A leading Republican lawmaker is calling for investigations into alleged Russian cyberhacks during the US election despite President-elect Donald Trump’s repeated calls for warmer ties with Moscow. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and one of the chamber’s most experienced foreign policy hands, said the attempt by a foreign country to interfere with the US voting process needs better understanding and a vigorous response. “Assuming for a moment that we do believe that the Russian government was controlling outside organizations that hacked into our election, they should be punished,” Graham told reporters Tuesday. Referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Graham added that, “Putin should be punished.” Graham, who wants the hearings to examine all Russia’s “misadventures throughout the world,” has the support of colleagues on both sides of the aisle. As other Republicans issued warnings about Russian activities, the hearings could become a source of tension between the GOP and the new President. “You could see, going forward, a Congress that’s really at loggerheads with the White House on policy toward Russia,” said Angela Stent, director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies at Georgetown University. Trump’s America Graham, who ran against Trump in the Republican primaries, admitted that “clearly Donald and me have issues.” But he added that he’ll do “everything I can to help him because he will be commander in chief in dangerous times.” Russia, Graham said, is a “bad actor.” To that end, Graham said hearings into Russia’s activities should also address Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and interference in Ukraine, its cyberattacks against US allies, and examine whether Russia is guilty of war crimes due to its intervention and bombing campaign in Syria. There have been splits on Russia in the past between Trump and fellow Republicans. GOP lawmakers have long called for the US to arm Ukrainian forces fighting Russian-backed rebels in the eastern part of the country. But the Trump campaign stripped that language from the Republican platform before the party’s national convention in July, angering some lawmakers. The intelligence assessment about Russian hacking during the election highlighted an even more dramatic split between Trump and many in his party. In an October 7 statement, the US intelligence community and the Department of Homeland Security announced they were “confident that the Russian Government directed” the theft of emails from US institutions including the Democratic National Committee and individuals, including Democratic campaign officials. Those emails were later leaked by groups such as WikiLeaks, DCLeaks.com and the online persona Guccifer 2.0. Yet during the campaign, Trump said he didn’t accept the intelligence community’s assessment that Russia was behind the hack, suggesting instead that it “could be somebody sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds.” Sen. Bob Corker, the Tennessee Republican who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said early classified assessments he saw were inconclusive. Donald Trump’s team of bitter rivals “But do I personally think Russia’s somewhere in the mix? Yes.” Corker said he was “all for more fully understanding what happened” through hearings. Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the vice-presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket with Hillary Clinton, said the investigation would be well worth it. “It’s really important to know what a foreign government was trying to do to influence this election,” Kaine said. “Just the knowledge that it happened isn’t the same as knowing everything about how it happened,” Kaine said. “Knowing how it happened can help everybody protect themselves, a lot of insight can come from that. It can stop it from happening again.” In Russia, there’s a widespread sense that Trump’s election will bolster ties with the US, leading to better trade and economic relations and perhaps the easing of sanctions imposed after Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Trump has repeatedly praised Putin as a strong leader and speaks of the need for better relations with Moscow. Putin was one of the earliest leaders to congratulate Trump on his victory, and has said he wants to improve relations with the US. Sen. John McCain, the Arizona Republican who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Tuesday “we should put as much faith in such statements as any other made by a former KGB agent who has plunged his country into tyranny, murdered his political opponents, invaded his neighbors, threatened America’s allies, and attempted to undermine America’s elections.” Graham urged Republicans not get sidetracked by the fact that the hacks may have helped their party. His fellow GOP lawmakers shouldn’t “let allegations against a foreign government interfering in our election process go unanswered because it may have been beneficial to our cause,” he said.


A Las Vegas shooting survivor learns how to live again. A journey to where people live without roofs. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in. Here’s what you might have missed in a busy news week: Las Vegas shooting survivor Rachel Sheppard sustained injuries so bad, many said that she shouldn’t have survived. But she did. And she’s learning how to live again. The Trump administration’s latest reversal on TPS, or the “temporary protected status” of immigrants from countries such as El Salvador, has sent shock waves through communities where many of these people have settled. Gilma Ramirez is one of them. In the latest “This Could Be Awkward,” John Blake and Tawanda Scott Sambou explore the ways in which President Trump embodies the worst stereotypes that conservatives have invoked to describe affirmative action beneficiaries. Three months after Hurricane Maria, a CNN investigation shows tens of thousands of Puerto Ricans have applied for temporary roofs but still have not received them. In a worldwide climate of increasing privatization, worsening discrimination and closed borders, cultural institutions have the opportunity to do what so many political ones can’t: Open their doors. Ana Ma, former chief operating officer of the Human Rights Campaign, writes that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has an opportunity to solidify a new course for corporate America – a moral, principled course where profit is not procured at the expense of people.


Asgardia is the world's first "space nation". The concept is essentially a virtual nation, but wants to file for UN recognition. In fall 2017, it launched a satellite containing citizens' data as a way of cementing a physical presence in space for the first time. The world’s first “space nation” has taken flight. On November 12, Asgardia cemented its presence in outer space by launching the Asgardia-1 satellite. The “nanosat” – it is roughly the size of a loaf of bread – undertook a two-day journey from NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, the United States, to the International Space Station (ISS). It contains 0.5 TB of data belonging to 18,000 of Asgardia’s citizens, such as family photographs, as well as digital representations of the space nation’s flag, coat of arms and constitution. Russian scientist Dr Igor Ashurbeyli founded the world’s first independent nation to operate in outer space in October 2016. Named after a Norse mythological city of the skies, Asgardia is free to join and so far, about 114,000 people have signed up. Ashurbeyli says the project’s mission is to provide a “peaceful society”, offer easier access to space technologies, and protect Earth from space threats, such as asteroids and man-made debris in space. While Asgardia’s citizens will – for the time being – remain based on earth, the satellite launch brings the nation one step closer to space. Asgardia-1 made its journey to the ISS aboard the OA-8 Antares-Cygnus, a NASA commercial cargo vehicle. Now it must wait for about three weeks as vital supplies and scientific equipment are transferred from the NASA ship to the six people currently living at the ISS. The nanosat will then be detached from the NASA vehicle and begin its own orbital journey around the earth. Citizens’ data will remain in orbit for between five and 18 months, the typical lifespan of this type of satellite. It will then burn out and disappear. For Ashurbeyli, the launch fulfills a pledge he made when establishing the “space nation” to take its citizens to space via their data. “I promised there would be a launch,” he says. “We selected NASA as a reliable partner … because we have to meet the commitments that I made 13 months ago.” Within 40 hours of the project being announced in 2016, over 100,000 people had applied for citizenship on Asgardia’s website. After three weeks, Asgardia had 500,000 applicants. Anyone over 18 years old, with an email address, regardless of gender, nationality, race, religion, and financial standing can apply for citizenship – including ex-convicts, provided they are clear of charges at the time of application. Today, there are 114,000 Asgardians from 204 countries – a population drop from 211,000 in June, when voting to determine the details of Asgardia’s constitution began. Only those who agreed to adopt the finalized constitution are counted as Asgardians. Turkey currently has the largest number of Asgardians, with over 16,500 residents. Rayven Sin, an artist based in Hong Kong, told CNN that she signed up to become an Asgardian in November 2016 after hearing about it on a Chinese radio show while she was in Toronto. “I really want to be able to see if human beings are able to have more opportunity to express their opinions,” she told CNN. “The society we live in now – everything seems to be either capitalism or communism – there’s a lot of conflict. “As a human being, I would hope (to see) if we could have other ways (of living). For a better life, and for more options.” John Spiro, a digital marketing specialist who organizes a monthly meet-up for Hong Kong-based Asgardians, told CNN it was the possibility of sending personal data into space that excited him. “I help translate and preserve Buddhist sutras as a hobby and the symbolism of sending one of those religious texts in electronic form ‘up to the heavens’ seemed very nice.” Going forward, the Asgardia team hopes to create habitable platforms in low-earth orbits – the first one located 100 to 200 miles (161 to 321 kilometers) from space, which is also where the ISS is located. The first human flight to this location is projected to take place in eight years’ time. “We want to give equal opportunities to everyone who has a mind, who can do something, for their protection,” Ashurbeyli said. “Our real home is not the house or the city where we were born. (Our) home is planet Earth, (and) we want to protect it. “(It’s) not a fantasy. Going to Mars, the galactics, so on – that’s just fake. I intend something more real.” Further satellite launches are in the works but no dates have yet been confirmed. A 53-year-old rocket scientist, Ashurbeyli says he is single-handedly bankrolling the project – for a sum that’s undisclosed. Regularly reported to be a billionaire – although he has never appeared on the Forbes rich lists – the Azerbaijan-born Russian graduated from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy in 1985, and three years later founded Socium, a software and consulting firm turned holding company with over 10,000 employees, according to his website. After moving to Moscow in the 1990s, he became a heavyweight in the science industry and, in 2010, was awarded the Russian State Science and Technology Prize. Three years later, he founded the Aerospace International Research Center (AIRC) in Vienna, and today he is chairman of UNESCO’s Science of Space committee. In short, Ashurbeyli is no beginner when it comes to space. He did, however, resign from all governmental organizations in 2011, according to his website, and now claims to be politically neutral. At a press conference in Hong Kong in June 2017, Ashurbeyli explained that Asgardia is a project he has been dreaming of since childhood. “I was interested in doing something unusual that nobody else was doing,” Ashurbeyli told CNN. “It was my dream to create an independent country.” That ambition became more concrete after Ashurbeyli gave a speech at a conference on space law at McGill University in Montreal in 2016, where he was inspired by a discussion about the laws governing murder, marriage and divorce in space. “I thought: ‘Why not organize a country?’ Not only for lawyers. But for technicians, for engineers, for every human … because he’s currently restricted by the laws of the country he was born in.” Currently space law is adhered to in the form of the Outer Space Treaty, signed by 103 countries including the US and Russia. Asgardia advocates for the creation of a new legal platform in space. One of Asgardia’s most ambitious plans is to gain UN membership. To achieve this, the UN’s Security Council must firstly approve Asgardia’s application to be considered a nation, then two-thirds of members of the General Assembly must vote for its admission. “A state has to have these characteristics: a permanent population; a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. And it must be recognized as a state by other states,” Joanne Gabrynowicz, a space law expert and professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology’s School of Law, tells CNN. Ashurbeyli plans for Asgardia to form a democratic government, as well as a Prosecutors Office, National Audit Office and the other governmental bodies. Governmental departments will be run by Asgardians in the locations they represent, while the administrative center will be in Vienna. These have not yet been formed. A parliamentary election will come first: Asgardians have until March 29 to submit their applications to become parliamentarians. After the election, governmental bodies will then be formed. When asked by CNN how Asgardia intends to provide peace to its citizens without a physical settlement, Ashurbeyli says the nation’s citizens can take advantage of their “dual citizenship”. “If I have problems on Earth, I’ll have my embassy from Asgardia. (It’s as if) you are a tourist, you can go to your embassy and they’ll try to help you.” Ashurbeyli does, however, recognize the multitude of issues that come with forming his own nation – let alone one based in space. “We have to be like a normal country. All countries have problems, and soon we will have the same problems,” he says. “But we will have more than normal countries because we are not on earth.”


