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Story highlights"I keep playing back tapes in my head and realizing that we have not come anywhere," says long-time Charleston civil rights activist"This is not strictly a race problem," says a resident and historian, "this is also a human problem and a global problem""It's just so bad that we have to live through tragedies like this to get people's attention," says a 70-year-old Charleston nativeCharleston, South Carolina (CNN)Bill Saunders can still hear the officer's words in his head: "You don't belong here."That was decades ago. But last week, news that a gunman spewing racist hatred attacked a church in his community took him right back to that day, when he had returned from fighting in Korea and was told he had no right to be inside a bus-station waiting area in his own country. Now Saunders proudly displays photographs of famous civil rights figures like Rosa Parks in his office. And he points to newspaper articles about struggles he's helped fight -- and won -- like a 1969 hospital workers strike in Charleston. The 80-year-old longtime activist and founder of the Committee On Better Racial Assurance says he means it when he calls himself a troublemaker in Charleston."I've made a lot of enemies here," he says. "And I say I made them because I came after them before they came after me."Read MoreBut the shooting at Mother Emanuel, he says, has pushed him toward a haunting realization."I've been crying a lot, a hell of a lot," he says."I keep playing back tapes in my head and realizing that we have not come anywhere."His whole life -- ever since that day at the bus station -- Saunders says he's been fighting to be seen as a man. It's a goal that he says feels out of reach now, more than ever, in this state where the Confederate flag still flies proudly and a deranged racist can still slaughter innocent people in a brazen church attack."One of the things I wanted all my life is to be a man, not a black man, but a man. There's no way I can ever be a man in Charleston, South Carolina," Saunders says. "I will always be a boy to the system."I really wanted to die free. But that's not going to happen in my lifetime." "One of the things I wanted all my life is to be a man, not a black man, but a man. There's no way I can ever be a man in Charleston, South Carolina. I'm 80 years old and I'll always be a boy..to the system." -William Saunders #charleston #southcarolina #northcharleston #portrait #iphoneography #blackandwhite #charlestonshooting A photo posted by Deborah Brunswick (@debrunswick) on Jun 19, 2015 at 8:09pm PDT Bridging the divideSpeaking shortly after the shooting this week, Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley vowed that his city would remain resilient and come together."This hateful person came to this community with some crazy idea that he would be able to divide," he said. "And all he did was make us more united, and love each other even more."But talk to some of the area's most battle-hardened civil rights activists and you'll hear hints of a more complicated storyThe shooting, they say, has exposed wounds that were long lurking beneath the surface in a city where racial divides remain a reality -- hidden, but unhealed.Catalyst for change"History is sort of repeating itself. ... It's disturbing," says William Pugh.For the soon-to-be high school senior, the fight against racism in his home state has become more than just a chapter in a history book. Last year, the football coach at his North Charleston high school was fired after word spread that the team had a ritual it followed after defeating predominantly African-American schools: smashing watermelons with caricatures drawn on them while making monkey noises.Students spoke out afterward -- but not in the way Pugh expected. A lot of them, he says, were quick to criticize the school administration for firing the coach. That's when Pugh joined the fray, writing a letter to the editor of his school newspaper."No one has stood up to tell them that their actions were wrong, and it's time for that to change," he wrote.After this week's shooting, Pugh says he sees hope in the tragedy."I just hope that this can be used as catalyst for change," he says, adding that it's time for young people to pick up where past generations left off."It's going to take their wisdom," he says, "but our energy."'We are still being violated'In a wooden pavilion, behind an orphanage that's helped young African-American children in the Charleston area for more than a century, gospel music plays as the faint smell of ocean water lingers in air that is heavy with history.This warm Saturday afternoon was supposed to be a day for joyful celebration: the annual marking of Juneteenth -- the day a century and a half ago when the last slaves in the United States finally gained their freedom.When the shooting at Charleston's Mother Emanuel sent shock waves through their community, the organizers debated whether they should cancel. Sara J. Nesbit knew that wasn't an option. So in addition to a festival with traditional music and dancing, she booked guest speakers to talk about the impact of the shooting.It was a natural fit, Nesbit says. Juneteenth, after all, celebrates the emancipation of a people whose rights were violated. "It all ties in," she says. "We are still being violated." "I think it's just so important for us to remember. We must never forget, but we must not grow hate in our hearts." - Sara J. Nesbit, an organizer of a #juneteenth celebration in #northcharleston that also included a forum on the #charlestonshooting A photo posted by Catherine Shoichet (@catherinecnn) on Jun 20, 2015 at 8:02pm PDT A woman comes to the podium and says she's proud to be from Charleston, but adds that the area's residents from different cultural backgrounds need to take more steps to find common ground."We don't know each other if we don't sit down with each other and hear each other's stories," she says.A few minutes later, Nation of Islam Minister DeAndre Muhammad warns the crowd not to be complacent."This city will not have a race war, they say. But we must realize that we were victims of war as soon as the soles of our forefathers' feet set foot on the United States of America," he says. "We are casualties of war." The gunman in last week's attack clearly picked his target with history in mind, says Damon L. Fordham, and history should be part of how we process what happened.The shooting at Mother Emanuel, the historian says, harkens back to the high frequency of attacks on black churches decades ago. But for Fordham, who's spent years studying African-Americans in South Carolina, the issues at play in this most recent attack go far beyond the state's borders."Let's not kid ourselves. The problems are not geographic. ... There are no utopias on this Earth. This is not strictly a race problem," he says. "This is also a human problem and a global problem."'I saw it coming'The shooting at Mother Emanuel devastated Minerva Brown King. But somehow, she wasn't surprised.A week ago, the 70-year-old high school librarian was telling her friends at a church book group that something serious was simmering beneath the surface in their city, and something terrible was bound to happen soon."I saw it coming. I heard it. I smelled it. I felt it coming," she says. "I've been in this community long enough to feel the rumblings, the lack of true communication."She wishes she hadn't been right. She knew four of the nine people killed in Wednesday's attack."It's just so bad that we have to live through tragedies like this to get people's attention," she says. "It's right there in front of us. We've just ignored it for so long."It's been more than five decades since King sat at the S.H. Kress & Co. five-and-dime store in Charleston with her high school classmates, watching a waitress pour ammonia over the counter in an attempt to get out of serving them, in what became the city's first civil rights sit-in. It's been decades since she saw crosses burning on her family's front lawn as nightriders targeted her father, the head of Charleston's local NAACP chapter.It's been decades since she met in marathon sessions with groups of civil rights activists inside Mother Emanuel, making picket signs and planning their next move.And until recently, it had been decades since she'd marched.Her concerns about what she says are Charleston's increasingly segregated schools brought King back to the streets several months ago. Then the April shooting death of Walter Scott, which drew national attention after a video surfaced showing a police officer gunning him down, further fueled her fervor.Now, she frequently finds herself wearing a T-shirt that says, "DO YOU BELIEVE US NOW?!" in bold white block letters on a black background. The message, she says, refers to complaints North Charleston's African-American residents made for years about excessive police force. It wasn't until the video of the police shooting emerged, she says, that anyone took them seriously. "I saw it coming. I heard it. I smelled it. I felt it coming. I've been in this community long enough to feel the rumblings, the lack of true communication. It's not gonna kill us folks to talk about race, and it might just do our community good." - Minerva Brown King, 70 #charlestonshooting #CNN A photo posted by Catherine Shoichet (@catherinecnn) on Jun 20, 2015 at 7:50pm PDT You don't have to travel far to see reminders of the struggles in Charleston's past. The longtime site of slave auctions is now a city-run museum. And signs in some of the city's most popular tourist areas document civil rights landmarks.On the surface, it might seem the city's racial divides are relics of the past. But it's not the obvious signs that you have to worry about, King says.It's the more insidious ones, according to King -- like increasingly segregated schools and gentrification that's drastically changed the city's demographics, sending most African-Americans into neighboring North Charleston.Politicians claim the Mother Emanuel attack "is the act of one deranged person," she says, "and that is so untrue."Officials, she says, are still fostering a climate that feeds hate in Charleston -- and beyond."I want the governors and the mayors to start taking some responsibility for how they have contributed to the situation," she says.Until they do, and until people start being more honest when talking about race, King says, she'll keep marching.Right now, she says, it makes sense that people are flocking to the historic church in mourning. But King is ready to shift gears."That can't be the end of the struggle," she says. "That should be the beginning."CNN's Deborah Brunswick contributed to this report.

(CNN)At least 23 people have been killed, several more are missing and hundreds have been injured after an earthquake struck Albania on Tuesday.The quake, which had a preliminary rating of 6.4 magnitude, hit the European nation at an approximate depth of 20 kilometers (12 miles) early Tuesday local time, according to the United States Geological Survey. It is the strongest to hit Albania in 40 years. The epicenter was in the port city of Durres, about 36 kilometers (22 miles) from the capital Tirana. Social media videos from the area show several buildings have collapsed.Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's office revised the death toll upwards several times on Tuesday. At least four victims died in Durres, spokesman Endri Fuga told CNN. Another two died in Thumane, one person died after jumping from a building in panic in Kurbin, and one victim died while driving on a badly damaged road in Lezhe, the spokesperson added.Live from Albania now. 6.4 Richter #seismos #σεισμος #terremoto #Albania #Durres #Tirana #Δυρραχιο #Τιρανα #Αλβανια 🙏🙏🙏#PrayforAlbania pic.twitter.com/khOEbLe3Bc— Elizana Xhameta (@elizanaxhameta) November 26, 2019 Around 45 people were rescued from the rubble, Fuga told CNN, and more than 650 people have received medical attention throughout the day. He added that 30 people are being treated in hospitals.Read MoreFuga did not want to speculate on how many people may still be missing, but added that search and rescue teams would continue working throughout the night in the affected areas.Nearby Bosnia and Herzegovina was also struck by an earthquake on Tuesday morning, the country's interior ministry told CNN. That quake had a 5.4 magnitude rating. Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaAn aerial photo taken on Wednesday, November 27, shows emergency crews searching the rubble of a collapsed building in Thumane, Albania, the day after a devastating earthquake struck the region. Hide Caption 1 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaA family shelters at a makeshift camp for earthquake survivors in Durres, Albania, on November 27.Hide Caption 2 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaTents are pitched at the soccer stadium in Durres for those sheltering in the aftermath of the earthquake on November 27.Hide Caption 3 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaPeople queue to receive food at a camp for quake survivors in Durres.Hide Caption 4 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaMembers of the emergency services work to remove debris from a damaged building in Durres.Hide Caption 5 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaCrews search for survivors in the rubble of a building in Durres on November 26.Hide Caption 6 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaAlbanian Prime Minister Edi Rama visits areas affected by the earthquake on November 26.Hide Caption 7 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaA doorframe remains standing amid the rubble of a collapsed building in Thumane.Hide Caption 8 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaPeople grieve at the site of the disaster in Durres.Hide Caption 9 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaSoldiers and rescue workers carry an injured man who was found in the debris of a collapsed building in Thumane.Hide Caption 10 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaEmergency personnel work at the site of a damaged building in Thumane.Hide Caption 11 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaFamily members gather at the site of a collapsed building in Thumane.Hide Caption 12 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaEmergency workers clear debris from the site of a building that collapsed in Thumane.Hide Caption 13 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaRescuers carry the body of a 5-year old girl from the wreckage of a building in Thumane.Hide Caption 14 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaRelatives of people living in a collapsed building in Thumane look on as rescuers search the rubble.Hide Caption 15 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaEmergency workers carry an injured woman from the debris of a damaged building in Thumane.Hide Caption 16 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaEmergency workers clear rubble from buildings damaged in the quake.Hide Caption 17 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaA relative cries out as rescuers search a damaged building.Hide Caption 18 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaEmergency responders work in the rubble of a damaged building.Hide Caption 19 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaA car is buried beneath debris at a hotel in Durres.Hide Caption 20 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaA man searches through rubble in Durres.Hide Caption 21 of 22 Photos: Deadly earthquake strikes AlbaniaResidents gather in Tirana after the quake struck.Hide Caption 22 of 22Rama said nearby countries, including Italy and Greece, have been assisting Albania with the recovery operation, while other European leaders have also offered their assistance.Schools were closed in three cities -- Durres, Lezhe and Tirana -- after the quake.Correction: This story has been updated to amend the distance between the quake's epicenter and Tirana.CNN's Stephanie Halasz, Duarte Mendonca, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Karley Wilson contributed to this article.

Story highlightsEurope lead United States 4 1/2 to 3 1/2 after opening day of Solheim CupMorning session shared 2-2 before Europe pull ahead in afternoon fourballsSwede Sophie Gustafson and Norway's Suzann Pettersen star for the Europeans in IrelandPaula Creamer claims two points for the United States from losing positions Europe survived a late rally from the United States to hold a slender one-point lead after the first day of the Solheim Cup in Ireland Friday.After sharing the opening foursomes 2-2, Europe looked set to take a commanding lead in the afternoon fourballs until the three-time defending champions limited their losses after trailing in all four matches.Europe will take a 4 1/2 to 3 1/2 lead into Saturday's matches at Killeen Castle Golf Club in County Meath with Norway's Suzann Pettersen and Sophie Gustafson of Sweden playing a pivotal role.They paired together in the morning foursomes for a last-hole win and then secured afternoon victories with different partners.2010 U.S. Open champion Paula Creamer was equally influential for the U.S as she and Brittany Lincicome won the final two holes to defeat Melissa Reid and Karen Stupples by one hole in the morning.It was a repeat act in the fourballs, one down after 16 with Morgan Pressel against Reid and Laura Davies, Creamer made a dramatic winning birdie putt on the 17th and saw her partner drain an 18-foot putt for another winning birdie at the 18th.What you need to know about the Solheim Cup it denied veteran Davies, who has played in all 12 Solheim Cups, the half point required to overtake Annika Sorenstam as the all-time leading points scorer in the biennial team competition."Both matches could prove vital. I was one down with two to play and going down the 17th told my partners 'we're not going to lose'. Even half a point can be huge so to win two was massive," she told AFP.World No.2 Pettersen was also in the mood for late heroics, holing a birdie putt on the final green to win her foursomes with Gustafson and then joined Anna Nordqvist in a superb final hole win over Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie."I had two great partners and it has been a great day's team effort," said Pettersen, the world No.2 and a veteran of six Solheims.In the fourballs, Gustafson helped Caroline Hedwall to a crushing 5 and 4 win over Vicky Hurst and Lincicome.Catriona Matthew, the 2009 Women's British Open Champion, was also in fine form, winning her foursomes with Spain's Azahara Munoz and adding a half point in the fourballs with Sandra Gal of Germany.They led Christina Kim and rookie Ryann O'Toole two up with three to play, but Kim holed a massive birdie putt at the short 16th and O'Toole made a 25-foot putt at the 17th as the honors were shared..

Story highlightsIsraeli judoka admits experience at Abu Dhabi grand slam still feels "bittersweet"Tournament organizers in UAE refused to raise Israel flag or play anthemIsrael hosting this week's European Judo Championships in Tel AvivIJF president meets Israeli prime minister (CNN)As Tal Flicker prepares to fight for gold on home soil at this week's European Judo Championships, the memories of the last time he stood upon the podium come flooding back. Six months have passed since the Israeli triumphed in the half-lightweight division at Abu Dhabi's IPIC Arena, a sporting feat blighted by geopolitics that generated headlines around the world.Follow @cnnsport "I think it is the same feeling; it is still bittersweet," Flicker tells CNN Sport, having sung Hatikvah in quiet defiance when tournament organizers refused to play his country's traditional national anthem. "Of course, winning a gold medal at a grand slam was very sweet but, at the same time, sport and politics should not mix. "I think sport should overcome all the politics."Read MoreREAD: UAE officials apologize to Israel judo team following handshake snubIsrael's Tal Flicker says he hopes sport can build bridges ahead of this week's European Judo Championships in Tel Aviv. 'A positive experience for all participants'Approximately 400 athletes from 44 nations are expected to travel to Tel Aviv for this week's competition. And Flicker isn't the only one that hopes such discrimination -- engendered because the UAE has no diplomatic ties with Israel and doesn't recognize it as a state -- never occurs again. Former Olympic judoka Moshe Ponte, now president of the Israel Judo Association, believes the Championships offer a chance to showcase the nation on the 70th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence. "We are delighted to have the opportunity to organize these important Championships," said Ponte. "We firmly believe that a Judo tournament should be a positive experience for all participants sportsmen, coaches, staff and audience alike."Tal Flicker quickfire questionsProudest achievement? Winning bronze at the Budapest 2017 World Championships.Judo idols growing up?I really liked the Japanese. They have a good technique and they are the best judo players in the world. What can the sport teach people about life? I think the most obvious aspect value is respect. Before you start the fight, you give a bow to show respect to the opponent. Then you fight like you want to eat each other. But then you bow again. Other sports could learn from that.Toughest moments? Not qualifying for the Rio 2016 Olympics. Something not many people know about me is...Away from judo, I like going to the beach. Israel has the most beautiful beaches in the world. Judo is important to me because... It's everything in my life.Hopes for the future? Qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and winning a medal...gold!Sergey Soloveychik, president of the European Judo Union (EJU), issued a statement praising Israel's heritage, predicting it would be a "joyful" occasion. "Israel has a successful history of staging important European events," said Soloveychik. "I sincerely hope that these Championships will bring you a lot of positive emotions and bright impressions."Flicker predicted the Tel Aviv tournament would run smoothly, calling it a "70th birthday gift" for his country."I'm very excited to compete in Israel; it's going to be an amazing event," he said. " I hope we will have more."People don't know how beautiful Israel is and how much we love judo, so I think everyone is going to enjoy it."On the eve of the Championships, IJF president Marius Vizer met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and sports minister Miri Regev."Sport should be a model of friendship, peace and solidarity for the new generations, in order to build a modern and stable world," said Vizer, having discussed the possibility of organizing an IJF World Judo Tour event in Israel that's open to all countries.Sport should be a model of friendship, peace and solidarity for the new generations, in order to build a modern and stable world #JudoTelAviv2018 pic.twitter.com/7YeYtk7zde— Marius Vizer (@MariusVizer) April 25, 2018 Flicker has previously spoken passionately about his pride in representing Israel, writing on his official Facebook page last year: "With or without the flag, I will face the difficulties and any rival in front of me... Everyone in this world knows where we're from and which country we represent."He and his 11 compatriots competing at the elite international event in Abu Dhabi were forced to wear judo uniforms without the typical identifying symbols of their nationality -- despite the International Judo Federation (IJF) contacting the president of the UAE Judo Federation insisting all delegations be treated "absolutely equally," according to a letter obtained by the APVizer contended Flicker and the team had been treated well given the "delicate issues" between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, issuing a statement saying: "Sometimes with courage, respect and politeness, you can solve tensions and conflicts which have not been solved [for] many decades."The UAE Wrestling, Judo & Kickboxing Federation did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. READ: Meet Lukas Krpalek, the Czech heavyweight with the toughest task in sportBuilding bridgesWith a moral code preaching a distinct set of ethics, judo is among the most popular sports in Israel, and accounts for over half of the country's Olympic medals since it first competed as a nation in 1952.Flicker, who secured bronze at the recent Budapest World Championships and is aiming for gold at Tokyo 2020, believes success breeds success. "I think it's about tradition," he says. "The right people managing the sport. The right coaches."Oren Smadja was the first [Israeli] man to win an Olympic medal for judo (bronze at the 1992 Barcelona Games) and he's now the national coach. "Success becomes something of a tradition."READ: 'Judo gives us hope in this fragile world' - Yasuhiro YamashitaFlicker, a former world No. 1 in his -66kg division, also praises the values of the discipline. "I think the most obvious aspect you can take from judo is respect," says the 25-year-old. "Before you start the fight, you give a bow to show respect to the opponent. "Then you fight like you want to eat each other. But then you bow again. Other sports could learn from that."Flicker embraces fellow medalists Mikhail Puliaev (L), Hifumi Abe and Cazha Margvelashvili at the 2017 World Championships.This year alone has seen a unified Korean hockey team and two countries marching under the same flag at the Winter Olympics.Visit CNN.com/judo for more news and featuresDoes the Israeli judoka ultimately see "the gentle way" as something that can heal longstanding rifts going forward? "Yes of course, most definitely," says Flicker. "Not only judo, sport generally can build bridges."

Story highlights"Things are definitely not heading in the right direction" in Syria, Ash Carter saysUS defense secretary says Turkey and Syrian Kurds are key to fighting ISISLondon (CNN)Russia bears responsibility for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's actions and his failure thus far to agree to a ceasefire in his country's 5-year-old conflict, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Wednesday."It could use its influence to help put an end to this civil war," Carter told her in an interview in London. "They bear the responsibility of the consequences of things that they could avoid."Carter noted Tuesday's attack in east Aleppo, allegedly involving barrels of chlorine gas dropped on a rebel-held neighborhood, as a sign that "things are definitely not heading in the right direction."JUST WATCHEDU.S. trying to 'manage' Turkish/Syrian Kurdish tensionReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHU.S. trying to 'manage' Turkish/Syrian Kurdish tension 01:51Medical groups and activists said that attack sent more than 100 people to the hospital.Expressing further skepticism of Russia, Carter said that while "you've got to keep hoping, the experience suggests that we're not close to that point" where Moscow will change its actions.Read MoreOn the relationship between two US allies fighting ISIS in Syria -- Turkey and the Syrian Kurds -- he acknowledged they "don't get along."But the secretary said that they are key in the battle against ISIS and that the United States intends to "keep our commitments" to both of them."We work with both sides, and we try to manage the tension, which we understand," Carter said.JUST WATCHEDWatch the full interviewReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWatch the full interview 09:40A key way to doing so, he said, is for each side to have operational awareness of the other -- "to know exactly what they're doing, and for us to establish the way with them, ways that they cannot interfere with one another in the pursuit of their separate objectives.""So for example, we have agreed with them about where each party will be geographically in such a way that they can conduct their operations against ISIL (ISIS) and not run into each other, which might create a circumstance in which there could be a collision between the two of them, which we don't want to see."

(CNN)David McCormick, a Republican hedge fund executive, is running for the US Senate in Pennsylvania, he formally announced Thursday morning.As part of the rollout, the McCormick campaign released a TV ad featuring the 56-year-old speaking directly to the camera from a high-school gymnasium."I'm Dave McCormick," he says in the ad. "I've been fighting my whole life from wrestling in this gym to one just like it at West Point. I fought for freedom in Iraq and American capitalism, not socialism. And now I'm running for the US Senate to fight the woke mob, hijacking America's future."McCormick is the latest candidate to join the GOP primary field to succeed retiring Sen. Pat Toomey, a two-term Republican. Among the other Republicans in the race are TV personality Dr. Mehmet Oz, former US ambassador Carla Sands and businessman Jeff Bartos. McCormick, a former official in the Treasury Department under President George W. Bush, is a Pennsylvania native and West Point graduate. For years he has lived in Connecticut, where his hedge fund is located, but Republicans in Pennsylvania were recruiting McCormick to come back to the state and run.Read MoreHis opening emerged in November, when leading Republican candidate Sean Parnell, who had been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, dropped out amid a bitter public custody fight with his estranged wife. While Trump has not endorsed a new candidate since Parnell's departure, McCormick has multiple connections to the former GOP President. His wife, Dina Powell McCormick, was Trump's deputy national security adviser. A number of other Trump White House aides will also be formally advising his campaign, including Hope Hicks, Stephen Miller and Cliff Sims, according to a person familiar with the campaign.McCormick's entry comes almost two months after another person with Trump connections, Oz, jumped into the race.Oz has cast himself as a "conservative who will put America first" and an adopted son of Pennsylvania, where he went to medical school. Like Trump, Oz is a TV figure from the New York area, and the two men have known each other for years. In 2018, Trump appointed Oz to the Presidential Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, reappointing him to the position in 2020.Since entering the race, Oz has appeared several times on Fox News. Meanwhile, a super PAC supporting Oz called American Leadership Action has anticipated McCormick's own candidacy. The group launched a TV ad on Thursday criticizing McCormick's hedge fund for investing in China."McCormick even criticized President Trump's China policy," says the voiceover.An ugly primary fight among Republicans could benefit Democrats looking to win the seat. Toomey's retirement follows President Joe Biden's defeat of Trump in Pennsylvania in the 2020 election, and Democrats see the race as a potential pick-up opportunity in 2022. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, Rep. Conor Lamb, state senator Sharif Street, state representative Malcolm Kenyatta and Montgomery County commissioner Val Arkoosh all vying for their party's nomination.

London (CNN)As the novel coronavirus rips through a stunned global population, it's becoming clear that no one can escape the impact it's having on society.The past few weeks have shown that even the world's wealthiest and most powerful are as likely to contract the virus as anyone else. However, less attention is being paid to the most vulnerable members of society -- those in poverty, people living on the breadline and the homeless. The problem reached a crunch point in the UK, which has dramatically increased its response to the virus outbreak this week. Food banks that provide a lifeline for some of the estimated 14 million in poverty are running low on volunteers, many of whom have been forced to self-isolate, as well as food itself, which is in short supply following panic-buying. Read more:Coronavirus is revealing how badly the UK has failed its most vulnerableUK government will pay 80% of wages as it closes pubs to fight coronavirusLondon amid coronavirus: Empty shelves but busy barsUS, UK strategies shifted following UK epidemiologists' ominous reportThe situation is equally bleak for the UK's homeless population, estimated to be around 320,000. Unable to follow government advice to self-isolate, they face a double blow as life-saving services close just as they become most needed.People working on the frontline in homeless shelters told CNN their worst nightmares were already coming true, with at least one facility forced to close after one of its users died from COVID-19. Most of the people in that shelter are now sleeping rough and may have come into contact with virus carriers.Read MoreHomeless people hold signs appealing for help as they pose for a photograph in London on March 19.Shelter, a non-profit that provides support for the UK's homeless population, estimates that the number of people sleeping on the streets has risen 165% since 2010.That date is important. It's the year the UK went from having a center-left Labour government to a center-right Conservative-led administration. And in the wake of the 2007-2008 global financial crisis, it embarked on policies that radically cut state spending. "The message was clear... we need to cut back to balance the books," says Garry Lemon, director of policy at the Trussell Trust, a non-profit that supports food banks in the UK. How grocery stores restock shelves in the age of coronavirus"It took a lot of forms, but billions of pounds were taken out of our social security system -- and it was done with widespread public support."Critics believe that government policies over the past decade have left the social security system severely compromised. "Our research shows that combined impact of those policies amount to average £3,000 a year ($3,560) for the poorest," says Clare McNeil from the left-of-center IPPR think tank.Lemon adds that his organization's research has shown a link between these policies and a rise in "homelessness and food bank usage."The subject of food banks is a good place to return to coronavirus, and especially how it affects the vulnerable. "The majority of our volunteers are retired. Some are not in good health because it's hard to be when you're over 70," says Allison, one of seven volunteers at an independent food bank in the UK. (She preferred to withhold her last name in order to be able to speak more freely.)"We've given them the option of dropping out and obeying the government guidelines. But it does leave a hole. Now, if a family member coughs, people are gone at the drop of a hat."JUST WATCHEDActs of kindness amid coronavirus pandemic ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHActs of kindness amid coronavirus pandemic 01:58Lemon points out that this is far from the only problem faced by food banks. "With businesses closing down and the social security state as it is, we face a possible increase in demand. We also face a responsibility of maintaining our supply of food."Panic buying has left shelves empty across the UK, forcing supermarkets to ration the amount individuals can buy. For small food banks like Allison's, it's a real concern. "Panic buying has meant supermarkets are limiting so people cannot buy excess items for donating. People who use the food bank, it's quite a hand-to-mouth existence. And now that food just isn't there."A ready supply of volunteers and food is one issue. Arguably, a more serious issue is the physical condition of the people who depend on them. "People with mental health problems, single mothers, disabled people ... these people are all overrepresented in food banks," says Lemon.Dr. Onkar Sahota, a member of the London Assembly and a family doctor in Britain's National Health Service, says that "those in poverty are exposed because, in many cases, their underlying health will not be as good as wealthier members of the population." In the context of coronavirus, he says "their immune systems might be lower because they have less access to foods and find it harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle."Sahota goes on to explain that in some cases, the most vulnerable "will find it harder to self-isolate -- especially in the case of homeless people."Matt Downie, director of policy for Crisis, a charity on the frontline of homelessness in Britain, explains: "If you are in a night shelter, you are in a shared space, possibly sleeping next to other people on the floor, where you have to share washing facilities. The advice the government is giving to self-isolate and keep yourself clean is useless for people in that situation."You are three times more likely to have severe respiratory problems if you are homeless and the average age of death if you are homeless is 44," he adds.McNeil believes the UK's homelessness crisis has been exacerbated by austerity measures. "Homeless people have been affected because of the reduction in funding for local authorities, so local support had to close down," she says.Anecdotally, this seems to be the case, according to Downie. "In some areas, people have been told by their local councils that there is no help available." In the context of coronavirus, the combination of an increased demand for services and, as with food banks, a hit on the volunteer network has created a nightmare scenario.And in a stark reminder of how serious this situation is, Downie adds: "If there is a report of an outbreak in a shelter then obviously it will have to shut, meaning we will see more people sleeping rough."The challenges facing these vulnerable members of society are nothing new. Campaigners hope that this crisis will at least shine a light on the plight of those in poverty and without homes. "This coronavirus exposes the cracks in society -- those who have mortgages and regular income could suddenly find themselves facing the same problems as people who are on benefits," says Sahota.McNeil points out that people who are used to enjoying a secure income might find themselves relying on the state. And she thinks that the government might have to make these benefits more generous, given the sudden influx of people who are used to a certain way of living.The UK is closing schools to all except the children of 'key workers.' Here's who they are"People on average incomes, who suddenly find themselves in a position of needing social security, couldn't conceive on living on under £100 a week," she says. Which would, of course, put enormous pressure on the government to boost spending on the welfare state, 10 years after government policy was to cut back.All of which brings us back to the politics of this. At some point, this crisis will abate. And when that happens, we will be living in a new normal. The current Conservative government will have had to subsidize businesses and individuals. Sahota believes it will have proved that "austerity was a political decision, rather than that we had no choice."It might be that when all is said and done, previously comfortable people, suddenly forced to stare into the eyes of destitution, will agree with Sahota and be unable to accept that economic prudence is more important than looking after the livelihoods of fellow citizens.This outbreak will change many things, and it's not clear how many of those will be undone when it's all over. Just how the world moves on from this is still anyone's guess. But, if current projections are right, we in the West are still only in the early stages of this thing.

(CNN)Some of the country's largest hotel companies continued to house immigrant detainees even after they publicly condemned the federal government's use of their rooms for this purpose, an attorney who receives government detention data told CNN.At least seven companies issued statements in July opposing the detention of immigrants in their hotels following protests from customers and activists."We do not believe hotels should be used in this way and will decline any requests to do so," Choice Hotels, for example, said in its statement at the time.Nonetheless, the government continued to place detainees in Choice hotels and in locations belonging to at least two other national hotel groups that had policies opposing the practice, according to data from immigration attorney Carlos Holguín, who receives monthly Department of Homeland Security reports on the placements of detained kids.Holguín receives this information as one of the attorneys tasked with monitoring the government's adherence to the Flores agreement, a high-profile court settlement which dictates how immigrant children should be treated while detained. Two additional sources, who were familiar with the cases but requested anonymity, confirmed the details about these hotel stays to CNN as well.Read MoreAt least 17 migrant youths were temporarily held by the federal government in hotels in August and September, according to ICE data provided to Holguín. The specific locations of all of the hotels were not available, and he did not have knowledge of whether additional youth were held recently or how many adults may also have been placed at hotels.Related: Medical care in immigrant detention centers under fireFederal data previously released to advocacy organizations through a public records request showed that ICE has used hotels in the past as well. Those used between 2015 and 2018 included a couple locations that held hundreds of immigrants -- and one that held thousands.Without confirming CNN's inquiries about the recent use of hotels, ICE said that it "has long utilized hotels to temporarily house illegal aliens while pending release or transfer to another facility," and that "the typical stay is an overnight or two."The agency said hotels may be used in "emergent instances" to hold detained immigrants, including migrant children who are on their own and on the way to licensed facilities or for family units. What should we investigate next? Email Blake Ellis and Melanie Hicken "Hotels are used to temporarily house vulnerable populations," the agency said in a statement. "Using hotels for short term detention of family units allows ICE to keep families together."It did not provide information about what kind of security measures are typically taken when detained immigrants are placed in hotels.Choice Hotels said that without the specific locations of the recent stays, it could not confirm or deny what sources told CNN -- that five immigrant youths were held in its hotels in August and September.Three were held at a Comfort Suites in August, the sources said, while one stayed at Sleep Inn & Suites in August, and another stayed there in September. Before these stays, in July, Choice had said publicly that it was not aware of any of its hotels, which are independently owned and operated, "being asked to serve as detention facilities." The company told CNN it communicated its position to franchisees earlier this year and that each property manages its own reservations and contracts.'Secret and unaccountable': Where some immigrant teens are being taken by ICE"We are working to take additional proactive measures to ensure Choice branded hotels are not being used as detention centers by examining the language in our brand Rules and Regulations and considering changes to establish greater clarity moving forward," Choice said.The Best Western Plus Dragon Gate Inn in Los Angeles' Chinatown also reportedly held immigrant youth -- with two children staying there in August, and two in September. When CNN called and asked to speak with the manager of this location, an employee said "we don't discuss that," and hung up. ICE's public data shows that Dragon Gate Inn has been used to house immigrant detainees in the past as well, dating back more than a decade.The Best Western chain stated in July that it was unaware of any of its locations being used as detention centers. "We believe that hotels should be used for their intended purpose which is to provide accommodation for the traveling public," it said at the time.When asked by CNN about the recent stays, the company said in a statement that the Dragon Gate Inn no longer "offers or provides accommodations" to ICE. It wouldn't say when the change was made or whether corporate had been aware of these stays.Want to read more stories like this? Sign up for our watchdog newsletterWhile Red Roof Inn was not among the chains that came out publicly against the hotel detentions in July, the company told CNN it also had a policy at the time that its locations should not be used in this way."Red Roof hotels are not set-up or intended to be used as detention facilities," the company said. "We reject the idea that hotels are to be used for this purpose."Yet according to the sources, at least eight minors were held at a Red Roof Inn in August and September. Red Roof said it was not aware that any property was being used for this purpose and couldn't look into the stays CNN inquired about without a specific location. It added that it has told its franchisees that "if there is a request for their hotel to be used as a detention facility, we strongly advise them to deny the request."Marianne Jennings, professor emeritus of legal and ethical studies in business at Arizona State University, said hotel companies made these pledges even though they didn't necessarily have the power to ensure that all of their independently-run locations would actually put an end to the practice."They then have the charge of hypocrisy added to the emotional immigration issues," she said.CREDO Action, an advocacy group which lobbied hotels this summer to stop the government from using their businesses to house immigrants, told CNN that the companies still doing this should "denounce these franchisees and their unconscionable actions, and demand that they take steps to stop all franchisees from collaborating with ICE."Allowing immigrants to be detained at their properties, it said, helps ICE to "supercharge deportations."Refusing to collaborate, they added, might "help weaken ICE's ability to carry out mass raids, especially those targeting families since many detention centers don't allow children."Related: 2 doctors were held by ICE. They say what they saw at one facility shocked themGinger Jacobs, a California immigration attorney, said the issue is more nuanced than this, however.While she opposes the detention of immigrants in general, she said that it is currently a reality and hotels can be a more humane option than detention facilities. It all depends on why the immigrants are being held there and how they are treated. At least in the San Diego area, she said she previously observed hotels used for humanitarian purposes in urgent situations -- for a pregnant woman or a mom and young child who were awaiting transfer to a nonprofit shelter, for example.The public statements made by these hotels may have been well-intentioned, she said, but simply cutting off access without understanding the specific circumstances in which they are being used could have unintended consequences.What should we investigate next? Email us: [email protected].

Story highlightsWorld Rugby criticized for proposed leagueVice-chair Agustin Pichot assures plans yet to be finalizedSays he would quit if Pacific Island teams excluded (CNN)Radical plans to reshape rugby's international calendar have caused shockwaves through the sport, but World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot has quelled fears that certain teams -- specifically Fiji and Samoa -- will be excluded from the new league.Reports last week suggested a 12-team, ring-fenced World League was set to be established in 2020, with the likes of USA, Japan, and Italy -- ranked 11th, 13th, and 15th in the world respectively -- included at the expense of the Pacific Island nations. But Pichot, a former Argentina captain who retired from rugby a decade ago, has said he is advocating promotion and relegation between two international leagues."I spoke to [Hale] T-Pole the Pacific Island representative," says Pichot, speaking to CNN at the Las Vegas Sevens. "I've been speaking to him regularly. I said be confident we are not going to go down that road [of a ring-fenced league]. If we go down that road probably I won't be here. "The first meeting we had was in Fiji when we started our process. I could not see that Fiji or the Pacific Islands [will be omitted]. Ask Romania, ask Georgia -- I spoke with Georgia and Romania in the last three days, the same with Brazil and Uruguay. They are my close friends. The same with Canada. Read More"You cannot leave everyone out of that big picture. If we're looking at the big picture they have to be consulted the same as the players."READ: Why World League exclusion 'could kill' Pacific Island rugbyJUST WATCHEDFiji's spectacular sand dune workoutReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFiji's spectacular sand dune workout 01:30ConfusionLast week, the Pacific Rugby Welfare group, which possesses a 600-strong membership including many professional players, said a boycott of this year's Rugby World Cup could be discussed as a "legitimate player protest" of World Rugby's alleged plans.Reports said that a 12-team league comprising New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, France, England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, USA and Japan was set to get under way in 2020, with all teams agreeing to the concept. That would mean ninth-ranked Fiji, 12th-ranked Georgia, Tonga (14th) and Samoa (16th) would miss out.But Pichot, who was elected World Rugby vice-chairman in 2015, says initial plans have been miscommunicated. "Confusion is the right word," he says. "There have been discussions, obviously, of who will participate. But mainly the concept is 12, plus 12. Who are those 12 in each of the bands is the question that is being resolved. It hasn't been resolved and that's where the confusion came."Basically the most important thing is there's a pathway ... whoever is there has to be merit based and has to have a pathway. If you're in the bottom 12 to go up and be part of the top 12 like in every sport has to be by merit and playing promotion and relegation. That's my view, that's most of the countries' views but other people think differently."READ: World Rugby criticized for 'out of touch' calendar shake-up Photos: The Rugby World Cup -- a historyEngland, 2015 – New Zealand became the first side to retain the Rugby World Cup after defeating Australia 34-17 in the final at Twickenham Stadium. Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: The Rugby World Cup -- a historyNew Zealand, 2011 – The All Blacks ended a 24-year drought when they lifted the Web Ellis trophy on home soil in 2011. Here, Ma'a Nonu greets raucous crowds during the victory parade in Wellington. Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: The Rugby World Cup -- a historyFrance, 2007 – South Africa claimed its second title in France in 2007, defeating England 6-15 at the Stade de France in Paris. Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: The Rugby World Cup -- a historyAustralia, 2003 – England became the first -- and to this day the only -- northern hemisphere side to win the World Cup in 2003 by defeating Australia 20-17 in Sydney. Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson struck the winning drop goal in extra-time.Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: The Rugby World Cup -- a historyWales, 1999 – Australia's second World Cup victory in 1999 came eight years after its first. A 35-12 victory over France saw John Eales' side lift the trophy in Cardiff.Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: The Rugby World Cup -- a historySouth Africa, 1995 – It's one of rugby's most iconic images -- South African President Nelson Mandela presenting the World Cup to Springbok captain Francois Pienaar in 1995. The victory helped unite the nation shortly after the end of apartheid. Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: The Rugby World Cup -- a historyEngland, 1991 – Australia first tasted World Cup victory in 1991 after narrowly defeating England 12-6 in the final.Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: The Rugby World Cup -- a historyNew Zealand, 1987 – The All Blacks won the inaugural Rugby World Cup on home soil in 1987. Captain David Kirk kisses the trophy following victory over France in Auckland. Hide Caption 8 of 8Self-preservationWorld Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont released a statement Sunday saying he is arranging a further meeting in Dublin this month to "consider the way forward for an annual international competition.""Contrary to reports, no decisions have been made," said Beaumont. "This is an ongoing and complex process with multiple stakeholders, some with differing views. "Only by working together in the interests of the global game can we achieve something truly impactful in this important area for rugby's future global growth."Pichot said the main opposition to promotion and relegation is coming from individual nations. "I don't know what nations specifically. What I can tell you is that it's self-preservation," said Pichot. "They look at emerging nations in 10 years' time and carrying on [to grow] because of the sizes of the countries [...] That sometimes gives other teams a bit of a self-preservation attitude. Again, that's politics and that's something that has to be resolved by World Rugby."JUST WATCHEDRugby in Japan: Cherry blossoms rise upReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRugby in Japan: Cherry blossoms rise up 03:16READ: USA ends sevens title drought with win in Las VegasAs well as the threats from Pacific Island nations to quit the World Cup, issues have been raised over the physical and mental strain the new league would place on players -- a debate that has been led by the players themselves. "Fans want to see meaningful games, they don't want to see fatigued players playing a reduced quality of rugby as part of a money-driven, weakened competition that doesn't work for the players or clubs," said New Zealand captain Kieran Read, a member of the International Rugby Players Council (IRP).World Rugby released a statement last week responding to such claims made via the IRP, saying that "commitment to player welfare matters is unwavering and we will continue to engage and give full consideration to the welfare of players within the ongoing discussions."

(CNN)British Prime Minister Theresa May sought to kick start Brexit negotiations on Friday, proposing to delay the impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU with a two-year transition period.In return for continued access to the EU single market, the UK would honor its budget commitments of about 10 billion euros (about $12 billion) year, remain bound by EU laws and accept continued immigration from Europe.But May said the transition should be "strictly time-limited" and replaced as soon as practicable by a bespoke, "creative" partnership that would respect the result of last year's EU referendum.Can Florence's beauty help Britain seduce the EU?UK and EU leaders share a "profound sense of responsibility" to make the process work "smoothly and sensibly" for this and future generations, she said at the Santa Maria Novella church in Florence, Italy."The eyes of the world are on us, but if we can be imaginative and creative about the way we establish this new relationship, if we can proceed on the basis of trust in each other, I believe we can be optimistic about the future we can build for the United Kingdom and for the European Union," she said.Read MoreThe top EU negotiator, Michel Barnier, welcomed the "constructive spirit" of the speech but warned that Britain would have to accede to all existing EU rules and oversight to retain access to the single market during any transition period. "The speech shows a willingness to move forward, as time is of the essence," he said.Key points of May's speechTransitional arrangements: May conceded that the Britain would not be ready to implement a Brexit deal when the UK formally leaves the EU in March 2019. A transition period would also be required for the UK to conclude a trade deal with the EU. To ease the process, May proposed a transition of about two years, during which the EU and UK would have access to each other's markets on current terms, retaining the "existing structure of EU rules and regulations."Financial obligations: The Prime Minister made it clear that the UK would not shirk its financial obligations during the transition period. "I do not want our partners to fear that they will need to pay more or receive less over the remainder of the current budget plan as a result of our decision to leave," she said.For the first time, May said that the UK would make ongoing payments to the EU even after the transition period, to cover joint programs in areas like security, science and culture. The UK would make an "ongoing contribution to cover our fair share of the costs involved," May sad.Trade deal: May rejected an off-the-shelf post-Brexit deal like the close relationship enjoyed by Norway within the European Economic Area or the detailed trade arrangement recently concluded with Canada. Such a choice was "stark and unimaginative," May said, adding that Britain and the EU could do "so much better.""European Economic Area membership would mean the UK having to adopt at home -- automatically and in their entirety -- new EU rules. Rules over which, in future, we will have little influence and no vote," she said. But a Canadian-style trade deal would "represent such a restriction on our mutual market access that it would benefit neither of our economies."EU citizens' rights: May said she aimed to make sure that EU citizens living in the UK -- including 600,000 Italians -- felt appreciated. "We want you to stay, we value you, and we thank you for your contribution to our national life," she said. But she did not offer any more details beyond the proposals already outlined by the UK.Security: A passage in May's last landmark Brexit speech in January was interpreted as a threat to withdraw security cooperation from Europe if a favorable Brexit deal was not concluded. On Friday, May sought to reject that notion, stressing Britain's continuing commitment to protecting European security in the face of global threats. "Our determination to defend the stability, security and prosperity of our European neighbors and friends remains steadfast," she said.Cautious responseBarnier, the EU's chief negotiator, gave a cautious welcome to the speech, praising its "constructive spirit" and signaling a willingness on the part of the EU to consider a formal transition period. But he warned that any extension of EU rights would require the UK to be bound by existing obligations, such as the freedom of movement of all EU citizens. EU negotiator Michel BarnierBut he said that May's words must be turned into specific negotiating positions when the fourth round of Brexit talks begins on Monday. "Prime Minister May's statements are a step forward but they must now be translated into a precise negotiating position of the UK government," he said.Barnier noted that May did not offer any clarity on how to resolve the vexed question of the Irish border -- Northern Ireland will remain part of the UK and the Republic of Ireland will stay in the EU. The restoration of a "hard" border between the territories threatens to undermine the Good Friday Agreement, which ended 30 years of sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland. "Today's speech does not clarify how the UK intends to honour its special responsibility for the consequences of its withdrawal for Ireland," he said.Manfred Weber, leader of the pro-European, center-right European People's Party in the European Parliament, gave the speech a lukewarm reception, tweeting: "In substance PM May is bringing no more clarity to London's positions. I am even more concerned now."He added: "The clock is ticking and time is running faster than the government believes in London."EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier and UK Brexit Secretary David Davis at the first round of talks.The pace of Brexit negotiations has so far frustrated EU and business leaders. The third round of talks ended last month in a very public dispute over how much Britain should pay in a divorce settlement, an issue the EU says must be resolved before the parties' future trading relationship -- Britain's key concern -- can be discussed.Divisions have also emerged within May's government. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson appeared to undermine her position just last weekend with a 4,000-word article in the Telegraph newspaper setting out his own Brexit vision. May will hope that her speech will satisfy demands from the European Union for clarity on Britain's position, as well as placating the "hard-Brexit" wing of her Conservative Party, who are adamantly opposed to any arrangement that looks like ongoing EU membership in all but name.Johnson tweeted a positive response to May's speech on Friday, however, saying: "PM speech was positive, optimistic & dynamic - and rightly disposes of the Norway option! Forwards!"PM speech was positive, optimistic & dynamic - and rightly disposes of the Norway option! Forwards!— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) September 22, 2017 He added: "A strong Britain working hand in hand with a strong Europe - but once again free to take our own decisions."CNN's Richard Allen Greene and Matt Wells contributed to this report.

(CNN)In late summer 2015, as tens of thousands of refugees were arriving on Europe's shores and trekking north to find a new home, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, already in power for a decade, made two decisions that would come to define her tenure.The first came on August 25, 2015, when Merkel chose to allow Syrian refugees who had already registered elsewhere in the European Union to enter Germany and register there, temporarily suspending an EU law that requires asylum seekers to be returned to the first country they entered.The following Friday, September 4, Merkel relaxed controls on the border with Austria, allowing tens of thousands of refugees stranded in Hungary to enter Germany.Ever since, Merkel's so-called open-door refugee policy has both been hailed as the epitome of a liberal, compassionate approach to migration and condemned as the nail in the coffin of the European project. In reality, experts say, the "open door" was something of a myth -- and is far from true today.Read More"It wasn't that Merkel opened the borders," said Christoph Nguyen, political scientist at Free University Berlin. "She just maintained the existing law of freedom of movement within Europe. It wasn't so much an opening as a 'not closing.'"Angela Merkel's migration policies have attracted both praise and criticism.Without question, the events of 2015 mark a milestone in Germany's history. Rarely had a European country faced such a rapid influx of people in peacetime. As a result of those events, Germany has received more asylum applications than any other EU country since 2015 -- more than 1.4 million, almost half of the total applications across the bloc -- this far more than any other member state.It's extremely hard to immigrate to Germany. It's even harder if you're a refugee."Philipp Pruy, immigration lawyerBut for those seeking asylum in Germany in 2018, the door is far from open. And for many of those already inside, life is getting harder.A deal struck between Merkel and her fractious interior minister Monday could see some asylum seekers sent back across the border with Austria, a clear sign of the Chancellor's tougher approach."The restrictions (on entry) are rising from month to month," Philipp Pruy, immigration lawyer at BC Legal in Regensburg, Germany, told CNN. "It's extremely hard to immigrate to Germany. It's even harder if you're a refugee."'Never an open door'On September 13, 2015, just nine days after refugees began crossing the Austrian border into Germany in their tens of thousands, Merkel's government reintroduced border controls in response to reports that some regions were not coping with the rapid arrival of so many newcomers.Train traffic from Austria was temporarily halted and German police began patrolling road crossing points.As far as an "open door" ever existed for refugees seeking to enter Germany, it had begun to close after less than two weeks.Karl Kopp, director for European affairs at Pro Asyl, a refugee advocacy charity in Germany, believes Merkel -- and Germany -- can be proud of the decision to let the refugees in. "It was a humanitarian decision (to open the border)," he told CNN. "But it was also crisis management, never an open door."Controls have remained on the Austrian border ever since. On June 1 this year, the Federal Police Directorate in Munich, Bavaria, implemented a further expansion of the border patrol with the goal of combating cross-border crime and illegal immigration. German police watch migrants arriving at the border to Austria on October 28, 2015 near Wegscheid, Germany. Thousands of people trying to enter Germany are already turned away at the border every year. In 2017, 7,504 migrants were pushed back at Germany's land borders, more than 90% of them at the Austrian border, according to government statistics.And since border controls were reintroduced, the number of people seeking asylum in Germany has plummeted, from around 722,000 in 2016 (many of whom arrived in the country the previous September) to 198,000 the following year. Numbers are projected to fall further in 2018, back to the levels of 2013-14. Why then the continued talk of a migration crisis in Germany? The reasons are two-fold, according to Nguyen, political scientist in Berlin: the challenge of integrating the new, and often very visible, refugee communities and the sudden growth of the far-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the wake of summer 2015.The AfD "became a movement with legs when the refugee situation amplified," Nguyen said. Now other parties are responding -- and trying to win back votes -- by becoming tougher on immigration, he explains, even though the underlying problem (the number of refugees arriving) "is not present anymore."Families kept apartMost people who crossed the border into Germany in September 2015 were Syrians fleeing a brutal civil war.Initially, most of them were given full refugee status, allowing them to apply to bring their close family members to Germany. Just one in 2,000 were given a lesser, subsidiary status. From early 2016, more and more Syrians were given a temporary form of protection that lasts only a year. More than one in four applicants received that status in 2016, rising to almost one in two in 2017.At the same time, the German parliament suspended the right for those with subsidiary status to be reunited with their families.Many of the hundreds of thousands of Syrians now living in Germany are therefore separated from their wives, husbands or children. "These are deterrence measures," said Kopp, referring to the policy changes in early 2016. "And it's really not good for integration. People can't move forward if their family is still living in limbo. People lose faith."Refugee children protest outside the German embassy in Athens on November 8, 2017, to demand a faster family reunification process in Germany.Deportations on the riseIn a move that led to international outrage, Germany began deporting some failed asylum seekers to Afghanistan in December 2016, despite reports that the security situation in the country was deteriorating. The flights continued in 2017, with 470 Afghans deported that year. BC Legal's Pruy is extremely critical of the deportations. "You cannot deport people to a crisis region," he said. "We are a rich country, we are a civilized country and we cannot allow people to be deported to a country where there is a civil war... Thousands of people are dying every year."He's also frustrated that the criteria for deportation have recently been expanded. On June 6 this year, while acknowledging that her own foreign ministry had produced a report showing that the security situation in Afghanistan had not changed, Merkel announced that any remaining restrictions would be lifted and all failed asylum seekers from Afghanistan would face deportation.In a statement to CNN, the German Foreign Office said that "the situation in Afghanistan continues to be regionally diverse and volatile" and that "there is always a case-by-case consideration by the competent authorities" regarding the situation of individuals eligible for deportation.'Drastic tightening of asylum law'For those who are still in the asylum process, Merkel and her government have introduced a raft of restrictive measures since September 2015 that Pruy describes as "a drastic tightening of the asylum law."Just a few weeks after refugees were seen snapping selfies with "Mutti (Mama) Merkel" a new piece of legislation entered into force accelerating the asylum process and replacing cash support with vouchers for asylum seekers living in reception centers. In early 2016, security forces were given the right to check cellphone data of new arrivals, a move criticized by human rights groups. Up to January this year, almost 9,000 asylum seekers had their phone data examined, according to government statistics.Merkel poses for a selfie with Anas Modamani, a refugee from Syria, after she visited a shelter for migrants and refugees in September 2015.The new laws have also led to quicker decision-making on asylum claims, but that doesn't mean greater accuracy or efficiency, Pruy said. That's borne out by data from the appeals system. Since 2016, tens of thousands of asylum seekers have had their rejected claim overturned and been granted refugee status on appeal.In 2017, more than one in five rejections were overturned in the courts, more than double the recent average.And Kopp is concerned that the effort to speed up deportations is leaving many people without the time to appeal and potentially have their right to protection acknowledged. "It's a matter of life and death for them," he said. 'The refugee chancellor doesn't exist'While Merkel has never publicly said she regrets her actions in late summer 2015, she has repeatedly pledged to drastically reduce the number of refugees arriving in Germany, replacing her infamous refrain of those weeks -- "we can do it" -- with another: "The events of 2015 must not be repeated."To pretend there is still a welcoming environment in Germany is wrong."Karl Kopp, director for European affairs, Pro AsylIn apparent pursuit of that goal, she helped strike a controversial deal between the EU and Turkey designed to stop arrivals in Greece and supports a plan to seek similar deals with African countries to stem migration flows even earlier."The number of asylum seekers in Germany has gone down," said Merkel in a speech to parliament last Thursday, ahead of the EU summit. "But we must not be satisfied with that -- I want to say that emphatically."Merkel's vocal support for the agreement reached at that summit -- which focuses solely on bringing "flows to a halt" -- only reaffirms her goal, as does her compromise deal with her interior minister earlier this week.To Kopp, it is laughable that anyone still views Merkel and Germany as exemplars of refugee policy. "To pretend there is still a welcoming environment in Germany is wrong," said Kopp. "The Merkel of summer 2015 -- the refugee chancellor -- doesn't exist any more."CNN's Nadine Schmidt contributed to this report.

