursue an investigation into phone hacking by journalists, resigns.Home Secretary Theresa May announces that London's police department will be investigated for corruption.July 19, 2011 - Murdoch, his son James and Brooks testify before Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee. Colin Myler and Tom Crone, former top executives of News of the World, subsequently accuse James Murdoch of giving "mistaken" evidence.September 14, 2011 - Dozens of celebrities, including Hugh Grant and J.K. Rowling, are given permission to participate in a top-level inquiry into phone hacking by British journalists.October 21, 2011 - News International agrees to pay £2 million (about U.S. $3.2 million) to the family of Milly Dowler. Also, Murdoch will pay £1 million (about U.S. $1.6 million) to charities chosen by the Dowler family.October 25, 2011 - In a News Corp. shareholders' vote, Rupert Murdoch's sons, James and Lachlan, lose their board of director seats. Rupert Murdoch retains his seat, though 14% of the vote was against him.November 14, 2011 - The Leveson Inquiry into journalistic ethics opens in London. It is revealed that more than two dozen News International employees used the services of convicted phone hacker Mulcaire.November 23, 2011 - Gerry and Kate McCann, the parents of missing toddler Madeleine McCann, testify before the Leveson Inquiry.November 24, 2011 - Celebrities Sienna Miller, Max Mosley and J.K. Rowling testify before the Leveson Inquiry.December 14, 2011 - Former News of the World lawyer Crone testifies before parliament that James Murdoch was made aware in June 2008 of the scope of the phone-hacking situation.December 20, 2011 - Then-CNN host Piers Morgan, former editor of both the News of the World and Daily Mirror, testifies regarding his knowledge of the phone-hacking scandal involving Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.February 8, 2012 - News of the World's publisher pays out tens of thousands of pounds to settle lawsuits. Actor Steve Coogan gets £40,000 ($63,000) and legal costs; politician Simon Hughes gets £45,000 ($71,000) plus costs; sports agent Sky Andrew gets £75,000 ($119,000) plus costs. Former lawmaker George Galloway gets £25,000 ($40,000) plus costs, and Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's former communications director, will be paid costs and damages.February 29, 2012 - James Murdoch gives up his title of executive chairman of News Corp.'s UK publishing unit. He will keep his corporate title as deputy chief operating officer. The company says he will now focus on its pay television businesses and international operations.March 13, 2012 - UK police arrest six people, including Brooks. All six are arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice contrary to the Criminal Law Act 1977.April 24, 2012 - James Murdoch, in testimony before the Leveson Inquiry, says that he knew little about the scale of phone hacking by people working for the News of the World, and that he had no reason to look into illegal eavesdropping by his employees when he took over the company's British newspaper subsidiary in December 2007.April 26, 2012 - Rupert Murdoch admits at the Leveson inquiry that there had been a "cover-up" of phone hacking at his flagship British tabloid newspaper and apologized for not paying more attention to the scandal.May 1, 2012 - Rupert Murdoch is declared "not a fit person" to run a major international company by MPs from the parliamentary culture, media and sport committee in the group's report into the affair.May 15, 2012 - Brooks and her husband, Charlie Brooks, are charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, along with four others involved in the case. The couple deny the charges, the first from the multiple investigations linked to alleged phone hacking to be announced.July 24, 2012 - The UK's Crown Prosecution Service says eight people will face a total of 19 charges relating to phone hacking: Former News of the World staff Brooks, Coulson, Greg Miskiw, Stuart Kuttner, Thurlbeck, Ian Edmondson and Weatherup are accused of conspiring to intercept communications, while private investigator Mulcaire faces other charges. The accused deny the charges.September 4, 2012 - The number of likely victims jumps to more than 1,000 people, according to the top police officer working on the case.November 20, 2012 - Britain's Crown Prosecution Service announces that Rebekah Brooks will be charged with conspiracy over alleged illegal payments to a Ministry of Defence employee. In a separate case, Andy Coulson will face charges of conspiring to make illegal payments to officials for information relating to the royal family.November 29, 2012 - Judge Brian Leveson recommends that the UK news industry create its own regulatory body. He states that Parliament will not create a body to "regulate the press."February 8, 2013 - News International settles 144 lawsuits related to phone hacking. Seven cases were not settled and are scheduled to go to trial in June.March 18, 2013 - Siobhain McDonagh, Labour Party MP, accepts "very substantial damages" and an apology from The Sun for accessing text messages from her stolen cell phone.June 18, 2013 - Eunice Huthart, Angelina Jolie's stunt double, sues News Corp. for possible phone hacking. This is the first United States law suit against News Corp.October 28, 2013 - The trial of Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson and former NoW managing editor Stuart Kuttner begins at the Old Bailey in central London. All are accused of conspiring between October 2000 and August 2006 "to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority." They deny the charges.October 30, 2013 - It is revealed that former News of the World employees Neville Thurlbeck, James Weatherup and Greg Miskiw have pleaded guilty to phone hacking.October 31, 2013 - Prosecutors reveal that Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson had a clandestine affair.December 19, 2013 - News of the World hacked Kate Middleton's phone while she was dating Prince William, a prosecutor tells the court. January 31, 2014 - Actress Sienna Miller testifies regarding the alleged affair with Daniel Craig, which is exposed by a tabloid journalist who hacked Craig's voicemail.February 20, 2014 - The day Rebekah Brooks is to take the stand for the first time, the judge formally clears her of one charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, in association with a photograph of Prince William dressed in a bikini at a costume party that was acquired by The Sun newspaper. The four other counts against Brooks still stand.February 25, 2014 - Rebekah Brooks denies in court ever having approved the practice of phone hacking while editor of News of the World.June 24, 2014 - Andy Coulson is found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiracy to hack phones. The jury is still considering additional charges against him and former royal editor Clive Goodman of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office. Rebekah Brooks and the other defendants are cleared of all charges.

Story highlightsThe 2015 MotoGP season reaches its conclusion Sunday in Valencia, Spain.Valentino Rossi is bidding for his 10th world title.Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo trails the Italian by seven points.Rossi will start at the back of the grid following a clash with current world champion Marc Marquez in Malaysia. (CNN)It's a story that takes in dueling teammates, one of them the world's most famous and charismatic sportsmen, the other a four-time world champion.Add in a dash of outrageous on-track controversy, the Prime Minister of Italy and the President of Spain, a petition signed by more than 700,000 people, and a scuffle with an Italian TV crew and you have the crazy final race of the 2015 MotoGP season.Follow @cnnsport The premier class of motorcycle racing climaxes this Sunday, with one of the closest contests in its history concluding at the twisting Valencia circuit in Spain.Nine time world champion Valentino Rossi leads the championship from his Movistar Yamaha teammate, Jorge Lorenzo, by just seven points. The exuberant 36 year-old Italian is going for his 10th world title, with only the meticulous, metronomic Spaniard between him and success.But this is just part of a drama that has become a soap opera in its own right over the past fortnight.Read More.@ValeYellow46 or @lorenzo99 -- who will be crowned #MotoGP champion? Tell us what you think https://t.co/JzC3lwt0p9— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) November 6, 2015 As anyone with even a passing interesting in the sport will know, a dramatic clash between Rossi and current world champion Marc Marquez in Malaysia last month has dominated the headlines.In the build up to the race, Rossi had claimed that Marquez -- out of the running for the big prize -- was deliberately trying to scupper his title challenge.The two then dueled ferociously for seven laps around the Sepang International Circuit, before the Yamaha rider seemed to deliberately push his opponent wide, then appeared to aim a kick at the 22 year-old's Repsol Honda.Marquez was sent sprawling; Rossi went on to finish third, gaining 16 crucial championship points.Did you miss the #SepangClash between @ValeYellow46 and @marcmarquez93 in the #MotoGP race? https://t.co/45Xq7M4dsi— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) October 25, 2015 After the race, officials penalized Rossi. An additional three points on his racing license, added to an earlier one he had accrued, meant he will start from the back of the grid in Valencia.An appeal from Yamaha against the sanction was rejected, while a clearly furious Lorenzo called for an even stiffer penalty for Rossi at the post-race press conference.But the controversy only built from there. Social media lit up after the race, with #Sepangclash trending on Twitter. Then an online petition calling for the penalty on Rossi to be annulled quickly gathered steam, reaching 720,000 signatures by Thursday of this week.Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi took time out of a trip to Peru to call Rossi and express his solidarity. Spain's President, Mariano Rajoy, tweeted his support for Marquez.En el deporte como en la política no vale todo. Nuestro apoyo @marcmarquez93 #MotoGP #Malasia #deportividad. Grande @26_DaniPedrosa! MR— Mariano Rajoy Brey (@marianorajoy) October 25, 2015 Then, at the weekend, an Italian TV crew turned up at Marquez's family home in rural Catalonia. The crew allegedly assaulted members of the rider's family in an ensuing fracas. Honda and Yamaha exchanged grumpy press statements, and a last gasp appeal from Rossi to the Court of Arbitration for Sport was rejected.How the 2015 MotoGP title could be won:If Lorenzo wins, Rossi must finish second to take the title.If Lorenzo finishes second, then Rossi must take third.If Lorenzo finishes third, Rossi must finish sixth or better.If Lorenzo takes fourth, then Rossi needs to finish at least ninth or better.If Lorenzo finishes fifth to ninth, then Rossi must finish no more than six places further back.If Lorenzo finishes below ninth, Rossi will be world champion.Arriving in Valencia this Thursday, calm was far from fully restored. The usual pre-race press conference was canceled, and all riders were summoned to a special meeting by the governing body of motorcycle sport.The riot act was read to the assembled paddock. "Over the past days, there have unfortunately been some controversies that have surpassed the limits of a healthy passion and, on occasions, logic itself," said a statement issued there."You have millions of followers all around the world. They watch and admire your achievements on the track. And they also listen closely to what you say. What you do and say, could have consequences that are not in keeping with the noble values of our sport."Vito Ippolito, @FIM_live president talks about what was discussed at the riders meeting with the Permanent Bureau. https://t.co/zyEjlu6Bue— MotoGP™ (@MotoGP) November 5, 2015 The riders were instructed not to speak about Sepang, and instead focus on this weekend's race.Later, an uncharacteristically solemn Marc Marquez spoke in Honda's hospitality area. "This has been one of the most difficult weeks in my life," he told reporters. The young champion was smiling, but the off-track drama had clearly taken its toll."Honestly, I try to be in my home, and try to prepare (for) Valencia, but honestly, I'm human, and I hurt," he admitted. "The comments, sometimes I read something, but you know everybody has his opinion, but in the end I'm just trying to do the best in my work."Marquez also revealed that he wanted to speak with both Rossi and Lorenzo. "I hope, sooner or later, to speak with Jorge but also with Valentino," he said.El cariño de la afición se comienza a sentir. / Great atmosphere in #ValenciaGP pic.twitter.com/HyvOc6OtkI— Marc Márquez (@marcmarquez93) November 5, 2015 Over at Yamaha, Rossi and Lorenzo also -- separately -- addressed the media.Rossi reflected on his failed attempt to overturn his penalty. "Starting from the back of the grid makes things very difficult," he admitted. "Already it was difficult anyway."Asked whether he would have done anything differently in Malaysia, he confessed to one regret. "I just regret to go wide, and not follow my normal line," he said. "But except from that, its better we speak about this weekend."The Italian told reporters he wanted a return to normality. "I hope everything can go in the normal way," he said. "I hope that all remain quiet and we can have great support from the fans around the track without any problems." Lorenzo, visibly livid in Sepang, had simmered down. "To be honest I arrived here with the thinking to just focus on the weekend," he said. "I don't want to speak about anything else apart from what can happen in the future on the track." The Malaga man also conceded that his anger had got the better of him in Malaysia when, on the podium, he gestured with his thumb down as Rossi was given his third place trophy."About the past, I just want to say that it was a mistake the gesture I made on the podium," he said. "I regret that and I want to say sorry to the people who watched this on TV because it's not a sporting example, especially for young people around the world. Sorry for this gesture."READY! #ValenciaGP #keepfighting #lastfinalonedream pic.twitter.com/wqVFUQLb5y— Jorge Lorenzo (@lorenzo99) November 5, 2015 Nevertheless, the atmosphere between the two Yamaha men remains frosty at best. The team has even canceled a lavish party for 200 guests, planned to celebrate its 60th anniversary in MotoGP.With Rossi on the back row, Lorenzo will fancy his chances of a fifth world title, his third in the top class. That said, the Italian is unlikely to encounter much resistance from the grid, so could find himself quickly in contention.What will happen when Rossi reaches Marquez, not to mention the Spaniard's resurgent teammate Dani Pedrosa, is anyone's guess.Marquez was quickest in Friday morning's free practice, with Lorenzo just 0.184 seconds behind him. Rossi was fifth fastest, completing 21 laps as he focused on his race pace.On Sunday 110,000 fans will flock to a sold-out Valencia circuit with millions more tuning in around the world on TV. Drama, surely, awaits.

(CNN)Deadly bushfires have ravaged parts of Australia in recent weeks, whipped up by soaring temperatures, strong winds and the worst drought in decades. But summer hasn't really even begun -- and fears are growing that conditions will only get worse.More than 100 schools have closed in South Australia as catastrophic fire conditions threatened seven districts across the state Wednesday, including the Mount Lofty Ranges and Mid North, near to the state's capital Adelaide which is home to 1.3 million people. "Any fires that start will be extremely difficult to control and homes are not built to withstand fires in these conditions," said Adam Morgan, meteorologist with the South Australia Bureau of Meteorology in a weather update. Very hot, dry & windy ahead of vigorous front moving across the west in arvo, central & sthn o/night with potential for raised dust. Cool change over #Adelaide just before sunrise - will be hot most of night. Details on Catastrophic Fire Danger & Warnings https://t.co/Jl6CDQgeFJ pic.twitter.com/dpgUPn1np4— Bureau of Meteorology, South Australia (@BOM_SA) November 19, 2019 Australia's summer doesn't even start officially until December 1 but gale force winds and expected record-breaking temperatures throughout the day Wednesday could exacerbate dangerous fire conditions. Already the the fire warning in South Australia has been raised to catastrophic, the highest level. Adelaide, which posted a November record of 42.7°C (108.8°F) in 1962, was forecast to have a high of 42°C (107.6°F) on Wednesday.Read MoreBy 2 p.m. local time (10:30 p.m. Tuesday ET), November records had been broken in Nullarbor, which saw the mercury rise to 46.6°C (115.8°F), as Keith in the state's southeast reached 43.5°C (109°F) and Nuriootpa hit 41.8°C (107.2°F). Several areas across the state had also posted temperatures above 43°C (109°F). Power to more than 10,000 people had been switched off in South Australia's Port Lincoln and the Lower Eyre Peninsula because of the catastrophic fire risk, according to CNN affiliate 9News. A total fire ban is in place across the state. As deadly Australia bushfires rage, Sydney may be running out waterIn New South Wales, which is home to nearly 8 million people, blazes have already destroyed three times more land than during the entire fire season last year.Four people have died and hundreds of homes have been destroyed. More than 1,300 firefighters continue to battle the flames that have ravaged the states of Queensland and NSW this past month.A koala, whose dramatic rescue in NSW's Port Macquarie was captured on video Tuesday, has been given a "50-50" chance at recovering from its injuries, 9News reported. A spokesperson from the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital said the marsupial's "feet are completely burnt and he has burns to his chest and stomach.""He has been bandaged and given antibiotics but will take a lot of looking after, if he pulls through," the spokesperson told 9News. More than 350 koalas were feared to have been killed by bushfires in New South Wales, according to animal experts.Koala-sniffing dogs are on a mission to save animals from Australia's bushfiresIn Sydney, more than 50 people were treated for asthma and breathing-related problems on Tuesday as smoke blown from NSW bushfires engulfed the Australia's largest city in thick smoke.Air quality dropped to "hazardous" levels in the Sydney area overnight Tuesday, according to the New South Wales Bureau of Meteorology."I was up checking all our windows and doors were shut because it smelt like our house was on fire. A lot of my colleagues are complaining that it burns their eyes being in it and a lot of issues with asthma in our office," Adele Bryant, who lives close to Rouse Hill in Sydney, told CNN. Another hot and dangerous day is forecast for Thursday, with windy conditions moving further east. The drought and the fires are the most urgent symptoms of Australia's climate crisis. Disasters like the fires and floods have devastated the livelihoods of farmers and wrought millions of dollars' worth of damage. The country is getting hotter and drier, and the rains have stopped coming.CNN's Jessie Yeung and Gianluca Mezzofiore contributed reporting.

(CNN)Millions of people around the world are adjusting to life under coronavirus safety measures, and France has ordered its population to stay at home.But one man decided to break quarantine and try to cross the border into Spain in search of cheap cigarettes. It didn't end well -- he got lost and had to be rescued by the French mountain rescue service, a spokesman for the service told CNN.Hawaii will fine self-quarantine violators $5,000 or send them to prisonHe was "exhausted, shivering and lost" when he was picked up by a rescue helicopter on Saturday, according to a Facebook post from the rescue service, which is a unit of the police.The man, who hasn't been named, initially set off from the city of Perpignan by car but found his way blocked by police checkpoints. So he attempted to cross the border to La Jonquera on foot.Read MoreHowever, he got lost on the mountain slopes, fell into a stream and some brambles, and ended up calling for help.Rescuers quickly located the man, evacuating him by helicopter and taking him to Perpignan, where he was given a €135 ($146) fine for breaking quarantine rules.A Chinese Australian woman breached coronavirus quarantine in Beijing to go for a jog -- and lost her job"We remind you once again: stay at home," the rescue service wrote.Governments around the world are punishing people who contravene public health measures designed to prevent the spread of the virus.In Hawaii, anyone traveling between the state's islands must quarantine themselves for two weeks, and breaking that quarantine order to gulp some fresh air could earn you up to $5,000 in fines or a year in prison, if convicted.In China, a Chinese-Australian woman was fired from her job and ordered to leave the country after provoking outrage for breaking quarantine rules to go for a jog.

Story highlightsAt 48, Tony Hawk again landed the famous 900 trickHe first did it at the 1999 X Games (CNN)They say you can't turn back time, no matter how hard you try. But for skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, time reversed Monday as he landed a 900 -- or a two-and-a-half aerial spin -- at the age of 48, exactly 17 years after he first performed the historic stunt. In a video released June 27, Hawk commemorated the anniversary of landing his first 900 by attempting to recreate a piece of skateboarding history. After a few failed attempts, Hawk finally hit the trick at an indoor halfpipe to the applause of those watching. "I never thought I would be doing this at my age when I was young," Hawk says in the video. "I'm still going. I'll keep on going until the wheels fall off." Here's my 900 at age 48. Sincere thanks to @Nixon_Now & @MINIUSA for believing in this middle-aged skateboarder: https://t.co/Ga9Jy0DgIr— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) June 28, 2016 The skater had said he had attempted the stunt for years before finally landing the 900 at the 1999 X Games in San Francisco, the same year his son Spencer was born. The two revisited the moment Monday when the skateboarding legend once again attempted what is often known as one of the sport's most difficult tricks. Read More"Spencer was there at my first one," Hawk says. "Now he's at my last." Watch New Day weekdays at 6am-9am ET. For the latest on New Day click here

Story highlightsReligion professor Mark Goodacre appears in each episode of the programHe defends the carbon dating used to determine the age of the Shroud of TurinScience and archaeology offer insights into ancient artifacts that could be linked to Jesus Christ. "Finding Jesus: Fact, Faith, Forgery" continues Sunday nights at 9 ET/PT on CNN US. (CNN)My name is Mark Goodacre, and I am a professor of New Testament and Christian origins in the Department of Religious Studies at Duke University. I was series adviser and one of many on-camera experts on CNN's "Finding Jesus," which premiered Sunday evening. I also appear in each episode of the program.Viewers were invited to tweet and post their questions to Facebook during the show. Below are some of the most interesting, and my answers to them.Vance Lipsey: Is there a better way to check the shroud than carbon dating? I've been told carbon dating is very inaccurate.Mark Goodacre is a professor of religious studies at Duke University.Goodacre: Actually, carbon dating is an excellent way to ascertain the date of an artifact. Many are disappointed, not surprisingly, that the shroud dated to between AD 1260 and 1390. I recall my own disappointment (but not surprise) on hearing the results back in 1988. But the scientists doing the carbon dating were not amateurs, and the samples were tested in three separate labs. Moreover, the carbon date cohered with other evidence that the shroud was a medieval forgery, like the fact that there is no evidence of its existence until the 14th century.Cynthia Restivo: So I know the carbon dating was off, but wasn't it later shown that the piece of cloth used for the testing was a section that had been repaired after some fire damage or something? Which would explain why it dated different?Read MoreJUST WATCHEDExamining the Shroud of TurinReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHExamining the Shroud of Turin 01:09Goodacre: No, that's not been established. Those who defend the authenticity of the shroud often say the sample might have been taken from a part of the shroud that was repaired after it was damaged by fire in the 16th century. But this is special pleading. The scientists who took the sample knew what they were doing. Professor Christopher Ramsey noted that the unusual weave on the sample matched the weave on the rest of the shroud perfectly.Beth A Hafele: So were Jesus' wrists nailed or his hands? All shows and movies have his hands nailed.Goodacre: One of the curiosities about the Turin Shroud is that the figure appears to be nailed through the wrists. This has long intrigued those who have studied crucifixion because there is some anatomical plausibility here -- nails through the wrists would support the body better than nails through the palms of the hands. It is just possible that the bones of the only crucified victim we have, Jehohanan, show a nail mark above the wrist, but this is disputed. There are two further factors here. One is that victims of crucifixion may often have been tied instead of (or as well as) being nailed. Also, some dispute whether the shroud figure is nailed through the wrists. (See Antonio Lombatti's graphic.)Virginia McCoy: Once again, Mary Magdalene is totally ignored. They used the Gospel that described Peter as having discovered the empty tomb. When other Gospels describe Magdalene as the one that discovered it and then she called out to others.JUST WATCHEDCould this be Jesus' burial cloth?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCould this be Jesus' burial cloth? 01:18Jesus on the cross, as portrayed by Adam Bond.Goodacre: Well, you will be pleased to hear that there is an entire episode devoted to Mary Magdalene in this series, and her identity and role are fully explored, including her presence at the empty tomb. I think you'll enjoy it.Jacques Lemire: About the @CNN program on Jesus. Good stuff, but I am not sure about Jesus crying out in pain. A psalm: The lamb is silent.Goodacre: I found Adam Bond's portrayal of Jesus' death in the drama really compelling, and his cry is quite arresting. It's true that Isaiah 53:7 says "He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth." Many early Christians saw this as a prophecy of the way that Jesus, their Messiah, died. It is apparently fulfilled in Jesus' silence during his trial (e.g. John 19:9-10), but in all four Gospels, Jesus is vocal on the cross, and in the end he cries out with a loud voice (e.g. Mark 15:34 and 37), so the drama makes good sense there.Thanks again for watching and for all your great questions, and apologies that we could not answer all of them. I was really thrilled to be involved, and I loved working with the production team behind "Finding Jesus." I think they have put together a superb series, which blends visually compelling drama and intelligent commentary from a wide range of experts. I look forward to hearing everyone's reactions to the remaining five episodes!

Story highlightsTommy Fleetwood and Michael Hoey share lead at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland They are on 12-under 132 with England's Fleetwood carding a second round 63 at Kingsbarns 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen leads chasers on 11-under Martin Kaymer, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy all within five shots of the lead after two roundsUnheralded pair Tommy Fleetwood of England and Northern Ireland's Michael Hoey share the lead at the halfway stage of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.Fleetwood, who won the Kazakhstan Open on the second-level European Challenge Tour earlier this month, charged to the fore with a nine-under 63 at Kingsbarns, one of three courses being used for the tournament. Hoey, who also played at Kingsbarns, carded a second straight six-under 66 to join him on 12-under 132.The 20-year-old Fleetwood has already earned his place on the 2012 European Tour and has now set his sights higher."The last couple of weeks I've had no pressure on me really. I know where I'm playing next year, which is great, and it's definitely given me confidence because there was a bit of thought of 'Can I win?' because I had been in there so many times."I finally got it done, so let's see if I can do it on the bigger stage now," he told the official European Tour website.But both men face a significant challenge from many of golf's big names with five of the top six ranked players in the world playing at the tournament, which also uses Carnoustie and St Andrews where the final round takes place Sunday.South African Louis Oosthuizen, who lifted the British Open at St Andrews in 2010, is one off the lead after adding a 67 at Carnoustie to his opening 66 at Kingsbarns.Former U.S. Open Champion Graeme McDowell carded a second straight 67 to lie in a big group two shots back alongside Australian Daniel Gaunt, Scotland's Marc Warren, Austria's Markus Brier and South African Jaco van Zyl.Defending champion Martin Kaymer is looming a shot further back on nine-under, while world number two Lee Westwood and current U.S. Open Champion Rory McIlroy are on seven-under.Top-ranked Luke Donald was challenging until four dropped shots in his last four holes, including a double bogey, put him back to four-under.Donald, who is hoping to become the first man to head the money list on both the PGA and European Tours, drove into the infamous Barry Burn at Carnoustie as his second round unraveled.

Story highlightsCanada wins first ever rugby sevens title at Singapore Sevens"It's awesome, we're so excited," says captain John Moonlight (CNN)They say good things come to those who wait -- and Canada's rugby sevens team has done its fair share of waiting.The North Americans made history in Singapore at the weekend beating USA 26-19 in the final to clinch its first World Rugby Sevens tournament title in the series' 18-year history. Follow @cnnsport "It's hard to put into words how it feels," captain John Moonlight told CNN pitchside after the win. "We've worked so hard over the years. "The core group of us, we've got some good young guys coming through and this year we didn't know what was gonna happen -- and it's awesome, we're so excited."We beat three of the top five teams today and on any given day any team can beat anyone in sevens. We know if we keep playing hard, we're going to be up there every time. We're showing that Canadian rugby is on the scene now."Read MoreHIGHLIGHTS: Watch the best of the action from day two at the #Singapore7s as Canada claim the top prize! pic.twitter.com/DLZryaYqSm— World Rugby Sevens (@WorldRugby7s) April 16, 2017 In a tense final against the USA, Canada looked to have the title sealed early on after racing into a 19-0 lead. However, nerves and inexperience appeared to play their part as Perry Baker scored twice to drag the USA back level.With the game looking like it could go either way, Lucas Hammond took advantage of a brief opening in the USA line to seal a historic win.All that remains now, perhaps, is a congratulatory telephone call from Canada's Prime Minister, and avid rugby fan, Justin Trudeau."Well, hopefully we hear from him," Moonlight said, when asked by CNN's Christina Macfarlane. "He played a little bit of rugby with us back in the day so you never know, he might show up!"The victory is another feather in the cap for Canada's coach Damian McGrath, who led Samoa to a shock win at last year's Paris Sevens.READ: Why do England fans sing slave-era song?READ: Australian Rugby Union tackles concussion problem with blue card"It's incredible," McGrath told World Rugby. "Last night we were beaten by Fiji so we had a little bit of soul searching and then we came back and beat some of the best teams in the world. "This will show that Canadian rugby has so much to offer." Final-day dramaIn Sunday's first quarterfinal, USA upset Olympic champion Fiji thanks to a Ben Pinkelman-inspired performance.The 22-year-old ran over two tries to lead his side to a 24-19 win.JUST WATCHEDWorld Rugby: The rise of North American rugbyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWorld Rugby: The rise of North American rugby 22:52Australia then ensured South Africa's Blitzboks wouldn't compete in the semifinals for the first time this series.Trailing by 10 points with just a minute remaining, Tom Lucas ensured a grandstand finale by running half the length of the pitch to give Australia a fighting chance.The Aussies then regained possession almost immediately after the restart and a brilliant break and offload by Liam McNamara allowed Lachie Anderson to score under the posts, which left a simple conversion for the win."The whole squad is pretty pumped by the effort that the boys put in there," Lucas said after the win. "It was a great performance out there. We fought right to the end and just didn't give up."Eventual winner Canada then made it three quarterfinal upsets in a row, triumphing 26-14 over New Zealand -- thanks in part to Nathan Hirayama's dancing feet.The 29-year-old changed direction twice in the blink of an eye to evade the attempted tackles of two Kiwis and finished with a pirouette to cross the line.JUST WATCHEDFiji's golden fairytale: Rugby's greatest story?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFiji's golden fairytale: Rugby's greatest story? 22:52In the last quarterfinal, it was Kenya which suffered last-gasp heartbreak, as England's Dan Bibby scored a penalty with the last kick of the game to give his side a narrow 13-12 win.Semifinal shocksThe day of shocks continued as the teams entered the semifinals, with the USA producing a comeback win to steamroll Australia 40-7 thanks to a scintillating performance from Perry Baker.The long-legged speedster raced clear of two chasing defenders, running more than half the length of the field to spark a dominant US display.Justin Douglas then led Canada to a convincing 17-5 win over England to book a place in the final, scoring one try after a blistering run down the wing and setting up another with an inventive break between England's lines."It's an unbelievable feeling," Hirayama, who was named player of the final, told World Rugby. "A lot of us have been on the scene a long time and we came through some dark times, but to come away with that win was special."Beaten semifinalist England overcame Australia 14-12 to win the bronze medal match, while Wales beat Scotland 24-12 to claim the Challenge Trophy.

