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World Headlines; U.S. Calls for Yemen Civil War Ceasefire in 30 Days; Meet the Man Who Calls the Desert Home; Young Dancers Create Fusion with Hip Hop and Bollywood; Kanye West Says He Wants to Focus on Being "Creative." Aired 8-9a ET

Aired October 31, 2018 - 08:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:00:00] ANNA COREN, CNN SHOW HOST: Hello. I'm Anna Coren in Hong Kong. Welcome to "News Stream."

Push to the midterms, Donald Trump prepares for a blitz of rallies and a divisive closing argument.

Searching for black boxes, Indonesian authorities investigate pings that could be from the flight data recorder of Lian Air flight 610.

And a monumental controversy, why a giant statue in India is sparking a whole lot of anger.

We begin with U.S. President Donald Trump who will be back on the campaign trail with just six days until the midterm elections. And with control of

the U.S. Congress hanging in the balance, Mr. Trump is leaving nothing to chance, holding rallies in eight different states between now and Tuesday.

He kicks off in Florida today, and while the stakes maybe different, the message will likely be the same as the president digs in on his tough

immigration stance. He offered a preview yesterday sparking bipartisan criticism when he declared he would end birthright citizenship referenced

in the U.S. Constitution by executive order.

But that wasn't the only controversy for Mr. Trump on Tuesday. The other was in Pittsburgh where the president and his family and others paid

tribute to the victims and survivors of Saturday's synagogue shooting that killed 11 people.

Several officials decline to appear with Mr. Trump while some in the neighborhood took to the streets to protest what they say is his divisive

rhetoric.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROWD SINGING)

This land is your land, this land is my land, from California to the New York Islands, from the Redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters, this land

was made for you and me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: You can see some of the signs in the crowd saying, "Words Matter, Hate Not Welcome" and again, with the election nearing, "Vote to Protect

your Neighbors." Well, CNN White House correspondent Abby Phillip joins us now, and Abby, the president has a blitz of rallies over the next six days,

obviously playing up the immigration card. What can we expect to hear?

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well Anna, the president heads out today for Florida starting a huge blitz in the run up to this

campaign next week. The president is hitting the campaign trail for senate and gubernatorial candidates across the country, but what we are seeing

from him is a strategy that is focused intensely on his base.

And one of the key issues for them is this issue of immigration. Now, the president has been talking a lot about the migrant caravan coming up from

Central America to the U.S. southern border. He has said that he is sending troops, U.S. military troops to the boarder to greet the people coming up

in that caravan.

He's even talking about this issue of birth right citizenship. And all of this is part of broader theme. He's emphasizing this idea that the United

States is under siege somehow from immigrants and that he needs to step up his activity in order to confront it.

Now, that is a message that a lot of people say is one that is dividing the country in the final days of this campaign. But for President Trump, it is

a huge motivator and for Republican candidates, particularly in senate races, that could mean the difference between Democrats gaining a last

minute edge and them holding on to the Senate.

COREN: Abby, it's unprecedented for a president to be campaigning this hard certainly for the midterms. Why is he hitting the campaign trail so

hard when there are many Republicans distancing themselves from his latest comments on ending birthright citizenship, as you mentioned, which could in

fact harm Republican chances?

PHILLIP: Yes. We have not seen a president do this many political rallies in the run up to a midterm election especially a midterm cycle where the

environment is not as favorable to his party, but this president has 11 campaign rallies scheduled between now and next Tuesday.

Ands he's talking about this issue of birthright citizenship in an effort to kind of get his base activated. But as you pointed out, some

Republicans, particularly on the House side where they're running in smaller districts, many of them more suburban, are a little worried that

this issue could actually activate the Democrats.

We also heard yesterday from House Speaker Paul Ryan who threw cold water on President Trump's idea on birthright citizenship.

(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)

[08:05:05] PAUL RYAN (R), SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Well, you obviously cannot do that. You cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive

order. We didn't like it when Obama tried changing immigration laws via executive action and obviously, as conservatives , you know, we believe in

the Constitution.

