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Closing Ceremony Marks End to Rio Games; Olympic Highs and Lows; Tokyo Summer Games Set for July 2020; Erdogan: Child Suicide Bomber Kills 51 People; Omran's Brother Dies in Aleppo; Young Boy Witnesses Father's Murder in Honduras; Life Inside the Philippine's Most Overcrowded Jail; Wynn Palace Casino Opens in Macau Monday; No Break from Politics on Presidential Vacations. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired August 22, 2016 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:00:09] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN HOST: Not even torrential rain could dampen Rio's spirit as the city paid a colorful farewell to the Olympics. We take you live to Brazil and to the next host city, Tokyo.
A new dimension in terror in Turkey: the country's president says the killer of more than 50 people at a wedding party was a young teenager.
And revenues may be shrinking in the Vegas of the east, but we'll tell you why one casino tycoon is still betting big on Macau.
It's all ahead here on "CNN NEWSROOM". We're live here in Atlanta.
Thank you for joining us. I'm Natalie Allen.
Rio's closing ceremony brought an end to the 2016 Olympics just a short time ago. Fans and athletes gathered in the iconic Maracana Stadium to say goodbye to the Games. It was spectacularly beautiful.
Rio is passing the Olympics on to Tokyo, the host for 2020 but not before one last flourish. The City of God favela will host a victory parade Monday.
Our Christina MacFarlane has been in Rio since day one. She joins us now with the city -- oh, look at you -- since the Olympics started. I just saw you right there, Christina. I love it and I'm still -- I've been envious of you for two weeks. And I'm still envious. And you look fantastic. What fun.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN WORLD SPORTS: Thank you so much, Natalie. And good evening to you. Can you tell I've been at a bit of a party this evening?
I have raced straight from the Maracana over to this live shot to be live with you now. And I picked up a bit of memorabilia along the way from what was, I tell you, the biggest samba party in the world. It was truly spectacular. I went to both the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony and I can tell you this was better, would you believe. I just want to run you through some of the highlights from what we've seen.
We saw the traditional parade of nations, of course, coming out at the start of the ceremony tonight as we did in the opening ceremony -- slightly depleted number of athletes, of course, many of whom have gone home.
But I tell you, the star of the evening among the athletes was a certain Simone Biles of the U.S.A., the gymnast who has set this Olympics on fire. In fact, she was so popular tonight that she caused a bit of a buildup on the runway of the athletes walking around because everyone wanted to stop to have a selfie with her. It was hilarious to watch.
We also saw Team GB come out in psychedelic glowing trainers in red, blue, and white. And I tell you the main thing, though, that stole the show this evening was during the ceremonial handover from Rio 2016 to Tokyo 2020 when Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe popped up through a green pipe dressed as Super Mario -- what I mean by this, he came out from the middle of the stadium completely dressed head to toe in the Mario overalls and then ripped them off to reveal himself. It was the best thing I think I've ever seen at an Olympics ceremony, and he completely stole the show, giving us a fantastic hint of what is to come, of course, in four years' time in Tokyo.
And then the curtain raised -- came down on the spectacular extinguishing of the flame where they had a torrent of fake rain falling on singer Marian De Castro. I don't quite know how she managed to sing under it.
And it was rather ironic tonight, as well. You can't tell behind me, but we've had terrible weather here in the past 48 hours. And all the athletes were completely wet, parading around the Maracana. And we were dry undercover. But it didn't seem to bother anyone. There was a real samba spirit tonight.
And you know, Rio has had its problems, mostly in the buildup and even throughout these days but they know how to hold a party. I think the only disappointing aspect tonight was that the stadium was some 60 percent full but it didn't dampen the spirits. And I was dancing in the aisles towards the very end -- so everyone on their feet.
ALLEN: Well, very good report for someone who has been at a party. I was watching it and I tweeted out that the closing ceremonies seemed even more beautiful and spectacular for me, at least in the beginning.
