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Hala Gorani Tonight
British Broadcasting Network Sky Is Up For Sale; May Rebuffed By E.U. Over Brexit Plan; Deputy Attorney General Considered Removing Trump With 25th Amendment; U.K. Demands Counterproposal From E.U.; Tanzanian Media: 127 Bodies Recovered From Capsized Ship; Three Infants Stabbed At Unlicensed New York Daycare; Man Sneaks Onto Airliner, Charged With Attempted Theft; CNN Explores "Wellness For Everyone" Center. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired September 21, 2018 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00] HANNAH VAUGHAN JONES, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Hello, everyone. Live from CNN London, I'm Hannah Jones in for Hala Gorani. Tonight,
Theresa May calls for respect the British Prime Minister stands her ground after bruising Brexit talks in Austria. We may already be seeing a softer
tone coming from Brussels.
Also, U.S. President Donald Trump takes aim at the accuser of his Supreme Court nominee. We'll bring you up to speed on the latest in the battle
over Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation.
And an urgent search for survivors after a deadly ferry disaster in Tanzania. We'll bring you that story ahead on the program.
To the top story and from a cake with no cherries to possible humble pie. In the last hour we have heard from the E.U.'s Donald Tusk who reiterated
his admiration for Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May. It all comes, of course, after a bruising Brexit summit in Salzburg where Tusk said the
British Prime Minister's Brexit plan will not work. Well, earlier today, Mrs. May came out fighting. In a defiant speech, she blasted the European
Union for a lack of respect.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA MAY, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: Throughout this process, I have treated the E.U. with nothing but respect. The U.K. expects the same. A good
relationship at the end of this process depends on it. At this late stage in the negotiations, it is not acceptable to simply reject the other side's
proposals without a detailed explanation and counter proposals.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: Mrs. May said that after that rejection of her so called Chequers plan talks were now at an impasse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAY: Yesterday, Donald Tusk said our proposals would undermine the single market. He didn't explain how in any detail or make any counter proposal.
So, we are at an impasse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: Let's get right to Downing Street. Nina dos Santos has the latest for us. So much pressure on the prime minister and what she would say
calling that press conference and trolling from the E.U. counter parts. Overall, she came out fighting for her country today, right?
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN EUROPE EDITOR: Yes. It was a message that was aimed not just at the European Union but also, some of the hard Brexit members of
her own political party because she has to face them in a few day's time at the conservative party conference. This again amid repeated potential
challenges, noises of potential challenges to her leadership so this is a speech aimed at both the E.U. and the euro skeptics here inside the U.K.
and they're very quick to respond. We heard the chair of the skeptic research group inside the Conservative Party saying this is the great tone
we needed and she should go forth and embrace a kind of Canadian style free trade deal.
Theresa May also said that the E.U. had effectively scrapped her proposal without explaining why they were rejecting them. Now, that's interesting
because four hours later Donald Tusk came out with a more diplomatic message. I must say it took a while to get the response together and he
said we've known about the proposals and raised our objections with the brits many, many weeks ago but he didn't go into the specifics as to why he
didn't agree with these proposals. So again, it's a game of he said/she said and they're stuck in the impasse and negotiations will probably
continue next week and things have deescalated this Friday evening.
JONES: In the impasse, ball's in different court's all the time, Nina. In terms of the time frame for what happens next, when are the next stage of
negotiations?
DOS SANTOS: Well, everything is supposed to come to a head this famous October summit and then also there's been over the last week or so noises
about a November summit that could focus specifically on Brexit. These are the kind of dates that they need to get the paperwork agreed by to rubber-
stamp things and then means six weeks of official negotiations and then six months left before Brexit actually takes place from next Saturday. So, the
clock is ticking very loudly.
[14:05:00] The problem is that as we all know for those of us who covered the debt issues of Greece, Portugal, Ireland, those kind of bailouts, the
E.U. is famous for letting it go right down to the 11th hour and then having a great big face saving exercise. The big question is that the type
of negotiating strategy that this game of chicken is going to lead to? Because there's an awful lot at stake here.
JONES: There certainly is. Nina dos Santos live on Downing Street for us. Thank you.
What affect will the speech have on the overall Brexit process and how will Europe react? I'm joined by Freddy Gray. He is the deputy editor of "The
Spectator" and David Herszenhorn is the chief Brussels correspondent of "Politico". David joins us from the Belgian capital.
Freddy, May seems to have thrown down the gauntlet here somewhat. If it's a game of who blinks first, it rather looks like Donald Tusk has given this
latest statement.