Story highlightsThe suspect resembles a man who also attacked a French TV stationBut it has not been confirmed that he is the same attackerFrance's President thanked police for making the arrest and preventing more violenceThe suspect allegedly shot a newspaper photographer in the chestFrench prosecutors named the suspect held in connection with a newspaper shooting this week as Abdelhakim Dekhar. Dekhar allegedly shot a photographer at the daily newspaper Liberation in Paris on Monday.On Thursday, French President Francois Hollande thanked police for capturing him. It "prevented the worst from happening again," he said in a statement.Dekhar was arrested Wednesday in Bois Colombes, in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, the prosecutor's office said. Investigators are trying to determine if the man is connected to the shooting at the newspaper, as well as two other Monday crimes -- a shooting that injured no one in front of the Societe Generale towers in Paris, and a carjacking near the towers in the Paris neighborhood of La Defense, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV.Police said a man shot a 23-year-old assistant photographer twice near the heart in the lobby of Liberation's offices in Paris. The photographer is being treated at a hospital.The gunman fled after the attack, and authorities released photos showing a 5-foot-6 to 5-foot-8 man with a "European appearance" and graying hair. He was estimated to be between 35 and 45 years old. Paris police said they had no information about the man's motive.On Friday, a gunman broke into BFMTV, threatening journalists before fleeing.The description of the man at Liberation is similar to that of the man at BFMTV, and the gun used was of similar caliber, police said. But it has not been established that it was the same man.

(CNN)Money rained down on a San Diego freeway Friday morning, when one of the doors of an armored truck popped open and bags holding cash fell out.The resulting scramble by drivers to scoop up the bills completely shut down northbound Interstate 5, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP).Traffic came to a standstill on Interstate 5 for two hours Friday morning."There was cash all over the freeway," the CHP spokesperson told CNN affiliate KFMB. "People stopped in the lanes, completely blocked the lanes, started picking up the cash."At least two people were placed in handcuffs at the scene after locking their keys in their cars and blocking the lanes, according to the spokesperson."We're working with the FBI now, it's a joint investigation and if you have picked up any of the cash, I highly suggest you turn it in to the CHP office immediately because we do have a lot of evidence to follow up on," he said.

Moscow (CNN)The main opposition candidate in Sunday's disputed presidential election in Belarus has left the country after security forces mounted a sweeping crackdown on protests over the result. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who stood in for her husband as an opposition candidate after he was jailed in the run-up to the vote, was forced out of the country and is now in neighboring Lithuania with her children, her campaign said Tuesday.Tikhanovskaya fled after publicly rejecting preliminary election results that handed the longtime Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko a landslide victory. But many details around her departure are still unclear. Protests erupted after official exit polls were released late Sunday, granting a sixth term to Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus for 26 years and earned the nickname "Europe's last dictator." Thousands were arrested and the demonstrations resumed on Monday night. Tikhanovskaya, pictured at a press conference in Minsk on Monday before she left Belarus. Tikhanovskaya's campaign and independent observers say the vote was marred with widespread ballot stuffing and falsifications. The independent monitoring group "Honest people" said that according to its data, she had won in at least 80 polling stations across Belarus.Read MoreOn Monday, Tikhanovskaya "left to an unknown location" after filing a complaint with Belarus' central elections committee demanding a recount of the votes. After spending several hours at the committee alone, she came out and told her lawyer that "she made up her mind" and left the building, according to her campaign. The campaign could not reach her for several hours before she got in touch to confirm she was safe. Lithuania's foreign affairs minister announced early on Tuesday that Tikhanovskaya was in the country. Conflicting videosTikhanovskaya defended her flight from Belarus in a video posted on the YouTube channel of her husband, Sergey Tikhanovskiy, a popular blogger and former candidate who has been jailed since May."I thought this campaign strengthened my spirit and gave me so much energy that I could bear it all. But I guess I'm still just that weak woman I was in the beginning," a visibly distressed Tikhanovskaya said in the clip. "I made a very hard decision, I've made this decision on my own ... and I know that many people will understand me, many will judge me and many will hate me but god forbid you will ever have to face the choice that I had to face."As Belarusians take to the streets, authoritarian leaders rally behind LukashenkoA few hours later, a pro-government channel on the messaging app Telegram shared a video of Tikhanovskaya quietly reading from a piece of paper and calling on Belarusians to cease protests. In the video, she insisted that "the nation has made its choice" -- a complete reversal from her claim that the election was rigged.It was unclear where and when the second video had been recorded, but it spurred intense speculation on social media about possible threats that could have been levied against the candidate, forcing her out of the country. The candidate's representative Olga Kovalkova told Belarusian outlet TUT.BY on Tuesday that Tikhanovskaya "had no choice," and said that part of Tikhanovskaya's team was still being "held hostage."Her campaign told CNN on Sunday that nine people associated with the campaign had been arrested. Tikhanovskaya's husband has been in a detention center since May and the family sent their children abroad before the election following threats they would be placed in an orphanage."Svetlana had no choice, the Belarusian authorities took her out of the country," Kovalkova told TUT.BY. "It is important that she is free and alive. Svetlana's departure made the release of [campaign manager] Maria Moroz, who was a hostage in this situation, possible and they left together."The nine campaigners were arrested for various reasons, including allegedly preparing unauthorized demonstrations, according to police. The Belarusian authorities did not officially acknowledge that Moroz has been released.Ongoing protestsThousands have been arrested since protests began on Sunday and the internet has been shut down for hours at a time. Most websites and apps have not been loading in the country, so residents have been relying on Telegram, which is accessible via proxy servers, for updates. "We enabled our anti-censorship tools in Belarus so that Telegram remained available for most users there," Pavel Durov, Telegram's founder, who once fled Russia after a conflict with local security services over encryption keys, said in a tweet. "However, the connection is still very unstable as Internet is at times shut off completely in the country."While protests have been reported in dozens of cities and towns, the bulk of arrests have occurred in the capital Minsk, where key ring roads and streets were blocked by demonstrators on Monday evening and police deployed tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. Analysts said the levels of police violence against protesters was unprecedented. "They have used water cannons, stun grenades, rubber bullets, tear gas," Alex Kokcharov, a political risk analyst at IHS Markit, who specializes in Belarus, told CNN. "I think the response by the police is to cause some causalities, such as injuries, which would demotivate a lot of people from attending the protests."One protester died in Minsk late on Monday, according to the ministry of internal affairs. Novaya Neva reporters on the ground have reported that police threw stun grenades at protesters on Pritytsky Street. Belarus says it's arrested Russian mercenaries, as rift grows between strongmen Putin and Lukashenko"On August 10 at about 23:00, during the riots in Minsk on Pritytsky street, the crowd built barricades to block the traffic.," the interior ministry said in a statement. "During the confrontation with the special forces, who arrived to unblock the square, one of the protesters tried to throw an unidentified explosive device at the law enforcement officers. It exploded in his hand," it added, saying that the protestor died of injuries. Further repression, including "elements of martial law and more police on the street," is expected if the protests continue, Kokcharov told CNN."I think it is more likely that Lukashenko will repress these protest movements again, he has done it before," Kokcharov said, in reference to 2010 protests over the President's winning of a fourth term. Lukashenko enjoys wide support from the country's elites, but what would "crack" them "is widespread civic disobedience movement such as long term labor strikes in state-owned enterprises and transportation networks," Kokcharov added. A nationwide strike that was promoted on the opposition Telegram channels kicked off on Tuesday. According to videos posted on social media, workers in at least five factories refused to come to work until the government agreed to calls for a recount.Lukashenko said Monday that he would not "allow the country to be torn apart," claiming that the protests were initiated by "foreign puppeteers," Belta reported."So Lukashenko -- who is at the top of the vertical of power, the head of the state, voluntarily, with 80% of the votes -- must transfer power to them? This is all coming from abroad," he said.Tikhanovskaya, a former English tutor, became an unexpected rival to Lukashenko, and the face of the opposition after taking over from her husband. Her campaign rallies saw significant turnouts even in small Belarusian towns not known for their protest activity. About 63,000 people attended the largest event in Minsk in July -- making it the biggest demonstration in the past decade.Tikhanovskaya joined forces with two women who ran other opposition campaigns after their candidates were also either barred from running or jailed. Lukashenko dismissed them as "poor girls" in his annual state of the union address last week, and said he would not "give the country away."

(CNN)British skateboarder Sky Brown says her "helmet and arm saved her life" after being involved in a horrific fall during training.The 11-year-old posted a video on her Instagram and YouTube channel with a clip of her spill in California and an emotional message from her hospital bed.The video shows Brown flying off the end of a half-pipe while traveling at high speed.Lying next to a teddy bear and a pink shark in her hospital bed, Brown reassured her fans that, although she is battered and bruised, she was "excited to come back even stronger and even tougher."READ: 'They need the cool factor': Tony Hawk on skateboarding at Tokyo 2020Read More"I don't usually post my falls or talk about them, because I want people to see the fun in what I do, but this was my worst fall, and I just want everyone to know that I'm OK," Brown said in her video from hospital."It's OK to fall sometimes. I'm just going to get back up and push even harder. I know there's a lot going on in the world right now and I want everyone to know that whatever we do we've got to do it with love and happiness."'Lucky to be alive'Brown is targeting the Tokyo Games -- which were postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic -- where the sport will make its Olympic debut.After reportedly suffering skull fractures and broken bones in her left wrist and hand in her fall, she was taken to hospital by helicopter. The British Olympic team didn't immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.Brown's father, Stewart, told the BBC that she was "lucky to be alive" after the fall.Brown (left) and Laureus Academy Member Tony Hawk pose during the Laureus Sport for Good Skateboard Visit prior to the 2020 Laureus World Sports Awards.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"Sky landed head-first off a ramp on her hand," Brown's father said. "When she first came to hospital, everyone was fearful for her life."Sky had the gnarliest fall she's ever had and is lucky to be alive. Sky remains positive and strong; the whole medical team is shocked to see her positivity."In the description of her video on YouTube, Brown said: "This was my worst fall yet. My helmet and arm saved my life. This will not stop me. I am going for gold in Tokyo 2021. Stay strong. Stay positive."Brown was born in Miyazaki, Japan. Her mother is Japanese, while her father is British.

Story highlightsEx-Italy under-21 player Piermario Morosini dies after collapsing during Serie B match The 25-year-old suffered a heart attack during first half of game against PescaraItalian footballer Piermario Morosini has died after collapsing during a Serie B match at Pescara on Saturday, according to Italian media reports. The 25-year-old collapsed after suffering a heart attack during the first half of the game of the match between Pescara and Livorno in Italian football's second division.He was treated on the pitch before being rushed by ambulance to Pescara's Civile Santo Spirito hospital but was later pronounced dead. A statement on the official Serie A web site said: "The world of soccer is in mourning for the tragedy that took place this afternoon in Pescara, where during a match between the home team and Livorno, the soccer player Piermario Morosini collapsed on the ground (struck down) by a heart attack."The young midfield player came under pharmacological coma, but he died around 17:00."Morosini, a former Italy under-21 international, was on loan at Livorno from Serie A side Udinese.The match was immediately abandoned and the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) announced a short time later that all football fixtures this weekend have been canceled. JUST WATCHEDMorosini: 'a nation in shock' ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMorosini: 'a nation in shock' 03:03Inter Milan captain, Javier Zanetti, who learned of the news as his team were preparing for their Serie A fixture against Udinese, said the whole team was shocked by the news. "We're all deeply dismayed and very sorry," Zanetti said in a statement published on Inter's web site."It is hard to believe what has happened and of course it was right to postpone all league games. My thoughts and those of all my teammates go out to all his family," Zanetti added.Fellow professionals have also taken to Twitter to express their sadness at the player's passing.Manchester City's Argentine international Sergio Aguero said: "Livorno Piermario Morosini's passing is a great blow to everyone. It's a sad day for me as well. My condolences to his family."While Wesley Sniejder of Inter Milan wrote: "Rest in peace Piermario Morosini, riposa in pace...." Morosini's death comes just under a month after English Premier League player Fabrice Muamba collapsed after suffering a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match between Bolton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on March 17.The 24-year-old's heart stopped for 78 minutes as doctors struggled to keep him alive at the stadium and then later at the London Chest Hospital on March 17.The Bolton midfielder has since made a remarkable recovery.

Story highlightsGoogle's Eric Schmidt says web "still a scarce resource" for majority of world's citizensSchmidt: "For most people the digital revolution has not arrived yet"Isolated communities need peer-to-peer data-sharing networks, he saysSchmidt: "Technology is a leveler, and those with nothing will have something"The world must act now to prevent a new digital caste system from emerging, Google's executive chairman Eric Schmidt told the world's largest mobile phone gathering in Barcelona, Spain.In his keynote address at the Mobile World Congress, Schmidt said for the "aspiring majority" of five out of seven billion global citizens, "the web is still a scarce resource.""The first future belongs to the early adopters, the lucky few. For this group the future offers only the limits of science and ethics," he said."For most people the digital revolution has not arrived yet. Every revolution begins with a small group of people. Imagine how much better it would be with another five billion people online," he said.Schmidt predicted that in the next decade there would be many improvements to connectivity; but there is a limit to the amount of new infrastructure that would be laid by 2020, he said."Smartphones are part of the solution, but having a smartphone is not enough to get you online."JUST WATCHEDNokia aims for emerging markets ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNokia aims for emerging markets 02:13JUST WATCHEDHTC launches new phonesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHTC launches new phones 03:28JUST WATCHEDThe mobile buzz from BarcelonaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe mobile buzz from Barcelona 01:11He suggested that isolated communities could share data in peer-to-peer or "mesh networks," describing them as a "digital watering hole."Anyone with solar equipment can set up a network, he said. "Even modest amounts of connectivity changes lives." In this new world it will be easier for people to mobilize against dictators, as the uprisings in the Arab World had shown, he said.Some governments would try to control access to the web and new technology, but he said he believed they were going to fail."Citizens will demand a more ethical deal. There will still be elites, but technology is a leveler, and those with nothing will have something.""Everyone is blessed with creativity and imagination and the capacity for innovation. In every person there's an even better company waiting to get out. Let us commit ourselves to building a world where everyone has a chance to be connected," he said.In his 2010 keynote at the MWC, Schmidt proclaimed Google's new strategy of "putting mobile first." The following year he gave an update on the rise of Android and emphasized the importance of cloud computing to the future of new mobile services.

London (CNN)Queen Elizabeth II will skip next week's key climate conference in Glasgow, according to a royal source. The news comes after the 95-year-old monarch was admitted to a hospital last week for "preliminary investigations." Buckingham Palace had announced earlier on Tuesday that the Queen would "regretfully" cancel a planned appearance at an evening reception at the COP26 summit and instead make a video address."Her Majesty is disappointed not to attend the Reception but will deliver an address to the assembled delegates via a recorded video message," the statement said. Earlier this month, the Queen was overheard saying the lack of action on tackling the climate crisis was "irritating." View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Royal Family (@theroyalfamily) A source close to the palace told CNN at the time that her overnight stay in the hospital last week was "not Covid related." She returned to Windsor Castle "in good spirits" after one night, the palace said.Read MoreShe had canceled a trip to Northern Ireland last week following medical advice to rest more, but resumed "light duties" on Tuesday with two virtual audiences with Korean ambassador Gunn Kim, and Swiss ambassador Markus Leitner.Last week, she declined an honor of being named "Oldie of the Year" by a British magazine, saying she didn't meet "the relevant criteria." She "politely but firmly" declined the award through her assistant private secretary with "warmest best wishes."What we know about the Queen's health "Her Majesty believes you are as old as you feel, as such The Queen does not believe she meets the relevant criteria to be able to accept, and hopes you will find a more worthy recipient," Tom Laing-Baker said in a letter.Earlier this month, the Queen made the decision to use a walking stick in public for the first time "for comfort."While the Queen doesn't appear to be slowing down when it comes to her ceremonial responsibilities, she has since handed off long-haul tours to other family members. Still, she's still traveling extensively across the UK, with CNN's conservative estimates showing that the Queen traveled more than 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from October 1 through to October 19. 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.

Story highlights Missing siblings were on phone when line dropped, father of man's fiancee saysTwo more victims identified: Law student Leopold Hecht and government worker Olivier DelespesseFirst victim identified as Adelma Marina Tapia Ruiz; Brussels is a "ghost city" in mourning (CNN)A mother of twins, a law student and a government worker were among the 31 people killed in Tuesday's blasts at a Brussels airport and train station. The explosions wounded at least 270 people and left several more missing. The victims span 40 nationalities. Here is what we know of some of the victims:DeceasedAdelma Marina Tapia RuizRead MoreA Peruvian mother said goodbye to her twin 3-year-old girls at the airport. Moments later, an explosion ripped through the ticketing area, killing the 36-year-old woman.Adelma Marina Tapia Ruiz, 36, is the first publicly confirmed death from the attack.Ruiz was about to catch a flight to New York. The plan was to meet up with her husband and young daughters a few days later for Easter.But as Ruiz's young family stepped away from the departure area, she unknowingly walked into a terror attack.Ruiz had moved to Belgium 10 years ago after studying to become a chef -- her dream was to one day open a Peruvian restaurant, her brother Rudy Tapia told CNN Espanol."This year we organized a family reunion in New Jersey, so that's why my sister was about to check in on a flight to Newark," he said."My niece (Ruiz's daughter) had surgery yesterday after the attacks. She is recovering and stable, and her father is with her."Leopold HechtThe Belgian law student died in the attack, his school, Universite Saint-Louis Bruxelles, said in a statement.Olivier Delespesse Delespesse was killed in the metro explosion, said his employer, La Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles, a government ministry serving Francophone Brussels and Wallonia."I wanted to pay tribute to him and to his family and to all the other victims," said colleague Olivier Dradin in a Facebook tribute.READ MORE: Brussels attacks live updatesMissingStephanie and Justin ShultsThe Tennessee couple, who have lived in Belgium since 2014, were dropping off Stephanie's mother, Carolyn Moore, at the airport. Moore, who was just about to walk through security, was knocked over by an explosion and is having trouble hearing in one ear. As of Tuesday night, their families had not heard from the couple and were still awaiting news. Moore is still in Brussels and has been in touch with family in the United States. Justin Shults' brother, Levi Sutton of Kentucky, said he woke up on the day of the attacks to texts from his mother. She was asking him to call her."It's the longest day of my life. It's just frustrating not knowing. Not knowing is maddening," Sutton said Tuesday.Stephanie and Justin were both working in Brussels, and are expected to move back to the United States in 2017.On Wednesday, there was hope that the couple had been found, but Sutton posted a tweet saying the family had been misinformed as to Stephanie's and Justin's status.Sabrina Esmael FazalJonathan Selemani, 25, has been scouring the city's hospitals looking for his partner and mother of their 1-year-old child.Sabrina Esmael Fazal, pictured here with her son, is missing. Fazal, 24, went missing after taking the metro to her university in the city.Mormon teen survives two terror attacks "I saw her in the morning, before she went to school, before she was leaving for class," said Selemani. "Then when I learned the news I immediately started looking for her. I haven't found her.""I don't know how I'm going to explain it to my son."Bart MigomThe 21-year-old was on his way to Athens, Georgia, but never arrived, his girlfriend, Emily Eisenman, said.JUST WATCHED'It's been the worst days of my life'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'It's been the worst days of my life' 05:18"Last time I heard from him was yesterday. He was texting me from the train on his way to the airport in Brussels. He was supposed to send me a picture of his boarding pass when he got there, but he never did," Eisenman, 21, said. "I checked and saw that his train got to the airport at 7:30 a.m. and his flight was supposed to take off at 10:30 a.m., but I don't think he ever made it. I have not heard from him and either has his family, who I've been in contact with all day."When Emily calls Migom's cell phone it just rings. There is no answer, and no return messages, she said. Eyewitness accounts of attacks"This is not like him. He is a good communicator," she said. Emily and Migom have known each other since they met on a health-and-fitness retreat in the United States last year. He is her brother's friend."We have been dating since October 29, 2015, and Bart was coming to see me. I've never been to Belgium, but he had been here before," Eisenman said.Migom is a marketing student at Howest University in Bruges, Belgium. He lives with his mother, two brothers and sister, she said. Sascha and Alexander Pinczowski The siblings who have spent much of their time in New York are missing, according to the father of Alexander's fiancee. Jim Cain, a former U.S. ambassador to Denmark, told CNN that the Pinczowskis were in the Delta ticket line at the airport to board a flight to JFK. Alexander Pinczowski was talking to his mother on the phone when the line dropped. The families haven't heard anything since.Cain said some U.S. Embassy sources told him there are patients in hospitals that officials haven't discovered their names."Apparently they're having a tough time for matching up people with identities," he said.WATCH: Father of Brussels attack survivor speaks to CNN Marymount Manhattan College issued a statement, saying, "Our hearts go out to Sascha and Alexander's family and friends during this difficult time, and we fervently hope for the siblings' safe return home."Shai Tertner, founder of Shiraz Events in New York, which formerly employed Alexander Pinczowski and where Sascha was an intern in August, said his family was sad to hear his ex-employee and his sister were missing after the blasts. "Sascha is a bright, hardworking young woman, with a great career ahead of her and we all hope Sascha and her brother are found alive and well, and send all the love and support to their family and the other families that were affected by this terrible attack," the statement said. Both siblings live in the Netherlands, Cain said, adding that he was on his way to Belgium to support the family. CNN's Eliott C. McLaughlin, John Newsome,Tony Marco, AnneClaire Stapleton, Allison Brennan, Lorenza Brascia, Atika Shubert and Laura Perez Maestro contributed to this report.

London (CNN Business)The United Kingdom made history last year when it became the first major economy to commit to pumping no more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than it removes by 2050. Dozens of countries have since followed its lead to achieve "net zero" emissions, and with three decades to go before the deadline, Britain's progress provides a promising blueprint.Its carbon emissions were 44% below 1990 levels in 2018, with renewable energy now accounting for 33% of its energy mix and coal contributing just over 5%. That is thanks in large part to its success with offshore wind and focus on nuclear energy.Britain is undergoing an energy transition as it aims for net zero emissionsBut the Committee on Climate Change, an independent advisory body, warns the country must do more to meet its carbon reduction targets for 2023 to 2027. And climate activists say the government should aim for "net zero" much sooner than 2050.Heating homesRead MoreBy far the biggest threat to the United Kingdom's 2050 ambition comes from the way it heats its homes, schools and hospitals. More than 80% of homes are connected to the gas grid, according to Ian Radley, head of gas operations at National Grid. While natural gas emits less carbon than coal, Britain's heavy dependence on the fossil fuel is deemed unsustainable. Heat is responsible for around half of all UK CO2 emissions, according to HyDeploy, a consortium that is currently piloting hydrogen as an alternative to gas.In other words, the UK government's £1.5 billion ($2 billion) investment into reducing emissions from road transport won't be enough to meet its 2050 target if it doesn't also tackle heating."The heating story is the one that usually just gets neglected. It's in the box called 'too difficult,'" Dieter Helm, professor of energy policy at Oxford University, told CNN Business. "How are you going to heat your house and do your cooking without natural gas? The answer to that question is at considerable expense."A 2018 report commissioned by the National Infrastructure Commission, a government agency, found that decarbonizing Britain's heating infrastructure could cost as much as £450 billion ($586 billion). The total cost of decarbonization could exceed £1 trillion ($1.3 trillion), according to the Committee on Climate Change. Among the proposed solutions to the domestic heating challenge: stop connecting new homes to the gas grid, while encouraging existing homeowners to move to energy efficient alternatives such as hydrogen boilers. Repurposing existing infrastructure will be critical. HyDeploy is conducting experiments at the University of Keele to establish how much hydrogen can be blended into the national grid as a replacement to gas, without people needing to buy new heating or cooking appliances. Hydrogen offers many of the benefits of natural gas, without the carbon emissions.Production versus consumptionFor Helm, even if the United Kingdom achieves its target in terms of power production, consumption is what ultimately matters. "If we reduce carbon emissions in Britain but simply close down our large industries and import the stuff from China instead, then global warming will be worse off," Helm said. "The thing about carbon is it doesn't matter where it's emitted," he added, arguing that a carbon border tax is the only way to encourage all countries to decarbonize and ensure that "the polluter pays wherever the polluter is."The world's largest offshore wind farm is nearly complete. It can power 1 million homesCarbon pricing mechanisms were discussed at December's UN climate summit in Madrid, but no agreement was reached on how to create a global carbon market where, for example, countries could trade greenhouse gas emission credits. The United Kingdom will host this year's summit in Glasgow in November, and the progress made by major economies will be scrutinized, particularly following the disappointing outcome in Madrid.The United Kingdom must have "made credible plans" to meet its 2050 target by then, according to Chris Stark, CEO of the Committee on Climate Change."The next 12 months are likely to be the most important yet in defining the UK's climate credentials," Stark wrote in a recent blog post. — John Defterios contributed reporting.

Robin Oakley was political editor and columnist for The Times newspaper in London from 1986 to 1992, the BBC's political editor from 1992 to 2000, and CNN's European Political Editor between 2000 and 2008. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely his. (CNN)The withdrawal of Boris Johnson from the race to succeed Prime Minister David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party is a shocking move.True, Johnson had once quipped that he was more likely to be reincarnated as an olive than he was to become Prime Minister, but that was just a time-buying joke. His colleagues had no doubt of his ambition to seize the top job in politics. Many were convinced that the former London Mayor -- a liberal, progressive cosmopolitan -- had only lined up with his party's right wing and become a late joiner of the Leave Europe camp in order to help undermine David Cameron and further his own leadership ambitions.In the Leave camp, Johnson joined another of David Cameron's former friends and allies, Justice Minister -- and now candidate for the Conservative Party leadership -- Michael Gove. But if you subscribe to the common conspiracy theory, it was then that it began to go badly wrong. Boris Johnson: The eccentric who shunned powerRead MoreNo plan JUST WATCHEDBoris Johnson reacts to UK voteReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBoris Johnson reacts to UK vote 05:41Gove's Daily Mail journalist wife Sarah Vine confessed in print that she had told her husband, "you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off," using the analogy of the famous bullion robbery movie "The Italian Job." Instead Gove and Johnson, combining as the spearhead of the official Leave campaign, scuppered the Prime Minister and a lot more.With an anti-politics mood engulfing the country and anti-immigrant sentiment running high thanks to the separate efforts of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) led by Nigel Farage, the Leave camp won the referendum as much to the amazement of Gove and Johnson as it was to stock markets and opinion polls.It soon became apparent that Brexit campaigners simply had no plan for that eventuality. And while worldwide markets lost $3 trillion in the two trading days after the vote, the airwaves were dominated by a triumphalist Farage and an affronted Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, whose citizens had voted to stay in the EU.Scotland likely to seek independence after EU vote, First Minister saysGove and Johnson went to ground. Johnson emerged only to play in a cricket match and pen an article for British newspaper The Telegraph in which he blandly assured readers that there was no threat to the pound. Since it was important for Britain to stay in the Single European Market, he also said, we might have to continue with the EU's Free Movement of People.Crowd pleaser v. statesman Photos: The many faces of Boris Johnson Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonLondon Mayor Boris Johnson arrives at a Conservative Party election rally on May 5, 2015. As London elects a replacement for outgoing Mayor Boris Johnson, look back at some of his most photogenic moments.Hide Caption 1 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonLondon Mayor Boris Johnson knocks over 10-year-old Toki Sekiguchi during a touch rugby game in Tokyo on October 15, 2015. "I accidentally flattened a 10-year-old on TV unfortunately," Johnson said in a speech to British and American businessmen. "But he bounced back, he put it behind him. The smile returned rapidly to his face."Hide Caption 2 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson attends the protest of a third runway at London's Heathrow Airport on April 27, 2013.Hide Caption 3 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson speaks at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester, England, on October 1, 2013.Hide Caption 4 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson falls while competing in a tug of war October 27, 2015, during the launch of London Poppy Day.Hide Caption 5 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson and model Kelly Brook launch a cycling festival in London on August 25, 2011.Hide Caption 6 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson plays wheelchair tennis to promote a tournament in London on November 24, 2014.Hide Caption 7 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson poses with members of a Carnival band in London on August 24, 2011.Hide Caption 8 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonSpiritual leader Acharya Swamishree Maharaj marks a bindi on Johnson's forehead during a visit to a new Hindu temple in London on May 28, 2014.Hide Caption 9 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson holds dance champion Camilla Dallerup at an event in London on July 1, 2010.Hide Caption 10 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson poses for a photograph to mark the start of a London Underground extension on November 23, 2015.Hide Caption 11 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson and actress Barbara Windsor play sitting volleyball after a Paralympics match in London on August 31, 2012.Hide Caption 12 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson takes part in an Olympics news conference on August 13, 2012.Hide Caption 13 of 14 Photos: The many faces of Boris JohnsonJohnson eats in the Olympic Village in London on July 12, 2012.Hide Caption 14 of 14Tory MPs who had assured voters that tough action on immigrant numbers would follow a Leave vote were appalled by his carelessness. If Cameron's penchant for last minute initiatives to squeeze out of trouble had him dubbed "The Essay Crisis Prime Minister," Johnson was suddenly exposed as a man with a ready and entertaining article about everything and no serious policy about anything; a man with a golden pen and little sense of responsibility.His colleagues know his value as an entertainer and crowd-pleaser but the new situation required a statesman with a vision. Johnson simply didn't measure up.An email from Vine to her husband Gove, revealed in the UK press, warning him to have witnesses with him and get promises in writing from Johnson in their exchanges about a leadership campaign, revealed distrust between the two major architects of the Leave campaign.The email also worried Conservatives because it revealed that the editor of British newspaper Daily Mail, Paul Dacre, and the Times and Sun proprietor Rupert Murdoch instinctively disliked Johnson. They would only support him, said Vine, if he and Gove were in tandem. Government is not a gameJUST WATCHEDBritish Interior Minister vies for PM vacancyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBritish Interior Minister vies for PM vacancy 02:25Johnson's weak spot was highlighted on Thursday morning when Home Secretary Theresa May opened her leadership campaign with a clear list of priorities and a not-very-coded warning: "Some need to be told that what the Government does isn't a game. It's a serious business that has real consequences for people's lives." May presented herself as a state-educated realist who understood how hard life could be for ordinary folk. Two other candidates -- Stephen Crabb and Liam Fox -- emphasized their state education and comparatively humble origins in contrast to the gilded backgrounds of Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne. Photos: Britain's next prime minister: The CandidatesHide Caption 1 of 5 Photos: Britain's next prime minister: The CandidatesHide Caption 2 of 5 Photos: Britain's next prime minister: The CandidatesHide Caption 3 of 5 Photos: Britain's next prime minister: The CandidatesHide Caption 4 of 5 Photos: Britain's next prime minister: The CandidatesHide Caption 5 of 5For the Eton-educated Johnson, even that was becoming a liability in the new class-conscious political climate with all the focus on "Tory toffs." By then, support was ebbing away from Johnson and his game was up. At that stage, only a Winston Churchillian roar could have brought him back into the game. But he did not have it in him. Gove, clearly having failed to extract from Johnson the assurances he had sought, jumped ship to run his own bid for the leadership. Johnson, having announced that he wasn't the man to lead the party then went off -- presumably to pen his next article.Britain's Brexit vote: Full coverageEditor's Note: Robin Oakley was political editor and columnist for The Times newspaper in London from 1986 to 1992, the BBC's political editor from 1992 to 2000, and CNN's European Political Editor between 2000 and 2008. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely his.

