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CNN Equestrian news and features on the riders and horses taking part in the elite Global Champions Tour; Protesters Called for Governor Rossello to Resign; Arson Killed 13 People in Kyoto, Japan; Iran Accused U.S. of Waging War; President Trump Emphasized His Enemies' Names in a Rally; A Sign of Hope for an Indonesian Woman; El Chapo Guzman's Happy Days Are Over. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired July 18, 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)
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Protestors in Puerto Rico demonstrate late into the night. They want the governor to resign and are not backing down.
The U.S. president again vilifying members of Congress who he says hate America. Now his crowds are echoing his racist rhetoric chanting "send her back."
Also, this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, you're going to give her? Amnesty.
JOKO WIDODO, PRESIDENT OF INDONESIA (through translator): Yes, if I have to do it then I will do it. Why not? As soon as possible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: It is good news for an Indonesian woman sentence to jail after reporting sexual harassment. Her story just ahead.
Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. Great to have you with us. I'm John Vause. You are watching CNN Newsroom.
It is calm now, but violence erupted a few hours ago in Puerto Rico as police fired teargas at protestors in San Juan. Demonstrators are calling for the Governor Ricardo Rossello to resign. They are angry over a declining economy, a series of scandals and now leaked legal text messages from within his inner circle that were profane among other things. But the governor is refusing to leave.
Our man in San Juan is Juan Carlos Lopez.
JUA CARLOS LOPEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Things gained a sense of normalcy in all San Juan but not what typically happens early morning on a Thursday. Right before midnight, the police dispersed thousands of protesters with tear gas, maybe half an hour later, hundreds of motorcycle riders came back into the heart of the old city.
They were able to make it very close to the corner of La Fortaleza which is where the governor's mansion is but then they quickly left the area. This allowed even those there was heavy police presence, a lot of other people to come back in and just stay around waiting for the next round of protest, something that's been happening for the last six days.
They are all demanding the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rossello involved in a scandal that was made even worse when selected and edited chat was published, was leaked and it showed conversations with homophobic with misogynistic comments that the governor apologize for, but that given lead to this movement where a lot of people from different walks of political life in Puerto Rico are asking him to resign.
The next step according to many it will be flash protest. But also, a protest called for other parts of San Juan to block traffic and to pressure Rossello to leave who has said he won't leave. San Juan is prepared for these protests.
Puerto Ricans said, at least people we spoke to, they say they are ready to hold on as long as they can. The question is, who will fold first? For now, they vow to keep protesting and the governor says he is not leaving.
Juan Carlos Lopez, CNN, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
VAUSE: In Kyoto, Japan, at least 13 people are feared dead after an animation studio was a target of an arson attack. Police have a suspect in custody who they believe poured gasoline around the building to fuel the fire.
The city's fire department has confirmed at least one death. Thirty- eight people were hurt in the blaze, 10 at last report remains in serious condition.
There's more than a year to go until the 2020 U.S. presidential election but, perhaps we're already getting a pretty clear picture of Donald Trump's strategy. He's a red-blooded flag waving on America and Democrats who disagree with him are communists who hate the United States and they can go back to where they came from.
Here's CNN's Kaitlan Collins.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: A new chant was started at the president's rally in Greenville North Carolina and it's certainly one that is going to be in the headlines for the next several days.
The president had just taken the state and within minutes he was in the middle of lashing out at those four Democratic congresswomen that the president has been in all-out brawl with ever since he first tweeted them on Sunday.
He started with Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, she was one of those four who is actually not born in the United States but instead was born in Somalia, later came to the United States as a child refugee before becoming a U.S. citizen.
And as the president was lashing out criticizing her, the crowd in the arena started to chant "send her back". Now it's not a chant that the president himself but he did pause in the middle of his scripted remarks to let the momentum in the arena here built before then moving to go after the other three congresswomen.
Listen to what exactly the president had to say about each of them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: When you see the four congresswomen, isn't that lovely?
(CROWD BOOING)
TRUMP: Representative Ilhan Omar.
(CROWD BOOING)
TRUMP: Her colleague Representative Rashida Tlaib.
(CROWD BOOING)
[03:04:58] TRUMP: Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
(CROWD BOOING)
TRUMP: So Representative Ayanna Pressley.
(CROWD BOOING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COLLINS: Now the president was reading from a teleprompter as he was making those remarks. And earlier in the day, White House officials had been teasing, saying that what the president was going to say that night was going to be one of his most fiery rallies today.