Defense Secretary James Mattis may have come to terms with President Donald Trump’s decision to quit the Iran nuclear deal, but he suggested the administration is still grappling with how to define US policy on countering Tehran following public calls for regime change from national security adviser John Bolton and Rudy Giuliani. Mattis sidestepped questions from lawmakers Wednesday about whether Bolton’s and Giuliani’s vocal support for regime change in Iran has directly influenced the current US strategy, but offered little indication that Trump and his top advisers have reached a consensus on the administration’s long-term vision. Related article Unbridled Trump storms global stage “Our problem with Iran is not with the Iranian people. It is with the regime. But I would let Mr. Bolton and Mr. Giuliani speak for themselves,” Mattis said, adding that he would prefer not to comment on the specific instances in which both men have pushed for regime change in the media. Specifically, lawmakers expressed concerns over an op-ed Bolton published in 2015 that advocated regime regime change and a speech by Giuliani, now Trump’s personal lawyer, just days before the President nixed the nuclear deal, that also endorsed the idea. “I think it’s the only way to peace in the Middle East. It’s more important than an Israeli-Palestinian deal,” Giuliani said about regime change for Iran. Mattis himself has long pushed for a more aggressive strategy toward Tehran and in 2016 called Iran “the single most enduring threat to stability and peace in the Middle East.” But unlike Bolton, Mattis consistently advised Trump to remain in the nuclear agreement, arguing – along with former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson – that it was in the national security interests of the US to do so “if we can confirm that Iran is living by the agreement.” During a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee last October, Sen. Angus King, an independent from Maine, asked Mattis: “Do you believe it is in our national security interest at the present time to remain in the (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action)? That is a yes or no question.” Mattis replied, “Yes, senator, I do.” “I believe at this point in time absent indications to the contrary, it is something the President should consider staying with,” Mattis added at the time. Related article Mattis jokes to Bolton: 'I heard you're actually the devil incarnate' However, leading up to Tuesday’s announcement, Mattis – now without the support of Tillerson or former national security adviser H.R. McMaster – all but stopped answering questions in public related to withdrawing from the deal. And last week he declined to say whether he was incorporating the views of the United Kingdom, France and the United Nations nuclear watchdog charged with enforcing the Iran nuclear deal into to his discussions with Trump, telling reporters that he owed the President “a certain amount of confidentiality.” While Mattis has previously sided with officials, like Tillerson, who cautioned against scrapping the agreement, a person familiar with the dynamics told CNN that he knew he was outgunned this time around given the recent overhaul atop Trump’s national security team. According to this source, Mattis did not advocate remaining in the agreement in the weeks leading up to the announcement, knowing full well that Trump would withdraw. Related article Surrounded by hawks, Mattis digs in amid Trump admin chaos “This took us over a year as we dealt with it on the inter-agency … you saw it was not a hasty decision immediately after inauguration and I can assure you that the chairman and I were given full hearing,” Mattis said on Wednesday, testifying alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Joseph Dunford. “{The President} got to a point where he just did not see that this was in our best interest to continue. It had to do with all the other things that Iran is certainly doing … so all of this had to be mixed together, and to separate out what the chairman’s or my advice was on our area, it had to be leavened with foreign policy concerns out of State, intel assessments of where they’re at today and where they’re going,” he said. Despite Trump’s decision to leave the deal, Mattis said Wednesday that the US remains in a place where it can work with allies to address some of its “shortcomings and make it more compelling.” “We will continue to work alongside our allies and partners to ensure that Iran can never acquire a nuclear weapon. We’ll work with others to address the range of Iran’s malign influence. This administration remains committed to putting the safety, interests and well-being of our citizens first,” he said. Mattis reassured lawmakers that the decision to leave the deal was made with the full consideration of all the related agencies but he also indicated that there is daylight between what Bolton and Giuliani have publicly said about regime change and official US policy. Related article James Mattis woos John Bolton with breakfast club invite While subtle, the suggestion of a split between two of Trump’s most influential national security advisers  has done little to temper speculation that Mattis remains more isolated than ever amid a shifting power dynamic around the President that now includes the freewheeling Giuliani, in addition to Bolton. Mattis has done his best to downplay notions that he is concerned about working with Bolton, previously saying that he looked forward to working with the former UN ambassador and he hoped the two men held “different worldviews” to avoid “group think.” And while Mattis hopes to reconstruct the dynamic he had with Tillerson by informally meeting with Bolton and newly minted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on a regular basis, early indications are it is unlikely that they will defer to the defense secretary in the same way Tillerson once did. Related article Trump is now as sick of Rudy Giuliani as he is of everybody else One source close to the White House told CNN that going forward, any potential conflict is likely to stem from the fact that the power dynamic is no longer heavily weighted in Mattis’ favor, and situations will likely arise in which he will be forced to “share the porch” with other strong personalities whose views may conflict with his own. Those differences manifested themselves this week when Trump announced – despite past advice from Mattis – that the US is leaving the Iran deal. In Tuesday’s speech – which one senior White House official told CNN was heavily influenced by Bolton – Trump said he would initiate new sanctions on the regime, crippling the touchstone agreement negotiated by his predecessor. Trump said any country that helps Iran obtain nuclear weapons would also be “strongly sanctioned.” Bolton’s hard-edged, hawkish reputation on Iran, coupled with his rising profile within the administration, has prompted some to wonder whether he will support Trump on extreme policy initiatives even if they are opposed by Mattis. Related article Everything that scrapping the Iran deal says about Donald Trump On Wednesday, Mattis was asked about another op-ed published by Bolton prior to joining the administration titled “To stop Iran’s bomb, bomb Iran,” a proposal for using military force to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. “Following the experience in Iraq, can the Department of Defense be confident that such an action would be limited to airstrikes and avoid another ground war involving US troops in the Middle East?” asked Democratic Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico. “I’ve had numerous conversations in the last two or three weeks with Mr. Bolton. This issue as categorized in this article has not even arisen. There is, as we all recognize, a sobering aspect of being in the positions he and I occupy,” Mattis responded. CNN’s Kevin Liptak and Ryan Browne contributed to this report.


They’ve danced suspended from the side of skyscrapers and performed on rock cliffs more than 2,700 feet up in the air – but they don’t want to be called daredevils. California-based dance company, BANDALOOP, have turned dancing as you know it upside down and sideways. We sent a dancer through the streets of Hong Kong. Here's what happened For more than twenty years their stage has been the side of buildings, bridges, cliffs and billboards and their warm-ups something more akin to rock climbing as the group have performed for audiences around the world. “We’re not daredevils, we just like to celebrate the human spirit,” Amelia Rudolph, BANDALOOP’s founder and artistic director, says. “Especially in today’s world, where there are so many sad things happening, I think it’s really important to do something that instills a feeling of possibility,” she continues. The group’s eclectic style of dance draws on abseiling and trapeze to challenge preconceptions of what is physically possible and reconsider the way gravity and movement interact. Indeed, to be able to keep their bodies perpendicular to the sideways stages, the dancers rely on rock climbing technology – and exceptionally strong abdominal muscles. Yet while the company included both climbers and dancers when it was founded in 1991, today, most performers are modern dancers. “It’s much easier to teach a dancer to climb than a climber to dance,” says 52-year-old Rudolph, who still dances vertically for a living. “The truth is it’s easier on your joints than normal dancing,” she says. But it’s not just bodily joints that need attention. Apart from the direct challenges posed by performing sideways, vertical dancers also have to take caution not to land on surfaces like delicate windows. “Most dancers take smooth and flat dance floors for granted, while ours consist of windows, ledges and other architectural features,” Rudolph says. BANDALOOP looks for opportunities to dance on structures that are themselves works of art. Every time the group performs they adjust the choreography to site-specific characteristics. They hope to one day dance on the side of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao – a spectacular titanium building with reflective curled walls designed by Frank Gehry, to challenge the connections between art and architecture. They’ve already danced in more than 100 different sites around the world, including mountaintops in the Himalayas and Yosemite national park. To get to the latter they first had to climb for six days and five nights, before they reached their dance destination on the top of El Capitan. Although Amelia doesn’t necessarily like how audiences watch BANDALOOP with a nervous type of excitement, she says that it is that “triggered space” that makes the performance so impactful and emotional to watch. “In that triggered space the audience is drawn into the experience and they’re feeling what we are feeling as we are flying through the air. I think it pulls them out of their everyday life,” says Rudolph.


