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Charlotte Police Release New Video of Keith Scott's Death; Syria Agreement Between U.S. and Russia Falls Apart; Candidates Prepare for U.S. Presidential Debate; First U.S. Presidential Debate Monday; Photographing Fidel Castro; Jerusalem Builds Subterranean City of Graves; New Smithsonian Museum Opens. Aired 4-5a ET

Aired September 25, 2016 - 04:00   ET

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

[04:00:12] ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: Raising more questions. Authorities in Charlotte release dash-cam videos of an African- American man, why there are no concrete answers.

Police in the state of Washington arrest a suspect they say gunned down five people at a shopping mall on Friday.

And surrounded by death as well as destruction. Syrians in Aleppo struggle to survive as U.N. Security Council searches for an end to the carnage. We'll go live to Damascus with our Fred Pleitgen.

Hello, and a very warm welcome to our viewers in the United States and right around the world. I'm Isa Soares and you are watching CNN NEWSROOM.

But first, Charlotte police are finally showing the public video of Tuesday's fatal shooting of Keith Scott. Police say Scott, an African-American, had a gun and made a threatening move. But the footage doesn't clearly show what he was carrying, if anything.

What the dash cam video does show, however, is officers on the right, shouting for Scott to drop the gun. When Scott exits the car to the left, he can be seen taking a few steps backwards before he's shot four times. We'd like to warn our viewers that some may find this footage disturbing. Have a look.

Now that's the video from the dash cam, but Charlotte Police released another video from one of the officers' body cameras.

Our Ed Lavandera explains what that footage means for the investigation. His report contains many of the same disturbing images. Have a look.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After days of protests here in North Carolina, the police department has released the dash cam and body cam footage of the confrontation that led to the shooting death of Keith Lamont Scott on Tuesday. The video is not all of the video but according to police chief, this is the pertinent video that shows that confrontation between the officers that were there at the scene and Keith Lamont Scott. They also released three images of a handgun and ankle holster and a marijuana blunt they say Keith Lamont Scott was smoking at the time of the incident.

This is video that many people here have been clamoring to see for days and days. But as the police chief has been saying, they don't believe that it offers definitive proof about whether or not Keith Lamont Scott was actually holding a gun. In the video, you see Keith Lamont Scott exit the car. He's standing in between the cars there in the park lot. The family for Keith Lamont Scott say they do not believe he was acting aggressively or moving towards the officers in anyway. So that's why they say that they have many more questions as to answers as to what exactly happened.

There is also the body cam footage that shows an officer approaching the back of Keith Lamont Scott's car. And one question we should clarify in all of this the first 20 seconds or so of that video does not have audio. According to a city official here in Charlotte, they tell us that that is the way these cameras operate. That the body cameras immediately began recording video once the officer engages the camera but then it takes about 20 seconds or so for the audio to kick in.

But the explanation we're getting right now as to why there is no audio on that body cam footage, but once again, many people beginning to process, analyze these videos and trying to make sense of it all. And the family says that more investigation is needed. This mayor for the city of Charlotte says that the interview and the witness interviews have been completed. And now this investigation continues with the State Bureau of Investigation here in North Carolina.

Ed Lavandera, CNN, Charlotte, North Carolina.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Well, Scott's brother-in-law addressed the media on Saturday. He says the narrative around the incident is all wrong.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAY DUTCH, BROTHER-IN-LAW OF KEITH SCOTT: It does not make sense to us, how it was possible that this incident resulted in the loss of life?