Nicole Hemmer is an associate research scholar at Columbia University with the Obama Presidency Oral History Project and the author of "Messengers of the Right: Conservative Media and the Transformation of American Politics." She co-hosts the history podcasts "Past Present" and "This Day in Esoteric Political History" and is co-producer of the podcast "Welcome To Your Fantasy." The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author. View more opinion on CNN. (CNN)At least five conservative radio hosts who warned their audiences against the vaccine have died of Covid in recent months. But the death of Marcus Lamb this week highlights a different network of misinformation that has nearly as broad a reach in conservative circles but receives far less attention in political media: conservative Christian broadcasters. Nicole Hemmer Marcus Lamb, a televangelist who founded the Daystar network and was a major source of Covid-19 misinformation, died after being hospitalized with the disease. Lamb's son, Jonathan, described his father's diagnosis as "a spiritual attack from the enemy... As much as my parents have gone on here to kind of inform everyone about everything going on in the pandemic and some of the ways to treat Covid, there's no doubt that the enemy is not happy about that, and he's doing everything he can to take down my dad." A statement from Daystar Television Network said in part, "The family asks at this time that their privacy be respected as they grieve this difficult loss, and they wish to express their deep love and gratitude for all those who prayed during Marcus's health battle. Continue to lift them up in prayer in the days ahead." Those concerned about the effects of misinformation and disinformation have devoted a great deal of attention over the past two years to addressing the problem, especially as it relates to the pandemic and Covid vaccine: their focus tends to be on outlets like Fox News, Newsmax and One America News, as well as the right-wing talk radio shows that clog the nation's airwaves.Read More This parallel network of media is both popular and profitable. Daystar, the network Lamb co-founded in 1993, claimed $233 million in assets in 2011, and is carried on nearly every major satellite and cable provider in the US. Among peer outlets, it was not alone in its reach: Trinity Broadcasting Network is even larger, and Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network produces some of the most well-known Christian shows in the country, including The 700 Club. Add to that a cohort of national and local radio programs dedicated to conservative Christian broadcasting, and you have a network of media outlets that enormous audiences of Americans consume on a regular basis, and that most political outlets tend to ignore. There are reasons that this sector of conservative media gets overlooked. The first is historical: conservative Christian broadcasts with a political bent have been around for nearly a century, with roots in the radio show of Father Charles Coughlin, who moved across the political spectrum before settling on a vitriolic anti-New Deal, antisemitic politics by the late 1930s. In the 1950s and 1960s, a new generation of hardline anti-communist radio preachers emerged, with programs like Billy James Hargis's Christian Crusade and Carl McIntire's 20th Century Reformation Hour. How to disrupt America's history of rebranding misinformation as 'science' Those shows arose alongside more traditional right-wing radio that focused more tightly on politics, shows like The Manion Forum and The Dan Smoot Report that launched in the early 1950s and grew in influence throughout the 1960s. But while the ideas and audiences of the religious and political shows overlapped -- they all warned about the twin evils of Soviet communism and US liberalism -- the institutions they built with the influence they wielded were distinctly separate. The religious broadcasters were embedded with churches and conservative evangelical organizations, while the political shows developed ties with the Republican Party and more secular operations. They also relied on different forms of authority. Political shows often rooted their arguments in ideological frameworks rooted in assumptions about the benefits of traditional hierarchies, conservative interpretations of founding documents and ideas, and the fundamental correctness of Christian and western values. For religious shows, the appeals were more spiritual: preachers claimed to have spiritual gifts and a direct connection to God. During the 1970s and 1980s, the rise of an organized and active religious right in the Republican Party began blurring the lines between religious and secular broadcasters on the right. No one embodied that gray area more than Pat Robertson, whose Christian Broadcasting Network represented one of the earliest and most successful forms of televangelism in the US. Making inroads into cable broadcasting in the 1960s, Robertson created a televangelist empire, one that made him wealthy, famous, and politically powerful. The son of one of Virginia's staunch segregationist senators, Robertson was no stranger to politics. Still, his decision in 1987 to run for the Republican nomination for president had the potential to demolish the walls between televangelism and Republican Party politics. The demonization of Dr. Fauci is just one sign of this insanity But voters -- even the increasingly evangelical Republican base -- did not buy the argument that preaching was a path to the presidency. He had a hard time overcoming what TV host John McLaughlin called the "wacko factor," the mix of unusual religious practices and outrageous political statements Robertson had engaged in over the years. In addition to speaking in tongues and engaging in faith healings, he had recently called non-Christians "termites" and said only Christians and Jews should be eligible to hold office in the US. Add to that a series of televangelist scandals in the 1980s that didn't implicate Robertson but did tarnish his profession -- and both Robertson and religious broadcasting slipped out of the mainstream and into a subculture largely invisible to nonevangelicals. Yet just because few people were paying attention to religious broadcasters did not mean they lost their influence -- or their interest in politics. The Christian Broadcasting Network received White House press credentials in the 1980s, and officials from the George W. Bush, Obama and Trump administrations appeared on its shows. In fact, for all the focus on the cozy relationship between Donald Trump and Fox News, he and his team fostered close ties with the Christian Broadcasting Network well before he ran for president. In his first year in office, Trump sat for more interviews with the network than with CNN, ABC or CBS. The Trump administration regularly turned to media personalities like Christian broadcasters who embraced Trump's message while relying on a different kind of authority than mainstream journalism or, during the pandemic, credible scientists. Conservative religious broadcasters were perfect for this: because viewers often understood this programming as an extension of worship practices, they trusted the preachers as a matter of faith and divine intercession.. That was true both when preachers like Marcus Lamb encouraged his viewers to vote for Donald Trump (citing Trump's willingness to appoint conservative judges who might overturn abortion rights and same-sex marriage laws) and when he began telling them in the summer of 2020 to be suspicious of any Covid-19 vaccinations. Over the course of the next year, the network developed a significant archive of Covid misinformation, not only airing anti-vaccination misinformation but promoting unproven prophylactics like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin as replacements for the vaccines. Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's newsletter.Join us on Twitter and Facebook Conspiratorial misinformation has long been part of radio and television preaching, from Coughlin's false rantings about a worldwide Jewish conspiracy to McIntire's opposition to water fluoridation to Pat Robertson's bizarre warnings of a "new world order" run by the Illuminati and the Freemasons under directions from Satan. In that context, Lamb's pandemic misinformation seems predictable, even mild. But for him, it came at a much higher price: a life that ended at age 64 from the disease he convinced himself -- and many of his followers -- could not harm him as much as the vaccine that likely could have saved his life.

Story highlightsPolice chief says the toll may yet rise as the investigation continues"Nothing could have prepared me" he says of scenes inside towerLondon (CNN)At least 79 people are dead or missing and presumed dead following the fire that tore through the 24-story Grenfell Tower in London, police have said. Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy told a press conference Monday that only five victims have been formally identified so far, and the death toll may change."Sadly for many families they have lost more than one family member," said Cundy, who added that the "painstaking" search and recovery operation is proceeding as quickly as possible, but may take "many many weeks."The burnt-out shell of Grenfell Tower on Friday. Cundy explained that one of the reasons identification has been so difficult is because dental records are needed from victims who hailed from different countries around the world.However, five people who were originally reported as missing have since been found safe and well.Read MorePolice chief: Nothing could have prepared meLondon Police Commander Stuart Cundy has been inside the devastated building. The police chief, who went inside the charred shell of the high-rise tower over the weekend, told reporters: "I've investigated major crime for most of my service and I've seen some terrible things but I don't think anything prepared me for what I was going to see when I was in there."The government has promised a public inquiry, and police have opened a criminal investigation.Cundy said the "complex" and "exhaustive" inquiry will focus on a range of issues including how the building was constructed, a recent refurbishment of it, how it is managed and maintained and fire safety measures.Speculation has focused on the role that cladding apparently used in a recent refurbishment of the tower may have played in the fire.JUST WATCHEDAnger boils over after London apartment fireReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAnger boils over after London apartment fire 02:27A senior UK government minister said Sunday that he believed the cladding is banned in Britain for buildings above a certain height."My understanding is the cladding in question, this flammable cladding which is banned in Europe and the US, is also banned here," Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond told the BBC's "The Andrew Marr Show.""So there are two separate questions. One, are our regulations correct, do they permit the right kind of materials and ban the wrong kind of materials? The second question is were they correctly complied with?"Hammond said that will be a focus of the inquiry and investigation.Rydon, the company that carried out the recent refurbishment, said the "project met all required building regulations."Police are conducting a complex investigation to see if a crime was committed in relation to the fire. Authorities have also faced questions about why the block, built in the 1970s and home to 125 families, was never fitted with a sprinkler system that might have saved lives."I would like to reassure everybody that we will be looking at all criminal offenses that may have been committed by any individual or any organization," said Cundy.Britain remembers victimsBritain observed a moment of silence at 11 a.m. Monday in remembrance of the victims. It was joined by firefighters from stations across the country.An emotional firefighter observes a moment of silence Monday near Grenfell Tower.A vigil was held in Parliament Square in central London Monday evening.Conservative Prime Minister Theresa May has announced a fund of £5 million ($6.4 million) to help those affected by the blaze.May has faced criticism for failing to meet survivors in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.On Saturday, when she did meet residents, she said the response to the fire had been "not good enough."On Monday, when asked if the Prime Minister thought her own response was good enough, a Downing Street spokesperson replied: "The Prime Minister has a job to do. You heard ministers talking over the weekend, who are always in close contact with her. She was focused on making sure there was a taskforce up and running, getting that done. " CNN's Barbara Arvanitidis and David Wilkinson contributed to this report.

Oxford, UK (CNN Business)Solar energy is poised for what could be its biggest transformation in over half a century. A group of materials called perovskites are being used to create the next generation of solar panels, which could eventually be twice as efficient as current models, and flexible enough to wrap around entire buildings.The first solar cell capable of powering everyday electrical equipment was made in the 1950s at Bell Labs in New Jersey. Back then the silicon-based panels were hugely expensive and converted just 6% of sunlight into electricity. Since then, costs have come down dramatically and today's silicon solar cells can turn up to 22% of sunlight into power. But they're nearly maxed out in terms of efficiency. Now, perovskites offer the potential for dramatic increases in power output, and they could ultimately replace silicon altogether. Solar power could be 'the new king' as global electricity demand growsResearchers at Oxford PV, a company spun out of the University of Oxford, made a major breakthrough in 2018. By coating silicon with perovskite they achieved 28% efficiency. The company believes it can eventually reach 40%, or higher.Read MoreImproved solar cell efficiency will enable installations to pump out more power with fewer panels, reducing costs, and the amount of land, labor and equipment needed to operate them. "If we want to make it that all new power generation is solar photovoltaics, then we need to keep driving the price down," Henry Snaith, professor of physics at the University of Oxford and co-founder of Oxford PV, tells CNN Business. "One way to do that is to keep pushing the efficiency or the power output of the module up, and this is where perovskites really come into play."Solar potentialPerovskite was discovered in 1839. Oxford PV uses a synthetic version, made from inexpensive materials that are abundant in the Earth's crust, while other companies use variations of the original mineral, collectively called perovskites.As well as improved solar efficiency, they work better than silicon in the shade, on cloudy days or even indoors. Perovskites can be printed using an inkjet printer and can be as thin as wallpaper. Photos: Henry Snaith, left, and Christopher Case, of UK company Oxford PV, which is working with perovskite to generate solar energy. Case says the material is "the most significant development in solar photovoltaics in 65 years."Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: A tube of Oxford PV's perovskite material, which is synthesized from materials that are abundant in the Earth's crust. Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Because perovskite solar cells work better than silicon in low light, Poland-based Saule Technologies says semi-transparent cells could be clad on buildings in built up areas, as in this rendering. Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: The team at Saule Technologies with their highly flexible perovskite material. Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: As the technology develops, perovskite could be printed onto flexible rolls, and wrapped around buildings. Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Saule predicts that perovskite solar cells could eventually be integrated into street furniture, where they could power street lights and charge electronic devices. Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Saule Technologies uses an inkjet printer to make its perovskite solar cells. Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Their light weight means they have the potential to be installed on rooftops more easily than silicon panels. Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: California-based Swift Solar is working on incorporating its perovskite material into asphalt shingles, as in this rendering, which are used for roofing. Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: It says perovskite technology could eventually be incorporated into cars and planes. Hide Caption 10 of 10Oxford PV hopes perovskite will eventually replace silicon entirely. "In the coming decades, all-perovskite solar coatings promise to raise efficiencies even further, reduce the weight and shipping cost of solar equipment," says Varun Sivaram, energy expert and author of "Taming the Sun: Innovations to Harness Solar Energy and Power the Planet," who worked with Snaith while studying at Oxford.He says that as the technology develops, perovskite could be sprayed or rolled onto flexible surfaces. Semitransparent solar coatings could even be wrapped around whole buildings. How cities are using technology to solve their trash problemsOxford PV aims to begin producing cells made from perovskite on silicon early next year at a new purpose-built factory in Brandenburg, Germany. It estimates that panels made from the cells could save homeowners up to $1,000 on the purchase and installation of the average solar system. Other companies working with perovskite include Warsaw-based Saule Technologies, which has secured funding of €10 million ($11.7 million) from Polish photovoltaics company Columbus Energy.Last month, Saule Technologies' new factory in Warsaw began printing perovskite solar cells using inkjet printers. Early next year, it will start supplying Swedish construction company Skanska Group, which says it wants to be the first developer to attach printed solar cells to the façade of a building on a commercial scale."It is set to be a game-changer in the energy sector, because it works in every lighting condition," says Saule Technologies co-founder Olga Malinkiewicz. "You can make it flexible. It's a wonderful material. Architects will love it."

Story highlightsGael Monfils is convinced he can become a grand slam championHe has only spent about six months inside the elite top 10 during 11-year pro careerU.S. Open is the only grand slam outside France where he has reached the quarterfinals (CNN)Gael Monfils has long been tennis' great entertainer, but the clock is ticking on the Frenchman's grand slam ambitions.One of the most exciting players on the circuit, he is also one of the most frustrating.Follow @cnnsport He's been known to attempt shots between his legs, hit forehands and backhands with both feet a yard off the ground and slide all over the court no matter the surface -- and this all-out physical approach has no doubt contributed to his litany of injuries."First of all I want to entertain myself," Monfils, who has only once reached the semifinals of a grand slam, tells CNN's Open Court. "I try to have fun myself, and if people love it I'm more than happy. "People say, 'Oh, you jump.' Yes, because I want to jump. Yes I play tennis to win but I play tennis first to enjoy as well. When I started to play tennis my mum told me to enjoy."Read MoreThe craziest shot he's struck? "I haven't hit it yet," says Monfils, who turns 29 on September 1, the day after the U.S. Open starts. "I think I hit a 360 smash in practice."Encore un coup de @Gael_Monfils qui fait le tour du web ! https://t.co/Hqsg4AjGGe #tennis #LaMonf #DavisCup cc @WeAreTennisFR— BNP Paribas (@BNPParibas) September 15, 2014 It's little surprise that one of his nicknames is "Sliderman," but is Monfils' approach stopping him from adding another title to his resume: grand slam champion?He won three major titles in his last season as a junior, when he was top of the boys' world rankings, but his best pro performance is making the last four of the 2008 French Open.His tendency to attempt unnecessary shots to please the spectators -- and himself -- doesn't help his cause, even if his intentions stem from commendable reasons. "I believe he's so happy to play tennis and to be able to do some shots ... or be part of the show," compatriot Henri Leconte, the 1988 French Open finalist and now a tennis commentator, told CNN.com."He wants to do so much for the crowd that sometimes he goes over the limit. Then he loses concentration." JUST WATCHEDFrench tennis flying highReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFrench tennis flying high 06:23JUST WATCHEDMary Pierce: a French Open love storyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMary Pierce: a French Open love story 03:37 Photos: France's tennis musketeers Photos: France's tennis musketeersPromising future – With Gael Monfils, far left, Gilles Simon, second from left, Richard Gasquet, third from left, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, far right, coming through the ranks at about the same time, there were high hopes for the so-called "New Musketeers" of French tennis. Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: France's tennis musketeersExpectations raised – Those expectations were raised when an 18-year-old Gasquet saved three match points to beat Roger Federer, left, at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2005. Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: France's tennis musketeersClose call – They were further raised when Tsonga reached the Australian Open final in 2008, upsetting Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal along the way. He led Djokovic by a set in the final before the Serb rallied to claim his maiden grand slam title. Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: France's tennis musketeersBright Benoit – And even now, France has 12 players inside the men's top 100. One of them is the exciting Benoit Paire, who had a breakthrough 2013. But ...Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: France's tennis musketeersNo-go, Jo – Tsonga hasn't reached another grand slam final and hasn't been able to consistently trouble the so-called "Big Four" of Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Murray. Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: France's tennis musketeersBlown a Gasquet – Gasquet, who was on the cover of a French tennis magazine when he was an adolescent, qualified for the prestigious year-end championships in 2007 but then missed out until 2013. He also served a drug suspension in 2009, although the ban was later overturned. Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: France's tennis musketeersElastic not-so fantastic? – Murray described Monfils as probably tennis' best ever athlete but the elastic 27-year-old has made it to only one grand slam semifinal and rarely sparkles at big tournaments outside France. Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: France's tennis musketeersDreams dashed – Simon advanced to the semifinals of the year-end championships in 2008, the season he topped Federer and Nadal. But it was his lone appearance at the year-end championships and he has a mere one grand slam quarterfinal to his name -- in 2009. Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: France's tennis musketeersA long drought – It's 31 years since a Frenchman last won a grand slam singles title. Yannick Noah achieved the feat at Roland Garros in 1983, downing Mats Wilander. Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: France's tennis musketeersNeedles in the haystack – Switzerland, meanwhile, only has two men in the top 100 -- but both Stanislas Wawrinka, left, and Federer are grand slam singles champions. Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: France's tennis musketeersAll for one? – Gasquet, Tsonga and Monfils have all spoken about wanting to win the Davis Cup for France this year. Les Bleus -- who will face Germany in April's quarterfinals -- last triumphed in the team competition in 2001 when they defeated Australia on the road. Hide Caption 11 of 11Monfils was criticized by former world No. 1 Andy Roddick when he lost the fifth set 6-0 to Murray at last year's French Open, the American tweeting that Monfils put in a "horrible effort." "Showboats when winning and rolls over when down," Roddick added. Then this week at the Cincinnati Masters, Monfils was accused of tanking in the second set of a first-round loss to Jerzy Janowicz. "To not give 100% and be so blatant about it, I think it's disrespectful," two-time U.S. Open winner Tracy Austin said while commentating for the Tennis Channel, according to Reuters. Monfils told French newspaper L'Equipe he was simply trying to have fun because he was playing so badly, and he makes no apology for his antics or decision-making. Born in Paris with Caribbean roots -- like retired French footballer Thierry Henry, his parents hail from Guadeloupe and Martinique -- Monfils is convinced he can win a grand slam."Yeah, 100%," Monfils told Open Court. "And I will. I'm 100% sure. It's small details. I'm not that far. "I need to fix small details and I will do it." They are indeed bold words from Monfils -- other players might have opted for a cautious response -- although he certainly isn't arrogant. Far from it. Monfils is, generally, liked by both fans and peers for his easygoing nature and engaging personality, not to mention his often breathtaking shots. Andy Murray called him one of the best, if not the best, athletes to ever play tennis. It's an impressive package, and yet challenging tennis' "Big Four" in majors has proved difficult for Monfils.Unlike Stan Wawrinka, who has managed to destabilize the quartet of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Murray at grand slams, Monfils has never really been willing to play an attacking style.Instead he largely relies on counterpunching -- perhaps most memorably shown in a 71-shot rally at the Australian Open in 2013 with fellow Frenchman Gilles Simon, a match he lost in five sets. Monfils has only spent about six months inside the elite top 10 during his 11-year pro career. Currently he's ranked 16th. Of his five titles -- all in the lowest rung of the ATP ladder -- three have come in France, where he feeds off the energy of his home crowd. For someone who likes being in the spotlight, a 5-17 record in finals is underwhelming and slightly puzzling. Then there is Monfils' propensity of playing fifth sets early at grand slams, which has the effect of wearing him out later in the tournament. Five of his nine grand slam matches in 2015 have gone the distance. JUST WATCHEDGilles Simon's endurance advantageReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGilles Simon's endurance advantage 01:50JUST WATCHEDGasquet's world famous backhandReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGasquet's world famous backhand 03:37"He has the potential to be top-10 every day," adds Leconte, 52, who was one of the most talented players of his generation. "Maybe he has the chance to win a grand slam. I think he's one of the best athletes on the circuit for sure, with Novak and others."The only problem is that he's getting older, everyone is moving forward, and he is just one of the players who want to win a grand slam. "Then after that you have to work so hard to be there. Getting to the quarters and semis, then after that to the final and winning, it's such a huge difference."Monfils showcased his skills at last year's U.S. Open, the only grand slam outside France where he has reached the quarterfinals. Under the lights in the last eight in tennis' largest regularly used stadium, Monfils led Federer by two sets and held two match points before the Swiss rallied. Nonetheless he enjoyed the experience and has only fond memories of the season's final major. "It's always an honor to play on Arthur Ashe stadium. I used to love (Arthur Ashe)," Monfils said of the three-time grand slam winner, who died aged 49. "The crowd is unbelievable. One of the best atmospheres ever. "The energy is crazy. I can't really explain it but I love the people there and the crowd gives me a lot."It's the first slam where I flew with with my mum. I always wanted to see New York when I was a kid. When you look far back, I was watching the U.S. Open and now to go to New York and visit the city and play at the U.S. Open, for me it's just crazy." Monfils still has a few years left before he retires. When he does call it quits, Monfils claims he might pursue watchmaking. "Strange, right?" he said. "I love watches, the mechanism. I've learned a bit about how you make a watch, actually, and it's something that I would explore maybe after my career." And we've learned more about what makes Monfils tick. Watch: Can Shane Warne play tennis? Who will the U.S. Open? Tell us on CNN Sport's Facebook page

London (CNN)Malala Yousafzai says she is "so excited" after being accepted to study at the world famous University of Oxford.The 20-year-old Pakistani activist who rose to prominence after being shot in the head and neck by the Taliban while on her way home from school in 2012, has won praise for her campaigning and advocacy surrounding the rights of girls to receive education.So excited to go to Oxford!! Well done to all A-level students - the hardest year. Best wishes for life ahead! pic.twitter.com/miIwK6fNSf— Malala (@Malala) August 17, 2017 Already a Nobel Peace Prize winner and the youngest ever UN Messenger of Peace, Malala will now hope to complete the prestigious Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree at Oxford.Announcing the news on Twitter, Malala wrote: "So excited to go to Oxford!! Well done to all A-level students - the hardest year. Best wishes for life ahead!" Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala Yousafzai poses on stage in Birmingham, England, after she was announced as a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, October 10, 2014. Two years earlier, she was shot in the head by the Taliban for her efforts to promote education for girls in Pakistan. Since then, after recovering from surgery, she has taken her campaign to the world stage.Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala and her family visit the United Nations headquarters in New York before meeting with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in August.Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala speaks during the Commonwealth Day observance service at Westminster Abbey in London. Malala has lived in Britain since the Taliban attack.Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala speaks at a youth empowerment event at London's Wembley Arena in March.Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala gives a copy of her book to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during a reception at Buckingham Palace in October 2013.Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala addresses students and faculty of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, after receiving the Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award in September 2013.Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiQueen Rania of Jordan presents Malala with the Leadership in Civil Society Award at the Clinton Global Citizen Awards ceremony in New York in September 2013.Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMusician Bono, right, and Salil Shetty, the secretary general of Amnesty International, honor Malala with the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award at the Manison House in Dublin, Ireland, in September 2013. The award is Amnesty International's highest honor, recognizing individuals who have promoted and enhanced the cause of human rights.Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala receives a trophy from Yemeni civil rights activist Tawakkol Karman after being honored with the International Children's Peace Prize in The Hague, Netherlands, in September 2013. Karman was one of the Nobel Peace Prize winners in 2011.Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala receives the 25th International Prize of Catalonia in July 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. The award recognizes those who have contributed to the development of cultural, scientific and human values around the world. Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala is applauded before she speaks at the United Nations Youth Assembly in New York on July 12, 2013, her 16th birthday. "They thought that the bullets would silence us, but they failed," she said. "And then, out of that silence, came thousands of voices."Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala was one of seven people featured on the cover of Time magazine's 100 most influential people edition in April 2013.Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala returns to school at Edgbaston High School for Girls in Birmingham, England, on March 19, 2013. She said she had "achieved her dream."Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiMalala recovers after receiving treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on October 19, 2012. Doctors covered the large hole in her skull with a titanium plate. The teen suffered no major brain or nerve damage, and she even kept the piece of her skull that was removed as a souvenir of her fight. Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: Malala YousafzaiPakistani hospital workers carry Malala on a stretcher on October 9, 2012, after she was shot in the head and neck by the Taliban in Mingora, Pakistan. Hide Caption 15 of 15She joins some of the most famous leaders in the world in studying PPE at Oxford including former Pakistani President Benazir Bhutto, former US President Bill Clinton, Ex-British Prime Minister David Cameron and leader of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi.Read MoreSuccessful yearIt has been a stellar year for Malala.In April, she stood alongside United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to accept the role of UN Messenger of Peace.Malala Yousafzai shakes hands with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.Guterres described Yousafzai as a "hero" and "the symbol of one of the most important causes in the world."She also received honorary Canadian citizenship from the country's prime minister, Justin Trudeau.

(CNN)A 44-year-old Mexican man awaiting deportation has died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in Georgia, the agency said in a statement Thursday.Pedro Arriago-Santoya had been detained at the Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia -- one of the nation's largest immigrant detention facilities and the subject of CNN's 2018 series, "Inside America's Hidden Border." Inside America's Hidden BorderArriago-Santoya died Wednesday afternoon at the Piedmont Midtown Medical Center in Columbus.He had complained to staff at Stewart of abdominal pain on Saturday, ICE said. That day, he was taken via ambulance to a regional hospital, then transferred the following day to the Columbus hospital "for surgery consultation due to suspected gall bladder disease," ICE said.While hospitalized, Arriago-Santoya went into cardiac arrest on Monday. Read More"Medical staff performed life-saving measures. ... Mr. Arriago-Santoya was then placed on a ventilator and moved to the hospital intensive care unit where he remained intubated, on mechanical ventilation, and comatose," ICE said.He was pronounced dead Wednesday after going into cardiac arrest again.Medical staff identified his preliminary cause of death as "cardio-pulmonary arrest secondary to multi-organ system failure, endocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy with a low ejection fraction and respiratory failure," ICE said.An autopsy will be performed, Stewart County Coroner Sybil Ammons said.Mexican consular authorities have been notified and responded they have been unable to locate Arriago-Santoya's next of kin, ICE said.Word of his death sparked swift criticism -- and renewed calls for the detention center's closure -- from immigrant-rights advocates, who have alleged for years that the Georgia facility provides inadequate medical care to detainees in its custody."We have been raising the alarm about the horrific conditions at the Stewart Detention Center for many years," said Azadeh Shahshahani, legal and advocacy director for Project South. "Our calls for accountability and redress have fallen on deaf ears."Another tragedy at Stewart Detention Center in #Georgia: 44-year-old Pedro Arriago-Santoya has dies. This marks the 4th death at Stewart in just 2 years. How many more immigrants should perish at this awful place before it's shut down? #ShutDownStewart #AbolishICE @DetentionWatch https://t.co/mwQ4orFNcA— Azadeh Shahshahani (@ashahshahani) July 25, 2019 Arriago-Santoya's death marks the fourth time a detainee held at Stewart has died since May 2017.Efrain Romero De La Rosa, a 40-year-old Mexican national, was found unresponsive in his cell in July 2018 and was later pronounced dead at a hospital. The apparent cause of death was self-inflicted strangulation. Yulio Castro Garrido, a 33-year-old Cuban national, was diagnosed with pneumonia at Stewart and was hospitalized as his condition worsened. He died in January 2018 at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.And in May 2017, Jean Jimenez-Joseph, a 27-year-old Panamanian national, killed himself in solitary confinement at Stewart. An immigration detainer landed Arriago-Santoya in ICE custody on April 24. A judge ordered his deportation on June 6 and he had been in ICE custody "awaiting removal to his country of citizenship in accordance with that judicial removal order," ICE said.He was transferred to Stewart on July 10, according to Brandon Bissell, a spokesman for CoreCivic, the private company that operates the detention center."Upon notification from the hospital of the passing, CoreCivic staff immediately notified our partners with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and an autopsy has been requested," Bissell said in a statement. "No foul play is suspected and his death appears to be from natural causes." ICE said Arriago-Santoya is the seventh person who's died in the agency's custody in the 2019 fiscal year, which began in October."ICE is firmly committed to the health and welfare of all those in its custody and is undertaking a comprehensive agency-wide review of this incident, as it does in all such cases," the agency said. "Fatalities in ICE custody, statistically, are exceedingly rare and occur at a small fraction of the rate of the U.S. detained population as a whole."CNN's Tina Burnside contributed to this report.

