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Hala Gorani Tonight
U.S. Officials: Russia Bombed Aid Trucks Warehouse; Ceasefire Strained To Breaking Point By Attacks; Violent Protests In Charlotte, North Carolina; Unarmed African-American Man Killed In Oklahoma; More Than 3,000 Killed Making Journey Across Mediterranean; U.S. Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rates; CNN Looks Into Concerns Of The White Working Class; Jolie- Pitt Divorce Shocks Fans; Italian Town Could Hold Secret To Longevity. Aired 3-4p ET
Aired September 21, 2016 - 15:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[15:00:14] HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. I'm Hala Gorani. We are live at CNN London. Thanks for being with us. This is THE WORLD RIGHT
NOW.
Well, it's virtually impossible to tell what's really going on with Syria's ceasefire except that bombs are still falling and everyone is blaming each
other. Fresh new strikes today are throwing everything into question again.
At a U.N. Security Council meeting just a few hours ago, Washington's top diplomat, John Kerry, did not hold back.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: How can people go sit at a table with a regime that bombs hospitals and drops chlorine gas again and again and
again and again and again and again? And acts with impunity. You're supposed to sit there and have happy talk in Geneva under those
circumstances?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: John Kerry there. Well, another attack apparently on medical and rescue workers. An aid workers union said an air strike hit their clinic,
killing four health workers, nine patients.
It happened near Aleppo there in (inaudible) not far from where that Red Crescent aid convoy was attacked yesterday. Washington and Moscow are
still tossing around accusations over who is behind that.
Let's bring in CNN's Fred Pleitgen. He's live in Damascus. He joins us on the phone right now. So let's talk a little bit about today's strike yet
again, health care workers targeted, not the first time, and it won't be the last, unfortunately. Tell us about the specific targeting today. What
happened?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Yes, Hala, this happened in one of the areas close to Aleppo that has seen
a lot of fighting over the past couple of months. There was a big battle there before the most recent ceasefire that is shattered.
There were a lot of Iranian fighters that were killed there about a month and a half ago. Renewed fighting over the past 24 hours. On top of those
aid workers, or health workers that were killed, there were also some rebel fighters killed in the air strikes in that area as well.
We're hearing this clinic was also attacked from the air several times. There are organizations that runs that clinic and that then several of the
personnel and the ambulance fighters as well as nurses were killed in those strikes.
You're absolutely right. It's a very similar area where also that aid convoy was hit as well, the sort of area, the rest of Aleppo, which is a
rebel-held area, but of course there, the ceasefire, it's still in place.
It's supposed to be holding and again, as far as that convoy is concerned, the Russians for their part are still saying is adamant, it was Russian
planes that were behind it as so far no one has taken responsibility for it.
It included delaying (inaudible) stop any sort of aid being delivered in most of Syria. The U.N. now says they think that maybe by tomorrow they'll
be able to start running some aid convoys again.
But certainly for a big block on aid being delivered and of course in many ways, also to end the ceasefire. Even though the U.S. and Russia not
willing now respect that.
GORANI: All right. Fred Pleitgen in Damascus, thanks very much. We'll return to Damascus in about an half hour. I'll be interviewing Bouthaina
Shaaban, a senior advisor to Syria's president, Bashar Al-Assad, I asked her whether Mr. Assad would accept the idea that his plane should be
grounded in some parts of Syria to stop the carnage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOUTHAINA SHAABAN, SENIOR ADVISER TO SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD: Of course not. President Assad would not agree to that, and if you look, Hala, as
the basis on which John Kerry based his statement, it was really on the wrong basis.
[15:05:10]Because we all should listen to what Sergei Lavrov said about the humanitarian aid and how it was targeted and that no Syrian or Russian
planes were on the side, but they were was American drone there who was able to carry out any attack on the humanitarian convoy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: So you may have picked that out. She talked about an American drone having been on the side. I pressed her on that point about that U.S.
drone in the vicinity of the convoy strike. She had that and other potential explanations for what happened to that convoy. Do stay tuned, 25
minutes from now, we'll have more from the presidential advisor to Bashar Al-Assad.
Now to a story we've had to tell you before. Many times. One that's elevated racial tensions in the U.S., triggered violent protests and become
an issue in the presidential campaign.
This time it happened in Charlotte, North Carolina, a police officer shot and killed an African-American man. Police say the man had a gun. His
family says he was just reading a book. CNN's Brynn Gingras picks up the story from there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Overnight violent protests erupting on the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hold those police accountable for what they do.
