Lebanese official: Prime Minister Saad Hariri should resign "on Lebanese territory" Lebanese are confused over resignation incident, foreign minister says Lebanon’s foreign minister on Monday expressed doubt about the circumstances behind Saad Hariri’s sudden resignation as Prime Minister during a trip to Saudi Arabia, saying he is waiting for the leader’s return to learn “the truth.” “We heard our Prime Minister saying yesterday that he will be back to Lebanon in two, three days,” Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in an interview from Beirut. “So, we are waiting for him … to hear from him the truth.” Hariri unexpectedly resigned last week, saying his life was in danger. Speaking for the first time since he quit his post, Hariri told a Lebanese TV station he owns on Sunday that he will return to Lebanon “very soon and will take all the necessary constitutional steps to resign.” Bassil said Hariri “is free to do whatever he wants,” but called for him to resign “on Lebanese territory.” “That will be the only proof for the Lebanese, who are confused – who are truly confused – and are not convinced with what happened,” Bassil said. “We want our Prime Minister to be back, freely, in his country, where he can declare whatever he wants.” Hariri’s emotional interview on Sunday was an attempt to end rumors he was being held against his will in the Saudi capital. But analysts said viewers appeared to pay less attention to what Hariri said and more to his mannerisms during the interview from his home in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Related article Tense and tearful: Lebanese PM's 80-minute interview backfires Hariri’s departure plunged Lebanon into a political crisis and stoked fears of a conflict, either with Saudi Arabia, which is increasingly agitated by Iran’s ascendancy in the region, or Israel, which shares Saudi Arabia’s fears about Iran even if it does not support Riyadh in public. Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia has an ongoing rivalry with Shia-led Iran, and Lebanon is fast becoming the new setting for a proxy conflict between the two Middle Eastern powers. Bassil said Lebanon considers Saudi Arabia to be a “brotherly” country, as he appeared to try to ease any possible friction between the two countries from the incident. “We are aiming as a people to have the best relations with our neighbors, with Arab countries including Saudi Arabia,” Bassil said. “As much as we don’t want intervention in Saudi Arabia coming from Lebanese, we don’t want interventions in Lebanon coming from any foreign country or any aggression against Lebanon,” Bassil said. CNN’s Darran Simon, Philip J. Victor, Amy La Porte and Mohammed Tawfeeq contributed to this report.


Terrorism not ruled out as possible cause of crash 19 bodies have been recovered so far Russian investigators have found no evidence of an explosion or fire on a military plane that crashed into the Black Sea on Sunday with 92 people on board, an air force official said Thursday. Terrorism has not been ruled out as the cause of the crash, but it is not a primary line of investigation, the air force’s deputy head of flight safety, Sergey Bainetov, told the state-run TASS news agency. The Defense Ministry has said there are probably no survivors. Bainetov said the full investigation would take a month. “The search operation continues as we need to recover more fragments to conclude the investigations,” he said. Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said it has been established that “the plane almost completely fell apart after it hit the water surface and the sea shore, which has naturally complicated the search operation,” Russia’s Sputnik news reported. More than 130 square kilometers of the sea have been examined. Teams have found 2,000 fragments of the plane, 19 bodies and 230 body parts, Sputnik reported. The Tupolev Tu-154 was carrying 84 passengers and eight crew members when it crashed. Both black boxes – the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder – have been recovered and are being studied. Those on board included 64 musicians from the army’s official choir, the Alexandrov Ensemble; nine reporters; the head of the Spravedlivaya Pomoshch charity, Elizaveta Glinka; two federal civil servants; and eight crew members. Read: The ‘Red Army’ choir loved by Russia The choir was flying to Syria to perform for Russian air force pilots during the holiday season, the Defense Ministry has said. Glinka was taking medicine and other supplies to a local hospital in Syria, her colleague and friend Dr. Sergey Kurkov told CNN affiliate RBC. The plane had taken off from Moscow and was headed to the Russian Hmeymim air base in Latakia, Syria, where Russia has a large military presence. En route to Syria, the plane landed in Sochi to refuel.

Russian military plane crash investigation


A glossy women’s magazine has hit virtual newsstands, its front cover splashed with the image of a woman, veiled from head to toe, walking off into a yellow-hued desert. But, unlike other fashion or beauty publications, this one has a niche audience in mind: would-be female jihadists. The English-language magazine – which debuted online but in a print-style format – was published by the Pakistani Taliban, Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP), earlier this month without much fanfare. The first edition of Sunnat E Khaula, which harks back to a seventh-century female Muslim warrior named Khaula, calls on “like-minded jihadi sisters” to organize “secret gatherings at home,” arrange “physical training classes” and “prepare for martyrdom operations.” “We want to provoke women of Islam to come forward and join the ranks of mujahideen [holy warriors] of Islam,” an opening editorial reads. They [the TTP] are trying to replicate efforts by Islamic State, particularly now that the caliphate is in decline. Nikita Malik The TTP’s women’s magazine – the first of its kind – takes a page out of the ISIS propaganda playbook to target women. And the timing of its release isn’t accidental. As ISIS’ self-proclaimed caliphate crumbles in Syria and Iraq, the Taliban has seized on an opportunity – offering an alternative for radicalized women willing to shift their loyalties. “The first thing I would think of with a piece of propaganda like this coming out is that they [the TTP] are trying to replicate efforts by Islamic State, particularly now that the caliphate is in decline,” Nikita Malik, a senior research fellow at the Henry Jackson Society, told CNN. Malik, who has studied women and radicalization extensively, says that while the Taliban has used women before, the magazine signals a change in strategy. Despite the group’s historically violent subjugation of women – whom they have killed, barred from attending schools and forced into marriages – it seems they’re trying to attract a new audience. “It is definitely an attempt, especially as it’s the first one, to reach out to a different audience, to reach out to different recruits,” Malik said, adding that it’s unusual for the TTP to actively seek out women to take up arms. The 45-page magazine features a lengthy article, entitled “Time of martyrdom has come,” that looks at ways women can assist the TTP in waging jihad. Among various action points outlined, the piece calls on women to “train yourself in weapon handling, self-defense.” The text is overlaid on photos of women dressed in niqabs, carrying assault rifles. “I ask you sisters to prepare yourself for martyrdom operations. There are lots of mujahideen working in Pakistan, please help them in achieving their aim,” the article reads. Last week, in a speech announcing plans to expand US military intervention in Afghanistan, President Donald Trump blasted Pakistan for being a terrorist hotbed. Georgia State professor Mia Bloom, whose 2011 study, Bombshell: Women and Terrorism, explores women’s roles in terrorist movements, said she’s seen a progression over time in how groups like the TTP reach out to women – whether it’s with al Qaeda’s Al-Shamikha magazine (dubbed ‘Jihad Cosmo’) or its Al-Khansaa women’s webzine. “It’s really a strategic logic that these terrorists are using,” Bloom told CNN. “For them, women are a tool or an instrument, to be exploited for whatever purposes necessary, and their objectives are ultimately longevity, survival and to flourish.” Bloom explained that both the Taliban and ISIS have increasingly used women as a tool to recruit other women, reward militants, retain their base and produce the next generation of fighters. “When you start to look at the progression over time, all of these publications attracting women are trying to cast a wide net and create the broadest possible appeal,” Bloom said. They’re treating this as a window of opportunity…this is the perfect moment for another organization to enter the playing field and try to attract that group of women. Louisa Tarras-Wahlberg ISIS has been particularly adept at attracting women to suit these needs, according to Bloom, who tracks the group’s propaganda output. As women begin to flee what ISIS claims as the caliphate, Bloom said she sees small signs that the militant group’s message to female recruits is changing. A video released by ISIS earlier this month showed young girls for the first time, reciting passages from the Quran in a classroom. “Here you have ISIS saying, ‘We’re educating our girls; we’re not like Boko Haram; we’re not like the Taliban.’” The Taliban banned girls from schools in Pakistan’s Swat Valley in 2009. Three years later, militants shot Malala Yousafzai, the schoolgirl turned women’s rights advocate, for defying them. But with its new publication, the group appears to be specifically targeting educated, upper-middle class, English-speaking women. In an article titled, “My journey from ignorance to guidance,” a Pakistani woman, who the magazine says studied overseas and received her PhD, tells how she contemplated traveling to Saudi Arabia and Syria before joining the TTP. Louisa Tarras-Wahlberg, who has researched ISIS’ propaganda targeting women, explained that this personal story – among others in the magazine – is aimed at engaging women who are already actively seeking to “wage jihad.” “They’re treating this as a window of opportunity. They’re seeing that ISIS is struggling and people are fleeing from Syria and Iraq,” Tarras-Wahlberg told CNN. “This is the perfect moment for another organization to enter the playing field and try to attract that group of women … women who are already highly engaged.”


