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Tensions Between U.S. and Iran Escalates; One Trump Loyalist to Leave Her Post; Christchurch Attacker Pleaded Not Guilty for Killing 51 People; Iran Denies Role In Tanker Attack, Calls Simplistic; New Zealand Mosque Shooting Suspects Pleads Not Guilty; More Protest Planned For Sunday In Hong Kong; Mexican President To Outline Border Steps Friday; Italian Deputy Prime Minister Salvini To Meet With U.S. Vice President; Boris Johnson Takes Lead In Race To Replace Theresa May; FIFA's Women's World Cup; NBA's Historic Victory; Landslide Swallows Everything In Its Path; A Presidential Paint Job; Taylor Swift Releases New Song, Calm Down, Lover. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired June 14, 2019 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00] CYRIL VANIER, CNN ANCHOR: The U.S. blames Tehran for two attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman and says it has video proof of Iran's involvement.
The man accused of killing more than 50 people in the Christchurch mosque attack in New Zealand pleads not guilty.
And the U.S. President most loyal defender is leaving. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders might try for elected office herself.
We are live from the CNN center here in Atlanta. I'm Cyril Vanier. It's great to have you with us.
Now the Trump administration is flatly accusing Iran of attacking two tanker ships. It happened in broad daylight as the ship sailed through the Gulf of Oman. It's the second time in a month that commercial vessels have been targeted in the strategic waterway.
The U.S. Central Command released footage that it says shows an Iranian naval vessel removing for an exploding mine from one of the ships hours after the initial attack. That tanker belongs to Japan and the incident came as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was meeting with Iranian leaders in Tehran.
The U.S. Says these photos show what appears to be unexploded device on the side of the Japanese ship.
U.S defense officials believe Iran was recovering evidence of its alleged involvement in the attack. But Iran's foreign minister suggest it's being set up. He tweeted, "That the U.S. immediately jumped to make allegations against Iran without a shred of factual or circumstantial evidence, only made it abundantly clear that the B team is moving to a plan B. Sabotage diplomacy including by Shinzo Abe and cover up its economic terrorism against Iran."
For the latest on everything we know here's CNN's Alex Marquardt. ALEXANDER MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was early
morning and one of the world's busiest shipping lanes when the blast went off. Flames pouring out the sides of the tankers. The United States quickly accusing Iran of the attacks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIKE POMPEO, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: This assessment is based on intelligence the weapons used, the level of expertise needed to execute the operation. Recent similar Iranian attacks on shipping and the fact that no proxy group operating in the area has the resources and the proficiency to act in such a high degree of sophistication.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: The five blast on the two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz hit around the water line close to the engine rooms as they were under sail. The so-called limpet mine attached to the holes are suspected of causing the explosions.
After the responding crew on the USS Bainbridge according to U.S. military official saw an unexploded mine in the water.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHAN COHEN, ACTING U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: It's unacceptable, for any party to attack a commercial shipping. And today's attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman raise very serious concerns.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: The crews evacuated the ships. The Bainbridge rescued the 21-person crew on the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous. One was injured. Thankfully, no one was hurt on the other tanker. The Front Altair owned by a Norwegian company. That crew is picked up by another ship and then transferred to Iran where they still are.
The attacks came as Japan's prime minister was meeting with Iran's supreme leader. Iran's foreign minister tweeting quote, "Suspicious doesn't begin to describe what likely transpire this morning." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fired back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POMPEO: This is only the latest in a series of attacks instigated by the Islamic republic of Iran and its surrogates against American and allied interests. And they should be understood in the context of 40 years of unprovoked aggression against freedom loving nations.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: He offered no evidence, but pointed to a long list of alleged attacks by Iran, including those a month ago on four other tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. And argued that it's Iran lashing out in response to the American maximum pressure campaign.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RAY MABUS, FORMER UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF THE NAVY: At least it appears to me that it's trying to send a message that if you apply maximum pressure in the words of the Trump administration to Iran that they're going to strike back in some way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUARDT: U.S. officials tell CNN tonight they believe that the Iranian boats that was retrieving that unexploded mine was Iran trying to cover its tracks. More Iranian boats have entered the area. The U.S. is also sending more ships of its own, including a destroyer to join the USS Bainbridge.
After speaking today, Pompeo went to the Pentagon to discuss the situation today attacks and the Trump administration immediately blaming Iran only raising the possibility of some sort of dangerous escalation.
Alex Marquardt, CNN, Washington.
VANIER: CNN's Gul Tuysuz joins us now. She's in Abu Dhabi the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Gul, can you start by walking us through that video that the U.S. released.
[03:05:04] GUL TUYSUZ, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL PRODUCER: When you look at that video here's what you see. You see a small boat approaching what is one of the ships that came under attack. The small boat gets really close to the hole of that big shipping vessel that was attacked in the Gulf of Oman.