FREDDY GRAY, DEPUTY EDITOR, "THE SPECTATOR": A little bit. I think Tusk realized that the trolling last night of Theresa May was not pretty an it's
just the way to actually really rile up the British. So perhaps he did have to sort of back down a little bit. I'm not sure any of that really
matters so far. Whether Tusk is changing his position substantial but being more polite.
JONES: The trolling, perhaps bring it up. This is on Instagram. In it is a picture of Donald Tusk alongside Theresa May offering a piece of cake an
says a piece of cake? Sorry, no cherries. The allegation is sort of saying you can't have your cake and eat it but perhaps humble pie. I want
to bring in David on that matter. On this issue of respect, David, Theresa May mentioned it several times today saying that the E.U. was not
respectable of her or the United Kingdom. Do you think Donald Tusk and the E.U. underestimated this prime minister?
DAVID HERSZENHORN, CHIEF BRUSSELS CORRESPONDENT, "POLITICO": No. In fact, they disagree with that quite strongly. The notion of the prime minister
being disrespected is something they're reading in the British press, the headlines of how she was humiliated and wasn't their intention at all or a
year and a half now saying and Tusk reiterated tonight in the statement they respect the referendum, they respect the U.K.'s decision to leave.
What hasn't happened is U.K. side hearing that the E.U. position on the future relationship hasn't changed in more than a year and a half. At what
she is asking them for in the plan is something that they've ruled out quite a long time ago and very surprised that she is acting surprised at
position there that's not changed since July 2017.
JONES: She did, though, put it to them they can't turn around and say your plan which she claims is only credible plan just will not work without
coming up with a credible alternative. Other than the statement we have from Donald Tusk saying that the compromise is still possible and he is a
true admirer of Prime Minister May, is there a concrete plan now from the E.U. that they can put towards Britain?
HERSZENHORN: It's quite amazing any suggestion there isn't. Remember that this is -- they're two longstanding options and the U.K. to leave the
European Union and the response all along was, look, you will have to take a look at other models that are out there. Norway is one. Canada free
trade deal is another and pick among the models and two very credible options right there and on the table again from the very start. There's
Norway, Canada.
Theresa May is rejecting both and the E.U. is saying, OK, if you are not willing to compromise, from their side, she is the one who in the last few
days in the op-ed and the statement to the E.U. leaders, dinner Wednesday night, said my plan or nothing. And their reaction to that is, well, if
you jump off the cliff, take the country into economic catastrophe as the Bank of England warned, there's not much she can do about that. She has to
work with them or take a look at the other off the shelf options out there or she is on her own.
JONES: That is interesting because from the European perspective you can see that perhaps they think that she's a bloody difficult woman, perhaps.
But from the British public's perspective she has had dismal ratings for so long and now saw today prime minister go out and say she was defending the
country, that the only way to retain, maintain the integrity of the United Kingdom and our nation is her plan. She may have had a good day today.
[14:10:00] GRAY: I think she did. I think the speech went down OK a little bit underwhelming. She often is but a lingering sense to reach an
impasse and that's good to prove that we are at an impasse. But we could have reached it earlier. It took a long time to form this plan which was
obviously flawed and quite obviously rejected by Europe. That could have been done about a year ago.
JONES: Saying -- talking about the plan, in particular, that might be the only credible plan she says is on the table and everyone now has ripped it
apart including today, as well, not just from Brexiteers opponents in the party but public and from the opposition benches as well, is there now no
plan on the table?
GRAY: It's incredible to claim it's not credible. It's not going to work. It's very good now I think if may is pushed because she is never been a
Brexiteers. I think there's a sense of which she is now accepting she has to be a Brexiteer or quit.
JONES: David, just last word to you on this. The prospect looming large now of a no-deal situation, Britain and Theresa May said they're fully
prepared for that. Is E.U. getting closer to thinking that's the likely outcome?
HERSZENHORN: They fear that and extremely well prepared and the conviction of the no-deal scenario is tough for the E.U. and terrible for the U.K. and
quite surprised that the plan that's been criticized in the U.K. of hers is now -- there's a surprise that the E.U. in turn criticizing the same plan
and doesn't want to accept it.
JONES: My thanks to both of you. We'll continue this conversation. Thank you both.
And now we have heard from the E.U.'s Donald Tusk as I'm making reference to earlier on but high-profile lawmakers in the U.K. have also been
weighing in on this and the events we have seen playing out. Yesterday and today. Jeremy Corbyn, the leader, of course, of Labor, called Mrs. May's
Brexit strategy a disaster saying, quote, "from day one the prime minister has looked incapable of delivering a good Brexit deal for Britain.