But what you are seeing as the president takes something that many of his advisors saw as a political stumble and tried to turn into political momentum. Because he thinks making these four women the face of the Democratic Party is going to be a winning strategy for him going into the 2020 election.
Kaitlan Collins, CNN, traveling with the president in North Carolina.
VAUSE: Amid simmering tensions with Iran, the U.S. is sending 500 troops to Saudi Arabia. The deployment was first announced after Washington said Iran was behind an attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, as well as the downing of a U.S. drone over the Strait of Hormuz.
U.S. defense officials say the troops will be heading into an air base outside the Saudi capital where a patriot missile battery is also being prepared. The U.S. is hoping to fly F-22 stealth fighters, as well as other jets from that military base.
Iran's foreign minister once again accusing Washington of waging war by intensifying economic sanctions. Mohammad Javad Zarif spoke at the annual session of the U.N. Economic and Social Council.
Under U.S. travel restrictions, Zarif is confined to the immediate area around the United Nations in lower Manhattan. He says Iranian diplomats and their family are living in basically, inhumane conditions in New York, and civilians are suffering back home.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Our people are also subjected to the most brutal form of economic terrorism. Deliberately targeting innocent civilians to achieve illegitimate political objectives.
The unlawful extra territorial economic sanctions on Iran by the United States in violation of Security Council resolution 2231 represent the greatest threat to the achievement of sustainable development goals of Iran and many of our neighbors.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: And Zarif spoke at length with CNN's Fareed Zakaria about what he calls an economic war against Iran being waged by the United States.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZARIF: These waters are our lifeline, so their security is of paramount importance for Iran. But throughout Iran has provided security in these waters. The United States is intervening in order to make these waters in secure for Iran. You cannot make these waters in secure for one country and secure for others.
FAREED ZAKARIA, CNN HOST: Do you believe that as a result of this, whoever is to blame, you could have an escalation which will result in a military incident?
ZARIF: Well, in such a small body of water if you have so many foreign vessels, I mean, accident will happen. You remember 1988, when a U.S. warship in these waters shot down an Iranian civil airliner killing 290 passengers. So, accident or even catastrophes can happen under these circumstances.
ZAKARIA: Do you think that with tensions being as high as they are, there is a possibility of war?
ZARIF: Well, you cannot simply disregard a possibility of a disaster. But we all need to work in order to avoid it. There is a war going on right now, it's an economic war, an economic war against Iran targets civilian population. And President Trump is on the record saying that he is not engaging in
the military war but in an economic war. Economic war is nothing to be proud of, because in a military confrontation, civilians may become collateral damage. Whereas, in an economic war, civilians are the primary targets.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Watch the full interview with Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif this Sunday on Fareed Zakaria GPS. For our viewers in London that's at three o'clock in the afternoon, 10 in the evening for our viewers in Hong Kong and Asia.
It's been a rough three years for Theresa May as Britain's prime minister. Now it's almost over. This time next week she will no longer be in 10 Downing Street and the reason for that could be stated in just one word, Brexit.
No matter what she did or said she could not get the parliament to approve the deal she brokered with the E.U., the withdrawal agreement. Here's what she said Wednesday in her final official remarks as prime minister.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I'm deeply disappointed that I haven't been able to deliver Brexit. I'm -- look, you know, I did everything I could to do that. I put my own job on a line in order to do that.
[03:10:01] I was told that if I said I would stand down then the votes would come behind the deal. I said I'd stand down and I've done -- I'm doing so, the votes didn't come. That's politics.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Still to come here, one Indonesian woman's allegations of sexual harassment ended up with her receiving a prison sentence. Now her battle is inspiring others after she refuse to back down and that reached the president.
Also, ahead, there have been thousands of Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo since last August, now a new concern as it moves from remote areas to populated cities.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: For a scene that there is nowhere else to go there has been a dramatic development in a sexual harassment case in Indonesia that went all the way to the Supreme Court.
Baiq Nuril was harassed by her boss but after complaining she was the one who face jail time after recording an explicit phone call from him. That focus world attention on Indonesia's sexual violence laws. And now her courage could bring a major change.
CNN's Anna Coren has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
COREN: In this humble village on the Indonesian island of Lombok where the rhythm of life revolves around family and religion Baiq Nuril calls her son for evening prayers. She is teaching him the ways of her faith. A source of strength for this mother of three whose world was turned into a living hell seven years ago when a new principal arrived at the school where she worked.