(CNN)Four people have died on Poland's border with Belarus in recent days, amid accusations that the Belarusian government is funneling migrants to the European Union's eastern border in retaliation over western sanctions. Three people were found dead on the Polish side of the border after suffering from hypothermia, Polish authorities said. A fourth person was found dead in Belarus, one meter from the border, Belarusian state agency Belta reported.A growing number of migrants have been illegally crossing Poland's border from Belarus in recent weeks. In August alone, 3,000 people -- many from Afghanistan and Iraq -- attempted to enter Poland illegally, according to the Polish interior ministry.In a press conference Monday, Poland's Minister of Internal Affairs and Administration Mariusz Kamiński said one of the victims found Sunday was an Iraqi citizen who died near the Lithuanian border in Frącki, Poland.Kamiński said the Iraqi citizen and the two other victims found in Poland were forced to the Polish border by Belarusian border guards, before Polish border authorities told them their crossing was illegal and there was no way through.Warsaw residents light candles at the national border guard headquarters, in a sign of mourning for the migrants found dead over the weekend.Read MoreIt is not the first time Poland has accused Belarus of sending migrants to its border. In a joint statement in August, the prime ministers of Poland and Baltic countries Latvia and Lithuania, which also border Belarus, blamed President Alexander Lukashenko for systematically organizing the ongoing refugee crisis, "unlawfully" directing refugees and migrants to the EU external border in what they described as a "hybrid attack" against the entire bloc.The leaders said that they would take in any refugees crossing the border but would call for "possible new restrictive measures by the EU to prevent any further illegal immigration."Belarus floods the European Union with migrants, taking a page out of Putin's playbookBut Poland has received sharp criticism over its treatment of migrants. The country has begun to build a barbed wire fence to curb illegal migration and Polish President Andrzej Duda in early September declared a 30-day state of emergency in a stretch of its border with Belarus. European officials have also accused Belarus of encouraging people to cross illegally into Poland, and its other EU neighbors, as part of efforts to put pressure on the bloc over sweeping sanctions it imposed on Minsk. The sanctions by the EU, the US and Britain in June were a coordinated response to the Lukashenko government's forced landing of a Ryanair flight and arrest of an opposition journalist as well as "continuing repression" in the former Soviet state.Lithuanian officials say migrants are being flown from the Middle East to Minsk, and then guided to the Belarus-Lithuania border by unspecified facilitators, where they are allowed to cross unimpeded by Belarusian border police. Lithuania has called it "petty" and "mass revenge" for the EU sanctions.A Western intelligence official told CNN in August that the scheme could not function without the permission of the Belarusian state, and that Lukashenko was likely using the migrants as a way to pressure the EU into negotiations to lift the sanctions against him.Lukashenko himself publicly threatened to flood the EU with "migrants and drugs" in May.Europe's disunity and lack of trust imperil the continent's futureThe UN Migration Agency said in a statement earlier this month that it was deeply concerned by the "dire conditions" faced by migrants at the EU-Belarus border, where a group of around 30 migrants had been stuck for several weeks with limited access to drinking water and food, medical assistance, sanitation and shelter.In a press conference earlier this month, Kamiński described the group of migrants stuck at the border as "the tip of the iceberg," adding "our security is at risk, and we act in proportion to the scale and degree of the threat.""Lukashenko wants to threaten us. We will not allow Poland to be another route of mass transfer of illegal immigrants to the EU. We will not allow the security of our citizens to be compromised. These activities are aimed at ensuring security on the Polish border, its integrity and the safety of citizens who live at the border," Kamiński said. CNN's Stephanie Halasz and Nick Paton Walsh contributed to this report.

Story highlightsScottish Premier League leaders have eight wins and eight clean sheets in a rowManager Derek McInnes guided them to a first trophy in 19 years last seasonClub last failed to win in top flight when defending champions Celtic beat themMcInnes had bemoaned their defending earlier on in the campaign (CNN)If you'd been asked at the start of the season to name the team that would go on the best defensive run in any of world football's top divisions, who might you have opted for?Barcelona? Real Madrid? Manchester City? Bayern Munich? Paris Saint-Germain? None of those? Well, what about Aberdeen, then?When people talk about the Dons, it tends to be through a bit of a nostalgic haze. Remember those 1980s days when they broke the Old Firm stranglehold as the club Alex Ferguson managed before joining Manchester United? Pittodrie's Scottish title-winners? Aberdeen triumphing in Europe?It's all a long time ago, but maybe we're on the brink of some sort of sequel. Read MoreYou have to go back to 1984-85 for the last time Aberdeen won the Scottish league title, but now they're top and four points clear of Celtic -- and although the defending champions have a couple of games in hand, Aberdeen are flying.Their last eight Scottish Premier League games have brought victories and clean sheets -- that's 630 minutes of league football in which they haven't conceded a goal. Their last winless league game, a 2-1 setback at home to Celtic, came in early November.That sort of defensive defiance is unmatched anywhere: only French outfit St Etienne and Moldovan club Milsami can come close. St Etienne have strung together a sequence of six clean sheets and Milsami seven.So what's the secret? "It's probably just a combination of a few things -- getting back to basics and looking at our shape, concentrating more on what we are doing when the opposition has the ball," Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes told CNN."The biggest drain on confidence is conceding cheap goals that mean you drop points. The biggest way of gaining confidence is getting a few clean sheets on the spin.".@celticfc's Ronny Deila: We've not been bad.. it's just Aberdeen have been so good http://t.co/TxadqPczzR pic.twitter.com/RZeXbeBmTe— Daily Record Sport (@Record_Sport) January 12, 2015 McInnes is quick to stress that although the spotlight inevitably falls on his team's defence and goalkeeper, Aberdeen's is a collective effort, describing their sequence of results as "a reflection of the whole team."He adds: "It's an unusual run, but you should always strive to improve. Last year, our defensive record was excellent and now we are building on that. And there has been stability [in personnel]. Any time a team has a good defensive record, consistency of selection helps."Scottish football hasn't had the happiest of times in recent years. Dwindling attendances and the implosion of powerhouse club Rangers, liquidated at the end of the 2011-12 campaign, added to a growing feeling of crisis. Rangers, re-formed, were admitted to the fourth tier of the Scottish game at the start of the following season, robbing the top division -- for the time being, at least -- of its Old Firm rivalry.But the continuing resurgence of Aberdeen has added a vibrant splash of color to this season as expectations that Celtic would stroll to another title have, so far, been confounded. Their attendances have never dipped below 10,000, hitting a high point of a little over 19,000 for Celtic's visit.Asked whether his side's challenge has pepped up interest in the Scottish top flight, McInnes says: "In terms of stature, the perception of the league will be better when the Edinburgh clubs [Hibs and Hearts] and Rangers [all three are currently in the second tier] are back."But there are a lot of good stories -- Dundee United, Inverness, Hamilton and ourselves are up there challenging. We're glad to be in the fight, and I'm really pleased with what the players have given me."Familiarity has helped Aberdeen develop their watertight defense, with Mark Reynolds, Andrew Considine, Ashton Taylor and goalkeeper Scott Brown all having played in each game of a run that has taken the team's overall goals against record to just 17 in 21 matches.But it's not just about that, says central defender Taylor, a summer arrival from English League Two club Tranmere Rovers."We are putting our bodies on the line to stop the ball going into the net," he told Aberdeen's Press and Journal. "I tend to focus on what I have to do against each player, while we have got a lot of good players in front of us who can score goals in any game."8 wins in row, 8 cleansheets and still top of the League. #COYR! #DONSLive— Aberdeen FC (@AberdeenFC) January 10, 2015 "I certainly didn't think I would keep so many clean sheets," keeper Brown told the paper."I've always wanted to better myself and push myself as hard as I can, and I thought I could do that with Aberdeen. A big part of the appeal was to have [legendary Aberdeen goalkeeper] Jim Leighton working with me as goalkeeper coach."It's all a far cry from earlier in the season, when McInnes was getting hot under the collar... because Aberdeen were conceding too many avoidable goals.Speaking after a 3-0 defeat at Hamilton Academical in October, he said: "We as a team know we can't go through the season losing cheap goals if we want to be successful. Losing soft goals is something that has to be dealt with."We need to make better decisions, and we need to show far more determination when we are defending."Now Aberdeen are targeting the world's best winning league streak, currently held by Uruguay's Nacional with 12 consecutive victories.But neither McInnes nor his players are talking publicly about their chances of becoming champions of Scotland again after 20 years -- there's a long way to go, we'll take one game at a time, that sort of thing.Former Rangers, West Bromwich Albion and Dundee United player McInnes guided the club to their first silverware in 19 years when they beat Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish League Cup final last year. And with his side flying high, it's no surprise that he's the current Scottish Premiership Manager of the Month.He believes the fact that the Scottish game gives chances to home-grown managers has offered them an environment in which to flourish, with former Hamilton Accies boss Alex Neil the latest to be headhunted by an English club when he joined Norwich City earlier this month."I got an opportunity as a player-manager [at St Johnstone] first of all," he says. "People get chances to build teams, and Alex Neil did fantastically well. "He was ingrained in that club, and the biggest compliment you can pay him is that his team was like an extension of him -- very competitive, very disciplined. You knew it would be tough against them."It's not only in the Scottish top flight that things are looking up -- new national manager Gordon Strachan has also brought renewed optimism to the Scotland team."We've had a few players involved in Scotland squads, and the challenge for them is to force their way into a team that's doing well," McInnes says. "There is a good spirit there, and I think there's more to come from them."There could be even more to come from Aberdeen, too.

Story highlightsHospital chairman slams "truly appalling" decision to air the prank call on 2Day FMAustralia's media regulator says it is talking to the radio station about the hoax callAustralian DJs Mel Greig and Michael Christian "mutually decide" to go off airNurse Jacintha Saldanha was found dead after taking the prank call on CatherineThe British hospital where a nurse apparently committed suicide after being duped by a hoax call over Prince William's pregnant wife condemned the radio station responsible in a strongly worded letter on Saturday.Two DJs from Australian radio station 2Day FM, impersonating Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, called the hospital Tuesday and gained information about the condition of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge -- which they subsequently played on air.On Friday, the nurse who transferred the call through to the ward, Jacintha Saldanha, was found dead."King Edward VII's Hospital cares for sick people, and it was extremely foolish of your presenters even to consider trying to lie their way through to one of our patients, let alone actually make the call," wrote hospital chairman Lord Glenarthur. Management's decision then to broadcast the recorded call "was truly appalling," said Lord Glenarthur in the letter addressed to Max Moore-Wilton, chairman of Southern Cross Austereo, which owns the radio station.JUST WATCHEDTragic end for prank call victimReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTragic end for prank call victim 02:23JUST WATCHEDPrank on royal hospital turns tragicReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPrank on royal hospital turns tragic 03:02JUST WATCHEDHospital prank victim found deadReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHospital prank victim found dead 01:52JUST WATCHEDNurse pranked by DJs found deadReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNurse pranked by DJs found dead 03:06"The immediate consequence of these premeditated and ill-considered actions was the humiliation of two dedicated and caring nurses who were simply doing their job tending to their patients."The longer term consequence has been reported around the world and is, frankly, tragic beyond words."Lord Glenarthur called on the radio station to take steps "to ensure that such an incident could never be repeated."The fallout from Saldanha's death has stretched from Britain to Australia -- with questions being raised about how far is too far in the effort to find out details about Catherine's pregnancy.The two Australian DJs behind the practical joke, Mel Greig and Michael Christian, have come under fire, with some using the phrase "blood on your hands" to condemn their actions on the Sydney-based radio station."Pranksters Face World Fury," screamed the front-page of the UK's Daily Mirror on Saturday, while Daily Telegraph columnist Bryony Gordon said it was "not so funny to hear two grown adults call up a hospital ward full of sick people to try to scam information about one of them."Read more: Nurse's death casts glare on 'shock jocks'The DJs have since apologized, and "mutually decided" to go off the air for an undetermined period, Rhys Holleran, CEO of the Southern Cross Austereo media group, said Saturday during a news conference. But he defended the legality of the station's action, saying he was "very confident that we haven't done anything illegal.""This is a tragic event that could not have been reasonably foreseen, and we are deeply saddened by it," he said. The Australian Communications and Media Authority, the country's media regulator, has not yet commented on the case. However, it will be "engaging with the licensee, Today FM Sydney, around the facts and issues surrounding the prank call," said the regulator's chairman, Chris Chapman.News of Saldanha's death broke Friday, with the hospital saying she "was recently the victim of a hoax call." London's Metropolitan Police said that Saldanha, 46, had living quarters in central London provided by her workplace.Police said they were notified Friday morning that a woman was found unconscious at the address. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are treating the death as "unexplained."A post-mortem examination will be held next week, police said.A spokesman for Prime Minister David Cameron said Saturday that he "thinks this is a very sad case and his thoughts are with her family and colleagues."Throughout the controversy surrounding the hoax, authorities did not identify the nurse. Her identity was released after her death. Audio of the call posted online suggests a woman spoke briefly to the DJs before she put the call through early Tuesday morning to the ward where the Duchess of Cambridge was being treated for acute morning sickness. "They were the world's worst accents ever. We were sure 100 people at least before us would've tried the same thing. ... We were expecting to be hung up on. We didn't even know what to say when we got through," Greig told listeners Thursday. Off the air, Greig and Christian tweeted about the practical joke on Thursday and earlier Friday, promising "more on the #royalprank." The pair's Twitter accounts were taken down late Friday. Some listeners applauded the prank, like one who identified himself as Guido on the station's Facebook page and wrote, "It is only a joke people! it was great i love it!!!" Others were outraged, with such negative comments outnumbering positive ones on 2DayFM's Facebook page before the nurse's death."Your stunt was done at a time in this country where there is paranoia about the intrusion of the media into people's lives," Gary Slenders wrote. "I know you will say it is harmless fun, the management of 2DayFM will say that it won't happen again, but this is exactly where the phone hacking scandal started."The outcry grew exponentially after the hospital confirmed Saldanha's death, leading the Coles supermarket chain to remove all its advertising from 2DayFM."This death is on your conscience," reads one Facebook post. Several accused the two of having "blood on your hands."Saldanha's family released a statement asking for privacy and directing questions to police. She is survived by her husband and two children."We as a family are deeply saddened by the loss of our beloved Jacintha," said the statement, released by police.Saldanha worked at the King Edward VII Hospital for more than four years, and she was described as an "excellent nurse," well-respected by coworkers, the hospital statement said.The hospital "had been supporting her throughout this difficult time," it said. A St. James's Palace spokesman said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are deeply saddened to learn of the death. "Their Royal Highnesses were looked after so wonderfully well at all times by everybody at King Edward VII Hospital, and their thoughts and prayers are with Jacintha Saldanha's family, friends and colleagues at this very sad time." Separately, a palace spokesman told CNN: "At no point did the palace complain to the hospital about the incident. On the contrary, we offered our full and heartfelt support to the nurses involved and hospital staff at all times."The hospital said Wednesday that it deeply regretted the call had been put through.

(CNN)Australians are sweltering in temperatures as much as 12 degrees Celsius (21.6 Fahrenheit) above average after another extreme heatwave swept across the country Monday, the second in under a month.Temperatures rose above 40 C (104 F) at the weekend and the extreme weather is expected to last the week. Forecasts show all of Australia's eight states and territories are expected to be affected by the extended heatwave."Plan to keep yourself cool, check in on family and friends and follow the advice from your local health authorities," the Australian Bureau of Meteorology said on social media.Just over two weeks ago, a brutal post-Christmas heatwave led to extreme or severe fire warnings across at least three states and intensified severe droughts across the country.One town in northwestern Australia, Marble Bar, has now had 22 consecutive days of temperatures above 40 C, at one point almost reaching 50 C (122 F).Read MoreAustralia suffers extreme heat wave up to 14 C above averageThe high temperatures are taking an increasing toll on wildlife. In the Murray-Darling River Basin across the southeast, more than a million dead fish have been washed up on the banks.Niall Blair, Primary Industries Minister in New South Wales state, said more deaths of marine life are expected in coming days as temperatures continue to rise, according to local media.But environmental activists have blamed the mass deaths on poor management of the river system by state and federal governments, alleging mass consumption of water by farmers was leaving too little for fish to survive."A lack of water in the Darling River and the Menindee Lakes means that authorities were unable to flush the system before millions of fish suffocated through a lack of oxygen in water," independent New South Wales lawmaker Jeremy Buckingham said in a statement."This mass fish kill should be a wake up call for Australia."Dozens of fish lying dead on the Darling River in New South Wales near Menindee after an extreme heat wave in January.Australian Open competitors swelterThe heatwave is forecast to continue to hit southeastern Australia, including Sydney and the rest of New South Wales, in coming days. By Friday it should have mostly eased, according to Bureau of Meteorology forecasts.Sharapova off to blistering 'double bagel' start at Australian OpenIt comes as the Australian Open kicked off in Melbourne at the Rod Laver Arena, in temperatures which topped 30 C (86 F).It is the second year in a row of extreme temperatures at the Grand Slam event, with some competitors collapsing or complaining of heatstroke in the 2018 event.Temperatures across the board have been higher in Australia in recent years. A report released by the Bureau of Meteorology on Thursday revealed 2018 was the country's third hottest year on record, with rainfall 11% below average.

Story highlightsJones found guilty of racially abusing an opponentThe player's contract has been terminated by her clubShe says she has quit football (CNN)Sophie Jones, the footballer who received a five-game ban after being found guilty of racially abusing an opponent, has quit the sport after claiming her trial was heard in a "kangaroo court."Follow @cnnsport The Sheffield United Women's player, whose contract with the club was terminated by mutual consent on Wednesday, was alleged to have made "monkey noises" toward Tottenham's Renee Hector during a match on January 6.In a statement published Wednesday, the English Football Association confirmed that the forward had also received a £200 fine ($263) and ordered to attend an education course.Atletico Madrid v Barcelona: World record crowd for women's club matchHector made the allegation in a social media post following her side's 2-1 win over Sheffield United."We welcome the decision made by the FA and that the appropriate action has been taken. There is no place for any sort of discriminatory language or behavior in football," Tottenham ladies said in a tweet.Read MoreJones issued a statement after the verdict was announced in which she criticized the FA's handling of the case, adding she would no longer continue playing."It is with a heavy heart that I feel I am unable to continue within football and play under an organization that I do not have any confidence in," she said."I would like to state on record that I do not condone racism in any form and I will continue to stand by this statement."I strongly stand firm that I am not guilty with regards to the charge that the FA have brought against me."READ: Australian Prime Minister condemns "cowardly grubs" for sexist abuseREAD: Record nine countries bid for 2023 Women's World Cup Reacting to the news on Twitter, Tottenham's Hector welcomed the verdict and thanked those who had supported her since the incident."There is no place for racism in our game. A zero tolerance policy is imperative in stamping this out from football therefore I welcome this verdict," she said.Visit cnn.com/sport for more news and videos"No one should be subjected to racist abuse on or off the pitch and I felt a responsibility to call it out for what it was."I want to now concentrate on the last five games of the FAWC and trying to secure promotion with Spurs. Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this process."Sheffield United, which plays Tottenham in its next match on Sunday, confirmed Jones' departure in a statement."The club works closely with the English Football League, the FA and Kick it Out and would like to reiterate that it does not condone racism or any form of discrimination," it added.

Story highlightsPhil Mickelson wins his 40th PGA Tour tittle at the Pebble Beach NationalMickelson finished 17-under par beat long-time rival Tiger Woods in a final-round duelWoods slipped from four shots off the lead to finish tied for 15th position Four-time major winner Mickelson has outshot Woods in a final-round pairingPhil Mickelson's rivalry with Tiger Woods has provided some of golf's best stories of the past decade, and that battle for supremacy was renewed at Pebble Beach on Sunday as both sought to re-establish themselves as the PGA Tour's marquee names.Woods has it all over Mickelson with 14 major titles and 71 overall on the U.S. circuit, but had to play second fiddle as "Lefty" joined an elite group of players with 40 tour victories as he overcame a six-shot deficit to win the AT&T National Pro-Am.Four-time major winner Mickelson overhauled overnight leader Charlie Wi with a stunning eight-under-par 64 to win by two shots and claim his first win since April last year.It was the fifth time in a row Mickelson had outshot Woods when they have been grouped together in the final round, and the 12th time he had bettered him when they have played together."I love playing with him, and he brings out some of my best golf," four-time major winner Mickelson told the PGA Tour's official website. "I just seem more focused. I know that his level of play is so much greater when he's playing his best than anybody else's, that it just forces me to focus on my game more intently and hit more precise shots."Former world No. 1 Woods has not won a sanctioned tournament since November 2009, and is without a victory in his last 23 PGA Tour events -- the longest winless streak of his professional career.The American began the final round four shots off the lead, but carded five bogeys in a nightmare 75."It was frustrating," said the 36-year-old after finishing tied for 15th place, having started the day in third. "I was looking for two or three under though the first six or seven holes, and Phil is the one who got off to that start."The highlight of Mickelson's round was a 21-foot eagle putt at the par-five fifth hole."The eagle to me was as important as any (shot)," said Mickelson, who has risen to 11th in the world rankings and became the ninth player to register 40 wins on the PGA Tour."I'm just trying to make a four. I'm not playing aggressively for a three off the tee. It's an awkward shot for me. If I get it turning over at all it just runs into the ocean."South Korea's Wi finished second on 15 under after carding a 72, with Ricky Barnes third on 13 under following a round of 67.Australia's Aaron Baddeley was one shot further back after a 67, ahead of American duo Kevin Na (70) and world No. 10 Dustin Johnson (70) on 11 under.Three-time major winner Padraig Harrington (70) and Ken Duke (74) of the U.S. were tied for seventh on 10 under.Six players tied for ninth on nine under, one stroke ahead of Woods.Alongside Woods on eight under were his Ryder Cup teammate Hunter Mahan (73), Richard H. Lee (69), Bob Estes (72) and Australia's Steven Bowditch (68).Former world No. 1 Vijay Singh (73) finished in a four-way tie for 25th, while 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk (71) was tied for 40th.

(CNN)The economic disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic is causing many Americans to fall behind on their utility bills.At least 79.5 million American adults live in households that are having difficulty paying their usual household expenses during the pandemic, according to the latest US Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey. That is 33% of 249 million Americans over the age of 18.Now many are faced with the difficult decision of what basic need to fulfill.Although at least 33 states enacted Covid-19 utility disconnection moratoriums, many are expired or set to expire in the coming weeks."We'll probably be up to 40 states that will have no protection by the end of the month," said Charlie Harak, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center specializing in energy and consumer utility issues.Read MoreThere are 9.9 million Americans who are not up-to-date on their rent or mortgage payments. Here's how you can get help nowThe National Energy Assistance Directors Association estimates this could leave 205.4 million Americans at risk of losing service. Harak said more alarming is the upward trend of those not considered "low-income" customers falling behind."The poor are not falling massively behind due to Covid; it is the non-low-income folks," he said. "You can't live in your own house without utilities."Below are resources for those who may be at risk for utility disconnection gathered by CNN's Impact Your World.EnergyFor energy assistance, Harak says the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is an excellent place to start. The program is a federally funded initiative that helps low-income households pay their heating and cooling bills. It operates in every state and on most tribal reservations and US territories. Early in the pandemic, Congress infused the program with $900 million as part of the CARES Act.The LIHEAP Clearinghouse has more information and how to determine eligibility. If you don't qualify for LIHEAP, but you need help paying your energy bills, your local social services agency may have other resources available.There are 9.9 million Americans who are not up-to-date on their rent or mortgage payments. Here's how you can get help nowHarak suggests contacting your gas, oil, or electric company about budget billing programs or alternative payment options, especially for vulnerable customers like those with disabilities or the elderly. "Many states have certain protections against termination for vulnerable populations," said Harak.You may be eligible for a payment plan for your utility bills or an AMP (Arrearage Management Program) that will give you both a payment plan and bill credits for timely payments.WaterLong before the pandemic, water affordability was an ongoing issue in America."Twenty million Americans are struggling just to access clean, safe, affordable water," said Monica Lewis-Patrick, CEO of We the People of Detroit, which advocates for water affordability and other causes."There are many Americans that don't have to imagine a day without water -- they're already experiencing it."With the lack of shut-off moratoriums in most states that cover water, millions more are at immediate risk of losing what Lewis-Patrick calls a "basic human right."There are no federal water bill assistance programs, but if you are having difficulty paying your water bill during this time, you first should contact your local water department. While direct financial aid is not common, they may offer you a plan that will help you pay the water bill's balance over time in some form of installment program. You may also be eligible to receive additional assistance on your water bill from one of the following programs:Low-Income Payment Program (LIPP) is a good option for low-income families. Along with cash grants, the program offers installment plans that may include a 20% discount on total monthly bills.The H2O Help to Others Program offers emergency aid, grants, and other discounts to help those at risk of water shut-off. This program also educates customers on good water spending habits.Customer Assistance Programs (CAPS) use bill discounts, special rate structures, and more to help financially strained customers maintain water service. Charity utility assistance programsNon-profit or local faith-based organizations might have funds available to help you stay connected through their emergency assistance programs. Charities like the Salvation Army and the United Way provide emergency help with utilities.Additionally, the United Way operates the 2-1-1 helpline and mobile app, which provides referrals to programs assisting with food, housing, financial aid, utility problems, and more, 24 hours a day.

(CNN)Halogen light bulbs will be banned in Europe on September 1 to encourage consumers to switch over to the more energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) technology. The ban and switch to energy-efficient lamps -- part of Europe's wide-ranging efforts to limit damage to the environment -- is estimated to bring yearly energy savings equivalent to Portugal's annual electricity consumption. Phasing out inefficient lamps will "save 15.2 million tons of CO² emissions by 2025," said Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, European Commission spokeswoman for climate action and energy."This is the equivalent to the emissions generated by around 2 million people per year. This is a significant contribution to the fight against climate change."LED lightbulbs are far more efficient than their halogen counterparts.The measure will also reduce oil imports to the European Union by nearly 75 million barrels a year, according to Itkonen. Read MoreHalogen lamps are rated a "D" for energy efficiency, the lowest rating available under EU guidelines. Based on this inefficiency, EU member states decided in 2009 to phase out halogen bulbs by September 1, 2016. However, the European Commission ultimately concluded that EU citizens needed more time to move from halogen to LED, and as a result the ban was delayed until this year.LED lights consume about five times less energy than a halogen lamps, offering immense savings potential, both environmentally and economically. Existing EU legislation around lighting saved an estimated 41 teraWatts of electricity in 2015, according to the EU, roughly equivalent to Estonia's annual primary energy consumption. Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull makes U-turn on carbon emissions legislationThe new halogen ban will bring electricity savings across the EU up to 93 teraWatts each year (TWh/a) by 2020, equivalent to the amount of energy Portugal consumes each year."Our proposals should lead to further substantial cumulative savings and added value for Europe's citizens and industry, and contribute to enhancing the circular economy and fight against climate change," said Itkonen. Nonetheless, the positive effects of the ban haven't stopped Brexit advocates from using it to lash out against Brussels. Gerard Batten, a UK Independence Party member of the European Parliament for London, spoke out against the ban on Twitter, saying, "if you don't like it [the ban], and thousands of other pieces of EU law, then we have to leave."UKIP MEPs voted against this legislation. But if you don't like it , and thousands of other pieces of EU law, then we have to leave. MEPs do not have the power to amend or repeal EU law. https://t.co/GWtbMSbVSD— Gerard Batten MEP (@GerardBattenMEP) August 11, 2018 And while around 6,800 job losses in halogen production across the EU will result as the ban unfolds, these losses are largely inevitable, according to the European Commission, as LED models inexorably replace the less-efficient halogen bulbs. Prices for LED lights have been falling over the years. The price for a typical LED light for households fell by 75% between 2010 and 2017. The EU estimates that switching to LED lamps will save 115 euros over each lamp's lifetime and will pay back its cost in less than a year.