GINGRAS: Several hundred protesters blocking a major highway, looting trucks, and setting fire to some of their cargo. Officers in riot gear
deploying tear gas, setting off flash bangs.
As angry crowds swarm squad cars, throwing water bottles and rocks at the officers, injuring at least a dozen. Protesters moving to a local Walmart.
Video shows them attempting to break in, but running once SWAT teams arrived.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The citizens have a legitimate concern and their concern shouldn't be taken lightly.
GINGRAS: The clashes breaking out following the fatal shooting of a black man, Keith Lamont Scott. Police say they arrived in an apartment complex
looking to serve a warrant to another individual. When they encountered Scott who they say was armed.
CHIEF KERR PUTNEY, CHARLOTTE-MECKLENBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT: Make some imminent threat to them, and because of that, at least one of the officers
fired rounds at the subject.
GINGRAS: Brently Vinson identified as the officer who shot Scott is also a black male, according to local reports, now placed on administrative leave.
But protesters are out in full force, questioning when will Black Lives truly matter?
NICHELLE DUNLAP, PROTESTER: A terrorist, New Jersey, New York, he was taken alive. They say they wanted to question him. So because of you
wanting to question him, does his life mean more than our black men across the nation?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: There you see it, a lot of attention in North Carolina. The Charlotte police chief, though, says it's time to just change the narrative
about what happened because the story is different than how it's being portrayed, he says, especially through social media. Here's what he said
about the evidence at the scene where Keith Lamont Scott was killed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PUTNEY: I can also tell you we did not find a book that has been made reference to. I can just tell you what I know based on what we've gathered
through the scientific process of going through the evidence and we did find a weapon and the weapon was there, and the witness's corroborated to
beyond just the officers.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well let's take you live to Charlotte now for the latest on the investigation and the tensions over the fatal police shooting. Nick
Valencia standing by for us live for that, so first of all, let's talk a little bit about some of the concerns this evening. Are there concerns
that more protests might turn violent in North Carolina over this?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Police here locally, Hala, are certainly bracing for that, but it was just about an hour ago that we heard from a
local affiliate -- the community organizers here locally had called off any planned demonstration for later tonight to focus instead on a community
town hall.
There are, however, according to at least one police officer I spoke to, members from outside of the community that came here to demonstrate against
police officers late last night.
There is still a possibility that demonstrations could happen later this evening, but at least local organizers for their part. They're saying that
they'd rather focus on this town hall.
Part of what's fueling the frustrations is really these competing story lines. One by the police officers, the other by the family of Keith Scott,
that individual who was shot and killed yesterday afternoon.
Police say he was armed during the shooting, but Scott's family say that there's no way that could have been the case because Scott does not own a
gun.
Here's what we know happened according to police, about 4:00 p.m. yesterday, they were serving a warrant for the arrest of somebody totally
different.
[15:10:03]That's when they saw Keith Scott get out of his car, he had a gun, got back in the car, and when he reemerged, he was still holding that
gun in his hand.
The police say that the officers that responded feared for their lives and at least one of those officers told him to drop the weapon. When he did
not comply, they say that's when that officer opened fire.
Almost immediately after the shooting, Scott's daughter took to Facebook to stream a live video that's now been viewed hundreds of thousands of time.
It's incredibly raw, emotional, and in it, she discovered her father had been killed.
Information that she was not aware of until after she had already started streaming that video. As that video started to go viral on social media,
more and more people came out, confront police officers.
And that's what really added to the violent demonstrations yesterday. Sixteen police officers injured and at least five people arrested -- Hala.
GORANI: But I wonder if what the police chief said, I mean, first of all, the police chief is an African-American man. He's saying, we looked into
this. There was no book. We believe that this individual who so tragically was killed in this confrontation, did have a weapon, is that
changing minds at all or is this all still raw?
VALENCIA: I think part of what needs to be understood here, for our global audience is the series of shooting deaths in the black community leading up
to this.
And this shooting that happened here in Charlotte comes a day or so after a separate man, a black man was shot and killed in Tulsa by a white police
officer.
I think that has added to the frustrations here locally. When we spoke to a police officer's earlier, they said they thought up until this point that
Charlotte was better than these demonstrations.
That they had a good relationship with the community and didn't expect what they saw last night. They attribute that in part to people that showed up
from outside of the community.
Almost immediately after seeing that video posted by Keith Scott's daughter. So again, police officers are bracing for a demonstrations later
tonight that we're hearing.
