Front Page: Most Popular Stories Today from CNN News

Here is the Top News today from CNN News.

From graffiti case to a spiral of despair
It began as a protest over the ill-treatment of boys beaten for graffiti, in an atmosphere of change and hope as the Arab Spring spread through the region. Now, five years in, the Syrian civil war has drawn much of that region into its spiral of despair, and fallen to depths of savagery nobody imagined would be possible.

Hubble finds ‘monster stars’
There are monsters in the universe.

Video said to show moment of impact
Russian state media released video of what it says is a Boeing 737 passenger jet crashing on its second attempt to land at the Rostov-on-Don airport in southern Russia. CNN’s Matthew Chance has more.

Suicide bomber hits Istanbul
A suicide bomber hit a busy tourist area in central Istanbul on Saturday, killing at least five people, Turkish media reported.

Candidate: Foe’s daughter attacked
Illinois House candidate Bob Zwolinski says two campaign workers for his opponent, including the opponent’s daughter, attacked him with fists and a staple gun.

Another lion escapes, mauls man
A lion escaped from a park and mauled a man in Nairobi — the latest incident of big cats straying into the bustling Kenyan capital

Prosecutors: Foster dad molested 7 kids
New York organizations trusted him to care for nearly 140 foster children over the past two decades but on Friday, Cesar Gonzales-Mugaburu denied charges he molested several of them.

Opinion: Why Hulk Hogan’s case matters
On Tuesday, Nick Denton, the founder of Gawker Media, gave testimony in the trial over the now-infamous Hulk Hogan sex tape.

Trump: Sure Romney’s Mormon?
Donald Trump pilloried Mitt Romney on his home turf on Friday, making his best appeal to the state’s majority Mormon population and questioning whether Romney truly represented their faith.

55 on passenger jet that crashed on landing, officials say

NFLer dies of injuries from wreck
Tray Walker, a 23-year-old cornerback with the Baltimore Ravens, died Friday from injuries suffered in a traffic accident in Miami, his agent Ron Butler said Friday.

‘Rockford Files’ actor dies
TV actor Joe Santos, best known for his role as police Sgt. Dennis Becker on the 1970s show “The Rockford Files,” has died, according to his agent, Alicia Beekman. He was 84.

Sad grandpa tweet makes Internet weep
The Internet adopted a grandpa this week after he was stood up by his grandchildren.

Romney: I’m voting for Cruz
Mitt Romney, the 2012 presidential nominee whose endorsement has been sought by much of the Republican field, will vote for a candidate Tuesday who has hardly embraced him: Ted Cruz.

Missing Texas girl found dead
The body of a girl found Wednesday afternoon in a field not far from a Texas freeway has been identified as Adriana Coronado, police in Houston said Friday.

Felon sings Adele-inspired apology
Can you sing your way out of a prison sentence? Probably not, but that didn’t stop Brian Earl Taylor from trying.

Cruz summons fundraisers to Vegas
Ted Cruz is summoning his top fundraisers to an exclusive retreat in Las Vegas next month.

American: Following woman to ISIS was ‘bad idea’
Mohamad Jamal Khweis says he “made a bad decision” in traveling to the ISIS-controlled city of Mosul in Iraq before he was captured by Kurdish forces this week.

Waitress stiffed for not looking ‘normal’
Iowa waitress Taelor Beeck says a customer did not tip her and left a cruel note about her looks. CNN affiliate WHO reports.

Performer catches fire at Florida pep rally
A performer accidentally caught on fire during a pep rally at a Florida high school. Seven students were taken to area hospitals. CNN affiliate WPEC reports.

Luxury yacht goes up in flames
A luxury yacht caught fire at a marina in the U.S. Virgin Islands. No injuries were associated with this fire. Video courtesy of Paula Hodge.

Officer killed serving warrant
A police officer in Greenville, South Carolina, was fatally shot Friday while serving a warrant to a “self-admitted” gang member who fled and later killed himself, the police chief said.

Who is Salah Abdeslam?
It took authorities four months to capture Salah Abdeslam, the most wanted man in Europe.

