The five world leaders stand close together, all firmly at the helm of their respective nations, which together could lay claim to leading the free world. Now, all but one are going or gone. All but one lost their jobs or have legacies in jeopardy amid the rising wave of populism in the West. And the last one faces a test of her own soon. The photo showed some of the state of the world in late April. Here’s what happened to the photo’s subjects since. From the left, (not politically): David Cameron resigned as the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister hours after his countrymen voted to demand a “Brexit” and  leave the European Union. The shock was not that Obama would leave the presidency of the United States – two terms and you’re done is in the US Constitution, after all – but the transfer of power to a businessman-TV reality star-neophyte politician called Donald Trump stunned much of the world. Angela Merkel said she will run for a fourth term as German Chancellor in elections next year. She said she had thought about the decision long and hard. She has angered voters with her policy to keep Germany’s borders open to migrants and her party lost badly in recent local elections. But if the German electorate wants someone known and familiar in these turbulent times, Merkel could be their choice. Francois Hollande revealed last week that he would not run for re-election as French President.  It’s the first time since 1958, when France’s fifth republic was created, that an incumbent president has not sought a second term. But Hollande has low popularity ratings and France seems to be taking a turn to the right. Like Cameron, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has become a victim of a referendum he called. When nearly 60% of voters opposed his call for constitutional reform, Renzi handed his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella. He’s agreed to stay until the country gets its next budget agreed, but he is on his way out. The photo worth a thousand words was tweeted out by Will Jordan. This photo was taken May 1, 2016. pic.twitter.com/r8yqja9uWf


Couple was last seen  at a popular oceanfront hangout in the town of Corozal Their bodies were found by searchers Monday in a sugar cane field The killing in Belize of a US Marine Corps veteran and his Canadian girlfriend has left their friends and families struggling with an awful question: How could this happen? So far, there has been no answer. American Drew DeVoursney, 36, and Canadian Francesca Matus, 52, had been dating for several months when they went missing on April 25. The couple was last seen at a popular oceanfront hangout – Scotty’s Bar and Grill in picturesque Corozal –  just a few miles south of the Mexican border. Matus, a realtor from Toronto who spent winters in tropical Belize, was scheduled to fly home the following day. DeVoursney was  to return to the US a few days later. But when a friend arrived the next morning to take Matus to the airport, he found her house locked – and neither she nor DeVoursney could be found. Volunteers and police combed the area after the friend reported the couple missing, but it wasn’t until  April 30 that Matus’ white SUV was found about five miles from the bar. A day later, on Monday, their bodies were discovered about seven miles from the vehicle, according to a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation. The couple had been strangled, their bodies dumped in a sugar cane field. The news was devastating to family and friends who had been desperately hoping the pair would be found alive. “It’s heart-wrenching and it’s a roller coaster of emotions right now. I’ve never dealt with something like this in my life. It’s horrible,” said Nancy Rifenbark, a close friend of Matus. “He was the greatest guy you’ll ever meet,” said DeVoursney’s friend Brandon Barfield. The two men served together in Iraq. DeVoursney served two tours of Iraq as a Marine, and went to Afghanistan as a military contractor. “This is a true American,” said Barfield. The law enforcement source said there was duct tape found on the couple’s wrists but they were not bound together. After five days in the elements, the bodies were badly decomposed. Autopsies showed they died of manual strangulation – and had blunt force trauma and broken bones in their necks. The source said police are questioning two ex-pats who live near Matus because they were rumored to have had problems with the pair – but police have not named them as suspects. Robbery is considered the most likely motive. Neither Matus nor DeVoursney had wallets or ID with them when they were found – but Matus’ jewelry had not been taken. Rifenbark said the couple got along well with their neighbors and to her knowledge had no enemies. While local police continue to investigate, Barfield is also looking for answers. He set up a GoFundMe page to raise money to help pay for a private investigator. By Wednesday, Barfield had already raised more than $8,000, and is hoping to raise $20,000. While the US State Department reports crime in Belize is high, conviction rates are not. “The majority of crimes remain unresolved and unprosecuted. A lack of capacity, resources, and training impedes the ability of local police to effectively investigate crime and apprehend serious offenders,” according to the State Department’s website. “It’s definitely not like the system in the US,” said Rifenbark. “It would be more comforting if there were officials from Canada and the US working on (the case) but I understand it’s out of their jurisdiction,” she said. Rifenbark was one of the last people to see the pair alive. She was at Scotty’s bar the night they went missing. She said Matus was emotional that night – sad to leave Belize, but excited to see her family back home. Matus owned a bayfront home north of Corozal. She spent time in Belize every winter to relax and take care of her property. DeVoursney also owned property in Belize. His was an empty plot of land he bought with Barfield in 2010 with the money they had saved after getting out of the Marine Corps. Neither had any connection to the country, but were lured there by what it had to offer. “Great diving, great fishing … and by the way, it’s English-speaking,” said Barfield. Plans for the property were always changing. Barfield said he and DeVoursney considered building a small B&B, or a bar, or perhaps running a scuba diving or fishing outfit. The couple’s families are now working with the US and Canadian officials to bring their bodies back for burial.


Two explosions targeted police stations, a third struck a military vehicle Turkish officials have blamed the Kurdish militant group PKK for the attacks Three bomb attacks targeting Turkish security forces in the east of the country have killed 11 people and wounded nearly 300 others, authorities said Thursday. Turkish officials blame the banned militant group Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, for the attacks. The latest incident occurred Thursday in the eastern province of Bitlis, according to a senior Turkish official, who could not be named in line with government protocol. First, a village guard was killed and a soldier was wounded in clashes between security forces and PKK militants in the village of Nazar, state news agency Anadolu reported. When the military vehicle was returning from the engagement, it was struck by a roadside bomb in the nearby village of Gayda, killing five soldiers and wounding four. Earlier Thursday, a huge car bomb struck police headquarters in the city of Elazig at about 8 .a.m local time (1 a.m. ET), killing three officers, Anadolu reported. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said in the wake of the blast that 217 people had been injured, with 145 of them still in the hospital. Eighty-five of those in the hospital were police officers and 60 were civilians. Yildirim blamed the PKK for the attack. “This is the separatist PKK terrorist organization and its extensions. There is no doubt about it,” he told reporters. Wednesday, a car bomb exploded outside a police station in the eastern city of Van shortly after 11 p.m. (4 p.m. ET), killing three people, including one officer, according to a senior Turkish official. At least 73 others were injured, including 20 officers, the official said. Van Governor Ibrahim Tasyapan said the PKK was behind the attack, and that police had apprehended a suspect, Anadolu reported. It was the fifth explosion in the past two weeks to target police facilities in southeastern and eastern Turkey. Clashes between the PKK and Turkish forces have been ongoing since a peace process crumbled in 2015, bringing an end to a two-year ceasefire. Related video Terror groups in Turkey Since then, Anadolu reports, hundreds of Turkish security forces and about 5,000 PKK members have been killed in the conflict. Understanding Turkey’s catalog of enemies Considered a terror group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union, the PKK took up arms against Turkey in 1984 seeking an independent state for the country’s Kurdish minority. Tens of thousands have been killed in the conflict. Turkey has weathered a string of terror attacks over the past year as it faces the twin threats of ISIS and Kurdish militants. The United States condemned the attacks. “We are in close touch with Turkish authorities and will continue to work together with Turkey to confront the threats we face from terrorist groups,” National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said. “Vice President Biden will travel to Ankara (as planned) next week to reaffirm our commitment to Turkey’s security and democracy.” What’s behind Turkey’s harrowing cocktail of terror? Biden to visit Turkey amid coup attempt dispute The latest wave of attacks come as the government carries out a sweeping crackdown on those among the various branches of the military and civil service it says is responsible for a failed coup attempt last month. Related video The sights and sounds of attempted coup The government says US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, head of a large religious movement, was behind the attempted coup, a charge he denies. Yildirim said in his comments in Elazig that FETO – the government’s name for Gulen’s network – had “handed over its mission” to the PKK. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeated the claim, saying FETO was behind the bombings in terms of “intelligence-sharing and encouragement,” Anadolu reported. “There is no difference between the PKK, Daesh (ISIS), and FETO. They all serve the same purpose,” Erdogan said, according to the agency. What Turkey’s crackdown looks like one month on Turkey has vowed to continue its campaign against the PKK in the eastern part of the country, despite its ongoing purge of the military. About 23,000 people are being held amid the crackdown, and more than 81,000 people have been dismissed or suspended from their jobs, including 1,700 soldiers and nearly 9,000 police. Turkey to release 38,000 prisoners jailed before coup attempt CNN’s Isil Sariyuce reported from Istanbul, Tim Hume reported and wrote from London, and Ben Westcott wrote from Hong Kong. CNN’s Allison Malloy contributed to this report.