London (CNN)British sprinter Bianca Williams says she hopes an investigation that has been launched into a controversial handcuffing incident involving herself and her partner will be "rigorous."Williams had been in the West London neighborhood of Maida Vale with her partner, Portuguese 400 meter record holder Ricardo dos Santos, and their three-month-old son when they were stopped by police last weekend.On Twitter, Williams said she welcomes the referral of Saturday's "traumatic" incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as a complaint and that "the IOPC has said that their investigation will also look at what part racial profiling or discrimination played in the incident." An independent investigation is now "necessary", says Williams, "as the Metropolitan Police have proved that they cannot be trusted to investigate a complaint themselves, having already publicly stated that there has been no misconduct. "They published these findings on Twitter before taking a single step to formally record or investigate why their actions caused our family so much distress."Bianca Williams of Great Britain warms up ahead of the Women's 200m during day four of the 24th European Athletics Championships at Olympiastadion on August 10, 2018 in Berlin, Germany. Read MoreHandcuffing proceduresWilliams said in the statement that she and her partner had received an apology from the police but "not for the wholly unjustified actions that officers took against our family."She added: "We are now contacting the IOPC through our lawyers and will assist fully with the investigation, which we hope will be rigorous."On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police apologized to the couple for "distress caused," though the organization did not apologize for the traffic stop itself.Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has said the Metropolitan Police will undergo a review of its handcuffing procedures after officers handcuffed Williams and her partner.A senior official has been tasked to conduct the review after the incident, Dick told lawmakers on Wednesday."I don't want, and I don't believe I do, run a police service in which handcuffing is routine. It must always be justified and the justification must be in the law and written down," she said."Having seen a number of issues raised over the last several weeks I have said to one of my senior officers: 'Can you please review our handcuffing practices to make sure that it hasn't become in any way a default in certain situations because it shouldn't do.'"The review will examine figures on stop and searches carried out by London's police."I've also got a new use of force oversight group, which involves members of the community and they'll be looking ... at these specific instances as well as data," said Dick, who offered her own apology to Williams and her partner."My senior officer has said I'm sorry to Ms. Williams for the distress it has clearly caused her, and I say that too. So if there are lessons to be learnt from it, we will learn them and I'm looking at handcuffing as a specific issue."Ricardo Dos Santos of Portugal reacts after competing in the Men's 400 metres semi-final during day two of the 22nd European Athletics Championships at Stadium Letzigrund on August 13, 2014 in Zurich, Switzerland.'Racial profiling'British Athletics told CNN: "We are aware of the hugely distressing footage of Bianca Williams and her partner being handcuffed by the police outside their home at the weekend. Our staff have been in touch with her and will be on hand for any support required."Earlier this week, Williams had accused the Metropolitan Police of "racial profiling." Footage of the incident, which was posted on social media by the pair's trainer and Olympic gold medalist Linford Christie, appears to show two people -- although their faces aren't visible -- being pulled out of a car. 'The greatest trick racism ever pulled was convincing England it doesn't exist'When asked to step outside the car by a police officer, a man is heard asking "For what?"Once out of the car, two other officers approach the woman who tells them "he didn't do anything." The woman grows increasingly distressed and shouts: "My son is in the car [...] I don't want you to look after him." Officers tell her to "relax" and "get out of the car."Christie later posted a message on social media referring to the incident: "Two of my Athletes were stopped by the police today, both International athletes, both parents of a three-month-old baby who was with them & both handcuffed outside of their home [...] Was it the car that was suspicious or the black family in it which led to such a violent confrontation & finally an accusation of the car smelling of weed but refusing to do a roadside drug test." "It's always the same thing with Ricardo. They think he's driving a stolen vehicle, or he's been smoking cannabis. It's racial profiling," Williams told The Times of London newspaper."They spoke to him as if he was nothing, as if he was worthless. As if he was just -- like he was scum. It was horrible," Williams told CNN.Williams told CNN that when approached by police, her first priority was the safety of her young son. "He's our son, and his safety is everything to us. We don't know what's gonna happen with the police, the police are so unpredictable," she said."We're raising a Black boy who's then going to be going to school by himself and he's going to be doing things by himself. We're going to have to get used to it and to teach him that ... he can be stopped by the police because of the color of his skin. It's just shocking that we have to tell our son this to be honest," Williams told CNN.A Metropolitan police statement on Sunday said a car had been stopped in the W9 area on Saturday afternoon around 1:25pm local time after it was seen "driving suspiciously." After the end of Aunt Jemima, what's next?Stop and search statistics"Following a search of the vehicle, the man and the woman, nothing was found. No arrests were made and the occupants were allowed on their way," read the statement. Dos Santos told CNN that he had been stopped 15 times since December 2017. He said that he has previously been accused by police of driving a stolen vehicle, and mistakenly profiled as someone who sold drugs and carried weapons. Speaking about Saturday's incident, he said: "The bad thing is it didn't affect me as much as it should, because for me I feel like this is my new normal. Unfortunately, this is my normal. It has happened so often that it's become second nature," he told CNN.Earlier this year, UK government data showed that between April 2018 and March 2019, there were four stop and searches for every 1,000 White people, compared with 38 for every 1,000 Black people in England and Wales.Racism in the UK may attract less attention than in the US, but it is no less present. An exclusive CNN/Savanta ComRes poll found that many Black people in the UK are twice as likely as White people to say they have not been treated with respect by police. Black people are also about twice as likely as White people to say UK police are institutionally racist -- among White people, just over a quarter believe it.On Monday, police commander Helen Harper said that officials were "keen to speak personally to the occupants of the vehicle to discuss what happened and the concerns they have."Harper said that The Directorate of Professional Standards had reviewed the stop, and were "content" there were no misconduct issues after reviewing the officers' body camera footage, social media footage and details of the incident."However, that does not mean there isn't something to be learnt from every interaction we have with the public. We want to listen to, and speak with, those who raise concerns, to understand more about the issues raised and what more we can do to explain police actions," she said in a statement. "Where we could have interacted in a better way, we need to consider what we should have done differently and take on that learning for the future."Additional reporting by Sharon Braithwaite and Lindsay Isaac

Story highlightsEU sets up fund of nearly $2 billion aid to Africa to stem the migrant crisisSweden to implement temporary border controls At least 18 died Wednesday in two boat accidents off Turkey (CNN)As Europe faces its worst refugee crisis since World War II, the European Union has launched an emergency fund for Africa to tackle the spiraling number of migrants flooding its shores.The nearly $2 billion fund was unveiled at the end of a two-day summit of EU and African leaders in Malta. The fund will support projects to combat poverty, slow down migration and speed up repatriation programs. This new money is in addition to the 20 billion euros annually donated to Africa by the EU and its 28 states.This is the sixth time that presidents and prime ministers of the European Union have tried to tackle the issue."We are under no illusions that we can improve the situation overnight, but we are committed to giving people alternatives to risking their lives," said European Council President Donald Tusk.Tusk listed five major goals to stem the tide of migrants: "The elements of action plan are designed to, one, address the root causes of migration; two, enhance cooperation on legal migration and mobility; three, reinforce protection of displaced persons; four, prevent and fight against migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings; and five, advance on returning persons that are not entitled to stay in Europe." Read MoreMaltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that while some may argue that the fund was not enough, he stressed it was an important first step. The Mediterranean island nation of Malta is the smallest member of the European Union. About 90 kilometers (56 miles) south of Sicily, it has become one of the destinations for those fleeing Syria's bloody civil war. "I for one am a very vocal critic of the fact that we maybe started acting a little bit too late when too many lives were lost at sea," Muscat said, adding that he hoped the summit "sowed the seeds of something that can be much more long term." European Council President Tusk also confirmed plans for a summit with Turkey by the end of this year, seen as the key to resolving the crisis. After an informal meeting of EU heads after the summit, Tusk said "the clock is ticking. We are under pressure. We need to act fast. As a union. And in cooperation with our partners, including Turkey, that also will have to move fast. "But Turkey cannot be our only partner. We must not lose sight of Jordan and Lebanon, nor of the countries of the Western Balkans. They are also our allies."18 die Wednesday off western coast of TurkeyEven as Europe tries to forge a unified response to the crisis, tens of thousands continue to embark on perilous journeys, desperate to escape the repression, violence, poverty and insecurity in North Africa, West Africa and the Middle East.They come from more than 20 nations and with different motivations. Some are Syrians fleeing war. Others are Eritreans escaping repression or Somalis fleeing Al-Shabaab. Many die in their attempt to find a safe haven.On Wednesday, hours before the EU meeting was scheduled to convene, at least 18 people died off the western coast of Turkey in two boat incidents. Mountains of life jackets piled up on the beaches of the Greek island of Lesbos offer a startling testimony to the scale of the problem.The EU border agency Frontex, which tracks the movement of people, says 540,000 migrants arrived on Greek islands in the first 10 months of 2015. This figure is 13 times higher than in the same period of 2014. Syrians account for the largest number of arrivals, according to the Frontex website. In recent weeks, the share of Afghan nationals has risen significantly.Frontex has called for more than 250 officers to help screen, fingerprint and register migrants.Sweden tightens border controlsMeanwhile, Sweden has joined the list of countries that have tightened border controls.The Ministry of Home Affairs said it will implement temporary border controls for 10 days, and they could be extended to 20 days at some point, according to Fredrik Persson, a spokesman for the ministry.Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Löfven defended the move, telling CNN: "This is not closing the border, the decision we have taken is to reintroduce internal border controls ... if a person comes to our country seeking asylum he or she will be given that opportunity." Photos: Refugees wait for a boat to a new lifeTens of thousands of migrants have arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos in recent months. In early November a CNN team met little Meryem, who was hit by shrapnel from a barrel bomb in the Idlib province of Syria. The piece of shrapnel very nearly struck her heart, says her mother Amroon who was also hit in the same attack. It tore through her left hand, leaving it with little range of movement.Hide Caption 1 of 5 Photos: Refugees wait for a boat to a new lifeFarah (R), 10, is from Baghdad. She has been waiting with her younger brother and parents for a boat to Athens for two days. When asked why they are leaving, she says, "the situation in Baghdad is not good, that's what daddy said."Hide Caption 2 of 5 Photos: Refugees wait for a boat to a new lifeAli is 15 months old. He's also waiting to get on a boat to Athens. His hometown of Jarablus in northern Syria is an ISIS stronghold. His uncle, who he never got to meet, was one of the first five people beheaded for attempting to resist ISIS in Jarablus.Hide Caption 3 of 5 Photos: Refugees wait for a boat to a new lifeEmine and Wahibe, aged 2.5 and 4, respectively, are sisters from Aleppo, Syria. They are waiting with their parents for the boat to take them to Athens.Hide Caption 4 of 5 Photos: Refugees wait for a boat to a new lifeConfiscated boat motors at the customs area in Lesbos. Officers there say this is just a tiny fraction of the motors they have impounded from refugee dinghies coming to the island from Turkey.Hide Caption 5 of 5CNN's Ed Payne and Damien Ward contributed to this report

Story highlightsAlabama, with the lowest approval in the nation for same-sex marriage, began issuing licenses this monthFor some couples, weddings are romantic affairs; for others, it's about protecting each otherGay couples who are religious say they resent Bible being used as reason to oppose same-sex marriageSalem, Alabama (CNN)Shawn Williams heard his father howl from the other room. "WHAT?!"Williams went to check on his dad. Williams' husband of a few hours, Justin Lewis, knew what the commotion was about. He decided not to join the conversation, as it were, but could hear Williams and his father yelling. Williams' dad was watching the 10 o'clock news. It was February 9. Same-sex marriage was now the law in Alabama, and the local TV station was running a feature on Williams' and Lewis' wedding earlier in the day.JUST WATCHEDSame sex couple marries in front of courthouseReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSame sex couple marries in front of courthouse 01:23"That's the most disgusting thing I've ever seen," Williams recalled his father telling him.Read MoreDisgusting, a word one might use to describe child molesters or a dead opossum in the road, was being applied to a couple of seven years exchanging vows that they'd love and cherish each other forever. Same-sex marriage, which is legal in 37 states and Washington D.C., is creeping into the South, where opposition is its staunchest. North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida have all accepted same-sex marriage in recent months. A county clerk in Austin, Texas, issued the state's first license this week. Jokes abound that the South is filled with zealots and hillbillies stuck in eras bygone, and while those barbs go too far, it's true that Southern states hold religion and conservatism dear on myriad issues. According to the Williams Institute, a UCLA think tank, in only seven states do a third of residents or fewer approve of same-sex marriage. They all lie below the Mason-Dixon line. In Alabama, the approval rating is 32%, according to the Williams Institute and the Public Religion Research Institute. While that number places Alabama firmly at the bottom among U.S. states, it's worth noting that fewer than nine years ago, only 19% of the state's voters rejected a constitutional amendment defining marriage as "unique relationship between a man and a woman." Hasty and happy decisionOn Tuesday, with a CNN reporter en route to Mobile to discuss their impending March marriage, Anna Lisa Carmichael and Meredith Miller became worried. Two federal court decisions had cleared the path for same-sex marriages to begin eight days earlier, only for Chief Justice Roy Moore of the Alabama Supreme Court to direct all probate judges to refuse marriage licenses to gay couples. Many of the state's probate judges -- as many as 44 out of 67 at one point -- heeded Moore's order. Not even a U.S. Supreme Court refusal to extend the stay on the unions would dissuade Moore. While many saw the high court's decision as a harbinger of how it will vote on the issue later this year, Moore said he sees no writing on the wall. In fact, he said, Justices Elena Kagan and Ruth Bader Ginsburg should recuse themselves because they've performed same-sex marriages. JUST WATCHEDState of uncertainty for gay couples in AlabamaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHState of uncertainty for gay couples in Alabama 01:51Carmichael, 33, and Miller, 32, joined a federal lawsuit to instruct Mobile County's probate judge to disregard Moore's order. Three days later, the path was cleared again. Though the pair had married in a ceremony that the state didn't recognize in 2011, they envisioned their legal wedding would be a big deal -- gowns, bridesmaids, catering, the works.But reality set in Tuesday morning. What if something happened to one of them? What if another court order snatched the chance away? Urgency spiked. "It's a different type of terror because we've carried this burden for so long. To know you could've relieved this burden ..." Miller said, shaking her head at the potentiality.So two hours before CNN arrived -- and with the Mobile County probate court closing early for Mardi Gras -- the pair rushed to the courthouse and became legally married late Tuesday afternoon. Did they resent having their hand forced? Or feeling they couldn't take months to plan an elaborate soiree like straight couples so often do? Not at all. Pressed on why she was so magnanimous, Carmichael pointed to her face, still beaming from the hours-old nuptials."You see this relief? That's why."Stand in the courthouse door?Supporters of same-sex marriage in Alabama are quick to liken it to the state's record on race relations during Jim Crow. One probate judge who defied Moore on February 9 said the chief justice's order was akin to then-Gov. George Wallace's infamous "stand in the schoolhouse door" to prevent integration. But Moore scoffed at the comparison, and in an interview two days after his order, explained his decision had nothing to do with religion or denying anyone equal rights. JUST WATCHEDAlabama judge: This is about sexual preferenceReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAlabama judge: This is about sexual preference 03:26Moore, who once lost his chief justice post in 2003 for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from a state building, said race and sexuality are different animals, legally. He cited a bevy of court cases, doctrines and the federal rules of civil procedure to explain his order was rooted in law. "I'm not standing in any door. I did not bring this on. This was forced upon our state. This is simply federal tyranny," he said. "This is not about race. This is about entering into the institution of marriage."Race, he said, is biologically predetermined and therefore can't be used to deny someone her or his rights under the Constitution. Homosexuality, he claimed, is a choice. "People can choose different lifestyles and no doubt they have since Sodom and Gomorrah," he said.Listen to Carmichael, Miller, Williams and Lewis, though, and you'll doubt they chose anything. They come from conservative states and religious families. Carmichael, Miller and Williams dated members of the opposite sex for years -- that's what their families, peers, churches and media portrayals told them to do -- but it didn't feel right. "We live in South Alabama. We live in the Bible Belt. It's not something that's condoned. It's not something that's normal. Who in their right mind would choose to live this way if you had a choice?" Miller asked. Lewis, 28, who hails from a Latter-Day Saints family in Payson, Utah, knew he was gay around puberty. Still, he would pick "fake crushes" in high school -- girls he would tell his family about so they would think he was straight, even if he never pursued a romance. "For the longest time, I hated myself for (being gay). I had this idea that I was going to change it," Lewis said. "Obviously, that didn't work out."Pretending to be straight to please others was a choice, they all said. Being gay is natural. 'Why? Are you?'As they walked through the quiet Spring Hill College campus in Mobile where they met, Carmichael sipped on coffee and Miller drank hot tea as they reminisced about how they learned to like, then love, one another. They weren't always so chummy, they said, grinning as they pointed to the brick-and-concrete dorm where they were first roomies in 2000. Carmichael joked that she has no idea how the roommate questionnaire paired them together. She sniffled as the wind blew. Miller produced a tissue unsolicited. They didn't live together sophomore year, but they eventually grew closer as friends. In 2005, as they were both amid their first lesbian relationships, they heard rumors about the other. JUST WATCHEDGov. Jindal: Marriage is between a man and womanReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGov. Jindal: Marriage is between a man and woman 02:03Carmichael comes from a religious, conservative family in Hammond, Louisiana, and felt she had no one to talk to. Miller's family in Mobile is Catholic, and while she enjoys more familial support than Carmichael, she was reluctant to broadcast her relationship. She desperately needed someone to talk to. Her religion was weighing on her. Was she doing right by God, dating another woman? She needed a sounding board, someone who understood, so she reached out to her then-best pal on instant message."Are you in a lesbian relationship?" she typed."Why? Are you?""Yes, I am, and I need a friend."The pair became roommates again in 2006, and it wasn't long before they noticed their affection was more than friendly, but they denied their impulse to become lovers. They both describe themselves as "very religious," so they began a period of discernment -- we're talking months, not weeks -- to determine whether they were following God's will."You want to make sure you're really doing what you were called to do," Miller said. "We wanted to make sure we weren't going against God. We want to do right by our life here on Earth."They ultimately decided God was behind them. "I love Meredith, and our relationship is full of love. I don't think when you're talking true, unadulterated love that there can be anything wrong with that," Carmichael said. Her new wife added, "God's greatest command was to love one another."So to recap: Told most of their lives being gay is abhorrent to God, Carmichael and Miller seek God's blessing before uniting with one another as many in Alabama use God's word to cast what Carmichael and Miller feel in their hearts as sin.You can take a person out of the South ...Williams, too, considers himself a traditionalist. He's a Southerner at heart. You can tell by the drawl and by the way he quotes Robert E. Lee in conversation. The 29-year-old grew up in Smiths Station, Alabama, not far from the Salem home where he, Lewis and his parents reside today. He was a Methodist for 19 years and served as president of his church's youth group as a teen. He moved to Utah in 2004, where he attended the University of Utah and Weber State in Ogden, Utah. Williams had a string of short-lived relationship with women. Six months might have been the longest. He'd never dated another man before meeting Lewis on MySpace in 2008.In a hyperbolically Southern MySpace letter -- peppered with words such as "purdy" and "y'all" -- he asked Lewis out. Lewis had been burned in a previous relationship, but he found Williams' inaugural attempt at asking out another man "so sweet" he couldn't resist, he said. More introverted than Williams and perhaps a bit nervous talking to a reporter, Lewis nibbled on his fingernail during an interview at an Irish pub in Opelika. Williams gently swiped Lewis' hand from his mouth as he explained what brought them back to Alabama. In 2009, Williams' father was diagnosed with cancer, and Williams returned to the blue, two-story home off a pothole-pocked county road in Salem, near the Alabama-Georgia line. The house sits on 4.2 acres hosting several old cars -- Williams' father's "projects" before he fell ill. It was too large a tract for his disabled mother to maintain, so Williams came home to help.With Lewis. Williams understood his parents' surprise. "They'd always known me dating girls, and I come back from Utah with a guy," he said. To be clear, Williams' parents love him, if not that he's gay. He attributes that to their South Alabama upbringings, and that his mother is a minister's daughter who abstains from drinking and smoking. "She will say, 'I love Shawn, and I love Justin.' She wants us to be happy, but she doesn't know how to act because of how she was brought up," Williams said. Lewis also understands her attitude: "Honestly, people have psychological conditioning in societies that cause people to react the way they do. ... It's hard to break out of those molds. She wants to be happy for her son. At the same time, everything's told her it's wrong. She's not supposed to enjoy the moment because it's a sin."Asked whether he was hurt or angered by his father dubbing his and Lewis' wedding "disgusting," Williams flatly said no. "I'm not going to let something said in the heat of the moment define my feelings toward them," he said. What's the big deal?Where Williams and Lewis' marriage was a romantic affair, Carmichael and Miller's was more pragmatic. Their first "wedding" in 2011 at the 5 Rivers Delta Resource Center in Spanish Fort was the romantic affair, complete with floating candle-and-hydrangea centerpieces. A close friend married them on a pier at sunset before several dozen friends and family members. "Today was just a formality," Carmichael said Tuesday; it was about protection.At a Mardi Gras parade last year, Miller got a concussion from a projectile thrown from a float. Miller didn't know who she was and couldn't answer simple questions. JUST WATCHEDToobin: SCOTUS will legalize same-sex marriage nationwideReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHToobin: SCOTUS will legalize same-sex marriage nationwide 02:43On the way to the hospital, Carmichael frantically tried to reach Miller's mother, knowing that the hospital could invoke federal guidelines to deny her visitation or updates on her partner's condition. Fortunately, the attending physician was happy to treat Carmichael like family, but she still didn't get the full wife treatment."The whole time the medics were there, I was her friend. I'm not her friend. I know everything about her up and down," she said.It was just one of the ways Carmichael and Miller have come to realize not having a state-recognized marriage can affect their livelihoods. In the past, the couple experienced other, lesser snafus: They were denied a joint gym membership; they've been told they couldn't pay bills in their partner's name; their (now former) bank wouldn't allow Miller to make a deposit because her name was second on their joint account; after Miller referred to Carmichael as her wife while filing an accident claim, the agent responded by asking whether they were "legally married"; and they had to draw up power of attorney paperwork just in case something went wrong with Carmichael's ankle surgery a few years back.Thus, their Tuesday marriage was all about protecting each other, they say. Carmichael had previously worried that if she died, her family wouldn't let Miller attend the funeral. She smiled during a coffee shop interview as she realized she was legally married that morning. "She can plan the funeral now," she said. Making it up as they goThere is no script here. Massachusetts was the first state to OK same-sex marriages in 2004, so the traditions that go along with man-woman marriage -- honeymoons, rehearsal dinners, church pews filled with well-wishers, throwing rice, bouquets and garters -- don't necessarily apply. Carmichael and Miller, for instance, have long envisioned having three ceremonies, likely years apart: the first was their 2011 union "to commit ourselves to each other," the second came Tuesday at the courthouse and the third will be a traditional church ceremony."We'll go on a diet to slim down a few pounds to fit into our wedding dresses again and have an organ playing our music," Carmichael said. Miller grumbled at the thought. "We shouldn't have to do three separate parts to this."Carmichael played the optimist: "Most girls would love to relive their wedding day over and over again."JUST WATCHEDAlabama same-sex marriages allowed after Supreme Court orderReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHAlabama same-sex marriages allowed after Supreme Court order 01:36Their proposals were far from traditional as well. Carmichael asked Miller to marry her in the spring of 2009, the same year they bought their home in Mobile. Miller returned the favor that fall. They each said yes, of course.Where Carmichael received a conventional ring -- a shimmering band laced with small diamonds, a square-cut solitaire its centerpiece -- Miller received a daintier band. She doesn't like large rings because she can be clumsy with her hands, so her solitaire, the same cut as Carmichael's, came in the form of a necklace. "Let's carve our own path," Carmichael remembers thinking at the time. Williams did the same. He and Lewis were at a friend's house in Columbus, Georgia, and Williams asked Lewis if he wanted to take a walk, a favorite pastime. In the courtyard outside, Williams dropped to a knee and said, "Will you marry me? I want to spend the rest of my life with you."There were tears and embraces, but no ring. Williams wasn't sure that's how it worked. "I had this necklace that my grandmother gave me. It was a St. Christopher necklace. I didn't know what to get a guy," he said. A surprised and happy Lewis didn't mind the improvisation. "There's not that tradition of you're going to get proposed to," he said. "Even the idea of marriage, I thought, 'OK, we might go to Massachusetts one day.' I never thought I'd be married in the state I live in, even Utah."A most momentous day Williams and Lewis woke up early February 9. They'd had their clothes picked out for two weeks. It was raining, but nothing could dampen the day, not even Lee County Probate Judge Bill English telling them he was not issuing same-sex marriage licenses. A man in line told English he supported him and said, "God has given us a set of laws to live by."Williams turned and asked the man if his coat was made of a blended fabric, and if so, wasn't that a clear violation of the law God set out in Deuteronomy? A bailiff interrupted before what was sure to be a spirited exchange, Williams said. Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S. Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Carlos McKnight of Washington waves a flag in support of same-sex marriage outside the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26, 2015. The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states cannot ban same-sex marriage, handing gay rights advocates their biggest victory yet. See photos from states that approved same-sex marriage before the nationwide ruling:Hide Caption 1 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Shante Wolfe, left, and Tori Sisson become the first same-sex couple to file their marriage license in Montgomery, Alabama, on February 9, 2015. However, seven months after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing such nuptials nationwide, Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore directed probate judges in his state to enforce the ban on same-sex marriage. Gay rights organizations swiftly denounced Moore's January 6, 2016, order.Hide Caption 2 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Newlyweds Jeff Delmay and Todd Delmay hug during a marriage ceremony in a Miami courtroom January 5, 2015. Florida began allowing same-sex marriages after a federal judge struck down the state's ban.Hide Caption 3 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Chad Biggs, left, and Chris Creech say their wedding vows at the Wake County Courthouse in Raleigh, North Carolina, on October 10, 2014, after a federal judge ruled that same-sex marriage can begin in the state.Hide Caption 4 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Joshua Gunter, right, and Bryan Shields attend a Las Vegas rally to celebrate an appeals court ruling that overturned Nevada's same-sex marriage ban on October 7, 2014.Hide Caption 5 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.From left, plaintiffs Moudi Sbeity; his partner, Derek Kitchen; Kody Partridge; and Partridge's wife, Laurie Wood, celebrate after a news conference in Salt Lake City on October 6, 2014. The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriage in Utah when it declined to hear the state's appeal of a lower court ruling. Hide Caption 6 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Abbi Huber, left, and Talia Frolkis exit the City County Building in Madison, Wisconsin, after applying for a marriage license on October 6, 2014.Hide Caption 7 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Rob MacPherson, right, and his husband, Steven Stolen, hug during a news conference at the American Civil Liberties Union in Indianapolis on October 6, 2014.Hide Caption 8 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Mary Bishop, second from left, and Sharon Baldwin, right, celebrate with family and friends following their wedding ceremony on the courthouse steps in Tulsa, Oklahoma, on October 6, 2014.Hide Caption 9 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Jennifer Melsop, left, and Erika Turner kiss after they were married in front of the Arlington County Courthouse in Arlington, Virginia, on October 6, 2014.Hide Caption 10 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Pastor Carol Hill from Epworth United Methodist Church speaks during a marriage-equality ceremony at the Kathy Osterman Beach in Chicago on June 1, 2014. The date marked the first day that all of Illinois' 102 counties could begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.Hide Caption 11 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.William Roletter, left, and Paul Rowe get close after having their photo taken with their marriage certificate May 21, 2014, at Philadelphia City Hall.Hide Caption 12 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Julie Engbloom, left, and Laurie Brown embrace after marrying in Portland, Oregon, on May 19, 2014. A federal judge struck down the state's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage.Hide Caption 13 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Jennifer Rambo, right, kisses her Kristin Seaton after their marriage ceremony in front of the Carroll County Courthouse in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, on May 10, 2014. Rambo and Seaton were the first same-sex couple to be granted a marriage license in Eureka Springs after a judge overturned Amendment 83, which banned same-sex marriage in Arkansas. Hide Caption 14 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Same-sex couples get their marriage licenses at the Oakland County Courthouse in Pontiac, Michigan, on March 22, 2014, a day after a federal judge overturned Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage.Hide Caption 15 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.On November 13, 2013, Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie, left, and former state Sen. Avery Chumbley celebrate with a copy of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser after Abercrombie signed a bill legalizing same-sex marriage in the state.Hide Caption 16 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Utah state Sen. Jim Dabakis, left, and Stephen Justesen acknowledge the crowd after being married in Salt Lake City in December 20, 2013.Hide Caption 17 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Plaintiffs Laurie Wood, left, and Kody Partridge, center, walk with attorney Peggy Tomsic on December 4, 2013, after a judge heard arguments challenging Utah's same-sex marriage ban.Hide Caption 18 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.On October 21, 2013, Cory Booker, right, officiates a wedding ceremony for Joseph Panessidi, center, and Orville Bell at the Newark, New Jersey, City Hall. The New Jersey Supreme Court denied the state's request to prevent same-sex marriages temporarily, clearing the way for same-sex couples to marry.Hide Caption 19 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.A couple celebrates at San Francisco City Hall upon hearing about the U.S. Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage on June 26, 2013. The high court cleared the way for same-sex couples in California to resume marrying after dismissing an appeal on Proposition 8 on jurisdictional grounds. The court also struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Hide Caption 20 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.At the state Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota, Gov. Mark Dayton signs a bill legalizing same-sex marriage on May 14, 2013.Hide Caption 21 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Delaware Gov. Jack Markell holds up legislation on May 7, 2013, allowing same-sex couples to wed in the state.Hide Caption 22 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Rhode Island state Sen. Donna Nesselbush, right, embraces a supporter after the Marriage Equality Act was signed into law at the statehouse in Providence on May 2, 2013.Hide Caption 23 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Jamous Lizotte, right, and Steven Jones pose for photos while waiting for a marriage license in Portland, Maine, on December 29, 2012.Hide Caption 24 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.On March 1, 2012, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, center, shakes hands with Senate President Thomas V. "Mike" Miller after signing a same-sex marriage bill. The law was challenged, but voters approved marriage equality in a November 2012 referendum.Hide Caption 25 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.On February 13, 2012, Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire celebrates after signing marriage-equality legislation into law. Voters there approved same-sex marriage in November 2012, defeating a challenge by opponents.Hide Caption 26 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Phyllis Siegel, right, kisses her wife, Connie Kopelov, after exchanging vows at the Manhattan City Clerk's office on July 24, 2011, the first day New York's Marriage Equality Act went into effect.Hide Caption 27 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.On August 21, 2010, TV reporter Roby Chavez, right, shares a moment with gay rights activist Frank Kameny during Chavez and Chris Roe's wedding ceremony in the nation's capital. Same-sex marriage became legal in Washington in March 2010.Hide Caption 28 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Olin Burkhart, left, and Carl Burkhart kiss on the steps of the New Hampshire Capitol on January 1, 2010, after the state's law allowing same-sex marriage went into effect.Hide Caption 29 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.In May 2009, Maine state Sen. Dennis Damon, left, hands Gov. John Baldacci the bill that the state Senate passed to affirm the right of same-sex couples to marry.Hide Caption 30 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Amy Klein-Matheny, left, and her wife, Jennifer, exchange vows in Iowa after same-sex couples were allowed to marry there with an April 3, 2009, court ruling.Hide Caption 31 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Michael Miller, left, and Ross Zachs marry on the West Hartford Town Hall steps after same-sex marriage became legal in Connecticut on November 12, 2008.Hide Caption 32 of 33 Photos: Same-sex marriage in the U.S.Lara Ramsey, left, and Jane Lohmann play with their 7-month-old son, Wyatt Ramsey-Lohmann. The two wed in 2004 after Massachusetts approved same-sex marriage. Massachusetts was the first state to do so.Hide Caption 33 of 33The couple heard Montgomery County was issuing licenses, so they drove more than an hour to find a decidedly different atmosphere in the state capital. The road in front of the courthouse was blocked off, police wore rainbows on their lapels and same-sex marriage supporters cheered and handed out cupcakes and beaded bracelets as couples emerged with their licenses. Williams and Lewis could've married there, but they wanted to get married in Lee County, where they live. It's a sentiment echoed by Carmichael and Miller, who had previously considered traveling to a state that allowed same-sex marriage. "It's our home. It's where we live. It's where our friends are. It's where we've built our life together," Miller said. Williams and Lewis headed back to Opelika. There was a small element of sticking it to English by getting married in front of the courthouse where they were denied their license, Williams said, but he and Lewis had also grown fond of the same-sex marriage supporters at the Lee County Courthouse. A man named Glenn had told them the supporters showed up just for couples like them, who were getting married without friends and families present. A pagan minister, Angela Farmer, offered to marry them. "They would've just been standing there with their good intentions. We wanted them to be a part of it," Williams said. "To be honest, I wouldn't have had it any other way."A week later, Williams said he didn't feel much different. He and Lewis have had a joint bank account for seven years. They've lived together for six-and-a-half years. He loves Lewis like he did shortly after they met."It's good that the state recognizes it now," he said. "The sheet of paper's nice, but we didn't need it to validate our love."JUST WATCHEDCelebration and pride on the steps of the Supreme CourtReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH (17 Videos)Celebration and pride on the steps of the Supreme CourtPlaintiff: Our love is equalU.S. 21st country to allow same-sex marriage nationwideSupporters gather in solidarity for Kentucky clerkWhat you need to know about the gay rights movementAttorney: Kim Davis 'has no intention' of resigningCounsel: Ky. clerk wants her name off marriage licenseSantorum: Kim Davis is heroicKentucky clerk in court over marriage license refusalHeated confrontation with clerk denying marriage licensesClerk defies judge, denies men marriage licenseTexas-sized battle over same-sex marriageWhat's next for same-sex marriage?Texas counties refuse marriage license for gay couplesObama calls same-sex marriage case plaintiff on live TVObama: We are all created equalSupreme Court: Same-sex marriage legal nationwide

Story highlightsTens of thousands of protesters are rallying in central Rome SaturdayBerlusconi is under pressure from opposition parties to step asideItaly must implement reforms or suffer a "credibility gap," its president saysItaly, which has large debts, has the third-largest economy in the euro zoneTens of thousands of demonstrators have gathered in Rome Saturday to voice their opposition to the government of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and its reforms.Many of the protesters, waving opposition party flags as they filled a central square in a peaceful rally, called for Berlusconi to step aside.Some say they want immediate elections, others the formation of a technocratic transitional government to guide Italy through the difficult months to come.Berlusconi said Friday at the G-20 economic summit that Italy had agreed to let the International Monetary Fund "certify" its reform program, a step designed to boost investor confidence.But he faces a vote of confidence perhaps as soon as next week, amid criticism of his handling of Italy's economy -- and analysts say he may no longer have the support of a majority in parliament.A crucial vote on budget reform measures is expected in Rome Tuesday.Italy's President Giorgio Napolitano has warned of a "grave crisis of credibility" regarding Italy's commitment to reform and said structural reforms agreed to in Brussels last month must be implemented.International concern has focused on Italy -- the third-largest economy in the euro zone -- in recent weeks, amid concern that the financial crisis centered on Greece might spread. The ripple effects of a meltdown in Italy would be far more serious for the global economy than a collapse in Athens.Although Italy's economy is in much better shape than that of Greece, borrowing costs for the Italian government rose to a euro-area high of 6.43% Friday, adding to the pressure. The nation has debts equal to about 150% of its economic output.There are growing fears, meanwhile, that Berlusconi's government no longer has the strength to push through the austerity measures needed to get the economy back on track.These include such steps as tax increases and raising the retirement age by two years to 67.Berlusconi, who has survived many confidence votes in the past, has said now is not the time to change the country's leadership.But the president's recent remarks suggest he, alongside those calling for Berlusconi to step down, is not convinced by the job the prime minister is doing."Italy cannot give signs of insufficient determination and reliability," Napolitano said in an address at an Italian university Friday."Let's be honest: towards our country there has arisen in Europe, and not only in Europe, a grave crisis of credibility. We must be aware and feel, more than hurt, spurred in our pride and in our will to recuperate."He said a "collective soul searching" was needed among the country's politicians and citizens, as they look for a way out of the current crisis.A date has not yet been set for the confidence vote called by Berlusconi. Under a motion of confidence, lawmakers signal to the head of state whether the government has the support of parliament. A loss typically results in the government's dissolution and the holding of a general election unless the head of state asks someone with more support to form a government.Although Italy passed a package of austerity measures in September, including tax increases, some economists fear that without further reforms its debts could become overwhelming -- and there would not be enough money in the European rescue fund to bail it out.Italy has one of the largest bond markets in the world, worth an estimated 2 trillion euros (about US $2.8 trillion).Experts say the recent lofty interest levels are particularly concerning because the ECB has been buying Italian bonds since the start of August. The move initially pushed yields below 5% but that was short lived.

Seoul (CNN)It's just after lunchtime at a central Seoul market and a crowd in hot pink jackets is gathering. Pink is the color of the country's main opposition party, the conservative United Future Party, and this crowd of supporters is staging a legal campaign rally ahead of Wednesday's election of 300 members of the National Assembly. Large public gatherings are a jarring sight during a pandemic.But South Korea has never postponed an election before -- and the coronavirus is not stopping this one.Like many democracies around the world, South Korea has been faced with a predicament: how to hold an election during a pandemic without spreading the virus.Campaign workers for the conservative United Future Party hold posters at a market in Dongdaemun in Seoul, South Korea, on April 7.Read MoreAt least 47 countries have postponed elections due to the coronavirus outbreak, including Sri Lanka, United Kingdom, France and Ethiopia. Others, like the United States and New Zealand, are still deciding whether to proceed with their scheduled votes.Many of those countries are at different points in the virus outbreak. South Korea peaked early, prompting praise for the government's handling of the pandemic. The country isn't in lockdown, and of the more than 10,500 confirmed cases, more than 7,400 have recovered. Nevertheless, South Korea has made a number of election concessions for the virus. More than 11 million people -- or 26.7% of registered voters -- cast their vote in advance to avoid crowds, according to the National Election Commission. Early voters, and those casting their vote on Wednesday, will have their temperature checked at the door. Polling booths will be regularly disinfected and anyone with a temperature of more than 37.5 degrees Celsius (99.5 degrees Farenheit) will have to vote in a special booth. About 20,000 additional workers will be dispatched to put in place the extra measures.Special voting booths have been set up at government-run isolation centers, and those under self-quarantine will be allowed to leave their house to vote after polling booths close to the public at 6 p.m. A South Korean woman casts a ballot during early voting at a polling station in Seoul on April 10.Voters CNN talked to were supportive of the decision to go ahead. Some said the pandemic made voting even more important. "I'm not too worried about catching the virus at the polling station as we'll keep social distancing in mind," said 53-year-old Lee Chang-Hoe, who runs a fish tempura shop at the market in Dongdaemun where the UFP rally took place. "Just like a frozen river in winter, even though there is thick layer of ice on the surface, water must flow underneath -- I think it's the same for the election, even during this coronavirus outbreak, elections must go on."But experts warn that going ahead with an election and delaying an election both come with risks -- not just to public health, but to democracy. "Intuitively, we think postponing an election sounds anti-democratic," said Toby James, a professor of politics and public policy at the University of East Anglia. "But actually democracy in some ways could be undermined by holding an election in these times." Going ahead with an electionThere's historical precedent for going ahead with elections in a time of crisis.In 1864, the US held a presidential election despite the country being in the midst of a civil war. During the 1918 Spanish flu outbreak that killed about 675,000 people in the US alone, the country went ahead with its mid-term vote, although the turnout was very low, according to the New York Times. As James points out, postponing an election is not something democracies like to do, both for the health of the democracy and for practical reasons. "Elections are a huge logistical task. They take years of planning, it's very difficult to unpick from those arrangements," he said. The Australian state of Queensland went ahead with its local body elections on March 28, with the state's electoral commission calling elections "an essential service." But there was a backlash -- medical experts warned that holding an election posed a "lethal risk," and political experts warned there could be a lower turn out. Voters keep a distance in Brisbane, Australia, on March 28.Like South Korea, the state took precautions. Voters were asked to bring their own pencils and hand sanitizer was supplied at polling booths. Those in isolation due to Covid-19 were allowed to vote by telephone, and around a third of voters cast their ballot during the early voting period, reducing the numbers of voters on election day. In Australia, voting is compulsory -- and anyone who didn't vote in Queensland faces a possible $133.45 (about $86) fine. Nevertheless, early figures put the turnout at around 75%, down from around 83% during the last election."You don't know how many people would have liked to have voted, but felt too concerned," said University of Queensland electoral law expert Graeme Orr. Low turnout is one of the risks of holding an election during a pandemic. James noted that turnout also dropped in France's mayoral election in mid-March and Mali's long-awaited parliamentary election held two weeks later.A voter casts their ballot in front of an official wearing plastic gloves in a polling station in Lyon on March 15. Detailed information on voter demographics hasn't been released, but James noted that some at-risk groups may have chosen not to vote, which could affect the final count. Orr said Queensland should have suspended in-person voting, and instead held an all postal ballot. Although US President Donald Trump claimed that voting-by-mail is "corrupt" and "dangerous," due to the risks of voter fraud, experts believe that postal voting will be key for any country holding an election during the pandemic.Campaigning in a pandemicIn a healthy democracy, elections are a time to discuss a wide range of topics.But right now, there's really only one topic dominating conversation. James points out that holding an election during a crisis means discussion is often limited to how well the government is responding to it. "It doesn't allow a full range of issues to be discussed, and it does really undermine a sense of democracy," he said.That was the case during the election in Queensland, where there was no space to talk about non-pandemic issues, Orr said. Another issue is the difficulty of communicating with voters. If countries are in lockdown, rallies, door-knocking, meeting voters in shopping malls -- might not be possible. That was something that former South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon found during this year's campaign. He said hugs and handshakes can be more impactful than words, but social distancing has ruled that out for now. "We are limited in expressing our feeling this time," he told CNN as he campaigned in the Jogno district of Seoul. Despite that, CNN spotted Lee hugging a supporter as he campaigned. Lee Nak-yeon, a candidate of the ruling Democratic Party, wears a mask as he meets with supporters on April 10 in Seoul, South Korea. In recent years, electioneering in many countries has increasingly moved online -- and online campaigns could become even more important during a pandemic. Those who can't access the internet are already marginalized, but they could become even more isolated without other measures to reach them.It's even worse in countries with state-owned media. Without rallies, opposition parties have even fewer ways to get their message out. "Incumbents always have an advantage," said Sarah Repucci, the vice president of research and analysis for democracy non-governmental organization Freedom House. "But they have a bigger advantage in an environment where it's difficult to get information out or get organized."Postponing an electionFaced with all those issues -- and the unfolding health crisis -- some countries have opted to postpone their elections.But this, too, comes with risks, say experts. That's because elections are necessary to keep the public's trust, and to maintain the legitimacy of lawmaking.In Australia's New South Wales, for instance, local government elections have been delayed by one year, meaning mayors and local councilors will stay in power for 12 more months. Sri Lanka has yet to announce a new date after calling off a parliamentary election set for April 25. The cancellation has left the island in a constitutional predicament -- parliament had already been dissolved ahead of the election date, so technically the country has no parliament.Democracy has taken a detour this century. Can it get back on track? Election Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya has said he will pick a new date in May. Repucci said rescheduling is vital to retain public trust in the process. She said any decision to delay an election should be done with cross-party support, to avoid situations where leaders are making unilateral decisions to extend their terms.And when countries do eventually hold their elections, they should make sure remote voting is available for everyone, but also allow some sanitary, in-person polling stations, Repucci said. "Democracy has survived through many different kinds of environments," she said. "It's going to look different, but that doesn't mean it can't have the same fundamental components that are so important to a democracy."A slide into authoritarianismElections are only one part of a functioning democracy. In some countries, leaders have taken on extraordinary powers to allow them to restrict freedoms so they can control the deadly spread of the virus.In New Zealand, the government has declared a state of emergency for only the second time in the country's history, giving the government sweeping powers including the authority to close roads, evacuate any premises, and exclude people from any place. But it also set up a special committee led by the leader of the main opposition party to allow them to scrutinize the government's coronavirus response in the absence of a sitting parliament. Hungary's parliament, by contrast, voted to allow the country's far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orban to rule by decree indefinitely in order to combat the pandemic, prompting concern that the move could be a power grab.Power-hungry leaders are itching to exploit the coronavirus crisisTo Repucci, this is reminiscent of the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, when countries around the world pushed through restrictions as part of their fight against terrorism. At the time, the rules played on people's fears -- but in many countries, the rules were never reversed. One example of this is the Patriot Act in the US, which was brought in following 9/11 and gave the government broader surveillance powers. "We are already seeing (leaders) using the pandemic as an excuse to consolidate their role and to put measures in place that are there indefinitely and would be very, very hard to reverse," she said.Both Repucci and James say that the real test will be after the pandemic is over."Will the president return those powers back to legislatures or will they try to hang onto them?" James questioned. "It's very early to tell -- what we do know is that this will be a huge test for democracies around the world."For South Korea, the first test is Wednesday. While election campaigns in the country tend to be colorful affairs, featuring K-pop style dance troupes and quirky outfits, this election season has been more sedate. As they campaigned in Seoul, candidates wore gloves and face masks -- one even wore a face visor.But while it's a different atmosphere, constituents such as 49-year-old construction worker Cho Seung-chul have every intention of voting on Wednesday."Many people are concerned because of the coronavirus," he said. "I think this situation makes it more important for me to exercise my right to vote." Journalist Iqbal Athas contributed reporting from Colombo, Sri Lanka.

(CNN)As we age, we tend to look back on earlier decades' culture with smug superiority. Can you believe people listened to disco? Who thought acid-washed jeans were a good idea? What's with the big hair, was it all full of secrets?Except there's one problem with that: Unless you're Gen Z (younger than a millennial), you're basically making fun of your own poor life choices. (Just wait Generation Z.) The 1990s were no exception. The decade that brought us "Seinfeld," Tupac, Britney Spears and a very famous white Bronco chase also had plenty of weird stuff. And we actually liked a lot of it.Here are just nine examples:Read MoreYou had to dial up the Internet -- and it took forever This is what your computer looked like in 1996.Back in the day when you wanted to "surf the Information Superhighway" -- er, go online -- you had to attach your desktop computer to a modem that would establish a balky Internet connection over the telephone. That's right -- you couldn't talk on the phone and search the Internet at the same time. The struggle was real. The process made a screechy, crackling noise that sounded like R2-D2 if you put him in a bag and threw him in the river. And it sometimes took several minutes. "Wake up! You've finally got mail!" To today's iPhone-toting teens, it must seem like something from "The Flintstones."Even the most nostalgic '90s kids among us don't miss dial-up. (But that Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan movie was sort of cute.)Rock stars looked like mopey lumberjacks Flannel? Check. Long, messy hair? Yep. Ready for the show!Blame Nirvana. By the early '90s, rock bands in Seattle were walking around sipping coffee in baggy flannel shirts because wearing clothes that fit and were weather-appropriate would be "trying" -- and everyone knew trying wasn't cool. Then, the grunge-rock scene went mainstream, and suddenly everyone from Claire Danes to your nephew was wearing them.It sort of made sense if you were, say, a longshoreman in Vancouver. It was a little silly if you were a teenage TV star. Thankfully, the flannel trend was pretty much over by the late '90s.A woman cut off her husband's penis and threw it out a car windowNo, really. This isn't a clickbait headline - it's an actual historical fact from 1993.In June of that year, a Virginia woman named Lorena Bobbitt, fed up with her reportedly abusive husband, cut off his penis with a kitchen knife while he was sleeping. She then got into her car with the severed appendage, drove away and tossed it into a field.Surgeons reattached it to her husband, John Wayne Bobbitt, during an operation that took more than nine hours. He later starred in porn movies -- because this wasn't weird enough already.The episode shocked the world, kept comedians in punchlines for months and inspired a new verb, "Bobbitted." (Shiver.)We liked cheesy musicOK, there was plenty of good music in the '90s. But it was also the decade that gave us some pretty cheesy hit songs like "Achy Breaky Heart," "Livin' La Vida Loca," "Who Let the Dogs Out" and "Mambo No. 5."Yes, the "A little bit of Monica in my life ..." song. It's running through your head right now, isn't it? Sorry.And we haven't even mentioned Vanilla Ice.Men grew soul patches We'll give Stevie Ray Vaughan a pass for this one.Over the centuries, dudes have experimented with every possible permutation of facial hair. Let's be honest: By the time you are rocking a neck beard, there's pretty much nowhere left to go.But the '90s were a special time. For some reason, guys started growing little patches of hair under their bottom lip. Howie Mandel wore one. So did Chris Gaines, Garth Brooks' rocker alter ego (yes, we'd forgotten about him, too). Kevin Costner still has one.The "soul patch" trend actually began among jazz musicians in the 1950s -- you know, back when it was actually cool -- before being revived.We carried pagersGet this: Before cellphones, some people carried pagers -- also known as "beepers" -- little electronic gizmos that beeped when someone was trying to reach you. If you were paged, you would ACT LIKE YOU WERE VERY IMPORTANT and rush to the nearest payphone to call the person back.Doctors wore them. So did drug dealers. Beep beep! The '90s are calling.So, apparently, did people arranging booty calls, according to A Tribe Called Quest's song "Skypager": The 'S' in skypage really stands for sexBeeper's going off like Don Trump gets checksKeep my bases loaded like the New York MetsRidiculously oversized jeans You don't see these beauties every day.Yes, JNCO jeans were briefly a thing.These denim atrocities made bell bottoms look like skinny jeans and were the perfect wardrobe if you wanted to, say, smuggle a small family inside your clothes.JNCO stood for "Judge None Choose One," but fashion cops did plenty of judging. Sales of the much-mocked jeans peaked in 1998 before fading. (Although GQ says they're making a comeback this year. Yeah.)Pauly Shore was a movie starSomeday future historians will open a time capsule buried in 1996, watch "Bio-Dome" and shudder in horror while wondering how American society did not implode.The mostly unfunny Pauly Shore somehow parlayed his Kenny G hair and his surfer-speak schtik into a brief film career -- "Encino Man," "Son in Law" -- that fizzled when each of his movies earned less money than the last.By 2003, he was spoofing his fading celebrity in a mockumentary, "Pauly Shore is Dead." It grossed $11,000. Ouch.We all worried for nothing about Y2K Thanks, computer programmers, for saving us from the end of times!Remember in the late '90s when we were warned a calendar programming glitch might crash the World Wide Web on January 1, 2000, hurtling the planet into chaos?Clocks would roll back, banks would lose people's money, the electric grid would fail and planes would drop out of the sky. Even Prince prophesized it would be so! Then 2000 dawned, and ... almost nothing happened.Some people woke up on January 1 and seemed almost disappointed that everything was pretty much the same.But hey, at least the '90s were over.Catch up on "The Nineties" Sunday nights at 9 ET/PT only on CNN.

