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Hala Gorani Tonight
John Bolton Fired This Morning; New Details in Trump's Fraught Relationship With Intelligence Community; Outside of London, Impatience for Brexit Resolution; Trump Fires U.S. National Security Advisor; Finnish PM Weighs In On Brexit Process; Netanyahu Vows To Annex Parts Of West Bank If Reelected; 70,000 Bahamas Residents Homeless , Death Toll Reaches 50; Police In Australia Probe Causes Of Several Bushfires; China Angry Over Hong Kong Activist's Visit To Germany; Premier League Star Targeted With Racial Abuse Online. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired September 10, 2019 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
ISA SOARES, CNN HOST, HALA GORANI TONIGHT: A very good evening, everyone. Live from CNN London, I'm Isa Soares, in for Hala Gorani.
And tonight, John Bolton is out of the White House. What the firing of the hawkish national security advisor says about Donald Trump's administration.
Also ahead,
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PEKKA HAAVISTO, FOREIGN MINISTER OF FINLAND: Of course it was a drama.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: High-level European reaction to the drama we saw in Parliament late last night. The Finnish foreign minister tells me there is still time
for a deal, but the clock is ticking.
And later, find out what made this professional footballer's mother cry.
But first, our breaking news this hour. U.S. President Donald Trump has fired his national security advisor, John Bolton. Now, the president
announced in a tweet that he had asked for a received Bolton's resignation, as you can see there.
TEXT: Donald J. Trump: I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House. I disagreed strongly
with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore...
... I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning. I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National
Security Advisor next week.
SOARES: Mr. Trump says he disagreed strongly with many of Bolton's suggestions, as did others in the administration.
Now, Bolton's standing in the White House had fallen in recent weeks. Sources tell CNN that the president was irked by reports, Bolton opposed
his plan to host the Taliban at Camp David, that is the presidential getaway.
Well, just a short time ago, in fact about 20 minutes or so ago, a reporter asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about his reaction to John Bolton's
resignation, since Bolton was scheduled to appear with him at a news conference. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFED MALE: This briefing, Bolton was on the guidance to be here. So were you two blindsided by what occurred today, that he's no longer with
the administration? Was it news to you today? Because last night, we were told he would be here today.
MIKE POMPEO, SECRETARY OF STATE: Yes, I'm never surprised.
(LAUGHTER)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, let me ask it this way --
POMPEO: And I don't mean that on just this issue. And I think Secretary Mnuchin would say the same thing. We work very closely with the president
of the United States. We -- I think we have a pretty good understanding of how he's thinking about things.
I think you'd agree, Steven, at nearly all times. And so, you know, we -- our mission -- our mission set's not to talk about these, you know,
workings and the palace intrigue that I know you are so curious about --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'm just curious --
POMPEO: -- but rather to talk about the things that matter to American foreign policy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Now, let's get more on this. Our White House reporter, Stephen Collinson, joins us now from Washington. And, Stephen, we heard there from
Secretary of State Pompeo, trying to minimize, in some ways, I think it's fair to say, that this agreement between himself, between President Trump,
as well as John Bolton. What do we know about the reasons why John Bolton was fired? Because there was some sort of pushback between President Trump
and John Bolton, as to what led to this.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right. I think what the immediate spur for the resignation -- or the firing -- is, is the
disagreement over the president's plan to bring the Taliban and the Afghan government to Camp David, to try and pull together this final peace deal
that would allow U.S. troops to withdraw from Afghanistan.
Bolton was clearly against that, it runs against the whole stream of his hawkish neoconservative policy. Let's not forget that he was in the Bush
administration after the September 11th attacks, during the war on terror, and was a strong supporter of the Afghan War and the Iraq War.
On a broader sense, there's a lot of disagreement philosophically between Bolton and the president on issues like Iran. It looks like the president
wants to open talks with President Hassan Rouhani on other issues. Like I mentioned, the Iraq War. Bolton was very much against personal diplomacy
between the president, Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, so you have the policy disconnect.
And Bolton has his own profile. He is a brusque person who doesn't like to back down. We understand he got into an argument with the president last
night, specifically on the Afghan question. And there are a lot of suspicions in the White House, that Bolton was leaking details of
disagreements within the administration. So I think that's why this firing is not a surprise.
I think if there is a surprise, it's that Bolton lasted this long, since taking the job in March 2018.
SOARES: But, Stephen, I'm sure our viewers will be saying, "You know, but President Trump would have known this about him when he hired him." He
knew that he was prickly, he knew that he was controversial. He knew, perhaps, he was polarizing. Both of them are so different. One is more of
an isolationist, the other is more of a hawk, like you mentioned.
So I suppose the question is, why are we looking now at the fourth resignation, a fourth national security advisor there?
COLLINSON: Well, John Bolton was a commentator on "Fox News," which the president spends unaccountable hours watching and gets a lot of his framing
of issues and his worldview on foreign policy from Fox News. I think he liked the aggressive pit bull personality that John Bolton used to show on
"Fox News."
[14:05:03]
Of course, when that personality is not serving in the service of the president himself and is going out in its own direction in the office, I
think that is a different thing.
As to the question of why there have been -- now, there will be four national security advisors, there's absolute dysfunction in the Trump
foreign policy team. The only way to get on with the president is to agree with him, and not to have your own independent voice.
