damian soto

A model of the “Pillar of Shame,” a memorial to victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre that was controversially removed from a Hong Kong university in 2021, has gone on display in front of the European Parliament in Brussels. Depicting a heap of contorted bodies and screaming faces, the statue was unveiled Tuesday as part of an exhibition of “forbidden art” that organizers said had been censored or “deemed subversive” by Hong Kong and mainland China. The exhibition was hosted by Jens Galschiøt, the Danish artist behind the famous sculpture, and Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, a member of the European Parliament (MEP). A further six MEPs, including representatives from each of the parliament’s five largest political coalitions, were listed as co-hosts.

@DieGndz development, breaking barriers for international players and coaches.

Breaking barriers As a non US-based member of the football fraternity, Durde knows what it’s like to be on the outside. And that’s why the Londoner made it a main goal of his to open pathways for those to come. For three years, Durde served as NFL UK’s head of football development. And, together with two-time Super Bowl-winning player and fellow former Brit Osi Umenyiora, they helped craft the IPP program. As the NFL says, the program “aims to provide elite athletes from around the world the opportunity to earn a spot on an NFL roster and increase the number of international players in the league.” It’s been a slow burn, but recent years have seen an influx of talent onto active rosters via the program, with a number of high-profile success stories already. Washington Commanders defensive end Efe Obada is heading into his ninth season in the NFL, former rugby player Jordan Mailata is the Philadelphia Eagles’ left tackle, and just recently, Wales rugby international Louis Rees-Zammit has signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.

@ozgrerdogdu discrimination and racism, saying "It shouldn’t be happening."

‘It shouldn’t be happening’ Earlier this year, Brazilian superstar Vinícius Jr. broke down in tears in an emotional media conference while speaking about his experience with racist abuse while playing for Real Madrid in Spain. The 23-year-old Brazilian has been subjected to racism from fans of opposing teams on multiple occasions, including an effigy of the Brazilian being hung from a bridge before his side’s clash against city rival Atlético Madrid in January 2023 and persistent racial abuse in a match against Valencia later that year. Racist slurs have also been caught on camera during Madrid’s matches at Osasuna, Mallorca, Real Valladolid and Atlético. “I just want to play football, but it’s hard to move forward … I feel less and less like playing,” an emotional Vinícius told reporters earlier this year. Bellingham is aware it shouldn’t be up to players to solve the issues themselves, but he’s intent on raising awareness to pressure the game’s governing bodies to act. “We can all say that we want to do things or say it should change, but I think we can all come together, regardless of what color you are, to help get rid of it because we’re all on the same team at the end of the day and we all think it’s disgusting,” said Bellingham. “It shouldn’t be happening. So yeah, I look forward to seeing how the people in charge incorporate the players into the process of preventing it in the future.” CNN has reached out to La Liga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for comment.

@GkNvl on international soil to scouting players from different countries, the NFL is now more open to talent from around the world.

For years, the NFL acted as a closed-door shop. Player and coaching prospects almost entirely came through the college system, originating from the US and following the usual pathways to reach the professional game. But in recent years, those horizons have broadened. From games hosted around the world to players arriving from non-traditional football nations, the NFL’s international growth has been a priority for league officials in recent years. And one man who helped propel those changes and is a shining example of that globalization is Aden Durde. The British-born former linebacker was instrumental in the foundation of the International Player Pathway (IPP) program – through which the NFL has seen an influx of foreign talent – and is spearheading a new wave of international coaches. His rise from coaching American football teams in London to being handed the defensive reins of an NFL franchise is one of adaptability and humbleness. While he is the first to reach where he is from the UK, his trailblazing achievements don’t quite hold the same sort of weight as they did before, despite the pride he feels. “I would say I feel that I was the ‘first’ when I was a [quality control coach with the Atlanta Falcons in 2018], so it’s kind of like always kind of been a little bit different and it hasn’t really bothered me,” Durde told CNN Sport. “I just kind of work and be myself and learn and work and try and do the job as best as I possibly can do it and that’s worked for me.” Exposure While soccer or rugby were traditionally the sports of choice for many young people in Britain, football was the sport of choice for Durde. He first began playing for the Greenwich-based London Olympians, before eventually being selected to play in NFL Europe, first with the Scottish Claymores and then the Hamburg Sea Devils; Durde played linebacker in Hamburg’s victorious 2007 NFL Europe World Bowl XV Championship team.