You've been there now two weeks. What was the singular moment for you in covering these games? I know that it was fascinating watching the athletes with their gold medals coming back out into the stadium to say goodbye.
MACFARLANE: I think for me it was two stories, really, that I've been reporting on. Simone Biles -- and it was great to see her tonight carrying that, being the flag bearer for the United States because she has just been electric for these games. And seeing her in the flesh, you just realize how talented she is. The way that she conducts herself is also very impressive. Four gold medals here in Rio.
But the sugar or the icing on the cake was Usain Bolt. I've watched him for some 12 years at the Olympics. And to see him run twice -- I saw him in the 200 meters and the 4 x 100 meters was just exceptional. And, you know, we're never going to see him at an Olympic Games before. So those are the moments that I'll hold dear to me as a sports journalist -- Natalie.
[00:05:10] But for the people we've met here in Rio, that's something I'll remember as well -- everyone here embracing everyone who has arrived to Rio for these games. And I've met some really fascinating people along the way.
ALLEN: That's fabulous. Years and years of people worrying about Rio, and they pulled it off. All right. Thank you so much -- Christina MacFarlane. Yes, hats off to you, too. Nice assignment, isn't it -- going to the Olympics?
Thank you -- Christina.
South America's first Olympic Games went more smoothly man many people feared in the months leading up to it. As just mentioned, for the most part, focus stayed on the competition, but there was plenty of drama on the sidelines as we've been reporting.
And here is Don Riddell with that part of the Olympics.
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DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORTS: The Rio Olympics was far from perfect. Empty seats suggesting a lack of interest; heartbroken boxers and judges dismissed for debatable scoring; troubled waters that turned uncontrollably green; and American swimmers disgracefully out of their depths.
RYAN LOCHTE, U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMER: The guy pulled out his gun. He cocked it. Put to it my forehead.
I over-exaggerated that story.
RIDDELL: But there was so much more.
MICHAEL PHELPS, U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMER: It's a dream come true. And I am definitely very happy I came back for one more.
RIDDELL: We bowed to a legend in the pool and crowned immortal on the track. Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt signed off in Rio. We may never see their likes again.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The world has seen that you can do it the right way. And that's been important.
RIDDELL: Katie Ledecky redefined the concept of winning, crushing the field, finishing half a pool ahead of the best in the world. Another 19-year-old, Simone Biles, took the sport of gymnastics to unimaginable new heights. With four golds each these are the stars of now and of the future.
SIMONE BILES, U.S. OLYMPIC GYMPNST: We're just all so happy and excited.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So we might be seeing you in four years?
BILES: Yes.
RIDDELL: But it's about much more than simply winning. Groundbreaking achievement, unconditional inclusion, enlightened acceptance. The sheer joy of the refugee team in action was humbling.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was really incredible to me.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She became hope for a lot of people.
RIDDELL: For a new Olympic nation, Kosovo's first ever gold medal was heartwarming.
MAJLINDA KELMENDI, KOSOVO JUDY OLYMPIC MEDALIST: It was such a historical moment. Not just for sport of Kosovo, across the world, but for Kosovo as a country.
RIDDELL: And the Brazilian judoku who rose from the slums of Rio to stand on top of the podium, a powerful symbol of hope. This was the games where athletes found a voice. As Olympic bosses dithered, a level playing field was demanded.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Athletes have had the last straw. We're going to make some real changes in the doping world.
RIDDELL: With a new Cold War simmering in the pool, America's Lilly King became a poster child for clean sport. But her vilified Russian opponent showed a human side too, conveying a love for her training home of five years, of all places America.
YULIA EFIMOVA, RUSSIAN OLYMPIC SWIMMER: Life is so much easier than in Russia. Everybody is smiling.
RIDDELL: There was dignity at these Olympics. If you get knocked down, don't just get back up again, but help your opponent out too.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That was another spirit in me. I feel like that was god's spirit in me. I know it was.
