By Ben Church, CNN

(CNN) — Now that the dust has settled on an Africa Cup of Nations final that will be remembered for years, African soccer’s governing body has handed out punishments for the chaos that ensued.

Fan trouble, players refusing to compete, controversial refereeing decisions, and a missed penalty were all flashpoints in a memorable match that was eventually won by Senegal.

On Thursday, as many expected, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced several punishments for both the Lions of Teranga and the beaten finalist Morocco, with individual players and managers also facing penalties.

The final will perhaps be remembered most for the decision by some of Senegal’s players to walk off the pitch in protest of a penalty being awarded to the Atlas Lions in the final moments of regulation time.

Senegal manager Pape Thiaw has subsequently received a five-game ban from CAF and has been fined $100,000 for his role in leading the protest and for what is described as “unsporting conduct.”

CAF also fined the Senegalese soccer federation (FSF) $300,000 for the “improper conduct of supporters,” after fans clashed with police in a frantic ending to the match. It also received another $300,000 fine for the conduct of its players and staff, in addition to a further $15,000 fine for five of its players receiving cautions from the referee.

Senegalese stars Cheikh Baroy Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr were also handed two-game bans for their behavior towards the match official.

The game bans, though, do not include the World Cup, which FIFA organizes. The suspensions only apply to official CAF games.

While Senegal bore the brunt of CAF’s punishment, Morocco has also been slapped with several penalties.

Captain Achraf Hakimi received a two-game ban from CAF, one of which is suspended for a year, for his “unsporting behavior” during the final. His national teammate Ismael Saibari was also banned for three official CAF matches and fined $100,000.

The Moroccan soccer federation was also fined a total of $315,000, including punishment for the behavior of its players and staff, and for fans using lasers to distract players during the final. The fine also includes a penalty for the poor behavior of ball boys, who were seen attempting to take away the Senegalese goalkeeper’s hand towel during the match.

CAF’s announcement caps off what was a difficult ending to an otherwise brilliant tournament, one that seemingly continues to divide African soccer.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

The post Suspensions and hefty fines handed to Senegal and Morocco after chaotic AFCON final appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

Por Briana Waxman, meteoróloga de CNN

Se espera que una tormenta que se fortalece rápidamente se desarrolle frente a la costa sureste este fin de semana en medio de un brote de frío intenso, lo que genera una alta probabilidad de nieve y fuertes vientos en partes de las Carolinas y el sur de Virginia, solo días después de que un histórico sistema invernal azotara gran parte de la costa este.

Más al norte, a lo largo del corredor de la Interestatal 95, el pronóstico es menos seguro, con pequeños cambios en la trayectoria de la tormenta que podrían provocar una gran nevada o un día ventoso con algo de nieve ligera en las principales ciudades del noreste.

Los modelos se alinean cada vez más con un sistema de baja presión que se forma frente a las Carolinas la madrugada del sábado y se intensifica rápidamente hasta convertirse en una bomba ciclónica.

La proximidad de la tormenta a la costa a medida que avanza hacia el norte durante el fin de semana determinará la cantidad de nieve, si la hubiera, que caiga en el Atlántico Medio y el Noreste.

La confianza en el pronóstico es mayor en partes del sudeste, incluidas las Carolinas y el sur de Virginia, donde la acumulación de nieve y los fuertes vientos probablemente comenzarán el sábado.

Los modelos coinciden en que la tormenta se acercará lo suficiente como para traer nieve a esta región, incluso con cambios leves en su trayectoria.

Si bien aún se están refinando los totales exactos de nevadas, la señal de acumulación es lo suficientemente fuerte como para generar preocupación por posibles viajes peligrosos, especialmente con el aire frío ya firmemente establecido.

Se esperan las mayores nevadas cerca de la costa en Carolina del Norte y Virginia, donde ciudades como Raleigh, Carolina del Norte, y Roanoke, Virginia, podrían recibir entre 15 y 30 centímetros de nieve.

También se prevén nevadas más ligeras en el interior, y algunos modelos indican que los copos llegarán hasta Atlanta, Knoxville y Roanoke, en el oeste.

Los fuertes vientos podrían empeorar aún más las condiciones, provocando ventiscas y la posibilidad de cortes de electricidad dispersos si se forman bandas de nieve más intensas.