There’s big breaking news overnight in the bombings in Austin, Texas. Let’s get straight to it – and to what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and Out the Door. (You can also get “5 Things You Need to Know Today” delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here.) The suspect in the Austin explosions blew himself up in his vehicle as police closed in, Austin Police Chief Brian Manley said just moments ago. Police started getting intel on the 24-year-old man, who hasn’t been identified publicly, over the past 36 hours, and surveillance teams were on his trail, Manley said. His vehicle was found at a hotel in Round Rock, about 20 miles north of Austin. Police had it surrounded – and were waiting for tactical teams – when the suspect started to drive away, Manley said. His vehicle then suddenly stopped – and the suspect detonated an explosive device, Manley said. One officer was hurt in the blast. A serial bomber had terrorized Texas’ capital all month, dispatching explosive packages around the area and killing two people. The main focus in the hours before the bombmaker’s death had been an explosion early yesterday at a FedEx sorting center near San Antonio. Another unexploded bomb was found at another FedEx facility near Austin. Police said those two packages are connected to four previous bombings in the city. President Trump made a call to congratulate a counterpart on his reelection. That’s pretty ho-hum stuff, unless that counterpart is Russian President Vladimir Putin, who won what everyone considers to be a less-than-democratic race. Trump’s own advisers warned him not to do it – they reportedly wrote “DO NOT CONGRATULATE” in his briefing materials – but Trump did it anyway. Because that’s how this President rolls. The harshest critic of Trump’s move was Sen. John McCain, who said, “An American president does not lead the free world by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections.” These aren’t the best of times for the world’s fave social media site. Facebook suspended a scientist for collecting data on tens of millions of Americans. He passed the data on to Cambridge Analytica, a firm hired by Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. The scientist, Aleksandr Kogan, said Facebook was just scapegoating him to deflect from its woes. “Using users’ data for profit is their business model,” he said in an exclusive interview with CNN. People are ticked about all the data-sharing, and some investors are suing Facebook over the scandal. A co-founder of WhatsApp even said it’s time for everybody to delete Facebook (which owns WhatsApp, so that’s awkward). A school resource officer is hailed as a hero, after his quick actions brought a swift end to a shooting at a high school in Maryland. Deputy Blaine Gaskill shot at a 17-year-old gunman who opened fire at Great Mills High School. The shooter died, though it’s not clear if Gaskill killed him or he killed himself. Two other students were hurt in the shooting, one with life-threatening injuries. Meanwhile in Florida, authorities are trying to use the state’s new gun law – passed after the school massacre at Parkland – to block Zachary Cruz’s access to guns. Cruz, younger brother of the Parkland school shooter, was arrested Monday, accused of trespassing at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where his brother killed 17 people. But that’s not all that’s been going on at Stoneman Douglas. Florida Gov. Rick Scott offered to provide extra security at the school after a deputy was suspended for appearing to fall asleep on duty, two students were charged for allegedly bringing weapons to campus and another student was charged for allegedly making a threat of violence on social media. The world might be a lot closer to a birth control pill for men. A proposed hormone pill, called dimethandrolone undecanoate, effectively decreased testosterone levels and other hormones responsible for sperm production without serious side effects, a new study says. However, the study had a small sample size, so more research needs to be done on it. Kidnapped girls released Some of the 110 schoolgirls kidnapped last month in Nigeria by the terror group Boko Haram have been released and returned to their hometown of Dapchi, a Nigerian presidential aide told CNN. “There is no evidence that Officer Noor encountered a threat, appreciated a threat, investigated a threat or confirmed a threat that justified his decision to use deadly force.” Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, announcing third-degree murder and other charges against Minneapolis Officer Mohamed Noor in the death last summer of Justine Ruszczyk All is lost Remember that giant disco ball they put into orbit to uplift humanity? Well, it’s going to burn up in the atmosphere tomorrow, so, … so, much for that. Fitting tribute The ashes of Stephen Hawking will rest near the graves of Sir Isaac Newton and Charles Darwin. Mystery solved She was the lone woman at a long-ago science conference, her face partially obscured in a photo. Who was she? Of course, Twitter figured it out. Hallelujah Looks like the NFL’s about to change that insane catch rule, which pretty much makes a clear catch not a catch. Too popular The Smithsonian’s going to move Michelle Obama’s new portrait to a new spot in the National Portrait Gallery because of all the visitors. True dedication She finished a high-stakes exam. While nursing her baby. On the floor. And in the process, inspired social media and the whole world. 3,200 The estimated number of flights canceled today as the Northeast gets hit with another strong winter storm Down-under duo Think Australia and New Zealand are pretty much the same? Oh, no. The “How to Dad” is back with a tutorial on the differences between the countries. (Click to view.)


Paula Claussen visited Tijuana, Mexico, to donate clothing 25 years ago The poverty she saw inspired her to come back and build better homes for residents Project Mercy houses replace shacks that often have dirt floors and lack basic amenities Twenty-five years ago, Paula Claussen’s friend invited her to make the short trip from her home in San Diego, California, across the border to Tijuana, Mexico, to donate clothing to people in need. Claussen didn’t expect that day to change the course of her life. The drive took less than an hour, but when they arrived at their destination – a shantytown on the outskirts of Tijuana – Claussen couldn’t believe her eyes. “I was shocked by the conditions that I saw down there,” she said. I was shocked by the conditions that I saw. Paula Claussen Families with young children were living in ramshackle homes: The dirt floors turned to mud when it rained. The walls had gaps, allowing tarantulas, rattlesnakes and rats to invade. Many roofs were merely old tarps with holes in them. There was no running water, no electricity and no sewage system. “It was something that touched me very deeply,” Claussen said. So in 1991, she started Project Mercy. The nonprofit has constructed more than 1,250 free homes for people living in Tijuana’s most desperate communities. “It still horrifies me every time I see the way people are living and the obstacles they face on a daily basis. It’s nothing I can get over,” Claussen said. “All I can do is try to help them.” CNN’s Laura Klairmont spoke with Claussen about her work. Below is an edited version of their conversation. CNN: You really just stumbled upon this problem. How did you go from seeing the issue to dedicating your life to helping? Claussen: I was horrified to see the conditions people in these villages on the outskirts of Tijuana were living in. I saw the desperation in their eyes and yet they were so pleasant to us, and that really touched my heart. All of a sudden, a passion grew inside me to make a difference for these people in particular. So I started going down there a lot to donate clothing and other items. One day I was helping a woman move things into her shack and was completely shocked to see the young woman’s sick son sleeping on the dirt floor. I realized then that there was something these families needed more than anything else: stable homes. CNN: You and your team are able to build a home from start to finish in one day. What are the homes like? Claussen: The homes are approximately 16 by 20 feet in size. They are constructed out of wooden frames and have a concrete slab floor. Each house has four windows and a solid door. The back part of the homes are divided into two rooms. Each home has a flight of stairs leading up to a loft area, where children tend to sleep. They are constructed to be as secure as possible. We also build in a breaker box for people to access electricity safely inside their homes, if that’s an option for them. We paint the homes bright colors. Families are also given carpets, mattresses and other necessities. Volunteers arrive at 8 a.m., and usually by 4 p.m. they are complete. CNN: Your group engages people from both sides of the border to build the homes. Claussen: What we’re doing is bringing neighbors together that are living totally separate lives and giving them the opportunity to get to know each other better. Volunteers from California come down to help build the houses. They work alongside the local community. They all come together, work together, and by the end of the day, they’re all friends shaking hands, having bear hugs. It’s a great feeling. They come away with a totally different perspective and with a totally different attitude towards the plight of these people who are their neighbors next door. It creates a bond that people would not otherwise form. Many volunteers want to come back and visit the families they meet. That makes the work very special. CNN: What’s it like to give a family the keys to their new home? Claussen: They are in tears. The fear has gone out of their eyes and they are just in awe. To see the joy and relief on their faces when they walk into their new home, it makes me very proud. It’s a great feeling to witness how we are changing their lives in just one day. I think an adequate shelter is a basic human need. Anyone that has a solid shelter over their head has a better chance of achieving a better life. Want to get involved? Check out the Project Mercy website and see how to help. To donate to Project Mercy, click the CrowdRise widget below.