You know as a conservative, I'm a believer in following the plain text of the Constitution and I think in this case the 14th amendment is pretty

clear. And that would involve a very, very lengthy constitutional process.

(END AUDIO CLIP)

PHILLIP: So there are obviously real constitutional questions about whether this is something the president could do, but I think hearing that

from Paul Ryan seems to indicate that he is concerned that for his members, is Republicans running in competitive districts against Democrats. This

kind of rhetoric, this kind of talk could activate the Democratic activists who are already very, very motivated to vote in this election, Anna

COREN: Abby Phillip, joining us from Washington, great to see you. Many thanks for that.

Well, for further analysis, let's bring in our senior political analyst John Avlon who is joining us from New York. John, Trump floating the idea

of ending birthright citizenship has obviously received a great deal of pushback from within his own party. Everyone on both sides of the aisle

have said the president cannot do this. He cannot rewrite or amend the Constitution with an executive order. So why say it? Why even raise the

idea?

JOHN AVLON, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, the president is simply trying to play to the base and change the conversation. And because it's an

outrageous claim, it gets attention. But this is not really open to debate.

I mean, the House Speaker said it. Member of Congress from both parties said it. The president's own senior communications director's husband,

George Conway wrote an op-ed in the "Washington Post" saying he can't do it. This is not a reality based claim by the president. Executive Orders

cannot override the Constitution. So, it really is simply a classic Trump attempt to distract and deflect and folks shouldn't fall for it.

COREN: So you say he wants embolden his base but I would assume that these are voters who feel so strongly about Trump and his issues that they'll be

turning out to vote on November 6th regardless. So does he not risk alienating that the centrist suburban Republicans, those now sitting on the

fence questioning their support for this president and his policies by carrying on this way?

AVLON: He absolutely does. And that's exactly why you're seeing Republicans push back on the president. The reality is the president isn't

helping. He's making arguments that appeal to his base when what the Republicans need is to secure those suburban swing voters, women voters

where there is a massive gap. And that kind of incendiary rhetoric doesn't help, in fact, it hurts.

Now, the president believes his instincts are infallible. He defied the odds last time around simply by playing to the base. He practices the

politics of division, not addition, and that worked for him. But for members of the Republican House who are in these swing districts, even

districts that Donald Trump won, they're having a really hard time.

Even in statewide races, in states that Donald Trump won, Democrats are doing very well in places like the governor's races. So, the president is

not helping his party right now and there's increasing recognition of that fact.

COREN: John, critics claim that the president's hostile political rhetoric has played a role in encouraging violence, something obviously that the

White House dismisses. But in light of what's happened over the past week or so, the pipe bomb scares, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting, rather than

unifying the country, he continues to divide, refusing to tone down the rhetoric. What message do you believe that sends?

AVLON: Well, look, the president -- there is teleprompter Trump who will offer messages of unity and healing. But then there's the real Trump

evidence in town halls and on Twitter. And the reality is this president is not the uniter, he is a divider. That is his brand.

The problems is in moments of national calamity and injury as in the wake of the most deadly anti-Semitic attack in American history, the American

people want and expect a comforter-in-chief. This president doesn't do empathy. That is not how he is wired. And so there is a problem.

He went to Pittsburgh yesterday with his Jewish daughter and son-in-law. There is a real connection to the community in that regard. But beginning

today, he is on the campaign trail and you're going to be back to the arena rock tour Donald Trump.

And in some states, he's under water and actually creating a drag on candidates, but the hope is he can pump up the base to ensure enough

turnout that that can supplant. Very telling, by the way, that in one of the Republicans closing argument ads for the national Republican Party, it

focuses on the economy. It doesn't mention Donald Trump.

COREN: John Avlon, always great to get your insight and take. Many thanks for joining us.

AVLON: Thanks Anna. You're welcome.

COREN: Well, back in Pittsburgh, a somber and emotional day lies ahead as three more victims of that horrific synagogue shooting will be laid to

rest.

