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North Korea Launches Another Ballistic Missile; 3 Kim Jong-Un Close Advisors Involved in Latest Launch; Deadly Monsoon Floods Sri Lanka; Portland Remembers Victims of Hatred; The John F. Kennedy Legacy Endures; "Freddy Brexit" Van Rides Again Ahead of Vote. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired May 29, 2017 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00] CYRIL VANIER, CNN NEWSROOM ANCHOR: North Korea fires a short-range ballistic missile, and now Japan promises to take action with the United States. And the Manchester terror investigation continues to focus on the network around the bomber; CNN talks to those who knew him. Plus, Angela Merkel says Europe must now fight for its future on its own; this after meetings with U.S. President Donald Trump. Thank you for joining us, everyone. I'm Cyril Vanier from the CNN NEWSROOM in Atlanta.
Pyongyang just test-fired yet another ballistic missile, this one - a short-range ballistic missile - traveling about 450 kilometers, some six minutes. It landed off the coast of Japan. Let's show you a map. It was fired off the east coast of North Korea. And let's look at the ranges of North Korean missiles. The current range of those missiles puts South Korea, Japan, and the tens of thousands of U.S. troops that are in that area within the range of North Koreas fire power. But of course, Pyongyang wants to go a lot further and hopes within the next few years to be able to reach the United States, especially the West Coast of the U.S. with an ICBM, an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. It's not there yet. Today, the Prime Minister of Japan promises concrete action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHINZO ABE, JAPAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): We can never tolerate North Korea's continued provocation, ignoring the repeated warnings by the International Community. We have launched a firm protest against North Korea as we have agreed at the G7 - North Korean issue is the priority for the International Community. In order to deter North Korea, we will take concrete actions together with the United States. We will maintain high vigilance in coordination with South Korea and International Community and take all possible measures to secure the safety of the people of Japan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: Joining us now: Paula Hancocks in Seoul, South Korea; and David McKenzie in Beijing. Paula, this missile landing within the exclusive economic zone of Japan, how dangerous was it for Japan?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we did hear from the Chief Secretary of Japan earlier this Monday, who said that it was extremely problematic - and pointing out the fact that it's a busy shipping area, there are ships in the area, there's aircraft in the area, and clearly North Korea does not give any warning before it carries out these missile launches. This has certainly been a concern in the past, and of course, it is a concern going forward.
Now, we have more information from the South Korean military giving the altitude for this particular missile, saying it flew at a limit of 120 kilometers and that distance, of course, 450 kilometers. So it is a short-range missile according to U.S. and South Korean military, usually, that is not as much of a concern as the medium-range or the longer range missile tests to those in the region and, of course, in Washington. But they're still analyzing the data to try and find out whether or not there were modifications to this missile, and of course, that will give them some indication as to why North Korea would have wanted to test this now.
VANIER: David McKenzie is in Beijing. David, there have been three missile tests in just over three weeks. In fact, there have been so many missile tests since President Trump took office that just haven't triggered any kind of concrete international reaction that we can see. So, when the Japanese Prime Minister says we're going to take concrete action, what are the options on the table here?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly the option most likely is that the U.S. and Japan will try to push some kind of strengthened U.N. sanctions at the Security Council because even in the last 24 hours, U.S. officials saying that any military action or military conflict would be catastrophic with North Korea poised so close to the South Korean capital. So, really the option at this stage is strengthening sanctions, but that's something that China has been loathed to do.
The China has said repeatedly in recent weeks that what they want is some kind of move towards talks between the interested parties and not just focusing on new sanctions but really enforcing the current sanctions. But with each repeated missile test happening, it kind of pushes that strategy of China in a way that makes at least Xi Jinping, the Chinese President, publicly embarrassed in this issue. So, it's unclear where we get out of this kind of cycle off repeated missile tests and strong words, but little success in moving North Korea away from this program.
VANIER: Paula, the pace of testing keeps increasing. I just mentioned the number there - that's almost one missile test a week over the last month. What does that tell you?
[01:05:05] HANCOCKS: Well, it tells us that the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, is doing exactly what he said he would do. He said - he's said consistently that he wants to perfect his nuclear and missile program. He said on January 1st in his New Year's address that he was close to test-launching an ICBM, an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. Kim Jong-un has made it abundantly clear what he wants to be able to do. He's already changed the constitution to show that North Korea is a nuclear state. He wants recognition as a nuclear state, and certainly, it doesn't appear as though anything that is being done by regional allies or Washington at this point will have any bearing on that.