Se pronostica que la nieve continúe hasta el domingo a medida que la tormenta se intensifica en alta mar.

Más al norte, en el Atlántico medio y el noreste, la confianza en los pronósticos cae drásticamente, y la trayectoria final de la tormenta juega un papel crítico para determinar los impactos.

A primera hora del jueves, las zonas más cercanas a la costa y más al norte, en Nueva Inglaterra, parecen tener la mayor probabilidad de acumulación de nieve. Aun así, una variación de tan solo 160 a 320 kilómetros podría cambiar drásticamente el pronóstico, especialmente para las ciudades a lo largo del corredor interestatal 95.

Una trayectoria que bordea la costa podría provocar una importante tormenta de nieve con vientos dañinos y un frío peligroso.

Un camino ligeramente más alejado de la costa probablemente resultaría en viento, con nevadas ligeras o condiciones predominantemente ventosas en ciudades como Washington, Filadelfia y Nueva York.

Boston tiene más posibilidades de ver nieve dada su posición más al este, más cerca de la trayectoria probable de la tormenta.

Incluso en áreas donde no hay nieve, los impactos costeros siguen siendo una preocupación seria en partes de la Costa Este a medida que la tormenta se intensifica rápidamente en alta mar.

Según el Centro de Predicciones Meteorológicas de NOAA, “las ráfagas de viento con fuerza de huracán coincidirán con mareas altas astronómicas, lo

By Lianne Kolirin, CNN

(CNN) — Actor Paul Dano has broken his silence about Quentin Tarantino’s harsh criticism of him.

The “Pulp Fiction” director launched a scathing attack on Dano during an interview with “The Bret Easton Ellis Podcast” in an episode released last month.

During the conversation, Tarantino said his fifth favorite film of the 21st century was “There Will Be Blood” – but he added a caveat.

He said the 2007 movie, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, would have been his first or second favorite were it not for “a big giant flaw in it, and the flaw is Paul Dano.” Adding insult to injury, he went on to describe Dano as “such a weak, weak, uninteresting guy.”

Dano, who played two roles in the movie as identical twins Eli and Paul Sunday, didn’t publicly address the director’s comments, although some of Hollywood’s biggest stars jumped to his defense.

Now, a reporter from Variety has asked Dano at a 20th anniversary screening of “Little Miss Sunshine” at the Sundance Film Festival about Tarantino’s outburst.

Although Dano did not speak directly to Tarantino’s comments, he said of the support he’d received: “That was really nice. I was also incredibly grateful that the world spoke up for me so I didn’t have to.”

Dano has received support from some of Hollywood’s biggest names.

Toni Collette, who starred alongside Dano in the Oscar-winning movie “Little Miss Sunshine,” said in the article published Wednesday: “Are we really going there? F**k that guy (Tarantino).” She added: “Who does that?”

Meanwhile, actor and director Ben Stiller posted on X last month: “Paul Dano is f-ing brilliant.” And Reese Witherspoon said on Threads: “Paul Dano is an incredibly gifted, versatile actor. More importantly, he is a gentleman.”

During his speech for best actor at the AARP awards earlier this month, George Clooney said: “I don’t enjoy watching people be cruel to actors,” adding that he would be “honored” to work with Dano.

The “Little Miss Sunshine” directors also sprang to Dano’s defense this week.

Jonathan Dayton told Variety that Tarantino’s comments were an “embarrassment,” adding: “I can only think that his (Dano’s) rawness of his performance made Tarantino uncomfortable.”

Valerie Faris added: “You know what was interesting was the people coming out to defend Paul … he is loved by so many. He is so smart.”

CNN’s Lisa Respers France contributed to this report.

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

The post Actor Paul Dano responds to Quentin Tarantino’s criticism of him appeared first on News Channel 3-12.

CNN en Español

Las caras que cambiaron cómo se percibe la ofensiva antiinmigratoria de Trump. Una de las olas de frío más largas en décadas está por intensificarse en Estados Unidos. Tragedia aérea en Colombia. Esto es lo que debes saber para comenzar el día. Primero la verdad.

