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Connecting the Dots; Made and Not Made in America; High Tech Weapon for U.S. Defense; New Hope for Peace; Untimely Death; Brexit Negotiations are Ongoing; Let the Sunshine In. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired July 18, 2017 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[03:00:00] ROSEMARY CHURCH, HOST, CNN: made in America not quite. President Donald Trump is pushing for USA made products even though many Trump branded products are made in Bangladesh, Indonesia, and China.
Plus, South Korea is offering face-to-face peace talks with North Korea and is waiting for a response from Kim Jong-un. And later, an Australian woman is shot and killed by police in Minnesota and the police have not explained how it happened nor body cameras were not turned on.
Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world, I'm Rosemary Church, and this is CNN Newsroom.
The Trump administration is kicking off its made in America week. President Donald Trump even climb inside a fire truck on the White House Lawn Monday to showcase American made products. But that's not diverting attention from the deepening Russia investigation, in particular that meeting between a Russian lawyer and the president's eldest son who was promised incriminating information about Hillary Clinton.
We are finding out more about who else was at that meeting, and as the revelations keep coming we are seeing President Trump's popularity sink to historic lows below any U.S. president at the six-month mark for the past 70 years.
The Trump administration is trying to keep its message focused on its made in America week theme but that's proving to be further for the critics who point to the many Trump branded goods that are not made in America.
More now from CNN's Jake Tapper.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We believe in two simple rules. Buy American and hire American.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JAKE TAPPER, HOST, CNN: It's a popular presidential promise that Donald Trump has given time and again to a nation eager for more American jobs especially for those in factory towns decimated by trade deals and other forces.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're going to do everything in our power to make sure that more products are stamp with those wonderful words, "made in the USA."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: But those wonderful words rarely seem to be printed on Trump products. And as the president launches made in America week at the White House, the big question looms, will President Trump and his family lead by example.
Here's how the White House responded to that question earlier today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN SPICER, UNITED STATES WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There are certain supplies chains or skill ability that may not be available in this country, I'm not going to comment on specific products but I will tell you that the overall arching goal of course, though, is to grow manufacturing, to grow investor here in the United States.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: Shirts, shoes, hand bags, neck ties with the Trump family name have often been manufactured in countries such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, China where labor costs are much cheaper. Something the businessman tried to explain to me in 2015 when I confronted him on where my Trump tie had been made.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TRUMP: My ties many times are made in China, not all of them by the way, but a lot of them are made in China because they've manipulated their currency to such a point that it's impossible for our companies to compete.
TAPPER: When it comes to outsourcing which is what this tie would be representative issue of, one of the issues is that the people in China, the laborers are paid a lot less and the standards are worst when it comes to environment and healthcare and worker's safety.
TRUMP: Many problems, I agree with that.
TAPPER: Isn't that one but what do you say when somebody says well, why don't you be a leader and make these in full off here. I'd be willing to pay more for this tie.
TRUMP: You would and unfortunately, you would see that it's very, very hard to have anything in apparel made in this country.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TAPPER: But good news, Mr. President, here is your press secretary in April of this year talking about China.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPICER: They aren't since he'd been in office manipulating their currency.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: So now it could be a good time to lead on this issue. The truth is the Trumps are far from alone. Ninety seven percent of apparel sold in the United States is made in other countries. But some businesses do manage to make their products in America. Fifty such companies showed up their goods to the president today.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SCOTT PAUL, PRESIDENT, ALLIANCE FOR AMERICAN MANUFACTURING: Hopefully he will also learn from those 50 makers and see how they are making it in America and perhaps he can ask them how they're doing it so that he can give it a try.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: Ivanka Trump's fashion line has long work for manufacturers in China. President Trump's daughter took a leave of absence from her company in January but still retains in ownership stake. The company decline to comment for the story.
The contrast in messaging is not lost on critics who are tagging the president and his family on social media, posting photos of Donald and Ivanka Trump brand merchandise reported to be made elsewhere.
[03:05:05] Jake Tapper, CNN, Washington.
CHURCH: While the Russia investigation overshadows the Trump White House, Russia wants the return of two of its diplomatic compounds that were shut down in the U.S. last year. Then-President Barack Obama closed them as part of sanctions against Moscow for its allege meddling in the U.S. election.
Russia's deputy foreign minister met with the U.S. official in Washington Monday to discuss the issue. As he left the meeting he told reporters Russia almost has the compounds back but the Kremlin spokesman tell CNN it won't agree to any conditions for their return.
Well, more now on the now notorious meeting. The U.S. president's son had with a Russian attorney during the campaign last week. We now know there were at least eight people there twice as many as first disclosed. It was set up with the promise of information from the Russian government that will be damaging to Hillary Clinton.