That's what we saw there, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. If they suddenly decided to contradict
the president and adopt their own foreign policies, they would be out of the administration pretty quickly as well. They've learned the way to deal
with the president is not to challenge him, perhaps try to shape him behind the scenes but never in public.
I think the thing to take away from this Bolton firing is that American foreign policy and its posture in the world is coming directly from the
brain of Donald Trump. That means it's going to be impulsive, it could be self-contradictory, it's going to lack strategy in many cases, and we're
going to see more of the photo op diplomacy that Trump loves, bringing the Taliban to Camp David even though that meeting was cancelled, at least for
now.
Remember when he walked across the DMZ in North Korea, a few months ago, with Kim Jong Un. That's the kind of diplomacy that Trump likes, and I
think we're going to see more of it.
SOARES: Very quickly Stephen, who could step in?
COLLINSON: I think it will be somebody that is approved by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. It could be someone from his political world. Don't
look for anybody that is likely to contradict the president, that has his own views of foreign policy. It has to be someone that's not a Republican
establishment foreign policy person, but someone who buys into the America First, somewhat isolationist foreign policy of the president.
SOARES: Yes. We also know that Pompeo and in fact, John Bolton, didn't see eye to eye on many issues. Thank you very much, Stephen Collinson,
there for us in Washington. Good to see you, thank you.
I want to go to Kylie Atwood, who joins us now in Washington. And, Kylie, we were saying -- I was just talking there to Stephen Collinson, about who
could step in. But first, let me get your thoughts and your reaction from the State Department in regards to John Bolton's departure or firing. What
is the State Department saying?
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY REPORTER: Well, the State Department itself isn't saying anything. But leadership here, Secretary Pompeo came
out and briefed reporters at the White House, just moments ago. And he stood on the side of President Trump, saying that the president is entitled
to the team that he wants out there.
And he did acknowledge that himself, Secretary Pompeo, and National Security Advisor John Bolton did have agreements in the past. But the
important thing here, is that National Security Advisor Bolton disagreed with President Trump.
Of course, it matters that there are differing opinions that are given to President Trump. But when Bolton disagreed with Trump, that was often
leaked to the press. And that is one thing that we know irritated President Trump. He didn't like to be seen as someone who is on different
pages from his advisors, even though he clearly was in many instances.
Now, as you say, the question now is, who's going to come in and take over this role? It's not an obvious answer right now. This was a shock. We
know that there were simmering tensions between President Trump and Bolton over months, over a number of issues including Iran, Venezuela and the
latest one being Afghanistan.
Last night, they got into a bitter disagreement about Afghanistan. Bolton, not agreeing with President Trump's idea to have the Taliban come to U.S.
soil, come for a meeting at Camp David. And that got out to the press. So the president was frustrated about it.
So this is the straw that broke the camel's back. And the question is, who can President Trump now find? There's not many people that have -- we've
heard about yet, to come in and fil this place, especially at a time when there are a number of foreign policy issues facing this administration,
policies that they have to decide on, actions they're going to have to take or not take in the coming months.
SOARES: But, Kylie, you were saying there are divisions between President Trump and John Bolton, but there also huge divisions -- or others (ph) are
saying (ph) -- between John Bolton and the secretary of state, Mike Pompeo. They also didn't see eye to eye on many topics. In fact, we heard
Secretary of State Pompeo, saying the last half an hour, "We definitely disagree on things." What was their relationship like? How hard was it to
get any foreign policy through or achieved or agreed on?
ATWOOD: Well, for a secretary of state and a national security advisor, they definitely did not have a normal working relationship. And I spoke
with someone today who's close with Bolton. And that person described Bolton as someone who was going to come in and lead the NSC in a very
effective, creative, dynamic way. He wanted to have discussions himself with folks on the Hill, he did not always want to sync up with the rest of
the team, which included Secretary Pompeo.
[14:10:19]
We've reported in the past, that there was even an instance when Bolton went to the CIA and asked for intelligence on North Korea so that he could
use that to advocate for an argument he was making to the president. North Korea is a portfolio that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has traditionally
owned.
So they did not have a working relationship, the two of them. We know that -- or our reporting states, it's disintegrated over the past few weeks.
But the thing here is that this was still a shock. Even Secretary Pompeo, I mean, he was asked today if this surprised him. He said nothing every
surprises him.
We don't know if he got a heads-up that the president was going to fire John Bolton via tweet, but he was willing to come out there and talk to the
press and stand on the side of President Trump, and publicly say that he had disagreed with Bolton.
SOARES: Yes, it does raise serious questions as well about the stability or lack thereof, of President Trump's White House. Kylie Atwood, there,
for us. Thank you very much.
Of course, we'll have much more on this story later in the show. Our international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson will join me to discuss
Bolton's global reputation and how allies might be reacting to this latest Trump firing. That's in about 20 minutes or so, do stay right here with
that.
Now, to that explosive story that the U.S. pulled a highly placed spy out of Russia because of fears, President Trump or his aides mishandled
classified intelligence and could contribute to giving away the spy's identity. Now, the intelligence asset was said to be so close to Russian
President Vladimir Putin, that he could actually take pictures of documents on Mr. Putin's desk.
