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Hala Gorani Tonight
Donald Trump Covered Wide Range of Topics in Press Conference; Interview with Chris Patten as Protests Continue in Hong Kong; Interview with Gebran Bassil as Nizar Zakka is Released From a Lebanese Prison. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired June 11, 2019 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN ANCHOR, HALA GORANI TONIGHT: Hello, everyone. Live from CNN London, I'm Bianca Nobilo, standing in for Hala Gorani.
Tonight, Donald Trump tackles the world as he addresses all kinds of foreign policy with reporters on the White House lawn.
Police in riot gear surround the main government complex in Hong Kong as protestors take to the streets once again.
And baseball star David Ortiz undergoes a second surgery after being shot over the weekend.
North Korea, Venezuela, China, Mexico and Iran. U.S. president, Donald Trump, just talked about all of those foreign policy challenges and more in
a rapid-fire chat with reporters on the White House lawn.
He's heading to the state of Iowa for some 2020 campaigning. But first, made it clear he had a lot of other things on his mind. Let's take a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This is one page -- this is one page of a very long and very good agreement for both Mexico and the
United States. Without the tariffs, we would have had nothing.
China is a major competitor. And right now, China wants to make a deal very badly. It's me right now that's holding up the deal.
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: And we're going to either do a great deal with China, or we're not doing a deal at all. Right now, China is paying us billions and billions
of dollars. They never gave us 10 cents. And China ate our country alive during Obama and Biden.
He's kept his word. There's no nuclear testing, there's no large -- you know, long-range missiles going up. The only thing he's sent up were very
short-term, short-range. And that was just a test of short-range. It's a whole different deal. But he's kept his word to me. That's very
important.
And again, the letter he sent was a beautiful letter. It was a very warm letter. That's a very nice thing.
(CROSSTALK)
TRUMP: And I don't say that out of naivete. I say, that was a very nice letter.
I hope that everything works out with Iran. Iran is a country that now, because of all of the sanctions and other things, is a much different
country than when I came here.
When I came here, they were all over the place causing terror, causing problems. They're not doing that right now. And I think they respect the
United States right now much more than they ever have. So Iran's got a lot of problems. And I'd like to help them with those problems. We'll see
what happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBILO: Let's bring in White House reporter Sarah Westwood. She's in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where Mr. Trump will make an appearance next hour.
And we're also joined by CNN political analyst Eliana Johnson in Washington.
Eliana, let's start with you. That was a remarkable overview that the president just gave on the White House lawn there, of all the foreign
policy issues that's on his mind. He even whipped out a deal that he made earlier, which he was showing to all of us on-camera. What stuck out to
you? What was new? What don't we know that the president just told us?
ELIANA JOHNSON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think for the first time, the president said that he received a new letter from Kim Jong Un. And
clearly, a third summit is on his mind. We've heard a little bit about that before. But the -- certainly the receipt of a letter is new.
It's pretty clear that criticisms of the president's recent deal with Mexico are on his mind. And the fact that there wasn't much new in the
deal has gotten under his skin. So we saw him actually brandish a piece of paper.
He was asked to show reporters what was in the piece of paper, and declined to do so. But he clearly has a desire to prove that this was a substantive
deal and that Mexico is going to be ramping up its efforts to stem Central American migrants -- the tide of Central American migrants into the United
States.
And finally, his re-election campaign is on his mind. Talked a great deal about Joe Biden. And the two of them are in Iowa today, going head-to-head
in that state.
And though he said he believed that Biden was the weakest candidate in the field, that is clearly not true. You do not hear him talking about other
Democratic contenders in -- at the same volume or at the same rate that he is talking about Joe Biden. So clearly concerned about one particular
Democratic challenger in the field, as he heads out to the first caucus state today.
NOBILO: Trump also addressed the issue of Kim Jong Un's brother being a CIA informant. What did he have to say about that?
JOHNSON: You know, he said that he's -- he was addressing news reports out for the first time last night, that Kim Jong Un's half-brother served as a
CIA informant. And he said that that would never happen on his watch. And that was a pretty remarkable statement from the president.
[14:05:03] But what struck me was that the president clearly is straining to keep relations with Kim Jong Un positive, in an effort to have a third
summit. So he does not want Kim Jong Un to see those reports and think that he had anything to do with the use of his half-brother, who he -- who
Kim executed as a CIA asset.
NOBILO: Thanks, Eliana.
Let's bring Sarah into the conversation now. Sarah, Eliana was just talking about how the president did address 2020. Obviously, that's a huge
issue pressing on his mind.