RIDDELL: Rio still has its problems and the Olympics couldn't possibly cure them all. But perhaps the games have shown us the way -- a global community pushing each other and lending a helping hand to those lagging behind. The games still inspire. The games do still matter.
Don Riddell -- CNN, Rio.
(END VIDEOTAPE) ALLEN: Thanks to our CNN Sports team and to Don Riddell for that story for us.
Tokyo's first female governor was in Rio. Perhaps you saw that Sunday to accept the Olympic flag for the next summer games in 2020. There were viewing parties in Tokyo to watch the handoff because here they come.
And our Will Ripley, the man who is all over the world reporting, is back in Tokyo where you'll have a lot of work to do the next four years -- Will.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, absolutely, Natalie.
And whoever convinced the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to dress up like Super Mario and jump out of a pipe -- if they can convince the prime minister to do that then I think the Tokyo 2020 organizers can probably accomplish pretty much anything.
The viewing parties that were schedule here in the Japanese capital today actually were cancelled because just like in Rio, where they've had torrential rains, there is actually a typhoon approaching Tokyo this morning. Nothing as far as damage would be concerned but certainly very heavy rains. So the viewing party outside was canceled.
We were inside with some people who were watching the broadcast on HK television, HKTV, one of the many inventions that are expected to be showcased during the 2020 Tokyo games because they're saying, Natalie, that this could be the most futuristic Olympic Games ever.
They're also talking about trains that go more than 600 kilometers or 400 miles an hour almost. They're talk about algae-powered aircraft, an entire robot village and robots driving your taxi and giving you directions.
[00:09:58] But all of that comes with great expense. And one thing that the Tokyo governor, who you saw in her kimono waving the Olympic flag, accepting the handover during the handover ceremony, one thing that she has been focusing on is trying to rein in this massive overspending that has plagued Tokyo so far. I asked her about that before she left for Rio.
ALLEN: Oh, ok.
RIPLEY: And you do not have that sound bite. But I will say --
ALLEN: Whoops.
RIPLEY: Yes. Apparently we don't have it. But I would just say that she talked about how it's just an enormous expense, and she is having to go through every line item bit by bit by bit to see why things are costing so much.
For the previous two Tokyo governors, it was funding scandals that actually forced them to step down. So she has a lot of pressure on her even as she comes back from this very celebratory moment in Rio.
ALLEN: Right. I wonder what is going through her mind as she flies back -- the newly elected mayor there. I love that what a dichotomy. We go from scantily clad women and the samba to the most futuristic robotic games coming up in 2020. It's a great world, isn't it?
All right. Will -- thanks so much. Will Ripley, live for us.
RIPLEY: It sure is.
ALLEN: All right. We push on here to other stories that we are covering around the world. Of course not all happy, wonderful endings like the Olympics.
Grieving families in Turkey are saying their final goodbyes to loved ones killed in a terror attack Saturday. And the nation's president is revealing disturbing details about the very young suspected suicide bomber. We'll have that.
Plus a heartbreaking update to the story of Omran, the brave little Syrian boy who survived an air strike on his home.
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ALLEN: As you know, Turkey has been hit with a series of suicide attacks this year but the newest and deadliest was apparently carried out by a child. No doubt instigated by adults bent on savage murder.
Turkey's president says the child, between 12 and 14, killed 51 people at a Kurdish wedding this weekend, as we first reported 24 hours ago, dozens more were hurt. Many of the victims already laid to rest, as you see there in Gaziantep where this happened.
Ben Wedeman is in Gaziantep with more on the bloodshed and the young attacker.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is coming from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who said that the bomber was somebody between 12 and 14 years old. He also said he either detonated the bomb himself or the bomb was detonated remotely. We don't know at this point.
We do know that Turkish prosecutors who went to the scene and found what they said are the remains of a suicide vest. But as far actual bomb at this point, that's all we know.
