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Typhoon Meranti Hamming China, Causing Mayhem; Russia: 250 ISIS Fighters in Syrian Air Strike; Trump, Clinton Showing Voters They're Fit to Lead; Salty Comments on Race in Leaked Colin Powell E-mails; Inside the Trump Organization's Financial Web; Warning on North Korea's Bomb-Making Potential. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired September 15, 2016 - 02:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:15] ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Ahead this hour --

(HEADLINES)

SESAY: Hello. Welcome to our viewers around the world. I'm Isha Sesay.

VAUSE: I'm John Vause. Great to have you with us for the third hour of NEWSROOM, L.A., which starts now.

SESAY: The strongest storm of the year is bringing heavy rain and dangerous winds to southeast China. The Typhoon Meranti made landfall in Fugiam (ph) Province early Thursday. The strong winds ripped metal and pealed the roofs off homes.

VAUSE: The storm is weakening but the rain and flash flooding will continue the next few days. Meranti hit Taiwan first with winds faster than a Formula One race car. Nearly one million homes lost power.

SESAY: CNN's Matt Rivers joins not far from where Meranti made landfall.

Matt, how much damage did it cause?

MATT RIVERS, CNN ASIA-PACIFIC EDITOR: Quite a bit. And when we were here last night, as this was making landfall, not far, maybe 10 or 20 kilometers away from where we were last night, you could hear the wind picked up. All kinds of things were crashing outside. A power outage that occurs, you couldn't really hear what was going on. But when the sun came up, you can saw thinks like this. And you could image what it was like when it came in. Stuff was flying all over the place because of the wind gusts that were 175 miles an hour at their peak. You see things like this. Now, this is progress made by shop owners. When we came here this morning, this place was littered with debris. They are piling it up. But this is a solid metal, part of the facade of the building, and it was ripped off, torn off. We actually heard it. We were staying on the 22nd floor, about 200 meters away, and heard this ripping off last night. The damage was fairly extensive, given the storm didn't last very long in this area. It with was a peak window of two to three hours and then it started to move on.

It's still a little windy and rainy but, for the most part, it did a lot of damage in a relatively short amount of time.

SESAY: Matt, that's the biggest issue facing authorities in the aftermath of Meranti?

RIVERS: At this point, I would say power outages and water. We have been all over the island. It is on an island and it's not that big, area wise. We have been all over and nowhere have we seen places that have full electricity restored. We're seen power lines down all over the place. Frankly, we haven't really seen any government crews to go out and fix those issues. The other issue, because so many places are powered by electric pumps, people are having trouble getting water to their homes. So those are the two immediate needs that at least right now it doesn't appear to be addressed that quickly.

SESAY: Matt Rivers joining us there. Matt, we appreciate it. Thank you so much.

VAUSE: Let's go to Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri tracking the storm from the International Weather Center.

Pedram, the storm is weakening but it still has a couple of days ahead.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, AMS METEOROLOGIST: One thing with the word weakening, I want to emphasize, yes, the storm is weakening, but the reason it is weakening is because it is raining itself out. You are going from a category five to category one and now lower in 24 hours. Just like we spike the storm system from a one to a five, it is going down, but all the energy is consumed over millions of people. The end result, this is what it looks like in Taiwan, almost one million people without power. The wind element almost done with.

But I want to show you the rain element. A closer look at the province, as you go in to look at the province, go few kilometers inland, easy to pick out what happened to the landscape and terrain here. You see the peaks and mountains here. This is an example of a topographic uplift. The moisture comes in with the rainfall, the air is forced to rise over the mountain ranges, a lot of it is squeezed out and you get heavy rainfall right there on the windward-facing areas of the mountains. Any villages or communities in the areas would be devastated with historic rainfall with a system such as Meranti. As you work inland, you see the next story working out here, which would be water wanting to flow downstream. Any of these heavy rainfalls, mountains flow downstream, and any communities downstream would be hardest hit with the tremendous rainfall in store. This goes to play a significant role. Landslides are a concern, as well. When you put so much water and an elevated terrain, the slope cannot hold the soil, it collapses, you buckle the roads and can block rivers, and this happens, and now you are talking about the rivers bursting their banks. That's where the vast majority of fatalities occur when it comes to landfall of tropical systems.

