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Hillary Clinton Tells CNN She's Feeling Better; U.S. Putting on New Show of Force Against Norht Korea; Viral Campaign to Help Elderly Ice Cream Vendor; Fragile Ceasefire Holdingi n Syria; New Report Alleges South Sudan's Leader Profitin from Civil War; Protestors Rush 'Dancing with the Stars' Stage. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired September 13, 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] ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Feeling better. Hillary Clinton tells CNN she will be back in action soon as she defends her decision not to mention her pneumonia diagnosis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, (D) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I just didn't think it was going to be that big of a deal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Show of force. The U.S. flies its biggest bomber over South Korea to send a message to the North.

Also ahead, the viral campaign that's helping an elderly ice cream vendor retire after more than 70 years of work.

Hello, and welcome to our viewers all across the globe. I'm Rosemary Church, and this is CNN Newsroom.

Well, there is a pause in Hillary Clinton's campaign appearances but discussion of her health and what she has disclosed about it hasn't let up since Sunday.

The democratic presidential nominee got sick at a 9/11 ceremony and was seen stumbling as she left. Hours later, the campaign revealed Clinton had been diagnosed with pneumonia two days earlier.

She spoke with Anderson Cooper about the delay in announcing the illness.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON COOPER, AC360 SHOW HOST: David Axelrod was very critical of the way that you and your campaign handle your diagnosis with the public. He tweeted, "Antibiotics can take care of pneumonia, what's the cure for an unhealthy pension for privacy that people creates unnecessary problems." Why not just say on Friday, as you said to apparently to Senator Schumer on Sunday, you know, I have pneumonia, folks. I'm going to power through it. Why keep it a secret?

CLINTON: Well, I just didn't think it was going to be that big a deal. You know, I know Chuck said today he didn't tell anybody. It's just the kind of thing that if it happens to you and you are a busy, active person you keep moving forward.

And, you know, I think it is fair to say, Anderson, that people know more about me than almost anyone in public life. They've got 40 years of my tax returns, tens of thousands of e-mails, a detailed medical letter report, all kinds of personal details.

And, you know, it's just so -- it's so strange that with all of that information out there, and as soon as it became clear I couldn't power through. We, you know, we said what was going on.

COOPER: Doesn't your handling of this and your campaign's, you know, their refusal to acknowledge what happened until really after that video was circulated confirm the suspicion to some voters that you're not transparent or trustworthy?

CLINTON: Oh, my goodness, Anderson. You know, compare everything you know about me with my opponent. I think it's time he met the same level of disclosure that I have for years. You know, you've got a medical report on me that meets the same standard as Mitt Romney and Barack Obama.

Donald Trump's doctors said he would be the healthiest president in history. That's just not even serious. And I've released nearly 40 years of tax returns. He hasn't released one. This is a man with unknown numbers of partners and investors who said he is doing 120 foreign deals. The American people deserve to know what he's up to and what he is hiding.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And while Clinton is sidelined with pneumonia, Donald Trump is attacking her over her comments about his supporters. Clinton made these remarks at a fund-raiser last Friday.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLINTON: You could put half of Trump's supporters in to what I call the basket of 'deplorables,' right?

The racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic. You name it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: The next day, Clinton expresses regret for her words. But Donald Trump says she spoke with hatred and he wants an apology.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R) U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Well, my opponent slanders you as deplorable and irredeemable.

(CROWD BOOING)

I call you hard-working American patriots who love your country and want a better future for all of our people.

(CROWD CHEERING)

True.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And while Donald Trump was defending his supporters, one of them took a swing at protesters in the stands. There was also some hitting and shouting before the demonstrators were escorted out. The Trump supporter, who threw the punch, was allowed to stay.

[03:05:04] Let's talk more about all of this with CNN political analyst and columnist for the Washington Post, Josh Rogin. He joins us from our Washington bureau. Great to see you again.

JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Great to be seen.

CHURCH: So, let's start with the big issue, Hillary Clinton's dealing with right now accusations of lack of transparency when it comes to her health issue.

She told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Monday night her campaign didn't think her illness would be that big of a deal. And she insisted she had been far more transparent on her health and her taxes than Donald Trump had been. How is that defense likely to work for her?

ROGIN: Well, it's really the only defense she can offer at this point after a couple of days of sort of spinning and for fabricating and hiding information from the public.