The video coming from moments after that bombing, it happened at about 10:50 last night, is absolutely horrific. We have some of that video but we must warn viewers, it is graphic.
I spoke to a man who lived just around the corner when that bomb went out. He told me he came rushing out. And what he saw in front of him was just a carpet of the dead, the dying, and body parts.
The bomb went off right in front of where a band was playing. People were dancing in the street. And where it went off was where this so- called women's section in this conservative Kurdish neighborhood, people in the neighborhood telling us that at the time there were anywhere between 400 and 500 people cramming in to the streets there. It was a wedding celebration in the streets of that neighborhood.
Now we are coming to you from Gaziantep's main cemetery. I'm going to just step out of the way for a moment. What you can see here are the freshly dug graves, 43 people out of what is believed to be more than 50 people killed in that late Saturday night bombing have already been buried.
And we were here for the last funeral of the day. That was a funeral for 14-year-old, Nirgin Gurboz (ph) a student. And we have the opportunity to speak with her mother, who was here with many relatives. And she said that, she was crying, she said my daughter was simply too young to die. In fact, one of the youngest of victims from this blast was a mere three months old.
Now we understand that the bride survived. She has come out of the hospital. But as she came out of the hospital, she told Turkish reporters that our wedding day has been turned into a bloodbath.
ALLEN: Ben Wedeman there for us with that horrific story.
The war in Syria is being defined for many now by another picture of a boy which we all saw a year ago. This picture covered in dirt and blood, the boy completely dazed, in shock after surviving an air strike in Aleppo. We're sure you've seen it. But he is only one of millions affected by this conflict including his older brother.
Amara Walker has our report. And again, we warn you, this could be disturbing for many viewers.
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AMARA WALKER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This image of five-year-old Omran Daqneesh has given a new face to the Syrian war -- that of a child who shows no reaction to the blood he wipes from his face who has seen nothing but war in his short life.
By many accounts Omran is lucky. He lived through the air strikes that decimated his neighborhood and his home in Aleppo last week.
His older brother did not. 10-year-old Ali Daqneesh's photo did not go viral but his face is also one of the Syrian war. Ali suffered critical injuries in last Wednesday's air strike. And after days in the intensive care unit of an Aleppo field hospital, he succumbed to his injuries.
DR. ABU RASOUL, ALEPPO MEDICAL CENTER (through translator): His condition got worse and worse from the first day because of the bleeding and the traumas to his liver and kidney. His heart stopped three times and we resuscitated him three times. But unfortunately, he passed away.
[00:19:56] WALKER: Some 450 people have been killed by fighting in and around Aleppo this month alone, including at least 100 children -- 100 children whose photos like Ali Daqneesh's will not go viral on social media; children who will not see the end to war in their homeland.
Thousands more have been killed since the war began in 2012. Large sections of Aleppo, Syria's largest city have been reduced to rubble, and the International Red Cross has said the city is on the brink of a humanitarian crisis. Survival is often determined by sheer luck, if one can call it that.
RASOUL: It started with Omran. His photo went viral in the western media and affected many people, but still alive. And God willing, and he will continue his life in better conditions than the ones he is living in now. Whereas his brother, whose photo was not taken, no one mentioned him. He died and he is by God's side now.
WALKER: For families likes the Daqneeshes, it is very bit a humanitarian crisis.
Amara Walker -- CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ALLEN: And another heartbreaking image of a young boy witnessing tragedy is going viral. In Honduras, a child saw his father murdered in broad daylight. Senior Latin affairs editor Rafael Romo with that.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AFFAIRS EDITOR: It's the image that has shocked a whole country. A young boy who authorities say is no older than 10 kneels by the body of a man in the town of Choloma, Honduras. The murder victim shot several times is the boy's 42-year-old father.
"This child was traumatized with this violence and death and became an orphan in just a matter of seconds," this Honduran psychologist says. "His life will be forever altered."