Let’s start off with some good news: The Zika epidemic in Puerto Rico is over. Here’s 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. Pop the popcorn, put those drinks on ice, and get ready to settle down in front of the flat screen, computer screen or whatever screen you choose for a few hours of must-see TV. James Comey’s testimony today before the Senate intelligence committee – likened to the political equivalent of a Super Bowl – is one of the most anticipated congressional hearings in decades. And it has big-time implications for Donald Trump’s presidency. At this pivotal moment in the probe into Russian meddling in last year’s election, the fired FBI director is expected to publicly contradict Trump’s recollections of their private conversations. Comey dropped his seven-page opening statement a day before his testimony, and in it he says the President demanded a loyalty pledge from him and wanted Comey to find a way to let the investigation into Michael Flynn “go.” Comey said Trump also wanted him to lift the Russia “cloud” from his presidency. Comey’s statement also verifies Trump’s claim that Comey told him he wasn’t under investigation, something Trump wanted Comey to say publicly. So does all this amount to obstruction of justice? Senators are sure to grill Comey for an answer. (And unlike Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and NSA Director Adm. Mike Rogers, he may actually answer.) Almost lost in all this hoopla: Trump made his choice for a new FBI director. It’s Christopher Wray, a top official in George W. Bush’s Justice Department. Finally, will the President be live-tweeting along with the rest of us during Comey’s testimony? Republicans hope he doesn’t. Officially, the RNC will take the lead on rapid response to Comey. The deadly twin attacks in Tehran have jacked up the already high tensions between Iran and its longtime foe, Saudi Arabia. Iran blames ISIS and the Saudis for the simultaneous assaults on the country’s Parliament building and the tomb of its revolutionary founder. At least 12 people were killed. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard vowed revenge for the attack, which it tied to President Trump’s visit last month to Saudi Arabia. The President expressed sympathy for Iranian civilians but said Iran’s government, long considered one of the world’s leading supporters of state-sponsored terrorism, has only itself to blame. A military flight with 122 people on board that disappeared in Myanmar has been found. Wreckage and bodies were discovered in the Andaman Sea, just off the country’s west coast. The regularly scheduled military flight was headed to Myanmar’s capital of Yangon when contact with it was lost. Many of the passengers were military personnel, though there were also 58 civilian adults and 15 children on board. Why the plane went down is still being investigated. North Korea’s keeping up its busy missile-testing schedule. The North test-fired four anti-ship missiles into the sea. That’s 16 missiles launched in 10 tests so far this year, and the fourth one in a month. South Korea’s military said the test aimed to demonstrate the North’s precision in targeting missiles. Meanwhile, South Korea has suspended the deployment of THAAD, the missile defense system it got from the US. Two THAAD launchers are already up and running; the South’s not withdrawing those, but it will hold off on deploying four more launchers. South Korea says it’s doing this so an environmental assessment can be done, but let’s not forget that China was ticked off at both the US and South Korea over this defense system. The world’s leading tech companies may join up to wage war against fake news on the internet. Google’s parent company, along with Facebook, Twitter and others, are thinking about putting their brainy heads together to find ways to stop all the disinformation. It’s all part of an effort to make a safer internet for everybody. Jigsaw, a Google offshoot, already has developed tools to tackle related issues like comment trolls and ISIS online recruitment. 34% President Donald Trump’s approval rating – a new low – in the latest Quinnipiac poll It’s a snap UK voters head to the polls today for a “snap” general election that’ll go a long way to determining how the Brits leave the European Union. If you haven’t been paying close attention, let us help you catch up. People are talking about these. Read up. Join in. Fossil findsWe’re older than we thought. Scientists have found remains of Homo sapiens in Morocco that are 100,000 years older than those previously found. A little help When a pregnant gorilla at the Philly zoo struggled during labor, the vets knew just who to call – an OB-GYN. The bros are back Barack Obama and Justin Trudeau rekindled the world’s favorite bromance – and the internet rejoiced. Nutty problem Nuts and glass don’t mix. That’s why Southern Grove Cashews Halves and Pieces with Sea Salt are being recalled by the FDA. Historic screwup A San Diego middle school’s yearbook gets yanked after the N-word was inadvertently printed on the cover. Watered down The Slow Mo Guys are back, and their idea of fun is getting flattened – slowly – by a six-foot water balloon. (Click to view)


Turkey wants to keep Kurdish fighters from establishing control of Syria's side of border Airstrikes come as Syrian forces, Russia begin "humanitarian pause" in Aleppo Turkey says its warplanes have bombed Kurdish fighters in northern Syria, marking what may be the biggest single attack by Turkish forces against US-allied Kurds in that war-torn country since the Turkish military launched an incursion into Syria two months ago. The bombings happened Wednesday night against Kurdish fighters advancing against ISIS militants near Afrin, a city about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northwest of Aleppo, Kurdish militia representatives said. There was conflicting Information on the number of dead. Turkey said its attacks killed 160 to 200 Kurdish fighters. However, a predominantly Kurdish political party in Turkey, the HDP, said 14 people, including four civilians, were killed. The Turkish military also reported a cross-border exchange of fire early Thursday, saying five mortars from Afrin landed in the Turkish province of Hatay. Turkey said it responded with howitzer rounds, and no casualties were reported. The airstrikes are a new chapter in Turkey’s complicated involvement in neighboring Syria, where the Islamist terror group ISIS, Syrian rebels and other factions have fought in a civil war of more than five years. And it comes as Syrian regime forces and their Russian allies begin a “humanitarian pause” in Aleppo after weeks of bombardments against rebels there. Turkish tanks entered northern Syria in August in part to help Syrian rebels fight ISIS. At the time, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the incursion was part of an effort not only to battle ISIS but also the YPG, the military wing of the Syrian Kurdish opposition Party for Democratic Unity, or PYD. Turkey and the YPG share a common enemy in ISIS. Kurds are a large ethnic minority in Syria, and they have been a US ally against ISIS there. But Turkey is determined to keep Kurdish fighters from establishing control of Syria’s side of the Turkey-Syria border should ISIS be pushed out. Assad’s wife: I turned down chance to ‘run from Syria’ Turkey says the YPG and PYD are linked to Turkey’s own Kurdish insurgents, the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, which Turkey has designated a terror group and has been fighting for years. The YPG said that Turkey’s airstrikes Wednesday night targeted fighters from the YPG-affiliated Jaish al-Thuwar, or Revolutionary Front, which it says was advancing against ISIS in the eastern part of Afrin. Turkey’s military said it hit targets that PYD and PKK control with 26 bombs, destroying headquarters, ammunition storage and shelter. Elsewhere in northern Syria on Wednesday, the PYD and PKK took control of five residential areas near al Bab, more than 40 kilometers northeast of Aleppo, extending the area those groups controlled to the east, according to the Turkish military. In response, Turkey said it hit 13 PYD/PKK targets and 24 additional ones belonging to ISIS; further details were not released. In recent months, much of Turkey’s firepower has been directed at the Kurdish separatist PKK in southeastern Turkey and across the border in northern Iraq. It has also occasionally attacked ISIS positions in northern Syria. The Turkish leadership has strongly expressed a desire to be part of the Iraqi-led coalition to oust ISIS from the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, just across the Syrian border, but Iraq’s government has so far rejected the overtures. Suicide bomber killed by anti-terror forces in Turkish capital In east Aleppo, a Russian-declared “humanitarian pause” began Thursday, which Russia says will allow rebels and civilians to leave rebel-held sections of the city during daytime for three days. The Russian Defense Ministry unexpectedly announced the pause Tuesday after a weeks-long bombardment of the Syrian city. The airstrikes and the rising death toll received fierce criticism from Western powers. Related video Ghostly new video shows Aleppo in ruins There have been no airstrikes in the city since dawn Tuesday, Aleppo residents told CNN. The “humanitarian pause” will run until Saturday for 11 hours daily, starting 8 a.m. local time (1 a.m. ET), Syria’s army said. Russia has urged rebels to withdraw from the area using two corridors that lead west to the rebel-held Idlib province. However, rebel groups have told CNN they have no intention of accepting the offer. Six other corridors will reportedly be available to civilians who want to leave the besieged area, home to more than 250,000 people. UN’s special envoy warns ‘Aleppo will not be there anymore’ Video recorded Thursday by a photographer in the city showed no one using one such corridor. A resident of a rebel-held area of east Aleppo said two factors appeared to be keeping people from taking advantage of the corridors. “Many residents … actually want to go out of the city, yet we don’t trust the regime,” he said on condition of anonymity. But he said that mortars launched Thursday in the Bustan al-Qasr neighborhood, apparently by rebels, also appeared to be intimidating civilians. “It is like as if it was intentional to prevent civilians from thinking about trying to go out,” he said. Another resident who lives in a regime-held area said Thursday that Syrian forces were blasting an audio message telling people they will be safe if they leave rebel-held neighborhoods. But no one appeared to be leaving, she said, also on condition of anonymity. The Syrian military urged armed rebels in east Aleppo to “to leave their weapons, with assurances that they will benefit from the amnesty decree,” according to a statement Wednesday from the General Command of the Armed Forces. The statement referred to an earlier government decree that said rebels who lay down their arms would receive “amnesty” along with an opportunity to be transferred with their families to other parts of the country under rebel control. The Syrian military also reiterated past warnings that “the army and armed forces have accurate information on the locations of the gunmen.” “Anyone who does not make use of the available opportunity will face their inevitable fate,” the Syrian military statement said. CNN’s Isil Sariyuce reported from Istanbul, with CNN’s Jason Hanna and Max Blau reporting and writing from Atlanta. CNN’s Eyad Kourdi, Euan McKirdy, Tim Lister and Sara Mazloumsaki also contributed to this report.