Russian foreign minister argues for a "post-West" world order Vice president: US "will be unwavering in our commitment" to NATO Aiming to calm European fears about US-Russia ties, Vice President Mike Pence told world leaders Saturday that the United States will stand firm against Moscow while also seeking avenues for cooperation. But Pence’s posture was met abruptly by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who said at the same conference that the West’s dominance of world affairs is ending. The dueling messages came during a security summit in Germany, where leaders are eagerly looking for clues about how the new US administration will broach Russia’s persistent challenges to international law. “Know this: the United States will continue to hold Russia accountable, even as we search for new common ground, which as you know, President Trump believes can be found,” Pence said during remarks at the Munich Security Conference, the first major foreign policy address of the Trump administration. Related article Donald Trump: How the US President sees the world Pence’s speech sought to ease concerns in Europe about President Donald Trump, who has offered brash dismissals of long-established transatlantic institutions but few specifics about his intentions. Trump has also expressed a desire to draw Russian President Vladimir Putin closer, hoping to develop a strategy on combating ISIS. Russia’s top diplomat praised that approach Saturday, at the same time arguing for a “post-West” world order. “The US cannot be the only power,” Lavrov said. “We need to set up constructive US-Russia relations, economic and political cooperation. We don’t want Russia to be seen as less important. We want mutual respect to recognize the global needs.” Pence arrived at a moment of uncertainty for the White House national security apparatus, which is without a clear leader since Trump fired Gen. Michael Flynn after he misled Pence about his conversations with the Russian ambassador. The incident dismayed the vice president while also raising questions about his stature within the administration. Pence did not offer any detailed policy proposals during his remarks, instead expressing in broad terms the US commitment to fighting radical Islamist terrorism and to the NATO alliance, which Trump lambasted as “obsolete” during last year’s presidential campaign. Related article US troops deploy to Bulgaria as part of NATO operation “Today, on behalf of President Trump, I bring you this assurance,” Pence said. “The United States of America strongly supports NATO and will be unwavering in our commitment to our transatlantic alliance.” Pence sought to underscore a history of common endeavors and said Trump would maintain deep ties to Europe while also significantly increasing military spending in the United States. Trump has committed to attend a NATO leaders meeting in May, as well as a Group of 7 summit that month. “As you keep faith with us, under President Trump we will always keep faith with you,” Pence said. “The fates of the United States and Europe are intertwined. Your struggles are our struggles. Your success is our success. And ultimately, we walk into the future together.” Pence’s goal in his remarks was to reassure US allies in Europe of the new administration’s continued commitment to regional security, his aides said before the speech. Many Western leaders have eyed Trump with deep skepticism, given his campaign trail dismissals of NATO and the European Union. Pence didn’t mention the EU during his remarks, and he cast deep skepticism on the Iran nuclear deal, which the European bloc helped broker along with President Barack Obama’s administration. Pence said that loosening sanctions on Iran as part of the agreement had helped Tehran finance terrorists, a line that was met with silence inside the ornate Hotel Bayerischer Hof, where the annual security conference is held. More enthusiastic was the response to Pence’s insistence that Russia adhere to a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine, which was established in 2014 but routinely broken since. “We must hold Russia accountable and demand that they honor the Minsk Agreements, beginning by de-escalating the violence in eastern Ukraine,” Pence said. Related article White House turmoil on Russia likely to follow Pence abroad While he offered firm backing for NATO, Pence echoed previous calls for member nations to scale up their military spending, meeting the collective’s requirement to spend 2% of GDP on defense. “The President of the United States expects our allies to keep their word, fulfill this commitment, and for most that means the time has come to do more,” he said. Since taking office, European apprehension on Trump has not waned. US and European officials who have met with members of the administration describe receiving mixed signals about American intentions moving forward, particularly on the future of US sanctions on Moscow for its incursion into Ukraine and its cyber-meddling in last year’s presidential election. Lavrov on Saturday reiterated Moscow’s position on the election hacking, saying he has “not seen a single fact regarding that (Russia) tried to break into some sites of the Democratic Party.” Lavrov was responding to a question from the audience. Pence did not offer a specific vow on sanctions Saturday, suggesting only that the US would maintain pressure on Russia even as it seeks places to cooperate. The topic was expected to arise Saturday in Pence’s talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who spoke ahead of the US vice president during the security forum. Related article Merkel, Pence to meet in Germany With Pence seated in the front row, Merkel urged against protectionist politics, insisting countries look ahead instead of to the past. She also defended journalists, affirming that freedom of the press is a “pillar of democracy,” a tacit rejection of Trump’s frequent tirades against the media. In speaking at the Munich forum weeks after taking office, Pence mimicked his predecessor, Joe Biden, who addressed the conference in 2009. Then, like now, the vice president offered a sweeping first glimpse of the new administration’s foreign policy priorities. Biden called for a reset of ties with Russia and insisted that US partnerships around the globe be improved. Pence is on his first trip abroad since taking office. He’s also due in Brussels on Monday for talks with European leaders and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.


George Pataki, the newest addition to the packed Republican White House race, said Thursday the bottom of the pack is the best place to start, as he kicked off his long-shot presidential bid in New Hampshire. The former three-term New York governor, who led the Empire State through the trauma of 9/11, promised to upset predictions he has little chance in one of the deepest GOP presidential fields in years, in a campaign in which he barely registers in polls of the nationwide race or in swing states. Pataki said the current state of the race reminded him of when he mounted a long odds run for governor in New York in 1994 and knocked off Democratic icon Mario Cuomo. “No one had heard of me … I was a Republican in deep blue New York,” Pataki told CNN in an interview after a small event in the same Smuttynose Brewery in Hampton, New Hampshire, where Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton held a much more high-profile gathering last week. Related video George Pataki officially announces bid for presidency RELATED: GOP grapples with ground troops in Iraq “It took me months to get a crowd like this, to go anywhere in New York, to think I had a chance. But you work hard, you have the right ideas and over time convince people that you are the person to lead the country,” he said. “I have always started at the bottom, I think it is the best way to do it. You appreciate something more when you earn it.” Earlier, Pataki had launched his campaign in the sweltering Old Town Hall in Exeter, New Hampshire, the town where the Republican Party was founded, after releasing a four-minute announcement video which made the case that if the nation is to flourish “we have to fall in love with America again.” At this point, Pataki’s campaign looks like a lonely quest: No prominent elected officials or donors have stepped forward to trumpet his bid in a field that many top Republicans tout as one of the most competitive they have ever seen. Given his lack of support, it is unlikely that Pataki will make the first Republican debate, which will be limited to the top 10 Republican hopefuls. That could stifle any efforts to increase his name identification among next year’s voters. But Pataki isn’t likely to run a national campaign, if the pre-announcement build-up is any indication. He has dedicated most of his travel to New Hampshire, the second nominating contest where a tradition of small events and face-to-face campaigning gives him an outside chance to build some momentum. Related video George Pataki: Send combat troops to fight ISIS RELATED: GOP grapples with ground troops in Iraq He can pin some hope on the fact that the Granite State does tend to support more moderate Republicans, cut from the same cloth as Pataki, who supports conservation, same-sex marriage and gun control. Even before he formally became a candidate, Pataki chose to air a television advertisement in New Hampshire panning his party for focusing on social issues, something he deemed a “distraction.” “Defeating Islamic terrorists, shrinking government, growing the economy – these are the issues that matter most,” Pataki says in the advertisement that began airing in mid-April. “Instead we’re debating social issues like abortion and gay rights.” Pataki has also shown himself in the early stages to be one of the more hawkish presidential aspirants. The former governor said on CNN’s “New Day” last week that the United States should deploy troops back to Iraq to fight growing Islamist threats, a position not expressed by his colleagues in the fray. Related gallery George Pataki's political career “I don’t want to see us putting in a million soldiers, spend 10 years, a trillion dollars, trying to create a democracy where one hasn’t existed,” Pataki said. “But send in troops, destroy their training centers, destroy their recruitment centers, destroy the area where they are looking to plan to attack us here and then get out.” Pataki seems to be embracing the distance between him and his Republican rivals, positioning himself as an anti-establishment candidate despite lacking the tea party panache of more popular presidential aspirants like Ted Cruz or Rand Paul. Pataki and his aides have telegraphed that he plans to run as an outsider, naming the super PAC supporting his bid as, “We the People Not Washington.” RELATED: Pataki criticizes GOP’s focus on social issues A lawyer by trade, Pataki rose from being the mayor of the Westchester County hamlet of Peekskill through the New York state legislature. In the fall of 1994, Pataki ousted liberal darling Mario Cuomo to become New York’s first Republican governor in two decades. Pataki shepherded laws through Albany that reduced some tax rates and increased sentences for criminals committing hate crimes. He also governed New York as the state recovered from the 9/11 attacks that occurred a year before voters elected him to a third term. He declined to run for a fourth term in 2006, and Democratic attorney general Eliot Spitzer succeeded him. Pataki stoked speculation that he would run in 2008 and in 2012, but this is the year he has chosen to follow through.


Angelina Jolie has a new house and new outlook on her family’s new normal following a difficult year. In a Vanity Fair cover story, the actress and director opens up about her world after splitting with husband Brad Pitt and her health, revealing she at one point suffered from Bell’s palsy, a condition that causes partial facial paralysis. “I was very worried about my mother, growing up – a lot. I do not want my children to be worried about me,” Jolie told the magazine. “I think it’s very important to cry in the shower and not in front of them. They need to know that everything’s going to be all right even when you’re not sure it is.” In the article, Jolie said her relationship with Pitt “became difficult” last summer, around the time she was in postproduction on her upcoming film, “First They Killed My Father,” which she directed. She did not elaborate when probed further, but seemingly rejected the notion that the family’s travel-heavy, hectic way of living was a point of contention between her and Pitt. “[Our lifestyle] was not in any way a negative,” she said in the interview. “That was not the problem. That is and will remain one of the wonderful opportunities we are able to give our children … They’re six very strong-minded, thoughtful, worldly individuals. I’m very proud of them.” A post shared by Vanity Fair (@vanityfair) She adds of her children: “They’ve been very brave. They were very brave.” Pitt and Jolie are parents to Maddox, 15, Pax, 13, Zahara, 12, Shiloh, 11, and twins Knox and Vivienne, 9. “We’re all just healing from the events that led to the filing … They’re not healing from divorce,” Jolie added. “They’re healing from some … from life, from things in life.” Pitt and Jolie separated in September 2016 and filed for divorce shortly after. Jolie sought sole custody of the children. Jolie and Pitt’s divorce is still being negotiated, according to Vanity Fair. Jolie and the children recently moved into a new 11,000-square-foot house in the Loz Feliz area of Los Angeles, according to the magazine. “We care for each other and care about our family, and we are both working towards the same goal,” Jolie said. The tumultuous year has seemingly taken its toll on Jolie, who in the piece opens up about developing hypertension and Bell’s palsy, which causes muscle weakness. “Sometimes women in families put themselves last,” she said, “until it manifests itself in their own health.” She received acupuncture treatment and made a full recovery from her Bell’s palsy. In the past, Jolie has been open about taking a proactive role in her health. She had a double mastectomy in 2013 after learning she carried a gene that made her more susceptible to developing breast cancer. Two years later, she had her ovaries removed as a preventative measure, a move that sent her into early menopause. At one point Jolie jokes with the reporter about developing more gray hair. “I can’t tell if it’s menopause or if it’s just been the year I’ve had.” Jolie’s film “First They Killed My Father,” about the Cambodian genocide, will be released on Netflix this year.


