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Jack Bantock, CNN

2022-03-07 11:01:09

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/07/sport/nikola-jokic-nuggets-jayson-tatum-celtics-spt-intl/index.html

Nikola Jokic's monster triple-double inspires Nuggets to overtime win, Tatum drops 54 against the Nets - CNN

With nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, Nikola Jokic had endured, by his standards, a relatively quiet game.

sport, Nikola Jokic's monster triple-double inspires Nuggets to overtime win, Tatum drops 54 against the Nets - CNN

Nikola Jokic's monster triple-double inspires Nuggets to overtime win, Tatum drops 54 against the Nets

(CNN)With nine minutes left in the fourth quarter, Nikola Jokic had endured, by his standards, a relatively quiet game.The Serb had 16 points and his Denver Nuggets -- having squandered a 21-point lead -- were staring down the barrel of a surprise home defeat to the New Orleans Pelicans.What followed was a devastating display of individual brilliance, as Jokic scored 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime to drag the Nuggets to a 138-130 overtime victory at the Ball Arena.In a week of solo masterclasses in the NBA -- Ja Morant securing a historic 52-point haul before LeBron James dropped 56 against the Golden State Warriors -- Jokic continued the trend with his league-best 17th triple-double of the season.Jokic drives to the basket.The 27-year-old added 12 rebounds and 11 assists to his 46 points, the extent of his one-man carry job underscored by three steals and four blocks.Read MoreIn doing so, Jokic became the first player since 1973, when steals and blocks officially began being tracked, to record such a stat-line, according to the NBA.For his teammates, Jokic's performance was a testament to his status as the league's reigning MVP."MANNNN LISTEN!!!!!!! MVPPPP!!!! MVPPPPP!!!!" Nuggets point guard Bones Hyland tweeted, "NIKOLA JOKIC IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE NBA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"Jokic is the NBA's reigning MVP and his performance had his teammates raving.Aaron Gordon, the Nuggets' second highest scorer with 28 points, was in agreement."Phenomenal," Gordon told reporters, "he's just different.""It's just not something that you see often. He took over ... 30 points in the fourth quarter and overtime? That's sick."He's an amazing ball player and a spectacle to watch," Gordon added.Tatum dazzles against sliding NetsJayson Tatum delivered a spectacular display of his own for the Boston Celtics, dazzling the home fans with 54 points in a 126-120 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.The 24-year-old added five rebounds and three assists to inflict a fourth straight defeat upon a Nets team which featured both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.Tatum driving to the basket.Durant impressed with 37 points, six rebounds and eight assists and Irving added 19 of his own, but the night belonged to Tatum, who has enjoyed a stunning start to March.The three-time All-Star scored 33 points against the Atlanta Hawks and 37 against the Memphis Grizzlies before his explosion on Sunday, helping the Celtics to three consecutive wins.It makes for ominous foreshadowing for the Charlotte Hornets, who Tatum and the Celtics travel to on Wednesday. Tatum starred against the Nets."He's a shot-maker," said Durant of Tatum. "He's an elite shot-maker and he's been knocking them down, playing with confidence lately."Durant became the 23rd player in NBA history to pass the 25,000 career point mark -- the seventh fastest to achieve the feat -- yet must now rally his team to snap a four-game losing streak.Like the Celtics, the Nets also face a trip to the Hornets next, with Tuesday's trip to Charlotte offering them a chance to halt the slide.

Homero De La Fuente, CNN

2022-03-06 16:09:13

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/06/football/queretaro-atlas-soccer-brawl-mexico-spt-intl/index.html

Mexican soccer game brawl: At least 26 injured as fights break out at Liga MX game between Querétaro and Atlas fans - CNN

A mass brawl broke out in the stands of a soccer game in Mexico on Saturday and left at least 26 people injured, two of whom are in a serious condition.

football, Mexican soccer game brawl: At least 26 injured as fights break out at Liga MX game between Querétaro and Atlas fans - CNN

At least 26 injured as fights break out among fans at Mexican soccer game

(CNN)A mass brawl broke out in the stands of a soccer game in Mexico on Saturday and left at least 26 people injured, two of whom are in a serious condition. The Liga MX game between Querétaro and Atlas was abandoned in the second half as fights ensued in the Corregidora stadium.According to Mauricio Kuri, the governor of the state of Querétaro, 24 men and two women were injured. Of those, Kuri said 10 sustained minor injuries and three were deemed in "critical" condition. Photos from the game show fans, some of whom appear bloodied, brawling on the field and in the stands, throwing punches and hitting each other with objects. The game was suspended after fighting broke out between fans. "We utterly condemn the events that occurred today at the Corregidora stadium," said a statement from Querétaro. Read More"We are in communication and coordination with authorities so that they act swiftly against anyone responsible for these events. As an institution, we condemn violence of any kind. We will keep updating."Atlas, the reigning champion of Liga MX, was winning 1-0 when the game was suspended. "Atlas FC regrets and condemns the events that took place at the Corregidora stadium," the club said in a statement. "Soccer must promote values ​​and fun for the whole family. We ask that the appropriate authorities, the BBVA Mexico league and the FMF [Mexican Football Federation], thoroughly investigate up until the ultimate consequences, determine responsibilities for those involved and apply the full force of the law."An object is thrown in the stands of the Corregidora stadium. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, videos and featuresThe FMF said Saturday an investigation had been opened into the events during the game to "analyze and determine what appropriate measures should be taken."Liga MX president Mikel Arriola also said the league's remaining ninth-round games scheduled for Sunday have been postponed in solidarity with those affected by the incidents in Querétaro.In a statement released later on Sunday, FIFA said it was "shocked at the tragic incident" that took place inside the stadium."The violence was unacceptable and intolerable," the statement read. "FIFA joins the Mexican Football Association and Concacaf in condemning this barbaric incident and encouraging the local authorities to bring swift justice to those responsible. "Our thoughts are with all those who suffered its consequences. Once again FIFA would like to stress that violence should have absolutely no place in football and we will continue working with all parties to eradicate it from our game."CONCACAF, the governing body for North and Central America and the Caribbean, said Sunday's "shocking acts of vandalism and violence ... have no place in football or society.""The thoughts of everyone at Concacaf are with the victims of these awful events, and their families," the statement read."Concacaf wholly condemns these types of behaviors. We call on the local authorities to fully investigate these criminal acts, and to hold accountable those who have tarnished our game."The Confederation also believes that strong football sanctions must be applied and will provide any necessary support to the FMF and Liga MX as they investigate."CNN's Karol Saurez, Claudia Dominguez and Wayne Sterling contributed to reporting.

Analysis by Luke McGee, CNN

2022-03-04 14:31:53

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/04/europe/nato-no-fly-zone-ukraine-intl-cmd/index.html

What is NATO and why hasn't it imposed a no-fly zone in Ukraine? - CNN

The 30 member countries of NATO met in Brussels on Friday to discuss the alliance's next steps in Ukraine. Diplomatic efforts have failed to end chaos in the country, eight days after Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to invade.

europe, What is NATO and why hasn't it imposed a no-fly zone in Ukraine? - CNN

What is NATO and why hasn't it imposed a no-fly zone in Ukraine?

(CNN)The 30 member countries of NATO met in Brussels on Friday to discuss the alliance's next steps in Ukraine. Diplomatic efforts have failed to end chaos in the country, eight days after Vladimir Putin ordered Russian troops to invade. The situation inside Ukraine seems unlikely to improve any time soon. A 40-mile Russian convoy headed for the capital, Kyiv, has been stalled for days as Ukrainian fighters hold key areas, while Russian troops have claimed other key strategic areas and, as of this morning, are occupying the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.Despite the bleak situation on the ground, NATO is unwilling to get directly involved in the conflict -- including setting up a no-fly zone -- beyond supporting Ukraine's resistance to an invasion that is killing innocent civilians. NATO's Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, said on Friday that a no-fly zone over Ukraine is not an option being considered by the alliance. "We've agreed that we should not have NATO planes operating over Ukrainian airspace or NATO troops on Ukrainian territory," he said. What is NATO?Read MoreThe North Atlantic Treaty Organization is a group of 30 North American and European nations. According to NATO, its purpose "is to guarantee the freedom and security of its members through political and military means." The alliance was created in 1949 in response to the start of the Cold War. Its original purpose was to protect the West from the threat posed by the Soviet Union. Since the end of the Cold War, many former Soviet nations have joined NATO, much to the annoyance of Putin. What does being a member of NATO mean?Being part of NATO means taking an active role in daily discussions on security and defense matters affecting the alliance. This could range from strategic measures to combat cyberwarfare to moving troops within NATO's borders to protect other members, as has happened during this crisis. Members are supposed to spend 2% of national GDP on defense each year, although few members have done so in recent years. The best-known aspect of the alliance is Article 5 of the treaty, which, if invoked, means "an attack against one Ally is considered as an attack against all Allies."Article 5 has only ever been invoked once, in response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States.However, the alliance can take collective defense measures without invoking Article 5, and points out that it has done this in the light of the Russian attack on Ukraine.What is a no-fly zone?A no-fly zone is an area where certain aircraft cannot fly for any number of reasons. In the context of a conflict such as the one in Ukraine, it would probably mean a zone in which Russian planes were not allowed to fly, to prevent them from carrying out airstrikes against Ukraine. NATO has imposed no-fly zones in non-member countries before, including Bosnia and Libya. However, it is always a controversial move because it means getting semi-involved in a conflict without fully committing ground forces. What would happen if NATO imposed a no-fly zone?The problem with military no-fly zones is that they have to be enforced by military power. If a Russian aircraft flew into a NATO no-fly zone, then NATO forces would have to take action against that aircraft. Those measures could include shooting the plane from the sky. That would, in Russia's eyes, be an act of war by NATO and would likely escalate the conflict. Why hasn't NATO imposed a no-fly zone?Neither Ukraine nor Russia is a member of NATO. Putin clearly sees NATO as a direct threat to his authority and has recently criticized its expansion toward Russia, using it as justification for his invasion of Ukraine. As a result, NATO is extremely reluctant to become directly involved in the Ukraine conflict with a rival nuclear power. While it supports Ukraine's resistance and recognizes Putin's actions as an invasion of a sovereign nation, the alliance is simply not prepared to do anything that could be interpreted as a direct act of war on Russia and risk an escalation that could lead to the use of nuclear weapons. Why does Russia feel threatened by NATO?Putin has long believed that Russia got a bad deal after the breakup of the Soviet Union -- something he has called the "greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century." He has complained that NATO has, over time, expanded its borders by admitting Eastern European countries that were once part of the Soviet Union -- meaning Russia now shares a land border with the world's largest military alliance, thus reducing his geopolitical power in what was once Moscow's sphere of influence. As recently as February, he was demanding that NATO scaled back to the borders of 1997, before the Baltic nations of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, the latter two of which border Russia, joined the alliance.

Rebecca Wright and Olha Konovalova, CNN

2022-03-07 13:08:18

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/07/europe/zaporizhzhia-evacuation-train-station-intl/index.html

Russian takeover of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant triggers new exodus of women and children - CNN

As the evacuation train rolled slowly into the main railroad station in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday, panic began to rise among the hundreds of families desperate to claim a few of the limited spaces on board the service to Lviv, in the west of the country.

europe, Russian takeover of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant triggers new exodus of women and children - CNN

Russian takeover of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant triggers new exodus of women and children

Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine (CNN)As the evacuation train rolled slowly into the main railroad station in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday, panic began to rise among the hundreds of families desperate to claim a few of the limited spaces on board the service to Lviv, in the west of the country.Most of those on the platform were women and children who had waited outside for hours in falling snow and freezing temperatures, trying to position themselves at the spot where the train doors might eventually open.As the train ground to a halt, emotions spilled over, with women saying tearful goodbyes to their husbands and male relatives -- who are banned from leaving the country if aged between 18-60 -- while trying to get their children and belongings on board through the throngs of people.Hanna Iliushchenko (left), 19, with her boyfriend, Serhii Prytulo, 33The exodus from the city and from across Ukraine has been underway since Russia launched its invasion on February 24, with more than a million refugees pouring into neighboring countries. The pace of evacuations from Zaporizhzhia has escalated since Thursday evening, when the nearby nuclear power station in Enerhodar was captured by Russian soldiers, who set fire to a training building adjacent to the plant. Some residents fear the Russians will attack the city itself next, or try to impose power blackouts.The takeover of the power station was the final push for 19-year-old Hanna Iliushchenko and her family to flee the country. They plan to head for Lithuania where they have friends.Read More"The situation is escalating," Iliushchenko said. "My mother and sister decided to leave, so that's why I'm leaving with them."But Iliushchenko said it's "hard" for her to leave her boyfriend, 33-year-old Serhii Prytulo. The couple stood hugging and kissing on the edge of the platform of Zaporizhzhia 1 station as they said their goodbyes."I'm feeling bad. My country (is at) war," Prytulo said. "It's very bad for all the people." But he will stay behind to defend his birthplace, he added.For families with children, their focus is on getting them to safety, either to western Ukraine or out of the country.Parents and children had waited on the platform for hours in freezing temperatures. Oleg Khodarev cradles his two-year-old daughter Vassilisa in his arms and hugs his wife, as he prepares to separate from them with no indication of when they'll be reunited."We just want to save the life of the child," Khodarev said. "We could never imagine this."Their family home is in central Zaporizhzhia near a civilian administration building. They fear that if the city were targeted, they would be in the line of fire."There are no proper bomb shelters," his wife, Natalia, said. "There are only a few basements in houses, but in those you can be easily trapped under ruins."For others, leaving the city involved tough choices about those they had to leave behind.Aleysa Panaseyko, 41, said she made the "hard decision" to travel alone to Lviv, because the 620-mile journey would be too difficult for her parents."They can't go because (they're) old people," Panaseyko said. "This situation (is) very sad."Mykola Tymchishin, 80, said he will stay and fight.Many elderly people have decided to stay in Ukraine, either because they don't want to leave their homes, or because they aren't strong enough to make the trip -- or because they want to help the war effort.80-year-old Mykola Tymchishin stood on the platform behind the jostling crowd, hoping to see his daughter and grandson make it onto the train.Although he could leave, he tells CNN he is "staying to fight" as he "might be of some use here.""I made Molotov cocktails," he said. "I have great rifles. I'm a hunter with 40 years of experience. I'm staying."'A family died... in front of my eyes': Civilians killed as Russian military strike hits evacuation route in Kyiv suburb An ex-paratrooper from the airborne assault battalion in the Soviet army, he shows off a star-shaped medal that he carries around in his coat pocket.He "hates" the invading Russian forces, he said, because of what they are doing to his city and his family -- and because they have been relentlessly bombing the city of Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine, where his other grandson is trapped.Another city under siege by Russia is Mariupol, around 125 miles south of Zaporizhzhia, which is running out of fuel, food and water. Several attempts at evacuation corridors to help civilians escape have failed after Russian forces continued to fire on those routes, Ukrainian officials said.Many residents of Zaporizhzhia fear the same fate could be in store for their city. Elyna, aged 6, with her toy duck Luff Luff Sergiy and Alyona Samkov, who have two young daughters, said they decided to leave a few days ago."When the Russian troops came closer to the Zaporizhzhia region, I decided it was better to get my family out (before) they entered the city itself," 30-year-old Sergiy said. "Because we know that in some cities, like Mariupol, evacuation is impossible. We don't want to wait until we have the same situation."Knowing that she faced a long journey and may eventually have to cross the final stretch of the Polish border on foot, Alyona traveled light, bringing only a stroller and supplies of food and drinks for their two daughters, 6-year-old Elyna and 7-month-old Emilia. Elyna was also allowed to bring a single cuddly toy -- a bright yellow duck called Luff Luff.But despite their desperation to leave, the family have failed to get a place on a train for the past two days."People didn't let us in even though we had a baby," said Alyona, 35. "We lifted her up, but people were pushing each other and we couldn't make it."Putin is wreaking carnage in Ukraine and no one can stop himOn Saturday, some of those waiting eventually gave up hope and turned around, dragging their wheeled suitcases back along the station platform.Nearby, the men who said indefinite goodbyes to their wives and children are ashen-faced, dealing with the uncertainty of what could happen to their families on the long journey west, along with the looming threat of their city being invaded by Russian forces.But many remain defiant -- and ready to fight."The main thing for me is to see my family off," Sergiy Samkov said. "I'll defend our city (and) help the territorial defense forces. I will stay here until the end."

Tara John and Hafsa Khalil, CNN

2022-03-07 12:56:27

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/07/europe/ukraine-russia-weekend-summary-intl/index.html

What happened in Russia's Ukraine invasion over the weekend - CNN

The human toll of the invasion of Ukraine mounted over the weekend as Russia upped its bombardment of civilian areas and infrastructure.

europe, What happened in Russia's Ukraine invasion over the weekend - CNN

What happened in Russia's Ukraine invasion over the weekend

(CNN)The human toll of the invasion of Ukraine mounted over the weekend as Russia upped its bombardment of civilian areas and infrastructure.As conditions worsened in a number of key Ukrainian cities, the United Nations said more than 1.5 million refugees had fled the country so far.Here's what you need to know about what happened over the weekend. Key cities bombarded as plans for evacuation corridors failWestern intelligence officials say Russia is increasing the pace and strength of strikes on key population centers, including the capital Kyiv, in an effort to bombard cities into submission. Read MoreA Russian military strike hit an evacuation crossing point in the Kyiv suburb of Irpin Sunday, killing eight people, including a family with two children and several other civilians trying to flee the Russian invasion. The harrowing scenes were captured by international media, including the New York Times, filming at the checkpoint. They reported a shell landed as a stream of civilians was coming through.Heavy shelling has continued around Kyiv. The impact of explosions was heard over the weekend by CNN teams in the capital and in rural areas to the southwest. Amid the indiscriminate attacks, Kyiv appealed for international help on Sunday, saying thousands of people were isolated "because of direct hostilities, and in some places for 5-6 days they survive without electricity, water, food, medical help and means of subsistence. They are in direct danger," the Kyiv Regional Military Administration wrote.Residents are evacuated from Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, Saturday, March 5, 2022. For the past week, civilians in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, have witnessed Russia's bombardment of residential areas as its military hones in on civilian infrastructure such as schools, shops, hospitals, apartment blocks and churches. This continued over the weekend as Kharkiv's TV tower was targeted in strikes, knocking out television and radio broadcasts, according to local authorities. Ukraine's Emergency Service said a "bombing" that took place on Sunday evening "completely or partially demolished" multi-story residential buildings, administrative buildings, medical institutions, educational institutions and dorms. There were also large-scale fires in 21 buildings in the central part of the city, it added in a statement. Meanwhile, hopes of setting up evacuation corridors for civilians in the southern city of Mariupol were dashed multiple times over the weekend after Ukraine accused Russia of continuing its attacks on those routes. Mariupol, a strategically important port city, has been under siege by Russian forces determined to tighten their grip on Ukraine's south. The city has been without power for days, and it's not clear how many of Mariupol's roughly 400,000 inhabitants have been able to evacuate. But on Sunday the International Committee of the Red Cross said attempts to evacuate some 200,000 people had failed. Also on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia was preparing to bomb the Black Sea port city of Odessa in southern Ukraine, adding that the airport in Vynnytsia, in the west of the country, had been destroyed by a rocket strike.Russia has fired a total of 600 missiles since the invasion of Ukraine began, a senior US defense official told CNN on Sunday, and has committed approximately 95% of its amassed combat power inside Ukraine. CNN has not independently confirmed these figures. Putin dials up threats against West -- as protests mount in RussiaRussian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday issued a series of threats against Ukraine and Western powers, in his first expansive remarks since the invasion began."The current leadership needs to understand that if they continue doing what they are doing, they put under question the future of Ukrainian statehood," Putin said during a meeting with Russian flight crew members at an Aeroflot training center in Moscow. "And if that happens, it will be entirely on their conscience."Putin also said Western sanctions were the "equivalent of a declaration of war," and warned he would consider countries imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine as "participants in a military conflict."Zelensky has repeatedly called on the US and NATO to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, but the US and NATO said this was not an option currently being considered. Meanwhile, anti-war rallies that have sprung up across Russia led to at least 4,640 people being detained on Sunday in connection with the protests, according to an independent human rights monitoring group tracking detentions. The OVD-Info group said arrests had been made in 147 cities, and since the invasion began more than 13,000 people had been arrested in Russia over the demonstrations. Harrowing insights into what Russian occupation looks likeWaving Ukrainian flags and chanting, Ukrainians took to the captured streets of Kherson on Saturday, March 5, to protest Russia's occupation.The southern port city of Kherson was seized by Russian forces last week after days of heavy bombardment and shelling. The Ukrainian flag was still hoisted on government buildings, and the mayor of the city, Ihor Kolykhaiev, remained in his post.Kolykhaiev said Saturday that Russian troops were everywhere and that the city of nearly 300,000 people was without power and water and in desperate need of humanitarian aid.Speaking to CNN, residents of Kherson under Russian occupation describe days of terror confined to their apartments and houses, fearful to go outside for even basic necessities. Russian troops are shooting at anyone who attempts to leave, according to the residents. Grocery stores have been emptied and medicine is running out, residents and officials said.On Saturday, several hundred people gathered in the city's center, with one video of the demonstrations showing people walking into Kherson's main square despite volleys of gunfire. On Sunday, further demonstrations occurred in smaller numbers. West moves to counter RussiaThe multinational effort to get weapons into Ukraine has seen an undisclosed airfield near the Ukrainian border become a hub for shipping weapons, a senior Defense Department official said Sunday. The airport's location remains a secret to protect the shipments of weapons, including anti-armor missiles, into Ukraine. The Russian military has not targeted these shipments once they enter Ukraine, the official said, but there is some concern Russia could begin targeting the deliveries as its assault advances.US European Command (EUCOM) is at the heart of the massive shipment operation, using its liaison network with allies and partners to coordinate "in real time" to send materials into Ukraine, a second Defense official said.Meanwhile, an interview with CNN on Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Biden administration was "now talking to our European partners and allies to look in a coordinated way at the prospect of banning the import of Russian oil." He also said Sunday that the US has seen reports of Russian abuses in Ukraine that "would constitute a war crime" and that the Biden administration is committed to supporting investigations into the country's actionsTamara Qiblawi reported from Lviv. Ivana Kottasová, Radina Gigova, Olga Voitovych, Tim Lister and Josh Pennington, reported from Kyiv. Oren Liebermann and Devan Cole reported from Washington. Heather Yamour contributed to the report. Gianluca Mezzofiore reported from London. Tara John and Hafsa Khalil wrote from London.

Matias Grez, CNN

2022-03-07 11:17:55

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/07/golf/scottie-scheffler-wins-arnold-palmer-invitational-spt-intl/index.html

Scottie Scheffler wins Arnold Palmer Invitational to secure his second title in three starts - CNN

Scottie Scheffler had to overcome not only a stacked field to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but also some brutal conditions that left many of the world's top golfers reeling from a grueling weekend of action.

golf, Scottie Scheffler wins Arnold Palmer Invitational to secure his second title in three starts - CNN

Scottie Scheffler wins Arnold Palmer Invitational to secure his second title in three starts

(CNN)Scottie Scheffler had to overcome not only a stacked field to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but also some brutal conditions that left many of the world's top golfers reeling from a grueling weekend of action.Scheffler's gutsy win at Bay Hill was his second title in three starts after winning February's Phoenix Open, victories that will push the 25-year-old American into the world's top five for the first time.Extra long rough and rapid greens were compounded by windy conditions over the weekend, but Scheffler recorded a bogey free back nine -- including two impressive par saves on 15 and 16 -- to take home the $2.16 million prize money."It feels great to be able to win here," Scheffler told reporters after finishing on five-under par, one clear of Viktor Hovland, Billy Horschel and Tyrrell Hatton. "To be completely honest with you, right now I'm exhausted. This course is a total beatdown trying to play. I'm very pleased I didn't have to play any extra holes today."Read MoreREAD: Tiger Woods wins $8M award for generating positive media interest on PGA Tour -- despite playing just one tournamentFour-time major winner Rory McIlroy hit eight-over par across the weekend to drop to one over for the tournament and a tie for 13th."I feel punch drunk, to be honest," McIlroy, who at one point snapped a club in frustration, told reporters. "It's like crazy golf. You just don't get rewarded for good shots. It can knock your confidence whenever the conditions are like this."Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosAmerican Gary Woodland had a share of the lead going into the final two holes, but a costly double bogey on 17 meant he eventually dropped back to a tie for fifth on three-under."I'm glad I'm off that golf course, I'm glad I'm done," Woodland said. "Frustrating. I played a lot better than the score showed. I can take a lot of positives, but it stings right now."