That they should not be what we saw last night with the interstate closed, officers having rocks pelted at them, hammers thrown at them. It turned
pretty violent here last night in Charlotte -- Hala.
GORANI: All right, we'll continue to follow this story. Thanks very much, Nick Valencia is in Charlotte. Charlotte isn't the only American city
confronting this issue right now.
Protesters gathered outside the courthouse in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after video aired of a police officer there shooting and killing an unarmed African-
American man there.
The police officer who fired the fatal shot is a white woman. We're going show you footage taken from a helicopter and you can hear officers talking
about what is going on below.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's got his hands up there now.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm going to hit the recorder. This guy's still walking and not following commands.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Time for taser, I think. Got a feeling that's about to happen.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That looks like a bad dude, too. Got to be on something.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Which way are they facing?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: There you hear it. We don't see, by the way, the fatal shot. We know he was tasered once and then he was shot fatally by that female
officer. Terence Crutcher's family says his SUV broke down. Police stopped when they saw the vehicle on the road.
An attorney for the Officer Betty Shelby says Crutcher was ignoring her commands and she was afraid he might be reaching far weapon, which is when
she fired.
Well, Terence Crutcher's mother says she, quote, "lost it when she saw the last moments of her son's life on video on television." She is haunted by
the description of him as a, quote, "bad dude."
You heard that from the helicopter pilot. The family spoke to CNN's Alyson Camerota, they say, they want the officer charged with first-degree murder.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. TIFFANY CRUTCHER, TERENCE CRUTCHER'S SISTER: It says that anyone who's big and stature or may have brown skin, it just seems like they
automatically criminalize or demonize or say, hey, you know, we're going get you. I mean, I'm really sad. And I have friends who have young boys
and they're afraid to go to driver's ed. They don't want driver's license. They're afraid, and that saddens me.
ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: You want them to know that your brother was not a bad dude, he was a father and a brother and a son.
DR. TIFFANY CRUTCHER: He was all of that. Last night, I've been flooded with love and support from people all around the world from all different
backgrounds, all different cultures. And one that really broke me down and really touched my heart was one of his professors at Tulsa Community
College, who said Terence was in my sociology class last fall. He never missed a class. All he talked about was his children, and his final
presentation that he did was on Christianity.
[15:15:03]LEANNA CRUTCHER, TERENCE CRUTCHER'S MOTHER: We need to come to some type of way of making this right. Getting justice, not only Terence,
but for all of those killings across our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: The family of Terence Crutcher. Now the U.S. presidential candidates are reacting to those shootings, both in Charlotte and Tulsa.
Hillary Clinton talked about the importance of building trust between police and communities. She gave a speech on the economy in that very
important swing state, Florida.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HILLARY CLINTON (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: First, an unarmed man named Terence Crutcher was shot and killed by a police officer in Tulsa. Then a
man named Keith Lamont Scott was shot and killed by a police officer in Charlotte. I'm sending condolences and prayers to their families. I know
a lot of you are as well.
There is still much we don't know about what happened in both incidents, but we do know that we have two more names to add to a list of African-
Americans killed by police officers in these encounters. It's unbearable and it needs to become intolerable.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, her Republican rival Donald Trump also spoke about these events at a black church earlier and you know Donald Trump needs more
African-American support. He is polling very poorly among African- Americans. Listen to what he said about the shooting in Oklahoma.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I must tell you, I watched the shooting in particular in Tulsa and that man was hands up. That man went
to the car, hands up. Put his hand on the car -- I mean, to me, it looked like he did everything he is supposed to do and he looked like a really
good man and maybe I'm a little clouded because I'm talking about him after the fact.
A little bit different image maybe. To me he looked like somebody that was doing what they were asking him to do. And this young officer, I don't
know what she was thinking. I don't know what she was thinking, but I'm very, very troubled by that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Donald Trump there. Let's bring CNN Politics executive editor, Mark Preston, to talk more about this. He's live in New York.
I want to get your take first on how he framed that shooting in Tulsa because we're not used to hearing Donald Trump necessarily use that type
tone when talking about incidents involving the police and shootings and that kind of thing. What is he trying to do here?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICS EXECUTIVE EDITOR: No doubt there was a bit of empathy there that we are not used to hearing him talk about. Usually he's
talking about the police and how they have such a difficult job here in the U.S., which of course they do.
But at this time, which we're less than 50 days before Election Day and when Donald Trump is trying to reach out to every voter he can. Look, he
is trying to try to get, you know, white voters here in swing states who are on the fence about him that are not particularly liking his divisive
racial rhetoric he's used in the past.
