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New Lawsuits Filed Against the Trump Family; I.G. Report Expose FBI's Flaws; Families Caught by Tough Immigration Policy; Russia Trashed Saudi Arabia 5-0 In Tournament Opener; World Cup Weather; Apple Prepares New Security Feature; Ship With 630 Rescued Migrants On Board Heads To Spain; New Link Will Slash Journey Time To O'Hare Airport. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired June 15, 2018 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR: A foundation under fire by New York's attorney general wants to shut down Donald Trump's charity organization. Also, the U.S. president's controversial salute scene here, was it a mistake or a deliberate act of diplomacy? We take a look.
Plus it is day two of the World Cup. We'll have the golds from the first match and look ahead at Friday's action.
We are live from CNN world headquarters in Atlanta. Welcome to our viewers around the world. I'm George Howell. CNN Newsroom starts right now.
Around the world, good day to you.
The attorney general for the state of New York is suing the U.S. president and his oldest children alleging that they repeatedly and illegally used the Trump Foundation charity for more than a decade to benefit personal and business interests including the 2016 presidential campaign. President Trump calls the lawsuit ridiculous.
Our Jean Casarez takes a look.
JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: New York's new attorney general is drawing a line in the sand, suing the Donald J. Trump Foundation, the president's charity, along with its board of directors, President Trump and his three oldest children, Don Jr., Eric, and Ivanka.
In the lawsuit Attorney General Barbara Underwood accuses the Trumps of using the foundation as their own personal piggy bank. Alleging a pattern of persistent illegal conduct occurring over more than a decade.
Among the complaints filed, Underwood claims that the Trump Foundation used tax deductible donations to benefit Trump or his businesses. Including a $100,000 payment to a charitable organization this document from the complaint allegedly initialed by Donald Trump, authorizes a payment from the charity to settle legal claims against his Mar-a-Lago resort and a $10,000 payment to purchase a painting of himself that was up for auction at a charity event later displayed at Trump's golf club in Miami.
Just before the Iowa caucuses in January of 2016, then candidate Donald Trump skipped the last Republican primary debate, instead he made a big show of putting together a fund raiser to benefit veterans organizations.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Say hello.
CASAREZ: While the New York attorney general claims that event was set up and run by the Trump campaign and provides e-mail chains to build her chase.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARBARA UNDERWOOD, NEW YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL: I'm unaware of a case in which the foundation involved was run by a sitting president. But, there is no reason why a foundation owned and operated by a sitting president should be exempt from the laws that we routinely apply to other foundations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CASAREZ: President Trump's sons, Don Jr. and Eric have been members of the foundation's board since 2006. Ivanka joined in 2006 as well, but she stepped down in 2017 after joining the president's administration. But the investigation found the foundation's board has not met since 1999. Donald Trump Jr. appeared to downplay the allegation Tuesday to CNN, calling it nonsense.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, JR., EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: Timing couldn't be more coincidental, right?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CASAREZ: The foundation fired back saying this is politics at its very worst. And President Trump tweeting, "The sleazy New York Democrats and their now disgraced and run out of town A.G. Eric Schneiderman are doing everything they can to sue me on a foundation that took in $18,800,000 and gave out to charity more money than it took in, $19,200,000. I won't settle this case.
Jean Casarez, CNN, New York.
HOWELL: Al right, Jean. Thank you for the report. Now, to an internal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. It rips into the actions of the then-FBI director James Comey over his handling of the Clinton e-mail probe. It also presents evidence of anti-Trump sentiment among some FBI agents.
CNN's Laura Jarrett has this report. LAURA JARRETT, CNN JUSTICE REPORTER: A sweeping new report detailing
a series of failures by top officials including James Comey on the Clinton e-mail investigation but finding no evidence the ultimate outcome was tainted by political favoritism.
Inspector General Michael Horowitz concluding, "We found no evidence that the conclusions by the prosecutors were affected by bias or other improper considerations. Rather, we determined they were based on the prosecutor's assessments of the facts, the law, and past department practice."
[03:05:08] A direct contrast to a favorite talking point from President Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: It's a rigged, broken, corrupt system. It's rigged. It's broken. It's corrupt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: Who has smeared the FBI's work at every opportunity.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We have to investigate Hillary Clinton and we have to investigate the investigation. This was a disgrace.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: The report find former FBI director James Comey's actions, were an extraordinary departure from Justice Department protocol. But it says he did so without political motivations. However, certain text messages between two FBI employees, attorney Lisa Page, and special agent Peter Strzok were found to have cast a cloud over the FBI's work.