(CNN)If you'd asked Tatyana McFadden two years ago whether she'd be competing at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games, she would've been doubtful. The Team USA athlete, who has won 17 Paralympic Games medals in her illustrious career, was diagnosed with a blood clotting disorder in 2017, shortly after her six-medal masterclass at the 2016 Rio Games. Between February and April in 2017, McFadden describes having "several surgeries" to try to fix the problem, but the clots "kept coming back and they kept traveling."The 32-year-old outlines a 20-month journey to rid her body of the problem, including the lymphedema that happened as a result, to just begin her recovery phase. And because of where she was in relation to her competitors' preparation, competing at her sixth Paralympic Games was never a given after enduring the "scariest time" of her career. Read MoreMcFadden will compete in five different events in Tokyo in the T54 classification. According to the World Para Athletics, in the T54 classification, "Athletes have full upper muscle power in the arms and some to full muscle power in the trunk. Athletes may have some function in the legs.""I think if we spoke maybe in 2018 or 2019, I probably would've been like, 'I don't know' because my speeds weren't quite there, I was quite far from the leader," McFadden told CNN's Selina Wang. "I had good races and I had some bad races, but I did surprise myself, and I was doing OK in the marathons and still kind of hanging in, hanging on. But while I was on my recovery phase, everyone else was getting faster."READ: She lost her legs in a terror attack. Now, she's competing in the ParalympicsMcFadden competes in the Women's 5,000m Run T53/54 Wheelchair final during the 2021 US Paralympic Trials.'We're fighting a good fight'For the Russian-born McFadden, her road has been a long one to the top of her discipline. From being raised in a St. Petersburg orphanage without any disability aid to being adopted by her American mother and moved to the US as a six-year-old, she has been accustomed to battling hardships. McFadden attributes the difficulties which she had to overcome as a child as part of the reason why she has become such a successful athlete. She recently discovered as part of a NHK documentary that a portion of her brain, the part usually attributed to "will" feeling in humans, is larger than the normal person. "I think it came from learning how to survive in the conditions that I was in and having that will to live to the next day, to the next day, to the next day."Since she was introduced to para sport by her mother as a way of helping her grow as a person, McFadden has seen great change. Yet it hasn't be an easy road. She remembers arriving back in the US after making her Paralympic debut at the 2004 Athens Games excited to start competing at her new high school. However, she was denied a uniform and told she wasn't allowed to compete. "My freshman self thought: 'I think I'm being discriminated. I think I'm 100% being discriminated for being disabled,'" she remembers. In 2005, McFadden and her mother Deborah filed a lawsuit against the Howard County Public School System and won the right for her to race at the same time as the runners.And this year's Paralympics Games is a particularly memorable one for the 32-year-old because of her journey. Before her competitive action begins, McFadden paid tribute to all the "wonderful change" that has happened in para sport. The Tokyo 2020 Games are the first in which Team USA athletes -- both Olympians and Paralympians -- are paid equally regardless of gender. "We've come a long way and we're fighting a good fight, and it's for all the right reasons," she said. "We're being advocates for a good reason, and I'm so excited and I'm so happy. I think a medal I will win at these Games is going to mean so much more than any other medal I think I've won at the Games. I'm just unbelievably so happy and thankful for the athletes before me and continuing to be that voice. Clearly, Paralympic athletes are in it for the love of the sport."McFadden finished first in the women's wheelchair category of the 2019 New York City Half.RespectIn her 16-year career as an athlete, McFadden has accomplished almost all there is to achieve. She's won seven Paralympic gold medals, six silvers and three bronzes across a variety of different sports, from varying distance athletics races to the marathon. She even found time to win a silver in the 2014 Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi in the cross-country skiing 1km sprint. On top of all that, she's won the wheelchair divisions at numerous marathons -- including Boston, London and New York -- and has won 17 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) World Championship medals, including 13 golds. The silverware doesn't lie: McFadden is a serial winner. Yet despite this, she also has come to understand the importance of maintaining good physical and mental health as an athlete. Speaking about fellow Team USA athlete Simone Biles choosing to sit out competitions citing her mental health, McFadden says she is "proud of her because it is hard."McFadden during a Project Runway "Olympic Game Plan" episode."For athletes, we put so much on ourselves and we honestly think that we're failures if we don't win or get top," she said. "I feel like there's a mindset that only gold's highlighted, that silver and bronze are just OK. "And we worked for four years for this. And so we do put a lot of pressure on ourselves, almost too much. And so I think looking at the mental health is super important because healthy living should be the No. 1 goal. Everything else should come second and third and so on. "We're already champions for making the team. And then the next, we're champions for getting into the finals because we're the top eight in the world at that point and nobody can do what we do. I would love to see someone get into racing chair and do 26.2 miles in under two hours. It takes time. It takes dedication and a special skill set. And so I applaud all the athletes who talked about mental health because it made me realize: 'I'm going to be OK. We're all going to be OK. And we are role models because the world is listening.'"

London (CNN)The UK is planning to curb the practice of nepotism in the House of Commons by banning elected lawmakers from employing spouses and other relatives with public money. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) that governs the expenses and pay of Members of Parliament, said the ban will come into place after the next general election, scheduled for 2020."We believe that the employment of 'connected parties' is out of step with modern employment practice, which encourages fair and open recruitment to encourage diversity in the workplace," IPSA chairwoman Ruth Evans said in a statement. "On balance, the need for good employment practice which is transparent and encourages diversity outweighs the benefits which some MPs find in being able to employ connected parties."Keeping it in the family across party linesRead MoreSome 151 of the the 650 MPs at Westminster -- almost a quarter of the total -- employ family members using their allowances for staff, according to the Press Association. The practice is common across parties with, for example, 84 Conservatives and 50 Labour lawmakers employing a spouse or relative. A move in 2010 to limit the number of family members employed to just one, caused a near outcry at Westminster. The change led to a drop in the number of MPs employing family members from 32.8% of male MPs and 23.1% of women in 2009 to 26.6 percent of male MPs and 12.9% of women in the period 2012 -13, according to PA.Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale told PA that IPSA's decision was "crass and they will live to regret it".Gale's wife Suzy has worked as his assistant since he first entered parliament in 1983."She probably does 60 to 70 hours work a week, including most of Saturday, and I can call on her any time day or night. I couldn't do that with an assistant recruited through an advert," he said.The new rules will not however prevent children and spouses from being employed by political colleagues. Beyond the UKThe move to clean up the housekeeping of the world's oldest parliamentary democracy comes as a nepotism accusation is threatening the election hopes of French Presidential candidate François Fillon. Fillon's problems began when a newspaper published reports that his wife and and two of his children earned more than a million dollars as parliamentary assistants but didn't show up for work.Fillon, who was prime minister from 2007 to 2012, has rejected the claims and insists that he has "nothing to hide."He said his wife worked for 15 years as his "deputy," managing his schedule and representing him at cultural events. His daughter and son were employed in similar positions for 15 months and six months respectively, which he said is not illegal, but was an "error of judgment."In the US, the Justice Department concluded that US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner would be able to serve as a senior advisor. Kushner, a 36-year-old Harvard-educated businessman and husband of Trump's daughter Ivanka, was a key political strategist on Trump's election.

Story highlightsPresenter was involved in an encounter with a BBC producerTop Gear was due to air this Sunday, episode pulled from scheduleLondon (CNN)Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson was suspended for allegedly hitting a producer, the BBC reported on Wednesday.The BBC said Clarkson, one of the corporation's highest earners, had "a fracas with a BBC producer" in a statement released yesterday. "Jeremy Clarkson has been suspended pending an investigation," they said. "No one else has been suspended. Top Gear will not be broadcast this Sunday." The BBC reported that the next two episodes, and possibly the third and final show of the series, will not be aired.READ: CNNMoney: 5 impressive stats about Top GearFans of the presenter expressed dismay at the decision. At the time of writing, more than 300,000 people have signed a petition seeking his reinstatement. Read MoreUsing the hashtag #BringBackClarkson, which is trending worldwide, some Twitter users lamented that the show would not be the same without him.No Top Gear? No @JeremyClarkson? Unacceptable BBC, #BringBackClarkson.— Will Sheward (@willsheward) March 11, 2015 Clarkson himself also took to Twitter, posting an apology (of sorts) to Labour leader Ed Miliband -- for knocking him down the news agenda.Sorry Ed. It seems I knocked your "I'm a human" piece down the news agenda.— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) March 10, 2015 "Save Clarkson?" his co-host James May tweeted. "Save empty cardboard boxes and off-cuts of string. They're far more useful."Save Clarkson? Save empty cardboard boxes and off-cuts of string. They're far more useful.— James May (@MrJamesMay) March 11, 2015 But a "Sack Jeremy Clarkson" petition is also doing the rounds, gathering 2,814 signatures so far. Some will be glad to see the back of him.A petition for NEVER hire Clarkson again should be created too. This only shows his fans not the people he offends. #SackClarkson #Ignorant— Claire Scrivener (@Giby1) March 11, 2015 #SackClarkson #SackJeremyClarkson #BBC If you hit someone at work you should be fired - period @JeremyClarkson @BBC— Pete Lewis (@iampetelewis) March 11, 2015 Former CNN host Piers Morgan, who has had a series of run-ins with the presenter, also waded in with a cheeky jibe.I'm available. #TopGear— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) March 10, 2015 Controversial commentsThis is not the first time that Clarkson has been at the center of controversy. In May last year, the television presenter asked forgiveness after using a racist term during a taping of the show.JUST WATCHEDTop Gear host suspendedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTop Gear host suspended 03:09Clarkson had mumbled the n-word while reciting a children's nursery rhyme, but that version of the take was never aired.Last year, the BBC show hit the headlines when Argentina complained about a "Top Gear" special filmed in the country in which the number plate H982 FKL was used -- interpreted by some as a reference to the 1982 Falklands War.Forced to stop filming and leave the country, Clarkson said on the BBC Newsbeat website that the use of the plate was purely coincidental.Top Gear was named as the world's most widely watched factual program in the Guinness World Record 2013 Edition book, with an estimated 350 million global viewers. The show is sold to 214 territories worldwide.JUST WATCHEDFormer host: 'Top Gear' will go on without ClarksonReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFormer host: 'Top Gear' will go on without Clarkson 03:47In a previous article on their website, the BBC said "Jeremy Clarkson is not a man given to considered opinion."In their statement, the corporation declined to comment any further.

(CNN)The NCAA plans to implement interim measures that would allow college athletes to profit off their name, image and likeness (NIL).The measures are intended to be in place by July 1, NCAA president Mark Emmert said in a memo sent to member schools and obtained by CNN Wednesday.The memo comes after the Supreme Court unanimously decided Monday that student-athletes could receive education-related payments. The case could reshape college sports by allowing more money from a billion-dollar industry to go to the athletes.The big problem with the NCAA rulingSeveral states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Texas, have signed into law measures that would allow student-athletes to accept NIL earnings starting July 1."Although permanent NIL rule changes by July 1 are unlikely due to the legal environment, we are working with divisional governance bodies to develop interim solutions that will fairly allow student-athletes to take advantage of NIL opportunities regardless of the state in which they are enrolled," Emmert wrote in the memo. "Our intent is to have these interim measures in place by July 1. Equally important, we remain committed to working with Congress to chart a path forward, which is a point the Supreme Court expressly stated in its ruling."Read MoreThe NCAA Division I Council will continue to discuss the NIL issue in a meeting scheduled for Monday, according to a release Wednesday.What the NCAA ruling really means for student athletesCollege sports raise billions of dollars from ticket sales, television contracts and merchandise, and supporters of the students say the players are being exploited and barred from the opportunity to monetize their talents. In 2016, for example, the NCAA negotiated an eight-year extension of its broadcasting rights to March Madness, worth $1.1 billion annually."Nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing not to pay their workers a fair market rate on the theory that their product is defined by not paying their workers a fair market rate," Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote in a concurring opinion. "And under ordinary principles of antitrust law, it is not evident why college sports should be any different. The NCAA is not above the law."The NCAA had argued the spending caps at issue were necessary to preserve a distinction between amateur and pro sports.

(CNN)Rocking a blazer with a t-shirt, John George tips the brim of his baseball cap embroidered with an Old English "D."As acclaimed photographer Marcus Lyon snaps a photo, the well known Detroit activist reveals a slight smirk. "I believe Detroit is on the front porch of the greatest urban comeback story in this nation's history," George told CNN. "It's because we've learned to work together and support each other."John George, executive director of Detroit Blight Busters, works to revitalize Detroit.The 62-year-old is executive director of Detroit Blight Busters, a non-profit focused on revitalizing and stabilizing the city's neighborhoods."We call it 'spreading the Detroit love,' and that means to help your brother, to help your sister, to help your community," George said.Read MoreGeorge is one of 100 Detroiters featured in British artist Marcus Lyon's latest project, i.Detroit: A Human Atlas of an American City, which profiles some of the city's most influential social change agents.The project is interactive, including digital photography, in-depth oral histories and ancestral DNA analysis brought together into a coffee table book and image recognition app.The i.Detroit coffee table book works with a photo recognition app that enables readers to listen to stories of about the 100 Detroiters. "This city really needs to have these stories told in this way, about our social change agents to create change in our society," said Lyon. "This is a time where we need to focus on our extraordinary diversity, and all the wonderful range of human beings who can make a significant change in our societies."A journey that started in Brazili.Detroit is a follow-up to Lyon's first identity project, "Somos Brasil," which lead him to Brazil to learn more about his family.For Lyon, the human atlas is an in-depth identity project."The initial idea behind the human atlas was to do a really deep and significant portrait project to look at a photographic collation of a cohort of fascinating and powerful people working in social change," the photographer said.Lyon, whose works hang in the Smithsonian Institution, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Arts Council of Great Britain, says he was first drawn to Brazil to document his family history."It was very much a father's journey to understand the country of his growing family," Lyon said.Lyon is married to a Brazilian woman and wanted to help his two children better understand their heritage."It turned into something so much bigger, and the book and the exhibition traveled around the world," he said.Mark Davidoff, a Detroit businessman, met Lyon in 2017 and got a copy of his human atlas of Brazil, "Somos Brasil" (We Are Brazil). "The book about Brazil landed on the desk of Rip Rapson of Kresge Foundation in Detroit," Lyon said. "Rip took one look at it and said, 'we have to do this here.'"The Kresge Foundation partnered with the Charles H. Wright Museum to commission the project, and three years later, i.Detroit is revealing its beautiful picture of the Motor City's social change makers. An artist paints a picture of DetroitSome 4.2 million people live in the Detorit metropolitan area. To decide who to feature in i.Detroit, Lyon asked a diverse group of locals to nominate people from their communities who represent the very best of service to society. The final list includes 100 people from all races, ages and backgrounds.Lyon worked with Family Tree DNA to analyze the DNA of the 100 Detroiters. He then traced their generational migration to the city and interviewed each one to record their personal stories."You would have a deeper look at a group of remarkable people through their visual spoken and genetic information," the photographer said.After spending months in the city and getting to know some of these remarkable Detroiters, Lyon realized there are many misconceptions about the city."It's very easy to go and take pictures of ruined spaces or empty factories, but that is so not the story," he said.Consuela Francesca Barber-Lopez is executive director of AMANDLA, a civic group that works to improve community responses to crimes against children."You need to go past the post-industrial decline and look at the much warmer and powerful way that people are co-authoring new futures," Lyon said. "There's a wonderful mix in Detroit, of people being very gritty and having side hustles and having to make things happen in very entrepreneurial and imaginative ways -- many people working in grassroots in activism, who are doing the hard work, often the most important work in our society, but often with the most limited resources."Social entrepreneur Veronika Scott designs and produces a convertible coat for the homeless that can double as a sleeping bag. She also hires homeless people to work in her factory."So, in a sense," he added, "these projects for me are my opportunity to cast a light on other people's excellence and the extraordinary work they do and the lengths they go to to create change within communities."Monica Lewis-Patrick, president of We, the People of Detroit, agrees.Monica Lewis-Patrick, also known as "The Water Warrior," is president of "We, The People of Detroit" a civic group fighting for clean, affordable water."We call Detroit 'beloved Detroit,'" she said. "What we have seen is that even impaired in poverty, disparity and much of the loss that people have experienced even recently with Covid-19, you still will see a community that's willing to do everything that it can to help its neighbors and friends."Lewis-Patrick, known as the "The Water Warrior," was selected as one of Lyon's featured 100 for her work advocating for affordable and clean water access as a fundamental human right. "I was witnessing blocks and blocks, and thousands and thousands of Detroiters cut off from access to water, just simply because they could no longer afford to pay the increasing rates," she said. "We had to respond to what was happening in our community."That response includes research, legislation and providing water to those facing emergency needs."We've used our resources, our power, our talents and abilities to work with others to be the solutions to many of the issues that impact our communities," Lewis-Patrick said. "We're hoping that our young people know that we love them enough to make this investment to commit our life's work to ensure that they have a better tomorrow."British artist Marcus Lyon poses for a photo with Detroit Blight Buster's executive director, John George.John George's activism began three decades ago when the then young father decided to go board up and clean up a crack house."We didn't want to move out of the city," he said. "But at the same time, we didn't want our children growing up in and around this negative energy."George got together with a couple of neighbors and spent about eight hours boarding up the house, cleaning up the neighborhood, cutting the grass and picking up debris and glass. Now, he said, "We've been meeting every Saturday for the last 32 years."Detroit Blight Busters has about 7,000 community volunteers who have helped complete cleanup, demolition and renovation projects across Detroit. George has also helped over 400 people become homeowners, and he has assisted in establishing dozens of small businesses. "Our work has always focused around the home, the family and creating those homeowners and those business owners," George said. "It really is a situation where we want to have our children grow up in clean, decent housing and safe blight-free neighborhoods." The book also includes US Representative Rashida Tlaib and many other prominent community organizers, first responders, entrepreneurs, ministers, artists and educators. Although "i.Detroit: A Human Atlas of an American City" comes in the form of a limited edition coffee table book, Lyon made sure its content is accessible to everyone via a website and app."We're hoping that a lot of people will visit it and enjoy the deepest stories and the stories of DNA and the relationship to both the past and our origins, but also use this as an inspiration for the future," he said.

(CNN)The ongoing saga surrounding Novak Djokovic's participation at this year's Australian Open took another twist on Friday and the world has been reacting to the decision to revoke the Serbian's visa for a second time. Australia's Immigration Minister Alex Hawke chose to cancel Djokovic's visa again in order to protect the country during the pandemic and the world No.1's hopes of staying in Australia hang by a thread. After hearing of Hawke's latest decision, British tennis star Andy Murray said the ongoing situation was unfortunate for all parties involved and urged authorities to come to a quick conclusion. Novak Djokovic to be detained Saturday, ahead of new court hearing"It's not a good situation. I'm not going to start kicking Novak while he's down," Murray told reporters on Friday. "It's unfortunate that it's ended up in this sort of situation."Yeah, I just want it obviously to get resolved. I think it would be good for everyone if that was the case. It just seems like it's dragged on for quite a long time now."Read MoreMurray, a three-time grand slam champion, reached his first ATP Tour final since 2019 Friday after beating American fourth-seed Reilly Opelka at the Sydney Tennis Classic.The Scot says the saga ahead of the year's first grand slam was not a good look for the sport. "Not great for the tennis, not great for the Australian Open, not great for Novak," added Murray.Novak Djokovic plays a backhand during a practice session ahead of the 2022 Australian Open.'It's bad for sport'Many in Serbia, where less than 60% of the adult population are currently vaccinated, are still supporting their national hero who had always opted to keep his vaccination status private.Former Serbian tennis player and friend of Djokovic, Viktor Troicki, told CNN's Scott Mclean that the latest decision was "shocking'' and "unfair."Troicki has played many doubles matches alongside Djokovic and says the 20-time grand slam champion is staying mentally strong amid the global attention. "There has already been for 10 days a lot of speculation and a lot of different decisions being made by the Australian government and Australian law," he said. "It's a lot of confusion. I think it's more than obvious that it's a political thing and has nothing to do with sport which is really sad.""It's really shocking, it's bad for sport, it's bad for tennis and I guess it's bad also for Australia."Fellow Serbian former player Janko Tipsarevic, who reached a career high of No. 8 in the world, has also been left decidedly unimpressed by what has transpired."Toxic shame on each and everyone involved in this process," he tweeted.JUST WATCHEDLawyer breaks down what Djokovic's team could do nextReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLawyer breaks down what Djokovic's team could do next 02:25'Fault lies everywhere'Amid criticism from Djokovic's supporters, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Hawke's decision served to protect Australia during the pandemic."I understand that following careful consideration, action has been taken by the Minister to cancel Mr Djokovic's visa held on health and good order grounds, on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so," he said. "This pandemic has been incredibly difficult for every Australian, but we have stuck together and saved lives and livelihoods."However, the decision was criticized by former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who said Morrison's government had been acting politically, distracting the public from other domestic issues. "What a surprise! Morrison's govt cancels #Djokovic's visa to win the weekend media cycle -- showing us all how hairy chested he is," Rudd tweeted on Friday. Djokovic 'playing by his own rules', says Tsitsipas"Why on earth did they issue the visa in the first place? One big political distraction from empty shelves & the national shortage of boosters & RATs."While many around the world took sides, tennis analyst Darren Cahill, who has coached some of the world's leading players, said everyone should take their share of the blame. "Fault lies everywhere here," he tweeted. "It's been a mess. Novak, TA, Vic Gov, Federal Gov. "It should've been a hard rule entering this country considering what the folks have been thru [sic]. "Get vaccinated and come play the AO, or if not maybe see you in 23. No wiggle room." Djokovic will be placed back in detention by Australian authorities on Saturday after his visa was revoked.His case to stay in Australia will be heard on Saturday before the country's Federal Court following an emergency hearing before Judge Anthony Kelly in the Federal Circuit and Family Court on Friday. Australia's Federal Court is a higher body than the court Kelly presided over.CNN's Hannah Ritchie, Jessie Yeung and Adam Renton contributed reporting.

Story highlightsLeicester City set for cash boostWill net $132 million alone for title winOther revenue could amount to $88 millionSocial media fans rise by more than 500% (CNN)It's been a rags-to-riches story, and Leicester City could be in line to pocket as much as $220 million for the club's fairytale first English Premier League title win.The Foxes sealed the title without kicking a ball Monday as Chelsea's revival in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge put the title mathematically beyond Spurs' reach with two games still to play.READ: Everyone is talking about LeicesterAnd analysts at sports data and marketing firm Repucom have estimated the previously unheralded football club could land a sizable windfall off the back of the unlikely triumph, having been a 5,000-1 shot at the start of the season.WATCH: Leicester players celebrate Premier League winRead MoreLeicester, which narrowly avoided relegation to England's second tier a year ago, will bank over $132 million for winning the league. Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League title Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League titleLeicester City fans watch the Chelsea-Tottenham match at a pub in Leicester, England, on Monday, May 2. The match ended 2-2, giving Leicester City its first Premier League title in club history. The Foxes were a 5,000-to-1 shot when the season started.Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League titleChelsea's Eden Hazard scored the goal that tied the match at 2-2 late in the second half. Hazard was last year's Premier League Player of the Season, and Chelsea was last season's champions.Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League titleTottenham's Mousa Dembele, left, is tackled by Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas during the match in London.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League titleChelsea and Tottenham players scuffle after Tottenham's Eric Dier, front, brought down Hazard.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League titleTottenham's Son Heung-min scores to give his team a 2-0 first-half lead.Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League titleA Chelsea fan holds up a sign in support of Leicester City's title challenge. Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri was once in charge of Chelsea.Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League titleRanieri walks to the tunnel at halftime of Leicester City's match at Manchester United on Saturday, May 1. The Foxes could have clinched the title with a victory, but the 1-1 draw meant they would have to wait a bit longer.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League titleLeicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha applauds fans at the end of the Manchester United match.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League titleJamie Vardy, Leicester City's star striker, acknowledges the fans in Manchester. Vardy was recently named player of the year by the English Football Writers' Association. He has 22 Premier League goals this season.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Leicester City clinches Premier League titleLeicester City winger Riyad Mahrez takes a shot during the Manchester United match. Last month, Mahrez was named player of the year by his peers in the Professional Footballers' Association. He has 17 goals and 11 assists in 34 Premier League matches.Hide Caption 10 of 10The manner of Leicester's remarkable triumph also makes the club infinitely more marketable and hence able to earn more from any potential commercial deals.READ: Karma powers Foxes to gloryQualification for the Champions League, Repucom estimated, could amount to a participation bonus of $48.5 million and an additional $4.4 million from a performance bonus."The figures Leicester City could be making are in large part thanks to the Premier League revenue share, which is split relatively evenly across the league and from Champions League qualification," Repucom UK&I head of consulting Spencer Nolan said in a statement.Wow.Leicester winning the league triggered an 86% increase in normal Twitter activity in the UK...#havingaparty pic.twitter.com/vGTmtqwq2E— Twitter UK (@TwitterUK) May 2, 2016 "Taking into account teams with similar size stadium capacities as Leicester's King Power Stadium and the effect winning the domestic league had on teams who were not favorites to do so, such as Atlético Madrid in 2014, match day and commercial revenues could well be worth an increased $14-$22 million to the club."The growth of Leicester's global fan base will also offer opportunities to the club as it seeks to maximize the financial effects of the league title success.READ: Triumph of the 'Tinkerman'Leicester's Facebook followers overall have risen by more than 500% this season, with 16.7% of that fan base coming from Algeria as a result of Riyad Mahrez winning the PFA Player of the Year award.In Thailand -- the home of the club's billionaire Thai owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha -- there has been a 117% increase in Facebook followers, as well as a 2,293% increase in Italy, the home of manager Claudio Ranieri.Claudio Ranieri sums up his season in three words... Now you try:1 _______ 2 _______ 3 _______https://t.co/H7maW2J9Jq— Premier League (@premierleague) May 2, 2016 "The growth in fan base remains central to realizing the club's full potential as a commercial entity and whilst it is too early to really evaluate the rapidly growing fan bases we are starting to see across Asia for example, social media provides us an opportunity to start to quantify this surge," Nolan added.READ: More CNN football coverageHave your say on Leicester's success at CNN FC's Facebook pageJUST WATCHEDLeicester City's football fairytale come true?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLeicester City's football fairytale come true? 01:25

(CNN)After winning his first world title last year, Max Verstappen has signed a long-term contract extension with Red Bull Racing which will keep him with the team until 2028.The Dutchman's current contract was due to expire after the 2023 season but the 24-year-old is eying more long-term success with the team."I really enjoy being part of the Oracle Red Bull Racing Team, so choosing to stay to the 2028 season was an easy decision," Verstappen said in a statement, speaking of his new five-year deal."I love this Team and last year was simply incredible, our goal since we came together in 2016 was to win the championship and we have done that, so now it's about keeping the number one on the car long-term."Max Verstappen wins first F1 world title after dramatic Abu Dhabi Grand Prix endingIn the immediate aftermath of the dramatic title-deciding race in Abu Dhabi last year, Verstappen signaled his intentions for a long relationship with Red Bull.Read More"My team know I love them and I want to do this with them for the next 10 or 15 years," he said at the time. That wish now looks to be a reality with Red Bull Racing's team principal Christian Horner hungry for more, saying the deal was "a real statement of intent.""Our immediate focus is on retaining Max's World Championship title, but this deal also shows he is a part of the team's long-term planning," he said in a statement. READ: Nicholas Latifi speaks out after death threats following Abu Dhabi crashMax Verstappen celebrates on the podium after winning his maiden world title. Verstappen joined the Red Bull set-up in 2015, joining second string outfit Toro Rosso in his debut season in F1.He was then promoted to Red Bull Racing in 2016 and has gone on to become one of the best drivers on the grid.His rivalry with Lewis Hamilton last year has been described as the best title race the sport has ever seen.It came down the very final lap of the season, with Verstappen taking advantage of a safety car technicality to win his maiden world title under the most controversial circumstances. The newly crowned world champion will begin his title defense in Bahrain on March 20.

Story highlightsEight U.S. states don't require vision and hearing screenings in schools After going partially blind and deaf as a child, Chelsea Elliott created a solutionDo you know a hero? Nominations are open for 2015 CNN HeroesMaui, Hawaii (CNN)When she was just 4 years old, Chelsea Elliott went blind in her left eye. Then, two years later, she lost hearing in her right ear. Now 24, Elliott might have been spared years of struggle if her rare eye condition -- known as Coats disease -- had been caught earlier. Not wanting other children to feel the same frustration, anger and limitations, Elliott launched a nonprofit that offers free vision and hearing screenings to school-age children -- particularly from lower income communities.Here's a stunning statistic: 25% of U.S. children ages 5-17 suffer from vision problems, according to the National Commission on Vision and Health.Nonetheless, eight states still fail to require vision screenings at schools. Read MoreUndetected and untreated, eye disorders can result in delayed reading and poorer academic outcomes.Elliott's organization, the Half-Helen Foundation, has screened nearly 9,000 children in Texas and Hawaii since its 2013 launch. As you might guess, the name honors Helen Keller -- who overcame blindness and hearing loss as an infant.Before her death in 1968, Keller learned to speak and then eventually earned degrees from Radcliffe College and Harvard University, inspiring countless people around the world. "When I learned about Helen Keller for the first time in the fourth grade, I surmised that I am half blind and half deaf like half Helen," said Elliott. "What better role model than to name a nonprofit after the most extraordinary woman who overcame obstacles being blind and deaf?"JUST WATCHEDCNN Hero Chelsea Elliott: Vision QuestReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN Hero Chelsea Elliott: Vision Quest 01:41Do you know a hero? Nominations are open for CNN Heroes 2015 I talked with Elliott about the motivation behind her work. Below is an edited version of our conversation.CNN: You do vision screenings right in the schools. How does it work?Chelsea Elliott: We use our tool, the Spot camera. This device allows us to test for the six most common vision impairments in children in seconds. We are looking to see if they're near-sighted, if they're far-sighted, if they have astigmatism, or if they're at risk for conditions like lazy eye or strabismus or if there's a difference in pupil size.The Spot camera is a hand-held autorefractor that takes a picture of a child's eyes. It has multi-colored Infrared light -- a red, blue and green light that flashes. Children tell me it looks like a video game.Often I'm trying to get the child to look straight into the camera. So once I capture their attention, the camera will capture the image and the screening is done. It's that quick. We learn so much more about a child's vision health in a fraction of the time it takes to do a basic eye chart test.After the screening, we deliver referral reports to the school health aide to distribute to the families. The families communicate directly with us if they need assistance in seeking corrective wear or access to an eye care professional.If a child passes, all the better. But if a child fails, then we've found one who we can help, and that's one less child who has to know the struggle or the headaches or the frustration from not being able to see. See more CNN HeroesCNN: Your efforts first started in Texas. Why did you choose to focus on Hawaii next?Elliott: The state of Hawaii currently does not require vision or hearing screenings in schools. So it has been left to the hands of service or civic organizations."I would like to see every state require preventative screenings ... to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to the best education possible," Elliott says.Only certain schools on the island were receiving vision screenings, when it was convenient. It wasn't being done (systematically). So I reached out to some civic groups here that had been conducting screenings and asked if I could come out and present how we do our work. And they, in turn, invited me to come out for a year and pilot our Maui 528 program. It's the perfect pilot group size. With 21,000 students and the technology available, we calculated it would actually take us about 528 hours to screen all 21,000 students.CNN: How can a vision problem affect a child's education? Elliott: A child's learning can be set back several years by not being able to see the words on the page or if they're at a slant, if they're blurred, if they're nonexistent. They lose that self-confidence in their learning, that drive to push them forward, all because they were never screened for a potential condition that is easily correctable.It's so commonly assumed that you can see a problem. I was 4 years old, and I had no visual symptoms. A common misunderstanding with the need for these services is that if a child has a vision problem, they'll tell you. How can they tell you if that's the only reality they know?Because preventative care is the most important thing we can provide, and we have a way now to conduct it so efficiently and effectively, there's no reason not to provide this service. I would like to see every state require preventative screenings in order to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to the best education possible. That's our way forward.CNN: Where does the name of your organization come from?Elliott: When I learned about Helen Keller for the first time in the fourth grade, I surmised that I am half blind and half deaf like half Helen. So that became the nickname from fourth grade on. And then when I graduated from college and I realized what my purpose was in this life, I realized what better role model than to name a nonprofit after the most extraordinary woman who overcame obstacles being blind and deaf? Helen Keller did so many extraordinary things with her life, I can only hope to be half as wonderful as she is.Want to get involved? Check out the Half-Helen Foundation website at www.halfhelen.org and see how to help.

Story highlights Prosecutor open to filing charges against two high school football players, police sayVideo shows two players hitting a game officialThe two were ejected from game and suspended; police are investigating (CNN)The defensive back comes charging in at full speed, knocking his blindsided target to the ground. A teammate follows moments later by diving in helmet-first.These kinds of bone-crushing hits often land the players involved on football highlight reels. But this time, they could land the players in jail.The reason: They didn't level an opposing high school player but a game official.No arrests have been made. Police in Marble Falls, Texas, said they are investigating the incident.Investigators have contacted Burnet County Attorney Eddie Arredondo, whose jurisdiction includes Marble Falls, and the prosecutor has said he is open to filing charges, Marble Falls Police Department spokesman Tom Dillard said. Read MoreDillard wouldn't speculate on the timing of any potential charges. If charges are filed, he said, the football players could be looking at counts of assault. Individuals 17 and older are considered adults in Texas. Dillard said he did not know the players' ages. While they await their fate, the pair from San Antonio's John Jay High School have already paid a price. They both were ejected from Friday night's game against Marble Falls High School. The two then were suspended from the Mustangs team and from school, according to Stan Laing, executive director for athletics in the Northside Independent School District that includes John Jay and 11 other San Antonio-area high schools.The district said it would address the matter more fully Tuesday when schools reopen after the Labor Day holiday.Pascual Gonzalez, chief spokesman for Northside schools, said the district will interview game officials, coaches and students in an investigation in conjunction with the University Interscholastic League, which oversees athletics in Texas public schools."It is not the good sportsmanlike behavior that we teach students," Gonzalez said. "Northside ISD will not tolerate this kind of behavior."UIL statement concerning actions in San Antonio Jay football game: pic.twitter.com/QhPH8rskzc— Texas UIL (@uiltexas) September 6, 2015 Video of hits go viral, with 6 million viewsOne of the videos of the incident went viral after being posted online. It had more than 6 million views by Tuesday morning.The video was recorded in the game's fourth quarter after two John Jay players, including its starting quarterback, had been ejected, according to CNN affiliate KSAT-TV in San Antonio. The video shows what otherwise seems like an innocuous running play -- except if you look well behind the play. That's where a John Jay safety lined up and sprinted seven yards into the back of the game official. The hat of the pin-striped official, who had been looking forward, flies off as he plummets to the ground.A second player then comes in, piling on the official.Marble Falls police note that videos show the incident "from the several different angles." The authorities also suggest it was no accident."Two players from John Jay High School targeted one of the game officials and blindsided him," police said, "knocking him to the ground."The incident also caught the attention of the NFL Referees Association."These types of actions against any game official at any level are inexcusable," said Jim Quirk, the group's executive director. "We fully support the suspensions of the players involved, along with a full and complete investigation by the Texas University Interscholastic League."CNN's Shawn Nottingham, David Close, Sara Pratley and Wayne Sterling contributed to this report.

(CNN)Virat Kohli is already adored by millions across India and around the globe -- but the nation's cricket captain can now add one of the sport's greatest ever players to his ever expanding fan club.For a guy who has 30 million followers on Twitter, 37 million on Facebook, and another 36 million on Instagram, you could forgive Kohli for overlooking a new admirer.But Kohli will want to sit up and take notice of this latest endorsement -- that of Viv Richards, the West Indies great, widely considered one of the best ever to have ever picked up a cricket bat.Kohli celebrates during India's World Cup victory over Australia."Yes, for sure, maybe that's why I'm in his corner most times," Richards told CNN after being asked whether he sees parts of himself in Kohli."I just love the way he approaches his games, his batting, the confidence he gives to his players. He's always involved. When you have a captain who always appears as confident as he does, all the other guys are going to be behind you and we've seen that before in this particular tournament."Read MoreRichards, a two-time World Cup winner with the West Indies in the 1970s, has been firmly impressed not just by Kohli's batting, but his style of leadership.'Belief'Kohli, 30, averages nearly 60 and has hit 41 centuries in one-day cricket. His Indian side is the top-ranked team in Test match cricket and second in the one-day format.Richards believes that Kohli's success and confidence is clear to see in the way he plays the game, and insists that attitude should not be confused with arrogance.JUST WATCHEDCricket legend Viv Richards on the 2019 CWCReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCricket legend Viv Richards on the 2019 CWC 02:54"You look at the way he walks out to bat. You have guys who sometimes have this quiet confidence about him. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and l love captains like that. "I love individuals like that. Just the way they look at times, the walk and all that sort of stuff. It's a presence. Sometimes some guys may look at it in a different way. They speak of arrogance, but I don't think it's arrogance in any way. It's just that belief factor, and that's why he's been so successful. He believes in the product he brings to the party."READ: England gave Jofra Archer 'all the respect' he deserves, says RichardsREAD: England on the brink after Australia defeat Kohli is not the only Indian batsman to have found his way into Richards' heart. Sachin Tendulkar, the leading run scorer in the history of Test cricket, was also one of Richards' favorite players.Tendulkar, who helped India win the World Cup in 2011, retired in 2013 at the age of 40, 24 years and one day after his Test debut.And while there is a temptation to compare the two, Richards believes doing so would be unfair.Tendulkar shares a light moment with Kohli during a training session in Mumbai on November 9, 2012. "It's completely different in my opinion," Richards said of the comparison between the two batsman ahead of India's World Cup clash with the West Indies on Thursday."Sachin is a much more laid back individual, maybe not as up front as Virat, but you can never take anything way from them."What I think both do have in common is their height. They're not the biggest folks in the world, but they pack a punch and that's most important. They've been totally different in aspect of outlook to what the game is all about."Virat is more up front and Sachin will sit back just a little bit, but that doesn't take anything away from both of them and what they've achieved so far in the sport."

(CNN)Like many small children, Romanian Cosmin Lambru would frequently walk through the streets of his hometown, talking to his friends about football.It was on one of those daily walks in Ploiești that Lambru, an aspiring footballer in the youth ranks of the city's football team FC Petrolul, was the victim of a freak incident that would change his life forever.Follow @cnnsport "When I was seven, I was involved in an accident," Lambru tells CNN Sport. "I was with three or four friends on the sidewalk. "I was at a crossroads and a truck lost its balance and caught my arm, which ended up being trapped between some gas pipes and the truck itself. As a result of the impact, my fingers got crushed."Living in Ploiești, a modest industrial city of some 200,000 people -- 56 kilometers north of Romania's capital Bucharest -- Lambru had been playing for local club FC Petrolul since the age of four.Read MoreHe grew up fanatically supporting the local club and, like many of his friends, dreamed of wearing the brightly colored kit of the "Yellow Wolves."His dream eventually came true and when an 18-year-old Lambru made his professional debut in a Romanian Cup match for his childhood club in October last year, his name made headlines all around the world.But it wasn't his debut, a goal or a piece of skill that caught people's attention. Their attention was drawn to a white bandage strapped tightly to his left arm, which supported a prosthetic limb.AccidentThe accident severely and irreparably damaged Lambru's left hand from the middle of his forearm down.Despite the life-changing incident, Lambru still talks about the "luck" he had that day after being rushed to hospital."Of course I was afraid I would never return to play football," he recalls, speaking from FC Petrolul's training base. "At the time of the accident I was building up my career. But I managed to stay strong and my family stood alongside me."My biggest luck was the fact that I was treated by a fantastic doctor when I arrived at the hospital, Dr. Otilia Racasan. She managed to save my joint. "If she hadn't performed the operation, I would have ended up fracturing my hand at every fall and that would've certainly meant the end of my playing career and my dream."Lambru also credits the support and compassion of FC Petrolul and its coaches in allowing him to realize his dream and make it as a professional."I stayed in the hospital for about a month after the accident," he says. "My teammates and my coaches visited me more than once a week. "They told me to be brave, to keep my feet on the ground and to try and get some motivation out of the whole situation."His father, himself a former professional footballer in Romania, was the person who initially encouraged Lambru to continue his pursuit of a career in football. Even after the amputation, that support never wavered."He told me not to give up on my childhood dream," Lambru says. "The accident made me a more ambitious person and now I give 100% of myself at every training session. "Nothing will stop me from achieving my dream."JUST WATCHEDLegless F1 driver masters handcyclingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLegless F1 driver masters handcycling 04:08AdaptingAfter he came out of hospital, Lambru initially found it difficult adjusting to his new prosthetic arm; the way it felt and the changes it made to his speed and balance."But in time I managed to adapt to it," he says. "Especially when I fall after a foul on the pitch, I've learned to put my arm under my body, so I can avoid any other injury to my left arm."Lambru buys his prosthetics from the Alex Zanardi Foundation, a charity set up by the Italian racing driver who had both his legs amputated following a crash in 2001.Until he was 18, Lambru received the prostheses for free but now pays for one annually. He can't wear it for more than two days at a time otherwise it deteriorates. "It's made of a lighter material than the ones I previously had," he explains. "This is because I am now a professional and I need the full use of my arm to maintain balance."Before he made worldwide headlines on his professional debut, Lambru says his prosthetic arm went largely unnoticed in youth matches -- even by opposition players."I don't think there ever was any other case in Romania of a footballer playing with an arm prosthesis," he says. "And I think no opponent ever knew that I was playing with a prosthesis. "But I don't want to be protected because of this. I want to be treated just like everyone else and show my worth on the pitch."The futureFC Petrolul enjoyed success in the 1950s and 60s after relocating away from Bucharest, winning three of their four league titles in a nine-year period.In recent years, the club has continued to punch above its weight, winning both the Romanian Cup and Romanian Supercup as recently as 2013.However, in 2015, Petrolul's money problems culminated in bankruptcy and the club was dissolved a year later.But thanks to the determination of supporters and club legends, FC Petrolul Ploiești was refounded in 2017 under the same name, albeit playing football in Romania's fourth tier.That's where Lambru comes in. Now an established member of the first-team squad, the 19-year-old hopes his goals can fire the team back to the top of Romanian football.With the club already achieving promotion in its first season, the signs of back-to-back promotions are promising after the first half of the 2017-18 league season. As the country's leagues return to playing after the winter break -- delayed by a week due to bad weather -- FC Petrolul sit top of the Liga III, undefeated after 13 matches.In the first match following the restart of the season, FC Petrolul beat Sporting Rosiori 1-0 to maintain their narrow lead at the top of the table, with Lambru coming on as a late substitute.A week later, the club hammered relegation-threatened FC Aninoasa 7-1, with Lambru scoring two goals to take his tally for the season to five."Firstly, I want to get as much playing time as I can at my club," he says level-headedly. "To help them by playing well and by scoring goals. "My aim is to finish at the top of our league, in order to be promoted to the second division. This is the most important thing for me."On a personal level, Lambru has aspirations of one day representing his country on the international stage. "Of course I'm hoping to get to the first division in the shortest possible time and of course I am hoping to get to the national team," he says with determination. "It's what every footballer dreams about, to wear the national team shirt and give everything for his country. The same goes for me."

(CNN)Zinedine Zidane has stepped down as the manager of Real Madrid with immediate effect for the second time in his career. Real Madrid lost out on the Spanish La Liga title to city rivals Atlético Madrid on Saturday by just a point after a dramatic final day of the season. "Real Madrid C. F. announces that Zinedine Zidane has decided to bring an end to his current spell as head coach of our club," the Spanish club said in a statement. "We must now respect his decision and express our gratitude for his professionalism, dedication and passion over the years and what he means to Real Madrid."Zidane is one of Real Madrid's great icons and his legacy extends beyond what he has achieved as a coach and player at our club.Read More"He is aware that he has a place in the hearts of the Real Madrid fans and that he will always have a home at Real Madrid."Zidane interacts with referee Juan Martinez Munuera after the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Sevilla.Despite finishing second in La Liga behind Atlético and reaching the semifinals of the Champions League, it has been a disappointing season for Real Madrid. It's the first time in 11 seasons when Real has finished without lifting a trophy. It is not the first time Zidane has walked away from the Spanish giants, who he played for between 2001 and 2006. The France legend was hired initially in 2016, winning an unprecedented three consecutive Champions League titles and the La Liga title once. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosHe stepped away in May 2018 before returning 10 months later. In his second term, Zidane won the 2019-20 Spanish league title and the Spanish Super Cup. However, after guiding the club to its first trophy-less season since 2009-10, the 48-year old has stepped away for the second time.

(CNN)A Russian reporter known for his investigations into Russian mercenaries in Syria died after a fall from his apartment in the city of Yekaterinburg, raising fresh concern about threats to independent journalists. Maxim Borodin fell from his fifth-floor apartment and died Sunday, according to a statement released by his employer, Novy Den (New Day). Local police said they did not see any foul play, but his death prompted intense speculation among friends and colleagues. Valery Gorelykh, spokesman for the Interior Ministry for the Sverdlovsk region, told CNN that Borodin's apartment was locked from the inside, a fact that he said indicated "no one exited the apartment and most likely there were no strangers in there." Russia's Investigative Committee, the country's main investigative body, said there were no indications of a crime, and that multiple causes of death were being probed. Polina Rumyantseva, editor in chief of Novy Den, said that there was no reason to suspect suicide."We were able to visit the apartment of Maxim, together with the police and forensic experts on Friday, the intermediate conclusion is that Maxim fell out of the balcony of his apartment where he probably was smoking," she said. "As Maxim had big plans for his personal life and career, there is nothing to support a verdict of suicide."Read MoreOthers fear his death may not have been accidental.Borodin's friend, Vyacheslav Bashkov, wrote on Facebook that Borodin contacted him early in the morning on April 11 and said his building was surrounded by armed "siloviki," or Russian security services, wearing camouflage and face masks.According to Bashkov, Borodin believed his apartment was about to be searched and that the security officers were waiting for a court order. Bashkov said the reporter asked to find him a lawyer, but an hour later Borodin called back and said it was a false alarm.Leonid Volkov, another acquaintance of Borodin who was head of Yekaterinburg headquarters for Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, cast doubt on the reports of a mysterious death. But he also suggested that the journalist most likely committed suicide out of desperation: Volkov said that Borodin wanted to move to Moscow, hoping to find an outlet that would give him more freedom to write."This story is not about how the regime kills one journalist who writes on inconvenient topics," Volkov wrote on Facebook. "This is the story of how the regime kills thousands of journalists, all of them embodied [in Borodin], depriving them of any prospect, forcing them to choose between honor and a piece of bread every day."Borodin regularly covered high-profile corruption cases and crime in Russia. In February, he broke a story about Russian mercenaries who died in an armed confrontation with US forces near Deir-Ezzor, Syria. Borodin wrote about three members of Wagner, a private military company linked to pro-Putin oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin.Prigozhin, who is under US sanctions, is alleged to have made a systematic effort to silence reports of his activities. Borodin was previously targeted for his views.Last year, he gave an interview to a Russian independent channel TV Rain and talked about the controversial film "Matilda," and was subsequently hit on the head by an unknown assailant with a metal pipe, according to a Facebook post.Russia ranks first in the European Federation of Journalists list of countries with the highest number of journalists murdered in Europe. Since 1990, 346 journalists and media staff have been killed in Europe, and a third lost their lives in Russia.In a statement on Twitter, Harlem Désir, the media freedom representative for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, an intergovernmental body, expressed "serious concern" about Borodin's death."I call on the authorities for a swift and thorough investigation," he said.