Editor’s Note: David Davis is UK Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. The opinions in this article belong to the author. It’s more than two years since I last visited Washington DC. Since then, there has been tremendous political and economic change on both sides of the Atlantic. It is imperative that we now work together, as the closest of friends, to deliver a solution that works for both of our great continents. The UK’s decision to leave the European Union surprised much of the establishment. But it allows us an unprecedented chance to take control of the important issues that govern Britain’s society and economy. From designing an immigration system that addresses the concerns of ordinary working people and fits the needs of business to ensuring we have regulation more tailored to the UK economy rather than the needs of 28 different economies, leaving the EU provides us with a large opportunity. For the first time in over 40 years, we’ll have the freedom to strike our own trade deals and deepen key relationships with old allies, including our closest ally, the US. Brexit is not about Britain stepping back from the world, but jumping into the new opportunities it presents. Outside of the EU, Britain will be nimbler, more open to innovation and technological change, at the same time as driving up global standards. Using our might as the world’s fifth largest economy – we can become a true champion of free trade. That should be in the interests of our close neighbours in Europe, as well as more far-reaching parts of the world. From the very start of this process we’ve been clear that pursuing a new path will not come at the expense of our relationship with Europe. Our growth and prosperity will come alongside that of Europe, not instead of it. Yesterday I completed the third round of negotiations to deliver a new partnership with the EU. It was constructive, but as I made clear, if we are to get the right deal we will need more flexibility. That deal is in both of our interests because after we’ve left, the UK will continue to buy Europe’s goods and services, sell them ours, and our citizens will continue to travel, live and work across the continent. It will address the unique circumstances around the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland – making sure there is no hard border, and the Belfast (“Good Friday”) Agreement is upheld in every way. And it will also underline our continued cooperation with the EU on foreign affairs, and combating crime and terrorism. We also want a new free trade agreement with the EU that allows for the freest possible trade in European goods and services between Britain and the EU’s member states. It should give companies operating in the UK the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European markets – and let European businesses do the same in Britain. This is a deal of global economic importance which is in the shared interests of the UK and the EU. In 2016, while the UK exported £241 billion worth of goods and services to the EU, the UK imported £312 billion worth of goods and services from the EU. The progress made this week at the formal negotiations means I’m hopeful we can start talking soon about a trade deal with the EU in the near future. A successful economic relationship in Europe is in the interests of the US as well. Britain and America have the closest defense relationship in the world, but it’s often overlooked that we are each other’s single largest foreign investors, supporting 2.2 million jobs. Related article UK's Theresa May doubles down on plan to run for 2022 elections An example of this is UK company JCB Ltd – which manufactures machinery in both Savannah, Georgia, and Derbyshire in England, and recently confirmed one of the biggest single orders in its 71-year-old history to the US Army. American corporations have invested nearly $600 billion in the UK, and there are many US subsidiaries in other EU member states doing business in Britain. As the world’s largest economic power and the world’s fifth, together we can drive domestic and global growth. In my speech today to business leaders at the US Chamber of Commerce, I’ll outline how Brexit creates a huge opportunity for increasing liberalisation in services, improving standards around the world for workers and consumers, and through better harnessing technological developments. I make no apologies for being ambitious for Britain, and the role it can play in the world once we leave the EU. Because after we leave we can be a truly global Britain, competing on the world stage and a real champion for free trade. And if we embark on that path together, with our American friends, there could be a very exciting future for us all.


Trump on Monday struck a unifying sentiment during his White House address "Our unity cannot be shattered by evil, our bonds cannot be broken by violence," Trump said President Donald Trump begins two days of consolation on Tuesday, traveling to storm-battered Puerto Rico before making his way to Las Vegas to view a different type of wreckage at the site of the deadliest shooting in modern US history. It’s the most concentrated stretch of presidential comforting to occur during Trump’s tenure, which has been marked more by stoking of divisions than displays of empathy. Nevertheless, Trump on Monday hewed to presidential precedent, striking a unifying sentiment during a solemn address at the White House. “Our unity cannot be shattered by evil, our bonds cannot be broken by violence,” Trump said. “And though we feel such great anger at the senseless murder of our fellow citizens, it is our love that defines us today – and always will, forever.” Related article 58 killed, 515 hurt in Las Vegas Strip massacre His aides expect the two-day stretch to prove emotionally taxing for the President, who has yet to confront the type of devastation seen in Puerto Rico or Las Vegas since taking office in January. White House officials initially considered canceling his trip to Puerto Rico after the Nevada shooting but ultimately determined he should still travel there. During dark national moments, US presidents often turn away from divisive political rhetoric in a bid to console Americans and project a sense that the country’s citizens share a common bond. Sometimes that includes delivering eulogies or attending memorial services for victims, or assessing damage after a major natural disaster. Comforting Americans at what is often the worst moment of their life is a skill that takes time for presidents to develop, and exacts an emotional toll, past holders of the job say. Trump has assumed the task at various moments during his first eight months in office. But his trips on Tuesday and Wednesday amount to the weightiest tests yet of his ability to project both sadness and resolve, and a gauge of his willingness to drop the bombastic political rhetoric that he’s injected into nearly every situation since becoming president. Trump landed in Puerto Rico having provoked a spat with the mayor of the island’s capital city over disaster relief efforts, which the President insists are proceeding without fail. He repeated his praise of the federal recovery operation on Monday. “We are going to be seeing all of the first responders, the military, FEMA, and frankly, most importantly, we are going to be seeing the people of Puerto Rico,” Trump said in the Oval Office ahead of talks with the Thai prime minister. “It’s been amazing what’s been done in a very short period of time on Puerto Rico. There’s never been a piece of land that we’ve known that was so devastated.” The US territory remains debilitated following the hurricane, with water and fuel still scarce and the majority of the island without power. Trump reacted harshly over the weekend to comments from San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz suggesting the island was still lacking in robust federal aid. “Such poor leadership ability by the mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help,” Trump tweeted on Saturday morning. “They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort.” Other administration officials suggested Cruz had refused invitations to participate in FEMA briefings, opting instead to appear on television. The mayor, in turn, insisted in an interview with CNN that she would not be distracted by “small comments, by politics, by petty issues.” The pair agreed to meet, however, early Tuesday. “Well I think she’s come back a long way,” Trump said before he left for Puerto Rico. “I think it’s now acknowledged what a great job we’ve done. And people are looking at that. In Texas and in Florida, we get an A-plus. I think we’ve done just as good in Puerto Rico and it’s actually a much tougher situation … Whether it’s her or anybody else, they’re all starting to say it.” Related article Puerto Rico's nightmare recovery The sour public dispute reflected a sharp break from how past presidents have reacted to criticism of their attentiveness during a natural disaster. President George W. Bush was excoriated for his response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which included what in retrospect was misplaced praise for his FEMA director. “Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job,” Bush told then-FEMA chief Michael Brown. But Bush did not lash out at infuriated local officials when they pleaded with the federal government for more assistance. In responding to a series of hurricanes that made landfall in the United States, Trump and his aides have been cognizant of avoiding the pitfalls faced by predecessors in dealing with natural disasters. Trump made quick visits to Texas and Florida after storms damaged parts of those states and sought to project a display of federal competence. He was cautious about appearing overly valedictory before the full scope of the recovery could be gauged. In Puerto Rico, however, the President has shown little regard for presidential custom. Aside from his fight with San Juan’s mayor, Trump has openly lauded his government’s response, despite the evident shortfalls on the island. “We have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico,” he tweeted this weekend. “Outside of the Fake News or politically motivated ingrates, people are now starting to recognize the amazing work that has been done by FEMA and our great Military.” We have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico. Outside of the Fake News or politically motivated ingrates,... Trump on Tuesday is meeting with local officials about the recovery efforts and view damaged areas of the island. “I expect the focus to be on the recovery efforts, which we’re fully committed to,” Sanders said. “The top priority for the federal government is certainly to protect the lives and the safety of those in affected areas, and provide life-sustaining services as we work together to rebuild their lives.” In Las Vegas on Wednesday, Trump confronts a separate tragedy after a gunman rained bullets on a country music festival, killing more than 50. He announced he would travel there during his morning statement from the White House. “It’s a very sad moment for me, for everybody,” Trump said. “For everybody, no matter where you are, no matter what your thought process, this is a very, very sad day.” Presidents have confronted American mass shootings differently as they have become more common over the past two decades. President Barack Obama, over the course of his two terms, evolved from expressing feelings of sadness and anger, to resolve at enacting new gun controls, to – at the end of his tenure – resignation that the country’s political leaders lacked the will to make meaningful changes. Speaking at a eulogy for a slain pastor after the Charleston, South Carolina, church shooting, Obama broke into strains of “Amazing Grace” – a raw display of emotion that encapsulated the country’s grief. Trump has yet to demonstrate that type of sentiment as president. Trump’s first public remarks about the Las Vegas shooting were uncharacteristically subdued. He initially did not speak about the gunman, who authorities identified as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, though he referred to him on Tuesday as a “very, very sick individual.” And he avoided discussion of gun control, even as Democrats and activists insisted lawmakers in Washington confront again the widespread availability of assault weapons. He didn’t answer reporters’ questions on Tuesday about whether the shooting was an act of domestic terrorism. Instead, Trump has used broader language to acknowledge the anxiety and senselessness surrounding the attack. “Even the most terrible despair can be illuminated by a single ray of hope,” he said Monday. It was a different tone from the one Trump adopted after mass shootings that occurred while he was running for president last year. After gun attacks in San Bernardino, California, and Orlando, Trump used the moment to harden his position on radical Islamic terrorism. Related article Las Vegas massacre reignites debate over the meaning of 'domestic terrorism' Unlike the San Bernardino or Orlando incidents – both carried out by Muslim-Americans – the perpetrator of the Las Vegas shooting was an older white male. At the White House on Monday, Sanders said it was too early to determine whether the incident amounted to domestic terrorism. And she ascribed Trump’s more muted tone after Las Vegas to his elevated standing. “I think there’s a difference between being a candidate and being the President,” she said. CNN’s Elizabeth Landers contributed to this report.


