The sight of a massive humpback whale thrashing in the sea doesn't usually elicit an invitation to splash around with him.

Humpbacks can weigh in at a whopping 40 tons and stretch 50 feet from nose to tail. That's the kind of heft that easily overturns small boats. And woe to anyone who should jump on the back of one of these behemoths.

But that's just what Sam Synstelien did when he saw a humpback in distress in Central California's Morro Bay this week. The animal was hopelessly tangled in a rope that was attached to a buoy.

Synstelien, along with crewmate Nicholas Taron, had already tried reporting the unfortunate whale to the U.S. Coast Guard — but they were told it would be hours before rescuers could be dispatched.

Hours, the commercial fishermen figured, this whale didn't have.

"If we wanted the whale to survive we had to go get it," Taron later told Inside Edition. "We thought there was no other option for the whale; we decided to go for it. We were so pumped up full of adrenaline, I don't think we were that scared."

Easy for Taron to say, of course. His role in the rescue was mostly in the enthusiastic cheering department.

In the clip, you can hear him quarterbacking the operation from the side of the boat while filming the entire operation.

"Swim! Swim!" he yells. "Move! Just get it! Get it!"

If there's one takeaway from this year's World's Ski Awards, it's that Europe is the premier skiing destination in the world.

Again.

This year marks the sixth for the awards, given at a glitzy ceremony in Austria, at the legendary Kitzbühel resort, this past weekend. Ski representatives from Europe, Asia, North America, South America and Australasia gathered in Austria for three days of alpine events, capped off with the awards ceremony. Voting was done online by both ski professionals and the general public.

Nearly all of the top honors went to European resorts, hotels and operators.

For the third consecutive year, Val Thorens in the French Alps was named best ski resort in the world. Europe's highest resort, Val Thorens is part of the 3 Vallees ski area (Courchevel and Meribel are the other two), with ski offerings for all levels and much on offer off the mountain too.

Chen Man is China's go-to fashion photographer. Top celebrities and models, from Asia and beyond, have posed for her highly stylized, otherworldly shoots that present China in a diverse and contemporary light. For her September 2018 CNN Style guest editorship, she explored the theme of imagining the future.

President Donald Trump fired back Wednesday after Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare rebuke of the President's disparaging remarks about federal judges.

"We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges," Roberts said in a statement responding to comments Trump made earlier in the week criticizing the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. "What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them. That independent judiciary is something we should all be thankful for."

Trump, in a response later Wednesday, stood by his comments from the previous day that prompted Roberts' statement.

"Sorry Chief Justice John Roberts, but you do indeed have 'Obama judges,' and they have a much different point of view than the people who are charged with the safety of our country. It would be great if the 9th Circuit was indeed an 'independent judiciary,' but if it is why......" Trump tweeted.

Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. The island chain is home to a number of isolated tribes who have acted with hostility and violence towards outsiders.

An American Christian missionary is thought to have been killed by tribespeople from one of the world's most isolated communities on a remote island hundreds of miles off the coast of India, according to officials.

The wife of a British academic jailed in the United Arab Emirates on charges of espionage has spoken of her shock at his life sentence and accused the country of mishandling and misinterpreting his case.

Amid signs that Britain and the UAE are looking for a way out of the diplomatic conundrum, Daniela Tejada told CNN's "Hala Gorani Tonight" program Thursday that "the UAE should have the sensibility and the humanity to recognize that it has been a misunderstanding and that Matt has paid for someone's lack of judgment."

Matthew Hedges, 31, a specialist in Middle Eastern studies at Durham University in England, was arrested by UAE officials at Dubai International Airport in May. He was held in solitary confinement for almost six months before being released on bail last month. Hedges and his wife have repeatedly denied the allegations of spying, but prosecutors insist the British academic confessed.

In her first TV interview since her husband's sentencing Wednesday, Tejada said, "It's not unheard of that governments -- in authoritarian regimes particularly -- misinterpret research as espionage work or as a threat."