(CNN)Afghanistan's first female Olympian, Friba Rezayee, says she is "very angry" that her country's plight is "falling off the world agenda" as she continues to help those still trying to escape.Rezayee was one of many to oppose the Taliban takeover of the country in August and says those still left in the country are being forgotten.The former judoka, who competed at the 2004 Olympic Games, says she is in regular contact with over 100 female Afghan athletes -- including members of the judo and volleyball team -- and says some women are still in hiding over fears they will receive punishment from the new regime after fighting for equality over the last two decades."The female athletes' lives are in extreme danger and they're in hiding," Rezayee told CNN Sport, adding that she was told armed Taliban fighters had already visited the dojo where the women used to train. "They are not only in hiding, they are changing their locations and their addresses every two or three weeks because the Taliban can find them and they don't want to be captured or caught and to be punished."Read MoreThe pictures of people falling to their deaths as they hung on to planes leaving Kabul airport shocked the world back in August -- a tragic and very visible embodiment of how desperate people were to flee the Taliban.The group's regime has since been placed under immense pressure to support the rights of women by the international community and professed to have changed since their previous rule.However, in their four months of recent rule, the new Taliban leaders have imposed limits on girls' education and stripped away rights they had fought tirelessly for over the last 20 years.READ: Safe and alive, but 'traumatized,' the future of these Afghan footballers is uncertainFriba Rezayee in Vancouver, Canada, where she moved in 2011.'Textbook example of a humanitarian crisis'The so-called "decree on women's rights" that was released earlier this month failed to even mention access to education or work.The decree, which sets out the rules governing marriage and property for women, states that women should not be forced into marriage and that widows have a share in their husbands property. "A woman is not a property, but a noble and free human being; no one can give her to anyone in exchange for peace...or to end animosity," said the Taliban decree, released by spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid."I don't believe that the Taliban has changed," Rezayee added, saying she was "heartbroken" when the takeover happened earlier this year. Biden administration moves to allow Afghan teachers' salaries to be paid by aid organizations"[Girls] schools are still shut. Athletes are still at home in hiding. Everybody is terrified to even speak or post something on social media."Afghanistan felt like it was hit by a giant meteoroid. Afghanistan is suffering greatly and this is the textbook example of a humanitarian crisis."We cannot ignore such a big disaster in the world. We need to keep Afghanistan in our heart and on our agenda."Born and raised in Afghanistan, Rezayee moved to Canada as a refugee in 2011.She said fundamentalists in Afghanistan "wanted her dead" due to her participation in sport and she feared for the safety of both her and her family on her return from the Olympic Games. As a result, she went into hiding for a few months and then, after a family tragedy in 2005, she fled to Pakistan before finally seeking refuge in Canada. She has since set up a non-profit organization, 'Women Leaders of Tomorrow,' which advocates for women's rights in Afghanistan.In November, she wrote open letters to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and Sean Fraser, minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, urging her adopted country to help those sportswomen fearing for their lives.She is aware work is being done but says it's not happening quickly enough.Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which has not responded to Rezayee's letter to Fraser, says it is committed to helping up to 40,000 refugees and vulnerable Afghans settle in Canada through multiple initiatives.Last week, Fraser said a plane carrying 184 Afghan refugees landed in the country, but Rezayee is worried that the most vulnerable are not being helped quick enough by the international community."Canada was the first country in the world to launch a humanitarian resettlement program for Afghan refugees, which remains one of the most ambitious of any country," said IRCC spokesperson Alexander Cohen in a statement to CNN. "Through the pathways that we've implemented, referral partners have begun referring vulnerable persons -- including Afghan women at risk -- under our humanitarian resettlement program. "They're being processed as Government Assisted Refugees, and we continue to explore further possibilities as we increase our commitment from 20 to 40,000 refugees. "Unfortunately we cannot give details about specific cases due to privacy and security reasons."It added: "As requests to support persecuted groups have increased dramatically since the fall of Kabul, Canada is working hard to assist as many vulnerable people as possible. "We have now welcomed nearly 6,000 Afghan refugees and approved applications for roughly 12,000 others."JUST WATCHEDLGBTQ Afghans 'hiding and screaming in silence' says activistReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHLGBTQ Afghans 'hiding and screaming in silence' says activist 10:36'Now is the time'Earlier this year, reality star Kim Kardashian and Leeds United owner Andrea Radrizzani helped fly 130 Afghan women soccer players and their families from Pakistan to Britain.Former Afghanistan football captain Khalida Popal, who signed Rezayee's open letters, has also spearheaded evacuation efforts for other female athletes from Afghanistan following the country's Taliban takeover in August.Rezayee is worried that lesser-known sports, such as her beloved martial arts, are not getting the same support from big sponsors and organizations.She urged governments around the world, as well as celebrities, to help fund the efforts to get visas for the women she is speaking to. "Given the risk and the principles of Taliban and women's sports, they're equally qualified to be evacuated, and they're equally at risk," she said."You have the power and the funding to help us if you want to reach out. Now is the time."

(CNN)Devin Nunes, a Republican who has represented California since 2003, has officially resigned from Congress, ending a nearly 20-year stint in the House of Representatives.Nunes, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, announced in December that he was leaving Congress at the end of 2021 to become CEO of the Trump Media & Technology Group. His departure also comes as midterm elections kick off in which he faced the threat of a more-Democratic district through redistricting. "I was presented with a new opportunity to fight for the most important issues I believe in. I'm writing to let you know I've decided to pursue this opportunity, and therefore I will be leaving the House of Representatives at the end of 2021," Nunes told his constituents in a letter issued in December.His resignation was effective January 1, 2022.Nunes served as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee when Republicans were in the majority in which he led efforts among Trump's allies to discredit the FBI's Russia investigation and Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe. His role as an attack dog against the Russia probe raised his popularity among Trump's supporters, and he became a top fundraiser in the House GOP conference as he gained stature on the right.Read MoreHe was also an outspoken defender of Trump during his first impeachment, and the then-President awarded Nunes the Medal of Freedom in 2021.Last week, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy announced he had appointed Ohio Rep. Mike Turner to take Nunes' top GOP spot on the Intelligence Committee. CNN's Melanie Zanona and Ryan Nobles contributed to this report.

(CNN)Little over three weeks since being defaulted at the US Open, Novak Djokovic has returned to his winning ways with victory at the Italian Open in Rome. Djokovic defeated Diego Schwartzman 7-5, 6-3 in a tight contest on clay in the build-up to the French Open.The victory means Djokovic now has a record 36 Masters 1000 titles and remains unbeaten in 2020 barring his early US Open exit this month when he struck a line judge with a ball. In the women's competition, Simona Halep won her first Italian Open title as Karolina Pliskova was forced to withdraw in the second set due to a thigh injury.Halep, who skipped the US Open amid coronavirus concerns, had twice finished runner-up in Rome. She took the first set 6-0 in Monday's final and was leading the second 2-1 when Pliskova called time on the match.Read MoreDjokovic (left) meets at the net with Schwartzman following the Italian Open final. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresDjokovic wins close matchTwo early breaks saw Schwartzman mount a 3-0 lead in the first set on Monday, but Djokovic rallied and took the next four games in a row.The pair then traded service games until Djokovic, leading 6-5, broke Schwartzman to take a first set that lasted an hour and 12 minutes. Schwartzman, who was playing his first Masters 1000 final having beaten clay court supremo Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals, broke Djokovic at the start of the second set, only for the world No. 1 to immediately break back. With the set evenly poised at 4-3, a sweetly struck backhand saw Djokovic capitalize on the first of three break points on the Argentine's serve and move within one game of the title. He duly served out the next game to seal the victory, going one Masters 1000 win clear of Nadal at the top of the all-time list. Djokovic celebrates winning his fifth Italian Open title.Djokovic has now won five titles in Rome and he will head to Roland Garros looking for his second victory at the French Open and first since 2016."It was a great week, a very challenging week," the Serb said in his on-court interview."I don't think I played my best tennis throughout the entire week but I think I found my best tennis when I needed it the most in the decisive moments today, yesterday, practically every match."That makes me very satisfied and proud that I managed to find that fifth gear when it was most needed."READ: Naomi Osaka will not play in the French OpenHalep steps up French Open preparationPliskova, who wore strapping on her left thigh, was off the pace in the women's final as Halep raced through the first set in just 20 minutes.Former world No. 1 Plisokva later said she had an eye on the French Open as she withdrew due to injury for the first time in her career. Halep secured her first title at the Italian Open."I hope to be ready for Roland Garros," she said. "I have to see a doctor to make sure it's not too severe of an injury. I think it's from playing so many tough matches in a row. Even if they weren't all three-set matches, they were still on clay, which is quite a fast switch from hard courts. "The sliding and running in the last two matches, I began to feel it against (Elise) Mertens and it grew with every day."As for Halep, she can approach the French Open with confidence having not lost a match since the Australian Open semifinals in January. "I feel happy that I will have a chance to play another grand slam this year," she told reporters. "I'm not going to let myself be bothered by the weather or something like this. I just try to be happy, to take the positives from this tournament and to go there (Paris) smiling."

Story highlightsPutin spokesman says adoption pact will end in 2014, Russian news agency reportsRussia is third most-popular foreign country where Americans adoptRussian law is likely a response to new U.S. restrictions on human rights abusers in RussiaThe Russian law that bans adoptions by U.S. families will take effect in one year instead of this month, Russia's semiofficial news agency RIA Novosti reported Thursday.In late December, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a ban on the adoption of Russian children by U.S. families. It was supposed to take effect January 1.According to RIA Novosti, Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Thursday the adoption agreement between the two countries had not expired."The agreement is in force at the moment," he told the news agency. "It will be in force over the course of the year."The U.S. State Department said a termination clause in the agreement extends one year from the end of the agreement. "So that would also take you to 2014," department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said. "We are very hopeful that we will be able to complete the cases of adoption that had been begun before the law was passed. So that's something that we will be working on with the Russian government." Families 'in limbo' after Russian adoption banRIA Novosti said 46 such adoptions are under way. It was unclear whether any new cases would be approved."As you know, we have been seeking to have consultations with (the Russians) about the implementation of the law. So we will be inquiring of them how they see this," Nuland said.Americans adopted close to 1,000 Russian children last year, according to U.S. State Department figures.Though the number has been dropping in recent years, Russia remains the third most-popular foreign country -- after China and Ethiopia -- for U.S. foreign adoptions. The Russian measure also bars any political activities by nongovernmental organizations receiving funding from the United States if such activities could affect Russian interests, RIA Novosti said.It also imposes sanctions against U.S. officials thought to have violated human rights.The move is widely seen as retaliation for a bill that U.S. President Barack Obama signed into law on December 14. That law, called the Magnitsky Act, imposes U.S. travel and financial restrictions on human rights abusers in Russia.The Magnitsky Act is named for Russian lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, who uncovered the largest tax fraud in the country's history in the form of rebates claimed by government officials who stole money from the state. Magnitsky was apparently beaten to death in 2009 after a year in a Moscow detention center.Russia's Putin signs anti-U.S. adoption bill

New Delhi (CNN Business)India's biggest tech IPO is here.Food delivery startup Zomato is looking to raise almost $1.3 billion this week in an initial public offering in Mumbai, the company said in a recent regulatory filing. That would set a new record for the biggest technology offering in India, according to data from Refinitiv, beating Tata Consultancy Services' $1.17 billion IPO in 2004. Zomato plans to sell shares priced between 72 and 76 rupees (97 cents to $1.02) per share and close its books on Friday. At the upper end of the price range, Zomato would be valued at almost $8 billion.Its founder Deepinder Goyal began Wednesday with a nervous tweet: "Just ordered a triple breakfast @zomato. Stress eating." Just ordered a triple breakfast @zomato. Stress eating 🤯😬— Deepinder Goyal (@deepigoyal) July 14, 2021 Investors are closely watching the offering, which will give some insight into the market's appetite for Indian startups. The country has a ton of tech unicorns — companies that have reached a valuation of at least $1 billion — but none of them have ever gone public before. Read MoreAnalysts have expressed concern that Indian startups — many of which have raised hundreds of millions of dollars from private markets at extremely high valuations — need to start showing consistent profits and healthy exits for investors."This IPO is in some sense the beginning of the Indian digital ecosystem's promises starting to get fulfilled," Ashish Fafadia, partner at the Indian venture capital firm Blume Ventures, told CNN Business. He said investors will be looking at how the company performs after it lists, along with how well Zomato is able to hit quarterly targets. "The ultimate long-term test would be if they are able to become a profitable business," he added.Paving the wayZomato was founded in New Delhi in 2008 by Goyal. The company has built a name for itself as one of India's most successful startups, with a team of more than 5,000 employees and a reach across more than 10,000 cities in two dozen countries, from Sri Lanka and Slovakia to South Africa.The firm made waves in January 2020 when it bought Uber Eats in India, handing Zomato a big win in its home market. California-based Uber (UBER) picked up a nearly 10% stake in Zomato as part of the deal. Zomato's public offering this month could also pave the way for more Indian unicorns to go public down the road.Walmart-owned Flipkart, which is the only Indian tech unicorn to have been acquired at a valuation of more than $1 billion, is considering a public offering, according to media reports. That e-commerce firm raised $3.6 billion in its latest round of funding from investors including GIC, the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, SoftBank's Vision Fund 2 and Walmart (WMT), the company said this week. Flipkart is now valued at nearly $38 billion.Zomato's IPO will also serve as another test for the closely watched global food delivery industry. Deliveroo's IPO crashed in London earlier this year despite great fanfare, becoming the city's worst debut on record.— Michelle Toh contributed to this report.

(CNN)Despite the uncertainty surrounding his participation at the upcoming Australian Open, Novak Djokovic has been listed as the men's No. 1 seed by tournament organizers.On Monday, a judge quashed the Australian government's decision to cancel Djokovic's visa and ordered him to be freed from a temporary immigration detention facility in Melbourne.However, the unvaccinated world No. 1 may still face deportation as Australia's immigration minister considers stepping in to remove the tennis player from the country.Djokovic comes into this year's Australian Open with the chance to separate himself from long-time rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in the race to be considered the greatest player of all time.All three are each currently on 20 grand slam titles and with Federer not competing this year due to knee surgery and Nadal still playing his way back into form after time out with an injury, Djokovic would be the heavy favorite to win the title in 2022.Read MoreRussian Daniil Medvedev -- Djokovic's conqueror in last year's US Open final -- is seeded second, with Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev seeded third, fourth and fifth respectively.Nadal is seeded sixth but will come into the Australian Open with increased confidence after winning the Melbourne Summer Set title last week.READ: Djokovic won his court case but few Australians are cheeringJUST WATCHEDHear from Djokovic's family as tennis star wins appealReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHear from Djokovic's family as tennis star wins appeal 01:43'Damaging on all fronts'The ATP Tour weighed in on Djokovic's ordeal for the first time since the 34-year-old was detained by the Australian government last Wednesday. The men's professional tennis tour called the series of events leading up to Djokovic's Monday visa hearing "damaging on all fronts" -- including to the athlete's well-being, according to a statement from the association on Monday. The ATP Tour also strongly recommended vaccination for all players on the ATP Tour, calling it "essential for our sport to navigate the pandemic." It added that 97% of the top 100 players are vaccinated heading into this year's Australian Open.READ: Judge orders Djokovic be freed from immigration detention in AustraliaA screen grab shows a Twitter post by Djokovic after he won a court challenge to remain in Australia, in Melbourne, uploaded on January 11, 2022."The ATP fully respects the sacrifices the people of Australia have made since the onset of COVID-19 and the stringent immigration policies that have been put in place," the statement read. "Complications in recent days related to player entry into Australia have however highlighted the need for clearer understanding, communication and application of the rules."In travelling to Melbourne, it's clear Novak Djokovic believed he had been granted a necessary medical exemption in order to comply with entry regulations. The series of events leading to Monday's court hearing have been damaging on all fronts, including for Novak's well-being and preparation for the Australian Open."Investigation into travel declarationMeanwhile, the Australian Border Force (ABF) is investigating whether Djokovic submitted a false travel declaration ahead of arrival in Australia, a source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN.Djokovic declared he had not traveled and would not do so in the 14 days leading to his arrival in Australia on Wednesday, January 5, according to a travel declaration submitted as evidence to the court determining whether he would be allowed to remain in Australia. Various pictures taken during that two-week period appear to show Djokovic in both Spain and Serbia.While court documents show that Tennis Australia filled out the travel declaration on Djokovic's behalf, the information used was provided by Djokovic, an ABF officer at Melbourne airport on January 5 determined. The penalty for submitting a false travel declaration carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison, according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs website.Djokovic's media team has not responded to CNN's requests for comment.The ABF investigation comes as Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke considers whether to exert his personal power to cancel Djokovic's reinstated visa.

Story highlightsJudges overturn a jail term for a 69-year-old man caught masturbating in publicThe man was originally sentenced to three months in prison and fined €3,200 (around $3,600) (CNN)Italy's highest court has ruled that masturbation in public is not a crime, as long as it is not conducted in the presence of minors.The decision came down from the Italian Supreme Court -- La Corte di Cassazione -- in the case of a 69-year-old man, identified only as "PL," who was caught masturbating in Catania, a city on Sicily's east coast.The man was convicted in May 2015 after he performed the act in front of students on the University of Catania campus, according to documents filed with Supreme Court. The man was sentenced to three months in prison and ordered to pay a fine of €3,200 (around $3,600). However, the defendant's lawyer appealed the case to the country's highest court, which ruled on the side of the accused in June but only just made its decision public. Judges ruled that public masturbation out of the presence of minors is no longer deemed criminal conduct due to a change in the law last year, which decriminalized the act.Heel spurs and stammers: What kept people from military service?The new iteration of the criminal code does call for imprisonment -- of up to four-and-a-half years -- if the act is witnessed by a minor. Read MoreIn light of this ruling, the court overturned "PL's" sentence. The case has been sent back to local courts in Catania to determine exactly what the administrative fine -- between €5,000 ($5,651) and €30,000 ($33,912) -- will be. Public masturbation remains a criminal offense in many other parts of the world, where it can lead to a jail sentence.Livia Borghese contributed to this report from Rome.

(CNN)If it hadn't been for the 1997 Ryder Cup, Jon Rahm might never have tried golf.Although his father Edorta was a big fan of sports, Edorta tended to lean more towards extreme sports such as free rock climbing, parasailing and free skiing.But, after he suffered some accidents in those high-risk sports, and when the Ryder Cup came to Spain and he saw Spanish great Seve Ballesteros lead Europe to victory, Edorta and a young Rahm took an interest in the slower-paced game. That's when he stepped onto a golf course for the first time.Rahm's parents began taking him to lessons after school and once he got a feel for the game, he knew he was destined for great things."Pretty much since I was 13 or 14, I think I told my coach I was going to be best player in the world at some point," Rahm told CNN Living Golf's Shane O'Donoghue.Read MoreFast forward to July 19, 2020, and after winning the Memorial Tournament, the Spaniard fulfilled his prediction as he became golf's highest ranked player.In the eyes of the 25-year-old, being ranked world No. 1 is more of an achievement than winning one of golf's four majors."Becoming a world No. 1 is a consequence of playing really good golf for a very long time, right? Winning a major championship is performing really well for a week," explained Rahm."Now, the odds of people just coming in and just having a better week than you are very high. The odds of, not an annual player, but somebody to perform better than you for four years, can be a little bit harder. They need to improve week after week after week."READ: The future of golf could be shorter than you thinkRahm in action during practice for the BMW Championship in 2019.Growing upBorn in northern Spain in the Basque region, Rahm and his older brother tried their hands at a whole host of sports -- apart from golf.While his family were always interested in sports, there was no sporting dynasty in the Rahm family DNA. His mother was -- and still is -- a midwife and his father has had numerous jobs, his latest being working for a company that owned gas stations.In fact, Rahm's first golf club was less of an actual club and more of an "activity club.""The way I started, my parents would pick me up from school when we finished, and then we'd go get the golf lesson when I was six, seven, eight years old. Sometimes I'll have a snack," he said.Rahm practices his putting when he was younger. "(The way) my mom tells it, sometimes I'll fall asleep. At some point I was always a curious kid, I played as many sports as I could. I just picked up the golf club and that's how I started."Rahm moved between a few other courses, before he realized that he "might be onto something" and deciding to commit more of his time to the sport."At 14 is when I realized I was top at a national level. There was a big jump in 13-14 because I really hadn't won anything nationally at 13, but at 14, I hit my growth spurt."So I hit it a lot further and I won my first event at a national level. Shortly after that year, we had the national Under-16 event at my home club luckily, and I was able to win that one by nine [shots]."So that's when I really realized: 'Okay, we might be onto something.' But then still working hard, there's been other times in my career when I've proved [to] myself that I belong to be where I can be and I can accomplish certain things."READ: 'One in a million' golfer Brendan Lawlor blazing a trail for others to followRahm pracitices on a golf range.Going abroadIn an effort to help Rahm achieve his full potential, his parents decided it would be best for him to go to college in the US to play at a higher level. Rahm, however, needed to be swayed."It took some persuading from my parents; I wasn't so convinced. It was a big change; my English wasn't the best at the time. And credit to my parents, who both told me: "Go to the US. Worst case scenario you learn English, which in this line of work you need to know to be able to communicate right.'"I promised my parents I was going to get my degree when I came to college. So I kept my promise and I'm glad I did, because for all those people wondering if you should turn pro early or not, luckily you can play golf for 30-plus years. You can always start golf later and become a great golfer and have a great career, but you can't go back and go to college and experience that the same way."With the benefit of hindsight, you might expect Rahm to have been inundated with college scholarship offers, with universities rolling out the red carpet to try and lure the Spaniard to choose them.Rahm gives the pitchfork salute after finishing his round at 12-under par. In fact, before he eventually chose to commit to Arizona State, he had just one other offer, from San Francisco University. Rahm ultimately chose to play for the Arizona State Sun Devils because it was a "better school, better weather, better fit for me, and it helped that so many Spanish players had success [there]."On top of the language challenge, the size of his classes at college took him by surprise since he came from "small town" with a population of around 1,300 people."The biggest classroom I'd ever been I think was 40 people and that was by putting two of them together. When I went to my first class, I'll never forget, it was Macroeconomic Principles, which at that time I probably couldn't even pronounce it," Rahm remembers."I sit down and there's 365 people. It was like a movie theater to me; there's PowerPoints, there's microphones, speakers, everything, and I'm there like: "Where am I?" Now, out of 365 people, only one came in with a pen and paper, and that was me, because I had never seen a laptop in a classroom before."READ: Golf's 'scientist' gets emotional after surprise video call with parents following maiden major victoryRahm reacts after missing a putt during the second round of the US Open in 2018. FamilyGiven his close family ties, living in the US in the age of coronavirus hasn't been easy for Rahm.Unable to travel back home, he remembers spending hours on FaceTime with his dad and brother, with both of them unable to leave the house as his mum was working in the hospital. His grandmother also passed away in June."She got to see me get married, she got to see her first great grandchild be born, and shortly after she just passed away peacefully in her sleep," says Rahm. "So I believe she had seen everything she had to see in life and just left us. But still, it's just the weightiness of heart. Even my mom was expecting it; she was just old at 90 years old, good health, had a great life. And if that woman taught me anything, because she's the one that spent the most amount of time with me as a kid when my parents were working, is to just hold onto life and enjoy every single moment."Her grasp on life, her grip on life was strongest I've ever seen," Rahm continues, "and if that teaches me anything, it's just to enjoy every moment and hopefully I can get to live to a point where I see my first great grandchild and moments like that." Since moving to the US and honing his game under Tim Mickleson -- brother of five-time major winner Phil -- Rahm's success has skyrocketed.As an amateur, Rahm spent a record 60 weeks as golf's amateur world No. 1 -- as well becoming the first player to win the Ben Hogan Award, given to the best college golf player in the US, twice -- before turning professional in 2016.Rahm lies on the green of the 18th hole after winning the Farmers Insurance Open in 2017.Since winning his maiden PGA Tour title at the Farmers Insurance Open with a 60-foot eagle putt on the final hole in January 2017, Rahm has gone on to win four other times on the Tour, as well as six times on the European Tour.His most recent win came at the BMW Championship in August, when he sunk an incredible 66-foot putt to beat Dustin Johnson in a playoff after the American had sunk his own weaving 43-foot putt to force the playoff.Although Rahm admits that he'd much rather "walk down the 18th hole with a six-shot lead" than be playing in a playoff, he believes those "hero moments" are what young golfers aspire to recreate when they are watching their heroes play."You see Tiger [Woods] have spectacular moments to win tournaments and Pádraig Harrington and all of his majors and how he came back to, for example, win the PGA -- unfortunately against my man Sergio [Garcia]."No matter how many times you win and how many putts you make, any time you prove yourself, that you belong to be the champion that week when you do something like that, it's an overwhelming feeling."So that's the good thing about those moments of pressure. That's what you practice for; you're there thinking: "Okay, I'm nervous, I'm tense, but this is what I've worked so hard for. And I always think about like: 'How cool would it be if I made this putt right now?' So it's a thing to do that; it's no matter how stressful it might feel, it's a joy that comes with it. It's such an enjoyable feeling."READ: In a Dallas living room, golf is secretly being transformedRahm plays a second shot on the ninth hole during the third round of the 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach.The biggest stage in the sportOne thing that has proved elusive to Rahm so far is that maiden major victory. He's finished in the top 10 on four occasions, including a tie for third at the US Open in 2019.While he notes that he is improving at the majors, Rahm believes they somehow bring an additional mental pressure for him."I feel like there's some magic formula that people have with their routine and what to do and how to deal with the stress of a major that maybe I haven't figured out yet. But I'm getting closer; each time I'm getting more comfortable and I'm having better chances."I know there's one; some people have found it, somebody like Jordan Spieth found it really early and some of us have taken longer. But it's something you got to figure out."Rahm plays out of a bunker during the second round of The Open in Carnoustie, Scotland.The postponed 2020 Masters presents the next opportunity for Rahm to break his major barren run, as the competition begins on November 12.As he attempts to follow in the footsteps of Spanish Masters winners Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal, Rahm is hoping some birthday luck -- he turns 26 that week -- can help secure him that iconic green jacket."I don't know how the course will be set up, but if there's one golf course in this world we should have confidence on being in prime shape no matter what time of year, that's Augusta National. So I can imagine the greens will be exactly the same; fairways, I don't know.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videos"But I think we're all excited and looking forward to it because no matter what, whoever is this Masters champion, will be remembered forever; it will be a different feeling. It will be a championship where possibly Magnolia Lane is brown, which would be an unbelievable sight to see, different colors at the Augusta."Will the azaleas be there or not be there? Who knows? It might be a colder Masters; we don't know. It's going to be a different one. It's going to be one of those where maybe the past experiences may not help you so much because we might be different. Things might be a little bit different this coming Masters, but I think we're looking forward to it because we know whoever wins it is going to be remembered."

Story highlightsWriter of "L.A. Freeway" was one of the most admired songwriters of his generationClark was a mentor to generations of Americana musicians (CNN)A poet's poet and a raconteur, Guy Clark filled his country-folk songs with eternal truths that made him one of the most respected singer-songwriters of his generation.The Texas native died Tuesday in Nashville after a long illness, according to a statement from his publicist. He was 74.Although he never found widespread fame, Clark recorded albums for almost 40 years, wrote hit songs for other artists and was revered by the Nashville music community for his songcraft and generosity of spirit. His best-known songs, such as "L.A. Freeway" and "Desperados Waiting For A Train," were evocative tales of ramblers and dreamers, inspired by his own life.Clark's songs were recorded by a who's who of country and Americana music, including Johnny Cash, Ricky Skaggs, Emmylou Harris, Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and many others.Guy Clark performs at the Paradiso in 1992 in Amsterdam,"Oh Lord, just heard Guy Clark passed away. He was a huge influence on me, and an amazing writer. God bless his soul. What a life," Paisley said on Twitter.Oh Lord, just heard Guy Clark passed away. He was a huge influence on me, and an amazing writer. God bless his soul. What a life.— Brad Paisley (@BradPaisley) May 17, 2016 Read More"Travel safe, old friend. I would not be the songwriter I am if I hadn't sat at your table and learned from a master," added singer Roseanne Cash, also on Twitter.Guy Clark: 1941-2016. Travel safe, old friend. I would not be the songwriter I am if I hadn't sat at your table and learned from a master.— rosanne cash (@rosannecash) May 17, 2016 He was the king of Texas songwriters, and a huge influence on anybody out there trying to do it the right way. We'll miss Guy Clark.— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) May 17, 2016 Born in the dusty west Texas town of Monahans on November 6, 1941, Clark flirted with college and the Peace Corps before opening a guitar-repair shop in Houston. He spent his spare time playing coffee shops and nightclubs, where he joined a bluegrass band and befriended such fellow songwriters as Townes Van Zandt and Jerry Jeff Walker.As a young man, he moved to Los Angeles, seeking fame and fortune. But he didn't stay long, moving with his wife Susanna to Nashville in 1971. After he left California, he wrote the song "L.A. Freeway" -- later recorded by many other artists -- which included the line, "If I can just get off of this L.A. freeway without getting killed or caught."He later said it took him years after O.J. Simpson's famous slow-speed Bronco chase before he could sing that line without breaking into laughter.Clark released his debut album, "Old No. 1," for RCA Records in 1975 and scored a No. 1 country hit in 1982 with Ricky Skaggs's take on "Heartbroke." He recorded 13 albums and toured consistently over the next three decades, sometimes with such fellow artists as Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt. "It's what I enjoy," he once said of songwriting. "It gets harder, all the time. It doesn't fall out of the sky, you know. But I have joy doing the work, I enjoy the creative process. I write and build guitars in the same space, and I find that one is right brain and one is left brain, and they kind of feed off of one another. But, I don't know. It's just a way to while away the time until you die."Despite a gruff demeanor, Clark was considered one of country music's nicest men. He enjoyed helping young musicians and was perpetually looking for artists who might record a song written by one of his friends. Clark was unpretentious in the extreme -- a blue jeans type of guy -- with down-home values summed up in songs like, "Stuff That Works," with its opening line: "I got an old blue shirt and it suits me just fine / I like the way it feels so I wear it all the time."Clark won his first and only Grammy late in life in 2014, for a folk album called "My Favorite Picture of You." The album title referred to a snapshot of his wife, Susanna, who had died two years earlier. Follow @Don_Melvin CNN's Stella Chan contributed to this story.

Story highlightsJean-Francois Jalkh stands aside from FN leadershipMove comes over allegations of Holocaust denialParis (CNN)The man asked to lead France's National Front party in the temporary absence of Marine Le Pen has been forced to step aside after being accused of Holocaust denial.Jean-Francois Jalkh, who firmly rejects the allegations, is accused of making questionable remarks about the Nazi gas chambers..According to reports, it is claimed that Jalkh, a vice-president of the party, once questioned whether the Germans used Zyklon B gas to murder Jews in Nazi concentration camps.He is alleged to have rejected the established historical fact that Zyklon B gas was used inside gas chambers. He is also said to have endorsed the work of known Holocaust denier Robert Faurisson.Jean-Francois Jalkh, right, has stepped down from his role in the party.Speaking to CNN affiliate BFMTV, Le Pen said that Jalkh was "extremely affected by this defamation."Read MoreLouis Aliot, Le Pen's partner and spokesman, confirmed during an interview with BFM that Jalkh will be replaced by Steeve Briois, another party vice president.Briois is currently facing charges of inciting racial hatred for a tweet that made a link between migrants and sexual assaults."Mr. Jalkh never made any revisionist statement, and it is a total lie to say otherwise. It is contrary to his personal sense of honor," Jalkh's lawyer David Dassa-Le Deist said.Anti-SemitismThe National Front has been dogged by accusations of Holocaust denial throughout the campaign.In March, Benoit Loeuillet, a National Front regional councilor in the southern region of Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, was suspended after being caught on a secret camera claiming mass murder had not taken place during the Holocaust.Then, earlier this month, Le Pen sparked outrage by suggesting France was not responsible for the wartime round-up of Jews who were sent to Nazi death camps.Her stance is at odds with former president Jacques Chirac and current premier Francois Hollande, who have both apologized for the role played by French police in the rounding up of 13,000 Jews at the Vel d'Hiv cycling track in Paris, ordered by the Nazis in July 1942.According to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem, some 1,000 Jews were deported to Auschwitz every two or three days in the two months following the arrests at Vel d'Hiv. Nearly 38,000 Jews had been deported to Auschwitz from France by the end of September 1942. By 1945, just 780 of them remained alive.Le Pen's comments were condemned by rivals, Jewish groups and the Israeli Foreign Ministry.SanitizeLe Pen has attempted to distance her party from accusations of anti-Semitism, which were prevalent under the leadership of her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen.The party's founder, he was expelled in 2015 for comments in which he denied the Holocaust. During his career, he referred to the gas chambers used by the Nazis to systematically murder the Jewish population as "a detail of history."The expulsion of the party's founder by his daughter caused huge controversy and resulted in the two having a public falling out.Le Pen has tried to move her party away from such rhetoric but this latest episode is unlikely to help such efforts.🎥 Mon appel aux insoumis : faisons barrage à Macron !#DangerMacron pic.twitter.com/N8icI0HrZj— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) April 28, 2017 Since stepping down as leader of the National Front on a temporary basis, Le Pen has attempted to broaden her appeal.On Friday, she released a video on Twitter urging those who had voted for the far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon to prevent rival Emmanuel Macron from becoming president.Macron survived the first round of voting and enjoys a healthy lead in the polls."I would like to put our differences and disputes aside ... we have to fight today," she said. "We cannot let France to Emmanuel Macron. The risk is too important."

Story highlightsA nun appears in court on an illegal baby adoption charge that could be the tip of an icebergAt least 2,000 official cases have been filed with Spanish prosecutorsSo far, it seems the cases were individuals making money, not a coordinated networkOne man whose father told him they had bought him said: "We were chickens in the market"Sister Maria Gomez is an 87-year-old Catholic nun. This month, she appeared in a Spanish court escorted by police. She is accused of snatching an infant from her birth mother and putting the child up for an illegal adoption in 1982. Sister Maria Gomez flatly refused to testify and was jeered as she stepped outside the court. The elderly nun wearing a gray habit has become the face of what is known in Spain as Ninos Robados or Stolen Children. Thousands of newborn babies -- according to groups working with the now-adult adoptees -- were taken from their mothers, straight out of hospitals, and sold to families desperate for children.At least 2,000 official cases have been filed with Spanish prosecutors, but some believe there could be tens of thousands more, dating as far back as the 1950s and continuing as recently as the 1990s.So far, it seems the cases, from all across Spain, were individuals making money from misery rather than a nationally coordinated network or organized crime gangs.But of all these cases, only one person has been named as a suspect, Sister Maria Gomez.One day after her appearance in court, she issued a statement denying the allegations saying they were deeply disgusting and that she has never known a single case of a newborn being taken from a mother through coercion or threats.JUST WATCHEDBehind Spain's adoption scandal ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBehind Spain's adoption scandal 02:58We traveled to Spain to talk to those parents who believe their children were stolen and some who believe they were taken from their birth parents.Juan Luis Moreno and Antonio Barroso grew up together as childhood friends. Their parents had different interests and different jobs, but the two families vacationed every year in the city of Zaragoza. Decades later, when both were in their 40s, Moreno's dying father told his son the truth about those summer holidays: Both families were paying annual installments to a Catholic nun. He said the money paid for the illegal adoption of both boys as newborn babies."In fact, my dad was given a choice: boy or girl," Moreno said. "They put it bluntly: This was a market for babies."Moreno said his father told him he had paid roughly double the price of their family home, a huge sum for a working-class family.The truth angered both men so much that they tracked down the nun - not Sister Maria Gomez - who facilitated the illegal adoption and confronted her. At first she denied receiving any payments, but then slowly remembers both of their adopted parents. Barroso said: "I was so angry and I threatened her: you're going to have problems. You're going to jail. It was the least I could do because I wanted to strangle her.""Imagine! She tells you with all the coolness of the world. There were two for the Penedes region. Like we were chickens in the market. Like two kilos of tomatoes. What kind of a twisted mind is this?" asks Moreno .After that, Barroso set up Anadir, an association for Spain's stolen children. The response has been overwhelming. Hundreds have contacted them in the hopes of finding their lost children or parents. Anadir has set up a database to register the DNA of parents searching for their children. So far, however, only a handful of matches have been made and the odds of families being reunited are slim.Read Juan Luis Moreno's birth certificate which lists the couple who raised him as his birth parents and does not mention any adoption And his DNA test result which says the couple he knew as his parents could not be his natural parentsInes Perez and her daughter, Ines Madrigal, have a typically loving mother-daughter relationship but are also caught in the stolen babies scandal. Ines junior is almost a foot taller than her small, stooped mother. She frets about her mother living alone, tidies up her mother's tiny apartment and combs down her mother's white hair. Ines senior is 89 but still has her health, sense of humor and, most importantly, a good memory.She remembers the day Ines Madrigal was born, precisely because she was not there."She wasn't adopted, she was given as a present for taking care of a boy. They didn't give me flowers or money. They gave me a baby girl," she said.On the day Madrigal was born, she says the head doctor at the maternity clinic, Dr. Eduardo Vela, summoned her for a "surprise." When she arrived, she says, he placed a newborn baby in her arms and handed her a falsified birth certificate. The baby was small, born premature, she says."The doctor said "Just put her in the car between two hot water bottles," Perez recalls. "A woman came in with the doctor. She was wearing operating clothes and trying not to show her face. Of course, you realize all this [with] hindsight."In the conversation that followed Perez remembers the woman saying they shouldn't do anything that would cause other women in the clinic to "discover the garlic" -- a local expression for arousing suspicion.Madrid's prosecutor says pursuing a criminal case has its problems. He says a false birth certificate is a crime that can no longer be prosecuted because it happened so long ago and it does not prove a baby has been stolen.In a summary of his testimony to investigators in the case of Ines Madrigal, Vela denies any wrong-doing, saying that he only helped women who wanted to put their children up for adoption, never pressuring any mother to do so. CNN tried contacting Vela but he refused to answer questions.Perez told the story to her daughter when she turned 18. They showed CNN the false birth certificate and the DNA tests that show the two are not related.But now Madrigal wants to know more. Was she simply given up for adoption or was she one of Spain's stolen babies?"If I wasn't stolen, then where is the signature of my birth mother?" asks Madrigal. "I just want to know the truth."

Story highlightsA criminal investigation is opened in Paris into the death of journalist Gilles Jacquier TV executives and the Paris prosecutor want "to shed light" on what happenedSyria has said it is investigating the incident, in which 8 Syrians also diedJacquier's body has been returned to France and a funeral takes place next weekA criminal investigation has been launched in France into the death in Syria of a French journalist, television station France 2 said.France 2 TV journalist Gilles Jacquier was killed Wednesday after a mortar shell struck the pro-government rally he was attending as part of a government-authorized tour of the city of Homs, his network said.The involuntary homicide investigation in Paris follows a criminal complaint filed by the public prosecutor of Paris and the chief executive of France Televisions, the parent group of France 2.They want "to shed light" on the circumstances around Jaquier's death, the France 2 statement said. Thierry Thuillier, managing editor of France Televisions, is quoted as saying there were "disturbing" elements, particularly given the strict government controls under which the journalists were operating."For example, why, when the convoy of journalists was escorted militarily, why all of a sudden the military disappear at the time of the first shots?" he said.Thuillier said that "for now, the Syrian government answers are not satisfactory," according to the statement.Syria said Thursday it is setting up a commission of inquiry but Thuillier said it did not yet appear to exist.Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition activist group, reported that three civilians had died Saturday in Homs, among them a child aged 13, and another in Idlib, all of gunshot injuries.There has been widespread grassroots and international anger over the Syrian government's 10-month crackdown against peaceful protesters that has continued despite the presence of the Arab League observers. Opposition activists estimate the number of dead at more than 6,000.The Arab League has called on Damascus to stop violence against civilians, free political detainees, remove tanks and weapons from cities and allow outsiders, including members of the international news media, to travel freely around Syria. Its monitors are due to remain in Syria until January 19.The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, told CBS's "60 Minutes" in a recent interview that Arab troops should be deployed to Syria to stop the killings.Relatives accompanied Jacquier's body as it was flown to an airport near Paris Friday, to be greeted by Culture Minister Frederic Mitterand.An autopsy was due to be carried out Friday. His funeral will take place next week in the village where he is from, the France 2 statement said, and a ceremony to honor him will be held in Paris.French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe told France 2 on Thursday that Syria should have ensured the safety of the delegation of journalists it had invited to visit Homs.An "investigation must establish the origin of these events, and in particular where the firing came from, who is responsible for this, so that we can then act accordingly," Juppe said.Speaking to France TV Info, another part of the France Televisions group, Thuillier said Jacquier and his cameraman had not wanted to go to Homs, as their story was about the political situation in Damascus, but had been given little choice by the Syrian authorities.The cameraman, Christopher Kenck, was injured by shrapnel just before the shell was fired that hit Jacquier, Thuillier said. Eight Syrians also died in the attack.The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency said Jacquier was among a delegation of international journalists visiting the city's Ekrima neighborhood "to document the damages left by terrorists on building with photos and interviewing citizens who were victims of terror in the city when armed terrorist member fired mortar projectiles on the delegation."But the Syrian Revolution General Commission, an opposition force, disputed that description of events. It said security forces fired two shells at journalists from an infantry vehicle.The Syrian government says it is combating "armed terrorists."

Story highlightsProsecutors say they want Breivik taken to a psychiatric institutionIf not, they will ask for 21 years in prisonBreivik is on trial for attacks that killed 77 peopleNorwegian prosecutors have asked that alleged mass killer Anders Breivik be transferred to a psychiatric institution because they believe he is mentally ill, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office told CNN. If that does not happen, prosecutors will ask for 21 years of prison for Breivik. Norway's Breivik gives chilling account of gun massacre Breivik is on trial on charges of voluntary homicide and committing acts of terror in the July 22, 2011, attacks. He has admitted carrying out an attack on a youth camp on Utoya Island that killed 69 people and a bombing in Oslo that killed eight.JUST WATCHEDProsecution concerned with Breivik sanityReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHProsecution concerned with Breivik sanity 03:43He boasts of being an ultranationalist who killed his victims to fight multiculturalism in Norway.Last month, Breivik promised that he would not appeal if a court finds him sane and guilty.

Story highlightsASCO: Obesity may overtake tobacco as leading preventable cause of cancer84,000 cancer diagnoses each year can be linked to obesityWe can change our weight through diet, exercise, sleep, stress managementYou likely know that being overweight increases your risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. But did you know it also increases your risk for cancer?If you didn't, you're not alone. While around 90% of Americans know that smoking is linked to higher rates of cancer, Dr. Clifford Hudis says, the inverse is true for obesity and cancer; less than 10% of us realize how fat is related to this chronic disease."Obesity is a major, under-recognized contributor to the nation's cancer toll and is quickly overtaking tobacco as the leading preventable cause of cancer," Hudis and his colleagues at the American Society of Clinical Oncology write in a new position paper.In fact, as many as 84,000 cancer diagnoses each year are linked to obesity, according to the National Cancer Institute. Excess fat also affects how cancer treatments work and may increase a cancer patient's risk of death, either from cancer or from other related causes. The key word, Hudis says, is preventable. While we can't change the fact that we're all getting older (incidence rates for most cancers increase as patients age), we can change our weight through diet, exercise, sleep and stress management. The linkIn 2003, the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a study that included more than 900,000 American adults. Researchers followed the healthy study participants for 16 years, and found the heaviest participants were more likely to develop and die from cancer than participants who were at a healthy weight. After their analysis, the study authors concluded that excess fat "could account for 14% of all deaths from cancer in men and 20% of those in women." Photos: Weight loss winners Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Each year TOPS, a nonprofit weight loss support organization, recognizes members who followed the club's slogan of "Taking Pounds Off Sensibly." Victoria Brazzle from Pahrump, Nevada, lost 101 pounds. Click through the gallery to see more success stories. Hide Caption 1 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Patrick Davis from Granite City, Illinois, lost 91 pounds.Hide Caption 2 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Vonda Felton from Page, North Dakota, lost 131 pounds.Hide Caption 3 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Paula Hicks from Iberia, Missouri, dropped 107 pounds.Hide Caption 4 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Sharon Huffmire from Midway, Arkansas, is 104 pounds lighter.Hide Caption 5 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Kathy Kirby from Temecula, California, lost 136 pounds.Hide Caption 6 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Matthew Matter from Buffalo, Minnesota, dropped 54 pounds.Hide Caption 7 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Laury Mathews from Bolton, Connecticut, lost 70 pounds.Hide Caption 8 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Kiesi Morgan from Princeton, West Virginia, used running to help lose 92 pounds.Hide Caption 9 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Gary Moxim from Knoxville, Tennessee, is 55 pounds lighter.Hide Caption 10 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Gladys Richards from Sabattus, Maine, lost 101 pounds.Hide Caption 11 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Dexter Russelburg from Evansville, Indiana, lost 111 pounds.Hide Caption 12 of 13 Photos: Weight loss winnersWeight loss winners – Amanda Zumbrun from Huntington, Indiana, lost 98 pounds.Hide Caption 13 of 13 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight loss Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossIf you were to describe The Perfect Food, it might go something like this: healthful, delicious, bigger than a morsel and filling enough to fight hunger for hours. "Foods that promote satiety" -- a feeling of lasting fullness -- "do exist," insists Dr. David Katz, founder of the Yale University Prevention Research Center. What makes some grub extra satisfying? "Fiber and protein can help," says Barbara Rolls, author of "The Ultimate Volumetrics Diet." Getting more bang for your bite matters, too: Low-energy-density foods, which yield big portions for few calories, "allow you to eat more without gaining weight," Rolls says. Want some of that? Make room for these secret-weapon picks.Health.com: The 25 best diet tricks of all time Hide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossBaked potatoThe potato has been unfairly demonized -- it's actually a potent hunger tamer. In a study that measured the satiating index of 38 foods, including brown rice and whole-wheat bread, people ranked boiled potatoes highest, reporting that they felt fuller and ate less two hours after consuming them. Though potatoes are often shunned because they're considered high in carbohydrates, they shouldn't be. Whether baked or boiled, they're loaded with vitamins, fiber and other nutrients. Result? You get steady energy and lasting fullness after noshing on them.Feel even fuller: Eat baked and boiled tubers skin-on to get more fiber for just 160 calories a pop.Health.com: 26 reasons to love potatoes Hide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossBean soup"Soups have a high water content, which means they fill your stomach for very few calories," says Rolls. Broth-based bean soups, in particular, contain a hefty dose of fiber and resistant starch -- a good carb that slows the release of sugar into the bloodstream -- to make that full feeling really stick. "Once in the stomach, fiber and water activate stretch receptors that signal that you aren't hungry anymore," Rolls says. All this for a measly 150 calories per cup.Feel even fuller: Resist the cracker pack on the side in favor of a bigger soup helping. Beans are starchy, satisfying and caloric enough on their own, Rolls says. Hate soup? Throw lentils, black-eyed peas or kidney or navy beans into a vinegar-based salad.Health.com: 20 best foods for fiber Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossEggsA study from Saint Louis University found that folks who ate eggs for breakfast consumed 330 fewer calories throughout the day than those who had a bagel. "Eggs are one of the few foods that are a complete protein, meaning they contain all nine essential amino acids that your body can't make itself," says Joy Dubost, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "Once digested, those amino acids trigger the release of hormones in your gut that suppress appetite."Feel even fuller: Don't discard the yolks -- about half an egg's protein lives in those yellow parts. Adding vegetables to a scramble boosts its volume and fiber content for few extra calories (an egg has 78, and a cup of spinach just 7).Health.com: The 20 best foods to eat for breakfast Hide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossGreek yogurtHarvard researchers examined the eating habits of 120,000 people for 20 years and found that yogurt was the single best food for shedding pounds: Over time, people who downed more of the protein-packed stuff lost pounds without trying. Meanwhile, a Nestlé Nutrition Institute study review found that consuming dairy proteins increases satiety, reduces food intake and keeps blood sugar steady. "Greek yogurt, which is strained to remove liquid whey, contains double the protein and less sugar than regular yogurt," Dubost says.Feel even fuller: Top yogurt with fibrous foods like raspberries (4 grams of fiber per half cup) or a cereal such as Kashi Go Lean Crisp Cinnamon Crumble (9 grams per three quarters of a cup).Health.com: Best superfoods for weight loss Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossApplesApples are one of the few fruits that contain pectin, which naturally slows digestion and promotes a feeling of fullness, according to a study in Gastroenterology. In fact, people who ate an apple as part of a meal felt more satiated and ate less than those who consumed a calorically equivalent amount of juice and applesauce. "Whole apples take a long time to eat for very few calories," says Susan Roberts, professor of nutrition at Tufts University. Your body has more time to tell your brain that you're no longer hungry. That means you can eat lots of this low-energy-density, high-satiety fruit and avoid feeling deprived while losing weight, adds Roberts.Feel even fuller: Add apple chunks to oatmeal or salad, or slices to a turkey-on-whole-wheat sandwich.Health.com: 25 amazing apple recipes Hide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossPopcornThis movie-night fave is a low-energy-density food -- for 90 calories, you could eat 3 cups of air-popped corn but just a quarter cup of potato chips. "Popcorn takes up more room in your stomach, and seeing a big bowl of it in front of you tricks you into thinking that you're eating more calories and that you'll feel full when you're finished," Rolls says.Feel even fuller: Sprinkle on some red pepper. In a recent Purdue University study, people who added a half teaspoon of the spice to a meal felt less hungry.Health.com: 16 ways to lose weight fast Hide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossFigsA great natural cure for a sweet tooth, fresh figs have a dense consistency and sweet flesh that's high in fiber (each 37-calorie fig packs about a gram), which slows the release of sugar into the blood, preventing the erratic high caused by cookies or cake.Feel even fuller: Halve and add protein, like a teaspoon of goat cheese and a walnut.Health.com: 20 snacks that burn fat Hide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossOatmealOatmeal's filling force comes from its high fiber content and its uncanny ability to soak up liquid like a sponge. When cooked with water or skim milk, the oats thicken and take more time to pass through your digestive system, meaning you'll go longer between hunger pangs.Feel even fuller: Sprinkle almonds on top of your bowl. "The nuts pack protein and fiber and contain unsaturated fats that can help stabilize insulin levels," regulating blood sugar, Katz says.Health.com: 13 comfort foods that burn fat Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossWheat berriesMove over, quinoa. Wheat berries, which are whole-wheat kernels, contain one of the highest amounts of protein and fiber per serving of any grain -- 6 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber. "Protein triggers the hormone ghrelin to tell our brain that we are satisfied," Roberts explains, "and fiber activates appetite-suppressing gut hormones."Feel even fuller: Do what celeb chef Ellie Krieger does: Toss wheat berries with apples, nuts and other diet-friendly foods to make a super tasty salad.Health.com: How berries prevent aging Hide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: The 10 most filling foods for weight lossSmoothiesWhile most beverages don't satisfy hunger very well, drinks blended full of air are an exception: They cause people to feel satiated and eat less at their next meal, according to a Penn State University study. Just be sure you're not whipping your smoothie full of sugary, caloric ingredients like fruit juices or flavored syrups, which will negate the health benefits.Feel even fuller: Put ice and fat-free milk or yogurt in a blender, add in fruit and give it a whirl. Try strawberries, which are extremely low in energy density -- they're 92% water! -- and bananas, which are loaded with resistant starch.This article originally appeared on Health.com. Hide Caption 11 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet soda Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet soda10 reasons to give up diet soda – When taken at face value, diet soda seems like a health-conscious choice. It saves you the 140-plus calories you'd find in a sugary soft drink while still satisfying your urge for something sweet with artificial sweeteners like aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose. But there's more to this chemical cocktail than meets the eye. Health.com: The 25 best diet tricks of all timeHide Caption 1 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet sodaIt confuses your body – Artificial sweeteners have more intense flavor than real sugar, so over time products like diet soda dull our senses to naturally sweet foods like fruit, says Brooke Alpert, author of "The Sugar Detox." Even more troubling, these sugar stand-ins have been shown to have the same effect on your body as sugar. "Artificial sweeteners trigger insulin, which sends your body into fat storage mode and leads to weight gain," Alpert says.Health.com: 5 steps to quitting artificial sweetenersHide Caption 2 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet sodaIt could lead to weight gain, not weight loss – Diet soda is calorie-free, but it won't necessarily help you lose weight. Researchers from the University of Texas found that over the course of about a decade, diet soda drinkers had a 70% greater increase in waist circumference compared with non-drinkers. And get this: participants who slurped down two or more sodas a day experienced a 500% greater increase. Health.com: 27 Mistakes Healthy People Make Hide Caption 3 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet sodaIt may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes – Drinking one diet soda a day was associated with a 36% increased risk of metabolic syndrome and diabetes in a University of Minnesota study. Metabolic syndrome describes a cluster of conditions (including high blood pressure, elevated glucose levels, raised cholesterol, and large waist circumference) that put people at high risk for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, Bjork explains.Health.com: Could you have type 2? 10 diabetes symptomsHide Caption 4 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet sodaIt has no nutritional value – When you drink diet soda, you're not taking in any calories -- but you're also not swallowing anything that does your body any good, either. The best no-calorie beverage? Plain old water, says Bjork. "Water is essential for many of our bodily processes, so replacing it with diet soda is a negative thing," she says. If it's the fizziness you crave, try sparkling water. Health.com: 15 big benefits of water Hide Caption 5 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet sodaIts sweetener is linked to headaches – Early studies on aspartame and anecdotal evidence suggests that this artificial sweetener may trigger headaches in some people. "I have several clients who used to suffer from migraines and pinpointed their cause to diet soda," Bjork says. Health.com: Headache-proof your dietHide Caption 6 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet sodaIt'll ruin your smile over time – Excessive soda drinking could leave you looking like a "Breaking Bad" extra, according to a case study published in the journal General Dentistry. The research compared the mouths of a cocaine user, a methamphetamine user, and a habitual diet-soda drinker, and found the same level of tooth erosion in each of them. The culprit here is citric acid, which weakens and destroys tooth enamel over time. Health.com: 20 things that can ruin your smileHide Caption 7 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet sodaIt makes drinking more dangerous – Using diet soda as a low-calorie cocktail mixer has the dangerous effect of getting you drunk faster than sugar-sweetened beverages, according to research from Northern Kentucky University. The study revealed that participants who consumed cocktails mixed with diet drinks had a higher breath alcohol concentration than those who drank alcohol blended with sugared beverages. The researchers believe this is because our bloodstream is able to absorb artificial sweetener more quickly than sugar.Health.com: 6 ways to enjoy cocktails guilt-freeHide Caption 8 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet sodaIt's associated with depression – A recent study presented at a the American Academy of Neurology meeting found that over the course of 10 years, people who drank more than four cups or cans of soda a day were 30% more likely to develop depression than those who steered clear of sugary drinks. The correlation held true for both regular and diet drinks, but researchers were sure to note that the risk appeared to be greater for those who primarily drank diet sodas and fruit punches. Although this type of study can't prove cause and effect, its findings are worth considering. Health.com: The 10 most depressing states in the U.S.Hide Caption 9 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet sodaIt may be bad for your bones – Women over 60 are already at a greater risk for osteoporosis than men, and Tufts University researchers found that drinking soda, including diet soda, compounds the problem. They discovered that female cola drinkers had nearly 4% lower bone mineral density in their hips than women who didn't drink soda. The research even controlled for the participants' calcium and vitamin D intake. Additionally, a 2006 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that cola intake (all kinds, not just diet) was associated with low bone-mineral density in women.Health.com: 11 foods for healthy bonesHide Caption 10 of 11 Photos: 10 reasons to give up diet sodaIt may hurt your heart – Just one diet soft drink a day could boost your risk of having a vascular event such as stroke, heart attack, or vascular death, according to researchers from the University of Miami and Columbia University. Their study found that diet soda devotees were 43% more likely to have experienced a vascular event than those who drank none. Regular soda drinkers did not appear to have an increased risk of vascular events. Researchers say more studies need to be conducted before definitive conclusions can be made about diet soda's effects on health.This article originally appeared on Health.com. Hide Caption 11 of 11Since then, research has simply strengthened the link between obesity and cancer. Studies have found a relationship between weight and the risk of as many as 12 cancers, says Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, including endometrial, colorectal, esophageal, kidney and pancreatic cancers. A recent report published in the American Association for Cancer Research's journal predicted the top cancer killers in the United States by 2030 will be lung, pancreas and liver -- in part because of rising obesity rates. The science behind it"It's not enough to say there's an association between obesity and cancer. We need to know why," Hudis says. "With the why, we can do something about it." Scientists are exploring several hypotheses on how excess fat increases a person's risk for cancer. The answer may be slightly different for each type of cancer, but the encompassing explanation seems to be that obesity triggers changes in how the body operates, which can cause harmful cell growth and cell division.Many of these changes may be linked to inflammation. In general, inflammation occurs when your body is reacting to something out of the norm -- say a virus or a splinter in your foot. Obesity seems to cause chronic inflammation, which in turn may promote cancer development. Take for example, Hudis says, hormone-sensitive breast cancers. Chemicals in the body meant to regulate inflammation also increase production of the hormone estrogen. And studies have shown excess estrogen can cause breast cancer tumors. Fat tissue also produces hormones called adipokines, which can stimulate or inhibit cell growth, according to a fact sheet from the oncology society. If these hormones are out of balance, the body may not be able to properly fight cell damage. Let's talk about sex... and cancerTreatment and mortalityObesity can affect a cancer patient's outcome from diagnosis to remission, Hudis says. Obesity-related pain or unbalanced hormone levels may distract patients from the early warning signs of some cancers. Fatty tissue can also make it difficult for doctors to see tumors on imaging scans. And a late diagnosis often means a lower chance for survival. The relationship between cancer and obesity also matters after diagnosis. Cancer treatments, such as radiation or chemotherapy, may be hindered by a patient's size. If the patient needs surgery, studies show excess fat puts them at a higher risk of complications, infections and death. Tumor Paint: Changing the way surgeons fight cancerA recent study of 80,000 breast cancer patients found that pre-menopausal women with a BMI over 30 had a 21.5% chance of dying, compared to women with an average BMI who had a 16.6% chance of death.Remaining obese as a survivor can also increase your risk of developing what's called a secondary cancer, the authors of this new position paper say. What you can do to reduce your riskIn general, "people should be aware that overweight and obesity, as common as they are in our population, have serious consequences," Hudis says. "Cancer is really just another one." Start reducing your risk now: Stay active. Eat nutritious foods that are low in calories. Get seven to eight hours of sleep a night. Manage your stress levels. All these behaviors will help you reach a healthy weight.11 simple weight loss tipsIf you or someone you know is a cancer survivor, talk to your oncologist. He or she should be aware of the link between cancer and obesity, Hudis says, and able to help you find resources in your community. The American Society of Clinical Oncology is recommending more research be done on weight loss in the cancer survivor population to determine the best intervention method -- and whether losing weight after a diagnosis improves patient outcomes. The results of these future studies could help persuade insurance providers to reimburse patients for weight management programs.

