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Trump White House; North Korea Missile Launch; Matt Lauer Responds; Bosnian Croat leader Dies; Russia Meddling Probe; Libya Slave Trade; Going Green. Aired 8-9a ET
Aired November 30, 2017 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[08:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN NEWS STREAM SHOW HOST: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. Welcome to "News Stream."
A fallout from Donald Trump's tweets. British politicians react with anger to the U.S. president re-tweeting videos from a British extremist group.
Reacting to the threats. Some members of U.N. Security Council want more sanctions on North Korea, but that country is proudly showing off its
latest missile test.
And the pope is on his way to meet Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, but he did not refer to them by name in speeches from Myanmar.
We begin with an escalating diplomatic rift between Britain and the White House that started with re-tweets. The London mayor now says that the U.S.
president is not welcome in the U.K. at all. Sadig Khan says that Donald Trump used Twitter to promote a vile, extremist group that exists solely to
sow division and hatred in our country.
Mr. Trump shared on Twitter three videos posted by the anti-Muslim "Britain First" group all purporting to show Muslims committing acts of violence.
And then came a response from the British government. A statement from the prime minister's office says this, "it is wrong for the president to have
done this."
"Britain First" -- that's the name of this group -- seeks to divide communities through their use of hateful narratives which peddle lies and
stoke tensions. But it didn't end there. Now, three hours ago, Mr. Trump tweeted back saying, Theresa May, don't focus on me, focus on the
destructive radical Islamic terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine.
Now, we will have a live report from Downing Street in just a moment. But first, CNN's Nick Paton Walsh explains who "Britain First" is.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In a presidency where the extraordinary and baffling is redefined weekly, it
still rang an ugly bell. President Trump re-tweeting violent videos from tweets intended to inspire anti-Muslim hatted posted by a far-right British
political group.
All three were originally posted by Jayda Fransen. She is deputy leader of "Britain First," a fringed political party, who has been convicted of
religiously aggravated harassment. Her group often protests the building of mosques in a country barely five percent of which is Muslim. She complains
of frequent run-ins with the police and films them avidly.
(on camera): What's being most remarkable is this isn't really a group people have heard of much. They're the obscure angry fringe of nationalism
here. About 18 percent of Britons according to one poll think Donald Trump is bad for America. And even his detractors are being stunned that he would
choose to promote and give oxygen to radial views like this.
(voice over): Remarkably the British prime minister spokesman said the re- tweeting was "wrong and the Britain First seeks to divide communities through their use of hateful narratives which peddle lies and stoke
tensions."
One lawmaker suggested President Trump should cancel his delayed visit here. And most pointedly, the widower of murdered lawmaker Jo Cox condemned
the president's re-tweets for spreading hatred. His wife's disturbed killer reportedly shouted "Britain First" as he stabbed the mother of two.
BRENDAN COX, HUSBAND OF MURDERED BRITISH MP: I think when you see hatred at any form, when you've been the victim of hatred, and that hatred has
changed every element of your life, it's horrific. But when see that hatred being espoused by somebody who is the president of the U.K.'s closest
ally, it feels surreal frankly.
It feels like something that shouldn't happen. It feels like there should be some mechanism to stop those things from happening. It feels like there
should be some accountability. But I think that we know enough now about this president that this is how he operates. It is not a mistake. It's a
strategy.
PATON WALSH (voice over): The casual flick of a smart phone in the early hours without sized and real ramifications on the other side of the world
leaving nobody the wiser.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Brendan Cox also spoke with CNN's Anderson Cooper. Here is some of that interview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON COOPER, ANCHOR, ANDERSON COOPER 360: What went through your mind when you read this re-tweet from President Trump this morning?
COX: I think we've probably gotten used to a degree of absurdity of outrageous re-tweets and tweets from the president.
[08:05:00] But I think this felt like it was a different order. Here he was re-tweeting a felon, you know, somebody that was convicted of religiously
aggravated harassment of an organization that is hate-driven organization on the extreme fringes, the far -- far-right of British politics.
