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Tropical Storm Hermine Wrecks Havoc in U.S.; Philippine Pres. Explosion Was Act of Terrorism; Obama in China for his Last G-20 as President; Jack Ma - "Trade is Something to Stop Wars"; Migrant Gives Birth to Twins at Sea; American Abducted to Become Kim's Tutor; Trump Defends Immigration Approach; Exhibition will Mark 50 Years of Pink Floyd. Aired 3-3:30a ET
Aired September 03, 2016 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
August 03, 2016
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NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Tropical Storm Hermine continues to call trouble off the US East coast after passing through Florida, we'll have the latest from the weather center for you on the storm path. Also, a heavy military and police presence in the streets of the Philippines right now after a deadly blast the president called an "act of terrorism." And Hillary Clinton's handling of her e-mails is grabbing attention yet again. What we now know about her interview with the FBI. It's all ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, thank you for joining us. We're live in Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen.
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ALLEN: Our top story, the Philippines says the deadly explosion in his hometown of Davao City is an act of terrorism and he vows to confront it. At least 14 people were killed, dozens wounded when the blast ripped through a crowded street market Friday. So far, there's no claim of responsibility, but the Philippines National Defense Secretary says he assumes the Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf carried out the attack. I spoke a short time ago with Ina Andolong in Davao City. She's a senior correspondent for CNN Philippines and talked about what she knew of the explosion.
INA ANDOLONG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Natalie, Davao City is home to President Duterte. He served as Mayor of the city, for more than 20 years. And he was quick to respond to the site. He arrived at the site of the blast which is right behind me, just a few hours after the explosion happened last night. Right now, the death toll or the number of people killed from the explosion is 10 -- 14. At least 67 others were injured. Police are still investigating the cause of the explosion. A doctor at a hospital here in Davao tells CNN Philippines some of those injured were -- are being treated for shrapnel wounds. Now, let me show you what's happening behind me. Investigators complete their post-blast investigation earlier today.
Right now, they're basically hosing off the pavement, getting the blood - some of the blood stains from the victims last night out. They're hosing them off from the pavement. The president explained that - or the President Duterte declared a State of Lawless of Violence earlier today and he explained that this is not Martial Law. He said - he explained that the State of Lawless Violence means that the military and the police will increase their visibility and also intensify check points all over the country. Now, this move aims to curb what he believes is lawlessness happening in the country. Not just with the explosion last night, but he also says it is because of the killings unfairly attributed to the police.
As far as the President Duterte is concerned, the explosion last night is an act of terrorism. No claim yet of responsibility, but the President says this could be a retaliation to the ongoing military offensives against the Abu Sayyaf in the province or - of Sulu or it could also be related to his war on illegal drugs. Natalie?
ALLEN: And Ina, there are no suspects at this point?
ANDOLONG: Yes. Well, authorities here, Natalie, are being very careful as to - on identifying suspects. They are looking at authority - local officials here, however, have confirmed that they have gotten intelligence reports of threats here in Davao City. However, they are also looking at a number of possible causes for the explosion. They're looking at a possible LPG tank that exploded. They're looking at the possibility of some vendors from the night market, apparently angry over the shutting down of the night market awhile back. They say they could also be behind the explosion. Of course, they're also not ruling out the possibility that terror groups are behind this. Especially the president himself said that they are well aware that threats have been issued by terror groups like the Abu Sayyaf previously, and that this really is not an isolated case as far as he's concerned.
ALLEN: Our senior correspondent from CNN Philippines with the latest on that story will continue to bring you any updates on it. Tropical storm Hermine is marching up the Southeastern US with damaging wind, heavy rain and flood waters. In it's wake, a flash flood watch is in effect right now for parts of the Carolinas and tens of thousands of people are without power. On Friday, Hermine ripped into Florida's Big Ben region as a Category 1 storm. The first hurricane to come ashore in the state since Wilma struck 11 years ago.
