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On the night of December 8, 2013, demonstrators were gathered in Kievs Bessarabska Square. For two weeks there had been protests across Ukraine against President Viktor Yanukovychs pro-Russian government, and on that wintery Sunday, some dissenters found a symbolic target for their frustration. Primarily aligned with the nationalist Svoboda party, the protestors tore down the 11-foot-tall statue of Vladimir Lenin that had loomed above the square since 1946, and battered it with sledgehammers.

The toppling of the Bessarabska Lenin led to a phenomenon that has become known as Leninopad, or Leninfallthe removal of Lenin statues from around Ukraine. Of course, it wasnt the first time Soviet monuments had been brought low, as statues had been destroyed as early as 1990. But in the following months the intensity increasedso much so that in February 2014 alone, a total of 376 statues were torn down.

Ukrainians had a lot of statues to work with, but their efforts were diligent and comprehensive. In 1990, when Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union, there were 5,500 Lenin statues around the country, more than in any other former Soviet republic. With the countrys 2015 decommunization laws, which outlawed communist symbols including statues, flags, and Soviet-era place names, there was a mandate to remove the last of the Lenin monuments. Today, none still stand. But they havent disappeared.

The afterlife of these statues is the subject of the new photobook from Fuel Publishing, Looking for Lenin. Photographer Niels Ackermann and journalist Sbastien Gobert started the project by searching for the remains of the Bessarabska Square Lenin, and they ended up photographing toppled Lenins across the country. Their goal was not just to see where the physical embodiments of the Soviet past had ended up, but also to discover how Ukrainians felt about the ongoing process of decommunization.

We met scores of people who wanted to discuss the subject, writes Gobert in the book. The name Lenin loosened tongues: for, against, indifferent, nostalgic, vindictiveeveryone had an opinion about Dyadya Vova (Uncle Vlad).

The Lenins that Ackermann and Gobert foundfigures that had previously towered on plinths as a mark of Soviet authoritynow fill car trunks, are hidden in the woods, or are stashed in cleaning rooms. Here is a selection of images of the physical and symbolic remains of Ukraines past.

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The Hunt for Ukraine's Toppled Lenin Statues - Atlas Obscura

Tab Ramos' U-20 men's national team beat Senegal 1-0 early Thursday, setting the stage for a World Cup showdown with Saudia Arabia on Sunday. Brian Sciaretta has a match report and analysis here.

AFTER ANOTHER GOAL from youngster Josh Sargent, the United States U-20 team put on a first-rate defensive display on Thursday to defeat Senegal 1-0 and move to the top of Group F at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea.

The Yanks looked especially strong in the first half, breaking the deadlock in the 34thminute when Tyler Adams sent a ball that sprung Luca de la Torre behind Senegals defense. The Fulham midfielder then sent a perfect pass to Sargent who beat Senegal goalkeeper Mouhamed Mbaye with a hard shot. De la Torre now has two assists and a goal in the first two games of the World Cup.

For Sargent, 17, the goal marked another milestone in his remarkable two-month run. In April he was the leading scorer for the U.S. U-17 team in World Cup qualifying, scoring five goals. Tab Ramos made the surprising decision to quickly call him up to the U-20 team for the World Cup and that decision has paid massive dividends as the St. Louis native now has three goals in his first two games.

In the second half, the Americans emphasized defense but Sargent forced Mbaye to make saves in the 48thand 62thminutes. But the defensive approach was far from bunkering as Senegals offense showed little ability to generate anything dangerous.

Thanks to the central defense tandem of Erik Palmer-Brown and the now-healthy Cameron Carter-Vickers, Senegal was only able to muster two relatively weak shots on goal in the entire game.

After four minutes of stoppage time, the final whistle blew and the U.S. walked away with the deserved victory. With four points in its first two games, a win over Saudi Arabia on Sunday would be enough to clinch the group. A draw on Sunday would secure a spot in the knockout rounds although the four points it has now is likely enough, as four third-place finishers advance to the knockout round.