This is like the president re-tweeting the Ku Klux Klan. You know, this is not the mainstream organization from the president of the United States,
greatest ally of our country to be re-tweeting, to be providing a microphone to those voices. I think everybody, no matter what your
political persuasion in the U.K. I think has been shocked by that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: So eloquently put there by Brendan Cox. CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson joins us now live from Downing Street. Nic,
so Donald Trump has hit out Prime Minister Theresa May for criticizing his anti-Muslim re-tweets. What is the latest reaction from U.K.?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, he has made it personally against the prime minister which is surprising given the special
relationship between Britain and United States. And Theresa May was the first world leader to rush to Washington, to congratulate him after his
inauguration late in January this year.
So it makes it all that more staggering and surprising. And that is the way that it is resonating here in the House of Commons today, of course Theresa
May is traveling in the Middle East at the moment, but in the House of Commons today, there has been a unified cross-bench condemnation of what
President Trump has been saying. This from the Labour MP, Stephen Doughty.
(START VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN DOUGHTY, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, BRITISH LABOUR: This is the president of the United States, sharing with millions inflammatory and
divisive content, deliberately posted to sow hatred and division by a convicted criminal who is facing further charges, who represents a vile,
fascist organization, who seeks to spread hatred and violence in person and online. By sharing it, he is either a racist, incompetent or unthinking, or
all three.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROBERTSON: So there have been calls there as well to rescind President Trump's invite to Britain for a state visit where he will meet the queen.
There have been calls for President Trump to take back, delete those tweets.
But on that specific issue of the latest tweet overnight by the president appearing to attack the prime minister, when the prime minister
spokesperson was asked about that today, he said he didn't want to comment on it, but pointed out what Britain is doing in conjunction with the United
States around the world, to fight radical Islamist terrorism.
LU STOUT: And, Nic, Donald Trump has this planned state visit to the U.K. Could that visit now be in jeopardy because of these tweets?
ROBERTSON: What we've heard from the home secretary here has really been in the position of defending the prime minister over her sort of relationship,
if you will, with President Trump. And that's where the prime minister takes heat, because of that relationship. This isn't the first incident
where the relationship has been called into question.
But if you go back to the prime minister's visit to Washington in January, right when she was there, President Trump announces the Muslim travel ban,
1.8 million people in Britain. Within a week also, signed a petition, 1.8 million people signed a petition, calling on the prime minister to rescind
that invitation that he shouldn't come here and shouldn't meet the queen.
We've heard that again today now in the House of Commons from parliamentarians, saying exactly the same thing. It struck a chord back
then. I think we can imagine that a similar court of outrage will be struck this time. It makes -- it would make a trip and a visit by the president
here in Britain problematic for the prime minister.
Don't forget, she's on the political ropes here at the moment. This is a damaging distraction for her. She is taking heat over Brexit. She's had an
election. Her party skimmed by in the summer. So, she is in a very weak political position at the moment.
LU STOUT: Nic Robertson joining us live from 10 Downing Street. Thank you.
The United States is warning the North Korean regime that it would be utterly destroyed if war would break out. Now Pyongyang test fired that
advanced missile yesterday, its most advanced one yet. That it says puts the entire U.S. mainland in range. North Korea state media released these
images which experts say appear to show just how advance the regime's technology has become.
The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley spoke at an emergency meeting of the Security Council on Wednesday.
(START VIDEO CLIP)
NIKKI HALEY, UNITED STATES AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: The dictator of North Korea made a choice yesterday that brings the world closer to war,
not farther from it. We've never sought war with North Korea.
[08:10:00] And still today, we do not seek it. If war does come, it will be because of continued acts of aggression like we witnessed yesterday. And if
war comes, make no mistake, the North Korean regime will be utterly destroyed.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: And just moments ago, President Trump tweeted about the standoff using his favorite insult for Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader. He
wrote, "the Chinese envoy who just returned from North Korea seems to have has no impact on little rocket man. Hard to believe his people and the
military put up with living in such horrible conditions. Russia and China condemned the launch."
CNN's Will Ripley joins us with more on the story from Seoul, South Korea. Will, the president is up and tweeting about North Korea, citing the
Chinese envoy as well as little rocket man. Is he criticizing China's efforts to engage Pyongyang?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It seems like it, Kristie. Frankly, let's put little rocket man and the sick puppy insult aside
because that's a whole different category here --
LU STOUT: Yes.