President Barack Obama will have an “interaction” with Cuban President Raul Castro at this week’s Summit of the Americas in Panama, a senior U.S. official tells CNN. “Since they’re at the summit they’ll certainly interact but currently no formal bilateral meeting (is) scheduled,” the official said Monday. The confirmation follows comments Roberta Jacobson, the State Department official leading efforts to normalize relations with Cuba, made last Friday indicating the two would likely run into each other at the summit. “I think on the question of the interactions, clearly, clearly President Obama knew when he made the decision to go to the summit and he knew that Cuba had been invited to the summit…that there would be an interaction at the summit,” she said during a Brookings Institute event. “The leaders are together a lot of the time. And so there will be an interaction with Raul Castro.” Such a meeting would be the first between the two since Obama announced in December plans to thaw diplomatic relations with Cuba and move towards opening an embassy in Havana. The announcement was lauded by many in the U.S. as long overdue, but many Republicans have expressed fierce opposition to a move they say is premature and will only further entrench, rather than help overcome, Cuba’s long history of human rights abuses. Obama and Castro shook hands at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in December 2013, the last known public meeting of the two world leaders. In an interview with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman published this weekend, Obama defended the thaw as a “test” of a theory that thawing relations could produce better results than the prevailing policy toward Cuba, one made possible by the U.S.’ strength in the world. “We are powerful enough to be able to test these propositions without putting ourselves at risk. And that’s the thing … people don’t seem to understand,” he said. “You take a country like Cuba. For us to test the possibility that engagement leads to a better outcome for the Cuban people, there aren’t that many risks for us. It’s a tiny little country. It’s not one that threatens our core security interests, and so (there’s no reason not) to test the proposition. And if it turns out that it doesn’t lead to better outcomes, we can adjust our policies.” Jackson said she didn’t know “exactly what kind” of an interaction Obama would have with Castro, but that it would be “useful” for the two to connect as the nations work to normalize relations. “It’s useful obviously to be able to have that contact and move things along so that we can get things done and open embassies and move ahead with his relationship,” she said. Obama administration and Cuban officials have met three times since that January announcement to work on restoring embassies. The two-day summit, scheduled for April 10-11, is an opportunity for leaders from North, Central and South American nations to connect and discuss economic and humanitarian partnerships across the continent. Obama is scheduled to travel to Jamaica later this week to meet with leaders of Caribbean nations, before heading to Panama for the summit.

U.S. policy of thawing relations with Cuba


Basque separatist attacks have stopped after a five-decade insurgency Madrid was hit by its deadliest attack in 2004, in which 191 people died Spanish police say they are treating a deadly van ramming in Barcelona as a terror attack – a revelation that is likely to come as a shock to a country that has largely been spared the assaults that have hit its neighbors in recent years. The Spanish capital, Madrid, was hit by its deadliest terror attack in history in March 2004, when coordinated bombings on commuter trains killed 191 people and injured 1,800 more. The bombings were blamed on Islamist militants, who were based in Spain but inspired by al Qaeda. Related article Barcelona: '1 dead, 32 injured' in terror attack near Las Ramblas When that attack happened, Spanish media and officials thought initially that the Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA), a Basque separatist group, might have been responsible. The Spanish government says that ETA has carried out more than 1,600 attacks and killed more than 800 people in its decades-long fight for an independent Basque state that it wants carved out of sections of northern Spain and southwestern France. The ETA attacks have largely stopped, though the group carried out bombings as recently as 2010, mostly small-impact explosions that caused few injuries. In October 2011, the group declared an end to its armed activity, and this year it said it had completely disarmed. After several attacks in Europe, as well as Tunisia, Spain raised its terror threat level in 2014, and again in 2015. It now sits at four, or “high,” out of a maximum level of five. Spanish officials said they had “worrying indications” about the growing risk of a terrorist attack in Spain months before they raised the level in 2014, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. Deadly vehicle rammings have struck other key cities in Western Europe recently. In the French city of Nice, 86 people were killed last year when a truck plowed through a crowd celebrating Bastille day. ISIS claimed responsibility for that attack. In Berlin, a similar attack on a Christmas market in 2016 killed 12 and injured 48. And last April, an Uzbeki man killed five people when he drove a beer truck into a crowd in Stockholm’s city center.


Douglass worked with both Republicans and Democrats on behalf of black voting rights He saw a kinship in Haiti's history as a former slave colony and that of blacks in America He was an outspoken supporter of the women's suffrage movement His statue is the first to represent Washingon D.C. When a 7-foot bronze statue of 19th century abolitionist Frederick Douglass is unveiled at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, the event will honor a figure whose political legacy looms large but whose personal life is lesser known. Many Americans know that Douglass was born a slave in Maryland in the early 1800s and later wrote an autobiography “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American.” His tale of escape from bondage to statesman, abolitionist and activist in the women’s suffrage movement is also fairly well known. But sculptor Steven Weitzman says he found that while working on the piece, Douglass was a man whose life goes far beyond the legend. Here are five things you might not know about him: 1. He worked across the aisle Republican House Speaker John Boehner recently called the statue of Douglass “a fitting tribute to one of the greatest Americans and voices for freedom who ever lived.” The GOP connection to Douglass goes back centuries. Douglass had the ear of President Abraham Lincoln on matters concerning slavery and the treatment of black soldiers who fought in the Civil War. However, the two had a complicated relationship. Douglass was frustrated by what he saw as Lincoln’s delayed support of emancipation. Douglass would later go on to call Lincoln the nation’s “greatest president.” During the 1888 Republican National Convention, Douglass was both a speaker and became the first African-American in a major party roll call vote to have his name put forth for president. Douglass also conferred with Lincoln’s successor, Andrew Johnson, on supporting the right of blacks to vote. What ‘Lincoln’ misses and another Civil War film gets right 2. He held several government positions At a time when many African-Americans were trying to establish lives after slavery, Douglass was appointed to several high-level U.S. government positions. He served as minister and general counsel to the Republic of Haiti. He spoke at the 1892 Chicago World’s fair where he detailed Haiti’s journey as a colony founded on slave labor to one governed by former slaves, and drew a connection to the African-American struggle for freedom. Douglass was also the first black U.S. marshal and served in Washington. Abolition through education 3. He was a twice-married supporter of women’s rights Douglass was first married to Anna Murray, a free black woman who shared his passion and commitment to the abolitionist cause. She helped him escape slavery and the couple eventually adopted the last name Douglass. The couple and their five children were heavily involved in printing an abolitionist newspaper and helping support Murray’s underground railroad efforts as she aided runaway slaves on their journey north. Douglass’ second wife was Helen Pitts, the white daughter of an abolitionist who was very active in the women’s rights movement. Douglass spoke passionately at the Seneca Falls Convention on women’s rights and urged the gathering to support the right to vote for both genders regardless of race. 4. He often found himself in difficult political positions As an outspoken advocate for the right to vote for African-Americans and women, Douglass often found his relationship with those who supported similar causes strained. Abolitionist John Brown tried to convince Douglass to join the raid on Harper’s Ferry, a violent and ultimately failed attempt to start an armed slave revolt. “I…told him that Virginia would blow him and his hostages sky-high, rather than that he should hold Harper’s Ferry an hour. Our talk was long and earnest; We spent the most of Saturday and a part of Sunday in this debate: Brown for Harper’s Ferry, and I against it; He for striking a blow which should instantly rouse the country, and I for the policy of gradually and unaccountably drawing off the slaves to the mountains, as at first suggested and proposed by him,” Douglass wrote in “The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.” Douglass also found himself at odds with longtime friend and women’s suffrage advocate Elizabeth Cady Stanton, over the 15th Amendment, which prevents the government from denying citizens the right to vote based on race. Stanton had hopes to link women’s voting rights to the bill; Douglass worried this would sink the measure. Douglass publicly expressed frustration with Lincoln’s latent support of emancipation and once wrote of Johnson, who had blanched at meeting the black abolitionist: “‘Whatever Andrew Johnson may be, he certainly is no friend of our race.’” Commentary: Lincoln’s remarkable tie to former slave 5. The abolitionist’s statue will stand in a place built by slave labor It is no small symbol that Douglass’ statue will stand in the U.S. Capitol, a landmark built partly slave labor. They quarried the stones used in the columns, walls and floors. Douglass’ statue will be featured prominently in Emancipation Hall and will be one of the first big visuals millions of Americans see when they arrive. Douglass’ statue is the first to represent the District of Columbia and the third of an African-American at the Capitol. Martin Luther King Jr., and Rosa Parks from the civil rights era also have statues as does abolitionist Sojourner Truth. The unveiling comes on a day when many states celebrate “Juneteenth,” a day in 1865 when African-American slaves in Texas were finally told they were free. Historic milestone for African-American voters in 2012


Fresh off his star-making sermon at the British royal wedding on Saturday, Episcopal Presiding Bishop Michael Curry plans to take part in a candlelight vigil and protest in front of the White House on Thursday. Curry will be joined by leaders from Christian churches who say they are concerned about a “dangerous crisis of moral and political leadership at the highest levels of our government and in our churches.” Those crises, Curry and the other Christian leaders say, put “the soul of the nation and the integrity of faith” at stake. Organizers say they expect 1,000 people to turn out for a church service before the protest and for the protest itself, to be held on Thursday evening in Lafayette Square, a park across the street from the White House. “This weekend I spoke about the way of love. As elders, we view bringing the Reclaiming Jesus declaration to the public square as a tangible example of how to live out that way of love,” Curry said, referring to a statement, called “Reclaiming Jesus,” endorsed by progressive Christian leaders who lament the rise of political partisanship and the marginalization of vulnerable communities. The sharply worded statement also calls “America first,” a foreign-policy slogan endorsed by President Donald Trump, “theological heresy” and condemns  the “normalization of lying” and “the resurgence of white nationalism, racism, and xenophobia; misogyny; attacks on immigrants, refugees, and the poor.” “We are Christian leaders bearing moral witness to the teachings of our faith in the public square,” Curry continued. “As citizens we want our government to reflect our values. As a Bishop I believe we should follow the teachings of Jesus – who taught us to love God and love our neighbor.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Curry, the first African-American head of the Episcopal Church, lit up St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Saturday, delivering an impassioned sermon on the redemptive power of love at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle. Curry, who has been a pastor for nearly three decades, is known for seamlessly blending spiritual and political themes in his preaching and activism. As a bishop in North Carolina, he supported the Moral Mondays campaign, which included statehouse protests against perceived inequality.  At a rally in 2014, for example, he called for teachers to receive higher salaries and called education a “divine right.” At the White House protest, organizers say Curry will be joined by a number of other prominent progressive Christian leaders, including the Rev. Sharon Watkins, former General Minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Rev. James Forbes, former pastor of New York’s Riverside Church, and the Rev. Jim Wallis, President and Founder, Sojourners.