(CNN)The sparkling new Chase Center is a basketball palace. Sited on the shore of San Francisco Bay, it has been the Golden State Warriors' home since the start of this NBA season.It is a stunning arena, befitting of a team which has reached the NBA Finals in all of the past five seasons, winning three times.But right now it is the home of a struggling team bottom of the Western Conference, with a record of 14 wins and 49 losses. This season the Warriors have been dour, uninspired and seemingly rudderless.Read MoreWith Steph Curry's return from injury last night, that may well have changed.READ: LeBron James calls Zion Williamson 'special' after pair's first clashREAD: LeBron James believes NBA is 'in great hands' following rematch with Zion WilliamsonSteph Curry played his last game on October 30 but a broken hand in that game has kept him out of basketball for four months.Yes, the Warriors lost the game 113-121 to the Toronto Raptors in a rematch of the 2019 NBA Finals.But that was never going to be the story of the night.After breaking his left hand in a fall during only his fourth game of the season, how Curry fared after four months out was the real narrative.And he showed exactly what the team have been missing, scoring 23 points and recording seven assists and seven rebounds.He was the Warriors' joint top-scorer with Damion Lee, was second in assists and third in rebounds despite only playing 27 minutes.READ: Is Zion Williamson vs. Ja Morant a new NBA rivalry?AudaciousWhat defined Curry's return was not just his measurables, but the nature in which he contributed.Playing in a line up that contained not a single player from last year's team, Curry brought energy and creativity.Steph Curry and Toronto Raptors' Kyle Lowry met in the 2019 NBA Finals, which the Raptors won too.With his second assist, he made a behind-the-back pass to new teammate Andrew Wiggins, who only recently joined the outfit through a trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for D'Angelo Russell.Curry's audacious move produced a roar of approval from the arena's expectant crowd, possibly tinged with relief at the return of their beloved point guard.He reproduced the move on multiple occasions throughout the game.At a press conference afterward, Curry said with a cheeky smile that while he didn't go into the game with the intention of making those passes, he certainly wasn't avoiding making them."Have you seen me play for 11 years? I love doing that," he grinned.READ: Why Italy remembers Kobe Bryant 'as a son, not as a star'READ: He was born to play basketball, but for Kobe Bryant that was never enoughCurry managed to score only three 3-point shots, but each brought electric roars from the crowd.The Warriors have missed the signature cheekiness and fun that Curry emits; the play hard and have fun attitude.They have also missed his 3-pointers.Curry made only three of his 12 attempts last night, which is a completion percentage far below his career average of 43.5 percent.But again with Curry, it is how he made those three that invigorated his team and his audience.'Trump criticism was surreal' -- Sue Bird remembers when Donald Trump targeted girlfriend Megan Rapinoe The second was peak Curry.Receiving the ball some distance behind the three-point line with only one second on the shot clock and Raptors guard Kyle Lowry closing him down, Curry maintained composure to drop the ball into the basket perfectly.Injured long-time teammates Klay Thompson and Draymond Green erupted with celebration, as did the entire arena.These are the plays they have all waited for this year, these are the moments for which this jewel of a venue was built.The result might not be what the Warriors or their fans wanted. But they've missed Curry and will be glad of his return.

New York (CNN Business)Americans have watched prices for everything from diapers to gas go up over the past year. So far, they have kept reaching for their wallets. But what happens when they reach their breaking point?The pandemic and the supply chain crisis have pushed the cost of virtually everything higher. Food and cars are more expensive, as are transport and labor costs, making inflation the buzzword of the moment.In February, consumer prices increased at a level not seen since the start of 1982. And odds are it won't stop there."A month ago, we were generally looking at inflation that was primarily in areas that you were spending more on because of the pandemic," such as cars, housing and home renovations, said Frances Donald, global chief economist and strategist at Manulife Investment Management. "These were more optional types of inflation."After a year of soaring costs, the Ukraine-Russia conflict is pushing prices for more essential categories, like food and energy, up even more.Read MoreThe price hikes Americans are likely to experience in the coming months will be much harder to get around, Donald said."We don't see a lot of what economists call elasticity when it comes to demand for fuel and food. We don't have a choice. You can't not eat. You can't not drive to work," she said.Gas and food prices on the riseThe cost of cooking dinner and fueling the car have already shot up over the past year. Gasoline prices rose 38% in the 12 months ended February, while prices for meats, poultry, fish and eggs jumped 13% over the same period, according to Labor Department data.Now gas prices are rising even further and people are struggling to keep up."I try to catch the weekend sales and freeze meat," Kathy LeGoux, who lives in Palm Coast, Florida, with her husband, told CNN Business. "[I] can't buy a lot of fish because it's too expensive now."LeGoux, who is in her 60s, is retired, as is her husband. A high cost of living made them move from Nevada to Florida before the pandemic. But the high prices have followed them, she said. Retirees and others who live on fixed incomes get hit especially hard when prices go up like they have recently.LeGoux and her husband have postponed home improvement projects and no longer go on road trips, due to the cost of fuel."And the gas price rolls into food prices," she said. "We're not even talking about inflation any more here. It's more."Soaring food prices are a difficult problem to solve, according to Donald, especially when it's really a problem of global supply. Russia and Ukraine are huge exporters of grain and fertilizer. With trade hamstrung by the conflict, the global food supply chain has already started to feel the pain."The greatest risk facing global supply chains has shifted from the pandemic to the Russia-Ukraine military conflict and the geopolitical and economic uncertainties it has created," Moody's Analytics economist Tim Uy wrote in a report Thursday.For governments and central banks around the world, this is a new challenge for which typical policy changes that were used to fight inflation in the past might not prove as useful. The Federal Reserve's plan to raise interest rates and combat pandemic inflation, for example, will do little to change the dynamics of the global food supply. That also means it won't help the financial pain many Americans will feel as prices keep going up.Consumers' breaking pointThere is some good news: American households are better funded than in previous crises, which should help them absorb some of the price increases. During the pandemic, stimulus checks and altered spending patterns helped many households shore up their savings.But the more price spikes affect necessary products and services, people will need to reach deeper into their wallets, putting a strain on household finances. This will be particularly hard for lower-income Americans, who don't have excess savings as a result of the pandemic and for whom gas and energy costs generally make up a larger portion of their spending."A 10% increase in oil prices would shave 0.2% from discretionary spending," assuming a one-for-one response from consumers, said Jefferies chief economist Aneta Markowska.Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, US oil prices have risen more than 11%.That matters because consumer spending is the single most important driver of US economic growth. If people have less money to spend outside of necessities, that could weigh on economic growth this year.Even though the pandemic recession is firmly in the rearview mirror by now, economists are growing concerned the US could be heading toward a period of stagflation, during which low economic growth and high prices limit consumer spending.In short, the inflation situation is a headache for lawmakers and the American people alike. Meanwhile, questions are arising about the record profits companies have been reeling in during this time of high prices. Last week, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on the matter, showing some lawmakers are clearly concerned about corporate profiteering at the expense of working people who are seeing their hard earned money afford less and less.So far surging prices haven't driven customers away from their favorite stores, but that doesn't mean it won't happen in the future.Coca-Cola (COKE) CEO James Quincey said in February that consumers will only accept higher prices for so long. And rising gas prices could push people to their breaking point -- if they're not already there. When household finances become strained, nonessential items and big-name brands with a cheaper alternative are the first to go."It's easier to do pricing in a stimulus environment where everyone else is going up," he said at the time. "It's much harder when there's a real squeeze on income."

Story highlights Petro Poroshenko claims that pro-Russian forces have increased their attacksFighting continues in eastern Ukraine ahead of a ceasefire due to come into effect SundayOSCE chief says he hopes to see a reduction in hostilities before the ceasefire (CNN)Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko said Friday that a ceasefire due to go into effect over the weekend between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine is in "big danger."Fighting continued ahead of the cessation of the bitter 10-month-long conflict that has killed more than 5,000 people and strained East-West relations.The peace plan hammered out Thursday during marathon four-way talks in Minsk, Belarus, had raised hopes of an end to the fighting.But Poroshenko said that after the agreement reached by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany and France, the offensive against Ukrainian troops by pro-Russian separatists had intensified. "This is not just an attack on Ukrainian civilians, this is an attack of the Minsk results," he said in Kiev, adding the peace plan is in "big danger."Read MoreThe ceasefire agreement comes with many questions over how it will be implemented and whether it will stick.The first test will be whether the guns fall silent when the ceasefire comes into force at midnight local time Saturday to Sunday.JUST WATCHEDCeasefire deal draws mixed reaction in KievReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCeasefire deal draws mixed reaction in Kiev 01:34Both sides are expected to start pulling back their heavy weapons from the front lines as of Monday, creating a buffer zone at least 50 kilometers (31 miles) wide.The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which already has a monitoring mission in Ukraine, has been given the challenging task of overseeing the process."We need to have an effective ceasefire," said OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, at a media briefing. "So I'm already concerned that we are seeing this morning a continuation of hostilities."The OSCE hopes to see a reduction in hostilities between now and the start of the ceasefire, he said.JUST WATCHEDSeparatist: Too many women, children died for ceasefireReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSeparatist: Too many women, children died for ceasefire 02:33But reports from eastern Ukraine -- where separatist soldiers told CNN's Nick Paton Walsh on Thursday that they were highly skeptical of the peace plan -- suggest otherwise.Eight Ukrainian soldiers have died and 34 have been injured in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said Friday morning.There were 40 incidents of militants opening fire and shelling in the conflict area overnight, including 25 in the Debaltseve area, it said. What will happen to the strategically important, government-controlled town of Debaltseve, under siege by separatist forces for weeks, is one of the big unanswered questions.Thousands of Ukrainian soldiers remain there, almost surrounded, and it's unclear who will ultimately control the town when the ceasefire comes into effect.Mother of 3 children killed: "What ceasefire?"The water began running Thursday night for the first time in a week at the Konopliovi home in Horlivka.JUST WATCHEDFamily loses 3 children one day before ceasefire beginsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFamily loses 3 children one day before ceasefire begins 01:46A bath was quickly drawn so the three children could clean up. The kids' mother went to another room to get a towel and the first shell hit, wiping out the bathroom but leaving the parents' bedroom -- even its windows -- intact. Nastya, 14; Dasha, 7; and Kiriusha, 2 1/2 , were dead. "What ceasefire? I curse every day those who killed my children, and all those of the country. People who want to live peacefully," Liuba Konopliovi told CNN, according to a translator. "We lived, grew up, took our children to school. They are not people."Doctors Without Borders said in a "crisis update" from one of its doctors in Horlivka that between five and 20 victims are brought to their facility each day. On one occasion, there were 60 victims. But on three days, there was no water with which to sterilize the equipment, so only urgent care was administered. 'Bad, and worse'Despite the uncertainties over the deal, all those at the Minsk talks said it was a better alternative than simply allowing the escalating violence to continue.JUST WATCHEDPutin: Agreement reached despite difficultiesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPutin: Agreement reached despite difficulties 01:40"We had just two options: bad, and worse. 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," Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk told CNN's Frederik Pleitgen in Kiev."It's better to have this new deal rather than not to have (it). But we do not trust any words or any papers. We are to trust only actions and deeds," he said.The White House issued a statement with a tone of guarded optimism and urged all parties to take "immediate, concrete steps" to fulfill their commitments. "Heavy weapons must be withdrawn from the conflict zone, and Russia must end its support for the separatists and withdraw its soldiers and military equipment from eastern Ukraine," the statement said.While the Ukrainian forces have to pull back their heavy weapons from the front line as it stands Saturday night, the separatist forces must pull back theirs from the front line as it was on September 19, when a previous peace agreement was signed in Minsk. That swiftly disintegrated amid continued violence. The new ceasefire proposal represents a territorial gain for the separatists, who control parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.'Glimmer of hope'German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking after the talks wrapped up alongside French President Francois Hollande, said that what had been achieved gave "a glimmer of hope" but that big hurdles still lay ahead.JUST WATCHEDWill Putin stick to new ceasefire?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWill Putin stick to new ceasefire? 02:32European Union leaders who met in Brussels later Thursday "did not discuss any new sanctions against Russia," European Council President Donald Tusk told reporters in the Belgian capital. Tusk said that the EU wants "to encourage" Russia to implement the new Minsk agreement, but he also advised caution in light of how the first Minsk agreement unraveled. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russia's state-run RIA Novosti that while Russia had helped to bring about the Minsk agreement, it wasn't in its power to fulfill it."We simply can't do this physically because Russia is not a participant in the conflict," Peskov said.Moscow hopes that all of the points drawn up in the Minsk deal will be fulfilled, he added.Russia has steadfastly denied accusations that it is sending forces and weapons into Ukraine. But top Western and Ukrainian leaders have said there isn't any doubt that Russia is behind surging violence and separatists' efforts to take over territory in eastern Ukraine. Zannier, the OSCE secretary general, said his organization intends to put 350 monitors into eastern Ukraine to oversee the ceasefire and withdrawal process. Under the terms of the Minsk agreement, it can use radar, satellite and drone technology to help it.But he warned that unless the environment becomes less hostile, there are limits to where the OSCE teams can go. Prisoner swaps, new electionsDetails of the new agreement, which is similar in part to the September 19 deal, were released Thursday, but it's still unclear how elements of it will work. The points include:• An immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in parts of Donetsk and Luhansk starting at midnight on February 15.• The withdrawal of all heavy weapons by both parties at equal distances in order to create a security zone width of at least 50 kilometers (31 miles) from each other for artillery systems and more for longer-range weapons.• This process should begin no later than the next day after the ceasefire and should be over within 14 days.• A dialogue on new local elections and the special status of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions will begin the day after the withdrawal.• A law will be created to give amnesty to people involved in events in Luhansk and Donetsk.• Both sides must ensure the release and exchange of all hostages and illegally held prisoners by no later than the fifth day after the withdrawal.• Withdrawal of all foreign troops and military equipment from Ukraine, including mercenaries, and the disarmament of militia groups. Photos: Crisis in UkraineUkrainian security forces patrol in the village of Bobrovyshche on July 14, 2015. More than 6,400 people have been killed in the conflict in Ukraine since April 2014, the United Nations says.Hide Caption 1 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineUkrainian security forces on the lookout in Bobrovyshche on July 14. The country's troops face daily attacks from Russian-backed separatists despite a ceasefire being in place.Hide Caption 2 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA man with a machine gun is among the Ukrainian troops standing guard in Krimskoe town of Luhansk, Ukraine, on June 25.Hide Caption 3 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineShelling between Ukrainian troops and pro-Russian rebels leaves damage in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Monday, June 1. Hide Caption 4 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA Ukrainian serviceman fires a grenade launcher on the front lines near Donetsk on Saturday, May 30.Hide Caption 5 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkrainePro-Russian rebels carry the coffin of prominent separatist commander Alexei Mozgovoi during his funeral in Alchevsk, Ukraine, on Wednesday, May 27.Hide Caption 6 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineAn American soldier, right, trains Ukrainian troops on Tuesday, April 21, near Yavoriv, Ukraine. Operation Fearless Guardian, a six-month training exercise, involves about 300 members of the American 173rd Airborne and about 900 Ukrainian National Guard troops.Hide Caption 7 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineResidents flee with salvaged belongings during renewed fighting in the Jabunki neighborhood near the airport in Donetsk on Monday, April 13.Hide Caption 8 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA mortar round sticks out of the ground near a destroyed tank at a former Ukrainian army checkpoint outside Chornukhyne, Ukraine, on Monday, March 2. Russian-backed separatists had recently overran the area.Hide Caption 9 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineAn instructor of the Ukrainian volunteer Azov Battalion conducts training exercises in Kiev, Ukraine, on Sunday, March 1.Hide Caption 10 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA woman makes her way across a bridge destroyed in heavy fighting in Donetsk, Ukraine, on March 1.Hide Caption 11 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA volunteer gives humanitarian aid to residents of Popasna, Ukraine, on Saturday, February 28.Hide Caption 12 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA Ukrainian serviceman climbs out of a tank at a checkpoint near Horlivka, Ukraine, on Monday, February 23.Hide Caption 13 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA member of a Ukrainian military medical unit cries during a ceremony in Artemivsk, Ukraine, on February 23. Four of his comrades were killed near Debaltseve, Ukraine.Hide Caption 14 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA man holds a Ukrainian flag as he covers a victim of an explosion in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, February 22. The explosion during a peaceful protest left two dead and 15 wounded. Hide Caption 15 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkrainePro-Russian rebels stationed in Horlivka launch missiles on Wednesday, February 18. Hide Caption 16 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkrainePro-Russian separatists take position near Uglegorsk, Ukraine, on February 18.Hide Caption 17 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineAn army ambulance damaged in recent shelling lies by a road near Svitlodarsk, Ukraine, on Sunday, February 15.Hide Caption 18 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineUkrainian servicemen play with a soccer ball on a road between Svitlodarsk and Debaltseve on February 15.Hide Caption 19 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA woman salvages items February 15 from the rubble of a destroyed clinic where she had worked in Opytne, Ukraine.Hide Caption 20 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkrainePeople carry a refrigerator through a balcony at an apartment building that was damaged in recent shelling in Svitlodarsk on February 15.Hide Caption 21 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA recent ceasefire was brokered during marathon talks in Minsk, Belarus. From left, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President François Hollande and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko gather before negotiations begin on Wednesday, February 11. Hide Caption 22 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkrainePeople stand beside the body of a woman killed during shelling in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, on Tuesday, February 10. Hide Caption 23 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA volunteer gets a medical checkup at a military base for pro-Russian rebels February 10 in Donetsk, Ukraine.Hide Caption 24 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineUkrainian volunteer fighters and policemen arrest two men in Kiev, Ukraine, on February 9. The men allegedly arrived from Donetsk and were suspected of participating in pro-Russian rebel activities and organizing terrorist attacks in the Ukrainian capital.Hide Caption 25 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineResidents unload humanitarian aid in Debaltseve on Friday, February 6.Hide Caption 26 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA man rides a bicycle in Vuhlehirsk, Ukraine, on February 6.Hide Caption 27 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA child waits on a bus to leave Debaltseve on Tuesday, February 3, after increased fighting in the region. Hide Caption 28 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA man stands next to his car in Donetsk on Sunday, February 1, after it was destroyed by shelling.Hide Caption 29 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineThe body of a civilian killed during shelling lies on the ground in Donetsk on Friday, January 30.Hide Caption 30 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkrainePeople in Mariupol, Ukraine, pour soil into the grave of a recent shelling victim on Monday, January 26. Hide Caption 31 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineUkrainian servicemen prepare ammunition at a position on the front line near Mariupol on January 26.Hide Caption 32 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA man injured during shelling in Mariupol sits in an emergency hospital on January 26.Hide Caption 33 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA piece of an exploded missile sits lodged in the ground outside an apartment building in the Vostochniy district of Mariupol on Sunday, January 25.Hide Caption 34 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA resident walks by a burning building in Mariupol on Saturday, January 24. Hide Caption 35 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA pro-Russian rebel takes cover from shelling in the Kievsky district of Donetsk on Thursday, January 22.Hide Caption 36 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkrainePeople in downtown Donetsk react as Ukrainian prisoners of war are handed over by pro-Russian rebels on January 22.Hide Caption 37 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA trolleybus is damaged in Donetsk's Lenin District after its station was hit by a shell on January 22.Hide Caption 38 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA rebel takes aim while protecting a supply position in the Kievsky district of Donetsk on January 22.Hide Caption 39 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineRubble and debris cover the airport in Donetsk on Wednesday, January 21.Hide Caption 40 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineHide Caption 41 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineVladimir Bovrichev cries next to the body of his 4-year-old son, Artiam, during Artiam's funeral on the outskirts of Donetsk on Tuesday, January 20. The boy was killed during a Ukrainian artillery strike.Hide Caption 42 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineWomen sit in a shelter during a battle in Donetsk on Sunday, January 18.Hide Caption 43 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA building hit by Ukrainian artillery is seen in the Voroshilovsky area of Donetsk on January 18.Hide Caption 44 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineMen from the Azov Volunteer Battalion board a bus in Kiev to join the fight against the rebels on Saturday, January 17.Hide Caption 45 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineRebels sit atop a tank at a checkpoint north of Luhansk, Ukraine, on Wednesday, January 14.Hide Caption 46 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA Ukrainian soldier looks down from a military truck at the Donetsk airport on Tuesday, January 6. The airport has been the scene of some of the fiercest fighting in eastern Ukraine.Hide Caption 47 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineUkrainian President Petro Poroshenko gives a speech as he hands over new military equipment to forces near the city of Ghytomyr, Ukraine, on Monday, January 5.Hide Caption 48 of 49 Photos: Crisis in UkraineA Ukrainian volunteer fighter fires a machine gun at pro-Russian rebels near the village of Pisky, Ukraine, on Saturday, January 3.Hide Caption 49 of 49CNN's Nic Robertson, Nick Paton Walsh, Alla Eshchenko, Pierre Meilhan and journalist Victoria Butenko in Kiev contributed to this report.

(CNN)Sam Burgess has stepped down from his coaching role with the South Sydney Rabbitohs following what the club calls "very concerning" allegations against the team's former star player.The newspaper The Australian published an investigation into Burgess on Friday, alleging the 31-year-old had engaged in drug use, domestic violence and incidents of sexual harassment. The report also says South Sydney covered up the alleged incidents to protect Burgess.Burgess' lawyer Mark O'Brien did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment, but in a statement to The Australian said: "The allegations are false and constitute an indefensible defamation against my client."It is apparent sources of the false allegations are those currently in dispute with my client over various issues."South Sydney issued a statement noting that "the allegations in today's The Australian newspaper are very concerning and the club is treating them with the utmost seriousness. Read MoreBurgess attempts to break a tackle against the Canberra Raiders in August 2018."There is no place in our society for violence, harassment or abuse against women. If anyone is found guilty of allegations of this nature, the club will take the strongest possible action."The club takes issues of drug use very seriously and has well-established policies and procedures in place around the use of performance enhancing or illicit/recreational/prescription drugs."The Rabbitohs welcome the NRL Integrity Unit's investigation in relation to these allegations and will fully cooperate with the investigation."South Sydney offered no further comment when contacted by CNN.A former international for Great Britain and England in both rugby league and union, Burgess retired due to a shoulder injury in 2019 and has since been working as an assistant coach for the Rabbitohs.New South Wales police did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment.Burgess receives the Clive Churchill medal after the NRL Grand Final in 2014.Burgess has also stepped down from his guest commentary position with Fox League.The NRL Integrity Unit will conduct an investigation following the allegations against Burgess, according to chief executive Andrew Abdo. The league also said it would seek advice from the police and other relevant authorities."The allegations that were made and what was written in The Australian today was new information to the NRL," Abdo said. "We will conduct a thorough investigation and if information has been withheld by bodies, we will take the appropriate action."We have to look at the facts, we have to look at what happened and we have to look at the implications of those involved before we decide on what course of action we take."These allegations are serious against both the club and the player involved."Burgess started his rugby league career with English side Bradford Bulls before joining the Rabbitohs, a club co-owned by Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, in 2010. Burgess helped South Sydney win its first NRL title in 43 years in 2014.He briefly switched codes to union, representing England at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but returned to Sydney for the final three years of his playing career. CNN's Aleks Klosok contributed to this report

Story highlights"We obviously regret that that happened," says US Secretary of State of leaksRex Tillerson is the United States' most senior diplomat London (CNN)US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the US government took full responsibility for intelligence leaks from the investigation into Monday's deadly terror attack in Manchester, as he met Friday with his UK counterpart Boris Johnson. Tillerson's first official visit to the United Kingdom comes after senior UK government officials lambasted the United States over the leaks and temporarily suspended intelligence sharing on the investigation.UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (R) greets US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in London.But Tillerson, addressing reporters alongside Johnson after signing a book of condolence for victims of the Manchester attack, said the spat would not impact on the two countries' longstanding friendship.US President Donald Trump "has been very strong in his condemnation," Tillerson said, and has called for the investigation and prosecution of those responsible for leaking the information. "We take full responsibility for that and we obviously regret that that happened," he said. "In terms of how to fix the relationship between the United States and Great Britain, the special relationship that exists between our two countries will certainly withstand this particular unfortunate event."JUST WATCHEDTrump vows to plug leaksReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTrump vows to plug leaks 00:45Read MoreTillerson also voiced his sorrow for the Manchester victims, saying that "all across America hearts are broken, broken at the very thought of the loss of life of loved ones, the injured, the effect it has on their families."The suicide bombing claimed the lives of 22 people, many of them children, and injured dozens more.US sources were the first to reveal the identity of the suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, leading to concern that police efforts to hunt down his associates could be impacted. The leaks culminated in the New York Times publishing crime scene photos.Tillerson: 'Drive out extremists'Tillerson vowed to stand alongside the British people in the fight against terrorism, saying ISIS' decision to target a "concert full of children" was reprehensible.JUST WATCHEDNew Manchester photos show detonatorReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNew Manchester photos show detonator 01:37"Even as our ally and friend mourns, the fires for justice burn very hot in all of our hearts," he said. "We will drive out the terrorists and extremists. As President Trump said earlier this week in Saudi Arabia, we must drive the extremists out of our communities, we must drive them out of any country that would provide them with safe haven and we must drive them off the face of the earth."Johnson, who described Tillerson's visit as an "instinctive act of solidarity between the US and the UK," said the two nations would stand together around the world in defense of democracy and the rule of law.He said the pair had also discussed Syria, relations with Iran and North Korea, and "the vital importance of the work we do together across such a range of fields, including, of course, intelligence sharing."Read: Trump attends G7 summit: What to watch"Deeply troubling' leaksThe US State Department said Tillerson's visit was intended to reaffirm Washington's commitment to the "special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom and our solidarity in defeating terrorism in every part of the world."How US intelligence leaks upset two allies in one weekUK Prime Minister Theresa May confronted Trump about the intelligence leaks during their meeting at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday.In a written statement, Trump described the leaks as "deeply troubling."The breakdown of trust between the two countries led to the brief suspension on the sharing of intelligence on Thursday. Later that day, after receiving "fresh assurances," the suspension was lifted, according to the National Police Chiefs' Council.White House leaks nothing newThe Manchester intelligence leaks are not the first to have emanated from the White House since Trump took office. JUST WATCHEDUK 'should be horrified' about US intel leaksReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUK 'should be horrified' about US intel leaks 07:26His administration has been beset by whistleblowers since January, much to the President's frustration, and he has repeatedly called for harsher penalties for those who leak sensitive information to the press. Trump himself was widely criticized for allegedly sharing highly confidential information with the Russian Foreign Minister and the Russian Ambassador to the US in an Oval Office meeting. H.R. McMaster, Trump's national security adviser, denied that sensitive intelligence was divulged. "At no time were intelligence sources or methods discussed and the President did not disclose any military operations that weren't already publicly known," he said. "I was in the room. It didn't happen."Related: What Trump has said about sharing classified informationCNN's Laura Smith-Spark wrote and reported from London, while Euan McKirdy wrote from Hong Kong.

Story highlightsMatthew Continetti is editor of the Washington Free BeaconHe cited the influx of immigrant children in 2014 as a key factor in motivating conservativesParty People is a new podcast from CNN where a pair of conservative CNN contributors talk to influential voices about the future of conservatism and the Republican party. (CNN)Donald Trump might be an unusual Republican presidential nominee, but conservative Washington Free Beacon editor Matthew Continetti says just don't call him a "fluke." "There's a feeling, I know, of people who say that Trump is a fluke, and I just don't believe that to be the case," Continetti told CNN's "Party People" podcast hosts Kevin Madden and Mary Katherine Ham in a conversation less than a week before Election Day. Continetti, who is also a contributing editor to The Weekly Standard, said the voters who are now behind the real estate mogul's presidential bid are among the same supporters who backed Ross Perot in 1992 -- another political outsider who ran on a message of fighting free trade efforts."They were the ones who were cheering Sarah Palin the loudest in 2008," Continetti said. "They were there, the core of the tea party in 2010. And now they're for Donald Trump. So you just see a very populist movement at the heart of the Republican Party that is open to radical solutions to America's problems." Matthew Continette of the Washington Free Beacon and The Weekly StandardHe said that a key moment that energized the voting bloc behind Trump was in reaction to the federal government's handling of an influx of migrant children from Central America in summer 2014. In November 2014, following losses in the midterms, Obama announced a sweeping overhaul of the immigration system based on executive action. Aspects of his plan have been blocked in federal courts. Read More"I think for many voters, many Republican and many conservative voters, they said, 'What is this? The system is rigged. We need to look for an outsider to blow it up, because we don't like (where) our country is headed.'" To hear Continetti's thoughts on the future of the Republican Party, what's the key to a good economy and what will happen on Election Day, listen to CNN's "Party People" podcast.Get CNN's "Party People" podcast at CNN, Stitcher, TuneInRadio or iTunes.