RIPLEY: -- that probably we shouldn't even be elevating with a conversation because -- anyway, we've been there, we've talked about that. Let's talk
about what the other part of the president's tweet, talking about the fact that this special envoy seems to have had no impact on North Korean leader
Kim Jong-un. Frankly, he's right.
The enjoy went, presented a gift, had a cordial discussion with the North Koreans. But at the end of the day, China continues to prove unwilling, at
least thus far, to take the kind of measures that the U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley is calling for. They're not willing to cut off the oil supply to
North Korea.
They don't want to do anything that they feel could potentially destabilize North Korean government because they want to keep North Korean government
in power. Even a nuclear North Korea to the Chinese is less of a risky proposition than a fully U.S. ally Korean Peninsula and potential of U.S.
military assets being placed right at the border of China.
Now, as for North Korea's response to this, it's likely going to take a while, because unlike the president who seems to tweet in real time, just
as he's thinking, he tweets, North Korea's messages are carefully constructed and crafted.
And it could actually take days before we get an official response. But what North Korea is putting out is some brand new video, these images,
they're carefully designed and constructed, sent a very threatening message to the world.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY (voice-over): New images of North Korea's massive new intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-15. Kim Jong-un who stands
5'7" dwarfed by the 18-wheeler transporter erector launcher. North Korean television broadcasting a sleek, highly produced video of the overnight
launch, a dramatic menacing sight intended to intimidate.
North Korea pushing President Trump closer than ever to the most agonizing foreign policy choice facing his administration, trying to stop Kim Jong-
un's menacing nuclear advance with maximum pressure or military muscle.
The Hwasong-15 blasted through the earth's upper atmosphere ten times higher than the international space station, theoretically putting within
striking range the entire U.S. east coast, including New York and Washington.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (UNSTRANSLATED)
RIPLEY (voice-over): North Korea boasting. Kim Jong-un declared with pride that now we have finally realized the great historic cause of completing
the state nuclear force. Also claiming the 23rd missile test of the Trump presidency, reconfirmed the safety of the warhead in the atmospheric re-
entry environment.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It is a situation that we will handle.
RIPLEY (voice-over): President Trump tweeting Wednesday, just spoke to President Xi Jinping of China concerning the provocative actions of North
Korea. Additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today. This situation will be handled.
JOHN KIRBY, FORMER PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: I see the president's response, at least I hope to see it, as a sign that he is stepping in line,
more in line with his national security team.
RIPLEY (voice-over): The Chinese leader giving no indication he is willing to take any action that would destabilize Kim Jong-un's government,
recently sending its special envoy and even a gift to the North Korean leader.
A North Korean official telling CNN, diplomacy with the U.S. is off the table for now until Pyongyang fully demonstrate its nuclear capabilities
including a possible above ground thermonuclear test. A threat first made by North Korea's foreign minister in September, reiterated by a senior
diplomat in Pyongyang last month.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Should the world prepare for North Korea to detonate a nuclear device above ground?
RI YONG PIL, SENIOR NORTH KOREAN OFFICIAL (through translator): The foreign minister is very well aware of the intentions of our supreme leader, so I
think you should take his words literally.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Analysts have accused
[08:15:00] North Korea of bluster, saying the nation risks absolute destruction if it goes to war with the U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey
Graham telling CNN's Wolf Blitzer this.
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: If we have to go to war to stop this, we will.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Each provocation pushes Trump closer to one of the most critical presidential decisions since the end of World War II. Accept
North Korea as a nuclear power or take action that risks triggering a military conflict with potentially unthinkable consequences.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY: Although with the kind of names that are being thrown around back and forth, North Koreans calling President Trump a mad dog or frightened
dog, President Trump calling Kim Jong-un a sick puppy and continuing to use that nickname little rocket man, sometimes it feels more like grade school
than a nuclear crisis.
But in fact, this is a serious situation with real weapons and a real risk, especially here in South Korea where they are worried about what could
happen in the lead up to the winter Olympics in PyeongChang just over two months from now.
LU STOUT: Yes, appreciate your reporting on the real threat that this is posing. Will Ripley reporting live for us from Seoul. Thank you.
