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Trump Prepares for First SOTU; FBI McCabe Forced Out? Aired 8-9a ET
Aired January 30, 2018 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, ANCHOR, CNN: .New Stream. His debut State of the Union. President Trump is here to take stock of his first year in power in a
matter of hours.
Resignation. Another official overseeing the Russia probe is out, he made suggestions he may have been pressured to step down and he discovered how
data from a fitness app can show sensitive military activity. We speak to the 20-year-old student who uncovered it.
We are just hours away from President Trump's first State of the Union Address, the highly anticipated speech American Presidents deliver each
year before Congress. Mister Trump is expected to focus on the booming us economy, but concerns over the Russian investigation threatened to
overshadow the occasion.
Meanwhile, the house intelligence committee has voted to release a classified memo, which alleges FBI wrongdoing. Now, there is plenty to
cover here CNN's Abby Phillip brings us the very latest.
ABBY PHILLIP,CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The House Intelligence Committee voting along party lines to publicly release a secret partisan
memo spearheaded by Trump ally Devin Nunes accusing the nation's top law enforcement agency of abusing its surveillance authority. Committee
Republicans ignoring the Justice Department's stern warning that releasing the memo without agency review could be extraordinarily reckless.
Criticism that CNN has learned enrage President Trump aboard Air Force One last week.
The four-page memo is based on classified intelligence from the Justice Department that Nunes and the majority of the committee have reportedly not
even seen.
(VIDEOCLIP STARTS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've seen the memo.
DEVIN NUNES, REPRESENTATIVE CALIFORNIA: I have.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have not seen the intelligence that it is based on?
NUNES: We're not permitted to see that.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But doesn't that concern you that something with so heady that is so provocative and you do not get a chance to see where this.
Nunes: That's why I said it should be footnoted and cited, but that is not the choice, the committee made. I do think the memo will speak for itself.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
PHILLIP: The House Intelligence Committee also voting against releasing a democratic memo rebutting the allegations, insisting they are following
protocol.
(VIDEOCLIP STARTS)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why not release them both at the same time?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, the H didn't get a chance to look at that at the minority report, nor have we. We voted to -- just sent to the house and we
need to read it as well.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
PHILLIP: The decision prompting scathing criticism from democrats.
(VIDEOCLIP STARTS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They had crossed from dangerously and recklessly dealing with intelligence to a cover-up of an investigation that they do
not want the American people to see come to fruition. This is a continuation of the effort to protect the President's side push out a
misleading narrative selectively declassify information.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
PHILLIP: Ranking member Adam Schiff, telling reporters that Republicans refused an invitation from the FBI Director Christopher Wray to brief the
committee and expressed his concerns about the memo, the extraordinary move coming hours after the abrupt resignation of Andrew McCabe. It comes after
months of withering criticism from the President and his allies over McCabe's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation and political
donations. his wife received from a super pack associated with the Clinton ally.
(VIDEOCLIP STARTS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Should McCabe go?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, McCabe got more than $500,000.00 from essentially Hillary Clinton and is he investigating Hillary Clinton?
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
PHILLIP: Last week, CNN learned that Attorney General Jeff Sessions pressuredDirector Wray to fire McCabe at the President's urging -- a
charge. Mister Trump denies. A source tells CNN that Wray recently told McCabe he is bringing in his own team that McCabe would not be a part of,
prompting McCabe to leave ahead of his expected retirement in March Wray is suggesting an email to FBI staff at an upcoming inspector general
report played a role in McCabe's decision.
(VIDEOCLIP STARTS)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If the President wasn't a part of this decision- making process and we would refer you to the FBI.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
STOUT: That was Abby Phillip reporting, we will hear from her again little bit later in The Hour but adding to the chaos over the memo, Deputy FBI
Director in Andrew McCabe resigned just weeks before his planned retirement, he was one of those overseeing parts of the Russian
investigation. Here is a look at who is left to look over the Russian investigation. Now, this is the Russia probe of course the eye of
President Trump not McCabe and his former boss Dr. James Comey, they are both out. Comey responded to McCabe's surprise resignation on twitter
saying that McCabe stood tall when small people try to tear down the institution we all depend on. Questions are also being raised about the
Trump Administration's decision not to further sanction Russia under 2017 law designed to punish Russia for meddling in the U.S. elections.
The U.S. Treasury Department has compiled a list of prominent Russian business and political figures, but the white house is stopping short of
imposing any additional sanctions still. Russia is furious that the list was made in the first place. Let's get the latest now from Fred Pleitgen.
He turns us now live from Moscow and Fred tell more about this furious reaction to the list. Again,this is the list of Senior Russian officials
and oligarchs with close ties to the Kremlin.