And bear in mind, you also have a new President here in South Korea, Moon Jae-in, who's a liberal President. He is pro-engagement. He's pro-dialogue with North Korea. But ever since he has been in power, which is only a few weeks, he has had to contend with these almost weekly missile tests. So, it makes it very difficult to see how exactly he would be able to push forward with more cooperation with the North.
VANIER: Paula Hancocks in Seoul, South Korea; David McKenzie in Beijing, thank you very much. And I spoke earlier with Adam Mount as well about this latest missile launch - he's a Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. I asked him how long it might be before North Korea acquires an ICBM, a missile capable of hitting U.S. soil.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAM MOUNT, CENTER FOR AMERICAN PROGRESS SENIOR FELLOW (via Skype): Unfortunately, there's no way to know for sure. Estimates vary on this point. The best open-source intelligence that we have suggests that it could take two to three years before an ICBM capability reaches an operational capability. On the other hand, Senior U.S. Defense officials, and intelligence officials have said that we need to assume and they need to assume in their defense planning that they have the capability today to be able to launch something in the direction of the continental United States. It's probably not a reliable capability. It's probably not operational, survivable, but it is of real concern.
VANIER: Donald Trump, the U.S. President, tweeted during the campaign; I believe it was, "it won't happen," in reference to North Korea developing an ICBM. What are his options?
MOUNT: You know, he's very few good options. That's been true of the past several administrations. Military strikes would be, potentially, spiral out of control. They have the possibility to be enormously damaging to U.S. allies - in Japan and South Korea, which North Korea can hold at risk with potentially nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. On the other hand, they refuse all overtures of negotiation. So, this is a very difficult problem, and it's something that the administration's going to have to devote a great deal of attention to.
Now, it's not clear that they have a fully formed strategy in place yet. For example, H.R. McMaster, the National Security Adviser, told John Dickerson this morning that he was not prepared to issue red lines in North Korea. Now, it's perfectly fair to try to preserve your ability to maneuver. But on the other hand, if they're not clearer about what they attempt to deter, they're not going to have the effect that they desire.
VANIER: So, what looks like the best options for them at this stage? You said they have a range of bad options, what's the best one?
MOUNT: Well, the first step has to be the close ranks with U.S. allies. You've got to meet at a very early date with the new South Korean President, Moon Jae-in, and develop a strategy going forward together. The same has to be true of - Japan. They have to improve cooperation and partnership between South Korea and Japan, work out a mutually agreeable way to deter and respond to any North Korean provocation that they make.
And then, put on the table a credible and reasonable package for bringing North Koreans back to the negotiation table. This will require some serious concessions, some very difficult diplomacy, but it's also unrealistic to expect that military pressure alone will cause Kim Jong-un to volunteer to eliminate its nuclear arsenal; he simply values it too much. So, negotiations are still the best chance, but we can't depend on them to succeed.
VANIER: Recently, a North Korean official said under the right circumstances, we would be willing to negotiate, in particular with the United States. What do you make of that?
MOUNT: Unfortunately, they've been contradictory on this point. They have said at various times that negotiations are on the table, and in other times they've said, for example, that they're not willing to reach an agreed framework of the sort that we agreed to with Iran. So, they really need to start reading from the same piece of paper and come up with a clear negotiating position to say, here's a deal that we believe is in your National Security interests and also on our own. As I say, it's going to require major concessions and coordination with U.S. allies.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:10:11] VANIER: CNN's Atika Shubert spoke to a friend of Abedi. He never thought that the person he knew - could be a killer.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The last images of Salman Abedi on his way to carry out the attack that killed 22 people. Police released these photos to the public for help in retracing his movements. Those who knew Abedi are also looking back. Local rapper, Geko, still can't fathom how his friend turned into a mass murder.
GEKO, SALMAN ABEDI'S FRIEND: He's always been a happy person. I don't know what happened though; he's brainwashed because he's always been a happy person. The Salman I knew from ages ago, is not the person that just went and bombed kids. No way.
