Jeb Bush hammered Donald Trump Thursday after the Republican presidential nominee appeared open to major shifts on his immigration platform -- several of which echoed the former Florida governor's during the GOP primary fight.


Jeb Bush blasts 'abhorrent' Trump shifts on immigration


(CNN) The Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa circuit has got off to a chaotic start with the race being red flagged on the 10th lap.
Kevin Magnusson in a Renault had a heavy crash that brought out the safety car.
The drivers returned to the pits but were able to rejoin in race order at the time of the smash.
For championship leader Lewis Hamilton and McLaren driver Fernando Alonso it boosted their chance of scoring points. Both started at the back of the grid after taking penalties but quickly moved into the top five during the track drama.
RAI 📻 (on VES tactics): "His only interest is pushing me off the track completely. This is just ******* ridiculous" pic.twitter.com/0AZPwvtHD0 — Formula 1 (@F1) August 28, 2016
At the start of the race Hamilton enjoyed a 19-point lead over his team mate and closest rival Nico Rosberg, who qualified in pole position, but he faced the possibility of losing the leadership until the crashes.
Read More


The Belgian Grand Prix at the Spa circuit has got off to a chaotic start with the race being red flagged on the 10th lap.


Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

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Seeking justice for sex trafficking victims


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Donald Trump's interview with Anderson Cooper (Part 2)


Presidential candidate Donald Trump spoke with CNN's Anderson Cooper about Hillary Clinton in this second part of their interview.


Story highlights Japanese surgeon gifts Nigerian team $390,000 for bronze
Katsuya Takasu says he would still have donated the money even if they lost
Takasu says he cried after Nigeria's bronze victory
Lagos (CNN) The Japanese surgeon who gifted the Nigerian Olympic football team nearly $400,000 said they would have received the money even if they didn't win a medal.
Katsuya Takasu said he was so taken with the spirit of the Nigerian side that he planned to give each player $10,000 even if they failed to win a medal in Rio.
He told CNN: "I didn't tell anybody. I didn't want to diminish the morale and I told them you have to win."
Takasu said he wept after Nigeria won the bronze match against Honduras in Mineirão on Saturday.
"Although it was a close game all the way till the end. I was so happy and cried for their winning. Japanese are sentimental," he told CNN with a laugh.
Read More

Japanese surgeon gives Nigeria Olympic team $390k


The Japanese surgeon who gifted the Nigerian Olympic football team nearly $400,000 said he would have still rewarded the team even if they didn't win a medal.


(CNN) Editor's Note: Ruwan Rujouleh is a Middle East analyst at the Centre on Religion and Geopolitics, an initiative of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation . The views expressed in this piece are solely those of the author.
If you look at the headlines coming out of France, you might conclude that the country's famous brand of "laicite," or secularism, is now being defended by a theocracy that would give Iran a run for its money.
Pictures of a Muslim woman surrounded by armed police on a beach in Nice have rightly caused an outcry. The images show the condescending way law enforcement officers forced the women to undress, while her children watched.
France abandons Western values
France seems to have completely turned against Western liberal values -- and there's a danger that France no longer looks any different from Iran or any other theocratic state, where religious police patrol the streets, monitoring women in public places, and checking whether or not they are following the rules.
The only difference is that France is suffocating individual freedoms in the name of "protecting secularism," while Iran and others do so to "protect religious identity." Both have a distinct absence of liberal pluralism that the Western world has so far taken for granted. Extreme secularism in France looks no different to extreme Shia ideology in Iran.
As an American Muslim citizen raised in Syria, I am in shocked by these pictures. Growing up in Damascus, life used to offer a cultural pluralism that most now take for granted. Throughout the Middle East, people look at countries in the West in awe, seeing laws that are enacted to guarantee an individual's right to practice their faith and live freely without chains or fear.
A turning point in the West?
But we are at a fundamental crossroads -- one that is causing those of us who care about upholding these values to worry that this may no longer be the case in the future.
This isn't a problem only in France and Iran. Left and right, we're seeing a growing polarization of the political sphere, from Donald Trump i n America to Jeremy Corbyn in Britain.
This move toward the extremities should be cause for concern for all those who want to uphold the liberal, centrist values that the West has historically fought for. Not purely because illiberalism is at odds with our nature, but because if we choose to allow this culture to creep into our political life, incidents like what happened to an innocent Muslim French citizen Tuesday could become the norm.
'Don't give illiberal populism space to breathe'
A woman wears a burkini, on a beach near Tunis, Tunisia.
If we give these sorts of populist "movements" the space to flourish, the Western millennial generation will be forced to spend their adult lives living in an atmosphere the Western world is no longer accustomed to.
This is a generation who've rightly grown up taking Western values for granted. As children they were told that they should live and let live, to appreciate and thrive on the intrinsic differences that some seek to divide us on.
You can see that in the way young people overwhelmingly voted in favor of staying in the European Union. It may sound trite, but they want to be able to enjoy the beach in peace, whatever they are wearing.
We've advanced beyond illiberalism, beyond accepting hate and division as a way of life, beyond the insecurity that drives such actions.
The answer has to be a revived, renewed political center as the only political thought capable of owning and enhancing these values. The alternative allows extreme illiberal populism the space to create the type of atmosphere that will lead to more incidents like we've seen in Nice.

Burkini bans: France is giving Iran a run for its money


In instituting burkini bans, France is defending the country's famed secularism with a theocracy that would give Iran a run for its money, writes Ruwan Rujouleh.


(CNN) The death of one of ISIS' most prominent figures, Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, is one more example of the pressure the group is under in both Iraq and Syria. Al-Adnani was the most visible figure in ISIS' core leadership, and instrumental as the group's spokesman and external operations planner.
According to the ISIS' affiliated news agency Amaq, al-Adnani was killed while supervising battle lines in Aleppo province in northern Syria. Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook confirmed that al-Adnani was the target of a "precision strike near al-Bab, Syria." That's a critical junction for ISIS in northern Syria as it tries to retain access to the Turkish border some 25 kilometers away.
ISIS has lost plenty of key figures in the last 18 months -- many of them to US drone strikes as intelligence on the movements of the group's hierarchy has improved. But the loss of al-Adnani is a severe blow. He'd been the group's emir in Syria for more than three years, had a high public profile and a key role in organizing plots to attack Western Europe.
Even though ISIS remains a resilient outfit with what might be called a deep bench, his death comes at a critical time for the group.
ISIS' core territory in Iraq and Syria has continued to shrink over the last month. ISIS has lost some 15% of the land it held at the beginning of the year and its affiliates in both Libya and the Sinai desert in Egypt also have suffered setbacks.
It's much too early to begin writing death notices: There are plenty of opportunities for ISIS to exploit as its enemies turn on each other in both Syria and Iraq, but it's under pressure on many fronts.
Al-Adnani himself had recognized this. In an audio message at the end of May -- his first in seven months -- he asked of the "crusaders": "Will we be defeated and you victorious if you took Mosul or Sirte or Raqqa or all the cities -- and we returned as we were in the beginning? No, defeat is losing the will and the desire to fight."
Setbacks for ISIS
Over the past month, the Iraqi army and Kurdish Peshmerga forces have chipped away at ISIS' control around Mosul, the largest city it controls and the place where ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi declared the "caliphate" two years ago.
The expulsion of ISIS from the town of Qayyarah by Iraqi security forces further fragments the territory it holds in the area. The Peshmerga claim to have recovered several villages and about 100 square kilometres of territory to the east of Mosul.
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has promised Iraqis that Mosul will be liberated this year, but that will require a coordination of multiple forces and a plan for governance.
In Syria, the rebel Syrian Democratic Forces finally drove the remnants of an ISIS presence from the town of Manbij, a critical way station between Raqqa and the Syrian border (and not far from where al-Adnani was killed.) Hundreds of ISIS members fled north to the border town of Jarablus on the Syrian border -- only to flee again weeks later when the Turkish-led incursion into northern Syria began.
Gen. Joseph Votel, commander of the US Central Command, told reporters at the Pentagon that al-Baghdadi had told fighters in Manbij "to fight to the death."
"They didn't," Votel said, questioning how much command and control ISIS leadership has over its fighters.
Another US official, Adam Szubin, whose role at the Treasury includes pursuing terrorists' sources of money, says the group is under growing financial pressure. In an interview last month with the Combating Terrorism Center's Sentinel, he said, "We've seen allegations to the tune of millions of dollars being embezzled by ISIL leaders as their resources have shrunk."
Beyond the caliphate
In Libya, the last pocket of ISIS resistance is clinging on in the coastal city of Sirte, attacked on the ground by militia that support the nascent Libyan government and from the air by US airstrikes.
However, kicking ISIS out of Sirte may be a double-edged sword. Its fighters have scattered to the south, but the many Tunisians among them may return home to launch more terror attacks there, according to a new United Nations report.
In the Sinai desert, where the ISIS affiliate has inflicted hundreds of casualties on Egyptian security forces, military operations appear to be having some success. In August, the Egyptian army claimed to have killed a senior leader of the group.
Opportunities for ISIS
Amid fast-moving events in northern Syria, one surprise was the speed with which ISIS retreated from Jarablus - a crucial conduit for supplies and fighters. After weeks of resistance in nearby Manbij, hundreds of ISIS fighters slipped out of Jarablus within hours of the incursion by Turkish armor.
Perhaps they decided that resisting Turkish tanks and US airpower was pointless. But ISIS' leadership may also have calculated that the Turks' real target was the Syrian Kurdish militia -- the YPG.
A weaker Kurdish resistance would suit ISIS just fine. An expanding conflict between the YPG and Syrian rebel factions supported by Turkey would relieve some of the pressure on Raqqa, the largest town in Syria still held by ISIS.
The United States has urged both Turkey and the YPG to focus their attacks on ISIS, and on Tuesday a tenuous truce appears to have taken hold. But there is little love lost between rebel factions supported by Turkey and those that joined the YPG under the US-supported umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces.
Columb Strack, a senior analyst at IHS Jane's, says ISIS' "main objective here is to maintain the remaining informal smuggling routes across the Turkish border, and the town of al-Bab, which acts as a logistics hub for that. Losing access to the Turkish border would make the Islamic State's governance project unviable."
ISIS also will be hoping for more clashes between the Kurds and the Syrian regime after the sudden flare-up in Hasakah last month, so it can take advantage of how thinly spread the YPG is across a huge front.
ISIS also appears to be probing a new front in southern Syria, close to the Jordanian border. In late June it carried out a suicide bombings against Jordanian soldiers on the border. Last week, it launched a complex attack against a rebel group's base where the borders of Jordan, Syria and Iraq meet. It can still carry out offensive operations on a wide number of fronts.
Even so, across the globe, from North Africa to Afghanistan to western Europe, ISIS and its affiliates are beginning to look more like a traditional terror network and less like wilayat, or provinces of the caliphate, as they are grandiosely described.
ISIS will continue to take advantage of a fluid battlefield and the weakness of its enemies where it can. It will continue trying to co-opt and coerce other Islamist factions and tribes, especially in Syria. But above all it will look for ways to attack Western Europe, Russian cities and even the United States.
More often than not, such attacks will be carried out by individuals (as was the case in Nice, Ansbach, Orlando and Rouen) with a complex mix of personal and religious grievances who adopt the ISIS brand late in the day.
But as its core territory shrinks, ISIS will celebrate such attacks with desperate glee.