Here are my thoughts on the United States U-20 teams win over Senegal

Coming into the tournament,Tottenham central defender Cameron Carter-Vickers' health was in doubt. He is one of the teams top players but he missed the previous five weeks with a knee injury. In 2015 he was among the best defenders at the U-20 World Cup but now, as a full professional, he was expected to take his performance to another level.

The English-born Carter-Vickers erased any concern over his health and fitness and put on a strong display against Senegal. More importantly, his chemistry with team captain Erik Palmer-Brown (also a hold-over from the 2015 U-20 team) was strong. Both are among the best teenager American players and both played up to their potential.

Senegals normally efficient attackers ran into a brick wall in Carter-Vickers and Palmer-Brown.

The bottom line is that if Palmer-Brown and Carter-Vickers play this well, or even improve as the tournament progresses, the U.S. can go very far. That pairing can cover up a lot of weaknesses.

In World Cup qualifying, Danny Acosta featured at left back and struggled for several games. With Marlon Fossey injured, Aaron Herrera was moved into the right back position. Against Ecuador, Herrera had a nightmare first half and Acosta was merely average.

Both players improved significantly against Senegal. Acosta is still learning the left back position but had his best game for the U-20s on Thursday. He was rarely beaten defensively and pushed forward effectively into the attack on occasion.

Herrera raised his game significantly. He was beaten by a faster Senegal attacker inside the first 10 minutes again but overall worked extremely hard and was effective in the win. It is not easy to shake off a very poor game in a major tournament. Young players can crumble after bad games and it takes quite a bit of mental strength to rebound the way Herrera did.

U.S. Soccer awarded its man of the match to Carter-Vickers and many fans believed Sargent deserved the honor. Thats fair and both players have strong arguments.

But Tyler Adams also has a case to be the best player in the win over Senegal. In the game's only goal it was his pass that got the ball behind Senegals defense. Beyond that sequence, the New York Red Bulls midfielder gave a complete performanceboth offensively and defensively. His passing was the best it has ever been at the international level and defensively he forced turnovers and closed down passing lanes. His stamina is on another level as he continued to cover tons of ground as Senegal pushed for an equalizer in stoppage time.

As one of the teams youngest players, Adams is also eligible for the 2019 U-20 team. He is maturing quickly and has improved a lot since qualifying. The value of playing first-team minutes with New York is paying dividends. It will be interesting to see if offers come in for him after this tournament.

On Monday the Yanks came back from a two-goal deficit to secure a point against Ecuador. Today Ramos' men held on for a win against a very strong Senegal team that placed second in the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. In both instances the team shows the fighting spirit American teams used to be known for.

Overall there seems to be a great spirit within this team. When one player is struggling, others know how to cover for him. Similarly, players dont seem to hang their head when they make mistakes. Instead, the find a way to improve. The team didnt give up after it lost Gedion Zelalem in the opening half of the first game. Herrera found a way to shake off a poor outing in game one. Adams went from a mixed performance against Ecuador to a stellar one against Senegal.

The team has shown that it is a group of fighters and one that seems to problem-solve quickly. The first two games have been quite impressive.

On Thursday, Saudi Arabia pulled off a surprising 2-1 win over Ecuador. While Saudi Arabia played well, Ecuador was remarkably wasteful and Saudi Arabian goalkeeper Ameen Bokhari made the difference. Ecuador unleashed 24 shots and 10 were on frame; Saudi Arabia only managed three shots on goal. Ecuador had more offensive opportunities but Saudi Arabia won the game by being far more clinical.

The United States should be the favorite heading into Sunday's game (5am ET, FS1, Telemundo) and if the Americans can score early, it can frustrate Saudi Arabias chance of notching another upset against the run of play.