[08:10:01] That follows an outpouring of grief Tuesday when the first funerals were held. Mourners from across the country attended the services

including for those two brothers who were killed in the massacre.

We are following fast moving developments in the investigation into the deadly crash of an Indonesian passenger plane. Divers are now focusing on

an area of debris that may be the plane's fuselage after detecting under water ping signals. The disaster killed 189 people on board.

Well, CNN's Ivan Watson has been tracking developments on the ground. He joins us now from Tanjung Priok, a seaport in northern Jakarta. Ivan,

obviously we want to speak about the investigation, but I know that you've been witnessing families coming for the last several hours, going through

the belongings that have been retrieved from the sea. This must be such a hard wrenching experience for them.

IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. I mean, there were 189 passengers and crew on board this plane, Anna, and they -- given the

devastating news that the plane crashed shortly after takeoff. Now, for days now, the salvage operation has been bringing in pieces of debris,

belongings from some of the passengers as well as human remains to this port here, the main port for Jakarta and laying them out behind me on white

tarps.

And what we saw for the first time this afternoon were some relatives of some of the passengers brought out to take a look at some of these

belongings in an attempt to try to identify them. So, there was a devastating moment of closure for 52-year-old Epi Samsul Omar (ph) when,

while he was escorted out to look at shoes that had been lined up and arranged here on the wharf, he spotted a black sneaker which he said

belonged to his 24-year-old son, Mohammed Anjan (ph) and he was immediately overcome with emotion and walked away weeping.

Now, we spoke to him afterwards and he says that his chief priority now is to recover the body of his son which he believes is at the bottom of the

Java Sea with the main fuselage of the lost plane. The status of that is not entirely clear yet. As far as the search goes, we have learned that the

authorities say they have detected what they suspect is the under water locator beacon for the flight data recorder, which they say is affixed to

the tale of the plane.

We've also heard from authorities saying that they believe they've detected something on the ocean bottom that could be a main part of the fuselage of

the plane that what we can see from the debris, smashed into pieces upon collision with the surface of the Java Sea.

And the latest news we've gotten is that the authorities are still trying to home in on that signal that is broadcasting at 3.7 kilohertz which they

believe is the beacon. They are operating at depths of 30-35 meters with divers, with submersibles, with sonar from their ships and helicopters, as

well, Anna.

COREN: (Inaudible) relatively shallow water, you say 30 to 35 meters deep and obviously they've heard those pings and they're 70 percent certain that

they are coming from the Boeing 737 MAX 8. Finding the fuselage, that main fuselage, I guess, in an ocean it's like finding a needle in a haystack.

WATSON: It is and, you know, one aviation expert I've talked to has raised criticism of the under water locator beacon saying this isn't the first

time that we've been in this position after an air disaster over the ocean. You have Malaysian Airlines MH 370 which has never really been found.

And he singled out an Air France disaster where it took some eight years to find the main body of the downed plane. And it's so important to find, at

the very least, the flight data recorder because that's how you can find out more information about why the plane went down in the first place so

soon after takeoff within the matter of 15 minutes.

Now, I want to direct our viewers to this information, these graphics that were compiled by an organization called Flight Radar 24. And it tracks

commercial flights around the world and followed the doomed minutes of Lion Air flight 610 after it took off from the main airport here in Jakarta.

[08:15:07] And from the flight data they were able to compile, the altitude was varying dramatically as was the speed. And you actually had the plane

at moments plunging distances of more than 700 feet in a period of just 21 seconds which would have been clearly been quite frightening. And, of

course, it ended with disaster. Hopefully there can be some kind of information as to why this happened with a brand new Boeing 737.

In the meantime, we've learned that according to the request of the transportation ministry, the technical director of Lion Air has been fired

and he is currently under investigation from the transport ministry as well as that airline. And you've got investigators from Boeing who have come in

to take a look and inspect other similar model planes in the fleet of different Indonesian airline companies, Anna.

COREN: Yes. At the end of the day, they're just not going to have any firm answers until they locate those black boxes. Ivan Watson, we thank you and

your team for all your reporting over the last couple of days. Many thanks to you.

