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A Picture That Could Change Immigration Policy; No Shortage of Insults Between U.S. and Iran; Two Committees to Question Robert Mueller on July 17th; U.S. and India Polishing Differences; Democrats Held Their First Primary Debate in Miami; Images Of Dead Migrants Fuel U.S. Border Crisis; More Humane Policies That Put Kids First Needed; Migrant Father, Daughter Found Dead In Rio Grande; Economic Peace Plan For The Palestinians; Hong Kong Protest On Extradition Bill; Europe Facing Scorching Heat Wave; U.K. Conservative Leadership Race. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired June 26, 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] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: A heartbreaking image. A father and daughter drowned as they try to find a better life in the United States. A stark reminder of the many dangers migrants face as they make that journey.
Plus, tough talk that seems never ending. Diplomacy far away as the leaders of the U.S. and Iran trade keep trading insults.
And the former special counsel will face the cameras again but it's not his choice this time. Robert Mueller gets ready to testify as Congress sends him a subpoena.
Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world, I'm Rosemary Church. And this is CNN Newsroom.
Of all the images of heartbreak and chaos, of human suffering at the U.S.-Mexico border, there is one which is likely to become a symbol of the humanitarian crisis, which seemed to get worse by the day.
The Salvadorian government identified Oscar Alberto Martinez and his two-year- old daughter Angie Valeria who were found face down on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande. The child's arm was around her father's neck.
Officials say they drowned Sunday as they tried to cross the river. Their bodies were found on Monday. A Mexican newspaper reports the father had successfully taken his daughter across the river, but when he started to swim back to get his wife, the little girl followed him into the water and they were swept away by a strong current. The tragedy prompted a warning from Salvadorian officials.
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ALEXANDRA HILL, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, EL SALVADOR (through translator): President Nayib Bukele has asked me to support this family. They have lost their loved ones due to this illegal immigration. This should not be happening.
Our Salvadoran's and government, we are doing everything in our power to help fix the situation. As a mother, government official, but mainly as a Salvadoran, I want to beg every single one of our brothers and sisters who are planning to migrate illegally. Don't do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: late Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of $4.5 billion aid bill to address the crisis at the border. The Senate has yet to weigh in, and President Trump has threatened a veto.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NANCY PELOSI, UNITED STATES SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE: Today, our legislation is a vote against the cruel attitude toward children of this administration. This bill does not fund the administration's failed mass detention policy, instead, it funds effective humane alternatives to detention that have a proven record of success.
It secures this legislation, secures limits on how the money is spent and how the administration treats children.
Right now, little children are enduring trauma and terror. Many are living in squalor at border patrol stations. Some are sleeping on the cold ground without warm blankets or hot meals. Kids as young as seven or eight years old are watching over infants because there is no one else there to care for them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Well, President Trump says he is concerned about the conditions for children in border detention facilities. But he didn't say what his administration is doing to improve the situation.
Here is CNN's Nick Valencia.
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As the drama plays out in Washington, here along the U.S.-Mexico border in Clint, Texas, Customs and Border Protection announcing on Tuesday that they would move 100 child migrants back into a facility. That was described by independent monitors as having unconscionable conditions.
Heartbreaking stories where children are left to sleep on the floor, some with no mattress. Some children going three weeks without a shower, a facility where children are left to fend for themselves.
It was allegations that were addressed by Customs and Border Protection on a call with reporters, they push back on those allegations saying that not only where they were reported to the inspector general, but also things like water and soap were customarily and continually available for child migrants, despite reporting otherwise.
One thing is clear. Politics is being played on both sides, while the fate of hundreds, if not thousands of child migrants, hangs in the balance.
Nick Valencia, CNN, Clint, Texas.
CHURCH: And the U.S. public has responded to the border crisis by trying to donate much-needed items, such as soap, toothbrushes and clothing. But as CNN's Brooke Baldwin explained to one man who had hope to help, a technicality prevents it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[03:05:04] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: CNN actually reached out to a former CBP adviser who told us that the agency actually cannot accept donations because, essentially, they would count as spending, and they haven't been appropriated by Congress, but today CBP told reporters that they are looking into how they could at least potentially accept donations. Does that, at least make you hopeful? How do you feel hearing that?
GABRIEL ACUNA, TRIED TO DONATE TO DETENTION CENTER: I missed the last part, that they were looking at possibly accepting donations? is that --
(CROSSTALK)
BALDWIN: They're looking at possibly accepting donations, exactly. But they can't right now because of technicalities.
ACUNA: I mean, there should be some kind of policy in place where -- I mean, it's just simple as -- it's going back to this conversation that, you know, it's a simple as the basic means that these children should have. I mean, people in general, let alone children that are watching infants as well, that should have been resolved a long time ago.