At that point you see crew members of the smaller boat removing an object from the hole of the bigger vessel and they seem to take it off the hole and bring it on board their own boat.
Now this video reserve leased by the U.S. What they are saying is that in fact that small boat that you are seeing belongs to the Iranians and the bigger vessel of course is one of the ships that came under attack. And that object we're seeing is in fact an unexploded mine. That's what the U.S. is saying.
But at this point we also have the operator of one of the ships that was attacked saying that they don't believe at this point that their ship came under attack by mines, that they're saying that they saw some sort of shell coming towards their ship. They are basing this on the testimony of one of the crew members that was on board when the attack occurred.
So, at this point, this is still a developing story where there are competing narratives about what happened. And of course, there will be an investigation going forward.
But for an attack that took place in broad daylight in one of the busiest shipping lanes of the world it's very interesting to see how there are so many different competing narratives with Iran who the U.S. has been blaming coming out and saying that they did not in fact do this, that they condemn the attack. And that the U.S. allegations that Iran had anything to do with it is mere warmongering on the part of the U.S.
So, still developing but there are so many questions that have not been answered so far.
VANIER: So, Iran is denying any involvement in this. They are saying the U.S. is trying to sabotage diplomacy. What's the reaction across the rest of the region?
TUYSUZ: So, from Saudi Arabia you have a statement that is supportive of what the U.S. said. They said that they no reason to doubt what Mike Pompeo said when he blamed Iran for this attack. And they also said that they will take all necessary precautions to ensure that their safety in this region.
Here in the UAE there was a statement coming out that said that they are worried about what is happening but that wisdom is needed to prevent further escalation.
And that right there is really what's at stake here. This is a region that has many regional rivalries and between Saudi and Iran you have had proxy wars being carried out across the region, in Yemen, in Syria, in Iraq but they have been with a fought through proxies.
But at this point with these kinds of incidents becoming a regular occurrence almost. We had another incident that was very similar a month ago. The fear is what happens if this escalates? And that there is a direct confrontation in these very vital waters right off the coast of the UAE.
VANIER: Gul Tuysuz reporting from Abu Dhabi, thank you.
CNN military analyst General Mark Hertling is with us. Mark, the U.S. says Iran is carrying these attacks and Iran denies it. What can we reasonably infer and know based on the information publicly available?
MARK HERTLING, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: You know, Cyril, there are certainly is a lot of indicators that Iran is behind these attacks.
First of all, the attacks themselves, the ships they're focused on have -- they both recently came, the two ships that were attacked yesterday have come out of Saudi Arabian and UAE ports destined for U.S. allies and partners. One Japan the other one Europe.
So, they're sending a message certainly. And it is right in line with the way Iran has done business in the past as recently as last month. And as far away as the 1980s when they were doing the tanker wars.
So, there is certainly circumstantial evidence that Iran is behind these attacks. But I think many of the things that are being said maybe a little bit of a rush to judgment in terms of some evidence that may or may not be indicative that Iran is 100 percent the executor of all these attacks. There's still some doubt in that through many intelligence analyst minds.
VANIER: So, let's examine this. Because the U.S. is building publicly a case, right? Building a case in front of the international community. It was doing so at the U.N. Security Council. And the U.S. has presented this video. Let's put it on screen. We played it already.
[03:09:56] Which it says is a video of an Iranian ship removing a mine from the hole of one of the tankers. Probably, they say, to remove any evidence of Iranian involvement. How do you feel about that video?
HERTLING: The video looks accurate. It seems to indicate what the intelligence community is saying that those people are doing on that IRGC boat. They are investigating the hole. The hole where the explosion was. It looks like it's gone inwards so that indicates that some type of mine probably a limpet device attached through magnets was where the explosion occurred.
And the device they seem to be taking off the ship appears to be another limpet mine from the granularity of the film.
So, all of that is valid, I think that probably is some pretty good intelligence. And the fact that the Iranian boats went in there very quickly to get that evidence is an indicator that they are trying to make sure that they're clean in this and it can't be proven that they were the ones that set. And the mines can't be gathered up and looked at and have some analysis. So, all of that --
(CROSSTALK)
VANIER: But general, can I interfere for a second?
HERTLING: Sure.
VANIER: The Iranians must have known that the U.S. had had military assets in the region. And in that specific area, right, where the tankers had been attacked.
HERTLING: Right.
VANIER: They had a drone, they had aircraft, they had the USS Bainbridge. So, the Iranians, if it is them, would have known that they were likely to get caught on some kind of film or by the drone, right?
HERTLING: Right. Yes, absolutely. There's nothing that says they are smart in the way they do this kind of things. And in fact, when Secretary Pompeo said this was a sophisticated attack, I would beg to differ with that.