Now that all the information has come out, it seems that her illness was relatively minor and that if she had just given that explanation up front it would have been a relatively minor story.

The reason that the press and her opponent have been so seized with this is because of the changing narratives over the past 48 hours.

It's really an unforced error in the Clinton campaign. And I think they know that now and they're trying to do their best to stem the damage. But the problem is it reinforces the narrative that she's too private and not transparent enough. And that's going to be a narrative that is going to carry through to the election.

CHURCH: Now Donald Trump is attacking Clinton, or has been on matters of health and throughout on matters of transparency. But, what about his transparency on both health and taxes?

ROGIN: His transparency on both issues is much, much worse than Hillary Clinton's. He's released less medical records. He released a letter from his doctor that doesn't pass the laugh test in terms of detail. And he hasn't released any tax return or any business information that the voters have been requested.

So, there is a total argument to be made by the Clinton campaign. You hear them making it every day that she has been more open and transparent than him. Nevertheless, this is not a great example of that.

CHURCH: Yes. And of course, Trump spent Monday avoiding Clinton's health issues, but slamming the remarks she made at a fundraiser where she said half of his supporters could be put in a basket of 'deplorables,' her words.

She has apologized for referring to half of his supporters but she does stands by the gist of what she said. How big of a mistake is this attacking the voters rather than the campaign or the candidate?

ROGIN: Right. Well, the Clinton campaign has been for two weeks now pressing this idea that sort of hate and prejudice and intolerance are baked in to the Trump campaign. And she took it a little bit too far with her remarks about the deplorables that she -- they know that.

Now the reason the Trump campaign is focusing on that and not her health is because they think it's a better issue for them and they see people reacting to it more, and plus, the health issue will be there.

And for them this 'deplorables' comment is an opportunity. So, they want to make the most out of that opportunity. So, they are going to squeeze it dry as much as they can and keep going with it until we stop covering it.

CHURCH: Just very quickly, as we mentioned Trump being praised in fact for remaining quiet on the issue of Clinton's health stumble. And he's been praised for staying on message for a day when it comes to Clinton's comments about his supporters.

Is there a bit of a double standard here when it comes to reporting and questioning the Clinton and Trump campaigns do you think?

ROGIN: There is a total double standard. I don't think anyone can argue that. We have one candidate who has a 40-year record in public service and another candidate who has no record of public service.

We have one candidate who has a ton of disclosures and there is one candidate who has none. It's just a fact this campaign that Donald Trump is being held to much lower expectations. It's a fact the Trump campaign is aware of and used to their advantage. Whether or not it will hurt him, we won't know until November 8th.

CHURCH: Josh Rogin, always great to chat with you. Thank you.

ROGIN: Like wise.

CHURCH: A fragile ceasefire is holding in Syria but just barely. It went into effect about 16 hours ago. Since then, there have been at least five reported attacks by Syrian government aircraft and tanks. Most of them in around the devastated city of Aleppo. But if the truce endures, even for a few days, people could finally

get food and other relief supplies, which have been blocked for months now.

Jim Sciutto has more.

JIM SCIUTTO, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Sunset in war torn Syria. The official start of a tenuous ceasefire brokered by the U.S. and Russia.

But in the final hours before the deadline, air strikes by the Syrian air force rained down on northwestern Syria killing at least 90 people, a rights group said.

[03:10:01] Syria's President, Bashar al-Assad vowing to finally to, quote, "retake every piece of land from the terrorists.

Today, Secretary of State John Kerry said the agreement is based on verification, not trust.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: Promises are one thing. It's the actions that will define whether or not this will be able to come together.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: The aim of the ceasefire is limited. At first to allow much needed humanitarian aid to reach the devastated cities under siege such as Aleppo. Only if the fighting stops for a full seven days will the U.S. and Russia begin discussing cooperation in targeting ISIS and the Al Qaeda affiliate previously known as the al-Nusra front.

In addition, under Russian pressure, Syria has agreed to suspend its air strikes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (TRANSLATED): The Syrian government has been informed by us about these arrangements and it is ready to fulfill them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SCIUTTO: The next 48 hours are crucial. The first test of the deal's staying power. The fighters on the ground including the U.S.-backed rebels of the Free Syrian Army, skepticism reigns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

"If it's the ceasefire like the previous ones then we certainly won't benefit from it. There must be political motives behind it that will harm the people."