Timeline of capture
CNN’s Tom Foreman dissects the timeline from the Paris terror attacks in November 2015 until suspect Sala Abdeslam was captured alive in Brussels.

8 hurt in accident on U.S. carrier
Several sailors on the USS Eisenhower were injured Friday in an accident, a Navy source told CNN.

CNN to interview all 5 candidates
CNN will interview the five remaining presidential candidates on the eve of “Western Tuesday,” the day voters from three Western states will head to the ballot box to cast their vote in the 2016 primary election.

How many girls are in this photo?
It seems simple enough, how many girls are in this image?

Bracket busted? You should still watch March Madness
After Thursday’s madness, what should you watch for this weekend? Here are four storylines heading into Saturday.

Opinion: How risky is Trump?
What could possibly motivate a Republican to formally endorse Donald Trump and join his raucous brigade? With each primary and caucus victory, the pressure for prominent Republicans to take a stand on his candidacy greatly intensifies. But taking this step is not easy.

Air Force probes drug activity among nuclear security force
The U.S. Air Force is investigating alleged drug activity by 14 members of the nuclear weapons security force at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, the Air Force said Friday.

Paris attack suspects: What we know
At least eight men attacked Paris Nov. 13 with AK-47s. Seven of them detonated suicide vests, killing people at a concert, outside a soccer stadium and at cafes and restaurants. Here’s what we know about them.

Latest developments
Salah Abdeslam, a chief suspect in last November’s deadly terror attacks in Paris, was captured alive Friday during a raid in Belgium, a Belgian counterterrorism source told CNN.

The high cost of being transgender
Nicholas Ballou binds his chest each day before leaving his home. It’s so tight he often finds it hard to breathe and has gotten lightheaded. Throughout the day, he might touch his chest or adjust the wrap — a nervous habit. Nothing can be out of place.

First female combat commander
President Barack Obama intends to nominate the first female combatant commander in the military’s history, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said Friday.

Sanders not on AIPAC schedule
Only one candidate still running for president has yet to indicate whether he will address an annual pro-Israel conference in Washington next week, and he happens to be the first Jewish politician to ever win a presidential primary.

Madonna exposes fan’s breast
For pop provocateur Madonna, it’s no longer enough to flash some nudity onstage. She’s now exposing other people’s body parts, too.

Bald eagle hatches on webcam
A baby bald eagle hatched at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington on Friday morning, and a second is expected to hatch over the weekend.

5th ISIS-inspired attack in U.S.
The University of California, Merced, student who stabbed four people at the school in November before police killed him was apparently inspired to carry out the attack after viewing terrorist propaganda, the FBI said. The determination means there have been five ISIS-inspired attacks in the United States.

Man suspected of dropping off suicide bombers in Paris is captured

Watch ‘Finding Nemo’ in Navajo
“Finding Nemo,” the second film to be dubbed in Navajo, will be shown for free in select theaters starting Friday.

GOP establishment’s efforts to stop Trump may be too late

Fingerprints of Paris suspect found
The fingerprints of fugitive Paris terror attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam were found in the apartment raided by authorities in Brussels this week, a senior Belgian counter-terrorism official told CNN Friday. Two people escaped from the apartment when police moved in for the raid.

‘I’m not the Obamacare kid anymore’
Sometimes it’s hard to be what you want to be when people only know you for what you used to be.

EU, Turkey reps reach refugee deal
European Union and Turkish officials reached an agreement Friday on how to deal with a flood of Syrian refugees.

World Sleep Day: 10 tips for better sleep
We would never think of leaving the house without brushing our teeth or fixing our hair — and yet many of us go to work feeling tired.

5 things to know today
Stop the politicians. Free the whales. And fire the missiles. It’s Friday, and here are the five things you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door.

The week in 34 photos

Boiling water dumped on pair
A man was arrested and charged with aggravated battery after police said he dumped scalding water on a same-sex couple as they slept. CNN affiliate WSB has the details.