When he's talking that way, it's not that he's reaching out to the African- American communities, but he's reaching out to those undecided white voters who don't really appreciate some of his past racial rhetoric.
GORANI: But, he said -- one other thing referring to some of the inner city issues that are predominantly populated by lower income individuals in
the United States. This is how he can compared inner city life to a war zone abroad. Let's listen to that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: You take a look at the inner cities, you get no education, you get no jobs, you get shot walking down the street, they're worse -- I mean
honestly, places like Afghanistan are safer than some of our inner cities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: So, OK, that is absolutely, I can tell you, incorrect. Places like Afghanistan are not safer than U.S. inner cities. What happens when
he says things like that? Does that undue some of what he did when addressing those African-American voters about the Oklahoma shooting?
PRESTON: You know, for every step forward that Donald Trump takes when he's reaching out to voters, he seems to take three steps back and this is
a perfect example. This is Donald Trump right now where he's going too far when he's trying to make an analogy.
Clearly, clearly, clearly as I said it three times like he said ever, ever, ever, he had gone too far. I mean, listen, things are not necessarily good
in the inner cities here in the U.S. and policies have not been written or enacted in a way that could certainly help bring people out of poverty.
[15:20:04]But what he's done is that he has gone one step too far and has actually inflamed the African-American community because one, he's speaking
to them as their monolithic, meaning they would all vote one way, and two because he's making a grand generalization about African-Americans as whole
here in the U.S.
GORANI: All right, Mark Preston, thanks very much in D.C. Speak to you soon.
A lot more to come. Look at the refugee crisis in the spotlight at the U.N. General Assembly. I'll speak to an official at the State Department
about a new resettlement plan. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: The 2016 is on course to become the deadliest year yet for refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean to get to Italy and
Greece. Now new tragedy has struck as a boat carrying 600 has capsized off of Egypt.
State media there say the bodies of at least 30 people have been recovered, 150 people have been rescued so far, but the numbers are staggering,
300,000 refugees and migrants have taken the same risks this year. The International Organization for Migration says more than 3,000 of them were
killed. They drowned.
Let's bring in Anne Richard, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Population Refugees and Migration. She joins us from the United Nations.
Thanks for being with us, Ms. Richard.
First of all, we've heard lots of promises, lots of outrage and condemnation. Many words essentially in the face of this terrible historic
refugee crisis, but people watching, should they be at least a little bit hopeful that some solutions will become tangible, sort of like ways of
dealing with this crisis in the coming month?
ANNE RICHARD, U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR REFUGEES AND MIGRATION: Well, here refugees at the United Nations is topic one. On September 19th,
there was a day that the U.N. devoted to refugees and migration where many countries of the world spoke out about what to do and also agreed to a New
York declaration that will launch two compacts in the coming months.
But more tangible is what happened yesterday when President Obama pulled together a leader's summit on refugees. It was co-sponsored by six other
countries and the United Nations, and in order to get invited, a government had to commit to make tangible, concrete commitments to do more to help
refugees.
GORANI: All right. But a commitment as you know is not actually acting on that commitment. Here in the U.K., for instance, Lord Dubs was a man who
has benefitted from the Kinder Transport Program as a young Jewish boy in Prague, forced the U.K. government here to amend some legislation telling
them they need to get unaccompanied minors resettled in the U.K. to rejoin their family. They haven't taken a single one in based on that promise.
How do you get from a pledge to actually action?
[15:25:07]RICHARD: Well, one of the things we did that we asked governments to be as specific as possible in their commitments. We asked
them to give more funding, of course, which is always needed, but also to agree to take more refugees in through resettlement or other forms of
admission, humanitarian visas, and scholarships.
And also then we asked the countries that host a lot of refugees to adopt policies that will make the refugees more self-reliant so they can live
fuller lives, allow refugees to work. Because we've asked for very specific commitments that are measurable, we believe that many of us can
now go back and check and see whether governments are following through.
GORANI: But what if they don't follow through?
RICHARD: Well, this is exactly the problem, you remember we spoke in your studio in February when the U.K., Norway, Kuwait, and Germany and the U.N.
put on a Syria pledging conference. And so one of the topics this week here is how well have we done in following up on a Syria pledging
conference?
For the United States, we follow through on our pledges, but we have to have meetings and do a little arm twisting to get other governments to
follow through and write the checks that they've pledged to provide.
GORANI: And why doesn't the U.S. take in more than 20,000 Syrians, for instance, and the face of such misery?
RICHARD: I'm sorry, I didn't understand.