"That's not the person I knew," friend says of Dallas shooter Micah Xavier Johnson served a tour in Afghanistan Micah Xavier Johnson was infuriated, he told police negotiators, by the deaths of black men at the hands of police. Authorities believe that rage led the reclusive former Army reservist to kill five Dallas police officers and wound seven others, as well as two civilians, and plunge a country reeling from this week’s police shootings of two black men deeper into shock and grief. Johnson, who was killed by a bomb-carrying police robot after failed negotiations, allegedly fired the shots that tore through a peaceful protest against police violence and reignited the simmering national debate about police-community relations and  fairness in the criminal justice system, as well as the larger questions on race and gun control. Related gallery Officers shot during Dallas protest Federal law enforcement officials believe Johnson was the only shooter in the ambush, according to law enforcement officials briefed by the Dallas police. He had no criminal record and no known terror ties, a law enforcement official said. In an interview with The Blaze, Johnson’s parents and stepmother said Johnson changed after his military service, which included deployment to Afghanistan from late 2013 to mid-2014. Before joining the Army, he’d wanted to become a police officer and was idealistic about the military, said his mother, Delphine Johnson. “The military was not what Micah thought it would be,” she said. “He was very disappointed, very disappointed. But it may be that the ideal that he thought of our government, what he thought the military represented, it just didn’t live up to his expectations.” He never mentioned any traumatic incidents in the military, they said, and never showed any outward signs of hating white people. Dallas Police Chief David Brown told reporters that in an exchange with police before his death, Johnson said he was acting alone and had no ties to terror groups. The gunman also said “he wanted to kill officers, and he expressed killing white people, he expressed killing white officers” and  “expressed anger for Black Lives Matter,” the chief said. Live updates ‘End is coming’ shooter tells policeDeadliest day for police since 9/11‘It looked like an execution’ Dallas shooting in 60 seconds‘People trampled’, witness saysAftermath of shooting streamed liveAlton Sterling: Homeless man called 911Who are the slain officers? Live updates ‘End is coming’ shooter tells policeDeadliest day for police since 9/11‘It looked like an execution’ Dallas shooting in 60 seconds‘People trampled’, witness saysAftermath of shooting streamed liveAlton Sterling: Homeless man called 911Who are the slain officers? “None of that makes sense, none of that is a legitimate reason to do harm to anyone, so the rest of it would just be speculating on what his motivations were. We just know what he said to our negotiators.” Dallas police said Friday that a search of Johnson’s residence turned up bomb-making materials, ballistic vests, rifles, ammunition, and a personal journal of combat tactics.” Investigators were analyzing the journal’s contents, a police statement said. Johnson took up arms days after videos surfaced of fatal police encounters with black men in Louisiana and Minnesota – events that ricocheted through social media and prompted reaction from the highest levels of government. Alton Sterling, 37, was killed July 5 when police responded to reports of a man with a gun in front of a convenience store in Baton Rouge. Cell phone video shows two officers pin Sterling to the ground amid a scuffle, and he’s eventually shot by one of them. Related video Castile's fiancée: Dallas shooting is bigger than us A day later, Philando Castile – a 32-year-old school cafeteria supervisor – was shot multiple times by an officer who had pulled him over for a traffic stop. Castile’s fiancée used her phone to live-stream the aftermath of the shooting from the passenger seat while her daughter sat in the back. Poll: 1 in 5 African-Americans report ‘unfair’ dealings with police in last month A friend of Johnson’s said the former Army reservist “was just as upset as any other black man in America, but nothing pointed to this extreme when we spoke.” This friend, a classmate of Johnson’s from John Horn High School in Mesquite, Texas, who asked to speak anonymously, said he last saw Johnson about a year ago and that the reservist “loved his country.” While “he chose the wrong actions,” Johnson “wanted justice and equality for blacks,” said the friend. Friends from Johnson’s past spoke of their shock at the news and a sense of disconnect as they tried to align the horrific news reports with their memories of a man they described as a sunny, joking presence. “The person that I knew was a sweet-hearted person, he always had a smile on his face and his smile would light up a room,” said TJ Holley, a childhood friend from Mesquite. Like other friends, Holley said he was sure the root of Johnson’s problems lay in his military experience, which included a deployment to Afghanistan. “I don’t know what he saw or what happened over there,” Holley said, “but I think the military is one of the reasons why he did what he did and why he acted out the way he did.” Another friend described Johnson as a “normal, goofy, fun-loving guy” and said “I have a hard time believing this is the same person I knew.” This friend, who asked to remain anonymous, also raised the possibility that Johnson’s time in the Army changed him. “I don’t know if something happened after that that may have changed him,” this friend said. “I don’t know who this latest Micah was, but that’s not the person I knew.” An ROTC classmate of Johnson’s called him a “jokester,” adding that “he likes guns and things, but he wasn’t a violent person. He was more of a person who was there for anybody.” Another friend said that Johnson had been posting a lot on Facebook about African-American deaths at the hands of police officers, “but nothing that would indicate any strange behavior.” Footage of the large gray brick house where Johnson lived with his mother in Mesquite suggested a middle-class life. Wayne Bynoe, a neighbor of Johnson’s, told CNN that police cars were parked outside Johnson’s home Friday. Johnson “keeps to himself,” Bynoe said, adding that he’d become more withdrawn after a tour of duty in Afghanistan. Johnson’s classmate at John Horn High School countered that description, saying that he had been a “fun-loving guy who liked to have a good time.” The friend said Johnson never threatened to kill anyone, and “would tell stories about being in the military, but didn’t seem depressed or anything.” Johnson served in the U.S. Army Reserve from March 2009 to April 2015, training as a carpentry and masonry specialist, according to Pentagon records. As a private first class, Johnson would have received basic weapons training, but it’s unclear whether he would have received instruction in advanced shooting skills beyond the basics that every soldier gets. During his roughly seven-month deployment to Afghanistan, which began in late 2013, Johnson was accused by a female soldier of sexual harassment, according to attorney Bradford Glendening, who represented Johnson in the case. The attorney described the administrative complaint as “sort of a hostile work environment” case, and told CNN Saturday the accuser asked that she be granted a protective order against Johnson that would include herself, her family, her residence and her place of work, and asked that Johnson get some mental help. The Army instituted an administrative proceeding in which Johnson would be dismissed with an “other than honorable discharge,” Glendening said, but in September 2014 Johnson waived his right to a hearing and asked for the discharge to be upgraded. In April 2015, the Army said, Johnson received an honorable discharge. An Army spokeswoman did not have any immediate comment about the sexual harassment allegation against Johnson, which was first reported by The New York Times. “It tells me he might have had an increasing grievance against authority,” former Assistant FBI Director Tom Fuentes told CNN of the harassment investigation. “Some people don’t feel they should be investigated.” Johnson returned to his engineering brigade in Seagoville, Texas, in August 2014 to April 2015, according to his military records. During his service, he was honored with awards considered standard issue for military personnel serving in a war zone, including an Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a campaign star, an Army Achievement Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, an Army Service Ribbon, an Armed Forces Reserve Medal and a NATO Medal, CNN’s Barbara Starr reported. Related video Recent police killings reflect a disturbing trend Johnson’s Facebook page contains multiple references to black empowerment. His cover photo is the Pan-African or Black Liberation flag, and his profile picture shows him dressed in a West African shirt called a dashiki, with an upraised fist. Another photo shows a man dressed in military fatigues and a helmet, seeming to point a gun at the camera. A third photo shows Johnson in dress uniform. Other photos on his page include the iconic image of a clenched fist with the caption “Black Power,” another is a photo with Professor Griff of the band Public Enemy. Johnson also “liked” many groups related to African-American issues and black empowerment, such as the New Black Panthers, I Love Black Archaeologist, which posted on its Facebook page, “It seems that the police have been trying to motivate black people to do what happened in Dallas yesterday for years now.” Another group is the African American Defense League, which has a posting that calls for violence, saying, “WE ARE CALLING ON THE GANGS ACROSS THE NATION! ATTACK EVERYTHING IN BLUE EXCEPT THE MAIL MAN, UNLESS HE IS CARRYING MORE THAN MAIL!” In addition, Johnson “liked” multiple celebrity pages and the pages of several law enforcement agencies, including the Dallas Police Department, Arlington Police Department and Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona. Activists stressed that Johnson didn’t represent them. “His conduct is not indicative of the conduct of the majority of activists” around the country who are looking for equal treatment from the police, Nekima Levy-Pounds, president of the Minneapolis NAACP, told CNN. On Capitol Hill, members of the Black Congressional Caucus echoed that point. Rep. G.K. Butterfield, D-North Carolina, called Johnson a “terrorist and not part of Black Lives Matter.” CNN’s Evan Perez, Jennifer Hauser, Shimon Prokupecz, Richard Griffiths, Steve Visser, Kevin Bohn and Jason Hanna contributed to this report.