You are watching "News Stream." Still ahead, violent outbursts in Pakistan after a woman accused of blasphemy wins an appeal. We go live to Islamabad.

And it may be the world's tallest statue, but in India, the cost of this mighty bronze figure is causing deep divisions.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COREN: Welcome back to "News Stream" live from Hong Kong. Authorities in Pakistan are trying to reign in protests that broke out after the Supreme

Court acquitted a Christian woman on death row for blasphemy. Asia Bibi was sentenced to hang in 2010 but won her appeal today. She had been convicted

of making derogatory remarks about the prophet Muhammad.

Officials have now invoked a law preventing public gatherings of more than four people in an attempt to stop demonstrators. Well CNN's Sophia Saifi

joins us now from Islamabad. Sophia, what is the latest on these protests?

SOPHIA SAIFI, CNN PRODUCER: Well, Anna, we know that most of the major motor ways connecting the main cities of Lahor in the capital of Islamabad

have been on complete lockdown. They have been shut down. We also have the main interchange between Islamabad and its twin city of Rawalpindi being

completely shutdown because of these protesters.

Now, these protests, I mean, we've seen more protesters actually come out after the day has ended with regards to, you know, people getting done with

work and then coming out after that. So the numbers have actually swelled since the verdict was announced early morning at 9:30. We are expecting, I

mean, there is a strong security presence.

[08:20:02] This was something that had been expected if she had been acquitted, which she has been with the TLP, which the Tehreek-e-Labaik

Pakistan, a far right party in Pakistan which is very strongly, you know, towards the blasphemy laws. They feel that Asia Bibi should have been hung,

and now there is a lot of security around the capital, around the Supreme Court and, of course, around the jail where Asia Bibi is still residing.

COREN: Tell us what will happen to Asia Bibi. Obviously for safety reasons we she won't be able to live in Pakistan.

SAIFI: Well, yes, that is what everybody is expecting, actually. I mean, there have been some news that she's been given asylum, that there have

been offers of asylum from various western countries, but we still haven't been able to kind of ascertain which countries those are.

I mean, the pope spoke out on behalf of her acquittal back in spring of 2018. We've had the European Union put a lot of pressure here in Pakistan,

warning economic consequences if Asia Bibi's case have not been resolved.

So, there is a lot of chatter at the moment wondering where Asia Bibi is going to go because clearly it seems that she's not really safe in the

country of her birth because, you know, I spoke to her lawyer. He is afraid for his own life.

So, Asia Bibi, who is still in jail -- it will take about two to three days for all the processes to be in place for her to walk free. The question is

will she actually be able to walk free in Pakistan or not, Anna.

COREN: Sophia Saifi, we appreciate the update. Many thanks.

India's prime minister has unveiled the world's tallest statue honoring an independence hero known as the ironman. The statue of unity dwarfs the

countryside around it standing six times as tall as Brazil's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue.

It's a monument, the accomplishments of Sardar Patel who is credited I should say, with unifying the country after its independence from Britain

in 1947. But the engineering success is not without controversy. Some critics say it is an attempt by the current prime minister to score some

political capital.

Joining us now is Nikhil Kumar in New Delhi. Nikhil, political capital aside, people are questioning the amount of money that is being spent on

this statue and how it could have been better used.

NIKHIL KUMAR, CNN NEW DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: That's right, Anna, absolutely. People are questioning whether this money, more than $400 million that's

been spent on erecting this statue in the western state of Gujirat as you said.

Whether that money could have been used for better purposes, principally, development, Prime Minister Modi, who as you said, opened this today. Prime

Minister Modi was elected in 2014 on plan of heralding a sort of economic renaissance. Many people, many of his critics said that that hasn't

happened yet. Why wasn't this money, they ask, spent on fulfilling those promises on tackling many of the problems that remain to be tackled in the

economy and society at large.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KUMAR (voice-over): It stands 182 meters tall, more than double the height of the Statue of Liberty. This mammoth iron and bronze sculptor depicts an

Indian national hero. This is India's first deputy prime minister who is credited with unifying the country independence. The project's chief

engineer says I wasn't easy to build.

