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Clinton Cancels California Trip Due to Health Issue; New Air Strikes in Aleppo Kill at Least Seven; French Prime Minister Says Police Foil More Terror Plots; Schools in Japan Use Virtual Reality to Attract Top Students; North Korean Nuke Test Forces South Korean Retaliation Planning. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired September 12, 2016 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:00:00] GEORGE HOWELL, CNN NEWSROOM SHOW HOST: Ill and recovering. Hillary Clinton's doctor says that she's being treated for pneumonia after she appears to faint as you see in this video in public.
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN NEWSROOM SHOW HOST: Also ahead, a spike in violence. Kills (Ph) schools of people ahead of a planned cease-fire in Syria.
HOWELL: Plus, the young and reclusive. Why some schools in Japan are turning to virtual reality to attract real students.
Welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. I'm George Howell.
CHURCH: And I'm Rosemary Church. Thanks for joining us. This is CNN Newsroom.
There are some answers now to new questions about Hillary Clinton's health. She became ill Sunday at a 9/11 ceremony in New York and was seen stumbling as she left. First her campaign said she was over heated. Hours later, after she left her daughter Chelsea's apartment, more details came out.
HOWELL: A statement from her personal physician reads as follows. "Secretary Clinton been experiencing a cough related to allergies. On Friday, during a follow up evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia."
"She was put on antibiotics and advised to rest and modify her schedule." While at this morning's event, she became overheated and dehydrated. I have just examined her and she is now re-hydrated and recovering nicely."
CHURCH: Clinton has cancelled a campaign trip to California this week so she could rest at home.
HOWELL: CNN's chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta that tells us more about her pneumonia diagnosis.
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN'S CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: We're still getting some details in about what exactly may have precipitated which is seen in this video here with Secretary Clinton. Clearly having some trouble getting into the van. Seems to stumble.
What we heard initially as you now probably know is that this was due to an episode of overheating. Sort of a vague term, not clear what that meant.
And then it was just a few hours later that we heard, that in fact, Secretary Clinton had been diagnosed with pneumonia. But that diagnosis took place on Friday. Today is Sunday, and that it was pneumonia and a bacterial pneumonia for which she's being treated with antibiotics that may have made her condition even worse.
So, the way the -- the way that's we're sort of hearing from the campaign and from her personal doctor, Dr. Lisa Bardack, is that she was dehydrated, she had an episode of overheating and much of that was precipitated by this diagnosis of pneumonia.
There is still bits of information that we don't know. Ahead that she get diagnosed with pneumonia. Did she get a chest x-ray or when was she seen by a doctor, what type of bacteria is causing this and how is it being treated, and also what is -- what's the impact going to be on her travel schedule? Should she be traveling on a plane and doing other events, should be resting and getting rehydrated even more?
These are all still open questions that we're not sure that we're going to get any more of the answers of those questions, at least not over the next several hours. But as we get more information, we'll certainly bring it to you.
Back to you for now.
HOWELL: Dr. Gupta, thank you. In this situation it certainly raises questions about transparency for both candidates about their health situations.
Clinton's pneumonia is forcing a temporary slow down on what has been a very packed campaign for her.
CHURCH: CNN politics producer, Dan Merica spoke with Poppy Harlow earlier about Clinton schedule going forward.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAN MERICA, CNN POLITICS PRODUCER: Hillary Clinton will not be going on a two day California trip that was scheduled long before -- long ago. She was supposed to headline a fundraiser in San Francisco. A large fundraiser in San Francisco tomorrow night.
She will then fly to L.A. where she had two events, two fundraisers. One with Lionel Richie and another with Diane von Furstenberg, as well as a campaign event and an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres show.
She will not be making this trip. So, right now, on her calendar the next open event will be in Las Vegas where she's supposed to headline a rally and speak about the economy in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
This is basically an acknowledgment from the Clinton campaign. This pneumonia diagnosis is an issue.
And I was struck when the doctor put out a statement earlier today and said that, you know, I advise Secretary Clinton to change her schedule.
The fact that the Clinton campaign allowed that line to be in the doctor's statement was fairly telling it nodded to the fact that a, this was, you know, an issue for them. Something they took seriously, and, b, that they were seriously considering the amount that they scheduled Secretary Clinton.
The way that she raises money, the way that she's raised money throughout this campaign has been very labor intensive. It requires her going from place to place headlining events like the one she was supposed to do in the next two days.
[03:05:01] She's headlined over 330 fundraisers as a candidate, and over 37, I think it was exactly 37 in August.