(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
COREN: She explains, "the principal would call me into his office and tell me how he performed sex and what he would do to me. When I remember that, it disgusts me, I want to vomit."
Baiq Nuril was working as the school's bookkeeper. She would tell him to stop but the sexual harassment continued.
"I was scared if I spoke out, he would fire me," she said. "He knew he had the power."
After a year, Baiq Nuril finally had enough. She recorded one of his explicit phone calls as evidence, played it to her colleague who forwarded the conversation to school officials. She says when the principal found out, he fired her and sued her for defamation.
After two months in jail, Baiq Nuril was acquitted during the trial. But prosecutors appealed and the case then went to the Supreme Court which found her guilty of distributing indecent material sentencing her to six months jail and a $35,000 fine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOKO JUMADI, BAIQ NURIL'S LAWYER: This is an absolute injustice. Baiq Nuril is a victim and she was criminalized. The perpetrator was free, he even got a promotion. The system is completely wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: Many times, Baiq Nuril just wanted to give up.
I thought about suicide when I was riding my motorbike. What if I hit that bridge? All my problems would be gone. But then, I remembered my children. What would happen to them?"
[03:15:02] Her case made national headlines and when her final appeal was rejected earlier this month, the presidential palace took notice.
CNN asked President Joko Widodo if he would grant Baiq Nuril amnesty.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WIDODO (through translator): I respect the decision of the court, but when it's related to my authority, I will give amnesty to Baiq Nuril.
COREN: So, you are going to give her amnesty?
WIDODO (through translator): Yes, if I have to do it, then I will do it. Why not as soon as possible?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: We relay this news to Baiq Nuril, a woman finally unburdened and completely overwhelmed.
BAIQ NURIL, JAILED FOR SEXUAL ALLEGATIONS: Can I hug you?
COREN: The sexual harassment that Baiq Nuril endured at the school for more than a year is, sadly, not uncommon here in Indonesia.
The National Commission on Violence Against Women found that 260,000 cases of sexual violence, including harassment were reported last year. But believed unreported cases could be at least five times that number.
Baiq Nuril hopes that her story will inspire other victims to come forward and speak out.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
COREN: "If we don't fight back and speak up then who will," she asks. You have to be brave, don't be scared."
While Baiq Nuril's case may be a focal point for Indonesia's Me Too movement, this mother just wants to hold her children, never to be separated again.
Anna Coren, CNN, Lombok, Indonesia.
VAUSE: Great story there from Anna.
Now the World Health Organization is calling the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo a public health emergency of international concern.
There have been more than 2,500 Ebola cases, 1,600 deaths since the outbreak started back in August. And now a new concern as a confirmed case of the disease discovered in a major city on Ebola with Rwanda.
CNN's David McKenzie joins us now from Johannesburg with more on this. So, we had this declaration of a public health emergency of international concern. It's been made a couple times in the past. So, what are the factors here that play into this decision? Why is it different this time?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, one of the major factors is, if it's got the regional risk of spreading, and certainly that is high. It doesn't have, according to the WHO, the risk of spreading globally. But I think some very key factors are leading to this very serious
decision, as you say, this is only being declared now four times since this designation was put in place.
This is an extremely serious and rare event from a public health standpoint. When we were in that Ebola hot zone last month what we noticed there and what's been borne by these discussions by this group of experts, is that this outbreak which has been going on for almost a year just isn't slowing down.
The areas where you had epicenters and theraps (Ph) they seem to get better and then they get worse again. And you have that case that you mentioned in Goma on the border of Rwanda, a pastor traveling south in a bus has now since died tragically.
And that city of more than a million people is a major trade route. You have this risk of people moving into Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan. ns because they just haven't managed to slow the spread and they don't have a handle on who is sick and their contacts, I think that was a decision to make this very serious step, I think in part to get more funding and more attention on this outbreak and in the northeast DRC. John?
VAUSE: So, I guess at the end of the day, what are we looking at here in terms of like concrete actions? Something you and I actually pointed. Isn't just simply money being put in a problem or does it come with sort of authorities that local officials can use or, you know, WHO officials can't actually put into place?
MCKENZIE: Well, it certainly comes with authority in terms of the global health system that it's expected that countries radio ratchets up their potential response and preparedness to an expanded Ebola outbreak. That particularly is concerned with those regional countries that rarely fear cases moving into those areas.