You're in Iowa. What can you tell us about the jabs that the president's already been trading to Joe Biden, who's in Iowa, too, today? It seems
like he's certainly not shy when it comes to insulting Joe Biden, particularly around his health and how he's looking, his speed. Talk to us
about that.
SARAH WESTWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: That's right, Bianca. President Trump today, leaving the White House, suggested that he would prefer to run
against Biden rather than any of the other nearly two dozen Democrats that are vying to be his rival in 2020 because he described Biden as the weakest
mentally.
But behind the scenes, President Trump seems to be actually the most concerned about having to run against Biden. Sources tell CNN that a
series of recent state-by-state internal polls conducted by his campaign did rankle the president.
Because it showed that in some of the key battleground states that he will need to win if he wants to stay in the White House, such as Michigan, that
in head-to-head match-ups, Biden at the moment is running ahead of President Trump. So that has given the president a little bit of reason to
be concerned.
Now, here in Council Bluffs, Iowa, he is supposed to be talking about an ethanol policy that his administration recently did. So this will be a
test, Bianca, of whether the president can stay on-message, a message that Iowans really like, having to do with ethanol, or whether he will not be
able to resist the temptation to take swipes at Biden while he's here.
NOBILO: Let's take a listen to what the president had to say about Joe Biden earlier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Now, I have to tell you, he's a different guy. He looks different than he used to. He acts different than he used to. He's even slower than
he used to be. So I don't know. But when he mentions my name that many times, I guess I should be complimented.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBILO: Eliana, Sarah was just talking about how President Trump's team might be concerned about Joe Biden's success in the campaign so far. It
might be a case of -- like when Shakespeare says, "You doth protest too much," he's talking about Joe Biden all the time, maybe because he does see
him as a threat. Talk to me about Biden's messaging at the moment and why it has been successful where it has.
JOHNSON: Well, what's so interesting is that Biden is basically ignoring the other candidates in the Democratic primary. And there are a lot of
them. Instead, he's focusing on the president as if this Democratic primary is over, he's already won it and this is a general election.
TEXT: Trump / Biden Campaign Stops: Donald Trump: Council Bluffs, West Des Moines. Joe Biden: Ottumwa, Mount Pleasant, Davenport.
JOHNSON: So you hear Biden talking a whole lot about Donald Trump and not a lot about his competitors in that primary. And I think that's served to
elevate Biden above the rest of his primary competitors, at least for now, and create the illusion, because the president is responding, that this is
a two-man race.
NOBILO: Eliana Johnson in Washington and Sarah Westwood in Iowa, thank you both very much.
To Hong Kong now, where protestors are one again gathering to voice their fury at a highly controversial bill that would allow extraditions to
mainland China. Critics fear it could be abused, making people more vulnerable to being prosecuted for political crimes.
These are some of the scenes today. They follow the incredible protests on Sunday. One of the city's biggest trade unions is now calling for a
strike, Wednesday. But Hong Kong's chief executive is standing firm, saying the city must not become a haven for fugitives. CNN's Matt Rivers
is live in Hong Kong for us tonight.
Matt, nice to speak to you. What have you seen today? You've been in amongst the protestors. What have you been hearing from them? And what
kind of events have you been witnessing?
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Bianca. At its peak tonight, here, outside of the Legislative Council Building, which is the chief government
building here in Hong Kong, I think at its peak, with the protestors here tonight, we saw several thousand.
As the hours have gone on -- it's now a little bit after 2:00 a.m. here in Hong Kong -- you know, people have started to trickle out a little bit.
But you can see, there's still -- this is a public road normally, but it's been closed off for now.
You can still see, there's a lot of people here. Mainly young people. Things have been very calm for most of the night. But you can see, they're
sitting on a median here, on this road, really, all the way down.
And then if you follow me over this way, you can see, this would be the complex here to the Legislative Council Building. And you can see that
it's still being blocked off by police in riot gear. They've been surrounding the entire complex here for most of the night, just to avoid
any protestors going inside, which has happened in the past.
[14:10:09] So despite the fact that, you know, there's a lot of riot gear here and whatnot, it might look very intimidating, things have been calm
here tonight. There was some thought that maybe there would become violence after what we saw late on Sunday night, after a very peaceful
march all day Sunday. But that hasn't materialized. This has been very peaceful tonight.
And so now, we kind of move forward into what's going to happen about eight hours from now. And that's when legislators, lawmakers will go inside that
building and they will start debating for the -- on the second reading, this extradition bill that would see suspects here in Hong Kong be allowed
to be extradited to mainland China, and that's what people here are very upset about.