Turning now to the sexual harassment scandal, that is one of America's most popular morning new shows reeling. The former host of NBC's "Today" show
Matt Lauer is speaking out now about the accusations against him. He says that he is truly sorry for the pain he has caused others. He also says that
some of what is being said is untrue or mischaracterized. That statement made after multiple women have come forward to accuse Lauer of sexual
harassment.
Joining me now to talk about the latest reports as well as Lauer's reaction to them is our Brian Stelter in New York. Brian, Matt Lauer has finally
responded. He is apologizing, but also saying that, you know, something is also being mischaracterized here. Just walk us through the statement.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes, he's not giving details on what he says is inaccurate. But he did time his statement right to the
top of the the "Today" show. He wanted to express his remorse to his former viewers. To the millions of fans who have loved Washington for 20 years and
are now shocked by the allegations. Here is a part of what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE, CO-ANCHOR, THE TODAY SHOW: This is a sad morning here at "Today" and at NBC News.
STELTER (voice-over): Alarming new allegations of sexual misconduct emerging against Matt Lauer. A former NBC employee telling The New York
Times that in 2001, Lauer summoned her to his office, locked the door, and sexually assaulted her. She says she never reported the incident because
she felt ashamed and feared losing her job.
Variety magazine also reporting accounts from three women who say Lauer harassed them. One said the veteran "Today" show anchor gave her a sex toy
and then detailed in a note how he wanted to use it on her. Another employee said he exposed himself in his office and then reprimanded her for
not engaging in a sexual act.
Current and former employee telling Variety that Lauer was fixated on women, especially their bodies and looks, and was known for making lewd
comments verbally or over text messages. The big question is, who knew what, when? Variety quoted several staffers who said they tried to alert
executives about Lauer's behavior.
In response to that, NBC says, we can say unequivocally that prior to Monday night, current NBC News management was never made aware of any
complaints about Matt Lauer's conduct. NBC has known for weeks that damaging stories were coming.
In a staff memo, NBC News chief Andy Lack eluded to this, saying on Wednesday, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have
been an isolated incident. On Monday night, a female NBC employee and her attorney met with NBC's HR and detailed "egregious act of sexual harassment
and misconduct."
A source telling CNN the behavior began in 2014 at Sochi Olympics and continued after that assignment. That accuser is remaining anonymous as
other women speaking to Variety and The New York Times. For now, NBC's handling of the official complaint against Lauer is getting praise from the
accuser's attorney.
He writes, our impression at this point is that NBC acted quickly and responsibly. It is our hope that NBC will continue to do what it can to
repair the damage done to my client, their employee, and to any other women who may come forward.
Just two months ago, Lauer grilled Bill O'Reilly, who was also fired when multiple sexual harassment allegations surfaced against the former Fox News
host, allegations that O'Reilly denies.
MATT LAUER, FORMER HOST, THE TODAY SHOW: Think about those five women and what they did. They came forward and filed complaints against the biggest
star at the network they work at. Think of how intimidating that must have been, how nerve-racking that must have been. Doesn't that tell you how
strongly they felt about the way they were treated by you?
STELTER (voice-over): Now, the Lauer floodgates may just be opening, even as his former morning show family tries to move on.
AL ROKER, WEATHER ANCHOR, THE TODAY SHOW: Still dealing with the news of our friend of 30 years, and we're all trying to process it.
GUTHRIE: We are grappling
[08:20:00] with a dilemma that so many people have faced this past few weeks. How do you reconcile your love for someone with the revelation that
they have behaved badly?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
STELTER: Hard moment for his former co-hosts. Hard questions for NBC. And now we do have word from Lauer. Here's a part of his statement that was
just released. He says, there are no words to express my sorrow and regret for the pain I have caused others by words and actions. To the people I
have hurt, I am truly sorry.
He went on to say, some of what is being said about me is untrue or mischaracterized. But there is enough truth in these stories to make me
feel embarrassed and ashamed.
Kristie, Matt Lauer now saying his full time is to reckon with the pain he has caused and to try to repair some of the damage.
