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Quest Means Business
European Parliament Declares Climate Emergency, #CallToEarth; Beijing Blasts Bullying Behavior Of New U.S. Law; U.N. Says Europe Must Get Its Act Together When It Comes To Dealing With Asylum Seekers. Aired 4-5p ET
Aired November 28, 2019 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[16:00:14]
RICHARD QUEST, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST, QUEST MEANS BUSINESS: Good evening. A second hour tonight of QUESTS MEANS BUSINESS as we begin with what the
European Parliament is declaring nothing short of an emergency -- climate change.
With days until a U.N. Conference in Madrid, the E.U. wants to make sure all of its relevant proposals have the objective of keeping global warming
to under 1.5 degrees, and it wants to be carbon neutral by 2050 with calls to reduce emissions, particularly from shipping and aviation.
Now, the vote is purely symbolic and it has run by the Green Party's MEPs insisted action still need to speak louder than words.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BAS EICKHOUT, GREEN LEFT MEP: And indeed, it's going to be historic if we are going to call the climate emergency this Thursday as a European
Parliament, but then we have to follow up, and that's the crucial point.
We can declare climate emergencies, but the people on the streets are not asking us for declarations, they are asking us for actions.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
QUEST: Here is the world from San Francisco to Seoul, the experts say the world is close to a tipping point when it comes to what they're calling the
existential threat to civilization. Everything in our climate is connected now, which we are aware from rising Arctic Seas, to levels defecting
currents in the Atlantic from one to the other to the other and around to the rain forest.
The knock on effect for sheet ice in Antarctica, the Amazon, Greenland and coral reefs as well. Something is affected.
And in the words of this new report, no amount of economic cost-benefit analysis is going to help us. You can see the sort of things we're talking
about. The Amazon rainforest, the western Antarctic ice sheet.
So, Professor Timothy Lanton is the lead author of the report. It was published in the journal "Nature." He is a Director of University of
Exeter Global Systems Institute, and he joins us now from -- via Skype. Good to see you, sir.
I read the summary of the report, and this idea of close to the tipping point. Everybody wants to of course know just how close we are to the
tipping point? What is different about what you are saying than what we've heard before?
TIMOTHY LANTON, DIRECTOR OF UNIVERSITY, EXETER GLOBAL SYSTEMS INSTITUTE (via Skype): Well, the bad news, Richard is that we've got evidence that
potentially Antarctica might be past or past its tipping point as is West Antarctica this year.
QUEST: Yes. Okay, so the evidence is certainly shifting towards that tipping point. But do you have a time scale?
LANTON: Well, the good news if there is some is if West Antarctica is (INAUDIBLE) and at the moment it is perhaps doing as good as it could be,
the associated (INAUDIBLE) accelerating, but that will be getting much worse (INAUDIBLE). So the key part of it (INAUDIBLE).
QUEST: What do we need to do? Because the idea of being carbon neutral by 2050, there are those that -- and you're maybe one of them who say, that's
simply not going to cut it.
If even if you get there, the risk of missing that target by just a small amount could make all the difference between calamity and success.
LANTON: I think it's a sensible to like, if we can actually act as if it will require a founder (INAUDIBLE). It will require a profound
transformation in the size and the use of energy, transport and (INAUDIBLE). And I am sure, future generations will thank us that we
created a long term and sustainable (INAUDIBLE).
QUEST: Good to see you. Thank you, sir. We have a poor connection, so we will leave it there for now. It's tempting to listen to climate warnings
and that makes you feel you're powerless, like it's too late to change course, or that you're too small to make a difference against these grand
shifts in climate.
That's why CNN, We are now launching a new initiative. It is called Call to Earth.
Now the beauty of Call to Earth is whether it's a business or you're a business or you have a business, or just you and me, we all have the power
to do something about the climate crisis. Little actions make a change.
We'll have plenty of examples right here on QUEST MEANS BUSINESS. And now you can go to cnn.com/calltoearth to learn more.
[16:05:09]
QUEST: One who wants to help is Paul Dickinson. He is the founder of the Carbon Disclosure Project that works to help companies and cities measure
and understand the environmental impact.
He joins me now from London. The way that -- we've got this problem, which you've just heard, our first guest, the professor talking about, which is
we're near the tipping point. Things are getting bad, they are worse than we thought. And we've heard about this for so long, and I've -- I don't
know -- I've done what changes I think I can. I'm powerless against a power company or an airline or a shipping line, who really, they're the
ones who should make changes.
PAUL DICKINSON, FOUNDER, CARBON DISCLOSURE PROJECT: Richard, everybody likes to point the finger, but actually when you point the finger, you'll
find it comes back at you.