That's a lot of work and it's a lot of time spent raising money. There are serious questions within the Clinton campaign tonight whether they were over scheduling her.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: But you know who's quite right now?
CHURCH: Yes.
HOWELL: Donald Trump. Surprisingly quite not commenting on Hillary Clinton's health issues.
He told reporters on Sunday that he did not know about the incident, keeping in mind that both campaigns decided to pause for 9/11.
CHURCH: Yes, of course. And sources from Trump campaign tells CNN that they want to be respectful of Clinton's health issue. They also staff and campaign surrogates have been told nothing to post anything negative about the health incident on social media. One source says if they do, they could be fired.
HOWELL: Wow. Political analysts are questioning the two-day in announcing this pneumonia diagnosis.
CHURCH: Yes. A panel of them discussed earlier with CNN's Poppy Harlow. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: As far as the Trump campaign, they are finally showing that discipline would have been helpful to bring to the table a long time ago. They shouldn't say anything. Listen, the whole country wishes Hillary Clinton well. We want her to
recover and it's good for her that she's taking a couple of days off the trail to get back into shape.
That said, I must tell you that I call in Carl Bernstein just a few moments ago, they would have been so much wiser to have dealt with this pneumonia on Friday and just put out a statement.
A candidate routinely come down with illnesses in this presidential campaigns these are grueling experiences. And Hillary Clinton has come down she's got -- she's got been diagnosed with pneumonia.
If she's going to get over she'll be back on the trail soon. And this would end -- then all of this would have evaporated as it stands now, she is seen once again even if she was trying to tell I'm going to be more transparent. She's seen as they were recovering it until they were forced their hand before her.
POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: So, David -- so, David, why do you think she didn't? Why do you think the campaign did not do that? Even this morning, the statement that Nick Merrill, her spokesman put out was that she -- was over heated. He could have at that time said she had a pneumonia. He did not.
GERGEN: Exactly. It is, Poppy, it's the most battling question surrounding Hillary Clinton and her campaign. This woman is so accomplished in so many ways that it's so obvious, it's so obvious that they're not helping themselves and really be -- and leaving up for their responsibilities as a candidate.
It is absolutely true that Donald Trump has covered up far more and both of these candidates ought to be held to a much higher standard.
But that having said, tonight, we're dealing with this story that suddenly in, has been giving legs. You know, the alternative right was pushing all these conspiracy theories.
But, tonight, we're into a situation where it is a legitimate campaign issue about her health. People do need to know and I think she will release her health record, detailed health record. As I think Mr. Trump will eventually be forced to do with his health records.
Historically, as Douglas Brinkley will tell you, we way back when Franklin Roosevelt could cover up that he was in a wheelchair. You know, they're on a high part where his museum is and there are thousands of pictures of FDR as President, only two showing him in a wheelchair that he couldn't walk.
John F. Kennedy lied to us about his health care. But in recent years, Poppy, it is been required, expected actually of candidates either approaching or in their 70s, Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole, and John McCain, all of them had to release their health care records.
HARLOW: So, Douglas Binkley, is that -- I mean, you're a presidential historian speak to the history here, a, on, you know, how much this affect how people are voting a candidate's health or critically perceive health. And also the fact that in recent election, John McCain, for example, we've known a lot more about the health of the candidate than we do this time around.
DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, CNN PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: Well, that's right. And agree with everything David Gergen just said. I would add that one of the problems Hillary Clinton has is that concussion back in 2012 and announced she had double vision and was sort of an unusual two month period for her and nobody really knows what that's all about.
And that's spread some of the conspiracy theories. But the fact to the matter is, I think the Clinton campaign, that the fact that here's Friday, they got a morning diagnosis of pneumonia and had her run one of the most grueling schedules I could imagine. I'm sure she wanted to.
But it was in that moment Friday with that basket of deplorables comment came out by doing another fundraiser that wasn't necessary when she should have taken a lot of the weekend off. So, where she's starting this week not only cancelling California but I'm afraid that basket of deplorables can be haunting her campaign for weeks to come.
So, the best thing she could do at what she's doing, reboot, recharge and take a few days off. Maybe pick up the Ellen DeGeneres interview, and maybe give that the exclusive under recovering of pneumonia and then get to Las Vegas and start doing rallies not just fundraisers.
[03:10:11] HARLOW: And again, our Jeff Zeleny just reporting that Hillary Clinton's campaign press secretary, Nick Merrill is coming and confirming what aide told our Dan Merica that indeed she will not be going to California on Monday or Tuesday.
Carl Bernstein, you know the woman, you wrote the book on her, as Joe Johns was reporting earlier, look, this is someone who powers through.