Now, U.S. officials are also saying this story is not accurate. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was asked about that report just moments ago. Take a
listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POMPEO: I've seen that reporting. The reporting is materially inaccurate. And you should know, as the former CIA director, I don't talk about things
like this very often. It is only the occasions when there's something that I think puts people at risk or the reporting is so egregious as to create
enormous risks to the United States of America, that I even comment in the way that I just did. And I won't say anything more about it. I know the
CIA put out a statement. Suffice it to say that the reporting there is factually wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: OK. So we have Secretary of State Pompeo saying it's factually wrong. Let's get more on this from Washington and Moscow. I'm joined by
CNN's Alex Marquardt and Matthew Chance, who joins me in Moscow.
Matthew, let me start with you. For the Kremlin, I would suspect, this could be highly embarrassing. What are they saying?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think you're right, first of all. I mean, this was a major coup, of course, for
U.S. intelligence and you know, to have somebody at such a high level in the corridors of power in the Kremlin, leaking back often, you know, top-
secret information, back to the handlers in the United States.
But equally, massively embarrassing for the Russian authorities, to know that there was someone they trusted, in their midst, who was betraying them
for as many -- for as long as, you know, a decade, which is the length of time this individual was meant to have been working for the United States.
They've made light of it as much as they can in a Kremlin conference call earlier today. Dmitry Peskov, who's the spokesperson for Vladimir Putin,
said that this is just pulp fiction, sensationalist, in other words, not worthy of serious attention.
But, you know, make no mistake, the Russians take this kind of betrayal immensely seriously, and they often take action against the people they
regard as traitors.
SOARES: And stay with us. I want to go straight, Matthew, to Alex. Because, Alex, I believe we're learning more, this hour, about how
President Trump feels about foreign spies in general. What are you learning?
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Well, in light of this, Isa, this really has shined a light on another dimension to the president's
skepticism about the intelligence community, something we've heard him talk about since before he came into office.
And really, in this case, questioning one of the -- the importance of one of the core things that they do, and that's gathering information form
covert sources like that one in Moscow, spies overseas.
There are multiple senior U.S. officials who served under President Trump, who tell my colleague Jim Sciutto that the president has privately and
repeatedly opposed the use of that intelligence that's gathered with the help of covert sources overseas.
Now, what the president has said in private, according to these sources, is that spies in these foreign countries can actually damage the relations
with the countries that they're based in, and thereby undermine the president's relationships with the leaders there.
Trump, we understand, has also often doubted the credibility of the actual information that they're providing. According to a former senior
intelligence official, who also told CNN that Trump believes that foreign assets, as they're called, are actually selling out their country.
[14:15:09]
Now, Isa, as you know, Trump has had a contentious relationship with the intelligence community since before he took office. That's when he
compared intelligence agents to Nazis. Earlier this year, he actually disagreed with his intelligence chief's report on the various threats
around the world, including Russia, and they contradicted his own views. And told them -- on Twitter, of course -- to go back to school -- Isa.
SOARES: A fascinating and explosive story. Alex Marquardt, there, for us and Matthew Chance in Moscow, thank you to you both.
I want to turn your attention, now, to the Brexit chaos here in the U.K. Parliament is now suspended for the next five weeks, that's after Monday's
marathon sitting. I can tell you about it because I sat through it. But they didn't go quietly. The House of Commons handed Prime Minister Boris
Johnson yet another defeat by, again, denying him a snap election, second time around.
And now, they made their disapproval of the suspension known in a rather dramatic fashion. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROSSTALK)
SOARES (voice-over): Now, jeers rang out during the traditional ceremony bringing the session to a close, as opposition members held up signs
reading, "Silence," as you can see there on your screen. But the prime minister insists there's nothing untoward about it.
BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN: We need a Queen's Speech. That's why parliament is in recess now, because you always have a recess
before a Queen's Speech. And anybody who says it's all -- this stuff about it being anti-democratic, I mean, donnez-moi un break. What a load of
nonsense.
We were very, very clear that if people wanted democratic moment, if they wanted an election, we offered it to the Labour opposition. And
mysteriously, they decided not to go for it. So we're going to get on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: We're going to get on. Now, Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn says he does indeed want an election, but not on the prime minister's terms.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEREMY CORBYN, LEADER, LABOUR PARTY: So a general election is coming. But we won't allow Johnson to dictate the terms. And I can tell you this,
we're ready for that election. We're ready to unleash the biggest people- powered campaign we've ever seen in this country and in this movement.
(APPLAUSE)
And in that election, we will commit to a public vote with a credible option to leave, and the option to remain.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: So what comes next? Hadas Gold is here with me now to discuss that. And what a night it was yesterday. We were expecting him to lose
the snap election, he didn't have the two-thirds majority. But it doesn't become any clearer, what in fact he can do. He's really boxed himself in,
hasn't he?
HADAS GOLD, CNN REPORTER: Yes. It is very, very unclear about what's going to happen next. All we know is that we have a Queen's Speech on
October 14th, the return of parliament, and then we still have that October 31st Brexit deadline date (ph).
Now, what's going to happen in the five weeks between now and the Queen's Speech and the return of parliament, is we're going to have the two party
conferences that will be happening shortly, the -- well, all the party conferences. But the main ones are going to be Labour and the Conservative
Party conferences, which I'm sure are going to be dominated by Brexit and what will need to happen next.
There may -- we might also see, potentially, some action for what Boris Johnson is actually expected to do, based off of that law that passed. He
has to go ask for an extension.