Tim Lister in Kyiv and Olga Voitovych in Lviv, Ukraine

2022-03-06 17:48:00

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/06/europe/civil-disobedience-ukraine-russian-occupation-cmd-intl/index.html

Defiance and disobedience are flourishing in Russian-held Ukraine - CNN

While the Ukrainian military's resistance against Russia's invasion has been well-documented, the last few days have seen growing popular defiance of Russian forces. In the south of Ukraine, especially, there have been multiple protests in areas where Russian troops have arrived.

europe, Defiance and disobedience are flourishing in Russian-held Ukraine - CNN

Defiance and disobedience are flourishing in Russian-held Ukraine

(CNN)While the Ukrainian military's resistance against Russia's invasion has been well-documented, the last few days have seen growing popular defiance of Russian forces. In the south of Ukraine, especially, there have been multiple protests in areas where Russian troops have arrived. At least several hundred people gathered in the center of Kherson on Saturday to protest the Russian occupation of the Black Sea port.One video of the demonstrations showed people walking into Kherson's main square despite the occasional volley of gunfire. Where that gunfire came from is unclear, but a small detachment of Russian soldiers is seen guarding the Regional Council building. The protesters chanted "Ukrainia," and the largest cheer went up when a young man waving Ukraine's blue-and-yellow flag scrambled onto a Russian troop carrier. Fears grow for Ukrainian civilians after checkpoint is shelled and evacuations fail for a second dayOne man who attended the protests managed to send a sequence of videos to CNN, saying in broken English: "People want to show that Kherson is Ukraine, and all brave people go into this meeting, not afraid of Russian military." Read MoreThere was a further demonstration in Kherson on Sunday. Videos from this event suggest it was smaller but no less determined. An elderly woman looked steadily into the camera in one video and said quietly: "Save our country! Let them all die, together with Putin."The protests in Kherson this weekend were the largest and latest in a growing tide of confrontations in the few Ukrainian towns and cities of any size that Russian forces have taken. They may be an ominous sign for Russian commanders already struggling to break down Ukrainian military resistance. And, despite the risk, this civil disobedience is being urged on from above. On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook message: "Everyone who can defend their city must continue to fight. Must. Because if everyone leaves, then whose city will it be?" And, on Sunday, hundreds of people heeded Zelensky's call and took part in marches throughout the Kherson region, which is close to Russian-controlled Crimea. Waving Ukrainian flags and chanting, citizens took to the streets of Kherson on Saturday March 5, 2022 to protest Russia's occupation.In the city of Nova Kakhovka, a crowd cheered as an elderly woman brandished a broom and dustpan as a welcome to Russian troops. Two men scrambled up a plinth to raise the Ukrainian flag outside the city hall.Later, video emerged of smoke rising from among the crowd amid the sound of gunfire. The Ukrainian news agency Interfax said five people had been injured after Russian forces opened fire -- apparently above the protestors' heads -- and used stun grenades.It seemed like almost every town in Kherson was out on Sunday. In Novooleksiika, hundreds sang the national anthem and shouted "Ukraine is above all" as they walked down a rural road.And in Kalanchak, which lies closer to Crimea, hundreds of people sang the national anthem and shouted "Ukraine is above all" as they walked down a rural road -- with multiple generations of locals bound together in national solidarity.'They shoot at anyone who tries to leave.' Ukrainians describe terror of living under Russian occupation They then unfurled a huge Ukrainian flag and harangued masked and heavily armed Russian soldiers. Women shouted, "Get out of our land, we don't need you! Get out of our land!"Since the middle of last week there have been protests against Russia, often involving just a few dozen people, from Berdyansk on Ukraine's south coast to Konotop, hundreds of miles north between Kyiv and Kharkiv.When the Russian military arrived in Konotop, a small crowd swarmed a Russian military vehicle, yelling abuse. One climbed onto its hood and then tumbled off as it sped away. In Berdyansk, a crowd sang the Ukrainian national anthem outside the city hall, which was occupied by Russian troops last week. Bolder civilians confronted soldiers in a truck, who seemed bewildered. Individual acts of defiance are going viral in a country where the internet and mobile communications remain largely intact, much to the surprise of most people. The footage spread rapidly through Telegram and Facebook -- short, uneven clips where the raw courage of protesters punches through. These are all scattered examples, and they don't amount to organized resistance. But they do demonstrate genuine defiance and opposition to the new order that Russian forces are trying to impose as they gradually take more territory. US officials identify 3 areas where US may take action soon on UkraineThe quandary for the occupying force is finding local officials willing to work under their direction to maintain services in towns and cities where food and medical supplies are running short. The Russians seem poorly prepared to install local administrations. In most cases so far, Russian troops have kept a low profile in the face of civilian protests. They have stood their ground but not reacted. But not always. In a town in the eastern region of Luhansk, which is largely Russian-speaking, residents took to the streets of Novopskov on Friday. "Get out of here! War and death are following you," they chanted. They came back for more on Saturday, when Russian troops shot one man in the leg and fired volleys into the air to disperse a crowd approaching their position. What's unclear is whether the Russians can both control the cities they are beginning to occupy and try to drive forward across this vast country. Russian forces are already experiencing supply issues, according to US officials. Crushing Ukrainian military resistance as well as subduing an emboldened population would be a tall order.

CNN Editorial Research

2012-12-27 22:48:19

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europe

https://www.cnn.com/2012/12/27/world/europe/mario-monti---fast-facts/index.html

Mario Monti Fast Facts - CNN

View CNN's Mario Monti Fast Facts for a look at the life of the economist and former Italian prime minister.

europe, Mario Monti Fast Facts - CNN

Mario Monti Fast Facts

(CNN)Here is a look at the life of economist and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti.PersonalBirth date: March 19, 1943Birth place: Varese, Italy Marriage: Elsa MontiRead MoreChildren: Giovanni and FedericaEducation: Bocconi University, Milan, degree in economics, 1965; Post graduate studies at Yale UniversityReligion: CatholicOther FactsNicknamed Super Mario.Honorary president of Bruegel, a think tank for economic policy. President of Bocconi University.Timeline1970-1979 - Economics professor at the University of Turin.1978-1994 - Writes economic commentary for Corriere della Sera, a daily newspaper.1989-1994 - Rector of Bocconi University.1994 - Becomes president of Bocconi. 1995-1999 - Member of the European Commission as Commissioner for Internal Market, Financial Services and Financial Integration Customs, and Taxation. 1999-2004 - Member of the European Commission as Commissioner for Competition. 2001 - As the European Commission's competition commissioner, Monti engineers the Commission's block of GE's $42 billion acquisition of Honeywell International. 2004 - The European Commission fines Microsoft more than $600 million for being in violation of EU competition law. 2005-2008 - Chairman of Bruegel, a think tank. 2005-2011 - International adviser to Goldman Sachs.November 9, 2011 - Is named senator for life by Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.November 16, 2011 - Is sworn in as Italy's prime minister. December 21, 2012 - Monti resigns.February 24-25, 2013 - Monti's bloc comes in fourth in parliamentary elections.June 2013 - Resumes his role as president of Bocconi University, a position he had given up when he became prime minister.

George Ramsay, CNN

2022-03-05 13:29:03

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/sport/shane-warne-death-state-funeral-spt-intl/index.html

Family of Shane Warne accept state funeral offer as tributes to former cricketer continue - CNN

The family of Australian cricketer Shane Warne has accepted the offer of a state funeral following his death, Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews announced on Sunday.

sport, Family of Shane Warne accept state funeral offer as tributes to former cricketer continue - CNN

Family of Shane Warne accept state funeral offer as tributes to former cricketer continue

(CNN)The family of Australian cricketer Shane Warne has accepted the offer of a state funeral following his death, Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews announced on Sunday. Warne, widely considered one of the greatest cricketers of all time, died on Friday aged 52 after suffering a suspected heart attack in Thailand. The sporting world has since paid tribute to Warne, who took 708 test wickets over the course of his distinguished 15-year career. "I've spoken with the Warne family again today and they have accepted my offer of a State Funeral to remember Shane," Andrews wrote on Twitter."It will be an opportunity for Victorians to pay tribute to his contribution to his sport, to our state and the country.Read More"Details will be finalised in coming days."In a separate tweet on Saturday, Andrews also said that the Great Southern Stand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will be renamed the S.K. Warne Stand as a "permanent tribute" to the spin bowler, who was brought up in the Melbourne suburb of Black Rock. Flowers, photos, beer cans and scarves were placed outside the MCG and under a statue a Warne on Saturday. Flowers are placed at the base of a statue dedicated to Warne at the MCG. Meanwhile, a moment of silence was observed and players wore black armbands in memory of Warne and former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh, whose death was also announced this week, during Australia's Women's World Cup opener against England. During the match, leg spinner Alana King twice patted her black armbands after taking the wicket of Tammy Beaumont. And ahead of the second day of the men's test between Australia and Pakistan, a moment's silence was also held in memory of Warne and the victims of the Peshawar bomb attack, which has left at least 61 people dead and 196 injured. In the crowd, fans paid tributes to Warne with signs that read "long live the king of spin," "legends never die," and "the magic will stay forever." "We only heard (about Warne's death) as we were leaving the ground here yesterday," Australian captain Pat Cummins said ahead of the day's action. "We've just encouraged everyone to talk about it, to look after each other. Everyone's worked through it differently. Everyone knew Shane, some people knew him better than others."Queensland players walk in the outfield during a tribute to Warne at the Sheffield Shield match between Queensland and South Australia.Ricky Ponting, the former Australian test captain, also paid tribute to his former teammate on Saturday, writing on Twitter: "We were teammates for more than a decade, riding all the highs and lows together. "Through it all he was someone you could always count on, someone who loved his family, someone who would be there for you when you needed him and always put his mates first."The greatest bowler I ever played with or against. RIP King."

Jacob Lev, CNN

2022-03-06 03:21:22

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/sport/tar-heels-defeat-blue-devils/index.html

North Carolina defeats Duke, spoils Mike Krzyzewski's final home game - CNN

University of North Carolina spoiled Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski's final home at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

sport, North Carolina defeats Duke, spoils Mike Krzyzewski's final home game - CNN

North Carolina defeats Duke, spoils Mike Krzyzewski's final home game

(CNN)University of North Carolina spoiled Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski's final home at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Saturday. The Tar Heels defeated the #4 ranked Blue Devils 94-81 to hand their rivals their fifth loss of the season. After 42 years and five national championships, the 75-year-old Krzyzewski, who is the all-time winningest coach in men's Division I college basketball, will be retiring from coaching following the conclusion of the 2022 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. Duke Blue Devils fans hold up a sign of head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils during the first half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium.Duke associate coach and former Blue Devils player Jon Scheyer will take over as head coach starting next season. "Coach K," as he is affectionately known, led the Duke men's program to five national championships in 42 seasons, in 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and 2015, according to the NCAA. Read MoreAfter the game, the school held a ceremony to honor Coach K despite the loss. "I'm sorry about this afternoon," Krzyzewski said addressing the sellout crowd. "... it's unacceptable. Today was unacceptable, but the season has been very acceptable." Head coach Mike Krzyzewski of the Duke Blue Devils looks on as he is recognized prior to a game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium.There were 96 former Duke players in attendance to watch the game Saturday, including Christian Laettner, Grant Hill, Elton Brand, and JJ Reddick. Krzyzewski said with his family by his side, "Our family has grown up here. 10 grandchildren, our three beautiful daughters and we have absolutely loved being a part of the Duke family. It's hard for me to believe this is over and so I'm just going to say the regular season is over all right?" Duke is the top seed in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) tournament which is scheduled to start March 8 through March 12. The first round of the NCAA men's tournament is scheduled to begin March 15.

CNN Editorial Research

2013-04-29 13:50:05

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europe

https://www.cnn.com/2013/04/29/world/europe/ratko-mladic-fast-facts/index.html

Ratko Mladic Fast Facts - CNN

Read CNN's Ratko Mladic Fast Facts for a look at the life of former leader of the Bosnian Serb army, indicted for genocide and other war crimes.

europe, Ratko Mladic Fast Facts - CNN

Ratko Mladic Fast Facts

(CNN)Here is a look at the life of Ratko Mladic, former leader of the Bosnian Serb army, sentenced to life in prison for genocide and other war crimes. PersonalBirth date: March 12, 1942 Birth place: Kalnovik, Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina)Birth name: Ratko MladicRead MoreFather: Nedja MladicMother: Stana MladicMarriage: Bosiljka MladicChildren: Darko and Ana Timeline1965 - Graduates from a military academy and joins the Communist Party. 1992 - As a commander in the Bosnian Serb army, Mladic leads the siege of Sarajevo. July 1995 - Mladic spearheads an attack on the town of Srebrenica. Approximately 8,000 Muslim men and boys are killed. 1995 - Mladic is indicted by the UN-established International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for war crimes and atrocities. July 1996 - An international warrant is issued for his arrest. 1996-2001 - He takes refuge in Belgrade with the protection of Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic. 2001 - Mladic goes into hiding after Milosevic is arrested. October 12, 2007 - Serbian officials offer one million euros for information leading to the capture of Mladic. May 26, 2011 - Mladic is arrested in Serbia.July 4, 2011 - Mladic refuses to enter a plea so the presiding judge enters not guilty pleas to all counts against him.May 16, 2012 - Mladic's trial begins. He's charged with two counts of genocide, nine crimes against humanity and war crimes.January 28, 2014 - He refuses to testify at the genocide trial of former Bosian Serb Leader Radovan Karadzic and denounces the ICTY court as "satanic."October 23, 2014 - The ICTY announces that the court will hear details about a mass grave investigators believe has ties to Mladic. December 7, 2016 - During closing arguments, prosecutors recommend a life sentence for Mladic. December 15, 2016 - Mladic's trial is adjourned. Three UN judges begin deliberating on his fate. The process could take up to a year.November 22, 2017 - Mladic is sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity.March 22, 2018 - Appeals his conviction and sentence.August 25-26, 2020 - Mladic's appeal hearing takes place.June 8, 2021 - A UN court upholds Mladic's conviction and life sentence.

Joshua Berlinger, CNN

2022-03-05 14:09:07

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europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/europe/world-changes-ukraine-russia-intl-cmd/index.html

Four ways the world has changed since Russia invaded Ukraine - CNN

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has taken hundreds of lives on the battlefield and in the Ukrainian cities under bombardment. But internationally, it's also affecting everything from food security in Cairo to gas prices in California. It's pushed to the fore major geopolitical shifts and changed the way some of the globe's most prominent institutions work.

europe, Four ways the world has changed since Russia invaded Ukraine - CNN

Four ways the world has changed since Russia invaded Ukraine

(CNN)Russia's invasion of Ukraine has taken hundreds of lives on the battlefield and in the Ukrainian cities under bombardment. But internationally, it's also affecting everything from food security in Cairo to gas prices in California. It's pushed to the fore major geopolitical shifts and changed the way some of the globe's most prominent institutions work. Here are four ways the world has changed in the 10 days since war returned to Europe.A shifting world orderThe invasion of Ukraine didn't usher in a new era of big power politics. It was the violent exclamation point confirming one of the most significant changes in the geopolitical world order since 9/11.In the ensuing years, global terrorism consumed much of Western leaders' attention. Al Qaeda and ISIS were the enemies that needed countering. The Kremlin was no longer viewed as the same threat it once was -- so much so that, in 2012, President Barack Obama mocked then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney as out of touch for calling Russia the number-one geopolitical foe of the United States. People form a human chain to transfer supplies on Thursday in Kyiv, Ukraine. Read MoreBy that time, Putin had already shown he was keen to upend the post-Cold War order. The former KGB intelligence officer took office in 2000 vowing to restore Russia's former glory, sometimes through military force. As prime minister in 1999, he launched an offensive in the Russian republic of Chechnya against separatist guerrillas. In 2008, the Kremlin invaded Georgia and recognized two breakaway republics in the country, which at the time was growing closer to Europe. Later, Putin's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad -- ostensibly as an ally in the war on terror -- earned him no favors with Western democracies, not least because of the credible reports of the Syrian dictator's decision to attack his own people with chemical weapons. Putin's decision to annex Crimea in 2014 and back separatists in eastern Ukraine led to sanctions and were roundly condemned. So too were Russia's alleged attempts to assassinate its enemies on foreign soil. But Putin remained an important player and partner, albeit an unsavory one, for leaders from Washington to Warsaw during the 2010s. Russia was important factor in the fight against ISIS; Europe's main energy supplier; and helped negotiate major diplomatic pacts like the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Last week's invasion may have ended that. After a quarter century of the Western world dealing with Putin, he may have finally pushed the envelope and become a pariah.In response, the Western world has hit Russia with unprecedented sanctions that have crippled its financial institutions, sending its economy and the ruble into a tailspin, and even targeted Putin and some of his inner circle personally. "Putin is now isolated from the world more than he has ever been," the US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday in his State of the Union address. A more unified Europe Russia's invasion has also prompted the European Union to make security decisions that would have been unthinkable a few weeks ago. Though the bloc has for years been one of the world's most powerful economic players, it had failed to turn that strength into equivalent geopolitical might. The EU has, historically, been divided over exactly how much central control Brussels should have over foreign policy. This has stood in the way of the EU's lofty global ambitions, as policy proposals were watered down in negotiations or simply vetoed. Europe's thinking on defense, security and foreign affairs has evolved light years in the matter of a few days. It is now waking up from a decades-long dream that the stability provided by an interconnected world would prevent war breaking out and that, should the worst happen, America would sort it out.The shock of war returning to Europe has unified the EU's 27 member states. The bloc is now wielding its economic might for geopolitical purposes, targeting Russia with the strongest package of sanctions it has ever imposed.The bloc has, for the first time ever, provided finance to purchase weapons for Ukraine. Germany, which has for decades been averse to a militarized approach to foreign policy, is now taking part in arming Ukraine and boosting its own military spending in response to the invasion."The crisis in Ukraine has shattered the illusion that security and stability in Europe comes for free," one senior European diplomat told CNN this week. "When there was no real threat, geopolitics seemed remote. Now there is a war on our border. Now we know we have to pay up and act together."A million people on the moveOne million people fled their homes in the first seven days since Russia invaded Ukraine -- one of the fastest and largest migrations of humanity in recent memory. To put that in context, it took three months for one million refugees to leave Syria in 2013 when departures were at their highest.If fighting continues and, as one French source close to President Emmanuel Macron said, the worst is yet to come, Europe could face an unprecedented refugee crisis. "I have worked in refugee emergencies for almost 40 years, and rarely have I seen an exodus as rapid as this one," said Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees.There have also been multiple reports of racism against people of color and non-Ukrainians at the border. The future of the refugees remains unclear. If Russia topples the democratically elected Ukrainian government, will these people want to return home? And what if, after the fighting, they no longer have homes to return to? JUST WATCHEDSee how 1 million new refugees have fled UkraineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHSee how 1 million new refugees have fled Ukraine 02:19Food and fuelGas prices in the United States have made their biggest hikes since after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Experts are worried that food prices could spike after already "sharply" rising last year. And Moody's is warning that global supply chains, already hammered by the Covid-19 pandemic, could be further thrown into chaos. Stocks around the world fell on Friday, with Europe taking a particularly rough beating.Fuel prices are displayed on a sign at a gas station on Thursday in Hampshire, Illinois. The fighting in Ukraine has had economic and human costs across the globe, especially when it comes to energy.Though Europe has said for years it needs to wean itself off Russian energy, Moscow is the EU's biggest supplier of oil and natural gas. Europe could survive if Russia shut off the supply, but it wouldn't be cheap or easy.The conflict is also a pocketbook issue that could determine whether families can put food on the table. In Ukraine alone, three to five million people are going to need food support immediately, World Food Programme (WFP) Executive Director David Beasley said. But Russia and Ukraine are also some of the world's leading producers of wheat. Together, they account for 23% of all global exports, according to S&P Global."Fears of conflict hanging over two of the world's major suppliers are clearly going to have some impact on prices, when there is already a sense of shortage," said Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the European Council of Foreign Affairs.Though Ukraine is dubbed the breadbasket of Europe, concerns are particularly acute in the Middle East -- Kyiv's third-largest wheat buyer in the 2020/2021 market year, according to the US Department of Agriculture. More than 40% of the country's recent wheat exports went to the Middle East or Africa alone.CNN's Luke McGee, Matt Egan, Chris Isidore, Nadeen Ebrahim and Eoin McSweeney contributed to this report

Emma Tucker, CNN

2022-03-05 06:00:55

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/sport/duke-coach-final-game/index.html

Mike Krzyzewski: Final home game for Duke Blue Devils coach after 42 seasons - CNN

Duke University's Mike Krzyzewski, the all-time winningest coach in men's Division I college basketball, is set to coach his final home game in North Carolina on Saturday after announcing his retirement last year.

sport, Mike Krzyzewski: Final home game for Duke Blue Devils coach after 42 seasons - CNN

Duke basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski coaches final home game after 42 seasons

(CNN)Duke University's Mike Krzyzewski, the all-time winningest coach in men's Division I college basketball, is set to coach his final home game in North Carolina on Saturday after announcing his retirement last year. The Duke Blue Devils are scheduled to play against their rival, the North Carolina Tar Heels, at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN. "Coach K," as he is affectionately known, has led the men's program to five national championships in 42 seasons -- in 1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and 2015, according to the NCAA. If the Tar Heels win Saturday's game against the Devils, it would almost guarantee the team an at-large bid in the NCAA Tournament after losing against the Pittsburgh Panthers last month, according to CNN affiliate WTVD. Krzyzewski held a news conference Thursday, telling reporters he has "tried not to think about it that much but I know it will be emotional." Read MoreDuke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski directs his team during a game against the Appalachian State Mountaineers on December 16, 2021."By being in one place and having a good level of success throughout, you're able to form a lot of friendships," he said.Krzyzewski said he will have "nothing to do with our basketball program" after his retirement, but he and his wife will stay on as ambassadors for the university. "It was mine for 42 years, but it's Duke's forever. Whatever I can do to help Duke and Duke athletics, I will do," he said. Krzyzewski has chosen Duke associate head coach and former Blue Devils player Jon Scheyer to become the school's next head coach, according to Stadium's Jeff Goodman.While at Duke, Krzyzewski developed some of the biggest stars in the NBA, including Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram. Krzyzewski started coaching while he was in the Army, starting in 1969, according to Duke. He left the military as a captain in 1974.From there, he was head coach at the US Military Academy Prep School at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, for two years before landing a graduate assistant coaching position at Indiana University, the release said. He did that for another year before returning to his alma mater, West Point, in 1975 as a head coach. Krzyzewski took the reins as Duke head coach in 1980, according to the university. In announcing his retirement last year, Krzyzewski said in a statement that he and his family viewed the decision as a celebration. He is also "thankful and honored" to have led two college programs -- West Point and Duke -- along with the United States National Team as head basketball coach, he said.Krzyzewski was appointed head coach of Team USA in 2005. Under his reign, the team won gold medals in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics. CNN's Amir Vera and David Close contributed to this report.

Jacob Lev, CNN

2022-03-05 06:50:45

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/sport/mlb-cancels-training-bargaining-agreement/index.html

MLB cancels more spring training games as owners and players try to hammer out a new labor deal - CNN

Major League Baseball on Friday canceled spring training games through at least March 17 as negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players' union drag on.

sport, MLB cancels more spring training games as owners and players try to hammer out a new labor deal - CNN

MLB cancels more spring training games as negotiations drag on between owners and players

(CNN)Major League Baseball on Friday canceled spring training games through at least March 17 as negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players' union drag on. On Tuesday, MLB postponed the March 31 Opening Day and canceled the first two series of regular-season games after a deal wasn't finalized. A collective bargain agreement determines players' terms and conditions of employment. Players will not be paid for canceled games, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred noted.The league indicated that it's prepared to continue negotiations while the union said that team owners are trying to crack the players' united front. "We worked hard to avoid an outcome that's bad for our fans, bad for our players and bad for our clubs," Manfred told reporters earlier this week. "I want to assure our fans that our failure to reach an agreement was not due to a lack of effort by either party."Read MoreThe league had initially canceled all spring training games through March 7, and MLB's Opening Day was slated for March 31. The commissioner said games were canceled and not postponed because it is not feasible to reschedule interleague games.The earliest spring training games could start is currently March 18.MLB lockout: what we know -- a timelineThe players' union on Tuesday criticized the league's decision to postpone Opening Day and the cancellation of regular reason games, saying in a statement that players -- and fans -- are "disgusted, but sadly not surprised.""From the beginning of these negotiations, Players' objectives have been consistent -- to promote competition, provide fair compensation for young Players, and to uphold the integrity of our market system," the union said. "Against the backdrop of growing revenues and record profits, we are seeking nothing more than a fair agreement."The league locked out the players on December 2, preventing them from using team facilities and keeping free agents from signing new contracts. The halt stems from disagreements over how to distribute an estimated $11 billion in annual revenue.Owners say they have been battered by the decline of in-person attendance due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and they have pushed to sign a new CBA similar to the most recent one.Players, meanwhile, have seen their salaries decline in recent years, particularly for non-star players. The union has pushed to change the league's restrictive rules around free agency and cut down on financial penalties for teams that spend heavily.CNN's Wayne Sterling, Steve Almasy, Kevin Dotson, Jill Martin and Eric Levenson contributed to this report.

Kerry Flynn, CNN

2022-03-05 17:30:07

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/sport/mlb-lockout-explainer-baseball-spt-intl/index.html

MLB lockout: What is it? Why is it happening? When is it over? - CNN

Major League Baseball's biggest stars and newest faces should be at their respective spring training camps in Florida and Arizona preparing for Opening Day on March 31. Instead, MLB ownership announced on Tuesday that it will begin canceling regular season games due to a self-inflicted lockout for the first time in 27 years.

sport, MLB lockout: What is it? Why is it happening? When is it over? - CNN

MLB lockout: What is it? Why is it happening? When is it over?

(CNN)Major League Baseball's biggest stars and newest faces should be at their respective spring training camps in Florida and Arizona preparing for Opening Day on March 31. Instead, MLB ownership announced on Tuesday that it will begin canceling regular season games due to a self-inflicted lockout for the first time in 27 years. "We worked hard to avoid an outcome that's bad for our fans, bad for our players and bad for our clubs. Our failure to reach an agreement was not due to a lack of effort by either party," MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday following the announcement. But what is a lockout? Why is it happening? And how long could this go on?What is a lockout?It is important to note that a lockout is not the same as a strike. To be considered a strike, the players would have to impose the work stoppage; but in this case, the ownership group is the party responsible for refusing to permit the league from operating without reaching a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) -- the governing document between the owners and the players.Read MoreAs it's likely that players would choose to strike without a CBA regardless of ownership's decision, ownership can utilize a lockout as a way of gaining leverage by controlling the timing of negotiations. As MLB Players Association (MLBPA) executive Tony Clark said: "A lockout is the ultimate economic weapon. In a $10 billion dollar industry, the owners have decided to use this weapon against the greatest asset they have: the players."Without a new CBA, not only will games continue to be canceled, but MLB players will also continue to be barred from their team facilities altogether.MLB commissioner Rob Manfred (second left) attends negotiations with the MLB Players' Association at the start of this week. Additionally, no free agent signings or trades are permitted, leaving many with an uncertain future or no team at all. Until a new CBA is reached, MLB players will not receive regular payment, unless they have a previously scheduled signing bonus or deferred salary due. MLB cancels more spring training games as negotiations drag on between owners and playersThe players are not the only party to suffer the consequences of an ongoing lockout. With no broadcast revenue or fans packing stadiums, owners risk missing out on hundreds of millions of dollars if the season does not get underway in a timely manner.While most team revenue numbers are not available to the public, the Atlanta Braves are owned by a public corporation, Liberty Media, and their 2021 earnings report shows earnings of approximately $568 million. And this doesn't account for begrudging fan engagement and even outright protests once the league has resumed, which even Manfred admits would be a "disastrous outcome." Why has the lockout happened?So what issues could cause something as unfavorable for both parties as a lockout? The largest issue comes down to money.A report by the Associated Press shows that average player salaries have declined for four consecutive years, dropping by 6.4% from $4.45 million in 2017 to $4.17M on Opening Day 2021. This is largely due to the enforcement of the competitive balance tax -- more commonly known as the luxury tax.Despite not having a hard salary cap, MLB taxes any team that surpasses a certain amount in player salaries, thus imposing a de facto salary cap. In 2021, that amount was $210 million.According to a union official, MLB owners proposed increasing the luxury tax limit to $220 million in 2022 and maintaining that same limit for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, while the MLB Players' Association (MLBPA) proposed a jump to a $238 million limit in 2022, increasing up to $250 million in 2024. Baseball players hold an informal training session in Mesa, Arizona, this week amid the ongoing lockout. With teams continuing to rake in profit year after year, a stagnant luxury tax would keep player salaries at a standstill. Additionally, the MLBPA argues that the luxury tax actually discourages competition and incentivizes a reliance on younger, lower-paid players.According to a union official, MLB and the MLBPA also remain $55 million apart in their demands for a newly established pre-arbitration bonus pool, and $25,000 apart in minimum salary expectations. With MLB taking in an estimated $11 billion in annual revenue, negotiations over who deserves what cut remain alarmingly far apart. Are there other issues than money at play?While the most substantial issues come down to revenue allocation, the MLBPA has also affirmed its commitment "to promote competition."Both MLB and the MLBPA have agreed to changing the format of the annual amateur draft, with MLB proposing a replica of the NBA and NHL's weighted draft lottery for the top four selections. The MLBPA wants to go a step further and expand the number of teams included in the lottery to seven to further discourage the practice of "tanking" -- where a team loses games on purpose to set itself up for a better draft pick.Both parties also agreed to an expanded postseason, but MLB is fighting for a 14-team playoff while the MLBPA prefers 12 teams.MLB and the MLBPA also expressed mutual concern over reported service time manipulation -- the practice of keeping major league ready players in the minors to lengthen the amount of time a club owns their rights -- but remain at a distance on how to handle it, with MLB using the introduction of a largely opposed international draft as a bargaining chip in exchange for accepting some of the MLBPA's proposals regarding this issue. A fan in Jupiter, Florida, protests against a lockout. So what's next? When will there be baseball?With both parties still miles apart on many points of negotiation, the future of the lockout -- and of MLB -- remains unclear. While the league described Tuesday's offer as their "best and final offer," it is not their "last, best offer," which would declare a legal impasse and allow the owners to impose said offer without an agreement from the MLBPA."Our negotiations are deadlocked right now, but that's different than using the legal term 'impasse,' and I'm not going to do that right now," Manfred said of the situation. This could signify that MLB owners would likely return to the negotiation table with the MLBPA, but it doesn't guarantee anything.After the most recent negotiations in Florida, both organizations returned to their headquarters in New York, despite Clark's claim that the union would have stayed if MLB had. Manfred responded: "We have made the last proposal, so you draw your own conclusion as to who ought to go next." If negotiations do not move forward "in good faith" and MLB declares an impasse, the situation will likely end up in court, with the MLBPA likely suing MLB for unfair labor practices. For now, the road back to an MLB season remains murky and doubtful.