LU STOUT: Yes, Matt Lauer responded. As you put it, the floodgates are open. And this comes after the announcement of John Lasseter's leave at
Pixar, Charlie Rose's termination at CBS and PBS. Overnight, Garrison Keillor at Minnesota Public Radio. Is the entire industry asking, why is
this happening, especially with big popular male media stars?
STELTER: Yes, we are seeing this reckoning not just in the media industry, certainly in other power centers as well. Bu I think the concentration
right now on New York and Los Angeles, entertainment and news power centers, because of the allegations against Lauer, against Charlie Rose.
Last week, you know, John Lasseter took a six-month leave of absence from Pixar. It's a slightly different response than what NBC did by firing
Lauer. In each of these cases, the allegations are distinct. The responses from the companies have been distinct. But there are some obvious
similarities here.
Corporate America wants to be seen as doing the right thing and taking allegations of sexual misconduct very seriously. Nobody wants to be on the
wrong side of history here.
LU STOUT: No, absolutely not. Appreciate your reporting all along. Brian Stelter reporting live for us from New York. Thank you.
You're watching "News Stream." Still on the program, we are still monitoring Pope Francis and his visit to the region. He has arrived in
Bangladesh today after that closely watched trip to Myanmar. And there, he brought a message of healing and compassion. But it's what he didn't say
that sparked an outcry.
Also ahead, we got new signs that U.S.-Russia investigation is focusing on fired national security adviser Michael Flynn. The special counsel's team
interviewed Jared Kushner. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: All right. Coming to you live from Hong Kong. You're back watching "News Stream."
Now, a shocking scene at an international criminal court in the Hague. A former Croatian general died after swallowing what was suspected to be
poison, while the judge upheld
[08:25:00] his 20-year sentence for war crimes. Seventy-two-year-old Slobodan Praljak shouted "I am rejecting your verdict with contempt" before
tilting his head back and drinking from a small glass bottle. (INAUDIBLE) former Bosnian Croat leader was found guilty of war crimes and crimes
against humanity during the Bosnian war.
Pope Francis is in Bangladesh after wrapping up a three-day trip to Myanmar. He met with officials in Myanmar including de facto leaddr Aung
San Suu Kyi. The pope has called for divisions to be healed through forgiveness and compassion. But he faces some criticism for not mentioning
Myanmar's Rohingya minority by name.
More than 600,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar and enter Bangladesh saying that they are victims of brutal atrocities in Rakhine State. In
Bangladesh's capital, the pope is scheduled to meet with a small group of Rohingya refugees.
Maung Zarni is a long-time human rights activist. He is a non-resident fellow with the Cambodia Genocide Documentation Center. I asked him earlier
for his reaction to the pope's visit to Myanmar.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAUNG ZARNI, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST, CAMBODIA GENOCIDE DOCUMENTATION CENTER: The Burmese people do not need pope to be told to be tolerant. And because
we are supposed to rest on the foundation of Buddhism, which is about universal compassion and kindness and tolerance. And so I think Burma is
way past this like, you know, gentle people talk of tolerance and peace. I mean, this is not going to work.
LU STOUT (on camera): Maung Zarni, a question about you, because you are a very passionate activist and defender of Rohingya Muslim rights. You
yourself are a Burmese national. You are Buddhist. And does that make you an enemy of the state in Myanmar?
ZARNI: You know, I am not a defender of Rohingyas. I am a defender of human beings. There's a difference between fighting for the rights of Rohingya
and standing up for the humans that are completely innocent and vulnerable and being slaughtered or put in a genocidal condition.
LU STOUT (on camera): We know that Bangladesh recently signed a deal with Myanmar for the return of the Rohingya. What do you believe would happen to
them if they were to go back to Myanmar?
ZARNI: I mean, this is ridiculous. I mean, it is beyond imagination. I understand that Bangladesh has shown tremendous compassion particularly
Bangladeshi people. You know, I truly appreciate it as a Burmese person. I also understand the difficulty and the dilemmas that Bangladesh government
is confronted with.
So, I think this is the time that the international community step up to the plate, call a spade by spade. This is a genocide. And genocide requires
the international community to step in, to intervene, to stop it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: That was Zarni, a Burmese activist and fellow with Cambodia Genocide Documentation Center.