We still don't know how and when that extension will be asked for. And also, we actually don't know yet whether the European countries will agree
to the extension.
SOARES: Well, he said he doesn't even want an extension.
GOLD: He doesn't want an extension. So there are talks that potentially they're going to find, somehow, a way to get around that, send two forms of
letters. We still don't know what's going to happen with that, so that is still up in the air.
And there's also some other court cases, still ongoing, about the proroguing of parliament in general. So there's a lot of things still
happening, that we still don't know what is going to happen.
In terms of a general election, we obviously don't have a general election on the books yet. Now, when parliament returns, will we see some action,
some of these crazy theories, like Boris Johnson calling a no-confidence in himself? Some other ways of trying to force a general election.
And I don't think that's as likely before October 31st, since we've seen, over and over again, parliament does not want that to happen. We do know
that in the next few days, there's likely going to be groups of cross-party M.P.s --
SOARES: Yes.
GOLD: -- talking to one another, trying to come up with a plan as to what will happen next. But, again, parliament is not in session for the next
five weeks. I'm not exactly sure what they can do without parliament sitting.
SOARES: We have heard from Dominic Cummings, who is an aide to Boris Johnson, who has basically told reporters, as he was leaving his house,
that the press should really be -- stop listening to -- I think his words were, "rich Remainers." Take a listen to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DOMINIC CUMMINGS, SENIOR ADVISER: You guys should get out of London, go and talk to people who are not rich Remainers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What do you think's going to happen? What's your next move?
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- circling the Brexit circle (ph).
[14:20:02]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Will Britain leave the E.U. on time?
CUMMINGS: Sure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Are we going to leave the E.U. on time? "Sure." You have been talking to rich and not-rich Remainers, up and down the country.
GOLD: I --
SOARES: Give me a sense of how people are viewing what's been happening, what's been happening at parliament.
GOLD: I have to say. We have been -- not just me, but many CNN correspondents --
SOARES: Yes.
GOLD: -- have been all around the country, talking to people, Leavers, Remainers, rich, poor, all in between. And we have been talking to the
people nonstop. So that -- so (ph) telling journalists to go out of London, we have been doing that. Many reporters have been doing that.
I just returned from Liverpool, actually, this morning, and I was in Wakefield just last week. Now, these are two very different cities.
Wakefield is a Labour, Leave area, Liverpool is a Labour, Remain area.
Now, in Liverpool, it's long been a Remain place. It's long been skeptical of Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party, not only because it's a Labour
place, but also because there's a long history with Boris Johnson --
SOARES: Traditionally, yes.
GOLD: Yes. There's --
SOARES: Conservative.
GOLD: -- yes, there's a history with Boris Johnson. They don't like Boris Johnson himself, especially because of what happened when he edited the
"Spectator Magazine," in an editorial that was published there about Liverpool. But for the most part, people there are confused, just like the
rest of us. It's hard for them to keep up with everything that's happening --
SOARES: Yes.
GOLD: -- they're sick of it. Even people who voted to remain and would love a second referendum, they just want it to happen. Now, what is most,
I think, concerning to them is that they think all of this time, the past three years spent focusing on Brexit, is taking time away from the
government's focus on other important issues.
Anna Soubry, who just resigned from the cabinet, said herself, she feels as though 90 percent of the government's time is spent on planning for no-
deal.
The people in Liverpool, they know that they're facing real problems. There was a recent government report in Liverpool, that found more children
in Liverpool are living below the poverty line than the country's average. And that is something they're concerned, that the government is focusing so
much in Westminster on Brexit, that they're not paying attention to the suffering of the people in places like Liverpool.
And we spoke to one small business owner who, I think, really got at it really well. Take a listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think there's also an underlying kind of vulnerability to people's job and things, and people are still reliant on
the state and system, and that's been through so much turmoil as well. So it feels like the city itself is treading a very fine line already, and
these kind of crosswinds or headwinds from Brexit, I think, are threatening it even more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLD: And I think that's what's really -- you really feel it there. He says (ph) we're already treading a fine line, and they're so worried about
these crosswinds of Brexit, either way --
SOARES: Yes.
GOLD: -- and how that's going to affect them. And you just hear from them. They just say, "We just want to move on."
SOARES: Yes.
GOLD: "We just need to know what's going to happen so that we can start focusing on our country."
SOARES: And it's, like you say, social issues, it's health care, it's education. People want answers, have been desperate for solutions for the
past three years, and yet all they have seen is bickering in parliament. So quite rightly, it's understandable why they're so fed up. Thank you
very much, Hadas Gold there.
Now, I spoke to the Finnish foreign minister just a few minutes ago, in fact. He's still hopeful for a deal but he says time is running out.
We'll bring you that full interview, coming up in the next 15 minutes or so.
But first, the new iPhone may not thrill Apple fans like previous models, but investors are still excited, it seems. We'll tell you why, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:25:24]
SOARES: Now, Apple has just unveiled its newest iPhone. CEO Tim Cook revealed the iPhone 11 and other products at an event in California. The
new features and gadgets may not be revolutionary, but shareholders are still jazzed about the company's prospects.
Have a look at Apple's stock, how it's faring this year. It's pretty -- it's soaring, in fact. It's up a whopping 35 percent overall, doing a
tenth of a percent or so this hour, making it, in fact, the best-performing stock on the Dow this year. That is despite Apple warning about slowing
sales as well as weaker growth this year.