So, if they are going to do this, yes, make it happen. Let the community step forward. Obviously, the community wants to help out. Obviously, there are resources that are non-profits that want to help out, so let the community get involved if anybody higher up in terms of the administration or likewise in the government is not able to do so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And all of this on a day when America's immigration policy and leadership on the issue appear to be in disarray.
Joining me now in the studio is CNN's Rafael Romo. Thank you so much for talking with us again. of course, all of this politics at play but nothing appearing to get done.
And meantime, these children are struggling in these detention facilities. What's going on? Why is this country failing them? Are we talking about incompetence here or is it something else?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The United States it has been clear over the years and we've been covering this story since at least 2014. Has been prepared to receive the influx of children from Central America. And we're talking about thousands and thousands of children, many of them who came by themselves unaccompanied to use the term that immigration attorneys use.
Let's remind our viewers, Rosemary, that what's happening in the United States in these detention centers it's only one half of the equation. You also have the other half, which is what's happened on tent cities in Mexico on the other side of the border, when the migrants cross into the United States due to an agreement with the Mexican government, when they asked for asylum they are being sent back to Mexico.
Mexico has shown to be woefully unprepared to care for these families, and so you have this crisis playing out on both sides of the border. You have an administration that is essentially refusing to provide what is needed to provide for -- I mean, we're talking about toothbrushes and soap and very basic needs that these children have.
On the other side of the border, we have reported that the space Mexican authorities have it's not enough, that cleaning facilities are not enough, that people are going hungry, that they are desperate, that they go out to look for a job. And then we have the case of this family who was in 45 degrees Celsius weather and they said we cannot take it any longer, we are going to go across the border, even if we have to do it illegally.
CHURCH: Right. And let's bring up that tragic image that has come to symbolize what is going on. This humanitarian crisis at the U.S.- Mexico border. This father and his daughter tragically drowned when they were trying to get to the United States. And sadly, this isn't the only time that this happened. There are so many other stories.
But this is picture, the world is reacting because they are horrified this is happening near the wealthiest country that appears to be doing nothing in response. So, what more are you learning about this man and his family?
ROMO: Well, they -- we have a report from an affiliate in El Salvador, and the father of the migrant said that he last spoke with his son on Friday, and the conversation went very well. He said his son told him that things were going wonderfully well in Mexico, and that they expected to cross in to the United States during the weekend.
They cross through the border on Sunday, that's when they drowned and the bodies were found Monday. They were in such a state of poverty that they were living with their parents, a family of three, the mother the father and the two-year- old girl, and they had a dream of giving their daughter a better life, they wanted their own house and they felt that El Salvador would not give them the conditions that they wanted, not to mention gang violence, not to mention lack of opportunity, lack of jobs.
And so many families have been deciding the same thing over the years, to just leave everything behind and tried to take a shot at crossing into the United States, whether legally or not. [03:10:00] CHURCH: Right. And of course, you have covered so many
stories like this, and you've seen people fleeing as a result of violence, death threats, and as a result of poverty.
I mean, the desperation runs deep and what is hard for everyone to basically understand, I think across the globe, particularly for our global viewers is that America can turn its back. The wealthiest nation that it can't -- it can't possibly be incompetence that makes it unable for them to hand over soap and water and toothbrushes. There's a sense of, it's a mean streak. What is going on? How do you make sense of that?
ROMO: And its politics, really, and you talked about this before, Rosemary. The reality is that one side of the aisle would like to help would like to do things.
We spoke earlier about Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House of Representatives approving that $4.5 billion bill to help the migrants. The problem is it still has to go through the Senate that is dominated by the Republicans and a Republican president who has threatened to veto that. So, it is going to be very, very difficult.
Now, as a journalist and also as a father it breaks my heart when I go to Central America and I hear a parent to say, I have no option because my son is facing the prospect of either being forced to join a gang, a violent gang or, if he doesn't join he may get killed.
And so the other choice and the safer choice, and this is unbelievable to many of us is to send the child through land through Central America, to Mexico, to the United States so that they can have a shot at a better life in the United States, and that's why we have the situation here at the border between Mexico and the U.S.
CHURCH: Yes. Exactly. No parent would take a risk like this unless they are driven by some form of desperation, and that's what we're talking about here. And that's what the politicians of this country on both sides of the aisle need to grasp.
Rafael Romo, thank you so much for joining us. I appreciate it.
ROMO: Thank you.
CHURCH: Well, an invitation to talk is giving way to an alarming series of threats and insults between the United States and Iran. Reacting to the latest U.S. sanctions, the Iranian president questioned the logic of the U.S. pressuring for renewed talks while threatening military action.
Hassan Rouhani called the White House mentally disabled. U.S. President Donald Trump responded, branding the comments ignorant and insulting and accusing Iran's leadership of not understanding reality. He promised obliteration in some places if Iran attacks.