[04:05:03] It just does not make sense. And it is not clear in the videos that were released. Additionally, many of you, the media, of which I am a part, have requested information about Mr. Scott. What kind of person he is, was he a good father? Was he a good husband? Those issues surrounding his character. Of course, he was a wonderful person. Of course, we loved him dearly. But that shouldn't be the issue. We shouldn't have to humanize him in order for to him be treated fairly. What we know and what you should know about him is that he was an American citizen who deserved better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Well the Scott's family attorney also weighed in on the video. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUSTIN BAMBERG, SCOTT FAMILY ATTORNEY: What we see when we look at this dash-cam video is Mr. Scott steps out of the vehicle. He doesn't appear to be acting aggressive towards any of the law enforcement officers on the scene. He doesn't appear to be making gestures or motions as though he's arguing with anybody. He doesn't lunged at the officers. Appears he has his hands by his side. Again, there is no definitive evidence in this video as to whether or not there is an object in his hand and if there is, what that object is.

That question still remain, but what we do know is that the moment Mr. Scott is shot, it appears as though she not aggressively moving towards law enforcement he is doing the option. He is passively stepping back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Well, earlier, CNN law enforcement analyst said Cedric Alexander talked about the questions that really still remain unanswered.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CEDRIC ALEXANDER, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: It is a view from a different angle. It gives us a little bit more information as it relates to what occurs, but there is still so many pieces to this puzzle and still so many angles and still so much evidence still yet to be collected. There is forensics evidence that have to be a part of this calculus. There is going to be witness statements, and of course officer statements. You are looking for the consistency in statements that match up with the evidence that's going to be taken from the scene.

You know, all of this will create a clue, a map if you will, of what occurred out there that day. Because that's the only way you can clearly reenact all of this. And the video was great. But you've got to remember, these are just small snippets of a video that somehow we're going to attempt to -- they're going to have to try to put together as best they can.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Cedric Alexander there talking our Natalie Allen.

Washington state authorities describe the suspect in a deadly mall shooting as being zombie like when they took him into custody on Saturday. Police arrested him Arcan Cetin after a daylong manhunt. They say the 20-year-old emigrated from Turkey but is a permanent U.S. resident. Cetin is accused of gunning down five people in a mall north of Seattle on Friday.

The motive still not known and authorities say it's too early to rule out terrorism. We heard early from the mayor of Burlington where the shooting happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MAYOR STEVE SEXTON, BURLINGTON, WASHINGTON: Last night we suffered an attack on our community and it really defined to me what a community is. We saw people come together. We talk about the law enforcement community a lot and this is what that is. Right here. They are federal, state, county, city, all working together to help us when we need it the most. I can't imagine what situation we would be in if it was Burlington on our own trying to do this.

I can guarantee you, almost certainly guarantee you that we would not have a suspect in custody to this evening if it wasn't for all the efforts of the men and women I was looking at today. I want to say thank you to each and every one of them. In our community, we suffered a devastating loss of five treasured members of our community who have done nothing more than any of us have done on any given day, gone to the shopping mall. That was us in that mall last night. Any one of us at any time.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: Well, we hope to learn more details about the victims as soon as we hear those details which we'll of course bring it to you.

Let's turn our attention to the crisis in Syria. United Nations Security Council will meet later on Sunday to discuss a deteriorating situation in Syria particularly the assault on eastern Aleppo. Emergency medical workers say about 200 airstrikes have hit the rebel- held area since Friday. The death toll is still unknown. Foreign ministers from several countries, including the U.S., say it's up to Russia to restore ceasefire there.

[04:10:01] But Syria blames the collapse of the truce on a U.S. airstrike that hit Syrian forces more than a week ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WALID MUALLEM, SYRIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER (Through Translator): The Syrian government holds the United States fully responsible for this aggression. Because acts show that it was an intentional attack and not an error. And if the United States claims otherwise.

This cowardly aggression clearly proves that the U.S. and its allies are complicit with ISIL and other federalist armed organizations.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: While the U.S. says it thought it was hitting ISIS targets and called off the strike, when Russia said it was hitting Syrian forces.

Our senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen joins us now live from the Syrian capital, Damascus.