The attorney for Donald Trump, Jr. tell CNN that he has spoken by phone to the eighth person who was in that room at Trump Tower. He's believed to be a representative of the Russian father and son who help set up the meeting. Trump Junior's attorney says the man is a U.S. citizen and was not employed by the Russian government. Well, there are still a lot of questions of course surrounding this meeting from who exactly was there to what went on during the meeting. U.S. lawmakers also want to know more about the Russian billionaire father and son who helped set it up. And what ties they may have to the kremlin.
More now from CNN's Ivan Watson.
IVAN WATSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Aras Agalarov is a billionaire real estate developer who built one of the biggest shopping and entertainment complexes in Moscow. His son, a Russian pop singer who goes by the stage name Emin.
Both father and son making headlines in the U.S. because according to e-mails published by Donald Trump, Jr., they asked Emin's promoter to set up a June 2016 meeting in New York's Trump Tower. According to the e-mails sent to Trump Junior, the purpose of the e-mail was to deliver sensitive Russian government information to help Donald Trump's election campaign.
Until these allegations of international political intrigue the elder Agalarov was better known as one of the 200 richest businessmen in Russia according to Forbes. His company Krokus Group runs shopping malls, luxury restaurants, concert halls and a convention center.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You and I couldn't just turn up with billion dollars and build this in complex. you have to be an insider, you have to have good and strong relationships with the authorities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: In 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave Agalarov a Medal pf Honor. Since then the government awarded Krokus Group some big contracts including a $129 million-dollar deal in 2015 to provide technical support to the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, and more than half a billion dollars to build two soccer stadiums for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup.
In 2013, the Agalarovs teamed up with Trump to host the Miss Universe contest in Moscow. The future U.S. president made a cameo in one of Emin's videos.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: What's wrong with you? You're fired.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: A Trump tweet from 2013 suggest the U.S. and Russian real estate moguls might have plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow and there would be more contact. CNN has obtained exclusive footage of this 2013 party in Las Vegas when Trump met with Emin and his British publicist Rob Goldstone. Now the Agalarovs are under scrutiny for helping set p that
controversial meeting in New York. It was attended by Donald Trump, Jr. and two top Trump campaign officials, as well as a Russian lawyer, a Russian-American lobbyist, Emin's British publicist and an unnamed representative of the Agalarovs.
The Agalarovs confirmed to CNN that they helped set up the meeting with Trump Junior, but they (AUDIO GAP) and they deny that were trying to meddle in U.S. politics. But U.S. officials are not so sure. Senior member of Congress say they'll investigate the controversial meeting as part of a broader probe into allege Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
Ivan Watson, CNN, Moscow.
[03:10:02] CHURCH: Let's talk more about this with CNN political analyst Julian Zelizer, he is also a historian and professor from Princeton University. Thank you so much for being with us. Always great to chat with you.
JULIAN ZELIZER, PROFESSOR, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY: Thank you.
CHURCH: So, President Trump defended his elder son, Don Junior's meeting with the Russian lawyer by tweeting this. "Most politicians would have gone to a meeting like the one Don Junior attended in order to get info on an opponent. That's politics."
But Germany's Martin Schulz disagreed with this tweeting this. "I would have gone there, this is not politics."
So, we also know that Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director have said that someone should have called the FBI if they had an offer like this, the one that was sent to Don Junior. So who's right in this instance?
ZELIZER: Well, I don't President Trump has many people agreeing with him while it is certainly common for members of a campaign to seek opposition research, they don't look for this from other government, from governments that are in pretty adversarial relations with the United States. And I think there is mere consensus that this was not the right thing to do.
So, I'm not sure where he's getting this but this is not politics as usual here in the United States or elsewhere.
CHURCH: So where do you think this is going?
ZELIZER: Well, I think it's going more of the same play. I think there are investigations that are continuing both the special counsel and Congress which will take some time. It will not be resolve within a week. My guess is more information will emerge. This is probably just the tip of the iceberg.
And at the same time, President Trump will continue with these kinds of tweets. He will try to make the investigation illegitimate, he will try to normalize a lot of the stories that come out and he'll claim that all the accusations against him, his son and everyone else in his administration are fake. So, this will continue to play out but it's having a damaging effect on the president.
CHURCH: And we're seeing that, aren't we, in some of the polls. The most recent one the Washington Post and ABC News ratings and we see has approval rating down at 36 percent. That's now, back in April it was 42 percent. The disapproval rating 58 percent, it was 53 percent back in April.
And then of course, his used of Twitter. These are interesting numbers because here we got 67 percent of people disapproved of his use of Twitter, 24 percent approved. So, what's your reading of all of that? The disapproval rating which really is rock bottom, isn't it? The lowest for any U.S. president in what, the last 70 years or so at 36 percent at this particular time in his presidency some six months into it.
ZELIZER: Sure. These polls numbers are extraordinarily low. This is not where Presidents like George W. Bush or President Obama were at this point in their first term. Within those polls you've pointed to many of the problems from his behavior to the way he presides, also to some of the legislation he supported including the healthcare bill, all of which were unpopular. And republicans watch these numbers.