Local authorities say father and son were on their way to get a haircut when the man, an employee at a water purification plant was shot. The image has gone viral in Central America, filling many people with indignation.
It's become emblematic in Honduras, a country where 14 people are murdered every day, in a place that has been called the murder capital of the world.
"Respect for life in Honduras is being lost," a security analyst says. "Criminals didn't think twice about killing a father walking on the street with his son by his side."
There has been at least 15 multiple homicides in Honduras so far this year. Earlier this month, two massacres left 11 people dead in the Central American country, including a five-year-old girl. In the most recent case, the father and his son were only a few blocks away from their home when the attack happened. Government officials are pleading with the public. They say they need people to step forward and provide them with crucial information to investigate violent murders so that they can put criminals behind bars.
But Hondurans seem to be paralyzed by fear, the same kind of fear that stopped people from assisting this young boy as he kneeled crying inconsolably moments after his father was shot to death.
Rafael Romo -- CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ALLEN: At least six wildfires continue to rage in the U.S. State of California. Authorities say the so-called blue cut fire near L.A. is over 80 percent contained now but it destroyed 96 homes.
Meantime, the 10,000 hectare chimney fire is burning across San Luis Obispo County -- that is between San Francisco and Los Angeles. It's threatening the historic Hearst Castle, a popular landmark museum along the Pacific Coast Highway.
Karen Maginnis is here with more. I was flying into California two weeks ago, and the pilot was saying there is haze. It's almost like we're a broken record. How much more can California take?
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, the fire seasons now are beginning earlier and they're ending later. And that's because California, California in particular, because they've seen these drought conditions now for about the past five years. We had one year where it was pretty good. But now these fires, they just kind of bubble up and they stay bubbled up. And they have to put so much manpower into them. We saw thousands of fire personnel battling these blazes.
Now let's talk about something completely different. We have a storm system that is going to be impacting Japan. And we're looking at different imagery, but the center of the storm has made landfall already.
Here are the latest coordinates with it. At 95 kilometers per hour, we'll start to see it move more towards the north and northeast.
I want to show you this. This is Google Earth. Here you can see Japan. This is it, just now beginning to cross over the coastline in the vicinity of Tokyo. They already have hundreds of flights that have been canceled.
Take a look at what happens. As I mentioned, it is going to move towards the north and northeast. It's going to weaken as it interacts with land -- also moves it to some colder waters.
But this isn't the only system that is impacting Japan. Look how much precipitation already in the past 24 hours -- close to 170 millimeters of rainfall. But this is just one in a series of systems affecting Japan. [00:25:10] Take a look at Tokyo -- expecting over the next 48 hours close to 150 millimeters. Mud slides, landslides, a heavy surf. We're looking at downed trees and power lines.
And then there is our other tropical system -- this one very erratic. Moving towards the southeast, next it's expected to move towards the southwest, affect Okinawa as we go into about the next three days. And then it is expected to intensify.
And this is another area that is seeing such devastating flooding -- this in Louisiana. We've talked about this over the last week or so. And this was not a tropical system. This was kind of a hybrid system that affected southern Mississippi and Louisiana. Louisiana, Natalie -- in some areas, they saw just about the bulk of their yearly precipitation in just two or three days.
ALLEN: What is it called -- a once in 500 year event?
MAGINNIS: A thousand-year flood.
ALLEN: And these are the people who had Katrina. It's not fair, it?
MAGINNIS: Right.
ALLEN: All right. Karen -- Thank you.
Up next here, the Philippine war on drugs is packing more people into already crowded jails. You would not believe the conditions. They are shocking. What's behind it all? We'll have a report next.
Plus, the Olympics come to a close in Rio. We have all the highlights of "CNN WORLD SPORTS".
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:30:00] ALLEN: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Natalie Allen.
Here, again, are our top stories.
Turkey's president says the suicide bomber who targeted a wedding party in Southern Turkey Saturday night was a child between 12 and 14. Most of the 51 victims killed were buried Sunday. President Erdogan saying ISIS is the prime suspect.
