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There's a shortage of truckers, but TuSimple thinks it has a solution: no driver needed - CNN
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(CNN)Right now, there's a shortage of truck drivers in the US and worldwide, exacerbated by the e-commerce boom brought on by the pandemic. One solution to the problem is autonomous trucks, and several companies are in a race to be the first to launch one. Among them is San Diego-based TuSimple.Founded in 2015, TuSimple has completed about 2 million miles of road tests with its 70 prototype trucks across the US, China and Europe. Although these are simply commercially available trucks retrofitted with its technology, TuSimple has deals in place with two of the world's largest truck manufacturers -- Navistar in the US and Traton, Volkswagen's trucking business, in Europe -- to design and build fully autonomous models, which it hopes to launch by 2024. Photos: The Yara Birkeland is what its builders call the world's first zero-emission, autonomous cargo ship. The ship is scheduled to make its first journey between two Norwegian towns before the end of the year. Click through to see more forms of transport set to transform the future.Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: Pictured here as a rendering, Oceanbird is a wind-powered transatlantic car carrier that cuts carbon emissions by 90%, compared to a standard car carrier.Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: It's not just maritime ships that are going green. Cities around the world are adopting electric ferries. Norwegian startup Zeabuz hopes its self-driving electric ferry (pictured here as a rendering) will help revive urban waterways.Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: In China, a new Maglev high-speed train rolls off the production line in Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, on July 20. It has a top speed of 600 km per hour -- currently the fastest ground vehicle available globally. Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: Reaching speeds of up to 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) per hour, Hyperloop could be a sustainable replacement to short-haul flights. Dutch company Hardt (shown here as a rendering) started work on its Hyperloop test facility in Europe, anticipated to open in 2022.Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: Hyperloop is like a bullet train, without tracks and rails. Floating pods are propelled through a low-pressure steel tube using magnetic levitation. Virgin has been running tests with passengers on its XP-2 vehicle, pictured here.Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: Low carbon travel isn't just about switching to sustainable fuel sources -- it's also about redesigning the transport itself. A "Flying-V" plane designed by Delft's University of Technology in the Netherlands and Dutch airline KLM can cut fuel consumption by 20%. Ultimately, researchers hope to switch out the kerosene with a sustainable fuel source, like liquid hydrogen.Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: Hydrogen aviation could provide a sustainable solution for short and medium-haul flights. In September, Airbus unveiled plans for three hydrogen-powered, zero-emission aircraft which can carry 100 to 200 passengers. It hopes to launch the first ZEROe aircraft in 2035.Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: In December 2019, Canadian airline Harbour Air flew the world's first all-electric, zero-emission commercial aircraft. The six-seater seaplane was retrofitted with magniX's magni500 all-electric motor. Harbour Air -- which carries half a million passengers annually -- hopes to become the world's first all-electric airline. Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: In the case of electric bikes, the future is now: one retailer reported the sale of e-bikes and e-scooters had increased 230% this year. E-bikes give the user a boost to their pedaling, allowing them to go further with less effort. E-bikes are now even available on ride-share apps, like Uber.Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: While sleeper trains or buses might be the way most of us get some shut-eye on overnight travel, this rendering of a self-driving hotel suite from Toronto-based designer Steve Lee of Aprilli Design Studio might offer a plush alternative in the future.Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: In the UAE, these futuristic-looking pods are undergoing testing on a 400-meter line in Sharjah, which borders Dubai. Belarus-based uSky Transport says its pods can help cities solve traffic problems.Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: The Coradia iLint by French rail transport company Alstom is the world's first hydrogen-powered passenger train. It began testing in Germany in 2018, and in September 2020 entered regular service in Austria.Hide Caption 13 of 13No sleepTuSimple's latest road test involved hauling fresh produce 951 miles, from Nogales, Arizona to Oklahoma City. The pickup and the dropoff were handled by a human driver, but for the bulk of the route -- from Tucson to Dallas -- the truck drove itself. Read More"Today, because the system is not fully ready, we have a safety driver and a safety engineer on board at all times when we're testing, but we drove in full autonomy: the driver wasn't touching the wheel," said Cheng Lu, TuSimple's president and CEO. The journey was completed in 14 hours versus the usual 24 with a human driver, mostly because a truck doesn't need to sleep. "In the US, a driver can only work 11 hours a day. We simply had a handoff when our first pair of drivers had to stop because they reached their 11 hours of operation," said Lu. That, of course, negates the advantage of an autonomous system, so the idea is that once TuSimple's trucks hit the market, there will be no need to have anyone onboard. Picking up the watermelons still required the human touch.Unlike self-driving cars, which are a still a way from being commercially available, TuSimple trucks won't be required to operate in bustling city traffic, but only on stretches of highway that have been thoroughly mapped via the company's own software. "We collect data from the roads, and we create this very detailed, high definition map of each route. That adds another layer of safety for the vehicles," said Lu. As a result, TuSimple's trucks will only be able to self-drive along these pre-mapped trade corridors, which Lu calls "virtual railroads," and nowhere else. This swarm of robots gets smarter the more it worksAccording to the company, in the US 80% of goods travel through just 10% of the nation's trade corridors, so even selective mapping allows for capturing a large portion of the business. TuSimple is currently mapping routes between Arizona and Texas, and plans to have mapped routes across the nation by 2024. Its plans are dependent on state legislation, however, because currently some states do not allow for testing of autonomous trucks on public roads. Happier drivers?The technology will add about $50,000 to the cost of a truck, making the final price roughly $200,000. According to Lu, that's still cheaper than paying for a human driver. "If you take $50,000 and divide it by 1 million miles, the average lifespan of a truck, that means you're adding five cents per mile. But you're saving the cost of a human driver, which based on average US wages is about $80,000 to $120,000 per year -- or 80 cents to $1.20 per mile. Today, the direct labor cost is about 50% of the cost of operating a truck," he said. Read: A robotic 'Ironhand' could protect factory workers from injuriesThat doesn't mean driverless trucks will take away jobs, according to Lu. By focusing on the "middle mile," rather than on the pickup and delivery of the goods, TuSimple believes it can create new freight capacity without creating new demand for drivers, while at the same time protecting existing jobs. "A UPS driver is dropping off 200 packages a day -- that's not what autonomy is meant for. We believe that every driver will be able to retire as a driver, even if they enter the workforce today," said Lu. TuSimple's autonomous fleet.Instead, TuSimple aims to take over the routes between terminals and distribution centers, which involve long stretches of monotonous driving. "Take Phoenix to El Paso: that's a six-hour drive. A person cannot make the round trip, because it's more than 11 hours. But the truck can go back and forth all day, the most mundane job that drivers don't want to do. That means you free up that human driver to do the first and the last mile (pickup and delivery).They get to work a full day, which is a more efficient use of their time, and they get to go home at night to their family," said Lu.No distractions Although Lu says that the reliability of both the software and the hardware still needs to be increased, TuSimple is planning its first fully autonomous tests, without a human safety driver in the cabin at all, before the end of the year. The results of such tests will indicate whether the company can meet its goal to launch its own trucks by 2024. Lu says that 7,000 have been reserved in the US alone. Photos: The robots running our warehouses Photos: The robots running our warehousesRobots are an increasingly familiar presence in warehouses. At the south-east London warehouse run by British online supermarket Ocado, 3,000 robots fulfill shopping orders. When an order is sent to the warehouse, the bots spring to life and head towards the container they require. Scroll through to see more robots that are revolutionizing warehouses.Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesIn response to the coronavirus pandemic, MIT collaborated with Ava Robotics and the Greater Boston Food Bank to design a robot that can use UV light to sanitize the floor of a 4,000-square foot warehouse in just 30 minutes. Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesSeven-foot "Model-T" robots produced by Japanese startup Telexistence have been stacking shelves in two of Tokyo's largest convenience store franchises. Featuring cameras, microphones and sensors, the Model-T uses three "fingers" to stock items such as bottled drinks, cans and rice bowls. The robot is controlled by shop staff remotely.Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesUS company Boston Dynamics has become known for its advanced work robots. "Handle" is made for the warehouse and equipped with an on-board vision system. It can lift boxes weighing over 30 pounds. Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesStretch is the latest robot from Boston Dynamics and can work in warehouses and distribution centers. Designed to keep human workers out of harm's way, Stretch's tentacle-like grippers mean it can manipulate boxes. Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesAlthough not specifically designed for warehouses, Boston Dynamics' dog-like robot "Spot" can lift objects, pick itself up after a fall, open and walk through doors, and even remind people to practice social distancing. Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesThis robot is used to plant seeds and check plants at the "Nordic Harvest" vertical farm based in Taastrup, Denmark. The indoor farm is one of the biggest in Europe.Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesRobots sort packages at a warehouse run by JD.com -- one of China's largest e-commerce firms, in Wuhan, China, ahead of the annual Singles Day online shopping bonanza, in 2019.Hide Caption 8 of 8 TuSimple has prominent competitors, such as Google spinoff Waymo and Uber-backed Aurora, but those are working on a wider range of self-driving vehicles, including passenger cars. TuSimple is working exclusively on driverless trucks, like US companies Plus and Embark. Grayson Brulte, an autonomy expert at consulting firm Brulte & Co., believes TuSimple is on the right track. "The biggest competitive advantage that TuSimple has over its competitors is that their technology was purpose-built for trucking. They're not trying to port an autonomy system built for passenger vehicles in dense urban environments to trucking or to build a virtual driver which can both drive passenger vehicles and class-8 trucks. These are different skills and different systems altogether," he said. Removing the human element on long trucking routes has other benefits. The company says its trucks react 15 times faster than human drivers, and can see farther down the road, even at night. "In the US every year there are about 5,000 fatalities involving trucks, and most are due to human error," said Lu. "The truck doesn't get tired, doesn't watch a movie or look at a phone. It doesn't get distracted."
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Bioservo's robotic 'Ironhand' could protect factory workers from injuries - CNN
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(CNN)Working in a factory or warehouse can mean doing the same task over and over, and that repetition can lead to chronic injury. Now, a battery-powered glove could help workers by taking some of the strain.The "Ironhand" glove strengthens the wearer's grip, meaning they don't have to use as much force to perform repetitive manual tasks. Its developer, Bioservo, says it can increase the wearer's hand strength by 20%. The Swedish company describes the system as a "soft exoskeleton." Exoskeletons are an external device that supports and protects the body, typically increasing strength and endurance. Most have a rigid structure, but the Ironhand is soft, like a regular glove. Photos: The robots running our warehousesRobots are an increasingly familiar presence in warehouses. At the south-east London warehouse run by British online supermarket Ocado, 3,000 robots fulfill shopping orders. When an order is sent to the warehouse, the bots spring to life and head towards the container they require. Scroll through to see more robots that are revolutionizing warehouses.Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesIn response to the coronavirus pandemic, MIT collaborated with Ava Robotics and the Greater Boston Food Bank to design a robot that can use UV light to sanitize the floor of a 4,000-square foot warehouse in just 30 minutes. Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesSeven-foot "Model-T" robots produced by Japanese startup Telexistence have been stacking shelves in two of Tokyo's largest convenience store franchises. Featuring cameras, microphones and sensors, the Model-T uses three "fingers" to stock items such as bottled drinks, cans and rice bowls. The robot is controlled by shop staff remotely.Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesUS company Boston Dynamics has become known for its advanced work robots. "Handle" is made for the warehouse and equipped with an on-board vision system. It can lift boxes weighing over 30 pounds. Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesStretch is the latest robot from Boston Dynamics and can work in warehouses and distribution centers. Designed to keep human workers out of harm's way, Stretch's tentacle-like grippers mean it can manipulate boxes. Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesAlthough not specifically designed for warehouses, Boston Dynamics' dog-like robot "Spot" can lift objects, pick itself up after a fall, open and walk through doors, and even remind people to practice social distancing. Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesThis robot is used to plant seeds and check plants at the "Nordic Harvest" vertical farm based in Taastrup, Denmark. The indoor farm is one of the biggest in Europe.Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: The robots running our warehousesRobots sort packages at a warehouse run by JD.com -- one of China's largest e-commerce firms, in Wuhan, China, ahead of the annual Singles Day online shopping bonanza, in 2019.Hide Caption 8 of 8Reducing fatigue"When you have the glove on, it provides strength and reduces the effort needed when lifting objects," says Mikael Wester, Bioservo's marketing director. "It's all in order to reduce fatigue and prevent strain injuries in the long run."The Ironhand system was developed with General Motors as a partner.Read MoreThe system consists of a backpack, which houses the power pack, and artificial tendons that connect to the glove. There are sensors on each fingertip which switch on the motor when a user grabs an object. A remote control or app can be used to adjust the strength and sensitivity of the grip.Wester says applications include assembly on the production line in the automotive industry, using tools in construction and lifting heavy objects in warehouses.Each Ironhand system costs around €6,000 ($7,275). The device also collects data that allows the company to assess the wearer's risk of developing strain injuries. According to the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, work-related neck and upper limb disorders are the most common occupational disease in Europe, costing national economies up to 2% of their gross national product.From NASA to General Motors The glove was originally intended for workers in a very different setting to the factory floor. NASA developed an early version of the technology, called "Robo-Glove," to help astronauts grasp objects and carry out work in space. The Ironhand system being used for assembling parts in the automobile industry. Bioservo licensed the design in 2016 and then partnered with auto manufacturer General Motors (GM) to develop the glove for its workers. Why online supermarket Ocado wants to take the human touch out of groceries"Ergonomics is really the field of trying to fit the jobs to the workers, instead of the workers having to conform and adapt to the job," says Stephen Krajcarski, a senior manager with GM's ergonomics team."By using tools such as the Ironhand we are really trying to mitigate any potential concerns or physical demands that may eventually cause a medical concern for that individual operator." Krajcarski says GM has helped Bioservo to test and improve the Ironhand by piloting it in a variety of jobs at its manufacturing plants. He says some workers have found it easy to use but adds that it's not suitable for all situations.The Ironhand is just one of the exoskeletons GM is looking into. According to market research firm ABI Research, the exoskeleton market will grow from $392 million in 2020 to $6.8 billion in 2030."If you look at exoskeletons, this is just one of the tools that are out there," says Krajcarski. "But this is an exciting technology."This story has been updated to correct the cost of the Ironhand system.
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White House 'appalled' at Axios over Ukraine article - CNN
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New York (CNN Business)A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter. You can sign up for free right here.The White House spent much of Friday frustrated by an Axios report that it believes was based on a fabricated letter purportedly written by Ukraine's top national security official. The Axios story, written by reporter Zachary Basu, said that Oleksiy Danilov had asked the US earlier this month "to go beyond traditional military aid and provide the country with the funding, training and weaponry to support a long-term resistance movement." But Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova later told Axios that she believed the letter was "falsified." And officials at the National Security Council also told Axios they have no record of receiving such a letter from Danilov.Here's what I have gathered after talking to a senior administration official familiar with the matter: White House and CIA officials told Axios off the record on Thursday that they had no record of receiving Danilov's supposed letter and that they could not confirm its authenticity. In other words, they tried to wave Basu away from it. When Basu published his report anyway, the White House connected the outlet with Markarova so that she could relay that she believed it to be inauthentic. Markarova did so on Friday. Meanwhile, the White House repeatedly asked Axios to retract its story — all to no avail. "We were appalled that Axios apparently did not have time to verify with Ukrainian officials whether or not this letter was a fake, but made sure to reach out to a former Trump official with no knowledge of the situation for a 'gotcha' quote," the senior admin official told me. "And then we were even more appalled it stayed up all day despite our repeated asks to take the story down when became obvious the letter was a fake — which Axios should have dug up before publishing in the first place."Read MoreShortly after I contacted Axios for comment Friday evening, the outlet updated its story. Axios changed the headline — which initially read "Scoop: Ukraine sought long-term resistance funding" — to "Ukraine's ambassador disputes letter asking U.S. for resistance support." The new story, which included Markarova saying the document appeared "falsified," cited a "former senior Ukrainian official close to Danilov" who told Axios "that they had received the letter from Danilov's office, and that it was also distributed to Ukrainian American groups and think tank experts in Washington." But crucially, the source also told Axios that he or she could not confirm the letter was officially transmitted to the US government — essentially the crux of the initial story.Notably, at that point, the article didn't include a correction or retraction, despite it seemingly having no real legs to stand on. Later in the evening, a proper correction was ultimately appended to the top of the story. It read, in part, "This corrects an original version of this story that stated the Ukrainian government 'asked' for additional assistance from the U.S. government, when Axios was unable to confirm the letter was actually sent." Still, given that Axios is now conceding it was "unable to confirm" the main point of its initial story, it is surprising that a more forceful correction or full retraction wasn't issued.NSC spokesperson Emily Horne went on the record about the whole episode. In a statement to me, she said, "We told Axios that we had not received this letter and were unable to verify its authenticity. There's a lot of disinformation and misinformation being pushed around about Ukraine right now. This is a moment where taking the extra time to verify reporting is even more essential than usual."
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How PepsiCo is rethinking the office: More remote work. No assigned desks - CNN
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When it comes to the future of work, PepsiCo is re-imagining the role of the office and giving employees more flexibility to choose where they work. More from Success Hybrid working is going to be tricky. Here's how to do it rightCorporate America promised to get more diverse. But it's still mostly White women making gainsThese return-to-work programs could help moms reenter the workforceIt's all part of PepsiCo' (PEP)s new "Work that Works" plan. The office will no longer be the primary location for where work gets done, and corporate employees around the globe will decide with their managers which days they'll be in the office and when they'll be remote."There are no limitations. There is no number of days you need to be in the office or a number of days you can be remote," said Sergio Ezama, PepsiCo's chief talent officer and chief human resources officer, Global Functions and Groups, in an interview with CNN Business. Out of the company's roughly 290,000 employees, about 80,000 work in corporate offices, with the remaining working in non-corporate environments, including plants, warehouses and sales centers.Here's what Ezama had to say about the future of work and finding employees in this labor market. Read More(This interview has been edited for length and clarity) What was PepsiCo's remote work policy before the pandemic? Prior to the pandemic we had a policy by week -- people could ask to work remote up to two days upon manager approval. So if I were to work from home for two days next week, I would send an email to my boss asking for permission and my boss would say 'yes' or 'no.' Depending on the location I would say that part of the policy, the flex policy, was more used in big headquarter locations. The first key idea is there is no default workplace. This idea of the physical office as the default environment doesn't exist any more"Sergio Ezama, PepsiCo's Chief Talent Officer Pre-pandemic, normally we had a peak around 65% of the assigned headcount on any given day: people traveling, on vacation or working remote wasn't really quite a significant part of what we were seeing day in and day out. Still, the policy I would say was a very traditional policy with the day limitation and manager approval being required. We had people who asked for a more structured arrangement -- 'can I work this particular day always from home?' -- that also required human resources approval.Sergio Ezama, Chief Talent Officer PepsiCo and chief human resources officer, Global Functions and Groups at PepsiCo.What is the company's plan now for how its corporate employees will work? When we started to ask our employees about 'how are you thinking about coming back?'... contrary to much of the news you read, people were not asking us for remote. Our people were asking us for choice. They were like: 'Give me the opportunity to decide where and how I do my work.'Let me give you the key ideas of "Work that Works." The first key idea is there is no default workplace. This idea of the physical office as the default environment doesn't exist any more. The second one is it is up to managers and associates to decide where something is going to happen, where work is going to be done best. There are no limitations. There is no number of days that you need to be in the office or a number of days you can be remote. Hybrid working is going to be tricky. Here's how to do it rightThird key idea: While we will spend less time in the office, the time in the office we believe will be more important. And we think the office is going to play critical roles for PepsiCo. One is to create and collaborate...research proves that these things are better done in the same physical environment. Anything that is connected to innovation, cracking difficult problems, all that we believe will be nicely done via the office. The second one is the connection. PepsiCo is a very social place, the one thing that people were telling us is: 'What I really miss and want to find in the office is a social connection, being with the people I love working with.'The third one is...the idea to celebrate...we work very hard on our culture, the PepsiCo Way, so celebrating the culture that we have and the brands we carry we also believe will be nicely done through the office experience. We believe the office will become that destination where we fulfill those four roles: create, collaborate, celebrate and connect. How will the physical office spaces change? We believe the office as a physical location is going to evolve quite a lot. So if you think about having assigned seating, having closed offices, we believe that is a thing of the past. And we already, before the pandemic, started the journey to transform our offices to unassigned locations, opening up the space, collaboration space, we are going to see more of that we believe. If I think of our headquarters in Purchase [New York], we transformed two of our biggest floors...My floor is one of those where I won't have an office. I won't even have an assigned desk. Every day, I will pick a space and do my job and then maybe change to a different location within the same floor if I need to collaborate with some folks that might be close or work in collaboration spaces. So very, very different layout from the traditional setting. When I return to the office on July 6, I am going to take my phone [and] I am going to go into the app to book a space in the office. I can access the floor map for HR and then pick where I am going to sit. When I get to the office, I get an E-ZPass type of entrance into the property, I can order my coffee or my lunch menu also out of an app. Do you anticipate not needing such a large corporate office footprint?Here's what Salesforce has learned as it reopens officesNo, we don't. We did spend quite a bit of time trying to understand what it is going to be. We did a couple analyses in the US, Europe and in Asia. We found this beautiful convergence around people and leadership believing that the average time in the office per week will be around 2.5 days. We don't believe that, in opening up this policy, that people will never go back to the office, nor do we believe managers are going to be irrational, asking folks to spend too much time in the office if there is no need. What have you learned from the countries that have reopened and have employees coming back? In China, the country where we have the largest workforce that has been open for longer, when we implemented "Work that Works" the local intelligence was one of: 'Oh you are going to see... people still, by and large, are going to be willing to come back to the office.' 'It's a more traditional culture' and all that. I was looking at the data last month, they are already in a sweet spot of 50% in the office and 50% remote, so it seems our assumption is working well -- again, with the caveat that it is only one country. Let's talk about the labor market. Are you having a hard time finding workers right now?I think throughout the pandemic, people found comfort in companies with financial stability, good performance, well-known brands.In a period where security and safety are valued, people look at companies like PepsicCo -- big scale, financially robust brands I recognize -- as more attractive destinations. So we were able to attract people that probably a year before we couldn't find. In terms of our own people, our voluntary attrition [in the first quarter] was extremely low. The one thing that is giving me a bit of pause, to be very frank, is that people have had a lot of time to reflect and look at life and work with a bit more perspective or a very different perspective. And sometimes what we are seeing when people are leaving companies, it is because they are making very different choices. It's not incremental changes to their lives. These are radical changes like, 'I am going to move close to my parents because that has become super important to me' or people who have said, 'listen, you only live once. I am going to make a drastic change in my career.' We are seeing some of those things.So what we are trying to do with our management is just to make sure we understand where people are in those reflections, especially those we care the most about.
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Are you really cut out to be a manager? - CNN
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Since you're so great at your job, your boss now wants to promote you to manager of a small team.It's certainly flattering -- and who isn't attracted to a higher paycheck?But don't accept the offer before considering how it would change your daily experience and whether you would truly enjoy the responsibilities and opportunities that come with the new role.Would I rather do work myself or be responsible for others' work?Don't think hard about this. Give the first response that comes to mind.Read More"This is the simple question that really sorts the world into two kinds of people," said Marcus Buckingham, head of people and performance research at the ADP Research Institute and coauthor of "Nine Lies About Work."If you really enjoy managing, you have an innate love of investing in others." Jim Harter, chief workplace scientist at GallupYou can always develop management skills. (And employers should provide practical training for new managers.) But if your innate preference is to do your own projects with all the expertise building and solo time that entails, you'll risk being unhappy in a management role.In evaluating managers based on their team's feedback and their own self-assessments, Leigh Steere, cofounder of research group Managing People Better LLC, has seen some people who should not be in the role because they're happier working on their own."Deep down [managing] is not where their passion is," Steere said. "They're ignoring their people ... to do their own projects."Do I get real satisfaction helping others succeed?Have you ever thought you'd make a good coach and talent agent?You'll wear several hats as a manager. But coaching and championing your team members will do more to boost their engagement and loyalty than anything else.That means helping them develop skills, giving them growth opportunities and having their backs when talking with your higher-ups.To climb the career ladder, you shouldn't have to be a manager "If you really enjoy managing, you have an innate love of investing in others," said Jim Harter, chief workplace scientist at Gallup. "You can build long-term relationships and a [professional] reputation off of that."And much like a team coach, the best managers figure out how to motivate each employee and keep them engaged with a compelling mission and vision, according to Gallup's research.Can I handle different personalities and work styles?If you have a seven-member team, that means you'll be managing seven distinct personalities, each with their own work styles and quirks. You'll need to figure out what they are and accommodate them if you want to get the best work from everyone."Everyone comes with their own stuff. Two people can come to the same answer by different paths. You have to respect that. If you're a good manager, you look forward to that. You get the whole person," Harter said.How do I respond to pressure and disappointment?Managers are under pressure to deliver excellence from their teams and to do so on deadline. The No. 1 task that managers shy away from is confronting poor performance." Leigh Steere, cofounder, Managing People Better LLCSo Steere suggests considering how you're most likely to respond when you're under the gun and someone on your team messes up.Will you lose your temper and shame that person? Or are you likely to keep your cool, realize it's not the end of the world and figure out a workaround? A good manager chooses the latter most often.Am I willing to be seen as the bad guy?All managers should be trained in how to offer feedback effectively. It's not an innate skill, Steere said.But you do need to bring courage to the table. "The No. 1 task that managers shy away from is confronting poor performance," she said. "They may be conflict avoidant. Some say 'I'm not comfortable judging others.' Or they want to be viewed as a nice manager. [But] it is not nice to withhold feedback from somebody that they need to learn and grow."Can I listen to my gut?You'll be faced with more decisions and more pressure to get things done as a manager. And it is helpful to be decisive.But you also need to be self-aware enough to realize when you're not ready to make a decision, said Janice Marturano, founder and executive director of the nonprofit Institute for Mindful Leadership and a former vice president at General Mills. And that means having to live with the ambiguity of not knowing what to do until you can make a call that feels right. Who has inspired me the most and why?Marturano always asks those in her workshops around the world to describe who in their own lives has been the most inspiring and influential. More from Success More CEOs under pressure to do better by the world. But it's complicated.These apps are changing the way we talk about moneyThe electric pickup wars are about to beginThe most frequent responses describe someone who is kind, compassionate, respectful and humble. They have a sense of humor. They know how to communicate well. They're present. And they're visionary. "Leadership is about influence," Marturano said, regardless of your title or position in an org chart.And the higher you go, the more potential influence you can have. That's the opportunity that comes with your promotion.Used well, your influence will get people to go the extra mile for you. And as a manager, that's invaluable.
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Here's what Salesforce has learned as it reopens offices - CNN
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As companies prepare to reopen and welcome employees back to the office, a big question remains: Are workers ready to come back?Salesforce, a global enterprise software company with more than 56,000 employees, is already getting a glimpse of what the future of work might look like. The company has reopened 22 offices around the world, including spaces in Sydney, Hong Kong, South Korea and Israel. This month, it plans to reopen its headquarters in San Francisco, along with two other California offices.The company is taking a gradual approach to reopening, and carefully monitoring how its employees want to work and how they're feeling about it. It's also giving workers a choice of where they work: fully remote, office-based, or "flex" -- where they'll be in the office one to three days a week for more team and customer-based work. "We've learned right away that our employees want a flexible environment," said Brent Hyder, president and chief people officer. The company increased the frequency of its employee surveys when the pandemic hit. At one point, there were daily well-being pulse surveys. Employees who have returned to the offices are surveyed weekly.Read More"Our employee behavior continues to change," said Hyder. "You gotta listen deeply." Here's what the company has learned so far: The speed of return Salesforce first started to reopen its offices in South Korea, Hong Kong, and China last year, but at first, employees were reluctant to return."They weren't ready. They would come in one day a week or not at all," said Hyder.But as more time has passed, workers are becoming more comfortable with being in the office.In Israel, where offices opened in April, employees are coming into the office at a much higher rate so far than any of the company's other reopened offices, according to Hyder, but it is still at less than 50% capacity."We do think that Israel might be the trend in highly vaccinated markets," Hyder said. Salesforce employees in Sydney work in a conference room with new safety protocols.Offices are opening in a phased approached, and so far, employees are coming into the office for collaborative work and doing their individual work when they are remote.In its Sydney office, which opened in August, around 24% of individual workspaces are booked on an average day, compared to more than 60% of the collaboration spaces, according to Hyder. And workers are coming into the office later in the week, with Thursday being the most popular day. Before the pandemic, Renata Bertram, vice president of marketing, went into the Sydney office five days a week via public transportation. "I started the process kicking and screaming working from home," she said. But when the announcement came about the office reopening, she realized she had grown accustomed to the lifestyle that remote working allowed. "I thought: ''That's great, but at the same time, are you kidding me? I am not going to be able to do my morning walks every day.'"Some workers can't wait to get back to the office She eased in by going back into the office one day a week. "I had to build back that muscle," she said. But she wasn't comfortable taking the bus to get there and instead drove. She's since settled into working in the office three days a week, and started commuting by bus again. She recalled the office feeling a bit flat when she first returned, but noticed a change in the past few months. "It's been really fantastic ... there is an energy and vibe. People are genuinely enjoying being in each others' company," she said. Meet the new office Salesforce's employees aren't walking back into the same spaces they left more than a year ago. Before going into the office, employees complete a wellness check and schedule time to come into the office through the company's online platform Work.com. The tool helps the company learn more about how employees are now using spaces."As we learn more and more about our offices and listen to our employees to see how they are using it we will continue to change our office design to accommodate that." Along with Covid-protocols in offices -- like cleaning stations, temperature checks, social distancing signage and touch-free sensors and handles -- there's also a lot more collaborative space. An employee gets a temperature screening in Seoul, South Korea.The company is now using "neighborhood seating," an unassigned seating approach, and has reduced the number of individual desks. "I no longer have a desk," said Hyder. "A majority of our space will be committed to collaboration areas, breakout areas, customer areas, and we're creating those open spaces so that teams can meet." The company has seen a big shift in sentiment among its workforce when it comes to returning to the office. In June, an internal survey showed just one-third of employees said they'd be willing to go back to the office, according to Hyder. Now, that number is more than 70%. 'I don't have to choose between lifestyle and career.' How remote work changed these people's livesWhen deciding to re-open the doors to an office, the company takes many local factors into account, including a Covid risk rating and government and medical guidance. "I've spent more time with our medical doctor advisers than I ever thought I would. I used to be a people guy and now I am the safety guy at the same time," said Hyder. "We try to focus on the science...but it changes and so we've had to change our model as the science changes."What the future looks like Managing a hybrid workforce can be challenging, especially when it comes to maintaining a common company culture. "We've always created a very physical manifestation of our culture," said Hyder. He added that it's important for workers to feel the culture while working at home as well.When employees first started working from home at the start of the pandemic, survey responses showed there were worries, but also a sense of resilience. But that resilience started to fade over the next few months. "Starting in May, things started to not feel so good," Hyder said. "June and July were not good months -- they were challenging months for our employees. And what we saw was that our stress levels were high, our resilience had gone down. It started with parents with small children who weren't in school, didn't have day care, two jobs..." In Sydney, Australia, there's more colloberative seating. Bertram, who has three teenagers, said she felt bombarded by competing demands when she first started working from home. "Some of it was self-imposed... I went out of my way to make sure that I was somehow communicating with my team and peers...we were so available with so many different channels that we were being communicated with whether it was by email, a Zoom or Google Hangouts, text, WhatsApp, phone calls. It was almost sensory overload...but at the same time, I had this immense feeling of loneliness."In response to employee feedback, the company's leadership expanded its benefits to help -- particularly among working parents. It extended its family care leave to allow for six weeks of paid leave and boosted its back-up child care reimbursement to up to $100 per day for five days a month through December 2021."We spent hours talking about what we are going to do and how we are going to give the relief. We saw them working more hours and really struggling," said Hyder. "By August, we started to see a dramatic improvement in resilience and stress levels."But the company's plans are still a work in progress."This is a mindset shift. Just as we flexed when we moved our offices to our homes, we now need to flex forward to a new, better way of working," Hyder said. "We have an opportunity to create the workplace of the future. One where we can find more balance between work and home."
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To prevent burnout, LinkedIn is giving its entire company the week off - CNN
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LinkedIn employees worldwide are getting a paid week off starting April 5.The entire company is getting the time off as an opportunity to unplug, recharge and avoid burnout. "We wanted to make sure we could give them something really valuable, and what we think is most valuable right now is time for all of us to collectively walk away," said Teuila Hanson, LinkedIn's chief people officer, who joined the company in June. Since everyone is off at the same time, that means workers aren't inundated by emails, meeting notes and project requests piling up in their absence. "You want the goodness of your vacation to last a little bit when you come back," Hanson said.Read MoreThe week off extends to the majority of the company's 15,900 full-time employees. A core team of employees will continue to work for the week, but they will be able to schedule time off later. The company started to operate remotely more than a year ago as the pandemic unfolded and has been surveying its workers regularly. Last summer, the surveys revealed a shift in employee sentiment."I think the reality of the weight of the pandemic really took its toll during those months. That was a heavy time. That is when we were seeing: 'wow there is clear burnout.'" In response, the company created an initiative called LiftUp!, which includes burnout training for managers, no-meeting days and mental health resources.CNN Business recently spoke with Hanson about how LinkedIn is fighting burnout and what its workforce might look like in a post-pandemic world. Here's what she had to say. (This interview has been edited for clarity and length):Have you seen signs of burnout among LinkedIn workers?LinkedIn surveys employees quite often. We have a quarterly survey cadence and then we added additional surveys last year, just to make sure that we were really keeping a pulse on how employees were doing. They added a simple open-ended question of just: How are you? That is when we started to see the emerging of themes in and around burnout, lack of self care, struggle with family, people feeling lonely or isolated, so that was really good to just be able to read through the verbatim comments and to really get some of that texture around how people are feeling, how they are doing, what they are missing, what they may be grieving.Teuila Hanson joined LinkedIn in June as its chief people officer.We would see in the comments that people missed a commute because they had the opportunity to sort of ramp up, listen to a podcast, listen to the news. They missed at the end of the day the ability to ramp down. And now that we have a good understanding of how our employees are feeling, how do we start to package some programs, communication, starting with our leadership team, our managers, so that we can begin to address these things. Also, personally I put myself in that category. Starting a new job I was trying to fit everything I possibly could in my day, and then realized that I barely left the room that I was in. And I felt guilty because I have two sons... and I was missing out not being able to take the dog for a walk or be able to hang out with the kids. A lot of the comments that came through in our surveys, they definitely resonate with me as a parent [and] as somebody else who is missing the life that I had prior to the pandemic.When did you start to notice a shift in employees' responses?As we are measuring this quarter by quarter, definitely July, August, that was when the reality was setting in that this wasn't just a three-month thing. I think initially back in March folks just thought maybe by the summer this would pass, things might loosen up, and I think the reality of the weight of the pandemic really took its toll during those months. That was a heavy time. That is when we were seeing: 'wow there is clear burnout.' Free Pelotons and iPads: How Wall Street is fighting Covid burnoutThe recent survey that we had, things are better, we had a [company-wide] shutdown at the end of the year the last week of December so we saw better results and better comments that people felt refreshed, they felt energized, and I think now that we have a vaccine and, at least in the United States and some other geographies, it looks like there is a path out of this, we are definitely hearing more positive sentiments from our employees. But it's up and down.What did you do in response to the worsening survey data? We looked at our survey results... the executive team put our heads together to figure out how could we systematically address these themes we are seeing with our employees. We worked with our benefits and employee experience team and came up with this program called LiftUp! It's a specific program to the pandemic and it really addressed those things that we heard through employee surveys. It was really intended to figure out, what can we specifically do from a program perspective -- benefits, perks to address burnout, work family balance, people feeling alone and isolated -- how could we bring some surprise and delight, how can we bring some levity to our employees? We launched a series of workshops,"no-meeting days," specific programs for managers -- one program called compassionate accountability. Another course for managers: Keep calm and lead on. Another course around practical prioritization. ...what is really nice after a shutdown, you come back and you don't have a barrage of emails or meeting notes that you feel like you have catch up on..."Teuila Hanson, LinkedIn's chief people officerWe also offered workshops to our employees, one workshop is called the "necessity of no," so really empowering our employees in how to say no to their manager, how to make sure that their managers understand that they have a capacity and when their cups are filled or they're getting close to filled, how can employees have those types of conversations. The no-meeting days are huge, very beloved. People felt like "Wow, there is power to being able to just lock in and not run from Zoom meeting to Zoom meeting."Why give all employees a week off?We thought that it would be a good thing for our entire organization to have another global paid week off. We have a global annual shutdown every December, many of our competitors also have a global shutdown at the end of the year.We heard after our December shutdown that people felt energized, they felt like they were able to get outside, and felt able to do things like read books, watch webinars and watch movies. We thought, does it make sense for us to provide another paid week off, not only to address burnout and self care, but also show our gratitude to our employees? Because they are working hard, they are showing up and they are doing extraordinary work for us at LinkedIn. We wanted to make sure we could give them something really valuable, and what we think is most valuable right now is time for all of us to collectively walk away. And what is really nice after a shutdown, you come back and you don't have a barrage of emails or meeting notes that you feel like you have catch up on or you feel like you have to peek at your email.You want the goodness of your vacation to last a little bit when you come back.How will LinkedIn's workforce function in a post pandemic word? 'I don't have to choose between lifestyle and career.' How remote work changed these people's livesWe have definitely made decisions around "hybrid flexible." This has been a good learning experience of challenging long-held assumptions around how work can be done and where work can be done. So we've made a commitment that we are going to really lean into the concept of being a hybrid flexible work environment. And for us that means all employees have the ability to work flexibility up to 50% of the time. We're really looking at it from a role by role perspective -- what does it mean for an employee to do their best work? That is going to give us a general idea of what this is going to look like in the future.
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Sanction shockwaves: Russian oligarchs and elites scramble to move, sell assets to get ahead of international penalties - CNNPolitics
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Washington (CNN)Two hours after emailing a real estate newsletter of luxury homes to thousands of ultra-wealthy clients Friday morning, Shawn Elliott, president of the ultra luxury division at Nest Seekers International, said he received three inquiries. They were not from potential buyers, but sellers.The calls came from New York and Miami, two hot spots popular with wealthy Russians, a possible sign of what may become the rapid sale of luxury homes, beachfront properties and apartments in the cities' skylines as Russians scramble to get ahead of international sanctions."People like that have their handlers call," Elliott said of the Russian owners. They asked, "'If I was to sell, how fast could you sell this and how fast could you sell that?'""It's interesting how the feelers are going out," he noted. "Maybe that's the beginning of the scramble."The impact of coordinated sanctions from the US, United Kingdom and European Union has sent shockwaves through the Russian elite as oligarchs, some targeted and others taking steps in anticipation of what could come, look to move yachts, shed assets and adapt to a wave of sanctions that have come swifter than usual, and are more expansive than before. Read MoreRussian billionaire Roman Abramovich, who has not been sanctioned, announced Wednesday that he will sell the Chelsea Football Club as it is "in the best interest of the Club, the fans, the employees, as well as the Club's sponsors and partners." He said net proceeds from the sale would go to a foundation established to help "victims of the war in Ukraine."Roman Abramovich, Russian owner of Chelsea FC, to sell club after Ukraine invasionRussian billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Oleg Deripaska have broken ranks with the Kremlin and called for an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. The EU announced sanctions against Fridman this past week and Deripaska has been on the US sanction list since 2018."This is a very worrying moment if you're a Russian billionaire," said former State Department official Max Bergmann. "Lawyers are busy right now, trying to figure out how to expunge oligarchs from various company boards and how to divest assets in the United States." "We're getting a new inquiry every hour," said Erich Ferrari, a lawyer who represents foreign companies and individuals in navigating sanctions. "The phone has been ringing off the hook with people all around the world who have been sanctioned or their parent company has been sanctioned."Financial institutions in jurisdictions where there are no sanctions, such as United Arab Emirates, are following the lead of the US and European Union and freezing accounts held by Russians, Ferrari said. Some Caribbean countries -- where Russian-controlled entities have domiciled offshore businesses for secrecy -- will no longer serve as corporate secretaries for such entities, leaving many of them unable to operate, Ferrari added."I don't recall a program" of international sanctions, Ferrari said, that "has sent everybody scrambling."The scramble comes as the White House announced full blocking sanctions Thursday on eight Russian elites, plus their family members and associates. They will all be blocked off from the US financial system, meaning their assets in the United States will be frozen and their property will be blocked from use. "This caused a sudden panic," Bergmann noted, "because the old guard class, I think, interestingly enough, didn't know that this [invasion] was coming, and I think they were surprised that (Russian President) Vladimir Putin ultimately decided to invade."Bergmann explained that an oligarch can ultimately sue to try to stop the sanctions, but in the short term, these Russian billionaires are selling off and shipping out."What you're seeing already are oligarchs freaking out about this and moving their yachts to places where they can't be extradited," Bergmann said. "We've seen yachts start to sail for Montenegro, where there's no extradition treaty."The Amore Vero yacht at a shipyard in La Ciotat, in southern France, on March 3, 2022.On Wednesday, French officials seized a yacht that they said was linked to Igor Sechin, a sanctioned Russian oil executive and close associate of Putin, as it was preparing to flee a port. But the company that manages the ship denied Sechin was the owner.In New York, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine is calling for more sanctions on Russians and the seizure of their properties, tweeting Thursday, "We're still waiting for the U.S. gov't to place the broad circle of oligarchs connected to Putin on the sanctions list. This is the prerequisite to seizing the ultra luxury homes many hold in Manhattan. We need action on this NOW."The Biden administration isn't just levying sanctions. On Wednesday, the Justice Department unveiled a new task force: KleptoCapture. The task force will team up prosecutors with experts in sanctions, money laundering and national security to investigate possible criminal activity from the ultra-rich Russians who the U.S. government believes are propping up Putin."We will leave no stone unturned in our efforts to investigate, arrest and prosecute those whose criminal acts enable the Russian government to continue this unjust war," Attorney General Merrick Garland said when announcing the new task force.Experts watching the effort unfold across multiple government agencies -- the Treasury and Justice departments at the forefront -- believe the amount of coordination is unprecedented and signals a determination to go after these oligarchs and any illegal activities with renewed force.Inside the months of work that allowed the US and its allies to turn Russia into a financial pariah overnight"It can take quite a bit of prosecutorial and regulatory heft to enforce sanctions on extraordinarily wealthy individuals who have a lot of resources," said Edward Fishman, a former State Department Russia sanctions lead. "By putting together this high-level task force that clearly has oversight by some of the most senior officials in the Biden administration, I think it signals they are going to enforce these sanctions quite aggressively."Many oligarchs use shell companies that shield their ownership, leaving authorities to untangle a layer of companies before discovering the true owner. "Part of the reason why we haven't seen a lot of legal action is because these oligarchs are extremely rich and even though many are committing white-collar crime, they hire really high-priced lawyers to do things correctly," said Bergmann, the former State Department official. "What oligarchs have done is just make it not worth law enforcement's time to pursue them," Bergmann said. "And what Biden has said is no, no, no, we're going to make time and we're going to devote the assets, and we're going to devote the people to really start opening up the books, knocking on doors, and seeing what we find."This crackdown could ultimately cause upheaval within Russia, experts warn. "One problem for Putin is that he has a very angry class of people who are very rich and powerful that are all returning to Moscow and St. Petersburg, and they don't want to be there," Bergmann said. One possible area of vulnerability for Russians in the US is the millions of dollars Russian oligarchs have poured into property in New York, Miami, and elsewhere.Elliott, of Nest Seekers International, said wealthy Russians are savvy and he predicted, "There's going to be liquidation from these guys because they're smart. They'll put it at least 20% below market price because at the end of the day 80% of something is better than ... nothing."Time is of the essence for some Russians who are not currently sanctioned but may be worried that they're next. "As of today, there's nothing illegal about liquidating your assets," Elliott said.
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Russia bombs residential area of Kharkiv and intensifies Kyiv assault as talks with Ukraine end - CNN
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Kyiv, Ukraine (CNN)Russian forces bombarded a residential area in Ukraine's second-largest city with rockets on Monday, killing at least nine people, and several large detonations were heard in the center of the capital Kyiv, as talks between delegates on both sides in Belarus came to a close.The attack and explosions were launched as Russia becomes increasingly isolated from the rest of the world, particularly Western nations, which have been imposing a rash of sanctions on the country since it launched its invasion of Ukraine last week. The bombardment in the city of Kharkiv on Monday killed nine civilians, including three children, and wounded 37 others, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. CNN is reaching out to Russian authorities for comment on the attack. According to social media videos geolocated by CNN, multiple rockets were seen exploding closely together in a residential part of the Saltivka neighborhood, near a supermarket in the northeast of the city, which the Russian military has frequently targeted.
Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova described the situation in Kharkiv as "hellish" and shared a video on Facebook of a missile that hit a kitchen window and tore off the leg of a woman, who she said later died in hospital. Read MoreAs talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials ended early Monday evening, CNN reporters in Kyiv heard several large detonations, followed by sirens going off across the city.Both sides discussed a potential "ceasefire and the end of combat actions on the territory of Ukraine," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhaylo Podolyak told reporters. Without going into detail, Podolyak said that both sides would return to their capitals for consultations over whether to implement a number of "decisions." "The parties discussed holding another round of negotiations where these decisions can develop," he said.Ukraine had earlier demanded an "immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops," President Volodymyr Zelensky's office said earlier Monday.Zelensky earlier downplayed the significance of the talks, which he is not attending in person. "I do not really believe in the result of this meeting, but let them try, so that no citizen of Ukraine would have any doubt that I, as president, did not try to stop the war when there was even a small chance," he said Sunday. Russians face determined resistanceWhile Ukrainians have attached little hope in the talks yielding a pathway to peace, the opportunities to deescalate the conflict appear to be quickly shrinking.Live updates on Russia's invasion of UkraineFighting has intensified in Ukraine in the past day in a number of strategic cities. A senior US defense official told reporters on Monday that taking Kharkiv "remains an objective" for the Russians, and "they continue to try to advance on" the southern Ukrainian city of Mariupol. But the Russians have not taken either city yet, the official said.The official explained that if Russia captures both cities "you can see that would allow them to section off the eastern part of Ukraine," the official said.On Monday, CNN reporters witnessed at least three "Uragan" multiple rocket launchers in the Russian side of the border south of Belgorod heading towards the Kharkiv front line. They saw three launchers and a loading vehicle with missiles on it. Russia's larger and far better-equipped military has, however, faced determined resistance across the country, as ordinary Ukrainians and reservists join efforts to defend their families and homes, frustrating Moscow's attempts to swiftly take control of key cities. Western allies have been increasing its assistance to Ukraine through funds and weapons to aid its defense.Delegates from Russia and Ukraine take part in talks on Monday. Ukraine said its air force shot down a cruise missile launched at the city from Belarus Sunday, and claimed a successful drone attack against a Russian BUK surface-to-air missile system near the capital. But Western military assessments caution that Ukrainian forces cannot holdout indefinitely. On Monday, it appeared the the bulk of Russian ground forces were more than 30 kilometers (about 19 miles) north of Kyiv, according to an intelligence update by the the UK's Ministry of Defense. The advance of those troops was slowed by stiff Ukrainian resistance at the nearby Hostomel airfield, "a key Russian objective for day one of the conflict," the ministry said.The Russian military announced what it described as an "open and safe" corridor for civilians to leave the capital on Monday, while repeating a baseless claim that the Ukrainian government was using residents as a "human shield."And while Ukrainian troops appear to be holding ground in the country's north, Russian forces have made some advances to the south. On Sunday Russian troops took control of Berdyansk -- a port city of 100,000 people on Ukraine's southern coast, and the site of a small naval base. Analysis: Is the Ukraine-Russia meeting a path forward or political sideshow?The ongoing Russian assault has inflicted widespread suffering and casualties on the Ukrainian population. More than half a million refugees have fled Ukraine to neigboring countries, according to the UN's refugee agency. The number of known civilians killed in Ukraine stands at 352, with 14 of those children, Ukraine's Ministry of Interior said Sunday.Ukraine's General Staff of the Armed Forces accused Russia of hitting civilian areas. "In violation of the norms of international humanitarian law, the occupiers have insidiously inflicted missile strikes on residential buildings in Zhytomir and Chernyhiv," a statement said on Monday.CNN is unable to independently verify these claims.Concerns over nuclear confrontationPressure is intensifying on the Kremlin as Western allies of Ukraine try to prop up the country with weapons and as Russia faces financial turmoil, with the ruble in free fall. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday raised the stakes by ordering his country's nuclear forces to be placed on high alert.Later on Sunday, Belarus renounced its non-nuclear status in a referendum, after the former Soviet nation became a launch pad for Russia's invasion in Ukraine last week. The vote in favor of a new constitution could theoretically allow Russia to place nuclear weapons back in Belarus for the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union, when Belarus gave up its stockpile and became a nuclear free zone. New satellite images show a more than three-mile-long Russian military convoy on a roadway that heads toward the capital city. Addressing journalists at a polling station in Minsk, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he could ask Putin to "return the nuclear weapons" Belarus gave away if the West transferred any nuclear weapons to Poland or Lithuania. Ukrainian intelligence also indicated Belarus could be preparing to "participate directly" in the invasion of Ukraine, according to two sources close to the Ukrainian government. Lukashenko said last week that Belarusian troops could join the invasion "if it becomes necessary."Meanwhile, the UK said it will provide an additional $53 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and British leaders plan to introduce legislation in Parliament aimed at clamping down on Russian money laundering and fraud.And Australian travel bans and targeted financial sanctions against Putin and senior members of his government went into effect Monday, the country's Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed in a statement.South Korea and Singapore on Monday also announced new sanctions on Russia.CNN's Paul Murphy, Artemis Moshtaghian and Richard Roth reported from New York. CNN's Pete Muntean reported from Washington. CNN's Tim Lister and Ivana Kottasová reported from Kyiv. CNN's Katharina Krebs, Olya Voinovich reported from Lviv, Ukraine. CNN's Vasco Cotovio and Darya Tarasova reported from Moscow. CNN's Katie Polglase, Gianluca Mezzofiore, Josh Pennington, Niamh Kennedy, Hannah Ritchie reported from London. CNN's Tara John wrote from London, and CNN's Helen Regan wrote from Hong Kong.
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Coke unveils new cans and a new flavor for its coffee line - CNN
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New York (CNN Business)Coca-Cola is fighting for your attention. The company is unveiling a new look for flavored Coke products this month, and it has a new Coke variety coming in a few weeks. It's part of the company's renewed focus on its Coke brand, as it dumps niche products and tries to drum up excitement for its core beverages.In the United States, new versions of Cherry Coke cans and bottles are magenta, with the white Coca-Cola logo emblazoned on the regular version and a black Coca-Cola logo on the Zero Sugar version. The new Vanilla Coke cans and bottles are cream-colored, and the Cherry Vanilla flavor's new packaging is a mix of the two (heavy on the magenta). Coke with zero caffeine as well as Coke with zero caffeine and no sugar also have new looks, keeping with these designs.The company decided in 2020 to cut its portfolio in half, dropping its underperforming brands and focusing on its most powerful ones, like Coke. Now, Coca-Cola (KO) is working on refreshing Coke's look and enticing new customers with new products. Read MoreThe new packages will start to hit shelves in late January. Coca-Cola is updating Coke's look and launching a new Coke with Coffee flavor. Standing out on the shelf Updates to the flavored Coke packages are designed to "modernize and simplify the look ... [and] help consumers find the flavor they're looking for on the shelf," said Natalia Suarez, senior brand manager of Coke Choice Portfolio, the company's North America operating unit. The updated cans are supposed to "quickly communicate flavors and clearly distinguish between full-sugar and zero-sugar/calorie-free options," she added.The company started overhauling its packaging last year, she noted, when it changed the packaging of Coke, Diet Coke and Coke Zero Sugar. The company also tweaked the recipe for Coke Zero Sugar in an effort to make the drink taste more like regular Coke. Grabbing customers' attention as they walk down the grocery aisle is essential to brands like Coke, which have to make the most out of their shelf space. He killed some of Coke's most beloved brands. And he'd do it all over again"It's a Darwinian struggle for space in the supermarket or in the convenience store," Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey told CNN Business last year. Coke with CoffeeAnother way to get people excited about Coke is to expand beyond traditional flavors. So the company is launching a new variety of Coke with Coffee.About a year ago, the company brought Coke with Coffee — Coke made with coffee powder — to the United States. "Coca-Cola with Coffee was met with a widespread, enthusiastic consumer response," when it first started selling in North America, said Brandan Strickland, brand director of Coca-Cola Trademark. The product already comes in Dark Blend, Vanilla and Caramel. And now a new Mocha flavor will reach US shelves on February 7.Mocha is the logical next flavor, said Strickland, noting the move was "a no-brainer."Coca-Cola also tried to expand beyond cola with its Coke Energy product, which hit North American shelves in early 2020 and was discontinued in the region in the spring. Coca-Cola pulled the product because it wasn't performing well.
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Pantone names colors of the year for 2016 - CNN
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Story highlightsPantone's colors of the year reflect reassurance, security, says companyIt's the first time the company has chosen two colors (CNN)Serenity -- now.That's the message from Pantone, the color experts, which named "Serenity" -- a kind of baby blue -- one of its two colors of the year for 2016. The other is Rose Quartz, a dusty pink.The choice of color of the year is "a symbolic color selection; a color snapshot of what we see taking place in our culture that serves as an expression of a mood and an attitude," the company, a division of X-rite, said in a news release.Pantone determines its color of the year after surveying fashionistas and insiders in pop culture, including movies and music. This is the first time the company has chosen two colors. Previous winners include the reddish Marsala, the popping purplish Radiant Orchid, the exquisite Emerald and the boisterous Tangerine Tango.Read MoreBut anxious times call for calmer colors, said Pantone, and Serenity and Rose Quartz fit the bill."As consumers seek mindfulness and well-being as an antidote to modern day stresses, welcoming colors that psychologically fulfill our yearning for reassurance and security are becoming more prominent," Leatrice Eiseman, Pantone's executive director, said in the statement. The two also suggest the "gender blur" of modern fashion, which fits with our trans-aware times, it added.Some wags on Twitter weren't quite sold on the colors' fashion qualities. To them, the colors looked more like bubble gum and blueberry -- or something New Agey.Pantone's color of the year is a popsicle from the '90s. pic.twitter.com/VC3EJP6SL2— ✨Christmas Erickson✨ (@christerickson) December 3, 2015
Pantone's "gender-blurring" colors of the year are pink and blue—really?! https://t.co/YiGa4pKqQJ pic.twitter.com/7fQ7kW6luC— Fast Company (@FastCompany) December 3, 2015
Poly lesbian space-crystal mom has won #ColoroftheYear :D https://t.co/Z8yxIz0qiG— BirdMachine (@BirdMachine) December 3, 2015
(Nobody has brought up Pepto-Bismol. Well, until now.)"Joined together, Rose Quartz and Serenity demonstrate an inherent balance between a warmer embracing rose tone and the cooler tranquil blue, reflecting connection and wellness as well as a soothing sense of order and peace," the company said.We hope they're right. It IS an election year.
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Uber and Hyundai team up to put flying taxis in the sky - CNN
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Washington, DC (CNN)Uber and Hyundai unveiled a flying taxi that may eventually transform your ridesharing trips.At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas Monday, the two companies revealed a model of a four-seat, electric flying vehicle that they said you'll be able to summon for a ride through Uber's app someday. The first actual prototype will be ready in 2023, according to a Hyundai spokesperson. A human pilot will fly the air taxi until the companies finalize software to autonomously control it, the company said.Self-driving cars: Hype-filled decade ends on sobering note Hyundai is the latest big company to announce that it's developing a flying taxi for trips around cities and suburbs. Boeing's flying car prototype made its first autonomous flight in 2019 at a small airport outside Washington D.C. Google co-founder Larry Page has invested in several smaller startups, including Kitty Hawk and Opener, which are developing flying car technologies.In October, Hyundai appointed Jaiwon Shin, a longtime NASA administrator, to lead its newly created air taxi division. Hyundai's partner in the venture, Uber (UBER), has said it expects to have an air taxi network in 2023. Uber already has partnerships with the helicopter manufacturer Bell and the Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer. But experts say the estimate is aggressive.Uber and Hyundai unveiled the S-A1 flying taxi model at CES."It's going to be a while," said William Crossley, a Purdue University professor who researches aerospace design. "If things go well, it's certainly plausible in the next 10 years."Read MoreThere are plenty of tough hurdles ahead. Software to safely fly air taxis must be developed. The industry will have to determine the right vehicle design. Batteries powering air taxis will need to deliver better range than currently available. And companies will have to prove that air taxi rides can be a viable business. Sanjiv Singh, a Carnegie Mellon University professor and CEO of Near Earth Autonomy, a startup developing software for air taxis, doesn't expect they will be viable until they're flying autonomously. It's expensive to pay a human pilot, he said, and companies can become more profitable if they can cram another passenger into the air taxi instead.Feds blame distracted test driver in Uber self-driving car death On top of those challenges, the Federal Aviation Administration will need to certify the vehicles, a process that could take years.Hyundai and Uber have not yet completed a test flight of the new vehicle.In the meantime, Uber is offering human-piloted helicopter rides in Manhattan. Singh, who worked on self-driving cars before shifting to air taxis, says that autonomous flying vehicles are easier to develop in some respects. "When flying, just stay away from everything," Singh said. "You don't have to figure out if that's a tumbleweed or a suitcase in the street."
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Scientists in China breed mice from two females - CNN
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(CNN)Researchers in China say they've bred healthy mice with two mothers using a new type of gene editing technology, a significant feat that may help researchers better understand mammalian reproduction but carries significant ethical and safety questions.A total of 29 bimaternal mice were produced using 210 embryos in the study. They all were "normal, lived to adulthood, and had babies of their own," though they showed "some defective features," according to researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.This image shows a healthy adult bimaternal mouse who was born to two mothers with offspring of her own.But not all the mice pups survived the experiment. Mice produced from two fathers only survived a couple of days after being born. "This research shows us what's possible," Wei Li, one of the study's co-authors, said in a news release. "We saw that the defects in bimaternal mice can be eliminated and that bipaternal reproduction barriers in mammals can also be crossed through imprinting modification," said Wei Li.Read More"We also revealed some of the most important imprinted regions that hinder the development of mice with same sex parents, which are also interesting for studying genomic imprinting and animal cloning."This image shows a bipaternal mouse pup born to two fathers.The scientists conducting the study, published in the journal Cell Stem Cell Thursday, said they were interested in answering why some reptiles, fish and amphibians can reproduce with one parent of the same sex, but others cannot. The genes were removed using CRISPR Cas9, a tool that experts say has the potential to save countless lives and billions of dollars but has raised serious ethical questions about the future of genetic research.The idea of "designer babies" -- in which parents can choose genetic traits -- is one example, but some have warned that editing individual human genes could affect the gene pool in future generations and carry unintended consequences.JUST WATCHEDWhat is CRISPR Cas9 gene editing?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhat is CRISPR Cas9 gene editing? 01:50Scientists say that despite the potential of the latest study, the technology just isn't ready for practical application."The tremendous amount of genetic modification needed in order to do what they (Chinese researchers) did, makes it implausible to use it in anything other than research," said Dr. Tim Hore, an expert in epigenetics and development at the University of Otago."To consider exploring similar technology for human application in the near future is implausible," said Dusko Ilic, Reader in Stem Cell Science at King's College London. "The risks of severe abnormalities is too high, and it would take years of research in various animal models to fully understand how this could be done safely."CNN's Serenitie Wang contributed to this report
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The world's first 3D-printed neighborhood is being built in Mexico for families living on $3 a day - CNN
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(CNN)A giant 3D printer built two houses in an impoverished, rural part of Mexico last week, breaking ground on what will be the first 3D-printed neighborhood in the world. The houses aren't just a prototype. Developers hope to build 50 new houses by the end of 2020, replacing the structures that residents built themselves out of wood, metal and whatever materials they could afford.The families live in a seismic zone that's prone to flooding in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. Building something that will withstand an earthquake and keep them dry during heavy rains was a key consideration when it came to the design."These families are the most vulnerable, and in the lowest income ... and they're living on about an average of $3 a day," said Brett Hagler, CEO and co-founder of New Story, the nonprofit building the community. "They're living in literally a pieced-together shack that during the rainy season, it will rain and it will flood their shack. Some of the women even said that the water will go up to their knees when it rains, sometimes for months," Hagler told CNN on Wednesday.The families are living in makeshift homes, many of which they built themselves.Read MoreNew Story is a nonprofit that helps families in need of shelter. It has built more than 2,700 homes in South America and Mexico since it was founded in 2014. This is the first homebuilding project it's done with 3D printing.The nonprofit paired up with ICON, a construction technology company that developed the 3D-printing robotics being used on the project. ÉCHALE, a nonprofit in Mexico, is helping find local families to live in the homes.The homes were co-designed with input from the families that will live in them.The 33-foot printer pipes out a concrete mix that hardens when it dries, building the walls one layer at a time. It takes 24 hours over several days to build two houses at the same time -- that's about two times faster than it takes New Story to build a home with regular construction. The concrete mix is sturdier than traditional concrete, New Story says. The foundation is reinforced to withstand seismic activity.The flat-roofed homes are reminiscent of a southwestern design, but with curved walls. The 500-square-foot homes have two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living room and a kitchen. People haven't moved into the new houses yet, New Story says, because it would be dangerous for them to live in a construction zone.There's no price tag on the homes yet, but New Story says it's working with families to have them pay 20-to-30% of their income. They want people to have a sense of ownership in the community.Meet Vulcan II, the printerThe printer is named Vulcan II and it was made by ICON, an Austin-based construction technology company. It took three years of prototyping to get a printer capable of this project, the company said.While Vulcan II is building two 500-square-foot houses at the same time, it's capable of building a 2,000-square-foot house, according to ICON. The printer can build walls almost 9 feet high and 28 feet wide.The speed of homebuilding with the printer has gotten quicker. In March 2018, New Story and ICON revealed a three-bedroom home, which took 48 hours to build."It's 10 times better than we were a year ago. I am so proud," ICON CEO and co-founder Jason Ballard told CNN on Wednesday. "It is so rare that the-most-in-need of our sisters and brothers globally get first access to advanced technologies and breakthroughs in materials science."A small community of 3D-printed concrete houses is coming to the NetherlandsBecause 3D printing is cheaper and faster than traditional construction, there's great potential for how it will change the world, he said."We think part of what 3D printing allows us to do is to deliver a much higher-quality product to the housing market at a speed and price that's typically not available for people in" low-income housing, Ballard said. "It is a house that anyone would be proud to live in."Taking a printer out of the lab and putting it in the real world was an experiment in itself. Getting Vulcan II to the construction site and dealing with harsh weather conditions has been the biggest challenge so far, he said.The massive printer was transported in a standard shipping container. Border authorities had a lot of questions when they saw it, New Story said.It arrived at the peak of summer, right as the rainy season was beginning, Ballard said. The machinery and the staff faced floods, muddy roads and high humidity as they settled in. The logistical challenges made him realize how much we take for granted in America.The technnology holds promise for affordable housing"When you're doing anything for the first time ever ... and we're doing a challenging place, there's no blueprint or roadmap or set of instructions, so you're creating all of that as we go," Alexandria Lafci, New Story COO and co-founder, told CNN.The nonprofit staff believes in the promise of what the technology could mean for people who don't have safe shelter. Hagler said safe shelter is "one of the largest crises affecting humanity today."About 1.6 billion people in the world don't have adequate housing, according to a 2015 Habitat for Humanity study.A family sits inside one of the two newly constructed 3D-printed homes in Mexico."We seem to just accept that there will always be homelessness or there will always be people who don't have any access to education or water," Lafci said. "We have some of the brightest minds and we have the most promising technology in Silicon Valley working on elite problems. How can we rethink and reshape existing and budding technology toward these more pressing issues?" she said. The technology is there and the application to building homes for those in need brings a lot of hope for the future."3D printing is not science fiction. We have crossed that threshold from science fiction into reality," Ballard said. "In the future, our bet is that this will be humanity's best hope for a housing solution that that matches our highest values and ideals."