(CNN)Sevilla grabbed a dramatic last-second equalizer in Saturday's La Liga clash against Valladolid -- and the goal came from the unlikeliest of sources.Losing 1-0 and desperate to try and salvage at least a point from the match, Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine 'Bono' Bounou ran the length of the pitch to join the attack for his team's final corner of the game.After a mix up in the Valladolid defense, the ball found its way to Bono eight yards from goal and the Moroccan keeper showed poise and composure befitting of a striker to slot the ball into the net.Cue wild scenes as Bono was mobbed by his team and the entire Sevilla bench.Yassine Bono calmly slots the ball home."It's a difficult feeling to describe because I didn't know how to celebrate it," he told the club's website. "It's very strange, but, well, my teammates are happy because we deserved more.Read More"Two years ago, I came close to scoring here with Girona and that memory came back to me, so I could go up with the manager's permission. The goal fell to me and I am very thankful."According to Sevilla, it was only the second time in La Liga history that a goalkeeper had scored from open play, with the first being Deportivo's Daniel Aranzubia against Almería back in 2011.In total, Bono is just the eighth goalkeeper ever to score in La Liga, with a total of 19 goals being scored by stoppers in the league's history.This current season also marks the first in which two different goalkeepers have scored, with Eibar's Marko Dmitrovic netting against league leader Atletico Madrid from the penalty spot back in January.

Story highlightsTehran's Jalili calls enrichment at any level "an inalienable right"Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes"There's a very, very long way to go," EU's Ashton saysIran's senior nuclear negotiator and representatives of international powers emerged Tuesday from two days of talks on Tehran's nuclear program without having reached an agreement."We emphasized that uranium enrichment is the inalienable right of the Iranian nation," Saeed Jalili told reporters after meeting with the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany, according to the semi-official FARS News Agency. "Enrichment for peaceful uses in all levels is an inalienable right."He added that Tehran has "no problem" with transparency, but does not want to be deprived of technology that it has a right to pursue."We are ready for cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency," Jalili said, referring to the United Nations' nuclear watchdog. But he added that Iran must be allowed the same privileges set out by the nuclear nonproliferation treaty that other countries are allowed.The United States and other countries have said they suspect that Iran is seeking to become a nuclear power, which Tehran has said is not true.JUST WATCHEDIsrael warns Iran: Time running outReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIsrael warns Iran: Time running out 02:07JUST WATCHEDRemarkable journey through IranReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRemarkable journey through Iran 05:00JUST WATCHEDFareed Zakaria interviews AhmadinejadReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFareed Zakaria interviews Ahmadinejad 07:31JUST WATCHEDOuter Circle: No progress in Iran talksReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHOuter Circle: No progress in Iran talks 01:02A key concern is that the nuclear fuel Iran is making could also be used to make the highly enriched uranium -- above 20% -- needed for an atom bomb.But Jalili said that Iran's leadership has issued a fatwa that prevents the production and use of weapons of mass destruction."As we've said many times before in this process, there is no reason for a stop to Iran's peaceful advancement in nuclear technology," Jalili added.He cited the country's production of 20%-enriched fuel as material needed to make medicine for more than 1 million Iranian cancer patients.According to FARS, Tehran had proposed at a previous meeting in Baghdad that it would stop production, close the Fordow facility where the work is carried out, and ship its purified fuel out of the country.In return, the countries offered to supply Tehran with fuel for its medical research reactor, which requires 20% uranium, and to ease sanctions.Jalili was speaking at a news conference after a second day of talks with the G5+1 representatives that included E.U. foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who said that proposal was reiterated during the talks.She described the talks as "detailed, tough and frank exchanges."The Iranians "did begin to address the substance for the first time, but there's a very, very long way to go, and I'm sure that Dr. Jalili would say that, too," Ashton told reporters.The parties have agreed to hold a technical-level meeting in Istanbul on July 3, where experts in nuclear technology will hash out details, she said."The choice is Iran's," she said. "We expect Iran to decide whether it is willing to make diplomacy work, to focus on reaching agreement on concrete, confidence-building steps and to address the concerns of the international community."

Story highlightsTwo Australians are days away from being executed on drugs charges in IndonesiaCalls for clemency ignored by Indonesian President Joko WidodoAuthors: Widodo's war on drugs can be won "without having to fire a single shot"Clarke Jones is a researcher on prison radicalization and reform, and James Giggacher is Asia-Pacific editor at The Australian National University's College of Asia and the Pacific. The opinions expressed are solely those of the authors.Sydney, Australia (CNN)Indonesia has announced that death row inmates and ringleaders of the Bali Nine drug smuggling ring, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, will be transferred from Kerokoban prison. It's the first step in their last walk to the firing squad. The two -- who were convicted of a failed attempt to smuggle heroin to Australia in 2005 -- are now more than likely to be taken out to a field on Nusakambangan, a prison island off central Java, and shot dead. Besides the horror of the death penalty -- something Australia only dispensed of in 1967 -- there is so much unnecessary tragedy in this case. Some of it rests on the shoulders of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who tipped off the Indonesian police after receiving information from a worried father of one of the duo's mules. Some rests on the own shoulders of the men, who made one terrible, foolish mistake while young. Read MoreHowever, a lot of it also rests with Indonesia and its President Joko Widodo, whose cruel lack of compromise and desire to clear out the prisons has seen him categorically turn down any chance of clemency -- even though this potentially flouts Indonesian law. READ: Australia appeals to spare Bali Nine drug smugglers'No clemency'JUST WATCHEDIndonesia President: 'No compromise' for drug executionsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIndonesia President: 'No compromise' for drug executions 01:26Widodo has said he will deny clemency for all drug offenders. Indonesian legal teams are now scrambling a submission to the administrative court, arguing that the president can't deny clemency for all drug cases, but must consider each case individually. Widodo is also following the lead of the Indonesian public, which in the main believes in the death penalty. Of course, this is in stark contrast to the work Indonesia does to get its own citizens off death row around the world. The president's hard-line stance isn't just about trying to win some breathing space with an electorate, which in the vast majority is disappointed with his presidency. He may be also trying to distract them from ongoing corruption scandals, the persistence of cronyism and his inability to break free from the shackles of his political benefactor Megawati Sukarnoputri. Most significantly though, Widodo has announced a war on drugs, which he sees as devastating the nation.READ: Legal lifeline thrown to Australians on death rowDrug emergency?The drug "crisis" is described by Widodo as a "national emergency." According to the president, 4.5 million Indonesians need to be rehabilitated from illicit or illegal drug use, and 40 to 50 young people die from drugs a day. This data has shown to be based on questionable statistics.Even so, it tempers much of Widodo's thinking on the need for rehabilitation.And here's where another perspective on rehabilitation comes in. In Chan and Sukumaran, dubbed the pastor and the painter respectively, the president not only has clear examples of rehabilitation, but effective tools for combating the scourge of drug smuggling in his own country and rehabilitating those of his citizens most in needPortraits of Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, as painted by Sukumaran.This is in part due to the characteristics and qualities of the Indonesian prison system. RehabilitationLet's just say that the two were, with the rest of the Bali Nine, allowed to board flights for Australia and nabbed by the Australian Federal Police instead of Indonesia's National Police. Serving up to 10 years in an Australian prison, would they have been reformed? With a recidivism rate of over 50% and the sterile security conditions that commonly lead to psychological distress and not change, probably not. That might lead one to assume that something about their time in Kerobokan prison contributed to their reformation, something they would more than likely not have experienced here in Australia. What can be learned from this hypothesis? Chan and Sukumaran's experiences show genuine clear signs of rehabilitation. So how could this rehabilitation occur in Kerobokan prison, which is claimed to be a "hell hole"? A model of reform?By default and not by design, prisons like Kerobokan share many positive aspects that are often overlooked by contemporary prison reformists. As Indonesian corrections don't have the resources to care or provide for inmates, the inmates take it upon themselves to fund and run their own rehabilitation programs. There is also more buy in from NGOs who also support the inmate programs and the amazing support structures that are created by inmates in prisons in developing countries like Indonesia and the Philippines.These include their own businesses to support themselves and family, which keep them occupied and sometimes away from criminal pursuits. In the end, in some cases, the prison community becomes a natural environment for rehabilitation. JUST WATCHEDIndonesian youth reject ISIS recruitsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIndonesian youth reject ISIS recruits 03:01A study on recidivism in Indonesia may paint a more accurate picture as precise figures are hard to come by. Of course, corruption, criminality and drug running remain very real issues.Chan and Sukumaran demonstrate a clear sense of remorse and with it the chance of redemption. If rehabilitated returning fighters can be used to help dissuade and can be used to help other young men from making the same mistake, why can't convicted and remorseful drug smugglers do the same?'No silver bullet solution'Beyond how unpalatable the notion may be to many, this is yet another reason why it is a real shame the two will be executed -- here are clear examples of successful rehabilitation that should be held high with pride by the Indonesian government, not shot down in history. Instead, their execution could potentially dampen other inmates' enthusiasm to reform or change in Indonesia. In all prisons, hope is critical for moral and rehabilitation, especially in under-resourced prisons where conditions are harsh. In this case, as with many more, the death penalty is no silver bullet solution, and in fact hits terribly wide of the mark. There is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty has any real deterrence value.These two men, who fully admit they made an awful error judgement in while their early 20s, offer a glimpse on how Widodo's war on drugs can be won without having to lose more lives -- without having to fire a single shot. READ: Widodo: 100 days in office

Story highlightsSmith said he was dealing with a pulled muscle in his left leg on the day of the 200-meter finalHe said the black glove on his right hand represented power and tranquilityLilburn, GA (CNN)On October 16, 1968, Tommie Smith and fellow American John Carlos won gold and bronze, respectively, at the Olympic Games in Mexico City. With a time of 19.83, Smith broke the world and Olympic record in the 200-meter dash.But what the two African-American men did on the podium afterward has been talked about ever since. Each raised a black-glove-covered clenched fist in a stand for human rights. It was an iconic image from the turbulent '60s.Smith, now 72, sat down Monday with CNN in Lilburn, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb, to reflect on that historic day that happened almost 48 years ago. Below are portions of that interview.On that day:It was a culmination of a year and a half plus of decision making, academic movement, because I was still in college at San Jose State University. I was married with a son. That counted for something in terms of working, in terms of spending time at home and in terms of study.Read MoreOn the plan before the race:I did have an injured left leg, which was my power leg. I pulled that (muscle) in the prelims. I had to deal with that.Eight unforgettable ways 1968 made history The decisions I made as far as the victory stand, or what I was gonna do -- because it was decided by the athletes there would not be a boycott -- each athlete will represent himself according to how he felt the country represented them or to show some sign of pride.And this is why (I), one of the developers of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, this is what I had to do regardless of what any other athletes did. I had to make a decision because I was the the one of four (athletes) that started that program. And I had to end it because I was the only one of that four out on that victory stand (Another member, Lee Evans, later would win gold medals in the 400 meters and was a member of the 4 x 400-meter relay).Going inside the race, from the gun to the finish line:Just before we got into the blocks, I was standing back, with my hands on my hips, looking at the world's fastest humans taking practice starts. But I couldn't, because I was afraid that if I took a practice start, I might re-injure that muscle on the left side of my body and I wouldn't be able to run the race at all.So I decided to not warm up ... and just get in the blocks. And be careful coming out the first 12 steps. ...It felt pretty good.Gun sounded -- I was off. I looked in front and then I saw six people in front of me. Six people in front of me! I said, 'Lord have mercy on me. Don't send me back to the cotton field, just let me run.'So when I came up out of the turn... the body kind of responded to the thoughts of, 'OK, this is it son. All the work you did, all the Olympic Project for Human Rights talks you did, the speeches, going to class, getting your D's in class because you were worried about this race, and you gonna fail it now -- you can't do that.'So, I put on about 85 percent speed. I could feel it, the leg didn't feel anything. So I said, 'This is it.' ...So I pull the throttle for 12 steps, and I went by certain folks in the race and that kind of cured it for me because I went by I kept going until I threw my arms up in jubilation before (crossing the finish line).Tommie Smith winning the 200 meters in Mexico City on Oct. 16, 1968. Teammate John Carlos (259) finished third.Now that (celebration) was not planned. After all the things I had gone through to get there, then moving by that fast with the pulled groin area, I didn't think it was necessary to do anything, but what my body told me to do, that was automatic, which was throw my arms up in jubilation. ...Then I remembered, politically, a responsibility and a pride that I had to exude on the victory stand.That was decided a few minutes before the race.On what happened on the medal stand:I decided to wear articles that represented why I must do what happened on that victory stand. The black socks represented poverty. The right hand in the air with the black glove represents power and tranquility -- as much as I could muster at that particular time. Of course the head bow was a prayer. It was a prayer of hope, a prayer of saneness. The prayer of equality, all prayers. You send the right prayer you will get an answer.The third man: The forgotten Black Power heroThe moment the victory stand happened, the moment national anthem started playing, the hand went up. ... It did not represent Tommie Smith only, but it represented those who did not have a platform. It represented those who did not have a word. It represented those that had stories needed to be told.And that pose gave them an opportunity along with the glorious sound of the national anthem to be jubilant in the ears of the world. And to be seen by the eyes of the world. Because it was worldwide issue, the Olympic Project for Human Rights, and it stands as that.On the misunderstanding from people who took his actions to another place:There was a lot of misunderstanding about what was happening because they had never seen that happen before especially by a black athlete in the eyes of the world. An athlete that hardly said anything about anybody before that particular stand. ...Smith, top center, and Carlos, top right, extend their gloved fists skyward during the playing of the "Star-Spangled Banner" after Smith received the gold and Carlos the bronze for the 200-meter run at the Olympic Games in Mexico City.So the representation went further than just a victory stand. It represented a holistic idea of life, a holistic experience of equal rights, and that was in the back of my mind when the fist went to the sky in jubilation: a cry for freedom or a cry for hope. All of this was a culmination of the work that had gone in: the love, the experience of the academic experience, the experience of training physically and the jubilation of my doing what had to be done.But it was done because I had no choice. To me it was a responsibility which I didn't want to do, but I had to do it because I was the only one at that particular time who could do it standing from that particular platform.On the immediate aftermath:I knew because of what had just happened there would be an aftermath. I didn't know how great, but for every action there is a reaction. Didn't know what that action would be, so I did my military turns (Smith was in the ROTC) back to the left and another one back to the left again to get off the stand. ...My hand went up one last time in the power hand struggle, which was the fist to the air. Why did that happen? Well because when I looked up in the stands, I saw faces of madness. Faces of discontent. Faces of 'Why did you ruin your gold medal stand?' And a lot of catcalls.So I threw a fist up for the last time emphasizing the pride and the exuberance I had. All those sacrifices by doing this. It was over by then.On what happened after he was kicked off the team and returned home:Even my black brothers and sisters were rather shocked because of what had happened, because no one was told before I left that something would happen. ...But it did, and many didn't understand, number one, what it meant and, number two, it was gonna happen.Apology urged for Australian Olympian in 1968 black power protestI came back to San Jose State amidst many cameras, many boos, no one at the airport to welcome us. ...No job, couldn't find a job, but I still had my rent to pay. I still had my light bill to pay. I still needed milk for Kevin, my oldest son now. On a 24-year-old, this is kind of tough.Being a non-secular kid, I prayed. I said, 'If this is meant for me, let it be.' It helped me to move forward so I can continue doing my work. So I became an elementary school teacher, then a junior high school teacher then a junior college instructor then a four-year college instructor, got my master's, my Ph.D., and I moved forward... into an adult life without competition.On if he ever received any gratification:People understood, in a small context of what happened, but I'm still explaining even now my feelings pushing up to that time.I had to explain why I did it and taking it back to the system and continued to teach. That victory stand lives on because of the representation of time. And time changes. But that photograph will always be there to let you know no matter what you do, it's gonna be there, because it represents you until you die. That's a lifelong energy.On what happened to that glove:Had I known or had I been advised by anybody that that stand would have ended up being one of the most iconic stands in the history of man, I would have kept the gloves. I would have locked them up. I would of done something -- maybe I would have worn two of them or something, who knows. But it wasn't done for shape, form or fashion. It was done because of a need, done because of a pride in a system, a system of social change. ...In San Jose, it gets cold. So I wore them for warmth because I went to school at night and I needed something on my hands. I did use them.I think I left them in the back of an old Chevy II. My son, who was about 6 months old, probably ate it something. I don't know what happened to it. But it's gone, wherever it is. Rest in peace.Follow Jill Martin on Twitter

(CNN)Britain's International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) presidential candidate Sebastian Coe says the prospect of American sprinter Justin Gatlin beating Jamaican Usain Bolt in the World Championships later this month makes him nauseous.Gatlin has twice been sanctioned for doping offenses, but has recorded the fastest 100 meter time this year, while Bolt's form has been erratic. Both are Olympic gold medalists.Follow @cnnsport Photos: Photos: Sebastian Coe says athetics "is about a great deal more than doping," adding: "We've chased some of the biggest names out of the sport, and that doesn't come without a cost."Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: But track and field athletics has come under scrutiny after fresh claims of widespread doping at major championships.Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: The Sunday Times and German broadcaster ARD have accused the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) of failing to investigate hundreds of "suspicious" drug tests between 2001 and 2012.Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: The reports said 800 of the 12,000 blood tests involving 5,000 athletes were suspicious.Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: The IAAF has denied athletics is suffering a similar crisis to cycling's past history of doping when that sport was bedeviled by extensive drug-taking and accusations of top-level cover-ups. Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Coe -- twice Olympic 1,500 meter champion -- insists the organization has led the way on out-of-competition independent testing.Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Former pole vaulter Sergey Bubka, who is standing against Coe in August to become the next IAAF president, says athletics "must be more proactive and even more transparent in our aggressive pursuit of a zero tolerance policy against doping cheats." Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: The head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach has promised the organization will pursue a policy of "zero tolerance" if allegations of widespread doping by track and field athletes at the Olympics are proven.Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: This isn't the first time that athletics has faced questions over doping. Ben Johnson stunned the world by taking 100m gold in a record time in South Korea at the 1988 Olympics, but the Canadian left the Olympic movement in turmoil when he later tested positive for a banned substance.Hide Caption 9 of 9"I'm hardly going to sit here -- given everything I've said -- and say that I'm anything other than queasy at the thought of athletes that have served bans for serious infringement going on to win championship titles," said Coe, who is himself a double-Olympic champion.In 2006 Gatlin was given an eight-year ban after testing positive for testosterone. The suspension was halved following his cooperation with the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).In 2001, Gatlin was suspended for two years after testing positive for an amphetamine found in attention deficit disorder (ADD) medicine he had been taking. That suspension was later reduced to one year.Read More"I don't like it and that's a very personal view. I have always believed -- and I'm fairly unreconstructed on this -- that lifetime bans for serious infringements are what we should have pushed for," said Coe."I also accept, because I live in the real world, that legally (banning athletes for life) would not hold," Coe said. "That train left the station."Gatlin is eligible to compete and he should be respected for the fact that he is eligible to compete," he added.Good to be in Costa Rica to talk Athletics with colleagues from all 31 Federations from the NACAC region pic.twitter.com/3mc5qSP0OZ— Seb Coe (@sebcoe) August 7, 2015 According to USADA figures, Gatlin has been tested 59 times since his return to athletics in 2010. Gatlin won bronze at London 2012 -- where Bolt completed his second successive Olympic treble, winning 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay gold medals.JUST WATCHEDCoe's IAAF presidential pledgeReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCoe's IAAF presidential pledge 02:45In response to Coe's statements, Gatlin's representative Renaldo Nehemiah told CNN, "There is no comment to be made. I have great respect for Seb Coe."Previously the U.S. sprinter has vehemently denied ever knowingly taking a banned substance and earlier this year, Gatlin said he didn't understand why he was often referred to as a "two-time drug cheat" -- a reference to his first ban.Referring to his first ban, Gatlin recently told Reuters, "Other people in the sport have taken the same medication I had for ADD and only got warnings," Gatlin recently told Reuters. "I didn't."And he told British newspaper the Guardian in May that he tested positive in 2006 because his massage therapist rubbed a testosterone cream on him without Gatlin's knowledge -- a claim the therapist denies.IAAF ScrutinizedA former middle distance runner, Coe currently serves as a vice president of IAAF, which has come under scrutiny over how proactive it has been in the fight against doping in athletics. Allegations published in the Sunday Times earlier this month, and aired in a documentary by German broadcaster ARD, claim that a third of medals awarded in the Olympics and World Championships between 2001 and 2012 were won by athletes who recorded suspicious doping tests.The news organizations based their reports on a leaked IAAF database, which holds the results of 12,000 blood tests on 5,000 athletes.The IAAF has subsequently suspended 28 of those athletes, although most of them have already retired.Coe stopped short at calling the allegations part of a witch-hunt, but did say that there was a concerted "portrayal of the IAAF ... as being a group of people who do not care about this."Our sport is about a great deal more than doping," said Coe, who will find out if he will become IAAF president on August 19. His opponent is former pole vaulter Sergey Bubka, also an IAAF vice president. Both have vowed to restore track and field's reputation. A moment in time feb 10th my day A photo posted by justingatlin (@justingatlin) on Feb 10, 2015 at 4:49am PST "We've chased some of the biggest names out of the sport, and that doesn't come without a cost," he said. "The reputational damage to a sport for actually weeding out the cheats is actually quite profound, but we've still been prepared to do it because this is not a war we can allow ourselves to lose."In 1979, Coe broke three world records within 41 days, an achievement that he admits would only raise eyebrows today. In fact, he says, it was even suspicious at the time. Embracing the Journey.. Overcoming the Challenges..#ForeverFaster @warren_weir yute we need to start a video editing company.. Lol A video posted by Usain St.Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) on Jul 18, 2015 at 12:49pm PDT "There had to be (doubts)," he said. "I came nominally from nowhere to break three world records, and of course people wanted to suggest that this wasn't done on anything (other) than hard work and natural talent. But sadly that is the world that top athletes in any sport live in.""That is why I think moving to an independent anti-doping system is the next stage in really removing the perception," Coe said, choosing his words carefully."Not the reality, but the perception that there could be conflict and there could be cover-up," he added.Read: Athletics at 'war' with media over IAAF drug-test allegationsRead: Leaked doping files: IOC makes 'zero tolerance' pledge

Story highlightsPrime Minister Antonis Samaras is offering to reinstate a public broadcasterUnder his plan, a small number of employees would be hired backGreece suspended its public broadcaster in a cost-cutting moveGreece's prime minister offered Friday to reinstate a limited public news broadcast following protests over the government's decision to suspend it as a budget-cutting move. Under the plan, a small number of employees would be hired so the broadcaster, ERT, can start broadcasting again, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said in a televised speech. A draft bill has already been submitted to parliament that outlines the new operation, and it could be voted on as early as next week, he said. An exact time frame for the new organization has not been announced, but a government spokesman has said the new broadcaster should be operational before the end of the summer.The General Secretariat of Information and Communication said the new state broadcaster would be called the Organization of Modern State Television.Samaras' announcement followed a meeting between European Broadcast Union President Jean-Paul Philippot and Greek Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, where the government was pushed to reconsider its position. "We expressed the emergency to re-establish public signal on TV, radio and web," he told reporters following the meeting. He said Stournaras and others relayed the government's plan to create "a new public company."ERT's TV channels and radio services were pulled off the air early Wednesday, although some employees have continued to broadcast via the Internet.Most of those who took part in the peaceful protest outside ERT's Athens headquarters were employees, but others were ordinary Greeks who turned out in a show of support.Greek unions also vowed to fight the decision, which comes as the country struggles with a debt mountain, soaring unemployment and a lengthy recession.Government spokesman Simon Kedikoglou cited chronic corruption and mismanagement of funds as reasons why the broadcaster was closed down, at least temporarily."At a time when the Greek people are enduring sacrifices, there is no room for delay, hesitation or tolerance for sacred cows," Kedikoglou said in announcement shown on the broadcaster.ERT has said the decision means 2,656 employees will lose their jobs.To meet its commitments to its creditors -- the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund -- the Greek government has to dismiss 2,000 people from the wider public sector by the end of the year and 15,000 by the end of 2014.The European Commission said Wednesday it had not sought the closure of ERT, "but nor does the Commission question the Greek Government's mandate to manage the public sector."It added that the commission "supports the role of public broadcasting as an integral part of European democracy."Reporters Without Borders expressed dismay over what it said was a "bizarre" decision by the government to shut down ERT's activities while carrying out the overhaul of its services.Greek lawmakers agreed in April to cut thousands of government workers to secure another 8.8 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in international bailout funds.

Story highlightsPGA Tour issues denial over Dustin Johnson ban reportsHis break from golf 'voluntary' says TourJohnson announced Thursday he was facing 'personal challenges'NEW: Sergio Garcia leading storm-hit WGC tournament in Ohio.The PGA Tour has issued a denial over reports that American golfer Dustin Johnson is serving a suspension for failing a drugs test.World No.16 Johnson said Thursday that he would be taking a break from the sport to seek "professional help" to improve his mental health.It ruled him out of next week's PGA Championship at Valhalla and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in Scotland, where he was expected to be a key member of the United States team.In the aftermath of his announcement, a published report on Golf.com made a series of allegations about his use of recreational drugs and claimed he had actually been banned from the Tour after testing positive for cocaine.JUST WATCHEDTiger's shot at Major mark slipping awayReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTiger's shot at Major mark slipping away 01:22JUST WATCHEDOne-on-one with Rory McIlroyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHOne-on-one with Rory McIlroy 06:17In response, the PGA Tour issued a statement on its website. Read: Johnson targets majors after HSBC success"With regard to media reports that Dustin Johnson has been been suspended by the PGA Tour, this is to clarify that Mr. Johnson has taken a voluntary leave of absence and is not under a suspension from the PGA Tour," the statement read. Johnson, who finished 12th at the British Open last month, paired on the final day with eventual winner Rory McIlroy, did not specify the exact length of his absence from golf in the statement released by his management company."I am taking a leave of absence from professional golf, effective immediately. I will use this time to seek professional help for personal challenges I have faced," it read."By committing the time and resources necessary to improve my mental health, physical well-being and emotional foundation, I am confident that I will be better equipped to fulfill my potential and become a consistent champion."Read: Johnson wins 2013 year opener in HawaiiTHE PGA of America, which runs the PGA Championship and the U.S. Ryder Cup team, later confirmed his withdrawal from those to events.Reacting to the announcement Friday, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson told the PGA website: "We will certainly miss Dustin Johnson at Gleneagles, and we wish him the best."As one of the longest hitters in the game with an undefeated record of 3-0 at Medinah in 2012, he has clearly been an asset for the United States team. That said, the United States is a team with an abundance of talent."JUST WATCHEDWill Donald Trump's Turnberry be a success?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWill Donald Trump's Turnberry be a success? 03:54JUST WATCHEDJordan Spieth recreates amazing bunker shotReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJordan Spieth recreates amazing bunker shot 00:44Tiger Woods added to his captain's words. "I'll tell you what, with his power, you always want guys with that kind of power to play on any team. I've been his partner in the Presidents Cup in Australia, and the fire power that he has, it's pretty cool to be around," said the 14-time major winner."It's not too often you see a guy carry the ball 320 (yards) without even trying, and then when he steps on it he can hit it even further. When he gets it going, it's awfully impressive."Johnson, who is currently ranked fifth in the standings of U.S. golfers would have almost certainly been an automatic pick for the Ryder Cup.Read: Master McIlroy fulfilling his destinyThe 30-year-old has won eight titles on the PGA Tour and is highly regarded by fans and fellow professionals for his big hitting game.Former U.S. Open champion and European Ryder Cup opponent Justin Rose also passed on his regards to his friend and colleague."I just wish him well, whatever he's facing right now," Rose said in quotes carried by UK news agency, the Press Association."(It) can't be easy for him. I wish him all the best. He's a friend of mine (but I) didn't really know that that was on the cards."Johnson rounded off his statement by requesting privacy in the months ahead as he begins his time off."I respectfully ask my fans, well-wishers and the media for privacy as I embark upon this mission of self-improvement," he said.Johnson had earlier pulled out of this week's WGC-Bridgestone International at Firestone GC, Ohio, citing "personal reasons."That tournament was being led by Sergio Garcia after a third round 67, which was interrupted by thunderstorms.On 14-under, the Spaniard was three clear of McIlroy, who is playing his first event since his British Open triumph.Defending champion Tiger Woods again struggled with a two-over-par 72 for one-over with a round to go.Read: McIlroy matches greats with Hoylake triumph

Story highlightsBarcelona's Eric Abidal is given the all clear to play again for BarcelonaFrench defender has been out for nearly a year after a liver transplantBarca midfieler Xavi says Abidal's return is "the best news of the year"Barcelona may be licking their wounds after a 2-0 European Champions League defeat to AC Milan but on Thursday they received a boost that star midfielder Xavi described as "the best news of the year."Eric Abidal, who has spent nearly a year out of the game after having a liver transplant, has been declared fit enough to rejoin Barca's first team squad.It is positive news for Barcelona whose manager Tito Vilanova is currently in New York receiving treatment for throat cancer.The French defender last played for Barca on February 26 last year and underwent surgery in April. He also had a tumor removed in March 2011.Abidal spent two months on a specific training program designed by club physio Emili Ricart before training with the rest of the squad from the middle of December.JUST WATCHEDMendieta: Barca, Real out in frontReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMendieta: Barca, Real out in front 02:36JUST WATCHEDMessi claims fourth Ballon d'OrReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMessi claims fourth Ballon d'Or 02:31But now he is back in contention for a first team place.A statement on Barca's official website read: "Following training Eric Abidal received the wonderful news that he is in good enough condition to play for the first team in what remains of the current season."The club's players were delighted the 33-year-old had completed his recovery. Xavi, who has spent his entire career at the Spanish giants told the website: "It's the best news of the year."It's not a great day coming back after a 2-0 defeat, but seeing Abidal, how he trains and gives it everything and that he's now able to return to playing is a source of motivation. It's the best news we could have had."Club captain Carles Puyol took to social networking site Twitter to say: "Today is the best news for Barcelonistas and football. Abidal has already been discharged. With him we are stronger."Barca suffered just their second defeat in 22 matches when they went down 2-0 to Milan in the first leg at the San Siro.The club are striving for their fifth title in European football's most prestigious competition. The second leg at the Nou Camp is on March 12.

Story highlights Interior minister says more police will be deployed Tuesday night to ensure calm17 police officers were injured in clashes with young people, Manuel Valls saysThe interior minister says law and order must be restored after "unacceptable" violenceThe trouble broke out late Monday amid tension with police in the northern city of AmiensSeventeen police officers were injured in violent clashes with young people in the city of Amiens in northern France overnight, Interior Minister Manuel Valls said Tuesday.In addition, three public buildings were badly damaged during several hours of disorder, CNN affiliate BFM-TV reported.Amiens Mayor Gilles Demailly told BFM that the damage amounted to millions of euros. People were shocked and upset by the violence, he said.Images from the north Amiens neighborhood showed burned-out cars and the charred wreckage of a kindergarten and a sports center.Clashes were reported in the same area Sunday night, BFM reported. The latest violence, involving about 100 young people, broke out late Monday evening and carried into early Tuesday.The police officers were injured with buckshot, fireworks and projectiles, BFM reported. Police responded with tear gas but made no arrests.Speaking at a news conference in Amiens, Valls said that the violence shown toward police was "unacceptable" and that law and order must be restored.More security forces would be deployed Tuesday night to ensure there was no repeat of the trouble, he said.Valls said those suffering most from the disorder were the residents of the neighborhood affected.The area had already been designated a "high security zone" because of drug trafficking and other problems, he said, meaning extra resources were to be used there.A local resident told BFM the community was angered Sunday when police carried out an "aggressive" traffic stop as a funeral was being held for a young man killed in a road accident last week.Sabrina Hadji, a sister of the victim, said police fired shots as people -- including women, children and the elderly -- were gathered for the ceremony.The community is tired of being treated without respect and "like animals," she told BFM, and a silent march was organized as an expression of "anger because we are never listened to."Valls acknowledged there is tension between police and the community after the incident and said an inquiry has been ordered into the police operation.However, nothing excused violence directed at police and the torching of public buildings, he said.Valls said he had not come to Amiens to point the finger at anyone, but the rule of law must be followed.After the initial unrest Sunday, the mayor appealed for "calm, respect and dialogue" in a statement on the official website for Amiens, a city of about 130,000 people. Demailly urged communication between police and residents, saying it is important they have confidence in each other.Earlier Tuesday, Valls traveled with President Francois Hollande to the Var area, in southeastern France, to pay tribute to two women police officers who were killed in the line of duty in June, BFM reported.Hollande addressed the trouble in Amiens, saying that public security is "not just a priority, but an obligation" for authorities.More must be done to prevent and punish violence, delinquency and criminality, he told reporters.Hollande, who was sworn in as president three months ago, said the next budget would include additional resources for policing, after years of cutbacks.France has been shaken by unrest in poorer urban areas on several occasions in recent years, notably in 2005, when the deaths of two young men of North African descent sparked weeks of rioting.

This story is part of As Equals, CNN's ongoing series on gender inequality. For information about how the series is funded and more, check out our FAQs.Jodhpur, India (CNN)The Child Marriage Restraint Act (CMRA) of 1929 set out to "eradicate the evil of child marriage" in India. Almost a century later, the south Asian nation remains home to a third of the world's child brides. As of 2017, 223 million girls and women who were married off before their 18th birthday lived in India, according to the United Nations agency, UNICEF. Only a fraction of the children entered into child marriages are boys. Between April 2019 and March 2020, Childline India received nearly nine times more complaints about the child marriage of girls than of boys.Not only did the CMRA not eradicate child marriage, the law also failed to provide a way out for those children who had already been forced into marriage. So in 2007 the CMRA was repealed and replaced by the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), which recognized that child marriages were valid but voidable. Thanks to the PCMA, a victim of child marriage has up to two years after reaching adulthood to annul their union should they wish to -- or know to. It is difficult to say how many young women have benefited from the annulment provision of the Act. There is not publicly available information and the Ministry of Women and Child Development has not responded to CNN's multiple requests for the number of child marriage annulments. Read MoreWhat is known is that at least 43 child marriages have been annulled. And what all of those stories have in common is tenacious child rights advocate named Kriti Bharti. Married off at one Bharti helped secure India's very first child marriage annulment and told CNN she has assisted in 42 other cases since discovering the annulment provision in the PCMA.In March 2012 she met 18-year-old Laxmi Sargara. Bharti, whose surname means "India's daughter" in Hindi, was 24 at the time and had just formally registered her organization, Saarthi Trust. Both women lived, and continue to live, in the northern Indian state of Rajasthan, famous for its regal history and architecture, and in 2017 was home to 15 million women and girls who were married as children.Sargara had been one of them. She'd been married off at the age of one to a 3-year-old boy in a different village, but only learned of the union many years later when her in-laws came to tell her that in a few days' time she'd be moving in with them. In Rajasthan, it is not uncommon for children as young as one to be married in traditional ceremonies such as the mausar -- where a wedding takes place on the 12th day of mourning after the death of a family member. The child continues to live with their parents until their gauna -- the ritual where they are then sent to their in-laws' home after puberty. Frightened, Sargara told her parents she was going to visit her older brother in the city of Jodhpur, an hour away from their village. With his help, they reached out to Bharti, who was a social worker then with a reputation for helping child marriage victims delay their gauna. "When Laxmi approached me, she wanted something permanent, and she didn't want a divorce for a marriage that she never consented to," Bharti recalls. "After poring over hundreds of judgments and legal documents, we finally realized that there is a provision of annulment that she could use." "We were using a law that no one had used before, that courts themselves did not know about," Bharti continues. "Today when we file a case it's much easier but back then we were setting the precedent." Santa Devi got her child marriage annulled with the help of Bharti.Confronting tradition Three years after that historic first annulment, Bharti met Santa Devi. Devi grew up in Rohicha Kallan, a village two hours from Jodhpur. People here are farmers or make handicrafts and furniture. After her uncle died, Devi was married in a mausar ceremony at just 11 months to a boy who was 10 at the time. Like Sargara, she would continue to be raised by her parents. In 2010 at 15, Devi learned she was married to the 25-year-old man who she said had been following her everywhere she went and showing up outside her school for weeks. It was only when she told her father about him that she learned of her fate. "This is what our elders have always done," Devi recalls him saying. Devastated, Devi was desperate for a way out. Her search would lead her to Bharti who she calls "didi" -- older sister. "Back then I couldn't speak up, I didn't even know Hindi, I had never even left my village. But when the groom's family pressured me to perform gauna, I knew I had to do something. We [Devi and a friend] looked everywhere for a solution and ultimately came across news articles of Kriti didi who nullifies child marriages," Devi explains. After speaking with Devi's friend, Bharti agreed to help. They had to move quickly: Devi traveled to Jodhpur to meet Bharti and fill in the paperwork just six days before her 20th birthday, the cut-off age for annulment applications for Indian women. Legally seeking to annul the marriage was one thing. Going up against rural institutions of power was quite another. Bharti, left, and Devi discuss their experiences at Devi's home in Jodhpur.When Devi told her father about her wish to have her marriage annulled, he met with Bharti and after being counselled by her, agreed to support his daughter. But when the village heard about what Devi had done, a meeting of the jati panchayat or caste council (made up of "leading men of a group [who meet] to deal with the problems that affect the group") was called and a fine of 16 lakh Rupees (about US$ 21,521) was imposed on Devi's father for breaking up a marriage. Once the jati panchayat was involved, and facing a fine and the prospect of expulsion from their village, Devi's father withdrew his support. Devi says he gave her an ultimatum: "Rip the [annulment] papers, otherwise you are not my daughter". "My case was probably the worst one that didi has had to deal with...the jati panchayats gave us a lot of trouble. They threatened to kill me. If didi had not kept me with her they definitely would have killed me," Devi says.Caste panchayats, such as the one that fined Devi's father, act as parallel systems of law enforcement, imposing penalties ranging from fines to excommunication and even so-called honor killings, a euphemism for the brutal murders of women and girls, in contravention of the country's current laws. "Courts were established later, but jati panchayats have long existed so they take decisions as per tradition," says Bharti, explaining how these institutions preserve harmful cultural practices such as child marriage. "The law has not been an answer to the problem of child marriage," says Bharti Ali, founder of HAQ Centre for Child Rights. "[Child marriage] continues despite the law being there for a long time now". Elders in the Fitkasni village in Rajasthan talk about child marriage.A 2021 study (available only in Hindi) conducted by HAQ found that of 20 cases where child marriages were broken off, in seven instances the decision was made by jati panchayats. India's traditional divorce law was applied in three cases, but on only one occasion was the child marriage annulled. In all the other cases, agreements were reached between the families involved. Bharti explains that people turn to jati panchayats not knowing the difference between an annulment and a divorce and expecting divorces to be expensive, laborious processes. The caste council is also known on occasion to allow for child marriages to end but families never anticipate having to pay the fine known as the jhagda -- a Hindi word which literally translates as "fight". "The study clearly points out that decisions are taken by the panchayats. If we want these provisions of law [such as the PCMA] to be used we will have to figure out what are the local mechanisms and how can we link them to the courts," says Ali. But Bharti is less willing to work with these traditional institutions of power, arguing that women, perceived as having a lesser status in a patriarchal system and are therefore not allowed to attend the council meetings, do not get a fair hearing. While she acknowledges that the legal framework isn't perfect, with the justice system often failing to treat child marriage victims as victims, she argues that the courts are still fairer. "When you look at [formal] courts, although I agree that there is a lack of sensitivity, at least they hear both parties. Jati panchayats listen to the one who holds greater weight in society and they promote child marriage so we don't want to create a bridge with them," she says. Ansi Bai, 57, lives in Fitkasni village in Rajasthan. She says she was married off at 1 month old, and that in those days, all the children of the house would usually get married at the same ceremony, even if one was not old enough to be married.What gives the panchayat power to make rulings as it does on child marriage is the fact that the customary practice remains "largely acceptable" as Ali puts it, in vast swathes of urban and rural India. "Everyone belongs to a certain community. They carry a social identity with them so they first look at the interests of the community and then any other cause," she adds. Even Lakshman Jandu, a father who turned to Bharti for help with an annulment only after the jati panchayat asked him to pay a 15 lakh rupees (about $ 20,124) fine, admits that if his daughter's suitor had turned out to be "a decent boy" he would not have opposed the union. "We didn't intend to get her married then but there was a lot of pressure from the community because the other family had another son that they wanted to marry off, so we said we'd get her married so long as their son completes his education," Jandu explains. "But he got into a lot of bad habits, theft, breaking into people's houses, drinking...he was completely out of his parents' control," says the 54-year-old father who earns a living as a chauffeur. "I don't see child marriage as bad but when the situation ends up like this then it is bad." Jandu's experience confirms what Bharti has seen: that despite policymakers seeing the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act as "the exit policy" for all victims of a child marriage, their families -- whose support is often essential -- only use it if there is some other problem in the marriage, and not because a girl was married off as a child. "In the beginning the parents are usually against it, they worry about what the jati panchayats and the community will say. So the first thing we do is counsel the parents," says Bharti. Lakshman Jandu supports the annulment of his daughter Pooja's marriage.'I want girls to speak up for themselves'Child marriage rates have been declining In India. In 1970, 74% of girls were married off before their 18th birthday and 42% before they turned 15. In 2015, those percentages had fallen to 27% and 7% respectively. The trend has been attributed to access to education, and "public messaging around the illegality of child marriage". Despite the decline there are still a lot of girls Bharti describes as forgotten.It is also true that in India marriage offers women security and status, so Bharti knows that the young women she works with are going to need equipping to navigate life on their own, or until they chose to remarry on their own terms. "I tell all the girls that I will only take their case if they promise to continue their education," she says. "I want them to get to a place where they are able to speak up for themselves and protest if they are ever pressured to get married again against their will." Devi, whose marriage was annulled in 2015, had to live with Bharti during the process of annulment and later at the shelter that Bharti runs. She says continuing with her education -- and Bharti's reputation -- gave her the confidence to eventually start going back to her village home. "I wanted to study and work like all girls dream of growing up and working, and I got to do exactly that," says Devi, who now works at an insurance company. "Now I go home often, because I've made something of myself. Initially, people were scared if they heard about me visiting; they thought I would call didi. Young girls often come to me if they think a child marriage is going to take place and I give them didi's number." Helping young women imagine a life for themselves after child marriage and then supporting them as they build that life has been rewarding for Bharti but it has also been risky. "I may not get breakfast, lunch or dinner on some days, but I definitely receive threats on a daily basis," says Bharti, who lives with her mother. "I have also had instances of receiving fake tips about a child marriage taking place in attempts to lure me to a certain location. Call it a gut feeling or intuition, luckily I've avoided the worst," she adds. Bharti arranges to travel to Jaipur for a court hearing.When asked if she has been to the police to report any of the threats she receives, Bharti says doing so would only make it harder for her to interact with the people she is trying to help because it would alienate her from them. She knows the risks she is taking to help girls use a little-known law to fight a long-held tradition, yet she does it anyway. "[The law had previously forgotten] about girls once they are married off, but they are the ones who need our help the most... No one is immortal, so if I can help even 10 girls along the way, I'm happy to take the risk." Read more from the As Equals seriesJUST WATCHEDSkin lightening is an $8.6 billion industry. This woman is trying to stop itReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSkin lightening is an $8.6 billion industry. This woman is trying to stop it 06:31

(CNN)In the heart of Melbourne, Australia, lies an 87-square-meter, three-story, two-bedroom and one-bathroom house. That may sound like a real estate advert, but it could be the home of the future. Made entirely from organic materials and run on renewable energy, the building, known as "The Greenhouse," is completely zero waste. It was designed by zero waste advocate Joost Bakker, as part of his Future Food System housing experiment."The greenhouse is inspired by nature -- it's an ecosystem where nothing is wasted," Bakker tells CNN. Organic waste is fed into a biodigester where it ferments and is turned into gas for cooking or fertilizer for produce; rainwater is harvested and used for irrigation and an aquaponics system, where plants grow using waste from on-site fish; and hot steam from the shower enables a wall of mushrooms to thrive. Joost Bakker tends to the beehive on the Greenhouse's roof terrace.The design of the house is topsy-turvy, says Bakker, with the roof as the foundation, loaded with 35 tons of soil. That helps hold the building in place, he says, and provides fertile ground for cultivating produce -- more than 200 plant species grow on the roof terrace, as well as insects, snails, fish, mussels, crustaceans and chickens. House and home Read MoreThe site is more than just a model home -- for the last 10 months it's been a real one for Jo Barrett and Matt Stone, who were also chefs at the small in-house restaurant. Read: Preserving the last quiet places on the planetSince January, they have been cooking up meals three days a week (except during the periods when Melbourne has been in a Covid-19 lockdown), serving a multi-course menu using only what's grown on site. Picture vegan crème caramels made from tiger nuts and honey harvested from the rooftop's beehives, and falafel balls containing crickets, for a nutritional boost. JUST WATCHEDIs this the most sustainable house ever built?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHIs this the most sustainable house ever built? 04:30"To be able to grow and produce food on a tiny footprint in the middle of the city and turn it into exciting dishes is completely unique," says Stone. In November, the chefs are moving out to make way for public tours supported by the City of Melbourne. These will include school trips and every Friday guests will be invited to cook from the house. Read: A huge wildlife camera trap study has been turned into a gameWhile the Greenhouse only has a permit to stay in Melbourne's Federation Square until the end of next April, the ecosystem will live on, as the house is set to be relocated outside of the city, becoming a permanent home for Bakker's mother. Urban ecosystemThrough the Greenhouse project, Bakker wanted to demonstrate he could feed a family with his self-sustaining house design. "I think we've proved that it's actually much more productive than even I had imagined," he says. "We've harvested 35 kilos of potatoes from a square meter."Meet the 'seed detective' on a mission to save our rarest vegetables He hopes the example will offer a blueprint to future homes and a viable alternative to the current food system, which is responsible for more than a third of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Creating a circular system could also help to drastically reduce food waste, of which there is 1.3 billion tons a year, costing the global economy $940 billion. "We're the only species that generates waste. In nature, there is no waste; everything becomes a food source for something else," says Bakker. "If we transition to a circular economy, we have so much potential to stop the destruction of wilderness and forest."The structure is made from natural, recyclable materials, and it was built without use of chemicals, toxins or glue. Bakker's dream for creating a sustainable food system dates back to when he was 12 years old, soon after his family emigrated from the Netherlands to Australia. It became reality in 2008, when he set up a series of pop-up restaurants in Australia that used ingredients grown on site. Their success led him to opening Silo, a permanent, zero-waste restaurant in Melbourne, in 2012. However, Bakker has never felt such hype behind the movement as he does now. He believes the Covid-19 pandemic has brought people closer to home and to nature and the interest in self-sufficient food has soared. "I think we're living in the middle of a revolution," he says.