And Fred, I believe the Syrian government are calling it a comprehensive offensive. I think that's what their title for it is. What does exactly that mean? And more importantly, what does that mean for the people at the heart of this conflict? FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it

certainly is devastating for the people there on the ground from all the images that we're getting there, from the eastern part of Aleppo, Isa. And what does this comprehensive offensive means, the Syrian government says, is that it involves both air power, and from what we're hearing, a lot of air power, as well as ground forces also.

And one of the things that the Syrian troops tried to do yesterday is they actually tried to gain territory from the rebels both in the south and in the north of Aleppo, and especially in the north that there was some serious territorial gains that the Syrian military made in a place called Hondurat Camp. It's in the north of Aleppo. It's a strategic area. It's very important. They want to try to enter those eastern districts from the north.

now the latest that we're getting is that the rebels have actually launched a counteroffensive and it actually managed to gain back a lot of the territory that they lost before the government forces only holding some of that. But at the same, of course, the situation absolutely devastating for the Syrians on the ground there in eastern Aleppo. We have heard of those, more than 200 airstrikes, and you just mentioned it's unclear at this point how many people exactly were killed and wounded in this and what are the reasons for that.

The rescue workers say is because they simply can't get to all the people who have been affected by this. There are apparently still people buried under the rubble. At the same time, you have some tragic scenes unfolding there as well. You had one that we do have to warn our viewers. This is a very disturbing image of a rescue that happened yesterday when a toddler was pulled there from the rubble. That of course almost a miracle after a building collapsed there. That baby was still found alive there underneath the rubble. That's only one of many rescues that are going on there in Aleppo.

As the rescue workers really struggling to try and come to terms with the situation, they also say that on top of the fact that they don't have enough rescue workers. Of course, it's very dangerous for them as well as these airstrikes are going on. They're also apparently running very low on fuel for their vehicles. So a very dire situation in Aleppo there, as the world powers continue to face off as you said, again, today, they're in the United Nations, trying to find some sort of solution to all of this, Isa.

SOARES: Yes. Let's stay with the United Nations if we can for the time being, Fred. Because, you know, with the intensified attacks, one could easily reach the conclusion that there all the diplomatic efforts has all but collapsed. What can we expect from this meeting today? I mean, are you optimistic? Are those people on the ground you're speaking to, are they optimistic at all, Fred?

PLEITGEN: Well, they certainly aren't. I would say at this point in time Syrians that you speak to from all sides of the equation are not optimistic at all. And you know one of the things that we have to keep in mind is that this cease-fire has collapsed. But there have also been cease-fires before that have collapsed as well. So after five and a half years of watching these diplomatic efforts unfold, of seeing them be futile, in the end, most of the time, very few people here hold out hope that any sort of diplomatic solution, any sort of political solution to this conflict is at hand.

At the same, of course, you do have these powers that are still trying to make this happen. You do have them bring this up again in the U.N. Security Council and you will once again most probably see the U.S. and Russia face off there. But the big problem is that there is this big rift between these two powers that in the end most probably are going to have to find some sort of solution to this.

With the Russians accusing the U.S. of not being able to distinguish between Islamist and moderate fighters and the U.S. asking the Russians, quite frankly, whether they are actually serious about trying to find some sort of diplomatic solution or if they are going to continue to push the military solution. It currently looks like right now if you look at what's going on in Aleppo, Isa.

SOARES: Yes, and those two powers seem further and further apart, don't they, Fred? But I want to ask you about a situation on the ground because yesterday right here on the show, I spoke to UNICEF who told us there's some two million or so people are without running water after those airstrikes damaged a water pumping station.

Do you know from the people on the ground whether this is being repaired or -- overnight or have the airstrikes made it almost impossible?

[04:15:09] PLEITGEN: Well, it certainly is going to be very difficult to repair all of that. And we have also heard that around two million people are without water inside Aleppo. But it's interesting that you mention that, Isa, because I actually just spoke to UNICEF I would say five minutes ago before we went to air. And they say that one of the pumping stations is back up and running. That they did manage to repair at least some of that damage to try and get back up and running.