(VIDEOCLIP STARTS)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, GERMAN JOURNALIST, CORRESPONDENT CNN INTERNATIONAL: Yes, and it's exactly that. You know, there are many names on there from the
Russian government, including many names from Russia's Presidential Administration and also for instance the Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is
on that list. The spokesman for President Vladimir Putin is on that list as well.Dmitry Peskov. And you're absolutely right; there has been a
furious reaction to that list. In fact, the Russian President Putin himself gave a very lengthy answer at an event so that he was just asked --
really the deriving this list, calling it a hostile act saying that it would further damage relations between the United States and Russia also
saying that he believes that this list is the product of people who wanted to damage President Trump rather than damage the Russians.
So, we see that pattern that we've seen from the Russians in the past with a criticized a lot of American policy, sort of to try to take present Trump
out of that criticism to a certain extent. One of the interesting things the President Putin said he said there would be no tit-for-tat reactions
from the Russians. So while that anger is there, we're probably not going to see any countermeasures by the Russians, but this is certainly a list
that is troubling a lot of the oligarchs, especially here in this country that while this does not include any new sanctions or does not make him a
target of any new sanctions just yet, a lot of the believe that they could be targeted by sanctions in the future, and that even being on this list
could make it more difficult for them to conduct international business, and especially international banking, Christie.
STOUT: Yes, diversions -- no retaliation but they do have that angry reaction as you mentioned when the Trump Administration decided to not go
ahead and start new sanctions on Russia. I mean why are they still upset here?
PLEITGEN: Yes, it seems a bit paradoxical on the face of it. On one hand the State Department came out yesterday and said there would be no new
sanctions against the entities that do business with Russian defense intelligence that corporation but the same time you have this angry
reaction now by the Russians to a list that really does not incorporate any new sanctions. I think there are really two reasons for it and one of them
is what I've just described -- is that fear that the -- a lot of them where very wealthy business people here in this country have about what all this
could entail in the future. But then also there was one thing that for instance the President's Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He
said,"Essentially, what this list does, it makes the Russian government, all of it, appear to the United States as though it is a hostile actor as
though it is an enemy state that the U.S. is dealing with and that's really rubbed a lot of politicians here, at least the teams, the wrong way,
Vladimir Putin, for instance, in that event I was talking about -- he was saying look, he does not think this is necessarily only aimed at the
oligarchs. He said he thinks it is aimed at all Russians at all 146 million Russians who are out there.
So, there is a bit of that, there certainly is a lot of anger, but there is also the in some circles here at least an effort to try and brush all this
off to say, "Look, this does not include any new sanctions." This is not really anything new, at least not at this point time you certainly do see a
lot of the concern among many, many wealthy Russians at that list coming out in the very early morning hours of Today, Christie.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
STOUT: Fred Pleitgen, reporting live from Moscow, thank you. Now, ahead of Present Trump's speech, he has been dealing with a major foreign-policy
challenge,"How to end America's longest war" on Monday. Mister Trump rejected the idea of peace talks with the Taliban after a series of deadly
attacks across Afghanistan. The terror group then released a statement saying this American invaders and their supporters use peace as mere
rhetoric while their true strategy is war and continuation of occupation, but the acting spokesman for the Afghan President says,"Even though the
Taliban have crossed redlines," he says, "The government seeks peace from battlegrounds."
Now it's time to bring in our Senior International correspondent Nick Paton Walsh, he joins us live from Kabul and Trump, he could he may declare his
new war strategy during the State of the Union Address but what can he announce to finally finish this war?
NICK PATON WALSH, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT WITH CNNIt's very hard to know really. They've tried everything and now the 17th year to quell
the insurgency here in Afghanistan,but this latest issue of peace talks is going to happen or not is key, because really if you look at the U.S.
policy over the last years it is all being dependent on submitting the Taliban to so much violence. They choose to come to the political table to
put them back on the battlefield, so they choose to actually talk. There has been no real sign of that, frankly.
Certainly, in recent years the Taliban more extremist than they ever have been but Donald Trump to say off the recent violence here in Kabul, it
killed well over 100 and still leave -- the city was done and now the sense of dread every morning. And for him to say that talks are off the table
for now. Understandably, perhaps that'sbeing backed up by the Afghan government saying the Taliban have crossed redlinesyou said and have to see
peace on the battlefield. That's certainly fine to talk, let's let the Taliban disable the shows the true warmongering nature of the Trump
Administration.
Frankly, this is no change to the reality here. This is a city which is reeling, as I said from unprecedented levels of attacks in just one-
weekISIS and the Taliban appearing to compete to be the most brutal and savage, and still a sense of edge every hour here, but be fact that actual
negotiations are no longer something people think may even possibly be part of the imminent future strategy is deeply troubling because it plunges a
country already on the terrible spiral down into a much sharper decline, Christie.