Ex-Putin aide Mikhail Lesin was found dead in a hotel room He died of 'blunt force', officials say, following an autopsy A former aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin died of blunt force injuries to the head, officials said Thursday. Mikhail Lesin, 57, also sustained injuries to his neck, torso, arms and legs, a statement from Washington D.C.’s Medical Examiner’s Office said. Dustin Sternbeck, the D.C. police department’s chief spokesman, told the Washington Post that the case remains under investigation. He would not say whether the medical examiner’s ruling means a crime may have been committed. “We’re not willing to close off anything at this point,” Sternbeck said. In a mystery that sounds plucked from a cold war spy novel, Lesin was found dead inside a Washington, D.C. hotel room in November last year. The Russian millionaire was a long time advisor to President Vladimir Putin and the one-time head of media affairs. He became head of Gazprom Media in 2013 but resigned the following year. The holding company controls several popular television channels and other media outlets. The cult of Putin One U.S. senator called him the country’s top censor and asked that he be investigated for money laundering.


Tillerson traveled to the Gulf and Iraq In Switzerland, the top US diplomat held talks on Syria Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s to-do list for the Middle East is not getting any shorter. The top US diplomat outlined a series of US priorities and concerns in a briefing with reporters as he ended a six-day trip to the Middle East, South Asia and Europe. Tillerson touched on US concerns about strife between Iraq and separatist-minded Kurds that could undermine the fight against ISIS; the need for Iraq to remain focused on defeating the terrorist group; the squabbling between America’s allies in the Gulf; and Iran’s influence in Syria and Iraq. He also offered a glimpse into US efforts to improve relationships among its Middle East allies, one possible key to containing Iran’s influence in the region. Related article Tillerson makes surprise visit to Iraq following ISIS defeats The lengthy list was a reminder that despite President Donald Trump’s campaign declarations that the US can no longer afford to be the world’s policeman, the Middle East inevitably pulls every administration into its orbit and issues. Tillerson gave a nod to threading that needle, saying that the US will continue its leadership role, but – like the administration before it – the Trump White House will call on other countries to do more. “The US remains committed to providing leadership in every region of the world,” Tillerson said at the end of travel to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, India and Switzerland. “And as we lead, we will continue to ask more of others to take up their responsible roles as well, so that they can ultimately provide for their own people and uphold their own sovereignty,” the top US diplomat continued. “As we do, we will provide greater security and prosperity for the American people.” Tillerson spoke in Switzerland, where he met with Staffan de Mistura, the UN special envoy on Syria. There, Tillerson said that with ISIS “on the brink” of defeat, the US wants to see the war torn country turn to political negotiations about a future that eventually does not include its leader. Related article US military: Kurdish-Iraqi clashes undermining ISIS fight “As we have said many times before, the US wants a whole and unified Syria with no role of Bashar al-Assad in the government,” Tillerson said. Referring to the Obama administration’s early declaration that “Assad must go,” Tillerson said that, “when this administration came into office we took a view that it is not a prerequisite that Assad go” before a political process starts. “Rather, the mechanism by which Assad departs will likely emerge from that process,” he said. Asked about the view that Syria has been a victory for Tehran, because it has kept Assad in power and maintained its hold on a country strategically important to it, Tillerson framed his answer in terms of the fight against ISIS. “Iran has not particularly been successful in liberating areas,” he said, praising the Russian government and the anti-ISIS coalition for successes. “So I don’t think that Iran should be given credit for the defeat of ISIS in any way in Syria, rather I think they have somewhat taken advantage of the situation with their presence there.” Tillerson also touched on Iran’s ties to Iraq. The long border and centuries long connections between the two neighbors means “we are not going to eliminate all contact between those two countries. There are legitimate contacts that should continue, economic, trade, things like that,” Tillerson said. Related article 'Fully intact' Tillerson talks Trump, North Korea and Iran But he indicated that the US would like to see more distance between the Iraqi government and Iran. “What we’re saying to Iraq is you must develop the capacity to stand on your own and resist that influence,” Tillerson said. In its place, he indicated, the US would like to see a closer relationship between Iraq and countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council, such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, that are close US allies as well. “There has been more than three decades of isolation almost between Iraq and the GCC countries,” Tillerson said, Iraq and the Gulf countries share a common culture and ethnicity, Tillerson suggested. “These are all the same people. Iraqis are Arab. Iraqis are not Persian,” he said. The US has strongly supported recent overtures between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. “We’ve worked hard to facilitate and encourage that,” Tillerson said, describing the Saudi and Kuwaiti commitment to helping with Iraq reconstruction. Related article Nikki Haley issues stern warning in South Sudan “It is important to facilitate Iraq again standing on its own, that it doesn’t have to only look to the east,” where Iran sits, Tillerson said. “It has important partners, security partners and more importantly, economic partners to the south, and I think this is how we strengthen Iraq as an independent country and they can make their own decisions then.” Referring to a recent meeting between Iraq and GCC members in Saudi Arabia, Tillerson said the US is “glad to see expanding connections between Iraq and its neighbors.” The efforts to pull Iraq farther away from Iran have been complicated by a dispute within the GCC, with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and others accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism. “The US remains troubled and concerned about the far-reaching consequences of the Gulf dispute,” Tillerson said. “Our message is clear, the GCC is strongest when it is united.” And tensions within Iraq, between the central government and Kurds who have pushed for independence in the north, are another concern. “We are disappointed the parties have not yet been able to reach an entirely peaceful resolution over recent tensions,” Tillerson said.


John Michael Bradford was evacuated from his home outside New Orleans for months One of the people evacuated with Bradford was musician "Big Sam" Williams 2017 swept into the record books as the most destructive hurricane season in US history. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria forced millions to evacuate, leaving families from Texas to Puerto Rico fearing that they might never see their homes again. It’s a feeling that’s only too familiar to Louisiana native John Michael Bradford – and one he will never forget. “I just cried so much,” Bradford said, recalling the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “It was definitely traumatic, not knowing what was going to happen. We’d see the news every day, all the craziness happening. Our friends are losing homes. It’s just hard.” It was especially hard for Bradford, who was a young boy when Katrina hit. “I was about 7 or 8 years old, waking up on a Saturday morning, and suddenly my parents turn on the news, and they said we have to evacuate.” Bradford, with his family and some friends, evacuated from the New Orleans suburb of Metairie to a friend’s house in San Antonio, Texas. Despite the cramped living conditions, Bradford’s family tried to keep things as normal as possible. Bradford was enrolled in a new school but found that he wasn’t ready for the change. “I couldn’t bear being in another school. I couldn’t mentally focus,” Bradford said. It was a family friend, Sam Williams, who gave Bradford his first real sense of home. Williams, his girlfriend and her younger brother had evacuated with Bradford and his family to San Antonio. Williams and Bradford didn’t know each other before Katrina forced them into the same house. But Williams had something that piqued Bradford’s interest: a trombone. “Sam was the first time I had been around a trombone, and his sound is so big and warm,” Bradford recalled. “It really made me feel good to hear music and that New Orleans funky style.” Williams is the front man and trombonist for the “NOLAdelic PowerFunk” band Big Sam’s Funky Nation. It was music that gave Bradford not only the comfort of home but a sense of purpose. “I gravitated towards him. I wanted to be like Sam.” Bradford and Williams spent a couple of months together in Texas before heading back to their respective homes in the New Orleans area. But Bradford was coming back a changed person with his heart set on one thing: playing music. “For a year and a half, I kept asking my parents for a trombone. Then, for Christmas, my grandfather gave me his high school trumpet. Immediately, I was able to play.” Born with natural musical ability and living in the birthplace of jazz, Bradford took up the trumpet and never looked back. Williams started inviting Bradford to play with Big Sam’s Funky Nation, and eventually other seasoned New Orleans musicians took notice of Bradford, as well. “I was invited to play in Jackson Square with all the older musicians,” Bradford said. “They pushed me in front of the audience and made me be the leader. I’m the youngest person there, but they pushed me to be a leader.” Bradford’s musical gift has now taken him from the streets of New Orleans to performance halls around the world, playing shows in Japan, in Sweden, at Carnegie Hall in New York, even at the Grammys. His first album, “Something Old, Something New,” came out last year, and he’s studying at the Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship. Even though Bradford feels that music was his “destiny,” he credits his evacuation experience with Williams during Katrina for putting him on his current path. It was surviving that trauma that steered him toward a new life. It’s a story he hopes will inspire those affected by disasters everywhere. See the latest news and share your comments with CNN Health on Facebook and Twitter. “I always think back to Katrina. I always think back to Sam and about those times when I just dreamed about being a musician. Now that I’m doing it and seeing that people really love what I’m doing, I can’t even explain how it makes me feel. “For me, it was a tragedy turned into a blessing,” Bradford said. “I think music can turn a tragedy into something that’s beautiful because it can touch so many people. It’s universal.”