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The first 3D-printed housing community in the US is being built in the California desert - CNN
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(CNN)Developers in Southern California are building what they say will be the first 3D-printed zero net energy neighborhood in the United States.Palari Group said it plans to build 15 eco-friendly 3D-printed homes on a five-acre parcel of land in Rancho Mirage, an upscale community in the Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs.The 1,450 square foot, single-story homes will be made from a stone composite material that is strong, fire resistant, water resistant and termite proof, Palari Group founder and CEO Basil Starr told CNN.The homes will be made of modular panels that are printed out by their partner Mighty Buildings at a facility in Oakland and are assembled at the building site "kind of like Lego blocks," Starr said.The world's first 3D-printed neighborhood is being built in Mexico for families living on $3 a dayStarr said his company, which is focused on sustainable building techniques, turned to 3D printing because it is less wasteful.Read More"In wood frame construction there's a significant waste that is generated for the home that's being built, it's about two tons of waste that goes into landfills," Starr said. "And with 3D printing, it's a revolutionary way of building that completely eliminates that unnecessary waste."Bathrooms, cabinets and other interior materials that can't be 3D printed are sustainably sourced.The three-bedroom, two-bathroom homes will come with a deck and a swimming pool and will have a starting price of $595,000. Buyers will be able to add a smaller, two-bedroom, one-bath secondary residence on the property for another $255,000.All energy needs will be supplied by solar power, and owners will have the option to install other options like the Tesla Powerwall, fire pits, cabanas and outdoor showers.Scientists 3D print microscopic Star Trek spaceship that moves on its ownThe average owner-occupied home value in Rancho Mirage is $825,738, according to the city's website.Palari Group said it plans to break ground in September and complete the project by Spring 2021.Starr said that once construction begins, the company will be able to move more quickly than with traditional construction. Mighty Buildings, he said, can print the panels for the houses at the same time they build roads, foundations and install utilities at the site.Potential buyers have already put down $1,000 refundable deposits to get a spot on the reservations list, Starr said. Palari Group is looking at building additional developments in Rancho Mirage and possibly other parts of California.Rancho Mirage isn't the only 3D-printed home project making news.Last month, a company called SQ4D Inc. listed a 3D-printed house in Riverhead, New York, on Zillow with an asking price of $299,999.Developers in Austin are building four houses that use 3D printing and traditional construction techniques.Austin-based construction technology company ICON is working with Kansas City developer 3Strands to build four 3D printed homes in East Austin that are scheduled to be move-in ready by in June or July.
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Why Native American designers are not OK with fashion headdresses - CNN
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Story highlightsNo Doubt, Victoria's Secret accused of "playing Indian" for profitNative community wants larger role in representations of their culture in mediaNon-Native entrepreneur faces skepticism in building platform for indigenous artistsNatives often asked to endorse imagery to build other brands, blogger saysThis November, events nationwide celebrated the traditions, fashion and food of the nation's 566 recognized Indian tribes as part of Native American Heritage Month. But a few high profile missteps surrounding the use of indigenous cultural imagery made bigger national headlines than any heritage month event.First it was the release of No Doubt's Wild West-themed music video "Looking Hot," featuring teepees, fire dances and singer Gwen Stefani on horseback, a feather crowning her long blond braids. Then, supermodel Karlie Kloss walked the runway in a floor-length feather headdress, skimpy leopard-spotted bikini and turquoise jewelry at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Both instances sparked allegations of "playing Indian" for profit, leading No Doubt and Victoria's Secret to publicly apologize. The gaffes also reignited debate over where to draw the line between cultural appropriation and appreciation and the extent to which non-Natives should represent Natives in mainstream media and pop culture.RELATED: Native American fashion goes "Beyond Buckskin" and headdressesThe conversation is important, because acts of cultural appropriation are not simply isolated incidents of "hipsters in Navajo panties and pop stars in headdresses," said Sasha Houston Brown, a member of the Santee Sioux Nation of Nebraska. They are byproducts of "systemic racism" that perpetuate the idea that there's no such thing as contemporary Native culture."Despite what dominant society and mainstream media say, Native culture is a vibrant and living culture. We are not a relic of the past, a theme or a trend, we are not a style or costume, we are not mascots, noble savages or romantic fictional entities," Brown said in an editorial for the blog Racialious, "Nothing Says Native American Heritage Month Like White Girls in Headdresses."It's a discussion that is especially vital as the holiday season of mass consumerism kicks off, she said. The goal is not to ban from the marketplace beaded jewelry or clothing incorporating tribal motifs, Brown said, but to involve Natives in their creation, marketing and profits. "Collaborations can work as long as the dynamics at hand are empowering Native artists and designers so they are actually able to participate in an equitable manner," said Brown, who advises American Indian students at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College. As the American-Indian and Alaska Native community, which numbers 5.1 million and makes up about 1.6% of the population of the United States, works toward getting a stronger voice in mainstream media, it needs allies, including non-Natives, she said. "What an ally does is support and help communicate the message of Native artists and entrepreneurs instead of speaking for them," Brown said. "There's a huge market for Native and non-Native partnerships, but there's also an inherent distrust of non-Natives coming into communities because of the examples that have been set in history. It just takes time."A good ally is hard to findThe ingredients of a mutually beneficial collaboration can be hard to nail down. Budding entrepreneur Mac Bishop knows how hard it is to toe that line as a non-Native. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, the 23-year-old doesn't have any Native American ancestry. But, as a descendant of the Pendleton Wool family, which owns one of the country's longest-running wool mills, famous for its Native-inspired blankets, he grew up with a strong interest in the culture and close ties to the community.Opinion: Just say no to "playing Indian"He was a sophomore at Cornell University in 2009 when he decided to launch a "social business" that celebrated Native American culture through apparel and art. It was around the time Native-inspired clothing was showing up on runways and in the pages of fashion magazines. But Bishop insists he wasn't trying to ride a trend. He wanted NATIVE(X) to showcase products that told a story.He began with a pair of wool shorts made from Pendleton's "Chief Joseph" patterned fabric, named for the Nez Perce leader who resisted orders from the U.S. government to move his band onto a reservation. A few fashion blogs picked up on the "Chief Joe" shorts and Bishop ran Facebook ads targeted at users of Native American-related fan pages. Not everyone was happy about it. When Caleb Dunlap, an Ojibwe from Northern Minnesota's Lake Superior Band, realized Bishop was not Native, Dunlap began posting comments on Bishop's Facebook page accusing him of exploiting indigenous culture for financial gain."For me, it was like, 'Who is this guy who had the money to go to Cornell and start his own company? Why is he taking this Pendleton-looking stuff and making it into shorts? Be smarter, do your own thing,' " he said. "I wanted to convey to him that a Native person should be doing this." A spirited exchange followed the wall posts, with Dunlap questioning Bishop's motives and Bishop insisting he was exploring a sincere interest in Native culture with altruistic goals in mind. After that, the two didn't speak for nearly two years until Bishop contacted him after launching his website with a new perspective."I was naive in thinking I could build cultural awareness without that culture's involvement," Bishop said. "That conversation helped expose me to how controversial this could be and opened my eyes to the Native perspective on what's going on in the fashion industry."Why it matters to NativesCollaborations between natives and non-Natives can work, like when Nike teamed up with Pawnee artist Bunky Echo-Hawk on its N7 line. The collection, which was developed by a Nike employee of American Indian heritage, creates sportswear with a Native aesthetic to fund athletic programs in Indian country. Echo-Hawk said he had concerns about working for a large corporation. But after learning of its philanthropic goals, it was a no-brainer."The whole line is really steeped in the Native philosophy and tradition of giving back to the community so it was an opportunity I was really proud to be a part of," said Echo-Hawk, who is still a design consultant for N7. "The fact they felt like they needed to work with a Native artist won a lot of respect from me because most corporations don't do that. They grab some clip art or culturally protected images that are sacred to us and put them on panties."He knows that outsiders still may not see what the big deal is. Who wouldn't want a personal visit from a Victoria's Secret model in a headdress? It matters because what some see as a beautiful geometric print is sacred imagery with a deeper cultural and religious significance, he said, like the Christian cross or star of David.Plus, the community is still reeling from the effects of colonialism, he said. "This country is really young and what may seem to a lot of people like ancient history is really recent history to us. We're just a few generations removed from our freedom," he said."It's all we have left and it's like we're being picked apart by vultures. It's something we feel like we have to protect and celebrate. It's our identity." Thanks to the Internet, it's easier than ever to find hoodies and T-shirts with sleek variations on Northwest Coastal designs, hand-sewn moccasins or silver and turquoise jewelry -- all by real Native artists. Turtle Mountain Chippewa Jessica R. Metcalfe started the blog Beyond Buckskin to promote Native artists and designers. This summer, she expanded the platform to an e-commerce site featuring products made by Native Americans where you'll find "hipsters in headdresses" bowties, but no headdresses, said Metcalfe, who has a Ph.D. in American Indian Studies from the University of Arizona. In contrast, most Americans probably get their Native-inspired looks from the likes of Proezna Schouler, Forever 21 or, until recently, Urban Outfitters. Last October, Brown wrote an open letter asking the company's CEO to pull its "Navajo" collection, which included the infamous "Navajo hipster panty" and flask. A Change.org petition followed, along with a cease-and-desist order from the Navajo Nation, ultimately leading to the removal of all "Navajo" references in product descriptions, though a trademark lawsuit is still winding through the courts.Each step forward seems to be followed by another gaffe. In September, apparel maker Paul Frank Industries drew ire for throwing a "neon-Native American powwow" on Fashion's Night Out called "Dream Catching with Paul Frank." Images of the brand's iconic monkey in war paint and headdress plastered the walls as similarly dressed employees photographed guests with tomahawks and bow-and-arrow sets, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Guests had a choice of drinks with names like "Rain Dance Refresher," "Dream Catcher" and "Neon Teepee.""We have sophisticated tribal governments and communities, but how will we be able to be seen as modern, successful people if we are continually represented through plastic tomahawks and feathers?" Native Appropriations blogger Adrienne Keene said in an open letter to Paul Frank Industries and the agency that threw the party. The company removed photos of the party from its Facebook page and issued an apology. A few days later, the president of Paul Frank Industries contacted Keene to discuss ways of rectifying the situation, from design collaborations to a panel on the use of Native Imagery, in what the blogger deemed a rare gesture of collaboration.Building mutually beneficial relationshipsAfter some initial hiccups, NATIVE(X) founder Mac Bishop believes he has a solid foundation for a collaborative effort, but acknowledges there is still lots of work to be done. In its current form, NATIVE(X) is a platform for Native artists to sell their work and share their stories by collaborating with NATIVE(X)on its line of bags, wallets and iPad cases, he said. Nathaniel Wilkerson is the first artist to work with NATIVE(X). He created the design for its product label and allows Bishop to sell his prints and art cards on the NATIVE(X) website. It's a collaboration that he considers mutually beneficial because it exposes his work to a wider audience. Working with a non-Native was never an issue, said Wilkerson. Most of the galleries that show his work are not owned by Natives, and a lot of them have closed since the economic downturn, making the extra exposure all the more valuable, he said. Some feel NATIVE(X) has yet to prove itself. Metcalfe of Beyond Buckskin says it's too early to fairly evaluate the company's success, especially in light of its Pendleton connection."Pendleton has built their small empire off of being inspired by and learning about (and replicating) Native American aesthetic traditions," she said. "I think it's time that we stop looking at non-Native versions of Native American cultures as the thing to celebrate and the thing to uphold as the best example of 'Native American fashion.' "Bishop acknowledged the sensitivities associated with being a white person going into business with Native artists, but he is hopeful that "good intentions should be able to overcome that." In the meantime, NATIVE(X) has made strides toward its goal of social consciousness by sponsoring a wearable art workshop on the Umatilla Indian Reservation, which drew praise and attention from various people. Handbag designer Maya Stewart learned about NATIVE(X) from Metcalfe's Twitter feed and saw potential through the platform to reach a wider audience. She contacted him to discuss potential ventures, which are still in the works."I think it's important that we as designers educate people through our art and whoever creates that platform, whether it's a Native or non-Native, it's the same thing as long as we're getting the word out."After their somewhat acrimonious beginning, Dunlap says he now considers Bishop an "ally-in-training." "We need allies who may not be from our community, but know our community because someone educated him. That's what's going to help change how others see us." Follow CNN Living on Facebook and Emanuella Grinberg on Twitter
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50 years later, who are the heirs of the Black Panthers? (Opinion) - CNN
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Story highlightsPeniel Joseph: By 1968 the Black Panthers became a global phenomenonThe Panthers articulated a structural critique of racism, he saysPanthers were hobbled in part by illegal surveillance, internal battles drug abusePeniel Joseph is the Barbara Jordan Chair in Political Values and Ethics and the Founding Director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is also a professor of history. He is the author of several books, most recently "Stokely: A Life." The views expressed here are his. (CNN)Fifty years ago today, the Black Panther Party for Self Defense was founded in Oakland, California, by activists Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale. The group quickly shortened its name to the Black Panther Party (BPP) and emerged as the most iconic revolutionary organization to come out of the Black Power era and the larger global political maelstrom of the 1960s -- and one whose causes still resonate today.The Panthers, inspired by Malcolm X's revolutionary black nationalism and the socialist revolutions in Cuba, Africa and across the Third World, issued a 10-point program, divided into sections titled "What We Want" and "What We Need," that called for ending police brutality, decent housing for black people and the radical reform of the criminal justice system. Peniel JosephThe group's demand for "land, peace, bread and justice" paved the way for the Black Lives Matter Movement that has galvanized a new generation of activists in the United States and around the world. Like surrealist painters, the Panthers imagined a world that did not exist but could be willed into being. They fashioned themselves as the revolutionary vanguard of a worldwide liberation movement that would be led by blacks but feature multiracial and multinational coalitions, including the white New Left, who they characterized as "mother country radicals." Their imageRead MoreSporting leather jackets, bandoliers, powder blue T-shirts and black turtle necks, the Panthers adopted the garb of modern-day warriors, an image amplified by an iconic portrait of Newton sitting in a chair surrounded by African shields, holding a rifle in his right hand and a spear in his left. Black children of the Great Migration who traced their roots back to Louisiana and Texas, the 24-year-old Newton and 30-year-old Seale belonged to a generation of young black men denied educational opportunities by Jim Crow, criminalized by law enforcement, and marginalized within the civil rights movement.JUST WATCHEDBlack Panthers, KKK hold dueling ralliesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBlack Panthers, KKK hold dueling rallies 00:59Ironically, the civil rights insurgency in Lowndes County, Alabama -- where the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (or SNCC, pronounced "snick") helped organize an independent political party -- was nicknamed the Black Panther Party and provided the BPP with its name and symbol. In an era before social media offered visual evidence of police brutality and the murder of black people, the Black Panthers organized armed patrols of Oakland police, leading to dramatic confrontations that nearly ended in violence. The group made national news on May 2, 1967, when an armed contingent strolled into California's state capitol to protest a bill aimed at ending their right to openly carry weapons. Photos: Evolution of Black Lives Matter Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterBlack Lives Matter started with a hashtag. Now it is a rallying cry, a cause and a movement in the wake of the deaths of black men at the hands of police. The latest police shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile have spurred a new round of protests across the country and worldwide. Hide Caption 1 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterSome organizers say the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of Trayvon Martin in 2012 is where the movement began. Demonstrators wore hoodies and carried Skittles, the candy Martin had bought on the night he was killed.Hide Caption 2 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterThe shooting death of unarmed teen Michael Brown in August 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri, by an officer lit an existing fuse and protests engulfed the town.Hide Caption 3 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterBy the time Eric Garner died after being placed in a chokehold by a New York Police Department officer, support for Black Lives Matter had grown nationwide. Hide Caption 4 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterProtests and clashes with police after the officer wasn't indicted in the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson led to another round of protests, with the rallying cry "No justice, no peace."Hide Caption 5 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterDemands for change led to organized protests in major cities, including New York, Washington, Boston, San Francisco and Oakland, California, in December 2014.Hide Caption 6 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterActivist Muhiyidin d'Baha took the call for action into a North Charleston, South Carolina, City Council after the killing of Walter Scott by a North Charleston police officer.Hide Caption 7 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterThe death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore led to frustrations that splintered into violence; a CVS Pharmacy was looted and burned during protests after his funeral. Hide Caption 8 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterA battle waged against the Confederate flag as a symbol of hatred after Dylann Roof was accused of killing nine people in a South Carolina church in an attempt to spark a race war. Activist Brittany "Bree" Newsome took the battle flag off the flagpole at the Statehouse in Columbia, South Carolina.Hide Caption 9 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterThe political activism entered the 2016 campaign, with some parts of the movement deciding to interrupt presidential candidates to demand more be done.Hide Caption 10 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterBlack Lives Matter demonstrators made a point of protesting Democratic events to bring attention to their issues. The group had a tense meeting with Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire and released video of the conversation. Hide Caption 11 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterThe movement also worked its way into popular culture, sparking an episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," which took on a police officer killing an innocent unarmed black man. Hide Caption 12 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterBlack Lives Matter protesters continued to disrupt political events in an attempt to be heard, including this Hillary Clinton event in Atlanta. Hide Caption 13 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterRacial tensions led to a weekslong protest movement at the University of Missouri campus that ousted both the university president and the school's chancellor.Hide Caption 14 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterThe movement was born out of frustration over the death of young black men. Jamar Clark's funeral in Minneapolis in November is an example of that continued unified response. Hide Caption 15 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterBlack Lives Matter demonstrators march in Cleveland on December 29, 2015, after a grand jury declined to indict Cleveland Police officer Timothy Loehmann for the fatal shooting of Tamir Rice on November 22, 2014.Hide Caption 16 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterSirica Bolling raises her fist as she walks down Jefferson Avenue during a Black Lives Matter protest in Newport News, Va., Sunday July 10, 2016, following the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota. Hide Caption 17 of 18 Photos: Evolution of Black Lives MatterDemonstrations have popped up in cities around the world, including this one in London on July 10, 2016, following the most recent police shootings. Hide Caption 18 of 18The group's swaggering, at times reckless, bravado attracted scores of new recruits, including activists Kathleen Neal Clever and Eldridge Cleaver, a former prisoner who became the BPP's minister of information and a best-selling author. By 1968 the Black Panthers became a global phenomenon, fueled by a "Free Huey" campaign organized in the aftermath of the young BPP minister of defense's confrontation with two police officers that left one officer dead and the other seriously wounded. Newton also suffered a bullet wound to his stomach. He was sentenced to two to 15 years for a manslaughter conviction. The campaign helped to get Newton an appeal and he was released in 1970. JUST WATCHEDYoung girl: We shouldn't have to protest ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHYoung girl: We shouldn't have to protest 00:58Through a nationally distributed newspaper, The Black Panther, the BPP organized demonstrations, political education rallies and alliances with white, Latino, Native American and Asian American allies. The BPP became, for a time, one of the leading revolutionary groups in the world. Although some media focused on the image of the Panthers as urban guerillas, the group's biggest impact occurred at the grassroots through community organizing.Comprising several thousand members and over three dozen chapters in cities that included Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Seattle, New Haven, Connecticut, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the Panthers established free breakfast programs, health clinics, busing to prison programs, legal clinics, sickle cell anemia testing and food drives that aided some of America's poorest black communities. Who is responsible for fixing race relations in America?Like today's movement for black lives, the Panthers articulated a structural critique of racism, which they linked to capitalism's political and economic exploitation of the poor on a global scale. The Black Panthers identified America's criminal justice system as a gateway to racial and class oppression. They recruited ex-convicts and organized inmates and became leaders in a prisoner rights movement that gained international notoriety with the Attica Prison uprising of 1971.Importantly the Panthers linked domestic and international anti-racist struggles, becoming a symbol of a political revolution that touched every corner of the world. After Newton was released from prison in 1970, the group drew tens of thousands of young supporters to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., in efforts to re-imagine American democracy and end racial and economic injustice. Why their revolution failedOf course, the revolution the Panthers attempted to organize with such confidence and brio did not come off as planned. State-sanctioned violence, in the form of illegal FBI surveillance and local police authorities (including the first SWAT team in Los Angeles) pummeled, brutalized, and at times killed members of the group. Internal contradictions, including substance abuse, political authoritarianism, sexism and ideological disputes led to violence within the group and greatly contributed to the group's decline.Extraordinary moment on race in veep debateYet in a very real sense the Panthers were ahead of their time in organizing against institutional racism, war and violence by any means necessary. Inspired by Malcolm X, the Panthers adopted a dual strategy for black liberation that featured armed self-defense and engaged community organizing. Their 10-point program reads like a rough policy outline to create a new world. Thousands of young black women and men undertook this mission, against long odds, during the 1960s and 1970s. Like their modern day BLM counterparts, the Panthers raged against not only racial injustice but the ideology of white supremacy that normalized black oppression. Follow CNN OpinionJoin us on Twitter and FacebookBut at its core, the group pursued—like Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the BLM Movement—a radical human rights agenda, one that viewed black equality as the common denominator for a wide range of social justice causes. Fifty years after their founding, the spirit of the Panthers (if not their exact tactics, as the BLM have adhered to the philosophy of non-violence) lives on in the efforts of a movement for black lives that continues to believe that a new world free of racism and economic injustice, homo- and transphobia and sexism and misogyny is not only possible but can be reached within our lifetime.
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Woman reunited with family 40 years after dictatorship - CNN
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Story highlightsShe is the 127th child to be reunited with his or her biological family since the end of Argentina's dictatorshipOne aunt said of her long lost niece: "We love her intensely" (CNN)A woman in Argentina has been reunited with her family 40 years after the country's military dictatorship kidnapped her parents during its infamous "Dirty War." In an emotional press conference Thursday, members of the woman's extended family and leaders from the Argentine human rights organization, the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo, formally announced that they had a DNA match with the woman and her family members. "We are all waiting for her with open arms," the woman's aunt, Adriana Moyano, said during a press conference Thursday in the South American nation's capital, Buenos Aires. Another aunt, Elsa Poblete, added of her long lost niece: "We love her intensely."She is the 127th child to be reunited with his or her biological family since the end of Argentina's dictatorship, which lasted from 1976 to 1983. This year, the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo have identified six adults belonging to parents who went missing during the dictatorship. Read MoreRelated: Obama admits fault in U.S. response to Argentina's 'Dirty War'As the woman adjusts to a jarring new reality, organization officials did not reveal her identity or that of the family that raised her. Her parents, Maria del Carmen Moyano and Carlos Poblete, were kidnapped sometime in April or May of 1977, according to the Grandmothers' organization. Moyano was believed to be eight to nine months pregnant at the time. They were taken in the city of Cordoba, about 430 miles west of Buenos Aires. The couple was associated with a violent, revolutionary group against the dictatorship known as the Montoneros. Moyano was transferred to Argentina's naval base in Buenos Aires where thousands were tortured during the dictatorship. She gave birth to her daughter there, according to the organization. She, along with the woman's father, is presumed to be dead or missing.During Argentina's dictatorship, about 30,000 citizens disappeared, most believed to have been killed by the authoritarian regime. Some were critics of the government. According to the human rights organization, there are about 350 other children separated from family during the Dirty War who have yet to be identified and reunited with loved ones.The Grandmothers first began protesting decades ago in and around Plaza de Mayo, the main square in front of the presidential palace in Buenos Aires. Once dismissed by the dictatorship as ludicrous, the organization has received worldwide recognition over the last four decades for its work reuniting people with their biological families. Estela de Carlotto, the current leader of the organization who accompanied the family members Thursday, knows how they feel. In 2014, she was reunited with her own grandson, who was taken from the family when Carlotto's daughter, Laura, was kidnapped by authorities in 1978.
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Harris bursts through another barrier, becoming the first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president-elect - CNNPolitics
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(CNN)Kamala Harris, who on Saturday became America's first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president-elect, represents a new face of political power after an election all about who wields power and how they use it. The California senator's history-making win also represents the millions of women in the demographics -- often overlooked, historically underrepresented and systematically ignored -- who are now the recipients of that new power for the first time in the country's 200-plus-year history.Harris tweeted a video of herself on the phone with President-elect Joe Biden shortly after CNN projected their win. "We did it, we did it, Joe. You're going to be the next president of the United States," she said with a signature laugh.We did it, @JoeBiden. pic.twitter.com/oCgeylsjB4— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) November 7, 2020
Harris and Biden's victory, as projected by CNN, arrives days after a prolonged vote count reflecting a deeply divided electorate. It symbolizes a bookend to the Trump era, which followed the first Black US President and was buoyed by social ills including White supremacy. Harris' triumph, in particular, marks a new high point in a career of barrier-breaking accomplishments, from San Francisco district attorney to California attorney general to just the second-ever Black female US senator.Read More"That I am here tonight is a testament to the dedication of generations before me," Harris said during her Democratic National Convention acceptance speech in August, mentioning women such as Constance Baker Motley, Fannie Lou Hamer and Shirley Chisholm."Women and men who believed so fiercely in the promise of equality, liberty and justice for all," she had said.On Saturday night, during her first speech as vice president-elect, Harris also noted the historic moment. "While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last," she said in Wilmington, Delaware."Because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities, and to the children of our country, regardless of your gender, our country has sent you a clear message: Dream with ambition, lead with conviction and see yourselves in a way that others may not, simply because they've never seen it before. But know that we will applaud you every step of the way," she said.Harris attended Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington. Her time at Howard, where she joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., profoundly shaped her political vision."You didn't have to be confined by anyone else's idea of what it means to be Black," she told CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union" in September. "You could be a fine arts student and also be class president. You could be homecoming queen and be the head of the science club. You could be a member of a sorority and be in student government and want to go to law school, and it encouraged you to be your full self."Over the course of her White House bid, Harris never shied away from mentioning that people attempted to box her in or doubted her as she sought to pave a path in politics. "I didn't listen. And the people didn't listen, either. And we won," she would say.'We are on the ticket' Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisKamala Harris speaks during an economic forum in Las Vegas in April 2019. The US senator from California is now the vice president-elect.Hide Caption 1 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisA young Harris is seen with her mother, Shyamala, in this photo that was posted on Harris' Facebook page in March 2017. "My mother was born in India and came to the United States to study at UC Berkeley, where she eventually became an endocrinologist and breast-cancer researcher," Harris wrote. "She, and so many other strong women in my life, showed me the importance of community involvement and public service."Hide Caption 2 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris and her younger sister, Maya, pose for a Christmas photo in 1968.Hide Caption 3 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris rides a carousel in this old photo she posted to social media in 2015. Her name, Kamala, comes from the Sanskrit word for the lotus flower. Harris is the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants and grew up attending both a Baptist church and a Hindu temple.Hide Caption 4 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris tweeted this photo of her as a child after referencing it during a Democratic debate in June 2019. During the debate, she confronted Joe Biden over his opposition many years ago to the federal government mandating busing to integrate schools. "There was a little girl in California who was bussed to school," she tweeted. "That little girl was me."Hide Caption 5 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris got her bachelor's degree from Howard University in Washington, DC.Hide Caption 6 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris graduates from law school in 1989. "My first grade teacher, Mrs. Wilson (left), came to cheer me on," Harris said. "My mom was pretty proud, too."Hide Caption 7 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris is joined by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, left, and the Rev. Cecil Williams, center, for a San Francisco march celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. in January 2004. Harris was the city's district attorney from 2004 to 2011.Hide Caption 8 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris speaks to supporters before a "No on K" news conference in October 2008. The San Francisco ballot measure Proposition K sought to stop enforcing laws against prostitution. It was voted down on election day.Hide Caption 9 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris looks over seized guns following a news conference in Sacramento, California, in June 2011. Harris became California's attorney general in January 2011 and held that office until 2017. She was the first African-American, the first woman and the first Asian-American to become California's attorney general.Hide Caption 10 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris attends the Democratic Party's state convention in February 2012.Hide Caption 11 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris watches California Gov. Jerry Brown sign copies of the California Homeowner Bill of Rights in July 2012.Hide Caption 12 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris speaks on the second night of the 2012 Democratic National Convention.Hide Caption 13 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisIn May 2013, Harris and California Highway Patrol Commissioner Joe Farrow place a wreath honoring Highway Patrol officers who were killed in the line of duty. Hide Caption 14 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris officiates the wedding of Kris Perry, left, and Sandy Stier in June 2013. Perry and Stier were married after a federal appeals court cleared the way for California to immediately resume issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.Hide Caption 15 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris is flanked by her husband, Douglas Emhoff, and her sister, Maya. Next to Maya Harris is Maya's daughter, Meena, and Maya's husband, Tony West.Hide Caption 16 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris receives a gift from supporters in January 2015, after she announced plans to run for the US Senate.Hide Caption 17 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris speaks during a news conference in February 2015.Hide Caption 18 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris, as a new member of the Senate, participates in a re-enacted swearing-in with Vice President Joe Biden in January 2017. She is the first Indian-American and the second African-American woman to serve as a US senator.Hide Caption 19 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris talks with former US Sen. Bob Dole on Capitol Hill in January 2017.Hide Caption 20 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris attends the Women's March on Washington in January 2017.Hide Caption 21 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris speaks to Fatima and Yuleni Avelica, whose father was deported, before a news conference on Capitol Hill in March 2017.Hide Caption 22 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris greets a crowd at an event in Richmond, Virginia, in October 2017.Hide Caption 23 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisIn November 2017, Harris was among the lawmakers on the Senate Intelligence Committee grilling Silicon Valley giants over the role that their platforms inadvertently played in Russia's meddling in US politics.Hide Caption 24 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris and her husband attend a Golden State Warriors basketball game in May 2018.Hide Caption 25 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris attends a rally with, from left, California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom, and Newsom's wife, Jennifer, in May 2018. Newsom won the election in November.Hide Caption 26 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris speaks with US Sen. Cory Booker during the confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in September 2018.Hide Caption 27 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris presses Kavanaugh during his confirmation hearing.Hide Caption 28 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris arrives with staff for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in September 2018.Hide Caption 29 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris reads from her children's book "Superheroes Are Everywhere" during a book signing in Los Angeles in January 2019. She also released a memoir, "The Truths We Hold: An American Journey."Hide Caption 30 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisA person holds a Harris poster during the Women's March in Los Angeles in January 2019.Hide Caption 31 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris holds her first presidential campaign rally in January 2019. She had announced her presidential bid a week earlier on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.Hide Caption 32 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris speaks during her CNN town-hall event, which was moderated by Jake Tapper in Iowa in January 2019.Hide Caption 33 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisMedia members photograph Harris and the Rev. Al Sharpton as they have lunch at Sylvia's Restaurant in New York in February 2019.Hide Caption 34 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris confronts former Vice President Joe Biden, left, during the first Democratic debates in June 2019. Harris went after Biden over his early-career opposition to federally mandated busing.Hide Caption 35 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris rides her campaign bus in Iowa in August 2019.Hide Caption 36 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris and Biden greet each other at a Detroit high school as they attend a "Get Out the Vote" event in March 2020. Harris had dropped out of the presidential race a few months earlier.Hide Caption 37 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisFrom left, Harris, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and US Sen. Cory Booker stand near a Capitol Hill statue of abolitionist Frederick Douglass during a June 2020 event commemorating the life of George Floyd. Floyd, an unarmed Black man, was killed in police custody in Minneapolis.Hide Caption 38 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisBiden calls Harris from his Delaware home to inform her that she was his choice for vice president.Hide Caption 39 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisBiden listens as Harris speaks during their first campaign event as a presidential ticket.Hide Caption 40 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris and Biden sign paperwork to officially get on the ballot in all 50 states.Hide Caption 41 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris delivers a speech as she formally accepts the nomination at the Democratic National Convention. "Let's fight with conviction," Harris said in her speech. "Let's fight with hope. Let's fight with confidence in ourselves and a commitment to each other. To the America we know is possible. The America we love."Hide Caption 42 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris addresses Vice President Mike Pence during the vice presidential debate in October 2020.Hide Caption 43 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris waves to supporters at a campaign event in Lakewood, Ohio, in October 2020.Hide Caption 44 of 45 Photos: Vice President-elect Kamala HarrisHarris and Biden are joined by their spouses after their victory speeches in Wilmington, Delaware, in November 2020.Hide Caption 45 of 45 As a Black and South Asian woman in an overwhelmingly White arena, Harris on her journey to the White House was something of a pioneer. And voters noticed."It just feels like Black girls like me can run for class president, Black girls like me can go for the big things in life like she did," 14-year-old Paris Bond told CNN in August.Katerina Shadrach, an 11-year-old South Asian and White American, told CNN at an August 2019 Harris rally that Harris was her role model. Inside a packed gymnasium, Shadrach stood on the edges of the rally, next to her father, Sheldon, clutching Harris' memoir, "The Truths We Hold," as she waited for the senator who looked just like her to take the stage.An aspiring US senator herself, Shadrach told Harris after the event of her ambition to chart a path like Harris'. According to Shadrach, Harris told her that "as long as I put my mind to it and I do the best that I can and be like the best version of me, I will be able to accomplish my goals."Seeing Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket a year later, Shadrach called the moment a "really big step" for girls and women who look like her."She was the one who was able to prove that it's actually possible," Shadrach said. "You can see kind of a connection, because we are two similar people. And so if she can get to that, I can get to that. And I can identify with her."Or as Leah Daughtry, who headed up the 2016 and 2008 Democratic conventions, said of Harris earlier this year to The New York Times: "She is the stand-in for Black women. We are on the ticket."Rise and reignMr. Vice President, she's speaking: How Kamala Harris beat the stereotypes during her historic VP debate Harris was born in Oakland, California, in 1964, to parents who raised her in a bassinet of civil rights activism.Her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, an Indian immigrant, was a breast cancer researcher; she died of cancer in 2009. Harris' father, Donald, is a Jamaican American professor of economics. On the campaign trail, the vice president-elect often talked about how her activist parents would push her in her stroller at civil rights marches. The couple divorced in 1972.Harris grew up in the Bay Area but took frequent trips to India to visit extended family. At 12, she and her sister, Maya, moved with their mother to majority-White Montréal, where Gopalan Harris had secured a teaching post at McGill University as well as a research position at the Jewish General Hospital.While campaigning, Harris frequently spoke about her closeness to her mother. "My mother, she raised my sister and me, and she was tough," Harris would say. "Our mother was all of 5 feet tall, but if you ever met her, you would've thought she was 10 feet tall."After graduating from Howard in 1986 for her undergraduate degree and from the University of California's Hastings College of the Law in 1989, Harris passed the bar the following year and joined the Alameda County prosecutor's office as an assistant district attorney. From there, she began her political ascent.In 2003, Harris won her first race for San Francisco district attorney, becoming the first Black woman to hold such an office in California. In 2010, she became the first Black woman elected as California attorney general, and in 2016, she became only the second Black woman ever elected as a US senator.She often spoke of her barrier-breaking life during her presidential primary campaign, saying that she understood how being the first requires voters to "see what can be unburdened by what has been."More than a demographicKamala Harris' balancing act Harris is a lot of things beyond her gender and her race, of course. But her mere presence brings so much with it -- so much to those, of all ages, who see themselves in her.As she waited for Harris to take the stage at a rally in Asheville, North Carolina, in October, Elinor Earl, 77, said she never thought that she'd see a Black woman like herself rise through the ranks as Harris has."Not at my age," Earl told CNN. "It's wonderful to see her. I wouldn't have missed it for nothing in the world."Harris isn't shy about highlighting her upbringing or her influences, as was clear through her shoutouts to AKAs and HBCUs during her DNC speech."Family is my beloved Alpha Kappa Alpha, our Divine Nine, and my HBCU brothers and sisters," she said.Harris was referring to the nickname for America's nine historically Black fraternities and sororities, and nodding to the fact that she was the first graduate of a historically Black college or university to be selected as a major party's candidate's running mate.Harris' remarks couldn't have contrasted more with President Donald Trump's rhetoric over the past four years.Nasty. Sh*thole countries. Go back. Whereas Trump has spent his tenure in the White House excoriating otherness and propping up the country's many hierarchies, Harris used the campaign trail to do the precise opposite.Indeed, Harris' bid was a pure distillation of the complex joy of representation. Often in her Converse sneakers, the former prosecutor made space for women of color to tell their lived experiences during campaign events on the trail. She made a point to prop up women of color small business owners, frequently telling them to say their companies' names clearly in front of the press so they could be included in news stories. Certain voters felt, in today's parlance, seen. And come Inauguration Day, that visibility will extend to the White House and, likely, alchemize into substantive representation.There's a sobering corollary to Harris' historic win. In important ways, her success says as much about America's political institutions as it does about her.That Harris is the first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president-elect is both an affirmation of her excellence -- her skill as a debater against Mike Pence, for instance -- and a reflection of the racism and sexism that punish women of color who run for executive office.And while it's true that Harris this week achieved yet more firsts, it's maybe more accurate to describe these firsts as onlys -- she became the only female, only Black and only South Asian vice president-elect.That framing shines a less flattering light on America. But it's more honest. It also hints at possibility -- the possibility that Harris on Saturday opened up the door for women and girls who look like her to follow, to claim power for their own.Harris' mother put it best: "Kamala, you may be the first to do many things, but make sure you're not the last."This story has been updated with remarks from Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Saturday night.
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Democratic women wear white - CNNPolitics
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Story highlightsMany of the 66 Democratic women in Congress wore white clothing to Trump's address"Tonight, our Democratic #WomenWearWhite in support of women's rights -- in spite of a @POTUS who doesn't!" Nancy Pelosi tweetedWashington (CNN)Democratic women in Congress made an impression Tuesday evening as they sat in the audience for President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress.Many of the 66 Democratic women representatives and delegates who make up the House Democratic Women's Working Group wore white clothing, dubbed "suffragette white" in a nod to the women's rights movement in the early 1900s, which encouraged its supporters to dress in white as a representation of purity. Tonight, Democratic Members will wear suffragette white to oppose Republican attempts to roll back women's progress #WomenWearWhite pic.twitter.com/lh5YAIfVGW— Rep. Lois Frankel (@RepLoisFrankel) February 28, 2017
"We wear white to unite against any attempts by the Trump administration to roll back the incredible progress women have made in the last century, and we will continue to support the advancement of all women," Florida Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel, the chair of the working group, said in a statement.The members are wearing white to show support for Planned Parenthood, affordable health care, reproductive rights, equal pay, paid leave, affordable child care and "lives free from fear and violence," the statement also said.W/@RepKClark wearing white to #JointSession to honor the progress we've made & let @realDonaldTrump know women are watching. #WomenWearWhite pic.twitter.com/8Qo30GIq4C— Ann McLane Kuster (@RepAnnieKuster) February 28, 2017
"Tonight, our Democratic #WomenWearWhite in support of women's rights -- in spite of a @POTUS who doesn't!" Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted.Tonight, our Democratic #WomenWearWhite in support of women's rights -- in spite of a @POTUS who doesn't! pic.twitter.com/kKJpfV5iUE— Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) February 28, 2017
Read MoreRepublican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the chair of the House Republican Conference, responded to her Democratic colleagues' statement by calling for unity."You know, I think this is an important time for us to be coming together," she told CNN's Erin Burnett on "OutFront" when asked about the movement by the Democratic women."Typically, when a president is elected, you have that coming together as a country, which we haven't had, and I'm hopeful that people will listen to his message tonight and that they'll be willing to come together, find the common ground, so that we can do the important work that the people expect us to do," McMorris Rodgers added.White has become the go-to color for celebrating women in politics at many points throughout history. There was a #WearWhiteToVote movement on Election Day 2016 as a tribute to the suffragettes, who fought for women's right to vote. And on the night Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention, she wore a white suit. Many women who disagree with Trump have been pushing back in the weeks following the President's inauguration, holding women's marches across the globe in January and planning more efforts to protest in the months to come.
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US blacklists 28 Chinese organizations over Xinjiang camps - CNN
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Hong Kong (CNN Business)Washington is adding 28 Chinese companies, government offices and security bureaus to a United States blacklist over their alleged role in facilitating human rights abuses in China's Xinjiang region. Monday's announcement targets some of China's top artificial intelligence companies in a similar way to the US move against smartphone giant Huawei earlier this year, and comes just days before crucial trade talks between the two sides. In a statement, the US Commerce Department said "these entities have been implicated in human rights violations and abuses in the implementation of China's campaign of repression, mass arbitrary detention, and high-technology surveillance against Uyghurs, Kazakhs, and other members of Muslim minority groups in [Xinjiang]."For the last two-and-a-half years, China has been detaining hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in what Beijing alternately describes as "voluntary de-radicalization camps" and "vocational training centers." Former detainees have described them as closer to internment camps, however, and allegations of abuse are rampant, including in firsthand accounts given to CNN describing torture and forced political re-education under the threat of violence.Read MoreChinese officials have long defended the crackdown in Xinjiang as necessary to tackle extremism and in line with Chinese law and international practice. In a statement Tuesday, Beijing said the US accusations were "groundless and senseless" and the sanctions on its organizations and companies "seriously violated the basic rules of international relations.""We urge the US to immediately correct its mistakes, withdraw relevant decisions and stop interfering with China's internal affairs," said Geng Shuang, a spokesman for China's foreign ministry, at a press briefing. "China will continue to take resolute measures to firmly safeguard its national sovereignty and developmental interests."Asked about potential retaliation against American companies, the spokesman said, "Please keep watching."Disturbing video shows hundreds of blindfolded prisoners in XinjiangThe organizations targeted by the United States are now barred from buying US products or importing American technology. The list includes 20 government and security bureaus in Xinjiang, and eight companies, including Hikvision, one of the world's largest manufacturers of AI-driven video surveillance products, and Meiya Pico, a leading digital forensics firm. "The US Government and Department of Commerce cannot and will not tolerate the brutal suppression of ethnic minorities within China," Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement. "This action will ensure that our technologies, fostered in an environment of individual liberty and free enterprise, are not used to repress defenseless minority populations."Shares in Hikvision — which has previously been accused by US lawmakers of helping China create a "high-tech police state" — were suspended in Shenzhen following the move.Hikvision said the company strongly opposed the US decision, adding it had been working with Trump administration officials over the last 12 months "to clarify misunderstandings about the company and address their concerns.""Hikvision, as the security industry's global leader, respects human rights and takes our responsibility to protect people in the US and the world seriously," a company spokesperson said.Meiya Pico has yet to publicly comment. US President Donald Trump speaks during a signing of a US-Japanese trade agreement in the Roosevelt Room of the White House October 7, 2019, in Washington, DC.The blacklisting of Chinese organizations comes just before high-level trade talks are due to resume in Washington on Thursday in the hopes of finding a way to end the damaging US-China trade war. Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, President Donald Trump said "my inclination is to get a big deal. We've come this far. We're doing well." "Can something happen? I guess, maybe. Who knows? But I think it's probably unlikely. Okay?" Trump added. Why China is the worst country Trump could ask for a favorThe American leader is facing intense scrutiny over his apparent request to Chinese authorities to look into his potential Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden, over the former vice president and his son's business dealings in China. During a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping about Biden, Trump promised to remain quiet on ongoing anti-government unrest in Hong Kong if trade talks progressed, according to two people familiar with the discussion. He denied promising to stay quiet Monday, "but I (did) say that we are negotiating. If anything happened bad, I think that would be a very bad for the negotiation." Yong Xiong contributed reporting.
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How China is tearing thousands of Uyghur families apart in Xinjiang - CNN
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Hong Kong (CNN)Every day, US-based Uyghur journalist Gulchehra Hoja tries to call her family in the Chinese region of Xinjiang. Sometimes she tries up to 20 different numbers, just hoping that someone will pick up."I know they won't pick up the phone, but I try ... nobody picks up," she told CNN in an interview from her office in Washington.She doesn't expect an answer because 23 of her family members -- including her aunt, her brothers, her cousins -- have disappeared, along with tens of thousands of other ethnic Uyghurs inside enormous state-controlled "re-education camps." Hoja, who works as a journalist for US government-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA), says her brother was the first in the family to vanish in September 28, 2017. "This is my brother and this is me," she says, holding up a picture. "This was taken in summer 2000, it's my birthday ... this is my last picture with him .... (Now) he is missing. We don't know where he is now."Read MoreUyghur journalist Gulchehra Hoja holds a pictures of her brother who has been missing in Xinjiang for more than a yearHer aunt, who raised her, and then her cousins vanished into Xinjiang's vast detention system, without any explanation or trial. She says her parents, last she heard, were under house arrest, unable even to go to a doctor without permission. But even they stopped taking her calls a month ago.An estimated one million Uyghurs, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority in western China, are being held in camps across the region, according to a US congressional report.The Chinese government has never explained the disappearances, which began in 2017, nor said how many people are being held in the camps, which they insist are "vocational training centers" that local "students" are happy to attend.China admits to locking up Uyghurs, but defends Xinjiang crackdownDefending his country's human rights record at a United Nations forum in early November, China's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Yucheng said that his country had made "remarkable progress" in the past four decades, including "lifting more than a billion people out of poverty."But many other countries remain harshly critical of Beijing's record, especially in regards to the Xinjiang camps. More than a dozen states including Australia, Germany and the United States have called on China to dismantle the camps and release those detained. "They are transformation centers, and they really are aimed at completely altering Uyghur culture and identity. It's kind of a surreal practice, I would say, that is definitely unprecedented in the 21st century," Sean Roberts, director of the International Development Studies Program at George Washington University, told CNN.Hoja goes even further. She describes it as "cultural genocide."'Brainwashed'Beijing has had a long and fractious history with Xinjiang, a massive, nominally autonomous region in the far west of the country that is home to a relatively small population of around 22 million in a nation of 1.4 billion people.Although the ruling Communist Party says Xinjiang has been part of China "since ancient times," it was only officially named and placed under central government control after being conquered by the Qing Dynasty in the 1800s.The predominately Muslim Uyghurs, who are ethnically distinct from the country's majority ethnic group, the Han Chinese, form the majority in Xinjiang, where they account for just under half of the total population. This, however, is changing fast. According to government data, in 1953 Han Chinese accounted for just 6% of Xinjiang's total population of 4.87 million, while Uyghurs made up 75%. By the year 2000 the Han Chinese population had grown to 40%, while Uyghurs had fallen to 45% of the total population of 18.46 million. Uyghur crackdown in Xinjiang doubles security spending in one yearContinued economic development has led to an increase in skilled Han Chinese migrants. The provincial capital Urumqi, Xinjiang's largest and most prosperous city, is today majority Han Chinese. "They named our homeland Xinjiang ... Uyghurs prefer to call it East Turkistan because our land was called (that) before the Chinese occupied," Hoja said, looking at the map of her home province. Xinjiang means "new frontier" in Chinese.In the past decade, perceived "Sinocization" across Xinjiang has led to Uyghur unrest -- and bouts of bloody ethnic violence. The region has also been braced by acts of terrorism, often directed at authorities. In reaction, the provincial government, which blames the terrorist attacks on independence-seeking Uyghur extremists, has greatly expanded its efforts to control the local Uyghur population. Under direction of Xinjiang's Communist Party Secretary Chen Quanguo, authorities have cracked down hard on the Muslim beliefs and practices of the Uyghur population, including face coverings and long beards, Quran study groups and preventing government employees from fasting for Ramadan. Anyone can be sent, under the flimsiest of reasons, to "re-education camps," according to Hoja. "When my brother was taken ... my Mum asked like, 'Why are you taking my son? What he do?' And the officer answered back, 'His sister's (in the US), is that not enough to take him?'" she said.But Hoja believes the real reason he was taken was simpler than that. "They are targeted just because they are Uyghurs."Uyghur journalist Gulchehra Hoja's brother and parents in an undated family photoHoja claims up to 40% of the province's Uyghur population, as many as four million people, could currently be held in the "re-education camps.""They are ill-treated there. They are tortured there. Even you cannot speak your own language in there, you are brainwashed," Hoja alleged."Every day before your meal you have to sing a 'red' (communist) song, and say thank you to (Chinese President) Xi Jinping or the Communist Party."In defense of the government's policy, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV aired footage inside what they term "vocational training camps," showing smiling Uyghurs learning Chinese and skills such as sewing.But Hoja challenged the idea that her family was in such desperate need of vocational training that they should be taken to the camps."My aunt knows more than three languages, she is also retired from the Xinjiang Museum, so what kind of education does she need to take?" she said.'The worst feeling in the world'Mamatjan Juma, another Uyghur journalist working for RFA, said not knowing where your family was, or being able to help them, was "the worst feeling in the world.""Every day I think of them, the pain is there. Because it's just like a kind of virus, it's in your mind, the pain is there every night. They were in my dreams sometimes ... You cannot do anything," he told CNN.A former teacher from a big family in the Xinjiang city of Kashgar, Juma, said Chinese authorities took away two of his brothers in May 2017."My last brother, the third one, the youngest brother was taken away this year, in February. And since then I've lost contact with my Mom and two of my younger sisters," he said.Ahmatjan Juma, a teacher and brother of Uyghur journalist Mamatjan Juma, who disappeared in Xinjiang in 2017Like Hoja, Juma feels that working as a journalist in the US has led to negative consequences for his family. From 2010, he began to receive calls from his brother trying to convince him to come home. They only stopped when his brother vanished.Juma said he is most concerned about his mother, who is severely unwell after suffering multiple heart attacks and being sent to hospital three times. "I don't know what happened to her, if she's been taken away, or something has happened to her," he said.He worries for those detained. "One Uyghur businessman told me that they were left like animals. They don't have any facilities ... They don't have enough food," he said.The Chinese government claims its actions in Xinjiang, including the mass detentions and forced home stays by Communist Party officials, are designed to make the province more secure and prosperous.Xinjiang Governor Shohrat Zakir, himself a Uyghur, told the state-run Xinhua news agency in October that since the crackdown "Xinjiang is not only beautiful but also safe and stable."But Juma told CNN Beijing is simply trying to "Sinocize" Xinjiang, remove the Uyghurs' culture and identity and make them more like the Han Chinese majority. "They call it educate and civilize, but that's not the case," he said.'Critical location'While a large part of the Chinese government's crackdown in Xinjiang has centered on efforts to "transform" Uyghurs into model Chinese citizens, Roberts, the associate professor, said there may be ulterior motives for Beijing."If you look at the plans for (Chinese President) Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative, Xinjiang is a critical location that will serve as the jumping off point for all economic expansion into Central Asia and South West Asia and really into Europe," he told CNN.The Belt and Road Initiative, a signature policy of Xi's, plans to create trade corridors between Beijing and the rest of the world, through international infrastructure spending and diplomatic agreements. The name references the Maritime Silk Road, which will run to Africa through South East Asia, and the Silk Road Economic Belt, which will connect Xinjiang to important partners such as Pakistan, Turkey and Russia."The Belt and Road is part of the reason that there's such an urgency to clean up the Uyghur population in Xinjiang at the present moment," Roberts said.China's paranoia and oppression in Xinjiang has a long history"What really concerns me is that, if it's really the last chance to try to transform Uyghurs, what's the next step if they decide that the Uyghurs can't be transformed into a passive benign minority that's loyal to the state?" he said.Despite the threat of violence or abduction for her and her family, Hoja says she feels obligated to keep speaking out and working to raise awareness for the "voiceless" Uyghur.Even with everything that's happened, Hoja says, her dearest wish would be to return home, one day, to Xinjiang. "It's my biggest dream ... everybody wants to go back home right?"CNN's Rebecca Wright contributed to this article.
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If Kim Jong Un destroyed North Korea's economy to keep Covid-19 out, will sanctions stop him from pursuing nuclear weapons? - CNN
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(CNN)After arguably the most challenging year of his near-decade rule of North Korea, Kim Jong Un is sticking to his guns. Kim announced last week at the Eighth Workers' Party Congress -- a meeting for North Korea's governing elite -- that his country plans to beef up Pyongyang's already dangerous nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs with new, sophisticated armaments, such as tactical nuclear weapons designed for use on the battlefield and warheads designed to evade American-made missile defense systems. And at a parade marking the conclusion of the Congress, Kim's military showed off a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).Kim's message was crystal clear: Right now, North Korea needs its nuclear weapons to deter the United States "no matter who is in power," he said -- and no matter the cost.The young leader's ambitious plans for modernizing his nuclear arsenal will prove expensive, at a time when money is already tight. North Korea voluntarily severed the last of its scant ties with the outside world in 2020 to prevent an influx of Covid-19. That included cutting off almost all trade with Beijing, an economic lifeline the impoverished country needs to keep its people from going hungry. Read MoreNorth Korea's economy is now in the gutter, and its food supply is reportedly in peril.To ward off the pandemic, Kim effectively did to his country what many in Washington hoped economic sanctions would do: bring the North Korean economy close to the brink of collapse. That he did it on his own volition has led many to question if sanctions ever be strong enough to change Kim's thinking. Some analysts disagree with that line of thinking. They see opportunity.With North Korea's economy already on the ropes, they believe now is the time to deliver the knockout punch -- a blow of crippling coercive measures that, once and for all, convinces Kim that his continued pursuit of nuclear weapons does not guarantee his regime's safety, it threatens it. Either way, Kim's plans will prove to be a major challenge for President-elect Joe Biden. Trump, like Obama and President George W. Bush, will leave his successor a more-dangerous and better-armed adversary than the one he inherited. This picture taken on Thursday and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Friday shows what appears to be a submarine-launched ballistic missiles during a military parade.Maximum pressureBefore Trump agreed to sit face-to-face with Kim in 2018, his administration put in place an aptly named strategy called "maximum pressure." The goal was to use sanctions, diplomacy and other coercive measures, short of armed conflict, to convince Kim to agree to the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.As North Korea tested missiles and nuclear bombs at an unprecedented clip in 2017, the Trump administration turned up the heat. The US mission to the United Nations successfully lobbied the UN Security Council to put in place resolutions that went after North Korea's ability to make money by selling regular goods, such as coal and seafood. The Treasury Department used its tremendous power and influence over the global financial system to enact their own, unilateral sanctions. And diplomats successfully lobbied US partners to close Pyongyang's embassies overseas, which the regime has been accused of using as fronts for money-making opportunities. By the end of 2017, North Korea was barred from almost all international trade. Even long-time North Korean ally China agreed to sign on to incredibly punitive UN sanctions that year, and Beijing appeared to be enforcing them at first. That momentum didn't last. As Trump pivoted to diplomacy with Pyongyang in 2018, the United States took its foot off the gas on the pressure campaign. Hundreds of new sanctions that were ready to go were put on hold ahead of Trump's first summit with Kim in Singapore, the President said. Sanctions have been issued at a much slower clip since.As the threat subsided and its relationship with the United States crumbled, China began loosening its enforcement of restrictions, Washington alleged, though Beijing repeatedly denies any claims that it does not fully enforce UN sanctions.Many experts believe Washington gave up on maximum pressure too soon.Some, including former US acting assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific Evans Revere, argue Biden's team should seriously consider a new maximum pressure model, ramping up sanctions "in ways that would impose even more pain and isolation on North Korea.""Intensification of sanctions, plus other diplomatic, economic and banking and military pressures that you could apply on North Korea could certainly shake the regimes foundations, particularly now that we see that the regime is suffering a severe economic crisis the likes of which we haven't seen in a while," Revere said. Revere and other proponents of sanctions argue there are still tools left in the US arsenal to pressure North Korea, and they should be pursued. The Biden administration could, for example, try harder to close North Korean trading companies in conjunction with US allies and target Chinese banks that help North Korea access foreign currency."There is much, much more to be done that could squeeze, isolate and undermine North Korea in ways that would shake their confidence in their long-standing assumption that nuclear weapons are their salvation and would also drive the point home that not only are nuclear weapons not your salvation, they are the thing that has the potential to undermine the stability of your regime," Revere said. JUST WATCHEDSouth Korean FM: 'Complacency' led to Covid riseReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSouth Korean FM: 'Complacency' led to Covid rise 13:08Risky businessRevere said he recognizes that such an approach is risky. It could force North Koreans to choose between feeding its people and funding its nuclear weapons, and history shows Kim would likely choose the latter.Kim Jong Il, the current leader's father and predecessor, let millions die of starvation during a famine in the 1990s rather than reform, accept aid or or do anything that might have threatened his iron grip on leadership. Things aren't that bad in North Korea right now, but analysts believe the economic situation is more dire than it has been since the famine. Devastating storms, the punishing sanctions and the pandemic pummeled North Korea's economy in 2020. There appears to be enough food to go around, but the supply is under more strain than any time since the famine, according to Chad O'Carroll, the CEO of Korea Risk Group, which produces North Korea publications NK Pro and NK News."We can safely say there are nationwide shortages of several key food types, food items," he said. Though costly, Kim's decision to shut North Korea's borders appear to have worked from a public health perspective. North Korea's claim not to have contracted a single case of Covid-19 is likely untrue, but the country has not seemingly not experienced a serious wave of infections.A large number of cases would likely overwhelm North Korea's dilapidated healthcare infrastructure, so Kim is unlikely to lift border restrictions until the pandemic subsides. That means Pyongyang will, in order to achieve its objectives, continue to inflict a level of economic pain upon itself.John Delury, a professor at Yonsei University's Graduate School of International Relations, said that should be "a sobering reminder to the Biden administration that (economic) pressure does not work on North Korea.""North Korea subjected itself to an even more extreme form of economic pain (than sanctions) to keep away Covid. And yet, they're not budging on the nuclear thing," Delury said. Kim Jong Un claps his hands at the Workers' Party Congress on Sunday, January 10.Getting everyone on the same pageBiden now faces the same foreign policy issue that has plagued his previous five predecessors: How to get North Korea to give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. He may be forced to do so sooner than he'd like. Though the new weapons Kim mentioned are at various stages of development, most would need to be test-fired to be considered operational. If North Korea were to conduct such a test, it would likely set the stage for a diplomatic confrontation between Washington and Pyongyang in the first days of Biden's presidency.There are hints about how the new US administration would approach that challenge. Based on his public remarks, Biden's strategy will likely involve a commitment to multilateral alliances. Biden's pick for Secretary of State is on the record saying Washington should look to the Iran deal for inspiration on how to deal with North Korea, meaning the new administration may consider something like trading a freeze in proliferation activities for limited sanctions relief. But sources familiar with the transition said the incoming administration will take time to flesh out a policy after meeting with allies and partners.North Korean leader Kim Jong Un gesturing from the tribune during a military parade on Thursday.Whatever path Biden chooses, major roadblocks remain.If, like his predecessor, Biden responded with sanctions and pressure, it might preclude the type of back-channel diplomacy used to set up the Iran deal. Pyongyang views sanctions as "hostile" acts and could in turn shut the door to talks with its typical bombastic language. North Korea referred to the last round of UN sanctions on it in 2017 as "an act of war," and called the idea that it would give up its nuclear weapons a US "pipe dream."The strategy would also require buy-in from three uneasy players: China, Russia and South Korea. "China and Russia will not fully enforce even existing sanctions," said Duyeon Kim, an adjunct senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. "Geopolitically it would be difficult to designate new sanctions without a very convincing rationale for Beijing, Moscow and even South Korea's Moon government."China and Russia appear content with the status quo. South Korean President Moon Jae-in may not be on board with a pressure strategy because he favors engagement and economic cooperation as means of lowering the temperature. Moon said that dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation are key to the Korean peace process in a speech earlier this month.If dialogue is the path chosen, the Biden administration must recognize its limits, said Delury."We should moderate our expectations of what engagement can do," he said. "We've seen what three summits can do, and it leaves a lot to be desired." But the biggest issue might simply be bandwidth. Biden comes into office facing incredibly daunting challenges at home. He must stop the Covid-19 pandemic raging within the United States' own borders, heal a wounded nation still recovering after a Trump-incited mob of insurrectionists stormed the US Capitol, and get his Cabinet approved by the Senate which must try Trump after his impeachment on charges of insurrection."How do you deal with this North Korea challenge ... and deal with all these other things at the same time?" Revere said. "This is hard, but these are extremely capable people."CNN's Kylie Atwood and Jake Kwon contributed reporting
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North Korea reports building collapse in Pyongyang - CNN
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Story highlights Dozens of families may have been in the building, a South Korean official saysNorth Korea state media report "casualties" but don't provide any specific numbersThe accident took place at an apartment building under construction in PyongyangKCNA: Leader Kim Jong Un "sat up all night, feeling painful" after hearing the newsAn apartment building in the North Korean capital collapsed in what state media described as a "serious accident" that caused an unspecified number of casualties.The unusual, apologetic report Sunday from the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said the collapse took place Tuesday at the construction site of an apartment building in Phyongchon, a central district of Pyongyang."The accident claimed casualties," the agency reported without providing details on the number of people killed and injured. Rescue efforts were abandoned on Saturday, the agency said.A South Korean government official said the building had 23 floors, estimating that as many as 92 families might have been living inside. It's common for people to move into North Korean buildings before construction is completed, the official said.The South Korean government closely monitors activities in North Korea. Photos: The photos N. Korea banned Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedPhotos North Korea didn't want you to see – A stern looking North Korean guard by the Chinese border customs office. This image was deleted by North Korean officials. Hide Caption 1 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedDeleting the offensive photos – Writer Johan Nylander and his guide, Ko Chang Ho, watch as a North Korean guard deletes 90 photos deemed unacceptable. Nylander was able to recover the photos with the help of an IT specialist -- the images that follow are an edited selection.Hide Caption 2 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedHello, Dear Leader – This propaganda monument of "Dear Leader" Kim Jong-Il by a countryside road, not far from the border to China, was deleted by authorities. North Korea required images of leaders be full body shots. Hide Caption 3 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedWaiting for a train – People standing by the train track, while a guard is monitoring the bike race. Hide Caption 4 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedWatching the race – In the city of Rason, people are leaning out of windows to get a glimpse of the Western cyclists. Hide Caption 5 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedPedestrian peasants – A woman and a man walking by the side of the road lined with cornfields. Hide Caption 6 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedVillage life – Villagers waving by the race path.Hide Caption 7 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedHeavy security – Guards and custom officials by the border to China.Hide Caption 8 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedSecret volleyball court? – By the border checkpoint next to the Tumen River, North Korean customs officials can play volleyball. Officials prohibited any photos of North Korean military bases.Hide Caption 9 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedPhotos North Korea didn't want you to see – Peasants and villagers standing by the road to look at the Western cyclistsHide Caption 10 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedKeeping watch – Guard keeping an eye on the bikers next to a small village. Hide Caption 11 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedPhotos North Korea didn't want you to see – Kids playing outside village houses. Hide Caption 12 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedWaiting for the cyclists – Spectators waiting for the bikers to reach the finish line. In the background the "Great" and "Dear Leaders" Kim Il Sung and his son, Kim Jong-Il.Hide Caption 13 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedStanding on bikes to see cyclists – Huge crowds -- some of whom standing on their own bikes -- as they await cyclists by the race finish line in Rason.Hide Caption 14 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedDocument check – Custom official and tourist bureau guide checking foreigners' passports. Hide Caption 15 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedWater checkpoint – Guides from the local tourist bureau handing out water bottles to bikers, monitored by a guard in the background. Hide Caption 16 of 17 Photos: The photos N. Korea bannedWriter and his minder – Journalist Johan Nylander and his North Korean guide, Ko Chang Ho. EDITOR'S NOTE: This image was not among those deleted by North Korean officials. Hide Caption 17 of 17 Photos: North Korea through a Google Glass lens Photos: North Korea through a Google Glass lens'OK Glass' – Kenny Zhu visited North Korea from China and captured North Korea using his Google Glass. He was allowed to wear the wearable camera as long as "everything reflects the positive side of DPRK."Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: North Korea through a Google Glass lensKim's family photo – The words beside the two photos translate roughly as "Long live the The Great Leader Kim Jong-un," and "Long Live the Sun-Like Workers' Party of Korea."Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: North Korea through a Google Glass lensMansudae Grand Monuments – The Mansudae Grand Monument is where North Koreans line up to place flowers at the foot of the gigantic statue of Kim Il Sung. Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: North Korea through a Google Glass lensRemember what Kim said – "The banner said something like 'Fully execute the missions that our beloved General Kim Jung-un mentioned in this year's New Year Statement' -- I know some basic Korean," says Zhu.Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: North Korea through a Google Glass lensSouth Korean air cons found – Zhu noticed that the DMZ uses Samsung air conditioners, a South Korean brand.Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: North Korea through a Google Glass lensWorkers' Party of Korea Memorial Sculpture – One tour guide told Zhu that from his only visit to China, he discovered China has series pollution problems.Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: North Korea through a Google Glass lensPyongyang metro – Zhu also recorded two videos from the Pyongyang metro station. The short clips can be viewed on his original iReport submission: North Korea..through Google Glass.Hide Caption 7 of 7 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's military Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryNorth Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with North Korea's first female fighter jet pilots in this undated photo released by the country's state media on Monday, June 22. He called the women "heroes of Korea" and "flowers of the sky."Hide Caption 1 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim stands on the snow-covered top of Mount Paektu in North Korea in a photo taken by North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun on April 18 and released the next day by South Korean news agency Yonhap. Kim scaled the country's highest mountain, North Korean state-run media reported, arriving at the summit to tell soldiers that the hike provides mental energy more powerful than nuclear weapons.Hide Caption 2 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim Jong Un, center, poses with soldiers on the snow-covered top of Mount Paektu in an April 18 photo released by South Korean news agency Yonhap. Hide Caption 3 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim visits the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang, North Korea, on April 15 to celebrate the 103rd birth anniversary of his grandfather, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung.Hide Caption 4 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim inspects a drill for seizing an island at an undisclosed location in North Korea in an undated picture released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on February 21.Hide Caption 5 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim speaks during a meeting of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this photo released February 19 by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.Hide Caption 6 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA picture released by the North Korean Central News Agency shows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appearing without his cane at an event with military commanders in Pyongyang on Tuesday, November 4. Kim, who recently disappeared from public view for about six weeks, had a cyst removed from his right ankle, a lawmaker told CNN.Hide Caption 7 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim is seen walking with a cane in this image released Thursday, October 30, by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.Hide Caption 8 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim sits in the pilot's seat of a fighter jet during the inspection.Hide Caption 9 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryThis undated photo, released Tuesday, October 14, by the KCNA, shows Kim inspecting a housing complex in Pyongyang, North Korea. International speculation about Kim went into overdrive after he failed to attend events on Friday, October 10, the 65th anniversary of the Workers' Party. He hadn't been seen in public since he reportedly attended a concert with his wife on September 3.Hide Caption 10 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA picture released by the KCNA shows Kim and his wife watching a performance by the Moranbong Band on Wednesday, September 3, in Pyongyang.Hide Caption 11 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim tours a front-line military unit in this image released Wednesday, July 16, by the KCNA.Hide Caption 12 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim poses for a photo as he oversees a tactical rocket-firing drill in June.Hide Caption 13 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim watches a tactical rocket-firing drill in June.Hide Caption 14 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA North Korean soldier patrols the bank of the Yalu River, which separates the North Korean town of Sinuiju from the Chinese border town of Dandong, on Saturday, April 26.Hide Caption 15 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryIn this photo released Thursday, April 24, by the Korean Central News Agency, Kim smiles with female soldiers after inspecting a rocket-launching drill at an undisclosed location.Hide Caption 16 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA picture released Tuesday, March 18, by the KCNA shows Kim attending a shooting practice at a military academy in Pyongyang.Hide Caption 17 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA North Korean soldier uses binoculars on Thursday, February 6, to look at South Korea from the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War. Hide Caption 18 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA North Korean soldier kicks a pole along the banks of the Yalu River on Tuesday, February 4.Hide Caption 19 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA photo released by the KCNA on Thursday, January 23, shows the North Korean leader inspecting an army unit during a winter drill.Hide Caption 20 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim inspects the command of an army unit in this undated photo released Sunday, January 12, by the KCNA.Hide Caption 21 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim visits an army unit in this undated photo. Hide Caption 22 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim inspects a military factory in this undated picture released by the KCNA in May 2013.Hide Caption 23 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim visits the Ministry of People's Security in 2013 as part of the country's May Day celebrations.Hide Caption 24 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA North Korean soldier, near Sinuiju, gestures to stop photographers from taking photos in April 2013.Hide Caption 25 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryNorth Korean soldiers patrol near the Yalu River in April 2013.Hide Caption 26 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim is briefed by his generals in this undated photo. On the wall is a map titled "Plan for the strategic forces to target mainland U.S." Hide Caption 27 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim works during a briefing in this undated photo.Hide Caption 28 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryIn this KCNA photo, Kim inspects naval drills at an undisclosed location on North Korea's east coast in March 2013.Hide Caption 29 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim, with North Korean soldiers, makes his way to an observation post in March 2013.Hide Caption 30 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim uses a pair of binoculars to look south from the Jangjae Islet Defense Detachment, near South Korea's Taeyonphyong Island, in March 2013.Hide Caption 31 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim is greeted by a soldier's family as he inspects the Jangjae Islet Defense Detachment in March 2013.Hide Caption 32 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim is surrounded by soldiers during a visit to the Mu Islet Hero Defense Detachment, also near Taeyonphyong Island, in March 2013.Hide Caption 33 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim arrives at Jangjae Islet by boat to meet with soldiers of the Jangjae Islet Defense Detachment in March 2013.Hide Caption 34 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militarySoldiers in the North Korean army train at an undisclosed location in March 2013.Hide Caption 35 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryIn a photo released by the official North Korean news agency in December 2012, Kim celebrates a rocket's launch with staff from the satellite control center in Pyongyang.Hide Caption 36 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim, center, poses in this undated picture released by North Korea's official news agency in November 2012.Hide Caption 37 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim visits the Rungna People's Pleasure Ground, under construction in Pyongyang, in a photo released in July 2012 by the KCNA.Hide Caption 38 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA crowd watches as statues of North Korean founder Kim Il Sung and his son Kim Jong Il are unveiled during a ceremony in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 39 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA North Korean soldier stands guard in front of an UNHA III rocket at the Tangachai-ri Space Center in April 2012.Hide Caption 40 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryIn April 2012, Pyongyang launched a long-range rocket that broke apart and fell into the sea. Here, the UNHA III rocket is pictured on its launch pad in Tang Chung Ri, North Korea.Hide Caption 41 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's military – A closer look at the UNHA III rocket on its launch pad in Tang Chung Ri, North Korea.Hide Caption 42 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA military vehicle participates in a parade in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 43 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryNorth Korean soldiers relax at the end of an official ceremony attended by leader Kim Jong Un at a stadium in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 44 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryKim Jong Un applauds as he watches a military parade in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 45 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA North Korean soldier stands on a balcony in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 46 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryNorth Korean soldiers march during a military parade in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 47 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militarySoldiers board a bus outside a theater in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 48 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryNorth Korean performers sit below a screen showing images of leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 49 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryNorth Korean soldiers salute during a military parade in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 50 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryNorth Korean soldiers listen to a speech during an official ceremony attended by leader Kim Jong Un at a stadium in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 51 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryMembers of a North Korean military band gather following an official ceremony at the Kim Il Sung stadium in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 52 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryNorth Korean military personnel watch a performance in Pyongyang in April 2012.Hide Caption 53 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA North Korean controller is seen along the railway line between the Pyongyang and North Pyongan provinces in April 2012.Hide Caption 54 of 55 Photos: Kim Jong Un and North Korea's militaryA North Korean military honor guard stands at attention at Pyongyang's airport in May 2001.Hide Caption 55 of 55The construction of the building "was not done properly and officials supervised and controlled it in an irresponsible manner," KCNA reported. Pyongyang residents were "greatly shocked" it said.Kim Jong Un upsetThe secretive North Korean regime rarely calls attention to problems within its borders.The publication of the state media report, which contained a series of apologies from senior public officials, suggests it was a severe calamity.Kim Jong Un, the country's leader, "sat up all night, feeling painful after being told about the accident" and put aside "all other affairs," KCNA reported, citing Kim Su Gil, the chief secretary of the Pyongyang City Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea.Minister of People's Security Choe Pu Il described the accident as "unimaginable," according to the news agency.Kim Su Gil said authorities are taking steps to help the families of the victims and provide them with new housing, supporting the conclusion that people were living in the building while it was still under construction.Among the disasters that North Korea has taken the rare step of acknowledging publicly are floods in 2012 that killed scores of people and an explosion at a train station in 2004 that caused hundreds of casualties.