36 people have been hanged in Iraq for the massacre of 1700 military recruits. A provincial governor says the executions took place Sunday and more will follow. ISIS militants killed the recruits in 2014 at Camp Speicher, a former U.S. base.
Car bombings have killed at least 21 people in Somalia. Al Shabaab says it was behind the targeted attack on a government building in Galkayo. Police say many of the dead were students and local traders who were at a nearby school and market.
Rio is saying goodbye to the Olympics after more than two weeks of competition. The closing ceremony brought fans and athletes together one last time in Maracana Stadium and oh did they samba. But now it's on to Tokyo for the 2020 games, which we're told will be very high- tech.
Well, at this hour, the Philippine Senate is holding a hearing on the wave of extrajudicial killings in the country. Senators are investigating President Rodrigo Duterte's violent crackdown on drug crime. More than 650 police killings have taken place since Mr. Duterte took office in late June.
Suspected vigilante murders have killed up to 900 other people. 900.
The president's war on drugs has also led to the overcrowding of one of the country's already packed jails.
Our senior international correspondent Ivan Watson takes us inside.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): This is a performance being staged for us at the Quezon City jail in the Philippines capital, Manila. We've been invited here to take a look at some of the exercises that this very overcrowded detention center performs every day with its inmates. It's built to house around 800 people. There are more than 4,000 incarcerated here, awaiting trial.
Take a look.
Now we're going to take a look at the conditions that the inmates here are living in.
So, sir, this is one of the cells?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
WATSON: Come on in here. Excuse me, sorry.
There is barely room to walk here.
Take a look at these incredibly crowded conditions.
85 adult males living in, sleeping in this small room. Tuberculosis is in this jail facility. There is a separate tuberculosis ward where there are more than 70 patients currently living in isolation. This jail is so crowded that the guards tell me every single step is used as a place to sleep.
It's hard to believe this jail is now accepting as many as 30 new prisoners a day. That's because the Philippines' new President Rodrigo Duterte launched a deadly war on drugs.
Since it started a month and a half ago, police have arrested more than 9200 suspects. Almost all of the hundreds of additional detainees brought here in the last seven weeks are facing drug charges.
As we're leaving, I want to finish with one astounding statistic. At any one time, there are only 20 guards between the outside gates and the interior that are on duty for a population of more than 4,000 detainees.
Ivan Watson, CNN, reporting from the Quezon City jail in Manila.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ALLEN: And Ivan will continue to report on developments there over the situation.
Well, the doors to the Wynn Palace Casino opened Monday in Macau. It's the only city in China where casino gambling is legal. Behind the $4.1 billion property is American business and Las Vegas billionaire Steve Wynn. He talked about his latest venture with our Mallika Kapur.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALLIKA KAPUR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): So you're investing heavily in Macau at a time when the Chinese economy is slowing down, when Chinese authorities are cracking on the gaming industry. Revenues are slowing down in the gaming business. Which does beg the question why Macau? And why now?
[00:35:00] STEVE WYNN, CEO, WYNN RESORTS: The changes that have hit this community in 120 months have no precedent anywhere else. To expect that such change would not have political ramifications and political consequence would be naive and unsophisticated.
So my attitude towards the political changes that you describe that affect business, generally speaking, the people that I've encountered in the last 15 years are intelligent.
The government of China is a meritocracy. It tends to promote the smartest people within it upward. So in the long run, I think they get it. They do the right thing. My job is to keep my organization flexible.
KAPUR: You know, there are also signals from China that it wants Macau overall to become more sort of mass market friendly. And when we think of Wynn, we tend to think of VIPs, of high rollers, things that are very elegant, beautiful, very luxurious.
Does it -- how does that sit with you? Are you comfortable with the idea of mass market appeal?