GORANI: Why doesn't the United States take in more Syrian refugees? The numbers are very low especially compared to the overall population?
RICHARD: Yes, we are taking in more Syrian refugees. We had a target this year of bringing 10,000. We've already reached that target. We're
exceeding it. We'll bring more.
I think your overall point though that this is a small number relative to the nearly 5 million Syrian refugees that are in the region and further on
the way looking for opportunities is absolutely fair.
And that's why the U.S. government also is a world leader and providing humanitarian assistance to the country's neighboring Syria and also to try
to get as much aid as possible into Syria.
Right now as you know, we have a problem where aid workers cannot get access to the people they need to help and in fact are being bombed and
attacked. So this is something that is also being discussed here in New York this week.
GORANI: All right. Well, we wish you good luck, Anne Richard, the U.S. assistant secretary of state there for migration and refugees joining us
from the U.N.
Well, it is arguably one of the most widely anticipated economic decisions in the world to raise or not to raise interest rates, that's the question
today for the U.S. Federal Reserve, it's chair, Janet Yellen said in the last hour, not yet.
Paul La Monica joins us from New York. It was expected she would say not yet and everybody wanted to read through the lines to figure out if not
now, when?
PAUL R. LA MONICA, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. I think that odds are a December rate hike is likely, but there are many caveats. What will
the U.S. economy and global economy do for the next few months between now and December?
The fed actually does have another meeting in the beginning of November, but most people think that Janet Yellen would be insane to raise rates just
days before the election because the fed goes out of its way to avoid looking as if it's a political body.
And fed chair, Janet Yellen, actually did talk down some of the notion and criticism that Donald Trump has lobbied to her during the press conference
today.
So I think a December rate hike is possible, but, what if the economy cools? What if Trump wins and looks to possibly replace her before her
term expires? There are a lot of wild cards here.
GORANI: Right. Because the forecast for the economy, I mean, and also the numbers have been mildly disappointing.
LA MONICA: Yes, I think for the most part, we have had some disappointing jobs growth lately, but the good news, if you want to call it that, is that
the U.S. economy is in better shape arguably than Europe, than many parts of Asia, Japan, and China.
The problem though is does the fed want to be the lone wolf, if you will, raising interest rates at a time when the rest of the world wants to keep
them low and maybe even further into negative territory? Janet Yellen is aware of what's going on in the rest of the world.
GORANI: All right, Paul La Monica, thanks very much in New York. A lot more ahead.
Do these images show a war crime or the scene of an accidental fire? It depends who you listen to. Washington is on one side of that argument,
Damascus, the other. We'll get you the tape from a senior advisor to President Assad, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:31:04] GORANI: Welcome back. A look at our top stories. There was sparring at a U.N. Security Council meeting on Syria between the top
diplomats from Russia and the United States. John Kerry said he felt like he was in a parallel universe to his counterpart, Sergei Lavrov. Lavrov
said Washington isn't holding up its end of the country's ceasefire.
Among the other top stories, violence broke out in Charlotte, North Carolina, Tuesday night over the fatal police shooting of an African-
American man. His family says Keith Lamont Scott was reading a book in his car, but the police chief says Scott had a gun, not a book.
Also among the stories we're following, it is reaction to all of this. The Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, says the escalation of
police-involved shootings of African-Americans needs to quote, "become intolerable," she says. Her Republican rival, Donald Trump, described the
shooting of a black man in Tulsa as very troubling.
The FBI is asking the public to help them find two witnesses in connection to the bombing in New York's Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday. Take a look
at the surveillance video. These two men were spotted on surveillance cameras, allegedly removing an explosive device from a piece of luggage.
New York police say, says that the men are simply witnesses. They're not suspected of doing anything wrong and they are not at risk of being
arrested.
Let's get back to our top story. The blame game between Russia and America over the recent bursts of deadly violence in Syria. A little bit earlier,
the American secretary of state, John Kerry, told the U.N. what he thinks will help stop a lot of it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KERRY, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: I believe that to restore credibility to the process, we must move forward to try to immediately
ground all aircraft flying in those key areas in order to deescalate the situation, and give a chance for humanitarian assistance to flow unimpeded.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, we've been hearing a lot about what Washington and Moscow make of all of this. What is Damascus thinking? I spoke to Bouthaina
Shaaban, an advisor to the Syrian president, Bashar Al-Assad. I asked her whether her boss would accept Kerry's proposal to enforce a no-fly zone.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BOUTHAINA SHAABAN, SENIOR ADVISER TO SYRIAN PRESIDENT ASSAD: Of course not. President Assad would not agree to that, and if you look, Hala, as
the basis on which John Kerry based his statement, it was really on the wrong basis.