But certainly, it is still a very dire situation. There's still by far not water for all the people in Aleppo, which is, of course, a very basic commodity. But you also have the same issue as well with electricity, with the power there, being very intermittent. Many without power at all. That of course is also something, Isa, that's very detrimental to the rescue efforts, for instance. Some of those that happen at night, very difficult when there is no electricity. So the situation continues to be dire. It seems as though some of that damage has been repaired, though.

SOARES: Yes. A very dire and a very Medieval situation, I think we can call that. Fred Pleitgen for us there in Damascus, in Syria. Thanks very much, Fred.

You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. Still to come, it's a case of head versus heart. That's how some are describing Monday night's presidential debate. We'll preview the big face-off that's looking between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Plus, Pippa Middleton gets hacked and thousands of pictures were stolen including some of the royals. We've got the very latest coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(SPORTS)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:20:26] SOARES: The first high stakes U.S. presidential debate is just one day away, if you are counting. The campaign for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton want to make sure their candidate is ready, of course. The Republican nominee, though, has been taking time out to respond to billionaire Mark Cuban. The "Shark Tank" star and Clinton supporter announced this week that he scored prime seats to watch Monday's debate in person.

But Trump responded to Cuban's attendance by threatening to bring a guest of his own. The Republican candidate said he'd bring Gennifer Flowers. He tweeted Saturday, quote, "If dopey Mark Cuban of failed benefactor fame wants to sit in the front row, perhaps I'll put Gennifer Flowers right alongside of him." Hillary Clinton's husband, former president Bill Clinton, has mentioned in 1998 to a sexual encounter with Flowers.

While sources tell CNN Hillary Clinton has been hunkered down in her hotel near her New York home working with her closest aides to take on Trump on Monday, a long-time Clinton confidante is portraying Trump in her practice debate sessions. The Democratic candidate has also called African-American pastors in Charlotte, North Carolina, this weekend to hear about their work to heal the community after the shooting of Keith Lamont Scott.

Well, Clinton and Trump will debate three times before the election in November. The first will be at Hofstra University on New York's Long Island.

Our Sunlen Serfaty is there with more on how the candidates are actually preparing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Preparations are under way here in New York in advance of Monday's debate. The first face- off between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. And both candidates seem to be preparing in their own distinct way, really putting a highlight on the contrasting styles and how they're approaching Monday's debate.

Hillary Clinton, we know, according to aides has been studying up for the last month. She's largely stayed off the campaign trail this week so she can meet with advisers. We know she is studying, briefing, holding mock debates. Someone is standing in and playing Donald Trump in those mock debates. And she is also looking at a highlight reel of Donald Trump's past debates and taking special note, according to Clinton campaign aides, of what aggravated Donald Trump on the stage so potentially a hit. She might be trying to get under his skin on Monday night. Now meantime Donald Trump in comparison, he has spent a lot of time on

the campaign trail hitting big rallies this week. He is preparing, though, aides say that he has been huddling with advisers with the RNC chair Reince Priebus this weekend. Going over briefing books. He is also looking at some debate clips of Hillary Clinton but he's not holding these full scale mock debates. No one is standing in and playing Hillary Clinton. He says it's not something that he has wanted to do. And it's not something that he will be doing.

Now as we head towards Monday, both campaigns are furiously trying to play the expectations game. The Clinton campaign's arguing that Donald Trump is a performer, ready for the made-for-TV moments. And the Trump campaign in opposition are saying, look, Hillary Clinton is a seasoned debater, she's a talented debater. So both campaigns, what we're seeing, really trying to make sure that their candidate exceeds expectations come Monday. Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: That was Sunlen Serfaty there.

Well, after a year and a half of campaigning the race for the White House reached its most important moment to date. Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are set to face off in this year's first U.S. presidential debate and CNN, of course, had around-the-clock coverage with the best political team on television as well as reaction from right around the world. It all starts Monday right here on CNN. Debate 4 p.m. Eastern.

