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Omarosa to Release Another Secret Recording; CBS Chief Moonves Resigns amid Sexual Misconduct Claims; Two Centrist Blocks Lead the Vote in Sweden and Neither Has Majority; Festivities in Pyongyang's are an Economic Message; U.S. Calls for Closure of Washington PLO Office; U.N. Issues Dire Warning about Expected Idlib Offensive; Japan Celebrates Osaka's Victory as Serena Williams Overshadows the Match with Controversy; Residents in the Carolinas Prepare for Hurricane Florence; The Red Sea's Resilient Coral Reefs. Aired 11-12p ET
Aired September 10, 2018 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00] Lynda Kinkade, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade in Atlanta filling in for Becky Anderson. Good
to have you with us.
Well Donald Trump has already in major damage control mode trying to discredit an anonymous op-ed and a veteran journalist's book that portrayed
his presidency in crisis. Well now there's a new tape this hour. Former Trump adviser on Omarosa Newman is releasing another secret audio recording
from her time at the White House. It could unnerve Mr. Trump even more as the White House hunts for senior administration official behind that
scathing "New York Times" op-ed. The search is reportedly down to a few suspects. And in a sign of these extraordinary times, Vice President Mike
Pence said he'd be willing to hook himself up to wires to prove his innocence.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FOX NEWS REPORTER: Should all top officials take a lie detector test and would you agree to take one?
MIKE PENCE, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: I would agree to take it in a heartbeat and would submit to any review of the administration.
FOX NEWS REPORTER: Do you think the administration should do that?
PENCE: Let that be a decision for the president.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Let's bring in CNN political analyst, Josh Rogin, a columnist for Bloomberg View. Good to have you with us, Josh. I want to start first
with the lie detective question. Are we really going to see top officials within the Trump administration take a lie detector test?
JOSH ROGIN, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: No. I don't think that's ever going to happen. I think what we see here is the White House floating all sorts of
scare tactics to try to smoke out what they believe is a traitor among them. But here we are five, six days after the release of that op-ed. As
far as I can tell, the White House has no better idea who wrote it than they did last Wednesday. And the evidence of that is pretty clear.
We've seen speculation from different White House officials about who it might be. And that speculation is all over the map. In my private
conversations with many White House officials they've all pointed fingers at the people they already have a grudge against. They're all pointing
fingers in all different directions. There's just no evidence whatsoever that they have any clue, and a lie detector test is not only who
horrendously invasive and unusual step to take against people who are working on your own staff. It's an odorously unreliable device to see if
people are telling the truth. So, I think it's just another -- a long list of sort of threats that this President and his senior staff are making that
have no basis and what they're actually doing.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly, a lot of finger-pointing at this point in time. I want to talk about the former Trump adviser Omarosa. Because some have
described her as the gift that keeps giving. Because she continues to release a trickle of recordings. We're going to hear some of her latest
recording this hour. But her latest claims suggest that White House staff had a hashtag for when Donald Trump ever did anything which they considered
insane or crazy. So, she certainly continues to come out with new allegations.
ROGIN: Yes, I mean, add Omarosa to the list of former White House officials who are making claims against this President. That the claims
seem credible, but the claimant seems not credible at all. Let's remember here that Omarosa has a very spotty track record of telling the truth
dating back years, but especially during her time as a senior White House official. I read the entire Omarosa book. It didn't take very long. But
let me tell you that the 25th amendment stuff she's claiming is not in there. Right? So, you would think that like if she had a shocking detail
like that, she probably would have put it in her book in the first place.
I think what we see here is another person with very low credibility trying to keep themselves in the news and sell books. It's not unusual, but, if
anything, we can add it to the long list of former Trump officials who have expressed real concerns about the Trump's -- about the President's fitness
for office. And you know, take Omarosa out of it for a second, if you look at the quotes in the Woodward book plus the reporting that's been going on
for over two years about this President, a lot of what Omarosa says rings true, but I wouldn't rest any particular claim on her shoulders one way or
the other.
[11:05:00] Because it's what we call the liar's paradox. If you know someone is a liar and someone else claims them to be lying, how are you
supposed to sort that out as a journalist is just impossible. But you know, she sees her media opportunity and she's certainly taking it.
KINKADE: She certainly is. It will be interesting nonetheless to see what is in this latest recording. Josh Rogin, good to have you with us. Thanks
very much.