(END VIDEO CLIP) CHURCH: Our Jim Sciutto reporting there. And as you saw in Jim's piece, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited the former rebel stronghold of Daraya shortly before the ceasefire began. It is a suburb of Damascus and it's now back under government control.

Now the defiant president accuses opposition rebels of being terrorists and says his government will prevail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BASHAR AL-ASSAD, SYRIAN PRESIDENT (TRANSLATED): I think the message needs to be directed to those who worked against Syria, to those who bet against Syria in the first days, weeks and months of the crisis and until today.

Especially the countries that are intervene directly in the conspiracy against Syria and supporting the terrorists and their traitors and agents from among the Syrian people who decided to be a part of the foreign plan. This is why this visit is important and we direct this to them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Our Jomana Karadsheh joins us now from Amman, Jordan, with more on the ceasefire in Syria. So, Jomana, it is fragile, but the ceasefire is holding. The big question, of course, for how long?

Let's talk about the violations and the reservations by some so far.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, so far, in the first couple of hours when this truce went in to effect at sundown on Monday, we did received reports from activists and a monitoring group about sporadic violence in around Aleppo and also in other parts of the north and in the southern part of the country, talk about air strikes, reports of artillery and barrel bombs by the regime.

We also heard from the regime on their state news agency quoting a military source saying that in the first 90 minutes of this truce going in to effect that they say they were violations by the armed groups, they are talking about sniper fire and mortars targeting the western regime held arts of Aleppo.

So, at this point in time, today so far, Rosemary, there has been no significant incidents reported so far. So, I think it's going to be difficult to make judgment here. Any conclusions to be reached about whether this cessation of hostilities is holding or not we're going to have to wait and see what happens in the coming hours.

The regime, for its part, at sundown on Monday, said it has begun observing this truce across the country, but it said that it will reserve the right to decisively respond to any attacks by the armed groups.

Now, the moderate opposition groups have come out with the statement, we've heard from yesterday saying that they will abide by this agreement. Of course, we would expect that this comes after a lot of pressure from the United States and other U.S. allies that provide them with support and backing.

And they say they are doing this for the humanitarian reasons, but they have a long list of reservations about this agreement that they feel benefits the Assad regime. So, a very tenuous deal. A lot could go wrong. A lot of spoilers here. So, we are going to have to wait and see what happens in the coming hours, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Absolutely. And as you say that the reason for the ceasefire is to gain access for humanitarian aid. When can that aid be safely moved in for those most at need? Do we know?

KARADSHEH: Of course, this is one of the most critical parts of this deal that humanitarian aid reaches the besieged areas, some of the Damascus suburbs and of course, Aleppo that has been the hardest hit in recent weeks.

We have heard the United Nations and aid agencies for several weeks now, Rosemary, saying that they have trucks loaded with this humanitarian aid, food and medicine that is ready to roll, but they want to see a pause in the fighting before they are able to send these trucks, their personnel into harm's way.

[03:15:05] They need to have guarantees from all parties. And there are so many parties in this conflict that they will be given the safe passage to deliver the aid. So, I think the first 48 hours will be quite critical to see if a truce is holding or if there is some sort of a cessation of hostilities, a reduction in violence that will allow them to reach these areas, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Our Jomana Karadsheh, monitoring this very fragile ceasefire in Syria from her vantage point there in Amman, Jordan where it is 10.15 in the morning. Many thanks to you, Jomana.

Well, for more on the Syrian ceasefire, of course, the obstacles ahead go to cnn.com. Our Nima Elbagir lays out why it's been so difficult to get any kind of long-lasting peace.

The U.S. is sending a message to North Korea. How a show of force played in to plans to curb Pyongyang's nuclear program.

Plus, a moment of joy shines through in a crisis. How a brand new face is offering some hope to migrants.

We're back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(WORLD PSORTS)

[03:20:01] CHURCH: The United States is putting on a new show of force against North Korea. Two B-1 bombers flew over South Korean air space on Tuesday. Officials from both countries say they will work with the international community to make sure Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions are held in check.

Our Paula Hancock joins us now live from Seoul, South Korea. So, Paula, how significant is this show of force and support from the United States, and what impact will it likely have on North Korea?

PAULA HANCOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What effectively, Rosemary, what the United States is saying to North Korea is if you threaten one of us, you threaten both of us. They are showing that the military alliance between the United States and South Korea is still very strong.