Now I want to bring you back to London because police here have made an arrest of a high profile hack of Pippa Middleton. The British Press Association says the hack into Middleton's iCloud account includes more than 3,000 private pictures. They include photos of her sister, that is the Duchess of Cambridge and Kate's children Prince George as well as Princess Charlotte. Authorities arrested a 35-year- old man for suspicion of an offense against a computer misuse act. Newspapers report a hacker by the name of Crafty Cockney offered to sell the photos for $65,000.

Well, it seems the royals have arrived in Canada. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge kicked off their eight-day visit in British Columbia. They brought George as well as Charlotte with them as you can see there. It is the couple's second visit to Canada and the first overseas trip for Princess Charlotte. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie greeted the royals in Victoria.

Well, more rain is forecast for the parts of flood ravaged Midwestern USA. Meteorologist Derek Van Dam is at the world weather center.

[04:25:01] Very good morning to you, Derek.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning to you as well, Isa.

(WEATHER REPORT)

SOARES: Wow, that is -- yes, I could use some heat right here. It's been raining this morning.

VAN DAM: You need it. You deserve it.

SOARES: Quite seriously. A lot of rain. Thanks very much, Derek, good to see you.

VAN DAM: Thanks. You too.

SOARES: You are watching CNN NEWSROOM, still to come, this is a man on the inside of Cuba's government. Fidel Castro's son and photographer talk exclusively to CNN. We have that story for you next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[04:31:18] SOARES: A very warm welcome back to our viewers here in the United States and right around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM with me, Isa Soares. Let me bring you up to date with the main news headlines we're following for you this hour.

Police in Charlotte have released video of the fatal shooting of Keith Scott on Tuesday. Officers say Scott was holding a gun and that they shot him when he failed to drop his weapon. Scott's family says all he had was a book. But the video doesn't clearly show what, if anything, was in his hands.

Washington state authorities say they do not have a motive in the shooting death of the five people at a mall. Officers arrested 20- year-old a few hours ago after intense manhunt. Police say he opened fire inside a mall north of Seattle on Friday.

The United Nations Security Council will meet later on Sunday to discuss the crisis in Syria. Several countries including the U.S. say it's up to Russia to restore a cease-fire there. Foreign ministers told the Syrian regime's relentless offensives on rebel held Aleppo unacceptable.

At least six people are dead and that 18 others are wounded after a suicide bombing in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad. A police source tells CNN the blast happened near a small group of Shia pilgrims in a tent. The suicide bomber was reportedly wearing an explosive belt.

It is the face-off the world will be watching. Up to 100 million people could tune in when Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump meet in the first presidential debate on Monday night. Dana Bash looks at the contrasting styles of these two very distinct candidates.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hillary Clinton in a debate is all about what she's done.

HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Look at what I accomplished. In the Senate as Secretary of State.

BASH: Donald Trump, simple sweeping promises. DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We will make this country

greater than ever before.

BASH: Their primary debate performances helped each get the nomination. But their upcoming face-off is quite different.

BRETT O'DONNELL, REPUBLICAN DEBATE COACH: He tugs at the heart, she tugs at the mind. And the question is whether or not both of them can cross over.

BASH: Brett O'Donnell, a long time debate coach for GOP candidates, sat down with us to break down their contrasting styles.

TRUMP: I say not in a braggadocios way, I've made billions and billions of dollars dealing with people all over the world.

CLINTON: I was part of a very small group that had to advise the president about whether or not to go after bin Laden.

O'DONNELL: He talks in these big giant terms. She doesn't tend to do that. And I think that that -- it puts him at an advantage. You know? Because it's -- he understands well the dynamic of television.

BASH: The same goes for discussions of policy.

TRUMP: I will build a wall. It will be a great wall. People will not come in unless they come in legally.