Well 78-year-old Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives says she's in the going anywhere as long as President Trump
is in the White House. Listen to what she told our Christiane Amanpour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), CALIFORNIA, U.S. HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER: I do agree that it's time for new blood and we should move on. If Hillary
Clinton had won and the Affordable Care Act was protected, I feel very proprietary about that, I was happy to go my way. We didn't know who would
come forward. But that's up to the caucus. They give me the honor of serving. And it's up to them to choose who comes next. But to have no
woman at the table and to have the Affordable Care Act at risk, I said as long as he's here, I'm here. So, 45 -- not to be disrespectful, but --
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CNN HOST: Talking about President Trump, 45.
PELOSI: Yes, yes. I think there was one election for leadership that I was not opposed in. So, people like to get started on what they think
comes next. And that's up to the caucus to decide. But I feel very comfortable about the support that I have in the caucus and that I will be
the Speaker of the House.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Be sure to check out Christiane Amanpour's new hour-long program at a new time. That's 1:00 here in Atlanta, 9:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi.
Well if you think there's a lot on the line right now, things are about to get way more intense as we hurdle towards the midterm elections in just two
months' time. And it is set to be a political bonanza like no one has seen before. Donald Trump, sure to really throw gas on the fire, and there's
nowhere better to understand who'll be running this massively important country than right here on CNN. So, right now, just for you we're kicking
off special coverage to help get you up to speed on everything you need to know. Here is our Tom Foreman.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Presidents are elected every four years in this country, and halfway through each term comes the midterm elections.
What that means is in the U.S. House of Representatives, all 435 seats are up for grabs, and about a third of the hundred seats in the U.S. Senate
are, too.
Right now, the Republicans are in charge of both chambers. And there are a lot of complicated equations about how the Democrats might be able to take
back control in one or both of them. But here is all you really need to know. On the House side, if the Democrats can flip 23 seats in their
favor, they would take charge. And on the Senate side, if they could net two more seats they would be in charge there, too. But the Democrats are
defending so many of their own on that side, the math seems pretty challenging.
Midterms are seen as referendums on the President. And this one has been particularly polarizing. So, watch for potential flips where Democrats are
up in arms, where Republicans have weak majorities and importantly, where independents are frustrated with the White House. If enough seats flip,
big changes could follow.
Start with legislation on the House side. Republican hopes for a new immigration law or trade deals or welfare reform or social security reform
or even new tax laws could all come to a stop dependent on Democratic support to get them going again. And if, by chance, the Democrats could
flip the Senate, that could play havoc with the administration's plans for stacking the judiciary.
But right now, the Trump administration has been marching conservative justices on to benches across this country, but from the Supreme Court on
down that could come to a screeching halt unless they were willing to make them more moderate voices that Democrats could support.
Of course, the President could have much bigger problems. If the Democrats seize either chamber, they could reinvigorate all sorts of investigations
into him and his cabinet, subpoenaing witnesses, compelling testimony into allegations of election meddling and of conflicts of interest and possible
misuse of tax money, sexual improprieties, controversial policies and so much more. They might not be able to prove anything. Just like with the
bigger issue of impeachment, and not be able to prove anything there or get a conviction.
[11:10:00] But they could make it very humiliating and time consuming for the President. And these elections could determine whether any or all of
that comes to pass.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Our Tom Foreman reporting there. Well one of the most powerful figures in the U.S. media is resigning amid allegations of sexual
misconduct. CBS chief executive, Les Moonves, stepped down Sunday, the same day "The New Yorker" published six new accusations of harassment and
assault against him. Moonves has denied the claims. CNN's senior media correspondent, Brian Stelter, joins us live from New York. Brian, these
allegations go back to the 1980s. Twelve women have now made accusation. What is striking is the outgoing CEO admits to some of it but says it was
consensual.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes, he says these were consensual relationships several decades ago and he denies what he calls
the appalling accusations. He says that the charges against him are untrue. And he essentially says it's a plot against him, that people are
out there trying to ruin his career and his reputation. That's interesting that he would suggest that. Because he's been locked in a corporate tug of
war with the controlling shareholder of his company, Sherry Redstone. This tug-of-war has been going on for months. And in the midst of all of it,
this legal battle that was going on for the future of CBS, that's when Ronan Farrell's first story came out in "The New Yorker" with these
harassment allegations. So, you have two things going on at once, an extraordinary confluence of events, a corporate war and this me-too case.
And I think the reality is that Moonves' downfall is a result of both. It's a result of two things happening at the same time. But I just think
we should be clear about the harassment allegations. If you read what Farrow has reported on "The New Yorker" website specially the new story he
put out 24 hours ago. These are chilling claims about harassment, about assault, about forced sexual encounters. Like we said, Moonves denies
these allegations. But these women are speaking out in their own words on the record. That's something we don't always see in these me-too cases.