Death of senior leader Adnani caps bad month for ISIS


The death of one of ISIS' most prominent figures, Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, is one more example of the pressure the group is under in both Iraq and Syria. Al-Adnani was the most visible figure in ISIS' core leadership, and instrumental as the group's spokesman and external operations planner.


Killing puts spotlight on Chicago gun violence


Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

Chicago Beyond Manager Director Liz Dozier speaks with CNN's Amara Walker about gun violence on the city's streets.


Washington (CNN) Students returning to school this fall are likely to face some confusion as school boards struggle with the issue of access to bathrooms for transgender individuals.
A year-and-a-half after the Supreme Court cleared the way for same-sex marriage nationwide, there is a new frontier for LGBT litigation and it concerns transgender rights.
The legal battle is playing out in some school districts, led by a transgender male student in Virginia who seeks to use the bathroom that corresponds with his gender identity, as well as in courts across the country, most notably in North Carolina where the Justice Department has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the state's 2013 bathroom law.
Last April, a federal appeals court ruled in favor of Virginia resident Gavin Grimm, who fought the school board's new policy at Gloucester High School that denied him access to the boys' bathroom but allowed him the use of recently constructed single-stall unisex restrooms.
"Forcing a transgender student to use separate restrooms from everyone else interferes with that student's equal access to the resources and educational opportunities of school," ACLU attorney Joshua A. Block, Grimm's lawyer, had argued in court papers.
But lawyers for the school board won an emergency bid from the Supreme Court to temporarily freeze the opinion pending appeal. On Monday, they will ask the justices to take up the case this term.
For now, Grimm will return to school this fall unable to use the boys' bathroom.
Grimm's case had a ripple effect on other schools.
Last June, for example, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District in North Carolina had put forward regulations directing that transgender students could use the bathroom of their gender identity.
But after the Supreme Court issued a temporary stay in Grimm's case, the school district changed course.
Superintendent Ann Clark released a statement saying that while the school district "remains committed to nurturing a safe and welcoming learning environment for every student" the district was putting a "temporary hold" on the regulation.
The Obama administration has thrown its weight behind transgender students.
"We see you," Attorney General Loretta Lynch told transgender individuals when she announced the lawsuit in May. "No matter how isolated or scared you may feel," she said, "the Department of Justice and the entire Obama administration wants you to know that we see you."
JUST WATCHED Mom fights for 5-year-old's bathroom rights Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Mom fights for 5-year-old's bathroom rights 02:05
Lynch's words came as welcome relief to those who believe that LGBT opponents, having lost at the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage, are now targeting the transgender community.
In May, the departments of Justice and Education told public school districts and colleges that receive federal funding that it interprets "sex discrimination" under Title IX, a federal law that bans sex discrimination in schools, to include claims based on gender identity.
"A school may not require transgender students to use facilities inconsistent with their gender identity," the guidance reads.
The administration's guidance outraged Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton who led a charge on behalf of several states and last week won a nationwide injunction from a district court judge in Texas barring federal agencies from taking action against the schools that disagreed with the guidance.
That injunction came down late on a Sunday night, the night before many students were returning to school.
Paxton praised the ruling saying in a statement that the President was "threatening to take away federal funding from schools to force them to conform." States and school districts "are charged under state law to establish a safe and disciplined environment conducive to student learning," he added.
The Justice Department said it is reviewing options on how to respond.
JUST WATCHED White House issues guidance on transgender bathrooms Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH White House issues guidance on transgender bathrooms 02:04
On Thursday, Paxton went a step further and advised educational institutions in Texas that they "need not change their policies regarding intimate facilities to comply with the unenforceable federal guidelines, so long as this injunction remains in place."
Dru Levasseur, director of the Transgender Rights Project at Lambda Legal, blasted the district court's ruling, saying it would cause confusion.
He stressed that while the injunction prevents federal agencies from revoking federal financial assistance from schools who don't agree that Title IX protects claims of gender identity discrimination, the judge did not rule on whether transgender students could use the restroom of their gender identity.
Levasseur says that for years transgender students have been using the restroom according to their gender identity, but now "opponents are preying on the lack of understanding of who transgender people are, and they are bringing baseless challenges."
Legislation has been introduced in 15 states that could negatively impact transgender individuals, according the Williams Institute at the University of California School of Law. The group estimates that nearly 300,000 transgender adults and youth (ages 13 and above) reside in those states.
But Matt Sharp, a lawyer for the Alliance Defending Freedom, says the Obama guidance represents an overreach of federal authority into an area that properly belongs to state and local school districts. His group represents students, parents and a school boards in Ohio and Illinois who are suing the federal government over its interpretation of Title IX.
He argues that schools are trying to accommodate transgender youth by offering options such as single stall restrooms and changing rooms.
"The schools have found the right balance to protect everyone's privacy rights while at the same time showing compassion for those struggling with gender identity issues," said Sharp.
"The government is exceeding its power in telling the school boards that they violate Title IX for simply maintaining separate locker rooms and restrooms for boys and girls based on their biological sex, something schools have been doing for decades," Sharp added. "If there is confusion this fall, it is the fault of the Obama administration."

Courts leave transgender rules in limbo as school begins


Students returning to school this fall are likely to face some confusion as school boards struggle with the issue of access to bathrooms for transgender individuals.