P.C. VYAS, CHIEF ENGINEER, STATUE OF UNITY PROJECT (through translation): The first challenge was its height. Secondly, the location is remote. The

third problem was structure. The shape of the structure is such that the foundation is narrow and the upper body was wider. So that was a challenge.

KUMAR (voice-over): A museum at the site shows how Sardar Valiabhbhai Patel and the nickname ironman because he threatened military force to

pressure some 500 south governing princely states to join the new state of India.

SAURABH BHAI PATEL, GUJARAT STATE ENERGY MINISTER: It was only because of his efforts, his knowledge and the art of bringing them together. Today we

are one India. We are one united India.

KUMAR (voice-over): Many see the project as a not-so subtle bait by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist BJP party to appropriate

an Indian hero from the opposition congress party. Some community organizations say the statue's huge price tag should have been spent

improving the lives of local people and claim the construction damaged the environment.

The Indian government claims that despite the remote location, 15,000 tourists will travel to see India's newest iron man every day. A food court

and guest house complex are under construction. But right now, the nearest city and hotels to stay in are 100 kilometers from the statue.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KUMAR (on-camera): So there you go, Anna, a monumental towering statue, but in its shadow, not one but a number of controversies, Anna.

COREN: Nikhil Kumar, good to see you. Many thanks for that.

[08:25:00] Well, further north, healthy, breathable air seems to be quickly disappearing in India's populous capital. New Delhi residents are bracing

themselves for peak crop burning season which would add even more pollution to the already thick and toxic smog over the city. And as Michael Holmes

tells us, government officials are ready to take drastic steps that could impact thousands of drivers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the streets of India's capital, masses of cars jockey for position. Their exhaust mixing into a

thick toxic smog that hangs overhead. The air quality index now hitting severe levels. A senior environmental official warns if the air quality

deteriorates further, private vehicles could be banned, leaving a city of more than 20 million people with only public transportation.

Critics call it band-aid to a much larger problem. But officials have become desperate in one of the most polluted cities in the world where air

quality poses a serious danger to public health.

SHAILENDRA KUMAR, HEAD DOCTOR OF URDULA HOSPITAL: Patients who are already in treatment for things like asthma, tuberculosis, lung disease, they have

more trouble breathing. Because of air pollution, they are more at risk of getting attacks and more severe attacks. And they keep facing these

problems again and again.

HOLMES (voice-over): This time of the year is especially bad as winter approaches. Farmers burn off the residue of crops to prepare for next

season's plantings sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky.

OM SINGH, PADDY FARMER: Tell me how to dispose of it. We cannot plow it. Even if we plow it ten times, it is not going to be of any use. We cannot

plant new seeds in this so we have to do this.

HOLMES (voice-over): Officials have debated how to tackle the problem, but time is ticking while toxic air takes its toll. A recent U.S.-based study

found that impacts of air pollution kill more than a million people each year in India and millions more around the globe.

TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: We know that air pollution is one of the biggest threats to global health

and we need to do something about it and urgently. Let me remind you of some of the numbers. Air pollution kills 7 million people each year. Around

the world, nine out of ten people breathe air that has been polluted by traffic emissions, industry, agriculture and waste incineration.

HOLMES (voice-over): At the World Health Organization's first global conference on air pollution and health, the director general warns against

the staggering cost of inaction, calling for urgent policy changes especially in the worst polluted places including New Delhi where people

still need to get from place to place in a choking gray haze that will likely get worse before it gets better. Michael Holmes, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: And uncertain outcome, the United States ramps up pressure for a cease-fire in Yemen. But after nearly four years of fighting, why now?

[08:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Welcome back. I'm Anna Coren in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream. These are your world headlines.

Indonesian officials say divers are focusing on debris picked up by sonar that may be the fuselage of the crashed Lion Air passenger jet. The jet

crashed into the Java Sea on Monday killing all 189 people on board. Investigators are tracking pings they detected underwater and say they are

70 percent sure they are from the plane's black boxes.