SHUBERT: Police now believe Abedi assembled the bomb here - at a short-term rental apartment in the city center just a mile and a half from the arena. In North Manchester, police are also still scouring this apartment Abedi rented weeks before the attack. But many of the arrests have happened here in South Manchester where Abedi lived. Two years ago, Geko says, Abedi was another friendly face in the neighborhood. Then something changed.
GEKO: Every time I see a picture of him on Facebook or whatever, I just think - I still, until now, don't understand how. He was the most likely laughable person two years ago, or wherever when I see him. How did he just switch like in two seconds? I don't know, man. This is all confusing to me. We still chilled together, and then he kind of left because he was - he was like, going to be religious.
SHUBERT: Parts of South Manchester are known to be rough, gangland, but it's also the kind of place everyone knows each other. And the attack and its aftermath has hit the community hard.
GEKO: I even cried because I found out it was someone I know had done that. Someone that done such a bad thing like that is someone I know. So, I even ended up crying in my bed when I found out. I was like, what's going on here? Like, what's happening? People were just telling me, yes, it's him. I couldn't believe it. Until now, I still can't. When I see his picture in the house, he was alive two seconds ago.
SHUBERT: Police are still trying to understand - how Salman Abedi plotted the attack. His friends are trying to understand what turned him into a killer. Atika Shubert, CNN, Manchester.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:12:42] VANIER: Coming up after the break, Angela Merkel says Europe can no longer rely on its closest allies. We'll tell you why. And now that his first foreign trip is over, President Trump is launching new attacks at home. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:15:21] KATE RILEY, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: I'm Kate Riley with your CNN WORLD SPORT Headlines. It was a victorious day for Ferrari at the Monaco Grand Prix as Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen claimed the first and second spots on the podium. Sebastian Vettel came on top 2 to extend his championship lead over Lewis Hamilton, 25 points. The four-time world champion got ahead of teammate Raikkonen during the pit stop on the 39th lap. This was Vettel's third win of the season.
Petra Kvitova won her first match back on the court during her early return in what could be called an emotional debut at the French Open after a home invasion attack left her hand slashed with knife wounds. Kvitova underwent five months of recovery to prepare for her return. She called the fact that she was able to play in the tournament her greatest victory and went on to beat the American opponent, Julia Boserup, in straight sets in front of her entire family and a cheering crowd.
And the Italian footballer Francesco Totti said goodbye to the game after 24 years with Roma. The one club man made over 750 appearances for Roma and scored more than 300 goals. He came on just before the hour mark to a stunning ovation in the match. He was heading for a draw until Diego Perrotti scored in the last minute, and the win gave way to an automatic champion's league birth and cemented Totti's legendary status in the history. And that's the look at all your Sports Headlines, I'm Kate Riley.
VANIER: Angela Merkel says it's time for Europe to stop depending on the United States. The German Chancellor put out that message during a campaign stop in Munich on Sunday. She did not mention U.S. President Donald Trump by name, but she said her experience at recent international summits made her realize that Europeans must now fight for themselves.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): The times when we could completely count on others, they are over to a certain extent. I've experienced this in the last few days. That is why I can only say that we Europeans must really take our fate into our own hands.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: In her comments, of course, come after President Trump recently criticized NATO allies and refused to endorse a global climate deal.
President Trump returned from his overseas trip to face more revelations from the Russia investigation, including the latest report that his son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, tried to set up secret back channel communications with Russia during the transition. That's in addition to another report that said that Kushner had unreported contacts with Russia last year. The top Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee says U.S. officials have to investigate this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D), CALIFORNIA: There's another question about his security clearance and whether he was forthcoming about his contacts on that. If these allegations are true and he had discussions with the Russians about establishing a back channel and didn't reveal that, that's a real problem. But I do think there ought to be a review of his security clearance to find out whether he was truthful, whether he was candid. If not, then there's no way he can maintain that kind of a clearance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: Mr. Trump is jumping to Kushner's defense. In a statement to the New York Times, Mr. Trump said Jared is doing a great job for the country. I have total confidence in him. He is respected by virtually everyone and is working on programs that will save our country billions of dollars. In addition to that and perhaps more importantly, he is a very good person.