Prime Minister Theresa May will present the offer to Parliament next week EU citizens living in the UK for five years or more will get the rights of British citizens In a Brexit divorce deal offering, British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday said European Union citizens will be given the opportunity to stay in the United Kingdom after it leaves the EU. May and other European officials are meeting in Brussels, Belgium, to begin negotiations for a UK exit from the EU after the country voted last year to leave. Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty outlines the voluntary departure. Under the British proposal, any EU citizen living in the UK for five years or more by a yet-to-be specified cutoff date would be granted UK “settled status,” giving them the same rights as British citizens to health care, education, welfare and pensions Related video Was the Queen's hat an anti-Brexit message? EU citizens living in the country for less than five years could potentially stay and obtain residency status after reaching the five-year mark. “The UK’s position represents a fair and serious offer,” May told EU leaders in Brussels. “One aimed at giving as much certainty as possible to citizens who have settled in the UK, building careers and lives and contributing so much to our society.” What Article 50 actually says May’s offer will be put forth before Parliament next week. Speaking to journalists on Thursday night, German Chancellor Angela Merkel says May’s EU citizens’ rights proposal is a “good start,” but there will be many other questions to be discussed. The June 2016 Brexit vote in the hotly contested referendum exposed deep division across the country. Related article Brexit: 50 things the UK needs to do after triggering Article 50 Earlier this year, the UK government formally served divorce papers on the EU, marking the beginning of the end of a relationship that has endured for 44 years. May confirmed then that UK had triggered Article 50, beginning the legal process that must end in two years’ time with Britain leaving the EU. Brexit letter that officially triggered UK withdrawal from the European Union. The UK must work out a number of issues after triggering Article 50 – including trade, migration, education and health care. Even if some terms of divorce are not settled, the UK will fall out of the union on March 29, 2019. They can split earlier if both parties agree. CNN’s Sebastian Shukla reported from Brussels. CNN’s Laura Goehler and Milena Veselinovic contributed to this report.


The push comes as North Korea ramps up its nuclear and missile testing The country has stated a goal of developing a long-range nuclear missile that can hit US soil The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee plans to call for a $2.1 billion boost to the US military in the Pacific region to bolster it against threats from North Korea and China. Texas Republican Mac Thornberry will introduce a bill this week that would provide $1 billion in munitions and $1 billion for missile defense, including more interceptors for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, in the Pacific, according to a summary of the legislation obtained by CNN. The measure would also include $100 million for joint exercises with US allies in the Pacific and would require maintaining a combat aviation brigade in South Korea for responding to any military provocation from Pyongyang. Trump: South Korea should pay for $1B missile defense system In an interview, Thornberry said his goal was “to put specific dollars” into the US military in the Pacific, “so that it’s not just words, but it’s capability that backs it up.” Thornberry’s bill is one of several efforts underway in Congress to address shortfalls that US Pacific Command has detailed, including munitions, submarines, missile defense capabilities and manpower. The push to direct new resources to the Pacific region comes as North Korea ramps up its nuclear and missile testing – with a stated goal of developing a long-range nuclear missile that can hit US soil. Pyongyang launched its second medium-range missile test in less than a week Sunday. Earlier this year, Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain introduced his own effort, called the Asia Pacific Stability Initiative, which would add $7.5 billion to the US military budget for the region over the next five years. Defense Secretary James Mattis has expressed support for the concept, and the Pentagon will formally endorse McCain’s fund in its upcoming budget, which is being released Tuesday, according to two US officials. The budget won’t include a major funding contribution like McCain is seeking, according to one of the officials, but it will lay the groundwork to ramp up the funding the following year. Lawmakers on the defense committees say the threat from North Korea has not necessarily changed in recent weeks, but Kim Jong Un’s aggressive pursuit of a long-range nuclear missile has crystallized the threat for many in Congress, as well as the public. “It makes it easier for those members who have a tendency to focus on Europe and the Middle East to remember that we have to keep our eye on” the Pacific, Hawaii Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz told CNN. The focus on the Pacific also comes as US allies in the Pacific remain wary of the Trump administration and President Donald Trump’s previous comments that he might not be committed to the security of allies in the region – such as when he suggested South Korea should pay for the US deployment of THAAD. Mattis has tried to foster that reassurance among Asia-Pacific allies, however, and his first trip as Defense secretary was to the Pacific. Navy Adm. Harry Harris, head of US Pacific Command, has provided a lengthy road map for Congress to provide him more capabilities. At recent congressional hearings, Harris said he has only half the number of attack submarines he’d like in the region, he would want more missile interceptors, including deployed to Hawaii, to guard against potential missile threats from North Korea. Harris also agreed with concerns expressed by Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono about manpower cuts to the Pacific Command headquarters as part of Defense Department-wide reductions. “We all should seek efficiencies where we can, but I’m not supportive of the idea of salami slicing either,” Harris said. Pacific Command has lost more than 100 officials as part of a 20% reduction mandated by former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and along with US Forces Korea will be reduced by another 50 staffers, according to Pacific Command documents provided to Congress and obtained by CNN. The Obama administration had also called for refocusing its attention to the Asia-Pacific region – the Pacific pivot, as it was known – but many Republican critics say the pivot never materialized, as the military had to keep efforts focused on ISIS and the war in Afghanistan. The Pacific push from McCain and Thornberry, who both lead the annual defense authorization bill that sets Pentagon policy, is in fact modeled after an Obama-era effort: the European Reassurance Initiative. That was a fund that has added billions to the Pentagon budget to bolster the US military in eastern Europe following Russia’s invasion of Crimea. It was funded as part of the military’s war budget – which is not subject to the budget caps that have constrained federal spending. Thornberry said that his legislation is as much about deterring China and its actions in the South China Sea as it is about North Korea, but he’s felt a new sense of urgency over North Korea’s recent missile tests. “I was surprised at how often people would come up and not just ask about North Korea, but have a real sense of concern or anxiety about North Korea,” Thornberry said.

US military presence in the Pacific region


Trump also emphasized that as president he will work to "make America great again for all Americans" The remarks come amid a sustained barrage of criticism over his comments accusing an Indiana-born federal judge Donald Trump, who ignited an uproar by attacking a judge as biased on the basis of his Mexican heritage, said Friday in a speech to evangelical voters that he believes “no one should be judged by their race or their color.” “Freedom of any kind means no one should be judged by their race or their color and the tone of his hue – should not be judged that way,” Trump said as he read from prepared remarks while speaking in Washington. “Right now, we have a very divided nation. We’re going to bring our nation together.” Trump, who typically doesn’t address racial harmony in his public appearances, also emphasized in his speech at the Faith & Freedom Coalition “Road to Majority” Conference that as president he will work to “make America great again for all Americans.” “We will work together to rebuild and restore and lift up everyone – not a certain group, everyone,” Trump said. The remarks come amid a sustained barrage of criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike over his comments accusing an Indiana-born federal judge overseeing a lawsuit against Trump University of being inherently biased against him due to his Mexican heritage. Facing criticism from powerful Republicans – including House Speaker Paul Ryan, who this week called Trump’s comments the “textbook definition of a racist comment” – Trump on Tuesday issued a statement saying his comments had been “misconstrued.” Some Republicans have called on Trump to go further and apologize for his comments – calls Trump, never one to back down, has resisted. Still, Trump’s remarks Friday point to a new understanding on Trump’s part of his need to adjust his rhetoric and walk back his comments about the judge, Gonzalo Curiel. On Monday, Trump showed signs that he was softening his position in an interview with Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly. “I don’t care if the judge is Mexican or not,” Trump told O’Reilly. “All I want him to do is give me a fair shake.” Speaking later Friday at a campaign event in Richmond, Virginia, Trump suggested an update to his famous campaign slogan. “Make America great again – I’m adding, ‘for everyone,’ because it’s really going to be for everyone, it’s not going to be for a group of people.” He added, “I am the least racist person, the least racist person that you’ve ever seen.” Trump’s speech to the key group of socially conservative evangelical Christians comes as the presumptive GOP nominee is still working to rally the Republican Party around his candidacy. But Trump on Friday worked in earnest to unify Republicans around his campaign, ticking down a list of cookie-cutter conservative policy positions, including pledging to protect religious liberty, appointing anti-abortion judges and abolishing Obamacare. The billionaire also homed in on another point of unity among conservatives: bashing Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee. Speaking moments after Clinton wrapped up a speech in which she lambasted Trump’s positions on women’s issues, Trump reamed Clinton on her policy positions and raised controversies swirling around the Democrat. Trump accused Clinton of using a private email server during her time as secretary of state in order to “hide her corrupt dealings.” He claimed Clinton will “appoint radical judges” to the Supreme Court “who will legislate from the bench, overriding Congress, and I’ll tell you, the will of the people will mean nothing.” He said Clinton’s “Wall Street agenda will crush working families.” And he brought up news reports about a Clinton donor who received a top spot on a State Department intelligence board during the former secretary of state’s tenure. “This position dealt with tactical nuclear weapons and he had Top Secret clearance,” Trump said. “And he knew nothing about it.” Trump is slated to delve deeper into those controversies and to raise scandals that have plagued the Clintons since the ’90s in a speech Monday in New Hampshire. CNN’s Betsy Klein and Rachel Chason contributed to this report.


