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Political Controversy at Eurovision Song Contest; The Battle Against Boko Haram; Sanders Ambitious Heading into This Week's Primaries; Bruge's Beer Supply Business. Aired 12-12:30a ET
Aired May 15, 2016 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: It has bright lights, big voices, even Justin Timberlake, but above all, this year's Eurovision Song Contest had political controversy. We'll explain all.
Bernie Sanders had victory on his mind as he heads into the final round of Presidential Primary spot kind of Math, just saying the ambition.
And the business of beer supply just got a whole lot easier in the Belgian City of Bruges.
We'll have bad story as well. All about a ladder pipeline to tell ahead here on CNN Newsroom. I'm Natalie Allen.
Ukraine is in celebration. Their singer, Jamala, won this year's Eurovision contest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: 361 points which is not enough to tell it's Ukraine, and we have a new winner of the Eurovision Song Contest 2016. It's Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: With that celebration, more than 40 countries voted under a new system this year and Ukraine's win over two top favorites was a surprise for many. For most of the competition, it seemed like Australia was going to win. This was the second year Australia was invited to compete and it won the jury vote. And Russia won the popular vote, but in the end, Ukraine had the most combined votes.
Eurovision has never lacked for controversies. Current political events in Europe tend to come up with the songs. This year was no exception.
Our Matthew Chance explains why on Moscow.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's already at state television, you can see behind me is going through its analysis of what happened in this Eurovision Song Contest.
They were convinced that Sergey Lazarev was going to win this and he did win the popular vote. But one of the thing to compensate to the thing is this was politicized competition that, you know, the voting was huge against Russia. And because of Lazarev winning the popular votes, they are saying that this shows the discrepancy between what governments in Europe thinks about Russia and what people in Europe think about Russia.
So I think the attitude of (inaudible) dwelling on the (inaudible) of Ukraine winning this competition that looking at a moment of why they're not. Although up stage, the song by Jamala is very controversial and even very close to the line in terms of high political song that isn't supposed to be in the Eurovision Song Contest (inaudible). This was about the deportation in 1944, the song of Crimean Tatars and something that angers the Russian when they heard this song because Russia (inaudible) few years ago and is accused of persecuting the Crimean Tatars today in social (ph) relevancy of that Ukrainian song, which won the Eurovision Song Contest.
Again, and what we're going to save here as native land and today, that's to promote themselves here on Russia on international study (ph).
ALLEN: Our Matthew Chance there in Russia. Eurovision officials say they allow Jamala's song because it was historical in nature.
The president of Ukraine wasted no time in celebrating the victory tweeting out a message praising Jamala's incredible performance and victory, and saying, "All Ukraine congratulated the singer."
Here's a look at Eurovision by the numbers. More than 1400 songs have been sung in the contest. Every year, an estimated 180 million viewers watch the show. The most countries to participate is 43, that happened in 2008 and 2011. And over the years of 50 different countries have taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Other news we're following for you. There are calls for more cooperation in the fight against Boko Haram at a Security Summit in Abuja, Nigeria this weekend. Just before it opens Saturday, French President Francois Hollande says, "Progress is being made but the terror group remains a threat."
Top Diplomat from the U.S., Britain and the E.U. were at the table as well. The global terrorism index ranked Boko Haram the world's deadliest terror group in 2014.
The Islamic's Militants are responsible for an estimated 20,000 deaths since 2009.
Our David McKenzie has more on the Summit and its importance for the region live in Johannesburg.
[00:05:00] DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The important meeting in Abuja, Nigeria detains for regional leaders and western diplomats to take stuck of the fight against ISIS of today to the Boko Haram.
The leader and attendance from the western world is France's Francois Hollande, significant because France is taking a leading role in intelligence gathering and assisting Nigeria and France opponent countries that surrounded in the fight against the terror group.
FRANCOIS HOLLANDE, FRENCH PRESIDENT (translated): It is true that we are facing a global terrorist threat. This threat remains particularly high especially in Europe and France. France experienced these attacks last year. All the information we have at our disposal, leads us to think that the threat level is high.
MCKENZIE: This calls for optimism as regional militaries squeeze Boko Haram territory. But increasingly, the group is using a symmetrical attack like suicide bombings to destabilize the region. And their ties with ISIS are deepening according to U.S. officials.
David McKenzie, CNN Johannesburg, South Africa.
ALLEN: Democratic U.S. Presidential Frontrunner Hillary Clinton is launching a new attack ad against her likely opponent in November, Donald Trump. The billionaire is refusing public calls to release his tax returns fighting an ongoing audit. Now, Clinton is targeting his lack of transparency. Here's the latest ad.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Maybe I want to do the tax returns when Obama does his birth certificate.
