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Super Typhoon Meranti Skirts Tip of Southern Taiwan; New Health Scare for Shimon Peres; Ceasefire Holds in Syria But Aid Shipment Stalled; Campaigner-in-Chief Hits the Trail for Clinton; Donald Trump Appeals to Families and Women Vote. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired September 14, 2016 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[02:00:00] JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: But the worst may be yet to come. A live update and a full forecast ahead.
ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: The people of Israel pray for the recovery of their former prime minister and president. We'll go live to Jerusalem for the latest on the health of Shimon Peres after the Israeli statesman suffers a stroke.
VAUSE: And Donald Trump showing his softer side as he goes after the female vote.
SESAY: Hello, and a warm welcome to our viewers all around the world. I'm Isha Sesay.
VAUSE: That poor kid. I'm John Vause, and this is NEWSROOM L.A.
SESAY: Well, a monster of a storm is hammering the southern tip of Taiwan and it's making its way toward China. Super typhoon Meranti is the strongest storm on the planet this year. Winds have reached more than 300 kilometers per hour.
VAUSE: More than 1,000 people have been evacuated in southern Taiwan. 70,000 homes are without power. Meranti is expected to reach mainland China Thursday morning.
Storm chaser James Reynolds joins us now on the line from Kenting in southern Taiwan.
James, last time we spoke you said it was still too dangerous to go outside because of the wind. What are conditions like right now?
JAMES REYNOLDS, STORM CHASER: Well, pretty much a similar situation as to when we last spoke, John. We're still getting strong wind and rain lashing this area. It's very much the tail end of the typhoon now. It is moving away from where I am but it's still making its presence felt at the moment, John.
VAUSE: And parts of Taiwan were hit by a typhoon back in July and that there were some concerns that maybe they weren't ready for another big hit so soon. What can you tell us about essentially, you know, how people are prepared for this, how they were bracing for the storm? REYNOLDS: Well, Taiwan itself infrastructure-wise is very geared up
to the typhoon threat. The buildings are pretty solid. The power grid is very hardy. And normally life gets back to normal pretty quickly after a typhoon. But the one in January was exceptionally strong as well. That made a very, very severe impact just north of where this one is impacting right now. And it's affected the community like the agricultural community. The farmers have been particularly hit hard because it takes them a long time to get over these typhoon impacts.
VAUSE: And James, we've phoned you a lot of times as these typhoons have hit. You've been through a lot of these kind of things. So on a scale of the typhoons which you've experienced over the years where would you put this one?
REYNOLDS: Well, the storm itself, when it was approaching Taiwan, is probably the strongest storm in recorded history for this part of the Pacific basin, passing between the Philippines and Taiwan. You know, we just haven't seen a storm that strong before. Thankfully, the really most violent and destructive winds just missed Taiwan, but it was a large storm and the whole southern area is still being lashed by very dangerous conditions.
VAUSE: Yes. And I guess one of the biggest concerns right now, not so much the wind but the water, the flooding which seems to follow these events.
REYNOLDS: Yes. Yes, absolutely, John. And this area of southern Taiwan has seen massive flood disasters in the past. Particularly with slow-moving typhoons. But what is the concern is the typhoon is kind of moving between Taiwan and China right now in the Taiwan Strait, and that's going to be pushing a lot of torrential rain into the western side of the island and that area, it's very vulnerable to flooding and landslides. So we'll have to wait a few more hours to get a clearer picture on the situation in that regard.
VAUSE: James, thanks for checking in with us. Stay safe. We appreciate it.
SESAY: All right. Well, let's get more details on Typhoon Meranti's path and who just might be affected by all of this. Pedram Javaheri joins us now live from the CNN World Weather Center.
Pedram, how is this thing moving? What kind of winds is it packing now?
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, you know, the winds haven't weakened very much. It is starting to weaken just a little bit but not by a significant amount. And the satellite presentation has fallen apart significantly in that sense because it's interacted with the mountains but this is where James is located right here on the southern tip of Taiwan. You see how close the eye of the -- one of the stronger storms we've ever seen across the northwest basin of the Pacific Ocean, has ever come close.
And again, it comes in right across this region, 305 kilometer per hour winds. Again, if there was a category 6 this would be a healthy category 6. That is how strong above a 5 this Sat. And there are islands right here across portions just north of Luzon, 20,000 people live here.