It's hard to see Ramos changing the starting lineup but he must start to focus on the first knockout game. The yellow card that Derrick Jones picked up against Ecuador is a concern. Another card against Ecuador will have him suspended in the knockout stage. The only other logical replacement for Jones is to move Palmer-Brown into that spot and then shift Justen Glad into central defense.

The fact Glad is healthy and managed to play a few minutes on Thursday also makes him a candidate to start. Glad could either play in his natural central defense position if Palmer-Brown moves to midfield or he could play out of position at right back.

Goalkeeper: Jonathan Klinsmann Right back: Aaron Herrera Central defender: Erik Palmer-Brown Central defender: Cameron Carter-Vickers Left back: Danny Acosta Defensive/holding midfielder: Derrick Jones Defensive/holding midfielder: Tyler Adams Right midfielder: Brooks Lennon Central midfielder: Eryk Williamson Left midfielder: Luca de la Torre Forward: Josh Sargent

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Sargent Scores Again, US U-20s Move Atop Group - AmericanSoccerNow.com

Merkel's friendship with Obama and awkward early interactions with Trump are a study in political contrasts that the Berlin government and the White House will likely seek to ease given the crucial nature of the Germany-US relationship.

But it seems unlikely that the studious and cautious German leader will ever recreate the chumminess she enjoyed with Obama with the brash and unpredictable Trump.

That easy interaction was on display again on Thursday when Merkel seemed delighted to be sitting down with Obama. The former US leader told tens of thousands of people who showed up to witness their earnest conversation about democracy that Merkel was "one of my favorite partners throughout my presidency."

Merkel once shared hugs and smiles and intimate dinners with Obama as their relationship evolved over the years. In one iconic photo that exemplifies their friendship, Obama sits on a bench while Merkel stands in front of him with her arms outstretched in deep conversation -- with the German Alps in the background.

Obama gave Merkel his nation's highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and lauded her as the epitome of freedom itself after she reached the pinnacle of political power in a united Germany after growing up under the political suppression of the communist East.

"The night the wall came down, she crossed over, like so many others, and finally experienced what she calls the 'incredible gift of freedom,'" Obama said at a State Dinner for Merkel in 2011.

Two years later, Merkel poignantly pointed out the route of the wall during an Obama visit to Berlin, and told him that, trapped in the East, she used to listen to trains on the other side and dream of being free.

Contrast such intimacy with the body language on display at the White House when Merkel flew across the Atlantic to get to know Trump.

The President later said that he didn't hear the request and meant no offense but the moment became an irresistible metaphor for the rocky start of their relationship.

Did Trump snub Merkel handshake? 01:02

In effect, Merkel will be coming face-to-face Thursday with one president that she probably wishes were still in the White House and the other, with whom she now has no choice to partner, no matter how tough it is going to be.

Merkel, demonstrating rare sentimentality but also the pragmatic streak that runs through her politics, admitted last year it was tough to see Obama go.

"Taking leave from my partner and friend, well, yes, it is hard. If you've worked together with somebody very well, leave-taking is very difficult. But we are politicians. We all know that democracy lives off change," Merkel said at a joint news conference during Obama's farewell visit to Berlin as President.

The fact that Merkel is sharing the spotlight with Obama and Trump on the same day is a quirk of the calendar: the former president was invited to the Berlin event organized by the German evangelical protestant church a year ago, long before his successor was even elected.

But the presence on European soil of the current and immediate past US President will inevitably draw comparisons about their leadership styles and policies, especially as Obama remains popular in Europe while Trump is not.

There is deep concern in Europe, for instance, about Trump's hostility to anti-climate change policies pursued by Obama, as well as his attempt to institute a ban on travel to the United States of residents of several Muslim nations.

And Obama largely pursued a foreign policy based on multilateralism, which is more to the taste of European leaders, than the "America First" approach that is now the organizing principle of US diplomacy.

Obama's team insisted he was not in Germany to play politics.