The political games of both the E.U. and our government need to end because no deal is not an option." And the mayor of London also a labor party
member weighed in saying, quote, "the prime minister urgently needs to change course in the negotiations before it's too late. Passing the buck
to the E.U. to save her skin will not work." He, of course, another vocal Brexit critic and calling for a second referendum. Well, reaction to all
of these latest developments also extend beyond the political sphere with the pound in something of a tailspin following the May statement on the
fraught negotiations with the E.U. counterparts.
Sterling fell 1 percent against the dollar during the prime minister's speech today and is now on course for the sharpest one-day drop this year.
Markets, though, painted a slightly better picture. FTSE closing higher this afternoon. Many companies in the index benefit from a weaker pound.
Let's bring in Richard Quest for all of the comings and goings on this. Markets slightly jittery and with the prospect of no deal looming large are
the markets, businesses in general getting ever closer to saying no deal, we can shoulder that?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: No. If this gets much worse, and the prospect of no deal becomes a reality, then you're going to see more
pressure on the pound. You're going to see the kind of pressure that you had on the day of the referendum in 2016. The market, the equity market
has to be treated with an element of disbelief in the sense of other factors of play and what happens with interest rates as a result of
weakness in the economy.
What's happening in the United States with interest rates and global markets that are rising, the rising tide lifts all boats. Think of the
FTSE companies that are global and international and growing without Brexit. We wouldn't put store in equities and certainly the pound is the
canary in the mine.
JONES: If March 29th comes around and there is a no deal situation and Britain crashes out --
QUEST: Hang on. Before you say that, we will know a lot sooner than that if that's going to be the outcome.
JONES: OK.
QUEST: Because, because if they haven't done a deal by November or December, then there is no realistic way that you can get everything ready
by March 29th. Now, if there's a deal in the offing and they just need more time then under article 50 you can extend the deadline. With the
unanimous decision by all members.
[14:15:00] JONES: And that's quite a big possibility I guess at the moment given the fact that the clock is ticking. In the event of that no deal
situation whenever that deadline actually comes to fruition, Britain falls under world trade organization rules. What does that mean for businesses?
What does that mean for Britons?
QUEST: On the tariff front what the Brexiteers point out very little. 5 percent, 10 percent tariffs. They're not that great under the WTO rules.
So, Britain currently trades with vast tracks of the world on WTO rules, free trade agreement version. The loss of the E.U. would create
bureaucratic nightmare with customs, forms, you would not have that single market access. That's the real problem. The real problem is not WTO
tariffs. The real problem is not having frictionless trade with Europe.
JONES: So that's how it affects businesses. How would it affect me? In terms of like the ordinary consumes in Britain. Crisis go up I assume?
QUEST: Not necessarily. Probably would because it would cost more to bring the goods in. More processes involved. Passport to revert. Use the
E.U. lines at airport? Go along with every other country. These are inconveniences. The big disaster is how those companies that rely on the
frictionless trade? WTO rules per se not a problem.
JONES: Always good for your analysis. I'm sure more coming up. Later on. Thank you.
More to come on the program tonight, stunning new report, breaking right now that the deputy assistant U.S. attorney general was mulling over ways
to oust President Trump. That is coming up next. And, broadcasting networks Sky is one of the most desired media companies in Europe right now
and then up for sale. Just ahead, taking a look at this high-stakes auction.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:20:00] JONES: Welcome back. There's a stunning report released minutes ago by "The New York Times" newspaper. It says the U.S. deputy
attorney general, the man, of course, overseeing now the Russia investigation in the U.S., was mulling over the possibility of ousting
President Trump after the President fired the FBI Director James Comey. Our CNN White House Reporter, Sarah Westwood and Stephen Collinson joins me
with more. Let's go to Stephen first. This report by "The New York Times" into Rod Rosenstein and his ability to potentially oust the President from
office, tell us what the paper's saying.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: This is a massive bombshell, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein according to this report in the
early months of the Trump administration was so concerned about the chaos in the White House that was unfolding that he suggested that officials
going to talk to Trump from the justice department wore wires to record this so that he could then sort of give it to other members of the
administration, about the chaos in the White House that was unfolding that he suggested that officials going to talk to Trump from the Justice
Department wore wires to record this so that he could then sort of give it to other members of the administration, members of the cabinet, to talk
about whether to invoke the 25th amendment to sort of get rid of Trump as President.