This storm system actually moved across this region at around 1:00 in the morning so we know devastation potentially left behind in some of those isolated islands. But places that we do have weather observations, we've seen gusts north of 200 kilometers per hour on the ground, and then when you do the numbers on the storm just remarkable because 2013, the last time we had a storm this strong it was the number one strongest storm in the western Pacific.
[02:05:06] That was super typhoon Haiyan, 315-kilometer-per-hour winds. We come in with Meranti at 305 again, and this particular storm still has a lot of punch left behind it. There is the center of the storm as it moves away from Taiwan. The concern is across this region, right here between Xiamen and Xianto. Now that's an area historically speaking we have never had a typhoon of this magnitude make landfall, meaning above a category 3 strength. So the question is, is it going to get there as a category 3?
Odds are it could. Strong category 2 to a low end category 3 sometime around sunrise on Thursday morning. Ride around the Xianto area up towards Xiamen and southern Fujian province. Regardless we know it is very densely populated across this region. And again, you look at all the typhoons that have come through, never have we had one above a category 3 come through across this region.
The main concern, as you would expect, it is going to be tremendous rainfall, the flash flooding, the landslides. The mountains of Taiwan, even though they were not directly hit with the storm, they will see the highest rainfall amounts out of this so you can certainly see villages cut off from much of it, really help potentially for weeks across this region from the amount of water that's forecast to come down.
And then into eastern China you're seeing 150 to 200 millimeters of rainfall over the next couple of days and that really stretches well to the north as well. So a lot of water going to be an issue here when it comes to storm surge. That's a major concern across the area. And 60 million people are going to feel at least tropical force winds with the storm system. And see the corner of your screen, there goes what is Meranti. Here is the next storm in line. This is Malakas.
And I wanted to point this out because Malakas could also get to super typhoon strength right behind us. Fortunately the track will actually move it away from southern Taiwan. Unfortunately northern Taiwan and eventually parts of Japan could be looking at a major typhoon later into this weekend. So a very, very active time of the year this time right now with multiple storms coming through, guys.
SESAY: Yes. And multiple strong storms.
VAUSE: Yes. Very, very powerful.
SESAY: Yes. Pedram, thank you. VAUSE: Thanks, Pedram.
JAVAHERI: Yes.
VAUSE: Well, former Israeli president and prime minister, Shimon Peres, is in a critical but stable condition after a major stroke. The 93-year-old is said to be improving. He's in intensive care on a respirator and under sedation. He's being monitored around the clock.
Doctors at the Shiba Medical Center in Tel Aviv say he will not have surgery and they're slowly decreasing his sedatives.
CNN's Oren Liebermann joins us now live from Tel Aviv.
So, Oren, what's the very latest on the condition of Mr. Peres?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, they updated this morning after some very difficult hours, some critical moments last night is that former president, Shimon Peres remains in critical but stable condition here at Shiba Medical Center here behind me. He is sedated, he is intubated but as you mentioned there is no need for surgery just yet according to his doctors, and that was the first positive sign we got last night.
We have gotten just a few more this morning that have kept his family hopeful, that have kept the nation and others hopeful as well. We spoke with his spokesperson who said when his son went in to see him last night and early this morning he told Shimon Peres, squeeze my hand, and Peres responded. He said, raise your hand, and Shimon Peres responded, able to raise his hand ever so slightly.
Those are very positive signs in these critical moments after he suffered that stroke yesterday. The first update we got was that he suffered a major stroke with some bleeding. We knew he had come to the hospital. At first he was fully conscious and in stable condition. Then just a short time later we got the update that he had been sedated and intubated and those were the critical moments where we were waiting for all the updates to see how his condition progressed.
Then we got the important and the critical update late last night into this morning. He is in critical but stable condition. Stable a very important word right now. We're expecting another full update later on in the day as they go through more evaluations. That will be our next update on his medical condition in the event at this point that nothing changes -- John.
VAUSE: Oren, obviously anxious times for so many people there. What's been the reaction for most Israelis to this news?
LIEBERMANN: Well, he's such a part of the history of the country, even predating the country, living in the public sphere, whether it's public office or working for the public good for so many years and for so many decades here. So the country -- we've seen this come from leaders and from everyday people here, the country is praying for him. Praying for a speedy recovery. And he's 93 years old. He keeps going.
