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More Violence in Israel; Will Biden Run for President?; U.S. Says Iran Deployed Ground Forces in Syria. Aired 3-4a ET.

Aired October 16, 2015 - 03:00   ET

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

[03:00:01] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN NEWSROOM ANCHOR: A holy site is set on fire in the west bank as violence escalates between Israelis and Palestinians.

Lamar Odom fights for his life. We'll have the latest on the former NBA player's condition.

And the high cost of freedom. An exclusive interview with the man smuggling people into Europe.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Hello and welcome to our viewers here in the United States and around the world. We'll also have the tale of migrants who stowed away in a truck. And guess what else was being transported in that truck? A polar bear. We'll tell you how that turned out. It's all ahead here on CNN newsroom.

And thank you for joining us. I'm Natalie Allen. We begin in Israel, more violence there after a group of Palestinians set a sacred tomb on fire. This as the U.N. Council will meet to discuss this recent wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. CNN's Erin McLaughlin joins us live from Jerusalem. And Erin, we'll talk about that fire in just a moment. But, first of all, you're there at a check point. Why don't you tell us what's happening there.

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN NEWSROOM CORRESPONDENT: Hi Natalie. I'm here outside a check point in the Palestinian neighborhood of Ras al-Amud in east Jerusalem. You can see a heavy security presence behind me. They're checking cars. They're also checking pedestrians trying to walk down this road. They're checking their I.D.s. They're checking their bags. They're asking them questions where they're going, how long they plan on staying there and when they plan to come back. This is the road to the holy site, known to the Jews as the Temple Mount. It's a Muslim (inaudible) and sanctuary.

Palestinians still reacting in anger to the security measures. They say they're humiliating. They say they're a form of collective punishment. But, Israeli officials say they're necessary in light of the wave of recent stabbing attacks that have plagued Jerusalem. A number of other security measures. More police officers in the streets. Not just in Jerusalem, but in cities throughout Israel. Some Israelis say the measures quite simply aren't enough. According to a recent poll that was published in a newspaper this morning, 67 percent responded, saying they didn't agree with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the security situation. Many Israelis say they want to see more measures taken.

ALLEN: Right. Because these attacks are random and come out of nowhere. It's hard to guard against them. Let's talk about the torching of the holy site overnight. What can you tell us?

MCLAUGHLIN: Yeah. The fire happened in the west bank, a place called Joseph's Tomb. It's a holy site in Judaism. It's guarded by the Palestinian authority. According to Israeli military overnight, tens of thousands of Palestinians set ablaze to the site. Palestinian authorities responded by dispersing the crowd as well as extinguishing the fire. Israeli military and Israeli settlers reacting in outrage to this.

Typically, this is a site that is very important to the settlers. Israeli military escorts them to the site at night to pray. And Israeli military does not, though, have a permanent presence at the site. During the second (inaudible), there was an incident where an Israeli border police officer was killed. A very traumatic incident for Israelis. And ever since then, the Israeli military has not had a permanent presence. But, in the wake of last night's fire, now Israelis settlers, we're hearing from them, saying they want that permanent military presence to return. The Israeli military, for their part, are saying that they vow to bring the perpetrators to justice. And they also vow to rebuild the tomb.

ALLEN: Alright. Erin McLaughlin for us live there in Jerusalem. Ten o'clock in the morning there. Thank you.

Well, in light of the recent stabbings, Israeli officials are encouraging licensed gun owners to carry their firearms in public. Ben Wedeman has more about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Almost two weeks of (inaudible) attacks, once again, Jerusalem is on edge. Daly City residents either witness scenes like these or see them on TV. For those who lived through previous waves of violence, there's a sense of deja vu.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I remember riding on the busses then, and it's a similar feeling as now. It's almost like we're looking like this. Not knowing if that really would help. But just more conscientious of when we're walking, when we're talking. Right now, I'm more aware with my peripheral vision.

[03:05:11] WEDEMAN: Shiaron Gat served in the Israeli Special Forces for more than 20 years. And now runs a company providing weapons training for security guards and ordinary people.