[02:05:48] This came ashore as a furious storm, 230 kilometer an hour winds at landfall at 3:00 in the morning. Think of the cities that are populated, like Matt Rivers is showing us. Any sort of tall structure, when you remove yourself from the land and get up to higher altitude, where there is little fiction, the wind is about 30 percent higher when you work your way about 80 to 100 stories up. High-rise structures would be receiving significant damage as this storm came ashore. Of course, significant damage and followed with significant rainfall. And just look at the amount of rainfall. Anything in the red is 200 to 300 millimeters. That's rather widespread over the region.

John and Isha, when you look at the open waters, something very similar and striking begins to pop up as well, and this is a Tropical Storm Malakas, which is going to form into a typhoon over the next several hours. And this storm could be impacting northern portions of Taiwan late this week, potentially eastern China and southern Japan, yet again, this weekend. So another big weather maker in the works for next several days -- guys?

VAUSE: Even if it doesn't make landfall, a lot of rain and wind.

(CROSSTALK)

VAUSE: OK. Pedram, thank you.

SESAY: Thank you.

JAVAHERI: Thanks.

SESAY: Russia says it killed 250 ISIS fighters in an air strike in Syria. Warplanes hit the militants north of Palmyra.

VAUSE: A Russian military spokesman said the strike prevented ISIS from trying to retake the city. The ceasefire in Syria does not include strikes against ISIS.

The truce has been extended 48 hours and it has led to quiet during the Muslim Eid festival.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): There have been no warplanes for two days. We are civilians. It is now safe for us to visit friends and relatives.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): We are happy and relaxed. With the planes, how can we go out for Eid? If there's planes, there's no safety. Everybody is scared.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): The streets were always empty before. Now people are coming and going, children are playing on the playground, and people are generally happy. The down side is the markets are empty.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Jomana Karadsheh joins us from Amman in neighboring Jordan.

Jomana, is there a time frame, at this point, on when the Assad government will allow those aid convoys in to Aleppo? And if there are continuing obstruction coming from the Syrian government, what are the options for the Americans?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what we are hearing from aid agencies is they are waiting for guarantees from all parties involved in this conflict. They want to make sure their trucks, these aid convoys will be guaranteed safe passage into eastern Aleppo and other besieged areas. It will depend on the regime, in this case, and also on opposition groups. In the past, aid conveys with have seen other truces in the past have been caught up in fighting that was ongoing. They need to make sure that they will be guaranteed the safe passage before they do.

We have heard from the Russian military, Russian defense ministry and officials saying the Syrian military is ready to withdraw from Costello Road. This is a key highway in to eastern Aleppo. This is what the United Nations and aid agencies want to use to access that area. This is a very contested road. We have seen it change hands several times in recent months. There's been some sporadic fighting there in recent days. So one of the key points of the agreement between Russia and the United States is to turn this area in to a demilitarized zone to allow for the access of aid. We will have to wait and see if the Syrian military does indeed make a move and withdrawal from that road at some point today.

Very critical times ahead -- John? People are running out of supplies in this area, especially eastern Aleppo.

VAUSE: Jomana, now we have this ceasefire extended for another 48 hour period, despite what appears to be a number of violations on both sides. Are we getting a number of what those violations, what they are and what will be tolerated moving forward?

[02:10:12] KARADSHEH: I think, John, if you look at what the expectation was here, it was that we were going to have a ceasefire here, that guns will fall silent. It is a significant reduction in violence, as described by the U.N. envoy for Syria, a real significant draw. There is fighting, of course, still taking place in areas that are not covered in this truce. These are areas held by extremist groups, including ISIS and a group formerly known as Nusra, the al- Qaeda affiliate.

This is a rare occasion where we can say, according to monitoring groups, there have been no combat deaths reported in the areas that are covered by the truce since it began on Monday evening. So while there have been some skirmishes, some fighting and violations that, according to the monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, they say that the regime violations have been three times more than those that have been committed by the opposition fighters. At this point in time, it seems to be holding. But, of course, a fragile cessation of hostilities -- John? VAUSE: Finally, very quickly, you mentioned that ISIS, other jihadi

groups are not a part of the ceasefire arrangement, and so the Russian military carried out an air strike on ISIS forces near Palmyra. How significant was that air strike?