I asked him the last time I spoke with him just a few months ago, and I asked him when are you supposed to retire, and he said, I have no intention of retiring. He kept a very busy schedule. We spoke actually just a short while ago with his son-in-law and personal physician, who reminded us of how much Shimon Peres is still going strong.
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RAFI WALDEN, PERES' SON-IN-LAW: Well, he's 93 but he's as alert as possible. Just in the morning of his stroke he delivered a speech for one hour which was an extraordinary speech really because he's excited with this great enthusiasm by all his listeners. And so his mind was in perfect condition.
[02:10:07] And there is great love for him all over the Israeli population. And we have endless people everywhere calling us and expressing their love to him and their hopes for his prompt recovery. And obviously, we are very grateful to the people of Israel and we're grateful obviously to the doctors for taking care of him so well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIEBERMANN: Although we've gotten through the first hours after the stroke, those were very critical moments. Not to say that there's any lessening in the concern here, any lessening in how critical these moments are.
So, John, Isha, we'll keep you updated on all of the updates we get here at Shiba Medical Centers as we monitor how Shimon Peres is doing in the hospital.
VAUSE: Can't help but think about Ariel Sharon, who also suffered a stroke many, many years ago.
Oren, thank you very much for the update.
SESAY: Now Israel will receive about $38 billion in U.S. aid in a new 10-year deal. It's the largest pledge of military assistance in U.S. history. The agreement took a while to reach as relations have been strained between U.S. president Barack Obama and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
VAUSE: The current $30 billion package expires two years from now.
A U.S. Air Force commander says American forces have bombarded an ISIS chemical weapons plant in Iraq. The commander has told reporters it's not known what chemicals were being made at the plant near Mosul.
SESAY: Meanwhile, the cease-fire is holding across the border in Syria but aid convoys have stopped short of delivering food, medicine, and fuel to hundreds of thousands of people. The U.N. is waiting for security guarantees from the Assad government.
Let's bring in CNN's Jomana Karadsheh live from Amman, Jordan. Jomana, what's the latest you're hearing about the cease-fire and how
well it's holding up?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Isha, as we heard from senior U.N. officials including the U.N. envoy, Staffan de Mistura, they're saying we're seeing a very significant drop in violence. There have been no reported civilian casualties, no reports of air strikes in the first 24 hours, but it's just 24 hours -- over 24 hours right now. But they want to give it more time to see if it's actually holding. So I think the coming hours will be quite important to keep an eye and see what happens in those hours, especially when it comes to U.N. aid deliveries.
We heard from the U.N. saying that their trucks are ready. The World Food Program that is in charge of moving these trucks and getting the aid to the besieged areas has 20 trucks, convoys ready to roll.
But what they're waiting for here, Isha, is a couple of things. One, they want the security guarantees from all parties involved in this conflict to give them safe passage into the besieged areas and also there's bureaucracy here at play. We've also heard that they need an authorization letter from the Syrian regime allowing them access into the besieged areas. So waiting for all this to come through.
Now the priority according to the U.N. is eastern Aleppo. This is the area where you're talking about 250,000 to -- up to 300,000 people who have been living there under a constant bombardment and also really suffering from severe shortages when it comes to food and medicine and other supplies. So this is the priority for the U.N.
Of course the route into eastern Aleppo that the U.N. will be using, Costello Road, has been a very contentious area. This has changed hands several times in recent months. So they want guarantees that there will be a pause in fighting along this route so they can deliver the aid there. So the coming hours will be very critical when it comes to aid deliveries -- Isha.
SESAY: And Jomana, any indications from the Assad government that those assurances are forthcoming, forthcoming quickly, more to the point?
KARADSHEH: Well, everyone we've heard from the U.N. saying that this is going to be happening very, very soon. The Assad regime yesterday through its Foreign Ministry and state media is saying that these aid deliveries will only happen -- especially when these trucks are coming in from Turkey, would only happen with the authorization of the Syrian government.
If you looked back at that cessation of hostilities that happened back in February and March, what we saw then is a lot of bureaucracy at play. We heard complaints from the United Nations saying while they had authorization at some points, Isha, their trucks with their drivers sleeping in these trucks were left at checkpoints waiting for hours and hours to try -- to get into these areas. So it's a very complex situation and we're going to have to see how it plays out this time. SESAY: Jomana Karadsheh joining us there from Amman, Jordan. Jomana,
appreciate it. Thank you.
VAUSE: Next up here on CNN NEWSROOM, exclusive reporting from inside the growing protest against Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe.