GAT: The civilians that come over here are under a lot of pressure. People want to protect themselves. Protect their families. They feel they cannot walk without a weapon in the streets because the attack can come from anywhere. WEDEMAN: The Israeli government has made it easier for citizens to

obtain weapons licenses. Less lethal means that defense are available but they're selling out. Do you have any pepper spray?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. I don't have. Empty.

WEDEMAN: All sold out?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sold out. Don't have any of these right now. Maybe next week. Maybe. You can open it and you -- if something attack you - it's a self-defense tool. It's good for women, girls. It's very easy to use.

WEDEMAN: Such things may help adults, but the sense of vulnerabilities, especially for the young is more difficult to address.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. It's knowledge that it is scary. I'm scared. You're scared. We're all scared. But, we don't let that fear paralyze us.

WEDEMAN: She's a psychologist who's been treating trauma victims for almost 20 years. Her advice parents.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Try to keep routine as much as possible. Regular meal times. Regular bed times. Reading books. Doing all the things that you do with your children within your level of comfort.

WEDEMAN: The level of comfort that falls with every new attack. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Israeli prime minister blames Palestinian leaders for encouraging the violence. He claims he's ready for peace talks, but his counterparts are not.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER: I think we should stop immediately this wave of incitement against Israel and these attacks. Murderous attacks against Jews. The point of my statement is simple. I'm willing to meet him and he's not willing to meet me. And you ask me about the resumption of negotiations. Come on. Get with the program. These people don't want negotiations and they're inciting for violence.

ALLEN: Earlier we spoke with Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. He says he warned Israel officials this violence was coming and they did nothing.

SAEB EREKAT, CHIEF Palestinian NEGOTIATOR: Two months ago, I approached the Israeli Prime Minister. I told him a sea of blood is coming. Please let's work together. Let's restore hope. Don't make us irrelevant. Don't kill the (inaudible) side of Palestinians and Israelis. For God's sake, we should save lives. That's what this is all about.

Unfortunately, they chose not to listen to this. They chose their language of dictation and such activities. And you're absolutely right. Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu think people like me are irrelevant. People are not listening to me anymore. Because after 20 years, I have promising those generations today. Those who are in the streets today who were born after the old law in 1993. I have told them so many times only through peace, avoid violence. And bring peace and dignity and statehood. They continue to fail us. When this thing happened, they just start offering more military solution.

ALLEN: The Palestinian Health Ministry reports 34 Palestinians have been killed this month in clashes with Israeli forces. Israeli Officials say 8 have been killed and dozens more wounded since the violence began.

Well, the longest war in U.S. history will go on a little longer. President Barack Obama announced Thursday he will keep nearly 10,000 American troops in Afghanistan until late next year. Mr. Obama says the formal combat mission there has ended, but the job isn't done. Nick Paton Walsh filed this report late Thursday.

[03:09:22] NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Two key elements about Barack Obama's announcement today. One, that the current level of troops in Afghanistan, 9,800 will be sustained pretty much until he leaves power. They'll be probably reduced by half in number, but at the end of the day, the decision will fall on the lap of his successor. And the troops that remain there will be in Kandahar, Kabul. So, spread more around the country. Their aim is continually supporting Afghan security forces and the counter terror mission.

It was remarkable to hear Barack Obama utter the phrases after such cogent and consistent narrative offered by his administration. Afghan security forces were ready for him to stand in front of America and say actually, they weren't. Long been the contention since 2011 when he first announced the tide of war is receding and began the drawdown of the surge that Afghan troops and police would take up the gap left by parting American soldiers. Barack Obama, perhaps wanting his legacy initially to be taking America away from its two long, unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now, finding that Iraq plagued by ISIS and massive collapse. Frankly, as a country, Afghanistan risking that, too, decided his legacy had to be potentially protecting what's left of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan and bolstering the government there. A significant statement, one that says America's longest war is simply going to get longer. And one, really, that puts little faith their ability to hold security. But troubled times ahead for Afghanistan. Slightly mitigated by this American commitment. But certainly, one overnight, won't change things on the ground. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Istanbul.