There is nothing sophisticated about in placing these mines. So, it can be done by either a rowboat, a dhow or a scuba diver. So just the emplacement of this is not a sophisticated act. Pulling it off and getting rid of evidence is certainly something the Iranian government and the IRGC would want to do. So, they're caught between a rock and a hard place in terms hey, if
one the mines did not explode, if it was faulty for whatever reason, it's best to get that thing off of there to get rid of some of the evidence. So, yes, I would concur that this is partly intelligence that they want to get rid of.
VANIER: But does that mean the U.S. might also have footage of the mines being placed, not just removed?
HERTLING: Yes. Not necessarily. Those mines could have been in place in port, they could have been in place magnetically. A diver could have done it some kind of underwater device could have parallel the ship what was going on.
There are many ways that you can in place these things, even there's been some devices where these mines have been road behind or towed behind ships. And if you can get close enough, the magnet will attach it to the ship if you're good in terms of maneuver.
So there are many ways to emplace it. It's not sophisticated at all.
VANIER: The U.S. is committed to ensuring freedom of navigation around the world. So, this is going to be a priority for the U.S. and the U.S. military. What can they actually do about this though?
HERTLING: Well, that's the interesting part. Because the military and General McKenzie who is the new commander of Central Command has asked for more resources, more ship resources, more aircraft and probably more ISR, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance types of platforms that he can observe the various ports.
We've got conducted this kind of tanker wars in the past and we provided support both escort and embargo in areas where this is occurred. But it's resource intensive. And the Central Command commander saying he wants more resources is just going to really cause a lot of deliberation in terms of what the joints staffs can provide him with many of the other conflicts that are going on throughout the world.
So, yes, when you're sending in technologically advanced equipment like ships and war planes and overhead platforms to counter what really is an unsophisticated method of implanting this kind of devices on ships. It's a tough fight. It's like sending a tank division to go in and counter a few insurgences. You can certainly do it but it's expensive and it gets tough to do.
VANIER: All right. General Hertling, thank you for your time. I appreciate it.
HERTLING: Cyril, welcome.
VANIER: The judge formally lays out the charges against the man accused of killing 51 people in the New Zealand mosque attacks. And they include an unprecedented charge. We'll have the details on that.
Plus, President Trump prepares to say goodbye to one of his most loyal defenders in the White House.
And the controversial political figure is way ahead in the race to be Britain's ruling party leader. Boris Johnson is winning big votes but there's still a chance of an upset.
[03:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VANIER: The man accused of shooting worshippers at two New Zealand mosques in March has pleaded not guilty. Twenty-eight-year-old Brenton Tarrant faces 92 charges including 51 counts of murder.
Journalist Donna-Marie Lever has the latest from the courthouse in the Christchurch, New Zealand.
DONNA-MARIE LEVER, JOURNALIST: Security is tight here at the justice precinct in Christchurch as Brenton Tarrant was once again put before the courts.
News media and journalist even members of the public including many in the Muslim community had their bags search and their body screened as they enter the courthouse today.
All this despite the fact that Tarrant didn't actually appear in person, but rather via video linked from the country's maximum- security prison in Auckland.
Through his lawyer today, Tarrant entered no guilty pleas to 51 charges of murder, to 40 charges of attempted murder and one charge under the Terrorism Suppression Act, a law that has never before being use in this country.
And as those not guilty pleas were read out by his lawyer, Tarrant could be seen silent but smiling on a big screen beamed throughout the courtroom. The judge also commenting on some mental health reports that were ordered, saying that there was no reason why Tarrant couldn't attend to those pleas, and that he was mentally fit to stand trial.
A trial date has been set down for the 4th of May, 2020, and it's a trial that could last several weeks.
VANIER: That's Donna-Marie Lever reporting there from Christchurch.
And it's been more than three months since White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has given reporters a formal news briefing. Now comes word that she's leaving her post at the end of the month.
President Trump announced the move on Thursday. He's also doing damage control after claiming Wednesday that he would welcome damaging information on the political rival coming from other countries.
Kaitlan Collins reports.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Tonight, President trump is defending some of his most stunning comments yet.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: It's not an interference. They have information. I think I'd take it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Now comparing taking dirt from Russia to political diplomacy. Tweeting, "I made and talk to foreign governments every day. I just met with the Queen of England, the prince of Wales, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. We talked about everything. Should I immediately call the FBI about these calls and meetings? How ridiculous."