They clearly believe it is time finally for Moonves to face justice.
KINKADE: You're absolutely right. Sometimes we don't see women put a name to the claims they're making as we are in this case. And as you mentioned,
the reporter, Ronan Farrow, who broke the story and wrote about the latest accusations said that this is a much bigger problem than Moonves. He spoke
about this being a cultural problem at CBS. Let's take a listen to what he said to CNN a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RONIN FARROW, CONTRIBUTING WRITER, THE NEW YORKER: This is about a culture, dozens of women talked about at CBS where powerful men covered up
for each other. That was an allegation. And a big example of that is Jeff Fager who used to report to Moonves as the chairman of CBS news, now run
"60 Minutes". And woman after woman described a frat house, boys club culture at that program and to some extent at the news division there
broadly. Jeff Fager himself has now been accused by seven women of inappropriate touching.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: A frat club, a boy's club is what he is describing based on what he's heard. Is CBS doing enough? We obviously know that they're going to
have a shakeup at the board level. But is it enough what they're doing right now?
STELTER: Well, I've been told by sources at CBS that there was a feeling the Moonves situation had to be settled first. And now the company will be
able to look to these other issues, these other cultural issues and these other allegations against other executives. You heard Farrow there talking
about Jeff Fager, who's the boss at "60 Minutes." Everybody knows "60 Minutes" as the acclaimed newsmagazine here in America. Fager has been
running that news magazine for years. But as Farrow said, Fager has been accused of unwanted touching and other inappropriate behavior.
Now Fager denied that. But he's been this weird limbo situation where he's on the job, he's working on the show at the same time these allegations
have been swirling and lawyers looking into it. And I think he's been in limbo because Moonves was still in this job. Now that Moonves has stepped
down, I think there could be action against Fager of some sort in the days to come. And that does speak to this broader issue of trying to clean up
CBS beyond just the CEO.
KINKADE: All right, we will continue to cover this in the coming days, especially the anger over the CEOs outgoing and negotiated multimillion
dollar payment. Brian Stelter, good to have you with us as always. Thanks so much.
STELTER: Thank you.
KINKADE: Sweden's Prime Minister is insisting he'll stay in office after early election results indicate a gridlock fractured parliament. Neither
of the two centrist parties won a majority. But the far-right party with roots in the neo-Nazi movement achieved their best-ever results, grabbing
nearly 18 percent of the vote. Our Atika Shubert has the latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Lynda, I've been talking to voters on the streets here and no one was particularly surprised
by the election results.
[11:15:00] But there is a lot of concern, especially on whether or not the Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, who is, of course, the head of the number one
party, Social Democrats, whether he will, in fact, be able to cobble together some kind of a coalition and remain as Prime Minister. He says he
will. But it's not clear he has the votes.
The other concern of voters is the rise of the Sweden Democrats. They were able to gain nearly five percentage points. That puts them as the third
largest political party in parliament. And from that position, they can dictate the national debate, the agenda. However, it's very unlikely that
they will actually be a part of government. That is because no other political parties want to work with them.
Now, what everyone is waiting for here is the final results, the final count that will come in on Wednesday. The vote was so tight that there's
really a margin of less than 30,000 votes between the center left and center right bloc. So, nobody really knows how any coalition building will
go forward at this point. Once Wednesday happens, we'll know which parties have how many seats, and even just a few seats could make the difference
between a viable coalition and the possibility of fresh elections -- Lynda.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Our thanks to Atika Shubert there in Stockholm.
Still to come. North Korea stages a big celebration. But something is missing. Find out what after the break.
Well as the U.S. is threatening to kick the Palestine Liberation Organization out of Washington. What it would mean if this office was
shut, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
In North Korea massive military parades, coordinated celebrations, the grandeur and fanfare are often on display. But as the country celebrated
its national day over the weekend, one thing was missing. There was no mention of a nuclear arsenal, no ballistic missiles on display.
And U.S. President Donald Trump took notice. He tweeting praise for North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un writing, quote, we will both prove everyone
wrong. There is nothing like good dialogue from two people that like each other.
Our Will Ripley is on his 19th trip to North Korea in the capital of Pyongyang and witnessed those celebrations.