ALLEN: I spoke last hour with CNN Military Analyst Lieutenant Colonel Rick Francona. And I asked him if this is a decision that President Obama had to make even though he might not have wanted to.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RICK FRANCONA, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: He really wanted to end this before his term was up. I think, I give the president kudos for making the right decision. The security situation is such that we have to keep American forces there. I'm concerned about the numbers. He's still going to withdraw down from 9,800 to 5,500. That really is razor thin. And considering he wants to deploy them to four operating bases, that really doesn't give him much force out there to train, advise and assist.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: We want to turn to Syria now. Russia launching as many air strikes in Syria in one day as the U.S.-led coalition has carried out in a month. The Russia defense ministry said it flew 32 sorties in the last 24 hours, hitting an ISIS commander center in Aleppo and other targets in Idlib, Hama and Damascus province. Meantime, the U.S. says Iran has deployed as many as 1,000 ground forces in Syria. For more, let's bring in Jill Dougherty in Moscow. She's a researcher with the International Center for Defense and Security. Hello, again, Jill. It seems that Russia's sudden arrival in this war has already caused changes on the ground.

JILL DOUGHERTY, CNN FOREIGN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Yes. It has and that I think is what's going on. You know, you now have reports of this ground operation by the Syrian forces. Also, the Iranians joining in. The Russia air force pulling back a little built to reassess how the battle lines have changed. That line of contact has changed. In contrast to a couple of days ago, when they were carrying out let's say 88 in one day, now they're down to 32, 33. Natalie, a few minutes ago, we did see some quotes coming from the Russian media, from President Putin, who was on a visit to Kazakhstan. He was talking about Syria. He did make a point which is made many times before, which is the operation that Russia is carrying out is legal and it was done at the request of the Syrian President Assad. He said that the operations specifically using cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea was at the request of the president. It was legitimate and he said, hundreds of terrorists were killed and weaponry was destroyed. He also, as he has done before, called upon others to join a coalition. A broader coalition to fight terrorism, as he put it. And he also had some interesting statistics. He said between 5,000 and 7,000 fighters on the side of the terrorists are from Russia or the former Soviet Union. So, that's another indication of one of the reasons that Russia says it wants to attack the terrorists because it has a number. Now, we know 5,000 to 7,000, according to the president, who are fighting on the side of the terrorists in Syria.

ALLEN: And how, Jill, does Vladimir Putin want this to end?

DOUGHERTY: Well, I think, you know, you have short-term, long-term. Short of term, they hope these military operations turn the tide and that they really save the Syrian troops from defeat at the hands of terrorists/opposition/ISIL, a variety of a different troops. That's number one. Number two, is that Russia is there at the table as an indispensable part of whatever comes next. Its voice is heard and it has a role there and that would be, if there's some sort of political settlement, which everyone says they want. Russia would have a significant voice in that.

Obviously, it has a long-term, 40-year relationship with the Assad family. But they're not necessarily saying that this is because of the Assads. In fact, the Assads, per se, are not really the issue. It's Russia's influence and also the port it has now, of course, and it has for a number of years, warm water port for its navy and then it also been working out of that air base, Lataki, which is very big now. And that's where the Iranians have joined them. It's long term, short term. Russia really wants its influence in Syria to be maintained.

[03:15:58] ALLEN: Jill Dougherty live for us from Moscow. Thank you, Jill.

Will he or won't he? We have been asking that for quite some time. Some new information on whether Joe Biden, the Vice President, will run for president when we come back.

Plus, it appears former NBA player Lamar Odom spent an incredible amount of money at a Nevada brothel in the days before he collapsed. We'll have new information coming up as well.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAREN MAGINNIS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hello. I'm CNN Meteorologist Karen Maginnis, and this is your weather watch across North America. Some really big changes letting us know we are definitely transitioning toward an autumn pattern. Across the eastern seaboard, dramatically cooler temperatures but we've seen some flooding rains in southern California. Ironically, none in Los Angeles.