KARADSHEH: We are only getting these reports, John, from the Russian military, Russian officials saying they carried out air strikes that killed 250 ISIS fighters, according to their estimate, and destroyed 15 pickup trucks. This is what the aim of the agreement is, to see some sort of contribution here by the United States and Russia, so it is not only the coalition that is going after ISIS in Syria. And of course, we will have to wait and see and get more information about this from monitoring groups. But we haven't really seen ISIS try to retake territory in some time in Syria. This would be significant if it was trying to retake Palmyra that was only taken back by the Syrian regime with the backing of the Syrian military a few months ago -- John?

SESAY: Jomana Karadsheh, live in Amman, Jordon. Jomana, thank you very much.

VAUSE: The World Anti-Doping Agency says Russian cyber hackers are behind another leak of athletes' medical data. Agency officials say 25 athletes from eight countries have been targeted, including the U.S., Germany, Britain and Russia.

SESAY: Earlier this week, the cyber criminal group posted the medical records for four U.S. Olympians. The anti-doping agency says they stole the information from its database.

We'll take a short break. When we come back, let's get physical. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, releasing new details of their medical conditions. Also, new polls taking further temperatures in two important

swing states.

SESAY: Plus, North Korea says the recent flyover shows that the U.S. is going reckless. What Washington could be preparing to do if Pyongyang continues to push the nuclear button.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(SPORTS REPORT)

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[02:17:18] SESAY: The closer we get to Election Day here in the United States the tighter the race seems to be. New polls show Donald Trump gaining in two key battleground states. The CNN/ORC survey of likely voters in Ohio gives Trump a 5 point lead over Hillary Clinton, 46 to 41 percent. In Florida, Trump leads Clinton, 47 to 44 percent. That's within the margin of error.

VAUSE: A new national poll from Quinnipiac University has Clinton ahead ever so slightly, 41 to 39 percent. Without the third-party candidates, Clinton's lead grows to five points. SESAY: Trump is reaching out to minority voters, touring the water

plant in Flint, Michigan, on Wednesday. The majority African-American city has been plagued by a contaminated water crisis.

VAUSE: Later, Trump went to a Methodist church. He was heckled by some of the crowd. The pastor though put a stop to that. She also interrupted Donald Trump when he started to criticize Hillary Clinton.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Hilary failed on the economy, just like she's failed on foreign policy. Everything she touched didn't work out. Nothing. Now Hillary Clinton --

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED PASTOR: Trump, I invited you here to --

(CROSSTALK)

TRUMP: Oh, oh, oh, OK, OK.

UNIDENTIFIED PASTOR: Not give a political speech.

TRUMP: OK, that's good. And I'm going to get back on that. OK.

(APPLAUSE)

(CROSSTALK)

TRUMP: OK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Trump offering up new details about his health. He shared a letter from his physician with TV host, Dr. Oz.

SESAY: People in the audience say Trump talked about wanting to lose some weight and that he takes statins to lower his cholesterol. But otherwise, Trump says he's in great shape. He did say he'd like to get more exercise playing golf.

VAUSE: That's not exercise.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. MEHMET OZ, HOST, THE DR. OZ SHOW: There's so much stamina. You've used that word a lot. You've made it an issue in this campaign. You argue that a president needs a tremendous amount of stamina. If elected, at age 70, you would be the oldest person to ever enter the Oval Office. Why do you think you have the stamina for the job?

TRUMP: Just about the same age as Reagan. And Hillary is a year behind me.

I would say, just based on my life. And actually -- and I don't know if this makes sense -- I feel as good today as I did when I was 30.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Hillary Clinton is expected back on the campaign trail on Thursday after her weekend health scare.

SESAY: She released medical information of her own.