Well, for more on Iran's reaction, Fred Pleitgen joins us now from Tehran. Of course, we talk about the strategy on the part of the United States of maximum pressure to sort of bring Iran back to the table. This is pushing Iran away. I mean, neither sides are anyway are close to any form of negotiation, it's going in the opposite direction.
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think you're absolutely right, Rosemary. And I think that right now there isn't the prospect that these two sides are going to sit down anytime soon. And one of the things that the Iranians have said again and again is that the more sanctions they received from the United States, the less likely they are to sit down.
And with that new round of sanctions that was announced by the U.S. yesterday or the day before, I should say, the Iranians are saying that that really fundamentally shuts down the prospect of negotiations because they are simply saying that under that kind of pressure they are not going to go to the table.
Now, the Iranians have this morning reacted to the president saying, what you just mentioned that there would be obliteration in some places if it does come to an exchange of fire between Iran and the United States, if there is some sort of military move.
One of the senior lawmakers here Alaeddin Boroujerdi who came out earlier today and said that the U.S. would never overcome Iran's new technologies. Of course, one of the things the Iranians have been saying over the past couple of days is that that shooting down of the American drone show the advances that they've made in surface-to-air missile technology and that's something that they believe the U.S. needs to take note of.
Also a senior Revolutionary Guard commander, actually the one who is in charge of the Revolutionary Guard's aerospace forces, which is the unit that shot down that drone, he came out today and said that the U.S. would not dare attack Iranian airspace after they've witnessed what Iran's missile defense systems -- air defense systems can do.
So, some pretty bold talk coming from the Iranians, and then of course you have that political track which yesterday was just amazing to see. First of all, the Iranian president coming out and calling the White House mentally disabled.
President Trump then firing back with that comment about obliteration. And later in the Oval Office saying that he doesn't even need an exit strategy if it does come to shooting war with Iran.
[03:14:55] So right now, the rhetoric really is heating up between these two countries even as of course, the international community hopes that things are going to get toned down one way or another, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Certainly, a worrying exchange, and we will watch to see where it goes next. Our Fred Pleitgen bringing us the very latest from Tehran, many thanks to you.
We'll take a short break here. Still to come, the U.S. secretary of state is in New Delhi, meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit comes as there are tensions on trade between the two countries. And we are live in New Delhi to get the latest on that.
Plus, they all want to win the White House. And in just a few hours the first group of Democratic hopefuls will get a chance to shine. We'll take a closer look next.
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CHURCH: Well, Democrats in the U.S. could finally get the moment they have been waiting for. Former special counsel Robert Mueller is to testify in public next month about his Russia investigation. But Republicans may have something to look forward to as well.
CNN's Manu Raju reports.
MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Major news from Capitol Hill after the House judiciary committee and House intelligence committee announced plans to subpoena Robert Mueller and bring him in before a public hearing on July 17th.
They say he's agreed to come in after they issued that subpoena. This all happening after weeks of negotiation about bringing in Bob Mueller to testify. Mueller has resisted that, saying he only wants to go in private. But now he is going to come in a public hearing.
And here is why. Democrats say they believe the American public deserves to hear exactly what the Mueller report laid out. The two- year investigation into Russian interference in the election, potential obstruction of justice that they believe that the American public has not fully grasped, because of the denseness and nature of the report being so long, and not many people having read it.
They say it will be much different in a public sitting when actually the special counsel will testify. The special counsel has resisted, and now only agreeing to come pursuant to the subpoena.
Now this is a very significant development because every word will be looked at about what the special counsel says, the Republicans will undoubtedly try to poke holes in the argument, or the comments by the special counsel.
But this changes the dynamic significantly on Capitol Hill as members try to fully grasp what the special counsel said to prepare for these questions and testimony that everybody is watching.
[03:20:01] But now, July 17th, the big day on Capitol Hill. Robert Mueller coming before two House committees to testify, now we'll get to hear from the man himself after members of Congress ask questions. Ultimately, it will be determined what he can say. He said he probably won't say a whole lot, but still, we'll get a chance to see him in public on July 17th.
CHURCH: CNN's Manu Raju reporting there.
Meanwhile the, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the U.S. is prepared to remove forces from Afghanistan. He made the remarks during a surprise visit to Kabul before heading to India. Pompeo is in New Delhi meeting with Prime Minister Modi and India's foreign minister.
So, let's turn to CNN's New Delhi bureau chief, Nikhil Kumar joining us now with more on this. And Nikhil, what can we expect to come out of Pompeo's meeting with his Indian counterpart and of course, the country's prime minister, and what's the purpose of his trip there?