In one, Page wrote, "Trump's not ever going to become president, right?" To which, Strzok replied, "No. No, he's not. We'll stop it."
The I.G. report concludes Strzok's decision to later prioritize the Russia investigation over the Clinton probe may not have been free from bias. An assertion his attorney fiercely denies.
The sweeping 500-plus-page report lays bare the series of events that led to Comey's initial July 2016 recommendation, that Clintons should not face charges. Condemning Comey for usurping the Attorney General Loretta Lynch's authority at the time and affirmatively concealing his intentions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES COMEY, FORMER UNITED STATES FBI DIRECTOR: Although we did not find clear evidence that Secretary Clinton or colleagues intended to violate laws governing the handling of classified information there is evidence that they were extremely careless in their handling of very sensitive highly classified information.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: It also faulted Lynch's error in judgment for June 2016 tarmac meeting with President Bill Clinton but concluded there was no evidence they engaged in any inappropriate discussion.
Once investigators found Clinton related e-mails on former Congressman Anthony Weiner's laptop, the inspector general said senior FBI officials dragged their feet. Yet, Comey also broke protocol in October 2016 by disclosing to Congress the discovery of new e-mails just days before the election.
The inspector general calling it insubordinate and writing, "We found it extraordinary that in the advance of two such consequential decisions the FBI director decided the best course of conduct was to not speak directly and substantively with the attorney general about how to best navigate those decisions."
Comey would later tell ABC News, he didn't want it to look like he intentionally concealed the new Clinton findings to help her win the election.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COMEY: I was operating in a world where Clinton was going to beat Donald Trump. And so I'm sure that it was a factor. That she is going to be elected president. And if I hide this from the American people, she'll be illegitimate the moment she is elected the moment this comes out.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JARRETT: Clinton had since said that she believes Comey's public announcement cost her the election.
Various officials have hit back on the findings in the report today saying they disagree with many of the assertions. But former FBI director James Comey says he has no regrets. Writing in a New York Times op-ed, "I chose to speak and tell the truth."
Laura Jarrett, CNN, Washington.
HOWELL: Laura. Thank you. And we're hearing reaction from Comey on Twitter. Saying this, quote, "I respect the DOJ, I.G. office which is why I urged them to do this review. The conclusions are reasonable even though I disagree with some. People of good faith can see unprecedented situations differently. I pray no director faces it again. Thanks to I.G.'s people for hard work."
Now the current FBI director says that he takes the inspector general's report seriously and he accepts the findings. But Christopher Wray also defended the bureau in a news conference. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CHRISTOPHER WRAY, DIRECTOR, FBI: Nothing in this report impugns the
integrity of our workforce as a whole or the FBI as an institution. As I said earlier, fair and independent scrutiny is welcome. And appropriate accountability is crucial. We are going to learn from this report and we're going to be better and stronger as a result.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Wray said that the FBI will hold employees accountable for any potential misconduct.
All right. Now to talk about the debate over immigration policy in the U.S. it is firing up. And it is getting quite emotional. Critics are going after the Trump administration for enforcing laws that separate children from their families when they enter the United States border.
On Thursday, the U.S. attorney general made clear that he believes that law is backed by the bible.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[03:09:55] JEFF SESSIONS, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL: I would cite you to the apostle Paul and his clear and wise command in Romans 13 to obey the laws of the government because God has ordained him for His purposes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: But in the face of growing criticisms, reporters like our own Jim Acosta are challenging the White House press secretary to defend this controversial policy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Where is this say in the bible that it's moral to take children away from their mothers?
SARAH HUCKABEE-SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I'm not aware of the attorney general's comments on what he would be referencing. I can say that it is very biblical to enforce the law. That is actually repeated a number of times throughout the bible.
However, this -- hold on, Jim, if you will let me finish.
(OFF-MIC)
SANDERS: Again I'm not going to comment on the attorney's specific comments that I haven't seen.
ACOSTA: Is it in the bible to follow the law.
SANDERS: That's not what I said. I know it's hard for you to understand even short sentences, I guess. But please don't take my word out of context. But the separation of illegal fam -- alien families is the product of the same legal loopholes that Democrats refuse to close. And these laws are the same that have been on the books for over a decade. And the president is simply enforcing them.
ACOSTA: A moral policy to take children away from their parents. Can you imagine the horror--
(CROSSTALK)
SANDERS: It's a moral policy to follow and enforce the law.
ACOSTA: -- that the children must be going through when they come across the border with their parents and then suddenly they're pulled away from their parents. Why is the government doing this?
SANSERS: Because it's the law. And that's what the law states.
(CROSSTALK)
ACOSTA: You guys don't have to do that.