Sweet Zurich tour focuses on local chocolate confectionery gems like Honold and Conditorei Schober-Peclard Rousset advises chocolate tasters to let the chocolate melt -- not chew As with wines, it's important to know where cocoa beans originate, because their "terroir"  determines flavor “I just love it when I get milk-to-dark converts,” says Kerrin Rousset, as she prepares to lead a small cocoa-hungry crowd through the narrow streets of Zurich’s Old Town. Rousset, who makes a living leading people to the city’s finest chocolates, needn’t worry too much – we’re already lost to the dark side. We’ve joined her on a sunny afternoon in Paradeplatz, outside the flagship shop of Sprungli, a high-quality chocolate maker known for its delicate Luxemburgerli bite-sized almond meringues. We’re here because, although in Zurich you’re never more than a praline’s throw from an artisanal chocolatier (not that any sane person would throw away a perfectly good praline), it’s surprisingly tricky to locate truly excellent chocolate. It’s a task for a local connoisseur who’s already cracked the cocoa code. Rousset is a New Yorker with bright eyes, an unbelievably slim figure and a constant smile fueled by chocolate. She’s also the founder of the Sweet Zurich tour. A resident of Zurich for the past six years, Rousset shares her knowledge and passion about the small shops during tours she’s been running since 2011. Outside Sprungli, Rousset steers us away from what we thought would be our first chocolate hit. “You should definitely visit Sprungli while you are here,” she says. “The place is always lively, but it’s not included in our tour as we will focus on the more hidden, artisanal shops that would be harder to discover on your own.” We follow obediently. A few minutes later, we’re on a lively pedestrian street in the Old Town, sampling the wares in Honold, a family-owned confectionery and chocolate shop founded in 1905. Insiders give you tips for getting around Zurich I’m instantly hooked on Lotti’s Best – one of Rousset’s suggestions – a crumbly nougat feuilletine with tonka bean and a pinch of fleur de sel, covered with Criollo de Venezuela 65% and milk chocolate. Naturally, it’s easier, and much more fun, to taste than to describe. During our next stops, we taste a variety of chocolate creations, often mixed with unexpected ingredients, such as lemongrass or galangal, that test our taste buds and preconceptions. “The secret lies in the balance: if you find the correct one, then the combination simply works,” Rousset says. Cupcakes are included in today’s menu and we happily try the moist, light cakes with cream cheese toppings (a refreshing alternative to usual butter cream) and playful names such as Marilyn Monroe and Kokos Chanel. Between choc stops, we pause at some of the city’s numerous fountains to cleanse our palates. With church bells in the background, we discuss all things chocolate, such as cocoa bean origins and cocoa percentages. We learn that, as with wines, it’s important to know where the beans originate from, because their “terroir” significantly determines chocolate flavor. It transpires the cocoa percentage figure given on many chocolate bars merely indicates darkness and sugar content and is no reflection of quality. As well as feeding our chocolate-buzzed minds with facts about the world of cocoa, Rousset also tells us how she began leading tours of Zurich’s sweet spots. Europe’s oldest pastry shops “When friends and family would come to visit, I would take them to my favorite sweet shops,” she says. “Of course we would go to Sprungli, a Zurich institution, but it was fun to go to the small local shops where the owners had become friends, where we would chat and taste lots, too.” While answering questions about Swiss confectionery on her blog, she realized that many of her friends who were either from Zurich or living there for years, didn’t know about her favorite chocolate shops. That’s when she decided to do something about it. Our sugary tour concludes in Conditorei Schober-Peclard, a legendary coffee house that’s been successfully transformed into a pastry heaven. Owned by gastronome Michel Peclard, it’s housed in an impressive 14th-century building with a lavish interior and photogenic ornamental cash register. The star here is the hot chocolate, which we taste in its cold edition, but there’s an abundance of homemade pastries, cakes, ice creams and savory items. While we’re recounting our favorite tastings from the evening, the manager invites us to taste his latest discovery, a surprisingly refreshing cold brew of coffee mixed with tonic water. Another great taste from the dark side. Carac and 5 other iconic European cakes We ask Rousset to share her expertise on the art of proper chocolate tasting. “Use all your senses to recognize and appreciate a good quality chocolate bar; look for a nice sheen, not too glossy nor dull,” she says. “Sound: Break off a piece and you should hear a distinct snap, letting you know it was well-tempered. “Smell: There are countless aromas in cocoa beans, so you’ll smell a variety of natural aromas from fruits to spices to nuts, depending on the origin of the bean. “Taste: Let it melt in your mouth – don’t chew – and you should taste several flavors and no bitterness. “A sign of a good quality chocolate is when there are several stages of flavor – they develop in your mouth as it melts.  More importantly, the flavor doesn’t just disappear after you swallow, but lingers.” Sweet Zurich Tour; tours run Tuesday to Friday at 2 p.m. and last about two and a half hours (tour groups are typically two to eight people); CHF85 ($93) Swiss gourmet stars take fine dining way beyond fondu Zurich layover guide: Make the most of your Swiss stopover Rania Margari is a freelance journalist with an interest in travel, food and lifestyle stories. She’s based in Lausanne, Switzerland.CNN Travel’s series often carry sponsorship originating from the countries and regions we profile. However, CNN retains full editorial control over all of its reports. Read the policy.


China's northwestern Xinjiang province was once a vital Silk Road connection Mountainous and remote, it borders eight other countries “Bosh bosh!” vendors yell as they yank sheep along by their tails, shoving them from trucks into the pens where they’ll be sold to their death. We’re in the riotous Sunday livestock market on the outskirts of Kashgar, in the remote Xinjiang province in northwest China. Yaks, camels and Xinjiang’s famously fat-bottomed lambs have all been delivered to the market – the biggest of its kind in Central Asia – by bearded men from miles around, to be sold by the day’s end. The air is thick with cries of “bosh bosh!” – meaning “coming through,” in the local Uyghur language. At a nearby food shack, we order a couple of samsa – a crispy, stone oven-baked bread parcel filled with seasoned diced lamb, purchased and slaughtered in halal fashion that morning. Here, the phrase “farm to table” is literal. Blood from the remaining flesh of the animal drips from its bones by the shack’s entrance. Xinjiang might be one of China’s best-kept secrets. Once a vital stretch of the ancient Silk Road network of trade routes, today the province is notorious for violent ethnic tensions between the indigenous Turkic Uyghurs and swelling Han population, which have choked tourism in recent years. Many of its people’s faces bear the hallmark of Central Asia, its food has clear Turkish influences and the landscape is arid, fiery, and punctuated by Islamic, Turkic and Kyrgyz architecture. Anyone who saw the 2007 film “The Kite Runner” might recognize Kashgar’s Old Town. It doubled onscreen as Kabul, in Afghanistan – the only time Kashgar has appeared in a Western film. Perhaps the last time such a global spotlight fell on the oasis city was when Marco Polo passed through in 1273, and called it “the largest and most important” city in Xinjiang, before allegedly taking the local laghman noodles back to Italy, and rebranding them spaghetti. We try a plate of these noodles served with cooked tomatoes, onions and shredded beef, and can’t deny it’s not unlike a certain Italian dish. Those ancient streets captured on film are today mostly vanished. The city’s Old Town, deemed unsafe to live in, has been demolished. All that remains is a small neighborhood located a 15-minute walk from the Kashgar Bazaar. Nearby lies the new Old Town: an ambitious re-imagining of its predecessor which recaptures its elegant Islamic architecture but without the disorganized charm. Leaving Kashgar, we head out further west on a trip along the Karakoram Highway (KKH), the road that connects China with Pakistan via winding mountain passes. Overnight rain has left the road more treacherous than usual. Rocks have fallen which soldiers have been tasked with clearing. The 9,000-mile (14,484 km) highway from Kashgar to Abbottabad, in Pakistan, is currently being resurfaced on both sides of the border by Beijing, in a bid to improve the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. The China stretch is mostly finished, but the fresh tarmac needs to set, so we make a bumpy journey on rubble tracks beside the empty, pristine road. Every 10 minutes the landscape reinvents itself. Flaming red mountains are replaced by huge gorges. Ethnic Kyrgyz children living in stone houses with solar panels atop appear on the left, Tajik yurts to the right. They’re followed by grasslands populated by grazing yak and roaming herds of camels that peer into the car windows. Karakul Lake is the jewel in this bonanza of Instagram-worthy scenes. Stepping out of the car here, it’s hard to breathe. At its peak, the KKH is 15,397 feet above sea level, making it the highest paved international highway in the world. My lungs briefly brace at the altitude. Karakul means “black lake,” but the name is misleading. Its waters are a majestic jade green. They’re backdropped by eery, soft grey sand dunes. As we drive higher, towards the snowcapped Tian Shan mountains, it gets colder. By the time we arrive in Tashkurgan, a town almost upon the border with Pakistan, it’s raining. Police with sniffer dogs patrol the streets – China’s northwest frontier is a hotbed for heroin smuggling. This is where we must stop. The Khunjerab Pass that leads to Pakistan has been closed to foreigners, according to our driver, although no one will say why. He delivers us to a Byzantine-looking BBQ restaurant decorated with disco balls and and soundtracked by techno music. Customers wearing elaborate, bejeweled doppas (square skull caps) are served juicy lamb skewers and a Uyghur dish called manper soman – it resembles farfelle with vegetables and shredded meat – by Tajik owners. Spectacular, rarely seen images of China’s railways We only have nine days in Xinjiang. It’s a huge province, bordering eight countries – Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India – and is impossible to fully explore in such a short time. Our next stop, via the provincial capital Urumqi, is Turpan – one of the world’s lowest depressions. The fast train from Uruqmi takes 1.5 hours to reach Turpan. It whizzes past vast wind turbine farms in the red desert, but also oil and gas fields, a reminder of why Xinjiang is so vital to China. In Turpan, we check into a boutique hotel, The Vines, which is part of a working vineyard. Here, an amazing karez irrigation system of vertical wells and underground canals has channeled water from the mountains for hundreds of years, keeping this desert oasis  almost impossibly fertile. Tourism hasn’t exactly caught on yet. When I ask to buy a bottle of the red wine produced here, our host directs us to the local supermarket. The scorching Taklamakan desert outside of Turpan is home to the remains of ancient towns long ago swallowed and preserved by the sand, unearthed in the past century. As the temperature climbs to an arid 38 degrees Celsius, we find Tuyoq, one of the few inhabited ancient Uyghur villages, where mud-built homes appear camouflaged against the sandy landscape. Only the green dome of the Mazar, an Islamic shrine, stands out. Outside one of the mud homes stands a sign: “Former residence of Albert Von Le Coq.” Beneath, a scathing description outlines how in the early 20th century the German explorer, along with a band of rival Europeans, raided Taklamakan sites of historical treasures belonging to China, and deposited them to museums in their home nations. The Bezeklik caves, from the walls of which Von le Coq ripped scores of ancient paintings after he discovered the site in 1905, lie just outside the village. Back in Urumqi, we find a rarity in largely alcohol-free Xinjiang: a strip of bars. Gong Yuan Bei Lu is lined with overpriced cocktail joints and coffee shops serving beer. It’s a contrast to the rest of the province, where refreshment comes in the form of circular flat breads stamped with swirling patterns, shredded pumpkin and lamb steamed dumplings, salty Uyghur ice cream and lamb kebabs gently spitting on street grills. Around midnight we roll into Fusion Bar. Styled like a British pub, albeit one with two Christmas trees and a giant Super Mario model, it presents local jazz and rock acts. We’re the only Westerners in sight and, as complimentary Jack Daniels keep arriving at our table, we’re told the night rounds off with a jam session. And so, our time in Xinjiang is brought to a close with my traveling companion, a part-time musician, joining the electronic jazz band on stage to sing “Autumn Leaves.” Xinjiang knows how to make an impression.