Tamara Qiblawi and Gianluca Mezzofiore, CNN

2022-03-05 21:07:18

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europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/europe/ukraine-kherson-russian-occupation-cmd-intl/index.html

'They shoot at anyone who tries to leave.' Ukrainians describe terror of living under Russian occupation - CNN

People living in Kherson under Russian occupation describe days of terror confined to their apartments and houses, fearful to go outside for even basic necessities -- their city now a dystopian shell of the home they knew and loved.

europe, 'They shoot at anyone who tries to leave.' Ukrainians describe terror of living under Russian occupation - CNN

'They shoot at anyone who tries to leave.' Ukrainians describe terror of living under Russian occupation

Lviv, Ukraine (CNN)A volley of machine-gun fire erupted just as Andriy Abba's family raised a toast to celebrate his 30th birthday in Kherson. Wine glass in hand, he rushed with his parents and younger brother to the basement. Outside, Russian troops were in the final throes of occupying their city -- the first to fall to Moscow since its bloody invasion began a week ago. As the day wore on, Abba said, the rattling of bullets and thuds of explosion began to fade. At around midnight, silence descended on the city. "And that's when we knew," Abba told CNN. "It was very sad." Kherson, a key port city on the Black Sea, in southern Ukraine, was overrun by Russian forces in the early hours of Wednesday, after days of heavy bombardment and shelling. The Ukrainian flag was still hoisted on government buildings, and the mayor of the city, Ihor Kolykhaiev, remained in his post. Read MoreOn Saturday, Kolykhaiev announced that Russian troops were everywhere, and the city of nearly 300,000 people was without power and water, and in desperate need of humanitarian aid. Kolykhaiev said that the Russian forces had "settled in" to the city, and showed no signs of leaving.JUST WATCHEDKherson mayor indicates first major Ukrainian city has fallenReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHKherson mayor indicates first major Ukrainian city has fallen 02:51"We have a lot of people here in need. We have cancer patients. Children who need medication. This medication is not currently getting through to them," he told CNN, adding that the Russians wanted to send aid, but residents were refusing it.People living in Kherson under Russian occupation describe days of terror confined to their apartments and houses, fearful to go outside for even basic necessities -- their city now a dystopian shell of the home they knew and loved. Checkpoints manned by Russian troops pepper the city's streets, five Kherson residents told CNN in recent phone calls. The roads are virtually empty because inhabitants have either fled the fighting, or are staying indoors for fear of encountering Russian soldiers. Grocery stores have been emptied and medicine is running out, residents and officials said. Russian troops have encircled the city and are shooting at anyone who attempts to leave, according to the residents, including a top local health official who CNN is not naming for security reasons. "Even if we wanted to evacuate women and children from here, it's just plain impossible. They shoot at anyone who tries to leave." Andriy Abba, a Kherson resident On Thursday, Russian forces shot two men at a checkpoint after they attempted to pass, killing one and seriously wounding the other, the official told CNN. Russian troops have also prohibited ambulances from leaving the city's perimeters to reach villages in the province, according to the official. A woman going through a long and dangerous labor in the outskirts of the city had to resort to a panicked video consultation with her doctor because Russian forces had blocked a medical team trying to assist with the birth, the official said."After about a day of the local authorities begging the Russians, the mother and the child were allowed to pass to the hospital," said the official. "It was horrible." Andriy Abba, who works as a tax lawyer, says he is determined to stay in Kherson regardless of the occupation, for as long as the Ukrainian flag remains flying on government buildings. "Even if we wanted to evacuate women and children from here, it's just plain impossible," he added. "They shoot at anyone who tries to leave." Ukrainian authorities have been working to establish the safe exit of civilians from besieged areas in ongoing negotiations with Moscow. Russia agreed to hold fire Saturday from 9 a.m. Kyiv time, and create humanitarian corridors allowing residents to escape the southern cities of Mariupol and Volnovakha -- the first tangible sign of cooperation. But the agreement quickly fell apart, stalling evacuations, Ukrainian officials said. The government accused Russian forces of shelling the cities, and even targeting the evacuation corridors out of them. "Surrounded cities that are being destroyed" are "experiencing the worst days," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement on Saturday. "Humanitarian corridors must work today. Mariupol and Volnovakha. To save people. Women, children, the elderly. To give food and medicine to those who remain." Yulia Alekseeva, a mother of a two-month-old, said she is struggling to find diapers and other baby products. "There are catastrophically few in the city. We also have a grandmother with dementia who needs diapers and medicines on an ongoing basis, which are also not available," she told CNN. "We are in hiding. There is a curfew in the city, if people go out after eight in the evening, they shoot to kill." Yulia Alekseeva, a Kherson resident Like most of the city's residents, Alekseeva has hunkered down with her family, leaving her house only to search for basic necessities. "We are in hiding. There is a curfew in the city, if people go out after eight in the evening, they shoot to kill. You can move in the company of no more than two people," she said.But she remains defiant, adding: "The Ukrainian flag is still over Kherson, the city did not surrender to the invaders. The military said not to provoke them and everyone would be alive." On Saturday, a large crowd of protesters took to the occupied streets of Kherson, waving Ukrainian flags and coming face-to-face with Russian forces. The troops appeared to fire live bullets in the air to disperse the crowds, social media video showed. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba shared footage of the scenes on Twitter, praising the demonstrators. "Courageous Kherson inspires Ukraine and the world! Thousands of peaceful Ukrainians protests Russian occupation in front of armed Russian soldiers. What a spirit," he wrote Saturday. Courageous Kherson inspires Ukraine and the world! Thousands of peaceful Ukrainians protest Russian occupation in front of armed Russian soldiers. What a spirit. I call on everyone around the globe: express your support for the fearless Ukrainians in Kherson! #CourageousKherson pic.twitter.com/olZoMs6ebm— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) March 5, 2022 From her apartment in Kherson where she cares for her grandmother, Svetlana Zorina told CNN she would stay in the city "for as long as the Ukrainian flag stands and the mayor is Ukrainian." On Friday, she went to the grocery store only to find empty shelves, and then headed to the apartment of her mother, who is abroad, where she collected pasta and rice. "We are, here, very afraid that we will become part of Russia. We don't want history to repeat like with Crimea," she said, referring to Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula in 2014. "We're less afraid to be under bombs than to become a part of Russia." It's something Abba is convinced won't happen in his city. Though he is consumed with fears of Russian annexation, he argued that in contrast to Crimea, which fell relatively bloodlessly, Kherson has put up a stiff resistance to occupation."The Russians have crossed a line multiple times," he said. "There cannot be [another] Crimea." Tamara Qiblawi wrote and reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Gianluca Mezzofiore wrote and reported from London. Alisha Ebrahimji contributed to this report.

Steve Almasy, CNN

2022-03-05 05:24:36

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/05/sport/gymnastics-federation-ban-russia-belarus-spt-intl/index.html

Russian and Belarusian gymnasts and officials banned from competitions starting Monday - CNN

Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials will be banned indefinitely from competitions, the International Gymnastics Federation announced Friday.

sport, Russian and Belarusian gymnasts and officials banned from competitions starting Monday - CNN

Russian and Belarusian gymnasts and officials banned from international competitions starting Monday

(CNN)Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials will be banned indefinitely from competitions, the International Gymnastics Federation announced Friday.The decision means athletes and officials, including judges, from those two federations are barred from taking part in the Acrobatic Gymnastics World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, from March 10-13.It is the latest ban of a Russian sports program since Vladimir Putin's forces invaded Ukraine eight days ago.The ban begins Monday, after the end of a World Cup event in Doha, Qatar.Opening Ceremony: Call for peace as Ukraine's presence keenly felt at Winter ParalympicsOn Saturday, the federation had announced Russian and Belarusian national flags would not be displayed, and the two countries' anthems will not be played at any sanctioned event. Five events scheduled to take place this year in the two countries were canceled.Read More"The FIG (Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique) would like to stress that these exceptional and emergency measures are decided and issued in view of the above-mentioned extraordinary circumstances," the governing body said. "They constitute preventive measures aiming at preserving the integrity of Gymnastics, the safety and integrity of members and all athletes and participants, and at fighting against all forms of violence and of sports injustice."Russian and Belarusian nationals who are members of the FIG Executive Committee or of FIG technical committees are not affected by this measure when acting in their capacity as FIG Authorities."Russian Olympic Committee wins gold in women's team gymnastics as Team USA hit by Simone Biles withdrawalRussia has a long, successful history in gymnastics. The men's and women's artistic teams won gold medals at the Olympics held in Tokyo last year. The rhythm gymnastics team won silver.But those athletes competed for the Russian Olympic Committee teams because the country has been banned from major international competitions like the Olympics and World Cup through December 16 by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Russian athletes could not associate with their country's name, flag and national anthem but could still compete if they could prove they have no link to the doping scheme.After the invasion of Ukraine, teams from Russia have been banned entirely from competition in sports like football and athletics.Russian and Belarusian athletes are not allowed to participate as neutrals at the Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced this week.CNN's Jill Martin contributed to this report.

Ben Church, CNN

2022-03-04 11:44:54

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/04/football/scotland-ukraine-world-cup-qualifier-spt-intl/index.html

FIFA: Ukraine request postponement of 2022 World Cup qualifier against Scotland - CNN

Football's world governing body has confirmed it received a request from the Ukrainian FA to postpone its 2022 World Cup qualifier against Scotland.

football, FIFA: Ukraine request postponement of 2022 World Cup qualifier against Scotland - CNN

Ukraine request postponement of 2022 World Cup qualifier against Scotland

(CNN)Football's world governing body has confirmed it received a request from the Ukrainian FA to postpone its 2022 World Cup qualifier against Scotland.The tie is currently scheduled for March 24, but there are doubts as to whether it will go ahead amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. In a statement on Friday, FIFA said it "remains in regular contact with UEFA and the Scottish Football Association to find an appropriate solution."It added: "FIFA expresses its deepest solidarity to everybody affected by what is happening in Ukraine. A further update will be provided in due course."Winter Paralympics set to get underway in Beijing following exclusion of Russia and BelarusThe winner of the tie will face either Wales or Austria for a place at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which is set to begin on November 21. Read MoreMany members of Ukraine's national team play in the country's domestic top-flight which has been halted in light of the Russian invasion. The Scottish FA released a statement of support for its opponents last week and said it would work with FIFA to find a solution. "Football is inconsequential amid conflict, but we have conveyed the strong sense of solidarity communicated to us by Scotland fans and citizens in recent days," it read.READ: These are the sports that have sanctioned Russia"The Scotland Men's and Women's National Teams stand in solidarity with our fellow participants from Ukraine's football community."A match, no matter how significant on the pitch, feels unimportant right now, but we intend to express our friendship and unity when we face each other next month."In the meantime we pray for your wellbeing and the safety of all those people needlessly suffering. Until we meet, we send our love."Two young footballers have already been killed in Ukraine, according to a number of sporting organizations, since the invasion stated on February 24.The football world has since rallied to support Ukraine, with gestures made before and during matches across Europe. In a joint statement released on Monday, FIFA and UEFA suspended all Russian international and club teams from their competitions "until further notice."

Issy Ronald, CNN

2022-03-04 11:00:31

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/04/sport/rod-marsh-dies-australia-cricket-spt-intl/index.html

Rod Marsh: Australian cricketing great dies aged 74 - CNN

Rod Marsh, Australia's wicketkeeper during the 1970s, has died aged 74 after suffering a heart attack last week.

sport, Rod Marsh: Australian cricketing great dies aged 74 - CNN

Australian cricketing great Rod Marsh dies aged 74

(CNN)Rod Marsh, Australia's wicketkeeper during the 1970s, has died aged 74 after suffering a heart attack last week. Marsh, in many ways, changed the way wicketkeepers operate. Originally selected as a batsman, he was the prototype batter-keeper allrounder that has since become ubiquitous in the modern game. The selectors' gamble paid off as Marsh scored an unbeaten 92 in just his fourth Test, and later became the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a Test century. In total, he scored three Test hundreds and 16 fifties. His wicketkeeping, on the other hand, was at first derided by critics and he was given the nickname 'Iron Gloves' after fumbling a number of catches behind the stumps in his first matches. Marsh hooking England bowler Bob Willis on the final day of the 3rd Test between England and Australia in Leeds, UK on July 21, 1981.Despite this inauspicious start, Marsh quickly became an adept wicketkeeper, and during his 14-season career, he collected a then world record 355 Test dismissals in 96 Test appearances; his partnership with fast-bowler Dennis Lillee yielded 95 dismissals alone, more than any other wicketkeeper-bowler combination in the history of the game.Read MoreMarsh represented Australia in the one-day format too, scoring four fifties and taking 124 dismissals. Such continued success won him multiple awards. In 1982, he was named as one of Wisden's Cricketers of the Year, and in 2005, he was inducted into the Cricket Hall of Fame by Cricket Australia. After his retirement, Marsh remained deeply involved within the game, as a coach at the Australian Cricket Academy, a commentator for Channel Nine, and as Australia men's chairman of selectors from 2014-2016. Today, in their first Test against Pakistan, the current Australian cricket team will wear black armbands in memory of Marsh.Australia's players observe a minute silence to pay tribute to Marsh before the start of the first day play of the first Test match between Pakistan and Australia on March 4.Australia captain Pat Cummins told Cricket.com Australia, "Rod was a colossal figure in Australian cricket who gave close to 50 years of incredible service." "He was brilliant to deal with because he knew the game inside-out, but also had a way of dealing with you to put you at your ease."I, along with countless other people in Australia, grew up hearing the stories of him as a fearless and tough cricketer, but his swashbuckling batting and his brilliance behind the stumps over more than a decade made him one of the all-time greats of our sport, not just in Australia, but globally."Marsh is survived by his wife, Ros, and their three children."He has been an incredible husband, father and grandfather," they said in a statement, "and we have been so fortunate to have had him in all our lives."

Ben Morse, CNN

2022-03-04 11:53:22

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/04/sport/scouting-combine-day-one-2022-spt-intl/index.html

NFL Combine: Hand size -- and a random act of kindness -- focus on day one - CNN

The hand size of the top quarterback prospect entering this season's NFL draft was the main talking point after the opening day of the 2022 scouting combine on Thursday.

sport, NFL Combine: Hand size -- and a random act of kindness -- focus on day one - CNN

NFL: Hand size -- and a random act of kindness -- focus on day one of 2022 scouting combine

(CNN)The hand size of the top quarterback prospect entering this season's NFL draft was the main talking point after the opening day of the 2022 scouting combine on Thursday. University of Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett, a Heisman Trophy runner-up, is tipped to be a first round pick in April's draft. Both NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah and ESPN reported that his right hand -- his throwing hand -- measured at 8 ½ inches. According to NFL.com, that would make it smaller than any other starting NFL QB in the league in 2021. The size of a quarterback's throwing hand is important because having a smaller hand makes it harder to grip the ball, therefore making it more difficult to play the position -- especially in adverse weather conditions. Read MorePickett's hand size doesn't seem to have hampered him too much as of yet, as the 23-year-old completed 67.2% of his passes for 4,319 yards and a 42-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio en route to winning the ACC title.His hand measurement has been a hot topic of discussions leading up to the combine, after he didn't have them measured at the Senior Bowl a few weeks ago. "Whatever it measures, it measures," Pickett said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "I'm sure that won't be the end of it, but that'll be the last measurement I'm sure I'll take of it."But while people were debating the minutiae of hand sizes, a random act of kindness also grabbed the headlines. Liberty Eagles quarterback Malik Willis was caught on camera talking to someone sitting on a milk crate outside Lucas Oil Stadium before reaching into his suitcase and giving them some clothes. Willis later explained his actions to NFL Network, saying: "I walked past her on the way to the Nike suite, chopped it up with them and I walked out with a suitcase or what not, and I felt bad because I've seen her son, it was a pregnant lady and she was homeless. "And I was just like: 'Shoot, I haven't got any money, but I can give you a couple shirts and that type stuff.' So I just felt like I had to do that. I mean I'm in at a position right now where I'm not worried about much of anything besides getting better, so if I can help her out in any way, I feel like I should."Willis rushes up field while attempting to avoid Louisiana defensive lineman Andre Jones and safety Bralen Trahan during a game on November 20, 2021.SpeedElsewhere, a set of rapid wide receiver prospects set the combine ablaze. There was talk that the 40-yard dash combine record could possibly be broken with some fast times being clocked. Ohio State's Chris Olave started the excitement off when he clocked an unofficial time of 4.26. Shortly after, Baylor wide-out Tyquan Thornton appeared to break John Ross' record of 4.22 seconds when he clocked a time of 4.21 seconds. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosThornton runs the ball against Oklahoma State cornerback Christian Holmes.However, when the NFL later posted the official times from the combine, Thornton came in at 4.28. Giants wide receiver Ross weighed in on nearly having his record broken: "Y'all crazy to think I'd be mad over him breaking it I'm happy for bro lol honestly that's (fire emoji) fr!!"Olave's time officially came in at 4.39 seconds.

George Ramsay

2022-03-04 00:31:20

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/sport/winter-paralympics-preview-ukraine-russia-spt-intl/index.html

Opening Ceremony: Winter Paralympics gets underway in Beijing with Ukraine's presence keenly felt - CNN

The 2022 Winter Paralympics officially got under way on Friday, with the start of the Games marked by the presence of the full Ukrainian delegation inside Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium at the Opening Ceremony.

sport, Opening Ceremony: Winter Paralympics gets underway in Beijing with Ukraine's presence keenly felt - CNN

Opening Ceremony: Call for peace as Ukraine's presence keenly felt at Winter Paralympics

(CNN)The 2022 Winter Paralympics officially got under way on Friday, with the start of the Games marked by the presence of the full Ukrainian delegation inside Beijing's Bird's Nest stadium at the Opening Ceremony.All of Ukraine's Para athletes made it to the Chinese capital -- a feat described as a "miracle" by Valeriy Sushkevych, President of the Ukrainian Paralympic Committee -- and their participation in these Games was met with a show of support from Andrew Parsons, the president of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC).Parsons gave a stern speech that asked for peace in the world and expressed his dismay at ongoing conflicts, though stopped short of mentioning Ukraine or Russia by name."Tonight, I want -- I must -- begin with a message of peace," Parsons said. "As the leader of an organization with inclusion at its core, where diversity is celebrated and differences embraced, I am horrified at what is taking place in the world right now. The 21st century is a time for dialogue and diplomacy, not war and hate. "The Olympic Truce for peace during the Olympic and Paralympic Games is a UN resolution. It must be respected and observed, not violated."Read MoreRussia's invasion of Ukraine has significantly impacted the world of sport, with numerous governing bodies imposing sanctions on Russia and its athletes.The IPC soon followed suit and, the day before the Paralympic Games were set to begin, took the decision to ban all Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in Beijing. Belarus remains a key military ally of Russia and is being used as a launch point for troops into Ukraine.Flag bearer Maksym Yarovyi leads out Team Ukraine during the Opening Ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics."At the IPC we aspire for a better and more inclusive world, free from discrimination, free from hate, free from ignorance and free from conflict," Parsons added. "Here in Beijing, Paralympic athletes from 46 different nations will compete with each other, not against each other."Through sport they will showcase the best of humanity and highlight the values that should underpin a peaceful and inclusive world. Tonight, the Paralympic movement calls on world authorities to come together as athletes do, promote peace, understanding and inclusion."The world must be a place for sharing, not dividing."He ended his speech with a loud cry of "Peace!"Two young footballers and a former biathlete, 19, killed in Ukraine, according to sporting organizationsA record number of Para athletes -- around 700 -- were expected to compete in Beijing, but much of the focus the day before the Opening Ceremony fell on the 83 who won't. That's after the IPC announced the U-turn decision to block Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing at the Games in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.According to the IPC, backlash from the teams and athletes preparing to compete in Beijing was "jeopardising the viability" of the Games and making the safety of athletes "untenable," even after Russian and Belarusian participants were set to compete as neutrals. The first events of the Winter Paralympics are scheduled for Saturday. The competition runs until March 13 and showcases 78 events across six Para sports: alpine skiing, biathlon, cross-country skiing, para ice hockey, snowboarding and wheelchair curling. As with last month's Winter Olympics, events will be held in the three separate zones of central Beijing, Yanqing and Zhangjiakou. READ: These are the sports Russia has been suspended fromRussia and Belarus ban -- how did it come about?After Russian troops were first deployed in Ukraine last week, the IPC issued a condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin's breach of the Olympic Truce -- a resolution that orders conflicts around the world to be paused from seven days before the Winter Olympics to seven days after the Winter Paralympics. JUST WATCHEDUkrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina speaks out against Russian invasionReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHUkrainian tennis star Elina Svitolina speaks out against Russian invasion 03:21Then on Monday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) "recommended" that Russian and Belarusian athletes were either banned from international sporting events or allowed to compete as neutrals where the "short notice" of the decision would make a ban unfeasible. Earlier this week, Parsons said permitting Russian and Belarusian participation in Beijing, albeit as neutrals, was the "harshest possible punishment" at the governing body's disposal, but pressure from the international Para sport community has forced the IPC to resort to sterner measures. A statement released by Ukrainian athletes said Russia and Belarus would use the Games as "state propaganda [...] with or without a neutral label," while Sarah Hirshland, CEO of the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee, said the decision not to issue a complete participation ban "excuses Russia's disregard for not only the Olympic truce, but also for the victims of a senseless war."JUST WATCHED'It's my duty': World heavyweight boxing champ returns to Ukraine to fightReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCH'It's my duty': World heavyweight boxing champ returns to Ukraine to fight 02:05The IPC was left in a "unique and impossible position," according to Parsons, who said that multiple countries had threatened not to compete in Beijing.Having previously said that Russian and Belarusian athletes could compete as neutrals, on Thursday, the IPC barred 71 athletes from Russia and 12 from Belarus from competing at the Games. "You are victims of your governments' actions" was Parsons' message to those impacted by the decision.READ: Tennis star Svitolina says all prize money she wins at Monterrey Open will go to Ukrainian armyWhen do events start?Action begins in Beijing, the first city to host both a Summer and Winter Games, with medal events in men's and women's para alpine skiing downhill and the men's and women's para biathlon on Saturday. Host China will have a team of 96 athletes competing across all six sports over the course of the Games. Having claimed its first medal -- a gold in wheelchair curling -- in Pyeongchang four years ago, there are high expectations that this year's Chinese team could deliver more success.Team USA topped the medal table at the last Winter Paralympics and has sent a 67-strong team -- 28 of whom are making their Paralympic debuts -- this year. Among the athletes returning to the team is Oksana Masters, a 10-time Paralympic medalist across the Summer and Winter Games who has competed in rowing, cycling, cross-country skiing and biathlon.JUST WATCHEDOksana Masters: From hospital bed to Paralympic champion in two-and-a-half monthsReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHOksana Masters: From hospital bed to Paralympic champion in two-and-a-half months 04:26Born in Ukraine before being adopted by her American mother, Masters is one of the most decorated Paralympic athletes from the past decade. Ahead of the Games, she said her "heart is breaking" for the country of her birth. Other stars of the American team include hockey player Declan Farmer -- whose two goals helped the US defeat Canada and win gold at the last Games -- and Dan Cnossen, a former Navy SEAL who claimed six medals in biathlon and cross-country skiing four years ago. On the Canadian team, cross-country skier Brian McKeever will compete in his sixth and final Paralympic Games at the age of 42. McKeever, the most decorated male cross-country skier at the Paralympics, has amassed 17 medals since his debut in 2002, 13 of which are gold. McKeever training in Zhangjiakou ahead of the Winter Paralympics. Ukrainian athletes escape 'bombardment and shells exploding'Ukraine has sent a full contingent of 20 athletes and nine guides to Beijing to compete in biathlon and cross-country skiing events.The team's arrival in Beijing was hailed as a "miracle" by Sushkevych.JUST WATCHEDFormer pro tennis player leaves young family to fight for his home countryReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHFormer pro tennis player leaves young family to fight for his home country 04:43"We came here from Ukraine and we traveled through Ukraine. It took us many days. We had to overcome a lot of barriers that had to do with the war," Sushkevych told reporters on Thursday."Many members of our team barely managed to escape from the bombardment and shells exploding, but still we made it here."Sushkevych said he slept on the floor of the team's bus for the last two days of their journey through Europe before boarding a flight to Beijing, adding: "We could have given up and not come to Beijing. This was the situation; bombs were exploding, missiles were exploding. "There's a large-scale war in Ukraine. When simple things could not be organized, the easiest solution would have been to stay in Ukraine."What are the Covid-19 protocols?The Covid-19 countermeasures that were in place for the Winter Olympics in February are also being implemented for the Paralympics. That includes a "closed loop" system encompassing venues, conference centers, and hotels and connected by a transport service dedicated to the Games. Being fully vaccinated enables participants to enter the "closed loop" without quarantining, while those who aren't vaccinated have to isolate for 21 days on arrival. Once inside the "closed loop," Games participants are subjected to daily Covid-19 tests and, if they test positive, are confined to a room in an isolation facility until they return two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart. At the close of the Winter Olympics on February 20, a total of 437 Covid-19 cases were recorded among Olympics-related personnel after more than 1.8 million tests; 185 of those positive tests related to athletes and team officials. Between the end of the Olympics and Wednesday, which marked two days before the Opening Ceremony of the Paralympics, a further 17 cases of Covid-19 were recorded.