(CNN)When it comes to baseball, you can't get much bigger than Big Papi. Former Red Sox star and Boston legend David "Big Papi" Ortiz was shot Sunday night in his native Dominican Republic. Ortiz is in stable condition and "out of danger," the Dominican National Police said. But you can bet every sports fan and New Englander on this planet will be lighting a prayer candle for the beloved slugger.If you're somehow not familiar with Big Papi, here's what you need to know to understand why everyone is so shaken up by the news.He's one of the best in baseball -- everSure, everyone thinks Ortiz is a great guy, but don't let that distract you from the fact he was also a really, really great baseball player. Read MoreJUST WATCHEDBig Papi's Red Sox impactReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBig Papi's Red Sox impact 01:39Ortiz, 43, played for 20 seasons in the MLB, which is an eternity in baseball time. He's best known for the 14 years he spent with the Boston Red Sox, where he helped end the so-called Curse of the Bambino by winning the World Series in 2004. He nabbed two other World Series rings in 2007 and 2013, and was named the 2013 World Series MVP. He retired in 2016, and will be eligible for induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame at the end of 2021 (spoiler alert: He's gonna make it) . During his storied career, Ortiz hit 541 home runs, landing him at No. 17 on the list of all-time home run leaders. Because of his powerful left-handed swing and his reputation as a true sports folk hero, Ortiz is often compared to Babe Ruth. He was there for Boston in one of its darkest hoursGiven his stats, it's no surprise Ortiz is a legend among legends in Boston and the region. But his connection to the city runs deeper than dingers and rings. In 2013, months before the Red Sox made their push for World Series glory, the city was shaken by the Boston Marathon bombings. Before playing at Fenway Park for the first time after the tragedy, Ortiz took the field and delivered an ad hoc speech that's already gone down in Boston history."This jersey that we wear today, it doesn't say 'Red Sox.' It says 'Boston,'" he told the crowd, before thanking city officials for their work in the difficult aftermath of the attack. "This is our f***ing city. And nobody's going to dictate our freedom. Stay strong."Chills! He has one of the most enduring nicknames in sports When you say Big Papi, everyone knows exactly who you're talking about. Even fellow New England sports great Tom Brady doesn't have that kind of singular recognition. There are a few theories as to how he got such an enduring moniker, but Ortiz himself told Stephen Colbert that it was because, well, he's not very good at remembering names. "I meet so many people every day, it's hard for me to keep up with their names," he told "The Late Show" host in 2017. "So, I just 'Papi' people." In other words, Ortiz just calls everyone "Papi," in keeping with a Dominican custom, he said. People just started calling him Papi back, Ortiz said, and it stuck. He's a proud native of the Dominican Republic JUST WATCHEDBig Papi reflects on his career, thanks fansReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBig Papi reflects on his career, thanks fans 01:00The Dominican Republic is a big baseball country (more than 100 current MLB players reportedly hail from the Caribbean nation), and Ortiz is one of its most high-profile native sons. He has close friendships with several Dominican players, and fellow MLB star Nelson Cruz once called Ortiz "a role model for all the Dominican players."Ortiz is known for giving back to his Dominican home, and his charity, the David Ortiz Children's Fund, helps children in the Dominican and New England get critical cardiac services. Ortiz, a married father of three, became an American citizen in 2008. He has a legendary sense of humor Ortiz's sense of humor and gap-toothed smile are almost as iconic as his nickname. Whether it's keeping up a friendly rivalry with Alex Rodriguez, going undercover as a Lyft driver to surprise Boston fans or doing a Dunkin' Donuts music video with fellow Boston goofball Rob Gronkowski, the Big Papi gag reel is long and entertaining. Recently, Ortiz teamed up with fellow beefy baseball greats Prince and Cecil Fielder for a very naked and very hilarious ad for Kingsford charcoal (Ortiz is known to enjoy a good lunch). In his golden years (that's in baseball terms, of course), Ortiz has also taken his talents to broadcasting as a studio analyst on Fox Sports.CNN's Jill Martin contributed to this report

Story highlightsBenjamin Netanyahu's open conflict with President Obama over Iran has served as blow to U.S.-Israeli relationship, says Trita ParsiParsi: Conflict has also damaged Israel's otherwise arguably successful Iran policy by painting country into cornerOver course of past 18 months, Netanyahu government has made Iran all about Israel, Parsi arguesTrita Parsi is president of the National Iranian American Council and the author of "Treacherous Alliance" - the Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran and the US (Yale University Press, 2007). The views expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writer. (CNN)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's open conflict with U.S. President Barack Obama over his diplomacy with Iran has not only served a blow to the U.S.-Israeli relationship. It has also collapsed Israel's otherwise arguably successful Iran policy. Trita ParsiContrary to Israel's rhetoric, the fear of Iran getting a nuclear weapon has not been the driving factor of Israel policy on Iran since the early 1990s. Obviously, Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon would be highly undesirable for Israel. But that has not been Israel's primary concern. Rather, the fear has been that Washington would end up finding a compromise with Iran that on the one hand would close off any Iranian path to a bomb, but on the other hand would lock in a shift in the regional balance of power in Israel's disfavor. Regardless of the details of a nuclear deal with Iran, a deal per se would reduce Washington's tensions with Tehran, while not necessarily tempering the Israeli-Iranian rivalry proportionally. Israel will be "abandoned" to face Iran alone, Israelis fear. Moreover, a deal would signal, the argument goes, that Washington has accepted and will not contest Iran's geopolitical advances in the region. Iran has hegemonic aspirations, Israel contends, and must be stopped, not accommodated. After a deal with Iran, Washington would be even more likely to shift its geopolitical focus elsewhere and be less intertwined with Israel's needs. The U.S.-Iran enmity has ensured Washington's commitment to isolating and containing Iran, much to Israel's satisfaction. If your interest dictates that the U.S. and Iran must remain firmly at odds with each other, a nuclear deal -- any deal -- would eliminate the most explosive point of contention between Washington and Tehran and lessen America's inclination to confront Iran on other matters, Israel believes. As Israel's Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon said earlier this week: "[E]very deal that will be signed between the West and this messianic and apocalyptic regime will strike a severe blow to Western and Israeli interests." This also explains why Netanyahu has been contradicting his own intelligence services and exaggerated and misconstrued Iran's nuclear activities. Israel's policy towards Iran and the nuclear issue in the past two decades has rested on a few principles. Read MoreFirst, consecutive Israeli governments have been on the forefront of sounding the alarm about Iran, while carefully avoiding making Iran an "Israeli issue." At times, Israel has tried to tone down its rhetoric, both to avoid making the nuclear file an Israeli issue, but also to avoid making Israel shine too bright on the Iranian threat radar. When Netanyahu was first elected prime minister, he requested an intelligence assessment of Israel's security environment. The debate was largely on whether Iran or Iraq constituted Israel's greatest external threat. Netanyahu decided to go with the assessment of the Mossad, presented by Uzi Arad, who argued that Israel could either make itself Iran's prime enemy by continuing belligerent rhetoric against Tehran, or it could tone things down and let Iran focus on other threats. "Until the Netanyahu government, there was a proliferation of Israeli statements trying to deter Iran, warning Iran, the long arm of the Israeli air force etc. That was stopped, to his credit, by Netanyahu," Israeli journalist Ehud Yaari told me in an interview for my book Treacherous Alliance - the Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran and the US. Ultimately, Israel was successful at turning the world's focus towards Iran's nuclear activities. The international community, led by Washington, began regarding Iran's nuclear issue as a primary threat to international security, imposed U.N. Security Council sanctions on Iran and the U.S. even openly debated bombing the country. But over the course of the past 18 months, the Netanyahu government has made Iran all about Israel. While virtually the entire world is eager for a peaceful nuclear deal, Israel stands alone (bar a few Arab states in the Persian Gulf) in opposing the talks. While Israel helped shape international consensus about Iran's nuclear program in the years past, Israel is today decisively outside of that consensus. Second, while Israel calculated that preventing a U.S.-Iran deal would best serve its interest, it needed to retain the flexibility to shift its position if and when an agreement was likely to be reached. By adopting a more cooperative tone with Washington, Israel's flexibility would enable it to influence the deal and reduce its potential downsides for Israel. For instance, when U.S. President Bill Clinton started sending strong signals to Iran's newly elected reformist president Mohammad Khatami in the late 1990s, then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak softened Israel's tone towards Iran in order to minimize any negative side-effects of a U.S.-Iran deal for Israel. He symbolically reduced Iran from "enemy" to "threat," signaling that he didn't see Israeli-Iranian enmity as inevitable. Clinton's outreach to Iran never bore fruit, so Israel never had to deal with its potential repercussions. But Barak signaled his openness and ability to adjust to such a scenario, recognizing that Israel's most important relationship after all was that with United States. But this flexibility has been completely abandoned or lost under Netanyahu's leadership. Ever since Obama took office, Netanyahu has actively sought to first prevent diplomacy, then undermine diplomacy to his current stance of building up opposition to Obama's prospective deal with Tehran. Netanyahu has taken it to an extreme. He has been so disruptive that the Obama administration has felt compelled to reduce information sharing about the negotiations with his government, lest he would leak it to undercut the talks. The more Netanyahu has sought to undermine the talks, the more Israel has lost its ability to impact the negotiations. By now, Netanyahu has crossed the real "point of no return." Confidence in him is completely lost in the White House, so he cannot adopt Ehud Barak's posture. His only remaining options is to double down on opposing a nuclear deal with Iran, even at the cost of an open war with the American president, of damaging U.S.-Israel relations beyond Obama, and of making Israel a partisan issue.Such is the logic of adopting extremist positions. Rather than depriving the other side of options and maneuverability, Netanyahu has painted Israel in a corner.

Story highlightsLionel Messi continues to rewrite record books with more landmarks passed for BarcelonaArgentine scores 300th and 301st goal for Catalan club in 2-1 win to take season tally to 36 in leagueJuventus crash to 1-0 defeat at Roma Serie A; Napoli can close gap to two points with win on Sunday League leaders travel to Napoli for top-of-the-table clash on March 1 Lionel Messi scored his 300th goal for Barcelona then promptly scored his 301st as the La Liga leaders came from behind to beat Granada 2-1 on Saturday. The Argentine pounced when Granada keeper Tono could only parry a Cesc Fabregas drive in the 50th minute to level the scores after Nigeria striker Odion Ighalo has given the home side the lead in the 26th minute. The poacher then turned game-winner 17 minutes from the end, curling a free kick over the wall and past the flailing hand of Toto to register his 36th goal of the Barca's league campaign. Read: U.S. soccer star 'comes out' as gayMessi has now scored in the last 14 league games to help the Catalans to a 15-point lead over second-place Atletico Madrid who travel to Valladolid on Sunday. JUST WATCHED'El Tigre' Falcao on the hunt for goalsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'El Tigre' Falcao on the hunt for goals 04:12JUST WATCHEDLionel Messi breaks goal scoring recordReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLionel Messi breaks goal scoring record 01:51 Photos: Lionel Messi's record year Photos: Lionel Messi's record yearMessi beats Muller – Lionel Messi celebrates after matching Gerd Muller's record of 85 goals in a calendar year, netting in the 16th minute of Barcelona's match against Real Betis in December 2012. Just nine minutes later the Argentina star passed the German's 1972 milestone. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: Lionel Messi's record yearTime to spare – Messi passed Muller with three more possible matches to play in 2012. Then a three-time world player of the year, he went on to win a record fourth Ballon d'Or in January, Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: Lionel Messi's record yearOn the brink of history – The 25-year-old crept within one goal of Muller's record with two goals against Athletic Bilbao in a 5-1 victory in December. Click here to see a map of Messi's first 84 goals of 2012.Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: Lionel Messi's record yearRecord in doubt – Messi made a quick recovery to be fit for the Betis game, having been injured after coming on as a substitute during a Champions League match against Benfica.Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: Lionel Messi's record yearBarca's best – Messi enjoyed a stellar 2012. With a hat-trick against Grenada in March, he equaled and broke the all-time goalscoring record for Barcelona in official matches of 232 set by Cesar Rodriguez.Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Lionel Messi's record yearChasing Muller – A hat-trick against Malaga in May took Messi to 68 goals for the 2011-12 season, edging him past the record for goals in a European season set by Bayern Munich's Muller in 1972-73.Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Lionel Messi's record yearMagnificent Muller – Muller was one of the most predatory strikers in football history, winning both the World Cup and the Europan Championship with West Germany. Click here to see a comparison of Muller and Messi.Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: Lionel Messi's record yearFor club and country – Messi also had a standout year for the Argentina national team. He scored 12 goals for his country in 2012, including a hat-trick against archrivals Brazil in June.Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: Lionel Messi's record yearEl Clasico – Messi became Barca's all-time leading goalscorer in "El Clasico" matches against Real Madrid in August 2012. His free-kick in that match was his 15th in the fixture against Barca's archrivals.Hide Caption 9 of 9Neighbors, Real Madrid -- who are third in the table -- also play on Sunday, hosting sixth-place Rayo Vallecano. In Saturday's other games, Getafe beat relegation-threatened Celta Vigo 3-1 to climb to 11th in the table. Malaga remain in fourth place after a 1-0 win over struggling Athletic Bilbao -- who have won only once in the last eight league games.Read: Arsenal slump to cup defeatOver in Serie A, league leaders Juventus lost for the second time this year going down 1-0 at Roma. The Giallorossi, who sacked coach Zdenek Zeman at the beginning of February, finally ended a miserable league run in 2013 (two points from six games) thanks to a 58th minute goal from Francesco Totti. Interim manager Aurelio Andreazzoli had said before the game that his team "won't lack commitment" against the Italian champions and so it proved as Roma arrested their freefall down the table and instead climb to seventh above Udinese and Catania -- ahead of their games against Genoa and Bologna on Sunday. Read: Juventus leaves Celtic's Champions League dream in tattersJuventus stay five points clear at the top, but if Napoli beat Sampdoria on Sunday the gap will close to two points and make the league leaders trip to the Stadio San Paulo on March 1 an even more mouth-watering prospect.In Serie A's other Saturday fixture, Chievo drew 1-1 with relegation-threatened Palermo.

Riga, Latvia (CNN)In a shabby apartment block near the center of Latvia's capital, Riga, a group of Russians is carefully watching political events unfolding at home.This is the newsroom of Meduza, an independent Russian-language website staffed entirely by Russian nationals. Having been pushed out of Russia's media space, Meduza operates out of neighboring Latvia, whose sleepy capital has embraced them.Galina Timchenko, executive editor of the Meduza news website.Barred, they say, from being able to publish independently of the Kremlin, the journalists at Meduza are now covering Russia's presidential election on Sunday from afar."The population here speak Russian and they have very simple, strict and transparent rules of business. We have no problem at all with the authorities," said Galina Timchenko, Meduza's executive editor.Russia Decoded: How much do you know about Russia?Read MoreIt is, Timchenko said, a stark contrast to her country, where she said she was fired from her job as the editor of the Lenta.ru news website. She believes her dismissal was on the orders of the Kremlin.A cobbled street in Latvia's sleepy capital of Riga."After the annexation of Crimea there was the total cleaning of the media space in Russia," she said. "The Kremlin smashed news agencies and influential editors-in-chief were replaced by pro-Kremlin editors."She said she was "fired in a second" after reporting on Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014.The majority of her staff resigned from Lenta.ru in protest and several followed her to Riga.Nestled in a gulf of the Baltic Sea, Riga is a city with cobbled streets, church spires and a dark past.A controversial statue honoring Latvia's "red riflemen," who made up a faction of the Imperial Russian Army during World War I. For some 50 years -- between 1940 and 1991 -- Latvia was under the control of the Kremlin. Dissidents were imprisoned by the Soviets and tortured and murdered by the KGB.In Riga's center, the KGB's former headquarters stands as a memorial to those who were persecuted. Nearby, Soviet buildings and statues puncture the skyline as a reminder of how this small nation was once ruled by its giant neighbor from Moscow.But the Baltic state is today a different place. It has shaken off its past, joined the European Union and NATO, and become a haven for journalists and campaigners seeking escape from President Vladimir Putin's Russia.But it is not only the journalists and politically active who have fled Russia for Riga.Pavel Pereverzev, who owns the Russian Babooshka bakery in Riga.Pavel Pereverzev owns the Babooshka Bakery in Riga's old town, a little taste of Russia in the ex-Soviet nation. He moved to Latvia in 2011 with his wife and young daughter.But he said he was not escaping persecution in Russia -- merely looking for a better place to raise his family. "For me, it was never about politics. It was about economics," he told CNN.Pereverzev took advantage of a law in Latvia that saw foreigners granted residency -- and the right to travel across Europe's Schengen Area -- if they invested more than $94,000 in property in the country.The Babooshka bakery in Riga.Since 2010, thousands of Russians have benefited from the concept and made a home in Latvia, according to Latvia's public broadcaster.Latvia, with its large Russian speaking population, is close enough to their homeland to be comfortably familiar. It offers the freedoms and guarantees that they say Russia cannot yet provide.When he arrived, Pereverzev started several small cafes and said he was surprised he did not have to bribe officials in order to get things done."The thing about life here is that it's more predictable," Pereverzev told CNN at his cafe. "The taxes (in Latvia) are higher, but at least you know what they are."Arms, oil and fake news: 6 ways Russia is changing the worldHe hasn't decided whether to vote in Sunday's election, but he said Putin has failed Russia on several fronts."I can't say which one of his failures is the biggest, but definitely one thing is the lack of rule of law," Pereverzev said.After his re-election in 2012, in his state-of-the-nation speech, Putin promised to strengthen state controls, crack down on corruption and grow the middle class. In his annual address earlier this month, he spoke broadly about growing the economy and increasing Russia's GDP per capita by half by the mid-2030s. Pereverzev and Timchenko are part of a number of middle-class Russians who have decided to call time on their home country."The dynamics we see are negative," Pereverzev said. "This is not getting better."Timchenko said she left reluctantly but felt she had no choice."For me, he is stealing my future," she said of Putin."I remember the 1990s. I remember the smell of freedom. Then something changed," she said."Now we have no future at all."

Story highlights"Augusta is Orlando for golf freaks," says Masters first-timerNo timeshare presentations, but it could be any theme park in FloridaThe top-class players on show have more tricks than killer whales at Sea WorldSeeing three of golf's greatest legends tops off a perfect pilgrimage I'm a Masters rookie. My assignment here this week as part of CNN's coverage team marks the first time I've been to the tournament or Augusta National Golf Club.I don't know what I really expected when I got this assignment, but it sure wasn't what I found.Augusta is Orlando. That's what keeps going through my mind. Orlando for golf freaks. Florida in Georgia. Golf World, anyone?Arriving off Interstate 20 onto International Drive -- I mean Washington Road, which leads to Augusta National -- the first thing to catch my eye was the ticket brokers, some with just tents, others with tents set up outside their motorhomes. The only thing that seemed to be missing was the mandatory 90-minute timeshare presentation, but maybe that was being offered somewhere.Along the road, the restaurants and bars are jammed, and hawkers try to push traffic inside -- even the person dressed up as a Subway sandwich. Traffic is Orlando-like, too. It inches along and genteel Southern hospitality doesn't extend to the road. It can take forever for someone to let you make a turn across traffic.The entrance to Augusta could really be any Orlando theme park. In the mornings, the multiple lines are long as people get their passes checked and check in any bags. No backpacks in Augusta National.That means you have to get stuff inside. Disney perfected this, to great profit. Augusta National has it nailed too, but at least they don't nail you with the prices. Four dollars for a sandwich, chips and a Coke is nothing to complain about.Like Orlando's theme parks, they will get your last dollar at the souvenir stand -- they call it the golf shop at Augusta National -- and a Masters 2012 cap will set you back $24 and a polo shirt $65. But the lines are long and the patrons are leaving with large, clear plastic bags jammed with goods bearing the Masters logo.Before souvenirs though, should come the show, which is, of course, world class. These are the world's best golfers. But like the Shamu show at Sea World, the place is always jammed -- and when you think about it, the whale doesn't really do all that many tricks considering the time you waited.It was kind of like that watching the star of the Masters, Tiger Woods, on Thursday. I followed him on his back nine, about two and a half hours' worth of show. Woods hit 37 shots during that time. Of course, though I was there on each hole, I didn't see them all. The crowds were just massive, and I'm not tall enough to see over many folks.I did get within 20 yards of Woods twice, kind of in his splash zone, you could say. On the 18th hole, his tee shot did go directly over my head and get stuck under a bush. At Sea World, I would have needed the rainsuit.Another theme park show moment happened Wednesday when Woods, Mark O'Meara and Sean O'Hair came to play the 16th during their practice round.It's tradition on the hole that during practice rounds, after taking their tee shot on the par-3, players try to get balls onto the green by skipping them across the pond between the tee and the green. Most do it alone, I'm thinking magicians during Disney World's Main Street parade.But Woods, O'Meara and O'Hair lined up across the pond's edge and hit their skip balls in unison. It was like when the dolphins all do the same leap at the same time at Sea World. It did elicit the same kind of "that's cool" laugh from the crowd.But, in the end, golf's royalty saved this from being just like a trip to Orlando for me.During Wednesday's Par 3 tournament, I got to see Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer play two holes together. I had goosebumps (chicken skin, for some of you) and moist eyes. Player and Palmer each even made birdies.There is nothing, absolutely nothing, in Orlando that could compare to that.Call my rookie Masters a success.

(CNN)Six Polish swimmers have had to return home from the Tokyo Olympics due to an administrative error by the Polish Swimming Federation (PZP)."I would like to express my great regret, sadness, and bitterness at the situation," PZP director Pawel Slominski said in a statement released Monday.Alicja Tchórz, Aleksandra Polańska, Mateusz Chowaniec, Dominika Kossakowska, Jan Hołub and Bartosz Piszczorowicz, who were forced to return from Tokyo, called for the organization's entire board to resign immediately over the incident in an open letter addressed to the PZP director Slominski.The open letter issued Sunday was signed by 16 other Polish swimmers and accused the PZP of not understanding FINA's regulations."Recent incidents have destroyed the trust," Polish swimmers, who returned home on Sunday, said in the open letter.Read More"Several of us had to come back to Poland because of the neglect, and our dream of becoming Olympians have been taken away from us," they added.READ: Tokyo 2020 boss not ruling out last minute cancellation of Olympic GamesIn this April 26, 2021, file photo, Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games Organizing staff prepare a swimming test event at the Tokyo Aquatics Center, one of the venues of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in Tokyo. 'Unprecedented event'The original Polish team comprised 23 members who traveled to Tokyo to take part in the Olympic Games."The actions of the Association led to an unprecedented event in the history of Polish sport," the letter reads."In addition, Polish swimming -- both in the eyes of the public and potential sponsors -- has been exposed as a laughingstock, and it will have a glaring effect on all competitors who compete in the white and red colors on a daily basis," the letter adds.Poland's Culture and Sports Ministry urged the PZP president "to immediately submit explanations" over the incident, according to a statement published by the government body on Monday.The ministry will analyze, and consequences are coming after games, the statement said.

(CNN)In an anticlimactic and painful end to their third and much-anticipated match-up, Dustin Poirier beat Conor McGregor by TKO in the first round in the UFC 264 Saturday night after McGregor appeared to have broken his leg or ankle.The two men had faced off twice before and talked a lot of trash in the lead-up to the match at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but Poirier came out on top in the short contest."This is not over! If I have to take this outside with him, I'll go outside," McGregor said after the match, still sitting in the octagon as trainers inspected his lower left leg.UFC commentator Joe Rogan told McGregor that Poirier said he believed that his check of one of McGregor's kicks is what broke his leg."There was no check!" McGregor insisted, then launching into a string of insults directed toward Poirier.Read MoreAfter the match, Poirier said he wished he'd gotten a stoppage by strikes, but "a win is a win.""I felt like I was control of the fight and I feel like his leg is the result a defensive move, me checking it, a kick," he said.McGregor (22-6) and Poirier (28-6) are longtime rivals. In 2014, McGregor defeated Poirier at UFC 178 with a first-round KO. But in January, Poirier got his revenge at UFC 257 with a second-round finish.UFC President Dana White told reporters after the match that McGregor would be having surgery soon, and announced he intends to schedule a fight between Poirier and Charles Oliveira for the lightweight title.Other matches of noteThe bout between Poirier and McGregor was the big draw, but the main card was jam-packed with noteworthy battles Saturday night.Irene Aldana took down Yana Kunitskaya in the women's bantamweight with a first-round TKO.Sean O'Malley beat Kris Moutinho in the bantamweight in the third round with a TKO, and Tai Tuivasa brought Greg Hardy down in a first-round TKO for the heavyweight match.And Gilbert Burns took down Stephen Thompson in the welterweight class by unanimous decision.

Washington (CNN)In 1947, the year Joe Manchin was born, the US Senate killed voting-rights legislation -- again. The "gravedigger," liberal Democrats complained, was filibuster rules empowering its opponents.Today, as 74-year-old Manchin serves his second Senate term, the chamber stands poised to bury his voting rights proposal the same way. But this time there's a twist: The West Virginia Democrat, by continuing to support the filibuster, himself serves as sponsor and gravedigger alike.That incongruity keeps alive a continuing closed-door effort by fellow Democrats and the White House to change Manchin's mind on the filibuster. Even those involved concede it's a long shot. But they haven't given up.They confront a familiar conflict over the Senate's role in the American system. Political minorities embrace the filibuster -- which now requires a 60-vote supermajority to cut off debate -- as a shield protecting their rights; majorities chafe at the obstacle it presents to action on national priorities.Repeatedly, that conflict has surfaced over attempts to safeguard the vote, among other civil rights protections. As the civil rights movement intensified after World War II, pro-segregation Southern senators made the filibuster their bulwark against proposals to ban "poll taxes" that impeded voting by Blacks.Read MoreFor two decades beginning in the 1950s, frustrated liberals pressed for rules changes to weaken the filibuster. In 1957, the year Manchin turned 10, their ideas revolved around permitting a majority of senators to end debate after 15 days. Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, as biographer Robert Caro recounted in "Master of the Senate," flatly rejected them.Today, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and nearly the entire Democratic caucus support rules changes. They've floated several options that could take effect if every Democrat supported them.RELATED: Biden says he supports filibuster carve-out for voting rightsOne would create a specific filibuster exemption for Manchin's bill, which would make Election Day a holiday and establish minimum national standards for mail-in ballots and early voting. A second would create a broader but undefined exemption for bills designed to protect democracy -- a suddenly salient topic after last year's deadly January 6 insurrection.What Manchin and Sinema can learn from the Lincoln Republicans on voting rightsA third option, which enjoys the most support among Democratic senators, would make filibusters harder to mount and easier to end. Instead of initiating a filibuster by simple declaration, and forcing proponents of action to overcome it, it would require filibustering senators to talk continuously, as popularized by Jimmy Stewart in the 1939 movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."It would guarantee that the minority could offer a specified number of amendments to the legislation at issue. It would let every senator speak on the floor twice. But it would ultimately allow the majority to end debate and force final action with 51 votes, not 60.Along with Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Manchin continues to publicly hold the line against steps to weaken the filibuster, much less abolish it. They insist filibusters force Senate majorities to seek bipartisan consensus rather than simply steamroll opponents.But Manchin's inability to attract Republican support for his voting rights bill underscores how, more typically, the filibuster halts action on contentious issues altogether. That's why his Democratic colleagues keep trying."You have a consensus among Senate Democrats that our democracy is at risk, and that does create an opportunity for reform," said Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, one of those involved. "The verdict is still out."Their goal, propelled in part by the upcoming Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, is to bring the matter to a head in January. Manchin's bill represents the most important step Democrats could take to counter moves by Republican-controlled state legislatures to curb voting procedures and tilt election administration in their favor in the wake of former President Donald Trump's 2020 defeat."I think it's a 30-40% chance that we'll get something significant," said Norm Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.As it happens, those Democratic liberals in 1957 ended up winning limited voting rights protections without changing the filibuster. That's because Johnson, straddling his alliance with fellow Southerners and his ambition to win national favor for a later presidential run, engineered passage of a modest civil rights bill.Later, as president, Johnson pushed through the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. Two months after voting rights marchers in Selma, Alabama, endured attacks from local law enforcement on "Bloody Sunday," he and Senate allies overcame a Southern filibuster by rallying a bipartisan group of 70 senators to end debate.It took another decade before the Senate made filibusters easier to stop. In 1975, a majority of senators voted to reduce the threshold for ending debate from two-thirds to three-fifths, or 60 senators.Among those who backed the change: Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia, one of Manchin's political heroes.

(CNN)Ashleigh Barty became the first home Australian Open champion since 1978 after beating grand slam final debutante Danielle Collins 6-3 7-6 in Saturday's final.The world No. 1 was utterly dominant throughout the tournament and clinched a historic title without even dropping a set.Australian tennis fans had to wait more than four decades for one of their own to be crowned Australian Open champion, with the last home win coming courtesy of Chris O'Neil.Barty's grand slam tally now stands at three -- her previous titles coming at the French Open in 2019 and Wimbledon in 2021 -- and the 25-year-old is without a doubt currently the most dominant force on the women's tour.With most of her career likely still ahead of her, the only question remaining around Barty's grand slam credentials is: how many?Read More"I've said numerous times I'm so lucky tonight to have numerous people here that love and support me," Barty said in her post-match interview. "I'm a fortunate and lucky girl to have so much love in my corner, we started together right from the start. We did it all together, nobody has changed from our team. I love you to death."As an Aussie the most important part of this tournament is being able to share it with so many people and the crowd, you have been nothing short of exceptional."This crowd is one of the most fun I've ever played in front of and you guys brought me so much joy today and helped me play my best tennis, so thanks for all your love and support over the last couple of weeks."This is a dream come true for me and I am so proud to be an Aussie. See you next time."READ: Rafael Nadal is one win away from record-breaking grand slam title after reaching Australian Open finalAustralia's Ashleigh Barty celebrates after beating Danielle Collins.Blistering startNeither player showed any signs of nerves in the opening stages and exchanged some blistering shots early on.Collins' trademark backhand was causing Barty all sorts of problems, with the Aussie struggling to contain the powerful groundstroke as it ripped through the Rod Laver court.However, Barty was able to respond on her own serve, crushing an early 181km/h ace past her opponent as she managed to save an early break point -- much to the delight of the crowd.The partisan home support was certainly showing its allegiances early on, erupting each time Barty won a point. They were then really given something to cheers in Collins' third service game, as a couple of loose groundstrokes and a wild double fault gifted Barty a break of serve.That certainly helped release any tension Barty was still feeling, as the home favorite ripped off two more holds of serve to claim the opening set in the blink of an eye.Even Collins' reaching the final is one of the most remarkable comeback stories in tennis.In April last year, she underwent emergency surgery for endometriosis -- a condition where the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside of it -- and had suffered an abdominal injury at the French Open.Danielle Collins began dominating the second set.The 28-year-old has spoken candidly about the excruciating pain she endured, describing it as some of the worst she has experienced.Collins has credited the surgeon for saving her career and she's now playing some of the best tennis of her life, with her run to final in Melbourne projected to push her into the world's top 10 for the first time.Huge credit must go to the player for remaining unperturbed that a close opening set had gotten away from her so quickly.The American often wears her heart on her sleeve on the court, but had so far kept her emotions hidden on the biggest occasion of her career.However, that changed at the start of the second set as Barty once again began to struggle with her opponent's powerful shots, which now seemed to have just a little more sting.Two uncharacteristic errors from Barty in her opening service game of the set allowed Collins to break for the first time in the match. Rod Laver arena fell largely silent, save for Collins' roar. "Come on," she shouted, fist clenched towards her box.It had been quite a remarkable change in momentum from the opening set, with Collins now dominating almost every rally.The fans did their fans to rally behind Barty in the second set.The crowd, sensing Barty's nerves, did their best to get her back into the match; one forehand winner down the line was greeted with the perhaps the loudest cheer of the night so far.However, it wasn't enough to get Barty back on track as the size of the occasion now seemed to be weighing heavily on her.The forehand was becoming wild and erratic and Collins found another break of serve to seemingly put the set out of her opponent's reach.But Barty, the fighter that she is on the court, battled back and recovered one of those breaks of serve, before firing off a love service game to pile the pressure back onto Collins.It was pressure Collins couldn't handle as her first serve and usually trusty backhand deserted her, gifting Barty a second break of serve.The Rod Laver arena, which had been subdued for most of the second set, erupted and was now louder than it had been all evening. Barty claims the third grand slam title of her career.At one point, Collins seemed unhappy with a number of the people in the crowd who had begun shouting before the points were finished, leading the umpire to warn those in attendance about their conduct.Barty held serve to level the scores at 5-5 and what looked like 20 minutes ago was going to be a walkover set for Collins had now turned into a slugfest.Both players put in solid service games to take the set to a tie break, though Collins must have been wishing those first serves had come a couple of games earlier.Barty raced into 4-0 lead in the tie break and never looked like losing it from there, eventually closing it out 7-2 -- and it was now party time on Rod Laver.After waiting 44 long years, Australia once again has its own grand slam singles champion.