Emergency officials say 11 people have now been killed across Italy due to extreme weather conditions. Strong winds and heavy rain have battered

cities like Rome and Naples, while Venice is witnessing its worst flooding in at least a decade. Schools have been closed around the country and

authorities have warned people to avoid nonessential travel.

U.S. is calling for a swift end to the fighting in Yemen's three-year civil war. Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo

urging all warring parties to agree to a ceasefire in the next 30 days. The fighting between the U.S.-backed Saudi-led coalition and Iranian-backed

Houthi rebels has led to what the U.N. says is the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The call for peace comes as the U.S. is facing growing criticism for its support of the Saudi-led coalition particularly after the killing of Saudi

journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Sam Kiley is in Abu Dhabi. Sam, I guess the question is why now? Why is the American government calling for a cessation

to a war that has been going on for years? What has changed?

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think really, Anna, it's the perfect storm of toxicity, if you like, following the murder, what

the Saudis now admit was the murder of Jamal Khashoggi inside their consulate in Turkey.

Even for support for people like Lindsey Graham -- Senator Lindsey Graham, who had been an absolute hard line supporter in the Senate for Saudi Arabia

fell away completely. This was the straw, really, that broke the camel's back, although of course it's not in any way directly related at all to the

war in Yemen or albeit Mr. Khashoggi in his columns did criticize his own country's operations there.

Then you have on top of that warnings of famine could affect some 12 million people coming from the world food programme just a few weeks ago

and this has come just a week before the midterm elections in the United States.

This is an opportunity for the Americans to say we favor peace, we want a ceasefire, and to put some distance between themselves and the Saudi-led

coalition without actually undermining that coalition.

If they really wanted to see a southern change in the trajectory of the war, they could, for example, withdraw military support and that includes

air to air refueling, it includes the resupply of armaments, it includes the maintenance contracts for the fast jets being flown particularly by the

Saudis.

So, this is a moment in which the State Department and the Department of Defense are saying we want to see results. It is also coming -- and I have

to say at a time when both the Houthis and those very complex coalition fighting them would probably welcome a ceasefire. Neither side is winning.

Both sides are running to the sand.

The Houthis are proving a (ph) very difficult not to crack are reflecting heavy casualties on the Saudi-led coalition and ultimately this may

actually suit both sides in the sense neither side could be accused of suing for peace because this isn't now an American struck U.N.-led effort.

The only people, Anna, who really responded to this, who are part of this whole process are the U.N. Martin Griffiths, the envoy there, has welcome

the statement from the Americans. There has been no sound from the Houthis or the UAE or the Saudis who of course on the other side off-set the

Houthis, Anna.

COREN: The millions suffering from that famine, they will also no doubt benefit once this war ends. Sam Kiley, good to see you. Many thanks. Well,

you're watching News Stream. We'll be right back after the break.

[08:35:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COREN: Imagine enjoying your next vacation in a luxurious oasis in the middle of the desert. In Abu Dhabi, you can find just that and it's home to

a five-star resort that resembles an old Arabian fortress town. (INAUDIBLE) introduces us to a one-day (INAUDIBLE) who calls the desert home.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the Rub Al Khali Desert known as the "empty quarter." It's the largest continuous continuous sand mass in the world. It

stretches across Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. While some view it as a harsh and barren terrain, this man couldn't live

without it and calls it home.

AMRO AHMAD ABU AFFAR, ACTIVITY MANAGER, QASR AL SARAB RESORT: If you like to be away from the city and from the noise, you can have the peace over

here, because when you go out in the desert, you cannot hear anything. No cars, no airplanes, no noise, no nothing. You just -- you can hear yourself

while you're breathing.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nestled within the desert is the Qasr Al Sarab Resort. Amro is the activity manager there.

AFFAR: I love the desert because the people think it is empty, there is nothing here, but there is a life and it's special at night. It's a

challenge to live, that's true. But for me as a person, I love challenges and I love to be in the desert.