Rob Picheta, CNN

2022-03-04 14:43:30

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/04/europe/ukraine-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-attack-explainer-intl/index.html

Zaporizhzhia: How dangerous was Russia's attack at nuclear power plant? - CNN

Russian troops have occupied Europe's largest nuclear power plant, after fierce fighting near the Ukrainian facility that drew international condemnation and sparked fears of a potential nuclear incident.

europe, Zaporizhzhia: How dangerous was Russia's attack at nuclear power plant? - CNN

How dangerous was Russia's attack at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant?

(CNN)Russian troops have occupied Europe's largest nuclear power plant, after fierce fighting near the Ukrainian facility that drew international condemnation and sparked fears of a potential nuclear incident.Those concerns were quickly downplayed by experts, who warned against comparisons with the plant at Chernobyl, where the world's worst nuclear disaster occurred in 1986.Modern plants are significantly safer than older ones like Chernobyl, they said. But analysts nonetheless expressed horror that Russia's violent invasion of Ukraine has spilled into nuclear facilities, a development with few recent parallels. And the operator and regulator of the site have communicated that the situation on the ground is "extremely tense and challenging," according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)."No country besides Russia has ever fired upon an atomic power plant's reactors. The first time, the first time in history," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Facebook post.Read MoreThe IAEA called for fighting around the facility to end, and world leaders were swift in their criticism of Russia's move. Radioactive material was not released from the plant, but it was a "close call," Rafael Grossi, the IAEA director-general, told CNN's Christiane Amanpour Friday.Following the Russian attack, "there was great alarm if the physical integrity of the nuclear power installation had been compromised, with the ... possible risk that that entails," Grossi said.Grossi had earlier told reporters that what happens next at Zaporizhzhia is "a situation that is very difficult to sustain, very fragile" while there is an active military operation and Russian forces in control. "This is unprecedented," he said. "Completely uncharted waters."What happened at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant?Reports of an attack on the facility emerged early Friday morning, with video of the scene showing bursts of gunfire apparently directed at the Zaporizhzhia plant before dawn."Russian army is firing from all sides upon Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, the largest nuclear power plant in Europe," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba tweeted.A large number of Russian tanks and infantry "broke through the block-post" to Enerhodar, a few kilometers from the Zaporizhzhia power plant, according to Grossi.A Russian projectile then hit a building within the site of the plant, causing a localized fire, but none of the reactors were nearby and they were unaffected, the IAEA chief said. In a Facebook post early Friday, Zelensky accused Russian troops of committing a "terror attack" by intentionally firing at the power plant -- potentially risking the lives of millions. "Russian tanks, equipped with thermal imagery, are shooting at the atomic blocks. They know what they are shooting at. They've been preparing for this (attack)," Zelensky said in the post, adding "our guys are keeping the atomic power station secure."In a statement Friday morning local time, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate (SNRI) confirmed the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southeastern Ukraine was occupied by Russian military forces, but said officials remained in contact with plant management.The power plant's six reactors remain intact, though the compartment auxiliary buildings for reactor unit 1 had been damaged, the SNRI said in its statement. Four of the remaining units are being cooled down while one unit is providing power, the statement said.Separately, Ukraine's nuclear power operator, Energoatom, said the "administrative building and the checkpoint at the station are under occupiers' control." It said staff are working on the power units to ensure stable operation.How dangerous was the attack?Ukrainian officials quickly sounded the alarm about the potential implications of the attack. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that "if (the plant) blows up, it will be 10 times larger than Chernobyl," and Zelensky said that such an incident would mean "the end of Europe."But experts were quick to stress that they did not believe a reactor could blow up, pointing out fundamental differences between Chernobyl and the Zaporizhzhia plant.The IAEA said Ukrainian authorities had reported background radiation levels were normal and the fire had not affected "essential" equipment. The plant had not sustained any critical damage in the attack, Andrii Tuz, a plant spokesman, told CNN on Friday.Ukrainian nuclear power plant fire extinguished as Russian troops 'occupy' facility "The design is a lot different to the Chernobyl reactor, which did not have a containment building, and hence there is no real risk, in my opinion, at the plant now the reactors have been safely shut down," Mark Wenman, a reader in nuclear materials at Imperial College London, told the Science Media Centre (SMC).The Chernobyl disaster took place at a plant that used Soviet-era, graphite-moderated RBMK reactors. But the Zaporizhzhia facility uses a pressurized water reactor known as a VVER model. "The design of the VVER is inherently more safe and protected than the Chernobyl RBMK systems," explained Jon Wolfsthal, a senior adviser at Global Zero and former senior Director for Arms Control and Nonproliferation at the National Security Council, on Twitter on Friday.A VVER reactor cannot "'run away with itself' as the RBMK could," Malcolm Grimston, an honorary senior research fellow at the Imperial Centre for Energy Policy and Technology in London, told the SMC.But even if an explosion at a reactor was most unlikely, other incidents could occur as a result of shelling or fires at the site."It's really the electricity and the plumbing that you're worried about," Joseph Cirincione, a distinguished fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, told CNN on Friday.Electricity at the Fukushima plant in Japan was cut off during the nuclear disaster there in 2011, while the reactors themselves remained intact. "That meant you could no longer pump the cooling water through the reactors, or the cooling ponds," Cirincione said. "I don't think we're out of the woods yet. We have to make sure that the Russians who are taking over know what they're doing," he added.Grossi, the IAEA director-general, told CNN on Friday: "What I'm telling (Russia) and everyone is that the utmost restraint is to be exercised in and around this type of facility. Because wittingly or unwittingly, you can very quickly go into a disaster, and this is why we're so concerned."How safe are modern nuclear facilities?The differences in design and safety standards mean that the possibility of a nuclear reactor at the site exploding and causing a disaster is not something concerning nuclear experts.They noted that the threat would be somewhat higher if a nuclear reactor were to come under a targeted, sustained attack with the intention of causing a nuclear incident, which was not the case in Zaporizhzhia and would make little sense given the proximity of Russia's major cities to all of Ukraine's plants.The pressure vessel of a modern reactor "is very robust and can withstand considerable damage from phenomena such as earthquakes and to an extent kinetic impacts," Robin Grimes, a professor of materials physics at Imperial College London, told SMC. Six power units generate 40-42 billion kWh of electricity at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant."It is not designed to withstand" attacks by explosive weaponry, he added. "It seems to me unlikely that such an impact would result in a Chernobyl-like nuclear event (but) this has never been tested and it is not impossible.""It is therefore staggering and reckless to the extreme that shells have been fired close to a nuclear plant," he said. "Even if they were not aiming for the nuclear plant, artillery is notoriously inaccurate in a time of war."How many nuclear plants does Ukraine have?Ukraine relies heavily on nuclear power. The Zaporizhzhia plant contains six of the country's 15 nuclear energy reactors, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the facility alone accounts for one-fifth of the average annual electricity production in Ukraine, according to Energoatom, Ukraine's nuclear power operator.That makes its seizure by Russian forces hugely significant; if the plant were to stop running, it would severely affect the energy supplies to millions of Ukrainians. In total Ukraine has four nuclear plants -- two, including Zaporizhzhia, in the south of the country, and two more in the northwest, in regions Russian troops have not occupied. Those do not include the closed Chernobyl plant, in the north of the country, which was occupied by Russian forces on the first day of their invasion of Ukraine. According to Mykhailo Podolyak, a Ukrainian presidential adviser, control of the Chernobyl zone was lost after a "fierce battle."More than 90 members of the Chernobyl power plant operational personnel were held hostage by Russian forces after they took the plant, Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Oksana Markarova said.The Chernobyl plant was shut down after the 1986 disaster, and has sat within an exclusion zone ever since, but construction and recovery efforts have continued at the site to reduce the risk of future radiation leaks.

Steve Almasy, CNN

2022-03-04 22:45:26

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/04/sport/nfl-concussion-settlement-black-players-spt/index.html

Judge approves changes to NFL concussion settlement that ends use of race norms - CNN

A federal judge approved Friday modifications to the NFL's concussion agreement settlement with former players to end the use of race norms and demographic estimates based on race for scoring of diagnostic tests.

sport, Judge approves changes to NFL concussion settlement that ends use of race norms - CNN

Judge approves changes to NFL concussion settlement that ends use of race norms

(CNN)A federal judge approved Friday modifications to the NFL's concussion agreement settlement with former players to end the use of race norms and demographic estimates based on race for scoring of diagnostic tests.Two years ago, two Black retired players sued the NFL for allegedly discriminating against African-American players who submitted claims to the concussion settlement program set up after a 2015 final lawsuit settlement. The players, Najeh Davenport and Kevin Henry, said the NFL race-corrected their neurological exams, which prevented them from being compensated.US District Judge Anita Brody eventually dismissed the players' lawsuit and ordered a mediator to address concerns about how race correction was being used.The New York Times reported in October the league and the players had reached an agreement to end the use of race norming, which assumed players being evaluated for neurocognitive impairment started with worse cognitive function if they were Black. Read MoreNYT: Agreement reached to scrap race as a factor in NFL concussion settlementsWith the modifications to the concussion settlement approved by Brody, Black retired players who were denied payments for dementia can have previous tests rescored or file new claims, an attorney for Davenport and Henry said."We are very pleased that the court has approved the settlement," attorney Cyril V. Smith said. "This is a huge win for Black NFL retirees. We believe that thousands of Black former players will benefit."CNN has reached out to the NFL for comment.According to the NFL settlement program summary report released earlier this week, 2,078 of 3,322 monetary awards have been paid for early to moderate dementia (level 1.5 and 2 claims).More than 920 claims in those categories have been denied, for various reasons.NFL parties have paid out more than $944 million as part of the program.CNN's Amy Simonson and Joe Sutton contributed to this report.

Ben Church, CNN

2022-03-04 10:07:40

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/04/football/carli-lloyd-uswnt-culture-spt-intl/index.html

Carli Lloyd says she 'hated' the culture of USWNT before retiring - CNN

Carli Lloyd, one of the most successful players in the history of the United States Women's National Team (USWNT), says she "hated" playing for the team in the final years before she retired last year.

football, Carli Lloyd says she 'hated' the culture of USWNT before retiring - CNN

Carli Lloyd says she 'hated' the culture of USWNT before retiring

(CNN)Carli Lloyd, one of the most successful players in the history of the United States Women's National Team (USWNT), says she "hated" playing for the team in the final years before she retired last year. Speaking to former teammate Hope Solo earlier this week, the 39-year-old said the culture within the national set-up was the worst she'd ever seen. "It was really tough and challenging to be playing these last several years," she said, appearing on the 'Hope Solo Speaks' podcast. "To be quite honest, I hated it. It wasn't fun going in. It was only for love of the game, really, for me. "I wanted to win and I wanted to help the team, but the culture within the team was the worst I've ever seen it."Read MoreOver an illustrious international career which began in 2005, Lloyd earned 312 caps -- the second all-time in US and world history behind only Kristine Lilly (354) -- and scored 128 goals.Through her stint on the national team under five different coaches, the USWNT had an overall record of 257-17-38, a winning percentage of 88%.Lloyd won the FIFA Women's World Cup twice, as well as claiming two Olympic gold medals.Most recently, though, she helped USWNT to a bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games -- a disappointing result given previous dominance. Women's soccer settlement is a landmark win for fairnessThis year, the team also reached an agreement to end a long-running dispute over equal pay.The dispute dated back to March 2019 when the USWNT filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against US Soccer.On Wednesday, Lloyd posted a video explaining the comments she had made to Solo, who had a similar experience herself. "You can have the most talented people working for you, you can have the most talented players playing on the team, but if there is no collective one, if there is no collective goal, no team and no business can be successful with a poor culture," Lloyd said. "And in every successful team, nothing becomes bigger than winning. And when things and other things become bigger than performing and the will to win, that is when the culture is no longer good enough."And by culture, I am referring to mentality, respect for coaches, teammates, support staff. I am also talking about the drive, the desire, the hunger, the fight, the accepting a role and doing it to the best of your ability. Carli Lloyd greets fans as she receives recognition from the crowd in 2021. She added: "You represent the crest and you represent your country with pride because there are millions of other people who would love to be in our shoes playing on the national team and so you can never take it for granted."Lloyd has received criticism online for the comments she made in the podcast but has stood by what she said."It's no different than my playing career. Now getting it in retirement," she wrote, replying to a tweet about the backlash. "I'll always be me. Try to spread wisdom, be kind and respect everyone I come in contact with. "I still have a lot left to give to this world and the soccer world and no one will ever stop me."CNN has reached out to USWNT for comment but has not received an immediate response.

Matias Grez, CNN

2022-03-03 18:37:55

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/sport/footballers-biathlete-killed-in-ukraine-spt-intl/index.html

Two young footballers and a former biathlete, 19, killed in Ukraine, according to sporting organizations - CNN

Two young footballers and a teenage former biathlete have been killed in Ukraine, according to a number of sporting organizations.

sport, Two young footballers and a former biathlete, 19, killed in Ukraine, according to sporting organizations - CNN

Two young footballers and a former biathlete, 19, killed in Ukraine, according to sporting organizations

(CNN)Two young footballers and a teenage former biathlete have been killed in Ukraine, according to a number of sporting organizations.Fighting in the country entered its second week on Thursday after Russia's invasion on February 24.FIFPro, the worldwide players' union, tweeted on Tuesday: "Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and teammates of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo (21) and Dmytro Martynenko (25), football's first reported losses in this war."May they both rest in peace."Sapylo's club, Ukrainian third division side FC Karpaty Lviv, paid tribute to him in an Instagram post, calling him a "hero of Ukraine."Read MoreREAD: These are the sports that Russia has been suspended fromOur thoughts are with the families, friends, and teammates of young Ukrainian footballers Vitalii Sapylo (21) and Dmytro Martynenko (25), football's first reported losses in this war.May they both rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/f6l9oHHRMr— FIFPRO (@FIFPRO) March 1, 2022 "The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine to fifteen of our defenders who are defending their land from the invasion of Russian troops," the post read."Among them is a pupil of the Karpathian school, Lieutenant Vitaliy Sapylo, who died in battle near Kyiv."It is reported that Sapilo was the commander of a tank platoon and neutralized 30 units of enemy equipment. Vitaly was killed in an air strike on February 25."To the eternal memory of the Hero!"Martynenko reportedly played for amateur regional club FC Gostomel.In a joint statement released on Monday, FIFA and UEFA suspended all Russian international and club teams from their competitions "until further notice."READ: Russian and Belarusian athletes to no longer compete at 2022 Winter Paralympics after multiple protests View this post on Instagram A post shared by ФК Карпати Львів (@karpaty.lviv) On Wednesday, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) put out a statement including the death of Ukrainian former biathlete Yevhen Malyshev.The executive board of the IBU said Malyshev, 19, died while serving in the military."The EB expresses its deepest condolences on the loss of former Ukrainian biathlete Yevhen Malyshev (19), who died this week serving in the Ukrainian military," the statement read."The Executive Board once again condemns the Russian attacks on Ukraine and the support provided by Belarus and reiterates its hope for an immediate end to the war."The IBU has suspended all Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials from participating in International Biathlon Union events.Above all, the IBU expresses its deepest condolences on the loss of former Ukrainian biathlete Yevhen Malyshev (19), who died this week serving in the Ukrainian military.The Executive Board once again condemns the Russian attacks on Ukraine and the support provided by Belarus.— International Biathlon Union (@biathlonworld) March 2, 2022 It's not clear how many Ukrainian military personnel have been killed, and its unclear how accurate the civilian death toll is. The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine says that it has recorded over 750 civilian casualties in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion.The UN reported at least 136 civilian deaths but cautioned the toll is likely "much higher."One million refugees have fled Ukraine during Russia's invasion, according to the UN.

Ben Morse, CNN

2022-03-04 17:41:08

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/04/sport/australian-cricketer-shane-warne-obituary-spt-intl/index.html

Obituary: Shane Warne was cricket's great showman and entertainer - CNN

Whether it was his bleach blonde hair or his devastating spin bowling which had batters quivering and quaking, Shane Warne did things his own way.

sport, Obituary: Shane Warne was cricket's great showman and entertainer - CNN

Obituary: Shane Warne was cricket's great showman and entertainer

(CNN)Whether it was his bleach blonde hair or his devastating spin bowling which had batters quivering and quaking, Shane Warne did things his own way. The Australian cricket great died at the age of 52 from a suspected heart attack on Friday, according to a statement from his management team. Warne took over 1,000 international wickets, including 708 Test wickets -- second only to Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan -- during his illustrious career and retired from cricket in 2013 as one of the greatest to ever play the sport. He was a leading figure of the dominant Australian side of the late 1990s and early 2000s, winning multiple Ashes series and the World Cup in 1999. Allied to his dominance with the ball was his charismatic personality, which transformed Warne from cricket star to global sporting superstar. Read More"Warnie was an all time great, a once in a century type cricketer, and his records will live on forever," said current Australia captain Pat Cummins, dubbing Warne "King" in his statement. "We all grew up watching Warnie, idolising him, we all had posters on his wall, had his earrings. What we loved so much about Warnie was his showmanship, his charisma, his tactics, the way he willed himself and the team around him to will teams around him to win games for Australia, and above all else his incredible skills as a leg-spinner."There's so many guys in this team and squad who still hold him as a hero ... all-time favorite player. The game was never the same after Warnie emerged and the game will never be the same after his passing."Rest in peace, King."Warne celebrates with his teammates after taking the wicket Sachin Tendulkar in 1999.Ball of the centuryWarne wasn't just a bowler capable of dominating matches almost single handedly, he was also an entertainer, happy to engage in banter with England fans and often the subject of tabloid headlines.If his first year as an international player gave a few indications that he was destined for success, a single ball he bowled in Manchester in 1993 completely changed perceptions about the bowler.Just a year after making his international debut in 1992, Warne was playing in his first Ashes series in England. Adorned with his short, bright blonde hair and wielding his now famous right-arm bowling action, Warne produced a bamboozling delivery in what has been dubbed the "ball of the century."The delivery looked to be heading past England batter Mike Gatting's leg stump. Then it bounced on the pitch, spun dramatically and missed Gatting's bat before astonishingly hitting the off-stump. Like many others, Gatting looked astounded that such an initially harmless-looking delivery had cost him his wicket -- former England player Graham Gooch said: "He looked as though someone had just nicked his lunch."Warne bowling during the Third Ashes test match against England at Old Trafford cricket ground on July 4, 1997.Warne's ability to flight and spin the ball to such devastating effect helped revive leg-spin from a forgotten art into a key component in modern day cricket. "The highlight of my cricketing career was to keep wicket to Warnie," Adam Gilchrist, Australia's legendary wicketkeeper and Warne's longtime teammate, wrote on Twitter."Best seat in the house to watch the maestro at work. Have often felt a tad selfish, that Heals and I pretty much exclusively are the only ones who had that thrill and pleasure at Test level. Rip Warnie.Other cricket greats were quick to pay tribute to Warne's remarkable talent."Shocked, stunned & miserable," wrote Indian Sachin Tendulkar -- widely considered one of the best batters of all time."There was never a dull moment with you around, on or off the field. Will always treasure our on field duels & off field banter. You always had a special place for India & Indians had a special place for you. "Gone too young!"Former India international batter Virender Sehwag said on Twitter: "One of the greatest spinners, the man who made spin cool, superstar Shane Warne is no more."Life is very fragile, but this is very difficult to fathom. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and fans all around the world."'I am shocked to the core'During his career which spanned over 20 years, Warne won numerous trophies and accolades.In Australia's victorious World Cup team in 1999, Warne collected the man of the match award in the final. He was named one of Wisden's five best players of the 20th century, as well as being selected in an all-time Test World XI by Wisden to commemorate 150 years of the cricketers' almanack. Away from international cricket, Warne also played a pivotal role in making the Indian Premier League (IPL) the behemoth it is today. In 2008, he led the Rajasthan Royals to the inaugural IPL title, something he believes gave the tournament "credibility because the underdog came good." "To then go and win it in the style we did, that put the IPL on the map. Any underdog story like that -- you look at Leicester City, what they did. It's a pretty amazing story," Warne told CNN in 2019, referring to the soccer underdog's remarkable Premier League title triumph in 2016."I was very lucky to play in an era of Australian cricket where we were super successful. We beat every team home and away, won World Cups, Ashes series, so we had some huge results."To be part of all of that with the Aussies and do those things was great but the IPL, it was completely different."Warne poses for photos after speaking to the media during a Melbourne Stars Twenty20 Big Bash League announcement on November 8, 2011.Warne played his entire domestic cricket career in Australia with his native Victoria, but had stints with Hampshire in England. "Absolutely shocked and gutted to hear about Shane Warne, wrote former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara. "Legend and friend. Just can't believe it."Former West Indies batter Vivian Richards also said on Twitter: "Unbelievable. I am shocked to the core. This can't be true... Rest In Peace, Shane Warne. There are no words to describe what I feel right now. A huge loss for cricket."

CNN Contributor Jill Dougherty

2022-03-03 05:18:03

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/europe/russia-reaction-war-ukraine-dougherty-intl-hnk/index.html

Russian protestors struggle to understand Ukraine war: 'We didn't choose this' - CNN

Nineteen-year-old Tasya stood with her friends on a cold morning in the Russian city of St. Petersburg and joined protesters' chants against the Russian invasion of Ukraine: "Nyet Voine!" ("No to War!")

europe, Russian protestors struggle to understand Ukraine war: 'We didn't choose this' - CNN

Russians struggle to understand Ukraine war: 'We didn't choose this'

Moscow (CNN)Nineteen-year-old Tasya stood with her friends on a cold morning in the Russian city of St. Petersburg as they joined protesters' chants against the Russian invasion of Ukraine: "Nyet Voine!" ("No to War!"). "It's always safer to stand together with others...to look over your shoulder, in case you need to run," said Tasya, who asked that her last name not be used for her safety. At some point, Tasya said her friends left the protest to go home or somewhere else to warm up, leaving her standing alone in the street. "Then a group of cops walked past me...and suddenly one of them looked at me and then they turned around, walked towards me and detained me," she said of the February 24 protest.Protests are continuing across Russia as young citizens, along with middle-age and even retired people, take to the streets to speak out against a military conflict ordered by their President -- a decision in which, they claim, they had no say.Now, they are finding their voice. But Russian authorities are intent on shutting down any public dissent against the attack on Ukraine. Police clamp down on demonstrations almost as quickly as they pop up, dragging some protesters away and roughing up others. Police officers detain a demonstrator during a protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine in central Saint Petersburg on February 24, 2022. Read MorePolice in St. Petersburg arrested at least 350 anti-war protesters on Wednesday, taking the total number of protesters detained or arrested to 7,624 since the invasion began, according to an independent organization that tracks human rights violations in Russia.Opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin's military operation in Ukraine, although still limited, is coming from some unexpected places.One of Russia's richest men, billionaire businessman Mikhail Fridman, who was born in Ukraine, called the violence a "tragedy," adding "war can never be the answer" -- but he stopped short of criticizing Putin directly, according to the Financial Times."If I make any political statement that is unacceptable in Russia it will have very clear implications for the company, for our customers, for our creditors, for our stakeholders," Fridman said.Russian businessman, co-founder of Alfa-Group Mikhail Fridman in Moscow, September, 2019. Another oligarch, Oleg Deripaska, posted to his Telegram channel: "Peace is very important! Talks should begin as soon as possible." Meanwhile, members of Russia's "intelligentsia" -- academics, writers, journalists and others -- have issued public appeals decrying the war, including a rare "open letter" to Putin signed by 1,200 students, faculty and staff of MGIMO University, the prestigious Moscow State Institute of International Relations, affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which produces most of Russia's government and foreign service elite. The signers proclaim they are "categorically against the Russian Federation's military actions in Ukraine." "We consider it morally unacceptable to stay on the sidelines and keep silent when people are dying in a neighboring state. They are dying through the fault of those who preferred weapons instead of peaceful diplomacy," the letter says.The letter is strikingly personal, with signers explaining that: "Many of us have friends and relatives living in the territories where military action is being carried out. But war has come not only to them, war has come home to each of us, and our children and our grandchildren will feel the repercussions. Many generations of future diplomats will have to rebuild the trust in Russia and the good relations with our neighbors that have been lost." A representative of MGIMO did not respond to CNN's request for comment. Moscow State Institute of International Relations, often abbreviated MGIMO, is an academic institution run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.Publicly, Russia's diplomats have been in lockstep with the Kremlin, although the head of a Russian delegation to a United Nations' meeting on climate change, Oleg Anisimov, reportedly apologized for the military operation, according to The Washington Post, "on behalf of all Russians who were not able to prevent this conflict," adding that "those who know what is happening fail to find any justification for the attack." But many Russians, in fact, do not fully know what is happening in Ukraine. State-controlled television shows almost no reports of Russian bombing and shelling in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, instead it focuses on so-called Ukrainian "nationalists" and "neo-fascists." Ukraine wants Russia to be severed from the global internet. Experts say it's a risky ideaRoughly a week after Russian forces rolled into Ukraine, many Russians are still coming to grips with the fact that war actually is happening. United States and other Western officials had been warning of the coming attack for weeks, but Russian state media, especially television news shows, mocked those statements, claiming Moscow had no intention of taking any military action against Kyiv. In a CNN poll completed before the invasion began only 13% of Russians thought a Russian attack was likely and two out of three (65%) expected a peaceful end to the tensions between Russia and Ukraine. But Russian young people like 25-year-old Arina, who lives in Moscow, is not watching TV -- she says she hasn't watched it in seven years. She's on the internet, reading blogs and listening to vloggers. She hasn't taken part in protests yet, but she has seen young people on the street taking part in "silent protests," sticking "No to War" signs on their backpacks or bags.She, too, is having difficulty comprehending why this war in Ukraine is happening and what it will mean for her own life as a young Russian. "It is very difficult to predict anything, of course, the situation is horrible," Arina, who asked CNN to only use her first name for her safety said. "Among some of my friends, there is a lot of anxiety about the future, a lot of fear, because we don't know how it will affect us." Firefighters work on a fire on a building after bombings on the eastern Ukraine town of Chuguiv on February 24, 2022.But Arina's mother sees it completely differently: "My mom believes everything she sees on TV," Arina says."She believes that it was a necessary measure by Putin because there are weapons surrounding the country...there's a threat from the West, which is why Putin is doing this." Arina says she even checked out a guide on a Russian online magazine for students, Doxa, suggesting how young Russians can talk with their parents and others about the war in Ukraine. "We understand how painful it can be when your parents, friends, colleagues, grandfathers and grandmothers turn into supporters of the war," it reads."So we decided to prepare a guide for how to talk about the war with those who justify it. In our guide you'll find answers to 17 of the most widespread arguments spread by propaganda and most often heard in fights," it said.Arina read it just in time. On February 28, the magazine reported that the Russian government agency supervising communications, IT and mass media demanded Doxa remove the guide from its website. China asked Russia to delay Ukraine invasion until after Olympics, Western intel showsArina says she and her mother "had a very fierce argument.""She just doesn't accept my position and thinks I'm a pro-Westerner, that I don't understand anything. She doesn't believe what I say, I don't believe what she says...We have very different sources of information: I learn everything from the independent media, which have mostly long been blocked in Russia, and she watches TV." As Arina and her friends follow news about Ukraine on social media, they see the revulsion among many in the West toward Putin's decision to attack Ukraine. Russians, she says, have contradictory, polar-opposite reactions."The first one is, everyone says, 'Yes, we should be ashamed.' The second one is, 'No, let's not be ashamed of ourselves and let's not pin decisions on ourselves that were not made by us.'" But both sides agree on one thing, Arina says: They want the international community to know "that the people are not their President, and we didn't choose this."