So what's got investors feeling so excited about the future? What exactly did they unveil? Let's bring in our business reporter Paul ___, who's live
for us in New York.
So, Paul, a new iPhone, iPhone 11. I'm guessing it's bigger, it's faster and perhaps it's also more expensive.
PAUL R. LA MONICA, CNN REPORTER: Yes. You know, it's a pricey gadget, you know, above $600. But that was pretty much as expected. They do come in a
couple of new colors that we hadn't seen before, purple and green.
But here, Isa, I think, is what investors are really excited about. It's that Apple is transforming itself into more of a services company. They
recognize that many consumers hold onto their devices for a lot longer. They're not upgrading as quickly, so you now have more services that
they're trying to upsell you, subscription services, that bring in a decent chunk of change.
It's now getting about 17 percent of its overall sales from services. And what Apple announced, today, Apple Arcade, you know, videogames, at a $4.99
a month subscription. Also Apple TV Plus, a bunch of new TV shows. That's also $4.99 a month, which, add it all up, it brings in significant revenue
for Apple, and it's also at an attractive enough price that consumers are interested.
When you think of $4.99 a month for TV, granted, Apple TV Plus doesn't have the same scope as Disney and Netflix. But $4.99's a pretty cheap price.
SOARES: But didn't we hear from Apple, Paul, at the beginning of January, basically warning of slow earnings, of weakness in China? How do these two
match up here?
LA MONICA: Yes. It is true that the slowdown in China has hit Apple and iPhone sales have slowed as a result. But I think you could call it
genius, but what Tim Cook did, when he made that announcement back in January, he really reset expectations for the company.
So when you look at Apple now, everyone knows that growth is slowing on the device side, that's no secret. So they're able to tout all these new
services and the revenue that's growing there, and Apple's stock is trading at a discount to rivals like Microsoft and Facebook and Google owner,
Alphabet. So it also has more than $200 billion in cash. So Apple, I think, is a good value for many investors right now, even though growth is
slowing.
SOARES: But Apple -- very quickly, Paul -- I'm seeing Apple stock price -- if we're bringing that up, Laura (ph), again, my producer -- it's only up a
tenth of a percent, a bit muted response (ph). In fact, it's black now. Pretty muted, isn't it?
LA MONICA: Yes. I think -- yes, I think it is safe to say that Apple isn't really wowing anyone on Wall Street --
SOARES: Yes.
LA MONICA: -- or Silicon Valley with today's news. But they're not disappointing either. I mean, most of the new products, you know, you
could argue they're just catching up with Samsung and some of the other Android phones that are out there. But if you are in the Apple ecosystem,
these are decent enough, interesting upgrades that might compel you to buy an 11, if you've been sitting an older devise for a couple of years.
SOARES: Paul La Monica, thank you very much. Always great to have you on the show.
LA MONICA: Thank you.
[14:29:01]
SOARES: Now, still to come tonight, a deeply controversial campaign pledge. We'll tell you how Israel's prime minister hopes to fire up his
right-wing base with new plans to annex part of the West Bank. We'll bring you that story, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:30:34]
GORANI: Welcome back. It's 7:31 here in London. We bring you up to date with our breaking news story.
The sudden firing of John Bolton, U.S. president Donald Trump's outspoken national security adviser. We know the two have clashed on a number of key
foreign policy issues including North Korea, Afghanistan, and Iran, and I have to say Venezuela as well.
But now, we're learning they had a bitter argument just last night, in fact, over Mr. Trump's plan to invite Taliban leaders to Camp David.
Let's talk about the possible implication of Bolton's firing with Nic Robertson, our international diplomatic editor. Nic, this came as a
surprise. Well, I think we knew that both men didn't see eye to eye in many aspects. They're very different individuals, they're different
people.
But were you surprise, first of all, by the fact that now we're looking at a full person, a revolving door for national security advisor?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: It seems a little surprising at this stage, but I think most people have betted that this was
always going to come. And again, a lot of people saying was very clear, you know, he was -- Bolton was very right wing, a real hawk, very
outspoken, very strong in his views, had been for a long time, no secrets in that, and that he had managed to get along with the president where the
president had even spoken about the difficulties in the relationship that he has the final say.
You know, I think where if you're diplomat overseas, unless they have a case in London where Bolton was here just a month ago. You know, he came
in, essentially, demanding that Britain toyed the line with the United States over Iran, also on the Huawei, 5G network. By the way, and if you
want a trade deal, these are some of the things that you kind of -- if you want this great trade deal, yes, it's there. But, you know, we're going to
want to -- want access a lot of your markets. So one of those that he mentioned was a national house service.
SOARES: Yes, of course, I remember how that went down.
ROBERTSON: It went down like a lead balloon. And President Trump and Boris Johnson, they've got together a couple of weeks later, the G7, where
he very carefully choreographed in how they sort of color that up and patched it up.
And it appeared, you know, when John Bolton comes to town, in a few weeks later the prime minister meets with President Trump, it's kind of he's set
things up. But I think this tension, and now this firing raises that question in any capital.
SOARES: So is it fair to say that be it Tehran, Caracas, or London that perhaps he won't be missed?