What do you expect her to do now? Clearly she's resting at home. What will her next step be?
CARL BERNSTEIN, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I don't think we can predict why -- I think we can hope that some people around her will finally say Hillary, you've got to open up in all kinds of ways here because that's when you're really at your best.
But I think among other things, she and her doctor, need to be in front of the press for an hour with medical records and discussing and open the questions about her medical history. And Donald Trump needs to do the same, and we need to demand it of both of them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Across the United States, ceremonies have been held to commemorate the 15th anniversary of 9/11.
HOWELL: Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives on the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil. On Sunday, the nation paused to remember the dead.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(MUSIC PLAYING)
BARACK OBAMA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA PRESIDENT: Fifteen years may seem like a long time but for the families who lost a piece of their heart that day, I imagine it can be seen just like yesterday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Michael Patrick Eigen (Ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Daniel Alcaniaz (Ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Frederick Jay L. Jr.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And my father, John Patrick Gallagher. Dad, me and mom think about you every day single day. We'll never stop loving you and missing you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stephen A. Knapp, Eugene Nischef (Ph). He's my uncle, Andrew Fischer. Uncle Andrew words cannot describe how much everyone loves you and misses you and I look forward to meeting or finally meeting in heaven.
OBAMA: We remember and we will never forget the nearly 3,000 beautiful lives taken from us so cruelly.
We come together in prayer and in gratitude for the strength that fortified us across these 15 years.
And we renew the love and the faith that binds us together as one American family.
(MUSIC PLAYING)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And for my late husband, Mark Caleo, my late brother-in-law, Stephen J. Caleo, and my brother, Thomas Pattison (Ph). Fifteen years later, the love you three shared while you are alive still live on in all of us.
OBAMA: May God bless the memory of the love ones here and across the country and may God forever bless the United States of America.
(STAR-SPANGLED PLAYED)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And the New York skyline was illuminated by the tribute in light marked the 9/11 anniversary.
HOWELL: The tribute began six months after the attacks, it is part of the annual memorial service.
Organizers say the beams can be seen as far as 96 kilometers or almost 60 miles away.
[03:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: I'm Kate Riley with your CNN World Sport headlines.
Stan Wawrinka is the U.S. Open champion, meaning he beats Novak Djokovic in the final. This is his third major title for the Swiss and his first at Flushing Meadows. Novak Djokovic really will also looking on top four. The serve would have in fact two medical time out that he suffered from a bleeding toe.
Now Wawrinka was tougher mentally and physically on the 9th. And the Swiss is now unbeaten 3-0 in major finals.
To the English Premier League where Swansea hope that Chelsea Diego Costa put the visitors ahead while the home side would also back at two goals.
But Costa would bail the blows out with a late equalizing his second all the afternoon to all it's how it would end.
On Sunday, marks the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. It claimed the lives of almost 3,000 people and injuring thousands more. And the New York Yankees paid tribute to the victims of 9/11 at the Yankee Stadium.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi laid a wreath of the 9/11 monument in the Monument Park before their game against the Tampa Bay rays.
And as the NFL got underway the team also paid their respect before the New York Jets play its Star-Spangled. A moment of silence was held back.
And that's all your sports headline. I'm Kate Riley.
HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom.
At least seven people are dead after new air strikes in Aleppo, Syria. This as a nationwide cease-fire is set to begin at sundown. A right's group says that three of the dead are children.
This latest attack comes as rebel group say that they have doubts now about the U.S. and Russia-backed cease-fire.
A representative from the Free Syrian Army tells CNN it doesn't trust the Syrian government it says, that it's made those reservations known to the United States.
CHURCH: The Syrian government announce its support of the deal Saturday and they had more air strikes on rebel-held areas.
A right's group says at least 90 people were killed on air strikes on Aleppo in Idlib of the weekend.
HOWELL: Following it all, CNN's Jomana Karadsheh is live in Amman, Jordan this hour. Jomana, good to have you with us. Let's talk about this cessation of hostilities set to begin at sun down but they have already been air strikes. We've seen more barrel bombs leading up to this. Where do you things stand now?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you mention, George, we're expecting the cessation of hostility to take effect in a few hours.
But just after this weekend the carnage that we saw these air strikes in Aleppo and in Idlib leaving more than 90 people killed. There was no letup in the violence.
We are getting more reports from monitoring groups about fighting about air strikes taking place in different parts of the country. As you mentioned, in Aleppo they say that seven people were killed including three children.