A former Republican Presidential candidate says President Trump could be doing better if he would do just one simple thing -- stop tweeting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICK SANTORUM, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: The last nine days hopefully have showed the President that if you stay on message, you stick to the script, you focus on policy, you drive home the messages that you talked about during the campaign, and that people in America are excited about, you can be a great President. If you tweet every day and complain about the media and complain about how you're being treated, you're going to be sidetracked, and you're not going to get your deals done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: And so far, Mr. Trump is not taking that advice. On Sunday, he tweeted this. "It is my opinion that many of the leaks coming out of the White House are fabricated lies that are made up by the fake news media."
Let's talk about all of this with the Ellis Henican, author, and columnist for Metro Papers and with Ben Ferguson, CNN Political Commentator and a conservative talk show host. Ben, let's start with you. According to the President's latest tweets, this is all fake news, his words. Do you agree?
BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I think certainly some of it is, and I think there's been a lot of people that have been incredibly hard on him.
VANIER: Which part?
FERGUSON: Well, just on his trip in general. I mean, there's people that just will do anything or say everything he does is negative. I mean, look at what he was able to accomplish on this last trip. He was able to basically be very clear about America's stance on terrorism. He was also very clear when there was actual terrorist attack that we need to unite together.
[01:20:15] VANIER: All right Ben, I'm going to have to cut you off there because you know that's not what the President's referring to. I mean, I'm assuming the President is referring to coverage of Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and special adviser and the back-channel communication with Russia, that story.
FERGUSON: No, but my point is this. The media and many do not want to cover the positives. So, all they do is cover the negatives. I mean, you will get this --
VANIER: His trip was covered relentlessly for eight or nine days.
FERGUSON: It's been covered, and then there's always someone who is trying to pull in some sort of controversy through some sort of leak source or some sort of unnamed source who is doing everything they can to undermine the President of the United States of America. And some of this news that they're acting as if somehow, it's bigger than those accomplishments I just talked about. What they do is they come out and they say, oh, well, the President, yes, did x, y, z today. However, the real story from an unnamed source, who is telling us x, is this, and that's when you need to worry about. And I think that's very unfair.
VANIER: Ellis?
ELLIS HENICAN, METRO PAPER AUTHOR AND COLUMNIST: Well, gosh, if I had to choose between the so-called fake news and the leaks or what I hear from Sean Spicer, you know what? I'll pass on Spicer if you don't mind. The reality is that if you want to know what's going on in this White House, you got to read the papers.
VANIER: But I think the question is, I mean would you agree with Ben that the -- I guess the media is giving unfair coverage to President Trump and minimizing his accomplishments while focusing on potentially damaging leaks?
HENICAN: No, no, of course not. I mean, first of all, the President is his worst own enemy in this stuff. I mean, the vast majority of these crises have been self-inflicted. And, you know what, in this democracy of ours, we do not allow politicians to decide their own coverage. We have independent, talented, professional, hard-working journalists and other members of the public who put this stuff out. We weigh it as well as we can. We analyze it. But, boy, we need that first amendment, especially in this administration.
FERGUSON: I'll give you a perfect example of the classic last week and a half. There was a story, again, an unnamed source, Washington Post reported that an unnamed source said that lawyers at the White House were actually looking into what it would be to deal with the issue of impeachment. We found out afterwards that was just flat-out false. In fact, the question that was asked by people in the White House is, if the President of the United States of America chooses to give information to any other country that deals with national security, is that even an impeachable offense? The lawyer said, no, it's not. They said explain to us what impeachable offense is. However, the New York Post comes out during this trip and says, the President's lawyers are lawyering up at the White House on the issue of an impeachment, which was not true.
VANIER: So Ben, OK, but that was last week. In that case -
FERGUSON: No, but that's during his trip. It was a big issue.
HENICAN: But it also - Ben, come on, that's off on some obscure site. And by the way, the New York Post --
FERGUSON: No. The Washington Post is not an obscure site. No, no, no. The Washington Post is not an obscure sight.
HENICAN: I thought you said the New York Post. I'm sorry. But listen, the reality is that the only way that we know about -- what I think everyone at this point concedes is some very important stories about the Russians are trying to influence our election, about their impact at the very, very highest levels of the Bush administration -- of the Trump administration, a series of lies and deceptions. You're never going to get those stories in press releases. You're only going to get them with good, hard investigative reporting that does sometimes rely on protecting your sources. Thank God for it.
VANIER: Sorry, guys. That's all the time we have for now. But Ellis Henican, thank you very much for joining us on the show. Ben Ferguson, you too. Always a pleasure to speak to you.