STOUT: Yes, Afghanistan is bleeding,Afghanistan is declining. You mentioned the attacks over the last week that have killed well over a
hundred people. ISIS and the Taliban, they are growing. Why is it that victory is so elusive there in Afghanistan?
WALSH: Well partly because this is a nation where -- sadly war has, you might argue become one of the more predominant industries here. It's an
incredibly a poor country where the insurgency has often been a way of life for many people who see little else in rural areas. The Americans too have
provided a lot of backing and ammunition and arms to those Afghans, we fight along theirside. So, you have sort of after well over a decade of
intense insurgency here, I'm three decades with Taliban fighting two heavily armed sides who believe genuinely, they might be able to find a
military solution here or at lease use a military solution to put people towards the negotiating table.
And also, now, the Taliban facing internal competition for recruits for younger generation from ISIS-K Khorasan, it is known here ISIS lost ground
in Syria and Iraq. But they found foothold here and maybe behind some of the more savage attacks. But bear in mind, a year ago in March, an ISIS
attack on a hospital, here a military hospital where some of the Taliban rushed to disown unless we can -they used an ambulance as a suicide car
bomb. So it is clear that their tactics are changing, perhaps becoming certainly more brutal, but to also America's involvement here isn't
slowing. Donald Trump is good to send hundreds more Americans here. Some are already over the frontline to train Afghan soldiers, and at the same
time too, his strategy perhaps involves a little less transparency.
One of the key indicators of success which President Trump was placed to pursue and obtain here was how Afghan soldiers and police and Police are
dying on the battlefield, but information is now classified. America says, at the request of the Afghan government, there has been some confusion too
about the transparency of how much territory is controlled at the moment. I should point out, figures we just received from American Forces here,
shows a slight rise in just two months last year between August and October of the number of districts that the Taliban actually controlled. It was
14% as of October last year. Things are not going well and American involvement is again increasing and very high stakes for those in this
capital which used to be the safe sanctuary in Afghanistan, Christie.
STOUT: Yes, and the Taliban presence as you report is growing, Nick Paton Walsh reporting live for CNN Kabul, thank you.
Afghanistan is just one of many issues weighing on the Trump Administration ahead of his State of the Union. Abby Phillip, joins me now live from
Washington for more analysis ahead of this big speech. And Abby this is going to be President Trump's very first State of the Union. He faces many
problems. The conflict in Afghanistan, a presence he mired in scandal, political discord in this country. What is does he need to do with this
speech.
PHILLIP: Well, Kristie, the President's speech today is going to be all about sort of setting out an objective for the next year that involves the
continuation of some of the economic growth that he is going to be touting in this speech tonight. The President's objective is at this point, to
sort of not stop on his own message with the State of the Union Address.
He often has a lot of controversy surrounding him in Washington and this address they are going try to really focus on the policy agenda, focus on
the economy, they are going to be talking a little bit about the President's ideas when it comes to immigration, and of course on the war on
terror and also the efforts to push back against the drug problem in the United States. So,a lot of things on the President's agenda but I think
most of all, what the White House wants to accomplish is the sense of optimism on the part of the American people that he has fulfilled his
promise of making America great again.
STOUT: Yes, this is going to be a "my-guess speech"an optimistic speech Trump's political baseis going to love it but he has his approval rating
below 40%. So, will President Trump attempt to use his prime-timeState of Union Address to appeal to the rest of the nation?
PHILLIP: Well, that certainly is one of the objectives here. I think the White House is very much aware that the President's personal disapproval is
one of the main forces driving his administration downward in the eyes of the public and at the same time, you know, the President is going to be
reading from a speech today and I think that one of the things that often happens is that they make this -- they are going to make the speech as
normal as possible that -- making it seem very much as if a lot of the other controversies that have surrounded him -- the Twitter antics and
other things are not nearly as important. So, this is a White House that really wants this to be -- in some ways almost mundane, sort of different
kind of Trump than the one that often the American public sees, and in some cases dislikes when it comes to his temperament more so than the policies.
STOUT: Got it, Abby Phillip giving us the preview, thank you. And you can watch Mister Trump's speech. You can get expert analysis from our
reporters and contributors. Be sure to tune in to our special coverage of The State of the Union, it all begins Tuesday 8 PM in New York. That is
Wednesday 9 AM in the morning in Hong Kong.
Straightahead, right here on News Stream, a mock inauguration in Kenya of the country's opposition leader may be courting charges of treason. I'm
going to take you live to Nairobi. Also, ahead, a rare look inside Yemen's civil war, we'll take you to front lines and inside a tunnel system
recently taken from the rebels.