And also we are hearing reports from the southern part of the country just bordering Jordan in Darab province. Reports of at least 16barrel bombs being dropped in Darab, but we don't have word yet on casualty, and also hearing from state's TV. Syrian state TV saying that the rebels who they describe as terrorist also shelled the western regime held part of Aleppo this morning.
[03:20:03] This is the day of aid that is supposed to be a day of peace, but there is no sign of the violence in Syria stopping at this point.
But of course, George, those that we have spoken to in the rebel-held parts of Aleppo say that they hope that there will be a pause in the violence because they want to see humanitarian come into the city.
But of course, lots of doubts about whether the guns will fall silent at sun down today. And if they do how long will this last for we have seen trusses fall apart in the past.
HOWELL: So, again, the air strikes and the violence continuing. But a different image that we have seen. These images of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad performing prayers in the Damascus suburbs of Daraya.
KARADSHEH: Well, George, this is a very traditional thing for head of state to do. They perform their Eid prayers usually in a grand mosque the main mosque in the capital or any part of the country.
But today, we're seeing these images coming from Syrian state TV showing President Bashar al-Assad praying in a small mosque in the Damascus suburb area of Daraya.
This is so symbolic, George, as you recall Daraya was one of the first Syrian in Damascus suburbs to rise up against the regime. Back in 2011, we saw protests there. In 2012, when this turned into an armed conflict it was taken over by rebel groups.
And for years, it was under seige by the regime. And, George, a constant bombardment and it was cut off from the world with no water supplies and no food and just until last month. George, we saw a locally brokered truce deal between the government and the groups in Daraya allowing for the evacuation of the fighters into Idlib province and civilians out into other parts of Damascus. This was hugely symbolic seen as a victory. A very symbolic victory
for the Syrian regime and a big blow to the rebellion against Bashar al-Assad.
And as we see today, a very strong message from al-Assad praying in Daraya.
HOWELL: A moment there, a photo op you could say showing the Syrian President but at the same time this violence continues in this hellish civil war that has been going on now for a year after year, after year, after year, after year, after year.
Jomana Karadsheh, live for us in Amman, Jordan. Thank you for your reporting. We'll stay in touch with you.
CHURCH: And of course, the stakes are high for the latest Syria's cease-fire deal. Hundreds of thousands of people have died in over five years of war.
And I am joined now by Fawaz Gerges in London, he's the author of "ISIS, a History," he's also the chair of Contemporary Middle East study at the London School of of Economics. Thank you sir, for being with us.
FAWAZ GERGES, "ISIS, A HISTORY" AUTHOR: Thank you.
CHURCH: Now, of course, we know that the bombs have continued to fall ahead of this U.S./Russia cease-fire going into effect. How likely is it that this truce will succeed do you think.
GERGES: Well, we have to wait and see in the next hours if the United States and Russia will succeed in exerting pressure on their respective plans, the United States via the opposition and Russia via the Syrian regime.
My take on it, Rosemary, are the odds are against a successful cease- fire. We have been there before. Two-points the opposition is deeply divided. One of the largest and most powerful rebel groups called Ahrar al-Sham has already said that it will not abide by the cease- fire.
You have also Al Qaeda. It used to be called Al Nusra front. Al Qaeda will do everything in its power to basically sabotage this particular cease-fire.
And finally, will Russia succeed in convincing the Assad regime to free its air force. If I were Assad in Damascus y air force is the only strategic weapon that I have vis a vis the opposition.
So, there are many if's, there are many questions and even if the cease-fire holds in the next few days the big question is for how long given the absence of a political horizon.
Because without a political horizon in Syria, I doubt it very much were there any cease-fire would hold. CHURCH: Of course, it was such a tortured effort to actually get to this point. You don't think there is much chance for the cease-fire. So, what needs to be done to make sure that there is a long lasting cease-fire? Is that even possible do you think given the circumstances?
GERGES: I think the situation is very complex. There are many players entangled in the Syrian quagmire. Syria now is a battlefield for a regional wars by proxies, where are the regional powers?
[03:25:05] That's the Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two leading powers really agreed or accept this particular cease-fire.
And even the United States and Russia, again, as we know, President Barack Obama has made it very clear there is a deep crisis of trust between the United States and Russia.
The Defense Department and our intelligence communities in the United States do not really trust the Russians. And the Defense Department was extreme blunt in this report after the agreement was announced by John Kerry and Lavrov.
It says we have to wait and see. If Russia delivers on its promises and then we can begin the process of sharing information with Russia. They have so many complex questions.
My take on it, this is the best option of all horrible options. There are very few good options inside Syria. And the Obama administration knows very well. It is trying to save lives, it is trying to reduce violence, I mean, its strategic goal is to deliver humanitarian basically assistance to the siege areas.