Now one of the key things they said and I think one of the reasons they didn't name this earlier because this is the fourth time that they actually had this discussion with a group of experts is because of the knock-on effect, the possible unintended consequences.
One of the things that the head of the WHO stressed in that meeting was that country should stand in solidarity and not close their borders.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TEDROS ADHANOM, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: We call on all countries, companies, and individuals to support the DRC by respecting these accommodations.
[03:19:59] Now is the time for the international community to stand in solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo not to impose punitive and counterproductive restrictions that will only serve to isolate them. (END VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: Well, this is a very difficult response in that region. It's a hot zone and a war zone. And you've seen just this week two health workers, John, killed because of the suspicions and the fear surrounding this disease in that part of the country.
So, so far, they show really some positive signs, they haven't vaccine. That hasn't really done the job to stamp out this disease but, you know, there is still a long way to go and I think this health emergency that they've declared which people have been asking for, for some time might be a way to kind of get them over the line but it could be months before they can actually stamp out this epidemic.
VAUSE: Yes. Ebola is just one of the diseases where it keeps going back and it's terrifying every single time. David, thank you. David McKenzie live there in Johannesburg.
Well, a recent drought has left more than two million people in Zimbabwe without access to clean water. Two major cities have announced water rationing programs to limit tap water to once a week. Making matters worse in the capital there is a critical shortage of purifying chemicals which are needed after the heavy pollution in water supply there.
The capital's acting water director says Zimbabwe's economic crisis is making a bad situation worse. And residents in Harare reports water shortages have taken place since January.
The brother of the Manchester arena suicide bomber is to appear in a London court in the coming hours. Hashem Abedi is charged with murdering the 22 victims of this attack. He is now in the U.K. after being extradited from Libya.
His brother Salman Abedi detonated a bomb back at the end of Ariana Grande's concert back in 2017. Twenty-two people were killed. The two brothers grew up in Manchester but traveled to Libya just a month before the attack. Salman Abedi return to the U.K. just days before the actual concert.
Well, it's the most secure federal prison in the United States and now home not so sweet home to the drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. He was transferred just a few hours after being sentenced to life imprison plus 30 years.
Guzman was convicted back in February of engaging in a criminal enterprise, drug trafficking, and firearm charges. The 62-year-old infamously escaped from prison twice. Authorities say Guzman is finally though, facing justice.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRIAN ALLEN BENCZKOWSKI, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CRIMINAL DIVISION: The long road that led Chapo Guzman from the mountains of Sinaloa to the courthouse behind us today was paved with death, drugs and destruction but it ended today with justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Guzman is now looked away in possibly the most secure prison in the world. It has not put a dent in Mexico's drug trade. The cartel is still up and running. In fact, El Guzman's replacement is seemed to be even more ruthless and even more blood thirsty than El Chapo.
Well, Donald Trump is now on for labeling his enemies with memorable but nasty nick names. Now he's broadening his taunt using an oldie but goldie to irritate his rival. That's next on CNN Newsroom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VAUSE: If nothing else, Donald Trump knows the power of branding and marketing. His catchphrases like make America great again and drain the swamp is something catchy.
[03:25:01] And then who could actually forget individual number? But lately, he's turned to another one of his favorites. And here's Jeanne Moos.
JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Trump is the office of a fan boy obsessively not being a fan. The other day it was Guatemala and Honduras.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm not a fan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Before that it was Jeffrey Epstein.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I was not a fan of his, that I can tell you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: And before that it was the British ambassador who called President Trump inept in leaked cables.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We're not big fan of that man.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: From Joe Biden.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: So, I'm not a fan.
(END VIDEO CLIP) MOOS: To bitcoin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RICHARD QUEST, CNN HOST: President Trump says he is not a fan of bitcoin.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: It doesn't bother him a bit to use the word fan to distance himself even from the Vietnam War.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Well, I was not a fan of that war. I'll be honest with you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: And the president isn't shy about saying he's not a fan to the face of the person he's not a fan of. For instance, when NBC's Peter Alexander stood up for CNN's Jim Acosta.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER ALEXANDER, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, NBC NEWS: He's a diligent reporter --
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: Well, I'm not a big fan of yours either, so to be honest.