SESAY: And the campaigner-in-chief goes solo on the campaign trail.
[02:15:03] What the president has to say about Donald Trump. Coming up.
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VAUSE: Welcome back, everybody. With Hillary Clinton calling in sick for another day, her top surrogate hit the campaign trail, and boy, did he launch a fierce attack on Donald Trump.
SESAY: Yes. U.S. president Barack Obama made his first solo campaign appearance in Philadelphia, comparing the qualifications of the two presidential candidates.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: You want to debate who's more fit to be our president? One candidate who's traveled to more countries than any secretary of state ever has, has more qualifications than pretty much anyone who's ever run for this job, and the other who isn't fit in any way, shape, or form to represent this country abroad and be its commander-in-chief.
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VAUSE: But wait, there's more. Here's Joe Johns.
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JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Obama is giving Hillary Clinton's presidential bid a lift tonight as the Democratic nominee recuperates from pneumonia.
[02:20:05] OBAMA: Can I just say I am really into electing Hillary Clinton?
(CHEERS)
OBAMA: But I got -- this is not me going through the motions here. I really, really, really want to elect Hillary Clinton.
JOHNS: Clinton tells CNN she had hoped to be able to avoid taking a break from her campaign schedule.
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Like a lot of people I just thought I could keep going forward and power through it. And obviously that didn't work out so well.
JOHNS: But the decision to wait to disclose her illness until after video surfaced of her stumbling while leaving a 9/11 ceremony on Sunday is raising new questions about Clinton's lack of transparency. That as Clinton and her campaign try to turn the transparency issue on Trump, saying he isn't being held to the same standard.
CLINTON: 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.
JOHNS: Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, today suggesting during an appearance on MSNBC that candidates should be entitled to privacy when it comes to health records.
KELLYANNE CONWAY, TRUMP CAMPAIGN MANAGER: I don't know why we need such extensive medical reporting when we all have a right to privacy.
JOHNS: But it seemed to suggest medical privacy doesn't apply to Clinton in this case.
CONWAY: The question remains, if this is about transparency and medical records and health conditions, then why -- you know, why did she -- why was she so furtive in the business of concealment here?
JOHNS: President Obama today also calling out Trump for a lack of transparency on another matter, tax returns.
OBAMA: You want to debate transparency? You've got one candidate in this race who's released decades' workout of her tax returns. The other candidate is the first in decades who refuses to release any at all.
JOHNS: Trump's campaign deflecting questions about his tax returns and also failing to provide specifics in terms of his charitable giving after running mate Mike Pence told CNN on Monday that Trump had given away tens of millions of dollars.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: Will Donald Trump release anything from the IRS proving that he's under audit?
CONWAY: I don't know. Why? In other words, why are you -- are you calling him a liar?
CAMEROTA: Because we're taking -- well, we're taking his word for it.
CONWAY: Are you calling him a liar?
CAMEROTA: Part of why people are calling for him to release his taxes is so that we do know how much he himself has given to charity. Will you or the campaign release exactly what that number is?
CONWAY: I doubt it.
CAMEROTA: And the reason I ask -- why would you doubt it?
CONWAY: I doubt it because this is like badgering. In other words, I don't see it as journalism. I see it as badgering.
JOHNS (on camera): The Clinton camp says it expects to release additional medical records for Hillary Clinton this week and Donald Trump will reportedly discuss his medical records on the "Dr. Oz Show" on Thursday.
Joe Johns, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SESAY: Well, Trump's next stop on the campaign trail is Flint, Michigan. Cost-cutting measures there led to drinking water tainted with lead and other toxins.
VAUSE: Earlier this month Trump told the "Detroit News" it was, quote, "a horror show" that it was allowed to happen. More than half of Flint's residents are African-American. That's a group Donald Trump is trying to appeal to.
SESAY: Well, with his daughter at his side Tuesday Trump outlined his proposals for child and elder care tax credits. He underscored his support for working mothers with an enthusiastic politician and baby moment that you see there -- probably better for him than the baby -- at the Pennsylvania rally.
Tom Foreman has details of Trump's family leave plan and how it compares to Hillary Clinton's.
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TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Donald Trump is trying to win over working moms.
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: And my daughter Ivanka is going to be involved. She's the one --
(CHEERS)
FOREMAN: Indeed his daughter, a successful businesswoman and young mother, is brandishing her family's business policies as evidence of commitment. The Trump Organization says it gives eight weeks of paid leave to any new parent. Ivanka's own company does the same.