So, as you say, two B-1 bombers flew over South Korea. They were flanked by U.S. and South Korean fighter jets as well showing the alliance being strong.

We heard from General Vincent Brooks. Now this is the commander of U.S. Forces in Korea. He said North Korea's nuclear test is a dangerous escalation and poses an unacceptable threat.

Now what we've seen is this is to be expected after there is something significant by North Korea. We saw this back in January after the fourth nuclear test B-52 bomber was flown over the Peninsula by the U.S.

Then the same in February when there was a satellite launch, which most believe to be an intercontinental ballistic missile test. They had Stealth fighter jets flying over as well. So, this is to be expected and up to this point, it doesn't appear to have swayed North Korea.

CHURCH: Yes. Indeed. And what -- what more are we learning about bilateral initiatives being considered by the United States, South Korea, and Japan in response to what's called North Korea's destabilizing actions.

HANCOCK: Well, the top U.S. Envoy for the nuclear matters, Sung Kim is here today in South Korea. He's been meeting his counterpart here in Seoul. He said he is also been to Japan just yesterday to speak to them. He's spoken on the phone to his counterpart in Japan. He is about to talk to his counterpart in Moscow. He is trying to garner support and said that more than 80 countries so far condemned the nuclear test.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SUNG KIM, U.S. SPECIAL ENVOY FOR NORTH KOREAN POLICY: We are of course working closely with the United Nations Security Council, our six fighting partners and the broader international community to ensure full implementation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 2270 and other existing resolutions.

And to take additional significant steps, including new sanctions, to demonstrate to North Korea that there are indeed serious consequences for its unlawful and dangerous actions.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCK: North Korea though still not swayed. On Sunday, they called these efforts to look at more sanctions laughable. Rosemary? CHURCH: All right. Our Paula Hancock staying on top of developments

there from Seoul in South Korea. And it is 4.23 in the afternoon there. Many thanks to you.

Well, North Korea has made a rare public request for help after a record flood. On Sunday, North Korean state-run media reported thousands of buildings were destroyed and more than 140,000 people need urgent assistance.

The country's northeast region was hit hardest. At least 133 people have died in nearly 400 are missing.

Well, super typhoon is Meranti quickly approaching Taiwan. And our meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us now to talk more about this. I mean, this is difficult for Taiwan particularly, isn't it? Because it is so vulnerable, as that small island that they have to put up with so much in there weather wise.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: We have talked about the track being directly towards Taiwan. And what we are seeing the last several hours, Rosemary, is actually shifting a little farther south. Potentially -- has the potential at least to miss Taiwan in its entirety or potentially come in at very close and strike at the southern extreme southern tip of it.

So, a lot of changes still could be made to this forecast but that could make a significant difference. And the satellite presentation on this, Rosemary, is as remarkable as you will ever see it. The storm is the single strongest storm on our planet in 2016. It is in fact, among the strongest storms our planet could produce, literally the top of the theoretical limits of how strong storms you get.

When you take a look at what's occurred in the last 24 hours, a category one storm, a little more than 24 hours ago at this point. And within 24 hours it shot up to what is equivalent to a category five storm and then that beyond that has continue to get stronger.

If there was a hypothetical category six this would be up there. As these winds sustained at almost 300 kilometers per hour. You notice, Meranti is not alone. There's Rai, there another storm back behind it by the name of Malakas. That also has potential to be a major typhoon down the line.

[03:25:02] But I want to show what the immediate threat is right now in the center of your screen. Because this storm has gusts winds now up to 360 miles per hour. Keep in mind, the super typhoon Haiyan came in shore at about 315 miles per hour. The gusts are significantly stronger than even that.

But the forecast will actually weaken the storm just a little bit. We think sometime around Wednesday afternoon the storm system will either miss southern Taiwan in its entirety or clip the extreme southern tip of Taiwan as a super typhoon.

It still could leave potentially significant damage across this region. It is rather populated in parts especially on the western side. And then you work your way beyond that. The city of Chantou, Junjo, work your way towards Fuzhou, tens of millions of people live here.

This would be Thursday morning. Early Thursday morning another landfall could be made as a category three storm. That event right there could be far more destructive than even the category five strikes here sometime on Wednesday.

So, that's what we are concerned about, that more direct impact. And what you look at here is really a fascinating way to see the population based on light pollution.