Actually, I would argue that these big companies are some of the brightest spots in the whole climate change problem.
We have 8,400 companies reporting to us on their actions on climate change; some of them for more than 10 or 15 years, and they are showing, you know,
the power of business if it concentrates can get anything done quickly.
QUEST: Right. But I've been to several emerging market countries in the last few months, and there doesn't seem to be at the grassroots level and
you were like, the same importance.
Look, you know, I go to the restroom or the breakroom here, and there's 15 baskets for me to put my litter into. In the building where I live, if I
don't recycle properly, I get fined. What purpose is it for me doing that here if on the other side of the world, all the garbage is going to the
same trash can and just going into a waste dump?
DICKINSON: Well, I'm sure you were probably one of the early people with a smartphone, and you probably had it quite a few years before people all
across India or all across China had smartphones. But they've got them now.
I mean, another fact that we have from CDP, over 700 of the world's largest companies have set science based targets. They're redesigning their entire
business model around complying with the Paris Agreement, keeping us away from dangerous climate change.
So when you think how fast business moves, spending more than 500 billion a year on advertising, there are companies who are positioning themselves to
sell people the solution.
QUEST: I agree with you, I don't know any CEO that doesn't have climate change at the top of their agenda at the moment. I sometimes think they're
doing it for PR reasons. And I think they're doing it you know, sort of to keep protesters happy rather than whether they believe in it, but when you
have the largest seemingly climate denier in the White House, and an entire administration in the U.S. which is not promoting it in the same way that
you would wish, what purpose?
DICKINSON: Well, only one country in the world has indicated their intention to pull out of the Paris Agreement, which is the United States.
Perhaps they'll be back in very quickly. I think they are due to pull out one day after the next election.
But look, we're all Greta Thunberg now. We all recognize that there is something pretty serious going on and there are acts of enormous adulthood
by people like Bank of England Governor, Mark Carney. Now, Christine Lagarde at the European Central Bank talking about putting climate change
at the center of monetary policy and the purpose of the bank.
So we're beginning to see the regulatory authorities positioning.
QUEST: All right, let's go there then. Let's go there. Our guest in our last hour said it was entirely inappropriate, my words, but entirely
inappropriate for climate change to be at the heart of monetary policy. That is not what its goal is. Its goal is price stability. Its goal is to
prevent inflation et cetera et cetera.
DICKINSON: Well, the goal of price stability, avoid inflation, a strong economy. The only strong economy is an economy that's responding
effectively to climate change. Countries across the world right now are deciding between a 19th Century economy or a 21st Century economy, and
those that go towards the 21st Century are going to do very, very well.
More CDP research with the 215 largest companies in the world shows that they've got something like two trillion of opportunities to save money by
responding to climate change, reducing energy and developing these products for the future.
QUEST: You talked about Greta Thunberg. This whole business of flight shaming, that now goes on, and you know, as well as it is growing -- the
amount of emissions from aviation is fairly static even though the amount of aviation is growing. Therefore, there are huge steps being taken.
Why has aviation become the whipping boy in all of this? It's got its problems, but probably more than most industries, it's doing something to
sort them out.
[16:10:02]
DICKINSON: Yes, that's true, although there are particular issues with air travel. I mean, air fuel is very largely not taxed worldwide. And so
you'd be surprised how much of the cost of how much gasoline equivalent, a return trip to New York or London actually has, you know, it's about
$200.00 of the cost of the ticket is probably a fuel.
But if you were in the E.U., that would be like putting about $800.00 worth of fuel in your tank because of the absence of taxes.
So just to be aware that if you really want to turn your money into greenhouse gas emissions, air travel is part of it. But of course, we have
to do that.
But there are companies, for example, huge companies like Cisco have a great suite of products and services, as do many others, Zoom and the
Microsoft where people are communicating.
I mean, right now, I'm not flying to New York. I'm in the London studio. Look, we can do this perfectly well. Somebody is going to make a lot of
money, possibly cutting down on business flights, and that's a good thing.
QUEST: We will talk more about it. Good to see you, sir. Thank you.
DICKINSON: Good to be with you.
QUEST: Now, the climate change has become a key issue in next month's U.K. general election. Leaders appeared on the debate stage. They laid out
their plans tackling climate change, where everyone was there, except two, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson skipped the event along with the Brexit
Party leader Nigel Farage.
Instead, the two parties were represented by ice sculptures commissioned by the debate's host Channel Four as their components traded heated arguments
on stage, the sculptures slowly melted throughout the debate.