My favorite activity here to do is dune bashing. For me as a person, I love the adventure and I love driving.

Most of the time when the guests are shouting during the dune bashing, that means they're enjoying.

If you look at the desert, you actually think it's empty and there is no life here. But, in fact, there is a big life. There is a wildlife even.

You see this is a baby camel. I told you about this. This is our camel farm where we have around 30 camels. They are mixed between male and female.

We call this dune bashing (ph) because while he's walking on the sand, he don't get stuck or he don't sink. He's like floating. And the second thing

helping him to climb the dunes, the back legs actually, has three knees, not one. He has three.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As the sun sets on the Rub Al Khali Desert, Amaro takes his guests on a camel trek, and invites them to enjoy the magic of the

dunes at dusk.

AFFAR: If you would like to have the experience of the culture in Abu Dhabi, you need to go to the desert because the desert is part of almost

all of the Arabic countries and it's our country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: A burgeoning dance movement is emerging in India fusing hip hop with Indian classical dance and even Bollywood. CNN's Amara Walker gives us

a taste of the country's unique take on hip hop in our third episode of Iconic India.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMARA WALKER, CNN ANCHOR: Even in Mumbai, a burgeoning hip hop scene against the backdrop of the Bollywood industry. Subhash Naidu and Jack Lama

are members of the Desi Hoppers, a hip hop group from Mumbai.

Formed in 2015, their trademark style borrows from the Indian cannon as well as more recent dance moves from the west. The crew members hail from

different parts of India but they are united by their love of hip hop.

[08:40:04] SHANTANU MAHESHWARI, MEMBER, DESI HOPPERS: We are Desi Hoppers from Mumbai, India. I'm Shantanu.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is Macedon, that's Rohan, and that is Subhash.

WALKER: Today, the Desi Hoppers are performing a uniquely Indian take on Michael Jackon's "They Don't Care About Us."

MAHESHWARI: Whenever you see our performance, you can see that there is some kind of (INAUDIBLE) we try to celebrate dance.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thanks again for making us (INAUDIBLE).

WALKER: But today, fans of the Desi Hoppers are here to celebrate them at a meet and greet. This year, the six-member crew was the first to represent

India at NBC's World of Dance TV competition in the United States, even wowing Jennifer Lopez, one of the show's judges.

JENNIFER LOPEZ, SINGER: You have your own personality and it is kind of fueled by your culture.

MACEDON D'MELLO, MEMBER, DESI HOPPERS: No matter where you're from, hip hop itself is a culture. Stick to it, but do not forget your roots, do not

forget where you belong.

MAHESHWARI: That's what hip hop is. It's basically bringing your own style as well.

WALKER: At the Jamaican-themed venue, Raasta Bombay, a huge crowd of hip hop enthusiasts try to keep up the with instructor (INAUDIBLE).

The swagger of hip hop has become a significant part of the dance vocabulary in India. Unlike most themes in this country of more than a

billion, hip hop takes on another flavor here and finds its groove through synthesis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COREN: Amara Walker reporting there. U.S. rapper Kanye West wants to distance himself from politics. The global superstar said on Twitter he was

being used to spread messages he did not believe in, but his eyes are open now, and he wants to focus on being creative. It comes this week after his

bizarre visit to the White House where he professed his deep respect for President Trump.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KANYE WEST, RAPPER: There was something about when I put this hat on. It made me feel like Superman. You made a Superman -- that's my favorite

superhero. And you made a Superman cape for me. Also as a guy that looks up to you, looks up to Ralph Lauren, looks up to American industry guys, non-

political, no (bleep), put the bleep on it, however you want to do it, five seconds delay, and just goes in and gets it done.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

COREN: This week, West was linked with the Blexit campaign run by conservative activist Candace Owens. It was first thought he helped design

merchandise which encourages black voters to ditch the Democrats. But Owens has since clarified saying West merely made the introduction with the

designers.

That is News Stream. Thanks so much for your company. I'm Anna Coren. Don't go anywhere, World Sport with Alex Thomas is coming up, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)

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