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What sea level rise will look like around the globe - CNN
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(CNN)The planet is warming rapidly, resulting in historic drought, deadly floods and unusual melting events in the Arctic. It is also causing steady sea level rise, which scientists say will continue for decades.A new study from Climate Central, a nonprofit research group, shows that roughly 50 major coastal cities will need to implement "unprecedented" adaptation measures to prevent rising seas from swallowing their most populated areas. The analysis, in collaboration with researchers at Princeton University and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany, resulted in striking visual contrasts between the world as we know it today and our underwater future, if the planet warms to 3 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Climate scientists reported in August the world is already around 1.2 degrees Celsius warmer than pre-industrial levels. Temperatures should stay below 1.5 degrees, they say — a critical threshold to avoid the most severe impacts of the climate crisis. But even in the most optimistic scenario, where global greenhouse gas emissions begin to decline today and are slashed to net zero by 2050, global temperature will still peak above the 1.5-degree threshold before falling.Read MoreIn less-optimistic scenarios, where emissions continue to climb beyond 2050, the planet could reach 3 degrees as early as the 2060s or 2070s, and the oceans will continue to rise for decades beyond that before they reach peak levels."Today's choices will set our path," said Benjamin Strauss, the chief scientist at Climate Central and lead author on the report. Climate Central researchers used global elevation and population data to analyze parts of the world that will be most vulnerable to sea level rise, which tend to be concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region. Small island nations at risk of "near-total loss" of land, the report says, and eight of the top 10 areas exposed to sea level rise are in Asia, with approximately 600 million people exposed to inundation under a 3-degree warming scenario.See more:Climate change is creeping up on this fairytale landA woman asked us where her recycling goes. See what CNN discoveredNew York's secret weapon against big storms? OystersExtreme weather in 2021 is on pace to shatter a recordScientists looked at more than 100,000 studies and found the world has a giant climate blind spotAccording to Climate Central's analysis, China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia are in the top five countries most vulnerable to long-term sea level rise. The researchers note that these are also countries that have added additional coal-burning capacity in recent years.In September, a study published in the journal Nature found nearly 60% of the planet's remaining oil and natural gas and 90% of its coal reserves should remain in the ground by 2050 to have a higher chance of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Most regions around the world, it said, must reach peak fossil fuel production now or within the next decade to avoid the critical climate threshold.At the UN General Assembly in September, China made a major climate pledge as one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases: the country will no longer build any new coal-fired power projects abroad, marking a shift in policy around its sprawling Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, which had already begun to dwindle its coal initiatives.If the planet hits 3 degrees, Climate Central reports that roughly 43 million people in China will live on land projected to be below high-tide levels by 2100, with 200 million people living in areas at risk of sea level rise over the longer term. With every fraction of a degree of warming, the consequences of climate change worsen. Even limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, scientists say the kinds of extreme weather the world experienced this summer will become more severe and more frequent.Beyond 1.5 degrees, the climate system could begin to look unrecognizable. According to the Climate Central report, roughly 385 million people currently live on land that will eventually be inundated by high tide, even if greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.If warming is limited to 1.5 degrees, sea level rise would affect land inhabited by 510 million people today.If the planet reaches 3 degrees, the high-tide line could encroach above land where more than 800 million people live, the study finds. The authors note in the report that a key caveat in their assessment is the lack of global data on existing coastal defenses such as levees and seawalls to fully project exposure to rising seas. Nonetheless, they recognize that because of the impacts seen today with recent flooding events and storm surges, cities will likely revamp infrastructure to avoid worsening impacts. "Higher levels of warming will require globally unprecedented defenses or abandonment in scores of major coastal cities worldwide," the authors wrote, "whereas the count could be limited to a relative handful through strong compliance with the Paris Agreement, especially limiting warming to 1.5 degrees." But coastal infrastructure costs money. Wealthy nations like the United States and the United Kingdom could afford these measures, but low-income nations could be left behind.And while many small island nations are surrounded by mangroves and coral reefs that could protect their lands from rising seas, warming temperatures are causing ocean acidification and other forms of environmental destruction that threaten such defense measures. During the first two weeks of November, world leaders will gather at UN-brokered climate talks in Glasgow, Scotland. They will discuss further limiting greenhouse gas emissions, as well as the amount of funding developed nations will pledge to help the Global South move away from fossil fuels and adapt to the impacts of the climate crisis.Unless bold and rapid actions are taken, extreme weather events and climate change-fueled sea level rise will increasingly fill the future of the Earth. Scientists say the planet is running out of time to avoid these worst-case scenarios."World leaders have a fleeting opportunity to help or betray the future of humanity with their actions today on climate change," said Strauss. "This research and the images created from it illustrate the enormous stakes behind the climate talks in Glasgow."
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'The One' mega mansion once worth $500 million defaults on $100 million in debt, forcing a sale - CNN
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A gargantuan residence in Los Angeles dubbed "The One" by its developer is now on track to be sold after the owner defaulted on more than $100 million in loans and debt, according to court documents. In an Instagram post last summer, Nile Niami, the project's developer, pitched the 105,000-square-foot home as having seven pools, a 50-car garage, a 10,000-bottle wine cellar and even its own nightclub. Promoted as being the largest and most expensive urban property in the world, "The One" was expected to come to market for $500 million, according to the video Niami posted on Instagram. But it suffered many delays and complications and now faces a court-ordered sale to pay debts.An aerial view of 105,000 square foot mansion dubbed "The One." Niami borrowed $82.5 million from Hankey Capital in 2018 to continue building the home. But in March of this year, Hankey served a notice of default sending the property toward a foreclosure sale. Niami had 90 days to pay or renegotiate the debt, which had grown to more than $110 million, according to court documents. With no payment made by July, the home was placed in court-ordered receivership, which is an alternative to foreclosure for complicated real estate deals. The receiver, Theodore Lanes of Lanes Management Services, is tasked with accounting for debts against the property, readying then selling the property and, ideally, repaying lenders and creditors with the proceeds. Hankey Capital declined to comment about the default or receivership. Nile Niami did not respond to a request for comment. Read MoreBut despite promises by Niami that the property is nearly done -- during a video tour of the home posted in April he said it would be "another four weeks, probably" -- there is a complicated punch list left and the property is not ready for market, according to Lanes' first report filed with the court. Some items Lanes outlined are fairly typical final details when building a home -- the gas company won't provide service until there is a certificate of occupancy issued, for instance. But others are particular to the property: the permit to build a commercial-grade catering kitchen was denied and that space remains empty. Lanes said in an email to CNN Business that he is still learning about new issues that need to be dealt with, including obtaining the plans and permits and sorting out agreements with artists whose work is in the house, a furniture staging company and the gardener. "It's a pretty extensive list," he said.Other problems the property faces, according to the report: the insurance had lapsed in early 2021, challenges from social media users to sneak onto the property have led to intruders."Clearly anything that would fall under safety would have priority," said Lanes in his email. "As for the other projects, they are all being evaluated based on requirements to achieve the certificate of occupancy. If they are mandatory for certificate of occupancy, they are getting priority."The home also has more than $2 million in unpaid taxes and invoices to vendors for concrete, air conditioning and scaffolding, according to Lanes's report. "This is a very complicated property with quite a few open issues," Lanes wrote in his report. "At present, the focus is to obtain complete insurance and develop a timeline and budget to secure the certificate of occupancy in order to maximize value and to make the property more marketable."'The One' Nearly a decade in the making, the home sits atop a hill in Bel Air, with views of the Los Angeles basin. The colossal home features 20 bedrooms, including eight bedrooms for the staff and a three-bedroom guest house, approximately 6 elevators, a library, cigar room and candy room, according to a two-part home tour posted on YouTube in April.The home is promoted as having a four-lane bowling alley, a 50-seat movie theater, a putting green, wellness center and gym, beauty salon, juice bar and tennis court.Despite Niami repeatedly teasing that the home was weeks away from coming to market, it never arrived.Instead, over the past year, Niami has been unloading other properties -- at discounted prices.Earlier this year, he sold a West Hollywood mansion for $26 million, far below an earlier $35 million asking price, according to property records reported on Realtor.com. In April, he sold a Bel Air mansion for $36 million, a little over half of its original $65 million asking price in 2018, according to Zillow.Other default notices arrived too, including one on a debt of $10 million on a home in the Hollywood Hills and another on a debt of $23.4 million on a home in Bel Air, according to the Los Angeles Times. And Niami is being sued by other creditors looking to get their money. Real estate firm Compass is suing for non payment of a $200,000 loan he took out while trying to sell a different home in Bel Air, according to court documents.Early construction of the mega mansion built by Nile Niami, in Bel Air, California in May 2015. It is not clear at what price "The One" will ultimately be listed, or when it will come to market. "I am still evaluating proposals and strategies from various potential listing agents," Lanes said in an email.Although the property hadn't yet come to market earlier this year, a Google Forms application was available for potential buyers to fill out. Beyond contact information, it only asks one question: "Which influencer did you find out from?"Several social media influencers have already featured it. Last April, Niami gave a home tour to YouTube personality Michael Blakey. The tour provides a glimpse of the nightclub with VIP area and a walk-through of the 4,000-square-foot master suite, with its own pool."I gave them everything here," Niami said in the video. "We have everything anyone could ever want in this house."
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Barbados bid farewell to the Queen and celebrate the birth of a republic - CNN
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Bridgetown, Barbados (CNN)With the stroke of midnight, Barbados cut its last remaining bonds to the British monarchy after nearly 400 years. In a ceremony on Monday evening, Prince Charles acknowledged the "appalling atrocity of slavery" as the nation removed Queen Elizabeth II as head of state and inaugurated its first-ever President.Official festivities marking the island's historic transition from realm to republic took place in National Heroes Square, decorated in the national colors of gold and ultramarine, in the heart of the capital of Bridgetown. The heir to the British throne had come from London for the occasion and watched as the Royal Standard flag was lowered from the flagpole and the new Presidential Standard raised in its place. Moments later, the Queen's own former representative, Governor-General Sandra Mason -- a well-respected 73-year-old former jurist -- was sworn in as President by the Chief Justice. It was exactly 55 years to the day since Barbados declared independence from Britain. Barbados's new president, Sandra Mason, stands after being sworn in on Tuesday. "Possessing a clear sense of who we are, and what we are capable of achieving, in the year 2021, we now turn our vessel's bow towards the new republic. We do this so that we may seize the full substance of our sovereignty," Mason said in her first address as president. Read More"For decades, we have had discourse and debate about the transition of Barbados to a republic. Today, debate and discourse have become action. Today, we set our compass a new direction." After taking in a 21-gun salute to mark the historic switch, Mason bestowed the country's highest-ranking honor, the Order of Freedom, upon the Prince of Wales -- a move designed to highlight the continued close relationship between Barbados and the United Kingdom.Reflecting on the transatlantic slave tradePrince Charles said he was "deeply touched" to have been asked to participate in the commemorations before reflecting on the protracted process the island nation of just under 300,000 people has endured to become a republic. He told the people of Barbados: "The creation of this Republic offers a new beginning, but it also marks a point on a continuum -- a milestone on the long road you have not only traveled, but which you have built.""From the darkest days of our past, and the appalling atrocity of slavery, which forever stains our history, the people of this island forged their path with extraordinary fortitude. Emancipation, self-government and Independence were your way-points. Freedom, justice and self-determination have been your guides," he said. "Your long journey has brought you to this moment, not as your destination, but as a vantage point from which to survey a new horizon."Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, attends the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony at Heroes Square on November 29, 2021 in Bridgetown, Barbados. Barbados's decision marks the first time in nearly three decades that a realm has opted to remove the British monarch as head of state. The last nation to do so was the island of Mauritius in 1992. Like that country, Barbados intends to remain part of the Commonwealth -- a 54-member organization of mostly former British territories designed to foster international cooperation and trade.Charles, who had arrived late on Sunday as Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley's guest of honor at the ceremonial changeover, also spoke of his long relationship with the nation, having first visited five decades ago. He was interrupted by cheers after saying he would always consider himself a friend of Barbados."Tonight you write the next chapter of your nation's story, adding to the treasury of past achievement, collective enterprise and personal courage which already fill its pages," he said as he brought his address to a close. "Yours is a story in which every Barbadian, young and old, can take the greatest pride -- inspired by what has come before them and confident about what lies ahead."The vibrant celebratory ceremony also showcased Barbadian music and dance but a highlight for many would have been when singer Rihanna was made a national hero. A huge roar of celebration erupted at the announcement. Prime Minister Mottley told the star: "May you continue to shine like a diamond and bring honor to your nation by your works, by your actions" -- a reference to the pop star's 2021 hit song "Diamonds." Rihanna was declared a hero of Barbados at the transition ceremony. Opposition to Charles' presenceThe prince's remarks were the furthest the UK has gone on the subject of slavery, but stopped short of a formal apology.Some in Bridgetown have questioned why the Queen's son had come at all, pointing out that the island's historical relationship with the crown was rooted in slavery."No member of the royal family should participate in our major freedom day," activist David Denny told CNN."The royal family benefited from slavery financially and many of our African brothers and sisters died in battle for change," added Denny, general secretary of the Caribbean Movement for Peace and Integration.Entertainers perform during the Presidential Inauguration.An expedition for King James I of England claimed Barbados when his ships first arrived on its shores in 1625. A settlement was established two years later. "It was the first laboratory for English colonialism in the tropics," Richard Drayton, professor of imperial and global history at Kings College London, told CNN."Barbados also provided an important source of private wealth in 17th and 18th-century England," he added, noting that many English families made substantial fortunes from sugar and slavery.JUST WATCHEDHirsch: Colonial gaze has made us blind to the truthReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHirsch: Colonial gaze has made us blind to the truth 12:43Citing that history, Denny described Prince Charles' participation as "an insult to our people" and called for financial reparations from the royal family, as well as the British government and other institutions that profited from transporting people from Africa and enslaving them on plantations across the Caribbean.Scott Furssedonn-Wood, British High Commissioner to Barbados told CNN: "Clearly people in Africa, in this region, in all parts of the world still feel that profound sense of injustice and it's quite right that we recognize that, that we are determined that such a thing could never happen again."Denny said the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year "created a consciousness across the world" and sparked solidarity protests on the island. One outcome of the demonstrations: an empty plinth now sits in Bridgetown's main square where a bronze statue of British Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson -- a defender of the island's slave trade -- once stood. New chapterA stone's throw away from the site of the ceremony in Swan Street, a popular shopping area among locals in downtown Bridgetown, many Barbadians also welcomed the change . Roger Goodridge, a 59-year-old toy seller, described the move to a republic as "a long time coming" and said he was unsurprised by Charles' visit."The time has passed for 'Little England.' We are now on our own and on to our biggest success -- breaking the waters and moving onto another stage in our life." Victoria Norvill, a 16-year-old student enjoying the public holiday with some girlfriends told CNN: "I feel very good about Barbados becoming a republic because we get to be free and independent." Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic Dancers perform in Heroes Square in Bridgetown, Barbados, before the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony on Monday, November 29.Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic The Prince of Wales is joined by President of Barbados Sandra Mason and Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley as they prepare to depart from Heroes Square in Bridgetown, Barbados following a ceremony to mark the country's transition to a republic within the Commonwealth.Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic President of Barbados, Dame Sandra Mason awards Prince Charles, Prince of Wales with the Order of Freedom of Barbados.Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic Dame Sandra Mason, is installed as President of Barbados, assisted by the Private Secretary to the Governor-General Sandra Watkins as Major Julia Dabreo and Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley look on.Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic Fireworks are displayed during the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony at Heroes Square.Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic Rihanna, honored as a National Hero, attends the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony at Heroes Square. Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic President of Barbados, Dame Sandra Mason, stands after being sworn in at the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, attends the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony at Heroes Square on November 29 in Bridgetown, Barbados. Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic Entertainers perform during the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony in Bridgetown. Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic Members of the Barbados Coast Guard remove The Queen's Royal Standard flag at the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony.Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic Dancers perform at Heroes Square in Bridgetown. Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic Preparations begin for the ceremony in Heroes Square on November 29.Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: Barbados celebrates the beginning of a republic Britain's Prince Charles arrives at Bridgetown Airport on November 28, as Barbados prepares to mark the removal of Queen Elizabeth II as sovereign.Hide Caption 13 of 13Others expressed support, but wondered if transition had been "a bit too fast." The government created its 10-member group tasked with helping manage the transition from a monarchical system to a republic in May this year."It's too hasty. Everyone hasn't think about it yet and there's so many people that don't even know what is a republic," said Andre Moore, 36. "I think they should at least have taken a whole year to deal with this or at least two years. I think two years to really think about it, get the mind settled for what they have prepared for this whole republic thing."Barbados has parted ways with Queen, but she remains head of state in 15 countries. Republican movements in those nations will undoubtedly be observing the symbolic handover and hoping it adds to momentum in their own campaigns. The Australian Republic Movement congratulated Barbados "on marking this important step towards full independence," its national director told CNN. Sandy Biar said the 95-year-old sovereign has always said that it is up to each nation to decide if and when they move on from the monarchy. "Barbados shows this can be done while maintaining a amicable relationship with both the British monarchy and the United Kingdom," she added. 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.
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Dethroned Italian prince criticized over Holocaust Remembrance Day apology - CNN
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(CNN)A letter from a descendent of Italy's wartime King, apologizing for his ancestor's role in enabling Mussolini's fascist policies during World War II, has been criticized by historians and Jewish groups after several decades of silence from members of the disbanded royal family.Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, the great-grandson of King Victor Emmanuel III, wrote a letter to the country's Jewish community in which he said his family's role in rubber-stamping dictator Benito Mussolini's anti-Semitic laws caused "a wound still open for the whole of Italy."He said he and his relatives "dissociate ourselves firmly" from the King, who approved Mussolini's rise to power and gave the laws royal assent, and asked for forgiveness for his ancestor's actions.Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy at an event in Los Angeles in 2018.But the gesture, made ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day on Wednesday, has been dismissed by historians as "too little too late," and has drawn the ire of Jewish groups who condemned the family's lengthy reluctance to confront its role in laying the groundwork for the Holocaust in Europe.Mussolini's race laws tore away at the civil rights of Jewish Italians between 1938 and 1943, during which time the dictator allied himself to Hitler to form the Axis powers. Read More"What happened with the racial laws, at the height of a long collaboration with a dictatorship, is an offense to Italians, Jews and non-Jews, which cannot be erased and forgotten," the Jewish Community of Rome said in response to Emanuele Filiberto's letter.German foreign minister: anti-Semitism keeps shape-shifting. This is what we are doing to stop it "The silence on these facts of the descendants of that house, which lasted more than 80 years, is a further aggravating circumstance," they added. "The descendants of the victims have no authority to forgive and it is not up to Jewish institutions to rehabilitate people and facts whose historical judgment is engraved in the history of our country." Emanuele Filiberto, 48, is the grandson of Italy's last King, Umberto II, and a would-be heir to the throne had the royal family not been disbanded in 1946 in a referendum. Descendents of the former Italian monarchy still use royal titles, though these are not recognized in law.He grew up outside Italy due to former laws that prohibited exiled royals from entering the country. In 2019, he caused some controversy by taking to Twitter to "announce the imminent return of the Royal Family," in what turned out to be a commercial for a TV show.Historian Amedeo Osti Guerrazzi, a researcher at the Shoa Foundation Rome, told CNN his letter was "too little too late, adding: "I think it was an attempt at some publicity.""The King had a very serious role" in approving Mussolini's laws, he added. "Some testimonies say he was against (the laws) personally, (but) he didn't want to go against fascism. He didn't want to risk a conflict ... It was an episode of great cowardice."Andrea Ungari, a historian and professor at Rome's Luiss Guido Carli University, added it is "not clear" what Emanuele Filiberto's motivations were in writing the letter. "Of course, none of the responsibility is on him nor on his father, so if someone had to excuse himself it was King Umberto II," he said, referring to the monarch who reigned for a few months in 1946 as the royal family battled in vain for its survival at the ballot box.I witnessed the rise of Nazism firsthand. We must act now to protect American democracyMussolini's race laws, enacted alongside his infamous "Manifesto of Race," banned Jewish people from going to university or holding public office, restricted their travel and assets, and imposed numerous other controls on their public lives.Emanuele Filiberto's letter was published ahead of January 27, a day of remembrance that marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland."I am writing to you with an open heart a letter that is certainly not easy, a letter that may surprise you and that perhaps you did not expect," he wrote to the Italian Jewish community."I wish to officially and solemnly ask for forgiveness in the name of my whole family. I decided to take this step, which is a duty for me, so that the memory of what happened remains alive, so that the memory is always present," he added.More than 6 million Jews died at the hands of the Nazi regime during the Holocaust, both in society and in hundreds of concentration camps set up across central and eastern Europe. It is unclear how many Italian Jews were sent to the camps, given that many fled the country before the exterminations began, according to the US-based Primo Levi Center.CNN's Antonia Mortensen contributed to this report.
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Barbados is ready to ditch Britain's Queen. For many in the country, the move has been a long time coming - CNN
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Bridgetown, Barbados (CNN)Queen Elizabeth will have one less realm after this week, when Barbados severs its final imperial links to Britain by removing the 95-year-old as its head of state and declaring itself a republic. The former British colony -- which gained independence in 1966 -- revived its plan to become a republic last September with the country's governor general, Sandra Mason, saying, "the time has come to fully leave our colonial past behind."Mason, a 73-year-old former jurist, will be sworn in as the first-ever president of the island nation of just under 300,000 at a ceremony late on Monday night. The Barbadian parliament elected Mason last month.Present at the festivities will be Prince Charles, heir to the British throne and future head of the Commonwealth, a 54-member organization of mostly former British territories. He arrived in Barbados late Sunday for the ceremonial transition, after an invitation from Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley.Upon arrival in the capital of Bridgetown, he was greeted with an honor guard, followed by a 21-gun salute. Read MorePrince Charles is greeted by Sandra Mason at Bridgetown airport in Barbados on Sunday. The Prince of Wales will give a speech at the ceremony just after midnight marking the birth of the republic, which comes 55 years to the day since the country declared independence from Britain. "As your constitutional status changes, it was important to me that I should join you to reaffirm those things which do not change," the heir to the throne will tell a crowd in National Heroes Square."For example, the close and trusted partnership between Barbados and the United Kingdom as vital members of the Commonwealth; our common determination to defend the values we both cherish and to pursue the goals we share; and the myriad connections between the people of our countries -- through which flow admiration and affection, co-operation and opportunity -- strengthening and enriching us all."It is understood Charles will also reaffirm his relationship with the country, which he first visited 50 years ago and commend the Barbadian diaspora for its invaluable contribution in the UK. His last visit to Barbados was in 2019 while on a Caribbean tour with wife, Camilla. Barbados's decision marks the first time in nearly three decades that a realm has opted to remove the British monarch as head of state. The last nation to do so was the island of Mauritius in 1992. Like that country, Barbados too intends to remain part of the Commonwealth. A royal source told CNN last year the decision was a matter for the government and people of Barbados, adding that it was not "out of the blue" and had been "mooted and publicly talked" about many times."Becoming a republic is a coming of age," said Guy Hewitt, who served as Barbados high commissioner to the United Kingdom between 2014 and 2018. "I make the analogy to when a child grows up and gets their own house, gets their own mortgage, gives their parents back the keys because it says we are moving on."The Queen meets with Governor-General of Barbados Sandra Mason during a private audience at Buckingham Palace on March 28, 2018 in London, England. Colonial pastThe changeover comes nearly 400 years since the first English ship arrived on the most easterly of the Caribbean islands. Barbados was Britain's oldest colony, settled in 1627, and "governed in an unbroken way by the English Crown to 1966," according to Richard Drayton, professor of imperial and global history at Kings College London. The Barbados flag flies above the parliament buildings on November 16 in Bridgetown, Barbados. "At the same time, Barbados also provided an important source of private wealth in 17th and 18th-century England," he said, adding that many made substantial family fortunes from sugar and slavery. The grim truth behind Britain's stately homes"It was the first laboratory for English colonialism in the tropics," added Drayton, who grew up in the country. "It is in Barbados that the English first pass laws, which distinguish the rights of people who they call 'Negroes,' from those who are not, and it is the precedence set in Barbados in terms of economy and law, which then come to be transferred to Jamaica, and the Carolinas and the rest of the Caribbean, along with institutions of that colony." A decades-old debateThe writing has long been on the wall for a break-up between Barbados and Britain, with many calling for the removal of the Queen's status over the years, according to Cynthia Barrow-Giles, a professor of constitutional governance and politics at The University of the West Indies (UWI) at Cave Hill, Barbados. She told CNN the desire to become a republic is more than 20 years old and "reflected the input in the governance consultations across the island and its diaspora.""The conclusion then was very simple," Barrow-Giles said. "Barbados had reached the stage of maturity in its political evolution where what ought to have been part and parcel of the movement to independence was not for pragmatic reasons. Fifty-five years later this failure is rectified by a prime minister who is determined to complete the process of nation-building which has obviously stalled for the last four decades or so."JUST WATCHEDAfua Hirsch on colonial racism and its British originsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAfua Hirsch on colonial racism and its British origins 03:17She explained that while most Barbadians are supportive of the transition, there has been some concern over the approach to it. Others have questioned the timeframe of just over a year that the government gave itself to align the moment with the country's anniversary of independence on Tuesday. Hewitt believes Mottley's government wanted to act quickly to "try to take attention off of what is a very difficult time in Barbados.""The world suffers and struggles against the Covid-19 pandemic, but for Barbados, as a tourist-based economy, it has been particularly difficult," he said. "If you accept the notion of a republic being a system being given to the people, the challenge we face is there's not been a lot of consultation on becoming a republic. Yes, it was included in the throne speech. But the people of Barbados have not been part of this journey." Just 5% of victims of UK Windrush scandal have received compensation, report saysHe added: "What we are dealing with now is just the ceremonial, cosmetic changes and I feel that if we were really going to republic, it should have been a meaningful journey, where the people of Barbados were engaged in the entire process of conceptualization to actually bringing it to fruition," he added.It's a sentiment shared by Ronnie Yearwood, an activist and lecturer of law at the UWI Cave Hill campus in Barbados. While he too supports the declaration of a republic, he also feels "robbed of an opportunity to have my beautiful moment." "The process was so badly managed, the government made a decision on the type of republic that we were going to become, without asking me the voter, me the citizen, what form of republic do you want?"The Barbadian government "focused on the endgame" rather than the process of transition, a move Yearwood described as "backward." Yearwood said he and many others felt that the government should have held a public referendum and engaged in a longer period of public consultation before making the switch. "If you're going to do this, you do it in a holistic way, remove everything. You don't piecemeal the Constitution," he added. People walk from the entrance to the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Bridgetown, Barbados. Will other countries follow?Prime Minister Mottley, who recently charmed world leaders at the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland, did not need to hold a public referendum on the subject to push forward. In May, her government created a Republican Status Transition Advisory Committee, a 10-member group tasked with helping manage the transition from a monarchical system to a republic. The only hurdle was securing a two-thirds majority in parliament, which was a relatively straight-forward process given her party has held a majority since her landslide victory in 2018. Barrow-Giles said that the government "was able to determine what legally and politically were required to patriate the constitution" adding that Barbados's changeover "is consistent with the road traveled by other jurisdictions."The Queen inspects an honor guard as she arrives in Barbados on October 31, 1977."The fact that Prince Charles will be in Barbados for this very important occasion for the country is testimony to the lack of opposition to the move by the royal family and essentially an endorsement of the transition," she added.With such an amicable split, other nations could follow Barbados's lead, according to Drayton. "I would imagine this issue will now sharpen the debate within Jamaica, as well as elsewhere in the Caribbean," he said. Debate over abolishing the monarchy reignites in Australia"The decision in some ways doesn't reflect any evaluation of the House of Windsor. I do think it reflects more of a sense of people within Barbados now think it's a little bit absurd to have your head of state determined by the circumstances of birth in a family which resides 4,000 miles away."Hewitt, too, anticipates more countries may opt to break with the British monarchy but suggests that will happen after the reign of Elizabeth II comes to an end "simply because the Queen is held in such high regard." "People would see it as almost a personal slight against her to do it now. But I feel that once the Crown passes, people will feel that it is time."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.CNN's Max Foster contributed to this report.
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If you use this emoji, Gen Z will call you old
- CNN
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New York (CNN Business)Bad news for people who frequently use the 😂 emoji: It is no longer cool.In recent weeks, two internet-savvy generations have been clashing in videos and comments on TikTok over the hallmarks of millennial culture that are now deemed uncool by Gen Z. The list includes skinny jeans (Gen Z verdict: set them on fire), side parts (Gen Z verdict: middle part or bust) and perhaps most painful of all, the popular laughing crying emoji that some millennials, myself included, use hundreds of times a day, or more. "What's wrong with the laughing emoji[?]," one user asked in a TikTok comment. Another responded: "it's so off." On a different video of a woman saying she's cut back on using it after learning kids don't, one teen commented: "As a 15 year old I say you should use that emoji bc [because] we sure aren't going to.""I use everything but the laughing emoji," 21-year-old Walid Mohammed told CNN Business. "I stopped using it a while back because I saw older people using it, like my mom, my older siblings and just older people in general." Instagram is realizing it's not so easy to knock off TikTokFor many Gen Z-ers, the 💀 emoji has become a popular replacement for conveying laughter. It's the visual version of the slang phrase "I'm dead" or "I'm dying," which signifies something is very funny. Other acceptable alternatives: the 😭 emoji (officially called "Loudly Crying Face"), or just writing "lol" (laughing out loud) or "lmao" (laughing my, well, you probably know the rest). Read MoreSeventeen-year-old Xavier Martin called the 😂 emoji "bland" and said "not too many people" his age use it. Stacy Thiru, 21, prefers the real crying emoji because it shows a more extreme emotion and feels more dramatic. She said she couldn't even find the laughing crying emoji on her iPhone's keyboard.A similar emoji, called "Rolling on the Floor Laughing" (🤣), is also no longer in vogue. When asked about that emoji over a video call, Thiru visibly grimaced. "I don't like that one," she said. "My mom doesn't even use it." "Face with Tears of Joy," the official name for the laughing crying emoji, is currently the most-used emoji on Emojitracker, a website that shows real-time emoji use on Twitter. It topped Emojipedia's list of the most-used emojis on Twitter in 2020, while the "Loudly Crying Face" took the number two spot. And it's had staying power: In 2017, Apple said the laughing crying emoji was the most popular in the United States. "Tears of Joy was a victim of its own success," said Gretchen McCulloch, an internet linguist and author of "Because Internet: Understanding the New Rules of Language." "If you indicate digital laughter for years and years in the same way, it starts to feel insincere. ... The hyperbole gets worn out through continued use," she said. That's why Gen Zers may be looking to fresh and novel ways to signal they're laughing through different ways.Gen Zers -- born after 1996 -- grew up at a time when the internet was already ubiquitous and often in the palm of their hands. Some millennials, by comparison, remember a time before constant internet immersion; many launched into the world of emojis and internet jargon not through texting or social networks, but through AOL Instant Messenger. (Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996, according to Pew Research Center). Anecdotally, older generations tend to use emojis literally while younger people get more creative, said Jeremy Burge, the chief emoji officer of Emojipedia, an emoji dictionary website. Emojipedia recently wrote a blog post that said: "It's common wisdom on TikTok that the laughing crying emoji is for boomers." Gen Zers told CNN Business they like to assign their own meanings to emoji, which then spreads to others in their cohort, often through social media. For example, the emoji of a person wearing a cowboy hat (🤠) and the one of a person simply standing have both come to signify awkwardness. Others will string together a bunch of positive emoji, like stars, rainbows and fairies, and then pair them with something negative. "Our generation is very sarcastic," Martin said. Sometimes teens and twenty-somethings use emoji -- like the laughing crying one -- ironically, such as by sending six or seven of them in a row to friends, to exaggerate it. But, overall, that emoji is a no-go. "For Gen Z, it's like the same thing as having an Android," said Mohammed.
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Love letters reveal tyrants' hearts bleed, too - CNN
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Story highlightsStalin to his wife: "I miss you. ... I'm as lonely as a horned owl"Mussolini to his beloved: "Will you say, once again, that you alone love me?"Hitler was less flowery about Eva Braun, called her "calm, intelligent"Stalin was to the point. Napoleon went on and on. Hitler did it as if he were writing an employee's job review."Evil may walk among us, but that doesn't mean evil never wrote a love letter," said John Kirkland, an author who has plundered the depths of cheesy writing throughout history by revered, infamous and just plain awful people. His book "Love Letters of Great Men" is mostly filled with leaders acting honorably. But it also features several who had an affection for tyranny."I found that almost all powerful people are very passionate, and that naturally can make them over the top in their personal lives," Kirkland said."Another truth I learned," the author said, "is that it's never a good idea to hook up with a dictator." Nadya Stalin's family sheltered Joseph Stalin after one of his escapes from Siberian exile during 1911, and the two reconnected later when she worked as a clerk in Vladimir Lenin's office. Their romance began when she was a teenager. When they married in 1919, he was 41. They had a boy, Vasily, and a girl, Svetlana.It's unclear exactly what the brown-eyed young woman saw in the stout and swarthy older man. Perhaps she developed an attachment to him when she was a child, or maybe it was because she too was a diehard Bolshevik. Like Stalin, she had an unpredictable temper and exceptionally bold political ambitions, especially for a woman of her time, rising up eventually through party ranks to pull her own weight. While historians describe her as conservative in dress and manner -- at least publicly -- Stalin wore his heart on his sleeve for his wife.In June 1930, Stalin was busy revamping the Soviet Union's economy, which led to millions of people being deported and exiled and a catastrophic famine. His plans would later lead to the slaughter of millions.He wrote to his wife, using his pet name for her, while she was away having her headaches treated in Germany."I miss you so much Tatochka. ... I'm as lonely as a horned owl."The dictator didn't discuss his job in letters to his wife, Kirkland said. "I'm not going out of town on business," Stalin wrote. "I'm just finishing up my work and then I'm going to go out of town to the children tomorrow ... so goodbye, don't be too long, come home sooner! My kisses! Your Joseph." She replied to him by writing, "I am kissing you passionately."While Stalin's letters were lengthy in the beginning of their courtship, he sometimes wrote the equivalent of a refrigerator Post-It to his wife. "I forgot to send the money, but I've now sent it (120 roubles) with colleagues leaving today," he wrote. "Kiss you, Joseph."Their correspondence flew back and forth quickly, carried by secret police couriers, writes historian Simon Sebag Montifiore, author of "Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar." Nadya and Stalin were an explosive match, both quick to anger and not afraid to snap at each other at dinner parties. They had epic fights.In 1926, she took the kids to Leningrad and he begged her to come back, so she did. "Both were selfish, cold with fiery tempers, though she had none of his cruelty and duplicity," Montifiore wrote.The two fought one night at a party. She ended up dead by dawn of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Russian officials told the public she died of illness. Some people believe Stalin killed her.Loving Benito Mussolini ended similarly for Ida Dalser, a beautician who some sources say was his first wife. The Italian tyrant ordered her and their son, Benito Jr., institutionalized.But in the beginning, it was all kisses and sweetness. He called her "my little friend" and signed a letter "your wild friend and lover.""My little Ida," he wrote, "I have just arrived after twelve endless hours on a train that left me completely covered in soot. I washed it off as best as I could and my first thought, even before going to dinner, is you. Are you pleased? Will you say, once again, that you alone love me, while I don't love you? I love you too, my dear Ida, even though I haven't been able to prove it to you."Another letter: "How happy I would have been to have you with me, today, while the train was racing along under a cloudless sky, through a countryside displaying all of autumn's melancholic seduction, towards this beautiful Rome which appeared before me just as the sunset was setting ablaze the horizon of the seven hills of the Eternal City.""When they met, he was pretty much a nobody, enlisting and heading off to World War I," said Kirkland. "After the war, his career takes off. He has his minions declare her insane, locks her and her son up and she dies."Josephine de Beauharnais was much more in control of her relationship with Napoleon Bonaparte, a notoriously temperamental military commander. Kirkland said that the French emperor seemed to perform better in battle when Josephine returned his smothering affection."She wore the pants," the author said. "He was completely in love and obsessed with her."Shortly after they were married, Napoleon left to command the French army near Italy. Much of his correspondence to Josephine bordered on begging, particularly in April 1796. He wanted her to join him closer to battle so they could have a honeymoon."I have your letters of the 16th and 21st. There are many days when you don't write. What do you do, then? No, my darling, I am not jealous, but sometimes worried. Come soon; I warn you, if you delay, you will find me ill. Fatigue and your absence are too much.""Your letters are the joy of my days, and my days of happiness are not many," he writes, saying that he's racked with "hopeless sorrow, inconsolable misery, sadness without end.""But you are coming, aren't you? You are going to be here beside me, in my arms, on my breast, on my mouth? Take wing and come, come! A kiss on your heart, and one much lower down, much lower!"Napoleon appears to have written multiple letters on the same day, like a guy who leaves a half dozen increasingly desperate voice mails back to back."I am going to bed with my heart full of your adorable image. ... I cannot wait to give you proofs of my ardent love," he writes in November 1796. "... How happy I would be if I could assist you at your undressing, the little firm white breast, the adorable face, the hair tied up in a scarf a la creole. You know that I will never forget the little visits, you know, the little black forest. ... I kiss it a thousand times and wait impatiently for the moment I will be in it. To live within Josephine is to live in the Elysian fields. Kisses on your mouth, your eyes, your breast, everywhere, everywhere."Most of Napoleon's letters were flowery, as were those of the many other leaders in Kirkland's book."Almost everyone was descriptive and seemed to put a lot of care into what they wrote," he said. "Except Hitler."Eva Braun met Adolf Hitler in Munich when she was a teenager. By every standard, Braun had a terrible experience. She tried to kill herself twice during their relationship. She was married to the Fuhrer for only 40 hours before she bit a capsule of cyanide in his bunker and they both died there in April 1945.There are no surviving letters between the two. But there are accounts, Kirkland said, of what Hitler said about Braun to his inner circle.Braun had a "calm, intelligent and objective way of being," Hitler remarked."There's a coldness, like he's evaluating her," said Kirkland. "He controlled everything."Perhaps the only control Napoleon had over Josephine was that he gave her that name. Her real name was Rose. And Rose lost interest in her French fighter not long after they married.During the First Italian Campaign, according to a PBS documentary, rumors reached Napoleon that Josephine was cheating on him.When he returned to her home in Milan, she wasn't there. Historians believe she might have taken off with her lover. Napoleon waited for nine days for her to come back and wrote, "I don't love you anymore; on the contrary, I detest you. You are a vile, mean, beastly slut."No couples therapy could help them. Napoleon grew resentful and took a lover -- and kept taking them -- while Josephine came back to him and tried to persuade him to stay with her. But his ego was trampled and he divorced her, claiming that that was best for France. Napoleon married a 19-year-old who bore him a son.In 1814, a coalition of enemies invaded France. Napoleon went off to war, lost and was exiled.He learned that the love of his life had died of a cold by reading about it in a newspaper. Napoleon locked himself in a room for two days.For the rest of his life he wore a locket around his neck containing tiny violets he gathered in Josephine's garden.
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'Vax' is Oxford English Dictionary publisher's Word of the Year for 2021 - CNN
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(CNN)"Vax" is the Word of the Year for 2021, according to the annual report from Oxford Languages.Defined as "a colloquialism meaning either vaccine or vaccination as a noun and vaccinate as a verb," vax was relatively rare until this year, the company, which publishes the Oxford English Dictionary, said Monday.In September, vax appeared more than 72 times more frequently than the year before, said Oxford Languages, which analyzes news content to track changes in the English language.Oxford English Dictionary couldn't pick just one 'word of the year' for 2020The word first appeared as a noun in the 1980s and then started to be used as a verb in the early 21st century, according to the report."It has generated numerous derivatives that we are now seeing in a wide range of informal contexts, from vax sites and vax cards to getting vaxxed and being fully vaxxed, no word better captures the atmosphere of the past year than vax," Oxford Languages said.Read MoreData analysis shows that vax is most commonly used in North America, Australia and South East Asia, the company said, but usage is increasing in the UK and other varieties of English."As a short pithy word, it appeals, perhaps especially to media commentators, when more formal alternatives are much more long-winded," the report said.Toxic: Oxford Dictionaries sums up the mood of 2018 with word of the yearIn 2020, the company was unable to name its traditional word of the year, instead exploring how far and how quickly the language had developed.The 2020 report moved through the year, detailing the most important words in certain months, based on spikes in use, from "bushfire" in January, when Australia suffered its worst fire season on record, to "acquittal" in February, when former US President Donald Trump's first impeachment trial ended.In June, use of the phrase "Black Lives Matter" exploded following the police killing of George Floyd in the US, followed by "cancel culture" and "BIPOC," an abbreviation of "Black, indigenous and other people of color."
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US Constitution Fast Facts - CNN
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(CNN)Here's a look at the United States Constitution, which establishes and sets forth the ultimate law of the land. The Constitution is comprised of a preamble, seven articles and 27 amendments (last addition in 1992).The first three articles of the Constitution set up the federal system by dividing power between three branches of government - the legislative, executive and judicial. The Fourth and Tenth Amendments insure states' rights and separate the federal and state governments.Federal powers listed in the Constitution include the right to collect taxes, declare war and regulate trade. The federal government has implied powers that allow the government to respond to changing needs of the nation.Reserved powers, as dictated by the Tenth Amendment, belong to the states or the people. State powers include the right to legislate on divorce, marriage and education. The right to own property and the right to be tried by a jury are powers reserved for the people.Read MoreIn some cases, there are concurrent powers, where both the federal and state governments may act. The federal government has authority in case of a conflict.Final authority in the interpretation of the Constitution lies with the Supreme Court. It can overturn any law that conflicts with any part of the Constitution.Original copies of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are on display at the National Archives in Washington, DC.The Constitutional ConventionMay 25, 1787 - The Constitutional Convention meets in Philadelphia to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation. They decide instead to write the Constitution of the United States, and hold secret meetings with sentries posted outside the doors.Twelve of the 13 states send delegates to the Constitutional Convention. Rhode Island does not send delegates because it does not want a national government to interfere with its affairs.George Washington serves as president of the convention. Other delegates include: Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Dickinson, Gouverneur Morris, Edmund Randolph, Roger Sherman, James Wilson and George Wythe.Franklin, of Pennsylvania, is the oldest delegate at 81, and the youngest is Jonathon Dayton, 26, of New Jersey.September 17, 1787 - Thirty-nine of the 55 delegates sign the Constitution of the United States. Each state holds a Constitutional Convention and once nine states ratify the Constitution, the new government can begin.June 21, 1788 - New Hampshire is the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, therefore putting it into effect. However, New York and Virginia had not yet ratified the Constitution and these states' acceptance was necessary for the Constitution to work.June 25, 1788 - Virginia ratifies the Constitution.July 26, 1788 - New York ratifies the Constitution.Bill of RightsThe promise of a Bill of Rights helped the Constitution get ratified in several important states.The amendments in the Bill of Rights were written to protect individual liberties against possible unjust rule by the national government.Madison suggested 15 amendments; Congress accepted 12 to be submitted to the states. Ten were approved by the states and added to the Constitution as the Bill of Rights.December 15, 1791 - The Bill of Rights goes into effect.Constitutional AmendmentsAn amendment may be proposed by two-thirds of each house of Congress or by a national convention called by Congress in response to requests by two-thirds of the state legislatures.It becomes part of the Constitution after being ratified either by the legislatures of three-fourths of the states or by conventions in three-fourths of the states.Congress decides which form of ratification should be used and how much time the states have to consider each amendment.The process of amending the Constitution was designed to be difficult.AmendmentsAmendment 1 - Freedom of religion, speech, and the press; rights of assembly and petition - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791Amendment 2 - Right to bear arms - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791Amendment 3 - Housing of soldiers - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791Amendment 4 - Search and arrest warrants - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791Amendment 5 - Rights in criminal cases - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791Amendment 6 - Rights to a fair trial - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791Amendment 7 - Rights in civil cases - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791Amendment 8 - Bails, fines and punishments - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791Amendment 9 - Rights retained by the people - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791Amendment 10 - Powers retained by the states and the people - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified December 15, 1791Amendment 11 - Lawsuits against states - proposal passed March 4, 1794; ratified February 7, 1795Amendment 12 - Election of the president and vice president - proposal passed December 9, 1803; ratified June 15, 1804Amendment 13 - Abolition of slavery - proposal passed January 31, 1865; ratified December 6, 1865Amendment 14 - Civil rights - proposal passed June 13, 1866; ratified July 9, 1868Amendment 15 - Black suffrage - proposal passed February 26, 1869; ratified February 3, 1870Amendment 16 - Income taxes - proposal passed July 2, 1909; ratified February 3, 1913Amendment 17 - Direct election of senators - proposal passed May 13, 1912; ratified April 8, 1913Amendment 18 - Prohibition of liquor - proposal passed December 18, 1917; ratified January 16, 1919Amendment 19 - Woman suffrage - proposal passed June 4, 1919; ratified August 18, 1920Amendment 20 - Terms of the president and Congress - proposal passed March 2, 1932; ratified January 23, 1933Amendment 21 - Repeal of prohibition - proposal passed February 20, 1933; ratified December 5, 1933Amendment 22 - Limitation of presidents to two terms - proposal passed March 21, 1947; ratified February 27, 1951Amendment 23 - Suffrage in the District of Columbia - proposal passed June 16, 1960; ratified March 29, 1961Amendment 24 - Poll taxes - proposal passed August 27, 1962; ratified January 23, 1964Amendment 25 - Presidential disability and succession - proposal passed July 6, 1965; ratified February 10, 1967Amendment 26 - Suffrage for 18-year-olds - proposal passed March 23, 1971; ratified July 1, 1971Amendment 27 - Congressional salaries - proposal passed September 25, 1789; ratified May 7, 1992
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Russia to host first royal wedding in more than a century - CNN
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MoscowRussia's former Imperial capital is set to play host to the wedding of a descendant of the Russian royal family in the first such event in more than a century.Grand Duke George Mikhailovich Romanov will tie the knot with Italian fiancée Victoria Romanovna Bettarini at St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg on Friday in an elaborate religious ceremony with hundreds of foreign guests in attendance.Russia's last tsar Nicholas II, his wife and five children were killed by a revolutionary firing squad in July 1918 in the cellar of a merchant's house in Yekaterinburg, a city 1,450 kilometers (900 miles) east of Moscow."This was the first place in Russia to which we returned," George Mikhailovich, 40, told news website Fontanka.ru about the choice of St. Petersburg for his wedding."This is very, very close to the family."Read MoreGeorge Mikhailovich was born in Spain to Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna of Russia -- the self-proclaimed heir to Russia's imperial throne -- and her husband Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich of Russia. He lived in France and Spain for most of his life.His great-grandfather, Grand Duke Kirill Vladimirovich, managed to escape Bolshevik violence during the 1917 revolution to Finland. He and his family later relocated to Western Europe.George Mikhailovich visited Russia for the first time in 1992, and now lives in Moscow where he works on a number of charity projects.Bettarini, 39, converted to the Russian Orthodox faith last year and took the name Victoria Romanovna.The Romanov dynasty ruled Russia for 300 years before Nicholas II abdicated in 1917, setting Russia on course for the Bolshevik Revolution, civil war and 70 years of Communist rule.Russia's Orthodox Church canonized Nicholas II in 2000, after being portrayed as a weak leader by Soviet authorities.
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Bella Hadid opens up about her history of abusive relationships - CNN
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(CNN)Supermodel Bella Hadid says lacking boundaries "sexually, physically, emotionally" led to her being abused in a number of unhealthy relationships. The 25-year-old star spoke candidly about her personal and professional struggles in her debut appearance on the Victoria's Secret "VS Voices" podcast, saying learned toxic behaviors like "people-pleasing" ultimately had a negative impact on her relationships and her mental health. "I constantly went back to men -- and also, women -- that had abused me, and that's where the people-pleasing came in," she told host Amanda de Cadenet last week. Hadid walks the runway during the Victoria's Secret fashion show at Pier 94 in New York City on November 8, 2018. "I started to not have boundaries, not only sexually, physically, emotionally, but then it went into my work space... I began to be a people-pleaser with my job and it was everyone else's opinion of me that mattered except for my own, because I essentially was putting my worth into the hands of everyone else and that was the detriment of it," she said. During the wide-ranging interview, Hadid -- who is the daughter of real estate developer Mohamed Hadid and "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" alum Yolanda Hadid and sister of fellow model Gigi Hadid -- also reflected on her challenging childhood.Read More"I always felt like my voice was never heard growing up, so that's why I have a lot of complications. Now I'm able to open up and speak my mind, especially within my relationships and within my family," she said, adding: "I grew up around men -- whether that was in relationships or family or whatever that was -- where I was constantly told that my voice was less important than their voice." Bella Hadid, Yolanda Hadid, Gigi Hadid and Mohamed Hadid attend the Victoria's Secret after party at the Grand Palais in Paris on November 30, 2016.Hadid, who previously dated Canadian singer-songwriter The Weeknd, revealed how her upbringing affected her adult relationships, saying: "My nervous system would crash. It was like fight or flight. Either I would become silent and cry and just go inward or I would lash out and leave." CNN has reached out to representatives of Yolanda and Mohamed Hadid for comment.Hadid said it took a combination of therapy, meditation and staying off social media to start living a life that was "true to me."She previously opened up about her mental health in an Instagram post in November last year. Alongside a series of tearful selfies, she wrote: "I've had enough breakdowns and burnouts to know this: if you work hard enough on yourself, spending time alone to understand your traumas, triggers, joys, and routine, you will always be able to understand or learn more about your own pain and how to handle it."
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Bella Hadid shares tearful selfies and mental health message - CNN
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(CNN)Bella Hadid is getting real about her mental health.In a lengthy Instagram post Tuesday, the model shared some tearful selfies and quoted singer and "Red Table Talk" cohost Willow Smith. "'That feeling of thinking that you're good enough or being insecure about your art- is natural- but at the same time, I feel like it's taught," Hadid quoted Smith. "'All humans are different, every single human has something so special and unique to offer.'""This is pretty much my everyday, every night For a few years now," Hadid wrote in response to Smith's quote in the caption. "Social media is not real. For anyone struggling, please remember that."Kids nearly doubled screen time during the pandemic, but there is something you can do about it"Sometimes all you've gotta hear is that you're not alone," Hadid continued.Read More"Self help and mental illness/chemical imbalance is not linear and it is almost like a flowing rollercoaster of obstacles... it has its ups and downs, and side to sides," the caption read. "But I want you to know, there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and the rollercoaster always comes to a complete stop at some point.""There is always room for it to start up again, but for me it's always been nice to know that even if it's a few days, weeks, or months, it does get better, to some extent, even for a moment."Stress is a part of life. Burnout doesn't have to beHadid concluded by writing, "Not sure why but it feels harder and harder to not share my truth on here. Thank you for seeing me and thank you for listening. I love you."CNN has reached out to reps for Smith and Hadid for additional comment.
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'Friends: The Reunion' review: The long-awaited HBO Max special delivers the one with a lot of unapologetic nostalgia - CNN
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(CNN)Originally intended to help launch HBO Max, "Friends: The Reunion" finally hits the streaming service, in big, slightly bloated, unapologetically nostalgic form. A valentine to fans, the nearly two-hour special is inevitably hard-pressed to justify the hype, working best when it lets the cast casually reminisce, while getting carried away with cameos, some of which, well, couldn't be more random."Friends" signed off in 2004, and part of the special's appeal is simply seeing the band back together again, looking older (to varying degrees) and undeniably a whole lot richer. One by one, they return to the set and soundstage, exchanging slightly awkward hugs (welcome to the Covid era) and sharing memories.Directed and produced by "The Late Late Show with James Corden" producer Ben Winston, who recently did a fine job overseeing the Grammys, the special uses a mishmash of techniques to orchestrate and structure this walk down memory lane, including an in-person interview with Corden in front of an appreciative, socially distanced audience.Some of those touches play better than others, with perhaps the best being snippets in which the stars -- Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry and David Schwimmer -- engage in table reads of old episodes, intercut with snippets of the originals. It's the closest to a scripted "Friends" reunion we're apt to get, and fascinating to watch how seamlessly they appear to slide back into these roles, 17 years later.Other highlights include a taped piece in which producers Kevin Bright, Marta Kauffman and David Crane discuss casting the series -- and all the serendipity that went into bringing these six actors together -- and interviews with fans around the world, discussing what the show meant to them.Read MoreThe cast assembles in a familiar spot for 'Friends: The Reunion' (Terence Patrick)."We didn't want stars," Crane recalls during the discussion about the casting process. Instead, "Friends" made its players into stars, leaving them in a very different place when they signed off a decade after it began.At the same time, "The Reunion" labors in places to conjure a sense of fun, putting the actors through game-show-style trivia tests and enlisting celebrities whose involvement alternately feels arbitrary and unnecessary.There are also notable oversights, such as the cast's all-for-one, one-for-all approach when negotiating their contracts in the later seasons -- a novel tactic, reflecting the program's true ensemble nature, the actors' solidarity, and the financial juggernaut that "Friends" became for NBC and production company Warner Bros. (which, like CNN and HBO Max, is a unit of WarnerMedia).Then again, "Friends: The Reunion" reflects the present media age as much as the mid-1990s period that birthed the show, when a network sitcom hit of this magnitude was still possible. Given the hunger for content and recognizable titles, what might have been a Museum of Television and Radio retrospective has essentially been blown up into highly promotable ammunition for the streaming wars.Taped in April, the special covers considerable ground that could inspire various "Friends"-esque episode titles, but when all's said and done, a few contenders pretty well apply: "The One That Celebrates the Show," "The One That Promotes a Streaming Service," "The One That Tries A Little Too Hard," and at its best, "The One That Gives Fans A Lot of What They Wanted.""Friends: The Reunion" premieres May 27 on HBO Max.