Fears over trade drove European markets slower on Thursday. Investors are concerned a bill signed by President Trump supporting protesters in Hong
Kong could jeopardize the U.S. trade deal with China. Shares fell across the continent despite solid numbers of economic sentiment.
Now stocks are still rate trading at highs near record highs so far this year.
China has threatened countermeasures after President Trump signed a bill supporting protesters in Hong Kong. The Human Rights and Democracy Act
mandates an annual review, checking if Hong Kong has done enough to justify the autonomous special status that's granted.
CNN's Will Ripley has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Competing images that we saw within hours of each other here in Hong Kong illustrates the deep division
that exists in this city -- between the vast majority of citizens and the Hong Kong government and of course, the Beijing government as well.
You had thousands of people out in Central Hong Kong waving American flags, thanking the United States and President Trump for passing the Hong Kong
Human Rights and Democracy Act, which could potentially result in not only sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials involved in human rights
abuses, but it also crucially requires the State Department to review Hong Kong's highly coveted and hugely important special trade status.
If that were to be revoked, it would be devastating for this territory's economy and for the Mainland as well and would also hurt the United States,
frankly.
And so some of the people who were out there thanking the U.S. for passing this bill could someday actually be hurt by it. And yet that doesn't stop
them from thanking the U.S. for supporting the pro-democracy movement.
It's the second time in less than a week that the pro-democracy movement has scored a victory because there was that landslide win in the District
Council Elections were more than 90 percent of the votes and a record high turnout went to anti-establishment candidates.
But despite all of that, despite the overwhelming public opinion, you have Carrie Lam, the Chief Executive and establishment lawmakers firmly in line
with Beijing's view that the protesters are in fact, rioters and as proof of that, they offered up images from Poly U. They allowed the press to
join police where they went in to take away the weapons that they say protesters were storing at that university, including 600 petrol bombs that
were thrown at police, you know, used in these confrontations.
The police claim it's the protesters that incite the violence; protesters claimed that police respond with disproportionate and excessive force
against unarmed civilians. But Beijing asking the United States, why would they support a movement that engages in regular violence, and that's the
big debate and the big divide here in Hong Kong.
And for the moment, it really doesn't show any sign of bringing these two sides closer together. And on top of all of it, of course, you have these
highly sensitive trade talks happening between Washington and Beijing. And now the big question is, will any deal be in jeopardy potentially because
of these new developments and because President Trump decided to sign this bill into law?
Will Ripley, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: Kaitlan Collins is in West Palm Beach where the President is. Well, he was, now of course he was in Afghanistan. Good to see you,
Kaitlan.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: We'll be back here soon.
QUEST: Yes, we saw that. That's why -- that's was right. Good to see you anyway. And Kaitlan, the decision to sign. Look, he signed because he
knew that it was going to be veto-proof if he vetoed, but he has done so, it's almost like reluctantly.
[16:15:10]
COLLINS: Yes. And there was a lot of question about whether or not he was even going to sign this. But as you noted, even if the President didn't
take that step, this bill was going to pass. So he really had no option but to do so.
But what's interesting is now that the President has signed this legislation, this legislation for human rights in Hong Kong, it's
interesting to see how the President is toeing the line here.
And you saw that in the statement from him that accompanied the announcement from the White House that he had actually signed it, where he
said, essentially, that he hoped by signing this that the leaders of Hong Kong and the leaders of China were going to be able to amicably solve their
differences, a statement that you've heard from the President a lot.
And he has been asked if he supports these pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong and the President will say, yes, he does. But he also supports
President Xi of China.
So it's interesting to see how the President -- he knows what kind of a position he is in here, but Richard, whether or not this is going to affect
a trade deal, it doesn't seem like in the end, it will make anything -- any big differences because of course, China knows they need this trade deal as
well.
The question is what happens in the short term because in just three weeks, that next set of tariffs is set to go into effect. And so far, neither
side has come to any kind of agreement on even an interim trade deal.
So the question is, what do they do when those three weeks pass? And if it comes to whether or not they're actually going to go forward with those
tariffs.
QUEST: The President made a surprise visit to Afghanistan, his first to Afghanistan, he said today. As you listened to what he said, he served
food. He told us all that he hadn't got any turkey. He's just about to eat his turkey, when the General involved dragged him away to have
photographs taken.
But as you listened to what he told the troops, what stuck out for you?
COLLINS: The biggest news that he made was probably announcing with these peace talks with the Taliban have restarted. Remember, just less than
three months ago, the President called off those peace talks pretty abruptly after he had invited leaders in the Taliban to come to Camp David,
something he later faced a lot of criticism for.
But he said he was scrapping those talks because of the Taliban attack that killed an American soldier overseas, and so now, the President says they
are back on. He says, it seems that the Taliban is more eager to come to the table here. Potentially, a ceasefire is in discussion.