Still ahead right here on "News Stream," after CNN's exclusive report on Libya slave trade, world leaders take action. We got details from the E.U.
Africa Summit next.
Also ahead, scientists race to save one of the most ecosystems in the world. Australia's great barrier reef. I am going to show you how they're
bringing it new life.
[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream." These are your world headlines.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan says U.S. President Donald Trump is not welcome the U.K. at all. These comments are the latest in an escalating diplomatic spat
between the U.K. and U.S., prompted by Mr. Trump's Twitter activity. He re- tweeted three videos originally posted by the extreme anti-Muslim group "Britain First."
Experts say new images released by North Korea's state media show major advances in its missile technology. On Wednesday, the regime launched an
ICBM it says can reach anywhere on the U.S. mainland. An emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley warned Pyongyang
is bringing the world closer to war. She urged all nations to cut ties with the regime.
Now, fired NBC host Matt Lauer is responding to sexual harassment claims leveled against him. In a statement released a short time ago, he says he
is sorry for the pain he has caused. And he goes on to say that some of the reports about him are untrue and mischaracterized. But there is enough
truth to make him embarrassed and ashamed.
There are new signs the special counsel's Russia investigation is zeroing in former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. (INAUDIBLE) by CNN,
senior Trump adviser Jared Kushner, also the president's son-in-law, met earlier this month with special counsel Robert Mueller's team.
Our justice correspondent Evan Perez joins us from Washington with more on the story. Evan, Jared Kushner met with special counsel Mueller about
Michael Flynn. What was the nature of that conversation?
EVAN PEREZ, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. We have been anticipating this testimony that occurred earlier this month in early
November. And we are told that it took place about 90 minutes -- it took about 90 minutes of conversation with the special prosecutor Robert
Mueller's team, and it largely focused on Michael Flynn.
You remember that Michael Flynn was fired just in the early days of the Trump administration. And Kushner and Flynn worked very closely together,
both during the transition, before President Trump took office, and then in the early days of the administration.
We're told that a lot of the conversation had to do with whether or not Kushner may have any information that could exonerate Flynn. A lot of
speculation recently. A lot of activity indicating that perhaps there might be a plea agreement in the works between Michael Flynn and the special
counsel, Kristie.
LU STOUT: And what is Kushner's lawyer saying about this and what does this mean for Michael Flynn?
PEREZ: Well, for Michael Flynn, it means -- it appears to show that there is this effort by the special counsel to perhaps bring charges or perhaps
reach some kind of agreement whereby he would plead guilty to some crimes. We did get a statement from Abbe Lowell, Kushner's attorney, and he says we
have a little bit of it here.
He says Mr. Kushner has voluntarily cooperated with all relevant inquiries and will continue to do so. The bottom line for Kushner is that he has got
all these questions being asked not only by the special counsel but also by the congressional committees that are pressing him to provide additional
information.
LU STOUT: And will Kushner after cooperating again, could he be called back to special counsel Mueller and his team another time?
PEREZ: Absolutely. This is not just a one-time thing. For sure, it doesn't necessarily mean it's a one-time thing. It is very likely and very possible
that they will have additional questions. Again, a 90-minute interview probably doesn't cover all of the territory. And we're told they're asked
to come back for more questions. Kushner is willing to do that, Kristie.
LU STOUT: All right. Perez, I appreciate each and every update with the ongoing Russia probe. Thank you.
Now, global outrage following CNN's exclusive report on the slave trade in Libya. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, says the U.N., the E.U., and
Africa have now agreed to act with extreme urgency. Repatriate migrants from Libya to their country of origin. Mr. Macron was speaking at the E.U.
African Summit in Ivory Coast.
CNN's Melissa Bell is there. She joins us live from Abidjan. Melissa, you pushed the question directly to the French president for his response to
the slave trade in Libya. What did he tell you?
[08:35:00] MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: He expressed once again his outrage. And once again, Kristie, he was concerned, this constituted a
clear crime against humanity. His argument is that you have to use the words not because it's about apportioning blame, but because it's about
action. And really what we've seen here over the course of the last couple of days is that outrage turned to action.