(CNN) You shouldn't put illegal drugs in your body, and you shouldn't let neighborhood bodies of water ingest them, either. A new study suggests that aquatic life in Baltimore is being exposed to drugs, and it's having an impact.
And these aren't soft drugs; they include methamphetamine and amphetamine . They're messing with the growth and development of organisms in local streams.
It appears aquatic life -- the moss that grows on rocks, the bacteria that live in the water and the bugs that hatch there -- are the unexpected victims of Americans' struggle with drug addiction.
The study is published in the latest edition of the journal Environmental Science and Technology.
The water was tested by scientists working with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies who looked at six streams in and around Baltimore. The residue was particularly high in the water they tested in urban settings.
Since the researchers wanted to know whether these drugs had a direct impact on life in these waters, they created an artificial stream, complete with rocks and plants, and exposed it to the same level of amphetamine residue they found in natural waters.
In one of the artificial streams, jars were used to measure the rate of organisms' oxygen production and consumption.
After only a few weeks, the plants and bugs showed signs of being affected.
The growth of biofilms -- the slippery organisms you find on rocks at the bottom of streams -- was suppressed after exposure to this drugs. Bacterial life changed. Bugs that lived in the water developed quicker and emerged sooner.
Researchers sample water, as well as algae and bacteria, at Gwynns Run in Baltimore.
Drug-addicted water bugs may not be on the top of your regular list of things to worry about, and it doesn't mean you'll be getting high off your tap water any time soon, but the kind of change these scientists saw could be a bigger concern.
Here's why: These plants and bugs are the base of the aquatic food web. Birds eat the bugs, as do frogs and fish. As emergent contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and endocrine disruptors become more common in ground and drinking water, they could affect humans. Scientists say the direct health effects are pretty much unknown, and more research will need to be done.
This is not the first study to find drugs in water where drugs shouldn't be. Studies have found the presence of other personal care products and drugs such as antidepressants, antibiotics, antihistamines, blood thinners, heart medications and hormones in rivers, lakes and streams. A US Geological Survey study done in 1999 and 2000 found some presence of pharmaceuticals in 80% of water samples from a large network of streams in 30 states.
What's different about the new study is that it is one of the first to add methamphetamine and amphetamine to that long list of substances. Few studies have looked at the presence of illicit drugs in such waters.
If you're wondering how in the world it got there, study co-author Emma Rosi-Marshall believes the root of the problem is our aging water infrastructure.
A water filter measures how much algae is growing in the artificial stream.
"They are likely coming down through leaks in the sewer," said Rosi-Marshall, an aquatic ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. "It also has been shown that the drugs can be released from wastewater treatment plants that are not necessarily designed to remove these compounds."
This means people may be directly flushing their drugs down the toilet. Or, more likely, illicit drugs are being excreted by users and literally going down the drain.
Our bodies can metabolize only a small part of the drugs we take, illicit or otherwise, so a part of that drug can pass out of your body through your feces and urine. You can also sweat it out, and it can wash off and down the tub drain.
The Environmental Protection Agency (PDF) discourages nursing care facilities, pharmacies and hospitals from flushing unused drugs. There's even a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day . But such policies and special days help only with legal drugs. They clearly can't stop illegal drug users from passing them along into the water system.
Consequently, Rosi-Marshall and her co-authors argue, more needs to be done to strengthen our water systems.
Join the conversation See the latest news and share your comments with CNN Health on Facebook and Twitter.
"We need to invest in maintaining and repairing our aging underground water infrastructure and potentially develop new technology," Rosi-Marshall said.
Sewage treatment plants can remove some medicines from the water, as they clean it for other elements, but not everything gets filtered out. Improving these technologies may be a good start to help the environment and to protect public health, Rosi-Marshall said.

Your drain on drugs: Meth seeps into Baltimore's streams


A new study finds aquatic life in Baltimore is being exposed to illegal drugs methamphetamine and amphetamine and it's having an impact on their growth.


Mine rescue miracle story hits the big screen


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An eye-popping response to Trump's attack


Watch woman react with hilarious shocked face to Trump "bigot" attack. Jeanne Moos goes behind Trump's back.


(CNN) "Star Trek" turns 50 on September 8, which means many who first watched the premiere on NBC -- or even discovered it via reruns -- are eligible for Social Security. And the most committed of those fans were pioneers in their own right -- blazing a trail that helped forge the outlines of modern fan culture.
Without slighting Gene Roddenberry's creation, that loyal Trekker contingent (please, don't call them "Trekkies," which many fans see as disparaging) represents the franchise's defining element. Their obsessive devotion, their fixation on minute details and their vocal praise -- and criticism -- not only served as a template for the sci-fi/pop-culture universe but qualifies as "Trek's" most enduring legacy.
"Star Wars" was an instant sensation; "Star Trek" required more nurturing. And it was "Trek" fans who, even before internet chat rooms or social media, nursed it back to life after its initial three-year run on NBC.
That level of involvement has also been a source of tension between Trekkers and Paramount, the studio behind the franchise. While many fans have a clear vision of what's right for the franchise, the company sees "Star Trek" as a profit center, capitalizing on its built-in audience as leverage to advance larger business interests.
Toward that end, Paramount made "Star Trek: Voyager" the centerpiece in launching the UPN network in 1995. And CBS -- which now controls "Trek's" TV component, a byproduct of its divorce from Viacom -- is doing much the same by delivering a new offshoot, "Star Trek: Discovery," to power its pay-to-view CBS All Access service, in 2017.
Read More

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Leicester's Fuchs on UEFA Champions League


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(CNN) World leaders touch down in the Chinese city of Hangzhou this week for the G20 summit and Beijing is determined it will proceed without a hitch.
Factories are shuttered, skies are clear and security is tight. Local residents have been given seven days extra vacation time and discounted tours to destinations outside the city to ensure Hangzhou is free of crowds and traffic.
Meanwhile, thousands of migrant workers have left the city due to the halt in their work lives and the growing inconvenience caused by G20 preparation measures.
What will be discussed at the summit? How has China prepared? And why is it in Hangzhou anyway?
Here's five things you need to know.
China takes the lead
The Hangzhou meeting will be the first G20 China has hosted, and only the second held in Asia since 2008.
The G20's first high-profile meeting was in Washington D.C. in 2008 , after the fall of Lehman Brothers bank and the start of the global financial crisis.
An alternative to the more exclusive G7, it was designed as a way to create conversation at the top levels of international government and try to ensure disasters, like the financial crisis, were avoided in the future.
The Hangzhou summit has been called another "milestone" for a rising China, keen to show its growing dominance on the world stage.
It's an opportunity for President Xi Jinping to burnish his diplomatic credentials.
He'll meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and it will likely be his last bilateral meeting with US President Barack Obama.
Photos: China's best public bike system – While the rest of the country is moving from two wheels to four, cycling culture is thriving in Hangzhou. The city has the world's biggest public bike system, offering more than 84,000 bicycles for rent. Hide Caption 1 of 10 Photos: West Lake – A stroll along the 12,000-acre West Lake in Hangzhou city center is all it takes to understand why the city is called "paradise on earth." Hide Caption 2 of 10 Photos: Mountain getaways – About 40 kilometers away from the city center, Qiandai Resort sits on Jing Mountain. The low-profile resort doesn't have a website, though it does have a WeChat account (China's version of Whatsapp/Facebook). Hide Caption 3 of 10 Photos: Zen – Surrounded by lush trees, Lingyin Temple is a pocket of calm a short ride from the city center. It's one of the country's oldest and most important Buddhist monasteries. Hide Caption 4 of 10 Photos: Silk – Hangzhou is known as the city of silk. Scarves are the city's most popular silk souvenir, highlighting its cutting-edge dyeing techniques. The industry leader is Wensli , a homegrown silk brand. Hide Caption 5 of 10 Photos: Longjing tea – Hangzhou is home to some of China's finest -- and priciest -- tea leaves. The village of Longjing is where tea leaves were grown for China's ancient emperor. Tea-picking season is usually around late March to April, when travelers from across the country visit the village for quality tea leaves. Hide Caption 6 of 10 Photos: Hangzhou cuisine – Unlike dishes from northern China, heavy in sauces and spices, Hangzhou cuisine -- also known as Hangbang cai -- is mild but flavorful with a focus on fresh ingredients. Longjing shrimp is Hangzhou's signature dish. Hide Caption 7 of 10 Photos: Alibaba – Nicknamed China's Silicon Valley, Hangzhou is home to Jack Ma, the founder and chairman of Alibaba Group and the second-richest man in China. Alibaba, the world's leading e-commerce group, has transformed Ma's hometown into a high-tech metropolis. Hide Caption 8 of 10 Photos: China Art Academy – Hangzhou's China Art Academy has seen some of the country's most celebrated Chinese artists pass through its halls. The head of its architecture school, Wang Shu, brought home China's first Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2012. Hide Caption 9 of 10 Photos: Fans – It's said that tea, silk and hand fans are Hangzhou's three unparalleled gifts. The most iconic fans are by Wang Xing Ji. Established in 1875, this time-honored brand has charmed tourists and locals alike with its intricately designed fans. Hide Caption 10 of 10
No effort spared
China is not taking any chances with the showpiece event -- Hangzhou is in "virtual lockdown," according to CNN's Andrew Stevens, in the lead-up to the arrival of world leaders on Friday.
A security checkpoint at the West Lake scenic spot in Hangzhou.
Police officers and security guards will be stationed every five to 10 meters at popular attractions like the city's West Lake, according to the state-run Global Times newspaper.
"Security is tight and getting tighter," Stevens said, adding his camera crew were stopped multiple times and asked for their credentials.
One migrant worker told CNN that authorities had confiscated the gas tank his family uses for cooking, saying it didn't meet safety standards.
"Ordinary people suffer. It's really affected our daily lives," said Xu, who didn't want to give his full name.
Hangzhou: Innovation capital?
Hangzhou wasn't just chosen to host the G20 because of its natural beauty -- it's also symbolic as a marker of China's transition from a low-cost manufacturer to high-tech economy.
E-commerce group Alibaba, one of China's largest companies and most successful start-ups, was founded in Hangzhou, the hometown of founder Jack Ma.
Alipay -- Alibaba's mobile payment application -- has changed the way Chinese people shop.
Chinese residents can easily get by without a wallet as the app allows them to pay bills with a simple swipe of their smart phones -- even at the smallest street restaurants and vegetable vendors.
"We're pretty small city, only have close to nine million people but Hangzhou is so powerful, so influential to China's economy, to China's culture," Ma told Alibaba's news services Alizila.
President Xi has a history with the city as well -- he lived in Hangzhou for five years while serving as the province's Communist Party chief and is said to be fond of his time there.
G20 blue
Hangzhou is renowned as one of China's most beautiful cities, but, like many places in China, it struggles with pollution, ranking 43 out of 74 cities in a 2014 study by Greenpeace.
But in the lead-up to the G20, the sky has cleared as polluting industries have been shut down or moved for the international meeting's duration. Some 225 factories have been ordered to close and traffic will also be restricted, with half the city's vehicles barred from roads from August 28.
The China Daily said an upper limit of PM2.5 particles, one of the worst pollutants, was set at 35 micrograms per cubic meter during the summit. The average PM2.5 level in Hangzhou in 2014 was 66.1.
Nearby cities of Huangshan, Anqing, Yiwu and even Shanghai are also cleaning up their factories, according to Chinese media.
It's a pattern seen before other big ticket events.
In 2014, Beijing residents coined the wry phrase "APEC blue" after authorities went all out to ensure clear skies before the powwow of Asia Pacific leaders and last September the skies turned "parade blue" as Beijing hosted a massive military parade.
Images taken from CNN's Beijing bureau on November 6, when the sky was blue during the APEC summit, and on November 19 when the smog returned.
The elephant in the room?
It's been less than three months since China lost to the Philippines in an international court case over its contested territorial claims in the South China Sea.
But at the G20 in Hangzhou, the host country will be working hard to keep it off the agenda.
Vice-Foreign Minister Li Baodong said it will be focusing on economic issues, according to government mouthpiece China Daily , rather than security.