Ashley Olsen's death is being treated as a homicide, a spokeswoman says Olsen's boyfriend reportedly was concerned because he had not heard from her Italian news agency ANSA reports that Olsen, 35, was found strangled An American woman, Ashley Olsen, has been found dead at her apartment in Florence, Italy. Her death is being treated as a homicide, police spokeswoman Maddalena Carosi said on Italian TV. Italian news agency ANSA reported that Olsen, 35, was found strangled, but authorities declined to comment on the cause of death until an autopsy is complete. Olsen’s boyfriend, a fellow artist, reportedly found her body on Saturday. He was concerned because he had not heard from her, so he asked Olsen’s landlord to go with him to Olsen’s apartment to check on her, ANSA said. “The police haven’t really said anything yet. My son is waiting for the police to share more,” Olsen’s grandmother, Ann Olsen, told CNN by phone from Florida. Olsen’s father, an architect, works for the Florence Art School Bianca Cappello. Ann Olsen described her granddaughter as a beautiful girl. She owned a beagle named Scout. A U.S. State Department spokesperson said the consulate in Florence was providing assistance. “We can confirm the death of U.S. citizen Ashley Olsen in Florence,” the spokesperson said. “We extend our deepest condolences to her loved ones.” CNN’s Vasco Cotovio, Dave Alsup, Allie Malloy and Hande Atay also contributed to this report.


The Chairless Chair is an exoskeleton that locks into place when you sit down It allows the user to rest their leg muscles and can improve posture, according to the Zurich startup behind the device BMW and Audi are set to conduct production line trials this year It’s like a chair that isn’t there, but magically appears whenever you need it. It’s called the Chairless Chair and you wear it on your legs like an exoskeleton: when it’s not activated, you can walk normally or even run. And then, at the touch of a button, it locks into place and you can sit down on it. Like a chair that is now there. “The idea came from wanting to sit anywhere and everywhere, and from working in a UK packaging factory when I was 17,” says Keith Gunura, the 29-year old CEO and co-founder of noonee, the Zurich-based startup behind the device, “standing for hours on end causes a lot of distress to lower limbs, but most workers get very few breaks and chairs are rarely provided, because they take up too much space. So I thought that the best idea was to strap an unobtrusive chair directly to myself.” The device never touches the ground, which makes it easier to wear: a belt secures it to the hips and it has straps that wrap around the thighs. A variable damper engages and supports the bodyweight, which is directed towards the heels of the shoes. These are specially designed and part of the mechanism, but an alternate version works with any footwear and touches the ground only when in a stationary position. The user just moves into the desired pose and then powers the device, which currently runs for about 24 hours on a single 6V battery. The idea came from wanting to sit anywhere and everywhere, and from working in a UK packaging factory when I was 17. Keith Gunura, co-inventor of the Chairless Chair “In addition to resting your leg muscles, it also provides optimal posture,” adds noonee CTO and co-founder Bryan Anastisiades “it keeps your back straight and can reduce the occurrence of bad postures for both healthy workers and those recovering from muscle related injuries.” Read: Spaceship reinvented for new frontiers Sammy Margo, a chartered physiotherapist, told CNN: “As physiotherapists we actively encourage people to move throughout the day. This device looks like a great compromise in that it allows the wearer to move as well as sit intermittently. I wouldn’t encourage its use for long term sitting, however it is suitable for people who need to vary their tasks.” The Chairless Chair is attracting interest and production line trials are set to start in Germany with BMW in September and with Audi later this year. While sitting down all day is so detrimental to health that it will shorten life expectancy, standing up in order to work is also a source of problems. Physical strain, repetitive movements and poor posture can lead to conditions called Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), which are now one of the leading causes of lost workday injury and illness. In 2011, MSDs accounted for 33 percent of all worker injuries and illnesses in the U.S. with over 378,000 cases, according to data from the United States Department of Labor. In Europe, over 40 million workers are affected by MSDs attributable to their job, according to a study entitled Fit For Work Europe and conducted across 23 European countries. Read: Incredible new tech inspired by nature The Chairless Chair represents an innovative approach to this problem, which is currently addressed mostly through ergonomics of the workplace. Although unique, it shares some similarities with the Swiss Milking Stool, a monopod used by farmers to milk cows, which dates back to the early 19th Century. It had straps that secured it to the wearer and required some practice to be used due to the single source of support. It was phased out by the rise of the milking parlor. An aluminium and carbon fibre frame keeps the overall weight of the Chairless Chair at just two kilograms, so it doesn’t burden the wearer with too much excess weight and only marginally impairs movement. And in the future, it could be fitted with smart motors able to infer the user’s intentions and offer the ideal posture without even the need to press a button. In addition to resting your leg muscles, it also provides optimal posture. Bryan Anastisiades, co-founder of noonee This could open up additional daily life applications, says Gunura: “Imagine if you had one of these while you were riding on a crowded train: it would make for a much more comfortable commute. But we’re also thinking about people behind the counter in retail, farmers picking fruit and even surgeons in the operating room. A chair would be impractical, but the Chairless Chair would fit in nicely.”


Editor’s Note: David R. Wheeler is a freelance writer and a journalism professor at the University of Tampa. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. Spain will soon unseat the US from our No. 2 spot on the list of the world’s top tourist destinations. Didn’t it feel good to be No. 2 for a while? Well, enjoy the last few months of that ranking, because we’re about to become No. 3. Although definitive numbers will not be published until the spring, France is expected to remain the most popular tourist destination in the world in 2018, with second place going to Spain, instead of the US, according to the UN World Tourism Organization. I’ve got nothing against Spain. Its natural and architectural beauty, along with the warmth of its people, make it my favorite travel destination by far. But there’s a reason more world travelers are choosing Spain over the US these days, and it’s not because the Grand Canyon became less grand in the past year. It’s not too much of a leap to surmise that Donald Trump’s rhetoric is scaring people away. Related video Official: Trump's rhetoric creating problems The number of international tourists visiting the US dropped by about 4% in the first six months of 2017, according to data released in December by the US National Travel and Tourism Office and the Department of Commerce. “It’s known as the ‘Trump Slump,’” writes Arthur Frommer, founder of the popular Frommer’s Travel Guides. “And I know of no reputable travel publication to deny it.” The tragedy of lost tourism dollars extends far beyond the condos and restaurants of resort towns and into the realm of irony. Why? Because tourism dollars are pure “profit” for the US. Have you noticed how, despite all the lost manufacturing jobs, companies still haven’t figured out how to outsource our majestic mountains? Or our beautiful beaches? These are treasures that can’t be manufactured elsewhere. If Trump is going to obsess over dollars flowing into and out of the US, wouldn’t he want to keep the tourism dollars flowing? But it’s not just tourism. His harsh rhetoric against other countries is also hurting the United States’ higher-education sector, another economic area where we’ve been “winning,” to use one of his favorite words. When it comes to higher education, America still has the best brand in the world. In fact, people are willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars – per person – to acquire a degree from an American college or university. Education export dollars topped $35 billion in 2015, and the trade gap is lopsidedly in our favor – and growing. Will it stay that way? If Trump doesn’t stop his reckless rhetoric, international students may start choosing a British or Australian university instead. Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that the number of new international students declined an average of 7% this past fall. The preliminary figures come from a survey of 500 colleges by the Institute of International Education. “Nearly half of the campuses surveyed reported declines,” the Times article notes. Why else is this important? It’s not just that we’re making money off our educational export of the American college degree. International students are far more likely to pay full sticker price at an American college or university, thus driving down the cost for Americans. As Business Insider recently noted, “International students are now ‘subsidizing’ public American universities to the tune of $9 billion a year.” Related video Where does Trump stand on immigration? By the way, the Muslim-majority countries Indonesia, Turkey, Iran, Kuwait and Pakistan send roughly 45,000 students to the US, and Saudi Arabia alone sends another 60,000 students, according to an analysis by Dick Startz, an economist at UC Santa Barbara. But wait – there’s more. Although factories have been leaving the country for decades – creating the notorious Rust Belt, the tragedy of failed cities, and probably the opioid epidemic – college towns have been beacons of hope. As Bob Davis notes in an article for The Wall Street Journal, many small-town and Rust Belt cities have bounced back after losing jobs to China. What do they have in common? You guessed it: a college or university. “Counties that are home to a land-grant university have lower unemployment rates than the US overall and bounced back faster from the most recent recession,” according to the Journal article. One more thing. The desperation that led to the rise of Trump has one common theme: decent jobs. Middle Americans lost their good jobs, and they want them back. According to The Wall Street Journal, one out of every 40 Americans gets his or her paycheck from a college or university. Back in 2015, Trump tweeted, “Mexican leaders and negotiators are much tougher and smarter than those of the U.S. Mexico is killing us on jobs and trade. WAKE UP!” Well, here’s a wake-up call on trade, especially for you, Mr. Trump. Want to win big on trade and save a huge number of well-paying American jobs? Get back to a welcoming attitude. When it comes to tourism and education, the money will follow.


