Kendrick Johnson's parents could face jail time for protest By Victor Blackwell

Kendrick Johnson was 17 when he died in a rolled-up gym mat in 2013.

Story highlights

• Kendrick Johnson's parents, five other family members face misdemeanor charges
• Despite potential jail, fine, family has no intention of accepting plea deal, attorney says
• Parents have staged, attended numerous protests since son's January 2013 death

(CNN)Still seeking justice in their son's death, Kendrick Johnson's parents will face the justice system themselves Monday on misdemeanor charges related to a 2013 protest, their attorney said.

Kenneth and Jacquelyn Johnson, along with five family members, each face a charge of interference with government property for allegedly blocking the entrance to the Lowndes County Courthouse in Valdosta, Georgia, and blocking access to the security checkpoint inside the building.

The demonstration was planned after Johnson's parents became frustrated with the lack of information they'd received from local investigators regarding their son, who was found dead inside a rolled gym mat at his South Georgia high school in January 2013, attorney Chevene King said.

Footage published on YouTube shows authorities arresting family members who held hands, blocking a door to the courthouse. Another video posted to a Kendrick Johnson tribute page on Facebook shows family members later, inside the courthouse, joining hands in front of the checkpoint. The family and others can be heard chanting, "No justice, no peace," as officers step in to arrest them.

The relatives, who call themselves the "KJ 7," were arrested and released on bond in the April 25, 2013, incident, King said.

Upon her release that evening, Jacquelyn Johnson told CNN affiliate WCTV, "I'm going to be right back out at the courthouse in the morning, ready to do it all over again, until we get justice."

Each of the seven family members could face up to a year in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both.

There are no plans to entertain any potential plea deals, King told CNN.

In May 2013, the Lowndes County Sheriff's Office announced it was closing its investigation into Johnson's death after determining Johnson, 17, slipped into the mat while reaching for a shoe and got stuck. An autopsy completed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation concluded Johnson died of accidental positional asphyxia.

Months later, a pathologist hired by the Johnsons conducted a second autopsy, found evidence of "unexplained, apparent non-accidental blunt force trauma" to the 17-year-old's neck and concluded the death was a homicide.

In October 2013, the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Georgia, Michael Moore, launched a federal investigation, which is ongoing.

Kendrick Johnson's parents, who have been steadfast in their claim that their son's death was no accident, filed a wide-ranging $100 million lawsuit earlier this month, claiming several former classmates beat their son to death inside the high school gym. The suit names 37 people, mostly members of local law enforcement, plus the city of Valdosta as defendants.

"We know who killed him. We just have to prove it," Johnson's mother, Jacquelyn Johnson, told CNN.

Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid forward's moment of madness

A kick, a slap, a punch, a red card and some cheeky goading of rival supporters, Cristiano Ronaldo covered off a number of football crimes on Saturday.

The 29-year-old - voted the world's best player when he was awarded Fifa's Ballon d'Or this month - lashed out with seven minutes remaining of Real Madrid's 2-1 win at Cordoba.
His reckless kick from behind on Edimar  was followed by a slap to the Brazilian's face and Ronaldo could have seen red earlier when he appeared to land a right-hook  on defender Jose Angel Crespo.
That sin went unpunished but after being dismissed for the ninth time in his career, the Portuguese dusted off his World Club Cup winners' badge as rival fans taunted him on his way to the tunnel.
A show of defiance maybe, but a contrite apology swiftly followed: "I apologise to everyone and especially to Edimar for my thoughtless acts in today's match," said Ronaldo. 
It is not the first time the so-often slick and cool Ronaldo has engaged in an act of violence and three of the four red cards shown to him in La Liga have now been for fighting with opponents.
Gareth Bale - a player booed for not passing to Ronaldo in recent weeks - netted a late Los Blancos winner to nullify the impact of the red card.
Referee Alejandro Hernandez Hernandez did not deem the act to be violent conduct,  so Ronaldo is unlikely to serve a three-game ban which would take in the Madrid derby on 7 February.