We expect the number of protestors, Bianca, to swell dramatically once the sun comes up, not only because they are more organized, but also because
we're told the city's largest trade union is encouraging workers to take the day off. And there is more buy-in in these kind of protests, from the
business community.
So we are expecting a lot of people to leave work tomorrow to come join these protests. and that's what we're going to be looking forward on, on
Wednesday when these lawmakers start debating this very controversial bill.
NOBILO: Matt, thank you. We know you'll be monitoring that for us. Matt Rivers in Hong Kong.
Sunday's protests are said to be the largest in Hong Kong since the handover from Britain to China back in 1997. Chris Patten was Britain's
final governor of Hong Kong and was a vital part of that transition. You can see him here at the handover, a hugely significant moment. Let's take
a listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS PATTEN, THEN-HONG KONG GOVERNOR: As British administration ends, we are, I believe entitled to say that our own nation's contribution here was
to provide the scaffolding that enabled the people of Hong Kong to ascend. The rule of law, clean and light-handed government, the values of a free
society, the beginnings of representative government and democratic accountability.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBILO: Well, I spoke to Chris Patten about the protests that we're seeing today. And this controversial extradition bill, which would allow
extraditions to mainland China, a move which he believes threatens those very values that he said he celebrated in 1997.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATTEN: What this move does, is to remove the sort of fire wall between the rule of law in Hong Kong, which guarantees Hong Kong's way of life, and
the notion of law in mainland China, in which there's no real difference between the security services and the courts, between party rules and the
courts, in which people make show confessions on television, in which human rights lawyers are locked up for trying to represent their clients.
And it's lamentable and it will damage Hong Kong, not least as an international trade arm (ph). That's why so many businesses and chambers
of commerce have denounced the move, just as lawyers have done and just as the public have done in those hundreds of thousands we saw in the
television shots on Sunday.
NOBILO: And you mentioned that this promise had been made to Hong Kong, to respect all of those things back in 1997. Does this move actually come as
a surprise, happening now? Or have there been clues over the last couple of years, which have made you concerned about this erosion of liberties in
Hong Kong?
PATTEN: I think we've all been rather surprised and worried over the last few years. Because to be honest, for 10 or a dozen years after 1997,
things went pretty well. Not as perfectly as I would have liked. I didn't like the fact that democratic development was choked back, despite the
promises that China had made.
But I think ever since President Xi Jinping came in and began rolling back Deng Xiaoping's reforms, began a crackdown on any sort of disagreement made
the party in control of everything. And incarcerated hundreds of thousands of people in Xinjiang, was much tougher in Tibet. I think that's also been
shown by a toughening of the line on Hong Kong.
And anybody who thinks that we should be able to trust China in the future, should consider how China is behaving in Hong Kong because it makes a
mockery of China's promises, that it will always go play by the rules.
NOBILO: So what can other nations do? Can they do anything to intervene and remind China of the promises that were made to Hong Kong?
PATTEN: It's very important that they speak out as more and more of them have been doing. It's very important that the British government leads the
way on that. We have a sense of obligation, we should have a sense of honor about doing that.
[14:15:00] But it's also very important that governments, as they have been doing, point out that it's going to damage Hong Kong if it just seems to be
treated like any other Chinese mainland city.
Hong Kong has been a great international hub. People are prepared to behave towards it as an economic unity (ph), as though it's different from
the rest of China.
But as Congress in the United States has been suggesting, if Hong Kong just looks like the rest of China, the danger is it gets sucked into the trade
wars between China and others. We don't want to see that. It would be bad and damaging for Hong Kong.
And it's extraordinary that the government in Hong Kong, I don't think they call the shots, frankly. They may (ph) just do what the Chinese communist
regime tells them to do. But it's very, very sad, they're not prepared to stand up for Hong Kong business as well as for the ordinary citizens of
Hong Kong, who showed in the hundreds of thousands, what they think about this.
NOBILO: Is it possible, at this late stage, for the extradition bill to be shelved? What if anything would make China turn around?
PATTEN: Well, it's possible if China cares a toss for what people in Hong Kong thing. And that's a real question mark.
Now, there are plenty of ways in which the government could now react. They could say, well, they're prepared to look at different ways of dealing
with what they claim is a loophole in the law. It involved a murder case in Taiwan.
There are plenty of ways in which they could look at the proposals, which lawyers themselves, which the bar association, have put forward for dealing
with that issue.