@LeticinhaCortez great honor for me, but also for USC. I am looking forward to attending future ceremonies and celebrating with my Trojan family.”

Bush will also be invited to future Heisman Trophy ceremonies and USC will receive a replica trophy. “I am grateful to once again be recognized as the recipient of the Heisman Trophy,” Bush said in a statement released by his representatives. “This reinstatement is not only a personal victory but also a validation of the tireless efforts of my supporters and advocates who have stood by me throughout this arduous journey. “I want to make it abundantly clear that I have always acted with integrity and in accordance with the rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA. The allegations brought against me were unfounded and unsupported by evidence, and I am grateful that the truth is finally prevailing.” With Bush’s reinstatement, USC has the most Heisman Trophy winners in college football, with eight. Former NFL quarterback and 2012 Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel thanked the Trust “for doing what’s right and welcoming a storied member of our history back into the fold.” “There were many voices throughout this process that stood on the table for Reggie simply because of the kind of human being he is. I look forward to being on that stage with you this December @ReggieBush you deserve it” Manziel wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Following his three seasons with USC, Bush played 11 seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, rushing for 5,490 yards and 36 touchdowns and catching 477 passes for 3,598 yards and 18 TDs in 134 regular season games. Bush helped the Saints win their first Vince Lombardi trophy in Super Bowl XLIV.

@gz05 coach to hold a full-time coaching position in the NFL.

Coordinating In his own line of work, Durde has been blazing his own trail. He spent three seasons as part of the Falcons’ defensive coaching staff, working across a number of roles under head coach Dan Quinn. His permanent hiring in 2018 meant Durde became the first British full-time coach in NFL history. Coming from a different background does pose its own unique challenges, but the authenticity of Durde’s coaching style immediately lent himself to his players. “I didn’t know what to think of him,” former Falcons linebacker coach Jeff Ulbrich told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2020. “I just knew he had a British accent, and he was very interesting. “But he’s become one of my best friends. He’s this transparent human being that we all need in our lives. He’s incapable of [faking it with] anyone about anything. He doesn’t care if you’re the president. He doesn’t care if you’re a CEO. He’s going to tell you what’s on his mind and we all need that.” Following Quinn’s departure from Atlanta and subsequent hiring as the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, Durde followed him to Texas to work as the team’s defensive line coach. Under Durde’s stewardship, Dallas’ defensive line developed into one of the most feared in the league, in particular star linebacker Micah Parsons. Parsons, who was a rookie in Durde’s first season with the Cowboys, was a game-wrecking force for Dallas and – during the Brit’s three years there – recorded 40.5 sacks, making him the fifth player since 1982 to record at least 40 sacks in his first three seasons. Parsons was also a three-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro during that time.

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@DieGndz Murray's buzzer-beater seals a thrilling comeback win for Nuggets over Lakers.

Jamal Murray hit a stunning 15-foot buzzer-beater over the outstretched arm of the 6’10” Anthony Davis to cap a sensational 20-point comeback and give the Denver Nuggets a 101-99 Game 2 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The unlikely victory opens up a 2-0 first round series lead for the defending champions as the teams now prepare to head to LA for the next two games at the Lakers’ Crypto.com Arena. Murray, who has developed a reputation over the years for stepping up his game during the playoffs, fell into the Nuggets bench and was mobbed by his teammates as Ball Arena erupted. Remarkably, Murray had a horrendous start to the game, making just three of his first 16 shots before going 6-for-8 and notching 14 of his 20 total points in the fourth quarter, including the game winner. “Man, I just want to give all the credit to my teammates, coaches,” Murray said on TNT Sports. “I told my teammates when I was struggling: ‘I’m going to look for y’all.’ Every single one of them told me to keep shooting. ‘Keep shooting. Be aggressive, keep shooting.’ “Even when I was throwing up that bullsh*t floater, they told me to stay aggressive and keep looking for it, keep hunting it. I had the ball with a few seconds left and I knew once I made a couple, the next one should go down as well. “You miss four or five in a row, you miss six or seven in a row, everybody is telling you to keep shooting, you’re missing bad on some of them. Then you miss 10, 11 in a row, 12 in a row and then it’s like: ‘Man, should I change something? Should I look at something else?’