SANDERS: You're right, it doesn't have to be the law. The president has actually called on Democrats in Congress to fix the loopholes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Just after that, the press conference got even more heated. Just listen to Brian Karem who is the executive editor of the Sentinel newspapers, also a CNN contributor. He asked the White House press secretary to think about this policy from a personal point of view.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN KAREM, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, SENTINEL NEWSPAPERS: Come on, Sarah, you are a parent. Don't you have any empathy for what these people are going through? They have less--
(CROSSTALK)
SANDERS: Brian. Guys, settle down.
KAREM: Seriously.
SANDERS: I'm trying to be serious. But I am not going to have you yell out of turn.
Jill, go on.
KAREM: This is the law. And they have -- these people half nothing.
SANDERS: Hey, Brian, I know you want to get some more TV time but that's not what this is about. I want to recognize you, go ahead, Jill.
KAREM: Honestly, answer the question. It's a serious question. These people have nothing. They come to the border with nothing. And you call children as (Inaudible). You're a parent. You're a parent of young children. Don't you have any empathy for what they go through?
SANDERS: Jill, go ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Didn't answer that question. But the questions they do not go away. Let's talk about this with now with Scott Lucas. Scott teaches international politics at the University of Birmingham. Live via Skype this hour from Birmingham, England. It's always good to have you on the show, Scott.
We start with this issue that's happening on the U.S. border, the Trump administration's tougher approach separating children from their families. The greater question here, the law doesn't state, Scott, that children must be separated. That is an approach the Trump administration is taking. And the U.S. attorney general, summed it up like this supporting it just last month. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SESSIONS: We will make a difference. The president has made clear he is on fire about this thing. He is not happy about it. I think the entire government is getting the message. So, I embrace that support and direction.
So, if you cross the border, unlawfully, even a first offense, we are going to prosecute you. Those cases are up about double last year and we're going to go higher this year. It's an offense to enter the country unlawfully. If you smuggle--
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: All right. So, Scott Lucas, Jeff Sessions there, clearly excited about it. Some people see this is a message that's being sent around the world. Here in the states there are many others who see this as unconscionable. They're outraged. Your thoughts on what's happening?
SCOTT LUCAS, POLITICS PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM: Well, given the serious situation, let me be direct. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders yesterday was either badly mistaken or she is lying. There is no law, there has never been a law by Democrats or Republicans or anyone else, directing the children be taken away from their parents when they cross the U.S. border.
The Obama administration in 2014 stopped the practice, ordered a halt to the practice of breaking up families and taking children away.
Last month, Jeff Sessions directed by the president instituted the policy to separate parent from their children. Since then, thousands of children, including 500 children in one month in South Texas alone have been taken away while their parents are put into court and detained.
[03:15:03] The Trump administration owns this policy. I will leave it to others to determine what they think about matters such as fundamental human decency and compassion. But you cannot create the policy and then say the consequences are part of a nonexistent law to try to blame someone else when you get criticized.
HOWELL: Scott, I also want to get your thoughts about this I.G. report about the FBI. It's being viewed through political lenses. There are things, all sides to cling on to here. But conclusively it indicates that a bias did not affect the outcome. What do you take from this report?
LUCAS: All right, let's get the political chaff out of the way. Because we've known for weeks that depending on what side of the political fence you are, you are going to try to manipulate this report. Let's get to the wheat. And that is that there were individuals who were reprimanded for inappropriate actions in this report.
Among them were two FBI agents, Peter Strzok and Lisa Page for personal text messages about their dislike of President Trump. The FBI, or the I.G. said this should not have intruded. You should not express personal bias when you are involved in an investigation. Fair enough.
James Comey, former FBI director was chided for on two occasions in July and then October 2016 making statements about the investigation into Hillary Clinton's e-mails rather than letting the attorney general or an appropriate elected official do it.
But, here is the fundamental of the report. None of those transgressions affected the investigation. The investigation was legitimate. It was conducted properly. And if there is a sting in the tail here, the I.G. said, that the intervention in October, 2016, less than two weeks of the election by James Comey, which said that the investigation into Hillary Clinton's e-mails had been reopened while not mentioning any investigation into Donald Trump was inappropriate. It was that event. More than others that may have had an influence on the election.
HOWELL: All right. Scott, you know, I want to, a lot of topics that we are covering. This other story, the big story. The lawsuit by the attorney general of New York alleging President Trump his three oldest children repeatedly used the Trump foundation charity to benefit personal and business interests.
It is a civil law suit now, but as the it continues could it open the door to possible criminal exposure for breaking the law, Scott?