ALEXANDER: I understand.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: When designer Tom Ford said he wouldn't be dressing Melania.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM FORD, FASHION DESIGNER: She's not necessarily my image.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: He got unfanned.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm not a fan of Tom Ford. Never had been. I was never a fan of John McCain and I never will be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Now one of McCain's good friends fanned the flames, tweeting, "OK, you aren't a fan. One more in a long list of things you are not, honest, brave, smart, et cetera."
And while it's usually humans like Samuel L. Jackson make that not a fan. First wife Ivana Trump wrote that Donald was not a dog fan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: How would I look walking a dog on the White House lawn? Would that be --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: But there are a few things that President Trump is a fan of.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm a big fan of Winston Churchill.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: He's a big fan of the American women's soccer team if not Megan Rapinoe. He's a fan of history?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm a big fan of Hindu and I am a big fan of India.
(APPLAUSE)
TRUMP: Bi, big fan.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are a few my favorite things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Though they seem vastly outnumbered by non-favorites.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I'm not a fan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: Jeanne Moos, CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: I was not a fan of his, and I never will be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MOOS: New York.
VAUSE: Well, surfing is expected to make its Olympic debut next year at the Tokyo Games if the venue on Japan's Pacific Coast can actually come up with some suitable waves. A trial event is scheduled over the next couple of days so officials can actually find out whether the surf there is up to Olympic standards. The opening ceremony for the Tokyo summer games, get this, just over -- well, a year away. Thank you for joining us. I'm John Vause. Stay with CNN, a quest on
global champions. You won't want to miss it, it's up next. But I will be back with a check of the headlines in just a moment. You're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:30:00]
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Hello everyone, I'm John Vause, this is CNN News Now. In Puerto Rico there's anger and volatile in the streets of San Juan, as protestors demand the resignation of Governor Ricardo Rossello over a series of scandals. The last short scenes was were a profane text messages from within his inner circle were leaked. The governor though refusing to step down, but the mayor of San Juan says that it's time to go.
In Kyoto, Japan, at least 13 people are feared dead after an animations studio was the target of arson attack. Police have a suspect in custody whom they believe poured gasoline around the building to fuel the blaze. The city's fire department has confirmed at least one death and about 38 people were hurt in the fire and 10 remain in a serious condition.
Donald Trump is stepping up his attacks on four U.S. congresswoman who he said should leave the country if they don't like it. Supporters in North Carolina chanted send her back when the president mentioned Somali born lawmaker Ilhan Omar, she has been a U.S. citizen since she was a teenager.
Theresa May has limit her final official speech as Britain Prime Minister. She said parliament's refusal to pass a Brexit deal was deeply disappointing. Boris Johnson widely expected to replace her next week. That is your CNN News Now. CNN Equestrian is up next and you are watching CNN the world news leader.
ALY VANCE, CNN BRITISH SPORTS ANNOUNCER: Two athletes. United with a common goal. Reaching for new heights. At the global champions tour and global champions league brings together the world's top show jumping talent to compete at the highest level in a team and in individual competitions. Touching down in 20 spectacular locations across four continents.
And as it reaches its halfway point, we had been following action as it crisscrosses through Europe, Madrid, Hamburg, Cannes, Stockholm, Cascais, Monaco, Paris and Chantilly. With unique access to the rider who is holding on to top spot in individual leaderboard, his strategy, his success. The competition is fierce, fast and it's fascinating. I'm Aly Vance and this is CNN Equestrian.
The world's premiere show jumping competition has travel across Europe and landed in the French capital for the 11th stop of the series. We are now just over halfway through the season and as the points add up the leaderboard is taking shape. Belgian rider Pieter DeVos has been at the top of the rankings in the individual competition, but his tour thus far has had its share of highs and lows. We've been at his side to witness the heat of the competition through his eyes.
PIETER DEVOS, BELGIAN RIDER: I tried to focus show by show and do my plan show by show, because like we all know, every show is different in every show you have to start all over again from zero. And I try to focus on that and I know it stops (inaudible) every week competing against the best horses and the best riders in the world.
VANCE: His success this season began with a pre-victory in Miami.
DEVOS: It was a nice kick off of the season, because it was only the (inaudible), and my horse was jumping fantastic there and she felt really good and also gave us a lot of confidence for the next part of the season. He'll get like -- a bit of a boost and a bit of energy, that you want to go for more, you know.
VANCE: You still got a long way to go, but we are approaching the halfway mark of the season what do you think is needed to be number one at the end of the season, to be crown champion of champions.