I think it's important to say that Rosenstein categorically denied any of this. Even so it's something to play directly into Donald Trump's rational
that there's a deep state in the government and in the justice department and in the intelligence agencies who are dedicated to thwarting his
presidency. I think the key thing now is to see how the President reacts and people are wondering whether this might start to be the beginning of
the end for Rosenstein who's had a very tense relationship with the President simply because he's in charge of overseeing Robert Mueller's
special counselor probe.
JONES: In charge of that because, of course, the actual Attorney General Jeff Sessions, recused himself from that investigation toward the beginning
of Donald Trump's presidency and he said in the last week I don't have an attorney general. This puts the executive branch and the Justice
Department right up against each other, doesn't it?
COLLINSON: Yes. Totally. And I think the big question now is the President traveling today. We haven't had a reaction yet from the White
House. They appear to be finding out about this just as everybody else did when this report went up about half an hour ago in "The New York Times."
it is going to be really important to see how the President reacts.
JONES: Let's go to Sarah there where the President is in Nevada in Las Vegas. Sarah, any word yet from Donald Trump himself as to this latest
reporting from "The New York Times"?
SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, nothing yet. They can talk about veterans affairs and earlier in the day focusing on the woman
accusing his supreme court nominee of sexual assault so already he's got a lot on his plate but this is like Steven said sure to only feed the
argument that there are people within his administration working against his agenda and it comes against the backdrop of the feud President Trump is
having with the Justice Department when it comes to documents re documents related to the Justice Department.
He is embroiled about declassifying documents. Rod Rosenstein one of the key figures and many ways the face of the investigation from the stand
point of the Justice Department. So, this is only likely to exacerbate the tensions that exist and because President Trump after he leaves the
Veterans Hospital behind me going to Missouri for a rally and likely to hear from the President on this report before the day is over.
JONES: Yes. Probably going to hear more on this and as you were saying there we might not I guess hear more from Donald Trump on Brett Kavanaugh
and them accusing Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee pick. Steven, I want to ask you about that, then. This has dominated the U.S. head lines
certainly over the last week or so. There's been a long question brewing over the last week I guess over will she, this is professor ford, will she
testify to the justice committee? When might she do it? Will there be an FBI investigation into her allegations beforehand? As things stand right
now, who's going do say what when?
[14:25:00] COLLINSON: Right. So, the original plan or the amended plan for there to be a hearing on Monday in the Senate Judiciary Committee with
Christine Ford and Brett Kavanaugh and seems unlikely to happen because Ms. Ford's lawyers said she cannot do that hearing on Monday and won't be
prepared and negotiations going on between Christine Ford's legal team and the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Republicans on the committee on the
basis of any hearing, Ms. Ford's lawyers have put forward several propositions, namely the hearing to be on Thursday and don't want to allow
Republicans to use an outside counsel to conduct the questioning in the committee.
And she is concerned about her safety if she does go public and testify and what will be, you know, a hearing that will be seen around the world. I
think the question now is that she's considering is it worth her going ahead and becoming this infamous figure if it doesn't appear to change the
minds of Republicans and stop the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the supreme court. The President has broken the silence on this today coming
out in a series of tweets and attacking her and the top Republican in the Senate, Mitch McConnell said he believes that the confirmation will take
place and it will go ahead so I think she has to weigh the question of whether the risks she's taking with her privacy and her safety are actually
going to change the dynamics here simply because the Republicans control the Congress.
JONES: Yes. And, Sarah, final words to you on this. Donald Trump has now broken silence about this case. He kept very quiet, much to a lot of
surprise of everyone to be honest over a last couple of days and now tweeting about it, now talking about it and quite critical of the accuser
of his Supreme Court pick.
WESTWOOD: That's right. President Trump writing this morning, "I have no doubt that if the attack on Dr. Ford was as bad as she says charges would
have been immediately filed with local law enforcement authorities by her or her loving parents and then he said I ask that she bring the filings
forward to learn date, time and place."
Of course, this echoes what President Trump first said last night during an interview with Fox news, questioning why Christine Blasey Ford didn't go to
the FBI 36 years ago when she says this sexual assault took place. Aides privately marveled that President Trump had been so restrained throughout
most of the week since Christine Blasey Ford came forward and put her name behind the allegation. This is what Republicans and White House aides had
feared, President Trump going after the accuser and potentially scrambling this very difficult process, Republicans are facing in the Senate.
JONES: Yes. We wait to see if there's a hearing again on this week some point. Steven, Sarah, thanks to you both.