LUCAS: Yes. The civil lawsuit at this point calls on the Trump Foundation to repay $2.8 million, it calls for President Trump and his three children to be barred from serving on nonprofit organizations for at least 10 years. Because the Trump foundation did not use the money for charitable purposes but allegedly used it for Donald Trump's own personal use, such as buying a portrait of himself to put in a golf club or even was used by the Trump campaign in 2016 under campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.
Now, that is a civil lawsuit. But if it is found that this campaign election violations were significant enough then it does become a criminal matter. As does, for example, to remind viewers, such as the use of money in October 2016, possibly to pay off Stormy Daniels over her allegations of a sexual encounter with the president.
HOWELL: Scott Lucas, live for us in Birmingham, England. Thank you for your time and perspective on this.
LUCAS: Thank you.
HOWELL: President Donald Trump has approved tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese exports. This according to a source an official announcement is expected in the coming hours. Mr. Trump has said it is in response to China's theft of U.S. intellectual property which has cost the U.S. billions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs. China has warned it would retaliate.
Earlier, we spoke to global business executive Ryan Patel for his take on the developments. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RYAN PATEL, GLOBAL BUSINESS EXECUTIVE: When you had, about 10 days ago, when you had both parties saying we're making progress and now all of a sudden China will retaliate after tomorrow most likely in saying we are going to stop the investments we promised two, three weeks ago, we are taking a huge step backward.
And now we've got a lot more serious away from the actual goal. Like, I don't see China coming back and going, the old deal is back on the table. It's going to be a completely new conversation.
We are now going to see how it is going to affect the consumers and jobs. Now this is where it gets really real. How long will either country let go when people and citizens start either losing jobs, consumption products go higher. That is when we will see who is going to back down first.
Because when it starts affecting the citizens we'll see. I know we still got a little time because we see the tariffs are not going to all come off in tomorrow. It will be kind of layered in over the next few weeks, most likely. And that's when this conservation will then have to come to a head.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[03:20:05] HOWELL: All right. President Trump's move comes as he also picks trade fights with Canada, with Mexico, and the European Union over steel and aluminum.
Still ahead, President Trump faces backlash for a surprising salute. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was an inappropriate thing for him to do from a protocol perspective, but now he's played right into the North's propaganda about the very legitimacy on the world stage.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOWELL: The White House responds to this protocol faux pas. Plus, a word football fans love to hear goal and lots of them. Russia's dominant win at the World Cup. Stay with us. You're watching Newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. I'm George Howell.
North Korea is claiming the summit in Singapore as a victory for its leader Kim Jong-un. Its propaganda machine is pushing that narrative with a TV special that include a very controversial clip in it that clip shows the U.S. president saluting a North Korean general.
Michelle Kosinski has this report for us.
MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: The latest propaganda video NOrth Korean state TV is blasting out to its citizens. Forty two minutes of Kim Jong-un welcomed and photographed in Singapore. Seemingly the center of attention and adoration. All set to soaring instrumentals.
Culminating in his big summit on the world stage with the American president. Telling North Koreans Trump expressed an exceptional respect and affection towards Kim showing him his car. Plus, this, video of the American side has not shown Trump saluting a North Korean general.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was an inappropriate thing for him to do from protocol perspective but now he's played right into the North's propaganda about their legitimacy on the world stage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: A U.S. official tell CNN the president had been briefed on protocol that you don't salute military officers from other countries and especially not state sponsors of terror like North Korea.
[03:24:55] The White House though isn't treating this as any mistake but part of the broader goal to show respect for Kim and his top brass.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: It's a common courtesy when a military official from another government salutes that you return that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: While Trump again publicly praises Kim Jong-un.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: He's a very smart guy. He's a great negotiator. But I think we understand each other. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But I mean, he's still done some really bad
things?
TRUMP: Yes, but so have a lot of other people done some really bad things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: Drawing more criticism for Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. BOB CORKER (R), TENNESSEE : I don't share the president's feelings toward Kim Jong-un. And I would say most people here don't. I couldn't disagree more fully with his assessment of the leader of North Korea.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KOSINSKI: The North Koreans eating it all up with Kim shoulder to shoulder with the leader of the free world. And denuclearization presented as a joint goal of the entire Korean peninsula still not clear what their demand of the U.S. will be.
They are lauding in what their view, Kim has won. Trump promised to stop joint military exercises with South Korea, guaranteeing Kim's security. And to some point lifting sanctions. Viewed as a step by step, give and take process which is the opposite what the U.S. has said it wants. All packaged here as a triumph. In a surreal retro dictatorial style that only the North Korean propaganda machine can do.