ROBERTSON: That's a really tough one to say, because I think what -- you know, when you're setting on those capitals, you're still looking at
President Trump, you're still looking at uncertainty, you still don't know which way is going to move.
However, Bolton had tried to sort of be one of those who would control trump's impulses for the sort of grandstanding. He was an ultra-
sanctioner. He would take ultra-hardline approaches. And now, we see Trump, particularly, on the case of Iran. Rally the rhetoric has ratcheted
down. You look at the G7, bringing the Iranian for minister Trump saying he'd meet with Rouhani.
You won't -- if you are sitting in Tehran, you'd think, OK. There's one less impediment to perhaps that's easing off sanctions. However, you have
unpredictability and a whole lot of other hurdles in the way.
SOARES: And we shall see who could step in to that position. Nic Robertson, thank you very much.
I want to bring you more now on another top story we're following here and that is the Brexit crisis. The British Parliament is now suspended as of
last night for five weeks. And questions swirling about averting a no-deal Brexit in the prospect, of course, of snap elections.
I spoke with the Finnish foreign minister a short time ago for the European perspective on all of this. And I began by asking him for his reaction to
the chaos that we saw yesterday in Parliament.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[14:35:10]
PEKKA HAAVISTO, FINNISH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER: Of course, it is a drama. It is a big for a parliamentarian to look such drama, such high
tension, it's not always a positive thing. And in the morning when I -- before I left (INAUDIBLE) and I was thinking that maybe my colleague,
Dominic Raab, will put me a message, but sorry not today, but he didn't, so I was coming into London. I met with the foreign minister. Of course, he
told that he has been up to four o'clock or something like that in the in the Parliament.
SOARES: We talk about Dominic Raab and your meeting with him just a second. But the scenes we saw in up to the early hours of this morning,
did you look at them with amusement or bewilderment?
HAAVISTO: Actually, not with amusement. I think as a parliamentarian, you can feel how serious is it to us and he's an also both from Labour and Tory
that the (INAUDIBLE) and their voters are looking at this. It's not only show. It's about their own beliefs and about their understanding. So to
politics about how they voted in referendum but with their expectations and so forth. I feel the pain also and the situation.
SOARES: Do you think the rest of the European Union feels the pain that the U.K. is being seen in the past three years? Do you believe that Boris
Johnson's hands are tied in many ways because of Parliament?
HAAVISTO: Well, I think, first of all, how this has affect the Brexit story and now our countries is that we have less voices saying that fix it
or some other exit would be a good one. I think people have become quite realistic. Yes, you can leave the European Union, but is difficult, even
in the situation when you leave European Union, you need a lot of agreements.
SOARES: You said you met with Dominic Raab today. What came out of that meeting? Any proposals? Are you expecting to see any proposals by October
19th? Did he give you any hints? Are they're working on an alternative deal?
HAAVISTO: They have a possibility with Dominic Raab to discuss regularly and we have discussed Brexit earlier, even more intensive.
Today, we discussed also this kind of post-Brexit period, what other common interest of European Union and U.K. to cooperate security, defense,
international issues, Africa. There are many (INAUDIBLE) climate. There's a need of cooperation.
But actually, our today's discussion showed us that how much there is in common. Of course, he refer to his own front positions, but also to the
recent yesterday's meeting between the prime ministers for Ireland and the U.K. where I think the message was quite clear on the both sides that exit
with the deal is better than a no-deal.
But do you believe minister that Boris Johnson, the prime minister that he wants a deal? This is critical. Do you believe? Do you sense from your
negotiations, from your talks with him, that he's seeking a deal?
HAAVISTO: Well, I have been my counterpart has been the foreign minister, Dominic Raab. And of course with him, I understand that he is supports
Brexit and so forth. And, of course, we have been trying to go from our side from the E.U. president's side, how to visit the situation that we see
that if we go in a no-deal alternative, 1st of November will be very chaotic. And we, anyhow, would need long negotiations on all issues that
we know our businesses are working, our people can travel, the fishery will go on, on all sectors.
Soares: Some would say that the prime minister's almost boxed himself in. If he did ask for an extension by October the 19th, how would the E.U.
respond to this? Would they be willing to give an extension? If so, on what grounds?
HAAVISTO: E.U. has been earlier, we're discussing on the extension. Usually, the approach has been that if there's a good reason for an
extension, if it's based on something, then it'd be considered.
Soares: Would an election, would a referendum, would that suffice for an extension?
HAAVISTO: Well, that could certainly be one argument if you have a political decision making process, still ongoing and something is happening
at the exact days, that might be an argument.
SOARES: As we're getting nearer and nearer to that deadline, what's your biggest concern?
HAAVISTO: Well, of course, I can -- as I said, I feel the pain of the Parliament. Because basically, Parliament did everything what they could
and the circumstances is to prevent a no-deal for the very same arguments that we are having, that you know, you end up in an easily and economic
political situation. You end up in a situation where people were working in U.K. or U.K. people working abroad, comes in a very absolute time
situation. We don't know how to trade this ongoing after those days and how a normal commercial things are ongoing. We are adults, aren't we?
[14:40:08]
SOARES: Yes.
HAAVISTO: We should agree how our future relationship is organized.
SOARES: And I'm sure, minister, you would have heard some of the frustrations of those here in the U.K. that they felt the Parliament hasn't
been able to budge but neither has the E.U.