And I think my take on it this is the last effort on the part of the Obama administration to see whether a cease-fire can really take place in Syria before the next administration come to power in the next year.
CHURCH: All right. You don't think this has much of a chance of cease-fire, but you are saying what is there is the best option available for now and sometimes it can be a process one step toward that effort.
GERGES: Absolutely.
CHURCH: Fawaz Gerges joining us from London there. It is nearly 8.30 in the morning. Many thanks to you.
GERGES: Thanks.
HOWELL: A story that is certainly gaining traction in the United States this lag between Hillary Clinton's diagnosis of pneumonia and the public announcement of it. Why the delay? Those are some of the questions that are coming to light.
This is CNN Newsroom.
[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: And a warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.
HOWELL: And I'm George Howell with the headlines that we're following for you at this hour.
Hillary Clinton is cancelling a trip to the State of California where she became ill and then stumbled as you see in this video after a 9/11 ceremony in New York City. Her doctor says that the U.S. democratic presidential candidate was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday. She says that Clinton got overheated and dehydrated Sunday but is now recovering.
CHURCH: In Syria, a U.S. and Russian-backed cease-fire is said to begin as air strikes continue. At least seven people are dead after new strikes hit a rebel-held neighborhood in Aleppo.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says three of the dead are children, 90 people were killed on air strikes on rebel-held area in Aleppo and Idlib of the weekend. The truce is said to start at sundown.
HOWELL: The Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls says that the country's terror threat is at its maximum. He was speaking on Europe One Radio. He explained that police are foiling plots on a daily bases. He said that authorities are monitoring around 1500 potential threat.
CHURCH: Hillary Clinton's republican rival has been uncharacteristically quite about her illness so far. Sources say Donald Trump's campaign will be respectful about her health.
HOWELL: Clinton's diagnoses wasn't disclose for two days. And hours after the she left the 9/11 ceremony an obviously distress and that is raising questions about the issue of transparency.
Michael Holmes spoke about that earlier with CNN senior media correspondent Brian Stelter.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: There are two issues at play here. On the hand there are outrages conspiracy theories about Clinton's health that have percolated on the web for months. They are on the cover of the National Enquirer.
You know, these are mostly from right wing web sites and trashy outlet. Suggesting that Clinton has a secret illness that she's on death door that she's going to die, this kind of stuff. All right. That's been out there for a long time.
And that has to be taken to the side because that's nonsense. But there are now very real questions, legitimate questions about this pneumonia, about whether she should have been going out, you know, on public events this weekend and things like that. And that is where the stories going into Monday and Tuesday. You know,
she got campaign events and fundraisers schedule for this week. We will see if she attends them or not.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Do you think it will be affected that, you know, the campaign has been accused I guess accused in the past of, you know, not much transparency. I mean, she plays everything close to with this.
STELTER: Right, that's right.
HOLMES: This was a diagnosis on Friday. Is that something that they should have mentioned?
STELTER: Yes, diagnosis on Friday, and then on Sunday morning, she chose to attend the 9/11 ceremony for obvious understandable reasons.
She was one of the New York's senators during 9/11. This was an important 15th anniversary occasion. She also knew Donald Trump would also be there. There are a number of reasons why she would choose to attend this event despite having pneumonia.
Initially when she left at 9.30 a.m. the press corps was nothing for about 90 minutes, then the press corps was told she thought overheated but was now feeling better. And then only seven hours later, where the journalists and the public told that actually she had pneumonia and has been diagnosed there for two days.
That does seem strange. Not even seen number of democratic press aides and others actually criticizing that choice for the Clinton campaign to keep information close to the vest.
HOLMES: So, we've heard a lot of them including Donald Trump for that matter saying Hillary Clinton needs to release all her medical records who are far more detailed accounting of her medical past. Is that going to resonate more that call?
And for that matter, with both of them. Because let's face it. Donald Trump released a rather bizarre three paragraph single page letter from his daughter.
STELTER: Yes, that does -- that is exactly right. Today, Trump has been silent which probably sense. Number one, because of the 9/11 anniversary, there was a choice not to campaign today. And number two, he doesn't to say anything right now. Politically speaking, he has no reason to weigh in on this.
(CROSSTALK)
HOLMES: He has been before.
STELTER: The story speaks for itself. Well, that's true. He has stuff in this before. Maybe he's getting better with political counsel from people.
We have to separate the two issues that are at play here. They're outrageous conspiracy theories suggesting Clinton is dying on death's door. No evidence of that.