The global surfing industry brings in approximately $50 billion dollars a year Africa has the potential to be the world's next top surfing destination. A recent study estimates the global surfing industry pulls in around $50 billion dollars a year, and some African countries are keen to tap into this economic growth. Although the surfing industry on the continent is still relatively young, with a coastline of over 19,000 miles, it has the potential to become the world’s next top surfing destination. Africa’s surf spots have become an attraction to surfers who desire less crowded waves, with South Africa leading the charge. With a variety of waves and a relatively developed surf culture, South Africa is a huge attraction for surf tourists around the world. One of its many surf spots, Jeffery’s Bay, is ranked as one of the top 10 surfing spots in the world with a swell consistency of 96% and an average swell height of 12ft. South Africa’s 2,000 kilometres of waves and relatively warm weather conditions have earned it the tag of “surfers paradise.” However, shark attacks have been known to stop some surfing activities. The country has a reputation of having the world’s third highest shark attack rate with a total of 790 incidents since 1900. Although the surfing scene in Ghana is still relatively small, its uncrowded 550 kilometres of coastline, is an attraction to tourists around the world. There are many surf spots in the country, however, the small fishing village of Busua, west of Takoradi, has slowly becoming the country’s surfing capital. Surf camps, schools, shops and the likes are springing up across the village. Only a handful of surfers in Ghana are locals with most being tourists from around the world. Related article Could waves become the next big renewable energy source? Its swells range from two to six feet reaching its highest at eight feet typically around April to September. Other surf spots in Ghana like Dixcove, Takoradi, Mutrakni are relatively empty even though they boast of swell sizes of about three to five feet. In Sengal surf spots are uncrowded despite seeing north and west swells between two to 10 feet.  Some of it’s popular surf camps like N’gor and Malika surf camp make an average of $125,000 annually. The geographic location of Dakar, Senegal exposes it to northern and southern hemisphere swells patterns, which ensures that the city sees decent waves all year round. N’gor Island, one of its popular surf spots sees swell sizes of three to 5 feet with its highest at 16 feet and above. It also has a swell window of 370 degrees which about 100 local and ex-pat surfers riding its waves every year. Over the years, Morocco has transformed to a surfing scene thanks to the influx of surfing tourists from around the world. Taghazout, Morocco its most popular surf spot has metamorphosed from the fishing village it used to be to become something of a surfer’s mecca. Related article Reclaiming the waves: South Africa's new surfing heroes Many tourists are attracted by its waves which go as high as 15 feet especially between October and March. The country has over 300 days of sunshine a year and sees swell sizes of  up to 15 feet in its winter months The southern African nation of Mozambique has a coastline of over 2500km but its waves are relatively unexplored save for Imhambane and Ponto d’Ouro. The country gets waves through out the year with peaks from June to August at wintertime and stable sea temperatures of 25-25°C all year round. Some of the more popular surf spots in the country are Barra beach, Guinjala Bay, Tofinho and Ponta d’Ouro.


President Donald Trump requested the FBI investigate how the Obama administration was involved in Russian meddling in the 2016 – questioning why Congress and federal investigators aren’t probing how the Democratic administration handled certain issues. “Question: If all of the Russian meddling took place during the Obama Administration, right up to January 20th, why aren’t they the subject of the investigation?” Trump tweeted. “Why didn’t Obama do something about the meddling? Why aren’t Dem crimes under investigation? Ask Jeff Sessions!” Question: If all of the Russian meddling took place during the Obama Administration, right up to January 20th, why aren’t they the subject of the investigation? Why didn’t Obama do something about the meddling? Why aren’t Dem crimes under investigation? Ask Jeff Sessions! Trump’s tweet is his latest attack on his attorney general over Russia and special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe, which returned 13 indictments against Russians last week for their alleged role in meddling in the 2016 election. Related article Trump's former bodyguard hired by RNC for $15,000 a month The House and Senate Intelligence Committees have interviewed numerous Obama administration officials about the election meddling, though those efforts focus on reviewing the intelligence community’s assessment of Russian election interference and preventing future Russian attempts — and not “Democratic crimes” as Trump was suggesting. But there are several investigations in Congress currently probing Obama administration incidences, including several with ties to Russia. Here’s a look at all the things Congress is still investigating during the Obama administration: House Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes and Oversight Chairman Trey Gowdy announced last October that they were going to launch an investigation into an Obama-era Uranium deal that some have linked to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The Republican-led probe from Nunes, a California Republican, and Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican, concerns a 2010 uranium deal that was struck between the US and Russia while Clinton was secretary of state. Trump and other Republicans have accused the Russian uranium company of donating to the Clinton Foundation in an effort to sway Clinton to sign off on the deal, though the allegations are unproven. The deal was approved through an inter-agency process, not just the State Department. But the matter is being evaluated at the Justice Department, too. Sessions last year said he would consider appointing a second special counsel as many Republicans have demanded, as he asked senior federal prosecutors to “evaluate certain issues” presented by House Republicans, including alleged ties between the Clinton Foundation and the sale of Uranium One. House Republicans are preparing to ask former FBI Director James Comey to testify as part of the Republican-led probe into the FBI and Justice Department handling of the Clinton email investigation. Related article Trump says 'the facts' prove he's tougher on Russia than Obama -- they don't Comey’s testimony, if he appeared, would raise the stakes of the joint Judiciary and Oversight Committee investigation into the decision not to charge the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee over classified emails on her private server – and the rare step for Comey to publicly announce Clinton would not be charged. Several Republicans told CNN that Comey is a key witness for the investigation, although no timetable has been set for his testimony. So far the committee has interviewed former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe and Comey’s chief of staff, James Rybicki, as part of the House committees’ joint probe. A series of text messages exchanged between top FBI employees referring to then-candidate Trump as an “idiot” and other insults, while fearing his potential victory as “terrifying,” were released to lawmakers last December. Related article Schiff memo may finally see the light of day Before the texts were released, reports surfaced that special counsel Robert Mueller had removed Peter Strzok, one of the FBI’s top Russian counterintelligence experts, from his team after an internal investigation by the Justice Department’s inspector general uncovered politically tinged messages exchanged with FBI lawyer Lisa Page. Throughout the primary season in 2016, Strzok and Page appeared to dread a Trump victory, according to the messages reviewed by CNN. House and Senate investigators on multiple committees have received the text messages from the FBI, including a second batch sent last month. Thousands of messages that initially appeared to have been deleted have been recovered and will also be sent to the Hill panels soon. With Trump’s approval, House Republicans released a disputed GOP intelligence memo that alleges FBI abuses of its surveillance authority earlier this month. The memo, which was led by Nunes, alleges that the FBI failed to tell the FISA court that the opposition research dossier on Trump and Russia written by ex-British intelligence office Christopher Steele was funded through Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee. It also charges that McCabe told the committee the October 2016 surveillance warrant for former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page wouldn’t have been granted without the dossier, though Democrats say that’s skewing his testimony. The memo has been highly disputed on the committee, but conservatives have pointed to it to charge that the Obama administration was spying on the Trump administration through the FISA process. A criminal referral of Steele to the Justice Department, which was sent by Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley and Sen. Lindsey Graham and partially declassified by the FBI earlier this month, also alleges that Steele’s dossier was misused by the FBI in obtaining the warrant on Page. CNN’s Eli Watkins, David Shortell, Manu Raju, Laura Jarrett and Sophie Tatum contributed to this story.