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PRESIDENT: The state of Hawaii released my official long-form birth certificate.
TRUMP: If I decide to run for office, I'll produce my tax returns, absolutely.
I am officially running for President of the United States.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Getting any closer to releasing your tax returns?
TRUMP: Well, I'm thinking about it.
I can't do it until the audit is finished.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The audit is no excuse. The IRS has made it very clear that an audit is not a bar to public release. It is entirely your choice.
TRUMP: It's none of your business.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: There's the ad. While Clinton turns her attention to the general election. Her Democratic rival, Bernie Sanders is still putting up a fight. He told a crowd in Kentucky he has every intention of winning there as well as the contest that follow.
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SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I-VT) DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Nobody would have believed that we would receive well over 9 million votes at this point in the campaign. And very few people would have believed that this coming Tuesday we're going to win a great victory right here in Kentucky.
And by the way, I think we're going to win in Aragon as well, so. And then on June 7th, we have California and bunch of other states.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: The delegate math for Sanders to actually beat Clinton for the nomination is very tricky. His odds are pretty slim these days but, as our Chief U.S. Correspondent John King explains, Sanders isn't out of it quite yet.
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JOHN KING, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: To anybody who really -- six months ago, eight months ago, that Bernie Sanders was going to be giving Hillary Clinton this kind of a run to her money, I think not, except for maybe Bernie Sanders and his top campaign team.
But, the very rules that have kept Bernie Sanders in the race so far, the Democratic proportional rules, no winner-take-all-states, they don't exist. That has kept Bernie Sanders in the race. Now, it keeps Secretary Clinton with her lead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: It's an uphill struggle. We have a chance to end up with a majority of the pledged delegates. And if we do that, I think you are looking at the Democratic nominee for presidency.
KING: This is the problem. You see what's left of the map, right? You see what's left of the map. Does Bernie Sanders have a mathematical chance? Yes. But, is that realistic math? There's 897 pledged delegates left, he needs to win 67 percent of them. He has not been winning anywhere near 67 percent of the delegate so far. So, is it possible? Sure, it's possible, that's mathematically possible. Would you place a bet on Bernie Sanders going to win in California, with 67 percent of the vote? I think not.
Look at that, all Bernie Sanders, every county in West Virginia. That's pretty impressive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: It seems a little bit dumb to me if I might say so that last fight where Secretary Clinton ended up with 35 -- 36 percent of the votes. [00:10:00]
She is going to get 6 out of 7 superdelegates.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KING: In the end, she's still ahead. Even if he wins everything left on the board by 10 points, she's still ahead superdelegates. Now, A, the Clinton campaign says this isn't going to happen. B, if this happens unless they panic, Hillary Clinton still has in her back pocket the secret weapon.
If Senator Sanders could run the board some of these people would affect. The math is not a puzzle for Bernie Sanders but it's pretty damn hard.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
ALLEN: In Washington U.S. Council Republicans could vote on assistance for fighting the Zika Virus next week. They resisted approving the $1.9 billion requested by President Barack Obama, but they're now preparing their own spending package. The House Appropriations Committee Chair says he will introduce the measure (ph) on Monday that will provide less than $1 billion. He said it's adequate funding to face the problems.
Back to Clinton and Sanders in this election, they both say they will work to heal America's racial divide. And since August of 2014, when a white police officer shot African-American teen Michael Brown, no town has come to symbolize that division more than Ferguson, Missouri.
CNN Sara Sidner sat down with Ferguson's new Police Chief.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How big of a challenge is this?
DELRISH MOSS, FERGUSON, MISSOURI POLICE CHIEF: I think it's monumental.
SIDNER: Delrish Moss is now the chief of one of the most scrutinized police department in America, Ferguson P.D. He left Miami police top become the first African-American ever to be sworn in as Chief here. Not a surprise move after the racially-charged incident that shook this city to its core.
What made you take on this job?
MOSS: The unrest on television. All those things, it was -- I saw it as, you know, harken back to good old days and it wasn't that. I saw people hurting just like we hurt in Miami many years ago and I said, you know, what, I think I can help them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (inaudible) Darren Wilson.
SIDNER: It's been more than a year since the resignation of the chief who is at the helm when white officer Darren Wilson shot and killed unarmed teenager Michael Brown after the two tussled in Wilson's police vehicle.
The incident fed off huge protest and sent shock waves across the country. First, when police use military style equipment to try and control it, and then when riots flows out burning parts of the city down.