NIKHIL KUMAR, CNN'S NEW DELHI BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Rosemary, part of this is preparation. It's laying the groundwork for a meeting in the coming days in Japan at the G20 between Prime Minister Modi who's just come of a massive election here in India, and President Trump, the first meeting for Mr. Modi in his second term which is just begun.
They have of course, met earlier in his first term. But part of this is also going to be an exercise in trying to deal with some of the tensions that have cropped up between India and the U.S. in recent weeks. India and the U.S. are two countries that historically weren't the closest but in recent decades have grown increasingly closer.
Trade over the past decade has more than doubled. They have built close defense ties. The U.S. has designated India a major defense partner. But nonetheless, in recent weeks, we've seen India imposing tariffs on some U.S. goods. This comes after the U.S. took India out of a preferential trade program that gave some $6 billion worth of Indian goods duty-free access to the American markets.
Now India had been resisting imposing these tariffs. It's a much smaller number than the one that we've seen with China, but nonetheless, symbolically, it has a lot of significance. Because India has been trying to avoid doing this ever since the U.S. impose tariffs last year on international steel and aluminum imports, including Indian steel and aluminum imports, but they did this after they were taken out of the U.S preferential trade program.
So, and people in the aftermath of that have been talking about the tensions in this relationship that has been growing steadily closer. So, part of it is going to be dealing with that, making sure that the relationship stays on track, the U.S. still sees -- accommodate still in D.C.
India as a very important U.S. ally in the region. Just last year, symbolically, for example, the U.S. renamed its Pacific command, the Indo-Pacific Command, important symbolic step according to many analysts.
So, part of it will be making sure that it remains on track and sending out that message as they have been doing, as the U.S. has been doing even before Secretary Pompeo met with Prime Minister Modi in the morning, and now of course his meeting with his opposite number, S. Jaishankar, the new foreign minister over here in New Delhi.
So, a bit of both. Preparation, but also managing this tension then moving sure that they can move ahead both trades. And I should also highlight where the (Inaudible) in defense. You know, India has been wanting to buy a massive Russian defense system that the U.S. hasn't been keen, so it will be that as well. So, they'll be discussing all of those issues and trying to move forward. Rosemary?
CHURCH: All right. We'll see what comes of it. Our Nikhil Kumar bringing us the very latest from New Delhi coming to one o'clock in the afternoon there. I appreciate it.
Well, Democrats assemble their first big night of the U.S. presidential campaign, it's just hours away. They're in Miami for the first of two debates, hoping to score a break out moment.
Our Ryan Nobles tells us what to expect.
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are your candidates.
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RYAN NOBLES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The countdown is on to the first primary debate, and the Democratic hopefuls are working hard to shape the narrative before the first question is even asked.
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SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D-VT) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Today, we are in fact offering a revolutionary proposal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBLES: In the days leading up to their first face off, several candidates have rolled out policy proposals designed to drive the debate. Ahead of her campaign event in South Florida, policy pays Senator Elizabeth Warren unveiling yet another plan aimed at protecting U.S. elections. Writing in a medium post, quote, "enough is enough. It's time to make high quality voting in the greatest democracy in the world easy, convenient, and professional."
Warren isn't alone in the policy push. Progressive rival Bernie Sanders introduced a plan Monday to eliminate the student loan debt of every American.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANDERS: All student debt would be canceled in six months.
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NOBLES: Meanwhile, Beto O'Rourke is calling for a new war tax on those who have not served to help support veterans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FMR. REP. BETO O'ROURKE (D-TX), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We have to do much more for the veterans who have served this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBLES: For other candidates who have struggled to gain traction, the debate offers a chance at a break out moment.
[03:25:01] Cory Booker's campaign issuing a memo that says the debate will be a chance to, quote, "introduce himself for the first time to many Democratic voters."
Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan currently near the back of the pack, says the debate presents both an opportunity and a challenge.
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REP. TIM RYAN (D-OH), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's literally going to be speed dating with the American people. And so, within one minute, you've got to leave some impression with them about who you are, where you come from and what you stand for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBLES: One candidate though, who is familiar with the primary debate stage is the current frontrunner, Joe Biden.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: They know me.
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NOBLES: The former vice president has been spending studying his long record, preparing for it to come under attack. Although he has been less focus on big policy rollouts.
Now one thing we aren't seeing a lot of is these candidates prepare is mock debates, given the fact that you have 10 candidates in several moderators -- it makes it very difficult to simulate the experience beforehand. And given the fact that most of these candidates have never really appeared in a forum like this with the stakes this high. It could make for an unpredictable pair of nights.
Ryan Nobles, CNN, Washington.
CHURCH: We'll take a short break here. Still to come, Jared Kushner has a tough sell on his hands. The White House senior adviser has taken the wraps off his Middle East peace plan, but so far, the Palestinians are not buying it. We'll take you to Bahrain and the West Bank. That's next.