Wow, that is some music. You know, there has been this question about, what exactly did President Trump say to Kim Jong-un about sanctions relief? For now it's been the task of the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to explain the president's plans to America and to the world. And he insists that North Korea will not get sanctions relief until it completely denuclearizes.
Michelle Kosinski, CNN, the State Department.
HOWELL: It was music indeed there, Michelle. Thank you so much. So, ever concerned about the security of your iPhone? Well, a future iPhone update will make it harder for hackers and law enforcement to get your data. We'll have that story ahead.
Plus, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMED SALAH, FOOTBALL PLAYER: I will not say we can, I say we quality. We will quality. Yes, we quality.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: We hear from Egyptian football star, Mo Salah what his injury may mean for day two of the World Cup. You're watching Newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOWELL: Welcome back to our viewers around the world. You're watching CNN Newsroom live from Atlanta. I'm George Howell with the headlines we're following for you this hour.
[03:29:57] The New York attorney general is suing the U.S. President Donald Trump and his three oldest children.
The court filing alleges that they repeatedly and illegally used the Trump Foundation Charity for more than a decade to benefit personal and business interests including the 2016 Presidential campaign. Mr. Trump insisted that he won't settle the case. He called the case, quote, ridiculous.
A U.S. Justice Department investigation says the then FBI Director, James Comey, violated protocol in his handling of the Clinton e-mail probe. It also said that he was insubordinate by not consulting with his boss, then U.S. Attorney General, Loretta Lynch. However the 500 page report found no evidence that Comey's actions were politically motivated.
President Trump has approved tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese exports after meeting with his top economic officials according to a source. Mr. Trump has said that it is in response to China's theft of U.S. Intellectual property. Which has cost the United States, businesses, billions of dollars in revenue. And thousands of jobs. China has warned it would retaliate.
Well the expectations were low for Russia coming into the World Cup. But then, scenes like this in Moscow on Thursday. Lots of scenes like that. The host nation dominated Saudi Arabia. Five-zero, for the tournament opener. All of this as the Russian President, Vladimir Putin looked on his guests, the Saudi crown prince and FIFA President. Let us get the very latest live in Moscow. CNN's Alex Thomas, following it all. A big slate of matches lined up for day two, Alex.
ALEX THOMAS, CNN WORLD SPORTS: George, Russia, absolutely wallowing in the delight of that 5-0 victory on the opening day of the World Cup. Have a look at some of the front pages of the newspapers. I tell you. The people who live here in Moscow, saw scenes they have never witnessed before on Thursday night. As, all of the international fans join with locals to celebrate that victory. Literally, partying in the streets. Not something you see very much here. And already you are hearing some more chants as the atmosphere build up on day two.
Some wonderful matches to look forward to including the first of the day. The other two nations in Russia's group a, and the ones that are favorites to go through. And that Russia win would have put pressure on them. It is Egypt against Uruguay, Uruguay with their Barcelona superstar, Luis Suarez, playing his first World Cup game. Since being banned off after biting at the last one in Brazil four years ago. But a lot of focus on Egypt. And their Liverpool star, Mo Salah, who has broken records for his club over the last season. But went off injured during the Champion's League final against Real Madrid. But, the Egypt coach confirmed on the eve of this match, Salah is a 100 percent certain to play or just about he said. And that is going to be a huge relief for a nation passion that about its football.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very unhappy. Very sad.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Devastated. Mo Salah is injured.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The moment that shocked football fans the world over. Mohammad Salah brought down by Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos in the champion league final in Kiev. It wasn't just Liverpool fans that held their collective breath. An entire nation saw their World Cup hopes and dreams disappear before their very eyes along with their heroes.
Three weeks on from sustaining that injury. Mohamed Salah is racing against the clock to get fit. It would be a crushing disappointment if he fails to make it. Not just to Egypt. But the man himself. When I met up with him back in April. His excitement about representing his country in Russia was already clear to see.
So, remind us who is in your group.
MOHAMED SALAH, EGYPTIAN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALLER: Yes. We have, Uruguay. And Russia, and Saudi Arabia.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Right. So, Saudis play the Russians in the first game on the opening night. Then you play Uruguay. So can you qualify?
SALAH: If you ask me. In my opinion. I would not say we can. I say we, we qualify. We will qualify.
Yeah, we will qualify. Of course, but -- we go with the confidence. And we will qualify.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was Salah who back in October, slotted a last minute penalty against Congo. Securing a spot in the World Cup for Egypt for the first time since 1990. He is more than Egypt's talisman. He is carrying the expectations of an entire nation on his injured shoulder.