Details from CNN's Jeff Zeleny.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(COUGHING)

[02:19:50] JEFF ZELENY, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Tonight, Hillary Clinton shedding more light on her health, trying to put her pneumonia diagnosis in perspective and questions about transparency to rest.

As she heads back to the campaign trail on Thursday, a new letter from her physician, Dr. Lisa Bardak. She says she has examined Mrs. Clinton several times, including today, and she "continues to improve."

Clinton has been off the campaign trail for three straight days after falling ill Sunday at ground zero on the 15th anniversary of 9/11. The doctor said, "She's recovering well with antibiotics and rest. She continues to remain healthy and fit to serve as president of the United States."

With the election in 55 days, health and transparency suddenly front and center in the fight between Clinton and Donald Trump. The Clinton campaign has acknowledged not being fully forthcoming about her illness. Initially, aides said she overheated. Hours later, her doctor said she had pneumonia and ordered Clinton to rest. She's been at home in Chappaqua ever since as a cast of Clinton's and other Democrats campaign on her behalf.

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's a crazy time we live in when people think there is something unusual about getting this flu. Last time I checked, millions of people were getting it every year.

ZELENY: An aide to the former president said he misspoke and meant to say pneumonia.

Clinton is heading back to North Carolina on Thursday, the last battleground state she visited before becoming sick last week.

HILLARY CLINTON, (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I have been looking forward to joining you all here in Charlotte.

ZELENY: Yet she is returning to a different landscape, a far more competitive one in her battle with Trump.

Meanwhile, the race rocked by another wave of hacked e-mails, this time, from former Secretary of State Colin Powell. His salty comments offered a biting critique of the race. On Clinton, he said, "Everything HRC touches, she kind of screws up with hubris." He saved his sharpest words for Trump calling him a "national disgrace" and an "international pariah."

Aides say Clinton has been following it all from her home in New York. As she received flower deliveries throughout the day, she received briefings and continued preparing for her first debate with Trump.

TRUMP: If I wanted it, I would have gotten it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Jeff Zeleny reporting there.

Trump is responding to Colin Powell's e-mails. Trump tweeted this, "I was never a fan of Colin Powell after his weak understanding of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq equals disaster. We can do much better."

VAUSE: Now new revelations about Trump's global business ties. "Newsweek" says a close examination of the Trump organization reveals a secret web of dealings which poses a major conflict of interest.

SESAY: The report says, quote, "Never before has an American candidate for president had so many financial ties with American allies and enemies, and never before has a business posed such a threat to the United States. If Donald Trump wins this election and his company is not immediately shut down or forever severed from the Trump family, the foreign policy of the United Stats of America could be for sale."

The author of the report spoke to CNN.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KURT EICHENWALD, SENIOR WRITER & CORRESPONDENT, NEWSWEEK: You have a Trump partnership in Azerbaijan. The partner is the son of a government official who American intelligence has linked to money for the Iranian military. These are not just people, not just businessmen. These are people of enormous political influence and of enormous political connections. And Trump supports Brexit because it would be good for his golf course. Imagine what you're talking about when you're talking about the entirety of the Trump organization's overseas operations. You know, will he side with the interests of our ally in Turkey or will he react because the Turkish president is attacking him and attacking his business there?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: CNN has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment. So far there's no response.

North Korea says a flyover by two U.S. B-1 bombers earlier this week was a provocation. SESAY: The U.S. wanted to show their anger over what North Korea says

was the fifth nuclear test next week. The U.S. is warning North Korea not to push the button again.

Our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A dire warning form a top U.S. commander following the B-1B bombers' symbolic show of force against North Korea's nuclear testing.

General Raymond Thomas, head of Special Operations Commander, said the U.S. is increasingly being held nuclear hostage ever day by the North Korean regime. General Thomas also openly acknowledging U.S. Special Operations forces could be called into action, saying, "In the event of an implosion of the North Korean regime or some other trigger event, we would have a loose-nuke dilemma on an industrial scale.

The immediate worry? How soon North Korea might conduct another nuclear test. The U.S. has watched activity at an underground test site for weeks.

(MUSIC)

STARR: North Korea reacting to the B-1 flights with characteristic bluster, saying, "The U.S. is bluffing that the B-1Bs are enough for fighting and an all-out nuclear war." And saying, "The U.S. imperialists are going reckless and are taken aback by the successful nuclear tests."