HAAVISTO: I think, of course, I've been following this for a couple of years how this agreement and agreement proposal has been made. And, of
course, there have been lot of nitty-gritties back and forth issues and then coming back to the member states and, of course, we have the 27 other
member states who also have to agree. And then we have a situation that if you make a deal that gives almost the same advantageous as for the member
states is also a problem.
SOARES: Do you believe a deal can still be made?
HAAVISTO: I think it could be made. But time is running.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Finnish foreign minister speaking to me earlier, sounding optimistic that a deal could be made. But clearly, saying the ball is now
in the court of Boris Johnson and the clock, of course, is ticking. Thanks for him for speaking to us here on the show.
Now, just a week before Israel's election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is making a campaign pledge that could radically alter the map of
the West Bank, making Palestinian hope for viable future state bleaker than ever.
Mr. Netanyahu says he intends to annex Jordan Valley nearly one-third, that is of the West Ban, but that's just the beginning. He says if he's
reelected, he plans to annex all West Bank settlements in coordination with Donald Trump's administration.
Palestinians as you can imagine, are furious. One prominent Israeli politician says Mr. Netanyahu is effectively declaring that Israel's put an
appetite -- apartheid state.
Let's get more now from Oren Liebermann who joins us in Jerusalem.
And, Oren, this was very much seen in election speech from the Israeli prime minister. So break it down for us. What do they promise and what
has been the reaction where you are?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised to annex parts of the West Bank, that part is
nothing new when the prime minister made repeatedly in elections including this one and the last one.
What's new this time is the specifics. Normally, he talks in sort of generalities and vague areas of where he might annex, this time he put
forward a map, and saying if I win reelection, if you give me a clear mandate to leave the country, I will immediately pursue annexation of the
Jordan Valley which he says is critical for Israel's security.
What else is new about is appears this was in coordination with the Trump administration which Netanyahu says is expected to put out their peace
plan, which has been delayed multiple times, sometime in the next few weeks, perhaps, even right after the Israeli elections.
What did the Trump administration have to say? Well, they said this doesn't change U.S. policy, but they also said Netanyahu's plan doesn't get
in the way of their peace plan. So a bit of tacit approval from the White House towards Netanyahu's plan here.
The key though is if he wins the election, Trump sort of giving the administration rather giving that sort of acknowledgment that, yes, you can
go ahead and say this. But this certainly isn't the political gift we saw from the White House to Netanyahu before the last election when Netanyahu
wasn't able to form a government.
As you point out, the Palestinians are furious about this saying this is Netanyahu killing any prospects for peace, any prospects negotiations, and
any hopes for a two-state solution.
But the key here is that this is a big if, if he wins election and that's the point he hammered home over and over again. You have to vote for him
if you want to see this plan come to fruition. So this very much became an election speech.
SOARES: Yes, and we are one week out, I believe, from Israeli elections and we haven't heard from President Trump regarding the plans of what we
heard from Netanyahu. But I wonder if he does speak of whether that helps him when it comes to the election.
Thanks very much, Oren Liebermann, there for us in Jerusalem.
Now, still to come, the grim reality facing hurricane survivors in the Bahamas. Why some who have fled the hardest hit islands may never actually
come back. We'll bring you that story, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:29]
SOARES: I want to take you now to the Bahamas, and really, the staggering number of residents there who have lost absolutely everything. Seventeen
percent of the country's population is now homeless, that amounts to 70,000 people.
The death toll is now 50 and will surely rise. The prime minister is vowing the country will rebuild. The survivors in the hard-hit northern
islands face food and as well as water shortages, and weeks or even months more without power.
CNN's Patrick Oppmann has been in the Bahamas since the hurricane hit. Here's more now on the very grim situation facing hurricane survivors.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Bahamian officials have said that it is a joyless and dark time for the Bahamas. They're
tragically talking quite literally, because here on the island of Grand Bahama and in the Abacos, we're without power, we are without water, and in
a very tough conditions.
Seventy thousand people have been left homeless by this storm. It's an incredible number and even more incredible when you factor in this is the
island of only has a population of about 500,000 people. So you're talking about a significant, perhaps, overwhelming number of people in dire need.
We've seen images of women carrying their children waiting on docks in the sweltering sun, just trying to get out however they can.
United States said that people with the proper paper work, with the proper documentation will be able to travel to the U.S. But so many people here
have been left with nothing, just the clothes on their bag.
Bahamian officials are quite concerned that the people who leave may never come back. They are vital if this country, the parts that have been
destroyed by the Hurricane will ever be rebuilt.
Bahamian prime minster says that people will be welcome back no matter how long they are gone for. But right now, it's an open question if the people
who are fleeing these islands will have a return.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Freeport in the Bahamas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: Absolutely heartbreaking.
I want to bring you -- more than 100 bushfires now are burning in two, Australia's most populous states. We are seeing new images from New South
Wales in Queensland. As you can see there. As firefighters try to contain them.
Now, Queensland police investigating some of the fires may have been started by children.
Michael Holmes has more now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The scorch remains of one of Queensland treasures. The Binna Burra Lodge in Lamington
National Park located in one of Austria's world heritage site rain forests. The rooms and apartments here destroyed by a bushfire that has been burning
out of control.
KEVIN WALSH, QUEENSLAND FIRE AND RESCUE: Accessibility continues to be a major problem for us in this location. It's a very dangerous and dynamic
situation at there at the moment.