Plus, another round of protests in Hong Kong over a proposed extradition bill as the city government faces a crucial vote. We're live in Hong Kong. Back in a moment.
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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you now on our top stories this hour.
The verbal battle between the U.S. and Iranian president is escalating. Hassan Rouhani questioned U.S. office of diplomacy while it threatens military action. He called the White House mentally disabled.
Donald Trump warned of obliteration in some areas if Iran attacks.
In three weeks, former U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller is to testify in public about his investigation of President Trump and Russian election interference. Democrats hope for more detail potential obstruction of justice by the president.
Republicans are expected to attack Mueller's team and the origins of the investigation.
[03:29:54] Images of a migrant father and daughter found dead on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande is fueling the debate over U.S. border policies. The man had apparently taken his child across the river safely, but when he went back to get his wife, the child run after him into the water were hey tragically drowned.
So, let's get more on all of this with Professor Warren Binford, she met migrant children detained at a facility in Texas and she joins us with details on what she witnessed there. Thank you so much for being with us.
WARREN BINFORD, LAW PROFESSOR, WILLAMETTE UNIVERSITY: Thank you, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Now, of course, you have helped to put the treatment by the U.S. government of these detained migrant children under the spotlight, how is it possible that the wealthiest country in the world would treat children in such an appalling way. Failing to give them access to sufficient food, water and, basic hygiene including soap, toothbrushes and showers?
BINFORD: You know, I think that we've had a massive mismanagement of this entire system that these children, 86 percent of them have families in the United States and all that the government needs to do is to take most of these children to their families or call the families and ask them to come down and get their children.
Because they're certainly willing to do that, by the third day that we were at this facility, we actually were calling the parents on the telephone, calling the families in the United States and many of them had not heard from their kids, yet and were desperate to come down and get them, or to arrange for them to come to where the family's home was.
So, really, you know, what you are seeing as children are being detained in horrific conditions, and then being kept there illegally for extended periods of time at a tremendous cost to the American taxpayer?
CHURCH: So, why is that happening? It seems logical, talking over 80 percent of these children have families in the United States, why is no effort being made to reunite them with these families?
BINFORD: Well, that's actually the question. There is an effort that is being made to reunite them with the families that is something that the government is required to do, but what is happening is that it's taking so long to reunite these children with their families, because of the mismanagement of this system for the last two years.
Basically, what it's happened is that they've tried to impose additional requirements on parents and family members before the children will be transferred to them. They have brought in private companies to run these detention camps for the children, and so they are being paid these detention camp operators are being paid $775 per day, per child, to lock these children up in tents, for that amount of money, these kids could be staying at the Ritz Carleton, and, by the way they get free bars of soap there!
So, what is happening is that you are bringing in a lot of profiteering, you are bringing in additional regulations that are really unnecessary. And really, all they need to do is these kids need to be able to call their moms and dads, their aunt, their uncle, they're older brother or sister, and then they can get them home and they can take care of them in a safe, clean, and sanitary way, such as all children are entitled to.
CHURCH: So, you think profit is at the core here?
BINFORD: I think the profit is certainly part of it, but I think that --
CHURCH: That's presumably, because -- by sending out these sorts of images, the hope is on the part of the U.S. government that others will not come, is that what is going on here?
BINFORD: Well, I really struggle with that because, on one hand, I know that deterrence has been stated in some of the policy documents around some of these practices, and it is hard for me to believe that we live in a country that truly would abuse and neglect children severely in order to achieve political gains.
You know, I just can't believe that that's what America is, but I do know that that has been written in some of the policy documents. What I try and focus on instead, and it helps me to wake up in the morning and be a part of this nation, you know, with feelings of hope is that really, we are seeing mismanagement of a system on a profound basis which is creating a backlog that doesn't need to be there.
We had 50,000 children last year who needed to be process, we have 12,000 beds in that system, and those children are supposed to be reunited with their families within 20 days maximum. All you have to do is the math, and you know that the beds are there, you know that the resources are there, it's just a matter of managing it differently. And that requires simpler, more straightforward, more humane policies that put children first. And that is what we are calling on, both the administration and the Congress to do.
Stop wrapping up these child welfare issues into immigration issues, which is a divisive issue in this country. We really need to focus on what are the standards for safe and sanitary conditions for these children who are in government custody. [03:35:00] CHURCH: Right. And of course, we are talking about images
going out to the world. I want to bring up a really shocking image of a father and daughter who drowned at the U.S. Mexico border. This is just incredible. I mean, it is impossible to think that this is happening at the border of the wealthiest country in the world.
BINFORD: Yes.
CHURCH: And people are looking at this all throughout the world saying, how is this possible? Surely, when they look at this, the U.S. government must be saying, we can't allow these sorts of images to be going out. That really underscores what is happening here with immigration and the crisis that is going on in this country.