DEVOS: Yes, I think, the regularity of our results. And I think -- like you said it's a long season, you have to plan it all well with your horse, so that the horses are -- keep doing it and they keep being fit for every show, so not to do too much and not overdo your horse. That is why I try to have my three or four horses that I can alternate them and I can make a good plan and that I can be coming to every show with a good fresh horse. I think that is the most important that you can do this consistent results.
[03:35:10] VANCE: But consistent results don't always mean a positions. In Madrid, (Inaudible) stole the victory. But DeVos retained his lead in the overall rankings.
It was in Hamburg that heated competition began with German rider Daniel Deusser riding to victory on home turf.
DANIEL DEUSSER, GERMNA RIDER: I want to win, that is my goal of the sport in general, and that is why I ride every day and that is why I try to educate my horses to be competitive and to have some (inaudible).
It's a high-level sport, the highest level there is, so we know that it cannot be all the time on the top, also that sometimes it hurts, because, of course, you are disappointed in that moments, but you must try to deal with it and you must try to focus on the next show then.
DEVOS: I'm a winner, I tried to be always the best possible and quite perfectionist in that way that I am not always happy when it's not so good or so I always try to perform at the highest level, but it's not always possible.
DEUSSER: The first couple of shows were successful for the two of us, but like I said, 10 results count and I think there will be a lot other competitors who come very close to us at the end of the season.
DEVOS: So it's every time again getting that focus in the oldest little smallest details were very, very important to get to the top. VANCE: Cannes, the epicenter of glamour of the French Riviera, where
the stars of the show jumping world rolled out in style for highly anticipated spectacle watch on by an ego crowd. In the final grand prix, speed is of the essence in a 10th jump-off it was Belgium Niels Bruynseels who (inaudible) who claim the victory and his first ever on the tour.
NIELS BRUYNSEELS, BELGIUM RIDER: It really means a lot to me, it's not just the grand prix, this is some special championship with the best riders, the best horses in the world. If you can win that grand prix like this, it is a great feeling.
VANCE: Deusser finished in third, but hold on to his position at the top of the leaderboard with DeVos 12 points behind.
DEUSSER: I rode with a plan and that's why I think it's important. Some jump offs, you know, that you can win and then you have to go for it and you have to take all the risks. Some jump off, you know, maybe it will be very difficult to win so it is better to try to live with calculator than to know a little bit what you can and what you can't and not go over the line and make a mistake. And that's what I did today. You have to see when your chance is there, and you have to take and then you have to go all for it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[03:40:00] VANCE: In the fields some 40 miles from the Belgium capital, the fruit grows in abundance.
DEVOS: We are mainly doing apples and pears, in our 13 years we grew from zero business in fruit actually to now we are one of the biggest export companies in Belgium.
VANCE: Thirty-three year old Pieter DeVos is responsible for a growing family business, but he is also a professional equestrian athlete currently competing at the highest level in the premiere show jumping competition.
An annual extravaganza made of up 20 events all around the globe, the launching global champion's tour and global champions league. I
DEVOS: I never knew to do it in other way so it's some kind if some magic thing that grows together and I tried to find my time to do both and I can very good focus myself on one of the two, but I'm all the time busy with the two together.
VANCE: Well some of the world's top riders might choose to rest between events. For DeVos as always work to be done.
DEVOS: We have our own orchards of course and now we have our own stores where we conserve the fruit. Then we have our own packing stations and then we have our own selling department where we -- where I actually the head of. It's difficult to describe, but it's like, when I make a good contract with the supermarket or with a retailer that we can do good promo over year and we do a really good deal and for me it's like winning the grand prix in one way. But in the other way, for me winning a grand prix is not only the winning part is also that for me the feeling that I got or the relation that I have with my horse.
VANCE: To compete in the highest level in the show jumping arena requires top horses and DeVos' built an operation here in Belgium which he hopes to ensure that success.
DEVOS: I tried to build them up from really the beginning so we also have a lot of breeding. We breed about 15 horse a year, so we have ton of ton of 20 horses at home, in the breeding farm and that we have are sports table. Now we have 40 horses which are daily ridden and we worked on. And my focus is for sure also on the riding 100 percent and I know that in the ring, I cannot put somebody else, I have to do it myself and my management of my horses, my wife and a good people around me who helped me with it. But at the end, in the ring, I have to do it myself, that I cannot give it to somebody else.