Pope Francis is sending investigators back to Chile to look into historical child abuse and accusations a bishop covered up crimes against minors, the Vatican said Thursday. Francis said the church should be ashamed of its treatment of victims, and must move past the historical culture of abuse and secrecy. Archbishop Charles Scicluna, one of the Vatican’s top prosecutors for sex abuse, and Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu will carry out investigations in Osorno over abuse by Chilean priest Father Fernando Karadima and his followers. Karadima was found guilty of child sex abuse by the Vatican in 2011. Victims said Osorno Bishop Juan Barros, who Francis appointed in 2015 over local residents’ objections, covered up Karadima’s crimes. Related article What does the Pope really think about homosexuality? Francis had initially discounted the survivors’ testimony against Barros, and defended him strenuously for three years, calling accusations against him “calumny.” Barros has denied knowing about what he called the “serious abuses” of Karadima and has said he never approved or participated in those actions. In the statement Thursday, the Vatican said the Pope will send a personally-written letter to the Chilean church, addressing the issue, and will also meet with Chilean abuse victims in Rome over the weekend. Francis said one of the church’s “main faults and omissions” was in “not knowing how to listen to victims,” according to the Catholic News Agency. Because of that, he said, “partial conclusions were drawn, which lacked crucial elements for a healthy and clear discernment,” adding he felt “shame” over his past actions. Francis has previously apologized for his own “grave errors” in handling the Chilean sex abuse scandal. Allegations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church stretch across multiple countries with large Catholic populations, including Austria, Brazil, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and perhaps most famously, the United States, where children accused more than 4,000 priests of sexual abuse between 1950 and 2002, according to a report compiled by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Related article Australian archbishop to step down after child sex abuse cover-up In May, Australian Archbishop Philip Wilson was convicted of covering up sexual abuse and faces up to two years in prison. He is the highest ranking Catholic official to be convicted of concealing others’ crimes. He is due to be sentenced on June 19. As part of his defense, Wilson’s legal team argued that as child sexual abuse was not considered a serious crime in the 1970s, it was not worthy of being reported to authorities. Another Australian priest, Vatican Treasurer Cardinal George Pell, is currently on trial for multiple charges of historical abuse. CNN’s Delia Gallagher and Lindsay Isaac contributed reporting.


The White House and the CIA are preparing to fight a fierce battle over the nomination of President Donald Trump’s pick to head the agency, Gina Haspel, who is already facing strong opposition over her participation in Bush-era interrogation programs. If confirmed, Haspel, a 33-year CIA veteran and current deputy director, would become the first woman to head the agency. She is respected as a “pro’s pro,” one former CIA official told CNN, and has had some face time with the President in the past. But more controversial aspects of her record are presenting potential obstacles. These include her time running the CIA’s secret “black site” prison in Thailand in 2002 called “Cat’s Eye,” the first secret detention facility created after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks designed to allow the CIA to interrogate suspects off the grid, and her later role in the CIA’s destruction of tapes from interrogation sessions of terrorism detainees. Related article She could be the first woman ever to run the CIA Haspel’s nomination, announced in a tweet from the President on Tuesday morning, came as a surprise to many in the intelligence community and Congress, who are now scrambling to try to get her through the confirmation process unscathed as key senators in both parties have already voiced criticism of Haspel. Outside Trump’s innermost circle, hardly anyone knew beforehand that Haspel would be nominated. The White House did not notify many of Trump’s national security advisers and officials, according to sources at various national security agencies. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr said he was not consulted or given a heads-up before Haspel was selected. “Senate leadership was notified on Monday morning,” White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters told CNN in an email. Haspel was at the White House during a visit from a South Korean delegation last week, but it’s unclear whether the President specifically discussed the new job with her then or if he made the decision over the weekend. Haspel has briefed Trump on previous occasions, according to two sources close to the White House. Related article Ex-CIA chief Panetta backs Haspel nomination Walters declined to say whether the President interviewed Haspel for the position before nominating her to the CIA post, but said Trump “got to know” Haspel during her time briefing Trump on intelligence matters. “We are not going to get into internal deliberations, but what I can tell you is that the President got to know Gina Haspel during her time at the White House delivering the President’s intel briefings along with Director Pompeo,” Walters said. Walters also touted Trump’s “great relationship” with Haspel and said Trump respects her “distinguished career.” “She has dedicated her life to public service, and the CIA,” Walters said. “Gina Haspel has wide bipartisan support by national security professionals.” Efforts to prepare Haspel for the confirmation process are already underway. Typically, a cadre of CIA experts come together to get the candidate ready, as well as former directors and the White House. The candidate will make courtesy calls to senators who will be voting on her nomination. George Jameson, a more than 30-year veteran of the CIA who worked on multiple different confirmation processes, told CNN the process to get a nominee cleared through Congress varies, especially depending on the candidate’s experience. Haspel, as a career CIA employee, will require less background on the agency. Prior to the hearing, Haspel will also be subject to written questions, both a general questionnaire and a separate document of specific questions from individual members. Jameson said it’s likely that legislative affairs, the general counsel’s office, congressional affairs, and different subject matter experts throughout the CIA will draw up briefings and papers and prepare questions for what is known as the “murder board.” Related article Tillerson exits a weakened and disillusioned State Department According to a former senior intelligence official familiar with the process, the White House will “feed in issues to the team at the agency that is assembling likely questions and contribute to the opening statement. The latter is hugely important in this case, as Gina will need to address clearly and properly the black site/records destruction issues” to “the satisfaction of key committee members.” Meanwhile, the President’s national security advisers and intelligence officials have kicked off a flurry of meetings to vet Haspel and prepare her for her confirmation hearing. At one meeting of professional staff of the National Security Council, who were not informed in advance about the nomination, concern was expressed that Haspel might not survive the confirmation process, two sources with knowledge of the matter told CNN. One source noted that officials were already floating alternative names in case Haspel’s past in Thailand wrecked her chances of being confirmed. Caught off guard, they were preparing for the worst, the source said. However, it’s unclear how much of a role the NSC will play as the process continues. The plan to get Haspel through the nomination process – given the political headwinds – isn’t fully baked within the White House, as they’re “feeling it out,” another adviser with knowledge of the matter said. Related article New boss at State Department, but same Russia problem for Trump However, one US official familiar with the matter told CNN that “Haspel’s qualifications are overwhelming, and anyone who knows the confirmation process knows she is on track to get confirmed, DC men’s rooms gossip not withstanding.” Sarah Sanders, Trump’s press secretary, told reporters during the White House press briefing on Thursday that “we’re very proud of these nominees,” referring to current CIA Director Mike Pompeo,  who Trump announced would be replacing Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State, and Haspel, “and fully expect them to both be confirmed.” It isn’t clear if those in Trump’s inner circle are concerned about Haspel’s record or gave it a second thought when Trump announced the news. The scrambling over Haspel’s nomination stands in stark contrast with that of Pompeo. Two sources with knowledge of the matter told CNN that Pompeo had known for at least several weeks that he would be making the move and is already working on foreign policy projects behind the scenes. Advisers close to Pompeo are already taking meetings with foreign leaders to discuss upcoming projects and Pompeo’s vision of the department, one source taking such a meeting told CNN. Haspel has already attracted opposition from several senators, including Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon. Lawmakers are anticipating a bruising confirmation fight, as several key Republicans say she must answer for her role in the interrogation program. But Haspel has also garnered praise from some Democrats, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who led the 2014 report that was harshly critical of the Bush-era programs. Feinstein says she is reserving judgment on Haspel’s nomination until after her confirmation hearing. Related article Trump fires Tillerson, taps Pompeo as next secretary of state On Thursday morning, Feinstein demanded that records relating to Haspel’s career be declassified “in order to fully and fairly review her record and qualifications” and give the American people the chance “to know the actual role the person nominated to be the director of the CIA played in what I consider to be one of the darkest chapters in American history,” she wrote in a letter to Pompeo and Haspel. Jameson told CNN that the White House and the CIA together are “really going to have to make some decision about what they declassify” about Haspel’s record. However, the senators who are voting for her confirmation can get that information in a classified setting. “They don’t actually need to declassify,” he said. It all depends on if senators will demand open access to information for political gain or transparency for the American public. That debate could prolong the process. Civil liberties organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have also raised concerns about Haspel’s nomination and are planning to fight her nomination aggressively. “We are deeply concerned that President Trump has nominated a willing participant in this dark and shameful chapter of CIA history to lead the institution at a time when the United States’ commitment against torture and to the humane treatment of detainees demands unwavering enforcement,” Homer Venters, the director of programs at Physicians for Human Rights, wrote in a press release referring to her role in Thailand. The CIA declined to comment, and the National Security Council’s spokesman, Michael Anton, did not respond to a request for comment. After the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, national security and intelligence officials caught off guard by the plot were scrambling to provide the White House with options and intelligence to track down and monitor any future danger. One way the CIA did that was by establishing secret prisons around the world to detain and interrogate terrorism suspects. The first suspect, Abu Zubaydah, was captured in Pakistan, and the CIA ultimately decided to create a facility to house him in Thailand called “Cat’s Eye.” After Haspel’s nomination, ProPublica a published correction to stories about Haspel’s role in Thailand overseeing the waterboarding of Abu Zubaydah, concluding that Haspel did not arrive at the base in Thailand until after that interrogation was complete. Zubaydah was not the only suspect subject to such methods at the black site in Thailand once Haspel arrived. There are still questions about her record overseeing other detainees who may have been subjected to enhanced interrogation that are likely to come up in her confirmation hearing. Related article Trump can't escape Washington's Russia fever Haspel, in addition to leading the first “black site” in Thailand, was also involved in the destruction of videotapes that demonstrated the CIA’s use of extreme interrogation methods, including waterboarding, though the former head of the CIA’s National Clandestine Service Jose Rodriguez has largely taken the blame for that incident in the public record. Her involvement in the Bush-era interrogation program is technically still classified, despite widespread public reporting. Senators Wyden, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, and now Feinstein, the champion behind the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report on the interrogation program, are demanding that those records be declassified and subject to review prior to accepting her nomination. Haspel has been undercover for most of her career, so there is not much information publicly available about her decades of service. David Priess, a former CIA briefer who wrote “The President’s Book of Secrets,” told CNN that Haspel’s involvement in the interrogation program was “a very small slice of her career,” and that she was following policy and adhering to the law throughout — a position many other former CIA leaders have taken publicly in recent days. “My sense is that most of the people that have interacted with her” both in Congress and in the rest of the government “have felt generally positive” about her and her record, Priess said. There’s also a sense she’s a popular pick within the agency. Former agency officials have swarmed to TV and radio stations in the two days since she was nominated to congratulate her and defend her record. One former CIA official who has spoken with current employees said Pompeo’s departure was expected after months of rumors, and that Haspel’s nomination was largely welcome, especially as opposed to alternatives like Tom Cotton, the Arkansas Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee who is close to Trump and was rumored to replace Pompeo months ago. CNN’s Jeremy Herb, Jeremy Diamond and Jim Sciutto contributed reporting