Republicans who are starting to think of the midterm campaigns and some even about the next election are very frightened to see a president go this low. Only in July of his first term it's kind of striking and we've also seen in those polls a slippage of his support with independents in districts that he won. And that's a red flag because until now a lot of the republican support has stood pretty firm but the loss of some independent support is going to be pretty damaging.
So, this has taken a toll and the argument it just doesn't matter that he's tough line president isn't borne out in what we're seeing in the data.
CHURCH: And of course, his big promise to appeal and replace Obamacare. Of course now we're looking at the healthcare bill. We know that the GOP leadership had held over a vote for that because John McCain was having his surgery. But now it looks like another two, that's a four republicans are now saying they will not vote for it. It looks like it's pretty much dead on the water, right?
ZELIZER: Yes. It looks like healthcare for now is over as soon as this announcement took place it was clear the republicans just don't have the vote and there's nowhere else to go right now other than starting from scratch. So here we are in the summer the signature legislation, the major campaign promise that republicans made and after republicans control both the White House and Congress failed.
[03:15:03] And this has taken a long time. There has been no other major legislation and even the tax cuts, for example, the debate is only getting started. So, this is not good for either President Trump or the Republican Party and it's a major victory for the democrats. And part of this is the consequence of this scandal which just
consumed the attention of the nation of the president and the energy of many republicans on Capitol Hill who would much rather be legislating.
CHURCH: Yes, indeed. And as we pointed out only six months into his presidency and this is where we're at.
Julian Zelizer, a pleasure to chat with you as always. Many thanks.
ZELIZER: Thanks so much.
CHURCH: After North Korea's missile launches, nuclear threats and growing threat, South Korea has a new message for Pyongyang, "let's talk."
South Korean President Moon Jae-in's new government is extending an invitation to its northern neighbor to try to calm tensions. The South wants military representatives from both countries to meet on Friday at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone. South Korea's Red Cross is also proposing re-starting North and South family reunions.
And our David McKenzie is covering the South Korean offer from Seoul. He joins us now. David, always good to see you. So, North Korea has not yet responded to South Korea's offer of peace talks between the two nations. How likely is it that Pyongyang's leadership would agree to these talks and what conditions might they demand do you think?
DAVID MCKENZIE, INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: You know, Rosemary, on the first part of that question we just don't know, they could come in the coming hours or days or even at the last minute saying they're willing to have discussions based on the South Korean request for these talks, relatively low level talks of course if they happen, but certainly if they do happen it will be very significant because it's been some years now since the militaries or the Red Cross of both countries sat down and have discussions.
So, we don't know. And whether they pull in any conditions that will be a major factor will these talks even go ahead. Beyond that but certainly from the point of view of the South Koreans and the government, this they say is a way to try and ease tensions here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHO MYUNG-GYON, SOUTH KOREA'S MINISTER OF UNIFICATION (through Translator): Talks and cooperation between the Koreas to ease tension and bring about peace in the Korean Peninsula will be instrumental for pushing forth a mutual virtuous cycle to inter-Koran relations and North Korea's nuclear problem.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: And it is somewhat of a break from the U.S. policy of course, U.S. is a staunch ally of South Korea. The Trump administration appears to be continuing to push towards strongest sanctions in the country because of the nuclear and missile program that they continue to pursue. Rosemary?
CHURCH: And David, the United States has a very different approach to North Korea pushing instead for more sanctions on Pyongyang. What impact might this approach have on South Korea's more diplomatic offer now of talks?
MCKENZIE: It's hard to tell at this stage but it certainly could throw us a span in the works as it were if those sanctions should be push forward. Even today you have state media in North Korea questioning the sanctions that they frequently have said that more sanctions will just promote even more aggressive respond from their end. So we'll have to wait and see on that.
One reason the U.S. is trying to push more sanctions is that U.S. officials said there is still a great deal of illicit financial linkages between other countries and North Korea. We look at one aspect of the North Koran elite society and how that might fund the weapons program.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MCKENZIE: Premium liquor stores stack five rows high, imported shoes, expensive perfumes. Rare images of a luxury department store inside North Korea. Part of a yearlong investigation by web site N.K. Pro, a specialist North Korea watch out.
Who is the target market of these luxury items in Pyongyang?
KIM KWAN-JIN, CHIEF, SOUTH KOREA'S NATIONAL SECURITY OFFICE: Foreigners and rich guys of Pyongyang.
MCKENZIE: How rich here you can buy a $4,000 watch and its cash only. Rich North Koreans paying in 100-dollar notes, a diplomat says who used to shop there. North Korean de facto Kim Kwan-jin help get illicit goods into the country. He says the stores final cash into office 39, a secretive organization that the U.S. Treasury says works as a trust fund for Kim Jong-un.