(CNN)When the pandemic forced his school to go to online learning, fifth-grader Bergen Manzella spent six hours a day staring at his computer screen. "My eyes were drooping a lot and red. I was really tired staring at a screen, not being able to move around that much," said Bergen.His mother, a math tutor, didn't like what it was doing to him. The truth is, even before remote learning, she was seeing her son come home from school tired and wrung out. "That more sterile environment in an indoor classroom can be fatiguing," Brynn Manzella told CNN. So she decided to homeschool him. Around that time, Manzella heard about another teacher holding an outdoor class once a week in her Loveland, Colorado, neighborhood with other elementary school kids. Read MoreThe class came at the perfect time, said Manzella, because her son needed more outdoor time to explore and socialize with other kids in a safe way during the pandemic."I think it creates an opportunity for kids to be really resourceful and to think outside of the box." Fresh air, nature and no screens Project Learning Tree is an environmental education program that gets children from prekindergarten through 12th grade out into nature to explore and learn about their environment -- with a focus on trees. It's part of the non-profit Sustainable Forestry Initiative. "It's super fun. We do a whole bunch of activities," 10-year-old Bergen told CNN. "I just love all the colors of nature being outside." The program, offered in all 50 states, aligns with Common Core State Standards in science, social studies, language arts and math. Just in time for fall, they learn why leaves turn yellow. Children in Loveland, Colorado, circle around teacher Michele Mandeville during a Project Learning Tree outdoor classroom activity. "The stuff inside them that makes them green, goes inside these tubes in the leaf so the tree can store it for the next year," said Bergen. "Then the leaves turn yellow and fall off the tree." Students also learn about pollinators and how bees help produce the food we eat. They learn how seeds travel through the wind and grow in the soil where they land. They create nature journals -- like so many scientists have from John Muir to John James Audubon. The kids develop their creative writing skills that way -- crafting stories from their observations, sitting under a tree for 10 or 15 minutes, said Michele Mandeville, a facilitator for Project Learning Tree in Colorado. "If we give kids the opportunity to get outside to learn in nature, to engage with nature and others within an outdoor space, they're really going to learn to preserve nature and just kind of fall in love with it," Mandeville told CNN. The kids choose a tree to "adopt" and they learn about that species; from the bark to the type of leaf, and watch how it changes through the seasons. They pretend to be trees and gather the nutrients they need for them to survive, collecting different colored squares for each element.A student works on her nature journal, describing a yellow leaf from a tree she adopted. "There was green for nutrients, yellow for sunlight, blue for water and red for fire," said Bergen. They learn to "read" a cross section of a tree to see how old it is through the number of rings and what happened in each year from beetle kill, to forest fires which Colorado is dealing with now. Mandeville also teaches them to spot the species of birds in their trees -- from downy woodpeckers to western bluebirds. And classes are held all winter long in many places, unless it drops below freezing. Birds are easier to spot when the leaves are off the trees and kids learn to build shelters, and check for animal tracks. Project Learning Tree shares these fun winter activities parents can do outside with their preschoolers. Using five senses to observe Children learn to focus and observe using their five senses just as scientists need to hone their power of observation. Mandeville has the kids map out sounds they hear, called "sound mapping." "They close their eyes and kind of put on little 'deer ears' by cupping their ears," said Mandeville. They write down everything from bird tweets to traffic sounds, to rustling leaves and rushing water and indicate the direction they're coming from."We're not engaged with sound because we're so stimulated by our vision," said Mandeville. Outdoor playtime might help kids' eyesightShe encourages students to lift up a log in the river and discover what may be hiding underneath. She explains how mushrooms and moss help decompose wood in the river. "They can collect data and you can even spend time building bar graphs, comparing different elements in nature they found," said Manzella. "You can't do that in a classroom with four walls. They're able to learn in a different way." The power of nature to soothe, and spark creativityBergen's mom says after he takes the class, "he comes home enlivened." Studies have found numerous health benefits of spending time outdoors in nature and children in particular benefit greatly. Bergen explains it this way, "I feel like, you can breath and you can just be closer to the ground, to this earth." Mandeville, who has a Masters of Education degree, took a year off from teaching in school to do outdoor education, which ended up coinciding with the pandemic. Ten-year-old Bergen Manzella learns how to take a core sample from a tree. "There really has been a rise with students getting really nervous and anxious when they're in the classroom and just kind of the rush in the quick change of subjects that they have to go through and not giving them a lot of time to process and get outside and really engage."Teachers need to get outside too. "I know that they are burnt out and overwhelmed with trying to engage kids through a screen." Mandeville is a facilitator for Project Learning Tree, giving other teachers, and informal educators workshops -- now online -- about how to teach this outdoor education curriculum. "Many students who are quiet in the classroom and don't want to be called on tend to really excel outdoors," said Mandeville who herself was a shy kid. Why you should be forest bathing (and we don't mean shampoo)"The quiet ones ... their eyes open up. They want to explore, they feel like they have a little more room to just go poke around and maybe lift a log look and see what's under there." Kids tend to have very short attention spans when they're looking at screens all day, said Mandeville. "It really is about going outside and just opening up our sense of awe and wonder and looking and seeing what we have not seen before." No formal class needed to get outdoorsWhether you are an educator, a parent, or a volunteer interested in the outdoors, you can find free nature activities and games for kids to download or pull up on an I-Pad on Project Learning Tree's website. Or you can get training online to hold an informal class in your own community. A student looks at the rings of a tree through a microscope. The students learn how to tell a tree's age and what happened in each year of its life. Parents can get their kids outside and away from their screens whether they find a class or not, said Mandeville. "It's just something very simple such as going into your backyard, finding a place to sit -- we call that a 'sit spot' -- and observing all that's around them," picking out bird song, traffic noise, leaf blowers and the sound that wind makes through the leaves. Living near nature linked to longer lives, says studyThat encourages self-awareness, to learn to sit quietly and just be. "I find that nature has always been a place for me to heal and find hope in the world," said Mandeville. Bergen's mother agrees. "Oftentimes we're outside and we're just not noticing all the life that's happening around us even in the middle of a city.And as soon as we start noticing, I really believe that we can't stop noticing."

Story highlightsAbout 57% of the world is offline, according to the United Nations Google, Facebook, SpaceX, OneWeb and others plan to spread the Internet everywhere by beaming it from above Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg says universal Internet access could end extreme poverty (CNN)By now it's kind of hard to believe, even sort of embarrassing. About 57% of the world population is offline — mostly because of unavailable Internet in poor or rural countries. The United Nations set a goal of getting that number down to 50% by the end of 2020. But the U.N. now admits, that's not going to happen. In fact, overall Internet access growth is expected to dip by .5% this year.For advocates like Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, that's bad news. His goal of "connecting everyone" via Internet is "one of the fundamental challenges of our generation," he said. Internet access, he believes, could end extreme poverty. One problem is cost. Or, as the U.N. puts it: "In many of the world's poorest countries, where broadband could potentially have the greatest benefit in terms of bridging development gaps, even basic broadband service remains prohibitively expensive."Read MoreAnother hurdle: Many nations include huge wilderness areas where hard-wire delivery systems like landlines and towers don't exist.Some say the solution consists of just two words: Look up.Google, Facebook, SpaceX and other outfits plan to beam the Internet from either low-orbiting satellites or high-flying drones and balloons. Here's a quick rundown of four big players:OneWebWhat: A company called OneWeb aims to launch a more than 600 tiny satellites designed to beam high-speed Internet down to Earth.Where: The satellites will orbit about 750 miles high. That's much closer to Earth than current Internet providing satellites, which are now 22,000 miles away. That shorter distance will speed up delivery of the signal. Who's behind it: OneWeb is led by Greg Wyler and backed by Virgin Galactic businessman Richard Branson. "It could dramatically help close the wealth gap," Branson told CNN.How much: Initial estimates run from $1.5 billion to $2 billion, Wyler told CNN.When: The service is expected to begin by 2019.SpaceXWhat: SpaceX, which already serves the International Space Station, plans to put 4,000 small, low-cost, disposable satellites into orbit. Where: Like OneWeb, SpaceX's satellites would orbit about 750 miles above the Earth to allow for faster service. Who's behind it: SpaceX CEO and PayPal co-founder Elon Musk told Motherboard in July he thinks "the long-term potential of it is pretty great." The "communications technology will be substantially more advanced" than existing satellite Internet projects, Musk said.How much: In January, Google and Fidelity provided $1 billion to fund the project.When: Testing of the technology is expected to begin in 2016. Google's Project Loon What: Solar powered balloons would transmit Internet signals to ground stations, homes, workplaces or directly to personal devices. Where: Google says they would float above commercial airplanes, between 60,000 and and 90,000 feet up — all around the world. Each balloon would operate for about 100 days at a time. Google wants to beam the Internet to wilderness areas by using high-flying balloons. (Click to expand.)How many: Google is scaling up to be able to launch dozens -- or even thousands -- of balloons, said project lead Mike Cassidy.How much: Google told The Verge each balloon would cost "tens of thousands of dollars," which is much cheaper than communication satellites. When: Testing is going on now. Facebook's Aquila What: Facebook has built an unmanned, Internet-broadcasting airplane called Aquila -- latin for eagle. It's covered by solar cells and has a huge wingspan of 140 feet -- about the same as a Boeing 737 airliner. It's designed to fly for three months at a time at an altitude of 60,000 feet, said lead engineer Andy Cox. It will use lasers to deliver high-speed Internet within a 50-mile radius on the ground below. Facebook has built a drone aircraft designed to beam the Internet from high in the sky. (Click to expand) When: "Over the coming months, we will test these systems in the real world and continue refining them so we can turn their promise into reality," wrote Facebook's Zuckerberg.How much: UnknownAdding huge "constellations" of tiny satellites to the already-crowded space around Earth won't be easy. For example, companies that operate satellites that are located far away -- 22,000 miles out -- fear that -- under certain circumstances -- closer, low-Earth-orbit satellites may interfere with their electronic signals, according to SpaceNews. A broader, long-term industry question: How will companies be able to manufacture thousands of satellites quickly and cheaply? OneWeb has hired French-based Airbus to build 900 satellites at a rate of four per day. Most will be built in the U.S., according to Airbus. "They need to bring the sort of large-scale assembly line processes and efficiencies found in the automotive world to space, and that's a really new thing for us," said satellite industry expert Brian Weeden, technical adviser for Secure World Foundation.But if everything works out as planned, it won't be long before the World Wide Web will truly live up to its name. CNNMoney's David Goldman and Ananya Bhattacharya contributed to this report.

Story highlightsInbee Park clinches victory in U.S. Women's OpenHistorick third win in three majors for South KoreanPaul Casey snaps victory drought with Irish Open winBill Haas storms to AT&T National triumphSouth Korea's Inbee Park entered the golfing record books Sunday as she wrapped up a four-shot victory in the U.S. Women's Open at Sebonack.It made it three out of three majors this season for the World No.1, matching the record of the legendary Babe Zaharias, who achieved the feat in 1950.Park, who won the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April and the Wegmans LPGA Championship earlier this month, will be looking to complete the grand slam in the upcoming British Women's Open and the Evian Championship in France.When Zaharias achieved her milestone only three majors were on the schedule.Mickey Wright (1961) and Pat Bradley (1986) are the only other players in LPGA history to win three majors in a season.JUST WATCHEDTour stars on God and golfReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTour stars on God and golf 06:04JUST WATCHEDA golf coaching dynastyReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA golf coaching dynasty 05:26JUST WATCHEDGolf's billion dollar pioneer ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGolf's billion dollar pioneer 02:40JUST WATCHEDFlorida welcomes two new resortsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFlorida welcomes two new resorts 03:51The 24-year-old Park was always in control in testing last day conditions on the course in New York State. She shot a two-over par 74 for an eight-under 280 aggregate. Fellow South Korean I.K. Kim matched her 74 to finish runner-up.The remarkable Park was completing her sixth victory of the season and adding a second U.S. Open title to the crown she won back in 2008 at just 19.On the men's European Tour, England's Paul Casey finished with a spectacular eagle to end a two-year victory drought by claiming the Irish Open at Carton House.The Ryder Cup star was four back overnight but ripped through the field with a six-under 66 to finish three shots clear on 14-under-par.England's Robert Rock shared second with third round leader Joost Luiten of the Netherlands.Bill Haas also shot a 66 to win the AT&T National on the PGA Tour by three shots.He finished on 12-under with Roberto Castro second after a 69.Tiger Woods, whose foundation is a beneficiary of the tournament, sat out the event with a left elbow injury, but was on hand to congratulate Haas at the end.

Story highlightsHer nom-de-guerre is Tigger, inspired by Winnie the Pooh's feline friendShe crossed a border to join the fight rarely admitted by rebel forces Though injured, she vows to fight again Marina lost her spleen and has a punctured lung. She was attached to a rebel group as a combat medic, and was hurt during the fighting, she told CNN from her hospital bed.She read a tousled book in an almost empty ward in Donetsk's Kalinin hospital. Her chest drained blood and other fluids to a bottle on the floor.Her nom-de-guerre is Tigger, inspired by Winnie the Pooh's feline friend. She chose not to reveal her surname for safety reasons, but her self-introduction was revealing."I'm from Russia, from Kuban, I'm 23 years old, I used to work at a rescue organization and I got here because I couldn't stay out of the situation," Marina said.Marina isn't Ukrainian, she crossed a border to join the fight rarely admitted by rebel forces. Help for Donetsk Peoples' Republic, the formal name of the rebels, comes from Russia in many forms, and this combat medic was another example.JUST WATCHEDU.S. confirms shots fired from RussiaReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHU.S. confirms shots fired from Russia 01:54JUST WATCHEDHuman Rights Watch: Mass grave found in UkraineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHuman Rights Watch: Mass grave found in Ukraine 01:09JUST WATCHEDUkrainian Prime Minister & cabinet quitReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUkrainian Prime Minister & cabinet quit 02:00JUST WATCHEDJournalist working for CNN detained ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHJournalist working for CNN detained 03:02Now, she spends her days in hospital, receiving care from doctors who are as concerned about their neutrality as they are about their patients.In this war-torn region, every day is a struggle."Due to the fighting many people have left the region... we have enough doctors, but there's a shortage of nurses," said Dr. Andrei Sagalevich, head of the Surgery Department at Kalinina Hospital.Dr. Sagalevich manages an institution with beds for 1,100 patients; nevertheless, an occupation of around 50% is challenging given their staff and supply levels.Combat wounded represent a relatively small number of people under treatment in Kalinin. Out of 38, at least 15 are civilians.But these figures are imprecise. A hospital building was taken over by the rebels and cases that aren't serious recover there. Doctors have no way of knowing exactly how many people their institution takes care of.Their most reliable supply line is currently run by NGO Doctors Without Borders. Sagalevich told CNN how grateful he is for the medicines and other necessities they donate to his hospital and others across the region."The medical staff I have seen is amazing, most hospitals continue to work in this extremely difficult situation," said Colette Gadenne, emergency field coordinator for Donetsk's Doctors Without Borders.Donetsk is relatively more accessible, and here they have been able to distribute supplies to treat up to 2,380 combat wounded. In other regions, where these materials are desperately needed due to fierce fighting, logistics are limited."We struggle to have access to hospitals to supply them, because of the dynamics of the conflict, it's very difficult," Gadenne told CNN.Marina was wounded in one of these hot areas where fierce fighting continues.Slovyansk was under mortar fire and I helped pull a family out of the debris," Marina proudly said.Not long after that, she was shot.Her punctured lung made her pant as she tried to speak. Determined to continue talking, sitting upright on her bed, she was already thinking about what to do after recovery."I want to join the fight again, there's a shortage of medical staff, and I want to help; Fascism won't be tolerated." Marina said.READ: Women train with AK-47s to defend the streets of BaghdadREAD: U.S. has 'evidence that Russia is firing' into UkraineREAD: Opinion: Europe must increase sanctions on RussiaREAD: How rebels in Ukraine built up an arsenal capable of reaching the skies

Kherson, Ukraine (CNN)The battle for a strategic bridge in Kherson, southern Ukraine, was still raging Saturday after days of fighting, with warning shots fired in nearby Nikolayev.The sound of shelling impacts hit around Kherson, north of the Crimean Peninsula, could be heard from 8 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET), and by 11 a.m. (4 a.m. ET) the bridge was enveloped in smoke as grass around it had caught fire.Shelling continued back and forth, and through the smoke CNN could see what appeared to be armored vehicles on the bridge moving towards the Ukrainian side, although it was not possible to confirm who they belong to.In the nearby city of Nikolayev, warning shots were fired in the air on several occasions after a warning for people to stay indoors. The bridge to enter the city has been raised for the first time in more than a decade, locals said.The bridge in Kherson is seen on Saturday as the battle continued.When a CNN team arrived in Kherson on Thursday night, Russian tanks were in the streets and jets were flying low overhead, terrifying residents. Read MoreBy Friday, Ukrainian forces had reclaimed the key crossing into the country but not without cost. One Ukrainian soldier told CNN the Russians were "not far away." Civilians were seen picking through the wreckage on the bridge for ammunition, while bodies of soldiers lay nearby.How Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky went from an actor playing president on TV to defiant wartime leaderFriday afternoon brought the noise of more rockets landing in the streets and by dusk it appeared the balance of power had changed once again. Shells landed near Ukrainian positions and, apparently, houses. This was followed by the sound of an attack helicopter, with more signs indicating the bridge had changed hands again. Moments later local officials released a statement saying Kherson's defenses had fallen.However there were signs of a pushback Saturday morning.Russian troops continue to fight to move north from the Crimean peninsula, annexed from Ukraine in 2014.The offensive continues across Ukraine, and the battle has begun for control of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, with an apartment building hit by a missile or rocket early Saturday. Fighting has reportedly spilled into the streets, and explosions and gunfire were heard overnight as Russian troops advanced on the city.CNN's Jack Guy in London contributed to this report.

Story highlightsAvalance in the French Alps killed five soldiers Monday on a training exercise, authorities saidLast week, two students and a Ukrainian skier were killed by an avalanche (CNN)Five soldiers were killed in an avalanche Monday while taking part in military training in the French Alps, a representative of the prefecture of Savoy told CNN. Four other soldiers were injured when they were swept away, and two are being treated for hypothermia. All of the victims are from southeast France's 2nd Foreign Engineer Regiment of Saint-Christol and were among 50 soldiers taking part in a high-mountain exercise near Valfrejus, just a few kilometers from the Italian border.The accident comes just four days after another deadly avalanche in the Alps.On Thursday, two teenagers from a school group died after being engulfed by an avalanche on a closed slope at the Les Deux Alpes ski resort. A Ukrainian skier also died.Read MoreThe teacher who led a group of 10 students from a school in Lyon on the ski trip was being investigated for involuntary manslaughter, according to Grenoble prosecutor Jean-Yves Coquillat. The group took a slope that was marked closed because of a lack of snow and was at a high risk of avalanche, he said.

Story highlightsInvestigators search man's home and officeBerlin attacker had Tunisian's phone number, officials say (CNN)German federal police have detained a Tunisian man who had possible ties to Berlin Christmas market attacker Anis Amri, according to a statement from the federal prosecutor's office released Wednesday.Federal police searched the 40-year-old man's home and office with a search warrant from the federal court December 26, the statement said.The man's phone number was found on a mobile phone belonging to Amri, according to the prosecutor."Further investigation points to the assumption that he could have been involved in the attack. He was therefore detained," the statement said. Anis Amri: Three arrested, including suspect's nephew"Whether or not the current suspicion against the detainee will become more substantial will be subject to further investigation," it added, saying the probe will determine whether an arrest warrant should be issued for the man.JUST WATCHEDBerlin truck caught on dashcamReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBerlin truck caught on dashcam 00:55Read MoreAmri killed the driver of a tractor-trailer loaded with steel and drove it to central Berlin, where he mounted a sidewalk and plowed through an open-air Christmas market December 19, killing 12 people and injuring at least 48 others.JUST WATCHEDBerlin suspect's mom: My son not a terroristReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBerlin suspect's mom: My son not a terrorist 00:50As the manhunt for Amri got under way, Dutch police say it is "likely" but "not 100% sure" that he traveled through the Netherlands on his way to Milan, where he was killed in a shootout with Italian police December 23."It might be the case, not 100% sure. [Amri] might have traveled through city of Nijmegen but it's not clear what happened after that. But it is likely," the Dutch police press office told CNN Wednesday, based on information from the attorney general.There was "direct and indirect evidence," police said.JUST WATCHEDBerlin attack suspect vowed loyalty to ISISReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBerlin attack suspect vowed loyalty to ISIS 02:27 A SIM card was found in Amri's possession that was part of a free promotional deal being offered by a Dutch cell phone provider between December 20 and 22 in the cities of Nijmegen, Breda and Zwolle."The SIM was not used," the press office said.

(CNN)The Euro 2020 game between Germany and Hungary could be played in a stadium lit with rainbow-colored lights. That's after a motion was put forward by the Munich city council to change the lighting pattern on the outside of the Allianz Arena in the wake of an anti-LGBTQ law passed by Hungary's parliament earlier this month. The legislation, which was passed on June 15, bans the dissemination of content in schools deemed to promote homosexuality and gender change. It has been met with strong criticism from human rights groups and opposition parties."[Munich] is committed to diversity, tolerance and real equality in sport and throughout society," reads a cross-party proposal put forward by the city council.Germany secures impressive victory against Portugal at Euro 2020"On the occasion of the European Football Championship match between Germany and Hungary, the state capital of Munich wants to give an important and visible sign of solidarity towards the LGBTI Community in Hungary, those who suffer under the current tightened homophobic and transphobic Hungarian government legislation. Read More"The state capital of Munich, as the venue for Euro 2020, has already agreed to fly rainbow flags on the town hall to make a clear statement on the day of the game."According to CNN affiliate ZDF, Munich mayor Dieter Reiter is working with UEFA, European football's governing body, to obtain permission for the Allianz Arena to be lit up with rainbow colors for Wednesday's game.The rainbow flag has become a universal symbol of hope for LGBTQ people around the world and is commonly adopted by the football community as a show of solidarity.The calls to light up the Allianz Arena ahead of Wednesday's game, which will be both sides' last in the Euro 2020 group stages, comes after UEFA dropped an investigation into a rainbow captain's armband worn by German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer at the tournament. Neuer has worn a rainbow armband during Germany's first two games of Euro 2020. "UEFA have today shared with the DFB that they have stopped the review of the rainbow captain's armband worn by Manuel Neuer," said a tweet from the DFB, German football's governing body, on Sunday."In a letter, the armband has been assessed as a team symbol for diversity and thus for a 'good cause.'" Neuer wore the armband during Germany's games against France and Portugal last week. He has not commented publicly on the UEFA investigation. "UEFA looked into the armband worn by the player in question and, considering that it was promoting a good cause, i.e. diversity, the team will not face disciplinary proceedings," a UEFA spokesperson told CNN. Separately, UEFA also announced on Sunday that it has launched an investigation regarding "potential discriminatory incidents" at Euro 2020 games in Budapest, Hungary.According to UEFA, the incidents occurred during Hungary's games against Portugal on June 15 and France on June 19, both of which were played in front of capacity crowds at the Puskas Arena. Images on social media showed a banner with "Anti-LMBTQ" written on it -- the Hungarian abbreviation of LGBTQ -- during Hungary's opening game of the tournament against Portugal. An inspector has been appointed to oversee the disciplinary investigation. Having lost its opening game against Portugal 3-0, Hungary earned its first point of Euro 2020 with a 1-1 draw against France on Sunday.CNN's Aleks Klosok contributed to reporting.

(CNN)A 57-year-old Maryland man is doing well three days after receiving a genetically modified pig heart in a first-of-its-kind transplant surgery, University of Maryland Medicine said in a news release Monday.David Bennett had terminal heart disease, and the pig heart was "the only currently available option," according to the release. Bennett was deemed ineligible for a conventional heart transplant or an artificial heart pump after reviews of his medical records."It was either die or do this transplant. I want to live. I know it's a shot in the dark, but it's my last choice," Bennett said before the surgery, according to the release.The US Food and Drug Administration granted emergency authorization for the surgery on December 31.US surgeons successfully test pig kidney transplant in human patientThree genes that are responsible for rejection of pig organs by human immune systems were removed from the donor pig, and one gene was taken out to prevent excessive pig heart tissue growth. Six human genes responsible for immune acceptance were inserted. Read MoreBennett's doctors will need to monitor him for days to weeks to see whether the transplant works to provide lifesaving benefits. He'll be monitored for immune system problems or other complications. "There are simply not enough donor human hearts available to meet the long list of potential recipients," surgeon Dr. Bartley P. Griffith said in a statement. "We are proceeding cautiously, but we are also optimistic that this first-in-the-world surgery will provide an important new option for patients in the future."Revivicor, a regenerative medicine company based in Blacksburg, Virginia, provided the heart, according to the news release. A total of 106,657 people are on the national transplant waiting list, and 17 people die each day waiting for an organ, according to organdonor.gov.Art Caplan, a professor of bioethics at New York University, said he was a little apprehensive when he heard the news of Bennett's transplant."I hope they've got the data to back up trying this now, based on their animal studies," he said.The United States has a "terrible" shortage of organs for transplants, he said. He believes engineering animal parts is a solution."The question is, can we get there with minimal harm to the first volunteers?" he asked. Pig heart valves have been transplanted into humans for many years.In October, surgeons successfully tested the transplant of a genetically modified pig kidney into a woman in New York who was brain-dead.Caplan said it is too early to call the heart transplant a success. That label will come if Bennett has a good quality of life for months, he said. But it's still possible that he could die. Whatever the outcome, it's important for researchers to learn something that can be applied to future transplants, he added.He said there also should be an independent review of the data that went into the decision to do this first transplant. The other ethics issue is around the consent, he said. It should come from others besides the patient, who is very likely to agree to the surgery if he is facing death. "Consent for the imminently dying is important to get ... but it's not enough," he said, suggesting a research ethics committee weigh in. "You want to have somebody else say, 'Yes, we agree' this isn't a crazy, too risky thing to try.' "More than 40,000 transplants -- a record -- were done in 2021, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.CNN's John Bonifield and Steve Almasy contributed to this report.

(CNN)With less than a minute to go in the Mississippi Rebels and Tennessee Volunteers game Saturday night, fans threw trash onto the field following a defensive stop by the Rebels at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. Water bottles, pizza boxes, and beer cans littered the field, and a thrown golf ball hit Rebels coach Lane Kiffin.Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey called the fans' action "unacceptable" and said the league "will review existing Conference policies and the Commissioner's authority to impose penalties and communicate with the leadership at the University of Tennessee."Kiffin, who was returning to Knoxville for the first time since 2009 when he coached the Volunteers to a 7-6 season, said after the game he felt a sense of relief."They were just throwing stuff and I just said put your helmet on and let's play. Actually there were people who came over that moved us off," Kiffin said on the field. "They're passionate fans, and there's 100,000 people that came to see a show. It didn't end up the way they wanted, so it is what it is." Read MoreKiffin's father, Monte, had to be escorted from the field as well as the Rebels' coach's sister, Heidi, according to ESPN."The Conference has established expectations for behavior and sportsmanship, and the actions of fans at Saturday night's game were unacceptable under any circumstances," said Sankey in a statement. "We are accustomed to intense competition every week, but under no circumstances is it acceptable to endanger the contest participants and disrupt a game." Tennessee Chancellor Donde Plowman condemned on Twitter the fans' behavior. "I am astonished and sickened by the behavior of some Vol fans at the end of tonight's game," Plowman wrote. "Good sportsmanship must be part of who we are as Volunteers. Behavior that puts student-athletes, visitors and other fans at risk is not something we will tolerate."She added she would personally apologize to Mississippi Chancellor Glenn Boyce for the fan's actions.Danny White, Tennessee Vice Chancellor/Director of Athletics, echoed Plowman's statement and apologized to the Mississippi football program."Our Tennessee fanbase had much to be proud of through 59 minutes of football Saturday night — they created one of the best live sporting atmospheres I've ever experienced — but what transpired in the game's final minute was unacceptable," White said in a statement. "Player and fan safety is paramount at all times. While I'm incredibly proud of our team's effort on the field, I'm disappointed that their relentless performance was overshadowed in the game's closing moments by the actions of several fans whose actions did not represent the Volunteer Spirit or the true character of our university."As for the game, the No. 13 Rebels won 31-26 to improve to 5-1 overall, 2-1 in the SEC. The Volunteers dropped to 4-3 overall, 2-2 in conference play.

Story highlightsMilan comes from behind to defeat Catania 3-1 Stephen El Shaarawy scored twice and Kevin Prince-Boateng was also on targetNicola Legrottaglie had given Catania an 11th minute leadCatania's Pablo Barrientos and Milan's Prince-Boateng both shown red cardsCatania manager Rolando Maran was not even alive the last time his club claimed a home win over AC Milan in the top-flight.Maran was born on July 14, 1963, just two months after Catania had pulled off victory against a Milan team which would go on to win the European Cup three days later.Led by the prolific Jose Altafini, Milan went on to defeat a Benfica side which had won the trophy in each of the previous two years and claim the title as the first Italian team to have won the competition.What a contrast to that of a few days earlier when Catania pulled off a famous victory, courtesy of a goal from Bruno Petroni -- a player on loan from AC's famous rivals, Internazionale.Back to the futureFast forward to the present day and Maran was hoping his side could reverse their awful record against the Rossoneri.JUST WATCHEDBillionaire saves Spanish football teamReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBillionaire saves Spanish football team 03:20JUST WATCHEDA day in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHA day in the life of Cristiano Ronaldo 00:58JUST WATCHEDMourinho on the enigma of BalotelliReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMourinho on the enigma of Balotelli 01:35It began in perfect fashion when Nicola Legrottaglie headed home Francesco Lodi's corner with just 11 minutes on the clock.Milan stuns leaders JuventusMilan, looking for back-to-back wins in Serie A for the first time this season following its victory against Juventus last week, looked lethargic in the opening exchanges.Sergio Almiron should have doubled Catania's advantage but sent his free header wide of the goal from just six-yards.It was not until the second period that Milan really began to exert its dominance and even then it took the sending off of Pablo Barrientos to inspire them.Red cardBarrientos, already on a booking, only had himself to blame after taking a pointless swipe at Antonio Nocerino which earned him a second yellow card.That gave Milan the boost it was looking for and El Shaarway fired home a 53rd minute equalizer. Milan forged into the lead three minutes later as Boateng beat Lodi, before unleashing a rasping effort into the top corner.Milan continued to dominate with El Shaarawy and Robinho both missing glorious opportunities to seal the points, while Urby Emanuelson hit a post.Milan were reduced to 10-men in the final minute when Boateng was dismissed for a rash challenge.But El Shaarway sealed the win, bending home his second of the night and 12th of the season to fire Milan up to seventh place and leave Maran dreaming of that famous victory.

A version of this story appeared in the March 26 edition of CNN's 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. London (CNN) -- You don't have a job for six years, then two come along at once... This week, it was revealed that Prince Harry is taking up two new positions: one as chief impact officer at Silicon Valley start-up BetterUp, and another as a commissioner at the non-profit Aspen Institute. Despite the suggestion in many headlines, Harry has had a job before -- 10 years in the military. He has also led campaigns on mental health awareness and gone into battle with the British tabloid press, which he accuses of spreading smears and lies. The two organizations for which Harry now works operate across those areas of his expertise. BetterUp provides "mental fitness" coaching to major international brands, including CNN's parent company, WarnerMedia. Aspen is spearheading a response to what it sees as an "information crisis" that is undermining "confidence in our democratic institutions." Read MorePrince Harry has scored two new jobs in the same week.Cynics argue that Harry landed the gigs not because of what he can offer but because of who he is. The Sussexes have also signed what are reported to be multi-million-dollar media production deals with Netflix and Spotify. Alexi Robichaux, CEO of BetterUp, admitted to CNN that it was good PR to hire Harry but insisted that was not the sole reason they signed him up, saying he had "so much value" to add to the company's work. Supporters of the Sussexes say they should be applauded for striving to make their own way, without public funding, and harnessing their own life experience. The couple certainly aren't crossing any lines with Buckingham Palace, having reached a comprehensive agreement with the Queen to do as they wish in their quest to be financially independent. In the sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey, Harry and Meghan revealed all about their life in the royal family. Now they need to prove their value as people in their own right. They have new -- commercial -- contracts to honor, and their new bosses will want return on their substantial investments. Can the Sussexes deliver? The couple's true test starts now. NEWS OF THE WEEK Charles visits the land of his grandfather Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall flew to Greece Wednesday for a two-day visit as the country celebrates the 200th anniversary of independence from Ottoman rule. The brief trip -- at the request of the British government -- saw the couple view a commemorative military parade, appear at a special ceremony in honor of Greece's National Gallery reopening and attend a state dinner at the presidential mansion. In his speech at the bicentenary dinner, the Prince of Wales expressed his joy at returning to Greece, which holds "the most special place" in his heart, as it "is the land of my grandfather; and of my father's birth, nearly one hundred years ago." He added, "Later, it was in Athens that my dear grandmother, Princess Alice, during the dark years of Nazi occupation, sheltered a Jewish family -- an act for which in Israel she is counted as 'Righteous Among The Nations.'" Bomb squad called to the Queen's house Don't worry -- she wasn't there. A bomb disposal team was scrambled to the Palace of Holyroodhouse -- the monarch's official residence in Edinburgh, Scotland -- following a report of a "suspicious item" on Tuesday. Police Scotland said the object was examined by a bomb disposal team and "made safe." Authorities later arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the incident. The Queen was not in Scotland at the time but at Windsor, about an hour outside London, where she's been living with Prince Philip during the pandemic. Royals consider appointing diversity czar Buckingham Palace may consider appointing someone to lead its diversity efforts, as "more needs to be done," a royal source said Sunday. The thinking comes weeks after Harry and Meghan told Oprah that the subject of their children's skin color was discussed by a member of the royal family. The source said "lots of measures are being considered" but that it was too early for any plans to be announced. "We are listening and learning, to get this right," the source added. Harry pens emotional message about his mom's death Prince Harry has revealed that his mother's death "left a huge hole inside of me." Writing in the foreword of a new book for grieving children, the Duke of Sussex offered his advice while reflecting on his own experiences. The book, "Hospital by the Hill," was released to coincide with the anniversary of the UK's first Covid-19 lockdown on Tuesday. Harry said everyone handles loss in different ways, "but when a parent goes to heaven, I was told their spirit, their love and the memories of them do not. They are always with you and you can hold onto them forever. I find this to be true." Inconsistencies in Sussexes' interview Whether you are "Team Sussex" or not, it's hard to argue against the importance of the issues of suicide and racism raised by the Oprah interview. But critics are pointing to some discrepancies in the tell-all interview. Meghan's claim of a private backyard wedding has raised eyebrows. British newspaper The Sun got a copy of the marriage license, showing the legally binding wedding was the one at the church. A spokesman for the couple then clarified that "the couple exchanged personal vows a few days before their official/legal wedding on May 19." The couple are also known for their distrust of tabloid media, and they voiced their frustration that the palace tries to appease certain titles with "holiday parties at the palace." That comment left some tabloid reporters baffled, including Russell Myers, The Daily Mirror's royal editor, who tweeted: "now I am wondering why I never got a ticket." There have been media drinks in the past but they were official receptions and were not just for the tabloids. ANNOUNCEMENTS Zara and Mike Tindall attended the Cheltenham Festival 2020 on March 13 last year.Some happy news for the British monarch -- Queen Elizabeth has become a great-grandma for the 10th time. Zara Tindall, the Queen's eldest granddaughter, gave birth in dramatic fashion on Sunday evening. Her husband, Mike -- a former captain of the English rugby team -- revealed Lucas Philip was unexpectedly born on the bathroom floor of their Gloucestershire home in southwestern England after they were unable to get to the hospital in time. In an episode of his "The Good, The Bad and The Rugby" podcast on Wednesday, Tindall said their new son "arrived very quickly," and he joked that he barely had time to run "to the gym, get a mat, get into the bathroom, get the mat on the floor, towels down, brace, brace, brace." Mike and Zara Tindall are already parents to Mia Grace, 7, and Lena Elizabeth, 2. The baby weighed 8 lbs 4 oz at birth, a spokesperson for the couple told CNN. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh are "delighted" at the news and look forward to meeting the newest addition to the family when "circumstances allow," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson told CNN. While the Tindalls were caught off guard with the speedy delivery, royal home births are not uncommon. The monarch delivered all four of her children at home. The new arrival is, of course, a member of the royal family but as 22nd in line to the throne, he will not be an HRH -- which means His or Her Royal Highness, a style used to signify senior royal family members. Lucas is the second royal baby to arrive in recent months. Princess Eugenie -- daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson -- gave birth to her son August Philip Hawke last month. The princess shared two adorable photos of the baby to mark her 31st birthday this week. Thanking well-wishers for their messages, Eugenie said she "got the best present I could ask for" in a post on Instagram. FROM THE ROYAL VAULT Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, has been named as the Lord High Commissioner to the 2021 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. In the role, William will represent the Queen at the online event in May. William, who holds the title of the Earl of Strathearn in Scotland, was supposed to participate in the General Assembly last year but it was canceled and streamed online in light of the pandemic. He is expected to make the opening and closing addresses for the event and report developments back to the Queen throughout the week. The role of Lord High Commissioner is "to maintain the relationship between the State and the Church" and dates back to the 16th century, according to the royal family website. Each year, the Queen appoints the role on the advice of the prime minister. She attended herself in 1969 and 2002. But other members of the royal family have also participated in years gone by, including all four of her children. Want more on the history of the royal family? Seen every episode of "The Crown?" Get the true story in the CNN Original Series "The Windsors: Inside The Royal Dynasty." The six-part show -- featuring stunning archive footage and insider interviews -- tells the incredible, dramatic and, at times, emotional story of the British royal family. It's available now on demand via HBO Max. And don't forget to sign up to the Keep Watching newsletter, a members-only community for CNN Films & Original Series, for access to exclusive events, content and more. A WORD FROM THE ROYALS "We are emerging from this time with a renewed confidence in one another and with a strengthened faith in our society -- richly diverse in its many communities and cultures but united in its commitment to the common good and the welfare of others, particularly those most vulnerable." Prince Charles on how the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted communities. The UK marked the anniversary of the first national lockdown Tuesday with a day of reflection. Prince Charles led tributes in a video message posted on his official Clarence House Twitter account. The heir to the throne said the country has been "inspired," "humbled" and "moved beyond words by the sacrifices we have seen." William and Catherine at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday. Other senior royals observed the moment, too. The Queen sent flowers to the hospital where Prince Philip underwent a heart operation last month and praised frontline workers for "the immeasurable service of those who have supported us all over the last year." Meanwhile, Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge held a moment of silence while visiting a Covid-19 vaccination center set up at Westminster Abbey in London.

Story highlightsUN: 3,419 die in migrant boats on the Mediterranean Sea in 2014207,000 people made it to Europe by boat illegally, nearly three times the previous recordWar in Syria, dictatorship and forced conscription in Eritrea biggest driversThey brave the risk of drowning, drifting endlessly or dying of thirst to make it illegally to a better life in Europe.Migrants traveling, often on overfilled boats, usually make it. But last year, 3,419 didn't.They perished in the Mediterranean Sea, the United Nations Refugee Agency said Wednesday.Some went under, like the 500 killed, when their angry traffickers sank their boat on purpose in September, according to survivors. The men, women and children had refused to transfer to very small boat they felt sure would not hold them and wasn't seaworthy.They asked to be taken back to their departure port in Egypt. Instead the traffickers rammed their boat and laughed while they watched it sink, the survivors said.The seafaring dangers are little deterrent for those leaving abject misery, such as the intense bloodshed of wars, which is driving hordes into asylum.More than 207,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean for Europe this year illegally -- almost three times the previous high of about 70,000 in 2011, the agency said. That's 60% of the 348,000 boat migrants worldwide this year.Figures on such crossings is inexact, as many boats elude detection."Europe, facing conflicts to its south (Libya), east (Ukraine) and south-east (Syria/Iraq) is seeing the largest number of sea arrivals," the UNHCR said.Nearly 50% of the sea arrivals are from the civil-war ravaged Syria and from Eritrea, where a dictator has ruled for more than 20 years, and where, Human Rights Watch says, young people are forcibly conscripted into the military, often for open-ended servitude akin to slavery. The Italian government has led search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean -- called Mare Nostrum or "Our Sea" -- rescuing tens of thousands of migrants. Despite pleas from various aid agencies, it ended those operations in October. But boat migrants come from many conflict regions.The Horn of Africa region saw an estimated 82,680 people crossing mainly from Ethiopia and Somalia making their way to Yemen and other countries in the Middle East. And in Asia, nearly 54,000 people have taken to the sea, the majority from Bangladesh and Myanmar crossing through the Bay of Bengal. Last month, at least 24 people died after a boat carrying 43 illegal migrants and asylum seekers sank near Istanbul, Turkey. Nine of the passengers were carrying Afghan passports.

(CNN)French police investigating an anesthesiologist in connection with multiple poisonings have added 17 new cases to their probe.Frederic Pechier, 47, was previously charged in 2017 in relation to seven cases of poisoning, public prosecutor Etienne Manteaux told reporters at a televised press conference Thursday, with the 24 total cases resulting in nine deaths. Pechier worked at two private clinics in Besançon, eastern France.Pechier worked in two private clinics.Investigators allege that he tampered with medical equipment so colleagues would administer dangerously high levels of local anesthetic or potassium to patients aged between 4 and 80 who were undergoing minor operations.When the patients went into cardiac arrest as a result, Pechier would step in to revive them and show off his apparent skill as a doctor, investigators allege.Read MoreCNN affiliate BFM TV reported that Pechier was a highly regarded doctor in the region.Manteaux told reporters that Pechier was in "open conflict" with fellow anesthesiologists at one clinic during the time many of the incidents occurred.Pechier, who denies the allegations, faces life imprisonment if convicted.Manteaux told reporters that Pechier was "the common denominator" in the new cases, and was "most often found close to the operating room" when the patient's condition worsened.Pechier also made quick decisions on the appropriate course of action, "even when nothing allowed anyone to suspect an overdose of potassium or local anesthesia," said Manteaux."There is a possibility that Dr. Pechier was the author of these poisonings but this hypothesis is nothing but a hypothesis and this long inquiry over two years has shown nothing ... to the extent that in this instance, the presumption of innocence must be stressed," Jean-Yves Le Borgne, one of Pechier's lawyers, told reporters Thursday, according to the AFP news agency.Manteaux had pressed for Pechier to be held in custody, but he was released overnight, another of Pechier's lawyers, Randall Schwerdorffer, told AFP Friday.Manteaux told AFP he would appeal the decision to release Pechier, with a judge expected to rule on the matter within 15 days.Sandrine Simard, spokeswoman for Avapolvi, an association representing victims of the poisonings, told reporters that they cannot accept the decision to allow the doctor out of police custody."We are shocked about this decision, especially when taking into account the charges against him," said Simard."For us, it is inconceivable that he should be free."CNN's Audrey Legrais contributed to this report.

(CNN)Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has reigned for over 65 years, but according to Prince Harry few in the royal family envy her, despite sharing her sense of duty. In an interview with Newsweek, Prince Harry said the monarchy was a "force for good" but suggested that he and his older brother Prince William are trying to overhaul its image. "We are involved in modernizing the British monarchy. We are not doing this for ourselves but for the greater good of the people" the prince said. "Is there any one of the royal family who wants to be king or queen? I don't think so, but we will carry out our duties at the right time."Prince Harry also addressed his mother's death in the interview, something he's spoken about publicly in recent months.Read MorePrince Harry photographed with Princess Diana and Prince William."My mother had just died, and I had to walk a long way behind her coffin, surrounded by thousands of people watching me while millions more did on television," he told Newsweek . "I don't think any child should be asked to do that, under any circumstances. I don't think it would happen."In April, Prince Harry revealed that he sought counseling to deal with the grief of losing his mother, who died in a car crash in 1997. Despite the prince's desire for a normal life, he also told Newsweek that he understood the appeal of the royal family. "We don't want to dilute the magic....the British public and the whole world need institutions like it," he said.

Story highlightsThorbjorn Olesen of Denmark leads at halfway in Abu Dhabi Golf ChampionshipOlesen has one-shot advantage over Gareth Maybin and Matteo Manassero Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy tied for fourth a further stroke behindPhil Mickelson shoots 'pathetic' 77 in PGA Tour event at Torrey PinesTiger Woods moved into contention at the halfway stage of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship Friday as he bids for successive tournament victories.The former World No.1 carded a second round three-under par 69 for five-under 139, two behind leader Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark.It is the first outing of the year for Woods, who rounded off 2011 with victory in the Chevron World Challenge in California.Frustrated with his putting in a first round 70, Woods rolled home birdie putts at the 11th, 12th and 15th, but bogeyed the next after driving into the rough.Blog: Why golf (and big business) still need Tiger Woods It provoked an angry reaction, but at the end of his round the American was satisfied."I thought I played well today," he told the official European Tour website. "I feel like I'm swinging well and a lot of things that Sean (coach Sean Foley) and I have been working on are starting to feel very comfortable."I've grown to understand what he wants me to do and how my body is going to do those things and produce the numbers he wants me to produce." Woods ended on the same mark as playing partner Rory McIlroy, who followed his opening 67 with a level par 72.The 22-year-old U.S. Open champion was penalized two shots for a rules infringement on the ninth, brought to his attention by World No.1 Luke Donald, who was the third member of the high-powered group."I wasn't thinking clearly and just made a very stupid mental mistake," McIlroy said about the error which cost him a share of the lead.But the big names will all have to catch 22-year-old Olesen, who carded a second round 67 to hold a one-shot lead over Gareth Maybin of Northern Ireland and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero in joint second."I hit it pretty close and holed some good putts," said World No. 171 Olesen.Meanwhile, Donald remained off the pace on one-under after a 72 and World No.2 Lee Westwood is on level par.Westwood has been struggling with a neck problem but a hat-trick of birdies made sure he will be around for the weekend.On the PGA Tour, Kyle Stanley and Spencer Levin shared the lead after the opening round of the $6 million Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines.The American pair both shot 10-under 62s on the North Course, considered easier than the South Course which is also being used for the tournament.They lead Bill Haas by a shot while Marc Turnesa had the lowest score on the South with a 66.But three-time champion Phil Mickelson had a disastrous 77, finding 11 bunkers and describing his score as "pathetic."

(CNN)France's navy is "ready to intervene" if there are any further skirmishes in the long-running scallop war between French and British fishermen.French Agriculture Minister Stéphane Travert warned that forces could be sent out to police the waters if there is a repeat of last week's conflict over the molluscs."We can't go on this way. We can't have clashes like this," Travert told French news channel CNEWS."I don't know if the Royal Navy are in the area but I know that the French navy is ready to intervene if there are clashes. They are there to police the waters."British and French fishing vessels were involved in clashes in the English Channel last week.Industry representatives from the United Kingdom and France will meet in London on Wednesday to try to resolve the issues that led to last week's violent confrontation on the English Channel.Read MoreVideo of the incident broadcast by France 3 Normandie last week showed smoke bombs and rocks being thrown at British crews, while a number of boats appeared to be rammed.The five British boats, greatly outnumbered by an estimated 35 French vessels, were chased from the scallop-rich Baie de la Seine area off Normandy.The incident took place 12 nautical miles off the Normandy coast where British crews are allowed to fish throughout the year, while their French counterparts are restricted to a harvesting season running from October 1 to May 15.At issue is the different fishing rules for French and UK businesses. French vessels are not allowed to harvest scallops between May and October to allow the species to reproduce, whereas British boats face no such restrictions because the fishing is taking place in international waters.CNN's Saskya Vandoorne reported from Paris. James Masters wrote from London.

Story highlightsLuis Suarez banned after 2014 World Cup biteDiego Forlan said striker knew he made mistakeForlan said his prodigy found help to change his ways (CNN)Diego Forlan and Luis Suarez formed a formidable forward line for Uruguay for many years. But success didn't come without controversy.The pair, supplemented by Edinson Cavani, spearheaded Uruguay's fairytale Copa America victory in 2011 -- a trophy that Forlan treasures as his best career achievement.But they were unable to replicate that form at the 2014 World Cup, a tournament which would eventually become a nightmare for Suarez, who bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in Uruguay's final group game, resulting in an unprecedented four-month ban from football. Follow @cnnsport The forward initially denied biting the Italian but quickly published an apology following his ban. Forlan still remembers the effect the incident had on the young forward.Read More"You could see in that dressing room when he did that, you could see his face," Forlan told CNN Sport. "You didn't need to go there and talk to him because he knew he made a mistake."There was nothing we could do it that moment. It's better, when you know him, to give him space to talk with his family and to talk with people he needs to talk to, whether that's me, another player or a coach." Photos: Luis Suarez makes return to international footballLuis Suarez and Italy's Giorgio Chiellini are pictured seconds after the 2014 World Cup biting incident.Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: Luis Suarez makes return to international footballSuarez was banned for nine international matches. Here, Suarez celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Group D victory over England in Sao Paulo, Brazil at the 2014 World Cup.Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: Luis Suarez makes return to international footballSuarez also bit Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic during an English Premier League match at Anfield in April 2013.Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: Luis Suarez makes return to international footballSuarez's devastating form brought Liverpool to the brink of the 2013-14 Premier League title, eventually finishing two points behind champions Manchester City. Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: Luis Suarez makes return to international footballSuarez moved to Barcelona in the summer of 2014, and has since produced some of the finest football of his career alongside teammates Lionel Messi and Neymar.Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: Luis Suarez makes return to international footballSuarez won the European Cup with Barcelona in 2015, scoring in the 3-1 win over Juventus.Hide Caption 6 of 6'Really nice guy'The outburst was globally condemned and proved yet another dent in Suarez's campaign to improve his image.He had previously been involved in two biting incidents and was charged with racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra in 2011, serving an eight-match ban.Read: Cristiano Ronaldo sued over alleged rape in Las Vegas hotel roomVisit cnn.com/sport for more news and videosIn the 2010 World Cup, Suarez also showed little guilt for purposely saving a goal-bound effort with his hand. An action which ended Ghana's magical run at the quarter-final stage."I know him, he's a really nice guy. Sometimes he used to react in a bad way," said Forlan as he reflected on Suarez's career."He spoke to the right professionals so he could change it and now he's at a great club," added Forlan of the change he's seen in Suarez."Of course he made mistakes and he accepted it. I know what type of guy he is and I know he wanted to change it. I am really happy for him because he did it."Suarez admitted to seeing a therapist following the 2014 incident to help cure his "impulse" to bite people. Uruguay's Luis Suarez (L) and Diego Forlan (R) formed a deadly partnership between 2007 and 2014. Since then, Suarez has seemingly overcome the problems that plagued the start of his career. Now 31, the Uruguayan is still a focal point of a Barcelona team that has won three La Liga titles and one UEFA Champions League while he's been at the Nou Camp. He is also Uruguay's all-time top goal scorer with 55 goals, 19 ahead of Forlan in third. JUST WATCHEDBayern Munich's sonic revolutionReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHBayern Munich's sonic revolution 01:07The now-retired forward is pleased to see his former prodigy achieve his potential for both club and country."I was 26 or 28 and he was just arriving in the international team," said Forlan."He would come to my bedroom and we would talk about things on the TV and he would ask things about football."Before, when I was scoring goals, he was always sending me messages, congratulating me. Now it's me doing the same thing to him. I'm really happy for him."Suarez will once again be leading Barcelona's attack in their UEFA Champions League clash with Tottenham on Wednesday. The Catalans will travel to Wembley looking for their second European victory this season, following their 4-0 win over PSV. Spurs were beaten 2-1 by Inter Milan in their opening group game.