BINFORD: So, I have not seen that image before, and let me tell you, why that image is so upsetting to me, because when I was interviewing a young mother and a Delhi family detention, it is in the south Texas family detention center, located at Delhi, Texas and she told me the story of her coming across the border and she came across the Rio Grande with her two little children and they don't swim and they got into a giant raft with a bunch of other people who were escaping horrific conditions back home in the northern triangle, and she told me about how the two-year-old fell out of the raft and went under the brown muddy waters of the Rio Grande, and she just panicked.
But she couldn't swim and she couldn't get to the child quickly enough and somebody else from the raft completely unrelated to that mother and those two children jumped into the Rio Grande after the little girl, lifted her up over his head as he submerged under the water, he couldn't swim either, and somebody else from the raft who was unrelated to this family went into the water and he himself then was able to rescue the other person. These are caring people, these are decent people. These are people who are putting their lives at risk, because what is happening back in their home countries is so terrible.
We need to greet them with humanity. We need to greet them with gentleness, and we need to give them support so that they can rebuild their lives either here or back in their home countries but we need to stop treating people with cruelty.
CHURCH: Yes. I think this country does need to reassess where it stands. When we look at the statistics, it is actually developing nations that are reaching out helping refugees in these recent months and years, not the wealthy nations. They need to rethink that. Warren Binford, thank you so much for joining us, we do appreciate it.
BINFORD: Thank you, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Well, Donald Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner is trying to sell the Trump administration economic peace plan for the Middle East. He unveiled a $50 dollar blueprint to create jobs for Palestinians. The White House hopes it conspire a Middle East peace, but Palestinians are not taking part, saying the conflict is about politics, not economics, but Kushner says he has their interests at heart.
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JARED KUSHNER, PRESIDENT'S SENIOR ADVISER: My direct message to the Palestinian people is that despite what those who have let you down in the past tell you, President Trump and America have not given up on you. This workshop is for you. The vision we developed and released, if executed correctly it will lead to a better future for the Palestinian people, a feature of dignity, prosperity, and opportunity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: The peace to prosperity conference in Bahrain ends on Wednesday. So, let's turn to Oren Lieberman, who joins us now live from Jerusalem, and Oren, the Palestinians are not buying this economic plan, they want to see a political solution here and that is not going to come anytime soon apparently.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORESPONDENT: Well, it's not hard to see why they're so skeptical of the Trump administration peace efforts, and you heard it tight there from Jared Kushner, he says this is for you and yet the administration has cut hundreds of million dollars of aid to the Palestinians that has very much affected the average Palestinians, as well as sort of the livelihood and the opportunities.
So, even if Kushner is now promising $50 billion of investment. Money he hasn't actually got in committed yet, it's very difficult for the Palestinians to see how this benefits them in any way or how this leads to settling international aspirations or anything like that. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has certainly hyped this up and believes in his potential, we see that in the words of Kushner, as well as the words of the other members of the peace team, but when it comes down to it, this is a peace conference for the Israeli Palestinian conflict that lacks Israeli or Palestinian officials.
CHURCH: And Oren, let's talk about what the Palestinians want to see happen at this point.
LIEBERMANN: Well, what was interesting as we went around the west bank, and talk to Palestinians and some of the smaller villages, first of all, many of them haven't even heard of the Bahrain conference which tells you the level of which this is sort of happening at, beyond that there is simply a skepticism about the Trump administration that they rather sees some of the smaller projects where they have seen benefit other than promises of billions of dollars of investment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[03:40:07] LIEBERMANN: In a farming village in the west bank, the seeds of change starts small. (Inaudible) and this new guest has took a few thousand dollars and a belief in herself. In a society were wives often live in the shadow of their husbands, change here in (Inaudible) is driven by women.
NARJES QUTET, GUEST HOUSE OWNER (through translator): The women didn't really have the courage to leave the village, but now, they have a source of income and they have begun to explore life more. LIEBERMANN: The guesthouse is one of a few homegrown project led by
women in this village, nestled between settlement in the southern west bank.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): This is a rural village. It is not easy for women to work here, or to raise their voice, or take decisions and participate. These projects have helped them get active and learn from their environment.
LIEBERMANN: Lisa Henri is here with Norwegian Church aid and Danish Church aid. The organization had put $42,000 in (Inaudible) over the last three years. A modest sum, but one that deals directly with the villages own needs. A greenhouse to improve farming, a small bridge over a ravine with open sewage.
LISA HENRY, NORWEGIAN CHURCHAID AND DANISH CHURCHAID: Small farms go huge way here. I mean, $2,000 can make a difference, a whole family can have a livelihood out of this. And I think we should remember that we are talking about this big sums of money.