[03:19:58] North Koreans working abroad hotels in Pyongyang, tourist dollars, all of it are sprawling mafia style cash earner for the supreme leader.
KWAN-JIN: Most profitable business here the best companies are all belonged to office number 39, and it is Kim family business. It is not belong to the cabinet, it's not belong to the state control.
MCKENZIE: He says the luxury stores keep rich party members loyal to Kim Jong-un. And that the hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue help funds Kim's nuclear ambitions.
KWAN-JIN: They earn a lot of dollars and foreign cash from these luxurious department stores by selling all these goods and, you know, they reallocate these dollars into their priorities like, you know, nuclear missile program.
MCKENZIE: So, a luxury purchase could help build a missile? KWAN-JIN: Sure. Yes.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MCKENZIE: U.N. sanctions by many luxury goods from getting into North Korea but office 39 works in complex ways using multiple price. The Trump administration wants to cut off the money flow.
Just how worried are the North Koreans, well, they're building a brand new golden mall in the heart of Pyongyang.
Of course, China most famously as the country pointed to as a major trade of North Korea, Rosemary, but there are many other countries that are named by U.N. officials and others as being transit point or origin points of goods going in to North Korea including those luxury products. Rosemary?
CHURCH: All right. Many thanks to our David McKenzie with that live report, joining us there from Seoul, South Korea, where it is nearly 4.25 in the afternoon.
We'll take a short break here, but still to come on CNN Newsroom, it may not look like it's on the outside but this is a force to be reckoned with. We've got exclusive access to the world's first active laser weapon. We're back in a moment with that.
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CHURCH: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. Well, the Philippine president is asking Congress to extend Martial Law on the southern Island of Mindanao until the end of the year. Rodrigo Duterte put the island under military rule back in May to help stop an ISIS linked group that stormed the city of Marawi.
The president says his armed forces need more time to root out the remaining fighters. But critics say much of Mindanao is at peace and does not need Martial Law.
An American student is facing a decade behind bars in Iran. Over the weekend, an Iranian caught convicted Xiyue Wang of spying. He was arrested last summer while doing research for his dissertation. U.S. officials are calling the charges against him fabricated and they are demanding Tehran immediately release all American citizens unjustly detained.
[03:25:06] There are at least three other Americans currently being held in Iran for spying.
It is described as more precise than a bullet and it cost only a dollar a shot. The U.S. Navy's active laser weapon is a silent killer but it sounds like the stuff of science fiction.
CNN's Jim Sciutto is granted exclusive access to a live fire test.
JIM SCIUTTO, CHIEF NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT, CNN: It is sometimes hostile waters of the Persian Gulf loom the U.S. Navy's first, in fact, the world's first active laser weapon. The LaWS, an acronym for Laser Weapons System is not science fiction. It is not experimental. It is onboard the USS Ponce amphibious transport ship.
Many to be fired at targets today and everyday by Captain Christopher Wells and his crew. CNN was granted exclusive access to a live test fire of the laser.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTOPHER WELLS, COMMANDING OFFICER, USS PONCE: It is more precise than a bullet. It's not a niche weapon system like some other weapons that we have throughout the military where it's only good against air contacts, or it's only good against surface targets, or it's only good against, you know, ground-based targets - in this case this is a very versatile weapon, it can be used against a variety of targets.
SCIUTTO: LaWS begin with an advantage no other weapon ever invented comes even close to match. It moves by definition at the speed of light. A comparison that is 50,000 times the speed of an incoming ICBM.
CALE HUGHES, LASER WEAPOPNS SYSTEM OFFICER: It's drawing massive amount of protons at an incoming object. Don't worry about wind, we don't worry about range, we don't worry about anything else.
SCIUTTO: CNN witnessed that speed and power firsthand. First, the Ponce crew launches a target, an incoming drone aircraft. The weapon in increasing use by Iran, North, China, Russia, and other adversaries. Immediately the weapons team zeroes in on its target.
HUGHES: We don't have to lead the target. We're doing that engagement at the speed of light, so it really is a point and shoot. We see it, we focus on it and we can negate that target.
SCIUTTO: Then in an instant the drones wing lights up heated to a temperature of thousands of degrees lethally damaging the aircraft and sending it crudely down to the sea. All this from a silent and invisible killer.
HUGHES: It operates in an invisible part of the electromagnet spectrum. You don't see to being, it doesn't make any sounds. It is completely silent and it's incredibly effective at what it does.
SCIUTTO: It is remarkably precise minimizing collateral damage. And all the $40 million system needs to operate is a supplied electricity and a crew of three, no multimillion-dollar missile, no ammunition at all. The cost per use.
HUGHES: It's about a dollar a shot.
SCIUTTO: Today the laser is intended primarily to disable or destroy aircraft and small boats.