As a result of the meeting that was called by Emmanuel Macron last night with African, European, and United Nations leaders, what you are going to
see over the next few days in Libya is the international office migration going in with the help of those three institutions to try and reach out to
those migrants who are currently trapped in detention centers to give them the option of going home.
The other thing that's been announced of that meeting is the task force that will go into the country with military and police means although the
details remain fairly sketchy for the time being to try to find those traffickers responsible for trading of human being that were so
spectacularly exposed by CNN's investigation.
And I think one of the most interesting things has been watching these 80 something heads of governments in state meeting here in Abidjan, Africans
and Europeans, and hearing the sense of outrage, particularly from leaders of sub-Saharan Africa. Have a listen to what the Ghana president had to
tell us yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANA AKUFO-ADDO, PRESIDENT OF GHANA: We have to find a way of sanctioning states who permit such things to happen. It is completely unacceptable.
Yes, these are people, perhaps in your country (INAUDIBLE), trying to get across to Europe, caught them.
Well, send them back. Send them back. And not send them through that kind of experience. It's disgraceful. It's shameful. And I think the
denunciation of it from us, on the continent has not been as strong as it should be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BELL: And yes, it has probably gone farther than many expected it to go, Kristie, over the course of the last couple of days. We're expecting later
the official declaration to be published at the end of the summit. Not only the ordinary one that explains what's been achieved, but a specific
separate one on the question of slavery. Many countries especially those south of the Sahara have really been pushing for the wording of that
declaration to be as strong as it can and to reflect really that global sense of outrage.
I'm told that it will be extremely strong referring to crimes against humanity and war crimes. So you have seen strong words coming out of the
summit but also concrete action. I think that is probably more than most had hoped for as they began to meet here in Abidjan yesterday morning,
Kristie.
LU STOUT: Yes, absolutely. Very, very encouraging to see this strong international condemnation as well as action being taken to crack down on
the slave trade and slave auction in Libya after CNN's exclusive reporting on that. Melissa Bell reporting live from Abidjan. Thank you.
You're watching "News Stream." Coming up, the holidays are ahead. Some of you may get some new tech toys. But what's going to happen to your old
device? And how is that growing pile of high-tech waste going to affect us all?
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Welcome back. Now, most of us are increasingly dependent on technology in our daily lives. That means we throw away a lot of devices.
In fact, next year, it's estimated that there will be staggering 50 million tons of new electronic waste. But, what if we just repair our devices
instead of replacing them?
[08:40:00] Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are increasingly surrounded by small electrical and electronics which fill every function in our daily life. We're so used to
just using them that we don't realize the gigantic environmental impact that just one mobile phone have. My name is (INAUDIBLE), and I inspire
people to repair their broken electrical so that we can reduce electronic waste and save the planet's resources.
Restart is really about fixing our relationship with electronics so that we are transformed by way of repairing. We have witnessed with our own eyes,
in other parts of the world, that people can fix things and products are given an extra lease of life just by applying a bit more patience and
skills and not just giving up when the first problem arises.
A Restart Party is a community event where volunteers with technical background share their skills by collaboratively repairing with
participants. So taking products apart, identifying fault, and trying to find the solution. It's a (INAUDIBLE) towards repairing, reusing, upcycling
at times things, and really thinking of a world where throw away no longer needs to exist as a word.
E-waste for electrical waste that is made of all the products that have either a battery or a plug that people tend to accumulate and when they
stop working or they no longer need them, often just keep them somewhere, because frankly, it is really hard to know what to do with them. People
think that components might be reused, but actually that is very rarely the case.
That is why ultimately, our message is that the most ethical product is the one you already have in your pocket and that is the (INAUDIBLE) that you
will ever have. The resources of the earth are finite and every time we can avoid an unnecessary manufacture of a product, we're contributing to making
the earth a better place.
TEXT: It takes 12,760 liters of water to make a smart phone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I always get inspired when there is some eureka moment, when you hear the sound of a motor maybe of a vacuum cleaner work again.
People start clapping and collectively cheering the act of repair. Restart wants to be a platform for change. And even a small act of repair as a
community event is a reminder that we have a strong potential for a really big impact.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: I like that. Repair before you recycle. And that is "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. But don't go anywhere, "World Sport" with
Christina Macfarlane is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)
END