Ronaldo tussles with Jose Angel Crespo, who he also seemed to throw a punch at earlier in the game

With the score at 1-1 and seven minutes to go, Ronaldo lashed out at Edimar with a reckless kick

The World Player of the Year then pleads his innocence as Edimar lies on the floor but home players quickly surround and pressure him

Melee over, the former Manchester United forward is shown the ninth red card of his career

Ronaldo, a three-time Ballon d'Or winner, pointed at his Fifa World Club Cup winners' badge on his way off

Ronaldo trudges off past Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and down the tunnel his boss will now await the referee's report of the incident

Gareth Bale - who would score a winning penalty - consoles Cristiano Ronaldo after his sending off

Angel Di maria voted best player in argentina

Manchester United's Angel Di Maria has been voted Argentina's foreign-based player of the year by the country's sports journalists.
The winger won the Olimpia de Plata (Silver Olimpia award) at a ceremony on Tuesday, where striker Lucas Pratto of Velez Sarsfield won the equivalent for best player in the Argentine league.
Di Maria helped former club Real Madrid win their 10th European Cup in May and Argentina reach the World Cup final, which he missed through injury, in Brazil in July.
Velez, announcing Pratto's award on their website (www.velezsarsfield.com.ar) on Wednesday, said the striker was on the verge of joining Brazil's Atletico Mineiro pending a medical.
Media reports have said Velez will receive $5 million for Pratto, a high fee for a transfer between South American clubs.

Sony cyber-attack: North Korea calls new US sanctions hostile

North Korea has described new sanctions imposed in response to a major cyber-attack against Sony Pictures as part of groundless and hostile US policy.

The US placed sanctions on three North Korean organisations and 10 individuals, after the FBI blamed Pyongyang for the cyber-attack.

North Korea has denied involvement but has praised the attack on Sony.

It came as Sony was about to release The Interview, which portrays a plan to assassinate North Korea's leader.

Sony initially cancelled plans to show the film, before deciding to release it to a limited number of cinemas and online.

'Inveterate repugnancy'

The fresh US sanctions imposed on Friday are believed to be the first time the US has moved to punish any country for cyber-attacks on a US company.

Announcing them, the US said the apparent effort to stifle the movie release was part of the justification for the new restrictions, though the targets of the sanctions were not directly involved.

In response, the North's state-run KCNA news agency on Sunday quoted its foreign ministry spokesman as saying: "The policy persistently pursued by the US to stifle the DPRK [North Korea], groundlessly stirring up bad blood towards it, would only harden its will and resolution to defend the sovereignty of the country.

"The persistent and unilateral action taken by the White House to slap 'sanctions' against the DPRK patently proves that it is still not away from inveterate repugnancy and hostility toward the DPRK."

North Korea has blamed the US for lengthy internet outages in the country last week.

US sanctions are already in place over North Korea's nuclear programme.

Suarez upbeat despite lack of goals

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26 December 2014, 19:09

Barcelona forward Luis Suarez is confident his scoring form will return and he can put a slow start to his debut season in Spain behind him.
Suarez needed eight La Liga games to open his Barca account with a goal against Cordoba last weekend and has two in three Champions League appearances, a meagre return for the player who was Premier League top scorer with 31 goals in his final campaign with Liverpool.
The Uruguay international plays in a three-man attack at Barca with Lionel Messi and Neymar and although he has not been as prolific as he or coach Luis Enrique would like he has been contributing with assists and has made four in La Liga and one in Europe's elite club competition.
"I am obviously a striker who likes to score a lot of goals and have done that in every team I have been with," Suarez said on Barca's website (www.fcbarcelona.es) on Friday.
"I'm not scoring much at the moment but I'm sure that with help from my teammates the goals will come," added the 27-year-old, who made his return from a four-month ban for biting an opponent at the end of October.
"But as long as the team is winning important games as it is then I'll be happy whether I score or not.
"A forward always has to help the team, either with assists or goals.
"Sometimes making good assists or passes makes you feel better than scoring easy goals."
Barca's first game after the two-week winter break is a La Liga match at Real Sociedad on January 4 before they host Elche in a King's Cup last-16 first-leg game on January 8.
Barca are also through to the Champions League last 16 where they will play Manchester City over two legs in February and March.
"We didn't want to meet them, but they didn't want to meet us either," Suarez said.
"We know that we are going to have to beat some strong teams if we want to win the Champions League.
"Beating City is a good target for us and a good chance to show people why Barcelona are here."
Barca are second in La Liga after 16 matches, a point behind Real Madrid who have a game in hand.