Now to other news and British broadcasting network Sky is up for sale at auction right now. The sale caps a highly competitive battle for media
dominance. Sky is Europe's biggest pay TV broadcaster with 23 million subscribers. Comcast has been battling 21st Century Fox for but Fox
already owns 39 percent of the company and will be three rounds of bidding to explain all of the bidding war for us and Anna Stewart in the studio.
How does the process work? It is complicated.
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is and rare for a bidding war and a panel to be involved and an auction. It is like extra time if you like in
three rounds. First round the lowest bid, currently Fox a chance to up their bid and then that goes to Comcast. They get a second-round chance to
up the bid and then should they do that, they have a sealed bid and then that stage it goes in. That's it. We just get the results from the pick
of the panel and expect that around this time tomorrow.
JONES: With a bidding war going on, you think it works out well for shareholders.
STEWART: You would be right for thinking that. In the beginning of the process and Fox did the bid, December 2016. Share price 10 pounds 75 and
bid up, up, up, 14 pounds 75 the latest bid from Comcast and expect it much higher. One of the higher bids suggestions from an investor and does have
the interest of pushing the bid up, 18 pounds a share.
JONES: Wow. Just briefly then, the overall media landscape depending on whoever wins sky?
STEWART: They both need this. Essentially to battle against the likes of Amazon, Netflix, Hulu, all want it for distribution in Europe, pay TV and
all sorts of things there and not just the value of who wins but the cost if you don't because you need to scale up in this industry.
JONES: So, a tough bidding war. Already under way. Thank you. We appreciate it.
[14:30:00] Still to come tonight, back with the stop story this hour. Theresa May standing up to the E.U.. We have the defiant speech and a
breakdown of what it all means and monitoring an unfolding tragedy in Tanzania. A ferry overturned with hundreds of people on board and the
death toll is climbing. The latest on search and recovery efforts coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:30:19] JONES: Welcome back. Let's get back to our top story this hour. Fighting words from U.K. prime minister, Theresa May. The day after
a major knockdown from the European Union. Thursday's message from Europe's leader could not have been clearer. Your Brexit plan will not
work.
But just hours ago Mrs. May stepped up to the plate with a clear message of her own. Instead of just dismissing the Chequers proposal, come up with
your own and treat the U.K. with the same respect it's afforded you.
Well, we want to bring you her speech now exactly as it happened. Enjoy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Yesterday, I was in Salzburg for talks with European leaders. I have always said that these negotiations
would be tough. And they were always bound to be toughest in the final straight.
While both sides want a deal, we have to face up to the fact that despite the progress we have made, there are two big issues where we remain a long
way apart.
The first is our economic relationship after we have left. Here, the E.U. is still only offering us two options. The first option would involve the
U.K. staying in the European economic area and a customs union with the E.U.
In plain English, this would mean we'd still have to abide by all the E.U. rules. Uncontrolled immigration from the E.U. would continue. And we
couldn't do trade deals we want with other countries. That would make a mockery of the referendum we had two years ago.
The second option would be a basic free trade agreement for Great Britain that would introduce checks at the Great Britain/E.U. border. But even
worse Northern Ireland would effectively remain in the customs union and parts of the single market permanently separated economically from the rest
of the U.K. by a border down the Irish Sea. Parliament has already unanimously rejected this idea.
Creating any form of customs border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. would not respect that Northern Ireland is an integral part of
the United Kingdom in line with the principle of consent as set out clearly in the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. It is something I will never agree
to.
Indeed, in my judgment it is something no British prime minister would ever agree to. If the E.U. believe I will, they are making a fundamental
mistake. Anything which fails to respect the referendum or which effectively divides our country in two would be a bad deal and I have
always said no deal is better than a bad deal.
But I have also been clear that the best outcome is for the U.K. to leave with a deal. That is why following months of intensive work and detailed
discussions, we proposed a third option for our future economic relationship based on the frictionless trade in goods. That is the best
way to protect jobs here and in the E.U. and to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, while respecting the referendum result and
the integrity of the United Kingdom.
[14:35:05] Yesterday, Donald Tusk said our proposals would undermine the single market. He didn't explain how in any detail or make any counter
proposal. So we are at an impasse.
The second issue is connected to the first. We both agree that the withdrawal agreement needs to include a backstop to ensure if there's a
delay in implementing our new relationship there's still wouldn't be a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland.
But the E.U. is proposing to achieve this by effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the customs union. As I have already said, that is
unacceptable. We will never agree to it. It would mean breaking up our country.