FERGUSON: Thanks. good to be with you guys.
VANIER: Among those paying very close attention to President Trump's meetings last week in Europe was Russia. Claire Sebastian has more from Moscow.
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Amid the stream of Russia-related controversy coming out of Washington, Moscow has been taking stock of President Trump's first overseas trip and found very little in the way of good news there. After a campaign where Trump repeatedly talked about a better relationship with Russia, even perhaps the lifting of sanctions, we got this from Trump's Chief Economic Adviser, Gary Cohn.
GARY COHN, CHIEF ECONOMIC ADVISER: We're not lowering our sanctions on Russia. If anything, we would probably look to get tougher on Russia. So, the President wants to continue to, you know, keep the sanctions in place.
SEBASTIAN: There was even a fleeting mention during Trump's speech to the NATO alliance of the threat from Russia. He called it "A grave security concern." Here in Moscow, though, officials are being very careful not to overtly criticize Trump. One top aide to President Putin said that reference to Russia was probably just designed to get NATO members to pay their dues. And as for the scandal engulfing Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Foreign Ministry called it "McCarthyism." The view here in Moscow is that Trump's opponents are simply using the Russia card to try to discredit him. So, despite all evidence pointing to the contrary, Moscow still hasn't given up on Trump's promise that there may be deals to be done. Clare Sebastian, CNN, Moscow.
[01:25: 36] VANIER: French President Emmanuel Macron is explaining one slightly awkward moment from Donald Trump's overseas trip. When he and the new U.S. President met in Brussels last Thursday, they had this -- a bit of a rough, manly, awkward handshake. And that went viral. Now Macron is telling a French newspaper that it was a, quote, "Moment of truth." Here's another one. He says he was making it clear that France would not make little concessions, even symbolic ones. Still, Emmanuel Macron insists that he can establish a cordial relationship with Donald Trump.
Three weeks and three missile launches by North Korea. And the same three men who may be involved in all of them. Meet Kim Jong-un's most trusted inner circle after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VANIER: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM, everyone. I'm Cyril Vanier, we'd look at your headlines this hour. British police have made three new arrests in connection with the Manchester terror attack, bringing the total number of people in custody to 14. Twenty-two people were killed, many of them teenagers in last week's suicide bombings. Britain's home secretary warns that some of those behind the attack could still be at large.
British Airways is recovering after mass cancellation.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(HEADLINES) [01:31:08] VANIER: South Korea and Japan are condemning North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch. The South Korean military says the short-range missile was fired from North Korea's east coast early on Monday local time. It flew about 450 kilometers, then fell into the ocean within Japan's exclusive economic zone.
Japan's prime minister says he will take concrete action with the U.S. to deter Kim Jong-Un's regime. And South Korea's president convened an emergency meeting of his National Security Council.
U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis has warned that a military conflict with North Korea could be disastrous, which is why diplomacy is critical.
Here's what he told CNN's Barbara Starr earlier this month.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEN. JAMES MATTIS, DEFNESE SECRETARY: We're all aware of the -- of the provocative actions they've taken, and there have been cautions given them by nations from around the world. They clearly aren't listening. But there appears to be some impact by the Chinese working here. It's not obviously perfect when they launch a missile, which I think you pretty accurately just described about going higher and re- entry capability, that sort of thing. But at the same time, we're going to continue to breed the same kind of pressure internationally that we've been trying to. We're going to continue to work the issue. As you know, if this goes to a military solution, it is going to be tragic on an unbelievable scale. And so our effort is to work with the U.N., work with China, work with Japan, work with South Korea to try to find a way out of this situation. And we press on. There's many different efforts under way. We have a whole government approach to this as well, this issue as well. I spend as much time with the secretary of treasury as I do with the secretary of state as we try to craft a sustainable policy forward.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: We're still finding out details about this latest launch, but it's likely that three particularly close advisers to Kim Jong-Un were involved.
More on that from CNN's Brian Todd.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After a successful missile launch, they're always in the picture, sharing hugs, smiles, and cigarettes with their vicious boss. Three officials, whose body language and behavior toward Kim Jong-Un are different from the other North Korean elites nearby, who genuflect in fear.