HUGHES: Its design with the intent of being able to counter airborne and surface based threats and it's been able to prove itself over the last three years, it's being incredibly effective at that. SCIUTTO: However, the navy is already developing more powerful second generation systems which would bring more significant target into its crosshairs, missiles. Those missiles remain classified. However, commander and crew are already very much aware of the potential capabilities.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Could it shoot down a missile?
HUGHES: Well, I don't know. Maybe.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SCIUTTO: The U.S. is certainly not the only country working with laser weapons. Russia, China, North Korea, Iran, and others doing the same. And to be clear not just with the intention of striking targets down here on earth, ships and aircraft possibility of missiles, but also targets even as far away as in space.
Jim Sciutto, CNN, Washington.
CHURCH: We'll take a short break here, but just a month before her wedding and Australian woman was killed by a police in the U.S. Now her family is demanding answers. We will have those details in just a moment.
[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, HOST, CNN: And a warm welcome back to our viewers all across the globe. I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you now on the main stories we've been following this hour.
The government of South Korea is proposing military talks with its northern neighbor. Seoul says new dialogue with Pyongyang would try to stop the violence along the border. There was no immediate response from North Korea. Chinese officials are welcoming the proposals saying it's an opportunity to break the deadlock.
The United Arab Emirates says a report claiming it orchestrated a damaging hack of Qatari news sites is not true. The Washington Post sites U.S. intelligence officials saying UAE hackers planted both, quotes, "accredited to Qatar's emir." The hack set off the current risk between Qatar and its Gulf neighbors.
President Donald Trump says the U.S is ready to take strong economic actions if Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro carries on with his plans to re-write the Constitution. The U.S. is also praising the opposition referendum in which millions of Venezuelans rejected President Maduro's plans.
The family of an Australian woman shot and killed by police in the U.S. is desperate for answers. It's not clear what led an officer to shoot Justine Ruszczyk Saturday night. The two officers involved including Officer Mohammed Noor are now on administrative leave.
Our Ryan Young has more from Minneapolis. RYAN YOUNG, NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Rosemary, this has an impact in this neighborhood and you look behind me you can see the signs, the outpouring of support for this family that lives about five houses down, you see a sign like this one that stands out you. "Why did you shoot and kill our neighbor and friend."
Not a lot of answers right now because even police have not given the details about what happened. We do know that 911 call came in. And the officers responded to this back alleyway. What happens next, no one really knows.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
YOUNG: Shortly before 11.30 on Saturday night Minneapolis police received a report of a possible sexual assault. Forty-year-old Justine Ruszczyk made the call to 911 telling the dispatcher it was happening in the alley close to her home on the southwest side of the city, the low crime residential area.
Two officers respond and at some point during the night. One of the officers fires his weapon hitting Ruszczyk and killing her. How Justine Ruszczyk was shot dead by responding officers a mystery. Police have said little about the incident, calling it, quote, "a tragic death" and so they are investigating the matter.
The two officers who were wearing body cameras but they were not turned on during the shooting, there was no explanation from police as to why the cameras were turned off. No explanation of what happened with the possible assault that was called in. Justine Ruszczyk was said to be married in August. She is an Australian native who moved to Minneapolis to be with her fiance.
DON DIAMOND, JUSTINE RUSZCZYK'S FIANCE: The death of Justine is a loss to everyone who knew her she touched so many people to a loving and generous heart.
YOUNG: As her family mourn the loss of her life. They also press the Minneapolis police for more information.
DIAMOND: Sadly her family and I have been provided with almost no additional information from law enforcement regarding what happened after police arrived.
We've lost the dearest of people and we're desperate for information piecing together Justine's last moments before the homicide would be a small comfort as we grieve this tragedy.
[03:35:13] YOUNG: Minneapolis' mayor also called the police to provide information on the shooting as quickly as possible.
BETSY HODGES, MAYOR OF MINNEAPOLIS: I am heartsick and deeply disturbed by the fatal officer involved shooting. I have a lot of questions about why the body cameras were done, questions that I hope and anticipate will be answered in the next few days.
YOUNG: In a tweet, the Minneapolis police she said she asked for expedited investigation into Justine Ruszczyk's death in order to provide these answers as quickly as possible.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
YOUNG: So still waiting for more information from police but we did get a statement from the lawyer who is representing the officer who was involved in this. His name is Mohammad Noor and he extends his condolences to the family. Anyone else who has been touched by this event. He takes a law seriously and keeps them as daily thoughts and prayers.
We do know both officers involved in this have been put on temporary custody at this point is, that's of course common after a shooting like this. We so also learn from the medical examiner that she was shot once in the abdomen. Rosemary?
CHURCH: Let's try to break all this down with CNN law enforcement analysts Art Roderick and CNN legal analyst, Page Pate. Thanks to both of you, gentlemen for being with us. So Art, let's us start with you because the big question here of course is being ask why the police body cameras were not turned on. How do you explain that?