[11:20:00] And Will, President Trump certainly taking credit for the fact there were no nukes on display at this parade. Talk to us about the
changes you noticed.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well it was just really striking, Lynda, to see the difference in imagery at this parade versus the last parade I
attended in April where they debuted new ICBMs. They roll them through Kim Il-sung Square. This time the military portion of the parade was scaled
back dramatically and the civilian portion was stepped up. And it was much more upbeat and positive with messages about the North Korean economy and
the nation's history and also international diplomacy and friendship. It is truly remarkable to see where we were there versus now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY (voice-over): The stands of Pyongyang's mayday stadium transformed. Tens of thousands of North Koreans like human pixels flipping colorful
cards revealing the new agenda of their supreme leader, Kim Jong-un. This supersized socialist propaganda blitz does more than dazzle, it reveals the
new message North Korea wants to send to the world.
The last time they did this five years ago the focus was nuclear power. Now it's economic power and diplomacy with a history making nod to South
Korean President Moon Jae-in due to visit Pyongyang for a Summit with Kim Jong-un next week.
(on camera): They call these the mass games. This is actually my first time seeing it in person. And I've never seen anything like it. It's mind
blowing. Sort of like the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. They even have a huge torch. But it's all about North Korean history and their
economy. They say around 100,000 people are participating, mostly students.
(voice-over): Earlier Sunday, a military parade through Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Square. It featured thousands of goose-stepping soldiers. But
unlike past parades when the nuclear program was featured prominently, this time they didn't have a single intercontinental ballistic missile on
display.
Just because North Korea is not parading nuclear weapons doesn't mean it's getting rid of them. Denuclearization talks with the U.S. have hit an
impasse. The main sticking point, North Korea wants a peace treaty to formally end the North Korean War, a war featured prominently in this
parade celebrating North Korea's 70th founding anniversary.
(on camera): Do you think North Korea should give up nuclear weapons?
JU SONG JIN, HEATING TECHNICIAN (through translator): Never, ever. We built this powerful nation on the basis of our military strength. If we
give up our nuclear weapons we can't guarantee the existence of this nation.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Pyongyang's display of military hardware comes just days after Kim reportedly sent a letter to Trump.
(on camera): Have your feelings about America and President Trump changed at all?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (through translator): We don't worry much about President Trump or U.S. policy. We care about the policies of Kim Jong-un
is working to improve our economy.
RIPLEY: Is shows that whether the focus is on the nuclear program or on the economy there is still one thing that matters the most to the people in
this country and that is showing their admiration for their leader Kim Jong-un.
(voice-over): This may be the new image of North Korea. But here some things never change.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY: But if you kind of step away for a moment from the positive tweet from President Trump and the new imagery here inside North Korea, the fact
remains that North Korea still possesses all of the nuclear weapons it did before the parade, it just chose not to display them publicly. In fact,
U.S. intelligence believes North Korea is producing new nuclear weapons, maybe even moving them around, according to some reports in the United
States on the network NBC. Which indicates, Lynda, there are still big challenges that lie ahead for the actual process of denuclearization which
still remains pretty much at a standstill right now.
KINKADE: Will Ripley for us in Pyongyang. Great to have you there for us. Thanks so much.
The Trump administration has announced that it believes the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington should close. U.S. President
Trump's national security adviser John Bolton is expected to provide more details in the next hour. And the link to shutting the diplomatic outpost
with what the U.S. sees as the Palestinian's refusal to engage on the peace process. The PLO is slamming the pending move calling it, quote, a
dangerous escalation.
It's the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration against the Palestinians. CNN's Ian Lee is outside a hospital in Jerusalem which
is also impacted by the White House's actions. Ian, Donald Trump had promised to broker a peace talk between the Israelis and Palestinians, but
this move again shows that the U.S. is not a neutral player here. And the Palestinians feel like they're being bullied, right?
IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. Bullied and blackmailed, Lynda. And let's just go through the long list of actions the U.S. has taken
against the Palestinians over the past year. First you have the United States declaring that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, moving the
embassy here, much to the chagrin of the Palestinians.
[11:25:05] And then you have the United States withholding hundreds of millions of dollars from the Palestinian Authority, from the U.N. Relief
and Works Agency, UNRA, which provides a lot of support for Palestinian refugees like health care, education, social services. And then just a few
days ago, you had the United States announce that they were going to redirect $25 million of aid from six East Jerusalem hospitals like the one
behind me. And this hospital in particular deals with special services, special treatments to what they say is over 5 million Palestinians in the
West Bank and Gaza.
This is special therapies for cancer as well as pediatric hemodialysis. These are treatments that they can't get elsewhere. And so, this hospital
says this funding cut is really going to affect them.