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New Zealand's Māori ask anti-vaccine protesters to stop using haka - CNN
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Wellington, New ZealandA Māori tribe that claims New Zealand's most famous haka as its heritage on Monday told anti-vaccine protesters to stop using the traditional performance to promote their message.Vaccine protesters have performed the "Ka Mate," a Māori haka composed in about 1820 by Te Rauparaha, war leader of the Ngāti Toa tribe, at their rallies over the past few weeks against vaccine mandates and pandemic restrictions."We do not support their position and we do not want our tupuna or our iwi associated with their messages," the Ngati Toa tribe, or "iwi" in Māori, said in a statement, referring to the tribe's ancestry or "tupuna.""Our message to protesters who wish to use Ka Mate is to use a different haka. We do not endorse the use of Ka Mate for this purpose."Although there are many forms of haka composed by different tribes for various uses and occasions, the "Ka Mate" is the most widely known because it has been performed by the All Blacks at international rugby test matches for decades.Read MoreIt involves a fearsome display of rhythmic foot-stamping and chanting, eye-rolling and sticking tongues out.'You're meant to be in bed!' -- Jacinda Ardern's toddler interrupts Facebook livestream New Zealand, which has among the lowest rates of Covid-19 in the world, has struggled to fight off the highly infectious Delta variant of the coronavirus this year, forcing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to move from a strategy of elimination through lockdowns to living with the virus with higher vaccinations.Ardern has set a target of vaccinating 90% of those eligible before ending lockdowns.About 81% of the eligible population has received two vaccine doses but Ardern said on Monday that health authorities were struggling to reach some young Māori due to misinformation about vaccines."So it's not just an access issue. We are trying to overcome much more than that and from the provider conversations I've had, that is one of the things we're all struggling with," Ardern told state broadcaster TVNZ, referring to disinformation.As of November 13, 76% of Māori have received one dose of a vaccine while 60% were fully vaccinated.Authorities reported 173 new Covid-19 cases on Monday taking New Zealand's total number of infections to more than 8,500.
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Miss World 2019: Jamaica's Toni-Ann Singh takes the crown - CNN
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(CNN)Jamaica's Toni-Ann Singh was crowned Miss World on Saturday."To that little girl in St. Thomas, Jamaica and all the girls around the world - please believe in yourself. Please know that you are worthy and capable of achieving your dreams. This crown is not mine but yours. You have a PURPOSE," Singh tweeted on Saturday.Singh, 23, was born in Morant, St. Thomas, Jamaica. She is a psychology and women studies graduate of the Florida State University.Toni-Ann Singh from Jamaica is the 69th #Missworld pic.twitter.com/tgyTFFiuKU— Miss World (@MissWorldLtd) December 14, 2019
Prior to the winning the pageant, Singh was taking a year off from school before attending medical school.On Saturday, she earned an ovation from the audience after singing Whitney Houston's hit "I Have Nothing" during the beauty pageant and after a round of questions from British journalist Piers Morgan. Read More"I think I represent something special, a generation of women that are pushing forward to change the world," she told Morgan. The two runners-up for the crown were Miss France and Miss India. Singh was crowned by last year's winner, Vanessa Ponce de Leon of Mexico.This is the fourth time that a representative from Jamaica is crowned as Miss World since 1959. Jamaica has previously won Miss World titles in 1963, 1976 and 1993.#MissWorld2019 crowning moment...#MissWorld #London pic.twitter.com/oCvrD5s0TN— Miss World (@MissWorldLtd) December 14, 2019
It's also the first time that all top beauty pageants -- Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America, Miss Universe and now, Miss World -- have crowned black women as their winners.Last weekend, Zozibini Tunzi from South Africa was named Miss Universe after excelling through rounds of swimsuit and evening gown struts and answering questions about social issues.
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Is it 'Zoom face' or is the pandemic aging you? - CNN
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(CNN)Is that face in the mirror looking a bit, well, older these days? Covid-19 patients may develop skin rashes and discoloration, studies find "Some of this is due to perception, what I call 'Zoom face,'" said Dr. Rajani Katta, author of "Glow: The Dermatologist's Guide to a Whole Foods Younger Skin Diet." "Between the harsh lighting, the strange angles, and just staring at your face for hours on end, it can alter your perception of your own appearance," Katta said.Unfortunately, your skin may also be suffering from the effects of a year of pandemic stress, said Dr. Whitney Bowe, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center.People are staring at themselves a lot during video calls. "A long-time patient would come and say, 'I lost my parent and I feel like I've aged years in this one year.' You look at them and you can see that it has actually taken a physical toll, and from a biological mechanism we understand how this works. I call it stress aging."Read MoreStress affects our ability to fall asleep and stay asleep, which can take a toll on our skin as well, said sleep specialist Dr. Raj Dasgupta, an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.Chocolate, dairy and fatty foods can cause acne, study findsHe points to a 2010 study on the effects of sleep deprivation on facial features, which found "people who were sleep deprived had swollen eyelids and those dark circles under the eyes and they looked like they had more wrinkles."Chronic pressure means high levels of the stress hormone cortisol are flooding the body, which inhibits collagen and hyaluronic acid production in the skin, Bowe explained. "Collagen is the scaffold of the skin that prevents fine lines and wrinkles, and hyaluronic acid keeps the skin plump, so the loss of these can really impact your looks," Bowe said.In addition, stress has been shown to cause disruptions in proper functioning of the skin barrier, leading to increased water loss and "increased exfoliation and dryness and wrinkle formation," said Dr. Marie Jhin, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology.The rush to fix these signs of aging are keeping many dermatologists working overtime.'Maskne': Why your face is breaking out under your mask and how to stop it"Yes! I'm seeing an influx of patients coming in after Covid stress and fatigue," said Jhin, adding that she's seen many cases of eczema, hair loss and acne from stress over the last year. "I've never seen the demand this high," Bowe said. "I can't keep up. My existing patients are coming much more frequently than they did before, specifically because they feel like they are aging."What to do?An important way to take care of aging or sensitive skin during the pandemic is to alternate between "active nights and recovery nights" with your skin care products, Bowe said. On one night, use anti-aging solutions such as retinoids, alpha hydroxy acid or glycolic acid -- whether prescription or over-the-counter -- then skip a night or two, depending on the dryness of your skin.How to safely avoid sunburn in the age of coronavirus"What I recommend doing is cycling through your skin care," Bowe said. "You don't want to further compromise your skin barrier by using irritating ingredients every night."Recovery nights are used to pamper the skin, "using ingredients like glycerin, sunflower seed oil, jojoba oil or squalane" -- which is a hydrogenated version of squalene, a compound produced naturally by our sebaceous glands, Bowe said."You are using nourishing, moisturizing ingredients that are going to repair the skin barrier, support the skin's microbiome and restore a healthy pH to the skin," Bowe said.Stop your skin from further agingAdditional creams, serums and fillers are all options at the dermatology office, but the best way to keep your skin from further aging is to address your stress, say experts -- along with any bad habits you've developed during the pandemic, such as poor eating habits, inadequate sleep or a lack of exercise.Watch your diet, especially your sugar intake. Many of us are "stress eating, turning to sugar and processed carbs, which unfortunately can damage the skin's collagen over time through a process called glycation," Katta said.The top 5 ways to cut sugar from your dietGlycation occurs when sugar molecules attach onto fats and proteins and create advanced glycation end products, or AGEs, which can make collagen and elastin proteins less supple -- and the skin more likely to wrinkle.Be good to your skin by eliminating sugar, processed carbs and high-fructose corn syrup, which can increase the rate of glycation 10 times, according to studies. "Foods rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties can help provide an extra layer of protection to your skin and can help promote your skin's defense and repair systems," Katta suggested.Get plenty of exercise. Scientists believe exercise increases blood circulation to the brain, especially areas like the amygdala and hippocampus -- which both have roles in controlling motivation, mood and response to stress. For one thing, it releases endorphins, the body's feel-good hormones.Exercise also pushes oxygenated blood to all your body parts, including the skin. Numerous studies show the biggest benefits come from rhythmic exercises, which get your blood pumping in major muscle groups. Those include running, swimming, cycling and walking. Do the exercise for 15 to 30 minutes at least three times a week over a 10-week period or longer at low to moderate intensity.Get good sleep. "It's called beauty sleep because sleep does regenerate your skin at night," Dasgupta said. "Surprise surprise, there's a hormone called growth hormone that gets secreted during the deeper stages of sleep that stimulates fresh skin cell growth."10 common mistakes in fighting 'coronasomnia' -- the inability to fall and stay asleepIn addition, levels of cortisol are typically lower at night because they are under control of the body's sleep clock, also known as circadian rhythm, he said."So cortisol is naturally high during the morning and very low at night, Dasgupta said, "which is good because we want to get good sleep. But you can imagine that if you have a lot of stress that you're going to have high levels of cortisol at nighttime -- and then your skin doesn't have the time to rejuvenate."8 ways to fall back asleep after waking in the nightTry improving your sleep with CNN's Sleep, But Better newsletter -- sign up here. Practice stress reducing activities. Try yoga, meditation and deep breathing to calm down your stress levels, Bowe suggested: "All of those have been shown to decrease cortisol production and stress levels." Yoga, of course, is a form of physical exercise. But yoga is also a spiritual discipline, designed to meld body and mind. A yoga lifestyle incorporates physical postures, breath regulation and mindfulness through the practice of meditation.Deep breathing realigns the stressed-out part of our bodies, called the the sympathetic system, with the parasympathetic, or "rest and restore" system.We asked the experts how to look and sound better on video (CNN Underscored)While there are many types of breathing, a lot of research has focused on "cardiac coherence," where you inhale for six seconds and exhale for six seconds for a short period of time. Focus on belly breathing, or breathing to the bottom of your lungs, by putting your hand on your tummy to feel it move.Work on these stress-busting lifestyle changes and you'll likely be happier when you look in the mirror, experts say -- and you'll certainly be healthier.As for how you look on Zoom? You're on your own there -- best of luck.
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Israel's Covid-19 vaccine booster rollout has lessons for the world - CNN
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Jerusalem (CNN)When it comes to Covid-19, it seems where Israel leads, the rest of the world follows. For almost a year, the country has offered other nations a glimpse into the pandemic's future.Israel has been at the forefront of vaccination rollouts for adults and teenagers, pioneered a vaccine passport and, in recent months, has spearheaded the use of booster shots.At the end of July, the country began offering boosters to those over the age of 60; since late August, boosters have been available to anyone over the age of 16, five months after their second dose of the vaccine.Now, a person is not considered fully vaccinated in Israel until they have received a third dose of the vaccine, once they are eligible for it. More than three months on, Israeli health officials say the data is clear: Booster shots helped bring down the fourth wave of the virus that swept the country in August and September. CDC recommends Covid-19 boosters for all adultsRead MoreAt its peak, that wave saw more than 8,000 new Covid-19 cases per day, and more than 500 people hospitalized at a time in serious condition. The current seven-day average is running at between 450 and 500 cases a day, and there are 129 people hospitalized in serious condition with the virus. The data highlights stark differences between those with the vaccine -- and the booster -- and those without: On many days over the past month, more than 75% of positive cases were among the unvaccinated, according to data from the health ministry. Among those hospitalized with Covid-19 it is even clearer: Israeli officials say in October the rate of people over the age of 60 in serious condition who had only had two doses of the vaccine was 5 times that of those with three shots.And although the caseload has declined overall since then, the differences remain: On Sunday, there were four times as many people over the age of 60 in serious condition who had only had two shots, compared to those considered fully vaccinated with three doses, according to the health ministry. Lessons from IsraelElderly residents wait to receive their third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a medical center in Tel Aviv on August 2.Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has cited such data as a reason why he thinks it will soon be recommended that everyone get boosters once they're eligible."If you look strictly at the data from Israel, it's very clear that the differences in immunity waning is much more profound in the elderly, but it goes across the board," Fauci told NBC last week.The lesson from Israel is one that more and more nations are taking on, particularly as cases rise to troubling levels in parts of Europe. Germany is recommending a third dose of the vaccine for everyone over the age of 18, and in the UK, boosters are available to everyone over 40 as of this week. In France, demand for booster shots skyrocketed after President Emmanuel Macron announced that a third dose would be required to revalidate the "pass sanitaire," or health pass, which is required on public transport and to enter a variety of public and private spaces.And in the United States, boosters are now authorized for everyone over 18.Health experts say the rollout of booster shots across many Western nations highlights the inequity of vaccine deployment in other parts of the world. In the UK, 88% of people over the age of 12 have had their first dose of the vaccine; 80% have had two doses, and 26% have already had a booster shot, data from November 20 shows. By contrast, only 10% of people in African countries have had a first dose, on average, according to Our World In Data; only 7% of Africa is fully vaccinated, the data shows.Fifth wave fearsBut the news from Israel is not all good: Though case numbers have fallen since September, the decline has plateaued. And, even more concerning, the R-rate -- the average number of people infected by each person with Covid-19 -- is back above 1, according to health ministry data -- a worrying sign that the virus may be spreading again. Health experts, such as Professor Eran Segal from Israel's Weizmann Institute, say it is too early to tell whether the country is entering a fifth wave of the virus. But they point to the fact that almost 1.5 million people who have had two doses of the vaccine have not gone back for their booster shot. "There are more people whose vaccine has faded over time, when compared to the number of new vaccinations and boosters, which has led to a slow decrease in the total [population's] immunity," Segal tweeted last week. Now Israel is working on holding back that potential fifth wave: Officials are encouraging the unvaccinated to get their shots, and those who are eligible for booster doses to get them. They are also getting children vaccinated, and keeping up with preventative measures. Many of Israel's new infections are among children aged five to 11, according to Israeli health officials. A campaign to vaccinate that age group began on Monday. Europe is learning a crucial lesson -- vaccines work, but they alone won't stop Covid now"About 50% of our daily infections are occurring in that age group of below 11," Dr. Ran Balicer, chairman of Israel's Covid-19 National Expert Advisory Panel, told CNN last Friday. "We think this vaccination campaign could actually turn the tide and perhaps bring us back to a downslope if we have a good uptick [in vaccinations], as we hope that we will." But even with a highly vaccinated population, health experts say it is vital that anti-Covid measures stay in place, especially during winter, as activities move indoors. Nachman Ash, director general of Israel's Public Health Ministry, told Israel's Channel 13 part of the reason for the uptick in cases is people not adhering to rules like mask-wearing. "The enforcement is not sufficient," Ash said. "And I see the public is becoming relaxed as time passes and the infection rate goes down, so people are less careful. Therefore yes, we have to increase the enforcement." Balicer warned that ignoring the waning immunity of those who have had two doses of the vaccine "may, in fact, put people at risk with false reassurance.""There is no single magic bullet that would suffice to assure surge prevention, especially in winter time," Balicer said. "It is a combination of measures: Indoor masks, population behavior, indoor event restrictions and green certificates, and an effective booster campaign.
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Miss USA winner: Kentucky's Elle Smith takes the crown - CNN
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(CNN)Miss Kentucky Elle Smith has won the 2021 Miss USA pageant. Smith is a 2020 graduate of University of Kentucky, the school said on Twitter. She majored in Broadcast Journalism, according to a biography posted by Louisville's WHAS11, where she works as a reporter. While at UK, Smith served as vice-president of the school's National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) chapter, the station said.The NABJ congratulated Smith on her victory. Smith will now represent the US in the Miss Universe pageant on December 12 in Eilat, Israel.The international pageant is set to move forward despite a contestant testing positive for Covid-19, the Miss Universe organization said in a statement.Read MoreIsrael has imposed travel restrictions in the wake of the Omicron coronavirus variant and is barring entry of tourists for the next two weeks."The Miss Universe Organization is working with Israeli officials to continue to get our contestants and staff into the country safely for the competition", the Miss Universe group said.CNN's Hadas Gold contributed to this report.
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The UAE and Israel's whirlwind honeymoon has gone beyond normalization
- CNN
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(CNN)"Ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates are 'blossoming,'" a senior official traveling with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters last month. Blossoming is, perhaps, an understatement. Since the 1978 Camp David Accords, Israel has "normalized" relations with Egypt, Jordan (1994), Mauritania (1999), and most recently, the UAE and Bahrain. Last month Israel and Sudan also signed an agreement to normalize ties. Yet never has the process of normalization been so fast, and pursued with such mutual enthusiasm, as between Israel and the UAE. And it goes beyond that. The UAE appears to have dropped, in practical terms, any objections to Israel's occupation of Arab lands. The Emirates last month hosted a group of Israeli settler leaders from the West Bank, territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 war with Jordan, Syria and Egypt.In October, it also allowed the import of wine produced by Israeli companies in the Golan Heights, also occupied by Israel since 1967.Read MoreThe UAE will also finance with the US and Israel a project to "modernize" Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank used to control and monitor the movement of Palestinians. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump, Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed wave from a White House balcony after the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accords on September 15.This month the Israeli airline, El Al, and Etihad, the Emirati airline, signed a memorandum of understanding and will start direct flights between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi early next year. Budget airline flydubai has already started its commercial service to Ben Gurion airport. Etihad raised eyebrows, however, when it released an advertisement for flights to Tel Aviv which included an illustration with the caption "Second Temple." The Second Temple, on Jerusalem's Temple Mount, was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. In its place is the Haram Al-Sharif -- the location of the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa mosque (the third holiest site in Islam after Mecca and Medina). After an angry backlash, Etihad quickly removed it. Then, on November 22, the Israeli cabinet ratified a mutual visa exemption with the UAE -- the first of its kind with any of the Arab states it has relations with. Compare this with the case of the first two countries that made peace with Israel: Egypt and Jordan. Egyptians and Jordanians -- some of whom have still vivid memories of multiple wars with Israel -- approached normalization cautiously or rejected it altogether. Just this week the Egyptian Union of Artistic Syndicates suspended singer and actor Mohamed Ramadan after it emerged on social media that he had attended a gathering in the UAE and posed for photos with Israeli athletes and artists. Ramadan reportedly explained that he does not ask each fan's nationality. Egypt and Israel signed the Camp David Peace Accords 42 years ago. Jordanians, a majority of whom trace their roots back to historic Palestine, have also been hesitant to embrace Israel. Palestinian ambassador to Austria Salah Abdel Shafi called the pace of normalization between the oil-rich country and Israel "shocking.""If I compare the level of normalization between (Egypt and Jordan) and the UAE, within a record time [there have been] mutual visits, agreements in trade, basically all aspects ... it is shocking," Abdel Shafi told CNN. Donald Trump has left the world stage. Few will miss himThe Israeli-Emirati honeymoon has been a whirlwind, but the affair -- initially covert -- dates back to the mid-1990s, according to multiple media reports.Apart from the obvious benefits of close business ties between two wealthy countries, Israel and the UAE share concern about Iranian influence in the region.Iran has seen its influence grow, particularly since the US-led coalition toppled Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in 2003. Tehran backs to varying degrees the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and powerful Shia parties and militias in Iraq. Likewise, the fig leaf of Arab unity and solidarity withered up and blew away years ago. The Palestinian cause, once sacrosanct, has become a nuisance, particularly for the Gulf states. Israel, once the official arch-nemesis of the Arab states, has been replaced by another."Both the US and Israel want Arab countries to think their main enemy is Iran," says veteran Palestinian activist and legislator Mustafa Barghouti, commenting on Emirati-Israeli normalization. The UAE, however, insists its normalization agreement with Israel will benefit the Palestinians. The accord, says Emirati Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed, "will enable us to continue to stand by the Palestinian people, and realize their hopes for an independent state within a stable and prosperous region."Israeli minister says Netanyahu met Saudi Crown Prince, but Riyadh denies itThe Gulf monarchies have always been wary of the Palestinians. They needed skilled Palestinians to build their countries and educate their children in the early years of the oil boom, but were never comfortable with the revolutionary ideologies many Palestinians brought with them.Not long ago in the Arab world there was a modicum of unanimity on the primacy of the Palestinian cause. The Arab League endorsed the late Saudi King Abdullah's 2002 Arab peace initiative which offered full normalization of ties with Israel in exchange for an Israeli withdrawal from the territories occupied in the 1967 war. That initiative is all but dead. With Palestinians divided between an isolated Hamas ruling Gaza and an aging, aid-dependent Palestinian Authority with limited sway in parts of the West Bank, both pitted against an Israel that has enjoyed, especially for the last four years, a blank check from Washington, support for the Palestinians might seem like a waste to many Arab regimes. Wary of Iran, the UAE is following in the footsteps of President Donald Trump, who in his inauguration made clear he was putting his country, the United States, first. Narrow self-interest has beaten out old alliances and causes. Trump's days as president are numbered, but his doctrine has found fertile ground in the Gulf.
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A Maryland candy company is cooking up chocolate covered cicadas - CNN
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(CNN)A Maryland candy company is selling chocolate covered cicadas to celebrate the emergence of the noisy insects that have spent the last 17 years underground. Chouquette Chocolates is selling the cicadas -- dipped in either milk or dark chocolate -- online, but it also posted the recipe on its Facebook page for brave chefs looking for something to do with the bugs.Billions of cicadas from Brood X are emerging from their subterranean homes as temperatures warm up in the eastern United States. They'll spend the final days of their lives mating and making a tremendous racket as males work to attract females.Cicadas hit snooze on their 17-year alarm clock. But they are still comingIt's is expected to be the largest emergence event since 2004.The fresh cicadas are frozen, given a quick dip in boiling water, then coated in oil and spices, before being air fried and dropped in chocolate, according to the instruction video. The video showed containers of cinnamon and Old Bay (because, Maryland), but the post said to use whatever spice you like.Read MoreChouquette Chocolates owner Sarah Dwyer told CNN affiliate WBAL that the end result tastes like chocolate covered potato chips."It's really crunchy because we air-fry them," she told WBAL.The cicadas are being prepared for their chocolate bath.Dwyer is also selling other cicada-themed chocolates that are insect-free for people who want to enjoy the bugs without eating them."I just thought the whole idea of having cicadas around every 17 years, it's fascinating," she told WBAL.Dwyer isn't the only one serving up cicadas.University of Tennessee professor Jerome Grant told CNN affiliate WVLT that you can boil the bugs or roast them, and he cooked them up in a stir fry and made street tacos.Cicadas are low in fat, have a balance of vitamins and are high in protein, according to Cicada Safari, an app created by experts at Mount St. Joseph University to help map the emergence of Brood X.
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10 reasons we're convinced Stanley Tucci can play anything - CNN
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(CNN)With more than 100 acting credits to his name, Stanley Tucci's career is like the best dinner party: There's a little something to suit every taste. From Shakespeare to comedies, animated adventures and blockbuster franchises, Tucci is a shape-shifting master of all. His breadth of acting work is one the many reasons he's become an enduring fan favorite, capable of dominating social feeds with just the pour of a cocktail. Tucci has crafted a career that everyone can enjoy, developing an audience as wide-ranging as the characters he's played. With so many titles, it's hard to play favorites. But if we were to select ten roles that show off Tucci's versatility, we'd start with the list below. And if you find yourself craving something nonfiction, Tucci's still here to serve: He's hosting CNN's new Original Series, "Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy," on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET. "Big Night" (1996) Read MoreThis Sundance hit was a big screen breakthrough for Tucci, who co-directed and co-wrote the film. Set in the 1950s, "Big Night" tells the story of two brothers who dream of success with a restaurant that celebrates authentic Italian cuisine. But the siblings --Tony Shalhoub as Primo and Tucci as Secondo -- are way ahead of their time; Americans in the '50s thought Italian food could be summed up with a plate of spaghetti and meatballs. To save their floundering restaurant, the brothers decide to go all out with an extraordinary "big night" extravaganza. The film is "one of the great food movies," Roger Ebert wrote in his review, "and yet it is so much more." Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1999) Remember the Shakespearean phase of the 1990s? There was "Shakespeare In Love"; "Romeo + Juliet"; "10 Things I Hate About You"; and "A Midsummer Night's Dream," which featured Tucci as the prankster fairy Puck. Accompanied by an all-star cast -- including Michelle Pfeiffer, Kevin Kline, Sam Rockwell and Calista Flockhart -- this classic turn further showcased Tucci's comedy chops. Where to watch: Purchase on demand "Shall We Dance?" (2004) Critics were lukewarm about this movie in general, but there was love for Tucci as a supporting player. The story isn't centered around his character, a lawyer named Link with a passion for ballroom dance, but he nonetheless delivered a performance the New York Times called "funniest of all." Where to watch: HBO Max"The Devil Wears Prada" (2006) With Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt and Tucci all starring in this dramedy about the cutthroat inner workings of a fashion magazine, it's no surprise we're still quoting from it to this day."It's a f*g brilliant movie," Tucci told Variety of this film's cultural endurance. "The brilliant movies become influential, no matter what they are about."Where to watch: Purchase on demand "Julie & Julia" (2009) In this adaptation, written and directed by the late, legendary Nora Ephron, Tucci stars as Paul Child, the husband of culinary icon Julia Child. With a story that balances the couple's life in 1949 France with that of a present-day New York woman inspired to create Child's recipes, the movie "glides ... like hot butter in a skillet," The Boston Globe said in its review. "Much of the pleasure we have in watching [the film] comes from seeing Tucci and Streep connect."Where to watch: Netflix"The Lovely Bones" (2009) By the time this adaptation of Alice Sebold's novel emerged, Tucci was well-known for his comedic and dramatic skills. But playing a 1970s serial killer who preys on teen girls? It was a "jolting" casting choice, Entertainment Weekly said in its review, adding that the actor's portrayal of a neighbor with a violent dark side was "honestly unsettling ... electrifying danger accompanies his every scene." The role earned Tucci an Oscar nod for best supporting actor. Where to watch: Hulu"Easy A" (2010) Tucci became the cool dad everyone wishes they had with this teen drama spin on Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter." As Dill Penderghast, Tucci played the easygoing parent of Emma Stone's Olive, a high school student who turns a salacious rumor into an opportunity. Whether it was his comedic timing, his pitch-perfect repartee with Stone and co-star Patricia Clarkson, or simply the fit of his T-shirts, this role added to Tucci's reputation as one of the Internet's favorite dads. Where to watch: Netflix "The Hunger Games" (2012) And now we arrive to what may be one of Tucci's most memorable roles: That of Caesar Flickerman, the powdered and primped talk show host in the blockbuster dystopian franchise "The Hunger Games." Tucci imbued his character with both wit and sensitivity through all four installments, resulting in a part as adored by the franchise's fanbase as its leading star Jennifer Lawrence. Almost 20 years after the success of "Big Night," Tucci won over a new generation of fans. Where to watch: Hulu"Spotlight" (2015) In between "Hunger Games" installments, Tucci turned to a challenging project rooted in reality. This Oscar-winning film is based on the true story of a team of investigative journalists at the Boston Globe who unearthed a pattern of sexual abuse by Catholic Church priests. Tucci portrays an attorney representing the victims, part of a cast that delivers an experience "both damning and inspiring, depressing and heartening," the Los Angeles Times said in its review. Where to watch: Netflix"Supernova" (2021) Tucci has shown himself to be an integral part of any ensemble cast several times over, but his latest project is a reminder that he can also take the lead. Alongside his friend of 20 years, Colin Firth, Tucci brings to life the story of a novelist with early-onset dementia who takes a road trip with his partner as his condition takes a turn for the worse. Where to watch: In select theaters, on demand February 16
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6 hearty soups -- and how to store them - CNN
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(CNN)How many more weeks of winter? Sounds like it's the right time for a bowl -- no, make that a cauldron -- of soup. "People get so excited about soup," said Caroline Wright, author of the forthcoming cookbook "Soup Club" and founder of a Seattle-based weekly community soup club. "Soup is more than a food, it's also sort of a mood. It's very nourishing and it makes people feel safe and comforted."Are eggs good or bad for you? The truth may be somewhere in betweenAnd while we can't control the weather -- or a lot of other things beyond the four walls of our homes -- we can give ourselves some measure of reassurance with a home-cooked bowl of flavorful soup.Think something hearty that can power you through these next few months -- no delicate bisques or cold gazpacho will do during times like these. Try these six different rib-sticking styles and get some pro tips on keeping your leftovers as fresh as the day they were made.And if you'd rather shop your pantry than work from one of these recipes, make a soup with what you have on hand with this Empty Your Pantry Soup template.Read MoreClam chowderManhattan or New England? Apologies to the greatest city in the world, but when it comes to the comforts of chowder, the creamy option really is the cream of the crop. Classic New England clam chowder combines that rich, thick soup base with starchy potatoes and the traditional oyster cracker topping for not one, not two, but three ways to get your comfort cravings fulfilled. Classic New England clam chowder combines a thick base with starchy potatoes.If you'd rather go vegetarian, but still want a chowder moment, substitute sliced, sautéed oyster or shiitake mushrooms for clams and vegetable broth for clam broth.Vegetarian split pea soupA bowl of thick, chunky split pea soup is one of the all-time favorite winter warmers -- and its simplicity doesn't hurt its popularity among home cooks, either.The recipe from the famous Moosewood restaurant, an icon among vegetarians, cleverly uses miso to boost the umami flavor in place of ham. Get a big pot going on the stove, or make it in the slow cooker for a hands-off technique. Chicken tortilla soupOyster crackers aren't the only way to add crunchy contrast to a hearty soup. Crispy fried (or baked) tortilla strips are what give tortilla soup its name. When your soup is named after a topping, you know it's a nonnegotiable.Crispy fried (or baked) tortilla strips are more than just a topping in chicken tortilla soup.Make this soup in the slow cooker or Instant Pot to get tender, shredded chicken without hands-on simmering time. Bonus: You can bump up the level of smoke and spice by adding chipotle peppers in adobo sauce or chipotle powder.AvgolemonoIf your tastebuds need a wake-up call this winter, the Greeks have the answer, and it's avgolemono. This chicken and rice soup is brightly flavored with a bracing hit of lemon and handfuls of fresh dill and has an irresistibly silky texture, thanks to blended eggs.The technique of tempering the eggs into the hot broth sounds a lot more difficult than it actually is, and it gets even easier when you use a blender, as in this recipe. Try it out and discover a new way to feed your soul with chicken soup. Ham and bean soupThere are as many iterations of this soup style as there are varieties of beans across the globe, but the basic concept remains the same. Tender but toothsome beans fill you up, while a hint of ham -- typically from a leftover bone or hock -- creates a rich, savory flavor.You can make this versatile soup with any mild white bean, such as great northern, navy or cannellini. The magic of the Instant Pot makes it easy to cook this traditionally long-simmered soup without soaking beans in advance, as in this version.Thai curry noodle soupA personal meal plan can save your sanity this yearIt's not just folk medicine. Even if it's not your mom's recipe, chicken soup really can alleviate the sniffles when you're feeling stuffy. If you combine chicken stock with ingredients like ginger, garlic and spicy curry paste, you're bound to feel even better after a single slurp.Coconut curry noodle soup can be made with your choice of proteins, like chicken, pork or shrimp, or loaded with extra vegetables like squash, sweet potato cubes or greens.Soup-saving tipsWhile most soup recipes can be halved or doubled without too much trouble, soup naturally lends itself to the "cook once, eat twice" school of thought. And if you think you won't eat all the leftovers in a few days, "the coolest part about soup is that it can freeze," Wright said.The best kitchen essentials we tested in 2020 (CNN Underscored)She recommends freezing leftover soup in portions instead of one large block, so it will be easier to reheat what you need as you need it. Along with DIY options like takeout containers, zip-top bags or silicone muffin tins, you can invest in freezer-specific accessories like Souper Cubes or Prepworks Freezer Portion Pods. These multitaskers aren't just for soup: They'll turn any sauce-based leftovers into icy blocks.Even creamy soups can be frozen, though the dairy may separate and give the soup a grainy texture. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before reheating, and reheat gently over low heat on the stovetop for best results.Because soups with grains like pasta and rice tend to absorb broth as they cool, Wright has a solution to preventing these starchy ingredients from stealing all the soupiness out of the meal."When I know I'm going to be freezing or giving soup to people a day after I make it, I don't add the pasta right away," Wright said. Instead of cooking the starch in the broth according to recipe instructions, she stirs the pasta or grains into the soup as it cools down off heat. This way, the thirsty starches will cook as the soup is reheated.Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.For food safety, let your soup cool down for about 20 minutes, until it's no longer steaming, before dividing and freezing. Too-hot soup can lower the temperature of your freezer, which can make all the other food inside start to thaw.Once you're stocked up on soup, you might want it to be soup season year-round.Casey Barber is a food writer, illustrator and photographer; the author of "Pierogi Love: New Takes on an Old-World Comfort Food" and "Classic Snacks Made from Scratch: 70 Homemade Versions of Your Favorite Brand-Name Treats"; and editor of the website Good. Food. Stories.
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Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic founder, successfully rockets to outer space - CNN
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Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (CNN Business)Richard Branson became the first person to ride into space aboard a rocket he helped fund. The supersonic space plane developed by his company, Virgin Galactic, roared into the sky over New Mexico early Sunday, carrying Branson and three fellow crewmembers.Branson -— along with Virgin Galactic employees Beth Moses, Colin Bennett, and Sirisha Bandla and pilots Dave Mackay and Michael Masucci — boarded the SpaceShipTwo, a winged plane with a single rocket motor that the company has spent nearly two decades developing, before the crack of dawn. Attached beneath its massive, twin-fuselaged mothership, dubbed WhiteKnightTwo, the vehicle took to the skies at 8:30 am MT and climbed to about 50,000 feet in the air.Just after 9:15 in the morning, the SpaceShipTwo detached from its mothership and dropped momentarily before its engine screamed to life and the vehicle swooped upward. On board, the passengers experienced up to three Gs of force from the burst of extreme acceleration and watched the blue sky fade into the star-speckled darkness of outer space. At the top of the flight path, more than 50 miles high, the vehicle was suspended in weightlessness for a few minutes, allowing the passengers to enjoy panoramic views of the Earth and space as SpaceShipTwo flipped onto its belly. It then deployed its feathering system, which curls the plane's wings upward, mimicking the shape of a badminton shuttlecock, to turn the spaceship rightward as it flew back into the Earth's thick atmosphere and glided back down to a runway landing. Virgin Galactic spaceplane VSS Unity rockets to outer space, with Richard Branson and crew onboard.As Branson floated around in microgravity, he taped a message using cameras onboard the space plane: "To all you kids out there — I was once a child with a dream, looking up to the stars. Now I'm an adult in a spaceship...If we can do this, just imagine what you can do," he said."To all you kids down there..." - @RichardBranson's message from zero gravity. #Unity22Watch the livestream: https://t.co/5UalYT7Hjb pic.twitter.com/lYXHNsDQcU— Virgin Galactic (@virgingalactic) July 11, 2021
This flight marked only the fourth test flight of the vehicle that reached the edge of space. Read MoreSurrounding SpaceShipTwo's takeoff was — in typical Branson fashion -— a high-production party with friends, family, employees and a few VIPs in attendance. Earlier on Sunday, Branson tweeted a picture of himself and a barefoot Elon Musk hanging out. Grammy-nominated artist Khalid is also expected to perform an as-yet-unreleased song on an outdoor stage. What this meansBranson's flight — which came just nine days before Amazon bilionaire Jeff Bezos is slated to rocket into suborbital space aboard his own company's spacecraft — is a landmark moment for the commercial space industry. The up-and-coming sector has for years been seeking to make suborbital space tourism (a relatively simple straight-up-and-down flight, as opposed to orbiting the Earth for longer periods) a viable business with the aim of allowing thousands of people to experience the adrenaline rush and sweeping views of our home planet that such flights can offer. Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflight Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightThe space plane carrying Richard Branson lifts off from Spaceport America near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, on Sunday, July 11.Hide Caption 1 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightBranson carries crew member Sirisha Bandla on his shoulders while celebrating after landing back on Earth. Bandla is the second woman born in India to fly to space.Hide Caption 2 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightAstronaut Chris Hadfield holds wings before pinning them to the crew members' flight suits.Hide Caption 3 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightVirgin Galactic's VSS Unity space plane detaches from its mothership and heads toward space.Hide Caption 4 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightBranson and the other crew members experience weightlessness at the edge of space.Hide Caption 5 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightThe VSS Unity's rocket burns during the flight.Hide Caption 6 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightSpectators watch as the space plane separates from its mothership.Hide Caption 7 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightThe VSS Unity takes off aboard its mothership, the twin-fuselage carrier jet dubbed VMS Eve.Hide Caption 8 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightSpectators take photos and cheer as the Virgin Galactic space plane takes off.Hide Caption 9 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightVirgin Galactic's chief astronaut instructor Beth Moses embraces Branson and other crew members ahead of the spaceflight.Hide Caption 10 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightRichard Branson waves to schoolchildren while heading to board the space plane.Hide Caption 11 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightRichard Branson receives some cards from schoolchildren as he walks out ahead of the flight.Hide Caption 12 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightBranson arrives at Spaceport America by bicycle just after sunrise.Hide Caption 13 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightGuests assemble before the launch.Hide Caption 14 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightA photographer prepares his camera as the sun rises over Spaceport America.Hide Caption 15 of 16 Photos: Richard Branson's historic spaceflightLightning flashes over Spaceport America on Saturday, July 10. Virgin Galactic's livestream of the launch was delayed 90 minutes from its originally scheduled time thanks to high winds the night before.Hide Caption 16 of 16Branson and Bezos are situated to become direct competitors in that industry, each offering tickets to wealthy customers for brief rides to the upper atmosphere aboard supersonic, rocket-powered spacecraft. Everything you need to know about Richard Branson going to space this weekendVirgin Galactic plans to conduct just one more test flight before it will begin flying paying customers. More than 600 people have reserved tickets priced at $200,000 to $250,000 so far. The company is expected to reopen ticket sales soon, though at a higher price point.Branson's flight also helps bolster Virgin Galactic's reputation as the "world's first commercial spaceline." That's how the company advertised itself as it signed up those hundreds of willing customers who've waited through development delays — and a tragic mishap — for their chance to ride aboard SpaceShipTwo. But whether or not Virgin Galactic will really be the "first" commercially operational suborbital space company is not yet clear. Bezos' space company, Blue Origin, appeared poised to put its founder in space before Branson, until Virgin Galactic made the surprise announcement earlier this month that he would be on the very next test flight, a departure from the company's earlier plans. Bezos' flight, slated for July 20, could kick off the company's commercial operations sooner than that, and one of his fellow passengers on the flight is a paying customer, having won a ticket through a charity auction for the price of $28 million. The company has not yet begun selling tickets to the public, however, nor has it set a specific date for when it plans to do so.Neither company is expected to offer tickets that are affordable to the average American. Branson did tease a big "announcement" about his effort to "democratize space" ahead of the flight. But he revealed Sunday only that Virgin Galactic would be holding a "sweepstakes" for two free tickets, along with a tour of the facility from the winners from Branson himself. How Virgin Galactic got hereVirgin Galactic moved into its facilities in New Mexico in May 2019 after years of delay. The glitzy building, called Spaceport America, was paid for with more than $200 million in mostly taxpayer money, and it had been waiting nearly a decade for Virgin Galactic to move in and open for business. The company refurbished the building to include a lounge and other amenities that ticket holders will be able to use before their brief journey to the edge of space.Virgin Galactic's development program has endured a series of setbacks, including a catastrophic accident during a test flight in 2014 that left a co-pilot dead and the pilot badly injured after the SpaceShipTwo's feathering system was prematurely deployed, ripping the spacecraft apart. The company has since parted ways with its manufacturing partner and says it has worked to enhance SpaceShipTwo with additional automated safeguards. Branson said ahead of Sunday's test flight that he was anxious to join the pilots and test engineers who've already flown on SpaceShipTwo because he felt it demonstrated a crucial vote of confidence. Richard Branson receives some cards from children as he walks out from Spaceport America, near Truth and Consequences, New Mexico on July 11, 2021."You've got to remember that Virgin Galactic has people on every spaceflight... The fact that I'm willing to fly with those people shows confidence," Branson told CNN Business' Rachel Crane earlier this month. "I think the least the founder of the company can do is go up there and fly with his people."
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Gained weight during pandemic? Here's what to do about it - CNN
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(CNN)Some people may have gained more than 1.5 pounds on average per month during Covid-19 shelter-in-place orders in March and April 2020. Forty-five out of 50 US state governments issued shelter-in-place orders from March 19 to April 6, 2020, to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.8 eating habits that can interfere with sleepA research team looked at nearly 7,500 weight measurements from 269 participants between February 1 and June 1, 2020, according to a research letter published Monday in JAMA Network Open. The participants were part of the Health eHeart Study, and their weight measurements came from Bluetooth-connected smart scales. "On average, they gained about 0.6 pounds every 10 days or 1.8 pounds per month during shelter in place orders," said cardiologist Dr. Gregory Marcus, one of the authors of the research and a professor of medicine at The University of California, San Francisco.Why people might be gaining weight in the pandemicRead MoreThis weight gain was irrespective of geographic location or comorbidities, the research found. The study authors said the implementation of shelter-in-place orders also corresponded with a decrease in daily step counts and an increase in self-reported overeating. Mediterranean diet named best diet for 2021These two corresponding factors track with what experts think is behind an increase in weight gain during the pandemic. CNN health and nutrition contributor Lisa Drayer names comfort eating, specifically, as an issue during this stressful time.During a lockdown, many have turned to high-calorie foods like sweets or pizza to relieve stress when there is little else to do or look forward to, and working from home allows the kitchen to be just within reach all day long.Just as the pandemic has changed eating habits, it has had an impact on exercise habits, too, according to Dr. Caroline Apovian, co-director of the Center for Weight Management and Wellness at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston.With the gyms that many relied on closed and people losing out on basic daily physical activity -- like walking from the parking lot to their office -- some people just aren't getting the same level of exercise they did before the shutdown.A high BMI may qualify you for a vaccine, but may not mean you're unhealthy. Here's how to checkIf you are reading this and are thinking of your own less-than-ideal habits you picked up over the past year, Drayer said it's not time to guilt yourself."Definitely cut yourself a break," Drayer said. "Eating is one of life's pleasures, and the pandemic was so stressful, it's understandable that we ate more of our favorite comfort foods -- and more often and in larger quantities."However, it's important to recognize unintended health consequences of shelter-in-place orders, the study authors said. They noted that their results show there is a need for strategies to mitigate weight gain as local governments consider their responses to Covid-19 and future pandemics.If this weight gain is significant and permanent, there could be broader implications to society, according to Drayer. Covid-19 death rates 10 times higher in countries where most adults are overweight, report finds"It means that there are other, unintended health consequences associated with a pandemic that can complicate an already risky situation," she said.This is because being obese or overweight may increase risk of severe illness from Covid-19, with obesity potentially tripling the risk of hospitalization due to Covid-19, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Subscribe to CNN's Fitness, But Better newsletter: Get back in the groove. Sign up for our newsletter series to ease into a healthy routine, backed by expertsHow to view these results to address weight gainThis study did have its limitations. The study's sample size was small and not diverse: Of the 269 participants, 77% were White."The fact that they're (mostly) White just means that if you look at a racially diverse population, the results would be worse," Apovian said. That's "because we know that obesity is more prevalent in different races."Upgrade your home workout with this top-rated fitness gear (CNN Underscored)The study's reliance on Bluetooth scales and weight measurements does lead to a reduction in overall sample size, which is another limitation, the study authors said. They also point out that characteristics of people who own these scales -- who are already monitoring their weight and paying attention to their health -- may limit the extent to which the study findings can be applied to other settings, but they say following the individuals over time to assess weight changes during shelter-in-place orders diminishes the threat to internal validity. "It may be that what we observed is actual an underestimate of the magnitude of the weight gain that the majority of people have experienced — because if anything these people are especially interested in health and research," Marcus said.With all this in mind, Drayer said there are steps you can take to boost metabolism, correct bad habits and shed some pounds -- even during a pandemic: Consume small, frequent meals. Eat three meals and three snacks each day, spaced three to four hours apart. Never skip meals; keep portable snacks handy for times when you're too busy to stop and eat. Try to be consistent with meal and snack times. Include protein on your plate. Aim to include at least 3 ounces of protein per meal. For proper portioning, visualize the size of a computer mouse or a deck of cards.Gradually start lifting weights. Light weightlifting will help you to preserve muscle mass, boost metabolism and tone while you shed pounds.Start walking. A brisk walk for at least 30 minutes each day will jump-start your metabolism and help you burn extra calories. Find stress-relieving alternatives. Sometimes you may want to indulge your sweet tooth but often, a hot bath or a walk around the block can be equally stress-relieving. Apovian hopes that, at the very least, Americans learn the importance of addressing obesity. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team."This brings up the point that your weight changes in a different environment. And it's not your fault, it's because (obesity is) a disease. And the disease of obesity is a dysfunction of the brain connections to the hormones that control your appetite and satiety," Apovian said. "(The study) shows that your disease can get worse if you have a lot of food around or you're not doing too much or you're staying at home. It speaks of the fact that this is not a matter of willpower."
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As Britain scraps free mass testing, Hong Kong will swab its entire population - CNN
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This is the weekly edition of CNN's coronavirus newsletter. Look out for your roundup every Wednesday. If you haven't subscribed yet, sign up here. (CNN)At the start of the pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) had one very clear message for countries around the world: "Test, test, test." Two years later, the advice remains the same, but not all governments are listening to it.This week, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed England's new "living with Covid" strategy, dropping its remaining pandemic restrictions despite the reality that tens of thousands of people are still testing positive each day — including, on Sunday, Queen Elizabeth II. The plans unveiled by Johnson, who says the next phase is all about "encouraging personal responsibility," include an end to England's free coronavirus testing scheme. At the program's peak, more than 2 million swabs per day were being carried out and logged in the United Kingdom — yielding arguably the most robust data set in the world. The UK's move to axe free mass testing after March was met with backlash from public health experts, who fear it could have major consequences on global efforts to track Covid-19. The WHO's special envoy for Covid, David Nabarro, said on BBC radio over the weekend that he worried Britain's decision to drop all rules and adopt "a line that is against the public health consensus," could "create a bit of a domino effect around the world." Read MoreThe dismantling of these surveillance systems would have a dire impact on our understanding of the virus as it continues to evolve and spread, WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said during an online question-and-answer session on Tuesday. Though global infections have fallen about 20% this week, compared to the previous week, she warned that the decline "may not be real" due to reduced testing. "We are very concerned about a reduction in testing around the world. We need to continue to test for SARS-CoV-2. We cannot abandon our testing practices," Van Kerkhove added. Still, some countries and regions are hanging on to testing as a major strand of their pandemic strategy.A temporary Covid-19 testing site in Hong Kong.Hong Kong's chief executive, Carrie Lam, announced a massive mandatory testing drive Tuesday as the territory grapples with its worst coronavirus outbreak yet, spurred by Omicron. The entire population — nearly 7.5 million people — will undergo three rounds of compulsory Covid-19 testing in March, and testing capacity is expected to increase to 1 million a day or more, according to Lam. Hong Kong has largely stayed in lockstep with mainland China's "zero-Covid-19" policy, which has meant that as other countries like Britain have shifted their approach to treating the virus as endemic, the city has been stuck in a never-ending cycle of lockdowns to quell outbreaks. The extremely transmissible Omicron variant put a massive strain on testing programs around the world earlier this year, making rapid tests even more scarce. As cases surged, vaccinated and boosted people trying to ensure they were not positive before contact with vulnerable individuals or attending gatherings found themselves scrambling to find available test kits.The United States poured billions into scaling up test manufacturing capacity, but still failed to avert a shortfall amid the Omicron spike. In a briefing by the White House Covid-19 response team last week, Dr. Tom Inglesby, senior adviser to the task force, said that the administration was seeking to address supply chain challenges and expand domestic testing capacity, to "be ready if we face a new variant or surge in the future." The US government said it has secured 1 billion tests, 200 million of which have already been shipped free of charge to Americans across the country. "Testing will remain a critical part of our overall COVID response strategy. We're making investments now for whatever this virus brings in the time ahead," Inglesby said.YOU ASKED. WE ANSWEREDQ: How can we keep kids safe as Covid-19 rules change? Our expert weighs inA: After two years of pandemic restrictions, several states have announced they will end indoor mask mandates, including at some schools. Against this backdrop, the US Food and Drug Administration has said that it will delay authorization for the Covid-19 vaccine for children under 5. That has left many parents wondering whether it is safe or not to allow their kids to resume indoor activities such as playdates, going to the movies and attending extracurricular activities."Just because restrictions are being lifted doesn't mean that suddenly everything's safe. Covid-19 infection levels are still quite high in many communities. Government-required measures are ending, but that doesn't mean that individuals should make every risky choice," CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen says.But nearly everything we do carries some level of risk when it comes to contracting Covid-19. The question families should ask is: How much do we want to keep avoiding the coronavirus? And what's the price we're willing to pay to do so?Send your questions here. Are you a health care worker fighting Covid-19? Message us on WhatsApp about the challenges you're facing: +1 347-322-0415.READS OF THE WEEKQueen Elizabeth experiencing mild Covid symptomsBritain's Queen Elizabeth II canceled her planned virtual engagements on Tuesday as she continued to suffer from mild Covid-19 symptoms, Buckingham Palace has said. The palace announced Sunday that the 95-year-old monarch had contracted the virus. "As Her Majesty is still experiencing mild cold-like symptoms she has decided not to undertake her planned virtual engagements today, but will continue with light duties," the palace said. Light duties likely refer to her head of state responsibilities such as reading and answering documents and letters, which she receives daily in her famous red dispatch boxes, Max Foster and Lauren Said-Moorhouse explain.The Queen's diagnosis is the latest Covid case to hit the royal household. Her eldest son and heir to the British throne, Prince Charles, contracted the virus for a second time on February 10, and had seen his mother "recently." Days later, his wife, Camilla, also tested positive. Additionally, a royal source told CNN Sunday that there had recently been "a number of cases ... diagnosed in the Windsor Castle team." UK media have reported that the Queen is fully vaccinated.As the US looks to move on from Covid-19, high-risk and disabled Americans feel forgottenTasha Nelson's 10-year-old son Jack, who has cystic fibrosis, a progressive genetic disease that causes persistent, damaging lung infections, held back tears when he heard the news. The two were in the car when the announcement came through the radio: Virginia's freshly sworn-in governor had signed an order attempting to ban mask mandates in schools. "My son looked up at me and he had tears in his eyes because he knew what it meant. He said, 'Mom, does that mean I can't go to school anymore?'" Nelson said. "He said, 'Can't we let the governor know about kids like me? I want to go to school too.'"As local and state leaders across the US remove mask and vaccination rules, immunocompromised, disabled and chronically ill Americans say that doing away with protections will leave them more vulnerable — especially as they, or family members, return to in-person work or school. And for some, Covid-19 vaccines are not as effective in staving off a severe bout with the virus, Christina Maxouris writes.The high-risk people CNN spoke to said as the country eagerly looks to move on from the pandemic, they feel forgotten — and worse, like they don't matter to the rest of the American public. Some say they feel like they've been left to adapt to a more dangerous reality, while others are now mapping out a permanently isolated lifestyle.Reinfections of Omicron subvariants are possible, but rare A WHO advisory group met to discuss the latest evidence on Omicron, including subvariants BA.1 and BA.2, on Tuesday, after reports that the latter was not only spreading faster than its distant cousin, but may also cause more severe disease. Based on available data on transmission, severity, reinfection and impacts of vaccines, the group advised that that BA.2 should continue to be considered a variant of concern and remain classified as Omicron. WHO's experts considered real-world data on clinical severity from Denmark, where BA.2 is currently the dominant cause of Covid-19. A new Danish study found that getting reinfected with two different Omicron subvariants was possible, but that it was a rare occurrence, largely afflicting those who are unvaccinated and resulting in mostly mild infections. The group also received a briefing from Japanese scientists, who recently conducted lab and animal studies with BA.2. The new lab experiments from Japan show that BA.2 may have features that make it as capable of causing serious illness as older variants of Covid-19, including Delta. And like Omicron, it appears to largely escape the immunity created by vaccines. TOP TIPYou might need a fourth shot. As the world approaches the second anniversary of the declaration of the Covid-19 pandemic by the WHO, on March 11, more nations are rolling out — or considering — fourth doses of coronavirus vaccine for their most vulnerable. Israel was the first nation to roll out fourth doses, and Sweden and the UK have recently said they would follow suit. In the US, leading public health officials say they are "very carefully" monitoring if or when fourth doses might be needed, with signs that it might be recommended as we move into fall — coinciding with the administration of flu shots.Here's why Dr. Anthony Fauci and other public health experts say boosting will be critical.LISTEN TO OUR PODCASTOver the past two years, people around the world have experienced new levels of social isolation. But even before the pandemic, public health experts have warned about a looming "loneliness epidemic." CNN's Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta explores the serious potential impacts this can have on our health and the surprising power of small acts of kindness. Listen here.
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Why are Norwegians so happy? In a word: 'koselig' - CNN
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(CNN)Go to your happy place. Go on, close your eyes and picture it. Take a deep breath and hold it in your mind's eye for a long, joyful moment. Already, you feel more relaxed, less stressed, happier. And you aren't even physically there. My happy place looks and feels a lot like the common motifs many share: It's both in nature and insulated from it, like a cabin in the woods. I'm sitting by the golden light of a fireplace in a stuffed chair, under a blanket, with a warm beverage and engrossing book in hand. Music is playing, but it's slow and quiet. Family and friends are there, too. We'll play an unhurried card or board game and share funny stories. We'll eat a delicious meal together. It's snowing or raining, and we watch the weather unfold, go out in it and then enjoy coming back inside again. I don't need any other distractions in my happy place. I have everything I need to be fully connected and blissed out.Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay GuptaThe kind of experience I'm describing is something of a national pastime in Norway. They even have a word that snugly wraps all these ideas up: "koselig." The concept is undoubtedly connected to the fact that cold, nature-embracing countries such as Norway, Finland and Denmark have each recently led the list of the happiest countries in the world. You could roughly translate koselig (pronounced "koosh-lee"), as "coziness," but that leaves out crucial components of it, like enjoying the company of others and a connection with nature. There's no direct English translation, but there are regional equivalents such as the Swedish "mys," the Dutch "gezelligheid" and the most well-known of these, the Danish "hygge."Read More Photos: Where coziness meets happinessNorway has a concept that's central to its national character. It's called "koselig," and it's a combination of nature, companionship and coziness promoting personal well-being.Hide Caption 1 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessDenmark has a similar concept, called "hygge."Hide Caption 2 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessNature-embracing countries such as Norway, Finland and Denmark have each recently led the list of the happiest countries in the world. Hide Caption 3 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessYou could roughly translate koselig (pronounced "koosh-lee"), as "coziness," but that leaves out crucial components like enjoying the company of others and a connection with nature. Hide Caption 4 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessHygge is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as "a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being."Hide Caption 5 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessSome research supports the power of koselig-esque elements.Hide Caption 6 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessExposure to nature increases social engagement and physical activity.Hide Caption 7 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessHaving a lot of vegetation near your home decreases your odds of dying prematurely by 12%, according to one study. This is the Treehotel in the Swedish Lapland.Hide Caption 8 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessComfort foods (nutritious and otherwise) have proven psychological benefits; one study showed that they can spur feelings of connectedness and reduce loneliness. Hide Caption 9 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessComfort foods are "a cognitive and emotional reminder of others," according to one study.Hide Caption 10 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessStaring at fire induces relaxation and lowers blood pressure.Hide Caption 11 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessAnything that decreases stress, such as breaks from work, has numerous mental and physical health benefits. Taking in the Northern Lights over Kåppas Cabin Village in Sweden might be of help.Hide Caption 12 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessA study showed that people who take walks in nature report less repetitive negative thoughts. Here, a woman walks in the woods on the way up to the Bondhusbreen glacier inside Folgefonna National Park in Norway. Hide Caption 13 of 14 Photos: Where coziness meets happinessSomething inside us responds instinctively to the gifts of koselig.Hide Caption 14 of 14Hygge (pronounced "hoo-gah") has had a moment in the past few years. Books have been written about it, and the word made it into the Oxford Dictionary and was shortlisted for the 2016 word of the year, defined as "a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being."It's that well-being part that gives us reason to replicate koselig or hygge, even as the research slowly confirms what those cold, northern happiest countries have known for a long time: Darkness and isolation can be celebrated because they provide the need for their relief. The act of creating our own light and warmth produces peace and contentment.Living near nature linked to longer lives, says studyThe case for koselig as a health practice seems obvious. You already know how it feels to be cozy, or in nature, or with friends. By all logic, most Norwegians should be depressed with seasonal affective disorder by their long, dark, isolating winters. Except that many have found the antidote. There is some research that supports the power of koselig-esque elements, though. We know that social connections give our life purpose, and that is tied directly to longevity. And anything that decrease stress, such as breaks from work, has numerous mental and physical health benefits. Just being off your phone for long stretches of time calms you down. One study showed how levels of the stress hormone cortisol rise when you're frequently on your phone. And elevated cortisol is linked to irritability, anxiety, depression, weight gain, increased blood pressure and poor sleep.The koselig emphasis on nature is also proven to be good for your health. Having a lot of vegetation near your home decreases your odds of dying prematurely by 12%, according to one study. The researchers suggested that the reasons had to do with lower exposure to air pollution and increased social engagement and physical activity that occur in more natural environments. Peak experiences, perfect moments and the extra-ordinaryAnother study showed that people who take walks in nature report less repetitive negative thoughts. And a government health service in Scotland is so convinced of the mental and physical health benefits of nature exposure that it is encouraging doctors to give "nature prescriptions" to help treat high blood pressure, anxiety and depression. Comfort foods (nutritious and otherwise) have proven psychological benefits; one study showed that they can spur feelings of connectedness and reduce loneliness because they are "a cognitive and emotional reminder of others." Holding a warm beverage, according to a Yale study, promotes feelings of generosity and caring. Warm light (think candles or fire) has been shown to boost creativity, and staring at fire actually induces relaxation and lowers blood pressure.In something of a koselig experiment, last weekend, my wife, our two young daughters and I hiked 5 miles on the approach to the Appalachian Trail to a place called the Len Foote Hike Inn in Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia. Surrounded by wilderness, this "cell phone-free" lodge has 20 two-bed "bunkrooms," a shared bath house, communal dining room and a large, circular game and puzzle room heated by an old iron wood stove. There are no electrical outlets in the rooms. They wake you up in the morning to watch the sun rise over the mountains.Doctors are prescribing nature to patients in the UK's Shetland Islands Our hike in was wet and chilly, the trail muddy, but our spirits jovial. We laughed as my daughters tried to eat trail mix with hands wrapped in my spare socks (we forgot gloves). Upon arrival, we ate treats baked in the kitchen with hot chocolate and coffee. After a convivial group dinner across three long tables, most of the guests retired to the game room, where my daughters and I played an epic game of Settlers of Catan with a high school student and her aunt who had flown down from New Hampshire. My wife spent the evening putting together a puzzle of a map of the Appalachian Trail with other folks we just met. No one watched TV on their iPads or even checked their phones. My kids, like most, have always put a premium on coziness, setting up their rooms or forts to maximize it. They surround themselves in bed with a menagerie of stuffed animals, which sort of checks off nature, community and coziness. The Hike Inn, with its bonhomie, mountain views, wood stoves, games and delicious, communal homemade meals, is the apotheosis of coziness, and it lifted everyone's spirits to be there.Subscribe to this columnDon't miss another Wisdom Project column by subscribing here.The next day was bright and cheery, and we headed back down the mountain with our bellies full of eggs, oatmeal, grits and peach spoonbread, served in a skillet."I love this place," my older daughter said with a whole-body conviction. She recognized instinctively how special it is to be together, safe, warm and connected. Something inside her -- and all of us -- responds instinctively to the gifts of koselig. And I intend to keep seeking it out. This essay is part of a column called The Wisdom Project by David Allan, editorial director of CNN Health and Wellness. The series is on applying to one's life the wisdom and philosophy found everywhere, from ancient texts to pop culture. You can follow David at @davidgallan. Don't miss another Wisdom Project column; subscribe here.
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Natalie Portman and Serena Williams are among investors in new Los Angeles NWSL soccer team - CNN
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(CNN)Actress Natalie Portman, tennis star Serena Williams and her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian are part of a majority woman-founded group that will own the newest soccer team in the United States.The National Women's Soccer League announced that it has awarded the Angel City group the franchise for a new Los Angeles team, which will join the league in the spring of 2022.The investor group is led by Oscar-winning actress Portman, technology venture capitalist Kara Nortman, media and gaming entrepreneur Julie Uhrman and Alexis Ohanian, Williams' husband and the co-founder of Reddit."Today we take an exciting step by announcing the first women majority-owned and led ownership group," Portman said in an NWSL statement."I am thrilled by the opportunity to partner with this incredible group of people to bring a professional women's soccer team to Los Angeles. Read MoreREAD: Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice to set another scoring record as Juventus moves closer to Serie A titleREAD: Lionel Messi claims record-breaking seventh golden bootNatalie Portman will be the owner of a US soccer team."Together, we aim to build not only a winning team on the field, but also to develop a passionately loyal fan base. We also hope to make a substantive impact on our community, committing to extending access to sports for young people in Los Angeles through our relationship with the LA84 Foundation. "Sports are such a joyful way to bring people together, and this has the power to make tangible change for female athletes both in our community and in the professional sphere."Other famous names involved are fellow Hollywood actors Eva Longoria, Uzo Aduba, Jennifer Garner and Jessica Chastain, along with more than a dozen former US Women's National Team stars, including Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm, Joy Fawcett and Abby Wambach.Serena Williams, her daughter Alexis Olympia and husband Alexis Ohanian are also among the star-studded group.While a team name has yet to be decided, the Angel City group will be hoping to capitalize on the increased interest in women's soccer since the USWNT's successful defense of its World Cup title in 2019, with the NWSL recording an average 22% increase in stadium attendances compared to the 2018 season."The growth trajectory of the NWSL is incredibly exciting, but we also need to be strategic and thoughtful about how fast we expand and the communities we partner with," NWSL Commissioner Lisa Baird said in a statement. "We've long sought the right partner in LA considering the NWSL fanbase that already exists in the region and the massive interest in women's soccer in general. Those factors, along with an incredible ownership group make this an ideal situation and we couldn't be more thrilled to move forward."The new franchise will be the 11th team to enter the NWSL and will join the already established MLS sides LA Galaxy and LAFC in LA.