Trump has played into those theories not by saying them directly but by questioning Clinton's stamina. Those questions about her stamina that they are giving more legitimacy by this issue today with her health.
You know, there is the nonsense on one hand on right wing web site, but, then there are legitimate questions, legitimate concerns the reporters need to spend more time digging into.
[03:35:03] And yes, I do think ultimately we're going to hear renewed calls to have more information about both, Trump and Clinton's health. More records from them.
Our own Dr. Sanjay Gupta suggesting maybe there should be an independent board able to review these documents from both candidate in the coming weeks.
HOLMES: And you mentioned the conspiracy theory aside of the media the more fringe element of right all, whatever you want to call, do you think that the mainstream media though, needs has a responsibility in fact, for context. The pneumonia is not a death sentence by any and you need to keep things in perspective here.
STELTER: Yes, absolutely. And I think what happens in this day and age is that these ideas percolate online, they start showing up on people's Facebook, they start showing up on Twitter, they start showing on right wing radio show and then they gradually make their way up into the media ecosystem where a lot of ordinary people have read them even if they don't read right wing's fringe web sites.
That's what happens in the case of Clinton's health. Relatively discredited ideas and theories about her covering up in illness have been attention in mainstream media outlets. And I think our job and I think CNN as well is to say directly, we got no evidence for that kind of nonsense that's online.
However, if you put all of that over on the side, there are important issues here involving two candidates actually that are senior citizens. Something that's relatively new for U.S. politicians, U.S. presidential candidates.
That we got to take seriously. That's not nonsense. I think there is a lot of Americans who rejected the fringe conspiracy theories who have real questions about Trump and Clinton's health.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Brian Stelter for us there.
In the White House's race, Clinton holds a very narrow lead over Donald Trump among likely voters in a new poll.
CHURCH: Yes. The Washington Post/ABC News poll has Clinton at 46 percent, Trump at 41 percent. Clinton's lead grows to 10 points when registered voters are included. HOWELL: So that right is a snapshot of where the race is now.
For context, though, let's bring in Jacob Parakilas, the assistant of the U.S. and the America's program at Chatham House, live in London with us this hour.
Jacob, good to have you. Let's first talk about the fallout from what we saw today. This video if we could show it with Hillary Clinton, that by that van, stumbling, apparently, you know, losing her footing there. The Trump campaign not commenting about her health situation at this point.
But again, from what we see here and the fact that we know she was diagnosed two days before. This was finally revealed. It raises a lot of questions about the issues of transparency.
JACOB PARAKILAS, CHATHAM HOUSE ASSISTANT PROJECT DIRECTOR: The Trump campaign has habitually sort of raised this issue of stamina and physical fitness for the office. And now that it's been, now that there is some video evidence that in their mind probably confirms what they've been saying it doesn't benefit them at all to push it further.
It's the same strategy that Trump pursued with his 'birther' claims against Obama back in 2011. It's just asking questions until it becomes a media issue and then sort of stepping back and say well, I never actually said x or y. I just raise questions about it.
So, it's a clever if somewhat underhanded strategy that Trump is using in relation to this. But it does point as the previous segment indicated to a real question of transparency on both sides.
Neither campaign has released the kind of health record that the previous campaigns has have. For that matter, Trump has not release his tax returns. There is a significantly left of lower amount of information available about either of these candidates than there was about Obama and Romney in 2012 or Obama and McCain in 2008.
HOWELL: But, you know, pushing just a little further on that, whether Donald Trump decides to push on this issue of health or as you point out, if he just sits back and lets this play out as it will to become a media issue.
Doesn't this also expose Donald Trump, because as you also mentioned, he has not released his health records. That the best that we know is a couple of paragraphs the bizarrely written statements by a physician for Donald Trump.
PARAKILAS: Yes, absolutely. And I think that maybe a contributory factor to as you say uncharacteristic silence yesterday as well, that you know, he or his campaign are aware that this isn't an issue where they can sort of safely hurl accusations and not expect some degree of questions pointing back at them as well.
HOWELL: I want to know if we can see the director if we could see that snapshot again just of the race as it looks now with likely voters of the latest polls. Because when you look there, Jacob, this is a pretty tight race and tightening as we move along getting closer to November.
Hillary Clinton is now cancelling her trip to California and fundraisers. Very important fundraisers and possible, you know, rallies to actually see and, you know, be face to face with voters.
How significant will that be given where we are with this race?
[03:40:00] PARAKILAS: I don't think that in and of itself is particularly significant. The problem is that as you say this is a close race. And I think what we've seen from the statistical evidence is that, you know, you have polls that show a large Clinton lead, you have polls that show a tie race.