And you notice, southern Taiwan right there a light pollution limited that very few people live there in relation to eastern China. Look at the light pollution right there and the tens of millions that call this area home, that's the concern.

About 50 million people could be in the direct path of it on the eastern coast of China. See the white right there, Rosemary? That is over a half meter to one meter of rainfall for Taiwan.

Anyone in the path of that would be in for landslides, flash flooding, and as we always say water is what kills in these types of storms. Not necessarily even the winds that are furious.

CHURCH: Yes, absolutely. Thanks for keeping an eye on that. I appreciate it, Pedram.

Well, we have this breaking news in to CNN. The Syrian military says it has shot down an Israeli warplane and drone near the Golan Heights.

Now this is according to a statement by the Syrian command of the Syrian Armed Forces and it comes as a U.S./Russia brokered ceasefire between the Syrian government and moderate Syrian rebels is in the first full day. A fragile ceasefire, too. And we will keep a very close eye on this story. We'll bring you more details as they come in to us.

Well, the rescue boat carrying a group of migrants as a brand new passenger. How a newborn is lending some rare hope to those in crisis.

Plus.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE CLOONEY, ACTOR: The evidence is thorough. It is detailed and it is irrefutable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Actor George Clooney is calling for international intervention in South Sudan with a new report accusing the nation's top officials of profiting from Civil War. The details still to come. Stay with us.

[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH: And a warm welcome back to our viewers all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. Time to update you on the main stories we are watching this hour.

Hillary Clinton said she did not reveal her pneumonia diagnosis right away because she didn't think it was going to be a big deal. She's cancelled her trip to California, but says she could be back campaigning in a few days.

She says she's been transparent about her health and she's challenging rival Donald Trump to do the same.

The U.S. flew some of its bomber jets over South Korea on Tuesday in a show of force against North Korea.

Leader Kim Jong-un oversaw the country's fifth nuclear test on Friday. A U.S. military commander called that test a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat.

And we want to remind you of this breaking news story we are following from Syria. The Syrian military says it has shot down an Israeli warplane and drone near the Golan Heights.

Now this is according to a statement by the general commander of the Syrian Armed Forces and it comes as a U.S.-Russia brokered ceasefire between the Syrian government and moderate Syrian rebels is in its first full day and it has been described as fragile.

But we will watch that story and of course, bring you more details as they come in to us.

Giving birth of course is a major ordeal for any woman, but imagine having to give birth on a boat. A baby boy, who was born in a refugee rescue boat in the Mediterranean Sea, is doing well.

Isa Soares has the incredible story.

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sun break in the high seas, mid-Mediterranean. It's not how you would envision giving birth. But that's exactly how little Newman came into the world.

Born on a Doctors Without Borders refugee vessel, rescued as his Nigerian mother made a dangerous journey from Libya.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH GILES, MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES DOCTOR We were alerted to the fact that there were two rubber dinghies that needed to be rescued. We brought on board a total of 252 people, which included five pregnant women, two from what were very pregnant.

At 6.30 this morning I was alerted that one of the women was in labor. And by 7 o'clock we had a new member of our list of passengers.

(END VIDEO CLIP) SOARES: A dramatic entry recorded on a plain piece of paper. No scales to weigh him, no ruler for height, just longitude and latitude to mark his place of birth. Born right here straddling Libya and Malta.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GILES: We know where the boat was. I can't tell you his exact weight. I can't tell you he's a good weight for his size, and he looks healthy and happy, and at the end of the day that's all that matters.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Newman is not the first to be born on the high seas. Last month, these two premature twins were born on board a rickety boat off the Libyan Coast. They're being looked after in Palermo, Italy with their 26-year-old Eritrean mother keeping a close eye on them.

According to the International Organization for Migration more than 3,000 people have died in these waters so far this year. For once a chance to give life rather than having it taken.

Isa Soares, CNN.

CHURCH: And what an image that is.

Well, a new report alleges that South Sudan's leader and their families are profiting from the nation's Civil War, while millions of their people are suffering.

The two-year investigation found the top officials responsible for atrocities in south Sudan have accumulated fortunes, despite modest salaries. Some are living in multimillion mansion outside of the country and driving luxury cars and all with the help of international facilitators.