Firefighter pays electric bill to keep teen on ventilator
When the call comes, firefighters like Ryan McCuen always rush in, never quite sure what they’ll encounter.

New twist in Brazil political crisis
A judge’s injunction barring former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from becoming chief of staff to the South American nation’s current leader has been overturned — the latest, but hardly last twist in Brazil’s spiraling political crisis.

Soccer’s richest 2 teams to face off
When Middle East backers bought Manchester City in 2008 and Paris Saint-Germain in 2011, respectively, their eyes were surely on Europe’s top football prize: The Champions League.

Agreement reached over refugees?
European Union leaders have reached an agreement over the refugee crisis and will present it to Turkey on Friday, Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said on Twitter.

Widow talks husband’s fatal mistake
The killers arrived driving a black Ford sedan. They spoke English and a foreign language. They were clean-shaven. They wore dark jeans and nice shoes, and they weren’t from the Ivory Coast.

Puerto Rico’s Miss Universe is out
There’s a new Miss Universe Puerto Rico after this year’s title holder got her crown stripped.

Photo: Cobain suicide shotgun
In another attempt to quell conspiracy theories about the death of Kurt Cobain, authorities are showing a key piece of evidence from the sad chapter in rock music history.

This is a new superfood?

Mom’s angry Splash Mountain photo goes viral
A photo of an angry woman riding Disney World’s Splash Mountain has gone viral. CNN affiliate WSTM reports.

14 rescued from raft expedition
Fourteen adventurers have been rescued off the coast of Chile after “atypical” weather forced them to abandon the recreation of a historic maritime journey.

Construction worker dies after fall from skyscraper
A construction worker died after falling from the 53rd floor of a tower in downtown Los Angeles and striking a moving car, authorities said.

Despite attack, ‘NCIS’ star still advocating
Huddled on a sidewalk a few blocks from the home of the Academy Awards, a woman named Raquel waits on a dream. Not of fame and fortune, but of family.

Is this world’s most futuristic city?
Once a sleepy corner of the Italian Empire, Eritrea’s capital Asmara is home to one of the world’s best collections of futurist architecture. Now, the city is bidding to become the nation’s first UNESCO World Heritage site.

Conviction in cartoon contest plot
ISIS supporter Abdul Malik Abdul Kareem was convicted Thursday for his role in a thwarted terror plot targeting a Prophet Mohammed cartoon contest in Texas in 2015.

Opinion: Win-win solution for orcas and parks
The film “Blackfish” compellingly describes many of the reasons why keeping orcas in captivity is — and always has been — a bad idea.

NCAA: Yale shocks Baylor
This year’s men’s NCAA tournament has its first Cinderella, and it’s a team without any scholarship players.

Drawn-out victory gives Clinton a sweep of Tuesday’s primaries

Opinion: SeaWorld should retire orcas
SeaWorld is evolving. Responding to public pressure, SeaWorld is no longer doing big flashy killer whale shows at its San Diego facility. And it has just announced that it will no longer breed killer whales, often called orcas, in captivity.

Performer catches fire at pep rally
A performer accidentally caught on fire Thursday during a pep rally at a Florida high school.

Lawsuit: Childhood trauma ‘disables’ students
The stories that teenage brothers “Virgil” and “Phillip” tell about growing up in Compton, California, sound like war stories.

Bullying by peers has effects later in life
Bullying can be defined by many things. It’s teasing, name-calling, stereotyping, fighting, exclusion, spreading rumors, public shaming and aggressive intimidation. It can be in person and online. But it can no longer be considered a rite of passage that strengthens character, new research suggests.

Cops charged with theft after pot shop raid
Three police officers were each charged with one misdemeanor count of petty theft after eating snacks from the break room during the raid of a marijuana dispensary. CNN affiliate KTLA reports.

Lightning strike diverts flight
A flight headed to LaGuardia Airport in New York City was diverted Thursday after reporting a lightning strike.