Hangzhou G20: China tightens security, clear skies for summit


World leaders touch down in the Chinese city of Hangzhou this week for the G20 summit and Beijing is determined it will proceed without a hitch.


(CNN) Italy's anti-mafia chief is adamant that the country's notorious crime syndicate must be kept from infiltrating reconstruction efforts, as an investigation opened into why so many buildings collapsed in a devastating earthquake last week.
The earthquake that struck central Italy before dawn on Wednesday flattened entire villages in ancient towns like Amatrice, but even newly constructed buildings that were supposed to be quake-proofed, including a school, were destroyed.
Bulldozers pull down structures in danger of collapsing in Amatrice, Italy, as aftershocks continue.
"The risks are there, it's impossible to hide. And post-earthquake reconstruction is historically a delicious morsel for criminal groups and business interests," anti-mafia prosecutor Franco Roberti told the Italian daily La Repubblica.
A neat fracture line in the pavement is a telling sign of the earth's violent movement below the streets of Amatrice.
A neat fracture line in the pavement is a telling sign of the earth's violent movement below the streets of Amatrice.
A poster for the 50th anniversary of Amatrice's famous pasta festival, set to take place the weekend following the earthquake, remains on the perimeter of a park now occupied by emergency response volunteers.
A poster for the 50th anniversary of Amatrice's famous pasta festival, set to take place the weekend following the earthquake, remains on the perimeter of a park now occupied by emergency response volunteers.
Emergency personnel survey a cordoned-off area in the center of Amatrice. Much of the town is now inaccessible to everyone but authorities.
Emergency personnel survey a cordoned-off area in the center of Amatrice. Much of the town is now inaccessible to everyone but authorities.
The gated doorframe of a home is the only part of it that remains standing.
The gated doorframe of a home is the only part of it that remains standing.
AnnaMaria Volpetti, 52, stands at the entrance of the tent where she and her family have sought refuge after their ancestral holiday home was ruined in Accumoli.
AnnaMaria Volpetti, 52, stands at the entrance of the tent where she and her family have sought refuge after their ancestral holiday home was ruined in Accumoli.
A view of the tent camp set up by the Civil Protection Agency in the Abruzzo region as temporary housing for displaced residents from the mountain commune of Accumoli.
A view of the tent camp set up by the Civil Protection Agency in the Abruzzo region as temporary housing for displaced residents from the mountain commune of Accumoli.
Rescuers congregate in the shade near a temporary camp under construction for residents displaced by the earthquake in Amatrice.
Rescuers congregate in the shade near a temporary camp under construction for residents displaced by the earthquake in Amatrice.
An camp for emergency volunteers is erected in a park in Amatrice.
An camp for emergency volunteers is erected in a park in Amatrice.
Three days on, various emergency response groups congregate in an open area in Amatrice. Rescuers were initially hindered by the lack of access to the mountain town.
Three days on, various emergency response groups congregate in an open area in Amatrice. Rescuers were initially hindered by the lack of access to the mountain town.
The destroyed convent of Amatrice is visible from the Italian Red Cross field headquarters in Amatrice.
The destroyed convent of Amatrice is visible from the Italian Red Cross field headquarters in Amatrice.
The destroyed interior of a home is seen in Amatrice.
The destroyed interior of a home is seen in Amatrice.
Emergency crews huddle near the iconic Amatrice clock tower still standing amid the rubble. The frozen hands of the clock rest at the time of the earthquake: 3:36 a.m. local time.
Emergency crews huddle near the iconic Amatrice clock tower still standing amid the rubble. The frozen hands of the clock rest at the time of the earthquake: 3:36 a.m. local time.
An emergency responder passes by the rubble of the building in Amatrice where Roberto Partenza and his family lived before the earthquake struck in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, August 24.
An emergency responder passes by the rubble of the building in Amatrice where Roberto Partenza and his family lived before the earthquake struck in the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday, August 24.
He said the country could learn lessons from the 1980 Irpinia earthquake, in which more than 2,400 people died.
"Behind those thousands of dead was reckless building and clan affairs," Roberti said.
"And without wishing to rush judgments I see that also in 2016 many buildings crumbled, public buildings also. Too many," he said, adding that if anti-seismic standards had been met, buildings might crack but shouldn't collapse.
"This is why ... I imagine there's a lot to learn."
He said, however, that the reconstruction after an earthquake in L'Aquila in 2009, which killed more than 300 people, had been largely successful.
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Devastation
The quake has so far claimed the lives of at least 290 people, and as hopes of finding any more survivors are all but gone, officials are now faced with cleaning up the mountains of rubble and organizing a mammoth reconstruction plan.
In Amatrice -- the worst hit town -- the main road was almost entirely destroyed. Bulldozers are now demolishing the half-standing structures that have no hope of being repaired. Amatrice's mayor has vowed to rebuild the town as it was, but some are wondering if that's smart to do in a town that lies on a fault line -- officials on the ground estimate that it could take five years.
Trials continue over 'mafia-linked' reconstruction
Italy has long struggled with mafia power and corruption. The finance ministry has its own police force and has sent officers to monitor the recovery so that all resources go to the right people and places.
The country's law enforcement agencies are in a renewed anti-mafia drive, and more than 140 people are currently on trial for helping the southern 'Ndrangheta mafia infiltrate the country's wealthy north. Many of them were accused of helping the network profit illegally from reconstruction projects after deadly earthquakes in the Emilia-Romagna region in 2012.
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Anna Sergi, an organized crime expert from the University of Essex, said she was pessimistic that the country would be able to keep the mafia entirely out of the reconstruction.
"Construction is one of the mafia's main sources of revenue, partly because construction is linked to territory, so the mafia not only seeks construction contracts for money, but also to mark their territory," Sergi told CNN.
A photo posted by Fred Pleitgen (@fpleitgencnn) on Aug 24, 2016 at 9:13am PDT
"There is very likely to be corruption in a reconstruction effort like this, because in Italy, where there is a lot of money, there is always a link to mafia power."
Another challenge in keeping them out of the picture is that they are very difficult to spot these days.
"In more traditional areas of mafia power, they used to use guns and violence to intimidate people, but in most places, they now look more like businessmen, who use corruption and threats to win contracts."
What often happens, Sergi said, is that a mafia-linked company will win a contract for a certain amount of money, and underpay its sub-contractors to pocket a wider margin.
"They pay their workers way less, so they of course do a worse job, and that leads to higher maintenance costs, and in many case, more money generated for them."
The Romolo Capranica school crumbled in the Italian town of Amatrice
Corruption a 'cancer in Italy'
In some affected parts of central Italy, the villages are so small that officials have to weigh up whether they will bother rebuilding at all.
The village of Capricchia has a few hundred people living there in the summer, when residents from cities visit the mountains to get out of the heat. But in the winter, there are usually 12 to 15 residents.
"I don't think there'll be a future." Rosella Santorelli
In the village, Rosella Santorelli is staying in a campervan, too afraid to stay in a building as aftershocks continue.
"I don't think there'll be a future. Our village is poor, there are no people and no jobs. Amatrice is 5 miles away, but there's nothing left of that."
And even in L'Aquila, where the reconstruction was apparently a success, some said they felt they were left out of the town's rebuild, and that too much had been spent fixing the damage to the historic center rather than their neighborhoods.
JUST WATCHED Life in the rubble Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Life in the rubble 01:57
"In Italy, corruption is the big problem," Davide Tonati, 36, told CNN in L'Aquila.
"There are many politicians and bribes. It is the cancer in Italy."