Activists say a family of six was killed in chemical gas attack "Inside the city of Aleppo is a Holocaust," a resident says Syrian regime forces pounded eastern Aleppo with airstrikes for a sixth straight day Sunday, bringing the death toll to almost 300 in the most intense bombing since the war began five years ago, rescuers say. Among the latest reported violence: a suspected chemical attack that killed four children and their parents. Two activist groups – the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human rights and Aleppo Media Center – said a barrage of barrel bombs struck their neighborhood, al-Sakhour. The Syrian regime resumed heavy bombardment over eastern Aleppo on Tuesday after a three-week lull, killing at least 289 people by Saturday, according to the Syrian Civil Defense, also known as White Helmets. “This is the heaviest bombardment I have seen in the past five years,” said Ismail Abdallah from the White Helmets. At a time when hospitals are desperately needed, few have withstood the relentless bombardment – not a single one is operating at full capacity, the Syrian American Medical Society told CNN. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the assault and “indiscriminate shelling” for killing and maiming scores of civilians, including children, and for leaving eastern Aleppo without a functioning hospital. “The secretary-general reminds all parties to the conflict that targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure is a war crime,” the statement said. “Those responsible for these and other atrocities in Syria, whoever and wherever they are, must one day be brought to account.” A video from the Aleppo Media Center shows the toll in one neighborhood. Five bodies – three children, two adults – are visible in the bed of a truck, covered in colorful blankets in the cold air. Their neighbors surround them in the street covered with rubble from bombed buildings. The mother wears a lavender, black and pink headdress and red sweater. The father wears a heavy off-white or tan sweater while the two boys died in dark blue sweaters, matching their skin; a toddler girl is clad in a baby-blue one, emblazoned with a cartoon character. Their eyes stare, their mouths are agape. “We were sleeping when a barrel bomb fell near our home,” a man explains on the video. “We went down and discovered it was chlorine gas. The victims weren’t activists or anything … but they were suffocating so much, they turned blue. It was a man, four kids, and his wife. The oldest boy was 10 years old. Why did this happen? May God curse you, Bashar (al-Assad).” Another man shows coins to the videographer from the Aleppo Media Center, which appear tarnished. The man says he took the coins from the pockets of the dead. “The gas caused them to change color,” he says. They weren’t the only fatalities from the suspected gas attack. A young man says his family was asleep at 1 a.m. when they were awakened by an explosion. “We came down and started choking. We discovered it was chlorine gas,” he said. “My mother was suffocating and my brother-in-law started foaming at the mouth.” Syria’s grinding five-year conflict has devastated Aleppo, divided between government-controlled areas in the west and rebel positions in the east. The regime, backed by Russian air power, has decimated much of eastern Aleppo with aerial bombardments in recent months, and analysts have said the intensified air raids are a sign the regime may be planning a ground offensive to wrest control of the area. A government siege on eastern Aleppo since July has essentially cut the area off from the rest of the world – a stranglehold tactic that the Syrian regime is infamous for. Today, eastern Aleppo is desperately short of food, medicine and fuel supplies, while the roads are full of rubble from destroyed buildings. The sound of bombings and news of children dying are the norm. “Inside the city of Aleppo is a Holocaust,” an Aleppo resident, who describes himself as an independent media activist, told CNN. Related video One of the few doctors left in Aleppo speaks to CNN He said neighbors and families were sharing what little food they had left to survive. The United Nations has pushed to get into the area to deliver aid, and on Sunday it announced it had designed a detailed humanitarian plan to provide assistance and medical evacuations from Syria. It said it had shared the plan with all parties in the conflict, as well as its member states. “It is imperative all parties agree to the plan and allow us to secure immediate, safe and unimpeded access to provide relief to those most in need in east Aleppo, but equally in all other parts of Syria where there are people in need,” read a joint statement from Syria Humanitarian Coordinator Ali Al-Za’tari and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis and Kevin Kennedy. Meanwhile, in regime-held western Aleppo, rebel rocket fire hit a school in the government-held al-Furqan neighborhood, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem said at a news conference in Damascus. He said 10 students were killed in the attack, while the state-run news agency SANA put the number at eight. “What did those kids do to die? I am sad about these students’ death,” he said. A student at Aleppo University in the west told CNN that security forces had gathered students in the university’s main square on Sunday to protest against rebels in eastern Aleppo. The student, who CNN is not naming for security reasons, also said they had been told to appeal to the United Nations to have opposition armed groups removed from the east so the siege on civilians can be lifted. It is unclear how many children have died in the attacks, but at least eight have been reported killed in eastern Aleppo, and eight in the city’s west. Activists said there were likely to be more children among the dead. Related article Aleppo deaths pass 1,000 since brief ceasefire collapsed Medical charities have renewed calls on the regime to stop targeting health facilities. “For the first time, eastern Aleppo is out of hospitals operating at full capacity,” said Dr. Mazen Kewara, director of the Syrian American Medical Society’s Turkey office. Several major trauma hospitals have been knocked out of service, the organization said, while three floors were destroyed in eastern Aleppo’s only dedicated children’s hospital, forcing the evacuation of babies, said the charity Doctors Without Borders, which also is known by its French initials MSF. But activists working in the city said as many as five other hospitals in eastern neighborhoods were still somewhat functional. Doctors Without Borders emergency coordinator Teresa Sancristoval said Saturday’s bombardment of hospitals marked “a dark day for east Aleppo.” “The attacks have destroyed entire hospitals, electric generators, emergency rooms and wards, forcing them to stop all medical activities,” she said. “It is not only MSF that condemns indiscriminate attacks on civilians or civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, but also humanitarian law. The message is simple and I don’t know how to say it any louder: Stop bombing hospitals.” Tried protecting generator from shrapnel with sand bags. Attacks have destroyed emergency rooms, entire hospitals. https://t.co/MLO8b4qle1 pic.twitter.com/exqDOzz4WV Staffan De Mistura, the envoy of the United Nations secretary general, met with Syrian Foreign Ministry officials on Sunday and said there was “a total denial of any aerial bombing of hospitals in eastern Aleppo,” Reuters reported. “We should be allowed to send a verification team to verify the damage in hospitals in eastern and western Aleppo,” he said. CNN’s  Laura Smith-Spark, Yasim Amer, Ray Sanchez, Jomana Karadsheh, Merieme Arif and Samantha Beech contributed to this report.