Fall beers are the most popular seasonal style, thanks to Oktoberfest, wet hops and pumpkin flavors Many are showcased at this weekend's Great American Beer Festival in Denver The leaves are changing, football season is underway, and some pretty amazing beers are hitting shelves. For craft brewers, cooler weather brings a shift in seasonal styles. Gone are the crisp, light, refreshing beers of summer, making way for more malty and spiced brews. Fall beers are the most popular seasonal style, thanks to the popularity of Oktoberfest brews, wet hops and pumpkin flavors. Look no farther than the annual Great American Beer Festival, underway through Saturday in Denver, where thousands of U.S. craft brewers offer samplings of numerous fall brews. Some the best and most creative beers are released this time of year. So throw on that hoodie and try a new fall brew to celebrate the season. Here are 12 standouts: For better or worse, pumpkin beers have become the top-selling seasonal style among craft-beer drinkers. During the fall months, they’re even close to bumping India pale ales (IPAs) out of the top spot of most popular beer style. Spices like clove, nutmeg and allspice are commonly used in these brews, along with the orange gourds. Heavy Seas Brewing Great’er Pumpkin Baltimore’s Heavy Seas has one of the most flavorful and most powerful pumpkin beers out there. Adding to the pumpkin-spice flavors are oak, vanilla and bourbon, thanks to the aging of the beer in bourbon barrels. Dogfish Head Brewing Punkin Ale Dogfish Head, a leader in creative beer flavors, was doing pumpkin beer way before pumpkin beer was cool. Its Punkin is a spiced-up brown ale brewed with pumpkin, brown sugar and spices. This is the gold standard of the style and a true fall classic. NoDa Brewing Gordgeous Gordgeous’ unique spice character makes this a special offering from NoDa, a Charlotte, North Carolina, brewery. It adds fresh spices just prior to brewing, so this beer not only looks good, it tastes great, too. Previously available only on draft, Gordgeous now comes in cans for easier home consumption. Schlafly Brewing Pumpkin Ale This is a sweetly balanced beer that tastes like pumpkin pie. It’s probably one of the most sought-after pumpkin beers, and for good reason. If pumpkin is not your thing, and believe me, there are tons of you out there, fall still has some pretty good things for you. For one, it’s also Oktoberfest season. The famed German festival features malty dark lagers called Märzens, but if you can’t make it to Munich for the big party, don’t worry – plenty of craft brewers are serving up their own interpretations of the style. Sierra Nevada Brewing Oktoberfest Sierra Nevada joined the Oktoberfest party this year with a unique collaboration with the German brewer Brauhaus Riegele, one of the six brewers that serve beers at the official Oktoberfest in Germany. Each year going forward, Sierra Nevada will partner with another German brewery for its fest beer offering. Upland Brewing Oktoberfest This Indiana brewery is making really good beer these days, and its Oktoberfest is one of the best. While it’s on the lighter side for an Oktoberfest beer, it’s prominent hops make it nicely balanced. Other tasty offerings from Upland include Wheat Ale and Teddy Bear Kisses, a Russian imperial porter aged on cocoa nibs. Stoudts Brewing OktoberFest Stoudts Brewing has been quietly brewing great beer since 1987. The Pennsylvania brewery was co-founded by Carol Stoudt, a legend in the brewing community and the first woman to open a brewery since Prohibition. Its Oktoberfest celebration is one of the best in the country, and its Oktoberfest beer is an excellent, easy-drinking companion to the event. Revolution Brewing Oktoberfest Chicago has a rich German heritage, and Revolution Brewing honors that with its Oktoberfest offering. It uses all German malts in this one, along with German Hallertau Gold hops.  After a few sips, you may be “twisting and shouting” like Ferris Bueller. At the end of August, the hop fields of the Pacific Northwest are full of ripe hop cones ready for harvesting. The majority of those hops – used for bitterness, flavor and aroma – are harvested and preserved. But some hops are set aside within 24 hours of harvest to be used in “wet hop” ales. Compared with preserved hops, fresh-cut hops add a more vibrant, earthy flavor and aroma. Deschutes Brewing Hop Trip The folks at Deschutes bag and brew their hops within four hours for this bright, citrusy pale ale. Luckily for them, their brewery is in the middle of Oregon’s hop-growing country. For you hopheads, Hop Trip features Nugget, Centennial and Fresh Crystal hops along with some spices (hey, it’s fall). Sierra Nevada Harvest Wet Hop IPA Fresh, wet Centennial and Cascade hops give this balanced beer some citrus and herbal notes, but they’re not overpowering. Pine and grassy notes also crop up at the end, but the sweetness from the malts calm things down a bit. Sierra Nevada has been at the forefront of using wet hops and releases several fresh hop beers a year. Founders Brewing Harvest Ale This is a brilliantly juiced-up IPA with intense pine and tropical fruit flavor. The fresh hops, some of them harvested from Founders’ native Michigan, shine all the way through to the finish. Rogue Wet Hop Ale This year’s wet hop ale from Oregon’s Rogue brewery is something special. It’s brewmaster John Maier’s 19,000th beer for Rogue (one of which was a beer made with yeast from his beard). Don’t worry, there’s no beard yeast in this one – just Yaquina hops from Rogue’s farms, which are tossed in the brew kettle within five hours of picking.


Friday, May 4, is what is unofficially known as Star Wars Day. For those of you who (or whose parents) didn’t have a hard time finding a date in high school, it’s Star Wars Day because in the Star Wars series, “May the Force be with you” is a classic line. Get it? May the Force Fourth. Good news is that it’s also Star Wars Day on our very special #FlashbackFriday post. Gather ‘round, fellow nerds. You might think that Jar Jar Binks ruined the franchise, but rest assured, politics beat him to it. The culprit: President Ronald Reagan’s March 1983 speech on defense spending, since dubbed his “Star Wars” speech. “The budget request that is now before the Congress has been trimmed to the limits of safety. Further deep cuts cannot be made without seriously endangering the security of the Nation. The choice is up to the men and women you’ve elected to the Congress, and that means the choice is up to you,” Reagan said in the televised address. Reagan was trying to justify a hefty boost to the Defense Department’s budget in order to protect against the threat of Soviet attack. Critics were having none of this partially space-focused program. The New York Times said the technology Reagan wanted was “decades away from reality.” He basically wanted everything short of X-Wing fighters and lightsabers. He also wanted $30 billion more for defense in the 1984 budget. Likewise, President Donald Trump is currently looking to the stars. Almost seeming to pull from the title of one of the most recent Star Wars iterations (or a 1984 video game), Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of a “Space Force.” Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani also referred to FBI agents who raided Michael Cohen’s office as “stormtroopers.” Although, it’s entirely possible Giuliani had the even more evil historical version of stormtroopers in mind. Like Reagan, Trump has asked for a healthy bump in defense spending, although it’s not specifically for “Space Force.” Surely we are close to exhausting the list of 1980s reboots, right? Reagan’s Star Wars speech wasn’t his first foray into a galaxy far, far away. A few weeks prior, he had delivered his “evil empire” speech, in which he described the Soviets in Vader-esque terms. At the time Reagan was delivering these speeches, America was awaiting the third film in the original Star Wars trilogy.  “Return of the Jedi” was released in May that year. In between developments on current US-Russia relations, Star Wars fans today await the finale of the current trilogy. Time is a flat circle. Things ended up going well for both America and the Rebel Alliance back in the 1980s. May the Force be with us this time around.