HOLMES: Firefighters here been using air support to battle the spreading blaze. This is just one of more than just 100 wildfires burning in the
eastern states of New South Wales and Queensland. Fire officials say strong winds are fanning the flames, which have, so far, burned thousands
of hectares.
A spokesman for the bureau of meteorology in Queensland says rain is not expected anytime soon, and the dry condition make things worse.
ANNASTACIA PALASZCZUK, QUEENSLAND STATE PREMIER: We have had some --
HOLMES: Queensland state premier says nearly 20 homes have been destroyed in her state.
PALASZCZUK: I want everyone to think about that for a moment. This is a person's home. This is where they raise their children, their
grandchildren. So we have a number of families at the moment that are actually going through some really traumatic times.
[14:50:04]
HOLMES: At this evacuation center, they are stocking up on supplies, preparing to receive more displaced residents. Bushfires are common in
Australia and Queensland and New South Wales, particularly vulnerable in the spring and early summer because of their typically dry conditions.
However, fires have started early this year, and fire officials have warning that this might be an ominous sign of what is to come during the
summer, which runs from December to February.
Michael Holmes, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: More to come tonight including this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD BOOING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: We'll tell you why boos rang out over a football pitch in Hong Kong. That story, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Now, a prominent Hong Kong activist met Germany's foreign minister in Berlin today. And Chinese government is just not happy about it.
The foreign ministry is in Beijing, says it's, "Extremely dissatisfied over Joshua Wong's visit in Berlin. Wong had a message for German chancellor,
Angela Merkel who visited -- recently visited Beijing. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSHUA WONG, HONG KONG PRO-DEMOCRACY ACTIVIST: Hong Kong is the New Berlin under the new cold war, especially under the crackdown of human rights with
police brutality. I hope that the chancellor can send a clear message to President Xi. No matter sending troops or using martial law in Hong Kong,
both not the way out. The only citizens is let Hong Kong people enjoy the right of free election.
HUA CHUNYING, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN (through translator): We urge Germany to abide by its promises and avoid sending wrong messages
to separatist Hong Kong forces, and urge Mr. Maas, as Germany's foreign minister, to abide by the basics of international law and international
relations, and act for the benefit of Sino-German relations, and not to be someone who damages the Sino-German relationship.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Well, if you remember, Wong is among several protest leaders arrested in Hong Kong late last month during a police crackdown. His trip
to Germany was late 24 hours after he was held at the Hong Kong airport for allegedly violating terms of his bail.
Now, Hong Kong pro-democracy activists are taking their protest to the pitch. Listen to what happened as the Chinese national anthem played ahead
over World Cup qualifying match against Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CROWD BOOING)
SOARES: Yes, you heard it right. Those are loud boos from the crowd. Many of whom also turned their backs and protest. The crowd also sang
"Glory to Hong Kong," which has become an anthem for the prodemocracy movement. Iran won the match, by the way, 2-0.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Now, I want to bring you a look at a series of reports this week on fighting racism in football. Chelsea striker, Tammy Abraham is a rising
Premier League star. After he missed the penalty in the Super Cup final and Chelsea lost to Liverpool last month, Abraham was targeted with vowels,
the most racist that'd be used online. He talked about it with CNN World Sport contributor, Darren Lewis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TAMMY ABRAHAM, CHELSEA STRIKER: I went through a lot of emotions, I would say, you know, after the penalty miss. I had experiences of taking
penalties last season, even big ones as well, you know, I've (INAUDIBLE) missed those penalties. To miss the penalty, I was obviously devastated.
I had other views and everything after (INAUDIBLE). It was always to have this arm around my shoulder lifted me up, you know.
[14:55:21]
The boys as well, give credit to them. It's like I never missed the way they supported me and lifted me up, and that's exactly what I needed it.
DARREN LEWIS, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It's interesting because that abuse -- where were you when you first heard about it?
ABRAHAM: I was in the change room after the game.
LEWIS: So you went on to your father?
ABRAHAM: I did, I did. You know, I'm not always going to shy away from the situation, any situation that happened. All that I'm saying that I did
have some support or messages, you know, lift your head up. Obviously, the other side to it is not what was always nice to hear.
So the first time I heard it was I was in the change room.
LEWIS: How did it make you feel? Did your family as well -- I mean, did you tell your family?
LEWIS: I remember speaking to my mom, she was emotional, you know, she was in tears. You know, she's thinking why him, why him? It's obviously not a
nice day, especially seeing your son getting abused.
For me, I'm always a strong character. It doesn't affect me as much. But, you know, all you're saying that it could have affect people who don't have
-- obviously, in my personality.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SOARES: And you can watch the full interview later on, on World Sport. That's roughly around 10:30 tonight here in London. Make sure you stick
around for that.
Now, on the other side of the coin, here is an example of rally sheer and abashed love. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(BABIES HUGGING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And my director just in my ear, aww, and that's how the world felt watching this. Toddlers Maxwell and Finnegan have been buddies for over a
year now, and they just couldn't contain their excitement when they saw each other on the streets of New York City. Maxwell's dad says it's great
to show that kind of love and beauty to the world. And we leave you with those images. Thanks very much for watching tonight.
Do stay right here with CNN. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" with Richard Quest and his bell is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