She continued, "Matt, sadly, is the first person to endure such a travesty in the UAE as a Western academic, but it happens very frequently in other countries in the Gulf and it happens to Emirati academics."

It's often said that the best animated movies play equally well with adults and children, while bad ones prove an ordeal for kid-squiring parents. If anything, "Ralph Breaks the Internet" bends in the opposite direction: The colorful action should delight tykes, but the smart, media-savvy asides make it especially appealing to grownups.

Six years removed from the original "Wreck-It Ralph," the sequel reloads with an inspired premise, as the video-game character of its title (voiced by John C. Reilly) -- always eager to help, but prone to make a mess of things -- inadvertently breaks the game that houses his pal Vanellope (Sarah Silverman). So the pair embark on a journey into the Internet, hoping to acquire the part that can fix the machine and get Sugar Rush back up and running again.

The plan, not surprisingly, yields a host of unintended consequences, one that exposes the vagaries of the web in an amusing variety of ways. Those include, but aren't limited to, the annoying nature of pop-up ads, the "like"-driven calculus of social media, and another reminder that you should never read the comments, especially if you're an unusually sensitive 1980s-era videogame villain.

Drawing heavily from real websites while creating a few new ones, Ralph and Vanellope's adventures are endlessly inventive, none more so than a self-referential dive into Disney's Internet site, where they're exposed to wide range of studio properties, including an animated version of the late Stan Lee and a room filled with Disney princesses. Even with the sequence having been extensively teased, the princesses' admissions about what they have in common -- from waiting for princes to staring at water -- are utterly riotous, an instant classic that will be replayed for years to come.

For all its pop-culture passions, though, "Ralph Breaks the Internet" also incorporates very astute lessons about friendship, and the issue of harboring different passions or growing apart. While modern Disney films have been especially good in presenting messages of empowerment and self-esteem, few have been better in communicating the need to accept others without being heavy-handed about it.

In this case, Vanellope finds a home away from home in a perilous first-person game called Slaughter Race, bonding with its seemingly dangerous leader, Shank ("Wonder Woman's" Gal Gadot). Confused and jealous, Ralph just wants his friend back, which paves the way for the cascading threat that he naively unleashes and must try to fix.

In most every way "Ralph" improves on its previous outing, in some respects owing a stronger debt to sibling Pixar's "Inside Out" in its approach to childhood insecurities through a lens to which adults can easily relate. (Even Vanellope's glitching when she becomes agitated says something with a genuine sweetness to it.)

"Ralph Breaks the Internet" leads off a pair of family-friendly sequels that Disney will release this holiday season, the other being the eagerly anticipated follow-up "Mary Poppins Returns." If the latter is anywhere near this satisfying, the studio might not break the Internet, but it has a fair shot at breaking the bank.

"Ralph Breaks the Internet" opens Nov. 21 in the U.S. It's rated PG.

Having nurtured his son's tennis progression, Sunday was a particularly poignant moment for Alexander Zverev Sr. as he watched the 21-year-old prodigy topple Novak Djokovic in straight sets and win the ATP World Tour Finals the day after ousting Roger Federer in the semifinals in London.

"There were a lot of emotions hugging him. He had a lot of emotions as well," Zverev told CNN Sport's Christina Macfarlane after Sunday's victory.

"He's basically been coaching me for 21 years ... I can't thank him enough."

Armed attackers attempted to storm the Chinese consulate in the Pakistani city of Karachi Friday morning local time, killing four people, authorities said.

Three attackers were also killed in the assault on the consulate in the city's high-security red zone, according to a Pakistan foreign ministry spokesman.

The Baloch Liberation Army, a separatist group, claimed responsibility for the attack in a tweet including a photo of three unidentified men and the message: "Karachi: Fidayeen of BLA attacked the Chinese embassy in Karachi."