Trump is facing blistering criticism after he dismissed the idea of alerting the FBI if a foreign government offer dirt on an opponent.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[03:20:03] TRUMP: I don't think in my whole life I've ever called the FBI.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: He claimed, it's common practice for members of Congress.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: You go and talk honestly to congressmen, they all do it, they always have.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: But lawmakers some Republican are pushing back on is claim that it's routine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MITT ROMNEY (R-UT): I ran for president twice, I ran for governor once, I ran for Senate twice, I've never had any attempt made by a foreign government to contact me or a member of my staff. And had that occurred, I would have contacted the FBI immediately.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: The president's allies are struggling to defend his remarks.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): I think it's a mistake. I think it's a mistake of law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: While others are trying to turn the tables on House Speaker Pelosi and Democrats.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. KEVIN MCCARTHY (R-CA): Her own party is spending millions of dollars for a former foreign intelligence officer that we are now trying to interview, travel the world trying to drum something up, and when they could not find it, they made it up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: That research compiled by former British spy warned of possible Russian infiltration to meddle in the election through the Trump campaign. Something the U.S. government was actively looking into.
The dossier's claims did not all proved to be true. Democrats say it's clear Trump hasn't learned his lesson from 2016. And an investigation that has loomed over his presidency.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY PELOSI, UNITED STATES SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Everybody in the country should be totally appalled by what the president said last night.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: But for now, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is holding the line on impeachment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PELOSI: What we want to do is have a methodical approach to the path that we are on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: And tonight, a government watchdog is recommending that the president fire Kellyanne Conway after she repeatedly violated the Hatch Act which bars federal employees from making political statements.
The Office of the Special Counsel which is unrelated to Robert Mueller says Conway has repeatedly violated the law and her actions erode the principal foundation of our Democratic system.
The White House is firing back, claiming the office's unprecedented actions are deeply flawed and violate her constitutional rights to free speech and due process.
And on top of all that news coming out of the White House, the president also announced that the press secretary Sarah Sanders is going to be leaving her job at the end of the month.
She's one of the longest serving members of not only in the administration but also was there back during the president's campaign. But she said she'll be going back to Arkansas her home state. And the president said he hopes she runs for governor. Now what lead to seem like it's the president talking we have been
told by sources that that is actually a real consideration that Sarah Sanders has been floating in recent weeks.
Kaitlan Collins, CNN, the White House.
VANIER: Natasha Lindstaedt is professor of government at the University of Essex in England. Natasha, I want to talk about Sarah Sanders. She has been one of the most recognizable faces of this administration, and yet, does it change anything that she's leaving? I mean she had already stopped giving daily press briefings?
NATASHA LINDSTAEDT, PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT, UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX: I don't know if it does change anything. And that's a good question. The fact that she had stopped doing daily press briefings for over three months as had been reported.
And what had happened instead, and she was doing more interviews with Fox News and some other media outlets. And Trump was directly talking to reporters more and more.
And she even said well, I wasn't elected president, that's the way it should be. And that clearly is what the president wants. He wants to have direct contact with people. He wants to cut out the middleman.
And so, if anyone even does replace her, I don't know if it's going to change the way they want to run the government. They don't seem to want to have these daily press briefings which has been a hallmark of U.S. democracy. They want to get rid of that. That of course means that there is less transparency, and they want to instead have Trump directly speak to the media.
VANIER: Right. Well, I think he wants to be the one. You say there they, I think it's really he who has imposed this.
LINDSTAEDT: Yes.
VANIER: This just enshrines the fact that Trump is his own messenger. To your point, they might not need her. If they had done away with the daily press briefings, if the president is mostly only going to speak to Fox News, and then send out his thoughts via tweet it's true that he doesn't need a press secretary in that respect.
LINDSTAEDT: That's what he thinks, he doesn't need anyone to be doing these briefings. Although he did really appreciate her which she was incredibly loyal and willing to say anything to prove her loyalty to the president. It's been noted that she's lied numerous times.
But to get back to the issue of having these press briefing, I mean, these are really important for our democracy. Of course, it's all about transparency and about talking with the media. But it's also important for the organization and the administration.
[03:24:59] Briefing serve as a way of, or just sort like an organizing mechanism for the administration. So that everybody else can understand how to carry out the president's priorities. And they can't do that without these briefings.
But that also illustrates that these organization or administration, I should say, is completely disorganized. It's really kind of, it seems to be running a very ad hoc manner about whatever his whims are.
And so, this really suits him anyway. He's not really that into some of the mechanics of running the government and really prepares to have this direct contact with the media which he is going to be able to do.
VANIER: And look, none of his previous press secretaries had been successful in that role. Arguably, she has been the most successful. I mean, if you think of Sean Spicer and his early demise, if you think of Anthony Scaramucci and his what, 10-day tenure. If only because she lasted longer than the other, she was the most successful press secretary in the Trump administration.
LINDSTAEDT: Yes. She was the most successful just due to her longevity. She was very resilient and able to really say what she wanted to be said. And I thought it was -- I guess you could call it impressive or not impressive. Scary. The ease with which she is able to lie on behalf of the president and saying things like, you know, the president has created more jobs for African-Americans than Obama. That's not true.
Saying with a straight face that the president has never promoted or encouraged violence. No, that's not true because he had told supporters at a rally when someone had been ejected, I'd like to punch him in the face.