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Kylian Mbappe: The 'phenomenon that breathes and sleeps football' - CNN
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(CNN)Situated in a lavish corner of France, AS Monaco's famed football academy has produced some of the game's biggest stars.Four integral parts of France's historic World Cup-winning team of 1998 -- Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram, Emmanuel Petit and David Trezeguet -- were nurtured there.Follow @cnnsport
But there is a new star who has since emerged and has the capacity to surpass them all: Kylian Mbappe.The teenager arguably shone brighter than any other player in Russia, winning the young player of the tournament award and leading his country to only its second World Cup triumph. And all this at the age of 19.Ahead of Sunday's World Cup final between France and Croatia, CNN Sport spoke to Vadim Vasilyev, AS Monaco's vice-president, who played a key role in Mbappe signing his first professional contract with the Ligue 1 club.Read MoreWhen was the first time you saw him play football and what were your first thoughts and feelings?"When I first heard about him my colleagues said: 'Look, we have a very talented boy, we have to sign him.' So I said: 'What's the problem? Let's sign him.' They said it wasn't easy and it turned out there were some complications."He was not really very happy and actually he wanted to go. I started seeing his parents and watching him in training and I sent him to the first team to train with our coach (Leonardo) Jardim. They said: 'Wow, how come this boy is in our academy and I didn't know about it.' We built a relationship of trust and then he signed his pro contract."Many people expected him to be a star, but did you think it would all happen before he was even 20 years old?"Two years ago, or perhaps even more, I knew that he was a phenomenon. It's not just 'very good,' it's not 'top,' it's a phenomenal player. "He has all the ingredients, then of course it all went very quickly; becoming French champion with us, going to the semifinal of the Champions League and now the World Cup. It all went quick for sure but if you know the quality he has and the kind of person he is, then I'm not surprised really. "Of course it happened more quickly than anybody could have envisaged, even himself, that's for sure. But he's doing it at this level and I'm not surprised at all. He did it at academy level, Ligue 1 level, then two years (seasons) ago he did it in the Champions League, the famous game against Manchester City where he exploded."He played against Manchester City on an amazing level in front of the whole football world. It just confirmed what we knew all along, it's an amazing talent and this boy will become one of the best -- if he isn't already -- one of the best in world." VAR 🖥 Goal celebrations 🦅 When goal celebrations backfire 🥊 Throw-in glitch ⚽️ A-lister fans 👏 Dance moves 👀 Schadenfreude 🇩🇪 Neymar 🇧🇷 Set pieces ⚽️ Waistcoats 🏴 But what were you favourite World Cup moments? . . . #worldcup #worldcup2018 #russia2018 #moment #video #mp4 A post shared by CNNSport (@cnnsport) on Jul 12, 2018 at 3:09pm PDT What do you think it is about him, apart from his incredible talent, that has allowed him to get to the top so quickly?"He breathes football, sleeps football, actually nothing else is on his mind. He didn't even go out when we won the title two years ago. "All the boys went celebrating and he was so tired he just went home. He is really dedicated and he has a very competitive spirit, he wants to break all the records."He reminds me a bit of Cristiano Ronaldo, because I also know him well, because he knows all the records and he always wants to be the youngest player on the pitch to score, the youngest player to win this cup, to win the title. "So he's a good competitor, he's also stubborn and if he doesn't play he feels bad. He's, like, sick if he doesn't play. He also has a great family, I know the mother and father well, I saw the father yesterday."They're an amazing family supporting him. They're next to him, are very intelligent people and are a really good healthy family, so all the ingredients (are there)."When you talk to him you don't talk to a 19-year-old boy, you talk to a 30 or 25 year-old at least. There's the maturity. Trying to find a weak point, I can't. Then of course you can never say how long will it take him to win the Ballon d'Or, but he will be there soon for sure." The race for the Golden Boot at the World Cup is in the final stages ... Harry Kane is in pole position ... unless he is pipped by Romelu Lukaku or Antoine Griezmann, but both those players need a few more goals. . . . #worldcup #worldcup2018 #russia2018 #goldenboot #harrykane #lukaku #griezmann #sports #video #design A post shared by CNNSport (@cnnsport) on Jul 13, 2018 at 2:05am PDT What is he like as a person? It seems like he's stayed humble despite his rapid rise to the top."I spoke to him, we spent some time together after we won the French title, he always had it in him. He knew this would happen, he didn't know how and when but he believed in himself and he knew his destiny is to become a big, big, big player and he's very sure of himself. "It's like he knew, he always worked so hard and now it's happening and, of course, it happened fast but he had it inside. But this is your destiny and he was ready. He was, of course, surprised that it happened so quickly but in the end he was ready because that's what he was always thinking, dreaming, working for. He knew he would do it, one day he would do it."People have compared him to Thierry Henry, beginning as a winger and starting careers at Monaco. Do you see the comparisons?"I know Kylian and he doesn't like to be compared. He respects Thierry a lot but he doesn't want to be compared to anybody. "He is himself and he will write his own history in football and I agree with that. Of course you can find some comparisons but I wouldn't like to do that because I respect Thierry -- I met him the other day, I have Thierry's jersey in my office, he came from our academy -- but we shouldn't compare and I know Kylian doesn't like it."He is himself and he's a huge talent and he will write his own history. He will be remembered as Mbappe and not as somebody that is compared to even another great player." JUST WATCHEDWhat's behind the success of AS Monaco?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhat's behind the success of AS Monaco? 03:01Some of the biggest clubs in the world were after him, how did Monaco convince him to sign?"I think we offered the right sports project. Historically we've been one of the best, we were just talking about the four World Cup winners from 1998 came from Monaco's academy. That's already a big statement, as big as it can be, that we raise the talents and let them play. "Chelsea has a fantastic academy but I don't know Chelsea players playing for the first team. This is what makes us different. There are other very good academies in the world of football but we give the chance for the boys to play in the first team."But I think it was human relationship between the management of our academy and his parents. So in the end they are really very happy they made the right choice."I know he also visited Real Madrid. Zidane was coaching the B team and they wanted him, they spent a week there but in the end they said we want to go to Monaco."It's the right environment, great academy, there's enough pressure but not too much. We have the right kind of pressure and we're proven to give chances for the best talented boys. You cannot beat that." "The lines spring out from the base, rising in spirals, stretching out to receive the world," says Silvio Gazzaniga of his World Cup trophy design. "From the remarkable dynamic tensions of the compact body of the sculpture rise the figures of two athletes at the stirring moment of victory." Come Sunday at the final of Russia 2018, which team's players — Croatia 🇭🇷 or France 🇫🇷— will get their hands on this 6,174g trophy, 4,297g of which is pure gold. Animated illustration by @channeldraw . . . #worldcup #worldcup2018 #russia2018 #trophy #gold #design #artist #illustration #mp4 A post shared by CNNSport (@cnnsport) on Jul 12, 2018 at 2:51pm PDT Was it the right time to move or would you rather he stayed an extra season?"I would have obviously preferred him to stay one extra season, in the end it was meant to be. Things started going so quickly, the offers we started receiving were just too big for us and then we had some long conversations and we said 'okay that's the right time.' But it was a very difficult decision, a difficult emotional decision. We had many, many meeting and lunches and dinners but I'm very happy for him and I'm very happy we kept a close relationship. So we made the right choice in the end."It was difficult for us because he went to a direct competitor. He explained his choice to me. He's from Paris and before going outside to a big club like Real Madrid or Manchester City, he wanted to write history in his own country and this is great."He knows he has his life in front of him as a footballer and he wanted to write history in his own home town and country and then I said: 'Okay Kylian, I cannot get in the way, it's your life. You have to decide.' Of course we would prefer you to go to Real Madrid but this is your life, it's not for us but we respect that."JUST WATCHEDWhat it means to be an AS Monaco fanReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhat it means to be an AS Monaco fan 01:46Do you feel proud that your club took him in as a kid and nurtured him and now he's playing in a World Cup final? "Very proud, very proud. When it was the game France vs. Argentina which he won on his own, it was an amazing feeling. It's a joy that we helped him."He is also grateful to Monaco. Of course he would have succeeded anywhere but that it happened so quickly is thanks to Monaco. We gave him the chance, we had an amazing season, he participated."He was just amazing for the title (win) and in the semifinal of the Champions League. And now one year later, the World Cup final. It's mind-boggling but knowing the core qualities and personality you understand where it comes from. Okay, this is not a miracle, it's something that was meant to be."Neymar, Ronaldo, Lionel Messi -- no big names have shone at this World Cup, do you think Mbappe has been the stand out player at the tournament?"Yes, definitely."JUST WATCHEDMonaco players fueled by 'superfoods'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMonaco players fueled by 'superfoods' 02:44Have you spoken to him much recently? How does he feel about the tournament so far and his performances?"I saw him on Sunday at their training camp. He's very happy of course but also very motivated, as the whole team is. They understand this is the moment, They have all the chances so they're really concentrated."He's happy but at the same time he knows he has to do more. He's happy for a moment or a few days but then he passes to another thing. This is what makes him special. He knows he's meant to do more, his destiny is to do more. Of course he can have his ups and down but if you look he's definitely going up." Allez Les Bleus! 🇫🇷 Twenty years after France first won the World Cup, Les Bleus are within one match of repeating the feats of the celebrated team of 1998. Illustrated animation by @channeldraw . . . #worldcup #worldcup2018 #russia2018 #lesbleus #france #celebration #mp4 #video A post shared by CNNSport (@cnnsport) on Jul 11, 2018 at 2:30am PDT
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Manchester United, Chelsea seal Champions League spots as Leicester misses out - CNN
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(CNN)Manchester United and Chelsea grabbed the final two Champions League places at the expense of Leicester City on the final day of the English Premier League season. The three teams were separated by just one point heading into Sunday and Chelsea beat Wolves 2-0 at home to book one of the spots with both goals coming in first-half injury time. Follow @cnnsport
That meant Leicester needed to beat Manchester United for the other place but instead it lost 2-0 at home thanks to a Bruno Fernandes penalty in the 70th minute after opposing striker Jamie Vardy -- who still finished as the league's top scorer -- hit the post. It was United's record 14th penalty of the season and Fernandes has never missed one at the highest level, according to Sky. Former United defender Jonny Evans was sent off in injury time for a foul on Scott McTominay, with Jesse Lingard later adding the second goal. Read MoreManchester United and Chelsea finished on 66 points -- United got third with a better goal difference -- and Leicester City 62. United was set to lose around £70 million ($90 million) had it missed out on the top four but flourished in the league since it restarted in June after being halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Much of that was down to attacking midfielder Fernandes, who was signed from Sporting Lisbon in January. The Red Devils trailed Leicester by 11 points in January. "I think the boys have done a great achievement," United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, under pressure in January when results dipped, told Sky. "Where we were earlier in the season, to end up third is fantastic by them. They've taken on board so many things. Had our ups and downs. "It of course came down to the last game and it's a wonderful achievement by everyone." Bruno Fernandes scored the winner for Manchester United at Leicester in the Premier League. Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers said on the eve of the game it would still be a good season for his side if it didn't qualify for the Champions League but he is sure to be bitterly disappointed.Not only did Leicester lead United by double digits but in December it held a 14-point cushion in the race for the top four. Leicester didn't beat any of the sides that finished in the top five all season, though sustained key injuries down the stretch. "I can't fault the spirit," Rodgers was quoted as saying by the Leicester Mercury. "Next year it's about ambition." Chelsea wasn't considered a top four favorite as it dealt with a transfer ban but in his first season as manager at Stamford Bridge -- after a glorious, trophy filled playing career for the Blues -- Frank Lampard is on course for an impressive double. Next week Chelsea will win the FA Cup if it defeats Arsenal. "It means a great deal" to finish in the top four, Lampard told Sky. "I suppose at Chelsea we have to be careful getting excited with top-four finishes but coming into the job I don't think a lot of people put us in that bracket."Aston Villa stays upAt the bottom of the table, Watford and Bournemouth suffered relegation to join Norwich City, which was already relegated. Aston Villa's 1-1 draw at West Ham meant it finished on 35 points, one more than Watford and Bournemouth. Watford fell 3-2 at Arsenal despite an impressive fightback from 3-0 down while Bournemouth's 3-1 win at Everton wasn't enough to see the Cherries stay in the division. JUST WATCHEDRival EPL managers criticize Man City's overturned banReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRival EPL managers criticize Man City's overturned ban 01:59Elsewhere, champion Liverpool didn't start its potent front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino at Newcastle but rallied for a 3-1 win to finish on 99 points, one more than Manchester City's tally from last season. Newcastle scored in the first minute through Dwight Gayle before towering defender Virgil van Dijk leveled before halftime, Divock Origi netted in the 59th minute and Mane in the 89th. Visit our sports page for more news and videosSecond-place Manchester City crushed Norwich 5-0 in Spanish playmaker David Silva's last league game for City after 10 years at the club. Silva didn't score despite several good chances. Kevin de Bruyne instead scored twice and picked up his 20th assist to tie Thierry Henry for the league record.
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Seven moments that helped define Alex Ferguson's managerial career - CNN
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Story highlightsAlex Ferguson will retire as Manchester United manager at the end of the seasonThe Scot has been in charge of the Old Trafford club since 1986Ferguson has led the club to 13 English Premier League titles and five FA Cup winsUnited have also twice won the European Champions League under FergusonFrom a 2-0 defeat at Oxford United on November 6, 1986 to a English Premier League coronation party through the streets of Manchester on May 13.Alex Ferguson's 26-year reign at Manchester United has seen the club transformed from a sleeping giant to a relentless, trophy-winning juggernaut in both the football arena and the sports business world.Following Wednesday's announcement that the Scot, the most successful coach in English football history, will end his Old Trafford tenure, CNN marks seven moments which have defined Ferguson's career.Sacked by St MirrenFerguson's managerial career has been littered with glorious highs, but it has not been without its lows, none more so than in 1978 when Ferguson was in charge of Scottish team St Mirren. He oversaw a remarkable upturn in St MIrren's fortunes which saw the unheralded club win the second-tier of Scottish football in 1977 with a squad which bore classic hallmarks of a Ferguson team, notably his faith in young players. That St Mirren side had an average age of just 19. Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Alex Ferguson has announced he is retiring at the end of this season, having won his 13th English Premier League title in more than 26 years as manager of Manchester United. Hide Caption 1 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – The 71-year-old is the most successful and longest-serving manager in United's history, having also won two European Champions League crowns, five FA Cups and four League Cups.Hide Caption 2 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson survived a difficult first four years at Manchester United before winning a title -- the 1990 FA Cup. Here he celebrates with Bryan Robson, who became the first United captain to lift the trophy three times after beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in the final replay. Hide Caption 3 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson lifted the European Cup Winners' Cup for the second time in his career in 1991, when United beat Barcelona 2-1 in the final. He had previously won the now defunct tournament with Scottish club Aberdeen.Hide Caption 4 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – In 1993, United won the English title for the first time in 26 years, and Ferguson took the club on a tour of South Africa, where he met Nelson Mandela before the ANC leader became the country's first post-apartheid president.Hide Caption 5 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson celebrates with his assistant Brian Kidd after United won the Premiership again in 1994, then went on to secure a domestic double by beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final. United repeated the feat in 1996. Hide Caption 6 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson with his grandson Jake before the 1999 FA Cup final victory against Newcastle that sealed United's third double in six years.Hide Caption 7 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Just four days later, United completed a treble with an incredible last-gasp win over Bayern Munich in the Champions League final. Ferguson and keeper Peter Schmeichel hold the trophy in Barcelona.Hide Caption 8 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson tried to retire more than a decade ago, announcing at the start of the 2001-02 season that it would be his last. However, he changed his mind the following February but United failed to reach the Champions League final -- which was to be played in his native Glasgow.Hide Caption 9 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Another European title followed in 2008, but Barcelona handed United disappointment in the 2009 and 2011 finals. However, Ferguson and his players still earned a parade the latter season after winning a record 19th English league title -- the Scot's 12th.Hide Caption 10 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – The next season, United commemorated Ferguson's 25 years as manager on November 5, 2011.Hide Caption 11 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – As a player, Ferguson was a prolific goalscorer for Scottish clubs St. Johnstone and Dunfermline, but his big move to Glasgow Rangers in 1967 proved disappointing and he left two years later. He ended his playing days at Ayr in 1974 without winning a major honor.Hide Caption 12 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson made his name as a manager at Aberdeen. His fourth Scottish Cup win in 1986 was his last success with the Dons, having won three Scottish league titles and the 1983 European Cup Winners' Cup -- beating mighty Real Madrid in the final.Hide Caption 13 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson, who briefly managed Scotland at the 1986 World Cup, overhauled the squad at Old Trafford and introduced some of the finest players to grace the EPL in the past two decades. Hide Caption 14 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Arguably the most important signing was that of French forward Eric Cantona, a $1.9 million bargain from Leeds who led United's surge to dominance in the 1990s.Hide Caption 15 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – The 1993 addition of young midfielder Roy Keane in a then British record transfer fee of £3.75 million from Nottingham Forest provided United with a ferocious future captain.Hide Caption 16 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson also introduced young talent such as David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and the Neville brothers Gary and Phil -- who all went on to become integral members of his team.Hide Caption 17 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson played a key role in resurrecting the career of Beckham, who had been vilified by England fans after being sent off during the 1998 World Cup defeat by Argentina.Hide Caption 18 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson famously beat United's rivals Manchester City to sign Giggs as a teenager, and the Welsh winger has repaid his faith by staying with the club until the present day.Hide Caption 19 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson's signing of Cristiano Ronaldo in 2003 paid off as the Portugal forward fired United to Champions League glory in 2008 and was named world player of the year -- the first from the EPL to do so -- before joining Real Madrid in a record $130 million deal.Hide Caption 20 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson is well known for his fiery temper and his motivational skills.Hide Caption 21 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – In 2003, he infamously kicked a boot into the face of Beckham in the dressing room after a match, but refused to apologize. "If I'd tried it 100 times or million times, it wouldn't happen again," he said. "If it did, I would carry on playing."Hide Caption 22 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – United striker Wayne Rooney said Ferguson's team talk ahead of the 2008 Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow "made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up." United denied the London side a first European title after a penalty shootout.Hide Caption 23 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – United reached the final again the following season, but lost to Barcelona. Here Ferguson speaks with Britain's Prince William at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, Italy.Hide Caption 24 of 25 Photos: In pictures: The reign of Alex FergusonIn pictures: The reign of Alex Ferguson – Ferguson's last match on the European stage was a defeat by Ronaldo's Real Madrid in the Champions League Round of 16 second-leg match at Old Trafford on March 5, 2013.Hide Caption 25 of 25 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sports Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Manchester United Manager Sir Alex Ferguson announced he will retire at the end of the English Premier League season. Ferguson has managed the team for 26 years, making him the longest-serving manager in Premier League history.Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Mike Krzyzewski, also known as Coach K, has coached Duke University's men's basketball team since 1980, putting him in his 33rd season as head coach. Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Eddie Robinson served as Grambling State University's head football coach for 57 seasons from 1941 to 1997. Robinson -- here listening to the national anthem before his final game -- coached more than 4,000 players. Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Al Arbour coached the New York Islanders for 20 years, with a year-long stint as vice president of player development for the team in 1987. Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Andy Landers has coached the University of Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball team since 1979 and continues to this day. Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsPhotos: Longest-serving coaches in sports – Head coach emeritus Pat Summitt of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history of either men's or women's teams. She coached for 38 years before stepping down in 2012 to fight early onset dementia.Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Gregg Popovich is in his 17th year as coach of the San Antonio Spurs.Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Tom Landry coached the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1988 and turned the team into one of the most dominant in the National Football League until the early '80s. Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: Photos: Longest-serving coaches in sportsLongest-serving coaches in sports – Connie Mack managed the Philadelphia Athletics, now based in Oakland, California, from 1901 until his retirement at age 88 in 1950.Hide Caption 9 of 9JUST WATCHEDFerguson's retirement 'a sad day'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFerguson's retirement 'a sad day' 02:52JUST WATCHEDAlex Ferguson's football legacyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAlex Ferguson's football legacy 02:34But he was unceremoniously sacked by then St Mirren chairman Willie Todd for what he described as "breaches of contract" relating to the manager's decision to join Aberdeen.Read: "King" Ferguson may be out, but brand will survive''I regret the fact Alex did not stay longer at St Mirren and I regret the circumstances of his departure, but I still believe that the club had no alternative," Todd told Scottish newspaper the Herald in May 1999."There were no grudges. I've met him several times at football matches since then and our relationship is quite amicable."Aberdeen roll over Real MadridFerguson was finally appointed as Aberdeen manager in June 1978 and unprecedented success followed for the Scottish club.He broke the duopoly of Glasgow Rangers and Celtic, guiding Aberdeen to three Scottish League titles in 1980, 1984 and 1985.However, arguably Ferguson's finest moment with Aberdeen was on the European stage.Read: Manchester United's Asian appealFollowing a Scottish Cup triumph in 1982, Aberdeen qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup.Ferguson's team reached the final, with a 3-2 quarterfinal second-leg victory over Bayern Munich one of the many highlights of an impressive campaign.In the final, held in Gothenberg on May 11, 1983, Aberdeen faced Spanish giants Real Madrid, managed by the great Alfredo Di Stefano.The match finished in a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, before striker John Hewitt scored the winner for Aberdeen in extra-time.Jock Stein's deathOne of the most poignant moments of Ferguson's career arrived just over a year before he was appointed to the United job. Ferguson was part of Jock Stein's coaching staff with the Scottish national team ahead of a crucial 1986 World Cup qualifying match against Wales in Cardiff.Scotland needed a point to reach the tournament in Mexico, which they duly acquired following a 1-1 draw. But the match was overshadowed when Stein, the first British coach to win the European Cup with Celtic in 1967, collapsed after the final whistle."I grabbed for him as he started to fall," Ferguson recalled, when talking to the Daily Mail in 2012. "The medics came out of the tunnel. I held him until he was helped inside."When I left to speak to the press I saw Graeme Souness and he was crying. 'I think he's gone,' Graeme said. I couldn't believe it."When we filed on to the bus there were thousands standing outside and the quiet sadness of the atmosphere was unforgettable. The abiding memory is of a solemn silence. It was as if the king had died. "In football terms, the king had died."Ferguson coached Scotland at the 1986 World Cup, but the team headed home after the first round following a group phase campaign which yielded just one point.JUST WATCHED2012: Ferguson: 'Racism still exists'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH2012: Ferguson: 'Racism still exists' 03:29JUST WATCHED2012: Ferguson talks to CNNReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH2012: Ferguson talks to CNN 03:42After watching the pressures of football get the better of his mentor, it raises the question of whether Stein's death played a role in Ferguson's decision to bow out on his own terms.FA Cup redemptionAfter a trophy-laden spell at Pittodrie with Aberdeen, Ferguson headed south to join United in 1986, but his early days at Old Trafford were a world away from the glorious success he enjoyed in the 1990s and 2000s.Two seasons passed without a trophy and after eight league games without a win, it was suggested Ferguson would be sacked if United lost an FA Cup replay against Nottingham Forest on January 7 1990 .Substitute Mark Robins scored the winner to send United into the next round and, allegedly, save Fergie's job.Ferguson went on to mastermind a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace in an FA Cup final replay after the first match finished 3-3 to secure the Scot's first trophy at Old Trafford.The silverware continued to flow, with an English Premier League title -- the club's first in 26 years -- arriving in 1993.Deja vu?Ferguson's retirement was originally scheduled for 11 years ago. The Scot announced in 2001 that the forthcoming season would be his last, hoping his decision to break the news in advance would allow the club to make suitable succession plans.But it had the opposite effect and, by November 2001, defending champions United sat ninth in the Premier League table.By January 2002, after an eight-match winning run, United had risen to the top of the table and the next month Ferguson reversed his decision to retire from the game by signing a new three-year contract at Old Trafford.The rest, as they say, is history. Six further English titles have followed, along with an FA Cup triumph and the Champions League in 2008.JUST WATCHEDBobby Charlton: Ferguson's best momentReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBobby Charlton: Ferguson's best moment 02:39JUST WATCHEDWill Mourinho replace Ferguson?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWill Mourinho replace Ferguson? 00:39The Flying BootIn addition to the trophies and the accolades, there have been plenty of spats, with numerous star players feeling the heat of Ferguson's infamous "hairdryer" treatment. Notably when a "one in a million" flying boot caught David Beckham above the left eye, an incident which dominated the headlines like no other flare up between Ferguson and one of his charges.Following a 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Arsenal in February 2003, Ferguson launched a tirade at his star midfielder which, according to Beckham's autobiography, went along the lines of "David, what about the second goal? What were you doing? . . . We told you about it before the game. The problem with you is you don't let anyone talk to you. You don't listen'."I felt like I was being bullied in public," explained Beckham, who now plays for Paris Saint-Germain. "I was being backed into a corner for no other reason than spite. I was trapped."Beckham swore at Ferguson and bedlam ensued."The boss took a step or two towards me," Beckham continued. "There was a boot on the floor. He swung his leg and kicked it. At me? At the wall? It could have been anywhere, he was that angry now."I went for the gaffer. I don't know if I've ever lost control like that before. Suddenly it was like some mad scene out of a gangster movie."Beckham's teammates held him back, but after the incident, the then England captain appeared with a medical dressing over the cut above his eye."It was a freakish incident," Ferguson reportedly said. "If I tried it 100 or a million times it couldn't happen again. If I could I would have carried on playing!"An increasingly tempestuous relationship between the two personalities came to an end on 1 July 2003, when Beckham left Manchester United to join Real Madrid.TrebleMay 26, 1999, was a night which simultaneously defied belief and defined Ferguson's Manchester United reign.United were chasing history. The league title had been wrapped up, beating Arsene Wenger's Arsenal to the Premier League title by just one point.FA Cup success followed. Goals from striker Teddy Sheringham and midfielder Paul Scholes secured a straight-forward 2-0 win over Newcastle United in the final at Wembley.Ferguson's team were one step away from securing an unprecedented Premier League, FA Cup and European Champions League treble.United's opponents in the European Cup final at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium were Bayern Munich and the Germans looked set to win the showpiece match after Mario Basler's first-half free-kick put them 1-0 ahead.In search of a way back into the match, Ferguson threw on substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.As the game ticked into extra-time, United earned a corner. Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel raced forward in a desperate attempt to force an equalizer.The initial cross was cleared, but the ball fell to Ryan Giggs whose low shot from the edge of the box was turned into the net by Sheringham.Cue jubilant celebrations among United players, fans and coaching staff, but uncontained joy was to follow seconds later.United earned another corner kick in the final seconds of injury time. Sheringham flicked on Beckham's cross at the near post and Solskjaer flung his right leg at the header to send the ball flying into the back of the net.Bayern were beaten, United had completed an historic treble.As Ferguson remarked to ITV after the incredible climax, "football, bloody hell."
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Premier League: What I learned from watching 92 games of football in a row - CNN
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(CNN)For some reason, once 'Project Restart' was given the go ahead, the thought occurred: wouldn't it make for a fascinating experiment to watch all the remaining 92 fixtures in the English Premier League play out at different times of the day and document any lessons from sitting -- or standing -- through (injury time notwithstanding) 8,280 minutes of "the greatest league in the world"? Some -- my wife -- labeled this thought "crazy." We are approaching 15 years of wedded bliss, or at least we were before the return of the EPL. You know what is crazy? The editors in charge of this website -- better known for serious and sober reporting on events unfolding in a world often in turmoil -- agreeing to the idea.The long and arduous road ahead begins -- but of course! -- with a goalless draw between Aston Villa and Sheffield United on Wednesday, June 17. Just after the referee blows his whistle to start the game, both sets of players and officials take a knee to show solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. Later in the first half, there is complete chaos as a perfectly good goal for Sheffield United is ruled out due to the referee's watch not buzzing to signify the ball had crossed the line. The company in charge of goal line technology -- Hawk-Eye -- admits to the error and "occlusion" enters the football lexicon. It basically means "we got it wrong. Big time." Within 45 minutes of football returning, we have had major breaking news, and technology breaking down in a major way. It is all rather unsettling.Read MoreThe feeling is compounded by the second of these 92 fixtures, with Manchester City wiping the floor with a porous Arsenal defense, David Luiz going AWOL, and it all unfolds against the backdrop of pouring rain in Manchester. Some things never change. Or as famous City fan Noel Gallagher once sang, "Rain like rain, rain like rain / Rain like rain, I don't care for the sunshine."'Project Glen Levy' is up and running ...READ: Premier League players take a knee -- and make a stand'Swinging punches'You might think there would be general happiness at having football back, what with all the uncertainty caused by the pandemic, yet anger persisted in those early days of 'Project Restart.'Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, now working as a pundit for British broadcaster Sky Sports, ripped into United goalkeeper David de Gea, who was at fault for a goal by Tottenham."I would be fighting him at half-time, swinging punches at that guy," railed Keane. 'I'm sitting thousands of miles away and feel scared. But it's nothing compared to the first Saturday of action, when Brighton striker Neal Maupay wages a one-man war against Arsenal.In the first half, he took out goalkeeper Bernd Leno with one of those innocuous looking, but season-ending, injuries. Words are exchanged and allegedly continue throughout the game.Maupay has the last word with his injury-time winner. Then Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi targets his compatriot and it's not pleasant to watch. Afterwards Maupay says Arsenal "got what they deserved."Minutes later, I arguably get what I deserve, with my wife and kids relegating me to a corner of the kitchen to watch a less than enthralling first half between West Ham and Wolves unfold on my phone, while ensuring the cat is being fed.I later inform them that not witnessing Wolves' Pedro Neto score one of the goals of the season is their "loss." I'm not sure they're convinced. The first weekend concludes with the Merseyside derby ending in a goalless draw. Barely 10 games in and I'm starting to wonder if Ii have stamina for my very own project 'Project Restart.'The following day, a plane flies over the Etihad Stadium, brandishing an offensive 'White Lives Matter Burnley' banner, and I'm grateful my kids aren't watching. I'm not sure I want to be either.More screens than you can shake a stick at ...READ: Burnley condemns 'White Lives Matter' banner flown over Etihad StadiumLife choicesIf you fail to plan, you are planning to fail as I discover when I come up against a roadblock of four simultaneous kick-offs.It's one thing to use the TV to watch Manchester United see off Sheffield United, while another defeat for Norwich occurs on the computer, but the two other games don't watch themselves. After briefly catching up with the family, who are starting to forget me, I spend another 180 minutes turning my lifelong love affair with football into a chore I now dread. I head to bed -- not for the first nor last time -- questioning my life choices.Then, like a bolt from the blue(s), Liverpool become Premier League champions, without even kicking a ball.Christian Pulisic, who has been possibly the best player of 'Project Restart,' gives Chelsea the lead in a match Manchester City must win. Kevin de Bruyne's sublime freekick levels the score, but the Blues retake the lead courtesy of Willian's penalty, thus ending 30 years of league hurt in Liverpool. Talking of hurt ... Do I have to watch the remaining 72 games?READ: Liverpool wins English Premier League for the first time in club's historyLiverpool players pose with the Premier League trophy during the presentation.A day off follows. No games. How sweet it is. I take a walk. Outside. I speak to my family. In more than monosyllabic grunts. They seem to be holding up. Wish the same could be said about myself.When I say "day off," I still have my actual day job to maintain, which I imagine is similar to yours, filled with countless meetings and emails (though it goes without saying I am incredibly lucky to literally watch football for a living). Truth be told, I haven't explained the nature of this piece to most of my co-workers, partly out of embarrassment and also because I can't let it get in the way of what I am supposed to be doing: Meetings! Emails! Or should that be watching Brighton 0-0 Newcastle?!Yet by the time I'm a third of a way in, I start to loosen up, and am at peace with myself.When three more games kick off at the same time, I master the task(s) with relative ease. One eye on the TV, one eye on the computer, while the phone is used for the third match. That's what I call Premier League multitasking.I'm in the zone, I'm like The Terminator. I can't be reasoned with. I don't feel pity or remorse or fear. And I absolutely will not stop. Ever. Well, until July 26 comes around.Not that there aren't hiccups. A family hike to a local waterfall is spoiled by my watching Newcastle and West Ham on the phone, with my daughter thoroughly unimpressed by my stubborn stance. That said, it is a far better than expected 2-2 draw.A few weeks later, on some actual time off, I spend much of the morning agonizing over my Fantasy Premier League line up. "Who do I leave out between Kevin De Bruyne and Mason Greenwood?" I ask the family. "Is this a more difficult decision than naming your children?" responds my daughter. Like a snap call in poker, I immediately go all in with my response in the affirmative, and the raised eyebrow from my wife is another low point of this experiment (for the record, I bench Greenwood). Alas, the anecdote is livelier than the match which follows. The Levy family goes for a walk -- while watching a Premier League match.READ: Manchester United, Chelsea seal Champions League spots as Leicester misses outTwo hugsWhile fretting about my family's feelings, I surround myself with the familiar figures who populate our beautiful game. Thus Tottenham vs. Everton on a random Monday becomes a game of two hugs, as managers Jose Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti ignore social distancing guidelines and embrace. On the pitch, Tottenham's Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-Min have an altercation apparently stemming from the goalkeeper being miffed with his teammate for not tracking back. Mourinho describes the clash as "beautiful," because of course he does. It's moments like these where I realize I am doing a "beautiful" thing indeed. And I shall keep telling myself that for years to come. On Twitter, Rory Smith of the New York Times observes that "one thing we have all learned from the last four weeks is that the Premier League looks a lot better when you don't watch all of the games."I don't know whether to laugh or cry ... so as well tuning in to Manchester United vs. Southampton, I watch the League One playoff final between Oxford and Wycombe on the computer.READ: Liverpool lifts 'special' Premier League title after thrilling victory against ChelseaJUST WATCHED'We want to write our own chapter in history': Liverpool star Trent Alexander-ArnoldReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'We want to write our own chapter in history': Liverpool star Trent Alexander-Arnold 02:39I might have sat, stood and slouched through 80+ games, but since the Premier League started there have been over 10,000 matches and Liverpool haven't managed to lift the Premier League trophy.After beating Chelsea in a 5-3 thriller, the Reds finally do so, courtesy of captain Jordan Henderson. Is it too late for the powers that be to make one more winner's medal, and ship it to Atlanta, for services to football?On Sunday July 26, the marathon Premier League season concluded. I like to think I deftly alternated between games on televisions and devices as skillfully as Sadio Mane slaloms past defenders before smashing the ball into the net with unbridled joy to complete Liverpool's 3-1 win over Newcastle. I was captivated by the race for those final Champions League places -- congratulations to Manchester United and Chelsea -- while sympathizing with the plight Bournemouth and Watford found themselves in, by getting relegated.Two days earlier, the league confirmed the start date of September 12 for the 2020/21 season. 380 games set to unfold in the space of eight months. It could be my greatest challenge yet. Bring it on.
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Chris Caserta: Jockey presumed dead after being caught in rip current - CNN
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(CNN)Australian jockey Chris Caserta is presumed dead after being caught in a rip current during a late-night swim, Queensland Police said on Thursday. Shortly after 10 p.m. on Wednesday, 26-year-old Caserta and a female companion entered the water at Surfers Paradise Beach in Queensland, police said. The woman, who has not been identified by police, was able to reach the shore, but a land, sea and air search for Caserta remains ongoing. "Unfortunately, I had the heartbreaking job of telling Chris' parents that this is not a search and rescue for Chris. We're searching for Chris' body as the time frame for survival has passed," Jay Notaro, senior sergeant of Queensland Police, told reporters. "It is an absolute tragedy at any time, but particularly just before Christmas. On behalf of the Queensland Police service, I'd like to pass on our sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in the racing industry. Read More"We'll continue to search and our goal is to return Chris to his family."Caserta wins at Bairnsdale Racecourse in November 2020. Notaro added that bystanders alerted authorities and helped to calm the woman after she had recovered from the water. "They entered the water at a similar time and were quite close when they both got into trouble," he said. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresRip currents -- fast-moving water that usually flows away from the beach -- are common at Surfers Paradise. The beach is patrolled between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., according to Notaro, as he warned people not to enter the water outside those times given the potential dangers. On Thursday, Racing Queensland CEO Brendan Parnell said: "Our thoughts are with Chris and his family at this time."Racing Queensland is working with the Gold Coast Turf Club (GCTC) to provide welfare and support to Caserta's family, friends and other members of the racing industry. "First and foremost, our heart goes out to Chris' family and the entire racing community as the search continues," said GCTC CEO Steve Lines. Caserta, who moved from Victoria to Queensland last year, recorded more than 150 wins over the course of his career, according to Racing.com.
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Cesc Fabregas reveals joy and pride as great-grandmother turns 96 after two positive Covid-19 tests - CNN
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(CNN)By the sound of it there's clearly something special about the Fabregas family genes.There is of course renowned footballer Cesc Fabregas -- World Cup and European Championship winner with Spain and a player who has enjoyed a glittering and trophy laden career with some of Europe's top clubs.Then there is Fabregas' great-grandmother. She turned 96 on July 23, this after twice testing positive for Covid-19."It's quite incredible," AS Monaco midfielder Fabregas, who is in touch with his great-grandmother via FaceTime and the phone, told CNN Sport."We're very proud of her," as he reflected on his great-grandmother's remarkable longevity and brush with the pandemic.Read More"There was a moment where there was a lot of people falling," adds Fabregas, recalling an emotional conversation with his grandmother."She was so scared that she told me, 'It's over.' And I said, listen, 'You know, you have to be positive. You never you never know what can happen.'"Fabregas in action for Monaco during the French Ligue 1 match between Olympique de Marseille (OM) and AS Monaco (ASM) at Stade Velodrome on January 13, 2019 in Marseille, France.READ: Football's most controversial transfer'Little pleasures'There have many highs and lows for the 33-year-old Fabregas during lockdown.He has enjoyed the 'little pleasures" of spending time with his wife and their three children, but life without football has been difficult since Ligue 1 took the early decision to cancel the season in March. 'I've been completely jealous and in a way a bit frustrated as a spectator watching other teams," said Fabregas referring to the way the Bundesliga and English Premier League had completed their seasons."I always said from day one that when they [Ligue de Football Professionnel] canceled the league it was a rash decision and that they should have waited."I think the other leagues, they showed great discipline, professionalism, and taught a lesson in a way to this league that things could have been done differently ... and I think 'chapeau' for all the teams that continued and finished their championships.Fabregas (L) vies with Qarabag's Azerbaijani midfielder Gara Garayev during the UEFA Champions League Group C football match between Chelsea and Qarabag at Stamford Bridge in London on September 12, 2017.Crouched on a chair in his son's bedroom at home, Fabregas also reveals his dismay that he doesn't feel he can take him to watch a football match without running the risk of hearing racism in the stands. "My dream is to bring my son to watch football every Saturday, every Sunday. And if you see these things, you just won't do it. I won't do it."I love it when there's banter between fans. But when you cross the line, I mean, what's the point? What's the need? There's so many people, kids watching, attending games."Fabregas from the penalty spot during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Granda CF at Camp Nou on November 23, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. After 17 years in the game and a career that has spanned three different leagues at four clubs -- Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and now Monaco -- Fabregas says he has never witnessed racism in football "face-to-face" but has always been aware of its presence."I have heard it in stadiums. Sometimes you don't even realize because you're focused, you know, on the game. And then some guys, they will tell you, look what they're singing, look what they're saying. And you're like, oh, my God, you know, this is this is terrible."And with that thought, Fabregas questions whether he should have done more."At the end of the day," he admits, "maybe all of us didn't have the courage to stand up for it." Fabregas gestures during his presentation as the new signing for FC Barcelona at Camp Nou sports complex on August 15, 2011 in Barcelona, Spain.READ: Zaha says he's 'scared' to open Instagram due to number of racist messagesNeed to listenMore positively he believes things are changing. George Floyd's death and the Black Lives Matter movement have -- for now -- spurred football into action.In recent weeks players and clubs have showed solidarity for the movement by donning BLM logo's on their shirts and taking a knee before kick-off. Players have spoken publicly -- many for the first time -- about the extent of the racist abuse they have suffered. But in a sport where racism has been endemic for decades, is this a fleeting moment of solidarity or a genuine turning point?"It has to be," insists Fabregas. "This is the moment. We cannot give up or go back ... racism will not disappear over a day, over a year or even five years. We have to support and respect each other."Playing for Arsenal, Fabregas is tackled by Tom Huddlestone of Spurs during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at White Hart Lane on April 20, 2011 in London, England.Fabregas says the best way forward is to educate -- and listen. "When I hear Raheem Sterling, [Marcus] Rashford speak ... these guys they are legends," adds Fabregas, referring to the Manchester City and United stars. "They are the ones that we have to listen to because they say it as it is. You learn so much from these young guys. They are an example to society and to all of us."Fabregas is optimistic that the current wave of player activism could help shape football in other ways too."I believe there are people in football who are homosexual. This should be the next step. I understand why they could be scared to come out because they will feel lonely. They know that ignorant people will attack them and will sing songs against them [in the stands]."I've been with someone who was shy and perhaps wondering what we would think of him .... It's a tricky subject to talk about, especially if you're a young player. It's up to the experienced veterans of the game to help them express themselves."Fabregas shoots during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa final match between Netherlands and Spain at Soccer City Stadium on July 11, 2010 in Johannesburg, South Africa.READ: Gifted Manchester United star who forced a government U-turnFA Cup finalOn Saturday, two of Fabregas' former clubs -- Arsenal and Chelsea -- meet in the FA Cup final.Having shared a similar path in football to Frank Lampard and Mikel Arteta, now the respective managers of Chelsea Arsenal, Fabregas is impressed by how both have survived early challenges in their debut season to now be in with the chance of a major piece of silverware."Mikel started in the middle of the season, and that's always more difficult in my view. But obviously, Frank had a difficult challenge in front of him ... even if he had a preseason, even if he recovered some players, they lost Eden Hazard, Gary Cahill, David Luiz, who is a very important player inside the dressing room. It was a massive blow."Fabregas (R) runs with the ball past Leonardo Bonucci of Italy during the UEFA EURO 2012 final match between Spain and Italy at the Olympic Stadium on July 1, 2012 in Kiev, Ukraine. Instead he has been immensely pleased to see both managers taking a chance on their young talent -- without which, he says -- he would have never become the player he is today."Arsene Wenger was putting me every week when I was just 16, and I made mistakes which I realise now when I watch the videos back. But he kept playing me and playing me ... And eventually you become the player you can be."But without this I don't know where I or Thierry Henry, Patrick Viera would be ... You always need a father figure like this that believes in you."Fabregas talks to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger during preseason training on July 24, 2004 in Bad Waltersdorf, Austria.READ: Wenger to leave ArsenalIf Fabregas were to ever follow Lampard and Arteta down the managerial route one day, Wenger or 'Le Professeur' isn't the only illustrious teacher he'd draw upon."I've been so lucky to have played with the very best in history. So my style would be a mix of Guardiola, Mourinho and Wenger ... It's not bad, right?" Fabregas quips."I will take the positive of each and then you have the best manager in the history of the sport!"
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Meet the Manchester United fanatic opening a 33,000-piece museum in Finland - CNN
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(CNN)The Finnish capital of Helsinki may not be the first place you'd expect to find a museum crammed with Manchester United memorabilia, but thousands of miles from Old Trafford is a building where Jere Virtanen houses the fruits of a longstanding obsession.Virtanen's love for United is as old as his love for the game itself, roughly dating back to when he was first given a red jersey at the age of five.He's now preparing to open The Red Room later this year -- 210 square meters in the center of Helsinki filled with more than 33,000 items devoted to the football club, everything from scarves to signs, posters to programs. "I have been collecting memorabilia and other stuff from United I'd say for more than 20 years, and at some point, my home, my office and my parents' place were full," Virtanen tells CNN Sport. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresRead MoreThe Red Room bar will be open for business later this year.He has acquired the collection from auction brokers as well as his own trips to Manchester to see United games. Among the haul is a rare Roy Keane match shirt from 1999, a decanter marking the 25th anniversary of United's 1968 European Cup win and even objects dating back to before the club was founded as Newton Heath L&YR in 1878.Virtanen estimates that the museum's contents is worth five or six times what he has paid over the years. The Keane match shirt and original benches from Old Trafford are among the most valuable items, although he admits he'd never consider selling them.READ: Liverpool vs. AC Milan -- 'something unreal happened' 15 years agoThere will be individual sections on the players Virtanen most admires -- George Best is his favorite -- and prominent moments in the club's history, including the Munich air disaster.Best is widely regarded as the one of the greatest footballers of all time. As a United player, the Northern Irishman won two league titles and one European Cup triumph in 1968, the same year he was voted the continent's best player.Virtanen hopes the museum will open later this year. The Red Room was scheduled to be unveiled in March before the coronavirus pandemic took hold. A new opening date is yet to be confirmed, but original plans to have former United players Lee Martin, Wes Brown, Ben Thornley and, to Virtanen's delight, Bryan Robson open the collection are still in place. "I started playing with number seven because of Robbo," says Virtnanen. "He was the first player to affect me and that is why I hoped that he'd be the one (to open the museum). It is absolutely amazing and I feel so humbled and privileged that Robbo and all the others are coming to Helsinki." READ: Premier League clubs vote in favor of returning to training'Like a religion for me'Virtanen says he usually attends between three and 10 games a season, but opening the museum, alongside his work as CEO of social media monitoring company Gofamer, means visits to Old Trafford have been more of a rarity of late.But that hasn't affected his love for the club."It's like a religion for me, the United family," says Virtanen. "I travel all around the world to see other fans and they have become second family to me.A trinket celebrating United's European Cup win will be on display at the museum."From the beginning of the club, there are so many stories, so many players who, even if you haven't seen them play, it's like you have and you know them."It's a way of life nowadays. After the museum it's going to be an even bigger part of my daily work. It's something to get your mind away from day-to-day stuff and always makes you smile more."READ: German football returns but not as we know itAs an overseas United fan, Virtanen has plenty of company. Last year, data released by the club revealed it to be the best-supported team in the world with 467 million fans. China was singled out as a fast-growing market, while Scandinavia has always been a hotbed of United support. In 2019, the Manchester United Supporters' Club network announced the region as the biggest official members group in the world ahead of Hong Kong, Iceland and the Republic of Ireland. Supporters cheer during the International Champions Cup match between Tottenham and United at the Shanghai Hongkou Stadium in Shanghai, China, last year."The club doesn't really belong to us in Manchester and it hasn't for a long time," Manchester United historian Jason Leach, who works in the club museum at Old Trafford, tells CNN Sport."We are probably the first club to have a fan base or fan bases around the world in terms of the history that we've got ... that's down to the stories we can tell, the players that have played for us going back way, way beyond the Premier League."Busby BabesLeach puts much of United's enduring popularity down to Matt Busby, the decorated manager who helped the club win the European Cup, five league titles and two FA Cups, as well as taking pre-season tours overseas to Europe, USA, Canada and South America at a time when football rarely got on TV. Famous number seven jerseys hang on a wall in the museum.He also points to the Munich air disaster of 1958, which killed eight members of the "Busby Babes," only for Busby to rebuild the squad and lead United to European glory 10 years later. "That was something that for most football clubs would have finished them," Leach adds. "For us, it was kind of like our defining moment. It almost makes it unbelievable what the club has achieved since."For people who are football fans outside of Manchester itself, draws them in because of that sort of spiritual tale."Some 350,000 visitors flock to the United museum at Old Trafford each year -- an "outrageous figure," according to Leach -- and Virtanen's Helsinki equivalent becomes the latest of a number of collections dotted around the globe.The Munich Clock at Old Trafford pays tribute to those who lost their lives in the plane crash.Overseas fans have gradually become part of the club's heartbeat."Their passion is as strong as mine and I live over the road and they live thousands of miles away," says Leach."From being a young kid and going to the matches with my dad and thinking, 'This is my team and everybody comes from Salford where I live,' to now thinking, 'It might be my team, but you know what, we belong to the world.' "I'm proud of that. You don't want to be insular with it and just think that the only people who go to Old Trafford are from the surrounding areas. For United, those days disappeared a long time ago."
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Marcus Rashford: Manchester United star has shown the UK a new kind of leadership - CNN
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(CNN)Any English Premier League defender could testify that Marcus Rashford can be a fearsome opponent. Now the UK government can attest to this too. By eloquently and calmly putting forward his case for free school meals to be provided to the poorest families in England over the summer school holidays, the Manchester United star on Tuesday forced the government into a U-turn. Within hours of the government's about-face, the hashtag #sirmarcusrashford was trending on Twitter and the footballer was being thanked in the UK Parliament by the leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer. He was leading UK news bulletins and dominating newspaper headlines. Marcus Rashford: Footballer, campaigner, and the remarkable 22-year-old who succeeded in making Prime Minister Boris Johnson announce a new £120 million ($150m) "Covid summer food fund." Such was the force of Rashford's campaign, launched on Monday, that had Johnson not changed tact he was reportedly risking a rebellion from his own backbenchers. Rashford celebrates with Anthony Martial after in the EPL in January. Read MoreAs one of England's most talented players, Rashford has had the ability to influence others for a number of years, ever since he scored on his United debut in 2016 to become an instant hero, but over these last few months his voice has never been louder. English Premier League returns after 100-day hiatus but not everyone is happy If a person's true character is revealed during a crisis, Rashford has proven himself a leader; a player with drive and a social conscience. A self-made multimillionaire who has used his profile to make a difference during a once-in-a-generation pandemic which has brought heartache and hardship on many. He is the reason why families entitled to free school meals will now receive a one-off voucher at the end of the school term, worth £15 ($18) a week for the six-week school break, which they can spend in supermarkets. Over a million children will be beneficiaries. Since the start of the pandemic, this Manchester-born son of a single mother has raised millions in donations alongside food charity FareShare, launched a poetry competition for deaf children and learned sign language. Few have been so prolific and effective during lockdown. Last December he partnered on a drive to counter homelessness. He also recently posted a powerful message on Twitter following the death of George Floyd. It was at the beginning of April, as the coronavirus pandemic was taking hold in the UK, that British health secretary Matt Hancock told English Premier League footballers to "make a contribution" and "play their part" in looking after the less fortunate. Rashford has forced Hancock's government to do the same. 🗣 to all MPs pic.twitter.com/Dc4weMvTHN— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020
Footballers have often been easy targets and Hancock was happy to attempt to pit the "ordinary" people against the stereotype of the overpaid, greedy footballer. But these are young, high-achieving men, many of whom are from poorer backgrounds. There are plenty, like Rashford, who have not forgotten the sacrifices made by others in their journey to the pinnacle of their sport, memories of those early struggles have not faded, and there are plenty who are enlightened and are a force for good, such as Raheem Sterling, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson, to name a few.In his open letter to UK lawmakers on Monday, Rashford, the youngest of five children, spoke about how as a child he relied on free school meals and "the kind actions of neighbours and coaches." "The system was not built for families like mine to succeed, regardless of how hard my mum worked," he wrote, before adding: "This is not about politics; this is about humanity."Premier League players take a knee -- and make a standIt was an impressive letter from a footballer who first sought to learn more about his subject before going on to make such an impact, asking people to send him videos of their experiences of the government's food voucher scheme and how ending it would impact them. "I need to understand better the exact scale of this problem," he tweeted.In a BBC interview on Monday, Rashford also revealed how his mum made him join United's academy a year early, aged 11, to ensure he was getting the right nutrition. "It was to help my mum with her situation and also get me out of the situation that I was in," he said. The Conservative government was initially unmoved by the striker's plea -- some lawmakers had wanted a policy change for weeks -- but Rashford pushed on. "We aren't beaten yet, stand strong for 200,000 children who haven't had a meal to eat today and keep retweeting," he said. People listened, even fans of rival teams. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosRashford celebrates scoring on his United debut, against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League at Old Trafford on February 25, 2016.Perhaps the government did not fully comprehend the sway of a man with nearly three million Twitter followers, 8.4 million on Instagram and 3.3 million on Facebook. Perhaps Johnson was unaware that this was a boyhood United fan who had hardly put a foot wrong since making his debut for his hometown club -- not only did he score on his debut, he also found the net in his first EPL outing, his first Manchester derby and first Champions League match. Perhaps none among the powers that be appreciate the strength of will it takes for a boy from a low-income family to succeed in such a competitive industry, especially at one of the world's most successful clubs, making it unlikely that Rashford was going to easily give up on a matter so close to his heart.We aren't beaten yet, stand strong for the 200,000 children who haven't had a meal to eat today and keep retweeting 🗣 #maketheUturn— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 15, 2020
As a child growing up in one of the more deprived areas of Manchester, he would endlessly kick a football; in his bedroom, down the hallway, in the park near the council estate where he grew up, competing against his older brothers, dreaming of being the next Wayne Rooney. His passion and perseverance helped him succeed against the odds. Johnson was forewarned. Rashford playing for United in the FA Youth Cup in 2015. Less than 24 hours after Rashford made public his letter, Johnson made his U-turn and Rashford had proven himself to be arguably a more remarkable activist than he is a footballer, which is some feat for a player who, four years ago, became the youngest footballer to score on his England debut. "I would put Marcus Rashford in No.10 running policy because he's an incredible guy," Conservative lawmaker Robert Halfon told the BBC on Tuesday. "He's an extraordinary individual — he's a hero of our time."Rashford had already achieved much in football; representing his country at a European Championship and a World Cup, scoring 64 goals for United -- a tally that will only increase over the next few years -- but whatever his accomplishments on the pitch, none compare to the impact he has had in his country these last few days.
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Lionel Messi: How the relationship between world's best player and Barcelona turned sour - CNN
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(CNN)Overnight, angry Barcelona fans descended on the Camp Nou to lay the blame at the feet of the man they hold responsible for Lionel Messi's desire to leave."Bartomeu, resign!" they chanted over and over again.On Wednesday, club Technical Secretary Ramon Planes desperately tried to quell fans' anger."We have said on many occasions that we think of Lionel Messi as an FC Barcelona player," he said at the press conference for new signing Trincão."Barcelona has rebuilt itself on many occasions throughout its history and has always come back stronger. Our thinking is to have [Trincão] alongside the best player in the world."Read More"There is no division in the club about Leo, anyone who understands football wants him here to return to win again -- he's a winner."Many fans have been angry with club president Josep Maria Bartomeu for some time, unhappy with a seemingly scattergun approach to planning and recruitment that has seen the team regress following the retirement of the club's previous generation of stars, notably the 2011 all-conquering homegrown vintage of Xavi and Iniesta.READ: 'More than a Club?' How FC Barcelona 'lost its soul'READ: Lionel Messi wants to leave BarcelonaBarcelona supporters gather outside the Camp Nou to show their displeasure with Bartomeu.Messi's consistently brilliant match-winning moments of magic have papered over the cracks that have been steadily widening at the Camp Nou and some fans are rightly concerned about what will happen to their club should the Argentine talisman get his wish and leave.The humiliating 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals -- the biggest European defeat in Barcelona's history -- was unsurprisingly the straw that broke the camel's back, but Messi's discontent at the club he made his debut for 16 years ago has been evident for some time.Messi's has long endured a strained relationship with Bartomeu and the Barcelona hierarchy, but this came to a head in February when sporting director and former teammate Eric Abidal accused the players of downing tools to get former manager Ernesto Valverde sacked. In response, the Argentine responded by posting a series of furious messages on his Instagram account, forcing Bartomeu to call an emergency meeting between the pair.After the Bayern defeat, Abidal left the club, while head coach Quique Setien was sacked and replaced by Ronald Koeman.Messy ending?Earlier this year when Barcelona's players announced they would be taking a 70% pay cut to help the club through the coronavirus pandemic, Messi took another not-so-subtle swipe at the board for the way they had publicly handled negotiations.Eventually, the off-field battles with his own club, coupled with the team's failings on the pitch -- this is Barcelona's first trophy-less season since 2007-08 -- seem to have become too much.It has now been five years since Barcelona won the Champions League, an almost unthinkable barren stretch for a team boasting one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.One Barcelona fan with the Greatest Of All Time on his shirt looks dejected outside the Camp Nou.Messi has been at Barcelona since moving to the La Masia academy from Argentina at the age of 13, but it appears their relationship is destined for a messy ending.According to multiple reports, the 33-year-old is utilizing a clause in his contract which allows him to leave the club for free this summer. Reportedly the clause expired on June 10, but Messi believes he still has the right to activate it now due to the season being extended because of the coronavirus pandemic.Barcelona remains confident that will not be the case and any potential suitors will need to meet Messi's €700 million ($824.8 million) release clause to secure his services -- an amount no club in the world could afford due to Financial Fair Play regulations.However, should Messi get his wish and leave, there are perhaps only two clubs in Europe that could realistically afford his reported $100 million per year salary: Manchester City and Paris-Saint Germain.Could Lionel Messi join up with former coach Pep Guardiola at Manchester City?"We are not thinking about any contract clause," Planes said. "The marriage between Messi and FC Barcelona has given much happiness to both parties ... we are working internally to convince Messi to find the best solution for FC Barcelona and for Messi."Messi has not told us that he will not be showing up at training, but any communication will remain between the parties and we will not broadcast what is spoken out of respect."Barcelona's 'greatest idol'Unsurprisingly, Spanish media has been having a field day since arguably the biggest transfer news in La Liga's history broke on Tuesday."Messi -- Barcelona: ¡This is war!" was one headline in sports newspaper Marca."Leo Messi wants to leave Barcelona after 16 seasons in the first team with which he has won everything," the article read. "It's difficult to write this sentence without exclamations."Rival paper Diario AS laid bare the gaping chasm that Messi's departure would leave at the club. "34 titles, 634 goals, 513 victories, 80 Guinness world records," it wrote. "On October 16, 2004, a young 17-year-old Argentine striker made his debut for Barcelona, who 16 years later has become the greatest idol in the history of the club."There's only one story dominating the front and back pages of newspaper this morning.The club's treatment of teammate and best friend Luis Suarez -- Bartomeu and Koeman told the Uruguayan in no uncertain terms that his services are no longer required -- is reportedly another area of discontent.Newspaper 'Sport' lists this as one of "the five keys to Messi's break with Barca.""Suarez is his main support in the dressing room and one of his best friends and Leo believes that he deserved much more respect for his career."Which means the dispute between Barcelona and Messi looks to be heading for a bittersweet ending to arguably the greatest partnership in history.
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Alphonso Davies' journey from Ghanaian refugee camp to Champions League winner - CNN
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(CNN)Alphonso Davies' road to Champions League glory was more treacherous than most.The 19-year-old's story began in a Ghanaian refugee camp, where he was born to Liberian parents who were fleeing their country's civil war.On Sunday, Davies became the first Canadian to win the European Cup as his Bayern Munich side beat Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 to lift club football's most coveted prize."Coming to Europe and winning the Champions League with a great club like Bayern is everything I can ask for," Davies told BT Sport after the final. "My story, it just goes to show if you set your mind to it you can do anything. I'm happy to have the medal around my neck and the trophy by my side."Read MoreWhen he was five years old, Davies and his family left the Buduburam refugee camp and moved to start a new life in Edmonton, Canada. "I can't really remember too much about those years," Davies told former England international Gary Lineker in an interview for the Guardian about those early years as a refugee."I wish I could. I can't even really remember kicking a football around, although I know I did. It's not a memory they want to share with their kids too often, but they talked about it a little bit because it's part of our story."By all accounts, it was clear as early as high school that Davies was no ordinary footballer.His prodigious talents prompted Major League Soccer side Vancouver Whitecaps to try and recruit him when he was just 14 years old -- and Davies very nearly didn't go. His mother, Victoria, turned down Vancouver's offer, believing her son wasn't older enough to leave home.READ: Bayern Munich beats Paris Saint-Germain to win the Champions LeagueAlphonso Davies playing for Vancouver Whitecaps against Tigres in the CONCACAF Champions League.It took some convincing from the young Alphonso before she eventually changed her mind.From the moment he joined Vancouver's academy, to say Davies' rise was meteoric would be something of an understatement. He signed his first professional contract with the club on July 15, 2016 and made his MLS debut a day later at just 15, becoming the second youngest player in league history.The following year, Davies became a Canadian citizen and on the same day earned his first international call up. He made his national team debut in a friendly against Curaçao at 16, becoming the youngest player in Canada men's history, and scored his first goals for his country in the opening match of the 2017 Gold Cup against French Guiana.He went on to win the golden boot for being the tournament's top goalscorer, won the Young Player of the Tournament award and was named in the tournament's best XI. In his first full year in the senior international set up, Davies was named Canadian Men's Player of the Year."We came to a great country like Canada that took us in, which is amazing looking back at it," Davies told CNN back in 2018. "At that time, I didn't know if I wanted to play soccer or not. "I didn't know what I was supposed to do with my life, but once I came to Canada and started watching it on TV, my dad and brother played and watching them play, I wanted to do that too."When I started playing, I think it was when I signed my USL contract and I was like: 'I think I can really go far with my career if I keep working and striving to become [better]."Alphonso Davies celebrates after scoring his first goal for Canada against French Guiana.'No hesitation'By this time, his consistently brilliant performances meant Davies had a list of suitors as long as his arm and it was evident he wouldn't be staying in Vancouver much longer.Despite reported interest from clubs such as PSG and Manchester United, the rising star opted to sign for Bayern Munich, lured by the German club's track record of nurturing young talent."I know there were rumours about England," he told reporters after signing a contract extension back in April. "I know different teams had approached my agents. My full focus at the time was Vancouver and trying to get into the playoffs. "Behind the scenes, my people were dealing with it so I didn't need to think about it a whole lot. Teams approached my people and they relayed the messages to me. We sat down with Bayern Munich and as soon as I heard them, there was no hesitation that I wanted to join this team. "I love playing for this club. Being so young and coming here so early is even more of a motivation."Alphonso Davies during training camp just after joining Bayern Munich.Bayern paid an MLS record fee of $13 million for the 17-year-old, an amount that could rise to $22 million based on add-ons."This is a landmark transfer for our club, country, and league," Whitecaps co-owner Jeff Mallett said following Davies' transfer. "Alphonso is an inspirational example of what is possible, and we are excited about how this transfer showcases our commitment to homegrown players for our club and country."After joining Bayern in the 2018 January transfer window, Davies played sparingly in the second half of the campaign but enjoyed his major breakthrough the following season.Lightning quick and with a keen eye for goal, Davies was initially signed with the intention of eventually replacing outgoing wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.However, according to the Bundesliga, Davies has start 37 of his 38 competitive matches for Bayern in a defensive role. It's a testament to his character and football IQ that he has effortlessly transformed his game and become one of the most highly regarded left backs in the world.Bayern head coach Hansi Flick recently called Davies "one of our best players."Alphonso Davies holds the Champions League the trophy aloft after beating PSG."Alphonso is doing an outstanding job," he said. "He's setting up goals in attack and has scored some himself, and is very adept defensively. He's on a very good path. He's young -- he can and wants to learn."Davies' list of individual and team accolades at the age of just 19 is enough to draw envious glances from even the most seasoned professionals; two Bundesliga titles, two German Cups, Bundesliga Rookie of the Season, MLS All-Star, Vancouver Whitecaps Player of the Year.Now he can also add Champions League winner to that list, perhaps the sweetest title of them all.