All right, coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back. This is News Stream. RailaOdinga is now Kenya's self-declared people's President. Now,
thousands of his supporters gathered in the capital as the opposition leader held this month swearing in Odinga lost a Presidential bid last year
and boycotted a second vote. Now, let's get right to CNN's Farai Sevenzo, who joins us in Nairobi. Farai, a significant turn out today in UhuruPark,
what's the latest from the scene?
FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh yes, you're right, very, very massive crowds Christie, about thousands and thousands of people is what we would
estimate and that he has -- he went in as soon as he reached the podium. He then swore himself in to this position of the people's President. Now
let me just grab you the exact words he used. He said that, "I,RailaOdinga, in full realization of the high calling of the office. I
do swear myself in as the people's President." And he has committed himself to uphold to the Kenyan Constitution. Now, this is in direct
defiance of the Government's call for him not to do this. And of course, the reaction of the government itself has been far from normal, it is quite
unprecedented that just this morning, some of the main television stations, you're talking about Citizen TV, KTN, suddenly went blackout because they
were trying to cover this unprecedented new chapter in Kenya's brittle and pretentious history, Christie.
STOUT: And Farai, why the media is down here, is this protest really seen as a threat to President Kenyatta?
SEVENZO: I suppose is you were to look back of why it is that these two men cannot seem to sit down and dialogue and talk to dissolve this
(inaudible), it's hardly a thread, because, you know, after all, Mister Kenyatta has already won the Presidency. He has been declared by the
Kenyan Supreme Court as the ruling true president and he is now completely playing to the agenda of the opposition. We've been following this protest
for ongoing times. Now remember this swearing is not just about January the 30th.
Mr. Odinga has been trying to do this ever since he declared the October polls un-free and unfair and he boycotted that and he does not believe in
the legitimacy of Mister Kenyatta's current presidential term because even though he got 98% of the vote only 39% of voters turned out to vote for
him. So, sways of people across the coast in the western cities of Kisumu, simply didn't vote and Mr. Odinga is saying how you can then be the
President and he wasn't. Uproot and branch reforms of the electoral system, now that is why we are so surprised that even Mr. Kenyatta in his
final term should suddenly take this absolutely draconian step of shutting down the local TV stations.
We are allowed to broadcast to you, but local Kenyans who are trying to see what was going on their country. They have to resort to the internet and
social media and this is also with the President who as we learned for quite a while now, as a digital president who is fully aware about how
tech-savvy the Kenyans are and that any news that is being blacked out will surely get out there somehow.
STOUT: Such a deep, deep political divide remains here in Kenya where after last year's controversial election, Frias Sevenzo reporting for us
live from Nairobi, thank you.
Now, the three-year civil war in Yemen, it is showing no signs of letting up. Government forces and southern separatists used to be on the same
side, allied against the Houthis, now they are battling each other for the Port of City of Aden on the southern tip of Yemen. Meanwhile, the Saudi-
led coalition is trying to take the capital Sanaa from Houthi rebels and in a rare move, government troops backed by Saudi Arabia have allowed CNN to
go to that front line.
Now, CNN was the first international news team to get this access. Nick Robertson reports.
(VIDEOTAPE STARTS)
NICK ROBERTSON, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Yemeni government soldiers are taking us to the front line. It's a bone-crunching slog up mountains just outside
the capital Sanaa.
This part of the mountain is so steep. We've had to get out of the truck and walk up. We're over 2,000 meters, more than 6,000 feet up in the
mountains.
The fight to get here is grinding and unforgiving as the terrain. We passed camps feet wide, clinging to the rock face.
The Yemini military is putting on a big show for us here, a lot of soldiers out in force. We've pashed Katyusha rockets at the side of the road. This
soldier has a message for the Houthis, he tells me he is going to come and kill them. Send them to hell he said.
He has good reason to be cheerful. In recent months, the Yemeni army has been gaining ground. Eighty-five percent of the country's territory, now
with the elected government. Only 15% with Houthi rebels.
Along the way, we pass a large Houthi military base destroyed during Saudi- led coalition airstrikes. The Houthis are still close. Soldiers hurry to show us a discovery they have made.
Even though the whole base was destroyed by airstrikes, the Houthis were hiding out in a tunnel here. It goes 25 meters, 25 yards in to the
mountain. The soldiers are going to show us in.
They lead us deeper inside, past bedding and tables.
It's rigged up for lighting as well. There is a battery here, an inverter, so that they could run their equipment and it keeps going deeper and deeper
into the mountain. It's huge.
Inside here, the Houthis set out the coalition air strikes and it is what makes the Houthis a tough target today.
It is incredibly complex here. Breakouts all the way along for different sleeping areas, we're past a kitchen area, more sleeping areas up here. It
is a very, very sophisticated cave system built here.