• Suscríbete aquí para recibir el newsletter cada mañana en tu correo
• Escucha las 5 cosas de CNN

El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, aseguró el martes que Cuba “está a punto de caer” porque no recibe petróleo de Venezuela desde que Nicolás Maduro fue depuesto del poder. “Cuba está a punto de caer. Cuba es una nación que está muy cerca del colapso”.

• Marco Rubio afirma que Estados Unidos quiere ver un cambio de Gobierno en Cuba

Cuando miles de agentes federales llegaron a Minnesota a principios de este mes, los funcionarios del Gobierno de Trump insistieron en su misión tantas veces promocionada de capturar a “lo peor de lo peor”. Sin embargo, una narrativa radicalmente diferente emergió rápidamente en las últimas semanas, a medida que periodistas, transeúntes y manifestantes compartían imágenes de lo que sucedía. Los casos de Renee Good, ChongLy Scott Thao, Liam Conejo Ramos y Alex Pretti han sido claves en la forma en que algunos estadounidenses ven la ofensiva inmigratoria.

• Deprimido y extrañando a su madre: legislador describe la situación del niño de 5 años Liam Conejo en un centro de ICE en Texas
• El enfoque de política inmigratoria de Trump colapsa los tribunales, frustrando al Departamento de Justicia y a sus jueces
• Demócratas exigen una reforma profunda de ICE, mientras aumenta el riesgo de cierre del Gobierno
• Investigadores de CBP tienen acceso limitado a pruebas en la investigación interna sobre la muerte de Alex Pretti<

By Sunlen Serfaty, Linda Gaudino, Nicky Robertson, CNN

(CNN) — Chatty, bright-eyed children surrounded US Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon as she walked with them through an airy building in Texas.

Part of a 50-state tour, this stop last year was at an unusual institution: the Austin campus of Alpha, a chain of private schools that educates students from grades K-12 using AI to speed-teach core academic subjects in just two hours a day.

They emphasize learning through AI rather than human teachers. There’s no homework and no textbooks — just software that students use each morning to learn, with human “guides” for motivation and classroom support.

A typical day starts just before 9 a.m. with a group activity that introduces a life skill to be taught during the day.

Students then sit down in front of laptops, plug in headsets or even virtual reality sets, and learn academics through an AI tutor. The two-hour curriculum includes four 30-minute sessions in math, science, social studies and language, and 20 minutes of additional learning concepts, like test taking skills.

The rest of the day is spent on workshops such as financial literacy, communication or problem solving.

“There is so much to do, so much opportunity that I’m just seeing here,” McMahon declared during her visit, at a roundtable with students and MacKenzie Price, one of Alpha’s founders and its public face.

Much has been made of the promise of artificial intelligence for every facet of life, and education is no exception.

The Trump administration has said that it wants to pioneer new uses of AI in schools, and McMahon has held up Alpha, whose network spans over a dozen locations across the US, as an exemplar of where education should be headed.

Founded with the backing of a tech billionaire in Austin in 2014, Alpha’s rise has coincided with technological leaps in what artificial intelligence can do. At the same time, the US education system is undergoing serious disruptions and challenges — the latest national assessments of student achievement show scores in math and reading continuing to fall, part of a decadelong slide.

Amid this, parents across the country are seeking out alternatives to traditional public schools.

With AI already increasingly common in education — 6 in 10 teachers used an AI tool in the 2024-2025 school year, according to a Walton Family Foundation and Gallup poll — turning to AI-led learning would seem to be one cutting-edge option.

Some parents say their experiences with Alpha have lived up to the promise of providing a new, exciting and better education for their children. The personalized pace of teaching, practical skills and incentives were among some of the bright spots they praised.

But for some parents who embraced Alpha in the past, the unusual and little-tested form of schooling proved problematic. The second school Alpha opened, in Brownsville, Texas, faced serious questions from some of the parents who sent their children there in its first years after opening in 2022.

According to documents and communications from the 2023-2024 school year seen by CNN, some half a dozen families voiced concerns about the efficacy of its teaching model and the anxiety the school’s culture and AI-set learning targets were placing on their children.

Some students were “so stressed out” and yet the school was “propping them up as, like, the model” and “evidence why Alpha works,” Jessica Lopez, one of the most vocal parents, told CNN this year, when speaking of the experience. She withdrew her two daughters from th