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Barcelona vs Napoli: How Barca 'lost its soul' - CNN
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(CNN)In recent times, mention Barcelona and the word "crisis" probably isn't too far behind.For a number of years, talisman Lionel Messi, widely considered to be the greatest player of all time, has been the glue that has held the Catalan club together.His consistently brilliant match-winning performances have papered over the figurative and literal cracks that have been steadily widening at the Camp Nou.Yet this season especially, an aging team without an apparent identity has seen performances and results fall apart, regardless of Messi's exploits; off the pitch, the regeneration of the stands of a once great stadium has been put on hold due to the financial difficulties Barcelona finds itself in.Without a trophy so far this season -- the team finished five points behind Real Madrid in La Liga -- the Champions League offers Barcelona one final chance of silverware. How Bruno Fernandes transformed Manchester United's fortunesRead MoreOn Saturday, it welcomes a rejuvenated Napoli to the Camp Nou for their round of 16 second leg, with the scores delicately poised after the 1-1 draw in Naples. Defeat would undoubtedly be a disaster and would present Barcelona with its first trophy-less season since 2007-08."We'll see what happens, but I see a black future," Catalunya Radio journalist Ernest Macià Ballus tells CNN. At the turn of the decade, Barcelona was, in many ways, the model for any elite European club; a young visionary coach with a clear philosophy, a revered and highly productive youth academy and a clear transfer strategy.Pep Guardiola's promotion to head coach from the Barcelona B team in 2008 signaled the start of the most successful era in the club's history. With a core of graduates from the club's academy, La Masia, Barcelona won 14 trophies during Guardiola's four seasons in charge, including an unprecedented treble for a Spanish club.Fast forward eight years and only Messi, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique of the acclaimed La Masia alumni remain on the pitch, while the rest of the club appears in disarray. So, what has gone wrong at the Camp Nou? Financial troublesBarcelona's 'Espai Barça' project, the ambitious renovation plan for the Camp Nou and surrounding area, was due to be completed by next year. Instead, it hasn't even begun.The estimated cost of the project is reported to be between $600 million and $800 million, money the club has struggled to raise. Some of the blame can be apportioned to the coronavirus outbreak, but this is a project which the club has wanted to undertake for more than a decade. The enforced lockdown due to the pandemic brought football to a halt around the world and slashed clubs' income through ticket sales and television rights deals.Barcelona was particularly badly affected. The club's wage bill is the highest in world football, according to a report published by UEFA earlier this year.The Global Sports Salaries Survey by Sporting Intelligence puts Barcelona's average annual salary spend per player at $12.3m for the 2019-20 season. According to Barcelona's last accounts, up to June 30, 2019, the wage bill for all their sporting teams, which includes basketball, handball among other teams, was 671 million euros ($792 million), with the vast majority going to the football club's first team. That year, the club's turnover was 990 million euros ($1.16bn) and projected to increase the following year. However, with money no longer coming in through gate receipts, TV deals and museum tickets, first team players and staff had their wages reduced by 70% in March to "minimize the economic impact" caused by coronavirus.Barcelona, of course, was not the only major European club to enforce a salary reduction, but it laid bare the precariousness of its current finances. Big-money transfersThese problems have been exacerbated by the club's move away from promoting La Masia players to the first team -- an academy which has developed a host of stars, notably Messi, Guardiola, Andres Iniesta and Xavi -- instead choosing to spend vast transfer fees and wages on already established stars. Barcelona has reportedly spent more than $1 billion on transfer fees since the 2013/14 season. The world record $263 million sale of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 temporarily plugged the financial gap, but the club immediately spent the money trying to find an adequate replacement for the Brazilian, often paying big on desired players. Around $170 million was paid to Liverpool for Brazilian forward Philippe Coutinho, whose unproductive time at the club came to end with a loan move to Bayern Munich after less than two years in Barcelona.Another $120 million -- plus $45 million in potential add-ons -- was reportedly spent on the largely unproven Ouseman Dembele from Borussia Dortmund. The Frenchman has shown flashes of his potential, but his three years at Barcelona so far have been defined by several long-term injuries that have limited him to just 74 appearances.Most recently came the $135 million signing of Antoine Griezmann, who has so far failed to replicate anything close to the form he showed while at La Liga rival Atletico Madrid.Antoine Griezmann has failed to live up to his previous performances since signing for Barcelona.Such are its current financial woes, the club sold promising young midfielder Arthur to Juventus in exchange for the 30-year-old Miralem Pjanic.These signings, and many others, have not only negatively impacted the team, the results and its finances, but also the very fiber of what it means to be FC Barcelona."There have been problems with how they basically run the club, as far as money is concerned," Macià says. "Bringing in players with high prices, players that didn't work. They did buy some good players, like Frenkie de Jong, for example, a young and talented player, but ... he needs to adapt to our philosophy. "But if there's not anyone who ignites this philosophy, it's difficult. If there's not a leader that tells the new players how we play at Barcelona, it's difficult because the only priority is to win the next game. And if this is the only priority, you will never win that title."[We cannot] play like an ordinary team. Other teams are better at playing ordinary [football], like Milan or Inter, they do not need to play beautifully and with a style, they have good players and they are good at it. While in Barcelona, they need to do something more than just win titles ... and it still won't be enough. "So Barcelona will need a reconstruction and, I'm afraid, they wouldn't have enough money to do it. "They wanted to refurbish the Camp Nou and the project has been stopped. They also had to build a new [arena] for basketball and other professional sports at the club, and this project has been stopped as well. There's no money for these projects."'Soul of the club lost'Back in 2012, the season after Guardiola left the club, his replacement Tito Vilanova famously fielded an entire 11 of players who had graduated from La Masia. Barcelona beat Levante 4-0 that day and it was an occasion heralded around Europe, as the academy was put on a pedestal as the gold standard for other clubs to aspire to.Messi, Busquets, Pique and Jordi Alba still remain from that side, but La Masia's production line has since slowed. In the subsequent eight years, only Sergi Roberto has graduated to become a first-team regular."From 2004-2010 there was a policy for years of bring players from La Masia to the first team," Macià says. "When Guardiola was the coach, everything was easier for these young, talented players growing up in La Masia. But then Guardiola went and the coaches that came here were basically focused on trying to win and the current board didn't force them to try and raise players born in La Masia, so the soul of the club has been progressively lost. "It's gone from 'More than a Club,' which is the motto that is still in the stands, to more of a simple club in which you can see a good football team, but one that is losing its identity."While the board's decision to focus on big-money signings, instead of nurturing its own talent, could be the root cause, as Macià also noted, Barcelona is also no longer able to hold onto La Masia's most promising stars.Cesc Fabregas' move to Arsenal in 2003 as a 16-year-old is perhaps the most famous example of this, but it's a trend that has continued.Manchester City defender Eric Garcia, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Xavi Simons and Manchester United-bound Marc Jurado are just three of La Masia's most gifted youngsters to have left for pastures new. Discovering the next XaviBut perhaps it's unfair to compare La Masia's current production line to that of Messi, Xavi and co, arguably the greatest group of players any academy has produced. Such was the success of those graduates -- Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Busquets, Pique, Carles Puyol and Victor Valdes all started the triumphant 2009 Champions League final -- every new prospect is burdened with the expectation of having to be the "next Xavi" or the "next Iniesta." "It's about generations, you cannot expect every single year or every five years to see four players in the starting XI that just came from La Masia. It doesn't really work like that," Fabregas tells CNN Sport. "Iniesta is one of the best midfielders in history. Xavi, probably the same. Cesc Fabregas played for Barcelona between 2011 and 2014."But if you analyze it well from the beginning, how they started and how they made it, Iniesta really started to play regularly and was considered a top player at 22. We [Arsenal] played the [2006] Champions League final against them. He came on at halftime and he changed the game and he was only 22. Iniesta started playing every single game and was considered in the undisputed starting XI at 23."Xavi had a lot of ups and downs at Barcelona. The real Xavi that we all know and we all admire, and is probably one of the best players in the history of Barcelona, started really at 28 when Pep came into the club and said: 'Listen, you are my man. Everything will go around you.' "In 2008, after the European Championship, Xavi came from two years of winning nothing at Barcelona. There were a lot of rumors; he will go, he's not good enough. Then someone comes, believes in you and, all of a sudden, you're a different player, a different animal and you go on for four or five years at a level that you wouldn't even expect you had. "So that's why sometimes it's a bit of luck. It's about having someone to trust you so much, that gives you the opportunity."Pep Guardiola during his first pre-season as Barcelona head coach in 2008.With Messi nearing the end of his career, Macià believes the board needs to move away from the "win at all costs" mentality that has prevented the club from taking risks on young talent and revert back to the philosophy of player progression that legendary Barcelona coach Johan Cruyff, who focused on how the academy teams played rather than the end result, instilled. "The squad is very short, it's much older and it's difficult to replace players like Xavi and Iniesta," he explains. "Messi had the best generation of homegrown players in La Masia around him, which made an impressive pack, and you had a total team with total football. Now, of course, these players are not here, it's very difficult to replace them. "It seems we have the impression that they [the board] are not trying [hard] enough to try to create a style and try to go back to the roots that Johan Cruyff started and Guardiola continued, and we are losing what we were [as a club]."Messi vs. the boardWhile Messi's powers remain superhuman -- he ended this season as La Liga's top scorer for a record seventh time -- they are no doubt beginning to wane.Unfortunately, this season he has also had to expend his energy on fighting battles off the pitch.What next for Lionel Messi after the Instagram post that rocked Barcelona?Back in February, Messi, a man who rarely speaks out, openly criticized Sporting Director Eric Abidal after his former teammate accused the players of downing tools to get manager Ernesto Valverde sacked. Club president Josep Bartomeu called an emergency meeting with the pair and prevented a mutiny, but Messi has since publicly aired his grievances with the club on two further occasions; once during the wage reduction negotiations and then following the recent shock defeat to Osasuna.Lionel Messi has cut a visibly frustrated figure at times for Barcelona this season."Messi has been doing very well for 15 years and he was making the president better, the players better, he was making everyone around him better," Macià says. "Because his influence is so big -- was and is so big -- he could make up for it [club's lack of leadership]. But now he's just starting to slow down progressively and steadily, and all the problems now appear."Against Eibar in February, thousands of Barcelona fans held up white handkerchiefs in the stands -- a common way for Spanish fans to show their discontent -- as "Bartomeu, resign" echoed around the Camp Nou.Fans were unhappy after it was alleged Bartomeu had hired a firm to attack the club's own players on social media, something the president and the club denied.While supporters may not have got their wish immediately, Bartomeu's presidency will only last for one more year.Fans see Barcelona's 2021 presidential elections as one of the most crucial in the club's history. Will it be a turning point for the club's fortunes, or will the same mistakes be repeated?In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, six senior members of the Barcelona board resigned and sent a strongly-worded letter to Bartomeu criticizing the management of the club and calling for the elections to be brought forward. In response to the resignations, the club said the resignations were "due to a reorganisation of the board put forward by Bartomeu."Francesc Arnau blocks a shot by Arsenal's Freddie Ljungberg during the 1999-2000 Champions League."The [new] president cannot repeat the [current] situation," former Barcelona player Francesc Arnau tells CNN. "I don't know what will happen in one year, two years or three years, but a lot is changing at Barcelona; the players, the president and the structure of the organization. "We cannot know what the future holds, but for this Barcelona it's impossible to repeat the titles of the [old] Barcelona and it's difficult to repeat the last 10 years of Messi because of his age."If the [new] president doesn't influence a lot, the change [election] isn't important, but if the president can be influential then change is coming."'It's not because of Leo'Few people would have given Napoli much of a chance against Barcelona in the Champions League before the enforced break, but these two teams have enjoyed differing fortunes since football returned.While Barcelona has struggled in La Liga, Napoli's resurgence under new coach Gennaro Gattuso culminated in a historic Coppa Italia win over Juventus in June as the club secured its first major trophy since 2014.Cesc Fabregas believes Lionel Messi is still the same player as before.But Fabregas believes any team with Messi in the side has a chance. Talk of the Argentine's demise, he says, is premature. The new format of ties being played over one leg instead of two also gives Barcelona a better chance of progressing, if Messi is able to produce yet another moment of magic."I believe that Leo had a very good season," Fabregas says. "People can tell me what they want, but I watch every single match. He scored 25 goals, he made 21 assists in his worst season. If you tell me that I could do that, then I would be very, very happy, believe me, and this would be the best season of my career. When Luis Figo signed for Real Madrid. Twenty years on after football's most controversial transfer "People shouldn't look at the results so much, they should look at the performances to see what he does and what he doesn't do, and then analyze. Leo had a top season, but the problem is that maybe around him the team didn't have a top season, but individually himself, I saw him as usual."When you are winning, when you are successful it's because 15, 16 players have been at the top of their game. It's difficult to win Champions Leagues and league titles competing against Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid when only four, five or six players compete at the level required. "That's why Barcelona have struggled this season with Lionel Messi in their team and having watched it, it's not because of Leo."After Messi branded the team "weak" following that defeat to Osasuna on the penultimate day of the season, coach Quique Setien openly admitted he did not know whether he would still be in charge for the remainder of the Champions League campaign. Much is on the line this weekend. Victory against Napoli on Saturday would mean crisis postponed, if not quite crisis averted.Additional reporting by Aimee Lewis and Christina Macfarlane
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Cristiano Ronaldo's brace can't save Juventus in the Champions League - CNN
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(CNN)Cristiano Ronaldo's brace was not enough to fire Juventus into the Champions League quarterfinals as European football's most prestigious cup competition returned in style on Friday. The Serie A champion faced an uphill task from the very start with its opponents Lyon winning the first-leg 1-0 and, despite winning 2-1 on the night, Juventus lost on away goals. The night didn't exactly begin as planned for the hosts as Memphis Depay dispatched an early spot-kick but Ronaldo wasn't to give up without a fight. The 35-year-old forward scored a penalty of his own in the first half before doubling his lead with a wonderfully crafted shot from what's supposed to be his weaker left foot. With the tie teetering on the edge, the hosts pushed for the all important third goal but its French visitors stood firm to deny Ronaldo yet another magical moment in the Champions League.Read MoreIn truth, Ronaldo's teammates flattered to deceive with the team expected to breeze past a side struggling domestically. Lyon now progresses to face Manchester City in the next round after the Premier League runners-up brushed aside Real Madrid in Friday's other game. "We knew we needed courage, talent and a little bit of fortune," Lyon coach Rudi Garcia said after the match. "We played a very good first leg as well but, with Cristiano Ronaldo, we knew we could have been knocked out at any moment."Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brace but Juventus failed to impress against Lyon. READ: 'It's quite incredible,' says Fabregas as great-grandmother turns 96 after Covid-19City beat Madrid It was 163 days since Manchester City beat Madrid 2-1 in its first-leg tie and Los Blancos needed to have a perfect evening at the Eithad Stadium to overturn the deficit. However, the Spanish champion was without talismanic defender Sergio Ramos and it showed. Defensive mistakes seemed to be the order of the day for Zinedine Zidane's side with Raphael Varane making two critical errors either side of half time. Raheem Sterling capitalized within the first 10 minutes after Gabriel Jesus poached the ball off the center-back before the Brazilian made the most of Varane's weak second-half header to secure the victory.Karim Benzema had initially leveled the scores on the night before halftime but not even the prolific Frenchman could save Real Madrid from itself as City won 4-2 on aggregate. Raheem Sterling celebrates after scoring Manchester City's first goal.READ: 'More than a Club?' How FC Barcelona 'lost its soul'No Bale Madrid was also without attacker Gareth Bale who, according to Zidane, opted not to be involved in the squad for the crunch tie. It's yet another controversial chapter in Bale's curious tenure at the Spanish giants with his relationship with the first-team seemingly over. The Welshman was criticized last month for his antics on the substitutes' bench, where he cut a disinterested figure. How Bruno Fernandes transformed Manchester United's fortunesHe first pretended to fall asleep while on the sidelines before making a binoculars gesture with a roll of medical tape a week later. His omission from the squad is likely telling of where Zidane sees Bale in his future plans. Champions League returnsIt had been almost five months since the iconic Champions League theme tune rang around a football stadium and Saturday will see four more teams try to reach the quarterfinal stage. Barcelona restarts its campaign against Napoli with the scores tied 1-1 from the first leg, whilst Bayern Munich takes a 3-0 advantage into its second-leg match against Chelesa.RB Leipzig, Atletico Madrid, Atalanta and Paris St-Germain are all through to the quarterfinals already.
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Barca defeat Juve to claim European crown - CNN
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(CNN)Barcelona became kings of Europe for a fifth time Saturday with a deserved 3-1 Champions League final victory over Juventus in Berlin.Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring early on for the Catalans before Alvaro Morata drew Juve level at the start of the second half. But parity didn't last long as Luis Suarez restored Barcelona's lead a little over 10 minutes later.Neymar then added a third in injury time to ensure European football's biggest prize would return to Spain for a second year running.Follow @cnnsport
The triumph followed Spanish league and cup wins and marked a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for Barca coach Luis Enrique whose job was on the line as recently as January until an inauspicious run of results was righted.It was a change in form that had much to do with the irrepressible attacking trident of Neymar, Suarez and Lionel Messi.Read MoreAnd as the European season reached its climax Saturday, their fluidity and potency was just too much for an experienced Juve side appearing in its first final since losing to AC Milan in 2003. Barcelona fans attend the 2015 Champions League final in Berlin.Needless to say, much has changed for Juventus since that night in Manchester 12 years ago.The Old Lady of Italian football has suffered humiliation, enforced relegation and the stripping of Italian league titles as punishment for its involvement in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal.Only goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has remained from the 2003 final and through the club's battle back to Europe's top table. More potently, however, Saturday's match was taking place 30 years after Juve claimed its first European Cup, a title won under the shadow of tragedy at the Heysel Stadium in Brussels.That night in 1985 Michel Platini -- who attended Saturday's fixture in his current role as the head of European football's governing body UEFA -- scored the only goal of the game as the Bianconeri defeated Liverpool 1-0.But tragedy was unfolding in the stands as 39 fans died in a stampede compounded by a dilapidated stadium, poor ticketing arrangements and "negligent policing."Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci spoke before the game of wanting to win to honor the victims of Heysel.And perhaps spurred on by this desire, the Italians started the more aggressive of the two sides. Patrice Evra snapped into Dani Alves within seconds of kick off. Moments later, Carlos Tevez fired over from the edge of the area with Barca looking uncharacteristically tense.The nerves didn't last long.Within minutes Barca was ahead. Neymar fed Andres Iniesta, who was bursting into the Juve area from deep. He then squared the ball to Ivan Rakitic to perform the simple task of knocking the ball beyond the diving Buffon.Ivan Rakitic opens the scoring for Barcelona in the 205 Champions League final.Arriving as it did just three minutes in, it was the fourth fastest goal in Champions League final history. And against one of the meanest defenses in Europe.Juventus had conceded just 35 goals in 55 games this season prior to kick-off. By comparison, Barcelona's front three had bagged 120 goals between them -- a stat all the more remarkable given Suarez missed the start of the season as punishment for his infamous bite on Juventus and Italy's Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup.A calf injury sustained by Chiellini meant there would be no reunion with the Uruguayan Saturday. And the no-nonsense defender's absence was readily apparent as Barca began piling the pressure on.Hardly 10 minutes had passed when Neymar broke free on the edge of the Juve area but failed to keep his shot down. Suarez was then denied by a last ditch tackle from Andrea Barzagli before Buffon somehow clawed out a net-bound Dani Alves strike.It would have pushed the boundaries of sports conditioning for the Catalan side to maintain this pace. And sure enough, Juve began to assert themselves as the half wore on without ever creating much of attacking significance.The second half began much like the first. Juve forced an early corner but within moments were defending at the other end as Barca broke at pace. But Buffon again denied Suarez with a strong right hand.When Messi came close moments later it looked like a matter of time before Barca doubled its advantage.Yet it was Juventus that would strike next, thoroughly against the run of play, through Morata. The ex-Real Madrid striker had been quiet all night but was in the right place at the right time to knock beyond Marc-Andre Ter Stegen after the keeper could only parry Tevez's initial strike.Alvaro Morata levels the scores in the 2015 Champions League final.The Italian side was now in confident mood. Tevez again fired over before Paul Pogba tested Ter Stegen from distance.But this was a Barcelona team that hadn't experienced a defeat of any significance since January.And when Buffon couldn't hold a Messi strike that skipped up off the surface, much like Morata at the other end, Suarez was on hand to blast high into the Juve net.Moments later it looked like Neymar had made it three. The Brazilian reeled away in celebration after nodding home Jordi Alba's cross. But an eagle-eyed official behind the goal spotted that Neymar had glanced the ball off his hand and correctly ruled out the goal.Juve rolled the dice by bringing on another striker in the shape of Fernando Llorente.But it was Neymar who would have the last word in the fifth minute of injury time. As Juventus piled forward, the 39-goal striker exchanged passes with Pedro before drilling the ball low beyond Buffon to round off a joyous season for Barcelona.Champioooooons pic.twitter.com/EMNsWcUekA— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) June 6, 2015
Read: Champions League final as it happened
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Barcelona: Messi, Suarez, Neymar and the MSN secrets - CNN
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Story highlightsNeymar opens up on life in "MSN"Says trio ready to fire Barcelona to yet more glory (CNN)He's one third of the world's most deadly strike force -- but it's not all about flicks, tricks and goals for Neymar and his partners in crime.Playing alongside Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi, Neymar has terrorized defenses across Europe.At the age of 24, the Brazilian is the junior partner in a strike trio which scored 131 goals between them last season -- nine better than the 122 the previous term.Follow @cnnsport
But if you want the real secret to the trio's success, you have to dig a little deeper.JUST WATCHEDNeymar's perfect player: Who does he choose?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHNeymar's perfect player: Who does he choose? 01:40'Making history'Read More"I think it's about the care, respect, friendship and happiness that we have for being together," Neymar told CNN in an exclusive interview."Training together every day, helping one another on the pitch -- we're making history and I hope it can continue for many more years."We have a great friendship. The only difference is three footballers, three star footballers in their respective countries, are here together at Barcelona. "It's difficult for this to happen ... three South Americans. It's something that we've changed." Impossível acreditar nessa tragédia, impossível acreditar no ocorrido, impossível acreditar que o avião caiu, impossível acreditar que atletas, seres humanos estavam nesse avião, impossível acreditar que essas pessoas deixaram suas famílias .. é IMPOSSÍVEL ACREDITAR!!! Hoje o Mundo chora, mas o céu se alegra em receber Campeões. Meus sentimentos a todos os familiares e amigos 😥😓😢😭 FORÇA CHAPE 👊🏽🙏🏽🙌🏽 A photo posted by Nj 🇧🇷 👻 neymarjr (@neymarjr) on Nov 29, 2016 at 2:22am PST
Since moving to Barcelona from Brazilian club Santos in 2013, Neymar has won two league titles, two domestic cups, the Spanish Super Cup, the Champions League and the World Club Championship.Playing alongside Uruguay's Suarez, who finished top scorer in La Liga last season, and Argentine Messi, a five-time world player of the year and the club's record goalscorer, he has established himself as one of the outstanding players on the planet.READ: Brazil piles hurt on Leo Messi's Argentina While there have been testing times, such as injury, and the recent announcement by Spain's public prosecutor to have the forward jailed for his alleged role in corruption over his transfer to Barcelona, he has managed to excel.But even the best have doubts -- and Neymar went through his own period of introspection soon after his move to La Liga.JUST WATCHED Want to workout with Neymar? Well, now you can ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH Want to workout with Neymar? Well, now you can 01:54'Be happy'"I have a nice story about Messi," Neymar said."Soon after I arrived, it wasn't a great moment in my career and he was the one who helped me. "He saw that I was sad, with my head down, that things weren't going right for me."He told me to keep going, to be happy and to play the way I know. He's a person who I admire a lot. He told me this and he helped me a lot at that moment in time."Is the 'MSN' the best forward line in football? Have your say.Neymar and Messi embrace after Brazil's 3-0 win over Argentina in Belo Horizone.While the front three have flourished since Suarez's reported $128.5 million arrival from Liverpool in 2014, they have not had it all their own way.Last season, Barcelona lost out on retaining the Champions League, losing to Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals, as arch rival Real Madrid won the competition.Ronaldo (right), Benzema (center) and Bale are the other top trio in Spain.In Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo -- collectively known as "BBC" -- Real has its own fearsome front line.And Neymar is wary of writing off the competition -- despite the great rivalry between the two clubs. Photos: Which club will be crowned European champion?Real Madrid – Gareth Bale's Real Madrid is hoping to make history by becoming the first club to successfully defend the Champions League title. No team has managed the feat since Europe's top tournament was revamped in 1992.Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Which club will be crowned European champion?Barcelona – Last season, Lionel Messi and co.'s title defense ended at the semifinal stage. The Spanish champion will be one of the favorites again this time. Luis Suarez, Neymar and Ivan Rakitic were all outstanding last season -- and don't forget a certain Andres Iniesta.Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Which club will be crowned European champion?Bayern Munich – Always in the mix, the German champion will hope to improve on last season's semifinal performance. New manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has won the competition three times as a coach, has added to his squad with the acquisition of teen midfield star Renato Sanches -- who helped Portugal win the Euro 2016 title.Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Which club will be crowned European champion?Atletico Madrid – The Spanish club suffered heartbreak in May's final -- losing out to rival Real on penalties after a 1-1 draw in Milan. It was the second time in three years that Diego Simeone's side had gone close to winning the competition. He'll be hoping France star Antoine Griezmann returns from Euro 2016 all fired up.Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Which club will be crowned European champion?Juventus – It might have lost Paul Pogba to Manchester United, but Italy's "Old Lady" is still a team to be feared. The perennial Serie A champion splashed out $99 million on Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain in the off-season, while its impressive defensive core remains. It will be a tough nut to crack under coach Massimiliano Allegri.Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Which club will be crowned European champion?Paris Saint-Germain – The French champion reached the quarterfinal stage last season before being beaten by Manchester City. Its iconic striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has left to join Manchester United, but new coach Unai Emery has brought in Real Madrid's Jese and Poland midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak from his former club Sevilla.Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Which club will be crowned European champion?Borussia Dortmund – Back in the competition after spending last year in the Europa League, Dortmund will be one of the teams to fear. Its style of fast, free-flowing football has been one of the most exciting on the continent over the past year and, led by the likes of Marco Reus and top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, it could reach the knockout stages.Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Which club will be crowned European champion?Manchester City – The English team reached the last four for the first time in its history before somewhat meekly losing to Real Madrid. New coach's Pep Guardiola first task was to bring the club through the qualifying stages. The former Bayern and Barcelona coach has already spent big on signing Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito, Leroy Sane and John Stones.Hide Caption 8 of 8"They are star footballers who are respected," Neymar added"Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d'Or three times (which became four on Monday) and Bale is having a great season."Benzema is a great striker who I think is a superstar. It's a good battle, a healthy battle which we have in the Clásico."
Visit cnn.com/football for more news and videosBut which three is the most talented? And which does Neymar think has the upper hand?"I wouldn't say which the best trio was because I don't like to," he adds while looking at a photo of his teammates." I never like to say that I'm better than anybody else -- but this trio has made history and will continue to do so."And if Neymar could choose one footballer from Real Madrid to play with at Barcelona, who would it be?"Marcelo," replies Neymar, referring to his fellow Brazilian.
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'Neymar's injury is completely fixed,' says PSG's Leonardo - CNN
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(CNN)Paris Saint-Germain's sporting director Leonardo has quashed rumors surrounding Neymar's foot injury and the Brazilian's future at the club."Neymar's injury is completely fixed," Leonardo told French radio station RMC on Thursday. "He is controlled by the world's leading doctors and surgeons and the fracture to his fifth metatarsal has healed."Leonardo was speaking after French daily newspaper Le Parisien reported that Neymar's fifth metatarsal remains at risk of injury.PSG's Leonardo Araújo insists that Neymar's foot has completely healed. Continued absenceNeymar, 27, has been sidelined with two foot injuries since arriving in the French capital in 2017 -- first in February 2018 and then in January 2019. Last year, while celebrating his birthday on crutches, he said: "What I wanted most as a birthday present today is a new metatarsal."Read MoreThe Brazilian forward is currently recovering from a separate injury to his ankle, which he sustained while on international duty in a friendly against Qatar in June and ruled him out Brazil's triumphant Copa America campaign.Neymar's career has been punctuated by a series of foot injuries.Neymar took no part in in PSG's Ligue 1 opener on Sunday which saw Edinson Cavani, Kylian Mbappe and Angel di Maria all score in a 3-0 victory over Nimes.During the match at the Parc de Princes, some fans unfurled disparaging banners directed at the Brazilian, who during the summer months has repeatedly been linked with a move away from the French champion.In the RMC interview, Leonardo also dampened down that transfer speculation. "It's wrong," said Leonardo. "He's a PSG player, he's still in Paris for three years."
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Neymar to miss PSG match -- two days after hosting birthday party in Paris nightclub - CNN
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(CNN)Neymar has been left out of Paris Saint-Germain's squad for the team's upcoming league match at Nantes after suffering a rib injury. The Brazilian's absence comes just days after he celebrated his 28th birthday with teammates at a Paris nightclub, an occasion which PSG manager Thomas Tuchel admits was not ideal preparation for Tuesday's Ligue 1 encounter. According to PA Media, Tuchel said: "Is it the best way to prepare for a match? No, clearly not. Is it the worst thing in the world? No. I always protect my players and I really love my team. With this party I accept that it is a bit difficult to protect the players but the context is not simply black or white."It is a shame because we are giving people the chance to speak badly of us. We need to adapt to the situation but I am not going to leave a player on the bench or at home because they went out and celebrated."Neymar attends his birthday party on February 2 at the Yoyo venue in the Palais de Tokyo in Paris.Lyon's Dutch forward Memphis Depay (C) pictured attending Neymar's party.Neymar played the full 90 minutes of PSG's 5-0 win over Montpellier at the weekend, but the club has since said its record signing suffered a cartilage injury in the first half. Read MoreSince singing for the Parisian club in 2017 for a world record fee, the forward's career has been hampered by injury, restricting him to just 51 league appearances. He celebrated his 2018 birthday on crutches with a metatarsal injury. According to the club's official website, Neymar has started 14 of PSG's 22 league games this season.
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Kylian Mbappe: Paris Saint-Germain suffers injury blow to French international ahead of Champions League - CNN
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(CNN)Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League hopes suffered a major blow Monday as the club confirmed star forward Kylian Mbappe will be out for three weeks with an ankle injury.The 21-year-old limped out of Friday's French Cup final win against Saint-Étienne following a late tackle from Loic Perrin, who was shown a red card for the challenge. "The results of today's scan confirmed an ankle sprain with damage to the external ligament," said PSG in a statement. "The player is expected to be sidelined for approximately three weeks."PSG's Champions League campaign resumes on August 12 against Atalanta, with all matches in the competition's altered format now being played over one leg instead of two."It was complicated with all the fouls to Thilo Kehrer, Neymar and Mbappé," Tuchel told reporters after the match following PSG's 13th French Cup title, which came courtesy of Neymar's 14th-minute winner.Read MoreMbappe was on crutches and wearing a protective boot during the trophy ceremonyREAD: Cristiano Ronaldo scores as Juventus wins ninth straight Serie A titleREAD: Manchester United, Chelsea seal Champions League spots as Leicester misses outParis Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe walks with crutches after winning the French Cup final."In the last three matches against Saint-Étienne they get a red card in the first 30 minutes. I don't know what is being said in their dressing room. It is horrible, I can't understand it," added Tuchel.PSG is chasing an unprecedented quadruple of trophies. With the Ligue 1 title and French Cup already wrapped up, PSG will face Lyon on Friday in what will be the last ever League Cup final.Kylian Mbappe walked off the pitch in tears following Loic Perrin's late challenge.Mbappe, who signed from Monaco for a reported $214 million in 2017, has scored 29 goals for PSG this season and, alongside Neymar and Mauro Icardi, forms part of one of the most prolific attacking lines in Europe.
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Pele turns 80: Brazil's 1970 World Cup-winning team remains its greatest ever - CNN
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(CNN)Every so often, a national team comes along that embeds itself in a nation's psyche.It can flood a country with hope. It can cause its inhabitants to temporarily forget about their day-to-day woes. Stories of famous victories are passed down through generations.For nations less blessed with football talent and pedigree, these teams come along perhaps once in a generation. For others, such as five-time World Cup winner Brazil, they come along a little more regularly.But despite the numerous great teams to have pulled on the famous yellow shirt, there is one in particular that still shines brightest.The all-conquering side at Mexico 1970 featured Pele, Jairzinho, Gerson, Tostão, Rivellino and Carlos Alberto, Brazil's 'Eternal Captain' and scorer of arguably the greatest goal in World Cup finals history.Read MoreIt was the last goal scored at that World Cup -- the fourth in a 4-1 hammering of Italy in the final -- and one that epitomized the Joga Bonito (Play Beautifully) mantra that Brazil had long been synonymous with.Nine of the 10 outfield players had some role in the goal's creation, ending with Pele's pass into the path of the onrushing Alberto, who thumped the ball into the bottom corner.READ: Pele -- My four greatest momentsREAD: Pele -- The footballer who seduced Andy WarholCaptain Carlos Alberto holds aloft the Jules Rimet Cup after Brazil defeated Italy 4-1 in the 1970 World Cup final.Dazzling Brazil"We won the World Cup and I think in my life in sport, (that was the pinnacle), no doubt," Pele, who turns 80 on October 23, 2020 told CNN Sport's Don Riddell of that team in a interview four years ago."I said: 'Santos are champion, I am going to retire,'" Pele recalls thinking before Mexico 1970. "Then I said: 'No, I am going to play the World Cup. This will be my last World Cup, may God give me one more time the gift to play good.'"It would be fair to say his prayers were answered.Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of the 1970 World Cup final and looking back at that tournament perhaps there is a sense of nostalgia, too. That World Cup was the first to be broadcast around the globe in color, making those bright yellow shirts all the more dazzling.It was perhaps also a victory for those we would today refer to as 'football purists'; Brazil's Jogo Bonito against Italy's catenaccio, the highly-organized and defensive-minded system that defined Italian football for decades."When I was little, my father certainly would talk about that extraordinary team," former goalkeeper Dida, himself a World Cup winner in 2002, recently told CNN Sport's Don Riddell. "A team never seen before, a team that would win easily because those were the best of all players -- and among them there was one who made all the difference in the world, Pele. Brazilian forward Jairzinho is held aloft after Brazil's victory."He's number one in the world in my opinion, the strongest player we've ever had. He has proven it, scored more than 1000 goals. The 1970 team is the strongest Brazil has ever had."Dida was born three years after that World Cup win in 1970 but the stories he was told by his father made those players his heroes, too. Long before YouTube and streaming services made even the most obscure reserve leagues available around the world, the 1970 World Cup was the first opportunity many had to watch these superstars in action.None of Brazil's squad played club football outside of their country, so the world watched on in awe as these unfamiliar faces tore their opponents apart.At the heart of it all, of course, was Pele.The Santos forward operated from slightly deeper in a four-man front line, as head coach Mário Zagallo attempted to accommodate Brazil's plethora of attacking talent.Pele scored two goals and assisted another in the final against Italy."When I was in the under 20's, I nearly met him [Pele] but it didn't happen so I became disillusioned," Dida recalls of his desperation to meet his hero. "But then I finally had the opportunity and it was a real great emotion to hug him, feel him, talk to him. "It's an extraordinary feeling to see an idol so close. This was a great opportunity in my life."'Another level'Dida was part of Brazil's World Cup-winning squad in 2002, another team considered by many to be among the greatest to ever grace the world stage.The attacking trio of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho is one of the most feared in history, but for Dida it would still be no match for the team of 1970."They were above all, another level," he says. "I know football has changed but they would certainly win with the same conditions today and Pele would score."It surely ranks in first place [in Brazil's greatest teams]. They would do things with ease and calm. It wasn't that the adversaries were weak, but the talent that team had to improvise was impressive."There have been great Brazil teams since. The South American nation has won another two World Cups, no less, but for many Brazilians that side of 1970 continues to hold a place in the heart higher than the rest.Pelé dribbles past Italian defender Tarcisio Burgnich, who later eulogized about the Brazil star.It was one of those one-in-a-generation teams -- even for a country as blessed with football talent as Brazil -- that had even the opposition eulogizing."I told myself before the game, he's made of skin and bones just like everyone else," Italian defender Tarcisio Burgnich said of Pele after the final. "But I was wrong."
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Soccer stars haunted by 'Brazil's Hiroshima' - CNN
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Story highlightsBrazil will host the football World Cup for first time in 64 years in 2014The South American country lost to Uruguay in the final match of the 1950 tournamentFlamboyant attacker Neymar is the star of the current Brazil teamBrazil hosts the Confederations Cup, which begins on SaturdayRio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium was packed to the rafters: 200,000 expectant spectators prepared to celebrate Brazil's first World Cup triumph and its arrival as a football superpower.It was the moment the South American country's love of the game, and of its most prestigious competition, became a dangerous obsession.July 16, 1950, the final match of the final group stage. Brazil faced Uruguay, and a draw would be enough to see the host crowned as champion.The champagne was put on ice when winger Friaca gave Brazil a 1-0 lead just after halftime. But the samba beat was silenced when Juan Alberto Schiaffino equalized for Uruguay -- and then the unthinkable happened.World Sport Presents: Racism in FootballJUST WATCHEDWill Brazil be ready for the World Cup?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWill Brazil be ready for the World Cup? 02:51 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and Olympics Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – The Arena Castelao is the first stadium ready for the eight-nation Confederations Cup in June 2013. The competition, which is a dress rehearsal for the the 2014 World Cup, will bring together four former world champions.Hide Caption 1 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – View of the Governador Magalhaes Pinto stadium during renovation works, in Belo Horizonte. The stadium will host both the Brazil 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup.Hide Caption 2 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Picture of the famed Maracana football stadium in Rio de Janeiro as renovation works for the 2014 World Cup -- including the construction of a roof -- gets under way. The Maracana is classified as a historic monument so the facade will be maintained but a roof will be added to the five-storey oval stadium. Hide Caption 3 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Picture taken during the refurbishment works held at the Mario Filho 'Maracana' stadium in Rio de Janeiro.Hide Caption 4 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – A huge inflatable Fuleco, the mascot of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, stands by the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 15, 2013.Hide Caption 5 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – A worker swings a hammer inside 'Arena Fonte Nova' stadium in Salvador de Bahia, Brazil on December 6, 2012 before next June's eight-nation Confederations Cup.Hide Caption 6 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – A construction worker at the site of the Itaquerao football stadium which will host the opening football matches of the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.Hide Caption 7 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Brasilia's National Stadium under construction on December 13, 2012. The National Stadium will receive the first match of the eight-nation Confederations Cup matches on June 2013.Hide Caption 8 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – A panel marks the exact place of the kick off for the next FIFA World Cup 2014.Hide Caption 9 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Former Brazilian footballer Ronaldo attends a press conference on November 29, 2012 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.Hide Caption 10 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – The trophy of the FIFA World Cup 2014, brought to Brazil by former Brazilian football player Cafu from the FIFA headqueaters in Switzerland, is displayed at Morumbi shopping center in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 22, 2012.Hide Caption 11 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Police commandos from an anti-kidnapping unit, arrest and control a group of 'terrorists' during a drill at the Tom Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 13, 2012.Hide Caption 12 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – People chant slogans during a protest against the demolition of the Celio de Barros track and field stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on January 13, 2013. The stadium needs to be demolished to carry out the Maracana stadium construction plans ahead of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic games.Hide Caption 13 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – The Rio 2016 Olympics logo is seen on a wall of the future Olympic Park in construction in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 20, 2012.Hide Caption 14 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Carlos Arthur Nuzman (left), Brazilian Olympic Committee President and Rio 2016 Olympics Committee President, shakes hands with London 2012 Chief Executive Paul Deighton after delivering the IOC debriefing of the London 2012 Olympic Games for the foreign press in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.Hide Caption 15 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – People hold a huge banner during a demonstration demanding that Brazilian President Dilma Roussef veto a bill that would redistribute oil royalties in favor of non-oil producing states.Hide Caption 16 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – The construction site of the future Olympic village for the Rio 2016 Olympic games in Barra de Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on November 20, 2012, Brazil. Hide Caption 17 of 18 Photos: Brazil prepares to host World Cup and OlympicsBrazil prepares for World Cup and Olympics – Journalists are shown a virtual tour of the city organized by the Rio 2016 Committee on November 19, 2012 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Hide Caption 18 of 18 Photos: Brazil's World Cup rescue mission Photos: Brazil's World Cup rescue missionRonaldinho rumbled – Ronaldinho was making his first appearance for Brazil in over a year, but he struggled. The two-time World Player of the Year missed a penalty before being substituted at half-time in a 2-1 defeat by England.Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: Brazil's World Cup rescue missionNeymar's no show – Neymar is the star of the current Brazil team. The Santos playmaker also endured a frustrating match, failing to breakdown England's stubborn defence.Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: Brazil's World Cup rescue missionDefiant Luiz – Brazil captain David Luiz, fourth from the left, is confident La Selecao can win the World Cup when it is staged in the South American country for just the second time next year.Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: Brazil's World Cup rescue missionBig Phil – In a bid to transform Brazil's fortunes, Luis Felipe Scolari has been reinstated as coach. Scolari led Brazil to World Cup glory in 2002.Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: Brazil's World Cup rescue missionRuthless Ronaldo – Scolari's Brazil beat Germany 2-0 in the final 11 years ago, with Ronaldo scoring a brace in the showpiece match.Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: Brazil's World Cup rescue missionHistory repeated? – All Brazilians fear a repeat of the 1950 World Cup, when hosts Brazil lost 2-1 to Uruguay in the final game of the tournament and missed out on glory. The defeat was referred to as "our Hiroshima" by Brazilian playwright Nelson Rodrigues.Hide Caption 6 of 6Uruguay came forward, Brazil goalkeeper Barbosa stepped off his line, Alcides Ghiggia scuffed a low shot towards the near post ... and the ball nestled in the back of the net.Brazil had lost.A nation's hearts were broken. Lives were forever altered and a national obsession was born.The 63 years since have seen Brazil become football's dominant force. The five World Cups won by "A Selecao" is more than any other country in the quadrennial competition's 83-year history.But not one of Brazil's quintet of triumphs has banished the shadow cast by the failure of Moacyr Barbosa Nascimento and his teammates."The idea the rest of the world has about Brazil, and perhaps Brazil has about itself to a certain extent, is that it is all about 'joga bonito,' it is all about the beautiful game," says Jonathan Wilson, journalist and author of "The Outsider: A history of the goalkeeper."Read: German football embraces Israel"Actually it is all about winning in Brazil, far more than anywhere else despite the perception," he told CNN. "There's no such thing as heroic failure in Brazil."Barbosa was named goalkeeper of the tournament, but he was scapegoated in Brazil because of what happened in the final game."He didn't get picked for the next couple of years. He was a very good goalkeeper, but all he is remembered for is that one mistake."The error which led to Uruguay's second goal hung over Barbosa until his death in 2000.But the saddest moment of his life, he said, was not in the final or its immediate aftermath.Read: Year Zero in football's racism fight?Some 20 years later, a woman in a supermarket pointed towards him and declared to the young boy by her side, "Look at him, son. He is the man that made all of Brazil cry.""Under Brazilian law the maximum sentence is 30 years," Barbosa remarked on his 79th birthday, just two weeks before he passed away. "But my imprisonment has been for 50 years."The disappointment looms large in Brazil's national psyche, and all the more so with the country to host the World Cup again next year for the first time since that fateful day."Nelson Rodriguez, the playwright, spoke about 'Our Hiroshima," Wilson said. "It seems monstrously disproportionate and it is, but I think what he means is that it's Brazil's national disaster.Read: Mourinho the "Stable One"?"They've never been in a war, they've never really had a great disaster. They just expected to win. The newspapers on the morning of the game were saying 'Brazil World Champions.' "The newspapers were wrong.It is this weight which the present day team must carry as it prepares to host the Confederations Cup, a warmup event for the World Cup, which Brazil kicks off against Japan on Saturday.Once again the World Cup is coming to Brazil and once again a nation expects."Everybody knows the bad experiences we had in the World Cup in Brazil in the '50s -- we lost, but now we have to recover," says Pele, one of football's greatest players and a triple World Cup winner with Brazil between 1958 and 1970.Barbosa's tale is a cautionary one for the current Brazil squad. A mistake by any player next year could be the costliest they ever make.JUST WATCHEDWildlife abounds in Brazil's PantanalReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWildlife abounds in Brazil's Pantanal 03:06JUST WATCHEDPart of World Cup stadium roof collapsesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPart of World Cup stadium roof collapses 00:45Luiz Felipe Scolari, coach of the last Brazil team to lift the World Cup in 2002, was reinstated in November 2012 to inspire a floundering team.The results have been unspectacular.Scolari has won two, drawn four and lost one of his seven matches back at the helm and the team languishes in 22nd in the FIFA world rankings.A 2-2 draw with England in June was the first match at the refurbished Maracana, a stadium which is both a monument to Brazil's sporting prowess and a mausoleum for past failure."We always have good players, but we don't have a good team right now," Carlos Alberto, captain of Brazil's World Cup winners of 1970, told CNN. "We don't have experience, the players are very young."Everybody says to these players, 'You have to win, you have to win.' It's not good because they are young, they don't have the experience to play an international tournament."That 1970 team is often referred to as the greatest of all time, given the style and swagger with which it crushed Italy 4-1 in the final match of the Mexico tournament.The advent of color television made the players, bedecked in iconic vibrant yellow with green trim, appear as if soccer stars from another planet.Alberto does not think the current generation is yet capable of emulating his team's achievements, but he is backing his countrymen to succeed four years later."They are going to take the experience of playing in the World Cup next year into 2018. In Russia, I bet you any money Brazil will win!" he declared.JUST WATCHEDThiago Silva targets PSG dominance ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThiago Silva targets PSG dominance 03:07JUST WATCHEDWorld Cup stadium in Amazon rainforestReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWorld Cup stadium in Amazon rainforest 02:46"Next year, if they get to the semifinals it is OK."Edu, a midfielder capped 15 times for Brazil between 2004 and 2005, shares Alberto's reservations.The former Arsenal player is concerned a change of management has disrupted a squad short on international experience."We're not prepared yet," Edu, now director of football at Club World Cup winners Corinthians, told CNN. "We've changed the coach, which is not normal. "Usually a coach has four, five, six years to get used to his team. Scolari is lucky, because Brazil has a lot of players to build a good squad. But I'm not sure if they will be prepared enough for the World Cup."The Brazilian team is not in the best moment."One player of whom a huge amount is expected is Neymar, a flamboyant attacker recently signed by Barcelona who is frequently hailed as "the new Pele."If Brazil is to finally win the World Cup on home soil, the fleet-footed, shock-haired attacker will have to prove he has shoulders broad enough to carry a nation's hopes."Listen, winning the World Cup is very hard because it is a box of surprises. No doubt Brazil is one of the best, but this doesn't mean Brazil is going to win ... The best players in Europe, they are Brazilian," Pele told CNN."In Brazil we have had a lot of excellent players like Zico, Tostao, Rivelino, Pele, Ronaldinho, but the last two years we have had Neymar. "He is very talented. I hope he has luck in Barcelona. I didn't like it so much because he used to play in my team, Santos, I lost a good player. He deserves to go to the best team."I said to be the new Pele would be very difficult, because my mother and my father, they closed the machine (gestures). But no doubt he is one of the best players who we have in Brazil."
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When Real Madrid signed Luis Figo from Barcelona - CNN
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(CNN)The noise inside the Camp Nou on November 23, 2002, was unlike any other experienced in Barcelona's soup bowl of a stadium. There is the sort of sound that makes a person wince, furrow the brow, stick fingers in both ears, and then there is the screeching and baying of over 100,000 football fans. A 90-minute chorus of hatred directed at just one man on an extraordinary rain-soaked evening in the Catalan capital. Luis Figo, once of Barcelona but now dressed in Real Madrid white, is walking towards the corner flag. The decibels rise. He was once adored in these parts, but now is the focus of the fans' fury. Barcelona supporters are holding up placards with dollar signs, a whiskey bottle becomes embedded in the pitch, officials in raincoats are holding back supporters in the front row; lighters, coins, plastic bottles are hurling down from the stands and, then, a pig's head is launched towards the Portuguese forward. "Never have I heard the Camp Nou with this sound against one person," Francesc Arnau, a member of Barcelona's squad that evening, tells CNN Sport. "The people, I think, in that game, think that they don't play against Real Madrid, they play against Luis Figo. It was unbelievable, the best atmosphere against Real Madrid."Luis Figo of Real Madrid prepares to take a corner with a police escort during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid played at the Nou Camp Stadium, on November 23, 2002. Read MoreIt's gone 10 p.m. and the second half begins. Figo takes his first corner near members of Barcelona's ultras group, the Boixos Nois. The atmosphere is wild and threatening to become uncontrollable. Waving his arms, Barcelona defender Carles Puyol appeals to the fans for calm, but more objects are thrown. Riot police gather and Figo takes the corner, which Barcelona goalkeeper Roberto Bonano tips over the bar. Another corner, the sound increases, more objects fall onto the pitch. The referee suspends the match for 16 minutes. "I was a bit afraid because you never know the objects where they can fall," Ernest Macia Ballus, a reporter for Catalunya Radio who was at the Camp Nou as a fan that night, tells CNN Sport. "They can fall on the pitch, or maybe you receive the impact of a strong object somewhere, or because when there's this kind of atmosphere, there's a loss of control. It's dangerous for the players, of course, when taking a corner, for example, but it's also dangerous for the supporters."I was thinking I should maybe leave the stadium, but I didn't want to because it's Barcelona-Madrid. It is a unique game and I've paid a lot of money. I was afraid and impressed. It was unforgettable. I'd never seen something like this, and I won't [again]."Figo leaves the pitch as play was suspended during Barcelona's match against Real. The outrageous promiseRarely is there a way back from betrayal. Figo was adored during his five years in Barcelona. He was the matador, the heart of the team, its captain. He may not have been born in Catalonia, but fans deemed him one of their own. When Barcelona won the league and the Copa del Rey in 1998, Figo had dyed his hair in Barcelona colors and, from the balcony of the historic Palau de la Generalitat de Catalunya proclaimed in reference to rivals Real Madrid: "Whites weep. Congratulate the champions."Figo celebrates winning the Super Cup with Barcelona in 1998. However, in the summer of 2000 rumors began to surface that a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid presidential candidate Florentino Perez had been signed which would see Figo join the Madrid club if he won the election, though Barca fans and even his teammates did not believe it. It seemed improbable that the star of Barcelona, a club whose slogan is 'more than a club' for its defense of the Catalan culture and language, would join Real Madrid -- the club of the capital and, during the dictatorship at least, one widely regarded as representing the Spanish establishment."In elections you say many things. We rather thought it was a promise that will never happen," recalls Ballus. "The promise was done by a candidate who was not supposed to win."Under Lorenzo Sanz, the man who had been in charge since 1995 and was fighting for re-election, Real Madrid had ended its 32-year wait for the European Cup, winning the competition twice in three years.Sanz might have been the favorite to win the election, but ultimately he could not compete with Perez's outrageous pledges.It has been widely reported that Perez had polled Real Madrid's members and asked them which player they most wanted if they elected him president. Their answer? Figo. Perez also told the club's 80,000-plus members registered to vote in the election that he would pay their membership fees for the following year if he failed to sign Barcelona's star player. Figo was Barca's captain and star player. "We didn't give too much credit that he would bring Figo because he was very expensive," adds Ballus. "But we started doubting when Florentino promised that he would pay the annual membership to all the members."Spanish daily Marca was the first to report a secret deal, a contract reportedly dated July 1 and signed by Figo's agent Jose Veiga.If Perez won the election and Figo refused to leave Barcelona, Figo would pay a penalty fee of around $34 million, so the reports said. If Perez lost the election, Figo would keep around $2 million.The document also apparently committed Perez to giving Figo $25 million if he became Real president and didn't sign him. Meanwhile, Perez deposited £44 million ($55m), the value of Figo's buyout clause and a world-record transfer fee, at the Spanish Football Federation. When the media reported the deal, Figo denied a pre-contract agreement had been made. "I'm not so mad as to do a thing like that," he told Diario Sport, while Sanz dismissed Perez's promise, saying Figo's capture was "probably to be followed by the signing of Claudia Schiffer."However, a day after claiming he would be "mad" to leave Barcelona, Figo admitted there was an offer from Perez "and that is why I want him to win the elections." According to the Guardian's Sid Lowe, the offer was a £2 million advance ($2.5m) plus £5m-a-year ($6.2m) in wages. On July 16, 2000, Perez won the election and Figo, aged 27 and at the peak of his powers, crossed a volatile divide, unveiled as a Real Madrid player for a then world-record fee on July 24, 2000. 'Like a bomb in the dressing room'Arnau did not have time to say goodbye to his teammate. "Perez won this election and next Figo was in the press conference of Real Madrid," he remembers. "It was [a] bomb in the dressing room, the players like me didn't believe it was possible. We had lost a very important player. Figo was our light. Our three top players at the time were Figo, Patrick Kluivert and Rivaldo. "This is just my opinion, but I think Figo thought never is it possible for Perez to win the election."The match that changed footballWhile Barcelona's players were shocked and saddened, the feelings of the club's fans were rather more intense. "We felt an explosion of anger and hatred because he was an idol in the city," says Ballus. "There's no bigger betrayal. It's like if you are trusting your wife or husband and then all of a sudden you discover that he has another life."Former Portugal and Atletico Madrid player Paulo Futre, who acted as a go-between in the deal for Figo's agent, has spoken of how Veigo broke down in tears."Figo had no way out, he was tied to the clause," Futre is reported to have told El Chiringuito two years ago. "You have to put yourself in their place. He was one of the best players but one of the worst paid; he had an offer that was six times higher, but of course, when this comes to light, it was a court issue that Figo or Veiga had to pay, or both."In an interview on Spanish radio in 2016, Figo explained to host Michael Robinson that the much-talked-about deal was made between Perez and his agent Velga."Florentino, who was a presidential candidate, brokered a deal with my agent, not with me because I was under contract and couldn't sign an agreement with someone running for office," he said, according to Spanish daily newspaper AS. "What happened next was my decision. Seeing what the situation was and with the commitment of my agent, I decided to sign for Real Madrid."For Perez, the one-time underdog who now wore the crown, the signing of Figo was, he said in a 2017 interview with Fox Deportes,"like ripping out" Barcelona's heart. Former Barca president Joan Gaspart, who was elected Barca president the day before Figo was presented as a Real Madrid player, has spoken of the former Portuguese in less than flattering terms. Gaspart, who lasted just three years as president, was particularly unhappy that the timing of the transfer left Barca little time to buy a replacement of Figo's stature for the start of the 2000/2001 La Liga season.The signing of Figo started the 'Galacticos' era at Real Madrid. Figo returned to the Camp Nou three months later as a Real Madrid player. Bodyguards were reportedly detailed to look after him and he blocked his ears to the crowd's whistles. But the reception he received on his first return to the Camp Nou was nothing compared to what would happen two years' later, in the match everyone remembers because of the pig's head which, over the years, has become a symbol of the great betrayal. Though Barcelona had pocketed millions, the club struggled to replace Figo. Meanwhile, for Real, Figo's capture signaled the beginning of the Galacticos era as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham followed in subsequent seasons. And it was in Real's colors that Figo won the Champions League, the 2000 Ballon d'Or and the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year award. In Barcelona, Figo's achievements have almost been wiped from history. In the buildup to the 2015 Champions League final between Barcelona and Juventus in Berlin, the club requested that Figo not represent them in a legends match. The pain is still felt because he had meant so much."Well, 20 years later they [Barca fans] still hate Luis Figo," says Ballus. "If he came to the Camp Nou, but he won't, but if he came, of course there would still be a rise of indignation."
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Klopp and Mourinho slam decision to overturn Manchester City's ban - CNN
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(CNN)The decision to overturn Manchester City's ban from European football competitions has been labeled "disgraceful" and not "a good day for football" by two of the biggest managers in the English Premier League.City was originally punished by UEFA, European football's governing body, for "serious breaches" of club licensing and Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations and was excluded from European competitions for two seasons.However, after reviewing the club's appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the ban Monday, stating City had not broken the rules by disguising equity funding as sponsorship.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresLiverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was one of many in the game to criticize the decision on Tuesday, arguing the importance of upholding FFP rules. Read MoreHe said abandoning the framework could lead to a situation where you have the richest clubs, owned by the richest people, dominating the sport. "I don't think it was a good day for football yesterday, to be honest," he told a virtual news conference."FFP is a good idea. It is there for protecting teams and the competition so that nobody overspends and have to make sure the money they want to spend is based on the right sources.""It's not up to me to judge this and I don't, but I think this FFP framework we should stick to."Jose Mourinho and Jurgen Klopp both took issue with the decision to overturn Manchester City's ban. 'Disgraceful'Despite having its ban overturned, it was decided that City had failed to cooperate with UEFA authorities and an original fine of 30 million euros ($34 million) was reduced to 10 million ($11.3 million).Such a decision angered Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho, who said the latest ruling marked the end of FFP rules as we know them."In any case, it's a disgraceful decision because if City are not guilty then they should not be punished with the fine," he told a virtual news conference."If you're not guilty you shouldn't have a fine. If they are guilty the decision is also a disgrace and they should be banned from the competition. I don't know if City are guilty or not but either way it's a disgraceful decision.""I think this is going to be the end of Financial Fair Play because there is no point. I would like to see it used in a proper way. "At this moment we are talking about Man City but in the past other clubs were in a similar situation."I think it's better to open the circus door and let everybody enjoy."READ: How billionaire owners changed European footballJUST WATCHEDManchester City's Champions League ban overturnedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHManchester City's Champions League ban overturned 02:21An apology City has consistently pleaded its innocence since its ban in February, initially calling the UEFA process "flawed." Manager Pep Guardiola said the club was now very happy to see the ban overturned and suggested it deserved an apology from those who assumed guilt, notably from long-time rival Mourinho. "Jose [Mourinho] and all the managers should know that we were damaged. We should be apologized [to]," he told a news conference Tuesday. "Like I said many times, if we did something wrong, we will accept absolutely the decisions by UEFA and CAS because we did something wrong."We have the right to defend ourselves when we believe what we have done is correct, is right. Three independent judges said this."Yesterday was a good day for football because we play with the same rules of FFP as all the clubs in Europe. All of them. [If] we break this FFP, we will be banned."City will now have the chance to play in next season's Champions League, the only major trophy to elude Guardiola during his time at the club. In this season's competition, City faces Real Madrid next month in the knockout stages having defeated Los Blancos 2-1 in the first leg. The winner of that tie will face Lyon or Juventus in the quarterfinals.Pep Guardiola is yet to win the Champions League with Man City.Another twist in Newcastle's takeoverMeanwhile, Saudi Arabia has banned beIN Sport from broadcasting any Premier League matches in the country at a time when the nation's public investment fund is involved in a proposed deal to take over Newcastle. The Saudi government claims the Qatari owned beIN Sport "abused its dominant position through several monopolistic practices."The decision to ban the broadcaster means there is no legitimate way for people in Saudi Arabia to watch EPL games and has caused yet more confusion in the takeover saga which has rumbled on for months. The hope was that the new owners would propel Newcastle back to the top of English football, following the trend set by Chelsea and Manchester City, which were both bought by billionaires.
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Quique Setién sacked: More changes on the horizon for Barcelona following Champions League humiliation? - CNN
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(CNN)After losing 3-0 to Roma in 2018, Barcelona fans might've thought it was the club's lowest ebb. After losing 4-0 to Liverpool in 2019, they might've thought it was actually the club's lowest point. However, for the third season in a row, Barcelona found an increasingly more humiliating and painful way to be dumped out the Champions League, losing 8-2 to Bayern Munich. And as was widely expected, the club took action on Monday by sacking manager Quique Setién, who presided over the massive defeat. "This is the first in a series of decisions that outline an ample restructuring of the first team," read in part a statement from Barcelona. "Those changes will be made in consensus with the current technical secretary and will be announced in the upcoming days."It has been reported that former Barcelona player Ronald Koeman is the favorite to take over. Koeman is the current manager of the Netherlands national team.Read MoreWhile many had the Catalans as underdogs against Bayern, a Barcelona side that included the great Lionel Messi, as well as club legends Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Luis Suarez, were expected to put up a fight. But the Germans ran riot in Lisbon, inflicting a record defeat on Barcelona, thanks to braces from Thomas Muller and Philippe Coutinho, who is on loan to Bayern from Barcelona. The manner of the defeat -- in which it conceded 3.1% of all the Champions League goals it has ever conceded -- left Barcelona fan Ryan Alam feeling "humiliated.""At one point I was hoping Bayern would show us some sympathy but that never came," he told CNN Sport. "I didn't expect such a disappointing performance from the very club I've supported my whole life. I hope all this happened for a good reason, and the board fixes its issues with the president, the club's transfer policies, and finds a manager that fits Barcelona's caliber."READ: 'More than a Club?' How FC Barcelona 'lost its soul'Messi reacts during the UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich.'Historical humiliation'One newspaper in Spain called the result the "end of a shameful cycle," while another called it a "historical humiliation." Another just simply had the headline: "Shame."Despite giving its fans some brief hope by drawing at 1-1 in the seventh minute, once Bayern retook the lead just 15 minutes later, the result never looked in doubt. Barcelona's insistence -- and inability -- to pass the ball out from the goalkeeper against a ruthless Bayern pressing system result in goal after goal. "While Barca did not perform, Bayern must be given credit for the game they played. It was world class football," Barcelona fan Ali Mir explained. While Bayern looked like a well-drilled, physically fit team, Barcelona looked like an ageing collection of individuals too heavily reliant on the magic Messi can often summon. Setien reacts following a Bayern Munich goal.Pique, who has played for Barcelona for over 10 years, looked visibly emotional while giving his post-match interview, saying "the club needs change.""This is not the first, nor the second, nor the third time," Pique told Movistar after the game. "It's hard, it's very hard, and I hope it counts for something. "And well ... we must all reflect now, the club needs changes and I am not speaking of the coach, nor the players. I do not want to single out anyone. I think structurally the club needs changes, because as I said it's not the first, nor the second, nor the third time. "Nobody is essential. I'm the first to offer myself if new blood has to come and change the dynamic. Because now we have hit rock bottom. And well ... now we all have to reflect internally on what is best for Barca, which at the end of the day is the most important thing. "A club like Barca must be at the top, winning and competing. We've gotten to a point where we cannot hide anymore which is reflected on the field. What happened today is unacceptable for a club like Barcelona."READ: The Man Utd teenager who is a superstar in the makingPique reacts following defeat to Bayern.The road aheadSo, what now for the five-time Champions League winner? While the club is famous for its productive youth system -- which produced players such as Xavi and Andres Iniesta -- the route from academy to first team has stagnated, as the club focuses on big-name signings instead. And with an ageing squad -- six of Barcelona's starting XI over the age of 30 -- there are some serious question marks in many aspects of the club, on and off the pitch. In addition to Setién -- who cut an exasperated figure on the touchline during the defeat to Bayern -- losing his job, a number of expensive players could be on the way out. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosBarcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, after apologizing to the fans of the club, said the club will "make some decisions." "There are some decisions that we had already made, and others that we will make over the next few days. Announcements will be made from next week, we need to make decisions after things have calmed down. Today is a day for reflection. Tomorrow we will try to raise our fans' spirits following such a heavy defeat."
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Bayern Munich vs. RB Leipzig: Tyler Adams on unlikely bid to win Bundesliga title - CNN
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(CNN)When it comes to the top flight of German football, no one has been able to lay a glove on Bayern Munich in recent years. The soccer powerhouse has won seven consecutive titles and has boasted a team brimming with seemingly endless and unrivaled talent.However, the tide could be changing this season with just three points currently splitting the top four teams in the league.Second-placed RB Leipzig has the chance to go top when they visit Bayern Munich on Sunday and US star Tyler Adams is "stoked" to take on the challenge of trying to dethrone the Bundesliga champion."Obviously it's a big opportunity not just for myself but for the team to not only re-establish ourselves as one of the best teams in the league but show that we are here to win the league this year," the 20-year-old Adams, who moved to Leipzig from New York Red Bulls in January 2019, told CNN Sport's Alex Thomas.Read MoreREAD: Erling Braut Håland continues incredible scoring record with another braceTyler Adams joined RB Leipzig from New York Red Bulls in January 2019.Pulisic role modelAdams is one of a host of young players who have chosen to develop their careers in the German Bundesliga and he is determined to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Christian Pulisic.The now Chelsea forward kickstarted his career in Germany having played for Borussia Dortmund as a teenager."I didn't necessarily pick his brains about it but I looked up to him in a sense," said Adams of the 21-year-old Pulisic, who is very much a role model for other Americans wanting to make their name in European football. "For me watching him on TV and seeing what he was able to do it was more like 'Why can't I do that?' "He did give you the confidence that you can be an American player fitting and living comfortably into the Bundesliga lifestyle." READ: What next for Lionel Messi after the Instagram post that rocked Barcelona?The American youngster made a stronng start to life in Germany. Pressure of the big stageBorn in Wappingers Falls, New York, Adams has made 10 appearances for the US national team after initially impressing in Major League Soccer (MLS).However, he is acutely aware that playing in Europe is an entirely different level.RB Leipzig, in its current form, was founded just 10 years ago after Red Bull's billionaire founder took over German fifth division side SSV Markranstadt. After climbing through the leagues, Leipzig finished as runners-up in 2017. The Bundesliga club has also qualified for this season's Champions League's knockout stages and faces Tottenham in the round of 16 on February 19. "You come into a team with players in the team that are world class," he said. "They all play in their respective national teams and coming from New York not everyone had that level of experience." "Being in such a world-class club and watching how everyone carries themselves and the level of expectation here, there is obviously a little bit of pressure that comes with it but it's something that I'm able to grasp and I'm really excited to be part of such a big club."JUST WATCHEDThe European Red Bull Derby: Leipzig-SalzburgReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe European Red Bull Derby: Leipzig-Salzburg 01:37'Re-establish ourselves'Adams made an incredible start to life in Germany -- the American was unbeaten in his first nine league games -- before injuries reduced his playing time on the pitch. Fit again now, he wants to help Leipzig recover its form after three games without a win but does not believe Sunday's match against Bayern Munich is a title decider."We have a lot to prove," he said. "After a few tricky matches in the past couple of weeks, we are ready to re-establish ourselves as one of the best teams." "The season is long and you have to take it game by game. There are a lot of tough games coming up as well so we need to focus."CNN's Joshua Pedro contributed to this report.