Analysis by Luke McGee, CNN

2022-03-02 16:56:51

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/02/europe/ukraine-putin-europe-security-analysis-intl-cmd/index.html

Analysis: Europe is making once-unimaginable decisions to counter Putin's aggression - CNN

Whatever the ultimate outcome of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has succeeded in one thing: the security map of Europe has been fundamentally altered and things will never return to the way they were before.

europe, Analysis: Europe is making once-unimaginable decisions to counter Putin's aggression - CNN

Europe is making once-unimaginable decisions to counter Putin's aggression

(CNN)Whatever the ultimate outcome of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin has succeeded in one thing: the security map of Europe has been fundamentally altered and things will never return to the way they were before. Across the continent, and most notably within the European Union, decisions have been taken that would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago. In the space of a few days, Brussels went further in its quest to become a geopolitical power in its own right than it had in decades. The shock of war returning to the continent has unified the EU's 27 member states, as the bloc approved not only the strongest package of sanctions it has ever imposed, but also agreed to buy and supply weapons to the Ukrainians. Historically, the bloc has been divided over exactly how much central control Brussels should have over foreign policy. This has stood in the way of the EU's lofty global ambitions, as policy proposals were watered down in negotiations or simply vetoed. And according to research by the UK House of Parliament, the vast majority of EU member states that are also members of NATO have not hit their 2% defense spending target for well over a decade. "The crisis in Ukraine has shattered the illusion that security and stability in Europe comes for free," one senior European diplomat told CNN. "When there was no real threat, geopolitics seemed remote. Now there is a war on our border. Now we know we have to pay up and act together."A woman walks past a tent displaying the European Union and Ukrainian flags in Independence Square on January 28, 2014 in Kiev, Ukraine. Read MoreIt isn't just Putin's aggression that has woken Europe from its slumber. The diplomat explained that in conversations with counterparts, officials had taken note of the lead that US President Joe Biden has taken in coordinating the West's response. "A big fear in European capitals: what would have happened if Biden wasn't in the White House at the moment? No one seriously believes that Trump would have handled this well and we may have him or someone like him back in a couple of years. Effectively, that means we have to assume we are alone," the diplomat added.Perhaps the most significant and symbolic shift in the past few days came from Germany. The EU's wealthiest and arguably most powerful member state announced it will more than double its defense spending, with its 2022 military budget expected to stand at $100 billion.Not long ago, most German politicians -- and a number of politicians across Europe -- were uncomfortable with the idea of the country having a large military presence for obvious historical reasons. Again, the situation in Ukraine has changed everything. "Based on the conversations of the last few days, most European leaders now seem comfortable with a massive German army if its anchored firmly within the EU," the diplomat says, pointing out that only a few months ago even putting the words EU and army in the same sentence would spark outrage in most of Europe's capitals. A cynic might think that Europe's unity and decisiveness has only come about because of a unique crisis and once-in-a-generation threat to the continent's security. However, multiple European and NATO officials told CNN that there is no outcome in which Europe can simply go back to how things were. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appears on a screen as he speaks in a video conference. If Ukraine does fall, then a belligerent Russia will have hugely expanded its land border with the European Union. But were it to hold firm and force Russian troops out, then a wounded and unpredictable Putin sits and broods in the Kremlin. And as former White House adviser on Russia, Fiona Hill, told Politico this week, when asked if she thought Putin would use his nuclear weapons, in her assessment, "Yes, he would." A senior Brussels official told CNN that even now, its member states are finding Russian influence too close for comfort. "Finland shares a huge land border with Russia. Romanian fleets share the Black Sea with the Russian navy. After months of people saying he wouldn't go into Ukraine, he did. This is a genuinely very scary situation." The official explained that over the course of the past week, "decisions that would have taken years took a matter of days because Europe has been changed forever. We simply don't have time for inaction and complacency any more." Another notable shift that has taken place behind the scenes in Brussels is the attitude of the EU's so-called "neutral nations" (Austria, Ireland, Finland and Sweden). These are countries that consider themselves to be militarily non-allied, even if they are politically allied with the EU and its global allies. "I think we now understand that making a point of being neutral and not a part of NATO doesn't mean you are safe," a senior EU adviser in foreign affairs told CNN. One of the main reasons that the Western response, especially in Europe, has been so unusually coordinated is that the EU and NATO have operated unexpectedly well. Officials in both institutions said this is because for the first time that many of them could remember, both institutions stuck to their competences and worked in lockstep. Firefighters work to contain a fire in the complex of buildings housing the Kharkiv regional SBU security service and the regional police, allegedly hit during recent shelling by Russia, in Kharkiv on March 2, 2022. Brussels has resisted using the crisis to call for an EU army, something which has led to bitter arguments among the member states historically. Some believed it would undermine NATO and make Europe less safe, while others suspected that those most in favor would use it to drive a particular vision of Europe as a federal state. A government official from one of the EU's neutral member states said that most people now accept that there would be no "additional advantage to an EU army. Our strongest weapon is economic sanctions, whereas NATO can do the political and military strategy." They added that the "important thing for now is ensuring that the relationship between the EU and NATO continues to work well" in the following months, calling the combined response to the Ukraine crisis a "blueprint" for the future. Europe's thinking on defense, security and foreign affairs has evolved light years in the matter of a few days. It is now waking up from a decades-long dream that the stability provided by an interconnected world would prevent war breaking out and that, should the worst happen, America would sort it out. There are many painful months ahead, no matter how this crisis ends. And if Europe is to emerge from them stronger and safer, then it needs to build on the progress made in the past few weeks. If it fails to do so and returns to the wishful thinking of the past, then it might find the next crisis to befall the continent cannot be fixed by quickly putting together sanctions and throwing money at a third party as it has with Ukraine. And especially so, if that crisis happens within the bloc's own borders.

Jacob Lev, CNN

2022-03-03 20:10:25

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/sport/nfl-suspend-all-covid-protocols-spt/index.html

The NFL and NFL Players Association agree to suspend all Covid-19 protocols - CNN

The National Football League (NFL) and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have agreed to suspend all Covid-19 protocols, effective immediately, according to a league-wide memo sent Thursday.

sport, The NFL and NFL Players Association agree to suspend all Covid-19 protocols - CNN

The NFL and the NFL Players Association have agreed to suspend all Covid-19 protocols

(CNN)The National Football League (NFL) and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have agreed to suspend all Covid-19 protocols, effective immediately, according to a league-wide memo sent Thursday. The NFL will no longer conduct mandatory surveillance testing of any players or staff, regardless of vaccination status, the league said in the memo obtained by CNN. Masks are also no longer required around the team facility, regardless of vaccination status. At one point during the Omicron surge, fully vaccinated individuals were required to test weekly and unvaccinated individuals daily. Both the NFL and NFLPA cited "encouraging trends regarding the prevalence and severity of Covid-19" and evolving guidance from the CDC in the memo.The NFL says it has lessons for the country on handling Covid-19"We will continue to prioritize the health and safety of the players, coaches and staff, as we have throughout the pandemic," the NFL said. "Should there be a reason to reimpose aspects of the Protocols or to take other measures, we will work closely with clubs, the NFLPA and our respective experts, and local, state and federal public health officials to continue to safeguard the health of the NFL community."The NFLPA confirmed the agreement to CNN but did not provide a comment.Read MoreAccording to the memo, individuals are still asked to monitor for any Covid-19 symptoms daily. Anyone with symptoms must report it to the team and test negative before entering the facility. Any individual that tests positive, must isolate for at least five days after their test. Testing should only occur when "clinically indicated or at the direction of the Club physician." ​The league added that teams must remain "in compliance with state and local law and are free to continue reasonable measures to protect their staff and players."On December 15, the league stated nearly 95% of its players were fully vaccinated along with "100%" of other NFL personnel.The NFL scouting combine is currently in progress from Indianapolis, Indiana, and runs through March 7. The NFL Draft is scheduled for April 28-30 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Maya Brown, CNN

2022-03-03 14:32:58

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/europe/racism-border-ukraine-un/index.html

International coalition files United Nations appeal over reports of racism at border of Ukraine - CNN

An international coalition of activists and human rights attorneys on Wednesday announced they filed an appeal to the United Nations on behalf of African refugees facing racial discrimination in Ukraine and Poland.

europe, International coalition files United Nations appeal over reports of racism at border of Ukraine - CNN

International coalition files United Nations appeal over reports of racism at border of Ukraine

(CNN)An international coalition of activists and human rights attorneys on Wednesday announced they filed an appeal to the United Nations on behalf of African refugees facing racial discrimination in Ukraine and Poland.The filing follows numerous reports from Black refugees who said they faced segregation, racism and abuse as they tried to flee for safety from war-torn Ukraine to Poland.Coalition members said during a news conference Wednesday they have also heard reports of segregated lines for white and Black people at the Polish border and Black mothers and children have been thrown off trains. Videos shared on social media have shown groups of Black people stranded at the border not being allowed in and various threats against Black people who attempt to cross."They face one war waged by Russia, and they face a second war waged by racism because of the color of their skin. We are here today because Black Lives Matter in times of war, and in times of peace," civil rights attorney Jasmine Rand said during the conference.An African woman tries to find some clothes as refugees flee the conflict in Ukraine, on February 27, 2022. The appeal asks the United Nations to support the coalition's call for the Ukrainian and Polish state and local governments to issue executive orders directing all governmental agencies to treat people of African descent -- and other racial minorities -- with equity and to stop using violent means. The coalition also wants Ukraine and Poland "to admit persons of African descent and racial minorities at rates equal to other persons."Read MoreCivil rights attorney Ben Crump said the coalition is asking for basic humanity."When you think about what we're seeing in those videos and those images, it is heartbreaking because as Russia bombs the Ukraine, and it's utter devastation, you think if there were a time for all of us to be together, it will be at this urgent moment," Crump said during the conference. "However, not only are they fighting for freedom, they are fighting for common decency in humanity."International leaders like Yetunde Asika, a Nigeria-based international human rights attorney, and Rosalea Hamilton, the founding director of the Institute of Law and Economics in Jamaica, also shared stories regarding what they have been hearing from Black students trying to flee Ukraine.Asika said there are about 5,000 Nigerians who live in Ukraine —most of whom are students. She shared the story of a medical student who had walked about 11 hours overnight to the border and was then told she couldn't cross until the Ukrainians had been evacuated first."We as a nation are doing as much as possible as we can to evacuate our citizens, but it's not enough. We need the EU [European Union]to pay attention to what is going on," Asika said during the conference.Refugees are seen fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, on February 27, 2022.The African Union said it is "disturbed" by the reports of racial discrimination against Africans in Ukraine, which they described as "shockingly racist," according to a statement released on Monday."Reports that Africans are singled out for unacceptable dissimilar treatment would be shockingly racist and in breach of international law," the statement said. It also urged countries to "show the same empathy and support to all people fleeing war notwithstanding their racial identity."Officials from several African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya and Gabon have also condemned the reports of racism.Coalition members believe the conduct they are seeing at the borders is consistent with war crimes. According to the United Nations, its definition of a war crime includes violations of international humanitarian law taking place during an armed conflict.During Wednesday's news conference, coalition members also brought up the bias and stereotypes they are seeing in media coverage through comparisons of conflict.Ronald Sullivan, of the Criminal Justice Institute at Harvard Law School, called it "offensive" and said the media is comparing pain and suffering of different communities."It is grotesquely ahistorical as well. Europe certainly cannot claim that it has been immune from the pillages of war," Sullivan said Wednesday. "It cannot stand as it's somehow superior in that regard to the Middle East and parts of Africa. So, they're [the media] not only getting the history wrong, but they're perpetrating a very ugly form of racial stereotyping."Donald Deya, CEO of the Pan African Lawyers Association, also agreed and said the media is showing another "attitude of racism."The coalition also submitted the appeal to the UN's Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and their Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent.They also plan to circulate this appeal to embassies and other international organizations that have the power to put a stop to these forms of discrimination.Rand said she hopes the United Nations will release statements and directives to Ukraine and Poland regarding the reported acts of racism seen at their borders."This is our day, and we have to go on record to say that these atrocities were taken place and that we stood up and gave the descendants of Africa that were being devastated in Ukraine a voice, when nobody else would give them a voice," Crump said.

Luke McGee, CNN

2022-03-03 12:56:35

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/europe/russian-convoy-stalled-outside-kyiv-intl/index.html

Kyiv: Here's what we know about the 40-mile-long Russian convoy outside Ukraine's capital - CNN

For days, residents of Kyiv had been bracing themselves for a 40-mile-long convoy of Russian tanks, armored vehicles, and towed artillery to arrive for an assault on the Ukrainian capital. Days later, they're still waiting.

europe, Kyiv: Here's what we know about the 40-mile-long Russian convoy outside Ukraine's capital - CNN

Here's what we know about the 40-mile-long Russian convoy outside Ukraine's capital

(CNN)For days, residents of Kyiv had been bracing themselves for a 40-mile-long convoy of Russian tanks, armored vehicles, and towed artillery to arrive for an assault on the Ukrainian capital. Days later, they're still waiting. On Thursday, US intelligence suggested that the convoy was still stalled some distance from Kyiv, backing claims made by both the Ukrainian government and UK's defense ministry. "We still assess that the convoy that everybody's been focused on is stalled. We have no reason to doubt Ukrainian claims that they have, that they have contributed to it being stalled by attacking it," a senior US official told reporters.Earlier in the day, the UK's defense ministry said the convoy appears to have stalled some 30 kilometers (19 miles) outside Kyiv and had made "little discernible progress" over the past three days, citing intelligence.Read More"The main body of the large Russian column advancing on Kyiv remains over 30 km from the center of the city, having been delayed by staunch Ukrainian resistance, mechanical breakdown and congestion. The column has made little discernible progress in over three days," the UK statement said. One million refugees flee Ukraine as Russia escalates bombardment of key citiesPentagon spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday night that while the convoy and Russia's broader push towards Kyiv "remains stalled," there was a significant concern "that maybe the window is closing to be able to get aid into cities that may become under siege."A senior US defense official told reporters on that although the convoy is suffering shortages of fuel and food, the US has assessed that the Russians "will again learn from these missteps and these stumbles and will try to overcome them."The convoy's stalled progress could create multiple strategic problems for Russia. First, as the key Russian supply line for any major assault on Kyiv, it is a very large sitting target for Ukrainian forces fighting back against the invasion. Second, sitting in a 40-mile-long traffic jam for days at a time could take its toll on the morale and discipline of Russian soldiers ahead of a major military operation. Martti Kari, who previously served as Finland's assistant chief of defense intelligence, told CNN that being stranded like this is bad for morale for two reasons. "First, the Ukrainians have drones and aircraft that could attack the convoy. Second, when you sit around in the same place rumors circulate that affect your mindset. So you become nervous and tired, which is not a good combination." Satellite images from Maxar Technologies show the convoy on February 28. The convoy is believed to have entered Ukraine via Belarus, a key ally of Putin where Russia had moved huge numbers of troops in recent weeks to carry out what they called joint exercises. When the exercises ended, the troops didn't leave and satellite images actually showed that Russia increased their military presence in the country. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on Wednesday night that the fierce Ukrainian resistance had dented Russian morale. "More and more occupiers are fleeing back to Russia, from us, from you ... we are a nation that broke the enemy's plans in a week — plans those have been built for years," he said in a Facebook post. Key city of Mariupol under siege as Russia tightens grip on Ukraine's southThe latest assessments on the convoy comes after the Russian military issued its first casualty figures from the war, saying 498 of its troops had died and another 1,597 had been injured. The UK statement on Thursday said "the actual number of those killed and wounded will almost certainly be considerably higher and continue to rise." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed "great sorrow" over Russian military casualties on Thursday morning.But Russia appeared to be meeting less resistance in southern Ukraine, where the mayor of the strategically important city of Kherson on the Black Sea indicated that Russian forces had seized control, though claims remain disputed. And the crucial southeastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol came under siege from Russian forces Thursday, as Moscow seeks to tighten its grip on the south of the country.

Ben Morse, CNN

2022-03-03 10:43:32

sport

golf

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/golf/tiger-woods-player-impact-program-spt-intl/index.html

Tiger Woods wins $8M award for generating positive media interest on PGA Tour -- despite playing just one tournament - CNN

Tiger Woods has won the inaugural Player Impact Program (PIP) award, despite only playing in one tournament in 2021.

golf, Tiger Woods wins $8M award for generating positive media interest on PGA Tour -- despite playing just one tournament - CNN

Tiger Woods wins $8M award for generating positive media interest on PGA Tour -- despite playing just one tournament

(CNN)Tiger Woods has won the inaugural Player Impact Program (PIP) award, despite only playing in one tournament in 2021. The PIP is a scheme set up by the PGA Tour to reward players for generating the most positive interest during the year. Woods finished above Phil Mickelson to win the $8 million top prize, while Mickelson won $6 million. And Woods made sure to tease Mickelson about the result afterwards, posting a screenshot of a tweet from the 51-year-old from December which claimed he had won the award with the caption: "Whoops."🤷‍♂️ whoops 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/SkMTGerVOB— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 2, 2022 Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas each received $3.5 million while Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and Bubba Watson received $3 million each. Read MoreThe inaugural PIP was measured from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 and was measured under five criteria. Those include internet searches, earned media -- number of unique news articles that include a player's name -- social media, TV sponsor exposure and awareness, which is described as "a player's general awareness score among broad U.S. population."The PGA Tour said independent auditor Grant Thornton certified the results, while also saying that for 2022, the total prize fund will increase by $10 million to $50 million. Since turning professional in 1996, Woods has been one of the biggest names in golf. But given he's been predominately away from action for over a year, it is perhaps a surprise he's finished top of the standings. Woods looks on after The Genesis Invitational on February 20, 2022.Woods suffered serious leg injuries in a February 2021 car crash in Los Angeles. The 15-time major winner has been through rehabilitation in an attempt to get back on the golf course, saying that amputation was "on the table" following the crash. And he admitted last month that his recovery has left him feeling "frustrated." Woods' only appearance in competitive golf since the crash was in December 2021 alongside son Charlie at the PNC Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando, Grande Lakes in Florida, with fans tuning in to see the golfing legend once again take to the course. According to NBC Sports, the PNC Championship saw a total audience of 2.3 million viewers, up 53% from 2020's edition. Visit CNN.com/sport for more news, features, and videosWoods and his son Charlie celebrate a birdie on the 12th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship.And although taking to the course with his son gave him hope for the future, he also believes that he won't ever be able to play a full tour schedule."That will never happen again," he said. "I can play certain events here and there, but on a full-time level, no, that will never happen again."Woods finished ahead of his long-time rival Mickelson, who stunned the golf world last year when he became the oldest player to win a major at the age of 50.

Analysis by Nathan Hodge, Tara John and Josh Berlinger, CNN

2022-03-03 14:57:36

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/europe/what-happens-next-russia-ukraine-cmd-intl/index.html

Analysis: Russia invaded Ukraine a week ago. What comes next? - CNN

Russia's assault on Ukraine is just a week old, but its consequences have already been catastrophic. No one can say for sure what will happen in the coming days and weeks, but years of relative peace and stability in Europe have already been ruptured, and should the fighting stretch on for months, the crisis could have even greater ramifications.

europe, Analysis: Russia invaded Ukraine a week ago. What comes next? - CNN

Russia invaded Ukraine a week ago. What comes next?