IVANKA TRUMP, DONALD TRUMP'S DAUGHTER: Women are paid equally for the work that we do and when a woman becomes a mother she is supported, not shut out.
FOREMAN: She has come under fire over the fact that a company supplier, the one that makes many of her outfits, offers no paid maternity leave. Nonetheless, the campaign is pushing hard against Hillary Clinton's claim to being the only champion for women in this race.
CLINTON: If fighting for affordable child care and paid family leave is playing the woman card, then deal me in. FOREMAN: So how do their plans compare? One of the main points,
Clinton wants to give new parents 12 weeks of paid family or medical leave. Trump says paid maternity leave alone should be six weeks. Clinton wants no more than 10 percent of their income to go for child care. Trump would give them a tax break. Clinton wants free quality pre-K for all 4-year-olds. Trump wants to give stay-at-home parents the same tax deductions as those who work.
[02:25:06] D. TRUMP: We will also be rolling out proposals to increase choice and reduce cost in child care, offering much-needed relief to American families.
CLINTON: Thank you.
FOREMAN: The Clinton campaign is already howling, saying Trump's reliance on tax breaks would help the wealthy but not do much for lower-income families. That he won't offer similar help for new dads, and the campaign insists he'd ultimately do precious little good for parents or their kids.
Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Former secretary of state Colin Powell is not mincing words. He's calling Trump a national disgrace and an international pariah. BuzzFeed News and "The Intercept" first reported the comments, which appeared in e-mails to a former aide. Powell says Trump is in the process of destroying himself, no need for Dems to attack him. And he blasts the birther movement, questioning President Obama's birth place, as racist. That's what the 99 percent believe when Trump couldn't keep that up. He said he also wanted to see if the certificate noted that he was a Muslim.
SESAY: Well, meantime, a major campaign group is asking Americans overseas to ensure they sign up to vote. Avars argues that only 12 percent of expats generally use their ballot but 8 million people are eligible. The point of the exercise, as you can see here, is to keep Trump out of the White House. More than 50,000 people have already shared the Web link on Facebook.
VAUSE: Well, coming up next for our viewers in Asia, "STATE OF THE RACE WITH KATE BOLDUAN."
SESAY: And for our viewers everywhere else, still ahead here on CNN NEWSROOM, Russia said it's not involved in a hack on U.S. Olympians. Why the world doping watchdog isn't buying it.
VAUSE: Also we'll meet the man promoters hope will be a knockout for pro-wrestling fans China.
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JOHN VAUSE, CNN HOST (voice-over): Thanks for staying with us, everybody. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause. ISHA SESAY, CNN HOST (voice-over): And I'm Isha Sesay. The headlines this hour:
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VAUSE: This was a year when relations between Iran and the U.S. were meant to be improving but Iran's military is sending out less-than- friendly signals to Washington.
SESAY: As CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr reports, confrontations are a growing concern this year.
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BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Iran threatening to shoot down two U.S. Navy reconnaissance planes. It happened Saturday when a Navy EP-3 and a P-8 near the Strait of Hormuz received three radio calls from Iranian air defense units.
In one of the calls, an Iranian military person said, "Coalition aircraft, I understand you are doing your mission in international waters. But you are approaching Iranian boundaries. If you do not change your heading, you will be aimed by Iranian missiles. Change your heading immediately."
The U.S. pilots knew they were outside the range of Iranian surface- to-air missiles. So they proceeded without incident, according to U.S. military officials. But the chief of naval operations is making clear his commanders have the authority to act against Iran if needed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's really nothing that limits the way that they can respond.
STARR (voice-over): The U.S. says provocations by Iran in the air and at sea are growing: 32 incidents so far this year, compared to 23 all of last year. Most are conducted by Iran's more militant Revolutionary Guard corps naval forces.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think some of this is kids with bravado. Some of this is just Iranians showing how tough they are against this really overwhelmingly massive U.S. Naval capability.
STARR (voice-over): The concern always is: it could spin out of control.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Appears to be unsafe, unprofessional.
STARR (voice-over): Several Revolutionary Guard corps small attack boats recently swarmed a Navy ship.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It is irresponsible. It could lead toward violence. The Americans have both shown restraint but also demonstrated that you have to be ready to defend yourself.