Pro-Clinton group returns Trump’s fire
A super PAC backing Hillary Clinton called Donald Trump “a punchline” in a new ad released Thursday, responding to a video the Republican front-runner made mocking the former secretary of state for barking like a dog at a campaign event.

‘It was supposed to be a school’

25 years after insults, cheers for LGBT group in parade
The tears started flowing as Brendan Fay turned onto Fifth Avenue. A gay man and founder of the Lavender and Green Alliance, Fay was taking his first steps in New York City’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.

Benny from ‘L.A. Law’ dies
Actor Larry Drake, best known for his role as Benny on “L.A. Law,” died at his home in Los Angeles on Thursday, according to his manager Steven Siebert.

Overseas, Trump described as…
CNN asked people across the globe what they think of the Republican candidate. Here are three things we learned.

Ireland’s writers return home for inspiration
As you drink a pint of Guinness or eat your corned beef and cabbage at the local Irish pub on St. Patrick’s Day, consider the far-flung corners of Ireland where inspiration flourishes.

An Irish chef’s picks for St. Paddy’s fun
Sometimes called the Rachael Ray of Ireland, chef Clodagh McKenna says her favorite memories of St. Patrick’s Day come from her childhood home in Cork.

Ex-tea party candidate: He’s ‘inciting riots’
Christine O’Donnell, who stunned the political world in 2010 by defeating an establishment Senate candidate in the Delaware Republican primary, returned to the political debate Thursday to denounce Donald Trump’s presidential bid.

St. Paddy’s Day around the world

Bumble Bee recalls tuna
Bumble Bee Foods and Tri-Union Seafoods are voluntarily recalling canned chunk light tuna because of possible health risks.

How to raise a body-positive kid
How to help your kid be happy and secure in a media-heavy, appearance-obsessed culture.

Why do people watch ‘The Bachelor’?
According to the old — and perhaps now discredited — statistic, half of all marriages will end in divorce.

This Facebook video got man in trouble with cops
A man was issued a ticket after posting a video to Facebook that he recorded while driving. CNN affiliate KKTV reports.

Rabbi: This is not about policies or parties, this is about Trump

North Korea launches missile
North Korea launched a ballistic missile off the east coast of the Korean peninsula, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday. The South Korean military said was closely tracking and monitoring the situation and maintaining a readiness posture for any North Korean provocation. The launch was confirmed by U.S. officials.

Mother holding baby has seizure, but clerk does this
A convenience store clerk took action when a young mother began having a seizure at the checkout counter. CNN affiliate KDVR reports.

Help wanted: Six ninjas
Got what it takes to be a ninja assassin? Aicha prefecture is looking to hire

1988: ‘If Kitty Dukakis were raped …”

Dirty campaigning? He perfected it
Lee Atwater’s signature style was to knock the knees out from under a politician. Sound familiar? It’s being played out in this election by Donald Trump.

Vonn: Time to focus on ‘beach bod’
Posing naked for Sports Illustrated’s annual swimsuit edition last month has clearly had an effect on ski star Lindsey Vonn.

Conservatives convene to talk third party, convention challenge

Last month a Cruz hater; today his fundraiser
In a sign of just how much the Republican presidential primary has turned the party on its head, Sen. Lindsey Graham will headline a fundraiser on Monday in support of Ted Cruz.

Deaf woman hears for first time, and he says THIS
After receiving a cochlear implant, one of the first things Andrea Diaz heard was a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Kevin Peakman.

A how-to guide to visiting Cuba

World’s sexiest ruin?

‘Simpsons’ predicted Trump in WH
It was somewhat of a throwaway line at the time, but make no mistake, it was included very much on purpose.

Air Force short hundreds of pilots
A top Air Force general warned Wednesday that the U.S. faces a shortage of hundreds of fighter pilots and drone operators.

Poll: We drink more when merry
As countless revelers will prove on St. Patrick’s Day, drinking and being merry go hand in hand. Now, a poll is backing up that truism.

Pentagon’s roller coaster fighter jet
Adele, Beyonce and Springsteen are planning tours this summer. Now you can add another pricey attention-grabber to the list: The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.