Italy earthquake: Mafia-busting chief warns of criminal reconstruction


Italy's anti-mafia chief is adamant that the country's notorious crime syndicate must be kept from infiltrating reconstruction efforts.


London (CNN) Steffi Graf and Serena Williams played each other twice, and walked away with a win each.
But when it comes to winning grand slams, Graf is rooting for Williams to break her Open era record of 22 major singles titles at this month's US Open.
"I'm cheering her on, yes," the former top-ranked German told CNN's Open Court in an interview at the Rio Olympics . "Because it's great for the sport. Why not? She's done so much for the sport. She's out there working hard."
'I hope she does break it'
Aged 47 and now living in Las Vegas with husband and eight-time grand slam winner Andre Agassi and their two children, Graf said she wouldn't mind being knocked out of the history books by Williams.
"I'm happy for her, I'm excited for her," Graf said. "It's cool that records are being broken, that's what they're there for. She's been phenomenal for the sport of tennis, it has been great to watch. I hope she does break it."
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Williams, who turns 35 next month, tied Graf's slam record at Wimbledon , where she beat Germany's Angelique Kerber to clinch her seventh title at the All-England Club.. A double Olympic champion at the 2012 London Games, Williams was less successful in Rio where she was upset in the first round of the doubles event with sister Venus and in the third round of singles
Dubbed "Fraulein Forehand" by the late American tennis writer Bud Collins, Graf's game was built around a blistering forehand, athleticism and superb footwork.
Photos: Graf backing Serena Serena Williams is currently tied on 22 grand slam wins with Steffi Graf -- a joint-Open era record -- but can move ahead of the German with victory at this year's US Open. Hide Caption 1 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena Graf has backed Williams to make the record her own, telling CNN: "It's cool that records are being broken, that's what they're there for. She's been phenomenal for the sport of tennis, it's been great to watch, and I hope she does break it." Hide Caption 2 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena While Graf's record could be beaten, she still remains the first and only tennis player to achieve the "Golden Slam" after winning all four grand slam titles and Olympic gold in the same calendar year in 1988. Hide Caption 3 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena Graf, who is married to fellow former tennis star Andre Agassi, is also the only tennis player in history to have won each grand slam event at least four times. Hide Caption 4 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena Williams, who has yet to achieve the calendar grand slam, won Olympic gold in the singles in 2012 but suffered a third-round defeat to Elina Svitolina at this year's Games in Rio de Janeiro. Hide Caption 5 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena "I think she's been unbelievable, she's been amazing to watch," Graf added of Williams. "She's been around for over 20 years and to have a career and play at the level that she's been playing at is pretty unbelievable. I have so much respect for her." Hide Caption 6 of 7 Photos: Graf backing Serena While Graf and Williams hold the joint-Open era record for most grand slam wins, Margaret Court boasts the overall record, with the Australian racking up 24 titles during her career. Hide Caption 7 of 7
She dominated women's tennis in the late 1980s and 1990s, when she won 107 tournaments and topped the rankings for a record 377 weeks.
After winning her 22nd slam at the 1999 French Open where she beat Martina Hingis in a dramatic final, Graf retired shortly after her 30th birthday.
Longevity
Having struggled with injuries in her final years on tour, Graf is amazed by the longevity of some of the top players still competing for the big titles well into their 30s.
"I have a lot of respect for all these players," she said. "I'm looking at Roger Federer. You get into the sport at the sport at a young age and you play eleven months a year. It's physically and mentally very demanding. I think it's pretty amazing."
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Graf played then 17-year-old Williams twice in 1999, winning the first encounter in Sydney before losing the second in the final at Indian Wells, California, a few months later.
"She's been around for over 20 years," Graf said about US Open title favorite Williams. "To have that career and play at the level she's been playing at is pretty unbelievable."
Golden Slam safe, for now
Williams may soon become the most successful player since tennis turned professional in 1968, there is one record she's unlikely to take from Graf.
The German remains the only player to have won the so-called Golden Slam in 1988, when she swept all four majors and Olympic tennis gold at the Seoul Games.
Tennis was never about breaking records said Graf, who turned professional aged 13.
"It wasn't about numbers, it wasn't about am I going to win this many tournaments or grand slams," Graf said. "I was just striving to be the best. I'm happy where I ended up. I'm happy where I am in my life."

US Open 2016: Steffi Graf rooting for Serena


Steffi Graf tells CNN's Open Court why she won't mind Serena Williams breaking her record of 22 grand slam singles titles at this year's US Open.


(CNN) Barcelona has the chance to join familiar rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and open up a two point lead on the rest after just two games.
Real Madrid secured its place at the top of the pile by beating Celta Vigo 2-1 at the Bernabeu with goals from Alvaro Morata and Tony Kroos.
A minute's silence was observed ahead of kick-off in memory of the victims of the devastating earthquake in Italy and the Real Madrid players wore black arm bands.
Real Madrid has made an impressive start to the season and has now won the last 14 league games, and, according to the official website has gone unbeaten in the first home match for 11 consecutive seasons.
With Deportivo La Coruna only managing a 0-0 draw at Real Betis Friday and Leganes also playing out a goalless draw at home to Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid, it gives Barcelona an opportunity to open up a gap.
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Barcelona has the chance to join familiar rivals Real Madrid at the top of La Liga and open up a two point lead on the rest after just two games.


(CNN) Some of the biggest names in golf are struggling to stay with the leading pack at The Barclays tournament at Bethpage Black, Farmingdale, New York.
As the first of four tournaments of the PGA playoffs for the FedEx Cup heads towards the final round, both Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy find themselves slipping down the leader board.
Only Australian Adam Scott, who shot a magnificent 65 on round three, and Scot Martin Laird, were still in close contention with the leading pack of Americans.
Rickie Fowler hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during the third round of The Barclays in the PGA Tour FedExCup Play-Offs
Rickie Fowler and Patrick Reed were fighting out Saturday to go into the clubhouse on top with Justin Thomas, Kevin Streelman, Gary Woodland and Ryan Moore all ending the day on five under.
Phil Mickelson, Jusitn Rose, Luke Donald and Jim Furyk all face an uphill battle to recover shots in round four and make a challenge Sunday.
Read More


Some of the biggest names in golf are struggling to stay with the leading pack at The Barclays tournament at Bethpage Black, Farmingdale, New York.


Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.


Argentina's new president seeks to mend fences with other nations, as CNN's Rafael Romo reports.


Lost city revealed in jungles of Honduras


Deep in the thick Honduran jungle, an ancient lost city has been found. CNN's Amara Walker reports.