The report was co-commissioned by actor George Clooney. He and other activists are calling for tougher sanctions to cut off the leader's funding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[03:35:08] CLOONEY: The simple fact is they are stealing the money to fund their militias to attack and kill one another. The evidence is thorough. It is detailed and it's irrefutable.

It involves arms dealers, international lawyers, international banks, international real estate and it is because of these international actors that we are able to provide solutions to help end this criminal behavior to protect innocent civilians.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And CNN's Jake Tapper spoke with George Clooney and activist John Pendergast who co-founded the human rights group behind the report. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CLOONEY: This is a very deep, deep, long -- it's a two-year investigation. And you know, I think what's so explosive about it is that we have these guys nailed. We realize you really can't shame the bad guys, then what you can do is you can follow the money and, perhaps, shame the people who are hiding it which have much easier to shame.

JAKE TAPPER, STATE OF THE UNION SHOW HOST: John, what does the report show?

JOHN PENDERGAST, SATELLITE SENTINEL PROJECT CO-FOUNDER: It shows that at the very top of the government of South Sudan, the president, the post-vice president, all the major generals in the army have suctioned that economy dry.

They have taken -- they have stolen the resources of the country, which are plentiful. I mean, this is an oil-driven economy that had billions and billions of dollars going into the coffers and they have been able to divert that money into private -- for private use or to fund these deadly wars.

CLOONEY: We are meeting with Secretary Kerry later today. We are meeting with the Treasury Secretary Lu later today. We have a lot of asks that we're going to do and we're hoping to have the political will to do it. You know, that's the trick in all of this as you know.

TAPPER: What do you want? You have a relationship with President Obama. What do you want him to do?

CLOONEY: Well, I mean, there are a lot of things that can be done. Mostly what we're looking for is obviously targeted sanctions. It's a very tricky slope we're walking on. We don't want this to become Somalia. We want this to actually for people to be able to function within that society.

But we want to make it difficult for the people who are profiting using particularly American dollars or working within the international community.

TAPPER: Obviously, it's uncomfortable to admit but we are covering it because of George. What does it mean in terms of Washington and doors opening?

PENDERGAST: I thought it was me. Anyway.

TAPPER: We love you very much.

PENDERGAST: I saw a study about two months ago in which a competent NGO, non-governmental organization found the stolen assets of a particular country and the leaders and how they have ferreted this money out of the system and no one covered it.

With Don Cheadle and George Clooney being part of our work and not just showing up the day of but being part of it throughout, so not only do we get attention but we also get access to bring the policy expertise and say here's a different way of doing things.

TAPPER: I want to turn to just a few other issues. One is that you and your wife relatively and recently met with Syrian refugees. And I'm wondering what that experience meant to you.

CLOONEY: I spent a good portion of the last 15 years dealing with refugees and neither the camps and raising money and trying to bring attention to it. This is the worst we've seen since World War II. We are all going to have a responsibility to step up along the way.

I believe that there is a huge portion of this that can't -- that doesn't have to be governmental in terms of, particularly in terms of educating people who are stuck in the refugee camps.

We know what happens years from now with that group, you know, if they are not allowed to -- if they are not afforded an education. It just fosters all kinds of other problems.

TAPPER: It must frustrate you as somebody who does a lot of these issues and focuses on these issues and especially when it comes to refugees.

PENDERGAST: You know, it doesn't have to be this way. I think what the common denominator in all of these places that are suffering so greatly is you have one of these authoritarian dictatorial leaders who shut out freedom of speech and freedom of assembly and independent voices from the government and use extreme violence to stay in power and siphon off the resources of the state.

Dealing with this core issue of the hypocrisy, the corruption at the center is absolutely fundamentally important. It's a national security issue.

CLOONEY: For the people watching this as you and I are talking they'll say, well, who cares? It's South Sudan. You know, it's another corrupt government and you know, big surprise.

[03:40:01] But the reality is, if South Sudan is a failed state, we've seen what influences take over in a failed state. And it's never good. And that's something that we'll have to deal with for generations if we don't deal with it now.

Now it's easy. It will be a lot harder the years to come. So, when people wonder why now? Why are we giving so much aid already to South Sudan it's because of that?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: All right. We do want to go to our breaking news. We were telling you earlier that the Syrian military is claiming it shot down an Israeli warplane and a drone near the Golan Heights.

And we want to get more information on this. We want to bring in CNN correspondent Oren Liebermann. He joins us from Jerusalem.