"Fidayeen" is an Arabic term that loosely translates as "one who sacrifices himself."

In a statement released after the attack, the group said its objectives were "clear -- we will not tolerate any Chinese military expansionist endeavors on Baloch soil."

Eighteen-year-old Elias Ali was stocking shelves at the Karibu Grocery and Deli in St. Paul, Minnesota, when it suddenly shook Friday morning.

Posters fell off the wall. Ali said he and others thought the violent vibration was an explosion, but weren't sure if it was in the building.

"By the time we figured out everything inside was OK, we went outside and saw the home had exploded," he said. "We were devastated, because we live a block away and it could have been ours."

Protesters block the Champs Elysées on Saturday during a demonstration against rising oil prices and living costs.

Police in Paris have fired tear gas and used water cannon against protesters on the Champs Elysées, in the center of the French capital.

The "yellow vest" protests, which began as a campaign against rising gas prices, have morphed into a wider demonstration against the government of President Emmanuel Macron in recent weeks.

Police say they have mobilized 3,000 officers in Paris to deal with the situation. A security perimeter has been set up in the city center, with government buildings protected.

At a news conference on Friday evening, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said of the protesters: "Their freedom of expression will be guaranteed, but it must not be exercised to the detriment of security, public order and the right of everybody to come and go. There is no liberty without public order."

Protesters clash with riot police who fired tear gas canisters in central Paris on Saturday.

John Krafcik downshifted his white Porsche 911 and whipped it around a curve on a heavily wooded mountain road. The car's 25-year-old engine made its distinctive soft rumble behind us as he accelerated out toward the next turn. For a few moments, we stopped talking. I was enjoying the drive, but also the pleasant irony of it.

That's because Krafcik is the CEO of Waymo, the self-driving car division of Google's parent company, Alphabet.

I first got to know Krafcik years ago when he was the head of Hyundai Motor America. Before that, he had worked at Ford. He owns a small collection of cars that includes two Porsches (neither particularly high-end), a souped up Volvo wagon and a little known bare-bones British sports car called a Caterham.

These aren't cars for showing off. These are cars for driving. Because John Krafcik loves to drive.

He makes no secret about it and he sees no conflict. This is not like the owner of a vegan restaurant grilling bison burgers on his back deck.

"You ask a room full of people: 'Do you love to drive?' and most people actually would raise their hand," he said while he drove. "But if we ask the question a slightly different way, 'Do you love commuting? Do you love driving on your commute?' I think most people would say. 'Eh, not so much.'"

That's the problem Waymo is trying solve, he said. The company doesn't want to do away with driving altogether, just the driving that's unpleasant and boring, he explained. Starting soon, Waymo will be making its driverless van rides available to the public in Arizona. From there, the roll out of the service will happen gradually.

Deep in the recesses of most people's refrigerators lives a half-eaten bottle of salsa, some takeout Chinese food and last week's chicken dinner.

Pulling one of those things out, you wonder: Can I eat it? Is it safe?

A lot of commercially prepared items, such as sauces and condiments, have best-by dates on the packaging to ensure flavor, not safety, according to the US Department of Agriculture.

Packaged foods tend to last a big longer than those suggested dates. Last night's dinner, though, is not as hearty. Cooked food leftovers can usually stay in the fridge for only three or four days.

And if you want to put food in the freezer, it will last indefinitely, but at some point, it will start to lose flavor.

They're amongst the most eye-catching horses in the world, bred for their beauty, elegance and spirited nature.

The American saddlebred, dubbed "the horse that America made," is one of the world's best-loved steeds.

They have an important place in the country's national history -- popular as Officers' Mounts in the American Civil War due to their gentle temperament -- and are regularly seen in the show ring today.

Kalarama Farm in Washington County, Oregon, are world leaders in the breeding and training of saddlebreds since being established in 1901. Almost 120 years later, their horses continue to be shipped all over the world.