Because we all should listen to what Sergei Lavrov said about the humanitarian aid and how it was targeted and that no Syrian or Russian
planes were on the side, but they were was American drone there who was able to carry out any attack on the humanitarian convoy.
[15:35:03]GORANI: So you're blaming the Americans for the attack on the convoy? You are blaming the Americans, an American drone specifically for
the attack on that Syrian Red Crescent convoy?
SHABAAN: All the reports are being taken, you know, and from each other without any investigation and this will go about to what the terrorists
were announcing in Idlib over the week ago, they were threatening of burning the humanitarian convoys and they are the ones who announced more
than once that they will not allow this humanitarian convoy to reach Aleppo.
What I would like to say that it's such tragic event should be investigated properly and calmly and super powers, Russia and the U.S., should reach --
GORANI: But you just mentioned an American drone. You just specifically mentioned an American drone, and you suggested, perhaps, that the U.S. was
responsible for the bombing of this convoy. Is that not the case?
SHABAAN: No, I'm not suggesting the Americans are responsible. I'm suggesting -- what I am mentioning what has been stated by both Russia and
the United States and I'm saying that both of them have said the lies and therefore they should look at the facts and investigate what has truly
taken place issuing judgments. And this is a proper way to do it, really.
GORANI: But why would rebels bomb convoys in their own territory? There was another attack against the medical facility in Aleppo Province today as
well. A day after the attack on that Syrian Red Crescent convoy. You're saying rebels are responsible for this? Why would they attack convoys on
their own territory? It doesn't seem to make much sense.
SHABAAN: First of all, they are not rebels. They are terrorists and they were the ones who are announced immediately after the American Russian
agreement on cessation of hostilities. They are the ones that would announce that they would not adhere to the secession of hostilities.
(Inaudible) Idlib is the one who threatened more than one that he's going to burn any humanitarian envoy that would try to get into Aleppo.
GORANI: So you're saying the regime planes did not bomb or Russian war planes did not bomb these medical facilities or that humanitarian convoy,
despite all of the evidence on the ground and all of the eyewitness testimony on the ground? You're saying all of that is a fabrication?
SHABAAN: I would like to ask, Hala, that why did we always allow all humanitarian convoys for every single city and sound in the country? And
what is the interest that we have, first, we are not a regime.
We are a government like American government, like British government, but Syria has agreed to that and cessation of hostilities, Syrian has acted
responsibly on every step of the way.
What does the west -- what is the interest of the west in defending terrorists? Our army are tens of kilometers away from the place where the
convoy was burned? Where we have no army at all? No Syrian --
GORANI: These are war planes, not ground troops. These are war planes, and by the way, the war planes from the Syrian government did break the
ceasefire within hours of it being announced. Is that not the case?
SHABAAN: Yes. The U.N. withdrew the statement that it was attacked by airplanes and said there was an attack, but we cannot confirm that it was
done by an airplane or by whatever.
The thing that I stress and I confirm and it is in the interest of all parties is that in such a tragic humanitarian event, they should show
responsibility, they should investigate, they should look at the facts before issuing judgments and assessments.
GORANI: And again the bombing of the medical facility today, that is also not the work of the Syrian Air Force or Syrian helicopters?
SHABAAN: We would never bomb any American facilities here or anything, but why don't you, Hala, ask me about where the United States planes have
shelled our soldiers and it killed over 80 soldiers, these are 80 people. You know, they are not numbers and all the U.S. can do is say I regret.
Is this a possible mistake to shell a Syrian Army and they know exactly, and they have said the lie us? You know, I think they should stop accusing
the Syrian government.
I will tell you one thing for fact, the one party who has an utmost interest in putting an end to the bloodshed in Syria is the Syrian
government and the Syrian people. This is a fact.
[15:40:12]GORANI: Is there any hope left that an agreement will be extended between Russia and the U.S., do you think?
SHABAAN: We certainly hope so, Hala, because the only hope to end this war on Syria is to have an agreement between Russia and the United States and
the Syrian government who immediately adheres and welcomes such agreements. The one who refused to adhere to such agreements are the terrorists because
they want to continue a war, attrition against our army and against our people.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Bouthaina Shabaan is the adviser to President Assad in Syria. The beginning of that interview, you've heard her suggest that there was an
American drone flying near where an aid convoy was struck on Monday.