You may remember that they have been dealing with quite a drought situation for years now. But frigid air, we go into the weekend and then toward the beginning and middle of the workweek, and much colder air sliding down from the Great Lakes to the eastern seaboard. And then here's your forecast. If you are traveling Los Angeles should be mostly sunny but can't rule out an isolated storm around that L.A. basin area. Dallas, 29 degrees. New York City, partly cloudy and 19. But just wait, those temperatures are going to be a lot colder in the next few days. Belize City, thunderstorms and 29. Thunderstorms expected for Nassau. Cartagena is looking at thunderstorms and a very warm 31 degrees. If you're going to Bogota, Colombia, 19 and scattered thunderstorms. And from Brasilia, mostly sunny skies, 33 degrees there. Rio is looking at sunshine and a very warm temperature of 37.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:20:35] ALLEN: We could find out this weekend if U.S. Vice President Joe Biden will run for the White House. He's kept us guessing for a long time. Sources say, he's been making calls to strategists on how, not whether, to launch a campaign. A senior democratic official says some other democrats are growing impatient about Biden's indecision. Another top democrat says his family is onboard with him making a run for the presidency. If he does decide to run, Biden has some catching up to do. Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have been busy rallying support. Clinton spent time appealing to Latino voters. Bernie Sanders made a stop on a hit daytime talk show in L.A. Here's Jim Acosta with that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Feeling some post-debate confidence, Hillary Clinton looked like she was test-driving running mates. Snagging the endorsement of rising democratic star and possible vice- presidential pick, Housing Secretary Julian Castro.

HILLARY CLINTON, 2016 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE-DEMOCRAT: I love being la-Hillary.

ACOSTA: Earlier in the day, at the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Clinton accused republicans of parodying Donald Trump on a crucial issue for Latino voters. Immigration.

CLINTON: They all, to a degree or so, sound like him. They just don't have the pizzazz and the hair.

ACOSTA: Her campaign is also hammering the G.O.P. over comments made by Republican Congressman Richard Hanna. Two weeks after House Majority leader Kevin McCarthy seemed to suggest that the committee investigating Benghazi was designed to damage Clinton. And on the heels of whistleblower Major Bradley Podliska's claims to CNN's Jake Tapper that the committee is out to get her.

RICHARD HANNA, NEW YORK CONGRESSMAN-REPUBLICAN: I think that there is a big part of this investigation that was designed to go after people. An individual. Hillary Clinton.

ACOSTA: The Clinton campaign fired back, saying the Benghazi inquiry has zero credibility left. Aiming for a different kind of credibility. Clinton's rival, Bernie Sanders, showed off his dance moves on the Ellen Degeneres show.

ELLEN DEGENERES, HOST/COMEDIAN/ACTOR: Have you ever been in handcuffs?

BERNIE SANDERS, 2016 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE-DEMOCRAT: Yes. I don't know exactly what you mean by that.

ACOSTA: Joe Biden was doing some tap dancing of his own. Avoiding questions once again about whether he will run for president.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you made your decision yet? Is there still an opening for you in the race, sir?

JOE BIDEN, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT AND 2016 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I'm here to greet President Park. I'll talk to you all about that later.

ACOSTA: Beating the conventional wisdom in Washington, the Vice President's window of opportunity is closing.

DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Las Vegas debate CNN moderated is a historic moment for Hillary Clinton. It reminded people why she is good and formidable, and I think it lessens the chances that Biden could enter.

BIDEN: Hey, how are you?

ACOSTA: But Biden supporters argue there is still space for the vice president to join the race.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: With the stature he would bring to the race, the minute he got in the race, the entire narrative would change and we'd start talking about the first debate in Iowa in November.

ACOSTA: Jim Acosta, CNN, Washington.

(END OF CLIP)

ALLEN: Family and friends of Lamar Odom are keeping quiet about the medical condition of the former basketball and reality TV star. But, they are thanking fans for their supports and asking for prayers. Odom was rushed to a hospital in Las Vegas Tuesday after he was found unconscious at a brothel in Nevada. The Love Ranch, as the brothel is called, operates legally under state law and Odom's visit there wasn't cheap. As CNN's Randi Kaye found out when she paid a visit.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Love Ranch in Crystal, Nevada is about 90-minute drive from Las Vegas. T.J. Moore is the general manager and was one of the people who tried to save Lamar Odom.

MOORE: This is the bedroom where he stayed.