Gina Haspel's nomination to head the CIA


Egyptologists Mark Lehner and Zahi Hawass have published a history of the pyramids and the Giza plateau The pair have excavated the site since the 1970s, and chart the many discoveries found along the way The pyramids of Giza are loathe to give up their secrets. Over 4,000 years since they were constructed in Egypt’s Old Kingdom, archaeologists are still uncovering fresh mysteries from this ancient and beguiling site. A lifetime of work can feel like scratching the surface of these monoliths – but that’s what Egyptologists Mark Lehner and Zahi Hawass have dedicated their careers to. Lehner is president of Ancient Egypt Research Associates, while Hawass was previously secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities and Egyptian Minister of State for Antiquities. Between them they have over 80-years experience poring over the Giza plateau. It only took a fraction of that to build the Great Pyramid itself. Together they have now released “Giza and the Pyramids” (Thames & Hudson), an impressive new book detailing what they, their contemporaries and their predecessors have learned about Giza. It’s a project that has been in the works since 1986, and written, reviewed and revised by the pair since 1993. CNN asked Lehner to reflect on his career and the long road to publication. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. Mark Lehner: Zahi is one of my oldest friends. I met him in 1974. We can work together because we don’t diverge that much, but on particular questions and particular issues Zahi has one favored opinion and I have another. But that’s par for the course for scholarship. It’s not like a Republican and a Democrat talking about what the US economy should be. My break-out project was to map the Great Sphinx, stone by stone. Nobody had done that before. The Sphinx was the key that led to a wider understanding of the whole Giza plateau, because it’s made right out of the bedrock. It’s like a testimony of the layering in the geological veneering of the plateau. Zahi and I both still wonder whether something might be under the Sphinx. My career started from the point of view of (New Ageist) Edgar Cayce. Zahi knew that, and my mental transformation was concomitant with my increasing friendship with him. The Edgar Cayce people had this idea that there would be a Hall of Records under the Sphinx: a vault containing the records of Atlantis and the unknown ancient history of the time when all the New Ageists say the pyramids were really made. I take the Hall of Records metaphorically now. We’re going back to the Sphinx in the coming months. It would be really nice to find what is there before our careers end. To understand the pyramids, you have to turn your back to them. These are very human monuments – I guess that’s what we’d like the readers to take away. You can see the human hand everywhere; in the chisel marks where the stone has not eroded; inside and outside on the stones of the Great Pyramid. Where are all the people? Where’s all the infrastructure? What does it tell us about how they organized themselves? So much has changed since we started. It’s almost to the benefit of posterity that it took so long to write the book. When we started we had not yet found what we can call the Lost City of the Pyramids. We had an idea that it was out there – to the south of the Sphinx, and south of this gigantic stone wall. that lay like a half-emerged whale – but we hadn’t found it. What we’re dealing with is really a massive port city of its time – the Lost City. It was importing cedar from Lebanon, and granite from Aswan, 600 kilometers from the south. The bit that’s missing is the true magnitude – I think it was kind of probably like Versailles and then some. But now the area is covered with modern metropolis and it’s probably un-gettable. Related video Mysterious void discovered in Great Pyramid What really blew our minds was the discovery of the Wadi al-Jarf Papyri. These papyri, discovered by our French colleague Pierre Tallet near the Red Sea (in 2011-2013, with a translation published in 2017), contain a virtual logbook of a man named Merer, who was delivering stones from the eastern quarries for the Pyramid of Khufu. They’re amazing documents that shed light on the waterways. Just as our book was being put to bed, I was reconstructing a model of the water transport infrastructure; how they use the seven meter rise of the Nile every summer to fall as a hydraulic lift for delivering stones to the pyramids. That’s an interesting story in its own right, which deserves its own book. I have boxes and boxes of file folders full of ‘alternative’ Egyptian theories. It’s amazing how many proposals Zahi and I get. Everything from the pyramid is a model of a molecule to it’s a model of the human ear. What is my favourite of all? I think probably that the Great Pyramid is a hydraulic pump of some kind. There’s a booklet published called Kunkel’s Pump, but there’s others who are not aware of it and think they’ve come up with it independently. I think it’s cool and it takes a popular mechanics view of the pyramid, but erasing it totally from the known cultural/religious/anthropological context. It’s a kind of amusing take. ‘We are not looking for things, we are looking for information.’ That’s the motto we try to teach young archaeologists at Ancient Egypt Research Associates field schools. It takes an international team. It’s multi-interdisciplinary. We use botanists, zoologists, ceramic specialists to look at the pottery, and get every scrap of information we can, rather than just looking for nice objects and architecture. I think proof is something for logic and mathematics. The best we can do is establish probabilities in our field, especially when trying to reconstruct what was going on 4,500 years ago.

Giza pyramids and archaeological research


“If five people walk across here at once, the floor sways,” architect Nehmat Alameh tells CNN, as she moves across the upper level of the crumbling, three-story 1870s mansion, typical of Beirut’s Ottoman period. Beit Kassar was once the opulent, 750 square meter-home of the Tarazi family, who made their money in the antiquities trade and postcard industry. But in recent years, glass has been absent from its arch-topped windows and some of the exquisitely illustrated ceilings have crumbled. Luckily, a badly needed two-year restoration program, on which Alameh is lead architect, is underway. It will include repairing shrapnel holes left from Beirut’s civil war years between 1975 and 1990, installing electricity, and reinforcing that swaying floor. Beit Kassar is one of the lucky ones. Across the Lebanese capital beautiful heritage buildings are falling down, or – worse – being demolished as modern skyscrapers sweep the city. Beirut is one of the most densely populated cities in the world. Although no proper census has been conducted in Lebanon since 1932, the United Nations puts Beirut’s population at 470,000, not including the suburbs. In a city that covers just 85 square kilometers (33 square miles), space is tight. The result is an incredibly intense architectural mix. Gleaming towers pop up in the backyards of treasures from the Ottoman Empire and the French Mandate for Lebanon, which lasted from 1923 until the mid-1940s. “There are decades of architectural history in Beirut,” Nehmat says. In the early 20th century, it was often referred to as the “Paris of the Middle East”. While there are no up-to-date statistics on the number of heritage properties left in Beirut, in 1997 a study commissioned by the Directorate-General of Urban Planning put the figure at 572 – although  the study was never finished. Mona Hallak, an architect and prominent Lebanese heritage activist, tells CNN that she believes at least 150 of those buildings have since been lost. In March, for example, demolition work began on the 1930s Grande Brasserie du Levant, one of the oldest breweries in the Middle East, to make way for Mar Mikhael Village, a luxury loft apartment complex. A month later, a large gap was left on Gemmayzeh’s Gouraud Street after an Art Deco building there was demolished. “Compared to even just after (the Lebanese Civil War), there has been a massacre of buildings in Beirut,” says Joana Hammour, from the non-governmental organization Save Beirut Heritage, which lobbies to prevent the destruction of the city’s old buildings. One of the most famous heritage buildings in Beirut is the Barakat Building. Also known as the “Yellow House”, it was designed by Lebanese architect Youssef Aftimus and built in 1924 in the Ottoman revivalist style. Located on what became the frontline of the civil war, however, it was badly hurt during the conflict and left scarred by bullet holes. In 2012, an $18 million renovation began – a joint venture between the Beirut authorities and the City of Paris. The building was renamed Beit Beirut and transformed into a museum and urban cultural center. Bullet holes were deliberately left in its facade, a nod to the building’s turbulent history. However, the project is not without controversy: because a management committee has not been appointed, it is still not freely open to the public, currently accessible only during private receptions and visits. Officials hope it will open to the public fully in September 2017. In its government-backed restoration, Beit Beirut is something of a rarity. Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, has a population of 2.23 million.One of the world’s oldest settlements, Beirut has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years.Beirut’s population is divided pretty evenly between Muslims and Christians.Between 1952 and 1975, it was nicknamed “Paris of the Middle East” for its colonial French buildings and Ottoman-era architecture.Sources: CIA World Factbook, World Bank, and Encyclopaedia Britannica Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, has a population of 2.23 million.One of the world’s oldest settlements, Beirut has been inhabited for more than 5,000 years.Beirut’s population is divided pretty evenly between Muslims and Christians.Between 1952 and 1975, it was nicknamed “Paris of the Middle East” for its colonial French buildings and Ottoman-era architecture. Joseph Haddad, secretary-general of the Association for the Protection of Lebanese Heritage, tells CNN that traditional buildings are most often preserved “when their owners simply decided to keep and restore them … not to demolish them and build a high-rise for quick short-term personal profit.” In March, the heritage restoration movement was dealt a severe blow from the authorities when Lebanon’s new Culture Minister, Ghattas Khoury, removed the renowned 18th-century “Red House” in the Hamra district from Beirut’s list of “untouchable” protected heritage structures, leaving it vulnerable to demolition. “This is the first time that a culture minister has removed a building from the heritage protection list,” Hallak tells CNN. “This is one of only two red-roofed buildings left in Hamram,” Hammour adds. “Louis Armstrong spent the night there, and it is socially and historically important.” Save Beirut Heritage is working with another local NGO to bring a legal challenge against Khoury’s decision. In this environment, private actors seeking homes with a history have become increasingly important. Luckily, they are in no short supply. Work on the Tarazi mansion, for example, is led by AKK architecture firm, whose founder Annabel Karim Kassar will live in the finished property. A team of experts from Germany has been enlisted to incorporate original architectural details into the restoration, partly due to a skills shortage in Beirut in heritage conservation. One curator-restorer has been employed specifically to work on the painted ceilings, easily the highlight of the house. Across town, Zeina and Sammy – who asked CNN not to print their full names – seven years ago bought a 1940s house in the discreet eastern Beirut district of Qobayat. The building  came complete with holes made by bombs that had fallen onto the roof. This March, Zeina opened three of its exquisitely-restored rooms as a guesthouse, called Zanzoun. Guest bedrooms are furnished with mother-of-pearl wardrobes from Syria and gold bedsteads from Egypt. Downstairs, a mustard yellow sofa from Beirut’s Basta district, famous for its antique merchants, sits next to an enormous Russian canvas. The couple have seen the precarious status of heritage buildings close-up: a similar house next door was torn down. Other private parties are restoring buildings to fulfill the desperate need for public space in Beirut – the result of years of privatization of land in a small territory with a swelling population. Since 2011, Beirut has become home to 280,000 Syrian refugees “Mansion” is a modern interpretation of a 1930s villa in the historic Zokak el-Blat district. Abandoned since 1987, it was brought back to life in 2012 by two artists who persuaded the owner to open it as a creative space for artists and the public. It now hosts a library and reading room, as well as debates, exhibitions and poetry readings. Rachel Dedman, a curator, is one of eight creatives who rent studios in the building. “Lebanon is a place without any public funding for the arts, which means all institutions and individuals are stuck in application cycles for external funding from national or regional bodies, or international funders,” she tells CNN. “What Mansion does is exist outside such a structure: the gift of the house frees up the possibility of finding new ways of working and being.” Recent years have seen momentum gather behind the heritage preservation movement in Beirut, but  activists feel more must be done. Hallak would like to see the government pass legislation to protect buildings in certain districts with a high density of heritage sites. “You could sacrifice a ‘high rise’ area where towers are already mushrooming to protect another heritage area,” she explains. She also advocates for tax incentives for property owners who restore and maintain their heritage buildings, and the creation of a council to distribute donations from Lebanese expats keen to save their country’s traditional architecture. Back at the Red House, Save Beirut Heritage hopes that the building reopens as a rare public space in Hamra’s crowded, highly privatized streets. “We want to find investors for the property – that could be the municipality,” Hamour tells CNN. “As there is no public space in Hamra, they could use the Red House as a library, for example. It would be perfect for that.”