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Joao Felix: Cristiano Ronaldo comparisons 'unfair' says Benfica boss - CNN
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(CNN)At just 19-years old, João Felix has the football world at his feet. The fifth most expensive footballer in history following his staggering $142 million move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid in July, Felix is already being compared to another Portuguese star, a certain Cristiano Ronaldo.Felix, who turned 19 in November last year, enjoyed a stellar debut season, scoring 15 goals for Benfica as well as becoming the first teenager ever to net a Europa League hat-trick.A race for his signature then ensued with Atletico securing one of the world's most talented young players. But with such a huge transfer fee comes pressure, expectation, and comparisons.And though few doubt the size of Felix's talent, the player's former coach, Bruno Lage, says comparisons with Ronaldo, Portugual's record goalscorer and five-time Balon d'Or winner, are "unfair".Read MoreREAD: Joao Felix: The Benfica teen who is a 'star alreadyJoao Felix (L) and Portugal's forward Cristiano Ronaldo with the Portugal national team."It's unfair the comparisons that are made between João, who is starting his career with one of the best players of all time like Cristiano Ronaldo," Benfica coach Lage told CNN."I'd like to see João be true to himself and keep the attributes which distinguish him from the others. He doesn't have to compare himself to Ronaldo."Lage tutored João at Benfica's famed academy where Manchester City's Bernado Silva and 2016's Golden Boy award winner Renato Sanches first cut their teeth. It is a state of the art facility built 15 years ago that continues to churn out world class talent to the rest of the world.But for clubs like Benfica, such an efficient production line has its drawbacks. Unable to compete financially with the super wealthy clubs in England, Spain, Italy and France, the Portuguese champion must settle for being a 'selling' club.READ: Joao Felix: The Benfica teen who is a 'star already'Joao Felix scores for Atletico Madrid"The most important thing a club has to understand in modern times is the kind of work it has to do in order to have sporting and financial success," Lage said. "The secret for Benfica was not to copy anyone and to devise a way to have sporting success regardless of what players we sell for the good of our financial stability. Any young talent that stands out in a club is immediately transferred, because the offers are irrefutable."READ: Barcelona drawn in Champions League 'group of death'; Liverpool gets NapoliThis is why, according to Lage, "we see that in the last 10 years those who reach the quarterfinals, the semifinals [of the Champions League] are the same clubs. Because they have more money and can get the best players."It is the group of players at Lage's disposal that he hopes will carry the club to the knockout stage of the Champions League for the first time since 2016. Benfica has failed to translate domestic supremacy - - the club has won five of the last six league titles - - into continental respectability. This is a discrepancy that Lage is determined to set straight. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresPizzi has scored five league goals in four matches this season."European success is the next step," Lage said. "We have the ambition to take the last step, to really make a campaign in the Champions League according to the club's greatness."Benfica has lifted the European Cup twice in its history - - in 1961 and 1962 - - but has yet to progress beyond the last eight of the Champions League in its current iteration. The Portuguese powerhouse has been drawn in Group G alongside Lyon, RB Leipzig and Russian champion Zenit.Duarte Mendonca in London contributed to this report.
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Barcelona vs Bayern Munich: Messi meets Lewandowski - CNN
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(CNN)The UEFA Champions League was simply made for ties such as the one this Friday in Lisbon.German champion Bayern Munich is set to clash with Barcelona in the standout matchup of this season's quarterfinals in a game that will also see two of Europe's most prolific players come head to head. On the one hand, there is Lionel Messi. There is nothing left to be said about Barcelona's mercurial magician who scored yet another wonderful solo goal in his side's 3-1 victory over Napoli in the previous round. But, arguably, there has been no better player in world football this season than Bayern's Robert Lewandowski.The 31-year-old striker has scored 13 goals in just seven matches in this season's competition, recording one of the most impressive goals to minute ratio in the tournament's illustrious history (a goal every 47 minutes). Read MoreREAD: US youngster helps fire RB Leipzig into Champions League semifinals'More than a Club?' How FC Barcelona 'lost its soul'The Poland international is also just four goals behind Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 17 goals in a single Champions League campaign and, given his form, is likely to come close if Bayern can progress deeper into the draw -- and you wouldn't put that past this current team.The Bundesliga club has won 18 successive matches across all competitions, bulldozing past Chelsea 7-1 on aggregate in the last 16, and has its eyes set on a treble this season -- having already claimed the league and domestic cup. "Naturally Barcelona have enough quality to produce the best of themselves in one game, but I think Bayern will have to make many mistakes and do many things wrong to lose against this Barcelona," former Bayern player Lothar Matthäus told Sky Sport Germany.Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski will face eachother on Friday. READ: Ronaldo's brace can't save Juventus as the Champions League returns in styleMessi However, standing in its way is five-time European champion Barcelona.The Catalan club finished second in La Liga, behind fierce rival Real Madrid, and has endured a difficult year both on and off the pitch. Neymar and Kylian Mbappe prove their worth as PSG reaches first Champions League semifinal in 25 yearsIts form that has already called the future of manager Quique Setien into question but his side does have something no other club has -- Messi. The Argentine has uncharacteristically been involved in public disputes with the club's hierarchy this season but has often carried the team on the pitch. The 33-year-old has scored 31 goals in all competitions so far -- albeit down on his usual haul -- and looked unplayable at times against Napoli. Messi will also be hoping to go level with rival Ronaldo on five career Champions League titles. "It will be tough for us because they've had an excellent season and dominated their tie," Setien told reporters ahead of the match."It will be difficult for us but also for them. They are an excellent team, but so are we." Bayern might well be favorites heading into Friday's tie but given the new one-match format, replacing the two-legged ties due to the coronavirus pandemic, anything could happen when the two sides meet in Lisbon.
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Joshua Kimmich says Bayern Munich is planning to join George Floyd protest - CNN
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(CNN)Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich says the club is planning on joining the protests against George Floyd's death and believes white players should stand with their black teammates in showing solidarity.Jadon Sancho, Achraf Hakimi, Weston McKennie and Marcus Thuram all made protests during Bundesliga matches over the weekend and Kimmich says all players have the "responsibility" to stand up to the scourge of racism, not only in football but also in society."I think it's good that it's not just one player [protesting] and maybe it's also an option to say something as a team," Kimmich said. "We're one world, one club, one football team and it doesn't matter if you are black or white."We as footballers, like Sancho, have a lot of power to reach other people, to be a role model and to say something because what we say, people outside listen and so this is a big chance to make a statement."As a football player, you have a big power in this world and so my opinion is that we can feel this responsibility and we're able to say something like Sancho did."Read MoreJoshua Kimmich says players have the 'responsibility' to join racism protests.READ: Premier League players urged to take a knee in protest at George Floyd's deathREAD: Lewis Hamilton 'completely overcome with rage' following George Floyd's deathAfter opening an investigation into the four players' protests, the German Football Association (DFB) announced on Wednesday that it would not be taking action as they were "deliberate actions of anti-racism by the players, who are thus campaigning for the very values which the DFB seeks to uphold."It also confirmed that similar protests in the coming weeks would go unpunished.Kimmich notes that German football has seen incidents of racist abuse this season and says Bayern's players can do more to emphasize the anti-racism campaign the club launched earlier this year."Of course we discussed it [making protests as a team] and maybe we can do something," Kimmich added. "We maybe have to do something because we cannot give something like this [racism] a place."We as players on Instagram or on social media, we can take our voice and use our power to reach the other people that this won't happen in the future anymore. And I think everybody has to stay together and fight against this racism, in football and in society."
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Atalanta: The club that wants to 'bring a smile' back to 'damaged' city - CNN
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(CNN)In a city of around 120,000 people, television stations showed pictures of columns of military trucks transporting the coffins of Covid-19 victims down the empty streets of Bergamo, Italy. Lombardy, the region in the north of the country, became the epicenter of the coronavius outbreak in February. According to CNN, there have been 96,519 cases and 16,824 deaths. While the virus was silently making its way through the country, the city's football team, Atalanta, hosted Valencia on February 19 for the first leg of its round of 16 game in the Champions League. More than 44,000 fans, including a large number of people from Bergamo, traveled to the San Siro stadium in Milan -- where Atalanta's Champions League games were being played because of renovation to its home stadium -- for a match which took place two days before the first case of locally transmitted Covid-19 was confirmed in the country. Bergamo's mayor Giorgio Gori called the game a "biological bomb."Players from Atalanta and Brescia -- another team based in Lombardy -- pay their respects in memory of Covid-19 victims prior to the Serie A match between the two teams in July.Just a week later, the team traveled to Spain for the return leg, which was played in front of no fans. Indeed, the team's manager, Gian Piero Gasperini, has since revealed that later tests showed he had coronavirus at the time. Read MoreDaniele Filisetti, a former Atalanta player who had to use an oxygen mask for 15 days after catching coronavirus, described the situation in Bergamo as a "slaughter." Why it's now or never in Neymar's quest for European glory"We realized something was happening, but we didn't immediately realize how terrible it was," he told COPA90's Martino Simcik. "Because I was here [in Bergamo], even when we had just started staying at home, you would hear the ambulances every minute and ask yourself what the heck is happening. You knew something was there, but the size of that thing, it took us a while to grasp it."Football returned in Italy in June with Gasperini telling fans the club wanted to "bring a smile to faces in a city that has been so damaged" -- and now the club is three games from winning the Champions League in its first outing in Europe's most prestigious cup competition, something no other club has achieved. History could be theirs. Due to the impact coronavirus has had on the region, Tony Dorigo, former Torino, Chelsea, Leeds and England defender, told CNN Sport there was added incentive for Atalanta's players to do the unthinkable and win the competition. The club faces Paris Saint-Germain in the quarterfinals on August 12. "It's devastating. What's happened in that region has hit particularly hard so that they are very much clubs of the people as well. And they will feel it tremendously, so I'm sure that's driving them on," he said.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosAtalanta's fans cheer as the bus transporting Atalanta players arrives at the stadium for the match against Sassuolo.The biggest stageFive years ago, as Atalanta avoided relegation from Serie A by just one spot, PSG was winning its third consecutive French league title.In the time since, the French giants have won four more titles in five seasons and Atalanta has, against the odds, qualified for the Champions League for the first time in its history. Wednesday's match will be a footballing equivalent of David and Goliath.To put the disparity between the two clubs into perspective, Atalanta's record signing, Luis Muriel, cost around $21 million when he joined last summer. PSG's record signing, Neymar, cost some 12.5 times as much, as the club spent an estimated $263 million to sign him from Barcelona in 2017.'More than a Club?' How FC Barcelona 'lost its soul'The chairman of Atalanta, Antonio Percassi, is estimated to be worth around $1.1 billion. PSG's owners, Qatar Sports Investments (a subsidiary of Qatar's sovereign wealth fund), is valued at $320 billion."It's a reason for pride, especially considering how they got there," Filisetti explained. "Especially for its history. They got there slowly, with a President who is also a former Atalanta player."Like Ajax last year, Atalanta has become many neutral fans' favorite team, with its perceived lack of superstar players and free-flowing attacking style of play.Although 'La Dea' has finished in a European qualification position in each of the last four seasons, that hasn't always been the case."More often than not, they'd be near the relegation spots," Dorigo said."If they finished anywhere near mid-table, that was a good season, and that's about as much as you expected of them."READ: Twenty years on after football's most controversial transferZapata celebrates with his team-mates after scoring the opening goal against Hellas Verona.The transformationSo how did Atalanta reshape from a team that historically yo-yoed between the top two tiers of Italian football, to a team that qualifies for Europe every season?According to Dorigo, retaining players from the club's productive youth structure -- which has produced Italian internationals such as Giampaolo Pazzini, Riccardo Montolivo and Roberto Donadoni -- has helped."A lot of really good players come through their youth setup down the years," the 54-year-old, who commentates on Italian football for British television, said.For Filisetti, who was born in Bergamo and came through the Atalanta academy, "playing for Atalanta was the best thing.""People from Bergamo have always been attached to Atalanta. Either because Bergamo is small, or maybe as part of a cultural and sporting payback, I'm not sure. "But ... before being an Atalanta player you're an Atalanta supporter. You sit in Atalanta's home stand. It's a tradition handed down generation after generation, 'La Dea', as it's called here, is very deeply rooted in the spirit of Bergamo."Gasperini's ability to bring in players who haven't played to their full potential and turn them into productive players, like "any good manager," has been key to Atalanta's success, according to Dorigo.However, the main reason for Atalanta's change in fortunes has come in the form of a 56-year-old from Turin -- Gasperini.Gasperini was appointed manager of Atalanta in June 2016, following a successful spell at Genoa -- and a not-so-successful spell at Inter Milan where he was sacked after just three months -- and immediately brought about an uptick in form with his attacking style of play and innovative 3-4-1-2 formation.In his first season in charge, the team scored 19 goals more than the previous season, improving its league position from 13th to fourth.For Marten de Roon -- who was signed by the club in 2015 and then sold to English side Middlesbrough a year later only to re-join Atalanta the next summer -- it was obvious when he returned that Gasperini had made changes to the team's "mindset.""When you went away from home in my first spell it was like, 'Don't lose. A draw is OK.' Gasperini changed the mindset to winning," he told The Athletic."It doesn't matter who we are playing against, you have to try to win. If it's Juventus away, Napoli away, of course it will be harder to win those games than if you play against the teams down the bottom, but the mindset has to be that you can always win, that you always want to win."READ: How Bruno Fernandes transformed Manchester United's fortunesDe Roon challenges Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan.Coming of ageThe fruits of Gasperini's success started to blossom last season, much of it attributed to the arrival of Jens Bangsbo, a Danish strength and conditioning coach who served under Carlo Ancelotti and Marcello Lippi at Juventus, in October 2018.His team's ability to go faster for longer has helped facilitate his attacking style of play. But Gasperini is not happy when his team is pigeonholed as a "physical team.""It bothers me a little when they say we're a physical team," he told Italy's Sportweek magazine. "We are physical but we put a lot of emphasis on technique and we're always working to improve from this point of view."The club finished third in 2019, qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in its 112-year history, and finished as the league's top scorers.This season, Atalanta have continued to break records on its way to another third-place finish. Once again, it scored the most goals in Serie A, finishing with 95 -- the most goals scored in a single season since 1950-51. It has scored seven goals in a game on three occasions this season. All with the 13th-highest wage budget in Serie A -- the entire squad earns only €5m more per year than Cristiano Ronaldo.Gasperini's ability to pluck perceived underachievers and turn them into some of Serie A's best players has created the backbone for his team, starting with diminutive Argentinian Papu Gomez, the team's captain.Zapata opens the scoring against Juventus. The game eventually finished 2-2.In Muriel, Duvan Zapata and the sublime Josep Ilicic, Gasperini has transformed players who arguably hadn't lived up to their potential.Zapata has scored 41 goals in the last two seasons, Muriel has scored 19 goals -- his most in a single campaign -- and Ilicic, at 32 years of age, is a candidate for Serie A player of the season -- and became the first player to score four away goals in a Champions League knockout match when he netted four times against Valencia in March.This season, Atalanta became the first side to have three players score 15 or more goals in a single Serie A campaign (Muriel with 17 and Ilicic and Zapata both with 15) since Juventus in 1951/52. "I think he already had one or two important players there, but then trying to fill the gaps and holes around them was difficult when, of course, obviously where they're from -- a town of 120,000 people -- so it's not a big place at all," Dorigo explained."They seem to have a great bond and unity but, my goodness, they played really attractive football. Over the last two or three years, they're the most attractive to watch."READ: The mystery of the 1998 World Cup finalMuriel celebrates with Gasperini after scoring against Udinese.Doing it on the big stageWhen Atalanta made its bow in the Champions League, it initially struggled, losing its opening three games. But a remarkable comeback in the final three group games meant it qualified for the last 16, becoming the first side to qualify from the group stage after losing its opening three games since Newcastle United in 2002-03.A stunning 8-4 aggregate win over Valencia in the next round meant it qualified for the quarterfinals.PSG will likely be without Kylian Mbappe in the starting line-up after he suffered an ankle injury in the French Cup final win in July.Atalanta will be without its own talisman after Ilicic returned to Slovenia for personal reasons. Gasperini said he was expecting a "tough" quarterfinal, even without Mbappe.Atalanta players and staff celebrate with a Josep Ilicic shirt after the team's last game of the season.The Champions League resumes in Lisbon with all matches in the competition's altered format now being played over one leg instead of two.Due to its cavalier approach to games, Dorigo tipped Atalanta to excel in this condensed format."I think it increases their chances, of that I have no doubt. The home and away, it will be more difficult against the big boys but neutral venues for a one-off game, absolutely. They keep the ball for fun; they enjoy it," he said."It's going to produce goals, that's what I would say. If you're a neutral, you'll want to watch Atalanta play against anyone because they're going to produce something. "They're never dull. But you wonder, can they do it with the cream of European football? It's going to be interesting, but I do think anyone that underestimates will be in trouble."You can watch the full 'Triumph through Tragedy: Bergamo, Atalanta and a European Dream' documentary on Copa90's YouTube channel on Thursday, August 13.
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FC Dallas soccer game will be the first major league sports team event played in front of a crowd since pandemic - CNN
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(CNN)Despite the state recently experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases, Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, will play host Wednesday to the first Major League Soccer game of the season with fans in attendance.FC Dallas will be facing off against Nashville SC at 7:30 p.m. in the opener of two back-to-back matchups. The Big 12 plans to play football in the fallBoth teams were forced to withdraw from the recent MLS is Back tournament due to Covid-19 outbreaks among staff and players. MLS is the first major team sports league to host a game in front of fans since the coronavirus pandemic forced leagues to suspend or delay their respective seasons in March. The NBA, NHL and MLB have resumed or begun their seasons, but there have been no fans in attendance.Read MoreTexas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order on June 3 that permitted sports venues to expand capacity at open-air stadiums from 25% to 50%. Dallas FC said that it will allow 5,110 fans to attend, which is slightly less than 25% of the 20,500 capacity of the stadium.NHL playoff game takes 5 overtimes to complete, making it one of the longest in league historyFans are required to sign a waiver in order to go to the game, and everyone is required to wear face masks at all times while on stadium property, including while in the parking lot, the team said.Cash is not accepted at concession stands in order to minimize physical interaction, the team said. No paper tickets are being distributed, as all tickets will be delivered and processed through the AXS ticketing app.Texas currently has recorded at least 518,150 confirmed coronavirus cases -- third most among US states -- and more than 9,225 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.CNN's David Close and Joe Sutton contributed to this report.
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Winter Olympics: What you need to know ahead of Beijing 2022 - CNN
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(CNN)There are just weeks until the start of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the second Games to be held in the middle of the pandemic after last year's Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Beijing will become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Games following its Olympic debut in 2008, and last month, organizers said preparation was "very much on track" for the Games to be delivered as planned. But it hasn't been straightforward. As with last year's Summer Olympics, a raft of Covid-19 countermeasures have been put in place ahead of the Games, which will again take place in a Covid-safe "bubble" system.When the Games do finally get underway with the opening ceremony on February 4 -- lasting until the closing ceremony on February 20 -- close to 3,000 athletes will compete in 15 disciplines across 109 events. Beijing will then also host the Paralympic Games, which run from March 4-13. Read MoreHow will the Games be staged amid the pandemic?Organizers intend to hold Beijing 2022 in a closed loop system which will only be accessible for Games participants -- a plan that has remained in place amid the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. As outlined in a Games playbook published in December, the closed loop system will encompass venues, official hotels and the event's own transport service. Fully vaccinated participants will be able to enter the closed loop without quarantining, while those who aren't vaccinated will need to quarantine for 21 days upon arrival in Beijing. Medical exemptions, considered on a case-by-case basis, may be granted to those who are unvaccinated. Some countries, such as the US and Canada, have mandated that all team members be vaccinated.During the Games, participants will be subject to daily health monitoring and testing and will have no contact with the general public. "The loop is very safe. It's a place that I would say is very difficult to compare with any other place in the world at this point in time, because we have here a fully vaccinated, often boosted population that is being tested daily with a PCR and living in a closed loop," Pierre Ducrey, Olympic Games operations director for the International Olympic Committee (IOC), told reporters on January 12.Ducrey added: "It is called a closed loop for that very reason. It means there will be no contact between people outside the loop and inside the loop. It has been built to protect the population inside, and also the population outside."Returning a confirmed positive test will mean participants cannot compete or continue their role in the Games; those who are symptomatic will stay at a designated hospital for treatment, while those who are asymptomatic will be transferred to an isolation facility. JUST WATCHEDChina faces host of challenges as Winter Olympics loomReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHChina faces host of challenges as Winter Olympics loom 02:38Last month, Huang Chun, a member of the local organizing committee, accepted that the Games could bring "Covid-19 cases or small clusters of infections" into China given that "a large number of overseas personnel will gather, causing a very high risk of transmission." Over the course of the pandemic, the country has implemented a zero-Covid policy of mass testing, extensive quarantines and snap lockdowns to eradicate any emergence of the virus. Will fans attend?Tickets for the Games will not be sold to the general public in response to the pandemic, but instead distributed by authorities, the Beijing Winter Olympics Organizing Committee announced on January 17."In terms of the grim and complex situation of epidemic prevention and control [and] in order to protect the health and safety of Olympic personnel and spectators, we have decided to change the original plan of public ticket sales," the committee said. Audiences will still be required to "strictly comply with Covid-19 prevention and control requirements before, during and after watching the Games," the committee continued.The announcement comes after Beijing reported its first case of the highly transmissible Omicron variant on January 15.Where are the venues?While the Chinese capital of Beijing is the official host city of the Games, venues are spread across three areas: Beijing, Yanqing -- a mountainous district 75 kilometers (about 46.6 miles) northwest of Beijing -- and Zhangjiakou, a skiing and snowboarding destination a further 100 kilometers (about 62.1 miles) beyond Yanqing.Of the 13 venues hosting events, one -- the National Speed Skating Oval -- has been newly built in Beijing, while existing venues have also been renovated for the Games.The Beijing National Stadium, commonly referred to as The Bird's Nest, will host the opening and closing ceremonies. Each of the three zones has its own Olympic Village, while all three are connected by a newly built, intercity railway. The National Aquatics Center (left) and the National Indoor Stadium (right) will both host events during the Winter Olympics. Who are the Olympic and Paralympic mascots?The mascot for the Winter Olympics is Bing Dwen Dwen -- a panda dressed in a full-body "shell" made out of ice -- and Shuey Rhon Rhon for the Paralympics, a Chinese lantern child. Bing Dwen Dwen (Bing means 'ice' in Mandarin Chinese, while Dwen Dwen means 'child') was chosen from over 5,800 submissions from around the world. The "shell" design enables the panda -- China's national animal -- to skate, snowboard and ski. Shuey Rhon Rhon (left) and Bing Dwen Dwen (right) are installed in Beijing on January 11.According to the Paralympic website, Shuey is the same pronunciation as the Chinese character for 'snow,' the first Rhon means 'to include, to tolerate,' and the second means 'to melt, fuse and warm.'What is the political controversy surrounding Beijing 2022?The US, Canada, Australia and the UK are among the countries to have announced diplomatic boycotts of the Winter Olympics.That means that athletes from those countries will still be able to compete in Beijing, but no government officials will be in attendance.In December, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that the boycott would serve as a "clear message" against China's "ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity in Xinjiang."According to the US State Department, up to two million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities are believed to have passed through detention centers in Xinjiang, which the Chinese government insists are "vocational training centers" aimed at poverty alleviation and combating religious extremism. JUST WATCHEDBob Costas shares personal story on Beijing's playbook of repressing criticismReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBob Costas shares personal story on Beijing's playbook of repressing criticism 02:48Following the announcement of the US diplomatic boycott, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said that the US should "stop politicizing sports and hyping up the so-called 'diplomatic boycott' so as not to affect China-US dialogue and cooperation in important areas." As for athletes, the controversies around the Games can present a moral dilemma. Last year, US skiing star Mikaela Shiffrin, a three-time Olympic medalist, told CNN that "you certainly don't want to be put in the position of having to choose between human rights, morality versus being able to do your job."Who are the athletes to watch?Shiffrin, who has recently returned to alpine skiing's World Cup circuit after contracting Covid-19, is set to be one of the most high-profile athletes in Beijing. At the last Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, she won gold in the giant slalom and silver in the alpine combined. Other familiar faces on the US team will include snowboarder Shaun White, who anticipates that this will be his last Olympics, 2018 halfpipe gold medalist Chloe Kim -- the youngest woman to win an Olympic gold in snowboarding -- and popular figure skater Nathan Chen.JUST WATCHEDChloe Kim looks for 2022 Olympics gloryReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHChloe Kim looks for 2022 Olympics glory 04:36Two-time figure skating gold medalist Yuzuru Hanyu from Japan will go up against Chen in his bid to win a third consecutive gold medal in the men's singles event. Mikael Kingsbury, the most decorated mogul skier of all time, will also be heading to Beijing to try and defend his title from 2018.China, not as dominant at the Winter Olympics compared to the Summer Games, won nine medals in 2018. Nathan Chen breaks short program record at US Figure Skating ChampionshipsAmong the host nation's best prospects of winning gold this time is American-born freestyle skier Eileen Gu, who won world championship titles in halfpipe and slopestyle last year.According to sports data company Gracenote, Norway -- whose athletes often excel in cross country skiing and biathlon -- is predicted to top the medal table with 45 medals ahead of the Russian Olympic Committee with 32, Germany with 25, and the USA and Canada with 22.Why is North Korea going to miss the Games?One country to have announced that it will not be sending athletes to Beijing is North Korea. According to state-run news agency KCNA, a letter sent from North Korea's Olympic Committee and Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports to its Chinese counterpart cited "hostile forces" and the worldwide pandemic as the reasons for its non-participation, accusing the United States and its allies of trying to prevent the successful opening of the Olympics.The US and its allies are getting "evermore undisguised in their moves against China aimed at preventing the successful opening of the Olympics," the letter, which did not explicitly cite diplomatic boycotts, said. Last year, the IOC suspended the North Korean Olympic Committee until the end of 2022 as part of its punishment for its "unilateral decision" to drop out of the Tokyo Olympics, effectively barring the country from formally competing in Beijing. The IOC said at the time that if any North Korean athletes were to qualify for the Winter Olympics through processes already taking place, it "will take an appropriate decision in due course for the athlete(s) concerned."North Korean athletes did compete at the 2018 Games, with athletes from the North and South marching together under one flag at the Opening Ceremony. A North Korean delegation was also sent to South Korea during the Games. CNN's Nectar Gan contributed reporting to this piece.
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'Ground zero' China's stock crash up close - CNN
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Story highlightsDesperation and resignation in Shanghai, China's financial capitalEveryone in city talking about massive stock market lossesCrowds at brokerage firms in no mood for jokesShanghai (CNN)Our mission: Reporting the wild swings of China's stock markets from "ground zero." And it didn't take long for me to sense the mixed feelings of desperation and resignation upon arrival in Shanghai, China's largest metropolis and business capital. It also happens to be the site of the country's main stock exchange -- and my hometown.More than anywhere else in China, I know this city is where money reigns supreme. While Beijing taxi drivers are often well-versed in the latest political gossip, cabbies in Shanghai listen to financial updates on their radios.Read MoreREAD: China stocks bounce back from brinkEverywhere I turn, I hear people talking about the Chinese stock market losses -- more than $3 trillion in the past three weeks: My long-retired 92-year-old grandfather, the three middle-aged women seated at the table next to ours in a Cantonese restaurant, and the public relations manager at a business school where we filmed -- and she's from Jamaica.JUST WATCHEDHas China's economic bubble burst?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHas China's economic bubble burst? 01:57I also notice an explosion of stock-related posts and comments in my Chinese social media feeds. Former high school classmates who usually show off their baking accomplishments have switched their focus to the bitter taste that free falling stock prices have left in their mouth -- adding a dash of black humor."More than 1,000 companies have suspended trading and the state won't have to save the market in a few days -- no buying, no hurting," quipped one of them online.READ: What stock market's wild ride means for China's leadersNo mood for jokesThe elderly crowd that gathered outside the Shenwan Hongyuan Securities brokerage firm near People's Square was in no mood for any jokes. Postmortem: Elderly investors trade opinions on the stock markets at a brokerage house in downtown Shanghai after another major sell-off on Wednesday. Like many other small-time investors, they often spend their entire day trading stocks -- as well as financial rumors and political commentaries -- in this dimly lit place.After the closing bell Wednesday, another major sell-off day, the big board was bleeding green -- not a good thing in China, where red is an auspicious color. Here, the usual color-coding in stock prices is reversed: red means up and green indicates down.JUST WATCHEDTeenager making money in volatile Chinese marketReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTeenager making money in volatile Chinese market 02:45Several men gave thumbs down to show their displeasure with the latest numbers. Others loudly complained about the depressing developments -- comparing their daily investment routine to "psychological warfare" -- until they saw our camera."We can't talk to foreign reporters about this topic -- it's way too sensitive," one man wearing a baseball cap whispered in my ear. "They're going to arrest me for doing that."Just moments earlier, he was describing the wiping out of his savings and fights with his wife over his investments."It's impossible for the market to bounce back any time soon," he said. "This is like the eight-year war against the Japanese. It may take eight years for the market to turn around.""This is not like stock markets in other countries -- this isn't a real market," said an old man in a white shirt. "Our stock market is purely based on government adjustments. When they want it to go up, it goes up. When they want it to go down, it goes down."For the first time, though, that very visible hand of the government seems to be slow to work its usual magic -- despite a series of quickly announced measures aimed at propping up the plummeting stock markets. READ: Five things to know about China's market meltdownRemarkable turnIt's been a remarkable turn of events. For months, state media controlled by the ruling Communist Party had been cheering a months-long bull run -- making Shanghai the world's best performing market -- and encouraging people to invest in stocks amid skyrocketing share prices.Small window to a big story: Our live shot location on the balcony of our hotel room belies the global impact of the Chinese market news we report form here. The skyline backdrop includes the partially visible 632-meter Shanghai Tower.As I listened to more venting outside the brokerage house in downtown Shanghai, it dawned on me that the city's name is also a verb -- to shanghai someone is to make him do something by using tricks -- and that was certainly the sentiment among many here.As night fell, we stopped by at the city's iconic riverfront, the Bund, to film its famed skylines. On one side, art deco buildings constructed almost a century ago remind visitors of Shanghai's status as global financial center in the 1920s and 1930s. Across the Huangpu River, futuristic skyscrapers -- long a symbol of the city's soaring ambition to regain its former glory -- disappeared into the cloudy sky. As their reflections glistened in the dark water, journalists and investors alike wondered about the ripple effects -- financial and even political -- of the volatile stock markets in the world's second-largest economy.
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China one-child policy: First generation looks back - CNN
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Story highlightsCNN's Steven Jiang grew up as a member of the first generation of China's one-child policyHe says he didn't question the strict policy until he began covering an activist opposed to itChina's leaders hope to combat problems of aging society and economic slowdown, he saysBeijing (CNN)Growing up in Shanghai in the 1980s, I never thought much of the fact that most of my classmates were only children.Years later I realized that I belonged to the first generation of China's strict one-child family planning policy, which started in the late 1970s and remained largely intact until the ruling Communist Party decided to scrap it Thursday to allow married couples nationwide to have two children.READ: China one-child policy to endMy classmates and I all lived close to school -- in narrow alleyways lined with three-story houses, each with multiple families packed in. We studied and played together all the time -- none experiencing the loneliness that later generations of the single-child policy were said to suffer in high-rise apartments.CNN's Steven Jiang aged about 2 with his mom and dad, Jane Zhang and Zhaorong Jiang.It was a simpler time when almost everyone in China -- even in its biggest city -- was equally poor. Our parents looked way too preoccupied with juggling full-time jobs and full-time parenting to contemplate what life would be like with one more child.Read MoreWe learned early on in our political education class that "one couple, one child" was a "fundamental national policy." Most of us bought the party line -- not just to pass the required exams -- that millions of prevented births helped China develop its economy and improve its people's living standard. CNN's Steven Jiang, aged 6 in a school photo in 1982. Most of his classmates were also only children. He is front row, third from left.To many Chinese of my age who grew up in the cities, the one-child policy was just the way it was, and everyone seemed to be fine with it.It was much later in the United States that I began to stumble upon horror stories blamed on the policy -- forced abortions and sterilizations, exorbitant fines slapped on violators and demolition of their homes.READ: Why the policy update is no silver bullet for economyAfter I started covering this issue as a journalist, one person more than anyone helped me put a face on the controversies surrounding the policy.Chen Guangcheng was a blind human rights activist whose dramatic escape from 18 months of illegal house arrest in the Chinese countryside threw him -- and his cause -- into an international spotlight. His supporters maintain his longtime legal advocacy for victims of brutal enforcement of the one-child policy by rural officials had led to his persecution and earlier imprisonment.JUST WATCHEDChina ends one-child policyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHChina ends one-child policy 04:01As I followed Chen from his village to Beijing and eventually the United States, his stories kept reminding me of the dark side of a policy that the party still credits for the country's breakneck economic growth in the past three decades."One child or two children -- the Communist Party has no rights to decide how many children people want to have," Chen said from Washington, where he now lives, his voice showing no trace of joy about the end of a policy against which he had fought so hard."From the central government all the way to the village level, do you know how many family planning officials the system employs?" he asked rhetorically. "They reap huge economic benefits from the brutal enforcement of this or any policy," he added. "Too much entrenched interest -- that's why the party won't scrap the entire family planning system."JUST WATCHEDWhat you need to know about China's one-child policyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhat you need to know about China's one-child policy 01:50One thing Chen seems to agree with the Communist Party is that China is facing a double whammy of labor shortage and aging society amid an economic slowdown. The activist said he thinks the new policy is "too little, too late," but the leaders are banking on it to address both of those challenges.They tested it two years ago by allowing some couples -- if at least one of the spouses is a single child -- to have two children. By officials' own admission in state media, however, their target audience -- middle-class urbanites -- largely failed to respond, citing the high cost of pregnancy and child rearing.That picture doesn't seem to have changed much, rendering the immediate impact of the latest policy change minimal. JUST WATCHEDSachs on China's growthReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSachs on China's growth 05:04My cousin Terry, a media executive in his early 30s living in Beijing with his civil servant wife and 6-year-old son, posted a screen grab of my CNN report on WeChat, a popular Chinese social media platform. Above the picture, he wrote: "Bro, even if what you said is true, I can't afford to have a second one!"READ: The big winner from China's two-child policy is ...But the party can't afford to let China get old before getting rich.As the curtain falls on the one-child policy in China, I wonder just a little what it would be like to have a sibling.READ: China's one-child policy ends -- too little, too late?
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China's 2015: Fighting corruption, tightening grip - CNN
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Story highlightsChinese president Xi Jinping's New Year speech highlighted economic growth and rising living standards in 20142014 has seen Xi take down 3 top officials in China's fight against corruption: Zhou Yongkang, Xu Caihou and Liu ZhijunHe's also taking aim at "vulgar" art and entertainment, with cleavage censored in a hit TV show.Xi and other top officials acknowledged the prospect of slower economic growth in 2015Beijing, China (CNN)As New Year's Eve messages go, Xi Jinping's speech on national television was almost pitch-perfect.Highlighting continued economic growth and rising living standard in 2014, the Chinese president -- entering the third year into his expected decade-long reign -- said he wanted to "click the 'like' button" for the country's 1.3 billion citizens, whose "support for officials at all levels" made such achievements possible.Xi -- who also heads the ruling Communist Party as well as the world's largest standing army -- promised deeper reform and the rule of law in the coming year, comparing them to "a bird's two wings."The 10-minute prerecorded address ended on an appeal for world peace. While he hit all the right notes, Xi saved the most dramatic metaphors for his massive anti-corruption campaign.JUST WATCHEDFormer official arrested for corruptionReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFormer official arrested for corruption 02:12The 61-year-old leader, considered China's most powerful in decades, reiterated his "zero-tolerance" stance, vowing to keep "waving high the sword against corruption" and "fastening the cage of regulations."Read MoreFor a nation still largely ruled from behind closed doors, however, official pronouncements after a series of year-end leadership meetings have offered better clues on Xi's ambitions and priorities in 2015.Corruption fightIn the last week of December, Xi presided over the gathering of the 25-member Politburo, the Communist Party's elite decision-making body."Organizing cliques within the Party to run personal businesses is absolutely not tolerated," read a statement issued after the meeting, while acknowledging the challenges in the ongoing fight against corruption, a lightning rod for mass discontent.The past year has certainly seen Xi break some powerful cliques involving an intricate web of officials, cronies and tycoons as well as billions of dollars worth of bribes and deals.JUST WATCHEDOn China: Tigers and fliesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHOn China: Tigers and flies 01:52He took down former domestic security czar Zhou Yongkang, likely soon to become the most senior Chinese official ever to face corruption charges; General Xu Caihou, once the military's second-in-command; and Ling Jihua, a top aide to ex-President Hu Jintao. State media have touted them as the three biggest "tigers" caught in Xi's now two-year-old anti-graft campaign, with a stated goal of targeting both "tigers and flies" -- high- and low-ranking officials.While applauded by many ordinary citizens, Xi's ever-wider dragnet has also attracted increasing scrutiny."The question remains to be whether Xi is taking a page from Chairman Mao," said longtime political analyst Willy Lam with the Chinese University of Hong Kong, noting the three fallen leaders were all considered to be Xi's political opponents. "Starting with Mao, corruption has been used to take down enemies of the more powerful faction."For the sake of stability within the Party, Lam predicted a moratorium on the hunt for "big tigers" -- anyone in the rank of a Politburo member and above -- in the next few years.READ MORE: Swatting flies? Beijing's fight to root out corruptionSustainable developmentOther observers even detect the anti-corruption campaign's ominous effect on the economy, the world's second largest."China's economic success had relied on some very capable people, who also happened to be corrupt because of the system," said economist Mao Yushi, one of the country's leading liberal voices.He pointed to the example of former railway minister Liu Zhijun, who was often credited with turning the country's high-speed rail network from nonexistent to the world's largest in a few years. Liu received a suspended death sentence in 2013 for corruption and abuse of power."Now we're getting rid of all of them," Mao added. "The new reality is that officials don't want kickbacks but also feel no incentive to get anything done."JUST WATCHEDWhat in the World: China's economic bubbleReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWhat in the World: China's economic bubble 03:37During a three-day economic policy meeting in early December, Xi and other top officials acknowledged the prospect of slower growth in 2015 -- probably still at an enviable rate of 7%, though, according to most analysts. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to more sustainable development, including more "green" growth -- shortly before promulgating the country's toughest environmental laws in 25 years."The central government finally has the political will to address environmental issues thanks to public awareness of the smog problem," said Ma Jun, a leading environmentalist who directs the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs in Beijing.Welcoming the new law, Ma voiced his lingering concern: "Weak enforcement has long been a big problem in China."READ MORE: Xi Jinping's push to add 'chilli pepper' to China's anti-corruption driveMaster of the nation"The rule of law" has become an unlikely catchphrase in state media since late October, when the Communist leadership made it the theme of a major meeting, and declared the importance of upholding the Constitution that enshrines the respect for human rights."Only if the Communist Party rules the country in line with the law, will people's rights as the master of the nation be realized," read a communiqué released after the gathering known as the Fourth Plenum."It's the rule of law with Chinese characteristics," said Lam, the Hong Kong analyst, before pointing to the Communist Party agency in charge of corruption probes. "The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection is a powerful example of the Party operating outside the law -- the way it conducts its investigations." The big question in 2015 is: How will Xi use his new-found supreme power?Willy Lam, political analystThe existence of a secretive process -- based on Party regulations instead of laws -- faced by accused Communist officials has come to light in recent years, amid reports of suspicious deaths of detainees in Party investigators' custody.Several victims' families have told CNN and other media that their loved ones were subject to lengthy detention and torture for refusing to admit wrongdoings. "When the authorities don't play by the rules, nobody has freedom from fear -- I know I don't," said Mo Shaoping, a prominent Beijing lawyer known for defending politically sensitive cases involving dissidents and activists.His current clients include Gao Yu, a veteran journalist accused of leaking state secrets, and Pu Zhiqiang, a famous human rights lawyer who may soon face subversion charges. Both were detained by police last year around the time of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen crackdown."I feel obligated to take these cases despite greater government pressure and personal risk," Mo said. "The rule of law is reflected in individual cases -- that's why every case matters."READ MORE: The Xi Jinping cipher: Reformer or a 'dictator?'Art serving socialismLawyers are not the only group feeling the squeeze from the authorities.One of the hottest topics across Chinese cyberspace so far in 2015 has been the case of vanishing cleavage in a hit television show called "The Empress of China."Reflecting aesthetics in seventh century Tang dynasty, the historical drama -- depicting the life of the only woman who ruled China in her own right -- had featured ample female bosoms before being suddenly pulled off air in late December.When the series returned to air on New Year's Day, viewers nationwide noticed crudely edited scenes, in which women were only shown in close-up shots to avoid revealing their chests.The show's creators probably should have seen this coming, though, after Xi addressed a delegation of actors, dancers and writers in Beijing last October.Underscoring the need for art to serve socialism and foster correct worldviews, the president told the artists not to pursue commercial success at the expense of producing work with moral values. JUST WATCHEDXi borrows from Mao playbookReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHXi borrows from Mao playbook 03:04"Popularity should not necessitate vulgarity," Xi said. "Pure sensual entertainment does not equate spiritual elation." "Anybody associated with thought work or ideology or the image of China -- everything is being squeezed or tightened or limited," said Jeremy Goldkorn, a leading commentator on China's media landscape. "I think this is connected to Xi's idea of the new normal," he added. "These things are going to go on, not just a cyclical campaign -- whether it's anti-corruption or tightening up on media, ideological issues."Already, signs were plenty throughout last year: universities and state-run think tanks warned to toe the Party line in their teaching and research, civil rights groups forced to cancel most public events, and Google's popular Gmail service completely blocked in China.All the worrying developments have only confirmed some observers' grim view on Xi's signature political campaign."Fighting corruption is necessary," offered economist Mao. "But it's a complex issue related to income, education, freedom of speech and the rule of law. Without fundamental changes in these areas, the campaign won't succeed in the long run.""There were expectations that once he consolidated power, he would launch far-reaching reforms -- but the past two years has not been encouraging," said analyst Lam. "The big question in 2015 is: How will Xi use his new-found supreme power?"READ MORE: Xi Jinping's success so far: Taking control by following Deng Xiaoping
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Why is a documentary on smog taking China by storm? - CNN
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Story highlightsTwo-hour documentary on China's air pollution goes viralDocumentary shot by former TV anchor after birth of childFilm generated ferocious debate, took censors by surpriseBeijing (CNN)If you live in China and haven't watched -- or at least heard about -- "Under the Dome," you must have been living under a rock.The almost two-hour documentary on air pollution in China produced by a famous TV journalist has quickly gone viral since its online release Saturday, clocking millions of views on various video sites and stirring ferocious debates across Chinese cyberspace.The air pollution that's choking AsiaHere are five things to know to put the phenomenon in context: Read More1. Overnight sensationThe slickly produced video shows journalist Chai Jing presenting a comprehensive slide show, intercutting with fast-paced footage of her travels across China and the rest of world, to find answers to three questions: What is smog, where does it come from and what can be done to tackle it?Chai Jing As shocking levels of air pollution continue to choke much of China regularly, the video has struck such a chord with the audience that, in two short days, it's easily attracted over 100 million views -- a hugely impressive number even in the world's most populous nation.Many Internet users have compared it to "An Inconvenient Truth," the Oscar-winning documentary on former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's effort to raise awareness on the dangers of global warming.2. 'Goddess' 2.0 Chai, 39, was already a household name before last weekend thanks to her career at China Central Television, the state-run national broadcaster.JUST WATCHEDPollution causing expats to leave ChinaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPollution causing expats to leave China 02:01 As a long-time CCTV anchor and investigative reporter, Chai stood out from her peers by covering sensitive topics -- ranging from the environment to homosexuality -- in a country where many journalists at state media stay away from such potential landmines.Her choice of stories and style of reporting -- calm but tenacious -- have earned her legions of fans nationwide -- with some nicknaming her "the Goddess" for her elegance and intelligence on air. Plenty of detractors, however, consider her a leading elitist voice for the country's liberal intellectuals.After writing a best-selling autobiography chronicling her time at CCTV, Chai quit her job last year to take care of her daughter, who had been born with a tumor. 3. Noble cause... Declaring a personal war against smog as a worried mother, Chai tries to dig deep in her self-funded documentary. With her former CCTV connections opening doors, she followed and interviewed top environmental and energy officials and experts in China -- and received surprisingly candid responses.JUST WATCHEDChinese school builds clean air domeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHChinese school builds clean air dome 02:32 While there is no obvious hero in the video, the villain seems to be clear. A former chief engineer of the state-owned oil conglomerate Sinopec brushes off Chai's suggestion that his powerful industry -- which oversees pollution standards for itself and has rendered environmental authorities toothless -- should become more socially responsible. Tracing the main source of tiny and dangerous pollutants in China to extremely inefficient energy exploration and use, Chai sees the solution in dismantling entrenched interests of the state energy sector -- and also appeals to the public for less reliance on cars and more proactive reporting of polluters.Admiration from celebrity and ordinary viewers -- many said to be moved to tears -- poured in almost immediately. In countless reposts of the video links, people praise Chai for her courage to address the sensitive topic head on and spread the knowledge to the masses. 4. ...or pure politics? One text message of gratitude to Chai from the new minister of environmental protection -- who had been appointed only a day earlier -- has fueled suspicion among her critics that the video was nothing more than a government PR move.They point to the positive coverage of the video's massive online launch across state media, including an in-depth interview with Chai on the website of People's Daily, the ruling Communist Party's official newspaper.Also, the timing: The video was released just days ahead of China's annual parliament session, during which legislators are expected to rubber-stamp the Communist leadership's policy agenda. President Xi Jinping had declared keeping the sky blue in the country as a top priority.Some argue that the energy industry makes a convenient political target, as Xi's ongoing anti-corruption campaign had netted a former senior leader whose power bases included the state oil sector. Others even see the video as propaganda to prepare people for mass layoffs in overbuilt and inefficient state industries as the government restructures the economy. 5. The bottom lineQuestions have also arisen on the science in the video -- including Chai's apparent linking smog to her baby daughter's tumor.And the cacophony surrounding it seems to have caught even China's seasoned censors off guard. Heated arguments have raged online, including blaming pollution on China's political system due to its lack of accountability. By late Sunday night, although the video remained online, all mention of it had been scrubbed from homepages of web portals and news sites.With discussions on the video shifting to social media, a common consensus seems to have emerged: Love it or hate it, Chai's documentary has stirred an important debate in a country where authorities censored air pollution data from the U.S. embassy as recently as November.Some internet users have compared "Under the Dome" phenomena to the discussion over "the dress"— you can fight over the color but what's important is that it's being talked about.
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US Embassy in China asks State Department to let diplomats leave over Covid restrictions - CNN
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Beijing (CNN)The US diplomatic mission in China has formally requested the State Department grant American diplomats "authorized departure," allowing them and their families to leave the country amid increasingly strict Covid-19 containment measures, according to two sources familiar with the matter.The request has not yet been approved by the State Department, according to the sources, who spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity. An "authorized departure" gives employees and families in the United States embassy and consulates the option to leave China for a period of time until they feel safe to return, but is not a mandatory evacuation under an "ordered departure."China is one of the few places in the world still adhering to a zero-Covid strategy, in which it aims to stamp out all cases within its borders.Since the arrival of Omicron, authorities have seen several outbreaks across the country, prompting local officials to implement mass testing, strict lockdowns, contact tracing and new restrictions on movement. In some cities, people caught in snap lockdowns have been forced to spend days in office buildings and shopping malls until everybody inside tested negative.Read MoreA US diplomatic source familiar with the discussions told CNN the request was made after several diplomats and their families expressed fears over China's tightening anti-Covid measures in recent months, including snap lockdowns and quarantines that could potentially separate underage children from parents.Currently, the US diplomatic mission in China has an agreement with the Chinese Foreign Ministry to allow parents to stay with minor children in case of quarantine. However, there is growing concern China's national health agency could potentially override that agreement.A video of a 4-year-old child infected with Covid-19, separated from his parents and placed into quarantine alone in the city of Putian, went viral last September -- highlighting the human cost of China's stringent pandemic measures.While there have been no incidents of diplomats being separated from their children, the diplomatic source said US officials in China fear that could change amid the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant, which could strain the country's health care system and hospitals. Beijing locks down office building with workers still inside after single Omicron case detected"People are not scared of getting sick," the diplomatic source said. "What has people spooked is that Omicron is more contagious and if it were to spike in the way we've seen in other countries, it could lead to even stricter and more unpredictable measures here."We are not questioning China's safety in containing Covid, but we do want to prevent people from being thrown into the system should it become overrun."On Wednesday, the Chinese government expressed "serious concern and dissatisfaction" over the US embassy's request and questioned the logic behind the decision."China's epidemic control and prevention measures are precise and scientific," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said at a regular news briefing in Beijing. "They are effective and have protected foreign citizens in China.""China is undoubtedly the safest country in the world right now," he added. "Evacuating from the safest place will only greatly increase the risk of those US personnel getting infected."The move comes less than two weeks before Beijing is due to host the Winter Olympics, with thousands of athletes and support staff confined in a "bubble" designed to keep them separated from the rest of the capital. The US and several other countries have announced a diplomatic boycott of the Games, meaning they will not send government officials to attend, in protest of the alleged human rights abuses in China's western region of Xinjiang.As of Wednesday, 10 cities in China have reported local Omicron cases, including Shanghai and Beijing. Since the start of the month, 42 people entering the Beijing Olympics bubble, referred to by officials as a "closed loop," have tested positive -- including four Games-related personnel who were already inside the loop, officials said on Wednesday. It's not clear whether they were recent arrivals or if any local transmission occurred within the closed loop. A State Department spokesperson said the operating status at US Mission in China has not changed."Any change in operating status of this nature would be predicated solely on the health, safety, and security of our colleagues and their family members," the spokesperson added.If approved, US Mission China expects roughly 10% to 15% of its approximate 1,000 personnel will leave the country, according to internal polling conducted by the embassy in Beijing, the diplomatic source told CNN. Beijing's Olympic 'bubble' will be the most ambitious Covid quarantine ever attempted. Will it work?This estimate does not include family members. Staff and families would be allowed to depart on commercial airlines. Chinese state media, meanwhile, has fumed at news of the "authorized departure" request, accusing the US embassy of "ill intention" and linking it to what it calls a "string of provocations made by the US recently to destroy the Beijing Winter Olympic Games" -- such as the diplomatic boycott announced by Washington."Dirty trick again!" screamed a headline in the Global Times, a state-run nationalist tabloid on Wednesday. "Its purpose is not about concerns over coronavirus but more about making public panic, smear China's achievements in fighting the pandemic, and disturb the Beijing Winter Olympic Games," the report said."What the US wants is when you are preparing for a happy occasion, it is purposely making chaos," a Chinese analyst was cited as saying.The last time US diplomats left China due to Covid was during the initial outbreak in Wuhan, when the State Department issued an "ordered departure" to diplomats and their families. The new US Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, was sworn in on Tuesday. He is expected to take up the post in the coming months, but his arrival could be delayed due to the recent Covid outbreak, the diplomatic source told CNN.
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Shenyang, China explosion: At least 3 killed, more than 30 injured in blast in northeastern city - CNN
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Beijing (CNN)At least three people were killed and more than 30 injured in a powerful explosion at a restaurant in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang on Thursday morning, according to local authorities.The gas explosion took place in a mixed-use residential and commercial building, authorities said in a statement. All the injured have been sent to hospitals, the statement added. Officials are still investigating the cause of the blast.The explosion tore the walls of a mixed-use
residential and commercial building.Search and rescue efforts are ongoing with 25 fire trucks and 110 firefighters deployed to the site as of late Thursday morning, the local fire department said.Photos and videos reportedly taken at the blast site -- posted by witnesses and carried widely by state media outlets -- show a concrete skeleton is all that was left of the building; windows of nearby buildings were shattered, vehicles damaged, and streets covered in debris. pic.twitter.com/tj2ecTQNA7— 大凯说 (@Booklove778) October 21, 2021
Read MoreThe explosion was captured in a dashcam video widely shared on social media. Following the blast, a cloud of dust enveloped the street and debris rained down from buildings, sending bystanders fleeing.CNN cannot independently confirm the authenticity of the images and footage.Shenyang, home to more than 9 million people, is the capital of Liaoning province.In June, a gas explosion at a market in central China killed 25 people and injured more than 130.This is a developing story.
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HNA Group chairman and CEO Chen Feng and Tan Xiangdong taken by police in China - CNN
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Beijing / Hong Kong (CNN Business)HNA Group Chairman Chen Feng and CEO Tan Xiangdong have been detained by Chinese police, according to the company.In a brief statement on Friday, the embattled conglomerate said that the two executives had been "placed under compulsory measures" by Hainan provincial police for suspected criminal offenses.It did not specify which laws were suspected to have been broken. In China's legal system, "compulsory measures" by the police usually precede formal arrests.The HNA CEO, also known as Adam Tan, was listed as a US citizen in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in November 2018. The US Embassy in Beijing declined to comment.Once known for its aggressive deal-making, HNA Group went bankrupt earlier this year. The news marked a dramatic fall for one of the most important players in China's private sector.Read MoreIn the statement posted on social media Friday, HNA said that the firm and its subsidiaries were "operating in a stable and orderly manner, with restructuring work moving forward in accordance with the law." "Business operations have not been affected in any way," it added.News of Tan's detention came the same day it was announced that Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou had reached an agreement with the US Department of Justice and was allowed to return home from Canada, where she had spent almost three years under house arrest.Asked about the HNA executive at a media briefing on Monday, a spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry said she wasn't aware of either Tan or his case. HNA Group CEO Tan Xiangdong attending a conference in Beijing in November 2017.HNA began as an airline more than two decades ago, but grew rapidly into other lines of business over the years through overseas acquisitions, as well as investments in real estate and finance.Starting in 2015, the group embarked on a $40 billion shopping spree that included investments in Hilton (HLT) and Deutsche Bank (DB). By the end of 2017, HNA's assets topped 1.2 trillion yuan ($186 billion).But those acquisitions were built on a mountain of debt, which hit 707 billion yuan ($110 billion) by June 2019. The company's woes were exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, and in February 2020, government officials in Hainan took control. HNA once wanted to rule the world. Now it faces bankruptcyAt the request of the company, authorities in the province established a "working group" with other agencies in a bid to solve the company's financial crisis.News of the executives' troubles this week comes as another major Chinese business is facing the spotlight for its own debt crisis.For weeks, investors have been waiting to find out what will happen to Chinese conglomerate Evergrande, with global markets swayed by fears of contagion.The property developer is facing a massive cash crunch, which is seen as a major test for Beijing. Some analysts fear it could even turn into China's Lehman Brothers moment, sending shockwaves across the world's second biggest economy.5 things to know about the Evergrande crisis: A simple breakdownChina is also in the midst of a sweeping crackdown on its private sector, with targets ranging from tech to finance.However, even state-owned entities have not been immune. Those behemoths, along with other government entities, appear to be the latest targets in Beijing's growing scrutiny of the financial sector. On Sunday, the country's top anti-graft official called for "thorough disciplinary inspection of financial institutions," according to state-run news agency Xinhua.The outlet said that Zhao Leji, a top politician and member of the Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee, had urged financial institutions to take action to better meet the needs of ordinary people, and avoid systemic financial risks.A new round of inspection has been approved by the ruling Communist Party's anti-corruption watchdog, which will conduct checks of party organizations in 25 financial institutions, according to the report by Xinhua, which was also posted on a government website.In China, it is common for major companies to form internal organizations to ensure their companies are staying in line with the Party.The institutions facing scrutiny include the country's central bank, top financial regulators, the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the so-called "Big Four" state banks.— CNN's Beijing bureau, Laura He and Jill Disis contributed to this report.
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China CCP 100th anniversary: Foreign countries that 'bully' China will meet a 'great wall of steel,' says Xi - CNN
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Beijing (CNN)China's rise is a "historical inevitability" and it will no longer be "bullied, oppressed or subjugated" by foreign countries, its leader, Xi Jinping, said Thursday during an event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. "Anyone who dares to try, will find their heads bashed bloody against a great wall of steel forged by over 1.4 billion Chinese people," added Xi, in comments that later appeared to be softened in the government's own English language translation.Speaking in front of a reported crowd of 70,000 at a highly-choreographed ceremony in Tiananmen Square, Xi delivered a strongly nationalist speech in which he claimed that only the party could ensure China's continued stability, and any attempt to divide it from the country would fail. "Without the Communist Party, there will be no new China," Xi said to thundering applause and cheers.The President's speech capped an occasionally rainy morning of celebrations in the capital to mark the party's centenary, including patriotic songs, speeches from officials and flyovers by the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Chinese President and party leader Xi Jinping delivers a speech at a ceremony marking the centenary of the ruling Communist Party in Beijing, China, on July 1.One-party ruleRead MoreThe Chinese Communist Party was founded in secret in a small brick house in Shanghai's former French Concession by around a dozen delegates, in July 1921. Its subsequent rise and continued monopoly on power has confounded its critics, with the party proving itself adept at changing at crucial moments to ensure the survival of its authoritarian one-party rule. Under its founder and former chairman, Mao Zedong, millions starved to death during protracted periods of famine and political crisis. Today, China is the world's second-largest economy, with some estimates suggesting it is poised to overtake the United States.However, Thursday's celebrations follow a turbulent two years for the unelected party, marked by its perceived mishandling of the initial Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan in December 2019, growing international outrage over alleged human rights abuses in Xinjiang and the rise and later suppression of large scale pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.Numerous challenges also lie ahead, from a slowing economy, an aging population and a shrinking workforce, to an increasingly united democratic West that is determined to counter China's rise.Speaking on Thursday, Xi, arguably the country's most powerful leader since Mao, announced the party had accomplished its centenary goal of creating a "moderately prosperous society" in China. "We are now marching in confident strides toward the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects," Xi said.In his keynote speech, the Chinese leader didn't just focus on the past, but instead looked to the next generation of the Communist Party, appealing to young people to "live up to the expectations of the times."Young people should take the "realization of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as their own responsibility, strengthen their ambition, backbone, and confidence in being Chinese," Xi said. Great rejuvenation is an oft-used propaganda term to describe China's assent under the party's stewardship. Leaning into the theme, Xi said that only under the party's continued leadership could the country fulfill its "Chinese Dream of great national rejuvenation."Chinese students from a choir perform during the celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party at Tiananmen Square on July 1 in Beijing, China.'Sanctimonious preaching'In a continuation of his hardline foreign policy, Xi said while China would welcome "helpful suggestions" from other governments, it would not accept "sanctimonious preaching."On the subject of Taiwan, the self-governed democratic island that the Chinese government has long maintained is part of its territory, Xi said its "reunification" with the mainland was part of the "historic mission" of the Communist Party.The Chinese leader also vowed to "utterly defeat" Taiwan "independence." In the past, Xi has refused to rule out the use of force in his efforts to "reunite" Taiwan and the mainland and although he didn't make similar threats in Thursday's speech, the Chinese leader did call for the country's armed forces to be elevated to "world-class standards.""We must accelerate the modernization of national defense and the armed forces," Xi said.In response to Xi's speech, Taipei said its resolve to protect the island's sovereignty and democracy remained "unwavering."And at a time when Hong Kong's civil liberties are increasingly under threat from new national security legislation passed by Beijing, Xi said Thursday that "social stability" must be maintained in the major financial hub, as well as China's "sovereignty (and) security."Hong Kong's annual July 1 pro-democracy protest march was canceled for the first time in 18 years on Thursday, and thousands of police patrolled the streets of the city to watch for any signs of dissent."No one should underestimate the great resolve, the strong will, and the extraordinary ability of the Chinese people to defend their national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Xi said.
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As China's Communist Party turns 100, its members' 'red genes' matter more than ever to Beijing - CNN
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Yan'an, China (CNN)For a decidedly atheist political organization, China's ruling Communist Party is fond of talking about its origins in religious terms.In party literature and state media, former revolutionary bases are labeled "holy sites," and the almost obligatory visits to such locations by the rank and file are meant to "baptize" members in the Communist "faith.""Mao once said that the people are our God," Wang Dongcang, a professor at the Communist Party's China Executive Leadership Academy in Yan'an said on May 11. "We believe in leading the people to a better future."CNN joined more than two dozen international news outlets on a recent government-organized media tour of Yan'an and Xibaipo, two renowned "red sites" where the once-fledgling Communist Party grew in size and strength before emerging victorious from a bloody civil war to take control of mainland China in 1949.