He had -- she had smeared women who have accused the president of sexual harassment. And then, of course the most notable lie happened with the, you know, recent Mueller investigation, she claimed that countless individuals in the FBI were happy that Trump fired Comey. It turned out that was completely false. And she said to reporters well, that was slip of the tongue.
VANIER: Yes. And then she lied about the lie. Because her lie was enshrined and documented in the Mueller report. She had admitted under -- because she faces jail time, she had admitted that she lied about it. And then when she was asked about it, in a setting where she no longer was legally liable, she lied about that.
LINDSTAEDT: Exactly. But that again, it illustrates why she's been able to be in this role for so long. She was able to lie with just great ease with a straight face. She doesn't really waiver much.
She's been from Trump's perspective an excellent surrogate for him, particularly on this different Fox News interviews that she tends to do. And with other outlets as well. She just has his talent for being able to lie with a straight face without really being bothered by it very much.
VANIER: Yes. And she seems to be leaving the administration on good terms with the president. He sees her running for governor in Arkansas. LINDSTAEDT: Right. I don't know that's what she's going to do. I
don't think that's what she's interested in. She said she wants to spend more time with her family. She said how much she like the job but there was another former press secretary that said the hardest part of your day is doing those press briefings.
And instead, he commented on the fact that she seemed to be really enjoying all the travel and, you know, doing whatever she felt like doing when she was traveling. So, she may want to spend more time with her family, but my prediction she'll probably working for Fox News within the next year or so.
VANIER: All right. Natasha Lindstaedt. She wouldn't be the first if she did that. She wouldn't be the first to go from the White House to Fox News. And certainly, wouldn't be the first to go from Fox News to the White House. That street goes both ways.
Natasha Lindstaedt, thank you so much for joining us today.
LINDSTAEDT: Thanks for having me.
VANIER: Mexico is working to secure its southern border with Guatemala. How will it be able to stop the thousands of migrants who are desperate to reach Mexico and ultimately the United States? We'll go to Mexico's southern border to find out.
Pus, Jamaica is soaking up its first World Cup appearance. We'll talk to one player whose been instrumental in making that happen.
[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CYRIL VANIER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome back. I'm Cyril Vanier, let's look at our top stories this hour. Tehran is again denying that it played any role in the attacks on two tanker ships on Thursday. The country's foreign ministry says being blamed by the U.S. is most simplistic, thing that the U.S. can do. The statement also suggests that quote hidden hands have a role on efforts to increase tensions but offered no explanation of that. The U.S. military says that this video shows an Iranian vessel removing an unexploded mine from the side one of the two ships that were targeted.
The suspect in the New Zealand mosque attack has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Brenton Tarrant is accused of shooting worshippers at two mosque in Christchurch on March 15. He is facing 51 murder charges, 40 attempted murders charges and one charge under the terrorism suppression act.
It may be relatively quiet on the streets of Hong Kong right now. But don't expect that to last through the weekend. Pro-democracy activists are calling for more mass protest on Sunday. They're angry about a bill that would allow China to extradite of fugitives from Hong Kong.
On Friday, Mexico's president will announce his plan to control migration from Central America to the U.S. Mexico is struggling to close gaps in its Southern Border with Guatemala after the U.S. President threatened to impose tariffs if they didn't stop the flow of migrants. Now, migrants are racing to cross before the crackdown begins. Michael Holmes reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm standing here on the Mexican Guatemalan border. I'm in Mexico, behind me over there you see Guatemala. If you see these pontoons back there that gives you an idea of how difficult a task is going to be for Mexico to stop the flow of migrants from the so-called northern triangle. Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador all day long this boat, this pontoons are being going back and forth for $1.20, you can jump on one and come over, it's that easy. Walk up into town and you're on your way.
The Mexican government says it's going to outline details of its plan to try to stop the flow of migrants heading to the U.S. border. They are going to do that on Friday and it's going to be interesting to see how they plan on doing it. You are talking about a 540 mile stretch of border which Guatemala, there is forest, there is rivers like this one, there are mountains. How are they going to police that? What are they gonna do? There are 200,000 migrants in this state (inaudible) State alone and there are half a dozen states up along this border.
So you can see how difficult the task is going to be, they say they are going to put a national guard in and try to use a national guard. The National Guard was never designed for this kind of thing. You are going to see police, you are going to see troops. But how many people are they going to be able to get along here and stop this type of movement remains to be see.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: Speaking of immigration policies, Italy's far-right deputy Prime Minister will discuss that topic and others with the U.S. Vice President on Monday. As Matteo Salvini and Mike Pence are members of conservative parties, it might be a match made in ideological heaven. Christiane Amanpour sat down with Mr. Salvini to see what they will be talking about.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR, CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: You're on your way to the United States, you're a big fan of President Trump, and in fact your own slogan is Italy first. What do you hope to get from this visit? What are you going to discuss with the vice president and the Secretary of State?