LIEBERMANN: The projects have succeeded in the occupied Palestinian territories were other much larger projects have struggled. Take, (Inaudible) a new billion dollar city, meant to bring modern housing to Palestinians. Four years after the city opened its door, it remains largely empty. Promises of more (Inaudible) do little to excite Palestinians who have seen too many of these assurances failed to materialize. In this Rabud (ph), everyday access to water and electricity are much more pressing problems than billion dollar projects and the status of a more (Inaudible) peace process.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We hope we will see some benefits. The Palestinian solidarity put some plans in here, but there have been a lot of confidence with no results. All the same. We remain optimistic.
LIEBERMANN: An economic workshop in Bahrain design to open up the Palestinian territories to investment could hardly be less relevant, unless we told them about it, the people we spoke with in Rabud, had never even heard of the conference.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIEBERMANN: It is worth noting that those we spoke with did say look, we wish the conference well, we hope something comes of it, but Rosemary, they were skeptical of the chances of that happening.
CHURCH: Yes, indeed. And understandably, Oren Liebermann, many thanks to you when you sub to date on that story.
Well, Hong Kong's government faces a no confidence vote over a proposed extradition bill that has sparked weeks of protests. Demonstrators have been marching to the consulates of the G-20 countries to place pressure on the Chinese government ahead of this weekend summit. But Beijing has warned it is not up for discussion, so let's turn to CNN's Andrew Stevens who joins us now live from Hong Kong. So what's the latest on this story, Andrew? ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the protestors have
delivered their messages and their petitions now to the embassies and consulates around Central Hong Kong, Rosemary, asking for those countries, and when talk about the United States, the E.U., the British embassy, the Germans, the list goes on, really asking for them to raise these issues that they're facing in Hong Kong at the G-20 meeting in Japan.
Now, as you say, China has ruled out talking about Hong Kong at the G- 20, China's point is that the G-20 is a forum for talking about economic issues not about political issues, but the protestors here say, urging the countries that they -- the emphasis is really to help them scrap this highly controversial extradition bill.
It has been shelved and it is very, very unlikely to see the light of day. When I say shelve, it has been killed off, it is being pulled back, there is no debate on it, the government says, there will be no debate until Hong Kong agreed on it. That is not unlikely to happen and it will fade away by July of next year.
That is not good enough for these people in Hong Kong, these protestors mainly young protestors, they want the bill ended completely and they want the investigation into police action which cleared the area around the Hong Kong parliament on June 12, when we saw those pictures of teargas being used, rubber bullets, pepper spray, they want an independent investigation into what the police did there.
So, they haven't changed really, Rosemary on what they want. We are here at the legislative council building, this is actually the public entrance. Behind me, you can see they have put barriers up there now to stop any public getting actually into the building, but this is probably about 50 or 60 young protestors here. A lot of them tell me that they come down every day for a few hours and they are going to keep coming down until they have their demands met.
[03:45:10] It's going to be a big sit in tonight again. A protest, as what they say is a peaceful protests to try to get the government in Hong Kong to change their mind, if not that, the G-20 to add pressure on China to help change their minds here.
CHURCH: All right, we will stay on the story, Andrew Stevens bringing us the latest from Hong Kong, where it is 3:45 in the afternoon. Many thanks.
Well, the U.K. Prime Minister race is heating up, and Boris Johnson is issuing a bold Brexit challenge to his opponent. We will have the details for you.
Plus, scorching temperatures across Europe with some cities seeing record highs, we will have the latest forecast as well when we return.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: In Britain, Boris Johnson is challenging his opponent, Jeremy Hunt to commit to leaving the E.U. by October 31st, with or without a Brexit deal. U.K. conservative Party members will soon decide which candidate will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Theresa May. CNN Bianca Nobilo has the latest from London.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN PRODUCER: After keeping a low profile, Boris Johnson has done a flurry of media appearances in the last 24 hours. He's also written to his rival, Jeremy Hunt, asking him to commit to Britain leaving the European Union on the 31st of October. Johnson wrote, today I've asked Jeremy Hunt whether he will also committed to this date, no matter what, we must keep our promises to the British people and deliver Brexit. No ifs, no buts, and no second referendum. Johnson throwing down the gauntlet to Jeremy Hunt, the day that he was supposed to be facing off against him in a televised debate, but Johnson declined to participate.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ultimately, you are prepared to walk away, right?
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: Yes, and that is of course, the other leg of the proposal. It is vital, as a country, that we get ready to come out without an agreement if we must.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBILO: Even though Johnson has been giving these media interviews, he has offered (inaudible) details about his personal life, and critically what happened between him and his partner Carrie Simons last week, the (inaudible) which led to the police being called to her apartment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When was it taken?
JOHNSON: Well, I don't get it.