ART RODERICK, LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST, CNN: Well, in each police departments has different regulations, policies, guidelines for when those cameras are turned on. We don't have a whole lot of facts here. We have some witness statements, we have I've read some local press releases out there in Minnesota. And you know, right now we don't have a heck of a lot of information.
So was the correct time for them to turn the cameras on when they got out of the vehicle, there were still sitting in the vehicle. My understanding is, she approached the driver side door of the vehicle. When I read a lot of the witnesses statements the first thing that popped in my head now.
I've done a lot of these investigations of investigated shootings in the past. I've read a lot of reports on police officer involved shootings is was this an accidental discharge by the officer sitting in the passenger side of the vehicle.
Now I'm not saying, you know, we don't have a lot of information in yet but it's just a very strange set of circumstances that this woman was shot while talking to the police officer on the driver's side of the vehicle.
CHURCH: It is very strange. And Page, as a lawyer what's your reading of what happened here, and how this Australian woman who called the police to respond to a crime in her neighborhood ended up dead. How does something like that happen?
PAGE PATE, LEGAL ANALYST, CNN: I mean, it's hard to imagine at this point, Rosemary, how something like this resulted in an obviously innocent citizen being shot in her own neighborhood when she had done absolutely nothing wrong. You know, Art is correct, we don't know a lot about the facts at this point. I think primarily because we don't have that video evidence of what happened. Now the policy as I understand it, with this particular department is
somewhat vague. It's broad. It allows for a lot of officer discretion. You know when is it appropriate to turn the body camera on. Is it safe to turn the body camera on.
I think normally if a police is going to encounter either a witness or certainly a potential suspect someone they think is a suspect they want to make sure that that camera is running so that they can record that statement.
So perhaps this is an accidental discharge but I don't know why the officer would have his arm his firearm out and pointed towards this woman if she simply reporting a crime. It just doesn't make any sense at this point.
CHURCH: And Art, this is the problem, isn't it? So many questions and no answers at this point.
RODERICK: Yes.
CHURCH: What needs to happen in the aftermath of a shooting like this. How does law enforcement need to rethink how procedures are followed, you mentioned with the body cameras is different regulations, some are automatic, some aren't, these ones were actually manual they needed to be turned on.
So what needs to be done to change all of so that people are not left in a situation particularly family members wondering what happens to their loved one.
RODERICK: I mean, in this particular case I think the police have to come out and be transparent as they can from the very beginning. And I think they are actually working on this. I know the family has a lot of questions. This is a horrible, horrible incident.
I agree with Page, there's absolutely no reason for innocent person to be shot like this and this is why I keep looking at this as possibly an accidental discharge. They are responding to a possible violent call of a of alleged sexual assault going on behind Mr. Diamond's house. And you know, maybe he pulled his weapon out just in case.
[03:40:02] We don't know. There is a lot of questions that have got to be answered here and I think the first thing they did which was the correct thing to do is they brought in a third agency to go ahead and conduct this post-shooting investigation.
CHURCH: And Page, what are the legal ramifications for the city of Minneapolis in a situation like this and why are we not hearing more answers to the many questions that the family and others are asking?
PATE: Well, any officer who is suspected of being involved in an unlawful use of excessive force has a lot of rights and every department is a little bit different about that. And I'm sure Art can talk about this as well.
But this particular officer has a right to meet with legal counsel before he gives a statement. What we've been able to tell so far from the local reporting in CNN's reporting is that he's does have a lawyer he's talked with that lawyer other than saying though that he is sorry that he apologizes to the family.
We haven't heard a very definite statement from his side as to the version of facts that caused him to discharge his weapon. Now obviously there were two officers at the scene at some point those officers are normally required to give a statement to law enforcement to their department about exactly what happened but that process does take time, but obviously that's the first step.
Find out what the officers are saying and what is the reason why the officer pulled his firearm and shot her.
CHURCH: And Art, what's your reaction to that?
RODERICK: Now Page is exactly correct. I mean, law enforcement officers involved in the shooting do have rights, and generally this is the standard procedure that they go through. They're represented by an attorney a lot of times. It will be a union attorney or some type of association attorney and they will probably in this particular case very quickly give a statement to all law enforcement officials and they are compelled to do this.
They will have to give a statement but there is a lot of questions that are up in the air. I feel for the family. Hopefully, the police department, the Minnesota state police that are coming in to conduct the investigation will get information out there as soon as possible and at least bring the family and to give them some answers to a lot of questions that they have as to how this could have occurred.
CHURCH: Yes, that is exactly what they need at this time. Art Roderick and Page Pate, thank you both for joining us. We appreciate it.
RODERICK: Thank you.
PATE: Thank you.
CHURCH: And we'll take a very short break here. But still to come, a new day of Brexit negotiation is starting as businesses are looking for reassurance let alone certainty. We will hear what the London mayor wants in order to keep businesses in his city.