Moscow (CNN)Russia's assault on Ukraine is just a week old, but its consequences have already been catastrophic.In the seven days since Russian troops invaded their western neighbor, hundreds of people have been reported dead and one million have fled for their lives. Energy prices are skyrocketing and food prices could be next.No one can say for sure what will happen in the coming days and weeks, but years of relative peace and stability in Europe have already been ruptured, and should the fighting stretch on for months, the crisis could have even greater ramifications.What happens to Kyiv?Russian President Vladimir Putin has been very clear about his basic goals in invading: He wants to disarm Ukraine, sever its ties to the NATO military alliance and end the Ukrainian people's aspirations of joining the West.Here's what we know about the 40-mile-long Russian convoy outside Ukraine's capitalRead MoreHe has also said he wants to rid the country of what he calls the "gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis that has settled in Kyiv and taken hostage the entire Ukrainian people," a baseless and highly-charged reference to Ukraine's democratically-elected government and its Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelensky.Russian forces are encircling the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in an apparent push to topple the government, and a 40-mile-long military convoy is edging toward the city, which has been targeted by multiple rocket and missile attacks in recent days.Zelensky has vowed to keep fighting, but he is under no illusions that Putin's forces "want to destroy Ukraine politically by destroying the head of state."Should those forces take the capital, Ukraine does have other politicians who might be eager to fill the ranks of a pro-Russian puppet regime.One of Putin's top allies in Ukraine is Viktor Medvedchuk, a prominent politician and oligarch. He faces allegations of treason in Ukraine and has been under house arrest, but his exact whereabouts are unclear. Photos: Russia invades UkraineThe Retroville shopping mall in Kyiv, Ukraine, is seen on March 21, after Russian shelling.Hide Caption 1 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian servicemen search through rubble inside the Retroville shopping mall in Kyiv on March 21.Hide Caption 2 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople share dinner and sing "Happy Birthday" during a celebration in Kyiv on March 20. This studio space has turned into a bomb shelter for approximately 25 artists who are volunteering to help the war effort. Hide Caption 3 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineFormer Ukrainian Parliament member Tetiana Chornovol, now a service member and operator of an anti-tank guided missile system, examines a Russian tank she destroyed in a recent battle in the Kyiv region on March 20.Hide Caption 4 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople gather in a basement during an air raid in Lviv, Ukraine, on March 19.Hide Caption 5 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Ukrainian serviceman stands among debris after shelling in a residential area in Kyiv on March 18. Hide Caption 6 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUS President Joe Biden holds a virtual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in this photo that was released by the White House on March 18. Biden sought to use the 110-minute call to dissuade Xi from assisting Russia in its war on Ukraine.Hide Caption 7 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineStaff members attend to a child on March 18 at the Zaporizhzhia Regional Children's Clinical Hospital in Ukraine.Hide Caption 8 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineRussian President Vladimir Putin attends a rally at a stadium in Moscow on March 18. Speaking from a stage in front of a banner that read "for a world without Nazism," Putin said Russia "will definitely implement all our plans" in Ukraine. He insisted that national unity was the strongest in a long time, even as many people flee Russia or protest against war in the streets. State workers were told by authorities to attend the celebration, which commemorated the eighth year of Russia's annexation of Crimea.Hide Caption 9 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA woman reacts while speaking outside a destroyed apartment block in Mariupol, Ukraine, on March 17.Hide Caption 10 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky receives a standing ovation as he virtually addresses the US Congress on Wednesday, March 16. The historic speech occurred as the United States is under pressure to provide more military assistance to the embattled country.Hide Caption 11 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineAn elderly woman is helped by police officers after she was rescued from an apartment that was hit by shelling in Kyiv on Tuesday, March 15.Hide Caption 12 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineFirefighters work to extinguish flames at an apartment building in Kyiv on March 15.Hide Caption 13 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineMilitary cadets attend a funeral ceremony at a church in Lviv on March 15. The funeral was for four of the Ukrainian servicemen who were killed during an airstrike on the Yavoriv military base near the Polish border. Local authorities say 35 people were killed.Hide Caption 14 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA woman walks past a damaged window to lay flowers at a makeshift memorial for victims in Donetsk, Ukraine, on March 15.Hide Caption 15 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineFirefighters search a building for survivors after an attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on Monday, March 14. At least one dead body was pulled from the rubble after hours of digging.Hide Caption 16 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian soldiers take cover from incoming artillery fire in Irpin, Ukraine, on March 13.Hide Caption 17 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Ukrainian soldier surveys a destroyed government building in Kharkiv on March 13.Hide Caption 18 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA mother and son rest in Lviv, Ukraine, while waiting to board a train to Poland on March 12.Hide Caption 19 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineAn explosion is seen at an apartment building in Mariupol on March 11. The city in southeastern Ukraine has been besieged by Russian forces.Hide Caption 20 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineMariana Vishegirskaya's husband, Yuri, holds their newborn daughter, Veronika, at a hospital in Mariupol on March 11. Vishegirskaya survived the maternity hospital bombing in the city earlier in the week.Hide Caption 21 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople pay their respects during a funeral service for three Ukrainian soldiers in Lviv on March 11. Senior Soldier Andrii Stefanyshyn, 39; Senior Lt. Taras Didukh, 25; and Sgt. Dmytro Kabakov, 58, were laid to rest at the Saints Peter and Paul Garrison Church. Even in this sacred space, the sounds of war intruded: an air raid siren audible under the sound of prayer and weeping. Yet no one stirred. Residents are now inured to the near-daily warnings of an air attack.Hide Caption 22 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gives a news conference after meeting with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Antalya, Turkey, on March 10. Two weeks into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Lavrov falsely claimed that his country "did not attack" its neighbor.Hide Caption 23 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA resident takes shelter in a basement in Irpin on March 10. Due to heavy fighting, Irpin has been without heat, water or electricity for several days.Hide Caption 24 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineEmergency workers carry an injured pregnant woman outside of a bombed maternity hospital in Mariupol on March 9. The woman and her baby later died, a surgeon who was treating her confirmed. The attack came despite Russia agreeing to a 12-hour pause in hostilities to allow refugees to evacuate.Hide Caption 25 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian servicemen work inside the damaged maternity hospital in Mariupol on March 9. "The destruction is enormous," the city council said. "The building of the medical facility where the children were treated recently is completely destroyed."Hide Caption 26 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineDead bodies are placed into a mass grave on the outskirts of Mariupol on March 9. With overflowing morgues and repeated shelling, the city has been unable to hold proper burials.Hide Caption 27 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineCars drive past a destroyed Russian tank as civilians leave Irpin on March 9. A Ukrainian official said lines of vehicles stretched for miles as people tried to escape fighting in districts to the north and northwest of Kyiv.Hide Caption 28 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA displaced Ukrainian mother embraces her child while waiting at the Przemysl railway station in Poland on March 8.Hide Caption 29 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Ukrainian serviceman walks past the remains of a Russian aircraft lying in a damaged building in Kharkiv on March 8.Hide Caption 30 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is displayed on a screen as he addresses British lawmakers via video on March 8. "We will not give up and we will not lose. We will fight until the end at sea, in the air. We will continue fighting for our land, whatever the cost," he said in his comments translated by an interpreter. The House of Commons gave Zelensky a standing ovation at the end of his address.Hide Caption 31 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA firefighter works to extinguish flames after a chemical warehouse was reportedly hit by Russian shelling near Kalynivka, Ukraine, on March 8.Hide Caption 32 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineAlexandra, 12, holds her 6-year-old sister, Esyea, who cries as she waves at her mother, Irina, on March 7. The children were leaving Odesa, Ukraine.Hide Caption 33 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineMembers of the Red Cross help people fleeing the Kyiv suburb of Irpin on March 7.Hide Caption 34 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineThe dead bodies of civilians killed while trying to flee are covered by sheets in Irpin on March 6. CNN determined they were killed in a Russian military strike.Hide Caption 35 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineCivilians seek protection in a basement bomb shelter in Kyiv on March 6.Hide Caption 36 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineLocal residents help clear the rubble of a home that was destroyed by a suspected Russian airstrike in Markhalivka, Ukraine, on March 5.Hide Caption 37 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineGeorge Keburia says goodbye to his wife and children as they board a train in Odesa on March 5. They were heading to Lviv.Hide Caption 38 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA statue is covered in Lviv on March 5. Residents wrapped statues in protective sheets to try to safeguard historic monuments across the city.Hide Caption 39 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainians crowd under a destroyed bridge as they try to flee across the Irpin River on the outskirts of Kyiv on March 5.Hide Caption 40 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineMarina Yatsko runs behind her boyfriend, Fedor, as they arrive at the hospital with her 18-month-old son, Kirill, who was wounded by shelling in Mariupol on March 4. Medical workers frantically tried to save the boy's life, but he didn't survive.Hide Caption 41 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople remove personal belongings from a burning house after shelling in Irpin on March 4.Hide Caption 42 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineOksana and her son Dmytro stand over the open casket of her husband, Volodymyr Nezhenets, during his funeral in Kyiv on March 4. According to the Washington Post, he was a member of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, which is comprised mostly of volunteers.Hide Caption 43 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople crowd on a platform as they try to board a westbound train in Kyiv on March 4.Hide Caption 44 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA bullet-ridden bus is seen after an ambush in Kyiv on March 4.Hide Caption 45 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople take shelter on the floor of a hospital during shelling in Mariupol on March 4.Hide Caption 46 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA member of the Ukrainian military gives instructions to civilians in Irpin on March 4. They were about to board an evacuation train headed to Kyiv.Hide Caption 47 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineSurveillance camera footage shows a flare landing at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine, during shelling on March 4. Ukrainian authorities said Russian forces have "occupied" the power plant.Hide Caption 48 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Ukrainian child rests on a bed at a temporary refugee center in Záhony, Hungary, on March 4.Hide Caption 49 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA residential building destroyed by shelling is seen in Borodyanka, Ukraine, on March 3. Russian forces have shown a "willingness to hit civilian infrastructure on purpose," a senior US defense official told reporters.Hide Caption 50 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineLeos Leonid recovers at a hospital in Kyiv on March 3. The 64-year-old survived being crushed when an armored vehicle drove over his car. Video of the incident was widely shared on social media.Hide Caption 51 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Ukrainian soldier carries a baby across a destroyed bridge on the outskirts of Kyiv on March 3.Hide Caption 52 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineResidents react in front of a burning building after shelling in Kharkiv on March 3.Hide Caption 53 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Ukrainian soldier who says he was shot three times in the opening days of the invasion sits on a hospital bed in Kyiv on March 3.Hide Caption 54 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople form a human chain to transfer supplies into Kyiv on March 3.Hide Caption 55 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA cemetery worker digs graves for Ukrainian soldiers in Kyiv on March 3.Hide Caption 56 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA mother cares for her two infant sons in the underground shelter of a maternity hospital in Kyiv on March 3. She gave birth a day earlier, and she and her husband haven't yet decided on names for the twins.Hide Caption 57 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA member of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces sits with a weapon in Kyiv on March 2.Hide Caption 58 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineParamedics treat an elderly woman wounded by shelling before transferring her to a hospital in Mariupol on March 2.Hide Caption 59 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineResidents of Zhytomyr, Ukraine, work in the remains of a residential building on March 2. The building was destroyed by shelling.Hide Caption 60 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA woman reads a story to children while they take shelter in a subway station in Kyiv on March 2.Hide Caption 61 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA member of Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces inspects damage in the backyard of a house in Gorenka on March 2.Hide Caption 62 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Ukrainian woman takes her children over the border in Siret, Romania, on March 2. Many Ukrainians are fleeing the country at a pace that could turn into "Europe's largest refugee crisis this century," the United Nations Refugee Agency said.Hide Caption 63 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineMilitia members set up anti-tank barricades in Kyiv on March 2.Hide Caption 64 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople wait at a train station in Kyiv on March 2.Hide Caption 65 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople shelter in a subway station in Kyiv on March 2.Hide Caption 66 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky poses for a picture in a Kyiv bunker after an exclusive interview with CNN and Reuters on March 1. Zelensky said that as long as Moscow's attacks on Ukrainian cities continued, little progress could be made in talks between the two nations. "It's important to stop bombing people, and then we can move on and sit at the negotiation table," he said.Hide Caption 67 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineAn explosion is seen at a TV tower in Kyiv on March 1. Russian forces fired rockets near the tower and struck a Holocaust memorial site in Kyiv hours after warning of "high-precision" strikes on other facilities linked to Ukrainian security agencies.Hide Caption 68 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian soldiers attend Mass at an Orthodox monastery in Kyiv on March 1.Hide Caption 69 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineMedical workers show a mother her newborn after she gave birth at a maternity hospital in Mariupol on March 1. The hospital is now also used as a medical ward and bomb shelter.Hide Caption 70 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineAn administrative building is seen in Kharkiv after Russian shelling on March 1. Russian forces have scaled up their bombardment of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.Hide Caption 71 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian emergency workers carry a body of a victim following shelling that hit the City Hall building in Kharkiv on March 1.Hide Caption 72 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA woman named Helen comforts her 8-year-old daughter, Polina, in the bomb shelter of a Kyiv children's hospital on March 1. The girl was at the hospital being treated for encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.Hide Caption 73 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian refugees try to stay warm at the Medyka border crossing in Poland on March 1.Hide Caption 74 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineVolunteers in Kyiv sign up to join Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces on February 28.Hide Caption 75 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA member of the Territorial Defense Forces loads rifle magazines in Kyiv on February 28.Hide Caption 76 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineDelegations from Russia and Ukraine hold talks in Belarus on February 28. Both sides discussed a potential "ceasefire and the end of combat actions on the territory of Ukraine," Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhaylo Podolyak told reporters. Without going into detail, Podolyak said that both sides would return to their capitals for consultations over whether to implement a number of "decisions."Hide Caption 77 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian forces order a man to the ground on February 28 as they increased security measures amid Russian attacks in Kyiv.Hide Caption 78 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA displaced Ukrainian cradles her child at a temporary shelter set up inside a gymnasium in Beregsurány, Hungary, on February 28.Hide Caption 79 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineRussian infantry mobility vehicles are destroyed after fighting in Kharkiv on February 28. A residential neighborhood in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, was hit by a rocket attack, according to Ukrainian officials and multiple social media videos geolocated by CNN. A civilian was killed and 31 people were wounded, the city's council said. Hide Caption 80 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineThe lifeless body of a 6-year-old girl, who according to the Associated Press was killed by Russian shelling in a residential area, lies on a medical cart at a hospital in Mariupol on February 27. The girl, whose name was not immediately known, was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved.Hide Caption 81 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineSmoke billows over the Ukrainian city of Vasylkiv, just outside Kyiv on February 27. A fire at an oil storage area was seen raging at the Vasylkiv Air Base.Hide Caption 82 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople wait on a platform inside the railway station in Lviv on February 27. Thousands of people at Lviv's main train station attempted to board trains that would take them out of Ukraine.Hide Caption 83 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Russian armored vehicle burns after fighting in Kharkiv on February 27. Street fighting broke out as Russian troops entered Ukraine's second-largest city, and residents were urged to stay in shelters and not travel.Hide Caption 84 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineLocal residents prepare Molotov cocktails in Uzhhorod, Ukraine, on February 27.Hide Caption 85 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineCars line up on the road outside Mostyska, Ukraine, as people attempt to flee to Poland on February 27.Hide Caption 86 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian troops in Kyiv escort a prisoner February 27 who they suspected of being a Russian agent.Hide Caption 87 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian forces patrol mostly empty streets in Kyiv on February 27. Mayor Vitali Klitschko extended a citywide curfew.Hide Caption 88 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian service members take position at the Vasylkiv Air Base near Kyiv on February 27.Hide Caption 89 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA woman sleeps on chairs February 27 in the underground parking lot of a Kyiv hotel that has been turned into a bomb shelter.Hide Caption 90 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA damaged residential building is seen in Kyiv on February 26.Hide Caption 91 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople in Kyiv run for cover during shelling on February 26. Hide Caption 92 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineAn apartment building in Kyiv is seen after it was damaged by shelling on February 26. The outer walls of several apartment units appeared to be blown out entirely, with the interiors blackened and debris hanging loose. Hide Caption 93 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople in Kyiv take cover as an air-raid siren sounds February 26 near an apartment building that was damaged by shelling.Hide Caption 94 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA police vehicle patrols the streets of Kyiv on February 26.Hide Caption 95 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian troops inspect a site following a Russian airstrike in Kyiv on February 26.Hide Caption 96 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineFollowing a national directive to help complicate the invading Russian Army's attempts to navigate, a road worker removes signs near Pisarivka, Ukraine, on February 26.Hide Caption 97 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA man kneels in front of a Russian tank in Bakhmach, Ukraine, on February 26 as Ukrainian citizens attempted to stop the tank from moving forward. The dramatic scene was captured on video, and CNN confirmed its authenticity. The moment drew comparisons to the iconic "Tank Man" of Tiananmen Square.Hide Caption 98 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople in Kyiv board a train heading to the west of the country on February 26. Kelly Clements, the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees, told CNN that more than 120,000 people had left Ukraine while 850,000 were internally displaced.Hide Caption 99 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian service members look for and collect unexploded shells after fighting in Kyiv on February 26.Hide Caption 100 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineSmoke and flames are seen near Kyiv on February 26. Explosions were seen and heard in parts of the capital as Ukrainians battled to hold back advancing Russian troops.Hide Caption 101 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineThe body of a Russian soldier lies next to a Russian vehicle outside Kharkiv on February 25.Hide Caption 102 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA woman weeps in her car after crossing the border from Ukraine into Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania, on February 25.Hide Caption 103 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Ukrainian soldier sits injured from crossfire inside Kyiv on February 25.Hide Caption 104 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA child from Ukraine sleeps in a tent at a humanitarian center in Palanca, Moldova, on February 25.Hide Caption 105 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA firefighter walks between the ruins of a downed aircraft in Kyiv on February 25. Hide Caption 106 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineNewly married couple Yaryna Arieva and Sviatoslav Fursin pose for photo in Kyiv on February 25 after they joined the Territorial Defense Forces.Hide Caption 107 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineMembers of the Ukrainian National Guard take positions in central Kyiv on February 25.Hide Caption 108 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople walk past a residential building in Kyiv that was hit in an alleged Russian airstrike on February 25.Hide Caption 109 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineThe body of a school employee, who according to locals was killed in recent shelling, lies in the separatist-controlled town of Horlivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region on February 25.Hide Caption 110 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineKyiv residents take shelter in an underground parking garage on February 25.Hide Caption 111 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineIn this handout photo from the Ukrainian government, firefighters respond to the scene of a residential building on fire in Kyiv on February 25. Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, said the city had been hit by "cruise or ballistic missiles."Hide Caption 112 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA wounded woman stands outside a hospital after an attack on the eastern Ukrainian town of Chuhuiv, outside of Kharkiv, on February 24.Hide Caption 113 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineThe body of a rocket remains in an apartment after shelling on the northern outskirts of Kharkiv on February 24.Hide Caption 114 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA boy plays with his tablet in a public basement used as a bomb shelter in Kyiv on February 24.Hide Caption 115 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA man mourns after an airstrike reportedly hit an apartment complex in Chuhuiv on February 24.Hide Caption 116 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineSviatoslav Fursin, left, and Yaryna Arieva kneel during their wedding ceremony at the St. Michael's Cathedral in Kyiv on February 24. They had planned on getting married in May, but they rushed to tie the knot due to the attacks by Russian forces. "We maybe can die, and we just wanted to be together before all of that," Arieva said.Hide Caption 117 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian service members sit atop armored vehicles driving in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region on February 24.Hide Caption 118 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople in Kyiv try to board a bus to travel west toward Poland on February 24.Hide Caption 119 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUS President Joe Biden arrives in the East Room of the White House to address the Russian invasion on February 24. "Putin is the aggressor. Putin chose this war. And now he and his country will bear the consequences," Biden said, laying out a set of measures that will "impose severe cost on the Russian economy, both immediately and over time."Hide Caption 120 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineSmoke rises from a military airport in Chuhuiv on February 24. Airports were also hit in Boryspil, Kharkiv, Ozerne, Kulbakino, Kramatorsk and Chornobaivka.Hide Caption 121 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople seek shelter inside a subway station in Kharkiv on February 24.Hide Caption 122 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineRussian military vehicles are seen at the Chernobyl power plant near Pripyat, Ukraine, on February 24. Russian forces have seized control of the the plant, the site of the world's worst nuclear disaster, according to the agency that manages the area.Hide Caption 123 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople wait after boarding a bus to leave Kyiv on February 24.Hide Caption 124 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian President Zelensky holds an emergency meeting in Kyiv on February 24. In a video address, Zelensky announced that he was introducing martial law. He urged people to remain calm.Hide Caption 125 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePolice officers inspect the remains of a missile that landed in Kyiv on February 24.Hide Caption 126 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA staff member of a Kyiv hotel talks on the phone on February 24.Hide Caption 127 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineSmoke rises from an air defense base after an apparent Russian strike in Mariupol on February 24. A CNN team in Mariupol reported hearing a barrage of artillery.Hide Caption 128 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople wait in line to buy train tickets at the central station in Kyiv on February 24.Hide Caption 129 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA long line of cars is seen exiting Kyiv on February 24. Heavy traffic appeared to be heading west, away from where explosions were heard early in the morning.Hide Caption 130 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA photo provided by the Ukrainian President's office appears to show an explosion in Kyiv early on February 24.Hide Caption 131 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople in Moscow watch a televised address by Russian President Vladimir Putin as he announces a military operation in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine on February 24. "Whoever tries to interfere with us, and even more so to create threats to our country, to our people, should know that Russia's response will be immediate and will lead you to such consequences as you have never experienced in your history," he said.Hide Caption 132 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineAn emergency meeting of the UN Security Council is held in New York to discuss the crisis on February 23. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop "attacking Ukraine" and to give peace a chance.Hide Caption 133 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA convoy of Russian military vehicles is seen February 23 in the Rostov region of Russia, which runs along Ukraine's eastern border.Hide Caption 134 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian soldiers talk in a shelter at the front line near Svitlodarsk, Ukraine, on February 23.Hide Caption 135 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineSmoke rises from a damaged power plant in Shchastya that Ukrainian authorities say was hit by shelling on February 22.Hide Caption 136 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA damaged house is worked on after shelling near the Ukrainian front-line city of Novoluhanske on February 22.Hide Caption 137 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineMourners gather at a church in Kyiv on February 22 for the funeral of Ukrainian Army Capt. Anton Sydorov. The Ukrainian military said he was killed by a shrapnel wound on February 19 after several rounds of artillery fire were directed at Ukrainian positions near Myronivske.Hide Caption 138 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian soldiers pay their respects during Sydorov's funeral in Kyiv on February 22.Hide Caption 139 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA sign displays conversion rates at a currency exchange kiosk in Kyiv on February 22. Global markets tumbled the day after Putin ordered troops into parts of eastern Ukraine.Hide Caption 140 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineRussian howitzers are loaded onto train cars near Taganrog, Russia, on February 22.Hide Caption 141 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople who left a separatist-held region in eastern Ukraine watch an address by Putin from their hotel room in Taganrog, Russia, on February 21. Putin blasted Kyiv's growing security ties with the West, and in lengthy remarks about the history of the USSR and the formation of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic, he appeared to cast doubt on Ukraine's right to self-determination.Hide Caption 142 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePutin signs decrees recognizing the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic in a ceremony in Moscow on February 21. Earlier in the day, the heads of the self-proclaimed pro-Russian republics requested the Kremlin leader recognize their independence and sovereignty. Members of Putin's Security Council supported the initiative in a meeting earlier in the day.Hide Caption 143 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineProtesters demanding economic sanctions against Russia stand outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kyiv on February 21. Only a small number of protesters showed up to demonstrate.Hide Caption 144 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineActivists hold a performance in front of the Russian embassy in Kyiv on February 21 in support of prisoners who were arrested in Crimea. They say the red doors are a symbol of the doors that were kicked in to search and arrest Crimean Tatars, a Muslim ethnic minority.Hide Caption 145 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian servicemen shop in the front-line town of Avdiivka, Ukraine, on February 21.Hide Caption 146 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople lay flowers at the Motherland Monument in Kyiv on February 21.Hide Caption 147 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA local resident shows the depth of a crater from shelling in a field behind his house in the village of Tamarchuk, Ukraine, on February 20.Hide Caption 148 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian service members are seen along the front line outside of Popasna, Ukraine, on February 20. Hide Caption 149 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople evacuated from the pro-Russian separatist regions of Ukraine are seen at a temporary shelter in Taganrog, Russia, on February 20.Hide Caption 150 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineAnastasia Manha lulls her 2-month-old son Mykyta after alleged shelling by separatists forces in Novohnativka, Ukraine, on February 20. Hide Caption 151 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Ukrainian soldier stays on position on the front line near Novohnativka on February 20. Hide Caption 152 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA couple arrives at the city council to get married in Odesa on February 20. As Ukrainian authorities reported further ceasefire violations and top Western officials warned about an impending conflict, life went on in other parts of the country.Hide Caption 153 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskiy, left, visits soldiers at a front-line position in Novoluhanske on February 19. Minutes after he left, the position came under fire. No one was injured.Hide Caption 154 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA woman rests in a car near a border checkpoint in Avilo-Uspenka, Russia, on February 19.Hide Caption 155 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA Ukrainian service member walks by a building on February 19 that was hit by mortar fire in the front-line village of Krymske, Ukraine.Hide Caption 156 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineFighter jets fly over Belarus during a joint military exercise the country held with Russia on February 19.Hide Caption 157 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian soldiers stand guard at a military command center in Novoluhanske on February 19.Hide Caption 158 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePeople sit on a bus in Donetsk on February 18 after they were ordered to evacuate to Russia by pro-Russian separatists.Hide Caption 159 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineThe remains of a military vehicle are seen in a parking lot outside a government building following an explosion in Donetsk on February 18. Ukrainian and US officials said the vehicle explosion was a staged attack designed to stoke tensions in eastern Ukraine.Hide Caption 160 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA memorial service and candlelight vigil is held at the St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv on February 18. They honored those who died in 2014 while protesting against the government of President Viktor Yanukovych, a pro-Russian leader who later fled the country.Hide Caption 161 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA kindergarten that officials say was damaged by shelling is seen in Stanytsia Luhanska, Ukraine, on February 17. No lives were lost, but it was a stark reminder of the stakes for people living near the front lines that separate Ukrainian government forces from Russian-backed separatists.Hide Caption 162 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineChildren play on old Soviet tanks in front of the Motherland Monument in Kyiv on February 16.Hide Caption 163 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineAmbassadors of European countries lay roses at the Wall of Remembrance in Kyiv on February 16. The wall contains the names and photographs of military members who have died since the conflict with Russian-backed separatists began in 2014.Hide Caption 164 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUS troops walk on the tarmac at the Rzeszów-Jasionka Airport in southeastern Poland on February 16. US paratroopers landed in Poland as part of a deployment of several thousand sent to bolster NATO's eastern flank in response to tensions with Russia.Hide Caption 165 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA 200-meter-long Ukrainian flag is unfolded at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv on February 16 to mark a "Day of Unity," an impromptu celebration declared by President Volodymyr Zelensky.Hide Caption 166 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineTravelers wait in line to check in to their departing flights February 15 at the Boryspil International Airport outside Kyiv. US President Joe Biden urged Americans in Ukraine to leave the country, warning that "things could go crazy quickly" in the region.Hide Caption 167 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA location of Oschadbank, a state-owned bank, is seen in Kyiv on February 15. The websites of Oschadbank and PrivatBank, the country's two largest banks, were hit by cyberattacks that day, as were the websites of Ukraine's defense ministry and army, according to Ukrainian government agencies.Hide Caption 168 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineA woman and child walk underneath a military monument in Senkivka, Ukraine, on February 14. It's on the outskirts of the Three Sisters border crossing between Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.Hide Caption 169 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian service members talk at a front-line position in eastern Ukraine on February 14. Hide Caption 170 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineMembers of Ukraine's National Guard look out a window as they ride a bus through the capital of Kyiv on February 14.Hide Caption 171 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineSatellite images taken on February 13 by Maxar Technologies revealed that dozens of helicopters had appeared at a previously vacant airbase in Russian-occupied Crimea.Hide Caption 172 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkrainePro-Russian separatists observe the movement of Ukrainian troops from trenches in Ukraine's Donbas area on February 11.Hide Caption 173 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian service members unpack Javelin anti-tank missiles that were delivered to Kyiv on February 10 as part of a US military support package for Ukraine.Hide Caption 174 of 175 Photos: Russia invades UkraineUkrainian service members walk on an armored fighting vehicle during a training exercise in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region on February 10.Hide Caption 175 of 175Territorial goalsRussian forces are also waging campaigns far from Kyiv, attempting to take control of key cities in Ukraine's south and southeast, including Kherson.The mayor of Kherson effectively admitted that Ukrainian forces had ceded control of the city on Wednesday, saying in a statement on his Facebook page that residents would have to accept the direction of "armed people who came to the city's administration" -- in other words, Russian forces. One former NATO Commander told CNN: "It is quite clear that Putin is pushing for a land corridor to Crimea." Richard Shirreff, NATO's former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, said the land corridor was "an obvious objective." "He's had Crimea in the Russian Federation since 2014, he's only been able to supply it across the Kerch Strait bridge, and so of course he's looking to establish that land corridor down off the Sea of Azov," Shirreff added.If Russian forces capture the port city of Odessa, it is possible to imagine Moscow creating a land bridge extending all the way across southern Ukraine, potentially even linking Transnistria -- a separatist enclave in Moldova, where Russian troops are stationed -- to Odessa, Crimea and southern and eastern Ukraine. A partitioned UkraineParts of modern-day Ukraine previously belonged to interwar Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania -- and before that, to the Austro-Hungarian empire. If Putin has partition in mind, Galician Ukraine and the city of Lviv -- close to the Polish border -- could potentially be a part of a sort of rump Ukrainian state, while Russia focuses its attentions on the east of the country.A division along these lines could make Ukraine "look like Germany in the Cold War era, with western Ukraine more dependent on Europe, and the Eastern part" sucked into the Russian spheres of influence, which include Belarus, Russian historian and author Alexander Etkind told CNN. That kind of redrawing of borders may be an expansionist fantasy, but it could separate out what Moscow -- justifiably or not -- perceives as a more nationalist part of Ukraine.JUST WATCHEDThese maps explain why Putin is invading UkraineReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHThese maps explain why Putin is invading Ukraine 02:46Scorched earth battle tacticsSo far, Ukrainian forces have managed to hold their own against the bigger and much better equipped Russian military.US officials have noted how stretched Russia's supply lines have become even in the early stages of invasion. As one senior US official explained to CNN, Russia anticipated a fast victory and may have neglected to plan for sufficient resupply of its forces.But US administration officials expect Russia to ramp up its operations in Ukraine, and Putin has previously shown scant regard for human rights or the rules of modern warfare.One million refugees flee Ukraine as Russia escalates bombardment of key citiesRussia's air force backed President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war, providing overwhelming firepower to crush the country's armed opposition groups and flattening entire neighborhoods in the process.Experts fear the Kremlin could resort to this kind of scorched earth policy in Ukraine, should resistance efforts continue to thwart their plans.Former CIA Director Gen. David Petraeus said Monday that the Russian military had already started using such tactics, including cluster bomb munitions. He also said the Kremlin was bringing in thermobaric munitions -- sometimes known as vacuum bombs -- which create a prolonged pressure wave that can suck the oxygen out of a room or a person's lungs. Use of such weaponry in civilian areas is proscribed by international humanitarian law."I fear we'll see more of that," Petraeus said. "They will rubble some cities, I suspect, because in some ways they almost have to depopulate areas or they are not secure in them, and we've seen them do that in the past."The US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said Wednesday that Russia was moving banned weaponry into Ukraine: "We have seen videos of Russian forces moving exceptionally lethal weaponry into Ukraine, which has no place on the battlefield."US President Joe Biden said Wednesday he believes Russia is intentionally targeting civilians in Ukraine -- but declined to say whether he believed war crimes were being committed.JUST WATCHEDRet. Gen. Petraeus: Ukraine invasion 'going terribly' for PutinReplayMore Videos ...MUST WATCHRet. Gen. Petraeus: Ukraine invasion 'going terribly' for Putin 13:12SanctionsThe Kremlin acknowledged Wednesday that Russia's economy is taking "serious blows," as unprecedented sanctions and the country's growing isolation piles pressure on its tottering financial system.International companies have begun shutting down or suspending their Russian operations.Apple, the world's most valuable company, announced Tuesday it had stopped selling all of its products in Russia due to the invasion of Ukraine, while Boeing and Airbus are suspending their support for Russian airlines.Russians struggle to understand Ukraine war: 'We didn't choose this'Russia's energy riches haven't been directly targeted by Western sanctions, but many of the world's biggest oil companies are quitting the country or halting new investments. Moscow is also finding it harder to sell shipments of Russian crude oil to traders and refineries worried about being caught in the net of financial sanctions.But experts say Putin has overseen a push to wean Moscow's oil-dependent economy off the dollar in recent years, and has limited government spending and stockpiled foreign currencies.Putin's economic planners have sought to boost domestic production of certain goods by blocking equivalent products from abroad. Moscow has meanwhile amassed a war chest of $630 billion in international reserves -- a huge sum compared to most other countries -- that can be spent if sanctions bite.It remains to be seen whether such measures will help Russia avoid economic calamity as its invasion continues.CNN's Charles Riley and Mark Thompson contributed to this report

Story by Reuters

2022-03-03 20:16:00

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/europe/france-politics-second-term-bid-president-intl/index.html

France's Macron launches bid for second term as president - CNN

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday he would run for a second term in April's election, seeking a mandate to steer the euro zone's second-largest economy through the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic.

europe, France's Macron launches bid for second term as president - CNN

France's Macron launches bid for second term as president

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday he would run for a second term in April's election, seeking a mandate to steer the euro zone's second-largest economy through the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic.Macron announced his bid in a letter published by several regional newspapers.If he succeeds, he would be the first French leader for two decades to win a renewed term in office."We have not achieved everything we set out to do. There are choices that, with the experience I have gained from you, I would probably make differently," Macron said in the letter.Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris on February 28. Macron enters the presidential race just a month or so before the election's first round on April 10. Opinion polls project that he is favorite to win a contest that sees multiple challengers on the right and left fragmenting the vote.Read MoreThe Ukraine war has already upended the campaign, complicating Macron's entry into the race and leaving two far-right contenders who have performed strongly in polls to explain their hitherto pro-Russia, pro-Putin stance.With Macron at the forefront of European efforts to secure a ceasefire and a peaceful resolution to the conflict, a campaign with fewer rallies by the incumbent and an unusual focus on foreign policy lies ahead.