London (CNN)It looks like one of the alternative Brexit plans being voted on by UK lawmakers on Monday could have enough backing to carry a majority in Parliament -- unlike Prime Minister Theresa May's plan. The plan, known as Common Market 2.0, is currently looking likely to receive the support of some in the opposition Labour party and the Scottish Nationalists.Common Market 2.0 is a very soft Brexit, in which the UK formally leaves the EU but remains very closely aligned to it, through membership of the single market. The plan also calls for a customs arrangement between the UK and the EU that avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland.The plan has advantages and disadvantages, depending on your perspective.Under this plan, the UK would apply to join the European Free Trade Association, which would allow the UK to trade with the EU and other EFTA nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland) on similar terms to now.Theresa May awaits votes on Brexit alternativesRead MoreVia EFTA, the UK would also continue its membership of the European Economic Area, meaning it would retain access to the EU's single market.Under EFTA rules, the UK can still -- in theory at least -- strike its own trade deals while more or less maintaining trading ties with the EU. It will also result in minimal disruption to its world-class services industry.The UK would also leave the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in all areas other than those which affect the EEA. Crucially for some Brexiteers, the UK could also leave the EU's Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries Policy. (Despite making up less than 0.05% of the UK's economy, the fishing industry has played a huge part in the Brexit debate.)But as a member of the single market, the UK would have to abide by the four freedoms of movement: Goods, services, capital and people. That last one is a problem for Brexiteers, as it means the UK would not have full control over the number of people coming through its borders. That's also a huge issue for many in the Labour ranks. The UK would also have to continue making huge contributions to the EU, something that Brexiteers promised would end.And the unique customs arrangement envisioned by Common Market 2.0 is unprecedented among EFTA membership and possibly contradictory to current EFTA rules. There's no guarantee that it could be achieved, meaning the Irish border question is not necessarily answered. While it looks a very clever plan, it runs into many of the same problems as every other plan.

(CNN)Theresa May has thrown the kitchen sink at her Brexit deal three times to date. It hasn't worked on any of those occasions, but for some reason, the British Prime Minister is having a fourth go. It was confirmed on Tuesday that May would bring the Withdrawal Agreement Bill before the House of Commons in the first week of June, in a last-ditch attempt to put her Brexit deal with Brussels into law, thus cementing her legacy as the PM that finally took the UK out of the European Union. Theresa May will put her Brexit deal to a vote—for the fourth timeQuite a lot is going to happen between now and then. First, the UK must hold elections to the European Parliament next week. Given that Theresa May is being held responsible for Brexit not having happened yet, her governing Conservative Party is widely expected to receive a drubbing. Nigel Farage's Brexit Party (take a wild guess at its main policy) is currently tipped to win in the UK, and other, smaller parties are also expected to perform well. The opposition Labour Party is also set to lose voters, both from pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit voters. Second, on June 6 there will be a significant election in the parliamentary constituency of Peterborough. Though it's possible the Brexit vote will happen before the vote -- known in Britain as a by-election -- both main parties will have to stomach daily polls predicting the Brexit Party's first ever parliamentary candidate. This could be unpleasant, given the party will be campaigning with its tail up following its probable success in European elections. Read MoreThe Prime Minister's logic might be that by early June, both Conservative and Labour MPs will be suitably scared into taking Brexit off the table. JUST WATCHEDThe fishing town where Brexit can't come soon enoughReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe fishing town where Brexit can't come soon enough 02:48It's not the worst plan in the world, or it wouldn't be if it didn't appear quite so desperate. The thing is, since May's deal was voted down a third time on March 29 -- which, incidentally, was the day the UK was supposed to leave the EU -- opposition to her deal has been strengthened. Not just from Brexiteers who think her deal is far too soft, but also from Remainers, who have been smelling blood ever since the first Brexit deadline was missed. For May to pull it off would be nothing short of a minor political miracle. We have seen time after time that not only does parliament not have a majority for her deal, but there's not majority for any other Brexit plan. Meanwhile, supporters of no deal and those who want Brexit scrapped altogether both think they are winning the argument, despite both facing huge opposition in Parliament. What does the European Parliament actually do? One clue lies in your phone billSo why is May doing this? She might be confirming the suspicions of many in Westminster that June could be her last month as Prime Minister. She has already said that if her deal is passed, she will step aside at an appropriate time and let someone else deal with phase two of Brexit. If it doesn't pass, then goodness knows what she is hanging on for. Her party is gasping for her to go and given that Parliament is barely fit for purpose at the moment, it's hard to see to see what, exactly, her government is trying to govern. What does all this mean? We are very likely seeing May's last weeks at the helm of the UK. With a deal, without a deal, she will probably have to go -- and sooner rather than later. And whatever happens, she will leave behind her a political mess that no one knows how to solve. As things stand, no one involved in British politics sincerely believes we will get to the end of Brexit without another general election. She probably can't wait to be rid of the whole thing.

Story highlightsMuguruza prevails 7-5 6-4Wins first grand slam titleWilliams deprived of record-tying 22nd majorMen's final SundayParis (CNN)A Spaniard was crowned champion at the French Open -- but it wasn't Rafael Nadal. Garbine Muguruza upset Serena Williams 7-5 6-4 on Saturday to win the first grand slam of her career, while also depriving the American of tying Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 majors. Follow @cnnsport Photos: Muguruza stuns WilliamsGarbine Muguruza of Spain stunned Serena Williams in the French Open final Saturday to win her first grand slam title.Hide Caption 1 of 5 Photos: Muguruza stuns WilliamsA win at Roland Garros would've seen Williams claim a 22nd grand slam title and pull level with Steffi Graf as the most successful female player in the history of the majors.Hide Caption 2 of 5 Photos: Muguruza stuns WilliamsMuguruza's 7-5 6-4 victory was watched by a capacity crowd on Philippe Chatrier court.Hide Caption 3 of 5 Photos: Muguruza stuns WilliamsWilliams makes her way onto court on an overcast afternoon in the French capital. Hide Caption 4 of 5 Photos: Muguruza stuns WilliamsNew world No. 2 Muguruza showed nerves of steel to serve of the match to love.Hide Caption 5 of 5While Nadal is considered the greatest clay-court player of all time -- he owns a record nine titles at Roland Garros but had to withdraw with a wrist injury last week -- Spain hadn't produced a women's champion at the French Open since Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in 1998. "We were so sad when Rafa had to pull out," Conchita Martinez, Spain's Fed Cup and Davis Cup captain, told reporters. "If you know Rafa you know how much he wanted to play here. "It was a sad day but the way Garbine was playing, you could see that she would have a chance to win this tournament, so Spain is very lucky to have these unbelievable tennis players," added the 2000 French Open finalist. Read MoreSanchez-Vicario, part of the crowd on Philippe Chatrier court, earned the nickname "Barcelona bumblebee" from late tennis writer and historian Bud Collins. She was one of tennis' top movers, relying on counter-punching to frustrate and wear down rivals. Muguruza tallies victories in dissimilar fashion, crushing balls from the back of the court. Her serve, when working, is a weapon. It came to the 22-year-old's aid more than once in the final, particularly when facing break points in the first set, although she also double faulted nine times. Mind you, Muguruza clinched the trophy with a stunning lob. "I'm pretty shocked still," Muguruza told reporters about 2.5 hours later. "I think I've got to take my time and enjoy, because with tennis players it goes so fast. "For Spanish people this is the tournament. When you're a kid and practice on clay, you're always, 'Oh, I wish I could win Roland Garros.'"Defeating the No. 1 for Slam No. 1. 👏 #InsideRG pic.twitter.com/EhUnmjCm9r— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2016 They are sure to be celebrating in Venezuela, too. Muguruza was born in Caracas and only made the decision to represent Spain in team competitions two years ago. If Nadal's wrist heals in time, he is expected to partner Muguruza in mixed doubles at the Olympics in August. Her ability to change direction in rallies and hit down the lines troubled Williams, who had downed Muguruza in the Wimbledon final last July but lost to her at the French Open in 2014. "I just thought at Wimbledon I was very nervous," said Muguruza. "I put that aside today. I was like, 'Come on, let's go for it.'"Williams, for the third consecutive major, didn't win the title. Roberta Vinci stunned Williams in the U.S. Open semifinals and in the Australian Open final, Angelique Kerber outlasted her.Read: Kerber edges WilliamsThat is, for the 34-year-old, a source of concern. The aura of invincibility is fading, if only a little. Williams kept the press waiting for two hours Thursday. On Saturday it was the opposite. Williams, unusually, went virtually straight from the court to the interview room. She didn't want to hang around. Williams felt the pressure when attempting to reach 18 majors -- to tie Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova -- and is now struggling to match Graf. JUST WATCHEDRoland Garros clay: A layered cake - with red frostingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRoland Garros clay: A layered cake - with red frosting 02:25Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, was convinced it's a matter of when, not if. "You can't play a grand slam final for history like any other, even though one grand slam final is a lot," he told reporters. "So it's going to take the time it's going to take. But we're going to do it. "The good thing is we'll have many (chances) because she's in finals almost every time."Questions surrounded Williams' health ahead of the finale, with an adductor injury the issue. The world No. 1 appeared sluggish in the first set of her semifinal against Kiki Bertens on Friday and in the quarterfinals Thursday against Yulia Putintseva, when Williams was two games away from defeat in the second set. She seemed to be moving better, though, against Muguruza but was outdone by the fourth seed. "I'm not one to ever make excuses and say, 'Oh my adductor was hurting or whatever,'" said Williams. "At the end of the day I didn't play the game I needed to play to win and she did."I think she has a bright future, obviously. She knows how to play on the big stage and she knows how to ... clearly she knows how to win grand slams."Congrats Garbiñe for your win at Roland Garros. Great news for Spanish tennis!— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) June 4, 2016 Those nine double faults allowed Williams to gain an edge in Muguruza's service games, yet she rarely capitalized. Her drop shots landed in the bottom of the net. Williams actually posted better numbers in winners and unforced errors, compiling 23 winners and 22 unforced errors to Muguruza's 18 and 25. Muguruza, however, won most of the key points."I think she played the big points well," acknowledged Williams. Booooom!!! Garbiñe Muguruza!!!— David Ferrer (@DavidFerrer87) 4 June 2016 The first momentum swing in mostly cloudy conditions in Paris -- but there was no rain, for a change -- came in the fourth and fifth games. Muguruza saved two break points, one with an ace, and broke in the ensuing game when Williams double faulted. Williams got back to 4-4 and Muguruza held firm serving at 4-5. A crunching backhand down the line, followed by a penetrating forehand, allowed Muguruza to break for 6-5. As the pendulum swung, Williams then benefited from two break points at 15-40. But after a forehand return wide and ace, Muguruza reached the respite of deuce. And later, on a third set point, she clinched the opener with a booming backhand down the line. First set importantHow pivotal was the first set? Williams was 19-0 in grand slam finals when winning the first set and 2-5 when losing it. Muguruza registered the telling break of the second at 1-1 and held on to the advantage, despite Williams bravely saving four match points at 3-5. Mouratoglou suspected Muguruza would crack, like others have done when trying to close out Williams, but she didn't. On a fifth match point, with Muguruza serving at 40-0, she struck the brilliant backhand lob that Williams thought would go long. Muguruza fell to the court in celebration once she knew the ball was good. "She deserved to win," said Mouratoglou. "When you are able to finish like the way she did in the last game, it's a second reason to say she deserved it." Men's No. 1 Novak Djokovic plays No. 2 Andy Murray for the men's title Sunday. Djokovic is a Serb and Murray is British. With Spaniards Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez winning the men's doubles title after the women's final, Spain reigned at the French Open on Saturday, led by Muguruza. Who will win the men's title, Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray? Have your say on CNN's Sport Facebook pageLike this story? Get more at cnn.com/tennisJUST WATCHEDHow clay helped make NadalReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHow clay helped make Nadal 03:42

Story highlights The trial of a News of the World reporter traumatized the staff, an editor saysThe former lawyer for News of the World showed Murdoch hacking evidence, he saysMurdoch has always said he did not know details about hacking by his employeesParliament publishes e-mails in which Murdoch was warned about hackingThe former top lawyer for the defunct News of the World tabloid is "pretty sure" proprietor James Murdoch knew about damning evidence of phone hacking known as the "for Neville" e-mail, he testified before a British inquiry Wednesday.The lawyer, Tom Crone, said he held up a copy of the e-mail -- a transcript of messages obtained by phone hacking -- in a meeting with Murdoch on June 10, 2008.Parliament published correspondence Tuesday showing that Murdoch was warned in writing about the potential damage the "for Neville" e-mail could cause if a hacking victim made good on his threat to sue the company."Unfortunately it is as bad as we feared," the editor of the tabloid e-mailed Murdoch about the case.The e-mail from Colin Myler appears to undercut Murdoch's repeated testimony that he did not know details about phone hacking by his employees.Murdoch concedes in a letter to lawmakers, also published Tuesday, that he replied to the e-mail, but he does not admit having read it in full.JUST WATCHEDEx-Blair aide testifies on phone hacking ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHEx-Blair aide testifies on phone hacking 03:17JUST WATCHEDMadeleine McCann's mom felt 'violated'ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMadeleine McCann's mom felt 'violated' 01:53JUST WATCHEDHugh Grant testifies on phone hackingReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHHugh Grant testifies on phone hacking 00:59Murdoch is at the center of a scandal over illegal eavesdropping by the newspaper, which he shut down in July in the face of public fury at phone hacking.Editor Myler e-mailed Murdoch in June 2008 about a phone-hacking victim's threat to sue News of the World, describing Gordon Taylor as "vindictive."Myler requested that Murdoch meet him and the paper's lawyer, Crone, for "five minutes" on June 10.Murdoch appears to agree in his reply three minutes later, but said in his letter to Parliament dated December 12 that he did not review the entire e-mail chain, which includes detailed correspondence about the Taylor claim.News of the World ultimately settled with Taylor for 700,000 pounds (about $1.2 million).It also settled with several other celebrities, including actress Sienna Miller.Myler himself testified at the Leveson Inquiry, established by Prime Minister David Cameron in response to the phone-hacking scandal, later Wednesday.He said that the trial of a News of the World reporter, Clive Goodman, and a private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, for phonehacking had left a "very deep trauma on the morale of the staff."Myler was brought in as editor after the two went to prison in 2007.Police investigating phone hacking by journalists say that the names of 5,800 people, including celebrities, crime victims, politicians and members of the royal family, were found in Mulcaire's notebooks.It is not clear how many of them were actually victims of hacking, which involves illegally eavesdropping on voice mail by entering a PIN to access messages remotely.

(CNN)Women in Iran will be allowed to attend men's soccer matches beginning with a World Cup qualifier next month, according to FIFA.Football's world governing body has long been concerned by the issue and its president Gianni Infantino spoke to Iranian officials following the death of Sahar Khodayari, a female fan who set herself on fire after she was denied access to a soccer stadium in Tehran.Speaking at a FIFA conference on women's football in Milan Sunday, Infantino said he had been "assured" that women will be allowed to attend Iran's next match against Cambodia. "We've been assured that as of the next international game of Iran, which is to be played on October 10, women will be allowed to enter football stadiums," he said. "This is something that is very important, since 40 years this has not been happening with a couple of exceptions."Read MoreThe ban against women going to stadiums where men are playing was brought in shortly after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In June, FIFA sent a letter to the Iranian Football Federation, requesting a timeline that would allow women to be able to buy tickets for World Cup qualifiers, Reuters reported.A banner reading "Support Iranian women to attends stadiums" is displayed during the Russia 2018 World Cup Group B football match between Morocco and Iran.Ms. Khodayari -- dubbed the "Blue Girl" on social media, after the colors of her favorite Iranian soccer team, Esteghlal -- was charged with "openly committing a sinful act" by "appearing in public without a hijab" when she attempted to enter a stadium "dressed as a man" in March, according to human rights group Amnesty International.Khodayari appeared in a Tehran court earlier this month and after the case was adjourned, she poured gasoline over herself and set herself on fire. She died on Monday September 9.Following Khodayari's death, Infantino called the ban "unacceptable" and stressed how important it was for the ban to be lifted.Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosAt the conference Sunday, the 49-year-old once again stressed the need for the sport to move forward. "There is women's football in Iran. We need to have women attending the men's game," Infantino said. "And we need to push for that, with respect but in a strong and forceful way. We cannot wait anymore."

(CNN)Italy may be about to formally endorse China's Belt and Road Initiative, becoming the largest economy yet to back the massive global infrastructure project which is a signature policy of President Xi Jinping. According to multiple reports, the Italian government could sign a memorandum of understanding within weeks, in hopes of attracting greater Chinese investment in its struggling economy.If it signs the agreement with Beijing, Italy would be the first member of the G7 group of advanced economies to officially back the initiative, with the US, Japan and the UK all reluctant to come on board.Michele Geraci, an official in Italy's economic development ministry, told the Financial Times the deal would hopefully be done in time for Xi's visit to the country in March. Italian media also reported on the plan. "We want to make sure that 'Made in Italy' products can have more success in terms of export volume to China, which is the fastest-growing market in the world," Geraci said. Read MoreThe possible announcement comes amid a growing international backlash against Beijing's global ambitions, including bans on Chinese technology giant Huawei and a heated trade war with the United States.The Chinese leader is expected to visit Italy at the end of this month before heading to France and ultimately the US, where he will meet with President Donald Trump as the two countries try to hash out an agreement on tariffs. The Belt and Road Initiative is a huge trade and infrastructure project which seeks to link China to Europe, Africa and Asia through a series of new Beijing-funded ports, railroads and roads along land and sea trade corridors.Neighboring economic power India has been reluctant to sign up to the initiative, but some regional partners such as Pakistan and Malaysia have enthusiastically joined in, along with dozens of other countries. But critics, especially the US government, have claimed Belt and Road projects impose massive debt on developing countries for little economic benefit. There are even suggestions China is using the project to extend its military and political reach overseas.Are the wheels coming off China's Belt and Road megaproject?The announcement of Italy's participation would be welcome news for Beijing at a time when even some Belt and Road member nations, such as Malaysia, have begun to question the benefits of its projects.Italy's decision would also coincide with a debate in Europe over the role Chinese technology company Huawei should play in the rollout of new superfast 5G networks. Governments including the UK and Germany are weighing whether to block mobile operators from using Huawei technology.According to state-run news agency Xinhua, recession-hit Italy formed a China Task Force in October to investigate economic opportunities in China including the possibility of endorsing the initiative.China's ambassador to Italy, Li Ruiyi, attended the first meeting of the task force in Italy and spoke positively about bilateral relations."Italy and China were linked by the ancient Silk Road in the past. We expect the Task Force to help strengthen the two countries' cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and contributing to a closer EU-China relationship," Li said.Asked about the possible announcement, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters Wednesday "an increasing number of countries and international organizations" wanted to take part."More and more of them have found this is indeed a very good platform for mutually beneficial cooperation since the Belt and Road was proposed six years ago. And we will release any information about this in time once we have it," he said.

(CNN)When the Covid-19 pandemic struck Indonesia's island of Bali, tourism -- the driving economic force in the region -- just about came to a halt. More than half of Bali's economic revenue stems from tourism, employing hundreds of thousands of Balinese people in the industry.Many moved back to their home villages. And with more people returning to the villages, more trash piled up. With so many people out of work, they were also going hungry."I said to myself, I got to do something about this," said Made Janur Yasa, a vegan restaurant owner in the town of Ubud.Yasa said he wanted to find a way to help people in his community during the pandemic while also addressing the ongoing problem of plastic pollution.Read More"I got to thinking, inside the challenge there is an opportunity," he said. So, he started a program where local villagers could exchange plastic for rice -- a barter system that would benefit the environment and empower the local people. Residents can turn in plastic trash they collected in exchange for a main food staple. In May 2020, he hosted the first exchange in the village where he was born and raised. It was a success, and the concept quickly spread to other villages across Bali. His non-profit, Plastic Exchange, was born.CNN Hero Made Janur Yasa"I thought to myself, if it works in my village, it will work in other places as well," Yasa said. "I realized this thing was getting bigger than I had ever imagined."The program brings together local neighborhood groups called Banjars that collect plastic from their homes, streets, rivers, beaches and surrounding areas. Villages hold community exchange events once a month in which residents can bring in plastic to trade in for rice. Yasa says the organization has so far helped feed thousands of families and collected nearly 300 tons of plastic for recycling."Teenagers come with a smile. Elderly people are there. Young kids come with their mothers. That's what keeps me going, to see them all excited about it," Yasa said. "They were feeling powerless, and this gives them hope."CNN: In what ways did the pandemic impact people's livelihood in Bali? Made Janur Yasa: When the pandemic hit, the economy shut down in Bali. A lot of businesses closed -- restaurants, hotels, travel companies. We are so reliant on tourism. So, I see people losing their jobs. There were massive layoffs. When all of these businesses shut down, and a lot of these workers didn't have anything to do, a lot of them went back to their village. They went back to the land. But people had no income. So, really the first thing that people need is food. I saw people in my village start worrying about how they were going to put food on the table. People were really, really struggling, especially six months into the pandemic. And this concerned me.CNN: What are some special aspects of Balinese culture that guide your efforts? Yasa: People come from all over the world to live here because they are drawn to the holistic way that we live life here in Bali. I was born and raised in a small village here. The good thing about Bali is that the human-to-human connection is really strong. If I have more money than I need, I can help my neighbors. We have a lot of traditional wisdom that guides our life here. One is called tri hita karana, which is the three ways to achieve happiness: dignity; human-to-human connection, which is considered prosperity; and human connection to the environment. CNN: How does your program work?Yasa: The villagers will receive the rice according to the type of plastic they bring and the amount that they bring. Each category has a different value. We work with a company that collects this plastic and sends it to Java for proper recycling, because we don't a have recycling plant yet in Bali. We buy rice from the farmers. So, we're really creating this circular economy, supporting the farmers and then we also clean the environment and feed people in that community.People have fun with it. And now, after one year (of) this, picking up plastic is sexy. It's the cool thing to do. People just get into it. Now, we are working with 200 villages. My goal is really to spread this movement.CNN: How have some of these cultural wisdoms helped make Plastic Exchange successful? Yasa: People in Bali live in nature. Traditionally, we believe nature has a soul. People do care about the environment. But the plastic pollution in Bali is because of lack of education and practice. We're trying to change behavior. The only way you can do that is through education. That's how you change people's habits. My method is showing them an example through action. We educate people on how to separate the plastic. And we also educate people on the dangers of the plastic. If it goes into the environment, it pollutes the water, the ocean, and that's not good for the environment. People here come together in a really, really good way. So once people are educated on how to properly dispose the plastic, they want to help and create change. Want to get involved? Check out the Plastic Exchange website and see how to help.To donate to Plastic Exchange via GoFundMe, click here.Correction: An earlier version of this headline and story incorrectly stated the weight of plastic collected for recycling. It was 300 tons.

(CNN)The Supreme Court on Monday heard what could be one of the most consequential cases for climate change and clean air in decades, with Republican attorneys general and coal companies asking the court to strip the Environmental Protection Agency of its authority to regulate planet-warming gas emissions from power plants. During oral arguments for West Virginia v. EPA, which lasted about two hours, not all of the court's conservative majority appeared to be aligned with the petitioners, though some entertained the idea that the authority should be turned back to Congress. The Supreme Court hears a major case on EPA's authority over planet-warming gases. Here's what's at stake.The hearing came on the same day that a major UN-backed climate change report showed the impacts of burning fossil fuels were larger than previously thought, and that society is running out of ways to adapt to the crisis. Justices on the conservative wing of the court focused their questions on legal theories being argued by state attorneys general, including the scope of the Clean Air Act, which gives the EPA authority to regulate air pollution, and the role of the Major Questions Doctrine, which states that questions of significant political or economic importance must be decided by Congress. West Virginia Solicitor General Lindsay See argued that the rise of renewable energy like wind and solar powering electricity is "a major question, because it allows EPA to determine what the power sector as a whole should look like and who can be in it." Read MoreOn the other side, US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar argued the petitioners' case should be dismissed because there is no federal regulation for power plants on the books right now -- with both the Obama-era Clean Power Plan and the Trump-era Affordable Clean Energy rule dead. President Joe Biden's EPA has not yet issued a new rule. 'Delay means death': We're running out of ways to adapt to the climate crisis, new report shows. Here are the key takeawaysPrelogar was joined by Beth Brinkmann, an attorney representing power companies who want the EPA to keep its regulating authority. Both argued the court should not speculate on potential regulations, nor restrict the EPA from issuing them in the future. The three liberal justices on the court seemed to agree with this idea in their line of questioning, which emphasized how big a shift it would be to strip the EPA's authority, both for the government and the power industry. "This is really a step further than anything we have said before," Justice Sonia Sotomayor said. "All of our other cases, whether its regulation of tobacco, or regulation of evictions under major questions doctrine, have not addressed the 'how.' Now ... you want us to look at the 'how.'" Conservatives question scope of Clean Air ActDue to their current 6-3 majority on the US Supreme Court, there's no doubt the court's conservatives will be the important votes in this case. But some of their questions cast doubt that they would necessarily agree with the petitioners. Justice Amy Coney Barrett pointed out that unlike in past cases where there's been a legitimate question of whether an agency is operating outside of its boundaries, the EPA is indeed charged with regulating greenhouse gas emissions -- something that has been reaffirmed by the Supreme Court twice. Cities tried to cut natural gas from new homes. The GOP and gas lobby preemptively quashed their effort"Here, thinking about EPA regulating greenhouse gases, there's a match between the regulation and the agency's wheelhouse, right?" Barrett asked coal company attorney Yaakov Roth. "You're saying when you look at the scheme, this is a really big deal. That's a little bit different than a mismatch between the subject of the regulation and what the agency does." Similarly, Justice Clarence Thomas seemed skeptical about the arguments that power companies should only have to retrofit their plants to lower emissions "inside the fence" -- including coal scrubbers or carbon capture -- rather than pushing them to add cleaner sources of energy. "I don't know how you can draw such clean distinctions," between inside and outside the fence, Thomas told Roth. "It would seem as though EPA could regulate the source in a way that actually requires change in the mix of energy generation. That for example, the cost of running a facility is so high that you begin to change your generation sources say from coal to natural gas, or natural gas to solar." Biden administration freezes new oil and gas drilling leases after court rules against key climate toolOther conservatives, including Justice Samuel Alito, seemed more inclined to lean into the petitioners' argument -- asking the power utility attorney how far an agency would have to go in wielding its power before she considered it a major question. Alito questioned whether considering the impacts of climate change could mean the EPA has very few limits on regulations, asking Prelogar if the agency could extend its power by regulating emissions from single-family homes -- something she said it is unable to do. "What weight do you assign to the effects of climate change, which some people believe is matter of civilizational survival, and the costs and the effect on jobs?" Alito said. "I really don't see what the concrete limitations are in any of what you said if you take the arguments about climate change seriously, and this is a matter of survival." Justice Neil Gorsuch asked few questions during the hearing, but noted that the EPA's case was a "strong argument" that the states are not harmed given there's no rule in place. Liberal justices seemed skeptical The three liberal justices, Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer, and Sotomayor appeared skeptical of petitioners' arguments. Breyer questioned See on how delegating EPA's authority to Congress would work on a practical level."I had thought we have a whole US Code filled with delegations to different agencies, and many of those words are fairly technical," Breyer said. "Is it a minor matter having to do with administration that they're more familiar with? Is it something that's going to change the whole United States of America -- that cuts the other way?" Kagan asked why generation shifting -- or moving to generate electricity from renewable sources -- shouldn't be allowed by the EPA if it is a cheaper alternative for power companies and gives them flexibility. "The way the grid works -- it prefers cheaper methods," Kagan said. "And so EPA could come out with a rule that is plant by plant but makes coal plants hugely more expensive. This is essentially what the market is already doing, but EPA could do it faster." Kagan pointed to Thomas's earlier argument, saying that inside and outside the fence retrofits to coal plants would have the same end result and therefore didn't have much of a difference. "This system, it's actually going to cost less for everybody than if we did something like what you're talking about," Kagan said. "So why shouldn't EPA have that ability? Why shouldn't the states have that ability?"

Story highlightsHighlights from Elizabeth Taylor's extensive jewelry collection on display at Christie's in LondonDazzling gems include 33.19-carat diamond, a present from Richard Burton to TaylorCollection known as the "crown jewels of Hollywood"Jewels may cause bidding frenzy in the salesroom, say Christie'sThough she may have had numerous husbands and lovers, Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor had one enduring love: jewelry. Her dazzling collection of jewels, many of which were given to her as presents by husbands including Richard Burton and Mike Todd, were referred to Friday in London by Jonathan Rendell, Deputy Chairman of Christie's Americas, as "the crown jewels of Hollywood."Fans of the screen idol can now ogle highlights from her extensive jewelry collection, along with a selection of her haute couture dresses by designers including Chanel and Christian Dior, and paintings by artists such as Edgar Degas and Camille Pissarro, at Christie's auction house in London.They are being exhibited there as part of a world tour that will culminate in a series of high-profile sales at Christie's in New York in December. Taylor's jewel collection has been valued in excess of $30 million, according to the auction house.JUST WATCHEDElizabeth Taylor's jewels in LondonReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHElizabeth Taylor's jewels in London 02:30Keith Penton, head of the jewelry department at Christie's in London, said that Taylor's taste in jewels was "extraordinarily refined. She really understood her gemstones ([and)she had a passion for design and workmanship, quite a rare combination."And not only do they speak of her infamous and tempestuous romance with actor Richard Burton, he said, the jewels come with their own dramatic histories -- such as a 50-carat pearl known as "La Peregrina," given to her by Burton in 1969, that was once part of the crown jewels of Spain.It was mounted onto a specially commissioned diamond and ruby Cartier necklace and is estimated to fetch between $2 million and $3 million at auction in December. There is also the Taj Mahal diamond pendant necklace, which Burton gave her on her 40th birthday in 1972 and which had been a gift from the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan to his wife in the 17th century. "If a jewel had a historic provenance, they were particularly enamored," said Penton of the pair's taste in gems. According to Nancy Schoenberger, co-author of the book "Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton, The Marriage of the Century," Taylor developed a taste for jewels from a young age."Her father was an art and antiques dealer," Schoenberger explained. "She grew up surrounded by beautiful things and was always drawn to jewelry as a young girl," she said. But it wasn't until Taylor's marriage to film and Broadway producer Mike Todd that her passion for collecting serious jewels took hold, Schoenberger said. Todd, her third husband, bought Taylor a 29.4-carat diamond ring as well as a diamond tiara, which she wore to the 1957 Academy Awards. Schoenberger believes that when Richard Burton bought Taylor the 33.19-carat Krupp Diamond ring in 1968 -- possibly the star piece in the exhibition at Christie's, estimated to fetch between $2.5 million and $3.5 million -- he was trying to out-do Mike Todd, who had died unexpectedly just over a year into his marriage with Taylor. "I think that was a big deal for Richard, to buy her a diamond as big as Mike Todd's. And he liked showing that the son of a Welsh coal-miner could buy his lady love these extravagant jewels," she said.Penton believes that the collection will induce feverish bidding in the salesroom, for the quality of the collection but also for their added Hollywood glamor."Judging from past sales, which have never been as spectacular as this one -- I think the sky's the limit," he said. The actress, who died this year aged 79, eulogized her love of gems in her 2002 memoir, "My Love Affair With Jewelry."In it, she wrote: "I never, never thought of my jewelry as trophies. I'm here to take care of them and to love them. When I die and they go off to auction I hope whoever buys them gives them a really good home."At a press conference on Friday, Rendell of Christie's said that the collection reveals "one of the great characters, this was one of the great stars, this was someone who understood her contract with the public."Penton agreed and said, "Looking at the couture, you can see that she was not a very large lady but obviously with the hair, with the presence, with the glamor, it all added up to something very fabulous." In memory of the actress's life-long devotion to humanitarian causes, a portion of profits generated by admissions, events and select publications related to the sales will be donated to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF), which she set up in 1991.

(CNN)Sepp Blatter rises at dawn and goes to sleep 18 hours later. During his waking hours FIFA's 79-year-old president has fulfillled his duty as the most powerful man in world soccer, meeting the presidents, princes, dictators and oligarchs who seek reflected glory from the world's most popular game.But not for much longer.Despite winning a fifth presidential term last month, Blatter said Tuesday he would resign from his position amid an ongoing corruption scandal.An Extraordinary Congress will be called to elect Blatter's successor, which will take place between December 2015 and March 2016.Critics and allies alike agree on one thing: Blatter has been a consummate politician who has survived 17 years of scandal, accusations of corruption and the rise and fall of internal political challengers.Read MoreFollow @cnnsport But all that changed last week after a dawn raid at an upscale hotel on the shores of Lake Zurich ahead of Blatter's re-election. Nine FIFA officials, as well as five sports media and marketing executives, were charged by U.S. prosecutors over alleged kickbacks of more than $150 million dating back over 20 years.Not that it affected Blatter's ability to win the presidential contest which came after Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein withdrew from the second ballot after losing the opening round 133-73.JUST WATCHEDFIFA scandal: Your questions answeredReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFIFA scandal: Your questions answered 03:35The arrests came at the behest of the FBI, which had been investigating FIFA executives since 2011 and the crime fighting organization's director, James Comey, delivered a withering assessment of the corruption at the heart of the game.Accusations of corruption, kick backs, bribes and villainy have long been circulating about FIFA, but it took an FBI investigation, and the threat of jail, to break through the wall of silence. It is, by far, the biggest scandal to face world soccer and to face FIFA, an organization that Blatter built in his image, and which is imprinted into his marrow. Yet, as the scandal dominates headlines in every corner of the globe, many questions remain. How did Blatter manage to stay in power for so long and why has he courted such loyalty and revulsion? And, most importantly, can he survive his biggest battle yet?The "Uwe Seeler of Upper Valais"Sepp Blatter was born in 1939 into a working class family in the small, majority German speaking Swiss town of Visp.Blatter was himself a promising young footballer, playing for FC Visp in Switzerland's top league, which was then all-amateur.In one hagiographic profile of Blatter's playing days in FIFA's in-house weekly magazine, he was described as a "feared top-flight striker" who had earned the nickname the "Uwe Seeler of Upper Valais," after the West German international striker. It also detailed how Blatter was once the Valais sprint champion in 1956, having run the 100 meters in 11.7 seconds.A succession of administrative jobs followed, including general secretary of the Swiss Ice Hockey Federation. After a stint at the watch making company Longines, he joined FIFA in 1975. FIFA was a different beast in 1975. Sir Stanley Rous, the British former president had only just stood down, replaced by a non-European for the first time -- former Brazilian Olympic swimmer Joao Havelange. FIFA only had 11 employees back then -- Blatter was the 12th -- and a relatively modest building in Zurich. There were no youth or women's tournaments and scant resources to go around."When Havelange was elected in '74, there was no money," Jerome Champagne, a former adviser to Blatter who announced his candidacy for FIFA president earlier this year but failed to win enough votes to stand, told CNN."It was a Euro-centric organization who tried to find compromise on apartheid. Then someone from outside Europe comes in, wants to recognize the football association of the People's Republic of China and to expel the South African FA because of apartheid."Havelange hired Blatter to sign the first marketing contracts and create the first development projects. JUST WATCHEDWho will succeed Sepp Blatter? ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHWho will succeed Sepp Blatter? 02:21Six years later Blatter had replaced Dr. Helmut Kaser as general secretary and had begun a process that would go on to form the base of his future political power: monetizing FIFA in a way that hadn't been seen before, and distributing that wealth away from its European power center."For 40 years Blatter helped the development of football in Russia, China, from Colombia to Vietnam, from Ethiopia to Panama," added Champagne. "If you help a country for 40 years, friendship and trust are built." Blatter has rewarded their loyalty, too. When he joined 40 years ago, FIFA had 144 members; now it has 209. Each federation has its own vote and each is worth exactly the same within FIFA's congress, which votes who vote for the president.That means that a vote by the Cook Islands (population 11,000) and China (population 1.4 billion) has equal weight and equal power when it comes to spreading its financial success. And that success is vast: After the last World Cup in Brazil, almost solely through World Cup TV rights and sponsorship deals, FIFA brought in close to $6 billion, leaving it with $1.5 billion in the bank.PatronageA recent investigation by Bloomberg outlined just how some of the money funnels down into each individual federation, revealing a network of patronage that has kept those who vote on the FIFA presidency loyal to Blatter.Each national association receives an annual grant of $250,000 as well as a one-off $500,000 payment linked to World Cup profits. FIFA executive committee members get $300,000 a year, plus $500 per day for expenses. The package for being on FIFA business includes five-star hotels and first-class flights.The 161-page dossier that exposes Fifa's dark heart. From today's @Independent http://t.co/TizZOi2HPO— Chris Green (@cghgreen) May 29, 2015 "The one thing you have to remember about how people stay at the top of organizations is: how many people's support you need to stay in power," explained Alastair Smith, professor of international relations at New York University in answer to a question about the skills you need to hold on to power."Many are from poor and very small countries, countries where corruption is endemic," added Smith, who co-authored "The Dictators' Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics.""Since the organization has a ton of money and few checks, there are many private benefits for you, not many for the good of association. First class travel. Free tickets. They don't necessarily lead to good governance, but it helps that person."But the huge sums of cash floating around world football played a part in begetting epic corruption cases.The 100-page plus U.S. Department of Justice charge sheet contains an alleged trail of dirty cash that crisscrosses the globe for two and a half decades.Most of the corruption the indictment outlines is connected to marketing contracts -- TV rights deals with broadcasters that are only agreed on after a significant bribe is paid to secure their exclusivity. JUST WATCHEDCNN answers your #FIFAQs: Why did U.S. go after FIFA?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHCNN answers your #FIFAQs: Why did U.S. go after FIFA? 01:10One case in point is the 2016 Copa America, which will be held in the U.S. for the first time. It is alleged that a staggering $110 million dollars of bribes were paid out connected to the tournament. Other allegations have been made. Former executive committee member Jack Warner is accused of taking a $10 million bribe to vote for South Africa's 2010 World Cup.He presented himself to police in his native Trinidad and Tobago and spent the night in jail after he was set bail at 2.5 million Trinidadian dollars. Prior to going to the police, Warner had protested his innocence.How FIFA came to this is a story worthy of a spy novel. The whistle was blown by Chuck Blazer, the American former general secretary of CONCACAF, soccer's governing body for North and Central America as well as the Caribbean.Last November a New York Daily News investigation gave a hint of what was to come.Blazer didn't have a Damascene revelation about corruption in FIFA, they reported. After all, this was a man who, according to an internal 2013 CONCACAF report had received $15 million in hidden commissions over the past 15 years. The view here in Zurich as President Blatter addresses FIFA Congress pic.twitter.com/YtS9hPyKfm— Dan Roan (@danroan) May 29, 2015 His office had somehow run up a $29 million credit card bill. Such was his opulence that CONCACAF was paying $24,000 a month for two apartments in Trump Towers.One was for Blazer, and one for his pet cats, leading one U.S. commentator to dub his second apartment "Chuck's Cat Shack."Blazer had reached a plea bargain with the FBI and IRS over corruption allegations and $11 million of undeclared income he had not paid tax on.At the 2012 London Olympics, the New York Daily News reported, Blazer was wearing a wire, recording conversations with FIFA executives, gathering more evidence. Blazer is currently gravely ill in hospital with colon cancer.Yet for all the allegations that have been made, one name is absent from the indictment -- Blatter. Once again, he has remained untouchable, though that might change given Swiss prosecutors say they will question everyone, including the FIFA president if necessary.World Cup controversyToday, on the outskirts of Zurich in a gleaming modernist temple, next to the zoo, almost 300 people now work at FIFA's headquarters. The beautifully designed building cost $253 million to build.It was here that arguably the most controversial moment of Blatter's presidency took place -- the moment in December 2010 when he revealed the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals, Russia and Qatar. The winners made sense to those within FIFA who had understood Blatter's globalist vision.But everyone else was incredulous. For one, the vote had been tainted by corruption allegations against several executive committee members.Allegations of vote swapping between bids and a wider suspicion that Qatar -- a country where the temperature hit 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in the summer -- had used its fabulous gas wealth to outspend its rivals for the right to host the finals had confounded many.Of the 24 members of FIFA's executive committee who had a vote on who should host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals, two were suspended before the vote even took place over a British newspaper sting that suggested cash for votes.JUST WATCHEDFIFA facing two corruption probesReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFIFA facing two corruption probes 02:00Since then, even more members of the executive committee who voted that day have left under a cloud. Ricardo Teixeira, Issa Hayatou and Nicolas Leoz were alleged in a BBC documentary to have taken bribes connected to ISL, FIFA's marketing arm which collapsed in 2001.Hayatou denied they were bribes; FIFA's own investigation confirm that Teixeira and Leoz were among those who received payments.The case had haunted Blatter but he was cleared of any wrongdoing by an internal ethics report, while both Teixeira and Leoz have since resigned and are now implicated in the new Department of Justice indictment. Warner and Mohamed bin Hammam, a former ally of Blatter's who ran against him in the 2011 FIFA presidential elections, were suspended from the organization over allegations of vote buying. Blatter was left to run for his fourth term unopposed. Warner resigned, with FIFA stating that "as a consequence of Mr Warner's self-determined resignation, all ethics committee procedures against him have been closed and the presumption of innocence is maintained." Bin Hammam was later banned from all football related activities for life. Bin Hammam has denied the allegations; Blazer himself also stepped down from CONCACAF.But the questions over the 2018 and 2022 bids just won't go away. A few hours after Swiss law enforcement officers burst in the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, Swiss prosecutors announced that a criminal investigation was to take place into the bidding process for 2018 and 2022.Power politicianThere have been limited attempts by FIFA to reform itself. Such was the culture within the executive committee that Blatter appointed Mark Pieth, a law professor, to lead an independent governance committee to look at how FIFA ran itself."He is a very ambiguous person, as all power people are, but it is too simple to say he is a dictator," said Pieth, who met Blatter on several occasions."He is very, very much a power politician. Like all these people running large states and international bodies."Pieth's report included seven key recommendations, including an independent ethics body, term limits and stringent ethics checks on new executive committee members.Some of these were implemented, Pieth said, but many others were opposed by European governing body UEFA."I would not call Blatter corrupt," Pieth said of his time working with Blatter. "I would say he is head of a patronage culture. He hasn't taken anything undue. He doesn't need to. "He's about power. It is not about wealth. The major issue is a cultural change. On paper it looks quite good. The cultural change has not taken place."Yet despite the controversy over the 2018 and 2022 World Cup vote, the series of corruption allegations that had dogged his close associates but left him relatively unscathed, Blatter decided he would seek a fifth term. Almost immediately he was showered with support from the associations who have benefited most from his tenure, one official even comparing him to both Jesus and Nelson Mandela.2014 Activity Report now available to view, after approval from #FIFACongress http://t.co/uOoqv9Eokr pic.twitter.com/GjBo4Ocyv0— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom) May 29, 2015 He has been praised for the rise of soccer in Asia and Africa, who have both hosted their first World Cups on Blatter's watch, as well as the massive soccer field building program, funded through the Goal Project. But all of that has been drowned out by the FBI investigation.The only rival still standing against Blatter is Jordan's Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein. Others have come and gone, such as former Portugal international Luis Figo. "I have witnessed consecutive incidents, all over the world, that should shame anyone who desires soccer to be free, clean and democratic," said former Portugal international Luis Figo, who had hoped to stand against Blatter before standing down to give Prince Ali a better chance of winning. "I have seen with my own eyes federation presidents who, after one day comparing FIFA leaders to the devil, then go on stage and compare those same people with Jesus Christ. Nobody told me about this. I saw it with my own eyes."UEFA chief Michel Platini had backed Prince Ali, even though the affable young reformist's chances of unseating Blatter had been slim."He is simply afraid of what is next because he has dedicated his life to FIFA," Platini said of Blatter in an interview with L'Equipe. Blatter would have been 83 if he had completed a fifth term."People like power and they like the perks that go with it," said Professor Smith. "It's very hard to step down from power. Think King Lear. It is difficult to get a soft landing. Death or natural retirement through incapacity is the only reason they will leave."With all the negativity, all the abuse, why decide to run again?"I said this to him: 'Why are you doing all this? You don't have to. You could end your career now and live a good life,'" said Pieth, recalling one of his last conversations with Blatter."I want to leave through the front door," Blatter replied, "and leave with a clean house."Whether Blatter will achieve both those wishes remains to be seen.Complete coverage of the FIFA controversy

James Meredith is a US Air Force veteran, the first black graduate of the University of Mississippi, and the author of "Three Years in Mississippi" and the memoir, "A Mission from God," written with William Doyle. Twenty-five years ago, when Doyle read the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's "Letter From Birmingham Jail," he was struck by the passage, "One day the South will recognize its real heroes. They will be the James Merediths, courageously and with a majestic sense of purpose facing jeering and hostile mobs and the agonizing loneliness that characterizes the life of the pioneer." He sought out Meredith and the two have been discussing American history and race relations ever since. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the authors. View more opinions at CNN. (CNN)The death of George Floyd last month set us on an entirely new path of history. Perhaps it will lead to the beast of white supremacy, which has cursed this nation since before its history began, finally being conquered.James Meredith William Doyle Black people have always known how powerful and dangerous white supremacy is, but now the entire world is on the march, saying: We're not going to take it anymore. This may be the greatest thing to ever happen to America, and I think it will change the destiny of our nation for the better. When I was a boy, my father told me that I was on a mission from God to destroy the system of white supremacy and to uplift black and brown people to their proper position. I took his challenge very seriously.In 1961, as a 28-year-old Air Force veteran of the desegregated military, I sued the state of Mississippi, which was at that time a neo-Confederate, terrorist police state, for the right to get my education at the University of Mississippi. I forced the President of the United States and the Supreme Court to back my rights as an American citizen, and the federal courts ordered me into the university. In response, the state of Mississippi rebelled and started an insurrection, blocked me and my federal escorts from entering the school, and became a breakaway republic on the issue of race. Read MoreA bloody riot of some 2,000 white people ensued. President John F. Kennedy sent in thousands of combat troops to crush the rebellion, and the gates of higher education in the United States were opened for all Americans. This victory for me and for the US Constitution shattered the system of state-sponsored white supremacy in Mississippi.In 1966, while a student at Columbia University Law School, I began a one-man "March Against Fear" through Mississippi to inspire black people to vote. On Day Two, I was shot by a sniper, filling my body with pellets that remain under my skin today. Martin Luther King Jr. and the leaders of the civil rights movement came to Mississippi and took up the march, which attracted thousands of people and inspired thousands more to vote.Federal voting registrars followed in force. There was no turning back. The floodgates of voter registration were opened for all Americans. Van Jones: Atlanta police shooting is about probation, not just policeOver the years I've made speeches, traveled the world, written books, opened and closed businesses, been a liberal, a conservative, a farmer, husband, father and grandfather. In 2002, I watched with pride as my son Joseph received the Outstanding Doctoral Student Achievement Award at the University of Mississippi business school. In 2013 I was awarded the Harvard Graduate School of Education Medal for Education Impact, the highest honor given by the school. And I'm still here, still alive, still going strong, still taking a power walk every day, even through the pandemic.But when I see people across America -- and around the world -- peacefully marching for racial justice and honoring the memory of George Floyd and other martyrs like Medgar Evers, my best friend and brother-figure from so long ago, I am filled with both joy and hope.White supremacy may be the most evil beast that's ever stalked the halls of history, and today it may finally be mortally wounded. This happened for two reasons. For the first and only time in my life, society was shut down by a pandemic, which prepared the people for an explosion. And then the video of Floyd's death was seen by countless people the world over. Without that video, white supremacy in America might have remained nearly as powerful as it's ever been for the past 500 years.That video, you see, reveals what my life is all about. I am George Floyd. As a black man growing up in Mississippi in the mid-20th century, I was stripped of all the rights of American citizenship. I was subject to being beaten, tortured or lynched at any moment by a white person who had little reason to fear punishment. I've devoted my life to destroying that reality, and to the idea of honoring the full citizenship rights of every American. Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's new newsletter.Join us on Twitter and FacebookToday, black and brown people are inspiring the world with their strength, determination, and willingness to see the struggle through to total victory.I believe that this global uprising will never stop, and it will move into every heart, home and community on Earth, until the day when all people are treated with the dignity, respect and love that God intends for us. I believe that on that day, white supremacy will finally be buried forever.