[03:50:04] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're asking me --
JOHNSON: That is a state secret?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When was it taken?
JOHNSON: It's not a state secret, it just happened to be something that I don't want to get into.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBILO: Johnson may have offered few details about his private life, but he did divulge a peculiar past time, painting mobile buses and figurines. There's over a week and a half left until the membership of the Conservative Party will receive their ballots, where they will get to decide who becomes Britain's next Prime Minister. Bianca Nobilo, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: Parts of Europe are bracing for a potentially deadly heat wave, temperatures are expected to climb north of 40 degrees in several major cities. In France, officials expect to see record setting temperatures over the next few days.
All right, let's get more now on all of this with our meteorologist Pedram Javaheri, so, what are you seeing, Pedram?
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes, Rosemary, this is going to be a long duration of (inaudible) and potentially going to last into early next week. Unfortunately, just the first full week of the summer season across the northern hemisphere, a lot of people certainly not acclimated to this sort of heat, and were talking about temps in places across France by this afternoon, that will be warmer than across portions of the Sahara Desert.
So really speaks to the significance of this particular heat wave. Notice Berlin up to 36, by this afternoon, Paris also sitting at 36, Madrid just a couple of degrees warmer at 38. But of course, you factor in humidity in the air here and you're going to have heat indices that will climb goes up to 40 degrees by the afternoon hours and that's the concern across this region.
And even when it cools off, notice this, cools off into the lower 20's before it begins a rapid warming trend again tomorrow. But the lower 20's are precisely where you should be in to the afternoon in late June. Though we often talk about how the human body handles such extreme heat, we know sweating of course is a phenomenal way to see that water evaporate of our skin that reduce s your body's heat by about 22 percent, the is the most effective way to cool yourself off.
But when humidity is high, of course, you don't get much of apparition off of your skin. It requires you to drink at least two liters of water per day. But you also have to keep in mind that you want to avoid high protein food, because that reduces your body's ability to cool off effectively. Also getting a sunburn under your skin also has similar affects, it reduces your ability to cool off effectively as well.
So, this sort of an event where we will expect high pressure to remain in place, not only see unseasonably warm weather, but also extensive heat for a period of four to five days, is really a dangerous scenario, of course, for the elderly, for folks at risk here. And also for the homeless population across the region.
And we know, when it comes to the average person, two days is roughly the amount of time it takes for your body to adjust to extensive heat, but when you really look at it and break it down, studies has shown that it would take up to two weeks for you to fully acclimate to extreme heat. And again, early in the season, really makes it difficult go.
And you notice this forecast here over the next four days, each of the next four days stay at least 10 degrees above average. There is some hope there, Rosemary, you see a cooling trend by early next week, even still should be above average, but really and an incredible heat wave here to start off for the first full week of summer, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Absolutely, but we do like that trend downward, we appreciate it. Pedram, thank you so much for staying on top of all of that.
Well, President Donald Trump is driving his critics crazy by saying forget the two year -- the two term limit, he wants to serve longer. He is joking, right? Or is he? We will find out after the short break.
[03:55:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Donald Trump wants to serve as president for more than two terms. He is joking, right? Well, it turns out the president is. Here is Jeanne Moos.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Critics who jab at President Trump want to portray him wearing a crown, and he has an exactly discourage such imagery with all those one liners about extending his presidency beyond the two terms allowed by the constitution.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We want to drive them crazy? I'll say, in 10 years, they'll go crazy!
Should we go back to 16 years?
I was going to joke general say, at least for 10 or 14 years, but we would cause a bedlam.
Unless they give me an extension for the presidency.
MOOS: His supporters eat it up.
His detractors spit it out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They want Donald Trump to be king of the United States, they want him to be president for life.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If he loses, Trump, he won't go.
MOOS: President Trump recently tweeted, do you think the people would demand that I stay longer?
He is mentioning China's President Xi.
TRUMP: He is now president for life.
MOOS: As a role model, wink, wink.
TRUMP: Maybe we'll have to give that a shot someday.
MOOS: But now, he shot down the speculation, in an interview with the Hill, he asked if he was joking, President Trump responded. Of course, but it drives them crazy. For instance -- The other day when he inserted himself into an old Time Magazine
cover, as if he work perpetually running for president, as if he were running forever. Someone tweeted, you were the most successful troll of all time. What a wonder then that President Trump has his own troll doll. He earned it.
TRUMP: See, he is a dead spot.
MOOS: A disputed troll forever. Jeanne Moos, CNN.
TRUMP: He's got despotic tendencies.
MOOS: New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: It happens, right. And thanks for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church, remember to connect with me anytime on Twitter @rosemarycnn. We've love to hear from you. And the news continues next with our Max Foster in London. You're watching CNN, have yourself a great day.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
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