Kim Jong-Un appears completely undeterred.

[02:25:17] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He has two launchers that can hit the lower 48 states. In two or three years, he will be able to put a nuclear warhead on those missiles, and that will give him incredible capability of attacking a U.S. city.

STARR: Analysts at the website 38 North now calculate North Korea could have a stockpile of sufficient fissile material for approximately 20 bombs by the end of this year and make up to seven more annually. Right now, the U.S. calculates the regime could have 12 devices on hand. Future production would depend on the size of future bombs.

(EXPLOSION)

STARR: The rapid escalation of missile and nuclear tests suggests this is about more than North Korea's usual attempts to show off on the world stage.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What North Korea is doing with these constant tests, nuclear tests and missile tests is actually trying to develop a workable, deliverable nuclear detergent. That is much more significant and much more dangerous.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: That was our Pentagon correspondent, Barbara Starr, reporting.

And the U.S. says it is working with the U.N. to impose more sanctions on North Korea.

SESAY: Coming up next for viewers in Asia, CNN's "State of the Race" with Kate Baldwin.

VAUSE: And ahead, a young Syrian girl rescued under the rubble and the unbreakable bond with the man who saved her.

VAUSE: Plus, a former member of Robert Mugabe's inner circle turns against him. Rare reporting from inside of Zimbabwe coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:30:15]

JOHN VAUSE, HOST: You are watching CNN Newsroom live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause.

ISHA SESAY, HOST: And, I'm Isha Sesay. The headlines at this hour.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Typhoon Meranti has made land fall in China's Fujian province. Meteorologists predict the storm will bring heavy rain and flooding to the east over the next 48 hours. The powerful storm first battered Taiwan with dangerous winds and torrential rain.

VAUSE: Russian hackers have leaked another batch of confidential medical data of Olympic athletes.

The World Anti-Doping Agency also says 25 athletes from eight countries including Russia were targeted. Earlier this week the cybercriminal group released the medical information of four American Olympians.

At least, six people are dead after a passenger train collided with a freight train in Pakistan. About 150 people were injured. The freight train had stopped after a man committed suicide on the tracks. Officials say the passenger train could not stop in time.

SESAY: The U.S. and Russia are extending the ceasefire in Syria for another 48 hours. The U.S. says there have been violations on both sides. But, a monitoring group says no deaths have been reported.

The U.N. is still trying to get security guarantees so it can deliver aid to people trapped in Aleppo.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: And, earlier I spoke to CNN's Military Analyst, Lt. Col. Rick Francona. I asked him about reports of an ongoing rift between the Pentagon and the U.S State Department over the cease fire deal with Russia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. COL. RICK FRANCONA: But, there's a lot of pushback in the U.S. military -- in the Department of Defense to the Secretary of State's proposal to work with the Russians. The President's of course going to overrule that. But the key thing is to get humanitarian aid into these cities.

VAUSE: The cease fire, as we are being told, does not apply to Jihadi groups. Russian forces claim to have killed about 250 ISIS fighters nearly Palmyra. They also say they've prevented a major offensive to retake that town. What do you make of the claims?

FRANCONA: Yes, I think that's probably valid. You know, the Russians are authorized to be striking those targets and that area is, you know, an ISIS stronghold. And, they're going to have to clear that area out before anybody makes any move on Raqqah especially from the south.

So, I think the Russians are adhering to the agreement there. But, there are other areas of the country which they're not adhering to the agreement. But I think the more egregious violations are those conducted by the Syrian air force. They're still using those barrel bombs against civilian targets in areas in which there is no ISIS or designated terrorist present.

But, you know, the Syrians regard anybody that's opposing the government to be a terrorist. So, the Russians are going to have to weigh in with the Syrians and have them comply with the terms of this agreement if it has any chance of success.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Well, a 10-year-old Syrian girl who almost became the war's latest victim is alive thanks to one man. He spotted her seemingly lifeless body in the grey rubble from a barrel bomb attack.