Looking out across Durban port, the Indian Ocean stretches thousands of miles east, connecting two countries whose stories are deeply entwined. Home to the largest Indian population outside of India, Durban is a bastion of Asian culture from across the sea. The palm tree clad port at Durban has welcomed Indian traders, businessmen and their families since the 1860s. Longtime home to one Mahatma Gandhi, the city has played its part as a launchpad for the young Indian lawyer’s political activism and minority representation. Today, the place is a testament to multiculturalism, and a symbol of how the cultures of South Africa and India are indelibly linked. Over 150 years ago, scores of Indian people made their way across the ocean arriving into Durban in search of work in the city’s sugar cane industry. Still today descendants like local photographer Ranjith Kally have a strong connection to their families’ stories. “My grandfather came from India for better prospects” says Ranjith. “When my family were brought here, they were told there’s gold all over the city streets and there’s a good life. Then they were made to go and work in the sugar fields. That’s how they came here.” Today, over a million Indian people live in Durban province. Communities integrate into the social and economic fabric of the region through trading business and clothing markets to religious festivals and architecture. “They make the city in many ways,” says Ashwin Desai, professor at the University of Johannesburg. “You look at it in terms of its architecture, the Grey Street mosque, the old churches and the temples. Just the religious parts of that and what they give to this corner of Africa is incredible. They bring a sense of a deep history.” This sense of history runs deep among South Africa’s Indian communities. It’s a story that’s embodied by Mohandas Gandhi. In 1893, a 24-year-old Gandhi arrived in Durban to settle legal disputes between traders – he quickly became active in local politics representing minority Indian communities. “He was sensitive enough to realize what was happening around him,” says Mewa Ramgobin the chair of Phoenix Settlement Trust - a cultural project aimed at preserving Gandhi’s legacy in South Africa. “His own compatriots from India, my grandfather and others, were suffering at the hands of their employers and the entire government at that stage, which inspired him to resist evil wherever he saw it.” Gandhi would end up spending 21 years in South Africa, working to give South Africa’s Indian communities a political voice. In 1894 he helped establish the Natal Indian Congress, the region’s first political advocacy group to represent the views of Indian people to the government and the press. “For us in South Africa, we have a kind of responsibility not to extol the virtues of Gandhi, but to find out whether we can use those values to transform our country,” says Ramgobin. Today, Durban’s Indian communities aren’t defined by class the struggles and political activism of their forefathers. Durban is a veritable hub of Asian culture – their heritage survives in myriad forms from music and food to festivals and dance. “[Our ancestors] brought a rich heritage from India – a very colloquial basis of how they would survive in terms of their culture,” says Verushka Pather – a local dance teacher who’s ancestors came to Durban from India to work in the cane fields. Pather’s ancestors, and their generation, brought with them the art of Indian classical dance. An intricate display – including 13 head postures and 36 eye movements – contrasts radically with South Africa’s indigenous Zulu dance forms. The Indian dance holds within it a form of cultural nostalgia that carries on to this day. “Every weekend, people would do these activities in the evenings with their families and small communities – it was very basic dancing which was telling the stories of the scriptures to keep it alive now that they’ve moved from India.” The unmistakable gestations of Indian dance were self-evident on the streets of downtown Durban last month, as hundreds of South Africans of all origins and backgrounds gathered together to celebrate 68 years of Indian independence from British colonial rule. “We’re very proud that we have maintained it, we have allowed it to evolve as we have evolved within the country.” Dance teacher Verushka continues to teach and develop her dance in a contemporary context. “It’s not just for telling Indian folklore stories, now it’s become a medium to share contemporary stories. [We’re] telling South African stories through this Indian classical art.” This amalgamation of cultures – distilled into a street dance – is a symbol that Gandhi would be proud of. To find out more about the Indian community in Durban, watch the video below: More from inside Africa


North Korea’s latest missile test was considered by experts as the most significant advancement in the regime’s nuclear weapons program to date. Sunday’s launch offered a first glimpse of the weapon in action since its unveiling at the Day of the Sun military parade in Pyongyang last month, to mark the birthday of the country’s founding leader Kim Il Sung. We asked David Schmerler, a research associate at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, to analyze state media images of the launch and previous photos of what we now know is the Hwasong-12. The Hwasong-12 was test-fired in the early hours of Sunday, May 14, from the town of Kusong near North Korea’s west coast. “This is the first successful test (of this type of missile) that we know of,” Schmerler said. “One of the big takeaways is the missile’s performance, which might give credit to their own design capability. It outperformed previous, copied missile designs, which means that their ballistic missile program is moving at an accelerating rate,” he said. State media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test launch of missile. He was photographed reading what appears to be a map illustrating the flight plan and anticipated splashdown location of the rocket off the coast of Russia. The map appears to show the steep arc of the launch trajectory. North Korea claimed the missile reached an altitude of 2,111.5 kilometers (1,312 miles) and flew 787 kilometers (489 miles). Analysts estimated its range as 4,500 kilometers (2,796 miles), which would put the US territory of Guam in the western Pacific within its reach. Images released before the launch show the prepared rocket, painted yellow and black. Schmerler pointed out the telemetry antenna on the missile’s nose cone, which sends data on the test back to the ground. “We saw similar antennae on the Musudan during its first successful test,” Schmerler said. The Musudan is an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) with a range of 3,500 kilometers (2,174 miles). The images also show a retro rocket –  a small solid fuel motor that fires in the opposite direction to the missile’s direction of travel. Once it reaches a designated point, the nosecone is designed to separate from the main body of the missile, Schmerler said. The constituent parts of the Hwasong-12 “seem to be uniquely North Korean,” Schmerler said – possibly designed from scratch by North Korean engineers, rather than designs based on older Soviet missiles. Schmerler said the rocket appears to be a single stage design. Its performance may suggest otherwise, however. Although, no available data so far shows it was a multi-stage rocket. North Korea gave a clue of what was to come in the Day of the Sun military parade in April. At the time, the Hwasong-12 had not yet been seen by North Korea watchers. The new weapon appeared to be longer than the Musudan, and had a nosecone similar to that of North Korea’s KN-08 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). It was transported on the same type of transporter as the older missile. Sunday’s launch was possibly connected to an engine test that took place at Sohae, North Korea’s west coast satellite launch site, in March of this year, Schmerler said. Images released by state media show North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, also at that test, which featured an engine “of a design that we hadn’t seen before,” Schmerler said. The engine design features a large central engine surrounded by four vernier thrusters, which swivel round a point to precisely correct the rocket’s attitude. “After the engine test the North Koreans said that the world would soon see its significance,” Schmerler said. “This test, with the new engine configuration, which seems to be more unique to North Korea, outperformed its previous missile tests.” The Hwasong-12 missile launched Sunday was notable in part for its performance – it was the highest missile test that North Korea has conducted for a weapons-oriented system – only its previous satellite launch went higher. “The North Koreans aren’t going to test these at full range, they’d have to (fly them) over Japan to do so. They’ve done it before, but they’re shying away from that now. (Instead they’re) lofting them as high as they can – they can calculate the full range from there.” Schmerler says that identifying the missiles from state media images has become more difficult. The missiles “used to have serial numbers that were uniform from previous parades, so we had a guide to identify missiles. In this most recent parade they’ve thrown away that pattern. We are still trying to figure out their new system.” He says that it is hard to tell how many of the Hwasong-12 missiles the regime has. One way to ascertain that number, however, would be to count the number of launch vehicles they have purchased. “They only have a finite number of these transporter erector launchers (TELs),” Schmerler says. “There is no evidence that they can manufacture them, and they don’t want to burn through their trucks (during missile tests).” He said images on state media showed the North Koreans parked the vehicle over a test platform, unloaded the missile and then drove the vehicle away. “We’ve seen them launch directly from the vehicles before. There isn’t necessarily a difference in (the missile’s flight) performance, but it makes the setup a little more complicated.”  On a practical level, he says, this method of launching restricts the mobility of the missile.