Barcelona's transfer ban upheld

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30 December 2014, 12:55

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Tuesday backed a one year transfer ban against Barcelona in a major blow to the Spanish football giants.
The court said in a statement that it had "dismissed" an appeal made by Barcelona against the ban imposed by Fifa in April for breaching rules on signing players aged under 18.
Barcelona, who are second behind Real Madrid in La Liga, are banned from buying players during the transfer window that opens on January 1 and for the summer transfer period before the 2015-16 season. That means they cannot sign a player until January 2016.
Barcelona were also fined €375 000. The Spanish federation was also reprimanded by Fifa.
"The panel found in particular that FC Barcelona had breached the rules regarding the protection of minors and the registration of minors attending football academies," said the statement.
"The Fifa decision is confirmed in full and the sanction remains in force."
The CAS panel promised to give the full reasons for its decision as quickly as possible.
Fifa announced the ban in April this year after an investigation into several players aged under 18 who were registered and played for Barcelona between 2009 and 2013. It found that Barcelona and the Spanish federation were guilty of a "serious" infringement of rules for 10 players.
Barcelona made a first appeal to the Fifa disciplinary committee and the sanction was suspended enabling them to make major signings such as Luis Suarez from Liverpool for €95 million.
The club spent more than €150 million in all before Fifa's appeal committee upheld the ban. Barcelona then went to the CAS and asked for an emergency procedure so that a decision was announced before the January transfer window opens.
Barcelona are one point behind Real Madrid but have played one game more. Atletico Madrid in third place are just three points behind.

'Ronaldo looking to improve

Not content with four titles in 2014, including his second Champions League, prolific Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is determined to make next year an even bigger success.
Ronaldo netted 51 goals in 47 appearances last season, setting a record of 17 goals for one edition of Europe's elite club competition, as Real secured a record-extending 10th continental crown and the King's Cup.
The Portugal captain continued where he left off in 2014-15 as the world's richest club by income claimed the European Super Cup and Club World Cup and he has amassed an incredible 32 goals in 25 games in all competitions.
His haul of 25 in 14 La Liga matches is a Spanish record and he looks set to smash the biggest total for a season in Spain's top flight of 50 scored by Lionel Messi in 2011-12.
"It would be a dream if 2015 was like 2014 or even better," Ronaldo said in an interview published in sports daily As on Saturday.
"It is possible to do it because Madrid is always a candidate to win the competitions it is playing in," added the 29-year-old.
"We have a team spirit that can help us win the most titles possible and we will fight to the death to get them."
Ronaldo attributed much of Real's recent success to the arrival of coach Carlo Ancelotti, who replaced the divisive Jose Mourinho at the end of the 2012-13 season.
Italian Ancelotti immediately ended Real's 12-year wait for their 10th European title and, using the club's millions, has built a formidable side that is top of La Liga and one of the favourites to repeat their Champions League success this term.
"The coach has a lot of importance," Ronaldo told As.
"He is a great trainer and a great person and we are all delighted with him.
"Together we are a united family which will try to improve on the successes of 2014."
Ronaldo will find out whether he has won a third Fifa World Player of the Year award, and his second in a row, on 12 January when he is up against Argentina captain Messi 

Tottenham 3-1 Chelsea

Syria conflict: 76,000 die in deadliest year

The year 2014 was the deadliest year yet in Syria's four-year conflict, with over 76,000 killed, activists say.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 17,790 of the dead were civilians, including 3,501 children.
Meanwhile more than 15,000 died in conflicts in Iraq in 2014, making it that country's worst year since 2007.
Much of the violence comes as a result of advances by Islamic State and other militants groups in the two countries.
US-led air strikes against Islamic State (IS) militants, fighting between government troops and rebels in Syria, and sectarian violence in Iraq have also accounted for large numbers of deaths.
The air strikes continued on Thursday, with 17 against IS targets near the Syrian cities of Raqqa, Kobane and Deir al-Zour and 12 near the Iraqi cities of Falluja, Mosul and Sinjar.
Meanwhile Syrian President Bashar al-Assad marked the new year with a visit to front-line troops in the Damascus suburb of Jobar.
Mr Assad's Twitter and Facebook accounts showed pictures of him talking to two soldiers by a tank and shaking hands with a third.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was seen visiting troops in a Damascus suburb

'New brutality' The Syrian figures cannot be independently verified, but the Observatory says its draws on sources all across the country.
It said a total of 76,021 had died, slightly up on 2013's toll of 73,447 and bringing the total number of deaths since the conflict began in 2011 to more than 200,000.
Of the 2014 deaths, the Observatory said:

• At least 22,627 were government soldiers or members of pro-government militias
• Almost 17,000 were militants from groups including IS and al-Nusra Front
• More than 15,000 were from moderate rebel groups and Islamist factions
• Civilians made up 17,790 of the dead

On the same day, the Iraqi government published its figures on casualties in 2014.
It said 15,538 people had died and more than 22,000 were injured during the course of the year.
The UK-based NGO Iraq Body Count gave an even higher figure of 17,073 civilian deaths.
The NGO said there was a "new brutality on the ground and renewed attack from the air", with IS and the Iraqi army causing thousands of casualties, and US-led air strikes also responsible for civilian deaths.
The year began with the government losing control of Falluja and parts of Ramadi in western Iraq.
In June, a huge offensive by IS left large parts of northern Iraq in militant hands, including the second city Mosul.