MICHAEL MADDEN, ANALYST: Kim Jong-Un has guaranteed their job security, and that is what their body language is indicative of. They can feel comfortable enough with Kim Jong-Un to deliver bad news. TODD: CNN is told rival intelligence agencies are watching these
three men carefully. Kim Jong Sik, Ri Pyong Chol and Jang Chang Ha are supernovas in Kim's inner circle, the men behind the missile tests.
MADDEN: At some point, they are going to put together North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile.
TODD: A missile that will eventually have the range to carry a nuclear warhead to the U.S. mainland.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translation): Kim Jong-Un is keeping these technocrats by his side so he can be in direct contact with them and urge them to move fast. It reflects his urgency about missile development.
TODD: Of the three men, experts say Ri Pyong Chol, a former air force general, has the most important role.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's the one that provides Kim Jong-Un with the situational awareness. He's the eyes and ears for Kim Jong-Un in the development and research of nuclear weapons and conventional weapons.
TODD: Analyst Michael Madden is consulted by intelligence agencies on North Korean leaders. He says Kim Jong Sik is an accomplished rocket scientist.
It's believed these three men are held in such high esteem, they get to rub elbows with the supreme leader like no one else.
MADDEN: They do get to travel in Jong-Un's jet. They do get to travel in his cars, which is a privilege that's not been extended to other core leaders. In terms of their lives in Pyongyang, they live in an exclusive apartment housing.
[01:35:11] TODD: Analysts say it's possible rival intelligence agencies could target the three men for assassination, similar to how four Iranian nuclear scientists were assassinated a few years ago.
LT. COL. TONY SHAFFER, FORMER U.S. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE OFFICER, AUTHOR: They could be targeted through a drone strike. The other option is finding someone within the North Korean government who does not like un, who is disenfranchised and still has access to the leadership activities who could be an assassin.
TODD: Could Kim Jong-Un purge any of these men himself if they fail to advance North Korea's weapons program? Analysts say it's possible but not likely. Their scientific and logistical knowledge is too valuable to Kim and too difficult to replace.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: Let's head over to the CNN Weather Center now. We continue to track developments in Sri Lanka where scores of people are dead, many are missing after monsoon flooding in the country.
Allison Chinchar is with us.
What's the latest?
ALLISON CHINCHAR, AMS METEOROLOGIST: The latest really is that more rain is going to be on the way, just adding to a lot of flooding problems that they've been dealing with. Here's a look at one of the images out of Sri Lanka just to show you the height some of this water was able to get to. In some regions, we're talking as much as five meters high. That's not widespread everywhere, but there were some localized areas that did get to that point. You can see here one of the streets. A lot of the folks trying to figure out where to go. A lot of businesses and shops closed, waiting for relief efforts to come in and bring them some supplies that they can't really get otherwise. The good news is at least temporarily in the short term, we've had a little bit of a break from the rain. The majority of the convection is now further off to the north over closer to Myanmar where the tropical cyclone is located. At least in the past 24 hours, Sri Lanka has had a break. That's going to allow the helicopters to bring some relief in, survey some of the damage and take a better assessment of what exactly has happened from this flooding.
When you look at the numbers of how much rain has fallen, it's incredible. Again, some of the more extreme southern locations, around 200 millimeters of rain, but we've had some that have picked up over 450 millimeters of rain. For a lot of these areas, this was within 24 to 48-hour time span. We're not talking several weeks. This isn't the full length of the monsoon rains. This was just in a short period of time. Here's a look at the forecast accumulation. Again, especially on that southwestern side as we go into about the next 48 hours, more rain is expected to start coming back in. You have to keep in mind this is typical for this time of year to start to have the rains return because as we get back into the southwest monsoon, the white line shows where the current monsoon is expected right now. This shows the line as it progresses further off to the north and west.
Now, again, while this is the typical time when we would see the rains arrive, you don't really want too much in a short period of time. Again, the temperatures have been incredibly warm out ahead of this. A lot of these regions picking up 40s, 50-degree temperatures before those rains are able to move back in. In fact, take a look at this. In areas of Pakistan, 54 degrees. That's actually a new may record for that region in Pakistan, again, before we finally start to see some relief moving back into some of these areas as though rains do begin to arrive.
Here's a look at that forecast radar again. Notice the heaviest rain above that Myanmar region where the tropical cyclone is. That will give some of those areas in southern India at least a temporary break before more rains do finally arrive back into the area.
VANIER: Allison Chinchar, from the CNN Weather Center, thank you very much.