United States defense spending policies under Presidents Reagan and Trump


The Indian Ocean island nation of the Maldives is engulfed in a political crisis, after the President defied a Supreme Court ruling to reinstall opposition MPs and release political prisoners. President Abdulla Yameen instead declared a state of emergency and ordered the arrest the chief justice a former President. In a TV address, Yameen insisted that it was business as usual and urged Maldivians to remain calm. He claimed the Supreme Court had acted “hastily” and argued that his actions were designed to prevent a coup. On Tuesday, President Yameen said in a statement the Supreme Court had decided to reverse he ruling that precipitated the crisis and nine political prisoners would not be released. Yameen came to power in 2013 in a disputed election that opponents say was rigged. Since then, he has been accused of eroding democracy, cracking down on dissent and jailing opposition leaders. In 2016, the Maldives withdrew from the UK Commonwealth after the association of former British colonies threatened to suspend it for chipping away at democratic institutions. To the alarm of some opposition figures, Yameen courted investment from China and Saudi Arabia – his last visit to Beijing was in December. Mohamed Nasheed, who became the country’s first democratically elected President in 2009 and achieved worldwide renown for highlighting the effect of global warming on the archipelago, was imprisoned in 2015 on terrorism charges that his supporters say were spurious. Nasheed was allowed to leave prison a year later to seek medical treatment abroad, and was granted asylum in Britain. He hoped to challenge Yameen in presidential elections later this year, and was in the Sri Lankan capital, Colombo, when the Supreme Court delivered the ruling that touched off the latest crisis. The simmering political crisis came to a head last week when the Supreme Court, in an unexpected ruling, ordered the release of nine dissidents and the reinstatement of 12 legislators who were fired for abandoning Yameen’s party. The ruling would have given the opposition a majority in the country’s legislative assembly. Yameen refused to comply, and instead dispatched the military to the Supreme Court in the capital, Male, on Monday. Security forces “blockaded and locked the Supreme Court building from outside and hence the justices are without any food,” Maldives’ former Attorney General Husnu Al Suood tweeted. Police also detained Yameen’s estranged half-brother and former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who ruled the country for 30 years until the transition to democracy. The pair fell out in 2016, journalist Mohamed Junayd said, and last year he joined forces with Nasheed to form a new opposition coalition. Gayoom was arrested along with his son-in-law, Mohamed Nadheem, early on Tuesday morning in what the Maldivian opposition have called “blatantly trumped up charges of bribery.” Yameen also imposed a state of emergency, giving him sweeping powers which he used to order the detention of Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge, Ali Hameed. The remaining three justices overturned the earlier ruling, a statement on the court’s website read. In a televised address to the nation, Yameen claimed he had acted to prevent a coup, Reuters reported. The President’s office insisted that while the state of emergency imposed certain restrictions, no curfew would be put in place. “During this time, though certain rights will be restricted, general movements, services and businesses will not be affected,” it said in a statement. The two former Presidents have urged India to intervene to force Yameen to release the judges and other political prisoners. Nasheed urged India to deploy a “physical presence” in the archipelago. India – which rarely intervenes in foreign countries – helped put down an attempted coup in the Maldives in the 1980s. On behalf of Maldivian people we humbly request:1. India to send envoy, backed by its military, to release judges & pol. detainees inc. Prez. Gayoom. We request a physical presence. 2. The US to stop all financial transactions of Maldives regime leaders going through US banks. In a statement, India encouraged its neighbor to abide by the rule of law. “In the spirit of democracy and rule of law, it is imperative for all organs of the Government of Maldives to respect and abide by the order of the (Supreme) court,” the statement said. The US issued a stern criticism of the President’s actions. “President Yameen has systematically alienated his coalition, jailed or exiled every major opposition political figure, deprived elected members of parliament of their right to represent their voters in the legislature, revised laws to erode human rights… and weakened the institutions of government,” the State Department said in a statement. China, which has been vying with India for influence in the region, said the crisis should be resolved internally, Reuters reported. Yameen appears to be enjoy the support of the army, at least for now. State television showed several police officers and soldiers promising to sacrifice their lives “in the defense of the lawful government” on Sunday, Reuters said. Situated to the southwest of India and Sri Lanka, the Maldives are hugely popular as a tourist destination, especially for Chinese visitors. Almost 1.4 million tourists from across the world visited the Maldives in 2017, according to government statistics, including hundreds of thousands from China and the United Kingdom. The Maldives government released a statement Tuesday through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reassuring tourists that the situation remained calm and would not affect tourism. “All tourism related businesses will be operating as usual and the situation of the Maldives remains stable,” the release said. “The state of Emergency does not force any restrictions on traveling to the Maldives or within the Maldives.” China issued a travel warning for the island chain ahead of the Lunar New Year, which begins February 16 and is China’s peak travel season. “We suggest the Chinese tourists who plan to travel to Maldives should not go there before the situation calms down,” a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said Monday. India and the United Kingdom also issued travel warnings for archipelago.


Australia says its warplanes were among a number of international aircraft in Saturday's operation ISIS shot down a regime warplane in Deir Ezzor, killing a pilot, Syrian state media says One day after coalition airstrikes bombed Syrian government troops, warplanes made multiple attacks against rebel strongholds in eastern Aleppo on Sunday. Sunday’s strikes turned up the pressure on a fragile ceasefire brokered between Washington and Moscow, now in its sixth day, and make the cloudy situation in war-torn Syria even grayer. It was not known who conducted Sunday’s strikes, which the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said were the first in Aleppo since the US-Russia-backed ceasefire took effect last Monday.  At least one woman has died and many people have been wounded, some critically. Russia has said the US-led coalition airstrikes that mistakenly killed dozens of Syrian troops on Saturday – prompting a diplomatic firestorm – put the ceasefire in jeopardy. The strikes near Deir Ezzor Airport – which the US says were intended to target ISIS but instead killed 62 Syrian soldiers, according to the Russian military – sparked a furious row between the US and Russian ambassadors to the United Nations outside an emergency Security Council meeting. Related video Obama administration regrets Syrian military deaths The US has expressed regret for the strikes, while Australia, which says its planes were among a number of international aircraft involved in the operation, expressed condolences to the victims’ families. “We consider what happened as a natural result of the persistent refusal of the United States from the establishment of close cooperation with Russia in the fight against ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and other affiliated terrorist groups,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Bouthaina Shaaban, a political and media adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, told CNN’s Becky Anderson that Syria is adhering to the truce and the US should start cooperating. “I ask the United States if they truly mean to target terrorists, where is the problem in coordinating their efforts with Russia, with the Syrian-Arab army, with anyone who is targeting terrorists?” asked Shaaban. “After all, this is the target for all of us, so why are they prolonging the agony of the Syrian people and allowing the terrorists, all this time, and all this space, to slaughter our people?” she said. The strikes occurred Saturday in a part of eastern Syria that is not covered by the ceasefire. The US military acknowledged having carried out the strikes, but said they was targeting ISIS militants and that if strikes hit Syrian troops, it was by accident. Related article Residents of Aleppo neighborhood still feel the pain of war The US “relayed our regret through the Russian Federation for the unintentional loss of life of Syrian forces fighting ISIL,” a senior US official told CNN late Saturday, adding that the US would continue to pursue compliance with the ceasefire agreement while targeting terror groups like ISIS, which are not covered by the truce. Australia’s Department of Defense said in a statement that Australian aircraft were involved in the attacks in Deir Ezzor, targeting “what was believed to be a Daesh fighting position that the Coalition had been tracking for some time.” It said bombing “ceased immediately” once Russian officials notified the coalition’s Combined Air Operations Center that the targets may have been regime forces. Russia and Syria said the strikes prove Washington and its allies are sympathetic to ISIS, which they say was able to briefly capture a Syrian position in the wake of the coalition attack. The Russian military says 62 Syrian soldiers were killed in the strikes, according to state media, while the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 83, with at least 120 soldiers wounded. Related video What the ceasefire looks like in Aleppo On the sidelines of an emergency UN Security Council meeting called on the matter, tempers were high. Russia’s permanent UN representative, Vitaly Churkin, questioned the timing of the strikes, two days before Russian-American coordination in the fight against terror groups in Syria was to begin. “I have never seen such an extraordinary display of American heavy-handedness,” he said, after abruptly leaving the meeting. Churkin was upset with US ambassador Samantha Power, who lambasted Russia’s support of the Syrian regime to the media outside the meeting while he was speaking. Related article In Aleppo, relieved residents emerge from rubble during ceasefire Power angrily denounced the Russian call for the UN meeting, saying “even by Russia’s standards, tonight’s stunt – a stunt replete with moralism and grandstanding – is uniquely cynical and hypocritical.” If US-led coalition airstrikes did hit Syrian forces Saturday, it was unintentional and Washington regrets any loss of life, she said, before proceeding to list atrocities she said the Syrian regime has perpetuated during the five-year civil war. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded to her remarks on Facebook, saying Power would understand “the meaning of the word ‘shame’” if she visited Syria and met the people living there in “a bloody experiment, with the active involvement of Washington.” A statement from US Central Command said the coalition conferred with the Russian military before the strike. “The coalition airstrike was halted immediately when coalition officials were informed by Russian officials that it was possible the personnel and vehicles targeted were part of the Syrian military,” US Central Command said. A US official told CNN they broadly described the geographic area to the Russians – as is customary – before the strike but did not give a precise location. The coalition thought it was going after an ISIS tank position. “Syria is a complex situation with various military forces and militias in close proximity, but coalition forces would not intentionally strike a known Syrian military unit,” CENTCOM said. Syrian troops have been battling ISIS for years in Deir Ezzor, where the Islamist militants control most of the city. On Sunday, the Sunni terror group shot down a regime warplane involved in an anti-ISIS operation in Deir Ezzor province, killing the pilot, state-run SANA news agency reported, citing a military source. The terror group claimed responsibility for the shootdown in a statement circulated online by the ISIS-affiliated Amaq agency. Related article Syria ceasefire deal: What happens next? Russia blamed the United States for failing to coordinate with them on Saturday’s airstrikes, a Russian Defense Ministry spokesman told Sputnik. ISIS militants launched an attack on the Syrian position after the airstrikes, Sputnik reported, citing the Russian Ministry of Defense. The SANA news agency said the military was able to quickly regain control of the area. The Syrian military said it viewed the strike as evidence the United States and the coalition support ISIS. It called the incident a serious and blatant aggression, SANA reported. Russia’s Foreign Ministry had similar words, according to spokeswoman Zakharova. Related article 'There are no winners in Aleppo' The latest ceasefire has offered some respite from violence in the civil war, which has killed an estimated 430,000 people since 2011 and touched off an international refugee crisis. But there have been numerous reports of violations, and both the Russians and Americans have said the other party is not fulfilling its obligations. The main focus of the ceasefire was to allow humanitarian aid to reach the Syrian people. But nearly a week after the ceasefire began, desperate populations in besieged areas are yet to receive aid, which has been held up on the Turkish border as humanitarian agencies await guarantees of safety from the warring parties. Once the humanitarian relief was in, the Russians and Americans were meant to agree on targeting jihadist factions: Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham, the former al Qaeda affiliate in Syria, and ISIS. To do that, they are supposed to set up a Joint Implementation Center. CNN military analyst Lt. Col. Rick Francona said it is not clear now what will happen. “This might put in danger this Joint Implementation Center that the US and the Russians are supposed to set up in the next few days to coordinate just these kinds of strikes against ISIS and to prevent just what happened,” he said Saturday. CNN’s Samantha Beech, Joel Williams, Frederik Pleitgen, Matthew Chance, Daniel Nikbakht, Merieme Arif, Mohammed Tawfeeq and Sebastian Shukla contributed to this report.