What does averages out to is maybe three to five point Clinton leads, and that's been fairly consistent. If you smooth it out as people like Sam Wang from the Princeton Election Consortium have done, when you smooth out the polls over the course of the election it's been a fairly consistent sort of 2012 election style, three to four point lead for the democratic nominee.
Now, that's not necessarily guaranteed. Because of course the campaign do need to be raising money, they need to be doing further contact and a lot of that stuff happens independently of the nominee's presence on the campaign trail.
But, a lot of it doesn't. The fundraising in particular requires face time from the candidate, and you know, you need to sort of being in the public eye and shaping the narrative to some degree.
So, this may have a sort of marginal impact if it brags on.
HOWELL: Right.
PARAKILAS: if it sort of prevents her from appearing in public for a lengthy period. But in terms of the overall state of the race, I wouldn't say it's going to make a very large difference.
HOWELL: Jacob Parakilas live for us in London with some context on the latest political twist. Jacob, thank you for your insight.
CHURCH: More than half a million Catalans field the streets of Barcelona for an independence rally on Sunday. The movement to Catalonia to leave Spain has been simmering for years now. But support is high at the moment and growing.
A July poll shows that 48 percent people in Spain support Catalonia's independence.
HOWELL: North Korea's latest nuclear test has the world on edge and now South Korea is showing up its defenses.
CHURCH: Plus, many young people in Japan are avoiding contact with the outside world but they are still getting an education. Thanks to a virtual school. We have a report. Stay with us.
[03:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOWELL: Welcome back to Newsroom.
Tensions are running high on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea's latest nuclear test.
CHURCH: Yes. South Korea says it's preparing for the worse-case scenario. Its Defense Ministry laid out a detailed plan of military retaliation if necessary.
HOWELL: And now the United States is considering tougher new sanctions against Pyongyang. The U.S. special representative for North Korea policy met with his Japanese counterpart Sunday in Tokyo.
CHURCH: They discussed ways the international community can best deal with the North which now claims it can mount nuclear warheads on ballistic rockets.
In a televised statement Kim Jong-un's regime calls the U.S. threat meaningless.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (TRANSLATED): The Obama administration running around and talking about meaningless sanctions until today is highly laughable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Now many are suggesting that sanctions won't be enough to deal with the situation in North Korea.
Our Paula Hancocks joining us now with more from Seoul, South Korea. So, Paula, we'll talk about those sanctions, but first, North Korea launched a nuclear test on Friday. Now, South Korea is preparing for the worse, as it said. What does it believe is the worse and how will it respond?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, I don't think it comes to a surprise to many or anyone in fact, that South Korea has been a plan in place. This has been a threat that North Korea has post to its southern neighbors for many years now, and certainly this year, as we've seen Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader in a rush to carry out these nuclear tests.
These missile test that really has been far more this year than what we have in seen in previous years. Then the South Koreans are now deciding that they need to be more public in saying they have a plan in place.
Now what we've heard from the South Korean military on Friday, we heard from the JCS that they would target the leadership if they felt that their country was under eminent threat from North Korean nuclear weapons. So, effectively saying that Kim Jong-un himself would be targeted.
Now this isn't the first time they've said this. They have warned this in the past when tensions have been high. They also said that they would carry out surgical missiles strikes and have an elite special warfare unit which would be involved as well. No further details on that.
But this is something that I think most people would expect. South Korea they're publicizing it to making it public to lawmakers and to the press to make sure that Pyongyang know it has a plan.
CHURCH: And we mentioned the sanctions. I mean, so far sanctions haven't had any impact, have they? So, there isn't really anything out there that appears to be able to apply to stop North Korea doing what it's doing.
HANCOCKS: Well, officials around the world are insisting that sanctions could d still work. The fact that these sanctions passed in March were, as they describe in groundbreaking an unprecedented.
And they say that as long as China continues to implement to at least fully implements its side of these sanctions that they could well work, that they could start to strangle the call of North Korea that they could prevent more cash being funneled through to missile and a nuclear program.
There was never a time scale given when the sanctions were approved. And since March, we've also seen tremendous amount of unilateral sanctions from different countries from South Korea, from Japan and from the United States.
So, certainly from an official level the powers that being in Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo are not given up on these sanctions. They still believe that they can go further though.
CHURCH: All right. Watching this story very closely, our Paula Hancocks reporting from Seoul in South Korea where it is nearly 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Many thanks to you.
HOWELL: A very interesting story of more than half a million young people in Japan are staying hold up in their home sometimes for years. You'll see how a virtual high school is trying to keep them in touch with society.