North Korea's Hwasong-12 missile program


New York state authorities sweetened a plea offer made to a taxi operator who partnered with President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen after federal authorities raided Cohen’s home, office and hotel room, according to court transcripts. Evgeny “Gene” Freidman, known as New York’s “Taxi King,” pleaded guilty last week to criminal tax fraud for failing to pay $5 million in taxes in a deal that would allow him to avoid prison time. The no-prison deal was a significant enhancement from an offer Freidman rejected on April 4 – just a few days before the FBI raid on Cohen – that would have included a minimum of two years and as much as six years in prison and a $1 million fine, according to transcripts of the March court proceeding. The offer included a sliding scale; if Freidman paid less than $1 million he would face more jail time.  Friedman had faced as much as 25 years in prison when he was charged last year. Related article Russian oligarch met with Michael Cohen at Trump Tower during transition The investigation by US prosecutors in Manhattan was initiated in part by a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller. FBI agents working with Mueller have interviewed several business partners of Cohen as part of Mueller’s broader inquiry into election meddling. Freidman’s cooperation in the deal suggests he has useful information for prosecutors and could place added pressure on Cohen, who has been Trump’s attorney for a decade, to cooperate with authorities. The initial offer and subsequent enhancement has not been previously reported. New York investigators made the initial offer in late March. When Freidman rejected the deal at the hearing two weeks later, John Healy, a lawyer with the state attorney general’s office, told Justice Peter Lynch, “The offer is withdrawn. We don’t intend to make any offers and we are ready for trial come June 18.” But days later, on April 9, FBI agents working with the US attorney’s office in Manhattan raided Cohen’s home, office, hotel room and safe deposit box, seizing several boxes of documents and over a dozen electronic devices. Prosecutors have not said anything publicly about the raid being the impetus for a better deal. The search warrant authorized the seizure of information relating to any payments Cohen made to suppress women from coming forward with damaging information about the President and details about Cohen’s taxi medallion business, sources have told CNN. Related article Michael Cohen owes more than $280K in state taxes, records show As part of Freidman’s plea deal he will cooperate with state and federal authorities, The New York Times first reported. A spokesman for the New York attorney general’s office declined to comment. Freidman’s attorney also declined to comment. Freidman owns and operates one of the largest taxi operations in the country. One of his clients is Cohen, who for more than two decades bought taxi medallions expanding a business started by his father-in-law. Cohen’s taxi medallion holding companies owe New York more than $280,000 in unpaid taxes, an analysis of state records shows, with nearly two-thirds of the back taxes owed from April. Bloomberg, which first reported the unpaid taxes, said Cohen claims that he does not owe the taxes. Instead, the report said, Cohen claims Freidman is responsible for the payments. Cohen hasn’t been charged with any wrongdoing, but his lawyers have been fighting in court to limit the government’s review of the seized material. Judge Kimba Wood appointed a special master to review the material for records that may be protected by attorney-client privilege. At a hearing scheduled for Wednesday, the judge is expected to receive an update on the progress of the review. She may also decide whether to allow porn star Stormy Daniels’ attorney Michael Avenatti to formally appear in the case. Daniels has sued Cohen to nullify a $130,000 “hush money” deal to keep details about the porn star’s alleged affair in 2006 with Trump quiet. Avenatti has said records that were seized may be relevant to his client. The White House has repeatedly said that the President denies the affair took place. Related article NYT: Michael Cohen's 'taxi king' business partner to cooperate with government Cohen’s attorneys have objected to Avenatti’s appearance, saying he made inaccurate public statements about Cohen and improperly leaked personal financial records of Cohen that revealed millions of dollars of consulting contracts he had with a US investment firm linked to a Russian oligarch, AT&T and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Avenatti has accused Cohen of leaking select audio recordings to the media that “may relate” to Daniels and wants the judge to question Cohen’s attorneys about any leaks. After Freidman’s guilty plea and cooperation agreement became public, Cohen tweeted to distance himself from the taxi operator. “I am one of thousands of medallion owners who entrust management companies to operate my medallions according to the rules of the NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission. Gene Freidman and I are not partners and have never been partners in this business or any other,” Cohen said. Freidman saw it differently. His attorney provided a statement to CNN last month on Freidman’s behalf saying, “With regard to Michael Cohen, Michael is a great friend and a wonderful client.”


A new United Nations report sheds light on the extent of civilian suffering in Iraq as the country battles ISIS Nearly 19,000 civilians have been killed in 21 months, while 3,500 are being held in slavery The report says ISIS is abducting hundreds of children for religious or military training Nearly 19,000 civilians were killed in Iraq between January 2014 and October 2015 – a toll the United Nations calls “staggering” in a new report. The report, released Tuesday, outlined the horrific impact that Iraq’s ongoing conflict is having on its civilian population. Much of the suffering was attributed to ISIS, the brutal Islamist terror group which has declared an Islamic caliphate across the vast stretches of territory it holds in Iraq and neighboring Syria. The report also estimated that  ISIS holds about 3,500 slaves and said it continues to subject women and children to sexual violence, particularly in the form of sexual slavery. Other numbers in the report are mind-boggling. In the 21-month period in Iraq: • At least 18,802 civilians were killed, about half of them in Baghdad. • Another 36,245 were injured. • About 3.2 million people were internally displaced, including a million school-aged children. The actual figures could be much higher, the report said. The report also documented alleged abuses by Iraqi security forces and allied groups fighting ISIS, but attributed much of the suffering to ISIS itself. Related video Children beaten, killed who refuse to join ISIS “The so-called ‘Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant’ (ISIL) continues to commit systematic and widespread violence and abuses of international human rights law and humanitarian law. These acts may, in some instances, amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and possibly genocide,” the report said, using another name for ISIS. The group, which has controlled Iraq’s second largest city, Mosul, since June 2014, employed horrifying methods of killing, the report said, including beheading, bulldozing, burning alive and throwing people off the tops of buildings. However, improvised explosive devices – including explosives worn by suicide bombers and those carried in vehicles – were the deadliest tactic used against civilians, it said. The report was prepared by the U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and was based largely on testimony obtained directly from survivors or witnesses of rights violations, including interviews with internally displaced people. The report noted that ISIS continued to target ethnic and religious minorities, such as the Yazidis, systematically persecuting them with the apparent goal of suppressing, permanently expelling or destroying the groups. Related gallery The ISIS terror threat The 3,500 slaves that ISIS is estimated to have, mainly women and children, came primarily from the persecuted Yazidi community, but a number hailed from other ethnic and religious minorities, it said. Yazidi activists have previously told CNN of similar numbers of the community being abducted by the group. The report detailed a number of specific incidents regarding the enslavement of women in Iraq. In May, it said, a 24-year-old Yazidi woman was killed while trying to escape from ISIS captivity in Nineveh province, her body left on the side of the road. Related video ISIS hates this religious group the most In June, 42 Yazidi women were abducted from the same region and taken to ISIS-held Deir Ezzor in Syria, it said. Some of the women were reportedly sold to ISIS fighters there for $500 to $2,000, it said. And in August, ISIS reportedly killed 19 women in Mosul for refusing to have sex with its fighters. The report also documented an ISIS-run Quran recitation contest in the city, which advertised sex slaves as prizes for the winners. The report’s authors also referred to verified reports that 800 to 900 children in Mosul had been abducted by the terror group for religious education and military training. There were also reports that child soldiers who had fled fighting on the front lines in Anbar had been killed, it said. The report said that ISIS targeted those perceived to be opposed to its ideology and rule; people affiliated with the government, including police officers and public officials; doctors; lawyers; journalists; and tribal and religious leaders. Related video The children who escaped the clutches of ISIS Many were then sentenced in ISIS-run courts, where they faced punishments including death, stoning or amputation. A number of mass graves had been uncovered in Iraq, the report said. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein warned that the civilian death toll may be much higher and said action is urgently needed to deal with a situation where most perpetrators of violence face no consequences. “Even the obscene casualty figures fail to accurately reflect exactly how terribly civilians are suffering in Iraq. The figures capture those who were killed or maimed by overt violence, but countless others have died from the lack of access to basic food, water or medical care,” he said. Related video The civilian toll in the battle for Ramadi “This report lays bare the enduring suffering of civilians in Iraq and starkly illustrates what Iraqi refugees are attempting to escape when they flee to Europe and other regions. This is the horror they face in their homelands.” The report’s authors also noted “concerning” reports of unlawful killings and abductions by groups associated with Iraq’s government, which may have been reprisals against people perceived to be supporting the terror group, it said. “Despite their steady losses to pro government forces, the scourge of ISIL continues to kill, maim and displace Iraqi civilians in the thousands and to cause untold suffering,” said Jan Kubis, the U.N. secretary-general’s special representative for Iraq. Related video ISIS tunnels under Ramadi to evade airstrikes He called on the international community to enhance its support to the Iraqi government’s stabilization and reconstruction efforts in areas liberated from ISIS, “so that all Iraqis displaced by violence can return to their homes in safety and in dignity and that affected communities can be reestablished in their places of origin.” After some humiliating losses to ISIS, Iraqi government forces have launched offensives to recapture territory. An assault last month on the key city of Ramadi, in Anbar province, saw government forces regain much of the city in a morale-boosting victory. READ MORE: Expelling ISIS from Ramadi – why it matters CNN’s Jomana Karadsheh contributed to this report.