And, a country from the Middle East and North Africa to go -- at least, part of the way if not all of the way through the World Cup competition.
[03:35:05] SALAH: That is what I said. We have to do something special. We have to believe in ourselves, we have to do something special. No one has done that before us, I think.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you believe you have the score for that this time?
SALAH: If you ask me, I'm sure I am going to do my best. To help the country to go through. And -- and I don't feel pressure. I just feel that I have to, I have to give 100 percent from what I have.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The World Cup was supposed to be the icing on the cake for Mohamed Salah after an extraordinary year.
His injured shoulder has now, cast doubt on how well he will perform. And indeed it feel even take to the pitch in Russia. A whole nation will be hoping their icon superstar makes it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THOMAS: You want to see the best players playing, at football's greatest tournaments. And everyone except Uruguay and fans are pleased to see Mo Salah back in action. The other four nations who are playing on this the second day of the 2018 World Cup are in group b. We are seeing Morocco face Iran. And then the blockbuster fixture of the day which is Portugal against Spain. Portugal, the new European champions succeeding Spain, had won the previous two Euros in 2012 and 2008.
In between those successes. Spain also became world champions in South Africa in 2010. So an absolute mouthwatering fixture and it has been added, the drama has been added to by the chaos in Spain's camp. The coach being sacked on the eve of this event. After surprising Spain's football federation with an announcement that he is going to join Real Madrid once the World Cup is over.
They were upset at the lack of warning and communication over that. The opportunity. Despite protests from the players. Like to believe. It has even been suggested that Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos had to be physically separated from the head of Spain's football federation. I am not sure Euro would do that to our bosses, George. And so a fascinating start ahead of the action on day two here in Russia.
HOWELL: All right. Obviously all eyes on what happens day two. Picture perfect scene there in Red Square. Alex Thomas, thank you so much. And for more on the weather situation for these matches, Friday. Let's bring in our meteorologist, Derek Van Dam. Derek, so, what can people expect, because look the weather makes a difference with the matches?
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Without a doubt. George, we have got three soccer matches. Well, I should say football matches. For international viewers. Taking place today. One Saint Petersburg. Another to the south in Sochi. And another one towards Central Russia across Yekaterinburg. But really, the vastness of Russia really showing itself in full force today. Three of the arenas all separated by over 2,000 kilometers. So, obviously, they are going to be impacted by different types of weather. Different temperatures. Different weather systems. Yekaterinburg region that is an area that has been impacted by low pressure system. That is our only chances of precipitation today.
You can see the swirling mass of cloud and precipitation. Moving in through the afternoon hours into the evening. Actually lasting through the better course of the weekend. So Uruguay to Egypt, you got a good chance of showers through the day. And that cloud cover will keep a little on the temperatures for kickoff. So, for the players and the spectators. Temperatures will be on the chilly side. Now you head to, Sochi for instance in the far southern sections of Spain. Temperatures will be considerably warmer for the blockbuster hit, Portugal versus Spain. Temperatures around 24 with lots of sunshine overhead. And more of the same weather for Iran and Morocco, 24. Mostly cloudy skies with a dry pitch expected for that particular match. George. Back to you.
HOWELL: Derek van dam. Thank you. After a month of fasting. Egyptian Muslims are hungry for victory at the World Cup. Their team is playing Uruguay just as Ramadan comes to an end. Keep the Eid celebrations going no matter who wins the match, but things will be that much sweeter if the pharaohs come out on top. Here is what they are saying in Cairo about the big game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Today we have two joys, the first is because of Eid. The second is because Egypt is in the World Cup after 28 years. It is a double blessing. And if god helps us, we can win today.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: And even at the United Nations, the World Cup fever has surely spread. Diplomats there just got into the actions. You can see, a passing around the ball of the Security Council chamber while wearing their national colors.
Russia's ambassador, they are in the red, was celebrating after Thursday's big win. Surely excited. His U.S. counterpart though not quite as excited. Ambassador Nikki's Haley's U.S. squad didn't even qualify this year, but the U.S. will host the tournament, in 2026.
Football star, Lionel Messi has fans around the world and some of them are celebrating the World Cup in a different passion. By getting their hair tattoo of the players face.
[03:40:06] Wow. The Serbian hairdresser has been practicing ahead of the 2018 tournament. And now offers to snip away at a portrait of the Argentina's captain. The hairdresser uses scissors and razors and the styling can take as long as seven hours to get it done right. But the Lionel Messi haircut isn't the only one available. Fans of Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo can get his portrait on the back of their heads as well.