Rebecca Wright and Olha Konovalova, CNN

2022-03-03 18:37:57

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europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/europe/ukraine-synagogue-shelter-russia-cmd-intl/index.html

A Ukrainian synagogue turns into a bomb shelter - CNN

As air raid sirens blared in the small Ukrainian city of Uman, about 125 miles south of the capital Kyiv, families crowded into a makeshift bomb shelter underneath a central synagogue.

europe, A Ukrainian synagogue turns into a bomb shelter - CNN

In a synagogue turned bunker, Ukrainian Jews open doors to 'all people'

Uman, Ukraine (CNN)As air raid sirens blared in the small Ukrainian city of Uman, about 125 miles south of the capital Kyiv, families crowded into a makeshift bomb shelter underneath a central synagogue.Before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last week, the basement of the temple was used as a bathhouse for Jewish worshippers to do their ritual washing -- or mivkeh -- before prayers. But now, the Synagogue of the Breslover Hasidim is opening its doors to all locals looking for shelter from the threat of Russian troops. Uman was hit by missile attacks on the first day of the invasion, but has not seen any major fighting yet. Still, the city is on edge, and remaining residents are preparing for the worst.The synagogue's bathhouse for pre-prayer washing rituals is now a bomb shelter."We invite all the people, all Ukrainians, all Hasidic people, doesn't matter who," said Irina Rybnitskaya, a lawyer for the US-owned foundation that runs the synagogue. "We prepare this place especially for them, in order to hide (when) there is (an) alarm." The temporary hideout is lined with wooden benches and has been stocked with mattresses, blankets and hot drinks. The residents have arrived carrying their valuables and bags of clothing, in case they have to camp out for days -- or longer -- in the shelter. We can't ignore the darker sides of global unity on war in UkraineRead More"It's safe to be here, that's why I am here," said Dasha Borscht, 16, a non-Jewish resident taking refuge in the basement.The Jewish neighborhood in Uman is normally busy with visitors to the tomb of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement who died in 1810. Every year in September, the streets turn into a festival scene, with tens of thousands of Jewish pilgrims descending on the memorial complex to celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year. But since Uman came under attack on the first day of the Russian invasion on February 24, many residents have fled. Its shops have been left shuttered and streets strewn with litter. Roadblocks run by Ukrainian soldiers now guard the perimeter of the city, with strict document checks for every vehicle passing through.The Synagogue in Uman where congregants say the Jewish community has dwindled from around 600 people to less than 60.The Jewish community in the city has dwindled from around 600 members to under less than 60 since the Russian invasion began, according to the synagogue's lawyer."All the people is afraid to be here," said Yehuda Turgiman, a worshipper at the synagogue. "Stop with the war, stop with the fighting, stop with the hate." Those left behind are those who can't -- or won't -- leave their homes, along with some who stay out of religious conviction."I didn't go to Bulgaria, because I believe Rabbi Nachman cares about us, and nobody can do something that God doesn't want," said Shula, a worshipper at the synagogue who was born in Israel but has lived in Uman for 21 years. "Putin will not come here, and the soldiers will not come here."Other residents have decided to stay in Uman to fight back against the Russians.Tzvi Arieli, a former soldier with the Israel Defense Forces who has lived in Ukraine for a decade, told CNN that he is helping to train civilians to use weapons and learn basic combat first aid. He said most of them are businessmen, and they have never held a weapon before.A worshipper at the tomb of Rabbi Rachman, founder of the Breslov Hasidic movement.A week ago, taking up arms was unthinkable to most people here. "We don't have weapons, we don't want to fight," Turgiman said. The threat to Uman and its holy tomb was brought into focus on Tuesday, when a Russian attack on a Kyiv TV tower struck in the vicinity of Babyn Yar shrine -- a site of mourning for more than 30,000 Jew massacred there by Nazi killing squads in 1941, one of the worst mass murders of Jews during the Holocaust. "All the community, everybody, every person, was shocked," said Rybnitskaya. "I don't know even how to explain the state of the (Jewish) community after this day."In a televised address on Wednesday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is Jewish, said the attack was like "killing the Holocaust victims all over again," adding that the strike demonstrates Russia's wish "to erase our history. To erase our country. To erase all of us." Zelensky's own relatives were killed in the Holocaust.Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed without evidence that the Ukrainian government is a "gang of drug addicts and neo-Nazis" and has called for the "demilitarization and denazification of the Ukrainian state."But the Jewish community in Uman is adamant that Ukraine is a supportive place for them, and they reject Putin's claims of any threat from neo-Nazis. Over the previous few years, the Rosh Hashanah new year celebrations in Uman have grown to become the biggest Jewish festival outside of Israel"They don't make us problem," Turgiman said."It was not antisemitism, I know it because we are usually taken care of," Rybnitskaya added.A makeshift checkpoint outside of Uman. Several of these line the perimeter of the city to check vehicles passing through."I have been living here for seven months. They are amazing, very loving and very caring for the Jewish people," said Aviram Diamond from New York City. In the makeshift bomb shelter under the synagogue, a 76-year-old ethnic Russian who went only by her first name, Iryna, sat clutching her bags on one of the benches.She said Putin's invasion of Ukraine is seeking to drive a wedge between religious communities -- and also between Russians and Ukrainians. She was born in Ukraine, and has only spoken Russian, but she said, "Nobody ever prejudiced me here.""There was no difference between Russians and Ukrainians," she said. "We were all equal. We were never enemies."

Aya Elamroussi, CNN

2022-03-03 05:52:03

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/03/sport/stanford-soccer-player-katie-meyer-found-dead/index.html

Katie Meyer: Stanford soccer player found dead in a campus residence, officials say - CNN

A Stanford University soccer player who helped secure the school's 2019 NCAA women's soccer championship was found dead in a campus residence, school officials said Wednesday.

sport, Katie Meyer: Stanford soccer player found dead in a campus residence, officials say - CNN

Stanford soccer player found dead in a campus residence, officials say

(CNN)A Stanford University soccer player who helped secure the school's 2019 NCAA women's soccer championship was found dead in a campus residence, school officials said Wednesday. Katie Meyer was a senior International Relations major and team captain and goalkeeper on the Stanford soccer team, the school said."Katie was extraordinarily committed to everything and everyone in her world," Susie Brubaker-Cole, the vice provost for student affairs, and Director of Athletics Bernard Muir said in a statement."Katie was a bright shining light for so many on the field and in our community," the statement continued. Meyer's cause of death wasn't disclosed by the school. Brubaker-Cole earlier assured the campus community there was no threat to their safety. Read MoreCNN has reached out to the Santa Clara County coroner's office and Stanford University police for additional information on the cause and circumstances surrounding Meyer's death.CNN's Jill Martin contributed to this report.

Denise Hruby for CNN

2022-03-01 22:03:53

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/01/europe/ukraine-refugees-romania-intl/index.html

Romanian border: Ukrainian refugees criss-cross country for days in search of escape route - CNN

Elena Holitsyna and her daughter, Valerie, were exhausted by the time they arrived in Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania, and were greeted by dozens of volunteers and a little girl handing out yellow tulips.

europe, Romanian border: Ukrainian refugees criss-cross country for days in search of escape route - CNN

'Last week we had a life.' Ukrainians criss-cross country for days in search of escape route

Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania (CNN)Elena Holitsyna and her daughter, Valerie, were exhausted by the time they arrived in Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania, and were greeted by dozens of volunteers and a little girl handing out yellow tulips.They had spent four days crisscrossing Ukraine, hoping to find safety, each day bringing with it more news of Russian soldiers advancing through their country. "Last week, we had a life. We had plans," the 39-year-old, dressed in a white coat stained from the arduous journey, said. "And now, our life is this," she said, sobbing amid her possessions -- the few pieces of luggage they'd packed in a rush to flee Kyiv. Valerie, 16, clutched the Ukulele she got just last week.The day before the Russian invasion, Holitsyna, a French teacher, was teaching vocabulary, while Valerie was planning to buy a gift for her half-sister's birthday. "She turned three yesterday," Valerie said. Now they are hundreds of miles apart. Valerie's half-sister is staying with her mother in her maternal grandparents' village.Read MoreHundreds of thousands flee Putin's assault on Ukraine as temperatures dropHolitsyna's brother had driven them toward the border while her partner, a doctor at a Kyiv hospital, remained in the city to treat the wounded. "My heart is in two," broken, she said. "Part is with Valerie and part is with the man I love."Initially, Holitsyna's brother had headed for Lviv, she said, "but there are tens of thousands of people waiting" to cross into Poland, so they made no attempt to queue there, opting to drive to Romania instead. "This isn't the first time this has happened, but it is the worst," Holitsyna said. The family started a new life in Kyiv after being uprooted in 2014 when Russian-backed separatists occupied the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which was their home.Now, under a tent set up by volunteers, Holitsyna, Valerie and Holitsyna's 64-year-old father waited for a relative who relocated to Bulgaria in 2014, and who had been driving overnight to reach them in this hilly, sparsely-populated region.How to help the people of Ukraine They are among the 677,000 people who have fled their homes in Ukraine in less than a week, according to the UNHCR, which fears it could become "Europe's largest refugee crisis this century." They are seeking refuge from the Russian invasion that has upended international politics and triggered the greatest security crisis in Europe since the Cold War. UNHCR has issued an appeal for $1.7 billion USD in aid, estimating that 12 million people in Ukraine could be left in need of relief and protection, with a further four million expected to need help in neighboring countries. Meanwhile, the UN says that at least 102 civilians have been killed across the country and 304 injured, though those figures are likely underestimated. As Ukraine's European neighbors pledged to welcome the country's citizens with open arms, many refugees first fled to Lviv, a large city just over two hours' drive from the Polish border. But Ukrainian-Polish border crossings have now become bottlenecked, with refugees reporting having to wait in seemingly endless lines in the freezing weather.Accounts such as these are forcing many of those desperate to get out to head south instead, including to Romania, the EU country with which Ukraine shares the longest border.These sisters fled Afghanistan, hoping to find safety. Now they fear war in UkraineThe night before Holitsyna made it to the border, a group of 29 students from Egypt arrived in Sighetu Marmatiei shortly before midnight following a harrowing journey from Kharkiv. They said they had hoped to hold out in Ukraine's second-largest city, huddling in the subway for shelter from Russian attacks until Saturday. But on Sunday they decided to make their way to a train station instead. "We had to fight to get on the train," said Mohammed Abdel-Barry, a 23-year-old medical student. "It was so crowded; there were many, many people." Unable to cross the crowded border to Poland, and without a support network of people able to help, they paid $3,000 to be driven here. It was "everything we had," Abdel-Barry said. Their parents, back in Egypt, were worried sick Abdel-Barry said, before he boarded a bus to the Romanian capital of Bucharest.Other than some foreign students and a large group of Nigerians, most of those in Sighetu Marmatiei are women with children. Ukrainian men between the ages of 18 and 60 are not permitted to leave the country, though most are determined to remain anyway, according to their families. Fleeing Russia's advancing troops means some Ukrainians are leaving husbands, sons and brothers behind "He will go to a free city and help our soldiers," Marina Komysheva, 38, said of her husband.She and her daughters, Yeva, 16, and Nikita, 7, were driven to the border by her husband, who owns a business in the southeastern city of Melitopol. Komysheva has no idea when they might meet again as she does not feel safe returning until Russian forces leave Ukraine. "I hate them," she said, as Yeva clutched their small dogs in her arms. "I hate them since 2014, since they attacked Donetsk." In their purple suitcase, she carries documents, clothes, and laptops -- the girls will need to continue to study, she said. Like Komysheva's husband, Holitsyna's brother also turned back after dropping his family at the border. Not just because he had to, but because "he wants to fight in Kyiv," she said. And she only just managed to persuade her aging father to join them in leaving Kyiv.As she spoke, her phone kept pinging with messages from her students and friends -- many of whom are now trapped in Kyiv -- everyone asking, "Are you OK?"Just before leaving the border for the last leg of her journey to safety -- an almost 1,000-kilometer drive to Burgas in Bulgaria, where another of her brothers lives, Holitsyna said all she wanted was to return to Ukraine. "It's our home," she said. 

Story by Reuters

2022-03-02 04:08:19

news

australia

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/01/australia/australia-flood-relief-intl-hnk/index.html

Australia foods: Relief and rescue efforts continue as Sydney braces for heavy rains - CNN

Military helicopters airlifted stranded people from rooftops of flooded neighborhoods in eastern Australia and a tenth victim was found on Tuesday following days of torrential rain as the wild weather slowly shifts south toward Sydney.

australia, Australia foods: Relief and rescue efforts continue as Sydney braces for heavy rains - CNN

Australia continues flood relief and rescue efforts as Sydney braces for heavy rains

Military helicopters airlifted stranded people from rooftops of flooded neighborhoods in eastern Australia and a tenth victim was found on Tuesday following days of torrential rain as the wild weather slowly shifts south toward Sydney.The death toll rose to 10 after a woman believed in her 80s was found dead inside a flooded property, police said.Floodwater from the deluge, which began late last week, submerged several towns and bridges in Queensland and New South Wales, and was moving to the south with heavy rains and possible flash flooding forecast for Sydney.Residents stand by a flooded street in Lawrence suburb, some 70 kilometers New South Wales border city Lismore, on March 1, 2022. "This rather significant weather system ... we will see it come into the central coast of Sydney and we are already experiencing elements of that right now," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during a media briefing.Sydney, Australia's largest city and home to more than 5 million people, could receive up to 150 mm (6 inches) of rains within a six-hour period on Tuesday afternoon, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Sydney's mean rainfall for March is 138 mm, according to official data.Read MoreNew South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet described the extreme weather as a "one-in-a-one thousand-year event" and said emergency crews carried out more than 1,000 rescues in the state after receiving 6,000 calls for help so far.Residents carry belongings as they clean their homes in the flood-damaged suburb of Newmarket in Brisbane on March 1, 2022. Hundreds of people are still stuck at their homes in the northern New South Wales city of Lismore, facing its worst floods on record, amid reports of some spending the night on rooftops. Mayor Steve Krieg told Channel Seven that nine people were still missing with 400 rescues yet to be carried out.Around 50 people were rescued after they became stuck on a bridge overnight when fast rising waters submerged both ends, authorities said.Australia's east coast summer has been dominated by the La Nina climate pattern, which is typically associated with greater rainfall, for a second straight year. Brisbane, Australia's third largest city, received around 80% of its annual rainfall over the last three days, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Tuesday.

Issy Ronald, CNN

2022-03-02 12:00:15

sport

tennis

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/02/tennis/novak-djokovic-splits-coach-vajda-tennis-spt-intl/index.html

Novak Djokovic splits from his long-term coach Marian Vajda - CNN

Novak Djokovic has split with his long-term coach, Marian Vajda, who formed a part of the 20-time grand slam winner's team for the last 15 years.

tennis, Novak Djokovic splits from his long-term coach Marian Vajda - CNN

Novak Djokovic splits from his long-term coach Marian Vajda

(CNN)Novak Djokovic has split with his long-term coach, Marian Vajda, who formed a part of the 20-time grand slam winner's team for the last 15 years.Though Djokovic has only just announced the change via a statement on his website, the pair stopped working together after the 2021 ATP Finals in Turin last November.It marks an increasingly turbulent start to the year for Djokovic following his deportation from Australia in January, preventing his participation in the Australian Open, as well as the loss of his world No.1 status to Daniil Medvedev.Previously, Vajda had provided some stability for the Serb with their long association dating back to 2006 when Vajda was hired as Djokovic's head coach, a position he held until 2013 with the arrival of Boris Becker. In his original tenure as head coach, Vajda oversaw Djokovic's rise from a hugely talented newcomer to world no.1 and multiple grand slam winner by 2011."During my time with Novak, I have been lucky to watch him transform into the player he is today," Vajda said in the statement. "I will look back on our time together with immense pride and am so very thankful for the success we have achieved."Read MoreVajda remained a part of Djokovic's coaching team under Becker until 2017, and following a brief hiatus, rejoined in 2018, coinciding with Djokovic's return to form with grand slam victories at Wimbledon and the US Open."Marian has been by my side during the most important and memorable moments in my career," Djokovic said. Marian Vajda applauding as Djokovic plays Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece during the 2021 French Open."Together we have achieved some incredible things and I am very grateful for his friendship and dedication over the last 15 years. While he might be leaving the professional team, he will always be family and I can't thank him enough for all he has done."During their time together, Djokovic and Vajda accumulated 85 ATP singles titles -- including all of Djokovic's 20 grand slam titles. In recent years, however, Vajda has stepped back a little. Since 2019, he has shared coaching duties with Goran Ivanisevic, and traveled to fewer tournaments. Ivanisevic will remain working with Djokovic, hoping to steer him back to world No.1, a potentially difficult task given Djokovic's continued refusal to comply with vaccination requirements that now guard many of the world's biggest tournaments.Vajda, though no longer an official member of Djokovic's team, will "remain his biggest support on and off the court."

CNN Sport Staff

2022-03-02 09:28:48

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/02/sport/tom-brady-bruce-arians-nfl-return-spt-intl/index.html

Tom Brady: Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians says 'door is never closed' on quarterback - CNN

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians says the "door is never closed" should legendary quarterback Tom Brady decide to reverse his retirement decision.

sport, Tom Brady: Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians says 'door is never closed' on quarterback - CNN

Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Bruce Arians says 'door is never closed' on Tom Brady

(CNN)Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians says the "door is never closed" should legendary quarterback Tom Brady decide to reverse his retirement decision. Brady, 44, called time on his incredible career last month after his 22nd season in the NFL -- and second with the Bucs. But there has been speculation ever since around a potential return to the game for the seven-time Super Bowl champion. "That door is never closed. Whenever Tom wants back, he's back," Arians said at the NFL Combine on Tuesday. Tom Brady leaves the NFL as the architect of one of the greatest sports dynasties everBrady has not publicly indicated a desire to reverse his decision, but it seems he would have no trouble finding a place in the team if he did. Read MoreSpeaking hypothetically, Arians said it would be "bad business" to let Brady play for another team should he return to the NFL but said his team was preparing for the offseason without the talisman. "You just go on because I think if Tom comes back, we'll have plenty of money for him," Arians said.Selected 199th overall in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft by the Patriots, Brady played 20 seasons in Foxborough.Read Tom Brady's retirement announcementHe left New England as a free agent after the 2020 season and signed with the Bucs where he led the team to a Super Bowl win in his first season there.Brady retired as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards (84,520), touchdown passes (624), completions (7,263), regular season wins (243), playoff wins (35) and Super Bowl MVPs (five). He has also played in and won more regular-season games in his career than any other quarterback."We'll play golf. If I beat him, he has to come back," Arians joked.

Sammy Mngqosini and Aleks Klosok, CNN

2022-03-02 14:19:43

sport

football

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/02/football/hansjorg-wyss-wants-to-buy-chelsea-roman-abramovich-spt-intl/index.html

Chelsea: Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss wants to buy club from Roman Abramovich, report says - CNN

Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss says he wants to buy Chelsea.

football, Chelsea: Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss wants to buy club from Roman Abramovich, report says - CNN

Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss wants to buy Chelsea, report says

(CNN)Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss says he wants to buy Chelsea. In an interview with Swiss newspaper Blick, the 86-year-old admitted his interest in purchasing the Stamford Bridge club from Roman Abramovich, but only as part of a consortium.Chelsea did not respond to CNN's request for comment. Abramovich has recently announced plans to give the "stewardship" of the club over to trustees of the club's charitable foundation.The Russian billionaire is understood to want to retain his ownership of the club, which he has had since 2003, but is reportedly concerned about possible UK sanctions and subsequent reputational damage. Read MoreWyss says he and three other people received an offer to buy Chelsea from Abramovich, but there is no fixed selling price, according to the Swiss newspaper.Wyss is quoted in the interview as saying, "I have to wait four to five days now. Abramovich is currently asking far too much. You know, Chelsea owes him two billion. But Chelsea has no money."Wyss, who founded medical device firm Synthes USA, insisted in the Blick interview he could only consider a deal for Chelsea with a clutch of investment partners. "I can well imagine starting at Chelsea with partners. But I have to examine the general conditions first. But what I can already say: I'm definitely not doing something like this alone. If I buy Chelsea, then with a consortium consisting of six to seven investors," Wyss told the newspaper.READ: Russian Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich gives 'stewardship' of club over to trusteesAbramovich bought Chelsea in 2003.Since Abramovich took over the club in 2003, Chelsea has won 17 major trophies, including two Champions League trophies and five Premier League titles. The Blues are currently Champions League holders after beating Manchester City at the end of last season.Meanwhile, fellow Premier League club Everton has suspended all commercial sponsorship arrangements with Russian companies owned by Alisher Usmanov with immediate effect on Wednesday.A statement posted on the club's website said: "Everyone at Everton remains shocked and saddened by the appalling events unfolding in Ukraine. This tragic situation must end as soon as possible, and any further loss of life must be avoided."The players, coaching staff and everyone working at Everton is providing full support to our player Vitalii Mykolenko and his family and will continue to do so. "The Club can confirm that it has suspended with immediate effect all commercial sponsorship arrangements with the Russian companies USM, Megafon and Yota," the statement concluded.USM Holdings sponsors the club's training ground, Finch Farm, while Megafon sponsors Everton women's shirts.

Analysis by Nathan Hodge, CNN

2022-03-02 17:12:36

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/02/europe/russia-ukraine-shifting-map-analysis-intl-cmd/index.html

Analysis: The shifting map of Ukraine makes Russia's intentions clearer - CNN

Switch on Russian state television, and the spectacle of war in Ukraine is rather bloodless. But within the country under invasion, the picture of Russia's military intentions is becoming clearer.

europe, Analysis: The shifting map of Ukraine makes Russia's intentions clearer - CNN

The shifting map of Ukraine makes Russia's intentions clearer

(CNN)Switch on Russian state television, and the spectacle of war in Ukraine is rather bloodless. News broadcasts feature Russian troops on the move in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, Russian military helicopters skimming above tree level, and sorry-looking Ukrainians laying down arms and signing promises not to fight. Russia's First Channel on Wednesday also featured commentators gathered around a slick interactive map that purported to show advances by Russian troops and the Russian-backed separatist forces of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics. What Russians were not seeing, however, were images of Ukrainian cities such as Kharkiv and Kyiv in the aftermath of heavy shelling or missile strikes.A woman surveys the backyard of a house damaged by a Russian airstrike, according to locals, in Gorenka, near Kyiv, on Wednesday.No, the picture on Russian television is largely sterile, with slick handout video from the Ministry of Defense and stiff official briefings by Russia's main military spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov. There is scant mention of casualties -- either Russian military or Ukrainian civilian -- and the language is euphemistic. Russia, after all, is carrying out what's called a "special military operation," and domestic news outlets are forbidden from calling it a war or an invasion. But a picture of Russia's military intentions is becoming clearer. Around Kyiv, its forces are focusing on encircling the Ukrainian capital, in an apparent push to topple the government -- a goal President Vladimir Putin, in false and brazen terms, calls "denazification." And a sort of crescent of Russian-held territory is emerging in the country's east and south. Read MoreOn Wednesday morning, Russia claimed its troops had taken full control of the southern city of Kherson, to the north of the Crimean peninsula -- something Ukraine's defense ministry disputed.A blast is seen in Kyiv's TV tower on Tuesday.But the push north from Crimea has expanded a zone of Russian control that was established in 2014, when Russia occupied and annexed the Black Sea peninsula. It has also restored water supplies to Crimea, as Russian forces have reopened a canal that supplied up to 85% of the peninsula's needs before being cut off in the wake of the annexation.More importantly, the advance in the area shows the beginning of a potential land bridge that -- in theory -- could link the Ukrainian port city of Odessa, through Kherson, to the separatist-held territories in the east. A key part of that possible corridor is the southeastern city of Mariupol. Heavy fighting continues there, with Russian and Russian-backed separatist forces encircling the city of some 400,000 people on three sides. Ukrainian emergency service personnel carry the body of a victim following shelling of the Regional State Administration building in Kharkiv on Tuesday.Vadym Boychenko, the mayor of Mariupol, said Wednesday that the number of wounded civilians was "growing every day." North of Mariupol, and near the Russian border, the city of Kharkiv has come under heavy Russian fire. On Wednesday, there was a military strike in the vicinity of Kharkiv's City Council, one day after the Kharkiv Regional State Administration building was hit by a strike that, according to Ukrainian officials, killed 10 people and injured at least 24. No images of this fighting are reaching viewers of state television in Russia -- although many Russians have access to the internet, and some can watch international networks. But the messaging by Russian officials and state media is eerily reminiscent of the war in Syria. The Kremlin has warned that Ukrainian "nationalists" are planning to use civilians as "human shields," while the Russian military offers the promise of safe routes out of the city. On the morning that Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, Konashenkov, the Russian military spokesperson, claimed -- without evidence -- that the Security Service of Ukraine was preparing to circulate fake news about civilian casualties. Russian army military vehicles are seen in Armyansk, Crimea on Friday. "In Ukrainian cities, staged video filming was carried out with alleged 'mass casualties' among the civilian population of Ukraine," Konashenkov claimed, according to Russian state news agency RIA-Novosti. Such wild and unfounded claims follow Russia's playbook of maligning Syria's White Helmets, a volunteer rescue group that has provided the world with some of the most compelling proof of the targeting of civilians by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Russian airpower. Russia insists it is not targeting residential neighborhoods in Ukraine, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. But the deliberate repetition of that propaganda is a chilling reminder that the default Russian strategy when it comes to evidence of civilian casualties is outright denial.