Senior International Correspondent, Arwa Damon has the story with footage from the Aleppo Media Center. We do want to warn you though, some of the images in this piece are hard to watch.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Before the bombs, the siege and the war, (Mohammed AllahAlJalil) was an electrician. Before the death, the violence, and the hunger. 10 year old Doha Al- Mohammed loved going to school.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN)

DAMON: This is their story. Forever bonded together. For the last four years, Mohammed has been part of a volunteer emergency response unit in Aleppo.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN)

DAMON: She had gone unnoticed in the chaos until Mohammed happened to glance back.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN)

DAMON: Barely alive, drifting in and out of consciousness. Doctors were able to stabilize her. But her younger sister, Yasmin, ended up in Turkey for treatment. The siblings communicate by Facebook messenger.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN)

[02:35:14]

DAMON: But that is not an option for Doha and the rest of her family. Turkey only opens the border for medical emergencies. Doha says she feels lost, her life in pieces.

And, that is where Mohammed, her savior comes in again. He has built a playground for children and created a sanctuary for stray cats.

(SPEAKING FOREIGN)

DAMON: It's where we hear her laugh, where in Syria's battlefield, a child's gleeful cries are stolen moments.

Arwa Damon, CNN, Gaziantep, Turkey.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: And, still to come here on Newsroom L.A.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm thrilled there is a change in the way government is run in Zimbabwe. The revolution must continue.

VAUSE: The turmoil inside of Zimbabwe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Hello everyone. The U.S. President is looking to reward Myanmar's move toward democracy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Barack Obama met with Myanmar's de facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, at the White House Wednesday.

VAUSE: He said the country, also known as Burma, should be allowed to benefit after decades of military rule while Suu Kyi, acknowledged there was more work to be done for national reconciliation.

[02:40:07]

BARACK OBAMA, THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT: The United States is now prepared to lift sanctions that we have imposed on Burma for quite some time. It is the right thing to do in order to ensure that the people of Burma see rewards from a new way of doing business and a new government.

AUNG SAN SUU KYI, MYANMAR DE FACTO LEADER: So, we want to develop our material resources. We want to make sure that our people are better off materially in order to strengthen our political image. It's not just a peace process. It's also the permission that we have formed headed by Dr. (Coffey Anand) to look into matters in the (inaudible) state. (inaudible) strife is not something that we can ignore. It's too important. It's too serious for us to leave even until the next year.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: An, international commission is investigating the plight of the Rohingya Muslims living in camps in western Myanmar.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: One of brazil's most beloved politicians is facing corruption charges. Former, President, Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva is accused of commanding a money laundering scheme.

The charges stem from the investigation into corruption at state oil giant, Petrobas.

VAUSE: Lula denies the investigation but the charges could be a blow to his political career. Lula is credited for helping transform Brazil's economy during his seven years in office.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: All right. To Africa now and we brought you a look Wednesday inside Zimbabwe and the growing dissent against President Robert Mugabe.

VAUSE: A former insider in the Mugabe government now says he cannot sit idly by while his country collapses. Here's David McKenzie's exclusive report.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Followers of Robert Mugabe invading a farm in Zimbabwe. The mob ready to attack. There was a big gang of people out here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. About 50 or slightly above 50 people elated.

MCKENZIE: Agrippa Mutambara Took the footage with his mobile phone. But they didn't count on his years as a combat commander in the liberation war.

AGRIPPA MUTAMBARA, FORMER ZIMBABWE DIPLOMAT: I took my pistol, and cogged it. When I did that they all went down. MCKENZIE: The invasion was a dramatic turn around. Because for

decades, Mutambara benefited from his loyalty to Mugabe's regime. The government took this farm from a white family and gave it to him.

So the-called farm invasions often violent and sometimes deadly shocked the outside world. Mugabe said it was an accelerated program of redistribution, but it helped solidify his rule.

MUTAMBARA: It's later I realized that he had actually dictatorial tendencies.

MCKENZIE: Now Mutambara says the tactics are being turned against powerful supporters like him, who have turned their back on Mugabe.

MUTAMBARA: The moral values that he espoused during the struggle, he was no longer following those moral values.