We'll continue to track that story over the coming hours, probably over the coming days.
Up next, authorities are looking into possible hate crime charges in a deadly stabbing in Portland, Oregon. Now, the two men who tried to intervene and lost their lives are being hailed as heroes.
Also, remembering John F. Kennedy on what would have been his 100th birthday. How his family continues his legacy, when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[01:42:20] VANIER: We're learning more about the investigation into a deadly stabbing on a commuter train in Portland, Oregon. Witnesses say a man started shouting slurs at two teenagers, one of whom was wearing a hijab, before stabbing three men who came to their defense. Two of those died. The FBI is now trying to determine if the 35-year- old suspect will face federal hate crime charges.
One of the targets of those insults, 16-year-old Destinee Mangam, is struggling with what happened.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DESTINEE MANGAM, HATE CRIMES VICTIM: I just want to forget about it and not even remember it happened because it's just haunting me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: The city of Portland is remembering the two men who lost their lives standing up to hatred.
CNN's Dan Lieberman was at a memorial service in their honor, and he talked to friends and family about their bravery.
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DAN LIEBERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They're being hailed as heroes. The three stabbing victims in Friday's brutal knife attack were honored in a vigil in Portland. The victims came to the defense of two women aboard a crowded train at rush hour, who were the target of the suspect's anti-Muslim and racial slurs.
One of those killed, 53-year-old Ricky John Best, was on his way home from work. He was a city employee, an Army veteran, and father of four. His employers remember him as a model public servant. His mother telling CNN he liked to help people and said he will be missed greatly.
And 23-year-old Taelisin Meche, a recent graduate, an economics major. His school remembering him in a statement. One professor saying, quote, "He was a wonderful human being, as good as they come. And now he is a hero to me."
A third stabbing victim, 21-year-old Micah David Cole Fletcher survived and is recovering at a hospital. His mother speaking out, grateful that her son's alive. MARGE FLETCHER (ph), MOTHER OF HATE CRIME: I am feeling very, very
lucky, thanking God. I'm feeling bad for my son, who thinks it's his fault.
LIEBERMAN: She said she's not surprised he tried to intervene and help others.
FLETCHER: Micah has always done that. I've told him his own life, one of these days, Micah. I've always worried about it. But he's always been that way.
LIEBERMAN: Strangers are leaving notes and flowers at the site of the attack, calling the men heroes.
Dan Lieberman, CNN, New York.
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VANIER: The U.S. could soon ban airline passengers from bringing laptops aboard as carry-ons on all international flights entering or leaving the U.S. Right now, laptops and other electronics bigger than a phone are banned in cabins on some U.S.-bound flights from the Middle East and North Africa.
On Sunday, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told FOX News why he's considering this move.
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[01:45:13] JOHN KELLY, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY: There's a real threat. There's numerous threats against aviation. That's really the thing that they're obsessed with, the terrorists, the idea of knocking down an airplane in flight, particularly if it's a U.S. carrier, particularly if it's full of mostly U.S. folks, people. It's real.
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VANIER: And Kelly told CNN on Friday that he would make a decision on a broader laptop ban when the time was right.
Monday would have been U.S. President John F. Kennedy's 100th birthday.
As we remember the late president, our Dana Bash looks ahead to the next line of Kennedys hoping to join the family business.
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JOHN F. KENNEDY, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The energy, the faith, the devotion --
DANA BASH, CNN CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's one of President John F. Kennedy's most enduring legacies, his call for Americans to serve.
KENNEDY: Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.
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BASH: It inspired millions to join the Peace Corps, enlist, and run for office, including his own children and grandchildren.
His daughter, Caroline, home after serving as President Obama's ambassador to Japan, hasn't ruled out following in her father's footsteps to the Senate and maybe even the White House.
CAROLINE KENNEDY, FORMER AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN & DAUGHTER OF JOHN F. KENNEDY: The fact that people would come up to me every day and say, you know, I got involved in my community because of your father's inaugural speech, they were so inspired by President Kennedy's vision of service and of American leadership that I think that really kept him alive.
BASH: JFK's great nephew, Joseph Kennedy III, is already serving in Congress, where he's taken up health care, the signature cause of his great uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy.