Hermine is expected to reach the Atlantic coast in the coming hours where it could regain strength once it mixes with warm water. Let's get the latest on the storm's path. Meteorologist Derek Van Dam, Mr. Gloom-and-doom on this holiday weekend.
DEREK VAN DAM, METEOROLOGIST: At least I can smile and try and give you a little bit of happiness there. But I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but this storm is turning out to be quite a thing. I'm trying to break it down for you here as best as possible. But this storm really is sprinting along the east coast. I mean, look at this thing. It's just -- cruised from Georgia through the Carolinas and now is about to exit into the Atlantic seaboard. Current sustained winds, 60 miles per hour. That's the latest from the National Hurricane Center as it continues to move across that region. But we are about to put the brakes on that forward momentum from the storm. And this is important because, as it exits the land and moves over the
open ocean waters, it's going to stall out, thanks to a blocking pattern that we call a rex block. This is a metrological term. But what you need to know at home is that, an area of high pressure to the north and to the east will prevent that low pressure system from moving in that general easterly, northeasterly direction that it's doing right now. And that is going to allow it to interact with the warm gulf stream waters that are, well, in excess of 29 degrees Celsius, roughly 80 degrees Fahrenheit and that is confusing the computer models. But the bottom line here is that it's going to have major implications on the east coast. So let's show you how and why. Here is the gulf stream. You can see the warm waters there indicated in the shading of red. We need temperatures to be above 29 degrees Celsius or 79 degrees Fahrenheit for that optimum Conditions for tropical development. So, once it reenters the Atlantic Ocean, we'll sta rt to see this perhaps take on the more tropical characteristics, even though it will become an extra tropical storm.
Now, a lot of people are comparing this to Hurricane Sandy. And the difference here, really is the size. Hermine, significantly more compact than Sandy was back in October 2012, but nonetheless, we're going to feel the impacts from the storm in a major way going forward. So what are those impacts? In the nearer term, we have the potential for tornados along the coast of the Carolinas and into the Delmarva Peninsula. Flash-flooding, damaging winds and storm surge. Here is the latest radar across these regions. Zooming into Cape Hatteras, they had a report of a tornado earlier in the overnight period and that had a few injuries associated with it, as well. You can see the flood watches that are in place across the region. Extremely strong winds at the moment, but the bulk of the heavy rains really - or heavy wind is really offshore.
There's so much energy associated with this system that some of the open ocean swells that we're predicting could exceed 25 to 30 feet as we head into the first parts of next week. Remember, this is coinciding with a public holiday on Monday here in the United States being Labor Day. And as we look at the storm surge threat going forward, at the moment, the National Hurricane Center has two to four feet above normal high tide, Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay, major areas that have the potential to see flooding. I remember Hurricane Sandy impacted those regions in a big way. Two to four feet, may be a bit on the conservative side, as well as all depending on the track of this particular tropical system as it moves out in the Atlantic Ocean.
Nonetheless, we have tropical storm warnings in effect from Hatteras, Cape Hatteras through Atlantic City and one thing I want to note is New York City has a tropical storm watch. Something we haven't seen in quite some time. Natalie.
ALLEN: Right. And those that went through Hurricane Sandy probably don't like the sounds of this.
VAN DAM: Not at all.
ALLEN: OK. Derek, thank you. VAN DAM: All right.
ALLEN: Barack Obama is in China. He arrived just about 30 minutes ago for his last G-20 meeting as U.S. president. And our Athena Jones joins us now live from Hangzhou with the city hosting G-20 with what's on the Agenda and what's at stake here for President Obama, his last G-20? Hi Athena.