MCKENZIE: In his 36 years in power, Mugabe has never faced so many challenges to his rule. A rising citizen's movement, a cash crunch so severe we saw people ling up for hours just to try and draw money.

On the streets, Zimbabweans will tell you they are struggling. Most depend on informal jobs like this or remittances from overseas to survive. Many blame the president.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (As translated): The old man is old. He can't control the situation. He's failing. We are dying of hunger. It's been three or four years without having a job.

MCKENZIE: In rural areas, at least four million people are now hungry from a devastating drought. Zimbabwe has faced tough times before, but now struggled (inaudible) like Mutambara are joining the opposition.

Do you feel Zimbabwe now needs another revolution?

MUTAMBARA: Well, it's already taking place. We attend independence. Wes we were able to exercise the colonial demon, but I think in place we also created another demon. Until there is a change in the way government is running Zimbabwe the revolution must continue.

MCKENZIE: A rebellion from within.

David McKenzie, CNN, Mashonaland, Zimbabwe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: And we are following a developing story out of Indonesia. There was a fire on a boat carrying tourists in Bali which has killed at least one woman.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: A rescue official says the boat had 35 foreign passengers, and 8 crew members. It was travelling from eastern Bally to Gili Island when the engine caught fire.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: To Phoenix, Arizona now where a driver is facing charges of attempted murder after allegedly running down three police officers. You're about to see the video and some viewers may find it disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[02:45:07]

SESAY: Police say the man rammed the officers on Tuesday sending one of them flying. The man then crashed his car into a store front.

A prosecutor told a court hearing the suspect watched the officers for four minutes before hitting them. The victims had serious but not life-threatening injuries.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: Still ahead saying goodbye can be powerful.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: But, two Chinese children are proving that reuniting is equally potent. Next on Newsroom L.A.

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DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: An area of disorganized thunderstorms off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina has formed into tropical storm Julia. This is something we need to monitor for the next several days to come. Because, it's not going to move from its current position any time soon. So, the potential for this to intensify is definitely there.

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VAN DAM: 65 kilometer per hour sustained winds. The main threats going forward, at least for the next 24 hours will be the potential of heavy rainfall and strong, gusty winds. Especially right along the coastal areas of South Carolina, specifically into the Charleston region.

You can see our high res forecast radar across that area still showing showers and thunderstorms through the course of the early weekend. Rainfall totals across this area could easily exceed 150mm thanks to the slow movement of this tropical storm.

Now, let's talk other areas across the United States. We have temperatures in the lower 30s across the deep south. Atlanta, 33 degrees. If you're travelling to Los Angeles, 22. New York, very comfortable 23 degrees with sunshine overhead giving a taste of fall across the New England coast.

Belize city, you'll top 31. Havana, 32. Kingston, Jamaica, 32. San Juan, Puerto Rico expecting a few showers by the afternoon. Inland communities of Brazil in the 30s. Cooler as you head to the coast of Rio, at 27.

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VAUSE: Well, a documentary film tells the story of a Kenyan businessman who is helping to give thousands of children a better life.

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VAUSE: Charles Mully grew up in poverty after being abandoned by his parents. Still he went to school, went on to build a successful transportation company.

SESAY: He then dedicated his life to helping thousands of children, orphaned in Kenya. He created the Mully Children's Family Foundation which has now helped more than 12,000 children.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Dad says) that he needed to sell everything and start helping the poor in the society. The children were abandoned.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do you let go of what you hold dearly? And how do you decide when to share your love?

[02:5006]

SESAY: Well, I spoke with Charles Mully a little bit earlier and I asked why he decided to give up his wealthy life to help children.

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CHARLES MULLY, FOUNDER, MULLY CHILDREN'S FAMILY: For 10 years I went through difficulties, and scavenging food from the dustbin and mostly begging, and hard labor, and all of these kind of a problem. That made me really to change my world view.

SESAY: When you suddenly found yourself the father of all of these children -- watching the film which is an incredible film, I should say, it feels like -- I mean it, it feels like it happened overnight. Suddenly you are a father to all of these extra children. What was that like? What was that like for you and your wife?