And then, as you said, you have the United States, what we're expecting the announcement later today. U.S. officials have told us is that they're
going to close the Palestinian Liberation Organization's diplomatic mission in Washington. So, this is a series of steps the United States has taken
against the Palestinians. And they say this is -- a lot of this is for the Palestinians not being a part of this peace process that the Trump
administration wants.
And what has the Trump administration done against the Israelis? Well, we heard the U.S. President say that Israel is going to pay a price for moving
the embassy, but we haven't seen that. And U.S. officials have down played what that is going to be. So, if you're a Palestinian, yes, they say
they're being bullied and blackmailed -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Certainly, wide ranging repercussions from this move from Washington. The U.S. is not only putting pressure on the Palestinians but
also the international criminal court, a court that the Palestinians had approached to request an investigation into alleged war crimes by Israel.
LEE: Yes, that happened last May where the Palestinians asked the ICC to investigate past, ongoing and future crimes. And the United States has
said -- well, what we're expecting them to say, the national security adviser, John Bolton -- is that they're going to start a campaign going
after the ICC. They say that if the United States or American personnel or American allies are targeted, that they will impose travel restrictions,
asset freeze on judges of the ICC, prosecutors. This is definitely trying to strong-arm that international body. Palestinians have also said that is
undermining the international community. And so, this is part of that campaign where Palestinians say shows that support for Israel which they
say -- again, going back to your first question is -- that the United States just cannot be a fair partner in any sort of peace negotiations --
Lynda.
KINKADE: Absolutely. Ian lee for us in Jerusalem. Thanks so much for staying across all those developments.
Still to come, the U.N. warns that a major offensive in Syria's Idlib province could create the worst humanitarian catastrophe of this century.
CNN is live on the ground in Syria tonight. Just ahead.
Plus, Serena Williams now facing a big fine for her altercation with an umpire at the U.S. open. She says it was sexism. And now male tennis
stars are backing her up. Stay with us.
[11:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN. And this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
With each passing day the warnings from the national community grow more and more dire. And yet Syrian forces are still masked for an all-out
offensive against Idlib province the last rebel stronghold in the country. We're now learning that armed groups there have been arresting people who
support reconciliation and surrender agreements with the Syrian regime. The U.N. says if the offensive does go ahead it could create the worst
humanitarian catastrophe of the century.
Our Fred Pleitgen is on the ground tonight for us in Syria. He joins us now from Damascus. And Fred, these rebel groups in Idlib arresting anyone,
detaining anyone they suspect of colluding with the Syrian regime. It certainly sounds like there's no chance of any reconciliation.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it certainly makes it very difficult. And I think it also shows, Lynda, how
difficult the situation is for civilians there on the ground. We've been speaking about the fact that the estimates are that there's around 3
million civilians who on the ground there inside Idlib province.
In the big question is where can they go? Now it is no secret that of course, many of the folks that are inside Idlib province are simply afraid
to go into government territory because they fear repercussions there. But now it seems as though even those who are willing to reconcile, even those
who are willing to surrender to the Syrian government, they're simply not able to because many of them have been arrested.
And the information that we're getting out of Idlib province, apparently several rebel groups have actually banded together and decided on this
policy of arresting people that they call traitors. That they say are willing to surrender to the Syrian government authorities. That obviously
makes it all the more difficult for anybody who wants to try to get out of harm's way and get into government territory. That whole system of these
negotiated settlements is something that really led to a fast offensive in the south of Syria a couple months ago. It's usually the Russians who lead
that process. But again, making it very difficult for anyone who wants to try that now in Idlib -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Certainly difficult. And Fred, despite the threats of retaliation from U.S. and France, we are reading these reports that Syrian
leader, Bashar al-Assad, according to "Wall Street Journal" has approved the use of chlorine gas in an offensive there.
PLEITGEN: Well, you know, these accusations have been flying back and forth. Vice President Mike Pence came out over the weekend and once again
warned the Syrian government, warned the Russians as well, if there was the use of chemicals in any offensive that the U.S. would retaliate. And of
course, some of the U.S. allies have said the same thing. The French for instance has also said that there would be retaliation.
[11:35:00] On the other hand, the Russians came out on the weekend as well, and they claimed that rebels had been finishing preparations to conduct
their own chemical strike to make it look like it was a government strike to try to draw the U.S. into this conflict. So, you see those accusations
flying back and forth, both sides citing intelligence, not really naming that intelligence or giving much detail of it. But it is a very, very big
issue.