KAYE: She took us into the VIP suite where Odom stayed. The Owner's Suite, reserved for special guests. The rate is at least $10,000 per night. The ranch said Odom spent about $75,000 here before they found him unconscious.

How did he look to you?

MOORE: He was on his back. He had foam coming out of his mouth. Blood coming out of his nose. I got him rolled over on his right side. He did have a bunch of fluid come out of his mouth. But I knew, from previous experience that I had to get him on his side.

KAYE: Was he on this side of the bed?

MOORE: I was letting him know it was T.J.

[03:25:02] KAYE: T.J. had driven Odom to the Ranch on Saturday. What did you guys talk about sf?

MOORE: About everything but a brothel. He told me about his life. A lot of the sadness. Losing his mom at an early age, being raised by his grandmother. We talked about baseball because I'm a baseball fan.

KAYE: How was his demeanor?

MOORE: He was relaxed. He was very comfortable. I was really surprised because he was so easy to talk to. I felt like I had known him a long time.

KAYE: T.J. says Odom said he told her he wanted to have some fun. That fun, she said, included taking sexual enhancement supplements sold here in this souvenir case.

Is this where you would also sell herbal Viagra's?

MOORE: Yes. And these were (inaudible). They were actually good until 2016 and 2017. But I have pulled them from the case.

KAYE: Turns out, CNN it's not herbal or Viagra. Back in his VIP suite, Odom picked out the women wanted. You don't do the lineup in the actual suite. For him you did the lineup here.

MOORE: For him, that was his preference.

KAYE: So, he requested that?

MOORE: Yes. He sat on the couch and the ladies lined up right here. I introduced the ladies. I said this is Lamar, ladies. Please introduce yourselves.

KAYE: T.J. says Odom hung out in the suite with two women he chose. But, also in the love ranch's bar where TJ says where he played YouTube videos and talked. Shortly after leaving the bar, Lamar Odom collapsed in his room. Randi Kaye, CNN, Crystal, Nevada.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: You're watching CNN Newsroom. As we push on here, refugees smuggled for profit. Coming up, the story of an Afghan smuggler who demands a high price for risky passage to Europe. Plus, a nurse suffers a frightening relapse months after she was thought recovered. New details on how long the deadly Ebola virus can stay a threat.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:35] ALLEN: And welcome back to viewers here in the U.S. and around the world. You're watching CNN Newsroom live from Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen. Here are our top stories. More violence in the west bank today. Israel defense forces say a group of Palestinians torched a Jewish holy site in the west bank. Joseph's tomb in the town of Nablus. The IDF says the fire is a blatant violation of the freedom of worship and that the Israeli military will restore the site.

Bulgarian border guards shot and killed a migrant near the country's border with Turkey. Reuters cites the Bulgarian interior ministry, who says the man was traveling with refugees from Afghanistan. A spokesman says he was killed by a bullet that ricocheted.

Ken Taylor, Canada's former ambassador to Iran has died at the age of 81 of cancer. He was praised for hiding and helping six American diplomats escape Iran during the 1979 hostage crisis when militants overran the U.S. Embassy. Taylor was portrayed in the Oscar-winning film, you may recall, Argo. But, he thought the film down played Canada's involvement in helping Americans.

The U.S. is making changes in its plan to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. President Obama says the 9,800 U.S. troops currently there will stay there through most of next year because the Afghan army is not as strong as it needs to be with the Taliban and with ISIS pressing down.

Well, many desperate Afghans are among the migrants currently flooding into Europe. CNN's Nic Robertson met a smuggler who's been getting Afghans out of their war-torn country. And as Nic tells us in this exclusive, it is a risky journey with a high price.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm meeting a people smuggler. How many people have you taken to Europe? Fifteen hundred to Germany in the past six months, he tells me. The most popular destination. We can't show his face because what he does is illegal.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We take people to Germany on three different routes. Via the sea for $7,000. We take people by road and foot for $9,000. And we take people by air for $20,000.

ROBERTSON: Top dollar, he tells me, buys a black market Visa and direct flights. Anything less could cost your life.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have had our clients injured and even killed along this journey. Just 15 days ago, 70 people were caught by Iranians and deported from the Turkish border, which included 15 of my clients.