[03:35:00] MATTEO SALVINI, LEADER, LEAGUE PARTY (TRANSLATOR): Well, first of all, the documents that I've been dealing as the ministry of the interior, so fighting terrorism, fighting illegal migration, the political situation in Libya, in Iran, in Venezuela and any partnerships whether they are economic or not between Italy and the U.S..
AMANPOUR: I want to focus a little bit on the immigration policy. Because that is something that you're very keen on and you talk about it a lot and it is the basis of the league, your party. You have once said, that you could fix and cure Italy with President Trump cure. What do you mean by that exactly?
SALVINI: Well, we are following closely both the approach against illegal migration. As far as the U.S. and Mexico are concerned, but also the more domestic policies that the Trump administration is implementing in terms of migration, we've managed to reduce are rivals by 90 percent with half the casualties with half the amount of migrants in Italy. And as a result, crimes have fallen by 10 percent, and these are data from 2019.
We've managed to keep track of our border and from the previous government was unable to do.
VANIER: That was Italy's deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini speaking to our Christiane Amanpour earlier.
Boris Johnson is way ahead in the race to replace British Prime Minister Theresa May. The former mayor of London won Thursday's vote in a landslide. The next series of votes begins next week. Phil Black breaks down the latest in the contest for Conservative Party chief and Prime Minister of Britain.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The opening round of voting for the Conservative Party's leadership contest saw three candidates knocked out because they did not meet the required threshold of 17 votes. It also showed what has really long been suspected. That is that Boris Johnson is the overwhelming front runner in this contest, that he is the candidate to beat, or perhaps from another point of view, it is his competition to loose. Given that he is a politician with a reputation who is being unpredictable and sometimes causing political self-harm.
He secured 114 votes, enough if he maintains that level of support to ensure he will be among the final two who were then voted on by the broader grassroots Conservative Party membership. The first round of voting also show the other candidates are a long way behind. The closest is Jeremy Hunt. The current Foreign Secretary. He secured 43 votes, still less than half Johnson's total.
What that means is that in the coming days, ahead for further verge next week, Those who really want to stay in the contest will be lobbying, colleagues had to try and meet the next threshold which is even tougher, and he won with less than, 33 votes will be knocked out.
Others could be doing some tactical reflation, if the survive, didn't performs as well wee, and it comes to conclusion that can't win this. They may possible pull outs of this competition, throw their support behind one of the leaders in the hope of securing a big government job in the event that it goes on to win.
But by the end of next week, we should know who the final two candidates. They are wielding campaign across the country, trying to win the support of what is still a limited electorate, just 160,000 people. The Conservative Party membership who will choose not only the party's next leader, of course, but the next Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Phil Black, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: The women's world cup on Thursday, Australia came back from a two goal deficit in the first half to beat Brazil, 3-2. During the game, Brazil's Martha also made history, as the first player to score in five different FIFA World Cups, female or male.
Also on Thursday, China beat World Cup newcomer South Africa. China will next play Spain on Monday. But, coming up Friday before that, Japan and Scotland's face off, both are looking for their first win.
And Jamaica, looking to come back from its lost to Brazil will play against Italy. England and Argentina will also face off. To make a women's football team is playing in their first FIFA World Cup. They're hopeful of their changes, even after losing the first game. CNN Sports Amanda Davies sits down with Jamaica's Khadija Shaw about playing in this tournament.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMANDA DAVIES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What was it like standing there on the pitch against Brazil with the anthem playing? What were you thinking, what are you feeling?
KHADIJA SHAW, JAMAICAN FOOTBALLER: Nervous. Obviously there's nervous. You know, to be such on the biggest stage of my career, you know, and to finally hear my anthem play, you know, knowing that I'm not only representing myself, you know, I'm representing the boys and little girls that you know, inspired by what we are doing out there. You know, my family, my community. Just being here, you know, and seeing, you know, the vibe, the atmosphere, what it is like to be at the World Cup is a great experience.
[03:40:07] DAVIES: I know your mom when you started playing wasn't necessarily on board with the idea, have you spoken to her and what did she make after Sunday?
SHAW: She watch the teams that we played, that we are going to play before me, I always (inaudible) laugh when I talked, to her, I was like, mom, do you remember what he told me not to go to the soccer field? Remember when I couldn't go out there and kick the ball with the boys? You know, I understand where she was coming from, you know, and I spoke with her and I said, you never know, maybe I could be at the position where I could say, you know, I did it and you know, we always look back and we always laugh about it.
DAVIES: How much of a desire or drive is there for you to get on the scoresheet?
SHAW: When I go out in those games I don't only play for myself, you know, as I said, I play for the little ones back home. So, I mean, to score a goal at the World Cup is going to be a great feeling for me. DAVIES: Have you got your celebration sorted? Do you know what you
will do?