STARR (voice-over): The commander of the Revolutionary Guard corps navy saying confrontations with the Americans are, quote, "sheer lies."
But the CNO says the U.S. should think about talking to Iran.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's very important that we eliminate this sort of activity where we can. There's nothing good can come from it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Barbara Starr there with that report.
Moving on now, Zimbabwe has known only one ruler since independence in 1980, President Robert Mugabe, 92 years old, clinging to power. Protests, though, are growing and police are cracking down hard.
David McKenzie got rare access inside Zimbabwe. He joins us now from just across the border in South Africa.
And, David, amid these demonstrations, the police have actually announced that there will be another month-long ban on protests.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they have announced that. And that sets up another potential standoff between the protesters and the police on the streets of Zimbabwe.
You know, we rarely get access into Zimbabwe and we were able to report there for several days, just got back. And what we found is that the facade of unity amongst the security forces is certainly cracking. And Zimbabwe, as one observer put it, is facing a perfect storm.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCKENZIE (voice-over): The protests now happen every week, the response from Harare's police always brutal. Here, a tear gas canister is lobbed into a packed commuter van. For 36 years, Robert Mugabe has depended on the police to enforce his rule --
[02:35:00]
MCKENZIE (voice-over): -- to crush dissent. But the dissent is now building from within.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think people don't know what's actually happening in Zimbabwe.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): This veteran police officer has taken an enormous risk just to meet with us. We're concealing his identity for his protection.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We were told to beat up everyone who was there but that's not the initial instruction that we had been given. It came later on.
MCKENZIE: So the politicians are ordering the police to beat up protesters?
Is that the case?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That I believe.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): Politicians from a regime that he says will stop at nothing to stay in power.
A government spokesman told CNN that it's not the case. He denies that Mugabe's party is ordering the police to attack protesters. They say the protesters are out to damage property.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The very same people we are beating, some of them are my schoolmates, some of them are my friends or people that we live with in the community. So it's a job but it's, hey, there is nothing you can do.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): Having to go months without pay, he says he and many of his fellow officers sympathize with the activists that they've been ordered to suppress.
MCKENZIE: We spent days trying to get the trust of this group of activists that we're following and we're going to a secret meeting. Their aim is to unseat the government of Robert Mugabe.
Hi.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You can wait inside.
MCKENZIE: Yes. That's fine. No problem. We'll wait inside.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): Hidden from view, political gatherings like this are taking place in back yards and houses throughout Zimbabwe. Social media is used to organize the movement and stay ahead of state security apparatus.
They face arrest and say fellow activists have disappeared. But they are undeterred.
MCKENZIE: But are you afraid that the police will strike back?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whether they strike back or not, we are not afraid.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): But this police officer has seen the orders and he is afraid.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They talk of the use of tear smoke; they talk of the use of animals like dogs, horses and the like. And the last one is the use of firearms, in that order.
MCKENZIE: Are you afraid someone's going to get killed?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. If the momentum of these demonstrations continues, I think eventually they are going to use live ammunition. That's my worry.
MCKENZIE (voice-over): Mugabe says the protesters are playing a dangerous game. But his fate and the fate of Zimbabwe could finally be in their hands.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCKENZIE: Mugabe has vowed to crush the protesters if they get back onto the streets. And that's just one factor that is pushing, pressuring the world's oldest leader to step down. But at this stage, John, he's showing no signs of doing that -- John.
VAUSE: So, David, very quickly, some of the protesters and the opposition groups are saying that all of this is a sign of the last moments of a dying regime.
When you were there what was your sense?
MCKENZIE: Well, my sense is that you've got all these factors coming together. You've got the economy, which really is struggling. There's a major cash crunch in the country. People aren't able to access dollars, which are the main currency of the country. And because of that they're not able to pay the civil servants.
And as you know, John, if you're not able to pay the police, if you're struggling to pay the military and those are your main means of propping up your government, it is definitely a very tenuous situation for Robert Mugabe.
But he's been in tight spots before. He's always been able to get himself out, some might say beat himself out of the situation. But many people are saying that this is potentially the beginning of the end game -- John.
VAUSE: Well, let's wait and see what happens. David, thank you, David McKenzie there with exclusive reporting from inside Zimbabwe.
Great report, Dave. Thanks.
SESAY: Quick break now. Several U.S. Olympians are fending off doping accusations after a cyber hack. The details and their reaction -- next.