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Natalie. Yes, a lot is on the agenda for the G20 meeting. M That kicks off tomorrow. But first, on the agenda for the President today, soon after touching down was a bilateral meeting with China's president. Xi. This is his eighth face-to-face with president Xi. It will be an extended bilateral meeting to discuss a whole range of issues and later on tonight, a working dinner. So, what's on that list of issues? Everything was trade and investment. They'll all likely talk about the steel glut. The glut that's still on the street., over capacity this say, in this deal industry, thus destroying the market. Also efforts tp0 rain in North Korea's nuclear AMBITION. The - we like we talk about maritime issues. There has been ongoing dispute between China and many of its neighbors, over territories in the waters surrounding China. The South China Sea, the East China Sea. There was a ruling just earlier this summer by international tribunal in favor of the Philippine
s and against China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. Take a look into President Obama, talking about what his message will be to President Xi about the South China Sea.
BARACK OBAMA. US PRESIDENT: Part of what I've tried to Communication with President Xi is that, the United States arrives at its power in part by restraining itself. And when we bind ourselves to a bunch of international norms and rules, it's not because we have to, it's because we recognize that over the long-term, building a strong international order is in our interests. And I think over the long- term will be in China's interest, as well. So, where we see them violating international rules and norms as we have seen in some cases in the South China Sea or in some of their behavior when it comes to economic policy. We've been very firm and we've indicated to them that there will be consequences. But what we've tried to emphasize to them is if you are working within international rules, then we should be partners. There's no reason that we cannot be friendly competitors on the commercial side and important partners when it comes to dealing with the many international problems that threaten both of us.
JONES: Now, it's not entirely clear what the consequences that the President spoke about will be for China. But maritime issues are one of the areas of tension when it comes to dealing with China and the region, other areas where there are some differences between the US and China are human rights, of course and cyber security. This is something that comes up -- the White House says and every sit down the President has with the Chinese President Xi. So, one thing I looked at the White House said is that there's always candor between these two leaders. They have grown comfortable talking about their differences and not avoiding them is all part of the long list of things the two countries are working together on. Natalie? ALLEN: All right. Athena Jones recovering it for. Thank you so
much. Live in Hangzhou. The city hosting the G20 Summit, Hangzhou is also the home of the Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba. Its founder, Jack Ma is beating the drum for free trades saying it improves the world and stops wars. HE sat down with CNN 's Andrew Stevens for a rare interview.
JACK MA: We want to tell the world. There is a way to improve globalization. It's too late to go back. It's never too late to improve yourself. So, globalization (INAUDIBLE) deliver. Because I have seen China happen in past 20 years. And if China can work in that way, it - why the other developing nations cannot have that way? If Chinese young people can use an internet, buy and sell across the board, why India is small business? Why (Pakistan's) young people, why Argentina young people cannot do it. So, we should find a solution for them.
ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you have a solution?
MA: Well, we call it Electronic World Trade Platform. It's not Electronic World Trade Organization. If it is WTO Organization, it's like a, you know, nearly 200 government leaders sit in a room, the quarrel, they fight. Because of the political reasons. They stop the trade. We think trade is something to stop the wars. Trade is something that - to improve the communications. When trade stops, the war comes. We should own a platform to helping small guys. If a Philippine farmer want to sell his products to Norway, to Argentina, there's no way. Only big companies. We should make an open platform. Every country, every small business. Every young people. If you want to get involved, just join it. We want to speak on behalf of the business world. We need globalization. We need free trade. This is the message.
STEVENS: But this is (INAUDIBLE) Jack?
MA: Yes. (INAUDIBLE) this is why somebody has to talk about. Imagine. How can you stop global trade? How can you build up a wall to stop the trade?
STEVENS: I have to ask you this. You mentioned walls, you mentioned, sort of, this opposition to trade. We have a U.S. presidential candidate who is saying those -- echoing those very words.
MA: But I've seen so many elections. And every time there is election, people start to criticize China, criticize this and criticize that. Well, you've got, you know, curious in watching that and I think I have confidence that America will be calmed down and that the politician will do real stuff.
STEVENS: Hangzhou is hosting the G-20.
MA: Yes.