After several hours, we finally emerge at the top, looking down towards the capital. We're keeping low here because we have been told the Houthis
might be able to see us from the valley below. We've been told we're about 10 miles, 16 kilometers from the capital Sanaa. Maybe double that to the
center of the city. But being close doesn't make the battle any easier.
It's wind swept and desolate, but vital to push the Houthis from the capital and retake control of the country.
Okay, Sanaa airport is just down there. So, I can see a small town down here and the Houthi in this town?
The commander in charge up here tells me he plans to hold this high ground, that he does not want to send troops into the capital because he wants to
avoid civilian casualties, but he and the coalition that back him were accused by the UN and others of not doing enough to prevent civilian
casualties.
In the safety of his command post, a cave cut into the mountainside, he explains more.
With a little more equipment, we could take the capital in a week, he says, but that is a decision for our political leaders. We won't take it and
pillage it like the Houthis.
Until that decision comes, these soldiers will be toughing it out on the mountaintop, toiling up and down these tortuous tracks.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
STOUT: And that was our Nick Robertson reporting. Our inside Yemen series continues with the look at the toll the war has taken on Yemen's youngest
soldiers.
(VIDEOCLIP STARTS)
ROBERTSON: Check this out, he's showing me, this is the gun truck. He used to drive his gun truck. This is you, the driver?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right, yes.
ROBERTSON: Sallo shows me a picture of him driving a rocket launcher. He was 13 at the time.
ROBERTSON: He's joking because he thought I was speaking Arabic.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
STOUT: And we will give you that report and look for more of our coverage all this week, right here on CNN.
To Ireland now, where voters will get their first chance in 35 years to weigh in on the country's strict abortion laws in late May. Now, the Irish
Cabinet approved the referendum on whether to repeal the 8th Amendment to the Irish constitution. It gives equal right to life of the mother and the
unborn child. Abortions are allowed in Ireland only when a woman's life is at risk.
The Prime Minister says that he backs a yes vote to repeal the 8th Amendment.
(VIDEOCLIP STARTS)
LEO VARADKAR, PRIME MINISTER, IRELAND: We know that thousands of Irish women, women from every single county in Ireland travel abroad for
abortions every year. We know that women obtain abortion pills through the post to end their pregnancies without any medical support or counseling or
supervision.
So, we already have abortion in Ireland, but it is unsafe, unregulated and unlawful and in my opinion, we cannot continue to export our problems and
import our solutions.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
STOUT: A recent Irish Times poll found 56% of Irish voters support changes in the abortion laws. In the US Senate, legislation making abortions
illegal after 20 weeks of pregnancy failed to move forward. The measure did not get the 60 votes needed to advance. President Trump supports the
legislation. The bill's sponsor, Lindsey Graham says it will eventually pass even if takes years.
Officials in Macau are concerned about sexual misconduct allegations against Wynn Resort founder, Steve Wynn. The casino mogul denies it, but
the resort is already hitting Wynn businesses in the wallet. Sherisse Pham has more.
SHERISSE PHAM, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: Investors are betting against Steve Wynn's Macau resorts and that's bad news because those resorts are the most
profitable part of Wynn casino empire. Shares in Wynn Macau down nearly 5% in Hong Kong today, following a drop of 6.5% yesterday. Now, that two-day
plunge has wiped more than $ 2 billion off the company's market value.
Now, this is all in reaction to a Wall Street Journal investigation which uncovered multiple sexual misconduct allegations against Steve Wynn going
back decades.
Wynn has denied the allegation. His company has opened an investigation into the matter and now, regulators here in China are saying they are
concerned about reports of Wynn's "involvement" in inappropriate behavior. Macau's gaming regulator, asking Wynn Macau for more information saying,
the government pays great attention to appropriate qualifications of gaming companies shareholders, board members and key employees.
Wynn Macau says it will fully cooperate with any request. Kristie?
STOUT: All right, Sherisse Pham there. You are watching News Stream. And still to come, he was the first to discover and share that fitness tracking
app, Strava was inadvertently revealing the locations of US military bases overseas. We'll hear from Nathan Ruser, next.
And turning ATMs into slot machines, a warning from the US State Department. Keep it here.
I'm Kristie Liu Stout in Hong Kong, you're watching News Stream and these are the world's headlines. The US President will deliver his first State
of the Union address in a matter of hours. Donald Trump is expected to focus on achievements during his first year like the booming economy. Mr.
Trump will also expand on his vision for immigration.
FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has stepped down just weeks before he was due to retire. The White House denies playing any role in the decision,
but President Trump has repeatedly criticized McCabe.
In Afghanistan, the acting spokesman for President Ghani says, "Taliban has crossed redlines and now they seek peace on the battlefield." The comment
comes after US President Donald Trump took the peace talks with the Taliban off the table. The last nine days, 130 have been killed in attacks.