And of course, in the end, if something like that happens, if there is an incident, that of course, could also lead to a wider conflict between the
U.S. and Russia if, indeed, the Americans strike back or if the Russians decide to do something from their side. And of course, we know that these
two forces are operating in very, very close proximity, especially over the skies in Syria. So far, they've kept apart from one another because
they've had a common enemy which was ISIS. But now that is receding. We see that conflict between the U.S. and Russia here in Syria, really, really
heating up. I wouldn't say it's something that has gotten to a dangerous level yet. But you do see the rhetoric increasing -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, a chemical attack could make things far more complicated, far more direr. Frederik Pleitgen for us in Damascus, thanks very much.
Japan is reveling in an historic victory after 20-year-old Naomi Osaka became the first Japanese tennis player to win a grand slam singles title.
Her win though was overshadowed by the dramatic scenes in Saturday's match as Osaka's opponent, Serena Williams, was penalized for a dispute with the
umpire. We are going to get to the controversy in a moment. But first our Coy Wire reports from Tokyo on a country's pride.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS: a lot of the world is focused on the controversy surrounding Serena Williams' loss at the U.S. open. But here in Japan
there's a lot of focus on the positive, the historic victory of Naomi Osaka. She's just 20 years old, she grew up in the U.S., but she was born
here in Japan. She has dual citizenship. She is now the first Japanese player ever, man or women to win a grand slam. That was big news here
across the country. Listen to this, the match was on so early here that most of the newspapers had already gone to print. But one of the major
newspapers printed an extra edition so they could share the news with people in the streets. There's a lot of excitement among the people here
in Japan. Listen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (through translator): It is cool that a Japanese player has done this. Her shot is so strong. I play tennis and think
she's an awesome player.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (through translator): It was a remarkable feat that she could defeat Serena like that. I think she makes Japan and Hokkaido
proud. She is the best.
WIRE: Some on Twitter calling the young Japanese tennis player Japan's new tennis hero. Even Prime Minister Shinzo Abe weighed in tweeting,
congratulations, to Naomi Osaka for your victory in U.S. Open. the first ever Japanese winner of a grand slam. Thank you for your energy and
excitement during this difficult time for Japan.
Now this was some much-needed up lifting news for a nation that's been reeling in the past week or so, of violent typhoon Jebi causing destruction
and then a devastating earthquake in Hokkaido where people are still missing, dozens of deaths. That northern island is where Naomi Osaka's
mother was born, her grandparents still live there. And her grandfather actually said, that he hopes her victory will be encouragement for those
whose lives were impacted. Now Osaka's success is earning her popularity and respect here in Japan. But so is her demeanor, respectful, kind,
bubbly, humble. She loves Japanese manga and movies. She continues to study the language. She embraces her Japanese heritage, the culture, the
people, and they are embracing her back. It was a powerful moment, Kristie, on the awards ceremony stage when Naomi said that it was always
her dream to play Serena Williams in the U.S. Open final. She turned to her with tears in her eyes, bowed and said thank you. That was Japan.
That was the respect and honor of Japanese people on full display on the world sporting stage. More to come from this young female.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Our Coy Wire here. Of course, it is the loser of that match who is still dominating the coverage. Serena Williams has drawn praise,
criticism and even a $17,000 fine for her behavior. Let's get a quick reminder of some of what she said to that umpire after she was penalized
for getting signals from her coach.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERENA WILLIAMS, TENNIS PLAYER: You need to make an announcement that I didn't get coaching. I don't cheat. I didn't get coaching. How can you
say that? You need to -- you owe me an apology. You owe me an apology. I have never cheated in my life. I have a daughter and I stand for what's
right for her. I've never cheated. You owe me an apology.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Williams has since accused that umpire of sexism. Let's get more on this and talk to Liz Clarke of "The Washington Post". Liz, Male players
are certainly showing their support for Williams.
[11:40:00] She's won more grand slam singles titles than just anyone, any woman in history. But this has some certainly calling her a sore loser,
while some people are singing her praises. Including Andy Roddick who tweeted, I've regrettably said worse and never gotten a game penalty.
What do you make of it?
LIZ CLARKE, THE WASHINGTON POST: First of all, let me just say it was a bit of a circus of an ending to what had been an exceptionally played match
by Naomi Osaka who was such a worthy victor and handled her nerves and her composure beautifully. So, it's just tragic that her moment was stolen and
I hope her victory feels better with each day.
No one I think would defend Serena's actions, what she said, her behavior, it was indisputable. She smashed the racket. The initial call about
coaching, it's not that she got coaching. It's that her coach was sending signals. So, the coach committed the infraction. It matters not if she
saw it or paid attention, the player pays the penalty. So, she was sort of wrong to say she had been accused of something. It was her coach.