So, Oren, what is being said in Israel about this claim by the Syrian military?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Israeli military denies that their aircraft were ever in danger. They say that early Tuesday morning, or perhaps even late Monday night, essentially overnight that one of their aircraft came under fire from two surface-to-air missiles while operating above the Golan above the Israeli occupied Golan which is just across the frontier there from the Syrian Golan, which is where the Syrian army claim they shot down an Israeli warplane and an Israeli drone.

But as I said, the Israelis deny that their aircrafts were ever in danger. They say they did not lose a warplane. We're double checking it if the way they worded aircraft includes drone, which is to say we're checking it if they didn't lose a drone either.

But they deny the Syrian report from the Syrian general command of the army that an Israeli warplane was shot down along with Israeli drone.

Now where the Syrian army claims this happened is Quineitra, which is right across the fence that separates the Israeli occupied Golan from the Syrian Golan. This would happen just a couple of miles from -- right there it would be easy to see from anyone who lives on the Israeli side and very easy to see what happens on the Syrian side.

We are waiting to see if there are any images to confirm the Syrian claims -- the Syrians claim. We're looking for those as well as paying attention to see if there are more statements from the military.

Again, the Syrian army claims they shot down an Israeli warplane and the drone. They Israeli military denies that their aircraft were ever in danger or they say they did come under fire from two surface-to-air missiles.

CHURCH: So, Oren, explain to us why the Syrian military would make such a claim.

LIEBERMANN: Well, there's been indications of an increased amount of fighting. Right in Quneitra, which is to say right in the Syrian Golan heights there. And that indication is that the number of shells, the number of projectiles this past week have landed in the Israeli side of the Golan, in the Israeli occupied Golan.

Israel retaliates, though. Anytime a projectile crosses into Israeli occupied territories Israel respond with either air strike or a drone strike at the Syrian army. Israel hold that the Syrian army responsible for anything that any projectile that comes over.

With the increased fighting there were three last week and one just yesterday, projectiles that came over that is, and Israel response to those.

Again, Israel retaliates to those. So, Syria, the Syrian military would know that obviously, would know that Israel retaliates and could use that as a claim, could use the fact that they fired missiles as a claim perhaps as propaganda. They claim that they shot down an Israeli warplane for the -- to boost

their own side or to claim for their own side that those surface to air missiles hit their target.

CHURCH: But Oren, at this point we don't know about the claim on the drone necessarily?

LIEBERMANN: Again, I'm double checking that. The statement I got from the IDS is that Israeli aircraft were never in danger. I'm double checking whether the term aircraft is the fighter jet or whether that also includes drone as well, or drone were never in danger.

CHURCH: All right.

LIEBERMANN: We are double checking on that point at this point, but as far as the Israeli military says, no Israeli fighter jet was shot down.

CHURCH: Oren Liebermann, bringing us to date on that breaking news story. He's told was there from Jerusalem. As we have been reporting the Syrian military claiming it shot down an Israeli warplane and drone near the Golan Heights.

We are hearing from Israel. They are denying. That's the case certainly in relation to the claim on the warplane. We are waiting for confirmation from our own Oren Liebermann on the issue of the drone. We'll continue to follow that story going forward.

Let's take a very short break here. We'll be e back in just a moment.

[03:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: U.S. Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte is licking his wounds after protesters stormed the stage during the live show "Dancing with the Stars."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I really do feel that you brought your best to this ballroom. You have a long way to go. Swimming is a -- excuse me. Hey, back off. Excuse me, excuse me. Excuse me. Off. Excuse me.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Wow. OK. Easy. Easy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'll tell you what. OK. We're going to --we'll take a break. We will get the rest of the judge's comments. Take a deep breath. We'll be right back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Wow. Lochte and his dancing partner Cheryl Burke had just finished their routine when these two men appeared to try and rush the stage. Lochte later said he felt heartbroken by the incident. The 12- time Olympic medalist sparked outrage when he was caught lying about an alleged robbery during the Summer Games in Rio. Colin Kaepernick takes a knee once again during the national anthem.

All eyes were on the NFL quarterback before the 49ers' season opener on Monday night to see if he would continue his silent protest, and he did.

It's Kaepernick's way of calling attention to racial injustice in the U.S. But this time he was not alone. Safety Eric Reid knelt beside his teammate.