Agence France-Presse reports separatists have surrounded the presidential palace in Aden, Yemen. The news agency says they control the main gate and
those inside are under house arrest. The separatists in the government were once on the same side, allied against the Houthie.
The Pentagon says it has alerted us Defense Secretary James Mattisover news that a fitness tracking app could have revealed sensitive US military
locations around the world. A spokesman said the Department of Defense is looking into tightening its wearables policy in light of the discovery and
US Central Command says it is refining its privacy policies.
Stravalets its users sync their wearables and upload their exercise data creating heat maps like this one. Only, a 20-year-old student noticed that
data uploaded by military users are lighting up US spaces on the maps as well. So, I asked Nathan Ruserhow do these maps catch his attention?
(VIDEOCLIP STARTS)
NATHAN RUSER, SECURITY AND MIDDLE EAST STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF AUSTRALIA: One of the US's partner forces in Syria, the Kurdish, the Syrian Democratic
Forces have controlled a large bit of territory in the northern part of Syria and along that base, one major highway that connects the western part
of their territory to the eastern part of their territory. Along that highway, there is four or five US bases that have been built in the last
few years and each one of the bases lit up very brightly.
STOUT: It is an incredible find and it's an incredibly sensitive find as well and before you decide to go ahead and share it with the world, did you
hesitate a bit?
RUSER: I did. I did. I posted it and then after a minute or so, took it down for a few minutes trying to work out if that is the best course of
action. I think that the map itself doesn't provide an acute security risk to personnel on the ground, but rather is a useful way to call about
needing to draw the line between personal convenience and operational security.
Some of the other developments that have come out since the maps being released and the maps being discovered have more worrying consequences for
immediate security of the personnel though.
STOUT: Yes, and I am really happy that you raise that question and also as you point out that this is not the only app of its kind that collects
massive amount of user data, and can also put it online for other people to see. What is the lesson learned here? The big take away for app makers
and for the intelligence community?
RUSER: I think the intelligence community and the military community especially needs to -- it needs to be a re-examination of the line made
between what is a good idea for the personnel convenience and the well- being of our soldiers fighting and the possible implication of these new technologies have.
So, for example, with these applications, this isn't the only one of its kind, but quite a major one. It's well-known that these applications are
used by the military in many occasions, they are encouraged to motivate their soldiers to physically train, so yes, the issue is definitely very
much one of understanding the implications and having mid to high-level commanders, making sure that the people on the ground that are using this
technology to track their fitness, understand the implications and understand the privacy concerns.
And I think one of the biggest challenges to people trying to research this is through open (inaudible) is the amount of time, you just have to scroll
through endless desert to look for something interesting and here, the app itself signpost you straight to the interesting things. So, it's a lot of
discoveries all across the world.
Some of the more interesting stuff, for example, is not always just in the military element of it. You've seen -- you can see a couple of smuggling
routes between Ecuador and Colombia or even a possible one between Mexico and the United States, but I think to me, one of the ones that stood out
the most is possibly the identification of CIA sites.
For example, there is a lot of activity around the building, which is being rumored to be the CIA site in Somalia.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
STOUT: Twenty-year-old student Nathan Ruserspeaking to me there. Now, Stravatold CNN that the company is committed to helping people better
understand its privacy settings, and that excludes activities that had been marked private or are in privacy zones.
The new president of Liberia, George Weah says that he is reducing his own salary by some 25%. The former football star was sworn in last week in the
country's first Democratic transfer power in more than 70 years, and he has stated that the public address on Monday. Weahsaid that he has taken a pay
cut to do his share in light of what he described as the country's broken economy.
You're watching News Stream. Still ahead, we're going to meet a couple who created a whimsical art world in the forest at the edge of Korean
peninsula.
Live from Hong Kong, welcome back. You're watching News Stream. Now, this week, CNN is exploring Gangwon province, the region in South Korea that is
hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics and we have this look at -- and involving art space on the eastern shore of the Korean peninsula. One couple areas
there who is creating bows about the work of local artists.
Isa Soares has more.
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ISA SOARES, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: The TaebaekMountains, skirting the eastern edge of the Korean peninsula and draped in forest. Amidst these dramatic
vistas, a show of whimsy in the coastal city of Gangneung.
CHOI OK-YOUNG, DIRECTOR, HASLLA ART WORLD: Gangneungis known for its beautiful mountains and see. After we bought this land, we wanted to find
a way to maximize the beauty of the place. So, that's why we decided to transform the entire area into a space for art.
The name Gangneung means river and hills, so I wanted wanted to make a space where I am drawing nature into every room.