[03:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Weather watch time. Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri.
Here is how you know autumn is just days away. Look at this. Winter weather radar, my friend right there across of portions of the intermountain west working your way out towards western portions of the State of Wyoming where Yellow Stone National Park is located.
And that area is getting plenty of snow for the next couple of days. And even onto western portions of Montana. We have a winter weather advisory in place.
And beyond that, it will be blustering of course. It is still hot around the southern states. And we do have red flags concerns in place around that region. And then you look into the tropical world the opposite end of the spectrum.
A lot of heat is built up across the oceans. There is a probability, a high one of a tropical system developing at across of the Leeward Island. And slightly risk across portions of the Bahamas and much of that is really going to bring in some heavy rainfalls around the southeast.
Further one out to the west there, also going to move off into the open water. At least that is what it looks like initially. And look at this, some cool air tries to come in later in the week across parts of the northern United States that you're beginning to see.
Some of the transitioning taking place that will bring some milder temperatures even to the southern United States in the coming days. So, here we go with the few final summer-like temperature left in place.
We have Dallas at 33, looking at temperatures in Atlanta, also into the lower 30s. While down in the tropics here, Belize City at 31. Kingston should be around 32, and Berlin is also 32 degrees.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Stan Wawrinka has won the U.S. Open after a brutal four set final against world number one Novak Djokovic. His victory earned him his third Grand Slam title.
HOWELL: Wawrinka won the Australian Open in 2014 and the French Open last year. He only needs a win at Wimbledon to complete a Grand Slam.
CHURCH: Well done. Well a new government survey in Japan shows hundreds of thousands of teenagers and young adults avoid social contact and rarely live home. They find digital fantasy world more appealing than the real world.
HOWELL: But as CNN's Will Ripley explains a new virtual high school is trying to lure them back into learning.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Japan's conformist classrooms has changed little over the years. Compared Japanese students today to almost 25 years ago. The same uniforms, long hours and even mandatory cleaning duty. A discipline demanding environment much like Japanese society itself.
Traditional school left Mark Shimzu (Ph) increasingly frustrated and telling his father it was all a waste of time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (TRANSLATED): I was in a situation pretend to get along with people around here.
RIPLEY: Mark Shimzu who is worried about his son's future. Not graduating high school or college is a bad thing for him in long- terms. MAKOTO SHIMZU, MARK SHIMZU'S FATHER: Not going to high school or not
graduating high school or college would be a bad thing for him in the long term.
RIPLEY: You were afraid that he would drop out.
SHIMZU: Yes, yes, yes.
RIPLEY: Which drawing from school and society is a documented social phenomenon in Japan. They even have a word for it here. Hikikomodi.
Reclusive teenagers and young adults who holdup in their homes some time for years avoiding face to face contact.
A new Japanese government survey says 541,000, more than half a million of teenagers and young adults are Hikimori. And that's actually down from the last survey six years ago.
[03:55:05] Those who study the problem say Japanese anime, manga and video games allows some to escape to a fantasy world. A world that only comes to life at special events like this where fans are free to dress like the characters they idolized.
This is a ratification Matsumo searches for students who may be on the verge of dropping out.
TAKESHI MATSUMO, N HIGH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER: We welcome the student who cannot fit into the standard program.
RIPLEY: Matsumo is on the board of N High School, a fully accredited virtual high school hoping to identify, educate, and develop unique talent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is being fast.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I think it's fast.
RIPLEY: Students learn using a smartphone and computer app sometimes even virtual reality.
MATSUMO: We have to make our course very enjoyable and very far and very attractive.
RIPLEY: Like a video game?
MATSUMO: Like a video game.
RIPLEY: Shimizu enrolled as a freshman. So, this is your school?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
RIPLEY: He often finishes a full days' class work in less than an hour allowing the 15-year-old to work part time as an I.T. engineer and compete in hacking competitions. Shimizu says he tries to see friends once or twice a week but spent most of his time in this tiny Tokyo apartment. Do you worry about the social aspect meeting other teenagers that sort
of thing?
"That's what my parents worry about a lot," he says. "But I don't worry about it. I don't really like to communicate with other people."
His parents hope learning in the virtual world will lead to success in the real one.
Will Ripley, CNN, Tokyo.
CHURCH: Interesting concept.
Thanks for your company. I'm Rosemary Church.
HOWELL: And I'm George Howell. Early Start with John Berman and Christine Romans is next for our viewers in the United States.
CHURCH: And for our international viewers, stay tuned for more news with Max Foster in London.
[04:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