Here’s what you might have missed on CNN today: – North and South Korea have confirmed their common goal to formally end the Korean War, 65 years after hostilities. – House Speaker Paul Ryan is getting grilled over firing the House chaplain. – Newly surfaced emails indicate the Russian lawyer at the 2016 Trump Tower meeting had closer ties to the Kremlin than she suggested, The New York Times reports. – Former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw rails against sexual harassment allegations in a letter to his colleagues. – Mamma Mia! ABBA is back and already has recorded two new songs. – After Kanye West praised Trump, Chance the Rapper came to his defense. Now that the President thanked them both, Chance says no thanks. – The White House medical unit employees described a “grab and go” atmosphere where they were pressured to hand out medication without prescriptions. – The moment we’ve all been waiting for: Prince William and Duchess Catherine have named their third child. – Read this before you see “Avengers.” You’re welcome.


Tune into CNN International on Sunday at 11 a.m. E.T. for a full report on the Yemen war. Saudi-led coalition carried out 200 airstrikes in days since talks collapsed, security sources say Destroyed health system led to 10,000 preventable child deaths in 2015, UNICEF says Dozens of schools and hospitals have been bombed. Foreign powers have carried out deadly airstrikes. Political chaos has created a vacuum for militant groups like ISIS to flourish and sieges have cut off rebel-held areas from desperately needed aid. You might think this is a picture of war-torn Syria, but it is in fact Yemen, where a bloody civil war has created what the UN calls a “humanitarian catastrophe.” YEMEN: Relentless attacks on hospitals But unlike Syria, the world’s gaze has largely missed a conflict that has left millions in need of aid and pushed communities to the brink of famine. As such, many term it the “forgotten war.” “It’s probably one of the biggest crises in the world but it’s like a silent crisis, a silent situation and a forgotten war,” UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen Jamie McGoldrick told CNN. The health service has “completely collapsed” and “children are dying silent deaths,” McGoldrick said, as medical facilities continue to be bombed relentlessly. Since the conflict began in 2015, an estimated 10,000 people have been killed, according to the UN. Harrowing photos of children wasting away are undoubtedly the most telling images of Yemen’s war. UNICEF reports that 1.5 million children are currently malnourished in the country, 370,000 of them severely. On top of this, 178 schools have been attacked, according to data collected by the Yemen Post. “The scale of suffering as a result of the ongoing conflict in Yemen is shocking. An estimated 21.2 million people, which constitutes nearly 80% of the total population, need humanitarian assistance. Almost half of those in need are children,” said UNICEF Yemen Representative Meritxell Relano. The conflict began in early 2015, when Houthi rebels – a minority Shia group from the north of the country – drove out the US-backed government, led by President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and took over the capital, Sanaa. Yemen: US military distances itself from Saudi-led campaign The crisis quickly escalated into a multi-sided war, which allowed al Qaeda and ISIS – other enemies of the Houthis – to grow stronger amid the chaos. The Houthis are backed by Iran and its members follow the Shia Islamic branch of Zaidism. Zaidis make up around a third of Yemen’s population and ruled the country’s north for almost 1,000 years until 1962. YEMEN: UAE says aid ship struck by rebels A coalition led by neighboring Saudi Arabia began its air raids on the country in support of Hadi’s government in March last year. Since peace talks in Kuwait failed in August, the Saudi-led coalition intensified airstrikes, despite vocal criticism from rights groups that the bombardments have been indiscriminate and constitute war crimes. The attacks have often hit civilian targets with devastating results. On the day before Eid al-Adha – considered by many to be the holiest Muslim holiday – the coalition pounded a group of farmers digging a well in rebel-held Beit Saadan, north of Sanaa, killing at least 48 people, including first responders and children, according to three security sources in Beit Sadaan, who did not want to be named. Abdul Malik Ali Wajeeh, a local resident and witness, lost his cousin, who was trying to rescue those buried in rubble from the initial strike. “It’s not the first time rescuers have been attacked by Saudi airstrikes, and people are aware that could happen. But you can’t watch loved ones die and do nothing to help,” he said. A spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, General Ahmed al-Asseri, told RT news that “all operations in the area were targeting Houthi positions and members.” The attack gained international media attention after the UN put out a statement saying it was “deeply disturbed by the unrelenting attacks on civilians and on civilian infrastructure,” calling it one of the worst attacks in the conflict yet. But the Yemen Post collated information from official sources that at least 69 other civilians were killed in strikes the following week, including several as they slept in their homes and others as they celebrated Eid. The media has been largely silent on these attacks. Yemen is in general very poorly covered. “It’s a complicated and messy conflict, it’s hard to report on well, and it’s hard to find a good guy and a bad guy,” said Peter Salisbury, an associate fellow from the Middle East and North Africa Program at London-based Chatham House. “There are a lot of issues with accessibility – it’s very hard to get into Yemen during the war, and if you do, it’s not the easiest environment to get around in. “It’s expensive and it’s not full of freelance journalists. It’s a hard to sell to editors,” he said. But the lack of coverage seems to be mirroring a general lack of interest in the international community. “The Yemen war remains regional because there is no major international backer on the other side of the conflict. And the Americans and the UK don’t have any real strategic interest in Yemen, which is why they have decided to back the Saudis. For them, the strategic imperative in Yemen is really to keep the Saudis happy and to maintain a degree of stability in the Gulf,” Salisbury said. The Syrian conflict is of interest in the West as it has bled beyond its borders, with ISIS carrying out or inspiring attacks across Europe and spreading its influence in other Middle Eastern countries. Lawmakers seek to stall $1B arms sale to Saudis The UK and US have shown no sign of stopping its sale of arms to the Saudis, despite mounting pressure to do so. “There have been one or two occasions where the British arms industry wouldn’t have been able to survive if it hadn’t been for massive orders from Saudi Arabia,” Salisbury said. “Basically, policymakers in the West see the world as a giant game of Risk, and they see more value to maintaining their relationship with Saudi Arabia than getting rid of bad PR over Yemen.” At the Human Rights Council, which is currently in session, there have been calls for an independent investigation into the actions of the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthis, both of whom are accused of committing war crimes. These calls intensified after the Saudi-led coalition was removed from a UN blacklist in June that blamed the group for a six-fold jump in child deaths in the country. A UN official told CNN the Saudi government had applied huge pressure on Secretary General Ban Ki Moon to do so, though the Saudi government denied the accusations. Riyadh accuses the Houthi rebels of recruiting child soldiers, and after a deadly strike that killed at least 14 children, it told CNN it was targeting a Houthi militant camp. Saudi UN Ambassador Abdallah al-Mouallimi told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that he is certain his country was off the list for good following the announcement. Mouallimi said some of the information in the UN report lacked accuracy and said the UN had been invited to send experts to Riyadh to discuss the report. “We will do everything possible from our side to minimize casualties on our part,” he said. Journalist Hakim Almasmari reported from Sanaa, while CNN’s Angela Dewan reported from London.


A charity group is preparing aid packages for those who want to return home The attacks have left 5 dead -- two immigrants and three South Africans A 14-year-old boy is among those killed after a mob with machetes targeted foreigners Thousands sought refuge in temporary shelters in South Africa after mobs with machetes attacked immigrants in Durban, leaving at least five people dead, an aid group said Thursday. Heavily armed police have scrambled to stop clashes this week after local residents accused immigrants from other African nations of taking their jobs. The attacks in Durban killed two immigrants and three South Africans, including a 14-year-old boy, authorities said. “There has been an outpouring of support from ordinary South Africans who are disgusted with the attacks not only because they are foreign, or African, but because they are fellow human beings,” said Gift of the Givers charity, which is helping those seeking refuge. “We are preparing aid packages for those who may journey onwards to their home countries.” The charity said about 8,500 people fled to refugee centers or police stations this week because of the violence. That doesn’t count anyone who fled their homes to other, private accommodations, the group said. It said it hopes the violence is limited to Durban, but assured immigrants that it has a facility in Johannesburg to help those who might need shelter there. “We have tents and all essential supplies on standby but pray that sanity prevails and this does not become necessary,” it said. In the past, Johannesburg has been the epicenter of anti-immigrant tensions. In 2008, scores were killed in attacks in the poorest areas of Johannesburg. Most of the victims were Zimbabweans who had fled repression and dire economic circumstances. In that attack, police arrested more than 200 people for various crimes including rape, murder, robbery and theft.