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SESAY: The World Anti-Doping Agency is blaming Russian cyber criminals for a hack that leaked the medical records of several U.S. Olympians.
VAUSE: We get the details now from CNN "WORLD SPORT's" Don Riddell.
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(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT CORRESPONDENT: During the Olympic games in Rio, there was something of a cold war revival as tensions simmered between Russian and American swimmers in the pool. And of course, many Russian athletes were banned completely from competing because of concerns about doping. The games are over, of course, but now there is a new scandal. The world anti-doping agency has today accused Russian hackers of breaking into their database, stealing and then posting confidential medical data of some American athletes online.
And they aren't just any old athletes. We're talking about some of the biggest names in American sport. Taking responsibility for the attack is a group called Fancy Bears and the hackers have claimed that these athletes have been doping. According to their website, they quote regularly used illicit strong drugs justified by certificates of approval for therapeutic use.
It is a nightmare for the athletes caught up in this and who've now had their medical records published for the whole world to see. The gymnastic sensation, Simone Biles, who won four gold medals in Rio responded on Twitter saying, quote, I have ADHD and I have taken medicine for it since I was a kid. I believe in clean sport. I have always followed the rules and will continue to do so as fair play is critical to sport and is very important to me.
The tennis star Venus Williams said, I was disappointed to learn today that my private medical data has compromised by hackers and published without my permission. I have followed the rules established under the tennis anti-doping program in applying for and being granted therapeutic use exemptions.
And the American basketball player, Elena Delle Donne tweeted, I would like to thank the hackers for making the world aware that I legally take a prescription for a condition I've been diagnosed with which WADA granted me an exemption for. Thanks, guys.
The U.S. anti-doping agency is absolutely livid. Its CEO, Travis Tygart said, quote, in each of these situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication.
Now, the Russian government has denied any involvement. But whoever is behind it, this --
[02:45:00]
RIDDELL: -- hack really isn't going to make it any easier for Russian sports or Russian athletes who have been ostracized during this doping crisis. WADA's new director general, Olivier Niggli said, let it be known that these criminal acts are greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to reestablish trust in Russia. I suspect we're going to hear much more on this in the coming days. I'm Don Riddell. Back to you.
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VAUSE: Don, thank you for that. OK. The big business of professional wrestling is looking to expand -- where else but in China. The entertainment company, WWE, is looking for new fans by hiring Chinese wrestlers.
SESAY: And one of them made his big debut over the weekend in Shanghai. Matt Rivers has more.
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MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A Swiss superman, a Celtic warrior and, for the first time, a home-grown hero. It's Saturday night in Shanghai and World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE, has come to China. Larger-than-life characters battling it out in the ring, entertaining thousands of fans.
The pro wrestling company has stepped up its efforts to expand in the Middle Kingdom this year. A big part of that strategy, 22-year-old Wang Bin, 6'3, 220 pounds. The WWE wants to make him its first Chinese superstar.
WANG BIN, WRESTLING PERFORMER (through translator): I'll be having my debut WWE match in my motherland. I'm so excited and very happy.
RIVERS (voice-over): In addition to Wang, WWE announced last week it signed seven more Chinese performers to develop mental contracts. But developing them into full-fledged superstars is a process that could take years.
In June, the company struck a deal with a Chinese streaming service to carry its signature programs live each week with Mandarin commentary. There's also an aggressive social media strategy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have to use Witao (ph), Weibo and Youku Tudou to deliver a lot of our short-form content and engage fans. Right now, we're over half a million fans across three platforms.
RIVERS (voice-over): Half a million in a country of 1.3 billion means there's lots of room to grow. But Lee (ph) knows just how to pitch WWE to the Chinese audience.
LEE (PH): Kung fu novel. And that would be the word give friends who ask this question. And they immediately get it. Oh, yes, we get it. It's scripted entertainment that's full of action.
RIVERS (voice-over): One of the WWE's biggest superstars told us he saw so much potential in China he learned some Chinese.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know that in Mandarin "you can't see me" is (speaking Mandarin).
And I came back to China in June and I talked to our digital people and I said I'm so sorry for saying it wrong.
They said no, no, no, Chinese fans love you for it. So you now have to say it wrong every time. RIVERS (voice-over): Wang Bin's match in Shanghai on Saturday wasn't televised. There's much more training he needs to go through before being ready to perform on WWE TV. The company also needs to decide whether to make him a hero or a villain.