SHAW: Just wait and see.
DAVIES: That sounds like you've been preparing!
SHAW: No, really for me, it just happens. You know, I don't really prepare, what I think about in the moment, I do, you know, but we want something coming.
DAVIES: Are you reading much about what is being written in Jamaica?
SHAW: There's a lot. You know, I can cover it all, but I have seen stuff. Obviously, you know, people say I'm the face of the Jamaica, but in my personal opinion, I don't think so. You know, I think my team, I'm just very fortunate to be on a team that made me look special. Because, you know, I may have score the goal, but somebody had to past me that ball, somebody had to make that tackle, somebody had to make that play. I have my 10 best friends behind me, you know, encourage me, so --
DAVIES: You use a really interesting phrase, you've got your 10 best friends behind you. Is that how you see it? Because not every football team was, or football player would necessarily say that about their teammates.
SHAW: We also have our little, you know, dancing, that how we get along as a team, and for us, that is how you build up life. You know, to have that around you, to have that laugh, you know to have that communications, to have that bond, you know, when you walk on the school soccer field and you look at, you know, everybody else (inaudible) -- we are ready to go, so, I mean, yes, it just a great feeling.
DAVIES: And what does this tournament mean in your opinion for women's football, for the movement? Because everybody is talking about it as, you know, a real landmark event, with the record audiences, you are here for the first time, how do we keep this going?
SHAW: When we qualified for the World Cup, we went home for a four days celebration, and just by driving through communities, towns, you could see, you know, people smiling in our faces, how proud they are on us. You know, I have a girl that came to me and said, you know, there's not, you know, youth girls' team back home but she is willing to join a boy team just to be where we are. So we can do it just as a man, you know, and you know, we just need the funding and the more opportunities and exposure.
DAVIES: And when you talk about the funding, it's a lot that is being made isn't there about, the prize money of this World Cup, and yes, it's double from the last World Cup, but it's still not as much as the men. I mean, should the winners of this competition be getting more money, or should it be countries like yourself trying to grow the game? Should that be the focus of where the money is going? SHAW: I feel, for me personally, should be equal. The ones that have
been here are probably thinking, hey, we need more. But, you know, the ones that just got here, just arrived here are thinking, hey, were on shoulders with you guys. You know, so for us to just come here, to just be here in itself, you know, is something that is tremendous, and we think that we should be really getting a reward for it.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: Staying with sports, history has been made in basketball. The Toronto Raptors became the first Canadian team to ever win the NBA championship, and that was the buzzer there, they defeated the Golden State Warriors, it was a thrilling game six. Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard scored 22 points, a quite game by his standards. He just wrapped up one of the best play of runs in history. He was still named most valuable player in the finals, and a victory set off, what you are seeing here, wild celebrations across Canada, especially outside of the team's arena in Toronto. An area also known as Jurassic Park, where thousands of fans watched the win on the big screen.
The shooting investigation of David Ortiz is getting you more complex as new charges are announced in the attack, we will have the details from the Dominican Republic. Plus, a massive hill gives way and berries everything in its path. We will have the latest on this deadly landslide and what may have caused it.
[03:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VANIER: Brazilian football superstar Neymar has spoken to investigators about a rape accusation against him. On Thursday He testified to police is Sao Palo about the case. The Pakistan player denies assaulting a model at a hotel room in the French capital last month and has called incident a trap.
We are also tracking the latest in the shooting of former baseball star David Ortiz, authorities in the Dominican Republic have charge nine suspects with being accomplices to attempted murder for their alleged role in the shooting. A 10 suspect meanwhile remains at large. CNN Patrick Oppmann has more from Santa Domingo.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Dominican police have now charge nine people in connection with the shooting of baseball legend David Ortiz with at least one key suspect still on the run of the nine people, two of them were already in prison on unrelated charges, we are in contact with the rest of the group from prison to assist and what police call a coordinated hit on Big Papi, as he is known here United States.
It all began on Sunday when David Ortiz was out partying with friends at a nightclub, he was known to frequent and a gunman walked up behind him, shot him in the back. The gunman was able to escape on foot, but his alleged getaway driver was captured and beaten up and turned over to police, who said he began to essentially tell him everything he knew about the plot, and from there they began to arrest more and more of the suspects.
Police are painting a picture of an increasingly complicated plot that was financed and directed. Still not sure though who gave the order to kill David Ortiz and why. David Ortiz is recovering in Boston, and his family have asked for privacy while the questions still remains. Why would Dominican Republic's most beloved sport star was targeted in a hit on his life? Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Santo Domingo.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: In the coming hours, a London court will hear the U.S. extradition request for Julian Assange. The WikiLeaks founder is in a U.K. prison, but faces espionage charges in the U.S. Assange was arrested in April after living inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London for seven years.