VANCE: His wife Caroline runs the stables and his daughter lends her support however up until, now professional equestrian sport was never been in the DeVos plan.
DEVOS: I'm not coming out of the horse family, so I was competing with the ponies and the juniors and the in rider, but like really, hobby wise. You know, we never talked about doing this professionally.
And then actually at a certain moment everything came a bit together. I think all of this was only possible because I had really all my family behind me and it's very, very important for me. I want to make my horse doing it for me, and they like to do it, you know, so they must be happy, in their heads mentally and for that we do a lot at home, when they are at home we take them out three times out of the box, out of the stable. Take all one time and all my horses go every day in a field for one hour, two hours, three hours.
He is Claire -- of course the training of the jumping and the training and the dresses are also very important, but I think you make the base of that is the make already before you this kind of shows. The horse who would be jumping every -- or let us say, every two weeks, this shows they know they are jumping in my opinion. I think it is more important that they are happy, I'm not saying that sometimes you need to jump over or do a little exercise with a line or with -- what they're putting in the show to train it, OK. But mentally for me it's more important.
So this is my -- one of my very favorite horse Claire. She is really one of my top horses today and I thank her a lot for all the good performances that she does the latest time and I've had her since a long time. I bought her at two years old together with my father in law so she is now 11.
[03:45:08] VANCE: Together with Claire, DeVos has gone remarkable victories both in the individual competition and in the global champions league which he rides for the team with (inaudible) pirates.. DEVOS: She is not the easiest horse, but she has lots of quality and
very, very good character, but it's a particular in always in the way that you have to find a way to get connected with her and I think became a super combination with her and now we are doing very good results. As long as she has the confidence she will do everything for you and it's very important because she always out traveling a lot of hours and is very nice that she's confident in that and that she doesn't lose too much energy by traveling.
VANCE: The horses travel long distances on tour, from Madrid to Hamburg, Cannes to Stockholm and soon on to Portugal where the tour reach its ninth stop of the season. While some horses and their riders are acclimatized to the Atlantic coast air, to DeVos is unpacking.
DEVOS: Now we have two horses I bring two saddles and we have one spare saddle in the truck for if something goes wrong. Same with the bridle's, we have lots of bridle and we have for every horse, two or three different bridle's with different bits depending on how the horses reacting and the stuff we can change and we can do -- we can adapt something and it's a lot more than only the 70 seconds that we are in the ring.
VANCE: And here in Cascais, the spectacle unfolded in a leafy Green Park. Watched on by a sea of equestrian enthusiast.
Top talent was being put to the test and what proved to be an intense jump-off. As once sped past the next, it was a very last rider in who really had the edge, Switzerland's (inaudible).
DeVos together with Claire made it in to the grand prix, but its tactics weren't quite enough.
DEVOS: I tried really to go for the win and I took a little bit too much risk in the beginning, I got a little fault there. And that is a bit of disappointing because I deserve to be higher up in the rankings today in the grand prix.
VANCE: He retains his position at top of the rankings just 16 points ahead of Germany's Daniel Deusser.
DEVOS: That's a good news. So, it means that doing consistent results, my horses are jumping fantastic for the moment and it feels a good feeling here.
VANCE: His journey and the entire tour has on north next into France.
[03:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VANCE: From (inaudible) greens to soft sands Olympic stadium, to luxury resorts, to these high class athletes touched down into some of the world's most inviting terrains. Across the seasons there are two competitions, the individual and the teams, 16 teams competed in the global champion's league all vying to qualify for place in the playoffs in November. They are named after destination on the tour and comprised riders rule ages. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The competition is very, very tight and very
close so, yes, you have to be on your toes the whole time.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We are extremely competitive so I think just in that itself we just want to win and we all want to win and we will do whatever it takes to do that.
VANCE: The (inaudible) of Monaco and the French Riviera place host to the 10th stop on the tour. Expectations here on the home team, the Monaco Aces, but they'll have to fight as the London Knights hold fourth at the top of the leaderboard.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a completely different terrain during this week in Monaco it's a different venue and Monaco and its charm, I'm bringing here another horse and my top horse actually Clooney, it's his first big show back, so I'm obviously very excited for this week as well.
VANCE: In the end, there was unexpected victory claimed by the Scandinavian Vikings, their first for the season.