But of course, that was a pretty big sticking point in the last round of talks, so we'll see, but the President is on his way back here to Florida
right now -- Richard.
QUEST: It is a splendid fountain that you have behind you. Where exactly are you? Where are you?
COLLINS: Isn't that lovely? There's an alligator back there, too, somewhere. We are in West as Palm Beach. We're not too far from where the
President's Club is. But there is an alligator back there. So keep an eye out for me, please.
QUEST: I suppose the President would arguably say the alligators are out of the water. But that's a story for another day. Good to see you. Thank
you.
Now as we continue -- next -- I think I need a fountain. Tiff, I need a fountain. That's going to really make the day.
As we continue, it's nearly a year since the arrest of Huawei's CFO in Canada. The CFO is the daughter of course, of the CEO. Her father, the
head of Huawei, an exclusive interview in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:20:52]
QUEST: Two years since the Maltese journalist was killed in a car bomb. Now, new developments this week are putting pressure on some of the
country's top officials in Malta. We will have more on that in just -- later in the program.
This weekend marks one year since Canada arrested Huawei's CFO, Meng Wanzhou. She is the daughter of the company's founder and CEO. Kristie Lu
Stout sat down with the head of Huawei for an exclusive interview.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): She has been called a pawn and a bargaining chip, even the face of the U.S.-China
trade war, and the U.S. has accused her of fraud.
But to the founder and CEO of Huawei, Meng Wanzhou is the daughter he praises for her year of suffering.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REN ZHENGFEI, CEO, FOUNDER, HUAWEI (through translator): As a father, I of course, care about my children. However, the experience of hardship and
suffering is good for Meng and her growth.
Under the grand backdrop of the Sino-U.S. trade war, she is like a small ant being caught between the collision of two giant powers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT (voice over): On December 1, 2018, Meng, the CFO of Huawei was arrested in Canada at the request of the U.S. She and the Chinese tech
giant face a number of charges including bank fraud, trade secrets theft and sanctions violations.
Meng and Huawei both deny the charges. She is fighting extradition.
At Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen, I spoke with Meng's father about her life under house arrest, a life Meng spends in one of two homes she owns in
Vancouver.
Ren Zhengfei says she enjoys painting and studying. Meng's mother and husband routinely fly to Canada to care for her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT (on camera): When was the last time you spoke with Meng Wanzhou, your daughter?
ZHENGFEI (through translator): Perhaps three or four days ago. There is no routine. Oftentimes, I'd send her some funny stories I find online, or
ring her up and ask her how she is doing.
LU STOUT: Have you become closer as father and daughter?
ZHENGFEI (through translator): Yes, indeed. In the past, Meng Wanzhou might not give me a single call in a whole year. She wouldn't ask how I
was, or even send me a text message.
Of course, simply knowing that my child is out there, working really hard already makes me happy. Now, our relationship has become much closer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT (voice over): Days after Meng's arrest in Vancouver, diplomatic relations between China and Canada soured. China detained two Canadian
citizens, former Canadian diplomat, Michael Kovrig and businessman, Michaels Spavor.
China has charged them with espionage and denies their arrest are related to Meng's case. There has been no response from Kovrig or Spavor, who
according to Canadian state media have been denied access to lawyers and their family since their arrest.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT (on camera): As a father, you've been able to speak with your daughter and in fact, your relationship has gotten closer, as you say, even
though she is under house arrest. Do you think the fathers of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, they deserve that as well?
ZHENGFEI (through translator): I don't have any information about these two people. I also don't have information about the law enforcement in
this case, that's why I cannot give any comment on this issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT (voice over): On January the 20th, Meng Wanzhou will be in court to fight her extradition to the U.S. on fraud charges. As for her future
at Huawei, one thing is certain, she won't get promoted.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ZHENGFEI (through translator): Hardships like this one will have a major impact on a person's grit and character. However, when she returns to
Huawei, it doesn't mean that she will be given greater responsibilities. She's a financial officer, she can only handle financial matters. She
won't be handling other aspects of the business.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT (voice over): One year of detention may have made his daughter stronger, but not strong enough to one day take the reins from the father.
Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Shenzhen.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: Emily Taylor is a security specialist at Chatham House and CEO of Oxford Information Labs and joins me now.
The difficulty and the way out of this because a legal process has begun and it's almost impossible either the U.S. drops its claim for this to be
sorted out quickly and easily.
[16:25:15]
EMILY TAYLOR, SECURITY SPECIALIST, CHATHAM HOUSE: Yes, indeed, and it's still playing out in so many different channels. You have the detention of
Meng Wanzhou, as your reporter described as well, there are the two Canadian nationals, Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who are also being
detained.