Chief Moss wasn't there for any of it, but when riots rage Miami in the 1980's he was there.
What about your background makes you uniquely qualified for this job?
MOSS: One from being a kid living in a riot to our neighborhood, two, being a police officer working in one. I think I've been training my entire career for this challenge.
SIDNER: He now has to implement a 130-page plus consent decree by the Department of Justice. Its report cleared office Wilson but slammed Ferguson police for engaging in patterns and practices of racial bias, constitutional violations, and improper ticketing practices that focus on revenue not public safety.
What are you going to do about that?
MOSS: Well, that's got to change. You can't tell me that providing tickets for revenue doesn't lead to some sort of corruption. Those things are corrupted at a core because they speak to everything that government is not for. Businesses make profit, government doesn't. And that's not going to be the practice while I'm here.
SIDNER: And on race, he wants to make sure no one is treated by police like he was as a teenager.
MOSS: I was called in-ward (ph) by police officer. And then I had another experience where I'm also walking home teenager still and a police officer gets out of his car, pushes me up against the wall and crest (ph) me and, you know, does his search then jumps back in his car and leaves.
Now, in both of those experiences, nothing was ever done to restore my dignity. I was embarrassed, I was afraid, and I decided then in there but I need to become a police officer.
SIDNER: Sara Sidner, CNN Ferguson, Missouri.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Members of Cuba's gay and transgender community are showing their pride in Havana. We'll tell you more about who's leading the shift in Cuba's tent (ph) on gay right in a moment. Plus, these workers are building an important pipeline in Belgium. We'll tell you what will be flowing through it when we come back. It may not be your first or second guess.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) [00:15:00]
ALLEN: In Venezuela, dueling demonstration erupted on the streets of Caracas, Saturday after President Nicolas Maduro declared a state of emergency which extends into July.
This group march supported the president but nearby opposition protesters demanded his resignation and called for new election.
Colorful costumes lined the street of Havana Saturday at the Gay Pride Parade made its way through the Cuban capital.
CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports on their progress Cuba has made for its gay and transgender community and the challenges they still face.
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are at the largest gay in transgender rights festival that's done every year in Havana. And it's really quite something. We're seeing more and more people coming. And the march is about to begin.
Just a little while and it's really a change to the Cuban government because a force after the 1959 revolution, the government here now persecuted gay and lesbian people. But they even imprison them in work camps. So it was really a very tough thing to be getting people for many, many years and that has shifted. One of the reasons is there has some reason (ph) to kill the cultures. You see all the people are coming here with their very colorful costumes.
One of the reason for the change is been Cuban President Raul Castro's daughter Mariela, excuse advocate for gay in sense of the rights on this island. And the other exchange, we are seeing that more American is here this year because of course the U.S. and Cuba have restored diplomatic relations. And we're seeing gay rights activist coming from the U.S. and learn about gay in terms of the rights in Cuba and advocate for better change.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is so nice to see everyone just happy and celebrating who they are and not like feeling as the person they have in the past because I know they have experienced a lot of discrimination.
OPPMANN: There's a lot of work to be done in Cuba.
(CROSSTALK)
OPPMANN: ... it's greater protections to gay and transgender people. And not everyone here is convinced of the Cuban governance through commitment to this movement but what people are saying is that they feel (inaudible) there's a greater space to push more equality for gay and transgender people in Cuba.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN Havana.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Derek Van Dam joins me now to talk about a tropical cyclone near Sri Lanka and Southern India.
DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST The Joint Typhoon Warning Center is now putting out a medium probability and that this will develop into some sort of cyclone over the next 24 hours, and significant because this area is been plagued with drought conditions lately.
ALLEN: Right.
VAN DAM: So it could be some good news but maybe a little bit too much rain, too quickly. Take a look at my graphics and we'll highlight this particular area.
You can see just the satellite move. That's indicating the formation of this tropical cyclone.
There it is. I've highlighted it for you. The medium range forecast here showing that, yes, indeed it will start to show the characteristics of a tropical cyclone. It's already impacting Sri Lanka and portions of Southern India. But as it moves to the south and west direction, let's say, the north and west, we do expect this to slowly intensify.
I think the main concerns here will be the heavy rainfall.
[00:20:00]
But keep in mind, this could lead to easily flooding and landslides anywhere from Sri Lanka and to extreme southern section of India as we go forward over the next two days with rainfall totals in excess of 300, 400, even 500 millimeters especially near the mountainous ranges of these two particular areas.