(CNN)Inter Milan footballer Antonio Candreva has offered to make a donation to help an eight-year-old girl from an immigrant family after she was left eating tuna and crackers at her school while other kids tucked into pizza.The episode took place at a primary school in the small village of Minerbe (4,600 people), near Verona, after the girl's parents, from Morocco, fell behind in paying for her lunch fees, the mayor Andrea Girardi told CNN."I spoke this morning with the agent of Antonio Candreva and we agreed that Candreva will make a donation directly to the school," said Girardi, who belongs to the anti-immigrant League party."I also spoke on Sunday with Candreva. He called me. I was very surprised. He told me that he had read about the little girl tuna meal and wanted to know if he could help."The girl's parents were nine months behind in paying for their daughter's school meals, added Girardi. On March 29, she was given tuna and crackers while the other kids had pizza, according to the mayor. Italian media reported the girl burst into tears. Read MoreCandreva stepped in to help the girl "moved by father instinct" since he has two children, Stefano Marchesi, PR of Candreva's football agency P&P Sport Management, told CNN. "It wasn't supposed to become of public domain," said Marchesi, adding that the donation will be used to help "all those in difficulty at the school."The agent didn't want to disclose the amount of the donation, while the girl's family has yet to publicly comment on Candreva's intervention. Candreva is pictured playing for Inter Milan in a Champions League match.READ: Can Man Utd stop Messi?READ: Sorry about that,' says PSG star after 'worst miss ever'READ: How 'Little Seoul' fell in love with its favorite Son'Inhuman face'The centre-left Democratic Party (PD) harshly criticised the League's local authorities. "The League, once again, shows its inhuman face. It does not admit that it is unable to plan serious welfare policies to help the most fragile [people], so it punishes and humiliates a child," said MP Alessia Rotta in a statement. But Girardi rebutted the criticism saying the local administration already helps about 30 families who were late in the school meal payments. He added that all 30 families -- 26 immigrant and six Italians -- have now received financial support. "I am very happy that Candreva expressed his interest, also if he is important and gains a lot of money, it shows he cares about the others, about common people," Girardi said. "The donation that Candreva is doing will be used by the school, not for the meals, since the city has already supplied founds for the families in difficulties, but to buy stationery and support the budget of the kids that can't afford other expenses as school trips."The 32-year-old Candreva has played over 50 times for the Italian national team.

(CNN)Bulletproof, immovable, and playing a different game to the rest, Brooks Koepka is doing a better impression of Tiger Woods than Tiger Woods.The 29-year-old shot a course-record 63 on day one and added a 65 Friday to stretch his lead to seven shots at 12 under to stamp his authority on the 101st US PGA Championship at Bethpage.Stone cold Brooks Koepka is looking for another Wanamaker. pic.twitter.com/RMuURrT6oE— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2019 Despite the Black course's fearsome reputation, Koepka's 36-hole score of 128 is a major championship record, his halfway lead is the largest in PGA Championship history, and he bettered the Masters champion by 17 shots as Woods missed the cut. Even then, Keopka insists he was "battling" his swing a bit. "Today's a new day, doesn't matter what you did yesterday," the defending champion, who has won three of his last seven majors, told Sky Sports.Read More"I'm very pleased. It's a tough golf course, you've really got to battle and I'm proud of the way I hung in there."It's something I've battled my entire life so it should be an easy fix." READ: Woods struggles as Koepka coasts clear at US PGA Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farBrooks Koepka successfully defended his PGA Championship title after a thrilling finish at Bethpage Black.Hide Caption 1 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farThe 29-year-old clinched his fourth major in eight events after overcoming a late wobble at Bethpage. Hide Caption 2 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farKoepka led by seven ahead of the final day but four straight bogeys on the back nine let in his close friend and the then world No.1 Dustin Johnson, who narrowed the gap to one. Hide Caption 3 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farEngland's Matt Wallace was in the chasing pack well behind the leading two at Bethpage. Hide Caption 4 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farPopular veteran Phil Mickelson is a fan favorite in New York. Hide Caption 5 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farKoepka said the back nine was "very stressful" as he battled his own mistakes and the pressure exerted by Johnson.Hide Caption 6 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farJapan's Hideki Matsuyama of Japan chips onto the 13th green during the final round of the PGA Championship.Hide Caption 7 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farTyrrell Hatton of England makes a shot out of the rough amidst the gallery on the ninth hole during the final round.Hide Caption 8 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farThree-time champion Jordan Spieth finished tied third to reignite his major form after a slump of late.Hide Caption 9 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farJohnson faltered coming home and has now finished runner-up in all four of golf's major tournaments.Hide Caption 10 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farBrooks Koepka drives off the 12th tee during the third round.Hide Caption 11 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farJordan Spieth hits out of a bunker onto the fifth green during the third round of the PGA Championship golf tournament on Saturday, May 18.Hide Caption 12 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farA spectator rests in the shade of a tree along the seventh fairway during the third round.Hide Caption 13 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farPhil Mickelson walks up to the 18th green during the third round.Hide Caption 14 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farDustin Johnson greets spectators as he walks to the 12th tee.Hide Caption 15 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farBrooks Koepka picks his ball out of the hole after putting on the eighth green.Hide Caption 16 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farBrooks Koepka plays his shot from the 17th tee during the second round of the 2019 PGA Championship on Friday, May 17, in Farmingdale, New York. Koepka, in the lead after the second round, set a record for the lowest 36-hole score in major championship history.Hide Caption 17 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farTiger Woods tees off on the 18th hole. Woods failed to make the cut for the final two rounds after shooting a three-over 73, ending the tournament at five over.Hide Caption 18 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farFans cheer for Tiger Woods on the 13th hole. Hide Caption 19 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farJordan Spieth of the United States lines up a putt on the 16th green during the second round of the US PGA Championship. At the end of the round, Spieth was tied second with Australian Adam Scott. Hide Caption 20 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farFans line up near the the eighth green during the second round.Hide Caption 21 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farWorld No.1 Dustin Johnson reacts after putting on the seventh green.Hide Caption 22 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farPhil Mickelson plays a shot from the rough on the third hole.Hide Caption 23 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farBrooks Koepka, left, shakes hands with Tiger Woods after finishing the second round.Hide Caption 24 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farTommy Fleetwood plays a shot from the fourth tee.Hide Caption 25 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farBrooks Koepka with yet another impeccable drive on the 15th tee in a thrilling opening round of 63 -- a course record.Hide Caption 26 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farApril's Masters victory felt a long time ago for Tiger Woods; the 15-time major winner regularly located both rough and bunker in a first round that lacked the control of last month.Hide Caption 27 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farAlex Noren takes stock on the third hole of this thrillingly difficult golf course. If you miss the fairway and the bunkers, the long grass will eat you alive.Hide Caption 28 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farJohn Daly, the PGA Championship winner in 1991, was making a bit of history at Bethpage Black. He has been given permission to use a golf cart at the tournament as a result of his osteoarthritis in his right knee.Hide Caption 29 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farPhil Mickelson and Jason Day salute their fans as they complete solid first rounds of 1 under par.Hide Caption 30 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farFlowing locks blowing in the wind, Tommy Fleetwood in action en route to a very respectable first-round effort of 3 under par.Hide Caption 31 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farBrooks Koepka putts on a hulking eighth green, watched by fans who were witnessing a clinic from the three-time major winner.Hide Caption 32 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farJason Day's only major victory came in the 2015 PGA Championship. Here he is, one of many to find one of Bethpage Black's daunting sandpits.Hide Caption 33 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farDustin Johnson, the world No.1 and a favorite among many experts, tees off at the 17th.Hide Caption 34 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farAs Phil Mickelson watches his tee shot fly into the distance, his fans make sure to leave with their own memories.Hide Caption 35 of 36 Photos: In pictures: The 2019 PGA Championship so farAn image to highlight the extent of this monster golf course. Narrow fairways, damp, long roughs, gaping bunkers, overhanging trees. But then, Brooks Koepka on the tee, helping himself to the most supreme first round of major golf imaginable.Hide Caption 36 of 36Rearview mirrorWhile Woods' 15th major title had many misty-eyed for his domineering heyday, Koepka is showing why he is now the most imperious player in major golf with an explosive marriage of power, finesse and ice-cool emotions. Koepka, who was tied second at Augusta, credits his ability to stay on an even keel as one of his best attributes."It's massive," he added. "I don't think people realize how difficult it is and how you have to let things roll off your back, laugh about it and move on. It tests your patience, for sure."Brooks' Bethpage. pic.twitter.com/Ys3DLbCoJ0— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 17, 2019 The Floridian was bogey-free through 27 holes on Long Island, and despite two bogeys coming home Friday he kicked on to leave the field trailing in his muscular wake.A distant sight in Koepka's rearview mirror was a rejuvenated Jordan Spieth at the front of the chasing pack with a four-under 66 to show signs of a rosier future after enduring a slump of late. Spieth needs just the US PGA to become only the sixth player to clinch the career Grand Slam of all four major titles and a first win since the 2017 Open. Alongside Spieth on five under was 2013 Masters champion Adam Scott, whose blistering surge to six under for the day after 14 holes put him in with a shout of beating the major record of 62 before he faltered towards the end to card 64. And what of Woods himself? Overshadowed in performance -- if not fan adoration and volume level -- by playing partner Koepka, he looked out-of-sorts compared with that magical Masters triumph on his last outing.The 43-year-old, who only played nine holes in practice, hit only three fairways off the tee Friday, and was unable to build any kind of momentum despite constant urgings from the boisterous New York crowd. Needing a birdie up the last to make the cut at four over, his approach was wayward and he was unable to chip in from the fringe, adding a 73 to his opening 72 to finish five over to miss the cut by one.READ: Woods' Masters win has Nicklaus "shaking in my boots"READ: 'It's surreal,' says Woods of 15th major Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsTiger Woods clinched his fifth Masters and 15th major title with victory at Augusta in April. Hide Caption 1 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsThe former world No. 1 had not won the Masters since 2005, and it was his first major win since 2008.Hide Caption 2 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsA month after winning the Masters, Woods received the nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from President Donald Trump.Hide Caption 3 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods won the season-ending Tour Championship in September 2018. It was his first title in five years following a succession of back injuries. Hide Caption 4 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsSigns that Woods was back to his best were obvious at August's PGA Championship, where he finished runner-up to Brooks Koepka. It followed an impressive showing at July's British Open, where he briefly topped the leaderboard.Hide Caption 5 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods made an impressive return to competitive golf in 2018 after multiple back surgeries in recent years. He played his first Masters in three years in April 2018. Hide Caption 6 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsThe four-time champion had back fusion surgery -- his fourth procedure -- in April 2017 and returned to the game pain-free in December. He finished tied 32nd at Augusta.Hide Caption 7 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods was touted as one of the favorites after impressing in his early-season events. He also set tongues wagging by playing a practice round with old rival Phil Mickelson, right.Hide Caption 8 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods finished tied second at the Valspar Championship in March 2018 and followed it up with a tie for fifth at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. The hype needle moved into overdrive.Hide Caption 9 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods set out on his legendary path by becoming the youngest winner of the Masters -- at 21 -- with a record 12-shot win in 1997. Hide Caption 10 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsOne of his most remarkable feats was winning his first US Open by an unprecedented 15 shots at Pebble Beach, California, in 2000, sparking a streak never seen before or since.Hide Caption 11 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods' victory in the 2001 Masters meant he held all four of golf's major titles at the same time, dubbed the "Tiger Slam." Hide Caption 12 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods' win rate, his dedication to fitness training and his desire to succeed were changing golf. Prize money rocketed because of Woods. Off the course, he married girlfriend Elin Nordegren in 2004. Hide Caption 13 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods showed rare emotion when he broke down in tears on the shoulder of caddie Steve Williams following his win in the 2006 British Open at Hoylake, months after his father and mentor Earl passed away. Hide Caption 14 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsDespite being visibly hampered and in pain from a knee injury, Woods won the US Open in breathtaking fashion at Torrey Pines, California, in 2008. It was his 14th major title to leave him only four behind the record of Jack Nicklaus. He was later diagnosed with knee ligament damage and two fractures of his left tibia. He missed the rest of the season after surgery. It is still his last major title. Hide Caption 15 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsIn December 2009, Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant outside his home. As the big picture emerged it was discovered Woods had been conducting a series of extra martial affairs. He took three months away from the game to sort out his private life. Hide Caption 16 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsIn February 2010 Woods addressed the world's media to explain and apologise for his actions. His infidelity led to divorce and was the beginning of a downhill slide in Woods' playing career. By October he lost the world No. 1 ranking, a position he had held for 281 consecutive weeksHide Caption 17 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsBack in the fold, Woods earned his first win in two years at the Chevron World Challenge in December 2011, a charity tournament he hosts that does not count on the PGA Tour money list.Hide Caption 18 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods was back in the winner's circle in 2013, lifting five titles, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational, to get back to the top of the rankings.Hide Caption 19 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsIn March 2013, Woods and Lindsey Vonn announced they were dating on Facebook. In January that year, the champion skier had finalized her divorce from Thomas Vonn, after initializing proceedings in 2011. In May 2015, Woods and Vonn announced their breakup, with the golfer claiming he "hadn't slept" in the days following. Hide Caption 20 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsLater in 2013 there were signs all was not well as Woods was seen to be in pain as he picked the ball out of the hole at the Barclays tournament in August. He missed the Masters the following April for the first time since 1994 to undergo back surgery.Hide Caption 21 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods pulled out of the Farmers Insurance Open in February 2015, and struggled with injury and form for the rest of the season. Hide Caption 22 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods cut a dejected figure at that year's US Open as he struggled with his game and carded rounds of 80 and 76 to miss the cut.Hide Caption 23 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsIn August 2015 Woods made his last appearance for 15 months to undergo follow-up back surgeries. At one stage during his rehabilitation, Woods spoke of there being "no light at the end of the tunnel" -- and with one eye on his fading career, he suggested "everything beyond this will be gravy."Hide Caption 24 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods made a much-anticipated return to golf in December 2016, showing signs of promise with the highest number of birdies in the field -- 24 -- but he also made a number of costly errors to finish third from last in the 18-man event.Hide Caption 25 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsHe missed the cut in his first event of 2017 in the US and pulled out after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic in February, citing back spasms. He underwent a fourth back prodecure in April. Hide Caption 26 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsThe golf legend was arrested Monday, May 29, on suspicion of driving under the influence. He was booked into a local jail in Florida and released a few hours later. He said in a statement he had "an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications." Hide Caption 27 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsIn August Woods entered a first-offender program and pleaded guilty to reckless driving on October 28. He will avoid jail unless he commits major violations of his probation. Hide Caption 28 of 29 Photos: Tiger Woods: From highs to lowsWoods returned to golf after 301 days at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas on November 30 2017. He carded a three-under first-round 69 and appeared pain-free and hungry to resume his career. Hide Caption 29 of 29' I need to start feeling better' The world No.6 could have gone back to the top of the rankings for the first time since May 2014 had he won and other permutations worked in his favor, but he said illness and fatigue after the high of the Masters were contributory factors."It's just the way it goes," Woods told reporters. "You know, just don't feel well and just not able to do it. Resting would be better, so I would have energy to play. You know, unfortunately I just didn't -- made too many mistakes and just didn't do the little things I need to do."I've enjoyed being the Masters champion again, and the PGA was a quick turnaround, and unfortunately I just didn't play well." Woods admitted that after his catalogue of back injuries, culminating in spinal fusion surgery in 2017, there will be "days and weeks when it's not going to work." "There's no reason why I can't get up to speed again and crank it back up," he said. "I've got to start feeling a little bit better first before that happens. "I just wasn't moving the way I needed to. That's the way it goes."JUST WATCHEDBubba Watson on Tiger Woods' 2019 Masters win.ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBubba Watson on Tiger Woods' 2019 Masters win. 03:45Should he go on to win, Koepka's superiority would be somewhat reminiscent of Woods' stretch from 2000-2002 when he won six of nine majors, starting with the US Open by a record 15 shots having led by six at halfway at Pebble Beach -- incidentally the venue for this year' US Open in June. Or from 2005-2008 when he won six of 14 and was no worse than fourth six other times. "What Brooksy did, he's driving it 330 yards in the middle of the fairway," added Woods. "He's got 9-irons when most of us are hitting 5-irons, 4-irons, and he's putting well. That adds up to a pretty substantial lead, and if he keeps doing what he's doing, there's no reason why he can't build on this lead."Koepka has been vocal in the past about not receiving enough recognition, but he admits he uses any perceived slights as fuel. Rocket fuel, it would seem, as he becomes increasingly box-office viewing."I'm just going to keep doing what I'm doing, put the pedal down and try to build a bigger lead," said Koepka.

(CNN)Summer weather could grow to half a year in length by the end of this century if no mitigation efforts are done on climate change, according to a new study. In about the past 60 years, summer has increased by 17 days on average across the globe."Summers are getting longer and hotter while winters shorter and warmer due to global warming," said Yuping Guan, lead author of the study.Sure, longer summers may sound great for a family vacation or enjoying the outdoors, but this extended season could significantly impact our health, the environment and agriculture.Heat waves could grow longer, mosquito-borne illnesses could become more widespread, allergy season from pollen could turn more severe and the growing season of crops will be longer.Summers growing longerRead MoreThe study reveals that warming temperatures globally are making the hottest quarter of the year, known as summer, longer, and this is also affecting when all the seasons start. "The onsets of spring and summer are advanced, while the onsets of autumn and winter are delayed," the study says.The study splits the four seasons into four percentiles, with any temperature above the 75th percentile of the 1952-2011 temperature average being recognized as summer. Climate computer models are then operated to reveal how these defined seasons change over time."Over the period of 1952-2011, the length of summer increased from 78 to 95 days and that of spring, autumn and winter decreased from 124 to 115, 87 to 82 and 76 to 73 days, respectively," the study states.Most regions across the Northern Hemisphere have been experiencing longer summers already, but in the Mediterranean region it is growing by more than eight days per 10 years since the 1950s. This may not sound like much, but over a longer time scale it becomes more significant.2020 was tied for the hottest year ever recorded -- but the disasters fueled by climate change set it apartGlobal sea and land temperatures continue to rise relative to average, and the difference compared to average is also growing. The last time annual temperatures were below average globally was in the late 1970s, meaning that the last time it was cooler than normal was more than 40 years ago, according to data from NOAA.Climate change driven by emissions of Greenhouse gases is the main contributor to the warming temperatures.If nothing is done to mitigate these emissions to slow down the effects of climate change, then summer could evolve into lasting half a year by the end of this century, according to the study."Under the business-as-usual scenario, spring and summer will start about a month earlier than 2011 by the end of the century, autumn and winter start about half a month later, which result in nearly half a year of summer and less than two months of winter in 2100."Countries around the world are trying to take action, but the goals set in the Paris Climate Agreement are not being met. That includes efforts to curb emissions.What this means for youAside from the warming temperatures and shifting seasons, this does have implications on human life.That includes agriculture. Spring is the season when plants begin to grow across parts of the US. The plants bud when they experience the warmer temperatures at the start of the season. This time of year is also met with temperature variability, however, when one day may be warm while the next is cold. These temperature extremes are a common occurrence with climate change.Starting spring a month earlier could mean disastrous losses for crops. Earlier weeks and months in the transition seasons could result in more drastic cold snaps following spring bud openings."For monsoon areas, shifting seasons can alter the time of monsoons. This means that patterns of monsoon rains are changed as well. These kind of changes may not sync with crops growth," Guan told CNN."It could also limit the types of crops grown, encourage invasive species or weed growth, or increase demand for irrigation," the Environmental Protection Agency says. "A longer growing season could also disrupt the function and structure of a region's ecosystems and could, for example, alter the range and types of animal species in the area." There are other types of plants, like ragweed, that produce pollen. With an extended period of warmer temperatures, that allows plants to produce pollen for a longer time and at higher quantities.Australia's wildfires released as much smoke as a massive volcanic eruption, study findsThe changing of the seasons will also affect wildfires and heat waves, likely increasing their occurrence."A hotter and longer summer will suffer more frequent and intensified high-temperature events -- heatwaves and wildfires," said Congwen Zhu, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences who is unaffiliated with this study.Heat events are already the deadliest on average compared to other weather events, such as flooding or hurricanes, in the US, as stated by the National Weather Service. The report also references how mosquitos could be affected by the longer summers and the warmer temperatures at the higher latitudes. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, diseases carried by mosquitos, such as Dengue, could become more widespread in a warmer climate and the time period of the year when it spreads could become longer.

Story highlightsBernie Ecclestone backs Russian President Vladimir Putin on gay rights issue"I've great admiration for his courage to say what he says," Formula One chief tells CNN "90% of the world agree with him as well," says Ecclestone ahead of Russia's F1 debutEcclestone is cleared by London court Thursday in compensation caseVilified by the international community for his government's attitude on gay rights, Russian president Vladimir Putin has found himself an ally in Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone.Putin's government, whose recently-introduced anti-gay legislation -- which prohibits spreading so-called "gay" propaganda to minors -- has been a focal point of critics.Opponents argue that the law enacted last year is in contravention to the spirit of the Olympic Games, with the Winter version being hosted this month by the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.But in an exclusive interview with CNN, Ecclestone says he "completely agrees" with Putin's policy towards homosexuals."He hasn't said he doesn't agree (with homosexuality) just that he doesn't want these things publicized to an audience under the age of 18," said Ecclestone, arguing critics had misrepresented Putin."I completely agree with those sentiments and if you took a world census you'd find 90% of the world agree with it as well," added the 83-year-old, who oversees one of the world's most lucrative sports.JUST WATCHEDCan Caterham secure points in 2014?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCan Caterham secure points in 2014? 03:16JUST WATCHEDWill Ferrari's drivers deliver success?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWill Ferrari's drivers deliver success? 02:57JUST WATCHEDExperience Alonso's world up closeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHExperience Alonso's world up close 02:41JUST WATCHEDOnly fastest will be team number oneReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHOnly fastest will be team number one 02:32The F1 ringmaster last met with Putin in February 2013, when he flew to Sochi to assess construction progress ahead of Russia's debut grand prix.The Black Sea resort town will stage round 16 of this year's world championship on a circuit that will run around the Olympic Park's facilities.Ecclestone believes Russia has done a "first-class job" in the new circuit's preparation and a "super job" hosting the Olympics and that more credit should be given to Putin. "I've great admiration for him and his courage to say what he says," said the octogenarian."It may upset a few people but that's how the world is. It's how he sees (the world) and I think he's completely right," Ecclestone added.The controversial billionaire is due to face trial in Germany, which is scheduled to start in April, accused of making corrupt payments to a banker who worked on the sale of F1 in 2006.Ecclestone denies the charges, along with those brought against him in a civil case in London, where he was accused of undervaluing the sport of F1 in the same deal.Ecclestone was cleared in the latter case Thursday, despite being labeled as "not reliable or truthful" by the judge -- who ruled that German company Constantin Medien's claim for compensation was without merit.Justice Newey said Ecclestone had entered into a "corrupt agreement" with banker Gerhard Gribkowsky in 2005, but the magistrate said no loss to Constantin had been proved, the UK Press Association reported.Succession planningWith Ecclestone's legal problems casting doubt over his future in F1, the media has been speculating about his possible successors -- with Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and Justin King, chief executive of British supermarket Sainsbury's top of the list.Ecclestone said it was hard to assess whether they had the right skills needed for the job."I've no idea what attributes you'd need," he told CNN. "It's like saying we'd need someone to replace Frank Sinatra, you know? You never know what they'd need to have until they start the role."For someone to hold a high position in China or Japan you have to be older than I am -- at least the good thing about that is you're not going to have them for that long!"F1 revampThis season F1 will see wide-scale changes. JUST WATCHEDDriving your own F1 carReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDriving your own F1 car 02:11JUST WATCHEDMentoring Vettel and Schumacher ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMentoring Vettel and Schumacher 03:44JUST WATCHEDSebastian Vettel's hometown prideReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSebastian Vettel's hometown pride 02:37As well as Russia making its debut on the race calendar, the cars will be powered by smaller, V6 hybrid engines that promise greater fuel efficiency.However, the move away from the loud V8s is a development that concerns Ecclestone, who is worried the sport may lose some of its drama through the subsequent noise reduction."I'm not at all happy with the sound of the new engines, to be honest," he said."It doesn't sound like F1, but that's my opinion, let's wait and see what the public think."The system for awarding points to drivers has also been revamped.The victor in the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will now win 50 points compared to the 25 points on offer for each of the other 18 races, and Ecclestone is keen to extend that change to the last three events."The reason is simple -- with the calendar as it is the championship could be over by September and if there's another three races to go and a car that looks like it could win easy now -- (the rival cars) if they win two or three races at the end, could win the championship (instead)," said Ecclestone."Why should it devalue six races before the end? People will be following like hell to see who's there at the end of the races. Win the last three and you can win the championship, it's a whole different scenario."Read: 'We believe' say Schumacher's familyRead: Alonso hungry for success in 2014Read: F1 stars auction personal photos for charity