ROBERTSON: But, there are plenty here who are ready to take the risk. Before dawn, the line outside Kabul's passport office stretches several blocks. People worry about the faltering economy. Worried about war. Getting a passport has never been so popular, people here say. These lines never so long. Precisely how many plan to flee is hard to nail down. But early estimates this year already say the number of Afghans arriving in Europe is second only to the number of Syrians. And how they get there starts right here. Omar Sabor runs the passport office. How many people are applying for passports every day?

SABOR: Every day more than 7,000 or 6,000 people.

ROBERTSON: None here are ready to admit their plans. But Sabor knows many will leave. He tells me since Europe opened its doors to refugees, we've seen a direct increase in the number of people applying for passports. For the smuggler, each passport holder is a business opportunity.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They leave their money with a trusted person. For instance, a money dealer. As soon as the person reaches his destination, then he calls the money dealer to give us the money.

ROBERTSON: But, as he explains, if the person doesn't get through he still gets paid. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Our rule is that we try three times. But, if the

person couldn't reach his destination after three attempts he has to pay us.

ROBERTSON: The surest certainty, it seems, smugglers always win. Nic Robertson, CNN, Kabul, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:35:05] ALLEN: Nearly 27 years after PAN AM 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, two Libyans have been identified as suspects in that deadly bombing. U.S. and Scottish officials have asked for Libya's help in questioning them, 270 people were killed when the plane crashed in that Scottish town. That was 1988.

A new study confirms what doctors have feared. The deadly Ebola virus can still live in survivors after their symptoms go away. A Scottish nurse who doctors thought was cured, relapsed earlier this week and is now in critical condition. Here's Diana Magnay in London.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Nine months after making what seemed like a full recovery from Ebola, this Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey is in critical condition in London's royal free hospital with complications related to the virus. Cafferkey contracted Ebola when she volunteering in Sierra Leone last year. Spending three weeks in isolation, being declared Ebola-free in January. She spoke then of how unpredictable the virus can be.

CAFFERKEY: You don't know what way it can go. Always in the back of mind, what could happen and potentially happen to me. And what did happen to me.

MAGNAY: Scientists don't know why the virus says dormant in a small number of survivors but they know that it does.

HUGH PENNINGTON, MICROBIOLOGIST: We know that the Ebola virus, or at least the virus genes of Ebola can hang around in patients who've recovered from the infection. And it looks like this is what's happened in this particular case.

MAGNAY: In December last year, two months after he recovered from Ebola, U.S. doctor Ian started to experience pain and blurred visions in his eyes.

IAN CROZIER, EBOLA SURVIVOR: As my sight started to go bad, it became clear that this was a very different animal. It was aggressive. And whatever it unleashed in my eye, wasn't going away quickly. And one morning, as this progressed, I woke up and realized my blue eye had turned bright green.

MAGNAY: His eye cavity was riddled with Ebola. There was no trace of it in his tears and or on the surface of the eye. Scientists don't know where the virus will still persist like the central nervous system or cavity in the joints. A study published on Wednesday found Ebola present in semen nine months after infection. And in Liberia, there has been one suspecting case of sexual transmission from an Ebola survivor to his partner. And it's possible that the virus lingers elsewhere in bodily fluids less easy to test. It's not clear what the Ebola virus is playing in Pauline's illness. She may have a post-infection issue. Challenge for doctors writing the rule book. Last month, Liberia was declared Ebola-free. And in Guinea and Sierra Leone, there'd been a handful of cases each week for the last 11 weeks. A massive reduction at the tail end of this epidemic. But, as Pauline's relapse shows, the virus can still linger in a malignant presence in the body of survivors who thought they'd passed the worst. Diana Magnay, CNN, London.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: We'll continue to keep you updated on her condition, but she is critical.

Coming next, car packs buried near Los Angeles. Drivers stranded waiting to be rescued. We'll tell you why the weather threat isn't over yet.