"When we agreed to do this, they had not yet set the Trump schedule, we did not in fact know he would be there when we made this decision," said an Obama foundation official, pointing out that the Kirchentag event -- the biennial congress of the German Protestant Church -- had been planned months ahead of time.

Obama also built his schedule to fit in around Merkel's busy diary as a current world leader, and the Thursday date was most convenient for her.

The official stipulated that "is not set up as something where Obama will be asked to respond directly to things that Trump is doing because he has made clear that he doesn't see his role as a former President responding to everything that Trump says or does."

Still, Obama is not beyond oblique references to the turbulent events of the last four months.

"So, what's been going on while I've been gone?" he quipped in the first public appearance of his post presidency in Chicago in April.

And the fact that Obama and Merkel will sit side-by-side on Thursday cannot help but be seen in a political context, especially since the German chancellor is running for a fourth term in office in September's election.

His visit comes shortly after Obama endorsed new French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of the run off in the presidential election this month saying he represented "the values that we care so much about."

Obama had already delivered an endorsement of Merkel's re-election run, albeit in a light-hearted tone, during his visit to Berlin last year.

"I try to make it a rule not to meddle in other people's politics," Obama said, before reeling off a warm tribute of Merkel. "If I were here and I were German, and I had a vote, I might support her. But I don't know whether that hurts or helps."

Clearly, Merkel, who risked her career to accept hundreds of thousands of mainly Muslim refugees pouring across Germany's borders, like Macron, is the kind of leader whose values Obama shares, in a Europe that has recently been rocked by the rise of populist politics that looks much like the outsider strain of anti-establishment politics that Trump rode to victory.

Obama: Merkel on the 'right side of history' 00:46

Obama said last year that Merkel's action on refugees, one that was deeply unpopular among some Germans, put her on "the right side of history."

Trump meanwhile slammed the move.

"I think she made one very catastrophic mistake, and that was taking all of these illegals," Trump said during an interview with the German newspaper Bild and the London Times in January.

Still, despite her affection for Obama, Merkel is nothing if not a realist. And she knows that the future of the Western alliance may rely on her carving out a workable relationship with Trump.

And while the White House may bristle at coverage of Obama's friendship with Merkel, the history of the ex-President and the German Chancellor may contain some good omens for Trump.

After all, it was hardly love at first sight when Merkel first beheld Obama.

In fact, she was affronted by the young rising political star's request to deliver a 2008 campaign speech at the Brandenburg Gate, the iconic spot where Ronald Reagan once beseeched Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to "Tear Down this Wall."

Merkel blocked Obama from using the venue, and he delivered a speech instead to several hundred thousand of young Germans at the Victory Column in mile or so away.

At the time, Obama's soaring rhetorical style appeared to irritate the bookish Merkel.

In an email to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, released by the State Department during disclosures from her private emails server, her friend Sidney Blumenthal passed on observations of a former US ambassador to Berlin John Kornblum.

"He says she (Merkel) dislikes the atmospherics surrounding the Obama phenomenon, that it's contrary to her whole idea of politics and how to conduct oneself in general. She would welcome a more conversational relationship with you," Blumenthal wrote.

And even as respect between Merkel and Obama gradually grew, there were bumps in the road.

Germany for example abstained in a UN Security Council vote before the US-led intervention in Libya -- a move that in retrospect looks prescient given the chaos that unfolded in the country after the toppling of Colonel Moammar Gadhafi.

Then, revelations that the NSA had been listening in on Merkel's cellphone temporarily strained the relationship with Obama -- who stopped the practice after it was revealed by fugitive intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.

But the intellectual approach to governing that both shared brought them back together, as well as the vital nature of the US-Germany relationship.

Now, Merkel, who is expected to win re-election, has the task of starting all over again, with a new US president with whom she has little in common.