(CNN)In the '70s, punk gave rock music back something it was missing in the '60s -- danger.As an NBC News report from 1977, quoted on CNN's "The Seventies," put it, "This is punk rock and its purpose is to promote violence, sex and destruction, in that order." Punk rock put the hippie music of the previous decade to bed and woke up the next generation with a sound that was loud, fast and untamed. It wasn't just the next thing in music, it was a cultural shock wave with an impact that would be felt everywhere.Kick out the jamsIt started in Detroit in the late '60s. Bands like MC5 and Iggy & The Stooges put out records that sounded like rock 'n' roll stripped down to its underwear, strapped to an A-bomb and sent hurling towards the listener's face. Read MoreJUST WATCHEDEating healthy with Iggy PopReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHEating healthy with Iggy Pop 01:09The sound would grow to an international roar by the end of the '70s, with an impact the mainstream could no longer ignore. Time, in its 1977 article, "Anthems of the Blank Generation," tried to break down the sound, look and overall aesthetics of punk for the masses."In Tokyo, Chicago and Paris, kids are bumping, grinding, loving, hating, wailing to the loud, raucous, often brutal sounds of punk rock... Musicians and listeners strut around in deliberately torn T shirts and jeans; ideally, the rips should be joined with safety pins.... the hair is often heavily greased and swept up into a coxcomb of blue, orange or green, or a comely two-tone ... The music aims for the gut."'Hey Ho, Let's Go!'Though the seed was planted in Detroit, the first real fruit of the punk revolution grew out of two cities on the opposite side of the Atlantic.RamonesIn America, no place was more important than the legendary New York night club, CBGB. There, influential bands like Television, Dead Boys, Talking Heads and Blondie got their start. But of all the bands to come out of CBGB, none were more quintessentially punk than the Ramones. They began playing shows in 1974 but their 1976 debut record "Ramones" is credited with laying down the foundation of the punk sound. While '70s rock gods like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd filled their songs with ever expanding guitar solos, "Ramones" packed 14 songs in under 30 minutes.From the opening call of "Hey Ho, Let's Go!" and guitar riffs of "Blitzkrieg Bop" to songs like "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" and "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue," the Ramones kept their lyrics and themes loose, simple and fun. The Ramones went on to inspire a generation of wannabe rockers to buy guitars and form their own bands, spreading the gospel of punk to the world. They proved that you didn't have to be the next Jimmy Page or Paul McCartney to be a rock star.Here come the Sex PistolsWhile the American punk scene was unfolding in New York, a similar movement was taking place on King's Road in London.The street was a popular gathering spot for the members of the counterculture during the '60s. In the '70s, it was flooded with punk rockers, helping to produce bands such as the Sex Pistols and The Clash. While the London punk acts shared a similar style, sound and attitude with The Ramones, in England, their music added a political message. As Time wrote in its article "The Sex Pistols Are Here" from January 16, 1978:JUST WATCHEDJohn Lydon on Royals and the Sex PistolsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJohn Lydon on Royals and the Sex Pistols 03:27"In Britain, punk is the voice (some would say vice) of working-class kids who cannot find jobs and care not a whit for the traditions of their homeland."The UK was in the midst of a recession in the mid-1970s, which left many young people unemployed and angry at their government. This helped attract kids to raw energy and anger of the Sex Pistols and make songs like "Anarchy in the U.K." and "God Save the Queen" punk anthems. Music, however, was only part of the reason that the Sex Pistols gained so much notoriety. Their wild behavior and look quickly made them household names and tabloid headliners. Time took note:"As the four musicians straggled toward the plane at London's Heathrow Airport last week, it was clear from their appearance that they were not just another Top 40 act. They spat in the air, hurled four-letter words (the mildest was "scum") at the photographers and with malevolent glares set off shivers in their fellow travelers. Said one woman passenger in disbelief: "What are we flying with —a load of animals?"'London calling'At the end of the '70s, the most influential punk band in the world was The Clash, whose musical experimentation proved punk rock could be more than two-minute long songs with only three chords. The Clash had all the urgency and importance of the Sex Pistols, but as Time noted in "The Best Gang in Town," from March 5, 1979, the musical differences between The Clash and the Sex Pistols were vast:JUST WATCHEDWhich '70s albums did Sheryl Crow rock out to?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhich '70s albums did Sheryl Crow rock out to? 02:48"The Clash, though hardly elegant instrumentalists, makes far better crafted music than the Pistols ever did. The sheets of sound they let loose have the cumulative effect of a mugging, but the songs, full of threat and challenge, never mean to menace. They are, rather, about anger and desperation, about violence as a condition more than a prescription."All around London, The Clash sings straight to -- and, in a sense, even speaks for -- a generation of working-class kids not only cut off from the social mainstream but disaffected from the smug, cushy sounds of most contemporary pop."Punk is dead, long live punkBut what would happen to punk when everyone grew up? Like a meteor, the Sex Pistols were hot and bright on arrival but soon crashed and burned. They broke up in January 1978, leaving behind only one studio album and plenty of questions about the future of the genre they helped popularize. Time's "Anthems of the Blank Generation" wondered whether punk rock would be able to maintain its allure if its fan base continued to grow:"The biggest catastrophe for punk rock would of course be huge success. How does a rebel maintain his pose while earning $1 million a year?"Though not many saw it at that time, punk rock had already taken root in popular music and was fast evolving into the next big thing -- New Wave.Visit Time magazine's vault for more of its coverage from the era. Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'The Eagles – This quintessential '70s band gave us classics like "Hotel California," "Take It Easy" and "Desperado." The band's success has placed it on such lists as Rolling Stone's 500 Best Albums of All Time and the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Hide Caption 1 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'David Bowie – David Bowie -- aka "Ziggy Stardust," aka the "Thin White Duke" -- is one of the most iconic pop figures of the '70s. His shape-shifting persona was emblematic of the fluidity of his sound and style, ranging from the far-out "Moonage Daydream" to more traditional songs like "Heroes" and "Changes." Learn more about the music of the 1970s in the CNN original series, "The Seventies." Hide Caption 2 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Donna Summer – Summer's racy "Love to Love You Baby" was a few minutes of singalong with a few more minutes of something else entirely. The single catapulted her into stardom and sex-symbol status, making her the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Hide Caption 3 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'The Ramones – Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy: four guys from New York City who introduced garage punk to the masses with "Blitzkrieg Bop" and "I Wanna Be Sedated." Their belligerent, in-your-face sound and their long-haired, dressed-down look made them instant punk archetypes, placing them among the most influential bands of the decade.Hide Caption 4 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Led Zeppelin – In the early '70s, this English quartet was arguably the biggest band on Earth, selling out stadiums, dressing in flamboyant clothes, flying in private jets and, if the legends are true, indulging in wild, hedonistic habits excessive even by rock-star standards. They also turned out a series of chart-topping albums, including their untitled fourth that featured their immortal "Stairway to Heaven."Hide Caption 5 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'The Jackson 5 – This born-and-bred Motown family made history by being the first recording act whose initial four singles hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list: "I Want You Back," "The Love You Save," "ABC" and "I'll Be There." Their crossover success spawned Jackson mania and a worldwide love affair with the charming little front man, Michael Jackson.Hide Caption 6 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Lou Reed – After The Velvet Underground broke up in the early '70s, Reed transitioned to a successful solo career. He crafted songs about life on the street with the junkies and outcasts, as exemplified by tracks like "Walk on the Wild Side," "Perfect Day," and "Caroline Says II." Reed offered rock with an art-school sensibility, punk sentiment at an unhurried tempo. Hide Caption 7 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'The Rolling Stones – One of the biggest bands of the '60s, the Rolling Stones continued their success in the new decade, beginning with their "Sticky Fingers" album in 1971 and followed by their critically acclaimed "Exile on Main St." in 1972. The band recorded Exile's songs while hiding out in a villa in southern France to avoid financial trouble. The album is considered by many to be the Stones' greatest.Hide Caption 8 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Elton John – John's pop triumph came from a series of hits in the early '70s, including "Tiny Dancer," "Your Song" and "Bennie and the Jets," the bar-room singalong that, somehow, no one knows the words to. He's best known for his stadium tours, playing to sold out crowds in extravagant, glittering costumes and his signature tinted sunglasses.Hide Caption 9 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Stevie Wonder – A prodigy of the '60s, Wonder became a musical powerhouse in the '70s with his boundless creativity and vibrant vision for the future of soul. His streak of genius gave us a string of masterpiece albums: "Music of my Mind," "Talking Book," "Innervisions," "Fulfillingness' First Finale" and "Songs in the Key of Life." Hide Caption 10 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'John Lennon – The '70s began with the "death" of the Beatles, enabling the rebirth of Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr as individual artists. While McCartney found pop success with his wife in their new band, Wings, Lennon took a more personal and political approach with songs like the charged "Working Class Hero," "Instant Karma" and "Imagine."Hide Caption 11 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'The Kinks – This English rock band had a string of hits in the '60s, but one of its most memorable -- and controversial -- songs, "Lola," came at the dawn of the '70s. The song's gender-bending narrative was an atypical subject for the Kinks but speaks to the fluidity of sex and gender that was becoming more common in the popular music of the decade.Hide Caption 12 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Cat Stevens – Folk singer Cat Stevens, who later changed his name to Yusef Islam, had a knack for quiet, catchy songs with messages of peace. Among his notable hits of the era: "Morning has Broken," "Wild World" and "Peace Train," an anti-war song that offered optimism instead of protest.Hide Caption 13 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Isaac Hayes – The original "Soul Man," Isaac Hayes was the embodiment of '60s and '70s R&B. Hayes was many things: record producer, singer, songwriter, actor and humanitarian, but perhaps he is best remembered for his composition of the "Theme from Shaft," which helped define the sound of '70s blaxploitation movies and earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Hide Caption 14 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Carole King – Formerly part of a 60's songwriting duo with Gerry Goffin, King stepped into the spotlight with her 1972 Grammy-winning Album of the Year, "Tapestry." King's intimate and emotive lyrics on love lost and self-love made her a beacon of feminine energy in an era dominated by male rock stars. Hide Caption 15 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Bruce Springsteen – Hits "Born to Run and "Thunder Road" breathed new life into the rock scene in the 1970s, with some critics quick to label Springsteen as the "new Dylan." His songs told stories of everyday life and youthful rebellion, imbuing them with a sense of splendor, urgency, and importance.Hide Caption 16 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Bob Dylan – Dylan's work in the '70s proved that the "voice of a generation" could evolve, even thrive, after '60s success. His most popular song of the decade, "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," is one of the most-covered Dylan songs of all time. Dylan became a born-again Christian in 1978, releasing the gospel-influenced album "Slow Train Coming" the following year. It featured "Gotta Serve Somebody," his last hit single of the decade.Hide Caption 17 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Fleetwood Mac – This British-American group's inter-relational drama became the fuel for its biggest hit record, "Rumours," which follows the emotive lifespan of a love affair with songs like "Dreams," "Go Your Own Way," "The Chain" and "Don't Stop."Hide Caption 18 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Marvin Gaye – Marvin Gaye's soulful query, "What's Going On," rings with a genuine skepticism on issues like war, poverty and racial tensions. The song was monumental for its combination of soul and protest. It has transcended its time and place to become a universal cry for answers and hope in difficult times. Rolling Stone ranked it No. 4 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Hide Caption 19 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Glen Campbell – A "good ol' boy" with top-notch musical talent, Campbell is among the most successful country-crossover acts to date. His two giant hits in the '70s were "Rhinestone Cowboy" and "Southern Nights." Hide Caption 20 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Joni Mitchell – Mitchell's acoustic-folk style took elements of the '60s hippie movement and gave them new life in the '70s by incorporating influences from pop and jazz. "A Case of You," "California," and "River" offer Mitchell's heartfelt intimations on love, loss and wanderlust.Hide Caption 21 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Neil Young – Young's solo career in the '70s presented a successful mix of acoustic and electric folk rock. His signature voice and personal lyrics give emotional weight to songs, like the existential anxiety in "Old Man" and the aimless longing in "Heart of Gold."Hide Caption 22 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Al Green – Known as the Reverend, Green is considered one of the most gifted soul singers of all time. His smooth, sultry sound filled the airwaves with hits like "Tired of Being Alone," "I'm Still In Love With You" and his signature song "Let's Stay Together."Hide Caption 23 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Sex Pistols – This British punk-rock band burst onto the scene in 1977 with declarations of "Anarchy in the U.K." and "no future in England's dreaming." Its anti-establishment antics paved the way for bands like The Clash, The Runaways and the Dead Kennedys. Hide Caption 24 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Bee Gees – These three brothers first saw success in the '60s with a sound many compared to the Beatles. With the hit "Jive Talkin'" in 1975 and significant contributions to the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack in 1977, the Bee Gees helped popularize disco, pulling the genre out of clubs like Studio 54 and into the mainstream.Hide Caption 25 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Iggy Pop – This former frontman of the Stooges is recognized as a major influence on the early punk scene. In the '70s, his collaboration with David Bowie fueled his biggest commercial success, 1977's "Lust for Life." The unforgettable opening drumbeat has infiltrated the sonic landscape through widespread reuse in commercials, film, and songs like Jet's "Are You Gonna Be My Girl."Hide Caption 26 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Queen – Queen is best known for its operatic performances and for singer Freddy Mercury's emotionality and whimsy on stage. The band pushed the limits of the rock genre with chart-toppers like "We Will Rock You," "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Somebody to Love."Hide Caption 27 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'The Carpenters – The sweet, some say saccharine sibling duo saw huge commercial success with hits that exemplified the soft sound of '70s pop music -- songs like "Top of the World," "Close to You" and "Rainy Days and Mondays."Hide Caption 28 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'ABBA – If you hear an ABBA song in the morning, chances are it'll be stuck in your head all day. This Swedish quartet was the embodiment of mainstream '70s pop with hit singles like "Honey, Honey," "Dancing Queen," and "Waterloo." The group's hyper-catchy sound catapulted it to lasting popularity, with more than 300 million records sold worldwide.Hide Caption 29 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Kiss – Kiss' iconic makeup and hyperbolic pyrotechnic performances bred a new kind of rock where theatrics were just as important -- or even more important -- than music. For fans, there was no boundary between the band and its comic-book personas: Gene Simmons as the tongue-flicking demon, Paul Stanley as the dreamy star child, Ace Frehley as the far-out spaceman and Peter Criss as the catman.Hide Caption 30 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'The Sugarhill Gang – Wonder Mike, Master Gee and Big Bank Hank were brought together to create "Rapper's Delight," the 14-minute rap odyssey recorded in just one take. This collaboration, meant to save a record studio from bankruptcy, became the song that brought hip-hop to the mainstream. Hide Caption 31 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Blondie – A mainstay of New York's vibrant punk and new-wave scenes in the mid '70s, Blondie broke out in 1978 with the reggae- and disco-infused "Heart of Glass" off its third album, "Parallel Lines." Lead singer Debbie Harry used her powerful voice, punk attitude and unapologetically glamorous personal style to create a new archetype for women in rock. Hide Caption 32 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'The Clash – The Clash was one of the few punk bands to experience mainstream, commercial success in the '70s. "London Calling," the band's third album and its first to hit big in the United States, presented songs influenced by the social, political and economic turmoil of the times.Hide Caption 33 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Diana Ross – She found fame in the '60s with the Supremes, but American soul singer Diana Ross had a string of solo pop hits in the '70s, from "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" to "Love Hangover."Hide Caption 34 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'The Grateful Dead – Founded in 1965, the Grateful Dead kept chugging through the 1970s with near-nonstop touring. The original jam band, seen here in 1970, featured (clockwise from top left): Bob Weir, Phil Lesh, Bill Kreutzmann, Ron "Pigpen" McKernan, Mickey Hart and Jerry Garcia.Hide Caption 35 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Dolly Parton – Dolly Parton, seen here in 1978, was a respected country queen before finding mainstream success in the '70s with hits like "Jolene" and "I Will Always Love You" (famously covered later by Whitney Houston).Hide Caption 36 of 37 Photos: Sounds of 'The Seventies'Pink Floyd – Progressive British rockers Pink Floyd, here on their "Animals" tour in 1978, were one of the most acclaimed and influential bands of the decade. Their classic 1973 album, "Dark Side of the Moon," lingered on the Billboard chart for more than 14 years.Hide Caption 37 of 37

London (CNN)Britain's royal family was facing a once-in-a-generation crisis on Monday after Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, rocked the institution with a litany of devastating allegations in their eagerly awaited interview with Oprah Winfrey.Over the course of the two-hour special, the couple -- who despite their royal split still sit five relatives away from the throne -- painted a picture of a family so stubbornly rooted in its ways that it left a young, bi-racial couple alone to fend off racist abuse and their own troubled mental health, forcing them into silence and ultimately leaving them with no option but to flee the palace's clutches.Meghan said she was so isolated and lonely while working as a royal that she contemplated suicide, telling Winfrey she "just didn't want to be alive anymore." The couple were intensely critical of the way the institution treated them, and Meghan revealed a staggering allegation of racism from a member of the clan that threatens to throw its reputation into crisis.Harry meanwhile admitted his relationships with his father and heir to the throne, Prince Charles, and his brother, Prince William, have come under severe strain in recent years, and suggested the institution may have planted stories in the media that cast him and Meghan in a negative light.'I just didn't want to be alive anymore'Read MoreThe palace faced storms on multiple fronts by sunrise in London on Monday.The interview had been relentlessly previewed in the media over recent days, drawing comparisons with a royal tell-all given by Harry's mother, Princess Diana, in 1995, which shed light on the breakdown of her marriage to Charles. But the revelations in Sunday's broadcast may have dwarfed even those in magnitude, as Harry and Meghan's scorched-earth confessional posed problem after problem for palace staffers and senior royals.Is Meghan and Harry's interview a bigger crisis for the monarchy than the Diana scandal?Perhaps the most pertinent was Meghan's allegation that an unnamed family member had asked about Archie's skin color and "what that would mean or look like." She said those discussions were relayed to her from Harry. Harry declined to name the family member but said he was "a bit shocked" by the conversation. Winfrey said on CBS on Monday morning that "it was not his grandmother nor his grandfather that were part of those conversations." In Britain, the shadow education secretary, Kate Green, said Buckingham Palace should launch an investigation.Palace officials are also scrambling to respond to claims from both Duke and Duchess that their pleas for help with their mental wellbeing and security were ignored by the institution.Fighting back tears at one point, Meghan said her thoughts of suicide were incredibly difficult to bear, and she was reticent to share them with her husband. "But I knew that if I didn't say it, that I would do it -- and I just didn't want to be alive anymore," she said.Harry, whose mother Diana was killed when he was a boy, said he was "terrified" by his wife's admission. The prince, who is sixth in line to the throne, said there is a culture of suffering in silence in the royal family. But Meghan's race and the abuse she endured made the situation even more difficult for the couple, and their perceived lack of support ultimately led, above all other factors, to their dramatic decision to quit as working royals in January 2020.How to get help:In the US, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide also provide contact information for crisis centers around the world.They described in emotional detail the most difficult moments -- Meghan revealing her thoughts to Harry hours before they were due to go to an event; the Prince arriving home from work each day to find his wife crying while breastfeeding their newborn -- and said a "lack of support and lack of understanding" were the reasons they chose to step away.Meghan said the situation was exacerbated by often racist and "outdated, colonial undertones" that repeatedly appeared in coverage of the couple in Britain's notoriously vitriolic tabloids. Both described a toxic blend of press intrusion, bitterness on social media and isolation from a support structure.Harry added that he pushed the issue with the royal family. He told Winfrey he believed there were many opportunities for the palace to "show some public support" in the face of continued racial abuse in the press, "yet no one from my family ever said anything. That hurts.""I regret believing them when they said I would be protected," Meghan told Winfrey.CNN has reached out to the royal family for comment. Harry reveals serious rifts in the familyIf there was even the faintest suggestion that Harry and Meghan could someday rejoin the royal family's mission, Sunday's broadcast likely extinguished it for good. The interview laid bare the depths of division between the pair and the rest of the family, a chasm that would have been unimaginable when they married in Windsor just three years ago.They told Winfrey that the family had been welcoming towards Meghan at first, and that when they married, they were committed to their roles.But things quickly changed. Harry told Winfrey his relationship with his father Charles reached the point where the heir to the throne stopped taking his calls, so angered by the pair's decision to leave as working royals in 2020. "There's a lot to work through there," Harry said. "I feel really let down, because he's been through something similar -- he knows what pain feels like."The royal split, racism and family struggles: 11 things we learned from Harry and Meghan's explosive interviewOn his brother, William -- with whom Harry grew up, and whose shared childhood was meticulously followed by the media -- the Prince implied that communication is virtually non-existent. "We're on different paths," he said, adding that "the relationship is space at the moment," and that "time heals all things -- hopefully."Perhaps the only silver lining for the family is that its leader survived the interview relatively unscathed. Harry and Meghan both spoke effusively of the Queen, describing her as caring and kind from the beginning."My grandmother and I have a really good relationship, and an understanding and I have a deep respect for her," Harry said. Meghan said she has spoken to her frequently in the past year, including on the day that Prince Philip was admitted to hospital last month.Meghan added that despite the ordeal, it was important to differentiate the royal family from "the people running the institution."She discussed rumors of a dispute with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Meghan said reports she made Kate cry over the dresses of flower girls at her wedding were untrue, and it was in fact the Duchess of Sussex who cried. But "there was no confrontation," Meghan said, describing her sister-in-law as a "good person."But the evidently strained family dynamic will overshadow the royals' upcoming engagements. No statements have yet been issued by any of their communications teams in the wake of the interview. Meghan and Harry (right) with the Queen, Prince Charles and other royals in 2019. During their Oprah interview, Harry detailed a breakdown in relationships with several of his senior relatives.Breathless reaction in BritainAs the hours ticked by and the dust from the broadcast settled on Monday, Buckingham Palace remained silent. But the British media leapt to cover the fallout, with some newspapers publishing extra early editions overnight in order to feature the interview on their front pages.As has so often been the case with the couple, coverage ranged from the measured to the hysterical. The Daily Mail ran a headline reading "Kate Made Me Cry" on its 2 a.m. edition, before leading on Meghan's accusation of racism later in the morning. The tabloid's website also included a prominent banner that read: "I WANTED TO KILL MYSELF."The Sun featured a new nickname for Meghan amid her rift with the royal family: "Megxile," and the Daily Express dismissed the broadcast as "a self-serving TV chat with Oprah."A selection of front pages in the UK on Monday.On Monday afternoon, several journalists used Boris Johnson's press conference on Covid-19 to ask for his thoughts on the Oprah interview. The Prime Minister declined to weigh in, aside from saying he'd always had "the highest admiration for the Queen and the unifying role that she plays in our country."The media's treatment of the royal couple formed a significant part of the interview, with the pair both taking aim at sections of the press. Harry said the palace is in "fear" of its media coverage, meaning they had little freedom while part of the family."To simplify it, it's a case of if you as a family member are willing to wine, dine and give full access to these reporters, then you will get better press," Harry said. "There is a level of control by fear that has existed for generations."The interview was broadcast in Britain at 9 p.m. Monday, with terrestrial broadcaster ITV winning the race to acquire rights. But its main talking points were already being dissected in detail by Brits and in the media long before its UK airing.One reason Meghan suffered racist UK coverage: The media is not diverseCharles Anson, a former press secretary to the Queen, said on Monday the couple raised "issues that need to be looked at carefully," but claimed to the BBC that there "wasn't a strand of racism" within the royal household. But Julie Montagu, Viscountess Hinchingbrooke, told the BBC that their revelations were "astounding," and that as an American woman who married into British aristocracy, she could relate to Meghan's descriptions. "You don't really know until you're in it, and I think that she made that very well known last night in her interview," she said. CNN will soon launch Royal News, a weekly newsletter 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.Correction: This story has been updated to correct the day the interview first aired in Britain. It was Monday.

(CNN)Hundreds of people protested Tuesday in the the Siberian city of Kemerovo, calling for a full investigation into a shopping mall fire that killed scores, including an entire class of schoolchildren.Russian President Vladimir Putin, who flew to the city to offer his condolences to the victims' families, declared a national day of mourning for Wednesday. Putin blamed the blaze on "criminal negligence" and promised that those responsible would be held accountable. Authorities said 64 people died, 41 of them children.The fire tore through the Winter Cherry shopping mall on Sunday, the first weekend of spring school holidays, trapping many families who had gathered at a children's play area and movie theater there. Russian investigators said the mall's fire exits were blocked and an alarm system turned off, and witnesses described panicked scenes as shoppers attempted to flee. A number of children stuck inside the mall shared goodbye messages on Russian social media platform VKontake before their accounts went silent. One fifth-grade student, Maria Moroz, posted: "We're burning. It's probably goodbye." Her entire class was among the dead, Russia's state-run Rossiya 24 reported, citing the school's principal.A video released by Putin's press office showed Putin laying roses at a makeshift memorial scattered with candles and toys, flanked by his security detail. Read MoreRussian President Vladimir Putin visits a memorial for the victims of the fire on Tuesday"What is happening here -- this was not a combat situation, not an unexpected methane outburst in a mine," he said. "People came to rest, children. We talk about demographics and lose so many people because of what? Because of criminal negligence and carelessness."The origin of the fire has yet to be determined.The Kemerovo blaze comes at a delicate domestic political moment for Putin, who sailed to a re-election victory on March 18. As the scandal about the fire tragedy unfolded, Western allies led by the EU and the US announced a coordinated expulsion of more than 100 diplomats in response to the poisoning of Russian former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain.An aerial view of the multistory shopping mall after Sunday's fire.Putin did not meet with demonstrators in Kemerovo, who had gathered in front of the local administration office to call for a full probe into the fire. Members of the distraught crowd cast doubt on the official death toll and demanded that the Forensic Examiner's Office verify the number, state news agency Tass reported.Footage from the scene showed riot police standing outside the municipal building as protesters chanted: "Resign!" and "Murderers!""A lot of children died. They died because of irresponsibility of management," one local resident, Svetlana Shestakova, said. "I am shocked that they are hiding the truth from us." Another man shouted: "What morgues are you saying you're sending the bodies to? The temperature was over 1,000° C. There are only ashes left!"In response to the allegations, Mayor Ilya Seredyuk and members of a civic action group have gone to the mortuary, according to Tass. Locals angered and distraught over the fire gather in central Kemerovo.Putin: Those responsible will be punishedAmid calls for the resignation of regional Gov. Aman Tuleyev, Putin said that "it is not right to apportion blame right away."He added that officials at every level will be closely investigated -- including those who issued a license for turning the former sweet factory into an entertainment center."Everyone will be checked one by one, from those who issued licenses to those who were supposed to ensure safety, particularly that private security company whose guard was just sitting there doing nothing and failed to push the button," Putin said. The converted Soviet-era sweet factory reopened as a 23,000-square-meter shopping mall in 2013. It has a parking lot for 250 cars, shops, a bowling center, a children's center, a movie theater and a petting zoo, according to state media. Svetlana Petrenko, spokeswoman for the Russian Investigative Committee, said in a statement that serious violations were allowed at Winter Cherry mall "both when the shopping center opened and after, during its operation." "Fire exits in the shopping center were blocked," she added.Vladimir Putin visits people injured in the fire. Putin also visited the regional hospital where those injured in the fire are being treated, speaking with one 18-year-old who jumped from the fourth floor of the building in a desperate attempt to escape the blaze.'I'm suffocating, I'm fainting' A father who lost is daughter in the fire recalled her final words during the demonstration."I told her to lie down on the floor and breathe. 'Breathe and don't die,' I told her," said the man, who was speaking with her over the phone.He said he ran to the mall to try to get her out of the building, but was blocked from entering the burning shopping center."I was crying to my daughter. She said, 'Dad, I love you. I'm suffocating, I'm fainting,'" he said.Residents rally in front of the Kemerovo municipal building on Tuesday.The Kemerovo fire is one of the deadliest blazes in Russia in recent years, according to state media. Witnesses said no fire alarms were heard. Anna Zarechneva, who was in the mall's cinema when the fire broke out, said moviegoers had little warning until the blaze was well underway. "No fire alarm to be heard. The crowd broke through one narrow door. The second exit for some reason was closed," Zarechneva wrote on Instagram."Having jumped out of the cinema, we saw dense black pungent smoke, which completely filled the children's playground and the 2nd cinema hall -- they were completely invisible. There was already no air."Preliminary investigations point to the fire having broken out outside the cinema. Five people have been detained on charges relating to the deaths and safety violations in connection with the fire, authorities said.CNN's Alla Eshchenko, James Griffiths and Hilary Clarke contributed to this story.

Story highlightsCity defeat Arsenal 3-1Aguero scores 10th career hat-trick (CNN)Arriving at Manchester on Sunday, Arsenal manager Unai Emery was eager to end his 11-game winless streak against Pep Guardiola that stretched back to their days in La Liga. Just 48 seconds after the opening whistle, it was clear Emery's first win against the Spaniard would have to wait another day. Visit cnn.com/sport for more news and videosManchester City striker Sergio Aguero continued his assault against Arsenal, scoring a hat trick to lift his career goal tally to 11 against the north London side. The opener arrived courtesy of sloppy Arsenal defending, allowing Aymeric Laporte to feed a diving Aguero within the first minute of play. Read MoreArsenal retaliated with a clever header from Laurent Koscielny off a set piece in the 11th minute -- the first time City conceded that early in a Premier League match in over a year, according to data providers Opta. Aguero came back, however, scoring an easy tip-in off an assist from Raheem Sterling just before halftime. He was lucky to be awarded a third goal in the 60th minute, as replays showed the ball deflecting off the Argentine's left arm before inching over the goal line to seal the final score at 3-1. Denis Suarez, the former Manchester City academy player on loan from Barcelona, made his Arsenal debut against his old team as a second-half substitute, but had little impact. Mesut Ozil once again did not get on the pitch for Arsenal, with the German's future at the club surely in doubt. Defending league champions City bounced back from a shocking loss at Newcastle on Tuesday. They sit just two points behind leaders Liverpool, who play Monday night at West Ham. "The important thing is that we realize what we have to do to win games," Guardiola said to Sky Sports after the match. "We are a good team when we go ... the full 90 minutes. When we are not in that rhythm and we go a bit slower, we are not a good team."Arsenal drop to sixth place, one point behind Manchester United in a tight battle for top European play next season. Rams owner, on brink of Super Bowl triumph, faces rebellion from Arsenal fansUnited on a rollEarlier on Sunday Manchester United narrowly defeated Leicester City 1-0 at King Power Stadium behind a ninth-minute goal from Marcus Rashford. The 21-year-old was making his 100th Premier League appearance for the club, and scored off an assist from Paul Pogba. "Time and time again he provides opportunities for the team, that's what we want from him. If we can get him free as much as we can, then he can make these passes all day long," Rashford said of Pogba, who appears rejuvenated since parting ways with former United manager Jose Mourinho.Manchester United's renaissance kicks off under Ole Gunnar SolskjaerMeanwhile, interim manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is making a strong case for a permanent role in charge.The ex-United striker has won nine out of 10 matches in all competitions since taking over, and righted a ship that seemed lost at sea earlier this seasonOne player who remains a conundrum for United is Alexis Sanchez, reportedly the highest-paid player in the Premier League at $21.5 million per season. The Chilean started his first league match since November, but made little impact before his substitution in the 67th minute for Anthony Martial. Sanchez has scored just two goals in all competitions this season, and appears a shadow of the player he was in his three plus seasons at Arsenal, where he scored 80 goals. Alexis Sanchez made his first Premier League start since November on Sunday. The Manchester United midfielder was substituted in the 67th minute for Anthony Martial. Saturday actionChelsea wasted no time on Saturday showing off their new signee. Gonzalo Higuain scored two goals in a 5-0 Chelsea drubbing of last-place Huddersfield. The experienced Argentine striker, arriving courtesy of a Juventus loan, was making his third outing for the club that reunited him with his former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri.Elsewhere in Europe, Barcelona came back from a surprise two goal deficit at home to Valencia to draw 2-2 behind two Lionel Messi goals. The La Liga leaders face rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg on Wednesday. Real Madrid usurps Manchester United as world's richest clubREAD: Privately funded search for missing plane of footballer Emiliano Sala beginsItalian Serie A leaders Juventus also came back to force a draw, with a 3-3 result against Parma. Cristiano Ronaldo scored two comeback goals to take his league-leading tally to 17.It was just the third time this season that unbeaten Juventus dropped points to an opponent. The Turin side are chasing an eighth-consecutive Serie A title.