Luke McGee, CNN

2022-02-28 13:30:48

news

europe

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/28/europe/putin-stiff-opposition-ukraine-intl-cmd/index.html

Vladimir Putin faces stiffer opposition than expected -- both inside and outside Ukraine - CNN

Five days into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it seems things haven't gone exactly to plan for Vladimir Putin so far.

europe, Vladimir Putin faces stiffer opposition than expected -- both inside and outside Ukraine - CNN

Vladimir Putin is facing stiffer opposition than expected -- both inside and outside Ukraine

(CNN)Five days into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it seems things haven't gone exactly to plan for Vladimir Putin so far. Western intelligence officials briefed repeatedly over the weekend that Russian forces have encountered "stiffer than expected" resistance from an outmanned and outgunned Ukrainian military. Russia has thus far failed to take key cities across Ukraine, including the capital Kyiv. On Sunday, Ukrainian forces successfully repelled a Russian advance on a strategic airfield near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, which has been under near-constant attack.In addition to a fierce fightback from Ukrainian forces and civilians, the Russian invasion has suffered logistical challenges, with soldiers on the front line running short of fuel, ammunition and food."They are having problems," a NATO official said of the Russian forces, pointing to the alliance's latest intelligence. "They lack diesel, they are proceeding way too slow and morale is obviously an issue."Read MoreBut a senior US defense official told reporters on Sunday that Russia has only used two-thirds of the total combat power applied to the mission, leaving a significant amount of forces available to press the offensive. Russia ramps up war efforts in Ukraine as talks begin at Belarus borderAnd on Monday, a miles-long convoy of Russian military vehicles was bearing down on the Ukrainian capital, while Kyiv's intelligence also suggests Belarus is prepared to join the Russian invasion, according to a Ukrainian official.Representatives from Ukraine and Russia were meeting Monday on the Belarusian border. In those talks, Ukraine will insist on an "immediate ceasefire" and the withdrawal of Russian troops -- though, realistically, no one is expecting that to happen. Putin, it seems, hasn't just misjudged Ukraine's ability to defend itself, but also just how hard a line the international community would take against Russia in the event of an invasion. For years, the Russian president has faced very little pushback from the West over his illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea, his brutal support for the Syrian regime and acts of aggression in other countries. For all their strong words of condemnation for Putin and his regime, Western countries still bought gas from Russia, offered a safe haven to Russian oligarchs and retained relatively normal diplomatic relations with Moscow. But this time around -- despite a few early rocky patches which saw Western nations accused of not hitting Russia hard enough -- Putin has faced an unusually united Western alliance.Russia faces financial meltdown as sanctions slam its economy From unprecedented sanctions that are already hurting the Russian economy to international sport slowly turning on Moscow, Russia's international pariah status becomes more acute by the hour. The economic pain will only get worse as time goes on. The ruble lost about 20% of its value against the dollar on Monday afternoon, and Russia's central bank has raised interest rates from 9.5% to 20%, a move that will hit Russian citizens in their pockets.,Those same citizens might soon wonder just why Putin is risking so much for a war that didn't need to happen. Of course, things are very fluid on the ground and could change very quickly. There's little hope that Monday's talks will yield a deescalation, and no one expects this war to end in the immediate future -- either by force or by agreement. But it's likely that Putin, having come this far, will throw more at Ukraine in the coming days. However, as the invasion enters its second week, it's impossible to ignore the fact that Putin's best-laid plans have been met with firmer resistance than he -- and many of his opponents -- ever imagined.

Ben Morse, CNN

2022-03-01 11:43:18

sport

sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/01/sport/ja-morant-grizzlies-spurs-nba-spt-intl/index.html

Ja Morant has historic night, breaks own scoring record and hits incredible buzzer-beater - CNN

What can't Ja Morant do?

sport, Ja Morant has historic night, breaks own scoring record and hits incredible buzzer-beater - CNN

Ja Morant has historic night, breaks own scoring record and hits incredible buzzer-beater

(CNN)What can't Ja Morant do?On Monday night, Morant put in one of the performances of the NBA season, contributing highlight after highlight in the Memphis Grizzlies' 118-105 win over the San Antonio Spurs. In his 34 minutes on the floor, the point-guard dunked over a seven-foot defender, hit an incredible buzzer-beater and had enough time to set a new franchise record for points, a record he broke just two days before. Morant finished with 52 points -- surpassing the 46 points he initially broke the record with just two days earlier -- on 22-of-30 shooting. Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich -- who, as a result of Morant's remarkable performance, remains one game short of equaling Don Nelson's record for the most regular-season wins by an NBA coach -- was full of praise for the 22-year-old. Read More"He's a beautiful player,'' Popovich told the media. "What else can you say about him? It's not just that he's athletic. Everybody says: 'He's athletic.' Somebody says: 'He's a freak of nature' because he's so fast... But he makes decisions. He knows what is going on on the court."So you combine that cerebral part of his game with his athleticism and you've got a special kid.''Morant goes to the basket against the Spurs.Box office playerMorant has been having a breakout season as an NBA star. The 2020 Rookie of the Year was named an NBA All-Star for the first time in his career and has been the driving force behind an improving Grizzlies team. And on Monday against the Spurs, he showed why he's become one of the most box office players in the league. First, he hit a deep three-pointer which got the crowd's attention. With two minutes left in the second quarter, he electrified the building when he threw down a massive slam dunk over seven-foot Spurs center Jakob Pöltl. But his most impressive feat was still to come. With 0.4 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Grizzlies center Steven Adam heaved the ball to the other end of the court in the direction of Morant. Showing remarkable body control and accuracy, Morant caught the ball near the left corner of the court, shot it and scored -- all without touching the floor. He was mobbed by his teammates in celebration as he left the court to a hero's exit. And he continued his dominance in the second half, putting the Spurs to the sword with his franchise-record 52 points. When asked what was his most memorable moment of the evening, Morant said: "It's got to be the 50.'' Morant looks on and smiles during the game against the Spurs."I'm thankful for my teammates, my coaches. They believe in me and have all the confidence in the world that I'll make the right plays.''Such was his performance, Morant was praised by NBA legend Allen Iverson. Iverson, the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player, posted a picture of a Morant jersey hung on his Maurice Podoloff Trophy -- given to the winner of the MVP -- with the caption: "Sooner or Later!!!"Morant responded to the picture, tweeting: "Pass the torch OG."

Ben Church and Aleks Klosok, CNN

2022-03-01 10:59:10

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/01/sport/vladimir-putin-ukraine-sporting-titles-spt-intl/index.html

Russian President Vladimir Putin is being stripped of his honorary sporting titles amid Ukraine invasion - CNN

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been stripped of multiple honorary sporting titles amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

sport, Russian President Vladimir Putin is being stripped of his honorary sporting titles amid Ukraine invasion - CNN

Vladimir Putin is being stripped of his honorary sporting titles amid Ukraine invasion

(CNN)Russian President Vladimir Putin has been stripped of multiple honorary sporting titles amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine. It comes as sports governing bodies have imposed sanctions on Russian teams, with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recommending a ban for Russian and Belarusian athletes competing in international competition. In the same statement on Monday, the IOC announced that it had withdrawn the Olympic Order, the highest award of the Olympic movement, from Putin.FIFA and UEFA suspend all Russian international and club teams from competitionsOn Monday, World Taekwondo stripped Putin of his honorary black belt as a result of the violence in Ukraine."World Taekwondo strongly condemns the brutal attacks on innocent lives in Ukraine, which go against the World Taekwondo vision of 'Peace is More Precious than Triumph' and the World Taekwondo values of respect and tolerance," the governing body said in a statement.Read More"In this regard, World Taekwondo has decided to withdraw the honorary 9th dan black belt conferred to Mr. Vladimir Putin in November 2013."World Taekwondo added that no Russian or Belarusian national flags or anthems would be displayed or played at its events.Furthermore no taekwondo events would be organized or recognized in Russia and Belarus.READ: Ukrainian athletes 'seeking safety in bomb shelters' call for Russia and Belarus to be bannedRussia's President Vladimir Putin has been stripped of multiple sporting titles. The decision comes after the International Judo Federation (IJF) said on Sunday it would suspend Putin's status as Honorary President and ambassador.The European Judo Union on Monday also withdrew Putin's status as Honorary President.On Tuesday, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) followed suit by withdrawing the FINA Order previously awarded to the Russian president in October 2014.Putin had been awarded FINA's highest honor as a result of his "important support" in the organization of major FINA events in Russia.Russian Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich gives 'stewardship' of club over to trusteesFINA said that while no athlete or team from Russia or Belarus could compete under the countries' names or national flags, they could be accepted as neutrals.FINA on Sunday canceled the World Junior Championships which were due to be staged in Kazan, Russia, in August.The World Short-Course Championships (25m) scheduled to take place in the same city in December remains on."FINA remains deeply concerned about the impact of the war on the aquatics community and the wider population of Ukraine," a statement read."FINA will continue to carefully monitor the grave situation and make further decisions as appropriate."

Tamara Qiblawi, CNN

2022-03-01 12:55:37

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/01/europe/nato-ukraine-russian-infiltrators-intl-cmd/index.html

On NATO's doorstep, a former tourist hotspot in Ukraine digs in to resist 'Russian infiltrators' - CNN

A long line of men snakes out of an unassuming building in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on an overcast day. An officer tells them to come back later. Too many people, he says, had enlisted that morning at Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, the volunteer military unit of the country's armed forces.

europe, On NATO's doorstep, a former tourist hotspot in Ukraine digs in to resist 'Russian infiltrators' - CNN

On NATO's doorstep, a former tourist hotspot in Ukraine digs in to resist 'Russian infiltrators'

Lviv, Ukraine (CNN)A long line of men snakes out of an unassuming building in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv on an overcast day. An officer tells them to come back later. Too many people, he says, had enlisted that morning at Ukraine's Territorial Defense Forces, the volunteer military unit of the country's armed forces. The scene recurs on nearly every street — office and manual workers, young and old, determined to take up arms. Nearly everyone here says they would rather die than see Russian ground forces enter their city. "I don't have any fear. We've had a war for eight years. This is a fight for our freedom," said Taras Ischyk of the territorial defense, referring to the war Russian President Vladimir Putin sparked in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine eight years ago. Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine has so far left Lviv unscathed. Yet the city has been utterly transformed from a touristic hotspot that boasts picturesque cobble-stoned streets and baroque-style buildings to a hub of burgeoning resistance to Moscow's military assault. Checkpoints line the entrances to the city as volunteers fill up sandbags that fortify the city's perimeter as well as its inner-city government buildings. Ukrainian police are dressed in combat gear. Many businesses have answered a call by the region's authorities to join the war effort — namely by making Molotov cocktails. Read MoreA volunteer demonstrates the preparation of Molotov cocktails in Lviv.The war effort in Lviv follows a nationwide trend where Russia's invading forces have faced stiff resistance from both Ukraine's military, as well as civilians who have taken up arms, slowing down the offensive's progress significantly. Russia has acknowledged casualties but has yet to give exact figures, but US officials say the country has suffered heavier losses in personnel, armor and aircraft than expected. In a press conference last week, Governor of the Lviv region Max Kozicki announced that Molotov cocktail production centers were being set up throughout the city, and called for a mass enlisting in the territorial defense.Yuri Zastavny has converted his Lviv beer brewery into a factory for Molotov cocktails. They've made hundreds so far, Zastavny says, and distributed them to civilian defense centers in the Lviv area. Zastavny was encouraged to do it by his employees, he told CNN. "Everyone is mobilized to the highest extent possible ... people who have technical skills do technical things. People good at media do media things," he said. "That's why I think Russia has no chance here." The heightened sense of preparedness is an unexpected turn for Lviv. On the first day of Russia's invasion, several military facilities were attacked in the wider region. Every day since, air raid sirens have blared repeatedly. Across the city, people have descended into basements, re-emerging when the alarms stop. What we can't find is a proper shelter for an atomic attack.MichaJust 50 miles away from the border with Poland, the city is on NATO's doorstep. When the US warned that an invasion was imminent, several Western embassies relocated there from the capital Kyiv, believing it to be safer. But that sense of security has since been shattered and the city's authorities already believe that they are the target of covert military operations by the Russian army. "There are Russian infiltrators in Lviv. This is a fact," Governor Kozicki told CNN emphatically. The governor's office says they believe "sabotage groups" have been marking various spots in the city as targets for Russian forces to later attack. Neither the governor nor his office have provided evidence of the alleged infiltrators or the plots of the alleged sabotage groups, but the atmosphere in Lviv is thick with suspicion.Cafe-goers are sometimes frisked at the entrance. The city's inhabitants are much less forthcoming with journalists than they were prior to the invasion."I can barely remember what life was like a couple of days ago when everything was safe," said 30-year-old Sergei Kuchman, who has been receiving scores of fleeing Ukrainians at a hostel he manages. "Everything changed in a moment." A metallic sculpture depicting the Lviv city center.At a historic church, Micha, 24, and his girlfriend inquire about bomb shelters; many people who don't have basements have taken cover in crypts. "What we can't find is a proper shelter for an atomic attack," he said, his voice trailing off as his girlfriend gestures to him to stop talking. He ducks into an alleyway but the fear in his mind hangs in the air after he's left. On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin put his country's nuclear deterrence force on high alert, raising the specter of nuclear war. A few days ago, this would have been an unfathomable prospect, but no one here says they can put anything past Putin anymore, especially after he invaded Europe's second-biggest country last week.Hours before the invasion began, a group of men were meeting at a nondescript office on the ground floor of a Soviet-style building in the outskirts of Lviv. They were organizing a "national resistance movement in Lviv," 42 year-old Andriy Djakovych said. Djakovych is a hulking, slow-moving man with labored breathing. He is a senior lecturer at the local police academy. When he served in his country's 2014 war against Russia in the Donbas region as a paramedic, he was left with a brain injury that means he can no longer serve in the army, or the territorial defense. Yet he still wants to join the resistance. 42-year-old Andriy Djakovych.He said his group had no name or political affiliations, and that they were operating on the belief that Lviv figured in Putin's invasion plans, even if to a milder degree than eastern and central parts of the country. "I don't think (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky has prepared us for war," Djakovych said at the time. "We want to create our own patriotic community that the state in Ukraine can rely on." Days later, CNN met with Djakovych again. This time we were directed to a building in central Lviv where we used a password to enter. Djakovych's towering figure appeared in military attire. "Patriot" — the name of his little-known group — was emblazoned on his shoulder. The walls were draped with the flags of ultra-nationalist Ukrainian movements, including the paramilitary group Azov, whose logo is the Wolfsangel, a symbol appropriated by Nazi Germany. There were several swastikas in the room, including one on a candlestick. Other veterans, decked out in military attire, brandished rifles. The "Patriots" are still tight-lipped about their ideological affiliations, but their ultra-nationalist leanings conjures up a less visible, yet harrowing dimension of this conflict."I don't consider myself a Nazi or a neo-nazi," said Djakovych. "I'm just a patriotic citizen of my country." CNN's Atika Shubert, Jim Sciutto and Shelby Vest contributed to this report from Lviv, Ukraine.

Wayne Sterling and Steve Almasy, CNN

2022-03-01 11:54:44

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sport

https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/01/sport/mlb-deadline-extended-lockout-intl-spt/index.html

MLB is postponing Opening Day after owners and players cannot agree on labor deal - CNN

Major League Baseball (MLB) is postponing its March 31 Opening Day and canceling the first two series of regular season games, Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday.

sport, MLB is postponing Opening Day after owners and players cannot agree on labor deal - CNN

MLB is postponing Opening Day after owners and players cannot agree on labor deal

(CNN)Major League Baseball (MLB) is postponing its March 31 Opening Day and canceling the first two series of regular season games, Commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday. The decision comes after team representatives and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) could not reach a deal on a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The CBA determines players' terms and conditions of employment."We worked hard to avoid an outcome that's bad for our fans, bad for our players and bad for our clubs," Manfred told reporters. "I want to assure our fans that our failure to reach an agreement was not due to a lack of effort by either party."Manfred said that with representatives of the players union headed to New York, there is no possibility of an agreement until Thursday, at the earliest. That meant training camps could not meaningfully operate until March 8. The league has said players would need four weeks of Spring Training before the regular season could begin. "The unfortunate thing, maybe the most unfortunate thing, is that (proposed) agreement, the one we've offered to our players, offered huge benefits for our fans and for our players," he said.Read MoreThe players' union said in a statement that players -- and fans -- are "disgusted, but sadly not surprised.""From the beginning of these negotiations, Players' objectives have been consistent -- to promote competition, provide fair compensation for young Players, and to uphold the integrity of our market system," the union statement reads. "Against the backdrop of growing revenues and record profits, we are seeking nothing more than a fair agreement."The union said the owners have been trying to break their players' fraternity and will fail. "We are united and committed to negotiating a fair deal that will improve the sport for Players, fans and everyone who loves our game," the union said.The commissioner said games were canceled and not postponed because it is not feasible to reschedule interleague games. Manfred also said that players will not be paid for canceled games.Both sides were at the negotiating table in Jupiter, Florida, for more than 16 hours on Monday which stretched into the early Tuesday morning hours, per MLB.com. The two sides met again later Tuesday. MLB lockout: what we know -- a timelineThe league locked out the players on December 2, preventing them from using team facilities and keeping free agents from signing new contracts. The work stoppage stems from disagreements over how to divide up an estimated $11 billion in annual revenue. Owners say they have been battered by the decline of in-person attendance due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and they have pushed to sign a new CBA similar to the most recent one.Players, meanwhile, have seen their salaries decline in recent years, particularly for non-star players. The union has pushed to change the league's restrictive rules around free agency and cut down on financial penalties for teams that spend heavily.Spring Training and the exhibition games schedule had already been pushed back and canceled through March 7. Last month, Manfred said missing games would be a "disastrous outcome" for baseball.CNN's Kevin Dotson, Jill Martin and Eric Levenson contributed to this report.

CNN Editorial Research

2013-01-12 01:42:49

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europe

https://www.cnn.com/2013/01/11/world/europe/mikhail-gorbachev---fast-facts/index.html

Mikhail Gorbachev Fast Facts - CNN

Read CNN's Fast Facts on Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the USSR.

europe, Mikhail Gorbachev Fast Facts - CNN

Mikhail Gorbachev Fast Facts

Here's a look at the life of Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the USSR.PersonalBirth date: March 2, 1931Birth place: Privolnoye, Russia, Soviet UnionBirth name: Mikhail Sergeyevich GorbachevRead MoreFather: Sergei Andreyevich GorbachevMother: Maria Panteleyevna (Gopkalo) GorbachevMarriage: Raisa (Titarenko) Gorbachev (1953-September 20, 1999, her death)Children: Irina 1956Education: Moscow State University, Faculty of Law (1955), Stavropol Agricultural Institute, Faculty of Economy (1967)Other FactsNominated for one Grammy Award and won one.Timeline1952 - Joins the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and works in various positions in the party for the next two decades.1955-1958 - Becomes the first secretary of the Communist Party of the Stavropol Komsomol City Committee.1963 - Becomes chief of the Agriculture Department in the Stavropol region.1970-1978 - Named the first secretary for the Communist Party in the Stavropol region.1970-1990 - Deputy of the Supreme Soviet, the highest legislative body in the Soviet Union.1971 - Becomes a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. March 11, 1985 - Elected general secretary of the Communist Party in the Soviet Union. In this post, he is effectively the leader of the USSR.1985-1988 - Participates in a series of summit talks with US President Ronald Reagan.1987 - Signs the Intermediate Nuclear Forces treaty with the United States to limit nuclear weapons.1989 - Announces the withdrawal of Soviet forces from Afghanistan.1989-1990 - Chairman of the Supreme Soviet.1990 - Becomes president of the USSR.1990 - Wins the Nobel Peace Prize for helping end the Cold War.December 21, 1991 - USSR dissolves and the Commonwealth of Independent States is formally established.December 25, 1991 - Resigns as president of the USSR.1992-present - Founder and president of The International Foundation for Socio-Economic and Political Studies (The Gorbachev Foundation) 1993-2000 - Founds and serves as president of Green Cross International, an environmental organization.1996 - Runs for election in Russia, but receives only 1% of the vote.November 24, 2001 - Is elected head of the Social Democratic Party of Russia.February 8, 2004 - Wins a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children, for "Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf/Beintus: Wolf Tracks." He shares the award with Sophia Loren and former US President Bill Clinton.May 2004 - Resigns from the Social Democratic Party of Russia over conflicts with party direction and leadership.January 2006 - Along with a business partner, Gorbachev buys 49% of shares in the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper.August 2007 - Appears in print advertisements for Louis Vuitton leather goods.October 2007 - Becomes head of a new Russian political movement, Union of Social Democrats.September 19, 2008 - Receives the 2008 Liberty Medal, awarded each year by the National Constitution Center, which is chaired by former US President George H.W. Bush.November 2009 - Attends ceremonies in Berlin, marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. March 2, 2011 - On his 80th birthday, Gorbachev is awarded Russia's highest honor, the Order of St. Andrew, by President Dmitry Medvedev.March 7, 2013 - In an interview with the BBC, Gorbachev is critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin and says, "For goodness sake, you shouldn't be afraid of your own people."May 26, 2016 - The Ukraine bans Gorbachev after he shows support for Russia's annexation of Crimea.January 26, 2017 - Writes a piece for Time magazine titled, "It All Looks as if the World Is Preparing for War," in which he says the most urgent problem we face is "the militarization of politics and the new arms race." December 4, 2018 - In an opinion piece in the Washington Post on US President Donald Trump's intention to withdraw from the INF treaty, which Gorbachev and Reagan signed in 1987, Gorbachev and former US Secretary of State George Shultz write that abandoning the treaty "threatens our very existence."

CNN Editorial Research

2013-06-27 18:31:28

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https://www.cnn.com/2013/06/27/world/europe/duchess-camilla-fast-facts/index.html

Duchess Camilla Fast Facts - CNN

Read CNN's Fast Facts on Duchess Camilla, the wife of Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

europe, Duchess Camilla Fast Facts - CNN

Duchess Camilla Fast Facts

(CNN)Here's a look at the life of Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall.PersonalBirth date: July 17, 1947 Birth place: London, England Birth name: Camilla Rosemary Shand Read MoreFather: Major Bruce Shand, retired British Army officer, later a wine merchant Mother: Rosalind Cubitt, daughter of the 3rd Baron of Ashcombe Marriages: Prince Charles (April 9, 2005-present), Andrew Parker-Bowles (1973-1995, divorced) Children: with Andrew Parker-Bowles: Laura Rose and Thomas Henry Other FactsHer complete title is: Her Royal Highness The Princess Charles, Princess of Wales and Countess of Chester, Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay, Countess of Carrick, Baroness of Renfrew, Lady of the Isles, Princess of ScotlandAlice Keppel, mistress of King Edward VII, the great-great-grandfather of Prince Charles, is the great-grandmother of Duchess Camilla.An avid hunter and rider.Like her husband, the Duchess is a patron of the arts and many charities.Timeline1965 - Introduced to British society as a debutante.Early 1970s - Meets Prince Charles at a polo match at Windsor Great Park.1973 - Marries Andrew Parker-Bowles. 1980 - Accompanies Prince Charles, as his official escort, during trip to recognize Zimbabwe's independence.1981 - Prince Charles marries Lady Diana Spencer.1992 - "Diana: Her True Story" is published, revealing Parker-Bowles' role in the royal marriage.1993 - Affair with Prince Charles becomes public when the transcript of a 1989 intimate phone conversation with the Prince is revealed. 1994 - During a televised documentary, Prince Charles admits to adultery.1995 - During an interview for the BBC, Princess Diana is asked about Camilla: "Do you think Mrs. Parker-Bowles was a factor in the breakdown of your marriage?" She responds, "Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."1996 - Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorce.1998 - Meets Prince Charles' sons, William and Harry, for the first time. Is invited to tea by Prince William.1999 - First appears in public with Prince Charles leaving the Ritz Hotel in London after a party.2000 - Formally introduced to Queen Elizabeth II at a party held at Highgrove, Prince Charles' country estate.2003 - Moves into Clarence House with Prince Charles.February 10, 2005 - With the Queen's approval, Prince Charles announces he will marry Camilla April 9 at Windsor Castle. She will be known as Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall. April 9, 2005 - In a civil ceremony at Guildhall in Windsor with a blessing at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, Charles and Camilla wed.November 1-8, 2005 - With Prince Charles, makes her first official visit to the United States as the Duchess of Cornwall.April 27, 2009 - Is presented to Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican by Prince Charles.December 9, 2010 - Student demonstrators breach security on the streets of London's West End and attack the 1977 Rolls-Royce Phantom VI carrying the Duchess and her husband to a performance at the London Palladium. The couple escapes any physical harm. The students are protesting the hike in tuition fees.April 9, 2012 - Buckingham Palace announces that the Duchess of Cornwall will become a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. This is the highest personal honor bestowed by Queen Elizabeth II and the announcement comes on the seventh anniversary of Camilla's wedding to Prince Charles. May 8, 2013 - Attends the opening of Parliament. This is first time the Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales have attended the opening together.March 2015 - Visits the United States with Prince Charles. The trip includes a tour of Mount Vernon, a meeting with US President Barack Obama and a festival in Louisville, Kentucky.February 5, 2022 - Queen Elizabeth II announces in her Accession Day message her "sincere wish" for the Duchess of Cornwall to be known as Queen Consort when Prince Charles becomes King.February 14, 2022 - Tests positive for Covid-19, four days after it was revealed Prince Charles tested positive for the virus a second time.