WANG (through translator): I don't really have a preference. I think that will slowly come. Right now I have to have more matches to show off myself and figure out which character suits me best.
RIVERS (voice-over): And having home-grown superstars will definitely give these loud and loyal fans even more reason to cheer and potentially a billion more a reason to start watching -- Matt Rivers, CNN.
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VAUSE: You know, I can't confirm this but someone told me that wrestling's staged.
SESAY: Really?
VAUSE: Yes, apparently, that's not for real. Showmanship.
SESAY: You're breaking hearts all over the world.
VAUSE: I'm sorry, China. A short break.
Ryan Lochte was hoping to repair his reputation after the Rio Olympics but trouble just follows this guy wherever he goes. We'll explain in a moment.
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[02:50:00]
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VAUSE: If you're going to fix your reputation, you've had a bit of a bad run of things lately, what would you do?
You'd go on "Dancing with the Stars," right?
Well, that's what Ryan Lochte, the disgraced American Olympian, did. Of course he did it.
SESAY: Of course. Ironically, he made -- yes, you can tell where this is going. He made his debut to the song, "Call Me Irresponsible." But this time he wasn't to blame for the missteps that followed. Our Jeanne Moos explains.
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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We're used to seeing Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte do the freestyle, not the fox trot.
There he was doing something he says he's never done, when suddenly "Dancing with the Stars" became protesting one of them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Liar!
MOOS (voice-over): The two protesters who jumped on stage didn't touch anyone. Security immediately tackled one of them. The show was live. This is all viewers saw.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excuse me. Hey, back off.
MOOS (voice-over): One of the judges dishing out five excuse mes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Excuse me.
MOOS (voice-over): Before the show went to a commercial.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We'll take a break.
MOOS (voice-over): With Lochte wiping his brow. Four more chanting protesters wearing anti-Lochte shirts were shooed away by dancer Derek Hough.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get out. It's a good show, a positive show. Get out of here.
MOOS (voice-over): The two Los Angeles men were charged with misdemeanor trespassing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Lochte is a liar.
MOOS (voice-over): The swimmer's overexaggerated story of getting robbed at gunpoint in Rio had riled up protester Sam Sotode (ph).
SAM SOTODE (PH), PROTESTER: We want to publicize that this is a bad decision to have a liar be publicized as a star.
MOOS (voice-over): One jokester tweeted, "Did the Brazilian authorities just attempt to apprehend Lochte on live TV?"
The swimmer seemed to take the protest to heart.
RYAN LOCHTE, U.S. OLYMPIC SWIMMER: I was really heartbroken. My heart just sunk. And it felt like someone just ripped it apart.
MOOS (voice-over): The two demonstrators were released on $1,000 bail.
MOOS: OK, OK. Enough with the protests.
But how did the swimmer dance?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Six.
MOOS (voice-over): The judges gave Lochte and his partner a so-so 24 out of a possible 40.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Your limbs are not quite used to --
[02:55:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- dry land yet.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By the way, that is the most clothing Ryan Lochte has ever worn in competition.
MOOS (voice-over): The song Lochte danced to...
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MOOS (voice-over): -- the swimmer danced like a fish out of water, watching the protesters get hooked -- Jeanne Moos, CNN...
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MOOS (voice-over): -- New York.
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VAUSE: As bad as he is at dancing, he was better than the former Texas governor, Rick Perry, who was awful.
SESAY: Yes. He was awful.
All right. Well, from one sportsman to another, Rugby League fans might just want to remember the name Meaalofa Te'o. Those who think the sport is a little too violent, look away now.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Keep going.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my goodness.
VAUSE: Wow.
SESAY: My goodness.
VAUSE: OK. That's a pretty frightening 9-year old. That's a big kid. He flattened the competition in Canberra, Australia. The stuff of legend now on Facebook and YouTube, where legends -- whoa.
OK. Nightmare for parents, though. Of course, all those other little kids running around.
Run away. Run away.
SESAY: They'll be running in the opposite direction.
VAUSE: Run away.
Wow. He's got a big future.
SESAY: He can move.
VAUSE: Yes.
SESAY: He could take you down.
VAUSE: Absolutely.
You could take me down.
SESAY: Yes. That's true.
All right. Well, you've been watching CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. I'm Isha Sesay.
VAUSE: I'm not. I'm John Vause. News continues with Rosemary Church. She's in Atlanta and she'll be with you after a short break.