Back in a moment.
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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. The Netherlands held a somber memorial service Monday, marking the third anniversary of the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH-70. The Dutch king and queen laid flowers of the new side honoring the victims of the tragedy.
[03:45:05] The plane was shot down over war-torn Ukraine in 2014, killing all 298 people on board. Brexit negotiations are now starting another day of talks and there already reports of infighting in the cabinet of British Prime Minister Theresa May over the times of the divorce from the E.U. Mrs. May is expected to call for an end to the leaks.
Meanwhile, businesses in the U.K. are looking for certainty but the E.U. says trade talks will not begin until other Brexit priorities are settled first.
CNN's Samuel Burke ask London's Mayor Sadiq Khan what he is doing to try to keep businesses in his city.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SADIQ KHAN, MAYOR OF LONDON: One thing that I'm doing is negotiation with the government. The best deal for London, which by extent is the best for the U.K. because we are the engine of our country. We are the financial capital of the U.K. We are the coastal capital of the U.K. We are the political capital of the U.K.
And the government recognizes that that government is going to flourish and thrive if Londoners needs to do well. So we're discussing with the government about...
(CROSSTALK)
SAMUEL BURKE, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Are you talking with Prime Minister May?
KHAN: Absolutely right. With the cabinet from Theresa May down to other members involved with the negotiations. David Davis is the secretary of state in charge of Brexit...
(CROSSTALK)
BURKE: Is that you're talking to a moment (Ph).
KHAN: Yes, and I meet him today. And so that's really important to reassure your view is that we're not going to stop being a great place to come if you have talent. But also the underlying strength of London are still here, the ability to track on really skillful Londoners. Access to finance, access to the best universities in the world, access to Oxford and Cambridge 50 miles away, access to life-sciences, access to our office skills which would help finance and tech, fine tech also.
So all those things are still obviously, you know, Brexit, I can't play against Brexit. I want us to remain in European Union but we are, and we are going to make the best of where we are.
BURKE: When do you think your London tech companies and other financial companies, for that matter need clarity by. There are only 20 months left in the negotiations. But really it's more like 12 because it has to go to the E.U. parliament so people are holding up investments not investing in London. I have heard that from companies.
So when are you hearing that these business are saying this is when we need to know by?
KHAN: First let me tell you about who is investing in London. Apple, record investments since Brexit. Facebook record investment since Brexit. Google, SnapChat and I can go on. But you're right. There comes a period of time you just give investors innovators certainly.
And so the good news is that Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond suddenly this weekend and he is, you know, obviously somebody right up there next to prime minister that we need this transitional arrangements. And he -- and I agree with him. We need two years from the date when the negotiations went for a transitional period.
And you will be aware what's the article 50 served especially to negotiate an exit within two years. I want the government is now talking about. And I welcome this is a transitional period of two years to get people certainty before we enter the new race with the European Union.
Look, I think we got a great future.
BURKE: You are optimistic. Are you worried that you could lose jobs, have you seen any jobs been lost yet?
KHAN: I understand why fewer bank whether it was J.P. Morgan or elsewhere you need to plan for contingencies. I recognize that and I understand that. But actually if you are up a banker or somebody in the tech sector or somebody in the cultural sector my message is the underlying strength of London aren't changing.
We are going to carry and being a place where there is time where there is finance where there is access to a number of different synergies that you need but also recognize the national -- these are potentially tough months ahead but I'm optimistic.
BURKE: One last question. You and President Trump got off to a famously bumpy start. He took something that you said out of context, but President Macron got off to a bumpy start with him and they had a seemingly very successful weekend. Would you be open to a state visit by Donald Trump here to the U.K.?
JHAN: Look, my view hasn't change. The USA are our closest allies. I'm welcoming Rahm Emmanuel to London today. I was with the mayor of Houston last week. I love Americans, I love America.
The point I made was very simple one, which is state visit is a different one that will visit and at a time when the president of the USA has policies that many people in the U.K. disagree with. I'm not sure if it's appropriate for our government to roll out the red carpet for a state visit.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: London's Mayor Sadiq Khan talking there our Samuel Burke.
Let's turn to the weather now and several couple storms are taking shape in both the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. Our meteorologist Pedram Javaheri joins us now from the International Weather Center with all the details. So just how bad it is storms are looking, Pedram?
[03:50:00] PEDRAM JAVAHERI, METEOROLOGIST, CNN: Yes, you know, we've got at least five of them in the works now, Rosemary, across portions of the Atlantic, also the Pacific. I want to show you that I lay the map down here for you and kind of show you what we're talking about.
Tropical storm Don there it is sitting there across the areas of the Atlantic Ocean back behind it. There is a disturbance and then you flip the globe around you look into the Pacific you got tropical depression seven. Another disturbance trying to form and Fernando which was which a category for hurricane.