So, the question we're wondering about is what's that threshold for verbal abuse? Do male players have a broader latitude than female players? I've
covered tennis for 14 years, a lot. This never occurred to me. That said, I think Serena raised a legitimate point. It can both be true that she
behaved abominably. She deserved the fines and she raises a legitimate point that the sport needs to consider and confront and discuss. Tennis
for a long, long time in a marketing manner has wanted to celebrate its bad boys yet expect female players to be ladies. You know, there's not really
an equivalent, and implied decorum.
And Serena has challenged expectations of what a female tennis player looks like, serves like, hits like, competes like, dresses like, throughout her
career in ways that many people find bold, to be applauded and empowering. She's raised the level of the game. She's made everyone be better.
There's so much to celebrate there. But I don't think anybody would excuse the sequence of events, the behavior that we saw, but it's also true she
raises a legitimate point.
KINKADE: And it's interesting to note that the tennis legend and founder of the Women's Tennis Association, Billie Jean King mirrors some of what
you said. She wrote that -- Women are taught to be perfect. We aren't perfect, of course, and so we wouldn't be held to that standard. We have a
voice. We have emotions. When we react adversely to a heated professional situation, far too often we're labeled hysterical. That must stop.
You just mentioned, Liz, that the tennis world needs to confront this. How should they go ability doing that? What needs to change?
CLARKE: Did you say going about Serena or confront the broader issue?
KINKADE: From this issue, this broader issue.
CLARKE: Yes, you know, it's tough. I mean, the application of any rule book in any sport -- unless it's sort of a timed event -- there's going to
be judgment involved. And tennis is full of those gray areas and the rule book where there's judgment involved. I mean, technically a foot fault is
a violation. It's almost never called. And in terms of verbal abuse, there's no list of words in the rule book like you cannot say these ten
profanities, so there's judgment involved there.
So, I think it's as much a conversation about are we being equitable, are we celebrating -- even a competitive fire and fury that some may have find
attractive, are we celebrating that in women or allowing women to express that in the same way that we allow men to express that. I think it's an
awareness issue. I don't know that you can codify it. But I think -- and I think in workplaces on so many levels, I think women could list, oh, here
is a double standard in my office. You know, men wear suits, women have this tightrope every morning, is my skirt too short? Is my dress too
tight? I want to look contemporary. I don't want to look unprofessional. It's just so many ways women are in a box and I think that's what Serena is
drawing attention to.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly, a debate to be had on the double standards. Liz Clarke, good to have you with us, thanks so much.
[11:45:00] CLARKE: Thank you.
KINKADE: From storms on the court to storms over the Atlantic. It's not one, not two, but three huge systems line up. The biggest one heading
right for the U.S. east coast. We'll have those details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. Right now, at this hour a massive hurricane's wrath is getting stronger and stronger as it plows head on towards tens of
millions of Americans. You're looking at hurricane Florence from space, and it is spinning faster and faster, sucking up power and water from the
Atlantic's warm water as it closes in on America's east coast. The storm is actually moving forwards pretty slowly. That makes it a whole new
problem. CNN's meteorologist extraordinary Chad Myers joins us now. So, spinning faster and faster but moving slowly picking up water as it goes.
CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It has the time to use the energy of the ocean to get stronger. That's what it's doing now. I'll show you some
pictures of it. It's impressive. It looks like a saw that you would put on a table saw and cut wood with. That's what the storm looks like right
now.
Let's go back out here to it. Now, it's a cat three storm, 185 kilometers per hour and still growing and that's throughout. It is still
significantly growing and it's getting into more warm water. This water is 30 degrees C and it is the fuel to the fire to make this a category four,
nearly what's equal to a super typhoon in the west at 230 kilometers per hour before it makes landfall. Slamming into at least I would say eight
meters of storm surge in places here right along the coast.
Now here are the models. We go from Charleston, all the way down to South Carolina, there's Hampton Rose, there is Washington D.C. way out there,
not completely out of the question for damage in D.C. But as it comes onshore, that's where the damage will be done with the water, and also with
the freshwater flooding. This is going to be a major freshwater event with 20 inches, somewhere in the ball park of 600 millimeters of rainfall coming
down on an area kind of topographic, kind of bumpy, a little mountains there, that's where you'll see that significant weather.