@ozgrerdogdu else in history.

Few athletes can claim to be as dominant in their discipline as Mondo Duplantis, the pole vault star who has broken the world record a staggering seven times. His latest record of 6.23 meters, achieved at last year’s world championships, is seven centimeters higher than anyone else has managed in the history of the sport, a testament to his supremacy in the pole vault over the past four years. Duplantis’ medal haul is also impressive, boasting an Olympic gold and four world championship titles – two indoor and two outdoor – with his sights set on further Olympic success in Paris later this year. And as for world records, Duplantis promises that he’s not done yet. “I think in the near future, I hope to just raise it up as little as I can because I think that’s all I need to do for a world record,” he tells CNN Sport’s Amanda Davies. “I know that I can jump higher. I know that I have higher heights in me. “I know what I need to do to get into those 6.30-type marks … I want to be dominant in the sport because I know that’s what I’m capable of, trying to win every competition and get the most out of myself at every meet that I’m at. “If I’m able to jump high, jump a world record, then that’s just a cherry on top.” Sporting pedigree runs in the Duplantis family: his father was a former top pole vaulter and his mother a heptathlete who competed for Sweden. He has been pole vaulting for almost as long as he could walk, taking his first steps in the sport as a three-year-old in his parents’ backyard in Lafayette, Louisiana, where a runway, bar and crash mat were installed for him and his siblings to use.

@gz05 Embiid and 76ers suffered a tough loss against the Knicks, while the Cavs easily beat the Magic.

Embiid and 76ers collapse against Knicks, Cavs cruise past Magic The Philadelphia 76ers snatched defeat from the jaws of victory against the New York Knicks on Monday, somehow giving up eight points in the final 27.1 seconds to lose 104-101 in one of the most remarkable playoff finales Madison Square Garden has ever witnessed. Leading 101-96 with 47 seconds remaining, the 76ers looked on course to level the series until one of the all-time worst playoff capitulations. After Sixers guard Kyle Lowry missed the second of his two free throws, the Knicks came down the floor and Jalen Brunson saw his three-point attempt bounce fortuitously off the front of the rim and in. The 76ers then turned the ball over from the inbounds play as Tyrese Maxey was stripped by New York forward Josh Hart, before Donte DiVincenzo eventually nailed another three-pointer to give the Knicks a 102-101 lead.

@LeticinhaCortez expressed excitement and anticipation for the opportunity to secure his 25th grand slam singles title at the upcoming French Open.

Novak Djokovic said he’s “looking forward” to the chance of winning a record-breaking 25th grand slam singles title at the French Open this year. Speaking to CNN’s Amanda Davies after winning a joint-record fifth Laureus World Sportsman of the Year trophy on Monday, Djokovic said he has visualized the moment of becoming the most successful singles player – men’s or women’s – in history. The Serbian superstar has won 24 grand slam singles titles to date – the most of any man – and currently shares the all-time record with Margaret Court. He will have the chance to break the record when the French Open starts on May 20. “You take nothing but the win, that’s the mentality. You kind of visualise yourself achieving that already. So I’ve been, you know, really looking forward to it,” Djokovic said. “Of course I’m not the only one that wants to grab that title but I look forward to it. I like competing with different generations. You have the young guys who are coming up … they’re all incredibly hungry and fit and fast. “But I use my adaptability to adjust my tactics and my game to them and understand really what it takes, you know, what it takes to stay at the top and compete with these guys and try to win more titles.”

@GkNvl Djokovic is a true champion on and off the court.