WYNN: Every hotel we've ever built in America or China has tremendous mass market appeal. I have heard so many versions of what the government wants that it's unintelligible.
KAPUR: You don't know what they want.
WYNN: No, no. It isn't anything like that. The government wanted Macau to develop broadly and to -- and differentiate itself in order to diversify its appeal which means that they wanted conventions and entertainment and a wide range of hospitality attractions. KAPUR: Something like Vegas in a way --
(CROSSTALK)
WYNN: That's exactly what they wanted. Because I was involved at the inception here.
KAPUR: Right.
WYN: And then it was explained to me by the government directly.
KAPUR: Correct. Without going through eight people in the middle.
WYNN: It's exactly what happened. Precisely to the point. The broad attraction of Macau as a destination resort is almost overwhelmingly clear. If you stop and look at the numbers, look at the facilities, look at what's happened, there is no point in saying what the government wants, what the government wanted took place.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ALLEN: Steve Wynn there talking about Macau and casinos.
Well, coming up here for presidents, a vacation may feature a change of scenery, but not much of a break from the job.
So we take a look at presidential days off.
OK, and a little golf, right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[00:40:00] ALLEN: Louisiana's governor says Donald Trump's visit to his state was helpful in focusing attention on the devastating flooding in Baton Rouge and elsewhere that we've been talking about this hour.
President Obama came under fire for not interrupting his vacation. But the governor apparently had told the White House to hold off.
Dana Bash has more on the history of presidents' work following them on vacation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Having a great time, as always.
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For presidents, even being on vacation doesn't necessarily mean getting away.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm outside. I'm drowning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're coming. We're coming. BASH: After historic flooding hit Louisiana this week, the Baton Rouge newspaper, "The Advocate," demanded President Obama break his annual trip to Martha's Vineyard to visit the victims.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I got you, darling. Oh!
BASH: Instead, he went golfing. And Donald Trump seized the moment to make his own trip.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You're not playing golf in Martha's Vineyard.
DONALD TRUMP, U.S. REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: Somebody is that shouldn't be.
BASH: The White House announced later that day that Obama plans to visit on Tuesday.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Good morning, everybody.
BASH: He is hardly the only president to resist pressure to interrupt his time away from the White House.
President Bush decided to stay on his Texas ranch as Hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005. A decision he later told Oprah Winfrey he regretted.
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I shouldn't have flown over and looked. I made a mistake. I should have landed. Now the problem is that when the president lands, resources are taken off the task at hand. I didn't realize a picture of me looking out would look like I didn't give a darn.
BASH: Of course, a president is commander-in-chief no matter his location. It's a point presidential press secretaries have been making ever since Teddy Roosevelt made the working vacation the norm by relocating most of the White House staff to his summer home in Oyster Bay, New York.
The press core has been chasing presidents on summer vacations ever since, from Eisenhower on the links of Augusta National to JFK on his sailboat at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis. Nancy Reagan defended her husband's frequent visits to their Santa Barbara ranch by arguing that presidents don't get vacations, they just get a change of scenery.
And Nixon said escaping Washington kept him from being isolated from the reality of American life.
OBAMA: Hope you have a great summer.
BASH: But as President Obama was reminded this week, the realities of politics never go away even when you're at the beach.
Dana Bash, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE) ALLEN: We stay in Washington now and we take you to the Smithsonian Zoo to send birthday wishes to panda cub Bei Bei. The cub celebrated his first birthday with a frozen treat -- quite a treat -- and official ceremony which it's believed symbolic objects placed in front of the cub will foretell his future.
The objects included peaches for longevity, bamboo for good health and habitat, and a red knot for luck and friendship. The cub's mother apparently chose for him, choosing the red knot.
The cub's mother apparently chose for him selecting the red knot.
So there you have it.
Happy birthday, Bei Bei.
I'm Natalie Allen. "World Sport" with Christina Macfarlane live from Rio is coming up. See you at the top of the hour.
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(WORLD SPORT)