And of course, for more coverage of the World Cup. You can find us, special section on our website, it is at CNN.com/football. All right, still ahead. What its good news for consumers? May be bad news for investigators. How Apple plans to keep your data more private. So that hackers and identity thieves can get in their hands on it.
And move out of their homes. Their citizenship stripped. How families and lawmakers are pushing for immigration fairness.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN Newsroom. I'm George Howell. The first
major monsoon of the season is threatening thousands of Rohingya refugee families in Bangladesh. UNICEF estimates some 200,000 people living in crowded camps are now at risk of deadly flooding and landslide. More than half of those, are children. The U.N. refugee agency says at least one small child, little boy, died in the landslide. The Rohingya, a minority Muslim group who fled Myanmar. They are already among the region's most vulnerable people. As monsoon rains grow heavier. The dangers facing these refugees also continues to grow.
The shores of Spain cannot come soon enough for hundreds of migrants exhausted after floating adrift for days in the Mediterranean. Safe and on board rescue ships now. The vessel Aquarius and two Italian support ships are enroute to a Spanish port. This because Italy refused to take them in. Over the weekend, the Aquarius, which is operated by the group, Medecins Sans Frontieres were Doctors Without Borders, rescued 630 people from the ocean off the coast of Libya.
They had been waiting for safe harbor ever since. Spain's government says they are fulfilling their European commitments by welcoming the migrants. A British lawmaker tells CNN, he is pushing for legislation to get descendants of Britain's Chagos Island a path to U.K. citizenship.
[03:45:06] Many of them have been torn apart from their families, due to circumstances beyond their control. Our, Erin McLaughlin profiles one family desperate to reunite with the relatives about thousands of miles away.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A mother's prayer that one day her heart will be whole.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is very, very sad.
MCLAUGHLIN: His family lives just outside of London. Thousands of miles away in (inaudible). And able to join his family here in the U.K.
Here is the problem. Brian's family is from a British territory in the middle of the Indian Ocean called the Chagos Island. But in the late 1960's, made them to go -- they were forcibly removed from the Archipelago to make way for a military base. The process of losing homes, livelihoods and crucially for these family and many others. And he claimed to British citizenship.
That was addressed to some degree in 2003. When Brian's mother and other Chagosians qualified for British citizenship. That citizenship did not extend to subsequent generations which includes Brian who was born in Mauritius. Still, he tried to join his family in the U.K. in 2012. But four years later he was detained. And deported the day before Christmas, no less, sent back to Mauritius. Where he say he has little hope for the future. Now, one lawmaker is pushing legislation to give people like Brian a path to citizenship. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not their fault they were forcibly removed in
the late 1960's and early 1970's. I think, they, being allowed to stay in the homeland or, even back to their homeland, they are automatically have a right of British citizenship.
MCLAUGHLIN: Now those trying to join their parents in the U.K. are being deported. You have to pay the Visa applications fees that amounts to thousands of dollars.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This people are earning great. I know, most people work as a cleaner, most people work in (inaudible). Exactly. We are trying hard and taken long.
MCLAUGHLIN: The gruesome story is one of many within the poor and struggling communities. Demanding among other things the benefits of the support package, the British government promised Chagosians years ago. Here at this meeting outside of London, she lashed out at the man now charged with abusing Chagos. And still assessing the community's need. Community full of people. Desperate for help. Including Brian's cousin, who calls curing our visit.
When Emmanuel jean Luis was 16 years old. He arrived in the U.K. to join his mother. His late father was born in the Chagos province of Diego Garcia. Which should entitle Jean to full British citizenship. A claim the home office rejects, because his parent weren't married. A requirement under U.K. law. The home office has ordered his deportation. So, for two years, he has been hiding out.
How many stories are there like this out there?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a lot like this and there's worst.
MCLAUGHLIN: Emmanuel, I am sorry. That is tough.
In reality for Emmanuel and so many others the situation is anything but OK.
Erin McLaughlin, CNN, England.
(END VIDEO)
HOWELL: Erin, thank you for the report. Still ahead, a mystery is solved. A 500-year-old letter written by Cristopher Columbus is back home. After it was stolen and replaced with a forgery.
[03:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOWELL: For the first time ever scientists have watched a giant black hole rip apart what could be called an unlucky star. Take a look at how it happened as scientists on earth saw it as they watched via infrared telescopes and radio waves. This is how an artist rendered the event. It took a decade to play out. Nearly 150 million light years from earth, the black hole, 20 million times more massive than the sun. Stretched the star into a disk of dusty material. Wow. The star was gobbled up by the black hole. The other half was spit out. Those images would have thrilled, Stephen Hawking, the late physicist spent his entire career imagining what they must be like. Now his voice will travel to one. At speed of light I should say.