Have you ever wondered why we bounce around the name cyclones to typhoon to hurricane? Well, this not kind of explains it all. This is a bit of a sidetrack. But I want to explain this to you because we have hurricanes that form in the eastern north Pacific, the northern Atlantic basin. That is above the Equator. But below the Equator, near Australia and New Zealand, we have cyclone, typhoons in the western north Pacific and cyclones in the Indian Ocean, of course, so this is really to show us that it depends on where that low pressure system actually develops.
And now, we're keeping our focus here, at least, with the eastern Pacific where the Mexican Meteorological Service has just come out with their east Pacific typhoon or rather cyclone predictions for this upcoming season, which starts on the 15th of May.
They are predicting 17 named storms, 9 hurricanes and four major hurricanes out of this particular system. Look at last year, 2015, our record setting here. If we recall, we are coming off a strong El Nino season, our average. I would typically see about 15 unnamed storms per year in the eastern Atlantic.
Now, this is interesting, and because the World Meteorological Organization has put out its list of names for the Pacific hurricane season. And look at the top here, Ivette, that name was just substituted because it was actually ISIS before this. It was dropped about 15 days ago and agreed upon by the World Meteorological Organization because of the controversy behind the name of ISIS, so they've now changed to Ivette.
All right. We're going to take it from planet Earth up to space. Take a look at this image. This is from the Hubble Space Telescope and this is one of the closest encounters between a comet and planet Earth. This happened on March 21. It came within 5.3 million kilometers of us here on planet Earth. This is the fifth closest encounter of a comet here in us. And just to give this a perspective it is 14 times the distance between our planet and the moon. So a very close fly by. Fortunately, it's well away from us.
ALLEN: OK. Yes, thank you, Hubble.
VAN DAM: Thank you.
ALLEN: They're up there ...
VAN DAM: I know.
ALLEN: ... doing their job.
VAN DAM: I know.
(CROSSTALK)
ALLEN: All right, thanks Derek. Well, the Belgian City of Bruges is built on beer, literally. Coming up, we'll show you how one brewery took its operation underground.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ALLEN: Barcelona has sealed its 24th La Liga title. The legendary club is almost always near the top of the standings and they won the title in six of the last eight seasons.
On Saturday, it was the Luis Suarez show. He scored all three goals in a win at Granada. The team will parade the trophy through Barcelona once again on Sunday.
Belgium is among other things famous for its beer. A local brewery came up with a unique solution to a distribution problem. Narrow streets in the city of Bruges couldn't handle trucks moving its beers. So to beat the bottleneck, the brewery has gone underground and it's building a beer pipeline.
CNN's Erin McLaughlin has the story for us.
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[00:25:00]
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bruges, Belgium, this medieval town is a tourist haven known as one of the best places to drink Belgian beer. But not much of it is made here anymore. Most of the breweries are long gone, except for the De Halve Maan, the only one left within the town's walls.
But this brewery had a big problem. The streets to this town are simply too small to accommodate the large tanker trucks required to transport the beer from the brewery to the bottling plant. So, the solution is right over here, a two mile long beer pipe, underground. And this is where it begins.
For 160 years, Xavier Vanneste's family has been brewing beer within the walls of Bruges. The problem started back in 2010 when the brewery moved its bottling facility out of the town creating a bottleneck of beer trucks. He says, "This is the best way to keep the family tradition going."
VANNESTE: I think we are the very first one to do this.
MCLAUGHLIN: Engineers drilled to the town's canals and cobbled street all to lay a pipeline made of high end plastic that's capable of transporting 4,000 liters of beer an hour. And how did the residents react?
VANNESTE: Well, the residents were quite enthusiast actually. We received a lot of people spontaneously offering us to pass along side their house. They just had one foundation, they want tapping points, but they probably have tapping points that --.
MCLAUGHLIN: Are you worried about people tapping into your pipelines?
VANNESTE: We are pretty sure this is technically not to be possible.
MCLAUGHLIN: The pipeline's popularity gave Vanneste an idea. Crowd fund the project's $4.5 million dollar. He came up with the scheme to exchange donations for beer. Local restaurant here, Philippe Le Loup, gave over $11,000 and now, gets free beer for life.
PHILLIPPE LE LOUP, RESTAURANT OWNER: I like the beer. I drink it everyday. But it's more for the friendship.
MCLAUGHLIN: And there's nothing like good friends and the crisp taste of freshly brewed beer. Well, the pipeline is still under construction. The beer is expected to start flowing in the beginning of summer. In the meantime, let's have a taste.
Erin McLaughlin, CNN Bruges.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ALLEN: Nice to see when there's a huge problem, the world comes together and solve it if it's about beer. Thanks for watching. We'll have our top stories right after this.
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