The backdrop to all of this is the U.S.-China trade negotiations. And at various points, President Trump has hinted that, you know, various
concessions might be made if progress is made in the trade talks, and this does help to give the impression that these people are being detained as
part of the wider geopolitical move.
QUEST: Now, in fact, is the case and I don't think few would doubt it. One can see that in China, the ability to release people would be a lot
easier than for the Canadians, just to simply say, well, it was all a mistake. Off you go on a plane back home. Because that would draw into
question that whole rule of law, the whole proprietary of the prosecutorial system.
TAYLOR: Yes, but of course, the timing of Miss Meng's detention, her arrest in Vancouver did raise eyebrows because it was so close to key
talks. However, the Canadians were absolutely adamant, and quite rightly about the separation of powers that this is a judicial process. This is
not part of the executive action.
However, you know, the critics do make those comments that the timings of key moments in this Huawei saga as it has unfolded over the last year has
had a lot of coincidence with the trade talks.
QUEST: So for your understanding of Huawei and how it is doing at the moment, the CEO also told Kristie Lu Stout earlier in the week that Huawei
could become the number one smartphone maker in the world, even though it no longer has access to Google products within it.
But Huawei seems -- no, we don't really know what the situation is. But if we believe what they say, they seem to be able to shrug off a virtual
boycott from the U.S.
TAYLOR: I don't know if it's shrugging off. I think there's been a lot of contingency planning, a lot of stockpiling, for example of chips that
because the ban that was announced in May had a devastating impact on suppliers to Huawei, don't forget that Huawei spends an estimated $11
billion per year on U.S. suppliers. Google is a large one, but there are many other smaller ones who would be affected by this.
So Huawei is definitely planning and one of the interesting aspects of this America First Policy is that, you know, a lot of us have been scratching
our heads for years wondering how on earth to break the monopoly almost of U.S. Silicon Valley firms being tech leaders. Maybe President Trump has
found a way with this ban because it is forcing Huawei to really be self- sustaining to own its own supply chain, or at least make sure that it can guarantee it supplies.
QUEST: Emily, thank you. Thank you for joining us. Much appreciated. Now, we'll talk more about this in the future. Thank you.
TAYLOR: Thank you.
QUEST: As Europe remains split on how to deal with asylum seekers, the CEO of Siemens says investment can help ease this crisis, in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[16:31:47]
QUEST: Hello, I'm Richard Quest. There is more QUEST MEANS BUSINESS in just a moment. I will speak to the sister of the murdered journalist whose
death has sparked a national crisis in Malta.
And calls for a boycotts in Ukraine after an Apple Map -- Apple Maps, I should say, shows Crimea now parts of Russia.
As we continue before all of this, this is CNN and here, on this network, the facts always come first.
The fiancee of the Albanian President's son is amongst those who died in this week's earthquake. At least 46 people were killed and hundreds
injured. The earthquake hit the port city of Durres, about 36 kilometers from the capital.
In the United Kingdom, the former police Superintendent David Duckenfield has been found not guilty in the 1989 Hillsborough Stadium disaster.
Duckenfield is now 75 years old. He faced gross negligence and manslaughter charges in the deaths of 95 Liverpool supporters. Duckenfield
was the Match Commander during a crush at the FA Cup final match. This was a retrial after jury failed to reach a verdict earlier this year.
The European Parliament has declared a climate emergency after scientists warned our planet is facing a climate and environmental emergency. They
are urging all E.U. countries to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The warning comes ahead of the U.N. Climate Conference in Madrid, which takes place on Monday.
President Trump says peace talks with Taliban have restarted. He made the announcement during his unannounced and brief Thanksgiving visit to U.S.
troops in Afghanistan. He also met with the country's President. It is Mr. Trump's first trip to Afghanistan.
Back in the U.S., its not Thanksgiving without the Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York, celebrating the official beginning of the
Holiday Season.
Now, the parade's iconic helium balloons made their usual appearance. They were kept closer to the ground than usual because of high winds and there
had been fears that they wouldn't be allowed to fly at all. Now, at the last minute, the words from the Mayor's Office was the balloons can fly.
Investment is the key to easing the migrant crisis in Europe. That's the message from the CEO of Siemens. You'll hear more from Joe Kaeser in just
a moment.
First, the U.N. says Europe must get its act together when it comes to dealing with asylum seekers. The bloc remains split over the quota style
system to ease the burden on the frontline countries was blocked by several E.U. members.