I want to break down exactly what we're talking about with these particular storms. Because Don in particular as you go for closer look it is a very small disturbance, it doesn't have much going for as far as organization or any significant development. About 95 kilometer per hour that's the gust associated with this particular storm.
You look meander across the northern portion of Venezuela we think a Central America potentially into areas of Northern Venezuela, even it could skirt Columbia, that's the impact. But again, just a tropical storm. The one back behind it 40 percent chance this will become Emily. If you know the tropical season when you see activity lineup of such in this particular one.
I want to migrate to the north we think somewhere climatologically would want to favor the eastern United States. But at this point too early to tell if it this will be pulled up closer to Bermuda and then offshore or hug the eastern U.S. coastline that will be later into the upcoming weekend. And then back out towards the Pacific there is tropical depression seven. Another one have a good chance of forming here and then Fernando that has already form and sitting out there over the open waters.
Seven it doesn't look like a major player at all. It's just going to go over cooler waters and fall apart. It is Fernando we're watching here because if any plans taking out towards the Hawaiian Islands or you're tune in to from this region. The storm system eventually wants to work its way in that direction.
It looks like it will weaken significantly, but again, it could be some rough weather on the big Island of Hawaii going into the latter portion of this week.
I tale you towards India the monsoon season in full effect across this region tremendous rainfall not only from the monsoons but also from what is left of tropical storm Talas that made landfall around portions of Vietnam in recent days, and the perspective here you are going a couple hundred millimeters out of this. You notice the thunderstorm activity is rather prevalent.
And I want to show a photograph. Pretty fascinating to think about this because this is out of the Kaziranga National Park region in the Assam state in India. In this particular region two thirds of the world's population of the one horn rhino species live in this particular reason. Also the highest density of tigers that in a protected land in the world are located here.
And Rosemary, about 70 percent of this wildlife sanctuary is underwater at this point, officials actually have sent multiple drones up just to be able to monitor the situation and see what's going on down there across this region. But again, it is a very, very unique part of our planet that hosts so many unique animals and they are in dire need right now of help across this region.
CHURCH: All right. Thanks for letting us all know. Pedram Javaheri, many thanks.
JAVAHERI: Thanks, Rosie.
CHURCH: And still to come, let the sunshine in. How China transformed flooded coal mines into a big investment in clean energy. We'll explain when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone, Well, China is trying to clean up its act. While it still relies heavily on coal the country is aiming to become the world's greens super power.
Matt Rivers shows us how China is channeling solar energy on a massive floating farm.
MATT RIVERS, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Forty years ago, an old coalfield flooded out. Ground water help turn it into a lake and it's that empty until 2016 when someone had an idea, why not take a whole bunch of solar panel and put them right on top.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[03:54:58] RIVERS: Welcome to Huainan City, China, home to the largest floating solar farm in the world. Tens of thousands of panels soak up the sunshine 24 hours a day, enough to fill more than 160 American football fields. Eventually, they'll generate enough electricity to power about 15,000 homes per year.
"We've invested about $45 million so far," says Yao Xiao Hua, deputy director of the project.
Initially it is more expensive to build this way, consider the fact that you have to take boat to do just about anything. But in the end floating solar panels can run more efficiently because they're cooled by the water underneath plus they are taking up unused space.
"The government won't allow us to just install panels wherever we want, says Yao, these old coalfields wouldn't be used otherwise. So it makes sense."
The farm is about 90 percent done. The repetitive daily linking of buoy panels broken only by floating if finished product into the lake. It's all part of a broad strategy by China, the largest greenhouse gas emitter in the world to move away from the one sheet energy that powered it for so long. Coal. Sure it was cheap and efficient, but it was also dirty enough produce guys like this across the country, choked with a toxic smog. Coals still generates more than half of the country's electric supply but the government has pledged hundreds of billions of dollars in things like wind and geothermal project to fight that.
In solar projects alone the plan is for $150 billion to be fully invested by 2020. The Omni present pollution though, was on full display during our trip to the floating farm, air quality levels that day were about 17 times worse. And the World Health Organization says they should be.
And yet, it made for an interesting dynamic. The toxic reality of China's current environment hanging above what they are trying to do to fix that.
Matt Rivers, CNN, Anhui Province, China.
CHURCH: Brother, the lovable cartoon bear Winnie the Pooh has become the latest victim of Chinese censorship. The honey loving bear has been partly blocked online after images were use comparing him to President Xi Jinping. The first picture was posted online in 2013 when Mr. Xi was shown walking with the then-U.S. President Barack Obama.
The comparison resurfaced a year later with this image showing the leaders of China and Japan next to Winnie the Pooh and his pal Eeyore. China's government does not look kindly on any criticism of its leadership.
And thanks so much for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. Remember to connect with me anytime on Twitter. The news continues next with our Max Foster in London. You are watching CNN. Have yourselves a great day.
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