STEVENS: It is the home of Alibaba. Is it any coincidence the G-20 is here in the home of Alibaba? MA: I hope so. But I'm so proud of this city. Many people try to convince us and people keep asking "Why Hangzhou? Why not the Alibaba headquartered in Beijing or Shanghai?" Because this is a city with great culture. We believe in private sectors and entrepreneurships.
ALLEN: And we'll, of course, be talking more about Hangzhou as the summit gets under way there. The FBI releasing its information on the Hillary Clinton e-mail investigation. What he said behind closed doors, and Donald Trump's response, we'll have that next. Plus , pigs on the wing can only mean one thing. Just ahead, the next production from British music legend, Pink Floyd.
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ALLEN: Well, as you know, thousands of refugees and other migrants are still trying to make the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean Sea. And often, we talk about many of these journeys that end in disaster. But one of those who made it is a young woman who is now a new mother. And get this. She gave birth prematurely to twins while aboard a flimsy packed vessel off Libya's coast. She had no food or water. Ben Wedeman has her remarkable story.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Eight days old and little (Heap) responds to his mother's touch. Born at sea with his brother, (Ebnezer), the twins are doing well. Their mother, 26-year-old (Merhawi Tesfamariam) delivered a month premature on board a rickety boat off the Libyan coast. She and the twins were flown by helicopter to Palermo's Cervelo Hospital. After a long and treacherous journey from her native across Eritrea, across the Sahara Desert to Libya, fortune smiled down upon her when all seemed lost.
She was very lucky, says Dr. Antonio Perino. It was a premature delivery of twins in a crowded boat in a Mediterranean. Any complication could have been grave with the risk of death for both the mother and the twins.
Merhawi explains that she and her husband left Eritrea to Sudan to escape open-ended mandatory military service. She had already served three years. But short of money, her husband stayed in Sudan and ask she paid human traffickers thousands of dollars to take her to Libya. There she stayed for five months in Tripoli, sleeping on the dirty floor in a warehouse. Pregnant, she never saw a doctor the whole time she was there. Traffickers loaded her and thousands of others on dozens of boats along the Libyan Coast last week. On the second day at sea, she went into labor. Other women on the boat helped in the delivery.
What followed, she recounts, was hours of anguish and pain, without food or water, she was terrified the babies wouldn't survive. But now the ordeal is over. She and the twins are safe and sound. She hopes to eventually be reunited with her husband to settle in Britain or possibly the United States where she has relatives. Her life, still fraught with so much uncertainty, yet despite it all, she can savor a moment of joy. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Palermo.
ALLEN: And cute little twins they are. We wish her well. The U.S. says it will ask Beijing again about an American whom Chinese authorities say probably died in China 12 years ago. A new report is repeating claims that the man you see here, David Sneddon, was abducted while hiking in China. The report says he was taken to North Korea to work as an English tutor for leader Kim Jung-un. That's according to Yahoo News Japan citing a South Korean Official. The U.S. state department says they have no evidence to confirm the report. Earlier, his brother sent David a message on CNN that his family hasn't forgotten him.
JASON SNEDDON: I think that's what we worry about most is he has - there's no communication for him, we believe. And we just haven't forgotten and we're not going to stop until we at least know what happened. And we want you to come home.
ALLEN: The Sneddon family says sources have told them before that David is in North Korea. CNN reached out to the North Korean embassy in Beijing, but our calls were not answered.
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ALLEN: New information in Hillary Clinton's e-mail saga. The FBI has released notes from its interview with her. The U.S. democratic presidential candidate continues to be under fire for using a private e-mail server while Secretary of State. Clinton reportedly told the investigators 39 times in that interview that she either didn't remember or didn't recall specific training on the handling of classified information. The FBI and Clinton's supporters say, the notes do not provide any kind of criminal smoking gun. Her critics, including Donald Trump's campaign say these are just more examples of Clinton being untruthful.
Meantime, Trump is trying to court African-American voters. His latest outreach includes a trip to a black church in Detroit, Michigan. But this visit is already making controversy as we learn from CNN's Sara Murray.