Now, aid workers who are trying to save migrants at sea is getting caught up in the diplomatic crossfire. Simon Cullen has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SIMON CULLEN, CNN JOURNALIST (voice over): In different circumstances, these rescuers might have been considered heroes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: First, ladies and children. Okay --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CULLEN (voice over): Pulling migrants from dangerously overcrowded boats, as they made their way towards the Greek island of Lesbos.
[16:35:09]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN BINDER, SEARCH AND RESCUE VOLUNTEER: We had two search and rescue boats. We have scuba equipment. We had a very well-trained medical team,
which could respond within seven minutes, whereas the ambulance sometimes trundle along it, 40 minutes.
CULLEN: So the difference is life or death for some people?
BINDER: It can be.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CULLEN (voice over): But rather than being celebrated, they're being charged. Sean Binder is facing a string of serious accusations in Greece.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BINDER: Being part of a criminal organization, money laundering, obviously, tantamount to smuggling or actions that are tantamount to
smuggling and espionage or spying. And so we still face centuries in prison.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CULLEN (voice over): He is not alone. In June, the captain of the Sea- Watch rescue ship, Carola Rackete was arrested by Italian authorities after docking on the island of Lampedusa.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CAROLE RACKETE, SEA WATCH: We unfortunately didn't have any other option than to enter the port without permission.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CULLEN (voice over): On board with 40 migrants who had been rescued from the Mediterranean. Rackete was later released from arrest, but still faces
an ongoing investigation under anti-people smuggling laws. Laws enabled by an E.U. directive.
CULLEN (on camera): The 2002 directive was designed to combat people smuggling. It allows countries to prosecute anyone helping someone else
enter Europe illegally. It doesn't require there to be a financial motive and the humanitarian exemption clause is only optional. Meaning countries
can choose whether or not they enact this.
CULLEN (voice over): Over recent years, the number of migrants arriving by sea has been falling. At the same time, according to E.U. funded research,
there's been an increase in the number of criminal investigations, targeting aid workers and NGOs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RACKETE: They are criminalizing human beings helping other human beings being in need and not just plainly needs to stop.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CULLEN (voice over): As a result of the crackdown, there are now fewer rescue ships operating on the Mediterranean, a region that has claimed the
lives of nearly 20,000 migrants in the past six years.
In a statement to CNN, the European Commission acknowledges, " ... there is a lack of clarity in the implementation of the humanitarian exemption
clause," and says it'll continue to, " ... gather more evidence about how the directive is being applied."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELISA DE PIERI, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: The case has been made to them that these prosecutors are in large part trumped up and they shouldn't happen at
all.
I think they are not convinced yet that this is a sufficiently serious problem for a change of the directive.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CULLEN (voice over): Rescuers warn if it is not changed, the criminal charges will continue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BINDER: The effect has been to embroil us in costly and lengthy legal procedures and this act as a form of deterrence. It has frightened people
away from doing this kind of work, and this is work that is sanctioned by international law without a doubt.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CULLEN (voice over): A situation he says that will result in more deaths at sea. Simon Cullen, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: The Chief Executive of Siemens says it's time to give African economies a chance and help ease the refugee crisis in the process. Joe
Kaeser sat down with Elena Giokos and told her everyone benefits from broadening their horizons.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE KAESER, CEO, SIEMENS: We are very convinced that we need to be committed and actionable to give the African continent a chance. It is not
just that because of value or because of, you know, believing that everybody on the globe should have some positive impact.
Now, look, it's also about interest. And the interest is, we need to give the African continent a perspective for a good future. Otherwise everybody
wants to move to someplace else. So we can actually tackle the refugee topic and the migration topic at its roots, firstly.
Secondly, if you look at what happens today, that is the U.S.-Chinese what we call trade war at face value, but likely that trade or is nothing but a
power struggle on who is becoming number one and number two in the world.
So you see more and more bilateral agreements between like the United States and China, or others. And if you look at Africa, that's the only
one remaining continent which has not yet taken sides.
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN BUSINESS AFRICA CORRESPONDENT: How has the global trade war impacted Siemens?
KAESER: There are no winners of a trade war. Because all of the economies are either slowing down or actually, you know, going close to a recession
with Europe being affected the most because they're in a middle of the two big systems.
So that's -- that's a cumbersome matter that people are not able to talk to each other more and talk too much about each other.
[16:35:06]
KAESER: However, as far as Siemens is concerned, we've been localizing a long time ago, so we have 60,000 people in the United States; 45,000 in
China, so we are actually a local player.
And it helps us today to get out of the crossfire, so to speak between the two systems. But I do hope that those two great nations come to terms and
provide a fair and level playing field.
GIOKOS: Have you also completely priced in the consequences of Brexit?