"No! No eat!" your terrible 2-year-old said, pushing the green beans away. Now, mind you, this is a vegetable that used to be gobbled happily on a regular basis. Peaches, pears and another formerly yummy vegetable soon follow, discarded into the "Are you crazy? I don't eat this" pile.

What's going on? And more importantly, what do you, the worried parent, do to make sure your child is getting the nutrients needed to thrive? If you're like many moms, dads and grandparents, you'll probably start coaxing, harassing and begging, or even resorting to a bribe -- dessert.

Let's start with breakfast

As far as Andrea is concerned, "there is only one place" to eat the most important meal of the day.

Waitress Anastasia Evans greets her as she walks into Penny Cluse, which has long waits on the weekend even when people arrive before the 8 a.m. opening time. They've known each other since they took a college art class together at the University of Vermont.

We promise that Charles and Holly Cluse's spot is worth the wait. (It's named after their dog, Penny.)

"The place is so great, not just because the herb gravy and biscuits are awesome, and the fruit plate is delicious, or the bucket of spuds," she says.

"I've had friends who have worked there, and they stay for a long time because they are treated well and the place is just run professionally, but not ostentatiously."

The food is good, and the people make it even better. The "staff fill my belly with yummy meals, but (they) fill my heart with goodness."

Not one for lines? Head next door to Lucky Next Door, which is also owned by the Cluses. It's a great place to grab lunch, or if you simply can't stand the wait at Penny Cluse.

Let's pick some apples

More apples please

Photos: Tailgating through the years

Snacks and beverages? Check. Funny wigs? Check. Team shirts/cups/flags? yep. OK, sports fans,  now all you need is the back of a vehicle, a few friends, and a few hours before the big game, and you're ready for a tailgating party - just like these Cleveland Browns fans in 2002. Here's a look at how tailgating has evolved over the years.

All 27 remaining European Union leaders signed off Britain's Brexit deal at a special summit on Sunday -- but the real test is yet to come.

Less than an hour after members gathered in Brussels, European Council president Donald Tusk tweeted that they had endorsed the "Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration on the future EU-UK relations."

The agreement is a small victory for British Prime Minister Theresa May, who must now persuade UK Parliament to vote for the deal.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker greet each other in Brussels on Sunday.

Given that opposition parties -- not to mention many lawmakers within May's Conservative party and the Northern Irish DUP, which supports her minority government -- have indicated they'll vote against it, the deal is far from sealed.

Shortly after European leaders endorsed the deal, DUP leader Arlene Foster reiterated that her party "will not be able to support" it, during an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show.

If UK lawmakers do approve the deal, which looks highly doubtful, it will then go to the European Parliament.

But if Westminster stops the deal in its tracks, then Brexit could go a number of ways -- including exiting the bloc without a deal at all, or, just possibly, a second referendum that could scrap Brexit altogether.

It would also cast serious doubt on May's future as prime minister, already under intense scrutiny from Brexiteers within her own party unhappy with what they say is a "soft" exit from European regulations.

At a news conference Sunday, Juncker urged UK Parliament to vote for the deal, likely to happen in December. Pointing his finger in the air for emphasis, Juncker told Westminster: "This is the best thing possible for Britain, the best thing possible for Europe...this is the only deal possible."

Meanwhile former UK Prime Minister and pro-EU campaigner Tony Blair had a different take, telling the BBC Andrew Marr Show that a second referendum was "the only way you are going to unite the country."

The Ukrainian military said Sunday that Russian boats had opened fire on its naval vessels off the coast of Crimea, escalating a standoff over the Kerch Strait, a waterway that links the Azov Sea with the Black Sea.

In a statement, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said the small gunboats Berdyansk and Nikopol were struck by Russian fire and lost their course. A naval tugboat was forced to stop, the statement read.

"Ships seized by Russian special forces," the statement read. "There is also information about two wounded Ukrainian sailors."