Plus, how graffiti reading racist slipped into an episode of the hit TV series. And what one artist behind it is saying about it.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:42:05] ALLEN: Take a look at this, what people in Los Angeles had to deal with. A mud slide left drivers stranded. Emergency officials were working to rescue them. Cars and trucks are half buried there. A major interstate has been partially shut down. This heavy rainfall came as the region continues to suffer a severe drought. It's been called an excessive drought. Karen Maginnis is following this. Karen, it looks like some of those cars were close to the edge.

MAGINNIS: There were people on top of their roofs with their animals or children. They were waiting to be rescued, hoping that mud wasn't going to rise anymore. But it was a very isolated area, not widespread. But, it was along that corridor of interstate 5, so congested that's where they saw the bulk of it. L.A. basin, none of it.

Let's show you some other pictures from this area. A lower view of what's happening here. A semi-truck that was just stranded. They said about 100 cars, give or take, were affected by this. They closed portions of interstate 5. We don't have any reports of injuries, no fatalities. But this is what a drought burn areas and sudden heavy rainfall will do. Why is this happening? Area of low pressure stuck in the atmosphere, not moving a whole lot, it's going linger enough that we'll also expect some of that moisture right along the Nevada/California border, maybe a couple of thunderstorms popping up in southern Arizona well, take a look at what's happening. This is the San Gabriel Mountains and they run up about 8,000 feet.

Just clusters of these thunderstorms. L.A. basin, nothing. They need the wet weather, doesn't look like there's going to be any widespread precipitation anywhere. More concentrated the further north we go. Three to five inches of rainfall, most of that just to the east of interstate 5. But, they did shut that down for some of the rescues. Much of the state in severe to extreme to exceptional drought. And yes, that includes the Los Angeles county area, where just isolated storms, a possibility for tomorrow. And this is forecast radar does bring in that moisture from Las Vegas towards Reno, around the San Francisco area. But big news along the eastern seaboard, Natalie, where things have been fairly mild, dramatic change toward a fall weather picture. Temperatures dropping 10 degrees to 20 degrees in some cases.

ALLEN: It's coming. All right, Karen. Thank you.

Well, graffiti artists hired to make the set of Homeland more authentic ended up hijacking it. They spray painted subversive messages in Arabic and the graffiti made into an episode. Ian Lee talks to one of the artists.

[03:45:08] IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Homeland has been hijacked by graffiti. The Showtime series hired street artists to give their set up of a refugee camp a more authentic script but they flipped the script. Here, it says Homeland is a water melon.

HEBA AMIN, EGYPTIAN STREET ARTIST: When you're saying something is like a watermelon, you're basically saying it's a sham, a joke, not to be taken seriously.

LEE: Egyptian Heba Amin is one of the artists involved. When they realized nobody from the show was double-checking they took creative license.

AMIN: In previous, you know, seasons, they had many, many mistakes in regards to cultural reference, language. It seems they don't have a thorough research team.

LEE: The series which follows agent Carrie Mathison, which is played by Claire Danes, has been criticized for distorting the Middle East. Countries even threaten to sue. Here, the series depicts Beirut's street as dangerous. Full of violent, militia men. In reality, the strip in the Lebanese capital is famous for its cafes, restaurants and night life.

AMIN: To open this dialogue of the lack of awareness that people have of how these images are incredibly dangerous and have a real-world impact, even if it's fictional story and even if these fictional characters.

LEE: Homeland's co-creator Alex Ganza, told CNN, we wished we caught them before they made air.

AMIN: I'm an artist, there's this issue of subversive art.

LEE: A key part of street art is provoking conversation. Ian Lee, CNN, Cairo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ALLEN: A polar bear named Nissan had some unlikely visitors while being transported from a zoo in Moscow to a part in Britain. Migrants opened the truck carrying the bear and climbed in, hoping to hitch a ride to the U.K. Imagine their shock when they saw the polar bear. Luckily, the animal was sealed off in a special crate. Several migrants ran off but others stayed until French authorities arrived. Nissan continued to his new home in Yorkshire. We're told he's settling in nicely. No one got hurt.