Photos: Seda is a transgender woman in Istanbul who was once a sex worker. She is now a cleaning lady. "I only want to have a job, to have a room whose keys I could say are mine," she told photographer Miguel Angel Sanchez and his colleague, Nuria Teson. They spent a couple of months this year interviewing transgender people in Turkey and letting them tell their stories. Hide Caption 1 of 16
Photos: Because of the discrimination against transgender people in Turkey, many struggle to find work that's not in the sex industry. Oyku has been a sex worker since the 1990s. "I've lost my soul," she told Teson. "I thought that I would put together my body and my spirit if I got a vagina, but this work I was forced to take just made the opposite. I've been humiliated and mistreated. Now sex is only a matter of keeping the way of life I've got used to." She takes care of other transgender women who, like her, have been abandoned or rejected by their families. Hide Caption 2 of 16
Photos: Cagla is a transgender model and actress. She said her family's support has been key in her process, even though she cannot go visit them whenever she wants. "I believe my existence hurts them," Cagla told Teson. "I cannot go and visit them because I know that the neighbors are going to talk ... that they can be questioned about who I am. I don't want to hurt them." Hide Caption 3 of 16
Photos: "As a woman you face sexual violence, but as a man you have to face other kind of violence," said Osgur, a transgender man. "I've got beaten up several times because men in Turkey are very tough. I'm not. They looked at me and called me queer. I was embarrassed and they beat me up." He told Teson that he hasn't talked to his father in three years. "I was his girl, and he protected me. He always told me I should have been born a man, but when I told him (about my gender) he didn't accept me." Hide Caption 4 of 16
Photos: Didem is a painter in love with the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali. She would love to make a living of her art, but she finds it difficult being a transgender artist. Hide Caption 5 of 16
Photos: "When I first told my family about my real gender, I wrote a letter and ran away," Can, who works as a DJ, told Teson. "Then my brother brought me to Istanbul and helped me. First it was the mastectomy and now, in a month, I will be operated again to remove my genitals. If I could, I wouldn't remove my ovaries. It is very problematic for my health." According to the rights group Transgender Europe, Turkey is one of 24 European countries that require people to be sterilized before a change in their gender identity is formally recognized. Hide Caption 6 of 16
Photos: Neva would hide the fact that she was transgender from her parents. "I was a very shy child," she told Teson. She has been seeing her boyfriend for six years now, and his family knows she is transgender. "If he loves me, I love him more. I know there's nothing forever, but I want to believe it is." Hide Caption 7 of 16
Photos: Idil used to be a lawyer, but she ended up as a sex worker when she became a woman. As a transgender activist, she wants to help the younger generation to find other paths. "Fifteen years ago, the transgender were from Mars," she told Teson. "Now it's a bit better, but it is a Muslim society so it is tough." Hide Caption 8 of 16
Photos: Mirey loves poetry and is a writer himself. He hates people asking him private things about his sexual life or his libido when he started the hormone therapy to become a man. "I feel normal," he told Teson. "I (play) sports, I have a pet. ... When I look at me in the mirror, I see a handsome boy. I can cry, I can be emotional." Hide Caption 9 of 16
Photos: Esmeray, an actress, writer, columnist and LGBT activist, is one of the few socially accepted transgender women in Turkey. She defined her sexual identity when she was 18. "The situation hasn't changed much in these years," she said to Teson. "We face the same problems; we still live in a patriarchal, homophobic and transphobic society." Hide Caption 10 of 16
Photos: Can, a transgender man, said he has felt male since he was 3 years old. "Every time my beard grows, my voice changes or my body evolves, people get shocked," he said to Teson. "Now I feel strong, I want to be a model for others." Hide Caption 11 of 16
Photos: Senem is a 54-year-old sex worker who lives in Istanbul's only LGBT refuge. "I wanted to kill myself," she recalled to Teson. "I heard of a young trans who jumped from the Bosphorus bridge and I thought, 'If she is in her 20s and she cannot make it, how could I?' " She was 16 when she was first attacked for being transgender and she still cries when she remembers it. Hide Caption 12 of 16
Photos: Serkan had to flee his home when he told his family his real gender. "I waited for 28 years because of my family," he said to Teson. "I thought I could wait, but I couldn't stand anymore with that lie." Like all transgender people in Turkey, he had to be sterilized before his gender identity could be formally recognized. "The night before the surgery, I felt like an animal in a cage waiting for some kind of investigation," he said. "It was not my choice. I was forced to be sterilized, and that feels terrible." Hide Caption 13 of 16
Photos: "I was studying at the university, and the board forced me to quit," Pinar said to Teson. "Then I went into sex work. I suffered a lot. I was the second of my class, but what could I do? I wanted to live as a woman, but I couldn't find any job or pay for a house." She has since quit prostitution. Hide Caption 14 of 16
Photos: Ela had to fight her family when she decided to start the process to become a woman. Today, her mother is supporting her. Her mother accompanied her during the surgical process and has been close to her ever since. Hide Caption 15 of 16

'If we don't talk about us, nobody will care about us'


Transgender people in Turkey tell their heartbreaking stories to photographer Miguel Angel Sanchez and his colleague, Nuria Teson.


Ira Trivedi is an Indian columnist and author of six books including 'India in love: Marriage and sexuality in the 21st century'. She has written an open letter for CNN to India's tourism minister, Mahesh Sharma, following his advice to female tourists to not wear skirts in India . All views expressed in this commentary are solely hers.
As I write this letter to you, I recall a recent trip I took to Shillong in the north east of India. Here, I was a clear outsider or tourist, standing six inches taller than most men or women.
During my stay, I went out for morning runs in shorts, I wore mini skirts in restaurants and clubs and I roamed the streets wearing whatever I felt fit, without a single, discomfiting male or female gaze on my bare legs.
Shillong, too, is part of India and here, any woman, local or tourist, can wear whatever she feels like without comprising her safety or honor in any way.
India is not always unsafe for women
My experience in Shillong is testament to the fact that India is not unsafe for women. I say this as an Indian woman who travels widely, often alone, all over the country.
And although you have since changed your statement to say that female tourists should only cover up in religious places, I feel I need to make a point, based on previous degrading comments that you and others in positions of power have made.
What is unsafe is the patriarchal mindset which makes Indian men feel that they can violate a woman without any consequences. This is the mindset which we need to address, change and punish. This will not happen by distributing safety kits or discouraging miniskirts.
I understand that by asking women to cover up you wish to protect them. Unfortunately, by restricting a woman, you do not protect her. Instead, you take away her power. This is something which our leadership has failed to understand.
When dress codes are imposed for women in colleges or curfews are laid down in a women's hostel, we as a nation are simply reinforcing the patriarchy that we desperately need to change.
By restricting a woman we are telling her that she is unsafe rather than empowering her by giving her the physical, mental and emotional security that she deserves.
Instead of restricting women, we should focus on creating the conditions to make them feel safe -- instituting law and order, training police, punishing eve-teasing (unwanted advances on a woman), cat-calling, and even offensive staring.
We would be better off encouraging short skirts
More than anything else, we need to sensitize men and women to each other -- and this can only happen when we encourage women and their mini skirts on the streets.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken time and again of his dream of becoming an economically powerful, first-world nation. The most important step towards this goal is ensuring the safety of women outside their homes, so that they too can contribute to driving economic change.
According to IMF Chief Christine Lagarde, India's economic output could increase as much as 27% if the number of female workers were to increase the same level as the number of men.
But women will not leave their homes if they do not feel safe, and they will not feel safe if our leaders promote a culture of misogyny.
Why not work on changing mindsets instead?
Dr Sharma, instead of adding to this culture of misogyny, why not add to the culture of change? Instead of distributing safety kits, asking women to change what they wear, why not work on changing the mindsets of our people?
It is possible to create an India which is safe for women. Places like Shillong teach us that. We need to encourage women to exercise their freedom, rather than discouraging them for the sake of their "protection." In this endeavor, we need our leadership to support us more than ever before.
Yours sincerely,
Ira Trivedi

Dear India's tourism minister, let women exercise their freedom


Story highlights Octobot is the world's first autonomous soft robot
The robot is powered by a chemical reaction
Researchers hope that more complex designs could help in search-and-rescue missions in the future
(CNN) This dinky octopus isn't your average sea creature.
It's a bio-inspired soft robot -- dubbed "Octobot" -- that's powered entirely by a chemical reaction.
In a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature , researchers from Harvard University describe how a chemical reaction inside Octobot turns a small amount of hydrogen peroxide into a gas that flows through the robot's arms, making them wiggle. A tiny circuit inside the robot controls when the hydrogen peroxide turns into a gas.
For the moment, Octobot is only a proof-of-concept design. But the engineers who created it hope it will pave the way for even wackier and complex soft robots that could, for example, help in search-and-rescue missions by squeezing into spaces where no human can go.
Building the perfect soft robot, however, is no easy feat.
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This robot is the world's first autonomous soft robot


This dinky octopus isn't your average sea creature. It's a bio-inspired soft robot -- dubbed "Octobot" -- that's powered entirely by a chemical reaction.


From Beyoncé's surprise stage recreation of "Lemonade," to Britney Spears' big comeback, here are some of the best moments from the 2016 MTV Video Music Awards.


Story highlights The woman only suffered minor cuts and bruises
Binghamton's mayor is trying to identify the heroes
(CNN) Aside from first responders, not many people would run toward a burning car to save the life of someone they don't know.
But that's exactly what a group of heroic strangers in Binghamton, New York did last week. Following a 10-car pileup on a local highway, they pulled an unidentified woman to safety after her car burst into flames.
"We're still attempting to identify those seen on video so they can be recognized for their efforts," David wrote in the post.
Deputy Mayor Jared Kraham told CNN that they have found two or three of the good Samaritans, thanks to an outpouring of messages from people whose friends or family members were involved. Once they have all the names, the mayor's office will put together an event to recognize the heroes, and hopefully give the woman an opportunity to meet them.
Read More

Heroic strangers pull woman from fiery crash


After a 10-vehicle pileup in Binghamton, New York, a group of heroic strangers worked together to pull a woman from her burning car.


Heroic strangers save woman from fiery crash


Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

After a 10-car pileup in Binghamton, New York, a group of heroic strangers worked together to pull a woman from her burning car.