We will set out our alternative that preserves the integrity of the U.K. And it will be in line with the commitments we made back in December
including the commitment that no new regulatory barriers should be created between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K. unless Northern Ireland
executive and assembly agree.
As I told E.U. leaders, neither side should demand the unacceptable of the other. We cannot accept anything that threatens the integrity of our
union. Just as they cannot accept anything that threatens the integrity of theirs. We cannot accept anything that does not respect the result of the
referendum. Just as they cannot accept anything that is not in the interests of their citizens.
Throughout this process, I have treated the E.U. with nothing but respect. The U.K. expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process
depends on it.
At this late stage in the negotiations, it is not acceptable to simply reject the other side's proposals without a detailed explanation and
counterproposals. So we now need to hear from the E.U. what the real issues are and what their alternative is so that we can discuss them.
Until we do, we cannot make progress.
In the meantime, we must and will continue the work of preparing ourselves for no deal. In particular, I want to clarify our approach to two issues.
First, there are over three million E.U. citizens living in the U.K. who will be understandably worried about what the outcome of yesterday's summit
means for their future.
I want to be clear with you that even in the event of no deal, your rights will be protected. You are our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues. We
want you to stay.
Second, I want to reassure the people of Northern Ireland that in the event of no deal, we will do everything in our power to prevent a return to a
hard border.
Let me also say this. The referendum was the largest democratic exercise this country has ever undergone. To deny its legitimacy or frustrate its
result threatens public trust in our democracy. That is why for over two years I have worked day and night to deliver a deal that sees the U.K.
leave the E.U. I have worked to bring people with me, even when that is not always seemed possible. No one wants a good deal more than me but the
E.U. should be clear.
I will not overturn the referendum nor will I break up my country. We need serious engagement on resolving the two big problems in the negotiations.
And we stand ready.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JONES: And she's off. A stern tone and strong words there. Theresa May demanding respect from the European Union. And while there's no sign that
she's about to compromise both the E.U. and factions within Theresa May's own party are intent on forcing her to do so. So what can we read from
tall of this? Let's bring in our correspondent Bianca Nobilo.
A defiant tone there obviously from Theresa May. I mean, we should also point out that that press conference was slightly delayed, as well, because
of the lack of power in Downing Street and you really couldn't make this.
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, she has expound --
JONES: I mean, she said there at the end, "we stand ready." Who does she mean by we?
[14:40:59] NOBILO: The audience for that speech today was, of course, the E.U. She's saying that to Tusk and to Macron and we can get into that in a
moment, that the "we stand ready" is directed at her Brexiteers. She's trying to win them around, because now she's in such a precarious position
prior to conservative party conference and you identified the tone. And that is really important here because she often misjudges that.
She's a politician that's not known for her ability to take the temperature of a political situation or room, but today, she did that and her
supporters have called it the Churchill moment and felt like she got that right. Even Farage, Nigel Farage, former leader of -- the architect of all
of this, said that for the first time he believed her when she said, "I'm willing to walk away from this."
And a lot of it is in response to Donald Tusk's Instagram post which the E.U. argue with lighthearted but obviously could be seen as being -- well,
undermining the process and poking fun at the United Kingdom and that's the respect that she alludes to.
JONES: And talking about Donald Tusk in his statement that was released a couple of hours ago, he said -- he said, "We studied the Chequers proposals
in all seriousness." Obviously trying to make clear that he is taking this seriously and he's not just making a mockery of Theresa May and of the
United Kingdom as well.
But you mentioned about hard Brexiteers maybe being on the side with her in this and also soft Brexiteers as well, unhappy with the way that their
prime minister has been treated on the continent.
NOBILO: Yes. There is a school of opinion that would argue that. That people who were on the fence about all the worst traits that the Brexiteers
espoused about Europe and why we didn't want to be a part of it and the commission, people like Juncker and Tusk, could be arguably confirmed by
the E.U.'s behavior over these two days.
And the prime minister and her team are really blindsided by this. They were not expecting it at all. The mood music had been quite favorable
leading up to the summit. And I think that's one of the reasons why it's such a calamitous affair for the prime minister and how humiliation has
been all across all of the papers in the U.K. It's because, usually, we both know in this Brexit process expectations are really managed.
Nobody's really expecting much process. It's incremental. But in this instance, people thought that she was going to get words of encouragement
heading into her party conference and she got quite the opposite.
JONES: Chequers is her plan. Everyone's dismissed it now on the E.U. side and within her own party and opposition benches, as well, we should say in
the U.K. Is she now, even in that defiance her own prepared to ditch it, to say, okay. Chequers isn't going to work. I've already put it to the
E.U., put the ball in the court saying, you've to come up with something new. Is she prepared to also say, I wash my hands of what I've worked on
for the last couple of months over to you?