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Merkel meets with Obama, then Trump - CNNPolitics.com

BBC News

Obama avoids crowds outside Edinburgh charity dinner BBC News Former US president Barack Obama is speaking at a charity dinner in Edinburgh, addressing an audience made up largely of business leaders. The event has been organised by the Hunter Foundation, set up by the philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter. Thousands ... Obama hits the links in ScotlandThe Boston Globe Watch: Former president Obama plays Old CourseGolf Channel (blog) Barack Obama Is Having a Blast on Vacation in Scotland Playing GolfTMZ.com Golf.com -Sporting News -The Guardian all 79 news articles »

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Obama avoids crowds outside Edinburgh charity dinner - BBC News

In the age of President Trump, liberals love nothing more than to pine for the glory days of President Barack Obama. But Obama was always better in theory than he was in reality. His recent trip to Europe reminded us all of that phenomenon. Still, liberals would have you believe that todays problems began on Jan. 20, 2017, with Donald Trumps inauguration as if the plague of Obamas foreign policy blunders and failed economic initiatives had never occurred. And so the story goes, with Obama retired from the White House, the liberals and their allies in the media are trying to recapture the near-godlike status he had attained during the summer of 2008.

But some things never change. Obama continues to hold himself in high regard. He still loves the sound of his own voice, and his self-congratulatory ramblings mirror the inescapably pretentious tone of his campaign and presidency. Perhaps unsurprisingly, therefore, Obamas supporters continue to swoon behind him seemingly blind to the chaos caused by the past eight years of mishaps, inaction and distorted truths.

Former president Obama has no shame. After all, it was Obamas arrogance, inexperience and misguided worldview that fractured our relationship with key allies. It was Obama who retreated from the world stage at a time of increasing conflict and uncertainty. As Israeli President Reuven Rivlin asserted this week, under President Trumps leadership, America is back again. For Obama and his supporters, that has got to hurt.

And it was Obama who capitulated to Iran, saluted Cuba, and walked back on the American promise to retaliate against the Assad regimes barbaric use of chemical weapons in Syria. It was Obama who undermined U.S. leadership and signaled to our allies that America was not the reliable actor they previously knew. But even with the benefit of hindsight, Obama has not come to terms with the impact of his foreign policy blunders. Rather than remain silent and humbly accept the consequences of his misguided actions, Obama incredibly announced in a recent interview, the issue that required the most political courage was the decision not to bomb Syria after the chemical weapons use had been publicized. In his mind, reneging on a commitment made to the world should be glorified as an act of political courage. And perhaps most chillingly, the truth is neither Assads refusal to turn over his entire supply of chemical weapons nor the fact that he took a green light from Obama to continue slaughtering his own people seem to have made any impression on the former president.

And here at home, Obama has contrived notions of reality that serve to build only the facade he desperately wants us to see. Rather than remain on the sidelines for a gracious period of time like most other former presidents, Obama is taking shots at his political opponents. While cozying up with a host of euro-elites in Berlin yesterday, Obama pronounced in a pompous and self-righteous fashion, We cant hide behind a wall. Thankfully, the homeland security secretary, retired Gen. John F. Kelly, pushed back against Obamas childish jab, arguing, Were not hiding behind a wall, and you cant defend anything by hiding behind something.

With a flock of unquestioning liberal enablers cheering on his every word, Obama can continue to obfuscate reality and advance the narrative that all was good and well under his reign in the White House. But Obama invited mayhem around the world, fostered a depressed, crippled economy at home, created racial divisions, and imposed a PC culture that hangs like a dark cloud over Middle America. Remember, Obama did more to make the conditions ripe for a Trump presidency than anything Hillary Clinton did.

Regardless of what happens at home or abroad, our former president can hop on his private jet and escape the unfortunate realities of todays crises. Obama can bask in self-delusion and embrace the collective amnesia of his pious followers while living the life of a .01 percenter, but feeding his own ego does not help solve any of todays problems. Obama can afford to walk away from his blunders, but the rest of us can only hope that todays leaders do a better job than he did.

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Obama has no shame - Washington Post (blog)