(CNN) James Feigen has become the final US swimmer to apologize for his actions and give a detailed account of what transpired in the Rio gas station incident.
Following the statements released by teammates Ryan Lochte Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz , Feigen has apologized for the 'serious distraction' he and the other three athletes caused at the Rio Games.
Feigen, who won gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay, admits to omitting facts from his original police statement after claims from Rio police the four testimonies didn't add up.
"First and foremost I would like to apologize for the serious distractions from the Olympics, Rio de Janeiro, and Team USA," Feigen's statement read.
"It was never my intent to draw attention away from the tradition of athletic competition. I want to thank the IOC and the people of Rio de Janeiro for their hospitality in hosting these games.
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"I have nothing but respect for the city in undertaking the massive responsibility of hosting the Olympics and I feel their performance was exemplary."
Feigen says the group failed to tell police they urinated in the bushes behind the restroom and that Lochte pulled a framed poster off the wall.
All four swimmers, however, maintain they had a gun pointed at them and were ordered to pay money -- around $70 dollars in total, according to Bentz.
"One of my teammates told me that a man with a gun was standing outside the cab," Feigen said. "We then got out of the cab and I paid the driver the fare.
"As I walked away, the man with the gun pointed it at me and my teammate and ordered us, in Portuguese, to sit. This was the first time I have ever had a gun pointed at me and I was terrified.
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"I put my hands up and sat down on the curb. It became apparent that the man with the gun was telling us to pay, and I was unsure if they were affiliated with the gas station. Gunnar Bentz and I gave the man some money. "
Feigen says the group hailed another cab and arrived back at the athletes village around 7am, two hours after first leaving a celebratory party at the French House.
After initially being asked to pay a fine of $31,250 for the return of his passport -- an amount Feigen and his lawyer deemed 'unreasonable' -- the fee was raised to $46,875.
However, both parties eventually came to an agreement of $10,800.
"The support of my family, friends, and attorneys was paramount in my ability to return home," the statement continued.
"I am so sorry for the drama this has caused in everyone's lives. I am very thankful to be home in the United States with my family and that this ordeal has come to an end."

US swimmer James Feigen apologizes for 'serious distraction' at Rio Games


James Feigen becomes final US swimmer after Ryan Lochte, Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz to apologize for altercation in Rio gas station.


Jake Tapper takes the week off and steps aside for a different cartoonist: Vice Presidential Nominee Mike Pence.


Story highlights Former Reagan solicitor general: Clinton was right to call out Trump for his ties to the extreme right
Charles Fried: Trump is a man about whom the best you can say is that he doesn't believe anything he says
Charles Fried is the former solicitor general of the United States for President Ronald Reagan. He is currently a professor at Harvard Law School. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author.
(CNN) It was urgent that Hillary Clinton in her Reno speech indict Donald Trump for his regular, unremitting embrace of the slogans, causes and emblems of the far right (not conservative, please!) hate-mongering fringe of our public discourse.
This is not just an accidental association. It is his chosen signature. Remember, he was an enthusiastic birther and has gone on to embrace every sinister paranoid fantasy since.
These are not ghosts you can raise just when it seems convenient or because a particular crowd might thrill to them and then when the time comes to govern you can waive aside and pretend you never summoned them. You lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas. And these fleas carry the disease of virulent hatred and discord.
I have a sense for these things. I am not, like Judge Gonzalo Curiel, just the child of immigrants but an immigrant myself. I was four years old when my family and I fled Prague just after the Nazis invaded. I was 13 when I raised my hand and swore an oath of allegiance to the United States and became a citizen. That was a privilege and it was an even greater privilege when Chief Justice Warren Burger administered a very similar oath to me and I was able to serve my country and the Constitution as Ronald Reagan's solicitor general.
I am a student of the history of the man and the movement who drove me and my family out of a young but prosperous and real democracy. He ranted and gestured and whipped up his people with streams of hatred and invective for those he accused of betraying them, stabbing them in the back, polluting their "race," and promised that, if the people would follow him, tomorrow would belong to them.
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Donald Trump is a risk we can't take (opinion)


Former Reagan solicitor general Charles Fried: Clinton was right to call out Trump for his ties to the extreme right


Story highlights A faulty lamp caused the fire, an official said
The workers are from a former Soviet republic
Moscow (CNN) A blaze swept through a printing plant in Moscow Saturday, killing at least 17 Kyrgyz workers, Russian government officials said.
The fire -- which occurred in the Otradnoye district, located in the northeastern part of the city -- was extinguished after two hours.
Police confirmed the nationality of the migrant workers.
Kyrgyzstan , in central Asia, is part of the Commonweath of Independent States -- made up of former Soviet republics.
Twelve people were rescued by fire and rescue units, according to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations website. Chief of emergency management in Moscow, Ilya Denisov, told state media that a faulty lamp caused the fire.
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A blaze swept through a printing plant in Moscow Saturday, killing at least 17 Kyrgyz workers, Russian government officials said.


Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Little League baseball players from Maine-Endwell, New York, celebrate after they beat a team from South Korea to win the Little League World Series on Sunday, August 28. It's the first American team to win the competition since 2011. Hide Caption 1 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Minnesota's Linval Joseph hits San Diego quarterback Kellen Clemens during an NFL preseason game in Minneapolis on Sunday, August 28. Hide Caption 2 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos UFC fighter Garreth McLellan reacts after his middleweight bout against Alessio Di Chirico on Saturday, August 27. Di Chirico won by split decision. Hide Caption 3 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Manchester City midfielder Fabian Delph, in blue, scores the only goal of a Champions League playoff match with Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday, August 24. The English club defeated Steaua 6-0 over two legs to clinch a spot in the tournament's group stage. Hide Caption 4 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Formula One driver Nico Rosberg is sprayed with champagne after his win in the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, August 28. It was the sixth victory of the season for the German, who is now nine points behind Lewis Hamilton in the driver standings. Hide Caption 5 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Kansas City's Demetrius Harris is tripped up by Harold Jones-Quartey during an NFL preseason game in Chicago on Saturday, August 27. Hide Caption 6 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Argentina's Facundo Isa is tackled by two South African players during a Rugby Championship match in Salta, Argentina, on Saturday, August 27. Argentina won 26-24. Hide Caption 7 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Gary Hunt trains Friday, August 26, in Polignano a Mare, Italy -- the fifth stop of the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series. Hunt is the defending world champion and current series leader. Hide Caption 8 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Baseball star Bryce Harper holds Katie Ledecky's Olympic medals as the swimmer throws out the first pitch before a Washington Nationals game on Wednesday, August 24. Hide Caption 9 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos California's Khalfani Muhammad runs the ball against Hawaii during the college football opener, which took place in Sydney -- yes, Australia -- on Saturday, August 27. California won 51-31. Hide Caption 10 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos English cricketer Joe Root, right, crashes into teammate Adil Rashid as he catches a ball against Pakistan on Saturday, August 27. England won by four wickets in the one-day international. Hide Caption 11 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Players compete for the ball during an Australian Football League match between the St. Kilda Saints and the Brisbane Lions on Sunday, August 28. Hide Caption 12 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Gareth Ellis, captain of English rugby club Hull, holds up the Challenge Cup after Hull defeated Warrington in the final on Saturday, August 27. Hide Caption 13 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Josh Reddick, outfielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is tagged out by Addison Russell of the Chicago Cubs on Friday, August 26. Hide Caption 14 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Matt Boland covers himself up after falling off a bull in Cunnamulla, Australia, on Saturday, August 27. Hide Caption 15 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos NASCAR driver Kyle Larson celebrates with crew members after winning the Sprint Cup race at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, August 28. It was the first victory of his Sprint Cup career. Hide Caption 16 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos New Orleans tight end Coby Fleener is hit by two Pittsburgh Steelers during an NFL preseason game on Friday, August 26. Hide Caption 17 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Tennis player Richard Gasquet plays with the ball during a first-round U.S. Open match on Monday, August 29. Gasquet, the tournament's 13th seed, was upset by Kyle Edmund in straight sets. Hide Caption 18 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Watford's Nordin Amrabat, left, is tackled by Arsenal's Granit Xhaka during a Premier League match in Watford, England, on Saturday, August 27. Hide Caption 19 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Baltimore outfielder Hyun-soo Kim strikes out during a game against the New York Yankees on Sunday, August 28. Hide Caption 20 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Members of the crowd hold up "Go Europe" placards as Darren Clarke, captain of Europe's Ryder Cup team, takes video of them during a tournament in Aalborg, Denmark, on Friday, August 26. The Ryder Cup begins September 27 in Minnesota. Hide Caption 21 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Philadelphia catcher Cameron Rupp holds onto the ball after a home-plate collision Friday, August 26, at New York's Citi Field. Hide Caption 22 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Johnathan Kelly competes in the UK's Strongest Man final Saturday, August 27, in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Hide Caption 23 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos San Antonio's Jayne Appel-Marinelli drives to the hoop during a WNBA game against New York on Friday, August 26. Hide Caption 24 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos People watch the annual beach horse race at Sanlucar de Barrameda, Spain, on Saturday, August 27. Hide Caption 25 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne is closed down by two Tottenham players during a Premier League match in London on Saturday, August 27. Hide Caption 26 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos New Zealand's Ameliaranne Ekenasio is pressured by England's Stacey Francis during a netball match in Auckland, New Zealand, on Saturday, August 27. Hide Caption 27 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos Players fight for the ball during an Australian Football League match between the Essendon Bombers and the Carlton Blues on Saturday, August 27. Hide Caption 28 of 30
Photos: What a shot! 30 amazing sports photos A participant splashes in the mud during the Mud Hero race in Toronto on Sunday, August 28. Hide Caption 29 of 30


Take a look at 30 amazing sports photos from August 23 through August 29.