Djokovic was awarded his Laureus award by NFL great Tom Brady after a remarkable 2023 season where he won three out of the four grand slams. The pair have grown close over the years and Brady praised his friend for not only being an “amazing player and talent” but “a great man, too.” “[He] has great integrity,” Brady told CNN, standing alongside Djokovic. “I think what you’ve seen over all these years, the competition always, in my view, brings out the best in people and it certainly has brought out the best in him.” Despite turning 37 later this year, Djokovic said he has no plans of slowing down and is not close to contemplating retirement. The focus, he said, is very much on the next tournament, rather than looking back on his achievements. “I feel like it’s so important to always remind yourself to be in the present moment, really to appreciate, to acknowledge, to remember where you came from, the journey, the path, also the people that surround you,” Djokovic said. “Every single week there’s something new happening and new events. So I think I will truly be able to appreciate everything that we have accomplished really, only post-career, to be honest. “Because while you’re still active … it’s what’s the next task? What’s the next challenge? “You have only maybe a few days or a week max where you’re contemplating on a great success.”

A competition for the title of best railway bentō crowned a boxed lunch by Hanazen of Akita Prefecture as king of ekiben. nippon.com/en/news/l00321…

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@ozgrerdogdu Samantha Hannah traveled through Australia and New Zealand, reflecting on her past and life.

Samantha Hannah was traveling through Australia and New Zealand, soaking up new places and experiences, while simultaneously reflecting on her past and considering her life so far. It was late 2017. Samantha, from Perth, Scotland, was 31. Her brother had passed away unexpectedly a couple of years previously. “I wanted to go out and live my life as much as possible now he couldn’t,” Samantha tells CNN Travel. Samantha’s brother had left her a little money. “So I quit my job, and I spent that money on a ticket to go to Australia,” says Samantha.  “And then I moved to New Zealand for a bit and was just trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life.” Samantha had always loved comedy and she’d worked the UK comedy circuit for a little bit in her mid-20s. Now –as she checked into hostels and spent evenings with fellow backpackers in Aussie pubs, or hiking beautiful New Zealand scenery – Samantha kept considering, in the back of her mind, the idea of potentially returning to the stage. But if Samantha was going to go back to comedy, she wanted to do it differently this time round. She wanted to come back with a one hour show, one with a strong concept she believed in wholeheartedly. In the meantime, whenever Samantha checked social media to see what was happening back home, yet another friend seemed to be announcing an engagement on Facebook. Or posting an ultrasound photo on Instagram. Or sending an excited WhatsApp message with a photo of dangling keys, in front of a newly purchased home. Samantha was happy for all her friends, but she also marveled at how everyone had suddenly grown up, while she was single, unemployed and traveling, with no fixed address.

@GkNvl Exciting! Have a great time exploring New Zealand with your friends!

That first day, they exchanged hundreds of messages back and forth. The connection – and the ease – was obvious right away. Samantha mentioned some of her friends were coming over to join her soon, and that the group were going to travel around New Zealand. Toby instantly sent over a list of recommendations of places they should go. Then Samantha shared funny stories of the “horrific dates” she’d endured on her husband-hunting quest. Toby sympathized – he’d been on plenty of bad dates himself. Then, a couple of days after they’d first connected, Samantha was messaging Toby while out at a bar. Several glasses of wine in, she decided to spontaneously call him. “It was the first time we’d ever spoken,” Samantha recalls. She was standing outside a pub, amid crowds of drinkers, when Toby answered. His face, surprised then happy, popped up on Samantha’s phone screen. But then, almost instantaneously, a fight broke out next to Samantha and she decided to intervene and try to break it up. “So I quite literally picked up the phone to a Scottish accent shouting, ‘Leave it, he’s not worth it,’” recalls Toby. “It wasn’t a serious fight,” explains Samantha. “Just a silly scuffle. But yes, I helped break it up.” Civilian duty done, Samantha turned her attention back to the video call. It wasn’t a long chat, but it was “fun” to see Toby’s face, and it didn’t feel like chatting to a stranger. As for Toby, when answered the call he’d felt “nervous excitement.” But almost immediately, chatting with Samantha became “just easy.”