Well, at first things were looking grim for Rio's Paralympic ticket sales but a recent surge has pushed these games to second all-time in sales with nearly two million tickets sold. There have been questions about empty seats during the Olympics leading to fear the Paralympics would also suffer. Affordable ticket prices and the athlete performances have helped to boost sales.

One of the silver medal athletes at the games is all the more impressive. Because she is competing while suffering with a painful spinal disease. She finds comfort in knowing she has an out, however controversial it might be.

Shasta Darlington has her story.

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Another medal for wheelchair racer Marieke Vervoort, silver in the 400 meters, her third Paralympic trophy to date. But the focus here in Rio has been rumors she could resort to assisted suicide after the 2016 Games are over.

At a press conference, Vervoort who suffers from a degenerative spinal condition set the record straight, saying she does not plan to resort to euthanasia right after the Olympics. But she said, knowing that she can legally take her own life when she's ready is what keeps her going.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARIEKE VERVOORT, PARALYMPIC ATHLETE: I hope that you can see it's also something that, for every country that means not murder, that it means that it gives a feeling of rest to the people.

If I didn't have got those papers, I think I did already a suicide, because it's very hard to live with so many pain and suffering and in this. Every year it's going more and more less, so I'm really glad with those papers and I'm still alive and still going to enjoy every little, little moment in my life.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:50:00] DARLINGTON: Vervoort was diagnosed with the condition when she was just 15 years old. First it meant she didn't have the use of her legs. But she said each year it gets worse. Now it's affected her vision. Sometimes the pain is so bad she just can't sleep.

Which is why back in 2008, she signed the euthanasia papers in her Native Belgium.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VERVOORT: What's the next what's coming? I'm really scared, but those papers give me a lot of rest in my mind, because I know when it's enough for me, I have those papers. So, I find that it's a good thing because it's not easy to get them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DARLINGTON: Vervoort says she does plan on retiring after the 2016 Games, but for now, she wants to enjoy more time with her family, friends, and her therapy dog Zen.

Shasta Darlington, CNN, Rio de Janeiro.

CHURCH: She's a brave woman there.

An ice cream man in Chicago has melted the hearts of complete strangers, and now he's the one receiving a sweet treat. That story after this short break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

JAVAHERI: Weather Watch across the Americas right now.

Look at this massive trough beginning to dig in across parts of the western United States, not only creating very hazardous conditions, not only seen mountain snow across this region but also very gusty weather beginning to pushing many across the area.

You have millions of people from outside of Los Angeles, towards Las Vegas across the Mogollon Rim out near flagstaff where wind advisories have been issued, but of course, there is red flag concern, as well, because of the dry weather that's been in place and some heat across the area, as well.

So, something worth noting for that region the next few days. Look at this region, we had a tropical disturbance here that tried to form. Not going to do much beside produce a lot of rainfall. Much of it on the eastern coastline there of Florida on to eastern Georgia and South Carolina.

Plenty of wet weather in the forecast the next couple of days and then we get a little bit of a shift in the temperatures across the eastern United States, as well.

Yellow indicative of more mild temperatures. That we're talking upper 20s Celsius. We're going down to say about 80, 82 Fahrenheit across much of the Southern United States in the coming few days.

But here's the spread for this afternoon, going in to Chicago, 27 degrees, same score out of Montreal. Tied game out of New York City as well at 27 degrees. And look at Nassau and the Bahamas. We'll go for 31 and Havana. Cuba make to the upper 20s and gets mild and mild temperatures around La Paz, around 20 degrees.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) CHURCH: An 89-year-old man in Chicago has been selling ice cream for years. But he says his age has finally catching up with him. Now a complete strangers have raised nearly a quarter of a million dollars to help him retire.

CNN caught up with the popsicle vendor.

[03:55:00] (FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

CHURCH: And happy retirement to him, too.

Well, dancing on the side of a cliff may sound crazy but take a look at this. Two dancers from the U.S. performed vertically on the face of a cliff in China. Dangling 1,300 meters up in Tiananmen Mountain in central China.

The dancers were equipped with safety harnesses and ropes. They are part of a dance company Bandaloop which performs vertical dances on the surfaces of sky scrapers and cliffs. How about that?

And thanks for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. Coming up after the break, Max Foster will have the latest on the report involving an Israeli fighter jet and drone over Syria. Do stay with us. Have a great day.

[04:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)