KAESER: I believe honestly, in the meantime, I believe the debate about the Brexit in terms of economic terms is very overrated.
Companies for a long time have been looking into their resource allocation. They have been slowing down the allocation to the U.K. So everybody is
prepared to see what the final outcome will be.
You know, it's a great country, but the world is bigger than one country somewhere in Europe.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: Malta's Prime Minister is facing pressure, the murder of a journalist some two years ago threatens to bring him down.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Malta's Prime Minister is facing calls to resign and his government is under intense pressure over what role, if any, his aides played in the
murder of a high profile journalist. It started in October 2017. Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed with a car bomb. She was famous for
investigating corruption.
Now, last week the businessman, Yorgen Fenech was arrested trying to flee the country. He is reportedly cooperating with investigators in hopes of
winning immunity.
On Tuesday, the Prime Minister's former Chief of Staff Keith Schembri was arrested. Two Ministers also resigned.
Corinne Vella is the sister of Daphne and she has been campaigning for justice ever since her murder. She joins me now live. Thank you for
taking the time.
The allegations are many fold here. Substantially, what do you believe happened?
[16:45:04]
CORINNE VELLA, SISTER OF DAPHNE CARUANA GALIZIA: To Daphne, you mean?
QUEST: Well, in terms of the -- those who you believe were responsible, and the reasons why.
VELLA: Very certainly, we've always maintained Daphne's murder is related to her work. Daphne wasn't initially investigating crime, she was covering
politics and that led her into investigating corruption and crime.
She had discovered that two men set up companies in Panama shortly after Muscat was elected. Those two men were Konrad Mizzi who has resigned and
Keith Schembri who stepped down, who was taken into custody and have now been released.
QUEST: So there was also this slush fund and this fund of money that was supposedly around and available, but is the tentative of your allegation
that somehow Schrembri was responsible for contracting for her murder?
VELLA: He was arrested because he had been named by Fenech. He has now been released. That information just came out shortly before we began this
interview. I'm not really sure what is happening there. But certainly there is a problem which can be regardless of the murder itself.
Before Daphne was killed, she already reported that he was involved in serious financial crime. He had bribed the Managing Director of a
newspaper publisher. He had taken kickbacks on passport sales, received the money through a bank account at Pilatus Bank, which turned out to be a
laundromat.
There's a list of financial crime for which he should already have been prosecuted. Because the basic is this, a lot of what Daphne reported about
Schrembri even predated what she said about 17 Black which is the slush fund you referred to.
QUEST: Does this go in your view, all the way to the Prime Minister in some shape or form?
VELLA: It goes as far as the Prime Minister because Schrembri has sat in the Prime Minister's office all of these years protected by the Prime
Minister. He has not been prosecuted. He was not made to resign. He was not asked for his resignation. He was not forced out of office when his
Panama Company was discovered.
That Panama Company was structured for secrecy. We later found out that it was you know, 17 Black, the slush fund as a target client of the Panama
Company.
Schrembri has always denied any wrongdoing, but it certainly doesn't look like he wasn't doing anything wrong.
QUEST: So what do you -- what do you want by way of this? The police have obviously, you know, the prosecutorial authorities have got the bit between
the teeth and are looking into it. Is it -- do you fear that there can't be a proper accounting? That justice won't be done? Would you want some
sort of full scale commission investigation? Public inquiry?
VELLA: There is a public inquiry, but that only came about after relentless campaign of two years, which involved people and international
law organizations besides all of the family's work, and it involved, you know, people -- family having to threaten litigation to actually make it
happen. So yes, that is going to happen. But it's no thanks to the Prime Minister.
QUEST: Well, ultimately, do you have confidence -- do you have confidence in the legal system in Malta to eventually bring those responsible to
justice?
VELLA: It's the only legal system we can depend on to bring about justice.
QUEST: Thank you for joining us. Thank you very much for joining us.
Apple is under fire in Ukraine. The company's map software displays the disputed territory of Crimea now as part of Russia, and notably, it only
shows the border that way for its Russian users.
For users outside the country, Crimea appears as part of Ukraine. CNN's Hadas Gold with the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HADAS GOLD, CNN BUSINESS REPORTER: There's been a lot of talk recently about the splinternet where people in different parts of the world get a
totally different online experience because of political or commercial reasons.
Well, we're seeing that now play out in real time this week with the Russian Parliament announcing that Apple has acquiesced in how it portrays
Crimea, the disputed Peninsula in the Black Sea.
If you live in Russia, and are looking for Crimea on your iPhone map, or the weather app that comes preinstalled on your iPhone, you'll see that it
is listed as being part of Russia.