CLINTON: There is no need for this rhetoric and demagoguery that still is carried out in the Republican side. You've run out of excuses. Let's move to comprehensive immigration reform with a path to citizenship.

O'DONNELL: He goes for the heart, talks in very big terms, doesn't demonstrate a deep knowledge of policy. So she has got to up her game on talking to the heart. He has to up his game in talking to the head.

BASH: Then there was the alpha candidate tactic Trump used to belittle his GOP primary opponents.

TRUMP: Rand Paul shouldn't even be on this stage. Don't even worry about it, Little Marco. I know you're trying to build up your energy, Jeb, but it's not working. First of all, this guy is a choke artist and this guy is a liar.

BASH: He's moniker for Clinton --

TRUMP: Crooked Hillary Clinton.

BASH: -- may not go over so well.

O'DONNELL: He should explain why she is crooked and not just call her a name. If he just calls her a name the entire time, I think that's going to look bad to the public.

[04:35:03] BASH: Clinton's quicksand getting her back up. (On camera): It is your Democratic opponent and many Democratic

voters who want to see those transcripts. It's not about Republicans and --

CLINTON: And, you know -- let's set the same standard for everybody. When everybody does it, OK, I will do it. But let's set and expect the same standard on tax returns.

O'DONNELL: She is very defensive. And that's a problem.

BASH: What if that Hillary Clinton shows up?

O'DONNELL: Yes. Yes. If that Hillary Clinton shows up, it's going to be a long night.

BASH: Both Team Clinton and Team Trump are well aware of their candidates' weaknesses and debate prep is about giving them tools to avoid missteps, things like Clinton's defensiveness or Trump's tendency to take insults too far.

Now whether the candidates use those tools effectively and not take each others' bait is going to be fascinating to watch.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: And that's why that's going to be a fascinating debate, so make sure not to miss that, that, of course, is CNN's chief political correspondent Dana Bash.

Now a new "Washington Post"-ABC News poll shows Clinton leading Trump 46 percent to 44 percent among likely voters. That's a virtual dead heat. But historian Allan Lichtman predicts Trump will win this November. Now he has correctly predicted every election since 1984. And he spoke to CNN earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALLAN LICHTMAN, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN: For the first time ever in over 30 years, I put a big asterisk on my prediction. That is, as you heard, my prediction is based on historical patterns. But as you just described we have in Donald Trump a candidate who has broken all historical patterns. Who has said 20 things, including embracing a murderous Russian dictator, inviting Russia to come in and meddle with our elections. Thinly disguised inciting violence against his opponent. These things would have driven an ordinary candidate out of the race. So Donald Trump may be such an unprecedented kind of candidate, so far off the mark that he could break the pattern of history and lose even though my so far infallible system predicts that a generic Republican would certainly win.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SOARES: We shall see whether his predictions are right well.

President Barack Obama's work to open Cuba to the United States, and now more people are getting a look at the country and its leaders, including rare images of former President Fidel Castro. Those pictures are usually the work of one man. That's Fidel's personal photographer and son Alex Castro.

CNN's Patrick Oppmann had an exclusive opportunity to speak to him and find out more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Does your father always let you take photos of him or are there moments when he wants his privacy?

ALEX CASTRO, FIDEL CASTRO'S SON AND PERSONAL PHOTOGRAPHER: (Graphics) There are times when he wants his privacy. I take the majority of these photos when there is a visit, when he is working. But the private times, I don't do anything. It's private.

OPPMANN: I imagine your father gets a lot of visit from Nicolas Maduro. Does he ask him for advice like Hugo Chavez did?

CASTRO: (Graphics) I imagine that he asks him for advice, that he advises him. But I don't participate in these conversations. I am outside. I take the photo and what they talk about I don't listen to.

OPPMANN: Is this a statue of your father? Does he receive a lot of presents like this?

CASTRO: (Graphics) A Chinese artist made this statue of him. He took the form and made his statue. He receives many gifts but you realize in Cuba there aren't statues of him. He doesn't permit it. So they give him these gifts but they are stored away.