And a brown bear gave shoppers quite a scare when it broke into a shopping mall in Russia. You can see it running around, pounding on the windows. Frightened shoppers called police, but it escaped by crashing through two sets of glass doors. Oh, it got out of there. Police cornered the bear at a children's playground and oh no. Shot and killed it. Is that right? I was not wanting to end that story like that. We're sorry to say that.

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Well, France is about to take on New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals. Coming up here. I'm still thinking of that bear. CNN talks with the captain of the French National team on his team's chances.

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[03:50:05] RACHEL NICHOLS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: I'm Rachel Nichols with your CNN World Sport headline. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has described the Football Association's decision to hand him a provisional one-man stadium band as quote, absolutely astonishing. Mourinho also described the fine he received after the recent home defeat to South Hampton, a disgrace. He's only surprised that the FA has not demanded him to wear an electronic tag.

UEFA has said it supports its suspended president Michel Platini's right to defend himself against corruption allegations. That's following an emergency meeting in Nyon, Switzerland on Thursday. Secretary General Gianni Infantino said UEFA supports Platini's right to due process. A fair trial and the opportunity to clear his name. In reference to Platini being investigated over a $2 million payment made to him by FIFA President Sepp Blatter in 2011 for consultancy work performed years earlier.

Rory McIlroy is getting an early jump on the new golf season by competing in the frys.com open in California. It's a fresh start for the Irishman, who was sidelined for almost two months with injury and then saw Jordan Spieth and Jason Day pass him in the rankings. McIlroy shot a 4 under 68 in his opening round. Just one bogey, five birdies. He's five shots off the lead heading into Friday's round 2. That's a look at your sports headlines. I'm Rachel Nichols.

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ALLEN: Three teams heading into this week's Rugby World Cup quarterfinals have made changes to their starting lineups, amid injuries, suspensions and tactical decisions. It will be fascinating to see which teams end up on top. On Saturday, it's South Africa against Wales in Tottenham. New Zealand versus France at the Millennium. On Sunday, Ireland against Argentina. And Scotland tries their luck against Australia. CNN's Christina McFarland spoke to the captain of French National Team about his career and France's upcoming match. Here's part of that conversation.

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THIERRY DUSATOIR, FRENCH NATIONAL TEAM CAPTAIN: I'm the captain of the French National Team.

CHRISTINA MCFARLAND, CNN CORRESPONDENT: France's captain has had a glittering career. So, often been saved for the world cup and against a formidable opponent. In 2007, he posted a world record 38 tackles in the quarterfinals to send New Zealand tumbling out of the competition. In 2011, he led his team to within an inch of world cup glory, losing to the host by just one point.

DUSATOIR: The road we took to the finals it was really hard. We were so close to be out of the game. I think it's still a great memory because in a man's life, there are few moments in life you can remember and think that this was special.

MCFARLAND: What did you learn from Captaining that side back in 2011?

DUSATOIR: It's really difficult. It's a privilege. It's something huge. But, it's difficult because you would have to different moments in your career. You have good moments of course, but bad moments. But, you have to carry on and show a good way to the guys.

MCFARLAND: Heavy defeat to Ireland in their final group stage match could be just the wake-up call France needs as they face do or die time once again against a familiar foe. But, Dusatoir admits it's often difficult to predict which French team will show up. How do you account for France's often irregular performances on the pitch?

DUSATOIR: That's a good question. If I had the answer maybe we would have a more consistency. We all have different behavior and it can be a big problem. It's nice because you can find something that we're able to be the best team. So, for me as captain, it's hard to manage this part of our character.

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[03:55:25] ALLEN: Finally, this hour, history was made at the White House with the sounds of legendary Buena Vista Social Club.

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All right. The Cuban band played at the White House Thursday for the president. He thanked the band and he welcomed a group of Hispanic youth to the White House.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Bienvenidos ala Casablanca. ALLEN: The event marked the last day of National Hispanic heritage

month. And came, of course, as the U.S. and Cuba normalized diplomatic relations. Hopefully, you'll be hearing more of the Buena Vista Social Club around the White House.

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ALLEN: Thanks for watching CNN. I'm Natalie Allen. Early Start for viewers here in the U.S. For viewers elsewhere, stay with us for more CNN Newsroom.