And a landslide in Eastern China has killed at least one person. Meteorologist Derek Van Dam, is following this story, he has the dramatic video, Derek.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, you're looking at the moment caught by CCTV footage of the actual landslide, look how it just comes down the hill, takes these cars, throws them about 20 to 30 kilometers off screen, almost as if they are toy cars, right? I mean, this is an incredible thing to see on CCTV footage, to say the least. You can see all the debris that was caught up within this particular landslide as well.
So, what does it take to form a landslide? Well, let's get to the basics here. You got to have mountains first, right? That's the first, most important thing. High terrain.
[03:50:02] And then you have to have an incessant days of heavy rainfall as well. Think about it. We have what is called the plum annual rains that form over southeastern China, where this landslide took place. So, eventually, gravity is going to win and it's going to soak through the soil, the slope is going to fail, because of the angle of the slope, and, eventually we are going to see the rocks. The boulders, the full trees, slide down that mountainside and eventually make its way to the valley below, and ultimately the populated areas below.
So, here's a look at some of the damage from the result of this land slide. And it was extensive, you can see the search and rescue operations that were underway just moments after the landslide took place. Look at the thick mud that they had to dig through. You can imagine if there are vehicles or people still buried underneath that, it's going to take some time to actually take care of that situation.
Now the annual plum rains is -- all thanks to a stalled out (inaudible) boundary across Southeast Asia. And finally this thing has started to move on, but we are going to shift that rain a little further to the north and east. So heavy rainfall is coming for parts of mainland Japan this weekend. Now we have some of these factors that we talked about in the landslide just a moment ago. Mountainous terrain, days of having rainfall, that means the potential
for landslides and mudslides exist this time across mainland Japan. You can see the rainfall totals here in excess of 150 millimeters through the course of the weekend. So that is something that we will be monitoring very closely to say the least. But that video, just astounding, Cyril in Southeast China, showing you the pure devastation that landslides and mudslides can bring.
VANIER: Yes. And frankly when I saw the video, I was amazed that the fatalities were just numbered to -- just one person killed. That was amazing me to me in the video.
VAN DAM: Right.
VANIER: Derek van Dam, joining us from the Weather Center, thank you very much.
Now if Donald Trump has his way, the official presidential plane will look a lot different in the coming years. But, will it have an escape pod? Jeanne Moos, asked the hardest questions, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VANIER: The U.S. President is showing his true colors with his plan to redesign of Air Force One. And some say they are pretty familiar. Here's Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fasten your seatbelt. A makeover emergency. Now the country is going to fight over what colors to paint Air Force One. ABC got a sneak peek.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is the new Air Force One and I'm doing it for other presidents, not for me.
MOOS: Two new planes won't be ready till 2024. President Trump says the color scheme is his own, red, white and blue, patriotic design. People started noticing that it looks familiar. Sort of like his own plane but inverted. Someone hopefully turn the Trump plane upside down to make the point.
Others came up with their own designs, I like it tweeted someone else. We are not a light blue country. The current blue over (inaudible) blue. Where'd that come from?
[03:55:00] Here's a hint, do not touch Jackie Blue. It said that Jackie Kennedy preferred blue working with one of the best known industrial designers of the time. Who said JFK called blue his favorite color? Since then, it's been an iconic backdrop. What else will the revamped Air Force One feature?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everyone wants to know, is there a pod or not?
TRUMP: The pod?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've seen the movie are Air Force One?
TRUMP: Yes.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's a pod that flies out of the back?
MOOS: You know, when Harrison Ford playing the president is hustled into the pod as the plane comes under attack.
TRUMP: there are a couple of secrets, I don't think we are supposed to be talking about.
MOOS: When they open the pod, Harrison Ford had stayed on the plane to fight the bad guys. But the president's design may not pass with flying colors, nit if congressional Democrats had their way. The House Arm Services Committee voted to limit changes to Air Force One without Congressional approval, probably leaving President Trump fuming. Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VANIER: People in Western China may have been getting high. Thousands of years ago scientists say they found the oldest known social use of cannabis at the 2500-year-old burial site in China near the Pakistan border. They suggested the drug may had been used to communicate with the departed or perhaps the divide. They say the cannabis was most likely burned like incense in a holder like the one shown here. It was then released into a confined space rather than being smoked as it's typically used today.
American superstar Taylor Swift has just surprised her fans with a new release of a new song and the announcement of a new album. Her latest single, "You need to calm down," came out just a few hours ago. And it takes aim at opponents of the LGBT rights movement. Fittingly, it was released right in the middle of pride month. The song will be on her new album, "Lover," set for release on august 23rd. It will be Swift's first full album since reputation in 2017.
All right, thank you so much for joining us, I'm Cyril Vanier. The news continues with Max Foster in London. You are watching CNN. Stay with us.
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