Now just in to CNN, the Pentagon says neither the U.S., nor any country in its coalition, had any aircraft anywhere near the city of Aleppo when that
attack took place on the convoy.
You can check out the Facebook page, I'll post this interview a little bit later. You can listen to it and post your take, your comment on what she
said and what other parties involved in this conflict have been saying. Facebook.com/halagoranicnn.
A quick break on THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, finding their faith in Donald Trump. Why some members of the U.S. Evangelical community are turning to the
presidential candidate.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: This week, CNN is taking a closer look at a group of Americans who were often credited with helping fuel Trump's rise in politics, the white
working class, those without four year college degrees.
CNN worked with the Kaiser Family Foundation to pull this critical group and explore their issues, their concerns, what's making them vote the way
that they are.
The poll found that they are not all Trump supporters, just 60 percent of these voters would consider voting for Trump and 47 percent of white
working class adults say America's best days are behind us, which could show why Trump's slogan of quote, "Make America great again," is resonating
with some of them. CNN's Gary Tuchman visits one such community in Oklahoma.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Oklahoma Christian Evangelical church -- hundreds of congregants worshipping together at the
Guts Church in Tulsa. Many of them telling us they believe their Christian values are under attack.
BRIAN LLOYD, GUTS CHURCH MEMBER: I think it's funny that we call ourselves a Christian nation, but actual Evangelical Christians are the ones that
have to explain ourselves a lot.
[15:45:05]UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many can truly say, undoubtedly that you've experienced the life of God? Is there anybody here? If you've
experienced the life of God --
TUCHMAN (on camera): Do you think there's an attack on Christian values in this country?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There has been since the devil became the devil.
TUCHMAN: Our polling indicates 65 percent of working class white people believed Christian values are under attack. But among working class
Christian Evangelical white people that number jumps to 89 percent. Do you believe Christian values are under attack?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that objective morality is under attack.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): Among the other reasons cited by those who feel that way is this --
(on camera): Do you think immigrants from Muslim countries threaten Christian beliefs and values in this country?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think they test them.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): This is Jenks, Oklahoma, where three Syrian refugees have resettled since the conflict began in their country. Three of only a
total of 16 in the entire state of Oklahoma. This woman lives in Jenks.
(on camera): Do you think Christian values are under attack in America today?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I really do.
TUCHMAN: So do you think that Muslim refugees come into this country, come into this state and this town have led to that?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, I do. I believe we're supposed to be quiet because, you know, if it offended other people and I think that's not
American.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): This four-year-old, a Syrian refugee, along with his three brothers and his parents are now living in Oklahoma.
(on camera): Are you at all concerned for the safety of your children, your family, because there are some people who would prefer that you not be
here?
EBLESAM AKOWAYFI, SYRIAN REFUGEE LIVING IN OKLAHOMA (through translator): No one bothers my children when they go to school. Nothing hurts us. They
respect us and they don't bother us. They treat you as you treat them.
TUCHMAN (voice-over): If that answer gratifies the people at Catholic charities of Tulsa who have worked to resettle Syrians in Oklahoma. The
executive director disagreeing with the belief that Christian values are being threatened.
DEACON KEVIN SANTORIUS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF TULSA: This is a country that for its entire history has celebrated the diversity of
religions, and we need to hold that value dear to our hearts and protect it.
TUCHMAN: Back at the Evangelical church, the pastor does think there is an attack on Christian values, but he says it isn't necessarily a bad thing.
PASTOR BILL SCHEER, GUTS CHURCH: Honestly, I love the whole idea that we're set apart. I love the whole idea that it's like wait a second, I've
got to stand for something and if you're going to stand for something, that means there's going to be a little persecution, maybe there's going to be
resistance to it.
TUCHMAN: Gary Tuchman, CNN, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Coming up, the shocking news, the disbelief, and now potentially an ugly divorce battle, we're all fascinated so are you. Don't lie. I
know you like serious news, but you've been reading up on this, haven't you? We'll have the latest after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: While the world appears still in shock over the split of one of Hollywood's most well-known couples, on Tuesday, we've learned that
actress, Angelina Jolie, filed for divorce from her husband, Brad Pitt. The future of their six children is at stake. There's also huge money
involved here, and after all, what is this? It is a brand.
[15:50:04]Let's talk about this with our entertainment reporter, Chloe Melas. She's in New York. All right. So the story is so big that
"People" magazine is publishing a second edition this week. That doesn't happen very often.
CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: No, it doesn't happen very often. So just so everybody knows whose watching at home right now, celebrity
magazines come out every single week on Wednesdays. So they put these issues to bed on Monday night.
It costs a lot of money and time to put out a second edition in the same week, and that is what "People" magazine decided to do to devote a new
magazine, they're putting out next week's issue this week. So there will be two "People" magazines hitting stands on Friday.
One features Michael Strahan, and the other Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's $400 million divorce.
GORANI: Gee, I wonder which one's going to sell better.
MELAS: I think that obviously the reason why we're supposed to do this is the biggest story of the year when it comes to Hollywood news.
GORANI: You don't want to be the guy on the alternative cover of "People" magazine if you're competing against the Brangelina divorce. Let's talk
about reaction in the United States. We're here outside of the U.S., Brangelina isn't just a couple, it's a Hollywood brand. What impact is it
going to have?
MELAS: It has a great impact. Let's talk about the fact that it was a number one trending topic on Twitter all day yesterday. It's all anybody
could talk about. You know, they broke into CNN domestic to mention the news.
The reason why people are so fascinated by this couple breaking up is how they got together. Brad Pitt was married at the time when he met Angelina
Jolie on the set of "Mr. And Mrs. Smith." He was married to Jennifer Aniston and then their marriage imploded.
Allegations that maybe he had an affair with Angelina Jolie, but we can't confirm any of that. Then they were together for 12 years. They are a
couple that has graced hundreds of celebrity magazine covers.
They're worth a combined over $400 million. They have homes all over the world and Angelina Jolie is this U.N. goodwill ambassador. Brad Pitt is
the star of all these movies. He has a new movie coming out called with Marion Cotillard called "Allied" this fall. They're always making
headlines and they seem so happy together.
GORANI: And what was interesting was the timing of it. Now, Angelina Jolie is the U.N. ambassador. She talks a lot about refugees. She spends
time even visiting refugees, and this -- this comes out on the big refugee day of the U.N. I wonder about the timing.
MELAS: Well, the thing is that a lot of people were criticizing her on social media for the timing of the divorce announcement, but then again,
she cites the date of separation as last Thursday. She filed for divorce on Monday. It broke in the press on Tuesday.
CNN's Richard Roth actually caught up with George Clooney over at the U.N. right over here and actually shocked him with the news. George Clooney
didn't even know. This has been one of the biggest shocks.
GORANI: I know. And in fact, you prefaced the question with don't shoot me for asking you this, which I kind of -- anyway, it was kind of funny.
And unfortunately, they're friends. Not great news for him to hear that from anyone. Thanks very much, Chloe.
Now ask anyone how to live long, and they will likely tell you, eat well, get enough sleep, exercise, try not to stress out, but some residents of a
small Italian village say they have more tips for all of us. Ben Wedeman heads there to see how they live to a (inaudible) old age.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He is 94 years old. He still tends his own garden, still hangs out with the younger
guys and watching their card game, and still enjoys the company of the opposite sex.
I noticed, he says, that also that is indispensable. It makes you happy. More cheerful. Does it still work, I ask. Yes, he says, yes, once it
really worked.
He lives in the Southern Italian town where one in ten residents is more than a hundred years old, where living well beyond the already impressive
average Italian lifespan of 82 is the norm.
Earlier this year, the Rome University and the University of California San Diego launched a study to see why people here live so long and so strong.
It was in the villages along this coast that American nutritionists identified what is now known as the Mediterranean diet. Spring chicken at
79 was key's cook, and now runs a restaurant specializing in that diet.
Fresh herbs, vegetables, fruit, and fish, all local. Because we eat natural things, she says. Things that we grow, we know what's there.
[15:25:11]Researchers are particularly interested in rosemary, which they suspect helps circulation to the brain and might explain why Alzheimer's is
rare here.
(on camera): Obviously diet has a lot to do with the longevity of local residents, but clearly there are other factors. There's no pollution.
They're right by the sea. The weather's very nice, and there are almost none of the stresses of modern life.
(voice-over): Antonio celebrated his 100th birthday recently. He attributes his long life to, in his words -- this beautiful woman. The
woman of my life.
Amina, a spry 93 continues to write poetry and recite for memory, this one dedicated to Antonio. And I became, so her tone concludes, the pride of
this fisher. You can't quantify it, but love also plays a role. Ben Wedeman, CNN, Italy.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Love always plays a role. Just adorable. Thanks very much to Ben Wedeman for that. This has been THE WORLD RIGHT NOW. I'm Hala Gorani.
"QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is next.
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END