OPPMANN: And why doesn't he love it?

CASTRO: (Graphics) Because he doesn't like the cult of personality. He is a simple person and he doesn't want to be worshipped.

OPPMANN: Tell me about the meeting between your father and Pope Benedict. This is obviously a very personal moment for you and your family. But you're also working as a photographer. How do you balance the two things?

CASTRO: (Graphics) First the Pope comes in and has an almost official visit. They meet and talk. But the family comes later. We took a photo with the Pope, he greeted us and received us very well. But always the first thing is he receives them alone and then we come later.

OPPMANN: It's something unusual that an American -- a former American president visiting your father.

CASTRO: (Graphics) This was the visit by Jimmy Carter and he asked him if he would sign a baseball. Jimmy Carter had good relations with Cuba including during his term. There is documentation that they wanted to improve relations. The same relations that are there now, Jimmy Carter wanted back then with the Cuban government. [04:40:28] OPPMANN: We see Raul Castro in this photo. Would you ever

do a book about your uncle?

CASTRO: (Graphics) I have few photos of Raul because what I do is take photos of my father. Raul appears in some of the photos because he was there.

OPPMANN: How many photos would you say you have that you haven't published of your father?

CASTRO: (Graphics) I don't want to say such certainty but there are many photos that haven't been published.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: A fascinating look there at Fidel Castro.

Well, there is much more ahead right here on CNN NEWSROOM, including how Jerusalem is getting creative about its dwindling burial space. Then from honoring the dead to living history a little later, we're in Washington for the opening of the new museum about the African- American experience.

We'll bring you both those stories after a very short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SOARES: Welcome back the CNN NEWSROOM now.

According to Jewish tradition being buried in Jerusalem has a special significance. The space is limited and developers are being forced to get somewhat creative.

Our Oren Liebermann explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jerusalem's largest cemetery has a problem. And it is simply this.

(On camera): We're surrounded by burial sites in every direction. But you've run out of space here.

CHANANYA SCHACHOR, KEHILAT JERUSALEM BURIAL SOCIETY: Yes, we do. Because people continue dying and the size of the ground doesn't grow.

LIEBERMANN (voice-over): Multi-storey burial buildings have helped but even those spots are nearly full since demand in Jewish burial in Jerusalem is so high.

[04:45:07] Some Jews believe the dead will rise from their graves after the coming of the Messiah. Those closest to Jerusalem will be resurrected first. The solution is to go deep, not just six feet under. Burials deeper than ever before. These massive caverns drilled into the mountain will be a subterranean cemetery with space for 22,000 burial sites from dust to dust. ARIK GLAZER, ROLZUR TUNNELING: It's a very unique place. First time

in the world.

LIEBERMANN: Project lead Arik Glazer shows me around this underground city of graves.

GLAZER: The uniqueness is that these walls are going back to be the most similar to the graves that used to be in biblical times, meaning action. The bodies were actually put on the stone.

LIEBERMANN: People have been buried underground for centuries. The difference is the scale of this complex, which will cost more than $50 million. The dead will be buried in the floor, on the walls and in the stone.

Arik Glazer leads me into the heart of the burial site. A towering 50-meter shaft from the surface to the bottom. This space alone will hold 3,000 graves. And yet even this is a temporary fix. The Mountain of the Resting as it's known will always need more space for the dead to rest in peace.

Oren Liebermann, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SOARES: Well, a man in India learned the hard way not to snap a selfie with a snake. When the snake snapped back. He was trying to take a picture with a python when it lunged and bit the man on the shoulder. Ouch. He was OK. Those other men holding the snake were forestry workers. They were removing it from the school it managed to sneak into.

Lesson learned, I suspect.

Next on CNN NEWSROOM, a story of tragedy as well as triumph. How the new African-American museum in Washington is telling the story of all people who have fought for freedom. That story just ahead.