SARA MURRAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Donald Trump is taking his tightly scripted approach to winning over minority voters to a round table in Philadelphia today. The GOP nominee is already facing criticism for his next campaign stop. An African-American church in Detroit. That's after the "New York Times" unearthed the transcript of the prewritten replies Trump's campaign on how he delivered to pre- supplied questions in a Q and A with the pastor. Now, that pastor says he's tweaking his questions. And he expects Trump's visit will be a bit more expansive.
(UNIDENTIFIED MALE): We wanted to meet and talk to some people while he was here. That's what his visit is all about. To make sure that he - while he's in town talking to people because he's been criticized, he's been preaching to African-Americans from a back drop of white people.
MURRAY: As for Trump, his pitch is staying the same. Arguing minority voters have nothing left to lose.
TRUMP: You have tremendous numbers of African-Americans that are have a really had a hard time. They live terribly. And I say, what do you have to lose? I say to them, "What do you have to lose? Give it to me, I'm going to fix it."
MURRAY: But after the backlash from his hard line immigration speech this week, a speech that cost him the support of some of his own advisors. Trump says his plan was misunderstood. Now he's saying his approach to dealing with millions of undocumented immigrants in the U.S. isn't set.
TRUMP: I want to see -- before we do anything further, I want to see how It shapes up when we have strong, you know, I used the word impenetrable boarders.
MURRAY: All of this, even as he admitted to the "Wall Street Journal" that his meeting with the Mexican president, inspired him to toughen his immigration speech. Trump saying, he added his line, ""They don't know it yer but they're going to pay for the wall." After the Mexican President revealed via Twitter that he told trump he wouldn't pay for the border walls. With the campaign entering its final sprint, Trump is taking care of other tasks. Receiving his second classified intelligence briefing in New York today, and hiring a new deputy campaign manager.
DAVID BOSSY: Well, good morning, I'm --
MURRAY: David Bossy, the President of conservative advocacy group Citizens United.
ALLEN: Sarah Murray there on the campaign trail, the British fan Pink Floyd made their name with pioneering musical techniques and extravagant visual performances. And now its members are reuniting for an exhibition of their life's work. The retrospective opens in the Spring at London's, Victoria and Albert Museums. And CNN London Correspondent Max Foster gives us a bit of a preview.
MAX FOSTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A 40-foot floating pig flying high above London's Victoria and Albert Museum. A sight that's become the trademark of the legendary rock band Pink Floyd. Ever since they tethered one to London's london Battersea Power Station back in the 1970s. Back then, the pig broke free, grounding all planes at Heathrow Airport. Today, it stayed in place (INAUDIBLE) during attention to the band's latest project. A retrospective exhibition covering their half-a-century of work.
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NICK MASON, DRUMMER: What would be nice would be to be able to show or explain how we created some of the songs or how we assembled some of the music or whatever.
FOSTER: Drummer, Nick Mason thinks Pink Floyd's pioneering use of visual effects made them unique for their time.
MASON: That was, sort of, beginning of something that we realized gave us a sort of niche, really, at a time when we weren't particularly a brilliant band. We were just a band. But that added - that added element meant something. And it was a launch pad for us, I think.
FOSTER: The show will include the iconic prism artwork that made the album, "Dark Side of the Moon," so recognizable. One of Pink Floyd's most famous pieces of imagery was the wall referenced in their famous song about rebellion and protest.
[Music]
FOSTER: It's a theme Mason recognizes only too well in today's world.
MASON: It's relevant at every level, whether it's some crazed man in America trying to divide the country or whether - or whether it's personal between two people. So, that's the great thing with music is, it can be all things to all people.
FOSTER: The exhibition, which opens to the public next summer will mark the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd's first album, the Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Max Foster, CNN, London.
ALLEN: I love the pink pig story. Thanks for watching. I'm Natalie Allen. Next on CNN is Political Mann and I'll be right back with your headlines.