NOBILO: Well, she's still sticking with Chequers as the working plan. That's what she's saying. But we need to compromise further. There is
room for that, but the E.U. has to come to the table with some more creative imaginative proposals that they both have been talking about since
the very beginning.
However, the selling point of checkers which didn't have many friends on either side, the hard Brexiteers or the soft Brexit supporters within her
own party was the fact that it could be solved, that the E.U. would buy it. That was the only thing that made it a viable plan, that it might actually
be able to get the U.K. deal.
JONES: Right.
NOBILO: Now, we know it won't. So you do wonder whether or not it's tenable. Well we heard today that she's willing to walk away from the
table if the E.U. don't come forward with something else. She says, you can't just reject my proposals out of hand. You need to suggest something
else.
JONES: And so, she has tried to compromise. They have said no to that. Now, we're at this impasse. However you want to say it, as Theresa May
said it earlier on today. If March comes around or the negotiations towards the end of the year are not fruitful, but there is still the
possibility of a deal and both sides is still saying we think we can reach a compromise. Can that deadline at the end of March be pushed back? Could
we have a delayed Brexit?
NOBILO: Certainly. I mean, Article 50 can be extended with unanimity among the member states. That is a possibility. You have to look at how
that would be approached from both sides. From the E.U.'s perspective, it's been made fairly clear by Macron over the last couple of days that
they want the Brexit process to be shown, to be an agonizing one, not an easy one like the Brexiteers in the U.K. made out -- made it out it could
be, during the referendum campaign.
So whether or not they had agreed to extend the process, it would have to see if it suited them as well. In terms of the U.K., I think it would also
make Theresa May's leadership a bit more secure perhaps and it might seem counter intuitive, but nobody wants the poisoned chalice that is Brexit.
That's why even though there's all this talk of leadership challenges. There hasn't actually been one yet.
But if it's shown that it's going to be even more prolonged, there is a chance that she could stay in this position longer than anybody ever
expected.
JONES: And probably herself, as well. Bianca, thanks so much for your analysis.
Now, we turn to other news, Tanzania's president is demanding answers a day after a ferry capsized with hundreds of people on board. State media
report he's ordered the arrest of the ship's operators. The incident happened in Lake Victoria on a ship that was loaded well past capacity. On
this up to 500 people on board. Just 80 have been rescued.
[14:45:12] Our Farai Sevenzo is following the developments for us from Nairobi in Kenya.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The search and rescue mission to try and find the survivors of the MV Nyerere. The ferry was capsized in Lake
Victoria has now tragically becomes just a search mission.
Tanzanian minister of transport and communication, Mr. Isaac Kamwelwe told CNN that 126 bodies have been found. This means that of the 400 to 500
people that were on that ferry, we are likely to see that figure of 126 keep on climbing. The minister also told CNN that the operation to look
for more bodies has been hampered by the fact that when the boat capsized, it had so many things on it, like a lorry and cement and luggage and it is
difficult for the search teams to take away all of that debris before they can reach the bodies.
Sadly, this is not Tanzania's first such disaster. In 2012, Zanzibar, the island which is autonomous too of Tanzania, 145 perished. Back in 1996,
the MV Bukoba, another ferry which is also run by the Tanzanian electrical and mechanical services agency and government agency lost 800 souls.
At the moment, the Tanzanians have tried and find a way to stop this very high death toll happening on their waters.
Farai Sevenzo, CNN, Nairobi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JONES: All right. Thank you for that report. And Farai reporting there that 126 people have lost their lives. We should now tell you that the
death toll has since risen to 127. State media reporting that the president has declared three days of national mourning in Tanzania.
All right. Stay with us here on CNN. Plenty more coming up after the short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JONES: Authorities in New York are investigating the stabbing of three infants at an unlicensed day care. One of the infants is just three days
old. Two adults were also stabbed. All of the victims are in critical but stable condition. Police say a woman who works there attacked the children
and adults before turning the knife on herself. She was taken into custody.
Now, we turn our attention to a bizarre security breach at an airport in Florida. Officials say a man is under arrest after he jumped an airport
security fence in Melbourne and snuck onto a jet undergoing maintenance. Brian Todd reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the middle of the night, a flight school student sneaks onto a parked airliner leaving his car engine
running. Authorities say, he jumps a fence, runs across the tarmac and boards an American Airlines Airbus 321 that was parked for maintenance at
Melbourne International Airport in Florida. Maintenance workers said they saw a shadow.