Kaitlyn Weaver is a Canadian ice dancer who, with partner Andrew Poje, competed in the Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014 and PyeongChang in 2018. She is a three-time World Championship medalist and three-time winner of the Canadian national championship in ice dance. She is the founder of Open Ice Collective and a member of Skate Canada's equity, diversity and inclusion working group. The views expressed here are her own. Read more opinion on CNN. (CNN)As a young girl growing up in the sport of figure skating, I had a dream of going to the Olympics. I also had a dream that everyone was good, honest, and did the right thing. Unfortunately, only one of those things proved true. The news coming out of Beijing comes as a surprise to few -- another Russian athlete accused of doping. This time, it's a minor, Kamila Valieva, but it has left the sporting world in chaos, again trying to reconcile our past and somehow wish, hope, and dream of a more just future. Kaitlyn Weaver As I've scaled the ranks in figure skating, my eyes have been opened to its unparalleled grace, complex and demanding technicality -- and also its severe and unabashed inequities. An ethereal, beloved sport intertwined with a storied past of scandal and controversy, figure skating is as confusing as it is beautiful. Loss of faith in knowing that fair play will prevail has damaged our sport and our morale. And while Russia has laid the foundation for much of our sport's history, it is also seemingly at the root of every disparaging news headline.Read More The question I keep asking myself is, what is it going to take to reestablish trust in our sport and in its leadership? When we consider trust in sport, safety is inherently implied. And in Olympic figure skating, safety and trust have been breached. Fair play cannot exist without trusting that these pillars are upheld, and if nations can't play by these rules -- that are a part of the Olympic oath -- they shouldn't be allowed to participate at all. This travesty of an Olympic event we are finding ourselves in has had many failures. The first was not banning Russia after the findings of systemic, state-sponsored doping during the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi. Proof of cheating, doping, switched out samples through a hole in the wall, and government funding were all found to be true. If you haven't watched the movie "Icarus," the depth of manipulation and threats might shock you. And I wouldn't be surprised if it makes you want to turn your back on sport altogether. The 2014 Olympics were my Games. I walked every day by the doping control station and was tested as part of ordinary protocol. To think that doping was happening under the nose of so many is deeply disturbing. And what was done about it? Not much. Slaps on the wrist that don't even leave a mark. Same people, same players, same leadership. Even Dick Pound (formerly of the World Anti-Doping Agency, now of the International Olympic Committee) called the Russians "unrepentant."Canada's Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje compete in the figure skating free dance at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. So, here we are again, not yet with evidence that Valieva's positive test was state-sponsored, but with a positive test nonetheless. And to me, that's enough. (An IOC official familiar with the situation said Tuesday that Valieva has sought to explain the positive test as contamination from medication taken by her grandfather.) I understand that standing up to Russia is complicated and hard, but for the IOC, their responsibility is clear. It must be done. Who knows, if Russia had already been banned from the Olympic arena after its previous infractions, how many children's lives might be different today? How many Kamila Valievas are there in the pipeline who can be saved from harm? The timing of all of this is yet another failure. Valieva's sample was taken in December at the Russian Olympic Trials, so why is her positive test coming to light so belatedly, during the Olympics? If the test was reported as positive for doping a month ago, Valieva could have been removed from this event and investigations could have taken place. The fact that the news came out now, during the competition, is nothing short of tragic for all involved -- Valieva, her fellow competitors who are trying their best to block this all out and just skate, every athlete in Beijing. To see Valieva's face after her performances made my heart break for her.For Shiffrin, what comes next is up to her alone Valieva should not have had to carry this weight. To me, the burden is not hers to bear. And not just about the positive test. She, like many champion Russian female skaters before her, has trained in a system known for its unyielding pressures and brutal physical demands. All of this is why I believe that in addition to the IOC stepping up to hold Russia accountable, skating's governing bodies must also develop a global checks-and-balances system, with independent officials who can travel to training centers around the world to help uphold the fundamentals of safe sport. We have to be able to trust someone. I'm a three-time world medalist in ice dance, and if you don't know figure skating, basically that's code for "have been taught by Russians for over half my life." Katyusha is the Russian pet name given to me by my coaches many years ago, and still follows me into the arena to this day. My criticism does not come from a place of disrespect for my friends, my contemporaries, my teachers or the rich history that Russia (and USSR) holds within figure skating. A relationship that goes back decades, Russia has always dominated the sport, setting the bar high for music, artistry and fierce competition. Controversy over gold medalist Eileen Gu skiing for China misses the point I have the utmost and deepest respect for my sport's deep and enduring tradition. I would not be the skater I am today without the influence and impact of incredible Russian coaching. It might be difficult to find any skater or coach at the elite level in the world who has not been influenced or taught by a Russian or Russian-adjacent person. We can respect our past while still looking forward to where our future needs to be. In order to have hope for this sport, change needs to be made. The Olympic oath states, "We promise to take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules and in the spirit of fair play, inclusion and equality." These words must be honored, not negotiated, and if that is impossible, then sanctions must follow. Whether as athletes or fans, each of us has to deeply believe and trust that when we participate in sport, the powers that be are right and just, and willing to protect the vulnerable. Can anyone say that's what's happened here? Once every four years, the world comes together for two weeks -- to drop our differences at the door, and to celebrate peace, humanity, and fair competition. If, before a skate touches the ice or a judge sits in their chair, that can't be promised, then the Olympics have no relevance anymore. And that's not something I think I can accept. Get our free weekly newsletterSign up for CNN Opinion's newsletter.Join us on Twitter and Facebook I want my kids to have cereal-box superheroes, to dream about Olympic glory, and to work hard at something that they love. Without The Games, we lose A LOT as a global society, and I believe if we come together and stand up for what's right, we can move forward; but it has to start from the top, and it has to start now. The world is watching.

Story highlightsBillie Jean King still fighting for equality in tennis and in sport12-time major winner angered by some coverage of women's tennisKing thinks there is still too much emphasis on physical appearanceKing famously beat Bobby Riggs in "Battle of the Sexes" clash in 1973 (CNN)Don't get caught discussing the appearance of female tennis players within earshot of Billie Jean King.Follow @cnnsport "It makes me sick," the trailblazer for equality in sport and 12-time grand slam winner told CNN of people who continue to judge female stars of the game by their looks.King famously beat former men's world No. 1 Bobby Riggs in a clash entitled "Battle of the Sexes" back in 1973 -- a victory that was seen as a huge leap forward for women's rights.And she told CNN that 42 years on from that landmark event, it can often appear as if attitudes in tennis have barely moved an inch.JUST WATCHEDTennis icon Billie Jean King on body image in sportsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTennis icon Billie Jean King on body image in sports 04:48"When I played Bobby Riggs, do you realize that [former commentator] Howard Cosell talked about my looks the whole time?" she explained.Read More"And they're still doing the same thing. They still talk about their looks."The 71-year-old's roll call of achievements in equality terms is hugely impressive.She was instrumental in forming the Women's Tennis Association in 1973, a critical moment in the fight for equal opportunity within the sport.In the same year, King threatened to boycott the U.S. Open if the winner of the women's singles title wasn't paid the same as their male counterpart.She won, and so did Margaret Court -- the most decorated player ever in terms of singles titles -- to the tune of $25,000.And despite having battled for nearly half a decade for parity, King believes there is still too much emphasis placed on physical appearance in some tennis coverage.She was angered by an article in the New York Times on the eve of Serena Williams' victory at Wimbledon back in July that discussed the 21-time major winner's body shape."That drove me crazy," she said. "So what? Stop evaluating us. I mean, she is probably the all-time great. So stop it. Talk about her accomplishments. "Let's evaluate Tom Brady's body. I mean, did you see him in the combines [the NFL's preseason scouting and training program]?"One of King's most memorable contributions in the fight for equality came with a match that was most definitely out of the ordinary.She took up the challenge laid down by Riggs, a notorious self-publicist and former grand slam winner who made a fortune gambling on his own matches.Their "Battle of the Sexes" clash offered $100,000 for the winner and attracted an international television audience of millions.JUST WATCHEDKing still fights for tennis equalityReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHKing still fights for tennis equality 05:49Riggs, retired and aged 55 at the time, had beaten Court prior to meeting King but was overcome in straight sets. King said she'd have set women back half a century had she not emerged triumphant."There was also a shift of perception," she said of her victory. "That's what you want for both men and women. "What the women got out of when I beat Riggs was self-confidence and higher self-esteem. For the first time they were asking for a raise, for instance. "And they were actually getting them, which is more important. I played Bobby in 1973. So everything around -- for what I was thinking was about social change. "And women in 1973 could not even get a credit card on their own. They had to have co-signing by a male still -- in 1973. People don't realize that -- they've forgotten."Tonight we raised more than $1 million to help @ejaforg fight HIV/AIDS #MylanWTTSmashHits pic.twitter.com/soNEBtUxHX— Billie Jean King (@BillieJeanKing) October 13, 2015 Many facets of the modern game are directly as a result of King's lobbying.Yet there is still just one high-profile woman -- Amelie Mauresmo -- coaching at the top end of the men's game currently.The Frenchwoman, a former world number one and two-time grand slam winner, has been Murray's mentor since June 2014.The appointment attracted a barrage of headlines at the time, but Murray was adamant it was an easy choice when speaking to CNN: "It was about finding the right personality with the right experience to help me."And if it helps bring more female coaches into men's sport -- and women's sport -- that's a good thing. Because there's absolutely no reason why someone like Amelie can't help me."King is a big supporter of Murray, not just in his decision to employ Mauresmo, but also in his balanced approach to tennis.JUST WATCHEDKing to gay Russians: You are not aloneReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHKing to gay Russians: You are not alone 07:35"I think it's great -- let's get with the times," she said. "I just think Andy Murray's been great -- I love him for that. "When he tweets and when he does his social media, he talks about women's tennis and men's tennis. He doesn't just talk about himself or just men. "So for that, I love Andy Murray. And I think having Mauresmo there, visibly be there, it just sends a very positive message that either men or women can coach. "We all have brains. So that's what coaching is, brains."King's commitment to equality remains undimmed as she enters her eighth decade on the planet.So where does she think things stand currently?JUST WATCHEDPart 2: Billie Jean King & Elton JohnReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHPart 2: Billie Jean King & Elton John 06:42"So far to go -- not even close," is her evaluation."When less than 20% of Congress are women, that's a real good indicator."No, we're not in great shape at all. When you read about history, it goes fast. But when you live it, it's extremely slow."King's "Battle of the Sexes" clash with Riggs is set to be immortalized by Hollywood, with a film release slated for 2016.Steve Carrell has been signed to play Riggs, but the role of King is yet to be cast."I just get so embarrassed with that kind of stuff, I don't know," King joked. "I think it'll be great. Because I think it's important for millennials to see it." Read: Billie Jean: Inspiring a generation

London (CNN)Britain's Metropolitan Police has confirmed it will "review" allegations against Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell brought to light in a new investigation by London-based Channel 4 News.Channel 4 News said its investigation, released on Tuesday, found "more than half a dozen claims that young women and girls are alleged to have been targeted, trafficked, groomed, or abused in the UK" by Epstein and Maxwell, "over a period spanning more than a decade."The report said the alleged offenses include sexual assault and rape.Epstein, a multi-millionaire and convicted pedophile who was charged by US federal prosecutors of sex trafficking, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Medical examiners said the cause of the 66-year-old's death was suicide by hanging. Maxwell, a British socialite and former associate of Epstein's could see trial in New York in the fall. Federal prosecutors say she recruited and groomed a 14-year-old girl to engage in sex acts with Epstein from 2001 to 2004.Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein during a party at the Mar-a-Lago club, Palm Beach, Florida, on February 12, 2000.Read MoreShe had also been previously charged by federal prosecutors with conspiracy and enticing minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and the transportation of minors to engage in criminal sexual activity for allegedly grooming and recruiting underage girls from 1994 through 1997.She has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and the other charges. There's been intense media scrutiny in the UK about Prince Andrew's relationship with Epstein which he addressed in a widely-criticized sit-down interview with the BBC in 2019. The interview included allegations that the prince had sexual encounters with an underaged girl, which he denies.The Channel 4 News report noted "serious questions" have been raised about why the Metropolitan Police failed to carry out a full criminal investigation into Epstein and Maxwell. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) said in a statement Tuesday that it "always takes allegations of sexual offenses and exploitation seriously.""We will always consider any new information and will review the information sent to us from Channel 4," the statement added. Federal prosecutors add sex trafficking charges against Ghislaine MaxwellAlso in its statement, the MPS acknowledged the force had received an "allegation of non-recent trafficking for sexual exploitation against a US national, Jeffrey Epstein, and a British woman in 2015 relating to events outside of the UK and an allegation of trafficking to central London in March 2001."However, according to the MPS, an assessment of available evidence made clear that "any investigation into human trafficking would be largely focused on activities and relationships outside the UK.""Officers therefore concluded that the MPS was not the appropriate authority to conduct inquiries in these circumstances and, in November 2016, a decision was made that this matter would not proceed to a full criminal investigation."CNN has reached out to Maxwell's legal team.According to Channel 4 News, legal experts who reviewed the claims obtained by the British news outlet said "the allegations provide clear grounds for an investigation and accused the Met Police of failing in their legal duty to launch a full criminal inquiry."

Story highlightsGunman had visited and photographed site of a 2009 mass shooting, officials sayDocuments confirm the gunman suffered from mental illness, police say (CNN)The gunman who killed nine people in a rampage in Munich on Friday was obsessed with mass shootings and appeared to have planned the attack for a year, officials said."He appears to have planned this act since last summer," Robert Heimberger, president of the Bavarian state criminal police office, said at a press conference Sunday. "He completely occupied himself with this act of rampage."JUST WATCHEDGermany mourns the nine victimsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHGermany mourns the nine victims 01:49Police have not named the attacker. They said he was an 18-year-old with dual German and Iranian nationality who was born and raised in Munich. Neighbors told CNN Saturday that a teen named Ali Sonboly lived in an apartment searched by police, the same name reported by German media outlets.On Sunday, a 16-year-old Afghan believed to have been a friend of the attacker was arrested on "suspicion of being an accessory," Munich police said. Read MorePolice said Saturday the attacker was a mentally troubled individual who extensively researched rampage killings, and had no apparent links to terror groups and no political motive.On Sunday, investigators revealed he left behind a long written statement on his computer, which was still being analyzed. They said they found photographs on his camera showing he visited the German town of Winnenden, the site of a deadly 2009 school shooting.Earlier, officials said they found in the gunman's belongings numerous documents on mass killings, including a book entitled "Rampage in My Mind -- Why Students Kill." Officials believe there likely was significance in the timing of the attack, which came five years to the day since Anders Behring Breivik killed 77 people in Norway in 2011, many of them attendees at a youth camp.Gunman had received psychiatric treatmentThe gunman had also been under psychiatric care in a hospital for two months in 2015, officials said Sunday.JUST WATCHEDTeen kills 9 people in Munich ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHTeen kills 9 people in Munich 01:24Documents found in his home confirmed that he suffered from mental illness, including depression and anxiety, Munich prosecutor Thomas Steinkraus-Koch said Sunday. Police found medication in his home and are trying to determine whether he had been taking it. the shooter had a history of having been bullied by his peers, and in 2012 had been injured in an attack by other young people that had been reported to police.A search of his belongings revealed he was also an avid player of first-person shooter video games, including "Counter-Strike," officials said Sunday. Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallPolice secure an underground transit station after a deadly shooting in Munich, Germany, on Friday, July 22. At least eight people were killed at a nearby shopping mall in what police officials said "looks like a terror attack." Police are still looking for the gunmen.Hide Caption 1 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallPolice officers escort people from the mall with their hands raised.Hide Caption 2 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallPolice tape blocks the entrance to Odeon Square.Hide Caption 3 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallPolice officers search a man outside the shopping mall where the shooting took place.Hide Caption 4 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallArmed police officers arrive at the mall.Hide Caption 5 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallThe Olympia mall, located in a middle-class neighborhood in northern Munich, is the city's biggest shopping center.Hide Caption 6 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallPolice and firefighters are at the scene.Hide Caption 7 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallA police helicopter flies over the mall.Hide Caption 8 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallPolice secure the entrance to a nearby transit station.Hide Caption 9 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallPolice officers respond to the shooting.Hide Caption 10 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallPolice secure the area of Karlsplatz.Hide Caption 11 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallStreets were blocked by police near the mall.Hide Caption 12 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallPolice secure the area inside the mall.Hide Caption 13 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallPolice walk near the scene of the shooting.Hide Caption 14 of 15 Photos: Deadly shooting at Munich mallMany people started running when they heard the gunshots, said Lynn Stein, who works at the Jack Wolfskin store in the mall.Hide Caption 15 of 15People lured to attack siteThe deadly attack began in a McDonald's outside Munich's Olympia mall on Friday evening, bringing Germany's third-largest city to a standstill before the gunman was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.JUST WATCHEDMunich shooter's neighbor: He was bulliedReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHMunich shooter's neighbor: He was bullied 02:25The rampage also left 35 people injured, 10 of them seriously, officials said.The shooter used a fake Facebook account to lure people to the McDonald's by offering free food, police said Sunday. Earlier, they said he may have hacked another person's account, but they clarified on Sunday that it was an entirely fake account set up in another person's name.Police are investigating whether the attacker's friend who was arrested was aware of the Facebook post or if he had prior knowledge of the attack and failed to notify police. The 16-year-old was interviewed based on his relationship with the suspect and gave conflicting statements, Munich police said.Heimberger said the attacker appeared to have illegally purchased the pistol used -- a 9 mm Glock 17 -- through the "dark web," a shadowy part of the Internet that is not discoverable by standard search engines and is used for anonymous, illicit transactions. Police believed it was an older weapon that had been reassembled, and were still working to establish where the attacker had obtained the 300 rounds of ammunition found in his rucksack.Victims mostly teenagersMost of the victims in Munich in their teens: Three victims were 14 years old, two were 15, one was 17 and one was 19. A 20-year-old and a 45-year-old were also killed. The victims were all German nationals from the Munich area, officials said. Turkey's Foreign Ministry said three of the victims were also Turkish nationals.Another of the victims was also a Greek citizen, Greece's Foreign Ministry said Saturday.The shooting shook Europe after a spate of recent terror attacks on the continent, including the stabbing of passengers on a German train by a man who claimed to be inspired by ISIS and the killing of 84 people in a truck attack in Nice, France.CNN's Schams Elwazer contributed to this report.

Story highlightsDominique Strauss-Kahn was released under a 100,000 euro bailHe is warned over "aggravated pimping" investigationHis lawyers have called the allegations "sensationalist and not without a political agenda"The former IMF chief was questioned by French police last monthFormer International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was formally warned Monday that he is under investigation for "aggravated pimping" for his alleged participation in a prostitution ring in France, prosecutors said.He is not allowed to have contact with other people involved in the investigation, nor is he permitted to talk to the media about the case. Strauss-Kahn was released under a 100,000-euro bail, according to prosecutors. Strauss-Kahn is now at a point in the French legal system that comes after an arrest and before charges.Earlier in the day, he was questioned by a judge about his alleged involvement in the ring. The meeting was initially scheduled for Wednesday.A spokesperson for the judge told CNN it was the judge's decision to change the date, but did not say why the decision was made.Strauss-Kahn faces allegations of habitual involvement in a prostitution racket. Specifically, "aggravated' means on a regular and involved basis, and "pimping" means actually facilitating a prostitution operation, not just being a customer.Last month, Strauss-Kahn was held for more than 24 hours by police in Lille and questioned about his alleged involvement in the prostitution ring.His attorneys released a statement in November calling the allegations against their client "unhealthy, sensationalist and not without a political agenda."The prostitution probe, nicknamed the "Carlton Affair" by the French press, kicked off in October.It centers around the city of Lille, where investigators began looking into claims that luxury hotels, including the Carlton, served as a base for a high-profile prostitution network.In December, Strauss-Kahn's attorney, Henri Leclerc, acknowledged in an interview with radio station Europe1 that his client attended sex parties, but said Strauss-Kahn was unaware the women in attendance were prostitutes.While prostitution is not illegal in France, profiting from the prostitution of another person is against the law, according to the French Penal Code. Authorities are also investigating whether corporate funds were used to pay for the prostitutes. In the December Europe1 interview, Leclerc said there is no evidence that such funds were misappropriated.A hotel manager and four other men were arrested late last year in connection with the investigation.The Carlton Affair continues a string of sexual allegations against Strauss-Kahn.The former IMF chief has been linked with a number of sex scandals in the past year -- one of which torpedoed his expected plan to run for the French presidency this year. He has not been convicted of any crime.He stepped down from the top job at the IMF after a New York hotel maid accused him of sexual assault and attempted rape in May. He denied the accusation.The case ultimately fell apart after the alleged victim posed significant credibility issues for prosecutors, despite forensic evidence that showed a sexual encounter had occurred. Strauss-Kahn also faced allegations of attempted rape from a young French writer. Tristane Banon filed a complaint, alleging a 2003 attack, though it could not be pursued because of a statute of limitations. Strauss-Kahn denied the allegations and has since filed a countersuit in France, alleging slander.

(CNN)A therapy dog has played a role in saving a woman who was considering taking her own life on a bridge over a highway in the UK, first responders attending the scene have said.Digby normally helps firefighters in therapy sessions deal with trauma.But in a change to his usual job description, the 3-year-old labradoodle was brought to the scene where crews were trying to help a woman on a bridge near Exeter, southwestern England, on Tuesday, the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service (DSFRS) said.Tweeting about his heroics, the DSFRS said: "This is Digby. Today he did something amazing and helped save a young woman who was thinking of taking her own life on a bridge over the M5 near Exeter." "Police negotiators were speaking with the woman but the situation was becoming increasingly worrying."Read MoreThen one of the fire crews suggested calling in Digby, a "defusing" dog who normally helps firefighters in therapy sessions deal with trauma, explained the service.Comfort dogs find bipartisan support on Capitol Hill"When Digby arrived, the young woman immediately swung her head round to look, and smiled. This got a conversation started about Digby and his role at the fire service," continued the Twitter thread. "She was asked if she would like to come and meet Digby if she came back over the railings, which we are pleased to say she did."The DSFRS said it wished the woman "all the best in her recovery."Using dogs to help humans deal with trauma is increasingly popular.In April, Clarence, a 160-pound St Bernard became the first Official Police Comfort Dog in the US. He spent the week roaming the halls of Congress with Keeva, an Akita, and chocolate lab Hank.Clarence, who belongs to the Greenfield, Massachusetts, Police Department, has been at the site of some of the country's worst tragedies -- Sandy Hook, the Las Vegas shootings, the Boston Marathon and the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. And therapy dogs have also been helping doctors in the fight against coronavirus.One example is Loki, a two-year-old Rottweiler therapy dog, or a "dogtor," who started doing therapy sessions for staff at the University of Maryland Medical Center in December 2019.

Story highlightsFormer British PM impressed by young royalsJohn Major tells CNN: I think that Catherine has been faultless so farHe says Prince William is helping modernize the family's imageThe former British Prime Minister, Sir John Major, has credited the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Catherine, with reinvigorating interest in the British monarchy.Speaking about the couple's wedding last year he told CNN: "It was a truly lovely day and I think the whole world saw that. And of course, that helps."Major also acted as a guardian for Prince William's interests after his mother died and maintains close links with the monarchy. In 2005 he was made a Knight of the Garter which is the highest honor the Queen can bestow.Major told CNN: "People see that iconic figures -- whom they see only at a distance and they perhaps never meet -- have the same emotions, same feelings, the same cares, the same loves that they have in their own lives. I think the Royal Family has communicated that better in the last couple of decades than perhaps at any earlier time in our history and it has had an impact."Major notes how Prince William in particular has helped modernize the family's image: "People are very happy with the way he has risen to the challenges he faced and I think even more than that, they see him as a very human individual and I think that is very important."William is a search and rescue pilot for the Royal Air Force and must decide soon if he wants to stay on in the service for another three years. Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchess Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchessRoyal Wedding – Getty Images photographer Chris Jackson talks to CNN about key images of Kate Middleton: "I was lucky enough to be positioned right outside the front of Westminster Abbey. I was seriously nervous. I had to get this picture. As they came out the front door, the crowd roared and I was just shooting away and you literally only had a matter of minutes, if that."Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchessPippa Middleton – Jackson on THAT photo of Pippa Middleton: "You never know exactly what's going to happen afterwards, what the media are going to talk about but I did really feel that this was a strong image. I mean how often do you take a picture where you haven't got someone facing you, you can't see their face? I didn't realise it would be quite such a big deal."Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchessKate meets Reese Witherspoon – Kate meets Reese Witherspoon in Los Angeles: "I think the thing for me, which really struck me about this moment was having a chat with Reese [Witherspoon] before, she seemed so excited about meeting Catherine. This is someone who mixes with Hollywood royalty every day. But meeting actual royalty was just an incredible thing for her." Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchessThe 'pregnancy' false alarm – On the photo that stirred false pregnancy rumors: "I'm not sure if someone made a joke or Prince William said something to her but she just sort of laughed a bit and held her hands there and obviously it's a fortunate or unfortunate picture, depending on how you're looking. The picture has winged its way around the world onto numerous front pages."Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchessKate arrives in Wales – On Kate's official apperance after her engagement to Prince William: "From the point of view of pictures and moving images, I think Catherine always looks very confident. Even from her first appearance, I remember up in north Wales, she stepped out of the car with a huge smile on her face."Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchessKate's handbag 'security blanket' – Jackson: "She's developed a few mannerisms. Photographing her on a regular basis, I notice. You know, there's a laugh where she comes back and she laughs and looks at the camera. She often uses her handbag almost like a security blanket. It all looks great, it doesn't look bad at all."Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchessKate enjoys chatting to people – Jackson: "She always enjoys chatting to people and she gives people a great deal of time. Quite often you'll see Prince William has walked off ahead but she is left chatting with someone because she wants to keep talking to them."Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchessKate hugs a young girl – Jackson: "This was one of her solo engagements which she made while William was in the Falklands flying rescue helicopters. It just really shows that she gets stuck in and she's got the common touch and a real affinity with the children."Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchessKate's unusual hockey kit – Jackson: "Some of the fashionistas were getting very excited about Kate's jeans. She looked amazing, again. I think she was a little bit nervous when she arrived. But she knocked the ball around for a bit and I think the nerves evaporated slightly. It's great seeing her get stuck in and she doesn't hold back." Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Royal photographer's year with a duchess'Clothes look really good on her' – Jackson: "She looks great in pictures. There's much talk about her weight. The fact is she's slightly slimmer. I think she looks healthy. It means that clothes look really good on her."Hide Caption 10 of 10 Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the move Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the moveSisters on the move – The newest addition of the British royal family, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, celebrates her first wedding anniversary with Prince William of Wales, Duke of Cambridge, this weekend. She's been on the move since her marriage, including playing field hockey with the British team in London on March 15.Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the moveSisters on the move – Catherine's sister and maid of honor, Pippa, has become a celebrity in her own right. She competes in numerous athletic events, such as a cross-country ski marathon in Sweden on March 4.Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the moveSisters on the move – William and Catherine made a 12-day North American tour over the summer. In Canada, they crewed dragon boats on Dalvay Lake on Prince Edward Island.Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the moveSisters on the move – Pippa Middleton's every move -- including jogging in London on July 14 -- is chronicled by the paparazzi.Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the moveSisters on the move – Catherine kicks off a street hockey game during an official welcome ceremony July 5 in Yellowknife, Canada.Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the moveSisters on the move – Pippa Middleton ice skates during an event November 21 in London.Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the moveSisters on the move – Catherine has devoted much time to charity, including helping open the Treehouse Children's Hospice on March 19 in Ipswich.Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the moveSisters on the move – Pippa Middleton's athletic endeavors included the GE Blenheim Triathlon at Blenheim Palace on June 4.Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the moveSisters on the move – The royal couple's Canada trip included canoeing on Blatchford Lake.Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Photos: Kate and Pippa: Sisters on the moveSisters on the move – Catherine steers a dragon boat before a race against her husband on Dalvay Lake.Hide Caption 10 of 10"I think his service career is something that matters a very great deal to him, as it does to Prince Harry. So I think he is well aware of the responsibilities that lie ahead but there's a greater freedom these days for members of the Royal Family to pursue their own lives than perhaps there has been sometimes in the past and in the case of Prince William, he's pursuing that in terms of his military career," Major said.And what of the newest addition to the royal family?"I think that Catherine has been faultless so far and I think the whole world has seen that," says Major.A royal source told CNN last month that Queen Elizabeth II has given the Duchess of Cambridge a lot of time as she settles in to the family.Major adds: "Of course she wants her grandson and her grandson's wife to be successful and of course she offers help and they'd be foolish not to take it. Now plainly, one can, even looking from the outside, see what a good relationship actually exists there and one forgets sometimes."The former prime minister says the Catherine has handled the pressure of her high profile brilliantly."It isn't easy -- suddenly to find yourself the focus of world attention, to find whatever you do is the subject of publicity, whatever you wear is the subject of comment. It's not easy at all. It's a tremendous imposition suddenly. It takes a lot to get used to but she has very good advice and I think she has handled it as well as it could possibly have been handled."When I asked the former prime minister if she was a natural, her replied: "Oh I think she's a natural. Don't you?"

(CNN)From the metaverse to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), new technology is endlessly changing how we live our lives -- and one of the biggest arenas where that's playing out is sport. Thanks to artificial intelligence, robotics and other technological innovations, new high-tech sports are kicking off around the world. From robots taking the field to play soccer, to pilot-controlled drones racing one another, like humans, machines are proving to have their own competitive streak.AI can now even create new sports, from the strategy and rules of the game to the layout of the playing field.These high-tech sports may sound like they come from the future, but they already exist. Here are some of the most ground-breaking.Drone SoccerDrone soccer is a fast-paced sport with an educational component.Read MoreIn drone soccer, teams of between three and five pilots score points by flying their "striker" drone through their opponent's goal, while the opposition drones try to block them. It features three three-minute sets of intense gameplay in which players must weigh how aggressively they fly with the risk of damage to the drone.The sport originates in South Korea and the first US drone soccer tournament took place in July last year at the Rocky Mountain State Games, in Colorado. Leagues are launching in Colorado, New York, Ohio, and elsewhere, and US Drone Soccer is introducing the sport in high schools, where it will be combined with an educational program in which students learn to build, program and repair drones.US Drone Soccer will also be supporting the African Drone Soccer Challenge for teams of young players, led by girls -- which will take place on January 29 in Lagos, Nigeria.Robot SoccerThe RoboCup Standard Platform League 2019, in Sydney, Australia.The Robot World Cup Initiative -- "RoboCup" for short -- is a soccer competition for autonomous robots. It has several leagues, in which robots of different sizes must make independent decisions while communicating effectively with their teammates.The competition doubles as an international scientific project. In the RoboCup Humanoid League, for example, researchers investigate robotics challenges such as dynamic walking and running, kicking the ball while maintaining balance, visual perception of the ball, and teamwork. Robots have come a long way since the first RoboCup in 1997, where 40 teams participated and 5,000 spectators attended, but robots had difficulty finding the ball and moving, according to the organization's website. RoboCup 2021 featured more than 300 teams, and now, robots can "reliably find a ball, move very quickly, and start showing teamwork behaviors." RoboCup's ultimate goal is that by 2050, "a team of fully autonomous humanoid robot soccer players shall win a soccer game, complying with the official rules of FIFA, against the winner of the most recent World Cup." Drone RacingDrone Racing League pilots flying first-person view at the DRL Vegas Championship Race, January 2022.In first-person view drone racing, pilots direct drones through complex racecourses while wearing goggles that stream live video from the drone's camera, so the pilots feel like they are flying inside them. Elite pilots participate in the global professional Drone Racing League (DRL), which has been televised by major networks, with its custom-built racing drones traveling at 90 miles (145 kilometers) per hour.Drone racing is believed to have started in Australia around 2010, when pilots would attach cameras to their drones and race them through parks and backyards, according to DRL CEO and founder Nicholas Horbaczewski. DRL has since helped bring the sport into the mainstream. Six years after the official launch of the league in 2016, the sport now has 75 million active global fans, says Horbaczewski. SpeedgateSpeedgate -- invented by computers, played by humans.Speedgate doesn't require advanced technology play, but it's a game created by artificial intelligence. The sport combines aspects of croquet, rugby and soccer, with a playing field that consists of three gated circles laid out in a line. In three seven-minute periods, two teams of six pass a ball around, either throwing it below the waist or kicking it, with the aim of kicking the ball through the end gate to score. "Deep learning algorithms" were used to create ideas for every aspect of the game, from the gameplay and rules to the logo, according to AKQA, the design agency behind Speedgate. The team trained a neural network using rules from roughly 400 sports. More than 1,000 results were produced -- some were "downright dangerous," according to AKQA, such as an exploding disc relay in which disc-type objects that explode on impact are thrown at the players. Others were just "hilariously implausible," such as "hot air balloon tightrope racket" in which a team is suspended on a tightrope between two hot air balloons, hitting an object with rackets.Speedgate has been officially recognized by the Oregon Sports Authority and is now growing into a US-wide university league, says AKQA.Segway poloCaptain Nevin Roach (in blue) on the attack for Team Barbados at the 2019 Segway Polo World Championships, Sweden.Segway polo is a team sport in which players on two-wheeled, self-balancing electric vehicles try to score by hitting a ball past the goal line with their mallet. Originating in the USA , the sport is now played in Germany, Sweden, the UK, Barbados, Spain, Lebanon, and other countries. The Segway Polo World Championship -- named the "Woz Challenge Cup" after Apple co-founder and Segway polo player Steve Wozniak -- was established in 2006. The Segway Polo Club of Barbados (SPCB) is the most successful team in the history of the sport, having won the World Championship five times -- the last being in 2019.

Story highlightsAstros, whose first season was in 1962, end championship droughtDodgers were seeking first title since 1988 (CNN)In one of the most evenly matched, hard-fought and thrilling World Series of all time, it's fitting that fans were treated to a winner-takes-all Game 7.In the end, it's Houston that gets to celebrate.The Astros -- whose first season was in 1962 -- are World Series champions for the first time in franchise history, defeating the Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and completing a Fall Classic for the ages."You know what, Houston?" Astros manager A.J. Hinch said in an interview on the FOX broadcast. "You're a championship city."Houston hit Dodgers starter Yu Darvish hard for the second time this series, leading again to an early exit after 1 2/3 innings -- tying Game 3 as the shortest outing of his career.Read More Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesThe Houston Astros celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-1 in Game 7 of the World Series on Wednesday, November 1. It is the first time the Astros have won the World Series.Hide Caption 1 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesAstros catcher Brian McCann hugs pitcher Charlie Morton after the final out. Morton got the win, pitching the last four innings of the game.Hide Caption 2 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesHouston third baseman Alex Bregman celebrates after the victory.Hide Caption 3 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesHouston shortstop Carlos Correa leaps for joy after the final out.Hide Caption 4 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesDodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig watches the Astros celebrate.Hide Caption 5 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesBregman carries second baseman Jose Altuve during the postgame celebrations.Hide Caption 6 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesThe Astros celebrate together at the postgame ceremony.Hide Caption 7 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesThe Dodgers watch from the top step of the dugout during the eighth inning. They fell behind 5-0 after two innings and never got much momentum going.Hide Caption 8 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesAndre Ethier drives in the Dodgers' only run while pinch-hitting for Clayton Kershaw in the sixth inning.Hide Caption 9 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesKershaw, the Dodgers' ace, came into the game in the third inning and threw four shutout innings.Hide Caption 10 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesPuig reacts after flying out in the third inning.Hide Caption 11 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesGeorge Springer celebrates after hitting a home run to give the Astros a 5-0 lead in the second inning. The two-run blast was Springer's fifth home run of the series, tying a World Series record. He was later named World Series MVP. Hide Caption 12 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesMarwin Gonzalez hits a double off Dodgers starting pitcher Yu Darvish early in the second inning.Hide Caption 13 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesDarvish reacts to a rough first inning in which he gave up two runs. He was pulled in the second after giving up the home run to Springer. Darvish went just 1 2/3 innings in both of his World Series starts.Hide Caption 14 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesHouston starter Lance McCullers Jr. throws a pitch during the first inning. McCullers didn't give up a run in 2 1/3 innings of work, but he hit four batters.Hide Caption 15 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesSpringer is greeted in the dugout after scoring a run in the first inning. He opened the game with a double.Hide Caption 16 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesBregman reacts after scoring the opening run of the game.Hide Caption 17 of 18 Photos: Astros win Game 7, first World SeriesActors Rob Lowe, right, and Ken Jeong wave Dodger flags on top of a dugout before the game. Many celebrities were in attendance.Hide Caption 18 of 18The damage in Game 7 included a two-run home run by outfielder George Springer to make it 5-0 in the top of the second inning. It was Springer's fifth home run this series, tying him for the most in a single Fall Classic with Reggie Jackson in 1977 and Chase Utley in 2009. He also became the first player to homer in four consecutive games in the same World Series.JUST WATCHED3-year-old magazine cover predicts the future?ReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH3-year-old magazine cover predicts the future? 03:49Springer, unanimously voted the Willie Mays World Series MVP, referenced the inspiration of the Astros' fan base that is recovering from Hurricane Harvey."That patch on our chest truly does mean a lot to us," Springer said. "I'm so happy for all of our fans, who have endured a lot. We're coming home champions."Perhaps it was destiny. In 2014, Sports Illustrated released a story with Springer on the cover of the magazine, predicting the Astros would be 2017 World Series champs.Springer hit .379 (11-for-29) in the Fall Classic with three doubles, five home runs, seven RBI and eight runs scored. He had a record eight extra-base hits during this Fall Classic, surpassing Hall of Famer Willie Stargell, who had seven extra-base hits during the 1979 World Series.The Astros' on-field celebration also included a marriage proposal. "You make the happiest man in the world," shortstop Carlos Correa said to his girlfriend. "Will you marry me?"She said yes.SHE SAID YES! Congratulations, @TeamCJCorrea! pic.twitter.com/SN5ISx2ydC— Houston Astros (@astros) November 2, 2017 This arguably has been one of the most entertaining World Series in history. It was the first Fall Classic since 1970 between two teams with at least 100 wins during the regular season, as Los Angeles won 104 games and Houston won 101.These seven games were full of power -- Houston and Los Angeles set the record for most home runs in a single World Series -- and dramatic comebacks. Game 5 was the craziest of all, ending with a 13-12 Astros walk-off win in the 10th inning.The Astros ended the third-longest current MLB championship drought; the Cleveland Indians (69 years) and the Texas Rangers (57 years) continue to wait.The Dodgers last won the Fall Classic in 1988 and were aiming for a seventh championship.

(CNN)An overnight fire ripped through a forest in England that provided the setting for the Winnie the Pooh children's stories. The blaze at Ashdown Forest, in East Sussex, started at around 9.30 p.m. on Sunday and affected an area of more than 35 acres, according to the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.Six fire crews were on the scene as flames fed on dry undergrowth in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Crews working hard in arduous conditions. Crews from @EastSussexFRS @WestSussexFire and @sussex_police including the drone and superbly supported by @Sussex_Fire_999 pic.twitter.com/f7ZXtA0rXk— Hannah Scott-Youldon (@HSYouldon) April 28, 2019 Winnie the Pooh author A.A. Milne, who lived in nearby Cotchford Farm, Hartfield, drew inspiration from Ashdown Forest to write the popular series of children's books in the 1920s.In the stories the woodland became the fictional Hundred Acre Wood, home to Winnie the Pooh and his friends Tigger, Eeyore, Piglet, and others. Read MoreThe fire was brought under control around 4 a.m. Monday.Andrew Gausden, commander of the fire station, said: "It's unusual to have a fire of this size at night. "This seems to have caught hold before people noticed the fire. The undergrowth was very dry in the forest, despite the recent rain, and the fire caught quite quickly."The cause of the blaze is unknown but it does not seem to have been started deliberately, Gausden said. Ashdown Forest is in the heart of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which covers parts of Kent, Sussex and Surrey in southeast England.Two wildfires, accidentally started by volunteers, scorched the woods in February.

(CNN)A man has confessed to an attack near a German synagogue in which two people died. Named as Stephan B, the man appeared before an investigative judge at the Federal Court of Justice in Karlsruhe, Germany. Markus Schmitt, press officer of the prosecutor at the court, said: "Stephan B. has admitted to the accusations and specifically to his anti-Semitic as well as right-wing extremist motives."German synagogue gunman couldn't break down the door. That saved livesA gunman killed two people in the German town of Halle, one directly outside a synagogue and one at a nearby kebab shop. The attack happened on Wednesday, Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.Streaming live from a camera mounted on his helmet, he pushed on the doors of the synagogue, fired several shots at a lock on the door, stuck an explosive in a door jam and lit it but could not get in -- a fact that likely spared dozens of lives.Watching it unfold on the synagogue's security cameras were 51 people barricaded inside, Max Privorozky, the head of Halle's Jewish community, told CNN.An image of the alleged synagogue shooter shared on social media. Read MoreThe attack happened amid a rise in anti-Semitism in the country over recent years. Data released by the interior ministry revealed that anti-Semitic hate crimes rose nearly 20% from 2017 to 2018, and the number of physical attacks against Jewish people increased from 37 in 2017 to 69 last year.Earlier this year, German Jews were warned by a leading government official not to wear traditional kippahs in public, following a rise in attacks across the country.A far-reaching CNN investigation into anti-Semitism across Europe last year also revealed that one in five survey respondents in Germany said Jews had too much influence in the media.It's time to crack down on white supremacist havens like 8chanThe country has also seen a surge in support for far-right parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD), particularly in eastern states where the attack happened.The anti-immigrant group has been widely criticized for using rhetoric reminiscent of Nazi Germany, with AfD politician Bjoern Hoecke previously calling Berlin's Holocaust memorial a "monument of shame," in comments reported by Reuters.

(CNN)Swiss voters on Sunday approved their government's pandemic response plan in a referendum by a 62.01% majority, according to official results published on the Federal Chancellery's website.With a 65.72% participation, the Sunday referendum showed that most Swiss voters are unwilling to give up restrictive measures against Covid-19, with the result being close to that obtained in a first vote last June on the 2020 Covid law, which was accepted by 60.2% of the votes.This Sunday, voters had to decide on several modifications of the law, which were adopted by the Swiss parliament in March 2021. The changes were made eight months ago to "extend of financial aid to people who could not be supported before or not enough, as well as "to improve the tracing of contact cases and increase testing capacity." They also enacted the legal basis for the introduction of the "Covid certificate" -- or health pass -- "in order to facilitate travel abroad and to allow the holding of certain events," per the Federal Council.Vaccine inequity and hesitancy made the Omicron variant more likely, scientists sayIn Switzerland, any decisions taken at the federal, cantonal or municipal level can later be questioned by voters, sometimes months after their implementation. Read MoreThe Sunday approval comes after the Confederation was hit hard by a fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Swiss government's Covid platform, 75,843 new cases had been detected in the country over the past 14 days as of Thursday, a number approaching last year's peak of infections.

Story highlightsFerrari win soured by injured mechanicSuffered broken leg as Raikkonen left pit stopVettel wins ahead of Bottas, Hamilton (CNN)Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel won for the second time in as many races Sunday but the Italian team's victory was overshadowed after one of its mechanics suffered a broken leg when he was hit by Kimi Raikkonen's car during a pit stop at the Bahrain Grand Prix.Vettel held off the charge of Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas to take victory in his 200th grand prix, but the occasion was soured after a member of Raikkonen's pit crew was taken to a medical center after an incident during lap 36 of the race.Follow @cnnsport Raikkonen attempted to leave a pit stop before all four of his tires were safely attached and his rear left wheel hit a member of the crew, with video showing the mechanic's leg buckling horribly.The Finn retired from the race while medical assistance was issued to the mechanic."Bittersweet WIN for #Seb5 and for the Scuderia, great performance but we are all waiting for the medical bulletin for our mechanic #BahrainGP," Ferrari tweeted at the end of the race.Read MoreFerrari later tweeted that the mechanic, Francesco, had suffered a shinbone and fibula fracture.Apparently a shinbone and fibula fracture, our thoughts are with Francesco, stay strong #BahrainGP— Scuderia Ferrari (@ScuderiaFerrari) April 8, 2018 Ferrari has been hit with a €50,000 ($61,410) fine by governing body FIA for exiting the pit stop "in a manner endangering team personnel and causing injury."This follows the €5,000 ($6,100) penalty the team received Friday after Raikkonen left a pit stop during practice without one of his wheels being properly attached."I don't know what shape he's in," Raikkonen said after Sunday's race. "For sure, not great for him." Maurizio Arrivabene: "We chose to take one of our mechanics up onto the podium as a mark of respect to our colleague Francesco who was injured during the pit stop. The whole team hopes he recovers quickly." Get well soon, Francesco . #F1 #Formula1 #ScuderiaFerrari #BahrainGP @scuderiaferrari @bah_int_circuit A post shared by FORMULA 1® (@f1) on Apr 8, 2018 at 5:13pm PDT A traffic light system is used to tell the driver when it's safe to leave the pit stall."I go when the light is green, I don't see what happens behind," added Raikkonen. "My job is to go when the light changes."Ferrari decided after the race that a mechanic should join Vettel on top of the podium. "We chose to take one of our mechanics up onto the podium as a mark of respect to our colleague Francesco who was injured during the pit stop," said team boss Maurizio Arrivabene."The whole team hopes he recovers quickly."Reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton finished third in a pulsating race, which saw Vettel squeeze the maximum out of tires he was forced to use from lap 18 of the 57-lap race to beat Bottas by just 0.699 seconds.With 10 laps to go Vettel told the team radio he had "everything under control," but quipped during a podium interview: "That was a lie!""Fortunately he ran out of laps," continued four-time world champion Vettel, referring to Bottas' challenge, before adding: "I'm really happy.""We had nothing to lose trying to stay out and trying to win," explained Vettel as he analyzed his long run on deteriorating tires.Sebastian Vettel was held off the challenge of Valtteri Bottas to win. "It worked, just! If you manage to get the win in these conditions, it makes it better."Hamilton started ninth on the grid and battled his way into contention before ultimately finishing adrift of the leading two drivers.In one thrilling maneuver during the race Hamilton overtook three drivers in one go.The Briton was hampered by radio issues throughout the race and sounded frustrated during communications with his crew.But Hamilton insists it was a satisfactory result.JUST WATCHEDThe Circuit's 2018 Formula One season previewReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThe Circuit's 2018 Formula One season preview 23:01 "I'm happy," he said. "I started ninth so third isn't bad at all."Vettel's win pushed him up to 50 points in the drivers' standings, 17 ahead of Hamilton, with Bottas third on 22 points.

(CNN)Rae Carruth, a former NFL star who was found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder of his girlfriend and attempting to destroy their unborn child almost 20 years ago, is set to be released from prison.Carruth is expected to walk out of the Sampson Correctional Institution in Clinton, North Carolina, as a free man between the hours of 8am and 5pm ET on Monday, according to CNN affiliate WBTV.A former Carolina Panthers wide receiver, Carruth spoke to CNN affiliate WSOC by phone days ahead of his release."I'm excited about just being out of here," Carruth said to the station. "I'm nervous just about how I'll be received by the public. I still have to work. I still have to live. I have to exist out there and it just seems like there is so much hate and negativity toward me."On November 16, 1999, 24-year-old Cherica Adams, who was 8 months pregnant, and Carruth, in his third season with the Panthers, went on a movie date. Afterward, they left in separate cars, with Carruth driving ahead of Adams.Read MoreCherica Adams' son, Chancellor Lee Adams, was born with cerebral palsy. He's been raised by his grandmother, Saundra Adams.While Adams was driving through Charlotte, a car pulled up next to her BMW. Shots were fired, and she was hit four times. Prosecutors said Carruth used his vehicle to block Adams' car so a hired gunman could shoot her.Adams managed to stop her car and call 911 on her cell phone. Doctors were able to perform an emergency cesarean section to save the baby, but Adams died four weeks after the shooting. The baby, Chancellor Lee Adams, was born with cerebral palsy. He is now 18 years old and is cared for by Saundra Adams, Cherica's mother.Carruth, a 1997 first-round draft pick, first was arrested in November 1999 for attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and other charges, according to WBTV. After Adams died, Carruth, who had been free on $3 million bond, went into hiding, failing to turn himself in.After a nationwide manhunt, Carruth was captured in Tennessee in December 1999 and arrested for a second time. He was found hiding in the trunk of a car in the parking lot of a Best Western in Wildersville, which is about 100 miles northeast from Memphis.Carruth at Panthers training camp in 1998.The former wide receiver was convicted in 2001 of conspiracy to commit murder, discharging a firearm into occupied property and attempting to destroy an unborn child. He was acquitted of the most serious charge of first-degree murder that could have resulted in the death penalty. The verdicts came back after four days of deliberations.After his conviction, Carruth did an interview with CNN, saying he and Adams were never a couple."As far as Cherica and I are concerned, we never dated," Carruth said in the interview in February 2001. "We were never boyfriend and girlfriend ... we slept together ... there was no conversation."Carruth spoke to WBTV in February, reporting that Carruth did not answer specific questions but took responsibility for "everything that happened."Doctors believed Chancellor Adams, who suffers from cerebral palsy, would never walk. He now walks regularly, using a walker or steadying himself on Saundra Adams' arm.Also in February, WBTV obtained a 15-page letter from Carruth, which he wrote as an open letter to Saundra Adams. In it, he apologizes for the death of Cherica Adams and Chancellor Adams' impairment."If I could change anything, I'd change the whole situation," Carruth wrote, according to the report. "His mother would still be here and I wouldn't be where I'm at. So that's what I'd want to change. I want the incident to never have happened at all."Carruth also wrote about wanting to establish a relationship with Chancellor Adams, saying that once Saundra Adams has passed away that someone will need to be responsible for him."I should be raising my son," Carruth wrote, per the report. "His mother should be raising her son. Ms. Adams should not be doing this and I want that responsibility back. I feel like he might not ever have his mother in his life but he could still have me and I could still make a difference and I don't think that's anyone's responsibility when I'm still here."According to the Charlotte Observer, Carruth later wrote another letter, altering his stance."For all involved or invested in this ordeal, please calm down," Carruth wrote, per the newspaper. "I will no longer be pursuing a relationship with Chancellor and Ms. Adams. I promise to leave them be, which I now see is in everyone's best interest."According to WSOC, Saundra Adams said she has a plan for family members to care for Chancellor Adams when she no longer can."I never fill his mind with disability," she said to WSOC of her grandson. "He's abled differently and I don't focus on what he can't do, but what he can do."

(CNN)Judy Murray called it a "Fine Bromance."Her sons Andy and Jamie don't often get together on the tennis court, but when they do it can be "magic" -- and it helped Great Britain reach the semifinals of the Davis Cup for the first time since 1981.Follow @cnnsport The brothers, with mom watching, combined in the doubles Saturday to give their country a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five rubber against France at London's Queen's Club.A Fine Bromance. #DavisCup. Love this pic. Xxx pic.twitter.com/fN7dBEyoIS— judy murray (@judmoo) July 18, 2015 World No. 3 Andy duly wrapped up victory for Britain and a semifinal with Australia when he beat Gilles Simon in four sets Sunday to give his team an unassailable 3-1 lead in the tie.But the key to its passage to the last four was the doubles victory. Read MoreGB captain Leon Smith paired the brothers together after Andy had won his Friday singles match against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to level the tie at 1-1 after Simon had beaten James Ward in the opening rubber.We think Leon Smith sums it up perfectly! #Legend #Respect #DavisCup pic.twitter.com/1EUvYt5kID— British Tennis (@BritishTennis) July 19, 2015 "I didn't care who played as along as we won the match," Jamie Murray said after the 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 victory against Tsonga and Nicolas Mahut."But to go out there with your brother and play for your country, and having Leon on the bench who has been part of our careers from a young age, it was really special. It was a magic day."We think this about sums up how it feels to win a crucial @DavisCup doubles tie! #BackTheBrits #Passion #MurrayMania pic.twitter.com/GX0JauOsru— British Tennis (@BritishTennis) July 18, 2015 The Scottish siblings last played together at an ATP Tour event in 2013, while their only Davis Cup outing as a doubles duo was four years ago against Luxembourg, when they also won."When we play together on the tour, I want to win for Jamie, but for the whole weekend here it's different, you want to win for the whole team," said Andy."You want to win for the country as well so it's a bit different. Maybe that helps me a little bit when I play with Jamie in the Davis Cup."Earlier Sunday, Australia completed a remarkable turn around from 0-2 down against Kazakhstan as veteran Lleyton Hewitt proved the hero. He paired with big-serving Sam Groth to beat Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 in the doubles. Groth drew the team's level by winning the first reverse singles as he powered 29 aces in a hard-fought 6-3 7-6 (8/6) 4-6 7-6 (8/6) win over Mikhail Kukushkin.Sunday's #DavisCup #PhotoOfTheDay is @lleytonhewitt after he sealed Australia's 0-2 comeback & sent them to the semis pic.twitter.com/Ibx278ZYie— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) July 19, 2015 Then Hewitt, who is due to retire in January 2016, repaid the faith put in him by captain Wally Masur with a straight sets 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-3 win in the deciding rubber against Nedovyesov."I love the back-against-the-wall situation and that's what we had after day one," Hewitt told the official Davis Cup website after completing Australia's first recovery from 2-0 down in a Davis Cup tie for 76 years.Meanwhile, Belgium will host Argentina in the other semifinal, to be played September 18-20, after both nations secured unbeatable 3-0 leads.Saturday's #DavisCup #PhotoOfTheDay is Argentina's #Berhulcq @charlyberlocq after he helped Argentina reach the semis pic.twitter.com/ESWoBnjNQw— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) July 18, 2015 The Belgians are through to the last four for the first time since 1999 after former French Open junior champion Kimmer Coppejans and Ruben Bemelmans beat Canada's Daniel Nestor and Adil Shamasdin 7-5 3-6 6-4 6-3 in Middelkerke.In Buenos Aires, Argentina comfortably defeated a Serbia side missing this month's Wimbledon champion and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic.Carlos Berlocq and Leonardo Mayer thrashed Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki 6-2 6-4 6-1 on clay to earn a trip to Belgium in what will be the South Americans' 10th semifinal since returning to the World Group in 2002.Who will win the Davis Cup? Have your say on CNN Sport's Facebook page