2024 is already shaping up to be another banner year for nudity around the world with a nude cruise and nude beach weddings on the horizon. Earlier this year, tour and travel company Bare Necessities announced an 11-day voyage from Miami to the Caribbean in collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Line. It’s due to set sail in February 2025. With stopovers in the Bahamas and Puerto Rico, “The Big Nude Boat” is billed as a “once in a lifetime experience” with amenities designed to “fit everyone’s style of bare cruising.” And couples will soon be able to tie the knot sans clothes at Is Benas Beach in Sardinia, which has a naturist-designated area. The news was confirmed in May by Luigi Tedeschi, mayor of San Vero Milis, the closest town to the beach. “Nudity has nothing to do with sex. For [naturists], it’s a philosophy of life, and is linked to nature,” Tedeschi said. “It should be respected – so why not?” Meanwhile, there are more places than ever to sun, swim or build sandcastles au naturel at clothing-optional beaches around the world. From rocky coastlines to talcum-powder fine sands and big city bays to secluded shores, there are now hundreds of beaches where it’s perfectly legal (or at least de facto legal) to frolic beside the sea in nothing more than your birthday suit. “Soft, smooth sand, warm ocean breeze, gentle ocean waves and lots of other naturists makes for a great clothing-optional beach,” says Nicky Hoffman of The Naturist Society, who’s also the managing editor of Nude & Natural magazine and co-author of “The World’s Best Nude Beaches & Resorts.” While clothing-optional beach destinations may seem like a modern invention, it’s actually quite an old idea, a product of the otherwise prudish Victorian era. During the 1880s, American poet Walt Whitman extolled the virtues of the “Adamic air bath” – his nude walkabouts and swims along Timber Creek in New Jersey, writing of “the free exhilarating ecstasy of nakedness in Nature.” Channeling that same vibe, the naturist movement took off in Europe and North America during the first half of the 20th century, with city parks, camp grounds and eventually beaches established for those who wanted to experience nature nude in their most natural state. One of the spin-offs of the socially and sexually liberal 1960s was a “free beach” movement that saw a proliferation of nude beaches around the world. And their popularity continues today, with more and more popping up each year. Here are 24 of the best nude beaches you can visit around the world in 2024: Located about a 30-minute drive from Punta del Este, Uruguay’s best-known nude beach overlooks Portezuelo Bay on the Atlantic coast. Photogenic dunes and water temperatures that reach 25 Celsius (77 F) and higher even in the Southern Hemisphere winter add to the strand’s allure. After decades as an unofficial naked getaway, Chihuahua finally achieved legal status in 2000. Since then, amenities have expanded to include the Hotel El Refugio Nudista Naturista clothing-optional resort. Playa Naturista Chihuahua, Avenida Las Amarras, 20003 Chihuahua, Uruguay The chilly Baltic Sea may not seem like the most obvious place to skinny dip. But this gorgeous strand on the long, sandy Curonian Spit offers one of Europe’s most picturesque spots to take it all off. With its wildflower-covered dunes (among the highest in Europe) and shoreline forest, the beach was the focus of a 19th-century artists’ colony that attracted many of the leading painters, poets and writers of the time. Walk far enough south along the strand and you eventually come to a fence that marks the Lithuania-Russia border. Nida Nude Beach, Nidos-Smiltynės pl., Nida, Lithuania Sweden may be home to many beaches where nudity is accepted, but Agesta Beach, located roughly 15 kilometers (9 miles) south of Stockholm, is its only official nude beach. Based in the southern end of the lake Magelungen, Agesta Beach’s sandy shores are popular with locals as well as visitors looking for an escape from the bustling capital city. Open from May to September, this beach is very well looked after, with picnic tables, BBQ areas, public bathrooms and play areas for children available. Agesta Beach, Huddinge, Sweden Although it’s technically legal to go naked on any beach in personal-liberty-loving New Zealand, the nation’s naturists tend to congregate at well-known clothing-optional spots like Little Palm Beach on Waiheke Island. Reaching the secluded strand entails a 40-to-60-minute ferry ride from Auckland, a taxi or rideshare to the island’s north shore, and then a short downhill hike. You can top or tail your beach adventure at Waiheke’s many wineries, restaurants, and art galleries. Little Palm Beach, Miro Road, Waiheke Island 1081, New Zealand Flanked by sheer cliffs and shades by pine trees, this remote beach on the mainland opposite Brač island is reached via a narrow path that seems ready made for goats rather than people seeking an apparel-free escape on the Adriatic. Be sure to bring a thick towel or even a beach chair — like many Croatian beaches the surface is pebbles rather than sand. Nugal is about a half-an-hour walk from the nearest town, although it can also be reached by boat or sea kayak from Makarska or Tučepi. Nugal Beach, 21300 Makarska, Croatia Perched at the island’s western extreme, Moshup is a long curving strand that wraps around a headline crowned by the historic Gay Head Lighthouse (built in 1799). Located right below the ancient light, the clothing optional portion lies beneath rust-colored sandstone cliffs that were declared a National Natural Monument in 1966. Moshup is open free of charge to anyone who wants to take their clothes off, as opposed to Lucy Vincent, the island’s private nude beach. Moshup Beach, 71 Moshup Trail, Aquinnah, MA 02535 Set beneath the high cliffs of Torrey Pines, Blacks has been the Golden State’s favorite place for all-over tans for more than 50 years and was once the only legal nude beach in the entire United States. Long, wide and blessed with great surf, the beach is reached via the zig-zag Ho Chi Minh Trail from La Jolla Farms Road or the Citizens Trail from Torrey Pines Gliderport near the University of California, San Diego. Black’s Beach, Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, San Diego, CA 92037 Although it sometimes seems like just about any beach in Australia is clothing optional, there are a number of official nude beaches here such as Lady Bay. (also known as Lady Jane Beach.) Perched just inside the South Head of Sydney Harbour, it’s small and narrow, but incredibly secluded for such a big city location. The rocky ledges around South Head are also used for nude sunbathing. Lady Bay Beach, Watson’s Bay, Sydney, Australia “Grin and bare it” might well be the motto for nudists on this North Sea island, where the average water temperature in summer is a chilly 17 C (63 F). Technically all of the beaches on Sylt are clothing optional, but Buhne 16 was the first and is still the foremost location for nude sunbathing along the German shore. It’s a place where beachgoers can chill in the famous blue and white striped wicker beach chairs or let it all hang out at summer beach parties. Buhne 16, Listlandstr 133b, 25980 Kampen (Sylt), German Billed as one of the world’s longest nude beaches at 7.8 kilometers (4.9 miles) long, Wreck Beach is actually a series of sandy strands, pebble flats and rocky outcrops wrapped around the end of Point Grey. With the University of British Columbia just across the street, a steady stream of students and teachers have shed their clothes on this beach since the early 1970s, when it first became popular. Evergreen trees along the shore and snowcapped peaks across the water complement the Canadian ambiance. Wreck Beach, Vancouver, British Columbia; Canada This secluded shore on the south side of Crete is a hotspot for nude sunbathing in Greece. Named after its ocher-colored sand and cliffs, Red Beach (or Kokkini Ammos) is reached via a 20-minute hike from Matala or a very short boat ride from the village waterfront. Pioneered by Euro hippies during the 1960s, the beach offers chair and umbrella rentals and is home to a funky little bar called Yianni’s that’s renowned for its mojitos. Note: the mysterious rock carvings at the end of the beach are a modern creation and definitely not ancient Minoan relics. Red Beach, Matala, Crete 702 00, Greece Related article 20 amazing cliffside beaches around the world Callantsoog is the oldest nudist beach in the Netherlands, having been officially recognized as a nudist beach since 1973. Situated 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Amsterdam, near the coastal town of Callantsoog, this beautiful stretch of sand enjoys Blue Flag status and is a great place to spot seals. Its designated nudist section is marked between two poles. Those keen to get even closer to nature can pay a visit to the nearby Zwanenwater, a protected nature reserve and home to the largest natural dune lakes in Europe. Callantsoog Beach, Strandslag Dorpsplein, 1759 Callantsoog, Netherlands While the Caribbean may be full of wonderful, chilled out beaches, this wild, white sand strand on the rear side of St. Barts is one of the few places on the islands where public nudity is tolerated (although sunbathing naked is technically prohibited in St. Barts.) Anse de Grande Saline (or Saline Beach) is another self-catering beach. Visitors will need to bring along everything they need for a day at the shore, especially sunscreen, as there is no shade to speak of. L’Esprit, an excellent French restaurant, is within walking distance of Grand Saline and well worth a visit. Just make sure to put your clothes back on before heading over. Anse de Grande Saline, St. Barthélemy Set between the deep blue Mediterranean and multicolored salt pans near Ibiza’s southernmost point, official nudist beach Es Cavallet is separated into various different sections, including a beach club party section, a gay scene and a more secluded, middle section where the clothing-free crowd hang out. However nude sunbathers aren’t the only beings who frequent this area. Those bright pink things you’ll see pacing in the background aren’t sunburned tourists, but rather flamingos that like to gather in the shallow salines. Platja des Cavallet, 07818, Balearic Islands, Spain Flanked by ancient lava flows and backed by a volcanic cinder cone, Little Beach would be super-cool even if you couldn’t take your clothes off. Part of Makena State Park on the island’s southeast coast, it overlooks a national marine sanctuary renowned for its sea turtles, dolphins, whales and tropical fish. Gnarled trees behind the sand provide a modicum of shade and the cove is well protected for swimming. Additionally, a drum circle and fire dancers entertain the crowd during Sunday sunsets. Little Beach, Makena State Park, Makena Rd, Kihei, HI 96753, USA Sometimes called the “Naked City,” Cap d’Agde Naturist Village is the world’s largest clothing-optional beach resort, attracting as many as 40,000 guests on any given day during high season. Visitors are free to be naked wherever they want – restaurants and stores, post offices or banks, sailing their boat or lounging on the long public beach (where nudity is obligatory, even for those not staying at the resort). Non residents can stay overnight at the naturist hotel, camp ground or rental units. Cap d’Agde Naturist Village, Rond-Point du Bagnas, 34300 Agde, France Related article 10 secret beaches worth discovering Situated along Sardinia’s west coast close to the town of San Vero Milis, Is Benas is known for its remoteness and pristine environment. The idyllic beach has had a partially hidden naturist-designated area for the past two years. Mayor Luigi Tedeschi of nearby San Vero Milis recently confirmed that local authorities had given the go ahead for couples to say their vows there au naturel at Is Benas in the future. “We have this beach, a place that lends itself brilliantly to naturism,” Tedeschi told CNN. “And then we thought, let’s make a beach for weddings. If people want to marry nude, they can.” The beach is right next to the more famous Is Arenas Beach, while the ruins of Tharros, a Roman city dominating a thin peninsula, can also be found nearby. Is Benas Beach, Province of Oristano, Sardinia, Italy South Africa’s only official nude beach – and perhaps the only legal clothing-not-obligatory strand on the entire African continent – is located in the Mpenjati Nature Reserve south of Durban. Its legal status was achieved in 2014, but this came with a list of prohibitions including no staring, no photography, no suggestive behavior, etc. Local clergy and others continue to mount protests (legal and otherwise) against the naked designation. Mpenjati Nature Reserve, Palm Beach, Port Edward, South Africa Live your “Y Tu Mamá También” fantasies at the beach where so many of the scenes from the sensuous 2001 Mexican movie starring Gael García Bernal were shot on location. Pioneered by Mexican and American hippies during the 1960s, the strand stretches about two kilometers with rocky bluffs at either end, and is famed as a clothing-optional beach (although it isn’t legal here.) While the main beach here is backed by budget hotels and cafes, a tiny sliver of sand at the eastern end called Playa del Amor offers far more privacy. Playa Zipolite, San Pedro Pochutla, Oaxaca, Mexico Float nude in the warm, ultra-buoyant salty water and smear your entire naked body with soothing, mineral-infused black mud at this rocky beach on the western shore of the Dead Sea. Perhaps the only place in the Middle East where any kind of public nudity is tolerated, Metsoke Dragot is located about an hour’s drive from Jerusalem and requires a short but rough drive along an unpaved road to reach the shoreline. Primitive camping is aloud along the shore. The only nearby hotel and bar is the cliff top Metzoke Dragot Travelers Village. Metsoke Dragot, Highway 90, Dead Sea, Israel The string bikinis on Copacabana may expose an awful lot of Brazilian flesh, but not nearly as much as this naturist beach along the Bahia coast. Related article Brazil has great beaches; here are 8 of the best A two-hour drive north of Salvador, the nude beach is about a one-kilometer walk from the parking lot along the shoreline flanked by coconut palms, rolling dunes and very surfable waves. Praia Massarandupió, Bahia, Brazil Located on the gorgeous Cinque Terre, this primo Italian nude beach looks like something out of a movie (think “Swept Away ” – the 1974 version directed by Lina Wertmüller.) Adding to the beach’s mystique is the fact that it can only be reached via kayak or motorboat or hiking down a steep and somewhat treacherous trail that involves scrambling over rocks. Guvano is totally primitive, with no facilities of any kind, so bear this in mind when planning your visit. The beach is also pebble rather than sand, but the water is clear, clean and gorgeous. Spiaggia di Guvano, 19018 Vernazza, SP, Italy Edged with pine trees, this Latvian beach is as calming as it is beautiful. Based close to the capital city of Riga and a relatively short walk from Vecaki train station, it’s known for its shimmering waters, stunning sunsets and of course, its nudist section. The zone, which happens to be the biggest nudist beach area in the country, includes a beach volleyball area that’s a big hit with local residents. Vecaki Beach, Selgas iela 20, Riga 1030, Latvia The most popular public nude beach in the United States, Haulover attracts more than 1.3 million bare bottomed people to its white sands and warm water each year. The clothing-optional portion, marked at either end by picket fences, offers rental beach chairs and umbrellas, as well as lifeguards. Given the stellar weather in south Florida, there’s usually someone in the buff on any given day. But the biggest crowds gather during National Nude Recreation Week in July and whenever Haulover is trying to set a new Guinness World Record for skinny dipping. Haulover Beach Park, 10800 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33154 Editor’s note: This story was updated and republished in May 2024.