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[04:51:11] SOARES: In Washington, the U.S. president helped open a major museum set to become a fixture of his legacy. The National Museum in the African-American History and Culture. Museum officials say its centerpiece will be an exhibit slavery and freedom. Barack Obama says he hopes the museum helps visitors empathize with the ongoing struggle for racial equality. When he spoke, Mr. Obama addressed the frustrations in the country over recent shootings in U.S. cities.

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BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Perhaps they can help a white visitor understand the pain and anger of demonstrators in places like Ferguson and Charlotte, but it can also help black visitors appreciate the fact that not only is this younger generation carrying on tradition of the past but within the white communities across the nation, we see the sincerity of law enforcement officer and officials who in fits and starts are struggling to understand and are trying to do the right thing.

It reminds us that routine discrimination and Jim Crowe aren't ancient history. It's just a blink in the eye of history.

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SOARES: This is the Smithsonian Museum is the only one dedicated exclusively to African-American culture.

Our Suzanne Malveaux takes a walk through history.

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SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The National Museum of African-American History and Culture with its unique towering presence sits prominently next to the Washington Monument.

LONNIE BUNCH, MUSEUM FOUNDING DIRECTOR: Finally the African-American story on the National Mall is accessible to everybody. And in many ways it means that my ancestors are smiling.

MALVEAUX: A labor of love for its founding director Lonnie Bunch who gave us a behind-the-scenes tour.

BUNCH: This is everybody's story. It's not black people's story. It's the story of America.

MALVEAUX: The museum holds more than 3,000 artifacts, many of which Bunch collected traveling around the country. The project cost $540 million, half funded by the federal government and the remaining raised from private donations. The exterior made up of 3600 panels shaped as a corona or African headdress. The entrance designed as a porch.

LISA ANDERS, VICE PRESIDENT, MCKISSACK AND MCKISSACK: The visitor would come in the porch, come through that door, and then immediately get on an elevator and descend down to the lowest level, and it's dark and it's low down there, and it's to make you feel sort of like it was riding in a slave ship.

MALVEAUX: In fact nearly 70 percent of the museum is below ground. It is designed to have visitors explore the complex history of slavery and freedom at the basement level where you find a statue of Thomas Jefferson with bricks depicting his many slaves, real artifacts of shackles and a slave cabin.

The next level up the era of segregation and Jim Crow through the Civil Rights Movement. Here a controversial prison guard tower from Louisiana which was so big it, along with the segregated railroad car, had to be lowered into the museum before the building was completed because it couldn't fit through the front door. A vintage plane flown by the Tuskegee airmen of World War II hangs from above.

The third level up illustrates the impact of African-Americans on the U.S., from Martin Luther King, Jr. through President Barack Obama. The top floors celebrate music, culture, community, sports, and activism with Michael Jackson's fedora, Chuck Berry's red Cadillac, a Prince jacket, and Whitney Houston gown, Black Hollywood, Oprah, and the even P-Funk's mother ship.

[04:55:11] For many this museum is already a celebrated and sacred place.

JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST: I wish that those who I knew who paid the supreme price could see just a minute of work in time. They are not here. But it is obligated of us, those of us who are here, to keep the struggle.

Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, Washington.

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SOARES: Well, the opening of that museum reunited two rather unlikely friends, First Lady Michelle Obama and former president George W. Bush. Mr. Bush signed the bill in 1983 that created the museum for the last eight years. The pair have become increasingly chummy after sitting next to each other at public events and sharing a hug or indeed a laugh. On Saturday, Mrs. Obama pulled Mr. Bush into a big embrace as their spouses looked on.

And that is it for this hour, I'm Isa Soares. We'll be back with -- after a very short break with another hour of CNN NEWSROOM from right around the world. Do stay right here with CNN, we are, of course the world's news leader.

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SOARES: Authorities in Charlotte release the police dash cam video in the shooting of Keith Scott. But it's doing little to answer lingering questions.