The team proudly hosted the eighth stop of the tour on home turf. The Olympic arena in Stockholm, the first global champions event to be hosted in a Swedish capital. It was here that we spoke to the Paris Panthers ahead of their home event in Paris. The youngest member of the team, Jennifer Gates is the daughter of American software billionaire Bill Gates. She is also the team owner.
JENNIFER GATES, PARIS RIDER: I do enjoy the responsibility and it's a tremendous honor to be able to own the team and to have selected the six riders that are on the team this year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No two people from the same country which is really cool. Harry obviously trains Jennifer and is involved with every staples, so we are all very tightly knit.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Were came often together and that is why also the people behind -- all the people from our team, it doesn't matter who is performing very well, they are all cheering for us.
VANCE: There are currently 9th in the rankings having finished on the podium in Shanghai, Hamburg and Cascais, but with such fierce competition their hopes lie with the strategy of their manager, the former (inaudible), the winning British 2012 Olympic team.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have some world class, very experience riders and we have genism now on the under 25 riders are still allude, we need to experience, who are trying to build up to become a world-class rider.
VANCE: How did you think that the team can be successful in the league?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I think you need a very good team spirit, which we have and you get team spirit by having a common goal and then the team spirit comes as because they are all professionals and all wanted to achieve something that, you know, we're trying to aim for which is obviously to win.
VANCE: A spectacular arena in the French capital framed by the (inaudible), and the Eiffel Tower. Among the crowd of spectators was Mary Kate Olson and award winning actress Marion Cotillard, all here to watch the drama of the competition unfolds.
In the team event, Miami Celtics took victory, island Sheng green (ph) lining up alongside, Jessica Springsteen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it was really exciting. We have a great start yesterday so we are feeling good today and to win in Paris is an amazing venue, so special so we are very excited.
VANCE: Just over the half way mark of the season, how important was today's win, looking in those rankings?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very important, we are a bit deflated doming in here, we are down to 5th in the overall. So now we are back at second and then to Jesse and Elijah.
VANCE: And the individual event was a thriller, but not so for to leader, DeVos. In the end, it was Germany's (inaudible), who rode a flawless round. The Olympic bronze medalist showing his experience to score a memorable win on the horse that he also breed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Really, really happy, like always when you win, but in this special case it's the horse so far with our own breeding and it's one of my top horses for the future.
[03:55:00] VANCE: DeVos remains at the top of the overall rankings ahead of Germany's Daniel Doucette. And last year's winner Ben Meyer. They conquered the city lights, but the totals ends here and now moves to north of Paris to what they call the capital of the horse, Shonte (ph).
A fairytale backdrop for the intensity of the competition was all too real. In the team event it was the Berlin Eagles who took victory, their first of the season, 29 year old Christian Kukuk riding alongside his mentor, the four time Olympic gold medalist (Inaudible), they were the only pair to record four clear rounds.
Christian what was more nerve-racking you around jumping or watching the (inaudible)?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For sure, because it was so concentrated when you ride your third, watching (inaudible), but I mean, Lut ka (ph) is the best, I want to watch. And the thing it can be really, really heavy with our horses, with our performance here.
VANCE: In the overall standings, 19 points for fourth place finished was enough to propel the Miami Celtics the top spot. Inglorious late afternoon sunshine, the battles of individual almost went down to a gripping six way jump-off. Ireland's Derrick Kenny (ph) first into the arena, set the bar but no one able to beat his time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's fantastic, you know, I've had an amazing few weeks, last few weeks and this was brilliant to win here. I love Shonti, it's a great show and to qualify for the super grand prix is super one thing I really wanted this year so I'm super happy.
VANCE: In the overall standings it was a disappointing day for DeVos who failed to qualify for the grand prix. Determined to defend his title reigning out his city champion, Ben Meyer did enough to leapfrog his rival and grab top spot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think in order to stay there, I have to probably hit the podium a couple more times and to improve on the results that I have and at the end of the day I had right now and the others have to chase me.
VANCE: So that's it from Shonti in the 12th stop of the tour. To find out more about the global champions series, head to our website cnn.com/equestrian. It has been a hectic period of the season and gaining a unique insight into the life on tour with Belgium's Pieter DeVos. We shared the highs and like today the lows that come with professional sport.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's a long season, and I was quite a longtime leading rider, but I also lost it one week and then I got it back so, I don't think everything is lost. I mean, it is not the (inaudible) today and we are moving behind and we cannot comeback, I mean, we still have a few shows to go I'm still motivated.
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