LORI BOOKER, SPOKESWOMAN, ORLANDO MELBOURNE INTL. AIRPORT: A maintenance employee spotted the intruder and immediately notified the specially
trained Melbourne Airport police department, which was on the scene and was able to arrest the subject within two minutes.
[14:50:10] TODD: He twice attempted to enter the flight deck. And even after he was caught, he again turned and ran toward the plane. Authorities
say the suspect is Nishal Sankat, 22 years old from the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago, who was studying at a nearby flight school.
Record show, he got a commercial pilot license in January. He faces charges of trespassing, burglary, and attempted theft of an aircraft, but
no word on the motive or on what was his intention was. Officials say he has no criminal record, that they found no weapons in his car or his home.
And that he's cooperating with law enforcement. Authorities said, systems in place and heroic action prevented something that could have been much
worse.
BOOKER: You can rest assured that we believe that in this instance our security worked just fine.
TODD: Just last month, an unauthorized airport worker took off in a 76- seat turboprop in Seattle, flying erratically for an hour while sporadically talking to controllers.
RICHARD RUSSELL, STOLE A PLANE IN SEATTLE: Just a broken guy. Got a few screws loose, I guess. Never really knew it until now.
TODD: Fighter jets were scrambled in case he was a security threat.
But after an hour, he crashed. Still, the incident raised concerns about whether parked airliners are secure, if one can be so bracingly stolen.
In the Florida case, there's no known link to terrorism as of yet, but security expert say, ever since extremists crashed four planes on 9/11, any
attempt to access a plane is concerning.
PAUL CRUICKSHANK, CNN TERRORISM ANALYST: We've seen what could happen with 9/11 of the terrorist attending flight school gaining access to the
cockpit, the damage that can be done. So this incident will be of great concern to U.S. counterterrorism agencies as they investigate.
TODD: One area they could investigate, the suspect ties to Trinidad and Tobago.
CRUICKSHANK: Trinidad has been a country in which a significant number of extremists have traveled to Syria, to Iraq to join ISIS from over a
hundred.
TODD: It's not clear now if any added security measures are going to be put in place at the Melbourne International Airport. Officials there say,
they're proud of how their security worked in this case, but they also say it's not unusual to have as many as eight jets parked on the tarmac outside
of the repair center at any given hour.
Brian Todd, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JONES: Bizarre story there. Frightening, as well, in terms of security breach and not knowing any motive as well.
All right. Stay with us here on CNN on HALA GORANI TONIGHT. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JONES: This week, we've been profiling different wellness destinations in India. Taking a part need not be reserved just for the wealthy it seems.
One center near Bangalore operates with a pay what you want philosophy. Our Amara Walker has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMARA WALKER, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: This rustic farmland located in a small village of under 3,000, about 4.5 hours from Bangalore may seem like
an unusual setting for a wellness retreat. But this isn't your typical retreat. This is the Anahata Healing Center where simplicity is key and
the price to stay is as pure as the intentions of its founder, Kiran Ravandur.
[14:55:08] KIRAN RAVANDUR, FOUNDER, ANAHATA HEALING CENTER: Anahata is a bit more community project. So people coming here to experience the real
authentic India in a village life. And also people like coming here, also, expect healing.
WALKER: Ravandur who grew up in this very village wanted to give people a needed break from the stresses of day-to-day life.
RAVANDUR: You know what happened? Because of the, maybe digital or modern lifestyle, some people are forgetting the small things. For the nature, I
think all of us are the same. It doesn't matter you're rich or poor or whatever your position. So we're trying to make as simple as possible, you
know, to bring healing to them through the nature.
WALKER: The cost for his guests? Well, it depends on what they want to pay. The Anahata Healing Arts Center is donation based.
RAVANDUR: We only suggest, you know, as a donation based so we never ask them to, you know, like forcefully you have to pay this. Because we do
have in India, we call Atithi Devo Bhava. It's whoever comes, so treat as a God, whoever comes here, so we try to give our best. Our philosophy is
to help. Healing should reach everyone.
WALKER: Wellness for everyone, no matter their background. A noble endeavor from someone who believes wholeheartedly in the force of good.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
JONES: Pay what you like is something I could definitely get on board with.
Thanks so much for watching tonight. Wishing you all a great weekend, as well. Do stay with us here on CNN. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" with Richard
quest is coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:07] QUEST: Another way the day has with trading. The market opens sharply higher.
END