What do we expect? Category three to category four storm surge probably six meters or more and also the wind damage. This has been a very wet
area. These trees will be falling down, falling down on people. It's surge, it's flooding and it's also the wind damage that we are going to
see. And it's going to be with us now. This doesn't go away until what looks like Friday. And the rain continues and so does all of the weather
with this. And a 240-kilometer-per-hour storm over tens of millions of people will be bad.
KINKADE: Pretty scary. Evacuations underway and we will be following it closely. Chad Myers, good to have you with us, thank you.
Well, coming up next, take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Reefs are deteriorating all over the world. They're going down in cover. They die, there is a catastrophe for coral reefs in
the world everywhere. They bleach except here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: We'll take you to the coral reef that is holding up against all odds.
[11:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. We just were looking at hurricanes, massive storms that feed on warm waters to get more and more powerful. But warm waters
are not just a problem above the waves. Beneath the surface, they can also suffocate coral reefs. But no one seems to have told that to the coral
reef in the Red Sea. They're getting on just fine. CNN's Oren Liebermann takes us diving deep to find out how.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the shallow waters of the Red Sea, this coral reef defies expectations. Some of the world's most
diverse eco systems, coral reefs are in peril.
AMATZIA GENIN, MARINE ECOLOGIST, INTERUNIVERSITY INSTITUTE: Reefs are deteriorating all over the world. They're going down in cover, they die.
There's a catastrophe for coral reefs in the world everywhere, they bleach, except here.
LIEBERMANN: Bleaching leaves the reefs extremely vulnerable, overcome by waters perhaps too warm for corals to survive. The Great Barrier Reef off
the coast of Australia, seen here, has experienced mass bleaching.
GENIN: The Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Hakuba has never been exposed to bleaching. There is no bleaching here although the water is warming up.
LIEBERMANN: I had the privilege of diving along these corals to see a Marine world thriving, its majesty on full display. Researchers say
thousands of years ago, the ancestors of the corals growing here, had to come through the southern Red Sea where the waters are far warmer. Through
natural selection, the corals that survived the journey were accustomed to warm, salty water. In the relatively cooler waters of the Gulf of Aqaba,
the corals blossom. The water here is heating up just like the rest of the world, a consequence of climate change, but it hasn't affected the corals.
And researchers say it won't for another 100 years.
(on camera): So, you have here both the current condition of the Red Sea and then what it might look like in ten years, 20 years and beyond.
MAOZ FINE, RESEARCHER, INTERUNIVERSITY INSTITUTE: Exactly. So, this is what we're trying to understand, how the beautiful reefs that we see right
now are likely to change if at all, and the future conditions in the Red Sea. And from our worldwide reefs, we know that the situation right now is
not that good. However, in the Red Sea it's still looking pretty good for reefs of the area. This may very well be the last reef refuge in terms of
the present conditions.
LIEBERMANN (voice-over): This Red Sea simulator tests different temperature and acidity levels in the water. The corals are brought to the
tanks and placed under varying conditions.
[11:55:00] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So, this is many, many individual animals living together as one. So, each individual here on the screen is one
animal, one mouth of the animal.
LIEBERMANN: Then they're examined under a microscope to see how they react. The lessons help scientists and governments protect the reef that
can't defend itself. Development, pollution and more monitored and controlled with the reef's survival in mind.
(on camera): Here in Eilat, we're standing within a few miles of four different countries. We're standing in Israel. That's Egypt behind me,
Jordan in front of me, you can see Saudi Arabia across the sea here. But the reef doesn't recognize international borders. Its future, its survival
depends upon international cooperation to protect the corals.
(voice-over): Below sea level politics rarely gets in the way of cooperation between neighboring countries. The reef may be growing, but
it's still fragile and part of a much larger ecosystem near the booming resort towns of the Gulf of Aqaba.
DROR ZUREL, ISRAELI MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: It's an ecosystem that grew as a reef next to a complete desert. Basically,
there's not supposed to be artificial life. There's not supposed to be a lot of development. We are allowing the development of a lot. It has to
be very slow.
LIEBERMANN: Eilat's reef is only four kilometers long, a tiny fraction of the 2,000 kilometers of reef along the Red Sea. Perhaps because it's so
small, Israel treats it as a national treasure, one that's far too valuable to let go. Oren Liebermann, CNN, Eilat.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Great news for the Red Sea. Hopefully the lessons learned there can be applied elsewhere.
I'm Lynda Kinkade. That was CONNECT THE WORLD, from the team here in Atlanta, in Abu Dhabi and in London, thanks so much for joining us. The
news continues here on CNN. "QUEST EXPRESS" is next.
END