On Friday, a powerful antenna in Spain will beam a recording of Hawking's voice into space, the destination, the nearest black hole. It will be -- it will only take, 3,500 years to get there. The gesture is part of a burial ceremony. At Westminster abbey where Hawking's ashes will be deterred between Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton. Hawking's died in March at age 76 years old.
Apple is about to close an iPhone security loophole. So that its users have better privacy protection, but doing so will stop law enforcement from being able to hack into lock phones to get information that it needs for criminal investigations. Our Samuel burke explains.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
SAMUEL BURKE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The way this is going to work, is Apple is disabling, data transferred through this port, one hour after you last lock your phone this will prevent hacking tools law enforcement buy from third parties, from accessing, iPhones and iPad, though just to note this won't stop you from being able to charge your phone. Now Apple is trying to emphasize this will help users defend against hackers and identity thieves.
And Apple says quote, we have the greatest respect for law enforcement and we don't design our security improvements to frustrate their efforts to do their jobs. But this change absolutely will frustrate law enforcement agencies that use these hacking tools to get into Apple devices and could reignite tensions between Apple and governments around the world that want technology companies like Apple to include, back doors. Official ways to get around encryption and other security measures.
The most famous case was when the U.S. wanted to get into an iPhone belonging to one of the attackers in the San Bernardino shooting in 2015. The FBI and Apple ended up in court, when the FBI demanded Apple special software so it could unlock that iPhone. Apple didn't end up building that software though, because the FBI purchase the tool from a third party that let it hack in to the device.
And this practice has spread, rapidly. With law enforcement agencies around the world. Buying devices that can pull information off a locked iPhone. Tools that may not work anymore after Apple's new update its devices.
(END VIDEO)
HOWELL: All right, a Chicago company has picked a, a Chicago, I should say has picked the company owned by Tesla founder Elon Musk to build a futuristic transport system. The privately funded Chicago express loop will link downtown Chicago and O'Hare airport. This video from the Boring Company shows what it is supposed to look like. Electric cars will whisk passengers through tunnels at speeds of 240 kilometers an hour. It should get passengers to and from the airport in just 12 minutes. You know that drive -- it is a long drive. That is quite an
improvement. It is four times faster than other routes. In the meantime, the Boring Company released this video from one of its tunnel under Los Angeles. It shows that Tesla model X riding in rails inside it as part of the test project.
Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic on his historic voyage. He jotted down his impressions of discoveries. A copy of these letter wand up at the Vatican. But it was stolen, and then replaced with a forgery. Now the original copy is back with its rightful owner. Delia Gallagher has this story from Rome for us.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: A 500-year-old copy of a letter written by Christopher Columbus in 1493 to the king and queen of Spain. Stolen from the Vatican library has finally been returned. The letter was found in the United States. And U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, Callista Gingrich, brought it back to its rightful owners following a seven-year investigation.
[03:55:12] In 2011, a researcher here, at the Vatican library thought that the letter might be a fake. He tipped off the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Who told the Vatican and that open up an investigation which led to a man in Atlanta who had bought the manuscript in 2004 from an art dealer in New York and paid $875,000. And his widow once contacted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security agreed to return the letter to the Vatican. Jamie McCall from the Department of Homeland Security was part of the investigative team.
JAMIE MCCALL, INVESTIGATIVE TEAM, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY: We identified for her that there had been a forgery in the Vatican library. And that she was possibly in possession of the original. And we had experts look at the two documents together. And once we determined that, you know, she was in fact, in possession of it. Again we negotiated the return of the document.
GALLAGHER: Letter translated into Latin, describes Columbus, impressions of the Caribbean Island he had seen for the first time. The investigation is ongoing. And the Department of Homeland Security can't comment on who might have done this. The guilty party is a mystery. But the intricate stitching around the letter has given Timothy Janz of the Vatican library a clue.
TIMOTHY JANZ, VATICAN LIBRARY: Probably begun by a (inaudible). You know, sometimes we do (inaudible) -- like that. I doubt very much that it was a researcher who was reading could possibly do this.
GALLAGHER: Janz said, there was hardly any security at the library until about 10 ten years ago.
JANZ: Fairly confident that something like this couldn't happen today.
GALLAGHER: Whoever was responsible for the theft didn't have the last word. A piece of history has been restored to the world. Delia Gallagher, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEO)
HOWELL: Delia, thank you for that report. And thank you for being with us for CNN Newsroom. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. The news continues with my colleague Max Foster, live in London.