REP. JOSEPH KENNEDY, III, (D), MASSASCHUSETTS & GREAT NEPHEW OF JOHN F. KENNEDY: I was struck last night by a comment that I heard made by Speaker Ryan where he called this repeal bill, quote, "an act of mercy.: With all due respect to our speaker, he and I must have read different scripture. The one that I read calls on us to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to shelter the homeless, and to comfort the sick.
BASH: And on the campaign trail now is Chris Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's brother Bobby's son. He launched his campaign for Illinois governor in February by invoking his family's legacy.
CHRIS KENNEDY, (D), ILLINOIS CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE & SON OF BOBBY KENNEDY: Embrace the notion that we're all in this together, that our country is the land of opportunity. That's the country I want for my kids.
BASH: And who knows? Even younger Kennedys may be eyeing public office too.
JFK's granddaughter, Rose, who bears a striking resemblance to her grandmother, Jackie, appeared in a video this week commemorating the 100th anniversary of her grandfather's birth.
ROSE KENNEDY, GRANDAUGHTER TO JOHN F. KENNEDY: I'm inspired by grandfather's sense of equality. His courage in naming injustices in American society
KENNEDY: It ought to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color.
ROSE KENNEDY: But we are still faced with tremendous inequality and injustice.
BASH: And all eyes are Jack Kennedy's grandson, also named Jack, who is studying the former president's legacy carefully.
JACK KENNEDY, GRANDSON OF JOHN F. KENNEDY: My favorite speech is the speech he gave at Rice University, explaining to America why we should go to the moon.
KENNEDY: We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
JACK KENNEDY: In that speech, he said that great challenges are actually great opportunities. I think it's important to remember that those are opportunities and that we can rise to the occasion if we choose good leadership.
BASH: So will he run?
JACK KENNEDY: I'm inspired by my family's legacy of public service. It's something that I'm very proud of. But I'm still trying to make my own way, figure things out. So stay tuned.
BASH: Dana Bash, CNN, Washington.
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VANIER: Coming up, the U.K.'s headed to a general election, and new polls show a tougher fight ahead for Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party. We'll have the details after the break.
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[01:53:00] VANIER: The Cannes Film Festival just ended and we now know this year's prize winners. The top award goes to a Swedish comedy, "The Square." A member of the jury said the film explained the dictatorship of being politically correct. He also found it very, very funny. Sofia Coppola became only the second female filmmaker to take home the best director award. That was for her film, "The Beguiled," a thriller set during the American Civil War. And Actor Joaquin Phoenix won the top acting honor for his portrayal of a hit man for the film, "You Were Never Really There."
British Prime Minister Theresa May and her Labour rival, Jeremy Corbyn, will face a live TV audience in the coming hours to take questions before the June 8th general election. This comes as the Labour Party appears to be gaining on the Conservative lead in recent polls. Both major parties suspended campaigning after the Manchester terror attack, but they got back to work on Friday. Mrs. May called for the snap election last month, hoping to strengthen her hand in the Brexit talks.
During the Brexit campaign, you may remember CNN's Richard Quest hit the road to hear from voters with his sidekick, Freddy the trusty camper van. And now Freddy is back.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS CORERSPONDENT & CNN HOST, QUEST MEANS BUSINESS (voice-over): It's been a long, cold, lonely winter for poor old Freddy Brexit, locked up in storage, ignored and unloved ever since that referendum last year. Oh, dragged out for a brief rainy day in Blackpool, when the sun didn't shine, a very sorry sight beside the sea.
But not even Freddy would have predicted he would be needed so soon to ride once again after Theresa May called a snap general election.
THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We agreed that the government should call a general election to be held on the 8th of June.
[01:55:03] QUEST: All hands to the pump to get Freddy ready again. So Freddy passes his road-worthy tests.
And freshened up for another big road trip just like last year's Brexit journey. Ah, happy days in Cambridge. And the Caravan Park in Mabel Thorpe where Freddy was in his element.
Once again, Freddy will help us understand the British people as they make their political choice. This year, he will embark on a week-long trip, from Cardiff, the capital of Wales, the mining heartland of New port, the seaside wonder that is Western-Super-Mare, historic Bath, and ending the week outside the royal residence at Windsor Castle.
So join me. All aboard as Freddy returns to the road, and we keep our fingers crossed he lasts the course.
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VANIER: Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Cyril Vanier. I'll be back with more news in just a moment. Stay with us on CNN.
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