SOARES: Artist couple Choi-OK-Young and Park Jin-Young designed old 61 acres of Haslla Art World from the sculpture park to colorful main
building.
Opened to the public in 2003, Haslla'scollection of paintings, sculptures and installation art features the work of local artists from
Gangwonprovince. One exhibit in particular, the Pinocchio gallery stems from Choi's fascination with lies.
YOUNG;The line itself starts with creativity and every line has a story. I wanted to create a space where today's artists can elaborate on the meaning
of the lies that we tell ourselves.
SOARES: As President and CEO, park Jin-Young says she wants Hasllato rival the art hubs of Europe and America.
YOUNG: With Haslla, I do have a new artistic society. I wanted to create a place for foreign artists to come visit rather than having local artists
go overseas.
SOARES: More than a museum, Hasllais also a hotel, 24 rooms, each designed with different concepts but unified by sweeping ocean view and beds
designed to resemble a mother's womb.
YOUNG: It's common for a hotel to have artwork, but it is more unusual to have an artist designthe entire space. We wanted everything in our hotel
room like the furniture and props to reflect the harmony between nature, people and art.
SOARES: Haslla is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for the artist couple. It's a never unfolding dream, a vision of a place where both art
and nature surrounds you, and where the mountains are adorned with fantasy. Isa Soares, CNN.
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STOUT: And finally, the US Service is sending an urgent warning to banks about is called a hacking scheme, it's jackpotting. It allows thieves to
treat ATmslike slot machines. These malware and physical hacking tools to take control of ATMs and cause them to just spew out cash.
The crime has already hit Asia, Europe, and Latin America, but this is the first time it has made its way to the United States and that is New Stream.
I'm Kristie Lui Stout, but don't go anywhere. The World Sport with Rhiannon Jones is next.
RHIANNON JONES, ANCHOR, CNN: Hello, and welcome to World Sports, I am Rhiannon Jones live in London. The countdown to the 52nd Super Bowl is on
and after a somewhat turbulent NFL Season where the tension often diverted from the field to sport, and fans alike will no doubt welcome the
excitement of the buildup to the big game this week.
The New England Patriots and their iconic quarterback, Tom Brady arrived in Minnesota on Monday for media night thereafter their sixth Super Bowl title
and eight appearances under Coach Bill Belichick and their third in four seasons. Something they've already achieved between 2002 and 2005.
The Philadelphia Eagles arrived in their now familiar underdog role on Sunday. Meanwhile after their first Super Bowl title having lost in two
finals back in 1981 and 2004 to, yes, you've got it, the Patriots.
And it's a long week of buildup, but it's Super Media Day, that's the highlight ahead of Kickoff on Sunday with the entire sport converging on
the host venue in Minnesota and Coy Wire is there for us to make sure we don't miss out any of the action.
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TOM BRADY, QUARTERBACK, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS,: I mean, look at this, how could you not have fun doing things like this and to be at Super Bowl Media
Day and to have send-off rallies, I mean these are dreams come true and I think everyone should enjoy this.
BILL BELICHICK, COACH, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS,: As my dad said, and so I thought I'd just toss that one on today and I still felt good about wearing
it, so Minnesota is a good place to have a hat.
COY WIRE, SPORTS, CNN: What a night here. It was at opening night. About 5,000 media members from all over the world coming here to Minnesota ahead
of the biggest stage in American sports and an interesting matter too we have, on one hand, the New England Patriots where they are going for their
sixth Super Bowl victory and should they get it, they'll tie the Steelers - - and on the other side, you have the Eagles who have never won one and they are only one of 13 franchises to have not done it yet.
So, let's us talk about the Patriots because you have Belichick and Brady arguably, the greatest coach and quarterback of all time and did you ever
wonder if they did not have one another? How would they do?
Well, I asked players from both teams here ahead of the Super Bowl who they think is the real difference maker, listen to this.
TREY FLOWERS, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, DEFENSIVE END: You know, they're both cool. They're my dogs.
CHRIS HOGAN, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, WIDE RECEIVER: Both? No, I would say Tommy.
BRYAN HOYER, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS, BACKUP QUARTERBACK: I would say coach so that way I could be the quarterback. That was a pretty easy one.
WIRE: Now, on the other side, you have the underdogs, the Eagles and their backup quarterback, Nick Foles.
NICK FOLES, BACKUP QUARTERBACK, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: To be in this position, it's extremely humbling, but at the same time, like I know why
we're here. And you know, I'm just a small piece of the puzzle. There are so many other pieces of the puzzle and that's the beautiful thing about
this team, is we really had to depend on each other throughout the course of the year.
Because of the injuries, because of the everything that happened, and to be here makes it even more special.