As the Communist Party counts down to its 100th birthday in July, reinforcing the "red genes" of its 91 million members has become a top priority under Xi Jinping, the party's current head and the country's most-powerful leader since Mao Zedong, the founder of the People's Republic.Read MoreIn a series of quotes published recently by the party's official magazine, Xi called on members to "make good use of red resources, inherit red genes and pass on the red country from generation to generation." And "red sites" are assuming an increasingly pivotal, and lucrative, role in his campaign.In both Yan'an and Xibaipo, throngs of visitors -- some donning revolutionary attire -- crammed into former residences of Communist leaders, auditoriums for past party congresses and countless exhibition halls.Droves of party members re-took their admission oath -- "be ready at all times to sacrifice my all for the party and the people, and never betray the party" -- in ritualistic fashion, while schoolchildren received open-air lectures on why history chose the Communists to rule China.A cartoon character in Yan'an, a "red site" in northern Shaanxi province, which advertises a stage extravaganza on the Communist Party's early days.There's also big money in the growing popularity of "red tourism." In Yan'an alone, more than 73 million visitors flocked to the city of over 2 million residents in 2019. An airport has opened in the once economic backwater, which now features rows of new hotels and even a billboard advertising an upcoming Starbucks.At these "red sites," however, thornier subjects -- infighting and purges in the upper echelon, and ruthless mass political campaigns dating back to the party's early days -- are almost never touched on.Historians at the Communist Party's academy in Yan'an insist they don't skip the party's failures in their teaching, but quickly add that even the darkest chapters -- such as Mao's decade-long Cultural Revolution, which critics say resulted in millions of deaths -- should be seen through the prism of the party's "quest to build socialism" in China."Twists and turns in this quest are understandable," Professor He Hailun told reporters, echoing Xi's strong rejection of what the party considers attempts to discredit China's political system by focusing on the Communist leadership's past mistakes.Across all the sites we visited, a clear message emerged. China's rejuvenation owes itself to two strongman leaders: Mao and Xi. All others in between are barely mentioned.Asked if the propaganda around Xi contradicted measures put in place by the party after Mao's death in 1976 to avoid another personality cult, Wang, the Yan'an professor, suggested the Communist Party was like a peach -- it could only have one core."It'd be a mutation if a peach had two cores," he said.Red tourism has been growing in popularity in recent years.Around AsiaJapan's Naomi Osaka was fined $15,000 for skipping a media session after her straight set victory at the French Open. A team of Australian scientists discovered a curious "chocolate" tree frog in New Guinea.Hong Konger Tsang Yin-Hung became the fastest woman to scale Everest -- reaching the peak in less than 26 hours.Meanwhile in orbit over the Earth, a spacecraft carrying supplies, equipment and propellant successfully docked with China's under-construction space station Tianhe. The business of China: An old debate opens fresh woundsChina still can't quite figure out how to tame the global commodities boom.Now a decades-old interview between a controversial Chinese politician and a renowned American economist has ignited a debate about whether Beijing is partly to blame for the surging costs of steel, coal and other materials needed to fuel its infrastructure-led recovery plan.163.com, a major news website owned by NetEase, late Thursday published a 1988 conversation between former General Secretary Zhao Ziyang and Milton Friedman, the Nobel laureate who helped shape modern free market economics.In the text, Zhao told Friedman that China was having problems with inflation and asked for advice on how to forge ahead with free market reform.The website didn't explain why it is now publishing the conversation, which is already public outside China. But, to some, the timing was remarkable: Zhao was infamously purged from political leadership after opposing using force in the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown, which happened 32 years ago Friday. Zhao's name is usually considered taboo in China.The conversation on the privately owned news website attracted some 27,000 responses, debating the merits of a free-market, reformed approach to solving economic problems, compared to Beijing's often heavy-handed, top-down methods.That subject quickly turned on China's new environmental policies. Power outages across the country have inconvenienced millions in recent months, and commenters questioned whether Xi's dogged drive to go carbon neutral by 2060 was limiting their supply to energy.As commodity prices remain volatile and coal continues to be a lightning rod issue, the government has vowed to keep costs under control.On Monday, the government revealed that manufacturing activity in the country slowed a bit in May from a month ago amid surging costs for raw materials. How long that lasts remains to be seen.-- from CNN BusinessElephant troubleThe Chinese city of Yuxi, in southwestern Yunnan province, had some surprise visitors last week: a group of 15 wild Asian elephants, according to Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times."It was around 10 p.m. and I was still in my shop," local resident Jia told Global Times on Friday. "I heard some noise on the street, and I looked out -- wow, elephants!"The herd had marched for 40 days from their home habitat in Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, more than 400 kilometers (about 248 miles) south of Yuxi, according to local authorities. The herd included nine adults, three adolescents and three calves, reported state-run outlet Xinhua. Their trek is unusual given the scarcity of food for elephants north of their usual habitat, ecologists say -- but a major reason could be environmental degradation and habitat loss. The last few decades have seen the Asian elephant population nearly double since 1976, while many forests have been replaced by human settlements and farmland. The traditional migration corridor for elephants has been cut off, fragmenting and isolating herds in ever-shrinking plots of land.This means many elephants are forced to forage for food in agricultural areas instead, leading to a rise in human-elephant conflict in the last 10 years. Nearby residents report having their crops eaten, houses damaged, and even livestock like cows attacked. Authorities said on Friday they were working to gradually return the herd to their original habitat, with a police escort and 228 vehicles deployed to facilitate the journey.But the only way to prevent a future elephant exodus is to restore their habitats and protect natural resources, said Zhang Li, a wildlife biologist and professor at Beijing Normal University, according to Global Times. "The traditional buffer zones between humans and elephants are gradually disappearing, and the chances of elephants' encountering humans naturally increase greatly," Zhang said. Quoted and noted"Australian media's attempts to drive a wedge between China and New Zealand may be a reflection of their despair toward the prospects of China-Australia trade."-- The state-run tabloid Global Times criticized a controversial 60 Minutes Australia episode that accused New Zealand of ditching its relationship with Australia for a "fast Chinese buck."
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Novak Djokovic has left Australia but questions remain over the rules that shut him out - CNN
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Brisbane, Australia (CNN)The Australian Open tennis tournament began on Monday without the world's top men's player, who departed the night before in a cloud of government suspicion that he could incite the country's anti-vaxxers.Novak Djokovic arrived back in Belgrade, Serbia after losing a court challenge against the Australian government's decision to cancel his visa on public health and order grounds.Under Australian law, Djokovic can be banned from the country for three years, though Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews hasn't ruled out an exemption. "Any application will be reviewed on its merits," she said.Australia is not alone in banning entry to unvaccinated travelers who are unable to prove why they can't be inoculated, but it's the first to take on such a high-profile target. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government was protecting the sacrifices Australians made during the pandemic. But he was also partly protecting his own prospects ahead of a forthcoming federal election.Read MoreThe Australian government has promoted vaccination as a way out of the pandemic -- and more than 92% of people over the age of 16 are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.After Sunday's hearing the government cast Djokovic's ejection as a triumph for ordinary Australians over non-citizens who try to flout the rules. "The idea that someone could come and not follow those rules was just not on," Morrison told local radio Monday.But some lawyers say the government's decision to bar entry to someone who they fear might pose a risk sets a "dangerous precedent" by banning people because of their past comments or an assumption that they plan to cause trouble.Meanwhile, refugee advocates fear Djokovic's departure will take the attention away from the people still living with consequences of the government's immigration policies -- the refugees inside the detention facility where he stayed.A superstar in detention Australia was among the first countries to shut its borders in March 2020 as Covid spread.Many Australian citizens were locked out by flight caps on passengers, as a procession of celebrities somehow found a way in. As the country started reopening in December, new rules were imposed requiring all new arrivals to be double vaccinated -- unless they had a valid medical exemption.So when Djokovic landed in Melbourne on January 5 and claimed he couldn't be vaccinated due to a past Covid-19 infection, Australian Border Force officers were quick to act. Perhaps too quick, because days later a judge ruled the Serb hadn't been given enough time to consult his lawyers and ordered his visa to be reinstated.Under Australian law, medical exemptions are only given to people who can prove they've suffered anaphylaxis after a previous dose, or any component of a vaccine, or are significantly immunocompromised. Djovokic didn't fit either category.On Monday, after being freed from immigration detention, Djokovic started training for a shot at his 21st grand slam title. But his freedom was curtailed four days later when Immigration Minister Alex Hawke revoked his visa, putting the player back in detention.Novak Djokovic during a practice session ahead of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 14.Ultimately Djokovic's case had nothing to do with whether he satisfied Australia's Covid-19 entry requirements. Nor did it seem to be a problem that his travel declaration misstated his movements in the 14 days before his arrival in Australia.Instead the minister found he posed a risk to public health and order because, as a celebrity sportsman who had previously expressed opposition to vaccination, he could be seen as an "icon" for anti-vaxxers.Australia is home to a small but determined anti-vaccine movement, which last year held protests across the country to demonstrate against the government's vaccine program and pandemic measures. But Greg Barns, a barrister and spokesperson for the Australian Lawyers Alliance, said the decision sets a "dangerous precedent" because the purpose of Djokovic's visit was to play tennis -- not to spread his views on Covid-19 vaccines."Effectively, what the government is saying is that if you're a high-profile person, and you have particular views with which the government disagrees ... then the government reserves the right to either cancel your visa while you're in the country or not grant a visa."JUST WATCHEDWatch judge rule against Novak Djokovic over visa appealReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWatch judge rule against Novak Djokovic over visa appeal 02:46Tough on bordersWhen Djokovic's visa was canceled on January 6 he found himself in unfamiliar surrounds -- the first floor of Park Hotel, an immigration detention facility in central Melbourne. Until the arrival of the world No.1 at the hotel, the plight of the men inside had generated little debate in the wider Australian public.But Djokovic's visa issue focused attention on Australia's immigration policy -- the same policy that's kept some refugees and asylum seekers detained indefinitely. "I am worried that the spotlight will fade on the refugees and asylum seekers now that Djokovic has gone," said Elaine Pearson, the Australia director of Human Rights Watch (HRW).Pro-refugee protestors rally outside the Park Hotel, where Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic stayed.The men in Park Hotel didn't have their visas canceled -- they were never given a right to stay in Australia under the country's policy of not allowing refugees who arrived by boat after July 2013 to ever settle in the country. Most were found to be refugees in need of protection.But in a radio interview on Monday morning, it seemed the Prime Minister had already forgotten, or didn't know why they were there."I mean, it's not clear that to my information that someone in that case is actually a refugee," Morrison said, when asked about the men in Park Hotel. "They may have sought asylum and been found not to be a refugee and have chosen not to return."Pearson said Morrison's comments were a "blatant lie." "(He) should know better than anyone," she said. "He's a former immigration minister." The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC) meanwhile said Morrison's statement was "misleading and false."For more than a week, refugees detained inside the building have been speaking to international media about their plight, particularly Mehdi, an Iranian refugee held for more than eight years who turned 24 during Djokovic's stay. "If I'm not a refugee, why would I endure such a difficult time as a child if I have the option to go back to where I came from? Even then, I'm not safe in detention either," he tweeted Monday.The Australian government says its policies are designed to save lives at sea by stopping traffickers from undertaking the dangerous journey with desperate human cargo. But it's not just refugees who lawyers worry are at risk. Other permanent and temporary visa holders can have their visa canceled and are subject to mandatory detention before being removed. For stateless people with nowhere to go, it can mean indefinite detention.According to government figures, 946 visas were canceled in the 2020-21 financial year, under provisions that allow the government to cancel visas on character grounds -- namely if the visa holder has committed a crime. Most people removed during that period were from New Zealand and the United Kingdom after convictions for drug offenses.But visas can also be canceled if the government suspects that a person could engage in criminal conduct if allowed to enter. In Djokovic's case, the government thought his mere presence could encourage anti-vax protests. The ASRC, the Visa Cancellation Working Group, and the Refugee Advice and Casework Service are calling for an urgent inquiry into visa cancellations -- saying the laws make it too easy for government ministers to intervene and don't give people enough power to challenge the decision in court. "There are a whole range of different powers under which the government can cancel people's visas," said Graydon. "And the lack of consistency in exercising those powers is against the public interest that these powers are supposed to be about serving.""Even if people are successful in having their visas reinstated, it can then be undone through ministerial discretion," she said. "The laws have been structured to amplify executive power at the expense of parliamentary scrutiny and judicial scrutiny of decision making."
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Iceland: Euro 2016 fairytale comes to an end - CNN
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Reykjavik, Iceland (CNN)All fairytales must come to an end.And so it was in Paris Sunday, as France beat Iceland 5-2 at Euro 2016 to eliminate the smallest nation ever to qualify for a major soccer tournament.But over 1,300 miles away, in the Icelandic capital of Reykjavik, thousands of people gathered to celebrate the achievements of a team which has captured the imagination of fans all over the world.Fans gathered at Arnarhóll, a hill that is the home of a statue of Ingolfur Arnarson -- who, tradition suggests, founded Reykjavik with his wife Hallveig Froddesdatter in 874 AD.The statue of Arnarson offered some spectators a better view of the action, which was broadcast on a giant screen. France was a heavy favorite going into the match, despite Iceland upsetting the odds to defeat England in its previous match.Read MoreIceland has a population of approximately 330,000, 10% of which is estimated to have traveled to France for the country's first appearance at a major football tournament. Back home, streets were emptied as people prepared to watch the match, which kicked off at 1900 local time. Kringlumýrarbraut, one of Reykjavik's busiest roads, is deserted during the match.There wasn't a spot to be had on Arnarhóll as kick off approached. Fans spilled onto the road and into neighboring streets.A gantry was erected so wheelchair-bound fans could join in the fun.No celebration is complete without face paint. This family enters into the spirit of the day and shows its colors.Elsewhere, a car rental business neatly sums up the mood of the whole country. The "national celebration," however, quickly turned sour.A young boy watches on as Iceland makes the worst possible start to the match. France scores twice inside the opening 20 minutes and adds two more before half time to effectively end the contest.Not everyone on the hill was disappointed with how the match unfolded. A lone tricolore is waved among a sea of Icelandic jerseys and flags.In the smaller town of Hafnarfjörður, a screen had also been set up for outdoor viewing. Iceland rallied in the second half, scoring two goals. But it was not enough to prevent France from progressing to a semifinal against Germany.Although Iceland lost the game, its players will return home as heroes having inspired a nation.
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2021 Belmont Stakes results: Essential Quality wins race - CNN
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(CNN)Essential Quality, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by jockey Luis Saez, won the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York.The horse was the early betting favorite to win the 1.5-mile race and finished ahead of Hot Rod Charlie and the 146th Preakness Stakes winner Rombauer, who finished in second and third place, respectively.Hot Rod Charlie was the early leader but Essential Quality passed him in the final turn and held on down the stretch to win. The win gave trainer Brad Cox his first Triple Crown victory.A limited crowd of 11,000 were allowed to attend the "Test of the Champion" with proof of vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test required for entry.Jockey Luis Saez reacts after winning the 153rd running of the Belmont Stakes atop Essential Quality on Saturday, June 5.This year's race did not include Medina Spirit, the Kentucky Derby winner, after the horse failed a post-Derby drug test. In May, the New York Racing Association temporarily suspended Medina Spirit's trainer Bob Baffert from entering any horses in races at the track that is host to the Belmont Stakes.Read MoreBaffert has been suspended from the home of the Kentucky Derby for two years after Medina Spirit's positive post-race drug was confirmed, the company that runs the Louisville racetrack said Wednesday.This Belmont Stakes was a return to normalcy after last year, when for the first time in history, the race was the first leg of the Triple Crown after the Covid-19 pandemic upended the schedule. The race is normally the third and final leg of the Triple Crown.CNN's Jacob Lev contributed to this report
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Lionel Messi: Iceland keep Argentina at bay for historic first World Cup point as Nigeria slump to drab defeat against Croatia - CNN
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Story highlightsArgentina 1-1 IcelandMessi penalty savedCroatia 2-0 Nigeria (CNN)On paper, few matches in World Cup history will have been more of a mismatch than Argentina against Iceland.The two-time champions, producers of some of the best players to ever grace the game, against the debutantes and smallest nation to ever qualify for the tournament.Follow @cnnsport
For context, the population of the Buenos Aires province, Argentina's capital, is 45 times bigger than that of Iceland's entire population.This was David versus Goliath -- and then some.JUST WATCHEDDuglegur: The World Cup & football in IcelandReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHDuglegur: The World Cup & football in Iceland 17:11Not that you'd have noticed -- any notion that the tiny island nation would be overawed by the occasion and their opponents was quickly dispelled, as they went toe-to-toe with Argentina from the first whistle.Read MoreMoments after Nicolás Tagliafico's stooping header flashed inches wide of the post, one long ball over the top -- in an instant exposing Argentina's frailties -- set Alfred Finnbogason free, but the forward couldn't keep his volley down.Argentina were then almost the masters of their own downfall, gifting Iceland the ball inside their own box in an attempt to play out from the back.READ: 'It's in blood, the nature and the culture.' Iceland's hard World Cup work pays offREAD: Is Russia 2018 the last chance for Messi and Ronaldo?The ball eventually fell to Birkir Bjarnason, scorer of Iceland's first ever goal in a major tournament two years ago in France, but the midfielder somehow skewed the ball wide with the goal gaping.It wasn't long before Lionel Messi came to the fore, using his customary shuffle inside and left-foot shot to test Hannes Thor Halldorsson in the Iceland goal.But it was Sergio Aguero, previously without a World Cup goal in his eight appearances, who breathed life into Argentina's campaign.JUST WATCHEDCopa90 on Iceland's footballing rise ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCopa90 on Iceland's footballing rise 03:32Marcos Rojo's scuffed shot was controlled superbly by the Manchester City forward, who brilliantly wriggled free of his marker and slammed a shot into the roof of the net.Cue coach Jorge Sampaoli's trademark wild fist pumping on the touchline, this year swapping his normal casual attire for a sharp suit.Anyone who had forgotten about Iceland's exploits at Euro 2016 and thought that early goal meant it was game over were soon given a reminder of their fighting spirit.With Argentina's sloppy defense again exposed, Finnbogason pounced after a scramble in the box to coolly tuck the ball past Willy Caballero.At halftime, despite having just 21% possession, Iceland had been more than a match for their famous rivals, even creating the best chances in the game.But the match-changing moment came just after the hour mark. Iceland, having defended resolutely for so long, gave away a sloppy penalty as Hoerdur Magnusson clumsily tripped Aguero in the box.Up stepped Messi, the man on whose shoulders Argentina have placed their hopes, and -- not for the first time in his career -- missed the crucial spot kick.While @Masters_JamesD and I were doing our Iceland mini-doc, we ran across Hannes Halldórsson doing his "day job." Here he is directing a Coca Cola ad in Reykjavik two days before his World Cup camp started. From directing a crew to directing a defense against Messi. #ISL pic.twitter.com/roJ9kgd603— Patrick SC (@PSungCuadrado) June 16, 2018
Halldorsson guessed the right way and comfortably palmed Messi's penalty away from danger.Iceland's keeper isn't just adept at keeping one of the world's greatest players at bay. Just two days before Iceland's training camp started, Halldorsson was in Reykjavik doing some "sidework" -- directing a soft drink commercial in his role as film director where he had previously forged a career.Before the 90 minutes were up, Halldorsson's lightning-quick reflexes were again called upon as he tipped Cristian Pavon's effort round the post at full stretch.For all their star power, Argentina were unable to find a way through Iceland's sturdy defense. It's the first time La Albiceleste have failed to win an opening World Cup game since they lost to Cameroon in 1990. Lionel Messi reacts in frustration after missing a penalty.The good news for Messi et al is they still reached the final that year.Perhaps one of the most telling aspects of the game came after the final whistle, or rather it was what didn't come.Despite this being their first World Cup, picking up their first ever World Cup point, there was no exuberant celebrations from Iceland, no joyous huddles.This was just another game, they now feel like they belong here.Battle of the best dressedWhile the on-pitch credentials of Croatia and Nigeria are yet to be decided at this World Cup, one thing everybody can agree on is that they are two of the best dressed teams in the competition.Nigeria's stylish number sold out online within minutes of its release (while they also won the highly coveted CNN World Cup of Kits title on social media) and Croatia's eye-catching strip is a sleek take on their classic chessboard design.WORLD CUP OF KITS 👕🏆It's the final! Nigeria or France -- who will you crown the best-dressed team of Russia 2018?Previous results: https://t.co/pCwJPKhPpX#WorldCup #FRA #SoarSuperEagles— CNN Sport (@cnnsport) June 14, 2018
Unfortunately, neither side could produce football of a style befitting their outfits in what proved to be a tentative opening to the match.But with Croatia chipping away at its opponent, the game came to life after half an hour as Nigeria's defense crumbled.Ivan Rakitic's corner into the box was flicked on at the near post by Mario Mandzukic and Oghenekaro Etebo was the unfortunate Nigerian who diverted the loose ball into his own net.It proved to be the catalyst the game needed, as Odion Ighalo immediately tested the Croatia defense, before Andrej Kramaric looped a header just over the crossbar.Nigeria's kit has drawn longing glances from all over the world.As the halftime whistle blew, Nigeria's players huddled in the middle of the pitch -- and then again when they reemerged from the tunnel.But their attempts to inject some desire fell flat as Croatia dominated the second half from the start.For a nation whose fans and players had shown such enthusiasm in the build up to the tournament, Nigeria underwhelmed on its debut in Russia.The game was over as a contest after 70 minutes, as William Troost-Ekong's decision to grapple Mandzukic in midair from a corner gave referee Sandro Ricci no choice but to award a penalty.Captain Luka Modric stepped up and buried the spot kick.Croatia goalkeeper Danijel Subašic celebrates with captain Luka Modric at the final whistle.Much like the Kaliningrad Stadium, which is built on wetlands in the Russian enclave, Nigeria were slowly sinking.With Argentina's shock draw against Iceland earlier on Saturday, Croatia will now have real hopes of topping Group D.
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Tottenham to host world's first net zero carbon elite football game as sports teams turn to sustainable solutions - CNN
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(CNN)Tottenham Hotspur hopes to end Sunday's Premier League game against Chelsea on zero -- not zero goals or shots on target, but zero carbon emissions.The club is calling the match the world's first elite net zero carbon football game, and in partnership with broadcaster Sky, its aim is to raise awareness of the climate crisis.World leaders are meeting at the international COP26 climate talks in Glasgow in November, where they will discuss how to make the whole world net zero, which is when the amount of greenhouse gas emitted is no greater that that removed from the atmosphere. That will require entire countries making that pledge, and for businesses and events like big sports matches to go carbon neutral too. Sunday's match -- which is supported by the COP26 presidency -- between the two London rivals, has been dubbed #GameZero and is drawing on various emission-cutting measures, including running team coaches on biofuel and players' drinking water supplied in cartons, rather than plastic bottles.Fans are being encouraged to cycle or use public transport to get to the match, while all food served inside the stadium will be sustainably sourced with plant-based options also available.Read MoreSky says the remaining emissions will be offset through its reforestation projects in East Africa and the creation of new UK woodlands. Tottenham and Sky have also pledged to plant trees near Tottenham Hotspur Stadium later this year.But does the math add up?Tottenham's Lucas Moura dribbles against Crystal Palace in the two teams' Premier League game on September 11. Adding it up to zeroClimate experts say while the message and the goal to reach net zero is a worthy one, using biofuels, switching from plastic to cardboard and offsetting are largely band-aid solutions to a much larger political and business crisis around the world's unfettered use of fossil fuels. "We know the sport at the highest level is profoundly influential on people's behaviors," Andrew Simms, coordinator of the Rapid Transition Alliance and co-director of the New Weather Institute, tells CNN Sport. "The fact that they're talking about these issues around diet, around food, around putting an emphasis on using buses rather than private cars is an incredibly important signal about the kinds of behavioral change that we need to make."But there are growing concerns about the practice of offsetting, particularly in industries like aviation, where studies show that passengers offsetting their flights often don't really neutralize their emissions."It often promises to remove the emissions from that once-stable store of carbon by planting trees. But as we've seen even in the last year, some of those trees that were planted may just simply die as a natural process; they may not grow to maturity; they may catch fire and burn down, as has happened with some offsetting schemes.""So they're unreliable, the calculus is very shaky in terms of the way that they might potentially remove carbon from the atmosphere, and it hasn't solved the problem that you put the pollution into the atmosphere in the first place. It's kind of like a kind of carbon laundering rather than actually a solution to the problem."Sky told CNN that it had measured the baseline emissions for a Premier League game and then looked at ways to cut emissions through travel, energy and fuel consumption, and food. It is working with Natural Capital Partners and RSK to gather and verify their data.But when asked if Sky would make its findings public or share them with CNN after the match, they said they wouldn't.JUST WATCHEDThis man holds a unique role in world football and it could save the planetReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThis man holds a unique role in world football and it could save the planet 03:15And that's where half the problem lies. Offsetting can be effective, depending on how many trees are planted, what type and where they are. And there has to be some role for offsetting to achieve net zero, according to forestry scientist Louis Verchot, who heads the Land Restoration Group at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture."Leadership like this is required and the efforts by Tottenham to reduce their environmental impacts are laudable. It's great that Tottenham Hotspur and Sky are working to make the match with Chelsea a net zero emission match. We need more initiatives like this to show what is possible," he told CNN. "Hopefully, they will make their actions transparent and the offsetting results traceable. One match being net zero is a great start, but it is only one match and so it is only a start. The latest results from the IPCC make it clear that we need to make entire economic enterprises net zero in the coming decade." Calls to scrap emissions-heavy sponsorsSpurs has already been named the Premier League's greenest team, a title it earned in January which recognizes sustainable measures implemented around the club: a stadium powered by 100 percent renewable energy, player shirts made from recycled plastic bottles and limitations on single-use plastic.As for Sky, the #GameZero initiative sits in line with a commitment announced last year to go carbon neutral by 2030.#GameZero is also part of an eight-week fan challenge dubbed CUP26 -- playing off the name of the global climate summit -- developed by Planet Super League, a group that says it wants "to do something about climate change, pollution and the destruction of natural habitat" combined with football.CUP26 will see fans of 49 professional clubs -- including Tottenham, Chelsea and West Ham -- earn points for their teams through various activities designed to cut their carbon footprint, including eating meat-free meals or having a screen-free evening, with the highest-scoring team winning the CUP26 trophy the first week of the COP26 summit.CUP26 highlights perhaps one of the most important aims of #GameZero: to encourage fans to reduce their carbon footprint -- a responsibility that many other sports teams have also undertaken.In the United States, the MLB's Seattle Mariners have previously run a "Sustainable Saturdays" program to educate fans on their carbon footprint, while the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles encourage recycling and water conservation around Lincoln Financial Field."The ability for sports to connect with people across so many different demographics makes it really unique, as this vehicle to bring people together in a united fight for something [is one] that very few, potentially no industry, is able to do," Kristin Hanczor, senior partnership manager at the Green Sports Alliance, which champions sustainable approaches within professional sport, told CNN Sport."I think that platform is just completely unmatched, the attentiveness of the audience is completely unmatched."According to Hanczor, there are still barriers preventing sports teams from going green, including access to clean energy grids, the need to warm or cool indoor venues and the ever-present hurdle of air travel.A big question mark over the Qatar World Cup in 2022 is how the country will keep everyone in its cavernous stadiums cool. Organizers have said the event is to be air conditioned, though its organizers say it will be a net zero tournament -- a huge challenge considering the scale of the World Cup.JUST WATCHEDRas Abu Aboud stadium: The World Cup venue designed to be torn downReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRas Abu Aboud stadium: The World Cup venue designed to be torn down 01:14"We don't have an option right now to take a fully renewable powered flight -- that's just not realistic," Hanczor said."Because there's no option to make that switch, it becomes really hard for people to cut emissions in that sense, and so then you look at the offsetting side or you look at reducing flying."And as far as football in Europe is concerned, Simms notes that the sport can do more from a sponsorship perspective."I think one of the other issues for the game, which is a bit of a blind spot at the moment, is the huge number of sponsors and advertisers who represent high-carbon goods and services ... the airlines and the big SUV car manufacturers who sponsor the game," he said. "I would say that that's a place that football has to look to. It has to look to getting major polluters out of advertising and sponsorship within the game."Football goes veganTottenham isn't the only team looking at reducing emissions and sustainability.Fourth-tier English football club Forest Green Rovers has taken it a step further and, in the process, become the only UN-recognized carbon neutral sports team in the world.At Forest Green, the team bus and lawn mower are both fully electric, which is a cleaner option than biofuels, as long as the electricity is renewable. The grass on the pitch is free from pesticides, the players' shirts and shin pads are made from biodegradable bamboo, and food served on match days is completely free from animal products.JUST WATCHEDThe 'greenest football club in the world'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe 'greenest football club in the world' 03:52It's an approach that has led to derisive chants from opponents and resistance from fans -- one said that the club "pushes the vegan agenda too much" -- but also a swell of support from within the club and the local community."We're conscious not to wag our fingers at anyone. We don't want to be preachy," Forest Green owner Dale Vince told CNN in 2019."All we can do is live our lives and educate people who want to be educated. For every fan we lose, we've gained 10. Our attendances are at an all-time high."And footballers have as much reason as anyone to care about the climate crisis. New research by The Climate Coalition has revealed that extreme weather related to climate change, such as heavy rain, impacts 62,500 grassroots football matches in the UK each year. According to the group, it could lead to plummeting participation levels within 60 years.Around the world, extreme weather continues to impact major sporting events, be it heavy rainfall at the US Open, typhoons at the Rugby World Cup, poor air quality at the Australian Open or searing heat at the Tokyo Olympics."Sometimes, it can only take a single individual who's got a profile and a following among the young to shift expectations, or to introduce new ideas to make something that once seemed the preserve of some scientists and policy nerds, something that we should all be thinking about," Simms said. "I think sport has a huge role to play in this."
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Jackie Robinson broke baseball's color barrier but these Black players still faced racism - CNN
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(CNN)Ernest Fann never imagined his baseball career would be tainted by racism more than a decade after Jackie Robinson's debut. "Somebody told me baseball was a White man's game," he says about a teammate who approached him while he sat on the bench. It was the early 1960s and Fann was playing for the Burlington Bees, a minor league affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics in Burlington, Iowa."That's the biggest lie I've been told," the 77-year-old added.In the years after Robinson became the first Black player in Major League Baseball, racial progress in the sport was slow and the Negro Leagues, which had been a vibrant showcase of talent, soon collapsed. Fann and other Black baseball players were often facing racism in and outside the clubhouse. On Thursday, MLB is observing the day Robinson first played with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Commemoration of the day comes as the nation's racial reckoning continues in the wake of the shooting of Daunte Wright. The MLB were among the sports leagues who postponed their Monday games in Minneapolis Monday, and New York Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks took himself out of the lineup for Monday's series opener in New York.Read MoreAnd while hundreds of players and coaches will sport Robinson's iconic No. 42 on Thursday, other Black players want to ensure their stories are remembered as well. During the first half of the 20th century, the major leagues of baseball were White only and Black owners formed their own leagues. Andrew "Rube" Foster was instrumental in the foundation of the Negro National League in 1920 and other leagues emerged over the years, including the Negro American League with teams from the Midwest.JUST WATCHED'Field of Dreams... Deferred': 100 years on from the Negro LeaguesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'Field of Dreams... Deferred': 100 years on from the Negro Leagues 02:59Players in the Negro Leagues earned considerably less than their White counterparts and segregation made it difficult for teams to have their own ballparks or find hotels and restaurants while on the road. Robinson got his start with the Kansas City Monarchs, a team in the Negro National League, a few years before he broke Major League Baseball's color barrier with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Phil S. Dixon, a baseball historian and author of multiple books about the Negro Leagues, said major league teams slowly became integrated but racism and discrimination didn't vanish. "Even though they integrated baseball, they (players) were still dealing with the customs of American society, the institutionalized racism, Jim Crow, and just general oppression," Dixon said. "Just putting a Black player on the team didn't eliminate all have those barriers."After playing in the Negro Leagues with the Raleigh Tigers in the early 1960s, Fann joined the minor league system of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Kansas City A's -- where he says he learned baseball was not exempt of racism. Fann grew up in an integrated neighborhood in Macon, Georgia, and saw Black and White children getting along and often playing stickball together. His baseball career is full of contrasting memories to those of his childhood.Black players like him couldn't eat at the same restaurant as their White teammates or stay in the same motel. He was also called a racial slur by a teammate, Fann recalled. Fann retired after a knee injury and moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he later played in the semiprofessional Industrial Baseball League while working as a forklift driver for 15 years. Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesJackie Robinson broke Major League Baseball's color barrier in 1947, when he took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers on Opening Day.Hide Caption 1 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson, second from left, poses with his siblings and his mother, Mallie, for a family portrait circa 1925. Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia, but raised in Pasadena, California. Hide Caption 2 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson was a formidable athlete in college, lettering in four sports at UCLA. He led the nation in rushing as a football player. After college, Robinson was drafted by the US Army and spent a couple of years in the military.Hide Caption 3 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesShortly after he was discharged by the military in 1944, Robinson was signed by the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro Leagues.Hide Caption 4 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson signs a contract with the Montreal Royals, a minor-league team and farm team of the Brooklyn Dodgers, in 1945.Hide Caption 5 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson married Rachel Isum in Los Angeles in 1946. Throughout his life, she was his partner and sounding board, a steady companion when he was the subject of criticism and worse.Hide Caption 6 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson crosses home plate after hitting a three-run home run for the Montreal Royals in 1946. Hide Caption 7 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesYoung Dodger fans reach down to try to get Robinson's autograph during an exhibition game in New York on April 11, 1947.Hide Caption 8 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson poses in the dugout with Dodgers teammates as he makes his historic debut on April 15, 1947. With Robinson, from left, are Johnny "Spider" Jorgensen, Harold "Pee Wee" Reese and Eddie Stanky.Hide Caption 9 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson played several positions for the Dodgers: mainly second base but also third base, first base and a little outfield.Hide Caption 10 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesDodgers executive Branch Rickey was integral in bringing Robinson to the majors. Rickey had been scouting players who could break the color barrier, and he was looking for someone who would be able to endure the racial hatred and not lash out in anger. "Are you looking for a Negro who is afraid to fight back?" Robinson reportedly said. Rickey responded that he was looking for someone who had "the guts not to fight back."Hide Caption 11 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson and Dodgers teammate "Pee Wee" Reese cook soup with their children in 1950. Reese was a big Robinson supporter, especially during that difficult first season. When some teammates wanted to boycott Robinson's addition to the team, Reese refused to sign the petition. And as the story goes, Reese once put his arm around Robinson's shoulders in the middle of a road game, embracing Robinson as he was being heckled.Hide Caption 12 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson leaps into the air to try to turn a double play in 1952.Hide Caption 13 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson steals home during Game 1 of the 1955 World Series. The Dodgers lost the game but went on to defeat the New York Yankees in seven games.Hide Caption 14 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson shakes hands with President Richard Nixon at a GOP rally in 1960. Robinson attended the 1964 Republican Convention, but he later supported Democrats as the political parties' makeup changed.Hide Caption 15 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesFrom left, Edd Roush, Robinson, Bob Feller and Bill McKechnie stand with their plaques after being inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1962.Hide Caption 16 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson appears on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1962. After retiring, Robinson became an executive for the Chock Full o'Nuts coffee company. He also spoke out on civil rights.Hide Caption 17 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson and his wife, Rachel, pose with their three children -- Jackie Jr., David and Sharon -- at their home in Stamford, Connecticut, in 1962.Hide Caption 18 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson works in the broadcast booth during the 1960s.Hide Caption 19 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson attends a meeting for Freedom Marchers in Williamston, North Carolina, in 1964. He was there to lend his name to the integration efforts in the city. Hide Caption 20 of 21 Photos: Jackie Robinson's life in picturesRobinson signs autographs before the start of an Old Timers Game in Anaheim, California, in 1969. Three years later, he died of a heart attack at the age of 53.Hide Caption 21 of 21Robinson and Hank Aaron got their start in the Negro LeagueDecades after Fann retired from baseball, he befriended a White teenage boy from a Boston suburb who collected sports memorabilia. The boy would later help many former Negro League players reunite over the years and gain recognition. Cam Perron, now 26, wrote about his unlikely friendship with Fann and other former players for his new book "Comeback Season: My Unlikely Story of Friendship with the Greatest Living Negro League Baseball Players." "Comeback Season: My Unlikely Story of Friendship with the Greatest Living Negro League Baseball Players." As a teenager, Perron made it his mission to contact players as a way to collect autographs. While he didn't have a strong sense of the history of systemic racism, he says, he realized the players had been treated unfairly and some were exploited by collectors in recent years.Perron wrote letters to dozens of players that turned into phone calls and an annual reunion for players. Perron became friends with several former players, including Fann and Russell Patterson, who played with the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues in 1960.After playing a game in Huntsville, Alabama, Patterson told CNN that he and his teammates had to stay overnight and slept "with the bats on our chests because the Ku Klux Klan was supposed to have seen us playing that day."Former Negro League players Russell Patterson and James Atterbury along with Cam Perron at Myrtle Beach Pelicans minor league game in August 2010.The players are not household names like Robinson or the late Hall of Fame baseball star Hank Aaron, Perron told CNN, but their experiences "paved the way for baseball now." Aaron wrote in the book's foreword that the first professional baseball game that he saw was when the Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro Leagues played in Mobile, Alabama, and inspired him to compete on a professional level.When he turned 18, Aaron joined the team and soon broke into the majors, becoming the longtime home run king and one of the greatest baseball players of all time."Those months I spent on the Clowns helped me tremendously - not only teaching me how to play the game itself but also showing me that I belonged at that level. I'll never forget that," Aaron wrote.The Negro Leagues are now part of official MLB stats. But don't expect major changes in the record booksLast year, Major League Baseball announced it would recognize the Negro Leagues as a major league and count the statistics and records of thousands of Black players as part of the game's storied history. The announcement came during the centennial celebration of the founding of the Negro Leagues."All these years, these guys felt like they had to fight for somebody to even listen to them. They would say 'I was a pro baseball player in the Negro League' and people just did not really think that the Negro Leagues was a pro league," said Perron, who now has his own memorabilia business.For Dixon, the baseball historian, telling the history of the Negro Leagues and Black baseball players is key to the progress of the sport. "There's so many sacrifices that were made," Dixon said. "I think that we just don't realize what these men went through to make baseball what it is today."
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Gus Kenworthy: Olympic ski star and actor hopes to leave legacy for LGBT community - CNN
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(CNN)Freestyle skiing became a regular Olympic discipline in 1992, 63 years after the first Academy Awards took place, 23 years before same-sex marriage was legalized in all American states, and 22 years before it was legalized in the United Kingdom. What's the correlation between the three? It's Gus Kenworthy. The ski star was born in Chelmsford, northeast of London, to a British mother and an American father before moving to Telluride, Colorado, at age 2. "We fell in love with skiing together," Kenworthy told CNN Sport's Alex Thomas. "She learned when she was 40 and I was 3. I just want to do it for my mum. She's been my No. 1 fan and No. 1 supporter."The love for skiing that blossomed in Colorado took him to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, where he won the silver medal for Team USA.Read MorePyeongChang followed in 2018. And, at 28 years of age, Kenworthy has decided that Beijing 2022 will be his final Olympics. This time, he will compete under the British flag to honor his mother."She's waved the American flag and supported me, even though it's not her country, and I very much want to wave the British flag in support of her."And after Beijing, it will be time to move onto new pastures. "I made the realization at the last Games that I am more than skiing, not because I'm an actor," Kenworthy explained. "But I am also a son, I'm a boyfriend, I'm an uncle, I'm a friend. There's so many things that are more important than just your performance at any given moment in a sport."Kenworthy competes in the men's ski modified superpipe final in Colorado.READ: Megan Rapinoe's epic 2019Broadening horizonsKenworthy took time off skiing to make his first foray into acting. He played Chet Clancy this year on "American Horror Story" and says acting isn't too different from being in sports."He's (Chet) very much an athlete and that's one of the things I would describe myself as," he said. "When I go into an audition, even if I feel confident and I feel good, and I feel like I've rehearsed the script a bunch and I know the sides and I know my lines, then you suddenly get in there and you're flooded with nerves."And that's the only thing that gives me that same feeling as skiing. That's the only other thing I found in my life that I get that same sensation."But when asked whether he would prefer winning an Oscar or an Olympic gold medal, the decision is easy for Kenworthy."I would probably take the Oscar. I think that would open a lot more doors for my future and for what I want to continue doing after skiing. I would love and Olympic gold medal, and that's what I'm shooting for. But at the end of the day, I've already got silver and I feel pretty accomplished."Kenworthy attends FX's "American Horror Story" 100th episode celebration.READ: Hundreds of thousands across social media react angrily to Premier League LGBT campaignMore than sportKenworthy has developed into somewhat of a triple-threat. He started as an athlete, he's made his debut as an actor, and he has become an activist for the LGBT community. And his proudest achievement to date combined a little bit of everything and came when he was at the top of the freestyle skiing food chain. He had just won his fifth straight title as the world's best freestyle skier. In a 2015 ESPN interview, Kenworthy became the first Olympic skier to publicly come out as gay.He has since become a figurehead for the LGBT community and, in 2017, received a Visibility Award from the Human Rights Campaign, an LGBT rights advocacy group."The legacy that I want to leave behind, that I'm really proud of, is being an athlete and taking that step to stand up and being supported in that," he said. "I hope that any athletes in the closet would see my story and Robbie Rodgers, Tom Daly and Adam Rippon, all these other out athletes, and hopefully that will help them take that step, because I do think it's really important."Silver medalist Kenworthy (left), gold medalist Joss Christensen (center) and bronze medalist Nicholas Goepper (right) on the podium after the freestyle skiing men's slopestyle finals.READ: Mikaela Shiffrin wins reindeer, names it after Swedish great Ingemar StenmarkA kiss between Kenworthy and his then-boyfriend Matthew Wilkas during the 2018 Winter Olympics was captured by TV cameras and used to signify changing attitudes. After the controversy surrounding Russia's anti-gay laws before the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) introduced an anti-discrimination clause to its host city contract.Yet Kenworthy has concerns over gay rights in China, where the next Winter Olympics will take place.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"I would say I'm frustrated by gay rights in China. But I am excited to go there and compete and be out and proud and hopefully that will have a positive effect. I think visibility is just really important."
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Kamila Valieva drug case puts spotlight on adults around teen figure skater - CNN
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Beijing (CNN)Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva placed fourth in the women's figure skating final at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Thursday, capping off more than a week of controversy after the teen was cleared to skate despite testing positive for a banned substance.The Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) still dominated the program, with compatriots Anna Shcherbakova and Alexandra Trusova clinching first and second respectively. Japan's Kaori Sakamoto finished in third.Valieva was tipped for gold in the event but fell numerous times during her free skate routine. Standing by the 15-year-old was her coach Eteri Tutberidze on whom the spotlight now falls.In a sample taken in December, prior to the Olympics, Valieva tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine, a drug commonly used to treat angina and which experts say can enhance endurance by increasing blood flow to the heart. Kamila Valiyeva (R) talks to her coach Eteri Tutberidze during a training session in Beijing. Pictured behind them is ROC physician Filipp Shvetsky. Valieva blamed her positive drug test on a mix-up that occurred with her grandfather's medication, Denis Oswald, the Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Disciplinary Commission, told reporters Tuesday. Read MoreHowever, the results only came to light during the Olympics. Last week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport gave Valieva the green light to continue competing in the Games because of the exceptional circumstances of her being a minor.The fact that Valieva is a child and failed a drug test has put renewed focus on the adults around her and the alleged dark underworld of Russian figure skating beneath the glittering surface. "It is clearly a wish and a decision of the IOC but also WADA to examine all aspects of this case including the situation of the entourage, because of course you can imagine a girl of 15 would not do something wrong alone -- so yes, the entourage will be investigated," said Oswald.Global Athlete, an athlete-led group working for change across the sporting world, called Valieva's positive drug test "evidence of abuse of a minor."Kamila Valyeva of the Russian Olympic Committee in action Thursday night at Beijing's Capital Indoor Stadium. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which regulates the use of drugs in international sport, said it will be investigating the 15-year-old's entourage -- the adults responsible for her skating and welfare.CNN has reached out to the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) for comment from Tutberidze and ROC team doctor Filipp Shvetsky on the points raised in this story but has not received a response."These (past few) days have been very difficult for me," Valieva told Russia's Channel One earlier this week, after training. "It's as if I don't have any emotions left. I am happy, but at the same time, I am emotionally tired."Valieva's coach in the spotlightAt the center of the controversy -- and the Russian skating world -- is Valieva's coach, Eteri Tutberidze. Frequently called the most powerful woman in figure skating, Tutberidze is the driving force behind Russia's dominance in the sport. Her studio in Moscow attracts the best female figure skaters from around Russia, who are trained from an early age to break records and perform dazzlingly complex jumps, multiple coaches and skaters told CNN. Valieva made history last week by becoming the first woman to land a quad at the Olympics, and recent female Russian skaters have been known for pushing boundaries on the tricks they can do, from triple axels to triple flips and other difficult combinations. "We are absolutely sure that Kamila is innocent and clean," Tutberidze told Russian TV last week. Tutberidze is also infamous for her brutal training regimens. In a December interview with Russian TV, she said her skaters train 12 hours a day, saying they can "always do more, demand more from yourself."Yulia Lipnitskaia (R) and her coach Eteri Tutberidze during the Sochi Winter Olympics on February 20, 2014. The coach has trained a string of Olympic medalists, but scrutiny has also been cast on how her best protégées have had short-lived careers. Like Valieva, Yulia Lipnitskaya was 15 when she helped Russia win gold in the team event at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. But at 19 years old, Lipitskaya retired from figure skating following a battle with anorexia and injuries. Evgenia Medvedeva was 18 when she won two silver medals at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympics, one each for the single and team event. The two-time world champion unofficially retired from competition last year citing back injuries. And Medvedeva's teammate Alina Zagitova, who won gold in PyeongChang at the age of 15, announced an indefinite break from competition at 19. Zagitova's dominance was record breaking: she was Russia's first skater to win Olympic gold, the World Figure Skating Championships, European Figure Skating Championships and the Grand Prix of Figure Skating. All three were coached by Tutberidze. But Tutberidze also has a lot of supporters. Russian figure skater-turned-coach Anna Pogorilaya, who briefly trained with Tutberidze at her studio, described her as "an iron lady," in an interview with CNN."She is so dedicated to her vocation... for her, every athlete is like her own child," she said, adding that she doesn't believe Tutberidze would pressure her skaters to take performance enhancing drugs. "I am 100% sure she cannot force her athlete to take anything... I am 100% sure they are clean," Pogorilaya said. Team doctor was banned for doping violationsAnother adult close to Valieva is the ROC team doctor Filipp Shvetsky. The World Rowing Federation confirmed to CNN that Shvetsky was team doctor for the Russian rowing team.He was banned by Russia in 2007 over doping violations, according to Jim Walden, a lawyer for Russian doping whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov, who is under witness protection in the United StatesWorld Rowing says three members of the Russian Rowing Federation were declared ineligible for two years because of violations of the World Anti-Doping Code. He was reinstated by Russia in 2010. "But this guy (Shvetsky) who's got a history with performance enhancing drugs suddenly shows up as the doctor for this 15-year-old skater... and allegedly, she tests positive for a performance enhancing drug," said Walden.ROC figure skating coaches Dannil Gleikhengauz, Eteri Tutberidze (L-R front) and team doctor Filipp Shvetsky attend a training session in Beijing. Walden said Valieva's situation should be looked at within the context of Russia's state-sponsored doping scandal. Russian athletes competing at the Olympics are already under the shadow of a history of illegal doping: WADA barred Russia from international competitions in 2019 over doping violations. Under the ban set to expire later this year, they've only been able to participate as neutrals in the Games.Rodchenkov, the former head of Russia's anti-doping laboratory, defected to the US and formed the basis of the 2016 McLaren Report which found that more than 1,000 Russian athletes benefited from a systematic doping program between 2011 and 2015. Dozens of Russian athletes were banned after the 2014 Sochi Olympics -- where Russian athletes won more medals than any other country. Opinion: Even if Kamila Valieva wins, she losesRussia continues to deny Rodchenkov's accusations and has said he had personally given drugs to the athletes, who were unaware they were taking banned substances.Under the ban set to expire later this year, Russian athletes have only been able to participate if they can prove they are clean. They compete under the banner of the Russian Olympic Committee, not technically under the Russian flag. "Russia's not writing on a clean slate. Russia has had a state sponsored doping program since at least the 1960s. It is very well established, it is heavily documented. And so when any Russian athlete tests positive, the Russian state is not doing anyone any favors because there is now a presumption of guilt instead of a presumption of innocence, which for a 15-year-old skater is terrible," Walden said. In 2020, the US government signed into law the Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, allowing it to impose criminal sanctions on individuals involved in doping activities at international sports competitions that feature American athletes, sponsors and broadcasters. Walden suggested the US could use the law against Valieva's entourage."I'm very sure that the FBI and the Department of Justice are going to be investigating already to try to make an example out of the Russian trainers, doctors, coaches, etc. that were responsible for putting this young athlete in harm's way," he said.Russian athletes and heart medicationsValieva tested positive for the banned heart medication trimetazidine and the investigation into the merits of that positive test is ongoing. But it is not the first time Russian athletes have been pulled up for using the drug, or a "close relative" of the drug, Walden said.Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova served a 15-month suspension after testing positive for the banned substance meldonium in 2016. Sharapova denied doping and said she was first prescribed meldonium in 2006 for heart issues and was unaware the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had recently added it to the banned substance list because she was taking the drug prescribed under another name. The normal course of treatment, according to the drug's prescribing label, is a matter of days to weeks. It is not known why Sharapova's doctor continued to prescribe the drug for years.In PyeongChang 2018, two Russian athletes -- mixed doubles curler Alexander Krushelnitckii and bobsledder Nadezhda Sergeeva -- were excluded from walking behind the national flag during the Closing Ceremony after testing positive for banned substances. Krushelnitckii tested positive for meldonium and Sergeeva tested positive in an out-of-competition test for trimetazidine.Kamila Valieva (R) and Eteri Tutberidze attend a training session on February 12, 2022."So not only does Russia have a long history of state-sponsored doping, they have a history with this specific drug," Walden said. In an interview with Russian TV in 2019, Valieva's coach Tutberidze defended meldonium as harmless, saying that it just "helps to recuperate the heart muscles." The ROC said in previous statements that Valieva had "repeatedly passed doping tests" while already in Beijing, adding that it is taking measures to keep Valieva's "honestly won" gold."The doping test of an athlete who tested positive does not apply to the period of the Olympic Games. At the same time, the athlete repeatedly passed doping tests before and after December 25, 2021, including while already in Beijing during the figure skating tournament. All the results are negative," the ROC statement said."The Russian Olympic Committee is taking comprehensive measures to protect the rights and interests of the members of the ROC Team, and to keep the honestly won Olympic gold medal."All of the figure skaters have poured years of blood, sweat and tears to be at the Olympics, but the doping scandal has threatened to steal their moment, and the Games may best be remembered not by performance, but by performance enhancing drugs.
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Nathan Chen wins Olympic gold with figure skating master class - CNN
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(CNN)American ice skater Nathan Chen has won his first Olympic Gold medal in Beijing, with a flawless performance that set him well above the competition in the men's single skating competition.Chen, who had been the favorite going into Thursday's event at the Beijing Winter Games, pulled off his win with a long program packed with moves to show off the technical prowess that has earned the 22-year-old the nickname of the "quad king."He also became the first American since Evan Lysacek in 2010 to win a men's figure skating gold medal."It means the world. I'm just so happy," Chen said following the win, adding there were "too many emotions to process"."It's a whirlwind right now. I had a blast out there."Read MoreChen's long program at Beijing's Capital Indoor Stadium opened with a quadruple flip, followed by a triple toe loop. He nailed every jump and move, with a total of five quad jumps, including a quadruple lutz."Of course, there are certainly many things I could have done better, but overall I was very happy I was able to do the program that I put down," the skater said.USA's Nathan Chen competes in the men's single skating free skating event during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games.Chen's joyful and energetic routine was set to a medley of songs, including Elton John's "Rocket Man." Every jump he performed was met with roaring cheers and claps from athletes and other spectators in the "closed loop" side of the stadium -- though the other side, holding Chinese spectators, remained largely silent, according to CNN reporters in the stadium.The performance placed Chen well at the lead with a score of 218.63, combined with his short program score for a winning total of 332.60. Two Japanese skaters take the podium behind him. Eighteen-year-old Yuma Kagiyama came in at 310.05 points for silver in his first Olympics, and Shoma Uno, who won silver in 2018 PyeongChang Games, took bronze with a score of 293. Japanese all-time great Yuzuru Hanyu, who fell attempting the fabled quadruple axel in his free skate, came in a disappointing fourth. This has been a dream Olympics for Team USA's Chen, who also set a new short program world record in the men's figure skating event Tuesday, putting him in prime position for Thursday's golden finish. But he also said the Games' location in Beijing held special meaning -- as it was the city where his mother grew up and where his parents, who later immigrated to the US, met."I know that they did everything that they could to give us -- I'm the youngest of five -- to give all of us...opportunities to pursue (our dreams), without having many resources themselves," he said. "It certainly has not been easy for them," he said, recalling his mother helping him in his own early training and struggles to afford coaches. Chen also said that as a kid growing up in Salt Lake City he found "inspiration" in Asian-American figure skating star and two-time Olympic medalist Michelle Kwan."Having athletes that look like you certainly gives you the hope that you can do the same," Chen said. He is the seventh man to win gold for the United States in men's singles skating, according to the Olympic website.Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics: Top 15 athletes to watchThe win is also a reprieve for Chen, who gave a disappointing performance at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018, landing fifth in the individual competition, though leaving with a bronze medal in the team event. In the four years since, Chen has risen, racking up three straight world championships and sealing a 6th consecutive US title to arrive in Beijing as a favorite.It's an accomplishment that the skater has made while pursuing a statistics and data science degree at Yale -- a program he took a temporary break from in order to prepare for the Games.Chen has credited his more recent successes with a balance in his focus between sports and other pursuits.On Thursday after his gold-medal win, Chen said he was looking forward to returning to his studies in August, but as for skating, "I'll take some time to think," he said. CNN's Bex Wright and Selina Wang contributing reporting from Beijing
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Opinion: There is no protection for a so-called 'protected' athlete like Valieva - CNN
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Amy Bass (@bassab1) is professor of sport studies at Manhattanville College and the author of "One Goal: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together" and "Not the Triumph but the Struggle: The 1968 Olympics and the Making of the Black Athlete," among other titles. The views expressed here are solely hers. Read more opinion on CNN. (CNN)Kamila Valieva earned the top score in the women's figure skating short program Wednesday, advancing to compete in Thursday's Olympic free skate along with 24 other athletes, one more skater than was initially supposed to qualify. Amy BassThe expansion of this field is just one of the concessions the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is making to complete a competition with a Russian athlete who tested positive for a banned drug in the mix while the whole world is watching. The IOC and International Skating Union (the sport's governing body) expanded the roster after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) cleared 15-year-old Valieva for competition despite her positive test at an event in Russia in December. In its decision, which is particular to factors unique to Valieva's case but may or may not set a precedent for the future, CAS cited Valieva's age, which makes her a "protected person," as well as what the body described as "very limited facts" -- including the "serious issues of untimely notification" that prevented Valieva from putting together any kind of defense. They also expressed concern about causing the skater "irreparable harm" if she were not made eligible. JUST WATCHEDReporter who saw Kamila Valieva's routine calls it 'shocking'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHReporter who saw Kamila Valieva's routine calls it 'shocking' 02:31Yet while there might be limited facts about Valieva's positive test, there is plenty to go on regarding Russian athletes and doping. Unlike track and field, where one false start ends an athlete's time on the starting line, over and over again we see Russian athletes in play despite the extensive documentation of the country's systemic cheating in global sport. With Russia, a late-in-the-game positive test deserves more scrutiny than CAS seems to have given it in this case. Russia is out of excuses. No matter whether it was her grandfather's heart medication, not hers, as one source claimed, or a contaminated test, as another argued, or a drug that won't have much impact on her performance, as Russian journalist Vasily Konova posted on social media. Russia was out of excuses before this Olympics even began.Read MoreWhen dealing with a known cheating entity in sports, there is no more room for explanations. Russia is doing its level best, it seems, to be, as Buffy the Vampire Slayer might say, the Big Bad, a villain that keeps coming back for more no matter how forces of good try to squash it. Between Russia's geopolitical aggression and its obvious scorn for the sanctions imposed upon it (even now in Beijing, its athletes cannot compete under their country's flag, a penalty imposed because of previous doping infractions), the country has been persistent in its ability flout the world's concerns while playing the to be an Olympic spoiler. While CAS might see the facts of this case as "limited," there is a lot, actually, that we know about the Russian sports machine and its extensive systemic doping regimens. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)'s four-year ban on Russia, issued in 2019 after a whistleblower's claims in 2016 found at least 15 medalists in Sochi were not, in a word, clean, has had few, if any, teeth. While WADA mandated that no athlete would be allowed to represent Russia at the Olympics, Paralympics or any World Championship for four years, CAS watered it down it to two years, set to expire in December 2022. My Olympic figure skating dream came true. Don't let others get ruinedLet's be clear: since WADA imposed the ban, there have been Russians competing at every turn on the Olympic stage. After the IOC suspended Russia, several Russian athletes who claimed to work outside of the corrupt system successfully appealed to CAS to compete. In 2018, they marched into the Opening Ceremony as the Olympic Athletes from Russia, or OAR. Two of those athletes failed drug tests, including a bronze medalist in curling. In Beijing, they are the athletes of the Russian Olympic Committee, ROC, this time flouting rules that dictate that the Russian flag, anthem, and government leaders are not allowed, marching into Opening Ceremony with Putin in attendance, the Russian flag emblazoned on their sleeves. That the athlete at the center of this, the one who CAS is looking to protect, is young and female is not an accident. The Russian skating engine, with the controversial and seemingly despotic Eteri Tutberidze at its center, coaches young female figure skaters to jump like no one has before, break their own records and then quickly step aside, disposable, so the next athlete can come off the bench. Numerous media outlets, including The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal recently, have reported on concerns about Tutberidze's methods. JUST WATCHEDHear from US anti-doping chief on what the new revelation on Valieva could meanReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHear from US anti-doping chief on what the new revelation on Valieva could mean 01:37According to the Post, she has described her athletes working 12 hours a day and has said, "What I try to teach my students starting at about the age of 13 is that you can't just come to practice and start whining: 'I am tired. I can't do this now. Let's do it tomorrow' ... Just look at the map and see the size of Russia -- and when you're selected and sent to an international competition, you will have a jacket. On its back it says 'Russia.' And if you're supposed to be the best that Russia sent for the world to see, then you cannot just step out on the ice with a bad attitude, thinking: 'I am tired today. I don't feel like skating my best and representing the Russian people as they expect me to.'" Unlike the horrors suffered by US gymnasts, who were abused behind closed doors in training facilities, the brutal physical demands imposed on Russian senior skaters whose coaches treated them as expendable has been open for many in the sport to see, not kept in the shadows. Now, at a moment when high profile athletes from Naomi Osaka to Simone Biles have interrupted the standard go-for-broke sports model with dialogue about wellness and mental health, is a crucial time to challenge this toxic status quo. In short, there is no protection for a so-called "protected" athlete like Valieva. She is part of a corrupt system that faces little impunity for its breach of sportsmanship, fair play and the rules as it lands historic quads and dominates medal podiums, showcasing the hypocritical world of international sport in the name of national pride in a precipitous global moment. That a 15-year-old is shouldering so much could be seen as she finished her short program, her face crumpling into tears. Her high-scoring skate -- despite a bobbled landing on her triple axel -- was good enough for first place over Japan's Karoi Sakamoto. And even that was controversial to some (former Olympian Adam Rippon included) who thought Sakamoto's showing surpassed Valieva's.Where and how this ends we just don't know. The IOC, for its part, has made clear that should Valieva, the heavy favorite for gold, finish on the podium, there will be no medal ceremony, same as what went down with the team event, stating that "it would not be appropriate ... as it would include an athlete who on the one hand has a positive A-sample, but whose violation of the anti-doping rules has not yet been established ..." Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookWhile this decision robs other skaters -- including the silver-medal-winning US squad in the team event -- of the thrill of their podium moment in Beijing, the IOC promises it will hold "dignified medal ceremonies" when all is said and done. Yet it seems as though the time for dignified anything has come and gone. Just as Sha'Carri Richardson, whose positive test last summer -- marijuana -- dashed her hopes for a medal in Tokyo, has been vocal about what she sees as a double standard, CAS's insistence on taking care of Valieva as a "protected person" rings hollow as she is returned to the coaches and support staff, including team doctors, who ostensibly, in the best-case scenario, gave an unknowing teen a drug to boost her stamina. Russia gets to have it all ways. Its ban involved state-sponsored doping. Valieva's reprieve is largely based on her age, and the assumption that if guilty, she is a victim of -- wait for it -- state-sponsored doping. No matter how many points she scores, no matter how many quads she lands, no matter what kind of a historic skater she is -- and yes, let's be clear, she is a once-in-a-generation skater -- the only thing that is certain is that there will be no winners, no one protected, in women's figure skating in Beijing.
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'I would really like to call him': Mikaela Shiffrin on her first Winter Olympics without her late father - CNN
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(CNN)This wasn't how Mikaela Shiffrin had envisaged her Winter Olympics at Beijing 2022 would go. Two events in the space of three days ended in crashes for the 26-year-old, all but ending her hopes of becoming the first US skier to win three medals at a single Winter Olympics.These Games are particularly emotional for Shiffrin as she competes at the Olympics for the first time without her father, Jeff, who died suddenly from an accident in February 2020 while at home in Colorado. He was 65.And as she processed her second DNF on Wednesday, Shiffrin's thoughts immediately turned to her father.Mikaela Shiffrin: 'A really big let down,' says US skier after she crashes out for the second time at Beijing 2022"It does give me perspective but right now, I would really like to call him," she said after Wednesday's slalom.Read More"So, that doesn't make it easier. He would probably tell me to get over it, but he's not here to say that, so on top of everything else I am pretty angry at him too."Competing on the other side of the world at the time of her father's accident two years ago, the devastated skier rushed home with her mother Eileen and brother Taylor to be by his side."I was really grateful that we got a chance to see him in those final moments," Shiffrin told CNN's Christina Macfarlane back in 2020.It is a given in the skiing world that few families are as tight as the Shiffrins. During the season, her mother is frequently seen alongside Shiffrin on the race hill. JUST WATCHEDTime Out: Mikaela Shiffrin opens up about her father's passingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTime Out: Mikaela Shiffrin opens up about her father's passing 03:57Her father would join the media in the finish area, trying to capture the best picture of his daughter crossing the finish line. Another medal in tow, another memory for the family album."Skiing is something that my entire family shares. And my dad, he loved skiing, he loved it ... I found being on the mountains was like being close to him."'The consequences are too big'The opening day of the alpine skiing schedule in Beijing on Monday wasn't just tough for Shiffrin, but also her boyfriend Aleksander Aamodt Kilde.Not long after Shiffrin had crashed out after just five turns of her opening runs, Kilde could only manage fifth place in the men's downhill, though he did win a bronze in the men's super-G on Tuesday.Kilde is currently the world's No. 1 men's downhill skier and had been favorite to take gold coming into Beijing 2022, but he admitted "some mistakes" cost him any chance at a medal.Ahead of their opening events, Kilde had talked about life was like in the Olympic Village with Shiffrin -- the 29-year-old Norwegian and the American have been dubbed skiing's most famous power couple."Everybody says: 'Yeah, now you can spend so much time together and it's nice to have her,' but it's more challenging," he says. "With Covid and restrictions, you have to be really careful.READ: Mikaela Shiffrin doesn't want to have to choose between 'morality versus being able to do your job' at the 2022 Winter OlympicsAleksander Aamodt Kilde and Mikaela Shiffrin attend the Gold Medal Gala in New York City."It's a tease kind of, if you know what I mean. You see her but you can't really touch her, can't really be with her that much. But it's really nice to have her here. Of course we can eat dinner together and it's no problem. We really enjoy that. "We are keeping the same routine as always, face-timing, talking on the phone. We try to be careful because if we get Covid then the consequences are too big."Given their competitive nature -- and the fact they are both at the top of their field -- Klide said it's beneficial for both of them to be dating a high-level skier."Just in general how things are feeling, experiences, decision-making," he says. "All those general things about skiing, not really too much technical."She sends me videos and I send her videos and then we try to learn from each other a little. I have a lot to learn from her." 'Morality versus being able to do your job'In an interview with CNN in 2021, Shiffrin spoke about the "morality" of competing at Beijing 2022 under the shadow of alleged human rights violations in China, in particular against the Uyghur population in Xinjiang.The US State Department estimates as many as two million Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities have been detained in internment camps in Xinjiang province since 2017, although China has repeatedly denied accusations of human rights abuses."What's a real bummer is that there's not only accusations but, like, legitimate proof in a lot of these places we've been going the last several Olympics," she said.JUST WATCHEDMikaela Shiffrin: Don't want to have to choose between 'morality vs being able to do your job'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMikaela Shiffrin: Don't want to have to choose between 'morality vs being able to do your job' 02:44"One of the important things about the Olympics is that it is supposed to be a global event, not just in your sort of mainstream sporting countries, but it's supposed to be global. I do understand the importance of trying to stay true to that pledge, essentially. But it is tough, to be honest."The Olympics is big, and it's something that you shoot for, and you don't want to miss it."And you certainly don't want to be put in the position of having to choose between human rights like morality versus being able to do your job, which on the other hand can bring light to some issues or can actually bring hope to the world at a very difficult time."
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