(CNN) The impact of Juan Gabriel on music cannot be overstated.
JuanGa, as he was known, was a Latin Liberace. He was Elton, Prince and Bowie all rolled into one -- a flamboyant showman with a coiffed pompadour and a flowing cape.
And he was prolific.
He wrote more than 1,000 songs, not just for himself, but for other performers as well. Songs that ran the gamut from rock to ranchera. Songs of heartbreak and rebirth. Songs that crossed boundaries and generations.
It's nearly impossible to sift through his massive canon and narrow it down to the essentials.
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From rock to ranchera: Juan Gabriel's songs of heartbreak and rebirth


Juan Gabriel, who died at 66, wrote more than 1,000 songs. If you're unfamiliar with his work, this playlist is a good starting point.


Story highlights Commander of US troops in the Middle East predicts "tough fight" ahead in Mosul, Iraq
Called clashes between US allies, Turkey and Syrian Kurds, "unhelpful"
Washington (CNN) A top US general said Tuesday that ISIS fighters defied their leader's orders to fight to the death in a recent battle, instead retreating to the north.
Gen. Joseph Votel, the commander of US forces in the Middle East, said that the refusal to follow orders occurred during the battle for the recently liberated town of Manbij, Syria.
ISIS leader Abu Bakr Al-Bagdadi told fighters in Manbij "to fight to the death" and "they didn't follow his direction," according to Votel, questioning how much command and control ISIS leadership has over its forces.
Still, he said that ISIS, also know as ISIL, has a "strong network" that relies on "guidance from centralized leadership."
Votel, speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, said he thinks that the Iraqi security forces "are on track" to recapture the key city of Mosul from ISIS by the end of 2016. But he warned that Mosul will be "a tough fight" now that the coalition is "into the heart of the caliphate."
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US general: ISIS forces wouldn't fight to the death


A top US general said Tuesday that ISIS fighters defied their leader's orders to fight to the death in a recent battle, instead retreating to the north.


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Pence defends Trump's response to Chicago shooting


Indiana Gov. Mike Pence defends Republican nominee Donald Trump's decision to respond to the shooting death of NBA star Dwyane Wade's cousin with a tweet that many have found distasteful.


Story highlights Hearing loss is associated with in-utero Zika infection
All babies exposed to Zika should have hearing tested, says CDC
(CNN) Any infant exposed to the Zika virus in utero should have their hearing tested after birth, no matter how normal they may appear, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced today.
The recommendation follows a study of 69 Brazilian infants up to 10 months old who were born with both microcephaly and laboratory-confirmed evidence of Zika infection.
The study showed that 16 failed the first screening test in at least one ear; follow-up tests of these same babies showed that eight continued to experience hearing loss. By the end of the study, four of the babies had permanent sensorineural hearing loss, which cannot be medically or surgically corrected.
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs after damage to the inner ear, called the cochlea, or the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain. It's the most common type of permanent hearing loss and reduces the ability to hear faint sounds. Even when loud, sound is often muffled or unclear.
Hearing loss is a well-established side effect of several other congenital infections, such as herpes simplex, syphilis, rubella, toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus. Because babies with those infections can appear to have normal hearing at first but show evidence of progressive hearing loss in later checkups, the CDC recommends that babies exposed to Zika have also have regular follow-ups to rule out future hearing decline.
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CDC urges hearing tests for babies exposed to Zika


Any infant exposed to Zika in utero should have their hearing tested, even if they appear normal at birth, the CDC said.


Brasília, Brazil (CNN) President Dilma Rousseff insisted Monday she had committed no crime and said she was proud that she'd been "faithful to my commitment to the nation."
Brazil's post-Olympic high came to an end as Rousseff's impeachment trial began. Her remarks from the Senate floor suggested the suspended president had no intention of accepting the bid for her impeachment without a fight.
"I'll plan and fight for democracy," she said. "I don't fight for my term for the power, but I fight for the democracy for truth and justice and the people of my country."
It's not clear if an impassioned speech will do any good. The tide of opinion is against her, and the appearance is widely expected to be her last public address.
"I fear the death of democracy" - suspended #Brazil president @dilmabr says as she speaks from senate floor during her impeachment trial
It's a jarring return to reality for the South American nation, with the final vote in the drama following the celebrations that came with Rio de Janeiro hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The impeachment process has dragged on for months, predating the Olympic torch lighting ceremony -- a glitzy showpiece that, despite orchestrating, Rousseff was barred from attending. It's a political crisis that ordinary Brazilians could do well without -- the country is trying to pick itself out of recession.
'It's not an impeachment'
Rousseff calls the impeachment an attempt at a power grab by her rivals, saying her government has long been the target of political sabotage.
"When Brazil or when a president is impeached for a crime that they have not committed, the name we have for this in democracy, it's not an impeachment, it is a coup," she said in May after the Senate voted to launch the proceedings.
The heir-apparent to former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Rousseff was re-elected by a narrow margin in 2014, but soon a recession and a cross-party corruption scandal put an end to any political goodwill she might have earned.
JUST WATCHED Dilma Rousseff: This is a coup d'etat Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Dilma Rousseff: This is a coup d'etat 02:55
She has been suspended from all official duties and has -- for the time being, at least -- been replaced by her former deputy, Michel Temer, a man she accuses of stabbing her in the back.
The final vote to impeach, which needs to be ratified by a two-thirds majority of 81 senators (54 votes), is expected Tuesday.
If the vote passes -- and most observers expect it to do so easily -- Temer will become the country's new president until 2018's general election, at least. He would inherit a tattered economy along with the keys to the presidential palace in Brasilia.
What do the polls say about Rousseff?
Rousseff's popularity soared when she was elected Brazil's first female President in 2010.
Lately, her approval rating has been hovering around 10%, according to recent polls.
For some context, pollster Ipsos said in a report in April that Rousseff's approval rating was around 15%, while former US President Richard Nixon's approval rating was 25% before he resigned and former US President Bill Clinton's approval rating was 65% before his impeachment.
Photos: Brazilians protest -- for and against -- president's impeachment Brazilians celebrate the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 12, 2016. The former leader denounced the move as "a coup." Hide Caption 1 of 6 Photos: Brazilians protest -- for and against -- president's impeachment Interim president Michel Temer said Brazil must be united to move forward. "We don't have a lot of time. We have to be committed so we can implement the reforms that the country needs," he said. Five things to know about Temer Hide Caption 2 of 6 Photos: Brazilians protest -- for and against -- president's impeachment The decision to impeach Rousseff came after about 20 hours of debate in the Senate. She's been suspended for 180 days, and while she'll retain the title of President, she won't perform any of the duties of the office. Rousseff: What she keeps, what she loses Hide Caption 3 of 6 Photos: Brazilians protest -- for and against -- president's impeachment Riot police arrest a Rousseff supporter during a protest in Sao Paulo, Brazil on May 12. Hide Caption 4 of 6 Photos: Brazilians protest -- for and against -- president's impeachment Fifty-five of 81 members of Brazil's upper house voted in favor of the motion to impeach Rousseff on Thursday. Twenty-two voted against. Hide Caption 5 of 6 Photos: Brazilians protest -- for and against -- president's impeachment Along with the precarious state of the Brazilian economy, the country faces a number of other, high-profile challenges, from dealing with the Zika virus to a fraught 2016 Olympics, which are due to open in Rio de Janeiro in August. Hide Caption 6 of 6
What is she accused of?
She faces accusations that she doctored accounts ahead of her re-election in 2014 to hide a budget shortfall and to keep funding popular social programs. Rousseff maintains she didn't do anything illegal and is expected to counter that some of the lawmakers investigating her are under investigation for corruption.
"I have made mistakes, but I have not committed any crimes. I am being judged unjustly, because I have followed the law to the letter," Rousseff has said.
Her government has been fighting corruption allegations for a while.
A sweeping investigation into a multimillion-dollar kickback scheme at the state-run oil company Petrobras embroiled dozens of the country's leading businessmen and politicians. While she isn't accused directly of profiting, Rousseff was the chairwoman of the state oil company during many of the years of the alleged corruption.
How much of her term is left?
Rousseff's term is set to end in December 2018. Right now, she's suspended for up to 180 days, and Temer is the acting president. If she's found guilty in the impeachment proceedings, she'll be removed from office. She insists she'll stick around to see out her term, but Tuesday's vote will determine that.
Who is behind the impeachment?
Again, like many things in Brazil's tumultuous political landscape, it depends on whom you ask. But in the country's lower house, one man had been leading the charge: Eduardo Cunha.

Dilma Rousseff: Brazil President takes stand in impeachment trial


President Dilma Rousseff insisted Monday she had committed no crime and said she was proud that she'd been "faithful to my commitment to the nation."