MULLY: Of course it was really the greatest thing ever in one person's life. Because caring for all of these kinds of children, abandoned children, children who had really mental illness, and drug addiction, prostitution, street children, all kind of these named them. Really it's the greatest ever, ever greatest thing to do in one's life. And, so for me, I have felt like there's nothing else that I could do better than that one.

SESAY: But, it must have been difficult at points. I mean what were some of the challenges you faced?

MULLY: Of course it is very difficult. It is, of course, very challenging because of the behaviors, because of their culture, of the street and then having all these street gangs be able to break through and to convince them to follow me, to really to create that environment of a family it's not easy. It's really very difficult. But, however, the challenges, of course, are there to sharpen our life. And all of these children are like when you look for gold down that deep -- or diamond, you have to dig so deep so that you can get that gold.

And, you know, having these kinds of children who are not really good and who are never good, and then bring them, rehabilitate them, give them food, then you supply shelter, a place where they can stay, education, water and health and mentoring them. Counseling them. Loving them. The best of all, but, it is a big challenge.

SESAY: Did you ever think about just quitting? Did you ever think about saying, you know, this is too difficult, it's too hard, I'm going to go back to my old life -- I'm going to go back to making money?

MULLY: Well, you know, mine is very unique call. And, God called me, gave me this vision. Having been -- gone through turmoil, problems and that difficulty and with all the abuse that I faced during my time, I felt like yes, I'm going to do something. And this something special is really to bring up these young people, give them food, give them education, mentor them and then they become great men and women in our continent, in Africa, in the world.

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SESAY: So amazing. He had eight children of his own when he decided to do this, to turn his life upside down.

VAUSE: Eight biological kids.

SESAY: Eight biological kids. And then decided to start taking in all of these other kids. And some of the kids he bought in have married some of his own biological kids. It's amazing.

VAUSE: Nice story for a change.

SESAY: Yes, indeed.

VAUSE: Now, we all know that absence makes the heart grow fonder. But, for two best friends forever who thought their separation might be permanent the joy of their recent reunion has reached internet breaking levels.

VAUSE: Dawson, and Hannah, were both put up for adoption in China. Here's the twist. They ended up as neighbors in Texas. Jeanne Moos reports.

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JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Talk about falling for each other, this is an airport reunion between two besties, separated for almost a year.

MRS. CLARY, ADOPTED DAWSON: They must have hugged like 400 times. I mean, they kept hugging and getting so giddy that they fell over.

MOOS: The kids, Dawson and Hannah used to be called, Da-Da and Shwe- Shwe, back at their orphanage in China. Hanna was abandoned apparently because of her cleft lip. Dawson because had fluid on the brain.

SHARON SYKES, ADOPTED HANNAH: They had each other.

MOOS: And then the Sykes family from Texas adopted Hannah leaving Dawson behind.

SYKES: I was like oh my goodness how can we leave this boy in China? Like really, I couldn't stop thinking of him.

MOOS: So Sharon Sykes posted a picture on Facebook seeking a forever home. Another Texas couple, the Clary's saw it and adopted Dawson.

CLARY: Probably don't put that in your mouth.

[02:55:10]

MOOS: 11 months after Hannah arrived at Dallas Ft. Worth airport, the best friends reunited and went viral. Once again they are sharing a cup of water, rolling around on the floor, learning English.

Already the two are a hit on morning T.V.

The families live just a few minutes apart and both attend the same Baptist Church. Are you following Jesus this close reads the Clary's bumper sticker? And how close are these kids destined to be.

SYKES: Maybe wedding bells.

CLARY: We're going to bring back the arranged marriage.

MOOS: Moms are hugging, the moms and kids are hugging. And the kids are hugging each other. Even if Dawson is too young to know you're supposed to close your eyes when your kiss.

Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

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VAUSE: See, that's happiness.

SESAY: That is happiness. I can't watch those pictures enough. They're brilliant. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

Well you are watching CNN Newsroom live from Los Angeles, I'm Isha Sesay.

VAUSE: You have been watching CNN Newsroom, I'm John Vause. News continues with Rosemary Church.

SESAY: Right after this.