But outside of Russia, like here in the U.K., it's either listed as part of Ukraine or not belonging to any country at all.
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, though many Western nations, including the United States say it was done so illegally and violence
continues in the complex zone in Eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian soldiers to this day.
But according to Russian law, Crimea has to be designated as part of Russia and the Russian Parliament announced that Apple had fixed what it said was,
quote, "an inaccurate display."
[16:50:00]
GOLD: The company is not alone though in apparently falling into line with these Russian demands. Google Maps also shows a border between Crimea and
Ukraine for Russian users.
Ukrainian officials have slammed Apple, the Foreign Minister said in a series of tweets that the company should " ... stick to high tech and
entertainment global politics is not your strong side."
For their part, Apple has not yet responded to our request for comment.
Hadas Gold, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
QUEST: When '80s singer Joan Armatrading first came and sang her hit song, "Drop The Pilot," she probably wasn't talking about our next story. The
plane that can lend itself without being controlled by human. He hop on board, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: Nervous flyers, do not watch too closely to our next report. Technology being developed to get planes to land themselves at the touch of
a button should anything happen to the pilot? Peter Valdes-Dapena explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PETER VALDES-DAPENA, CNN BUSINESS SENIOR AUTO WRITER (voice over): It's a nightmare scenario for nervous flyers. This trainee pilot in Australia was
forced to land the plane after his instructor lost consciousness during his first flight lesson.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a situation that you've been thrown in front of and you need to react. It was a sort of fight and flight because of
adrenaline.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VALDES-DAPENA (voice over): While incidents like this are rare. One company wants to avoid them all together. A Minnesota based private plane
manufacturer, Cirrus Aircraft, plans to offer a jet that can land itself at the touch of a button.
If a pilot becomes incapacitated, Cirrus's safe return system transforms the plane into an autonomous vehicle. With technology developed by GPS
company, Garmin, the Vision Jet flies to the nearest airport. It routes around obstacles, communicates with air traffic control and safely lands
all without human help.
I boarded a Vision Jet to simulate an emergency landing.
VALDES-DAPENA (on camera): We do have a fully functioning pilot on board, but nonetheless, I am a little nervous, but I'm going to press this button
and this plane is going to land itself.
AUTOMATED VOICE: Emergency auto land activating.
VALDES DAPENA (voice over): The plane's databases factor in real-time weather updates, terrain information, fuel levels even the length of the
runway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is the landing and I'm going to go ahead and take the airplane and disconnect the autopilot.
VALDES-DAPENA (on camera): The landing was fairly smooth between this and a human landing, human piloted aircraft.
[16:55:04]
VALDES-DAPENA (voice over): If a pilot is flying alone, the plane can also sense if he or she is incapacitated and engage safe return automatically.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN KOWALSKI, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CIRRUS AIRCRAFT: This is a first and I think this is kind of a beachhead into what we're going to be seeing for
the next decade and beyond here in aviation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VALDES-DAPENA (voice over): Pending approval from Federal authorities, Cirrus plans to roll out the safe return feature in 2020, along with
another plane maker, Piper Aircraft.
Aviation experts say self-landing technology for extreme emergencies is a step in the right direction for aviation safety. But don't expect to see
this technology rolled out for every day landings anytime soon.
Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, New York.
QUEST: And before you all write to me and point out commercial planes have been doing that for years, yes, the auto land on a commercial airline is a
much more sophisticated instrument involving hours of training and using rare circumstances, but this would be for the general aviation community.
And so that is QUEST MEANS BUSINESS double edition today. We will have A Profitable Moment after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
QUEST: A Profitable Moment. The role that Central Banks and climate change should have is now going to turn into one of the major policy
issues.
Economists sent a letter to Christine Lagarde saying that the ECB should have climate change as one of its policy principles and priorities. The
problem is why?
You see the goal of a Central Bank is to set interest rates. Now, in doing so of course, they are buying lots of bonds with quantitative easing, and I
can certainly see a legitimate complaint that the companies that they invest in under the bonds that they buy they should be green neutral.
But beyond that, what role does a Central Bank have with climate change, other than to respond to economic shifts within economies and countries
because of the nature of climate change in things like utilities, power stations and sources of energy.
If you start tinkering around too much with the mandate of a Central Bank, other than to remind them and warn them and be aware, I think you're on a
very slippery slope as to what else you log on to their mandate as such.
Stick with price stability. Stick with full employment. Give a remit to keep an eye on the general economy and climate change comes along, too.
And that's QUEST MEANS BUSINESS for tonight. I am Richard Quest in New York. Whatever you're up to in the hours ahead, I hope it is profitable.
[17:00:10]
END