TORREY SMITH, WIDE RECEIVER, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: We believe in ourselves. It's not about outside. We are all together where we need.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think for a lot of guys it's really comfortable for them to be the underdog.
CHRIS LONG, DEFENSIVE END, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: I've been lucky in two years to be in two locker rooms where guys really buy into each other.
WIRE: There you have it. It's closing time at opening night of the Super Bowl 52here in Minnesota where I'll be covering all week long, right here
on World Sport.
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JONES: Meanwhile, back over on this side of the pond, just a day to go until the European football transfer window shops and football clubs are
making their final scramble for players. Here are a few names being bonded about over here in England. It's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang that's got
everybody talking, but premiere league side Arsenals reported $85 million move for Borussia Dortmund forward and said to hinge on two other deals.
Hot spending (inaudible) understood to have agreed a fee of around $35 million of (inaudible). Lucas Moura subject to a medical and Manchester
City have broken their transfer record to sign French defender, AymericLaporte from La Liga Side Athletic Bilbao. The $80 million price
tag surpasses that pay Wolfsburg of Kevin De Bruyne three years ago.
To those of you unfamiliar with the defender, 23-year-old Laporte is a Fance under 21 international, yet to win a full cup. He joined Athletic
Bilbao in 2010 at just 16 and has since gone on to make more than 200 appearances for the club. He became only the second French player to play
for the BASK Club famous for their unwritten rule of only signing players born in their region.
More footie coming up. We will hear from David Beckham who finally has his MLS franchise after a four-year wait.
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DAVID BECKHAM, OWNER OF NEW MLS TEAM: I just think it has been a long journey. It has been long tiring, hard, at times, greatat times and at
times we did not think it was going to happen.
(VIDEOCLIP ENDS)
JONES: Welcome back, David Beckham proves patience really does pay off as he finally gets his major league soccer franchise in Miami.
The MLS team will be part owned by the former England International with hopes that it will begin playing in 2020 just two years from now with a
brand new stadium to follow.
Beckham talked to Don Riddell and describes the emotional journey towards making his Miami Dream a reality.
(VIDEOCLIP STARTS)
DAVID BECKHAM, OWNER OF NEW MLS TEAM: I just think it has been a long journey. It has been long tiring, hard, at times, greatat times and at
times we did not think it was going to happen. So, being on stage today being awarded the franchise officially by Don, the Commissioner have in my
partners and owners that were onstage, having our family in the audience, having the fans, it's real and it is happening and it has been an emotional
journey, but one that I look back on now and there is reason it has taken this long. There is a reason why, you know, we have met different owners
and it did not work out and different investors because it just was not right.And now it is right so.
DON RIDDELL, CORRESPONDENT, CNN: You've played in some very tough and some memorable games. This has been very, very difficult. If you had to
compare this experience to a game you've played in, which one would it be?
BECKHAM: Oh my goodness. I don't know, every time that you come up against like the Brazilian team, you know, when you had Roberto Carlos,
Ronaldo, Rivaldo, all of these great players, you go into that game and you're on edge because you know you've come up against the best.
So, yes, something like that I think, but definitely as enjoyable.
RIDDELL: You didn't quit, you didn't quit here. What have you learned about yourself through this experience because you didn't walk away when
you could have done so many times.
BECKHAM: Persistence pays off. You know, I don't know whatever I have learned and I think about myself, but I just know that I don't give in. I
work hard. Sometimes, things don't happen for a reason, and I have learned that over the last four or five years since I had finished playing, but I
think you know, there is a reason sometimes why things take time and sometimes, some of the best businesses are built over time and you know,
this might be yes, we want it to be a successful business, but more importantly, for us as an ownership group, we want to be successful on the
field and in this city.
With this team, and with this ownership group, we want to yes, aim for the stars. We want to bring you know, great players in from Europe, we want to
be able to actually introduce great players into this -- on to the stage, but more importantly for us, we've already said that we want to build a
state-of-the-art academy that brings you know the hotbed of talent of young kids that we have that runs through this city into this team and there is a
real opportunity there.
So, if we provide the facilities then we have a good chance.
RIDDELL;How do you see your day-to-day role with the team playing out having played for the best manager in Alex Ferguson, is that something you
might want to have a go at?
BECKHAM: Well, I think that is where my experience comes into the group and into the ownership group. I won't be manager. I will be picking the
manager and be picking the coaches and the staff, but my experience comes from the last 25 years of being with some of the biggest clubs, managed by
some of the best managers and playing with some of the best players in the game.
So, my experience will come from that. My day to day job with this team is owner, but I am very hands on in everything that I do so, I am going to
spend a lot of time in Miami, a lot of time making this dream a reality.
JONES: That's all for this edition of World Sport, I am Rhiannon Jones in London, CNN Money with Maggie Lake in New York is next.
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