Earlier, Russian authorities closed off the Kerch Strait amid the confrontation with the Ukrainian naval vessels, Russian state news agencies and the Ukrainian military said.

After seven months of traveling through space, the NASA InSight mission has landed on Mars. A few minutes after landing, InSight sent the official "beep" to NASA to signal that it was alive and well, including a photo of the Martian surface where it landed.

Mission Control at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory exploded into celebratory applause and cheers after the touchdown was confirmed. The landing was watched around the world and even broadcast live on the Nasdaq Stock Market tower in New York City's Times Square.

"Today, we successfully landed on Mars for the eighth time in human history," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said. "InSight will study the interior of Mars and will teach us valuable science as we prepare to send astronauts to the Moon and later to Mars. This accomplishment represents the ingenuity of America and our international partners, and it serves as a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our team. The best of NASA is yet to come, and it is coming soon."

Ukrainian lawmakers on Monday voted to introduce martial law in the border areas with Russia after it seized three Ukrainian navy ships and detained 24 sailors in a key waterway that holds strategic importance for both countries.

It's the first time Ukraine has enacted martial law since the conflict with Russia began in 2014, indicating a major escalation in tensions between the two former Soviet Republics.
The law -- which could give the government extraordinary powers over civil society -- will start on November 28 and will last 30 days. In Parliament, 276 members voted for the motion.

China's most famous entrepreneur and billionaire has been outed as a card-carrying communist.

Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of Chinese e-commerce juggernaut Alibaba (BABA), with a net worth of more than $30 billion, was identified Monday as a Communist Party member by the People's Daily, the ruling party's official newspaper.

The 54-year-old was being honored by the Chinese government as one of 100 people who have made "outstanding contributions" to China's economic transformation in the past four decades.

The revelation — for the first time by state-run national media — comes amid rising concerns over the tightening grip on China's private sector by the Communist Party under President Xi Jinping.

"The fact he is 'outed' as a party member is significant — it's speaking to the times," said Duncan Clark, author of "Alibaba: The House That Jack Ma Built."

Rachel always thought it was best to hide her religion from her high school students. The trouble started a few years ago when she let slip to a student that she was Jewish.

"I found swastikas scribbled in their textbooks, they drew penises around my name on the blackboard, and they'd yell like 'Hey, Jew' at me during class," said Rachel, a teacher in Berlin. "It became harder... to do my job."

Rachel, whose name has been changed because of safety concerns, went to her headmaster, and then to the police, but she said neither took her complaint seriously and would not intervene.

She said things got worse. The students saw Israel as a menace, an oppressor of the Palestinian people and viewed her as a stand-in for the Jewish state, she said. They took out their frustration by screaming anti-Semitic slurs at her.

Last year, she decided to switch schools for her own safety. She has not told her new students she's Jewish.

In a country still haunted by the Holocaust, anti-Semitic incidents in the classroom offer clear evidence that deep wounds haven't healed. Some Jewish teachers and students say they are caught between a surge of traditional right-wing anti-Semitism and threats from Muslim immigrants angry at Israel.

Now, after 20 years at the big-box retailer, he manages a much tinier storefront in San Francisco. It's staffed by many more cameras than people, and shoppers can walk in, grab a bag of Doritos or a pump-bottle of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day hand soap, and just walk out.

Standard Store, operated by a San Francisco-based startup called Standard Cognition, is open to the public and meant to showcase the company's autonomous checkout technology. When you enter, you use an app to check in. Overhead cameras track you as you wander the aisles, logging the items you pick up and put down. You can connect your credit card to the app to pay, and an itemized receipt shows up within the app after you leave.

If this sounds familiar, you're probably thinking of Amazon Go, which is the online retail giant's foray into brick-and-mortar, artificial intelligence-driven, cashier-free stores. So far, Amazon has opened seven of them in the United States, and reportedly plans to have as many as 3,000 by 2021. An Amazon spokesperson said the company doesn't comment on rumors or speculation.