If they did that, it would give them a time to consult the public more. It would give them time to back off, perhaps without losing too much face,
which of course they're very concerned about. But at the moment, what we're seeing is a really important and unattractive assault on the basic
freedoms of Hong Kong.
NOBILO: One last question to you. You're a former chairman of the Conservative Party. Obviously, all eyes on that leadership contest at the
moment. Who would you like to see or feel most comfortable with representing Britain on the international stage, being able to navigate
matters like what we've just been discussing?
PATTEN: Well, I would be happiest to see somebody who was prepared to be honest about the position we're in. There's a lot of absolute rubbish
talked at the moment, people claiming we (ph) they will go to Brussels, tell Brussels to do whatever they want. And if they don't -- if that
doesn't happen, they'll just pull us out of the European Union at the end of October. That's crazy.
What the government has to do and what a new prime minister will have to do, if we want a settlement, if we want a deal, is to change the so-called
red lines about customs union, about single market, about other matters. And if they do that, they can start renegotiating what's been set out so
far.
But as things stand, nobody's going to be able to go to Brussels and get Brussels to make a completely different offer. They're not going to get a
better deal than Mr. Cameron or Mrs. May got because the European Union doesn't want to undermine its own values and its own laws.
So I think it's very important that whoever emerges should be capable of telling the truth, which I'm afraid at least one of the favorite candidates
isn't capable of doing.
NOBILO: Do you mean Boris?
PATTEN: I mean the man who's probably best known for, if I can put it like this, a rather relaxed relationship with the truth.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NOBILO: Still to come on HALA GORANI TONIGHT, Iran releases a Lebanese citizen it had accused of spying. My interview with the Lebanese foreign
minister about just that, is next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:21:01] NOBILO: Welcome back. A Lebanese citizen who also had permanent U.S. residency has been released by Iran after being held for
four years. Nizar Zakka was arrested in 2015 and convicted of, quote, "espionage for foreign governments." Iran's judiciary said the release
was, quote, "a judicial process without any political stances being considered."
Earlier, I spoke to Lebanon's foreign minister, Gebran Bassil, and I asked him what led to Mr. Zakka being released.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEBRAN BASSIL, FOREIGN MINISTER OF LEBANON: Lately, I wrote a letter to the foreign minister, asking a pardon for him because of Ramadan holidays.
And the president, our president of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, asked President Rouhani for his release. And as such, we were informed
that our request was accepted and he was just now delivered to the presidential palace, to our president.
NOBILO: What is the significance of the timing of the release, do you think?
BASSIL: I don't know if there is necessarily a political relation with the tension going on. But if there is only one explanation, it is a sign of
positivity.
NOBILO: Do you think it could be a message to the U.S., since he was a U.S. resident?
BASSIL: It can be -- it can be that, when there is a necessity not to have tension leading to conflict or, God forbid, to (ph) war, and we can follow
a different path of dialogue.
NOBILO: How concerned are you about an escalation of tensions between Iran and the U.S.?
BASSIL: Frankly, I'm not worried, of such an escalation. Because no one can bear the price of the war. Both sides will be heavily hurt and the
region will suffer a lot, so. And more extremism and terrorism will come out of this.
So I don't think that the world needs this now. We need to seek moderation. Lebanon is a symbol of moderation. We need not only to avoid,
but to combat terrorism and Lebanon is the antidote of -- to terrorism.
NOBILO: What role do you think that Lebanon can play, mediating those tensions between the United States and Iran?
BASSIL: This is the historic role of Lebanon, being the bridge between the East and the West, between civilizations, between religions. So we are
champions at dialogue. We understand the other. We accept -- respect the differences. And I believe this is our role in the region.
NOBILO: There is an economic conference coming up in Bahrain, one organized by the Trump administration, particularly Jared Kushner. Will
you be sending delegates from Lebanon? Because so far, this economic conference hasn't got a huge amount of support.
BASSIL: No, we are not participating because, you know, Palestinians are not participating. And we'd better have a clear idea on this peace plan --
(CROSSTALK)
NOBILO: Do you have a notion of -- a blueprint for it?
BASSIL: -- no. Just (ph) what we hear, you know? We cannot consider them as an official plan or information. We were not consulted and we were not
informed. And until now, we see prosperity and development of the region. We thank any assistance in that regard. What (ph) -- we don't want it to
be conditioned for something that would touch our rights.
Like in our case, Lebanon, until now, we still have occupied lands -- Shebaa Farms -- and we still have the Palestinians who are, since 1948, in
our land. And they should return to their home.
[14:25:09] NOBILO: You mentioned Syria. What is the current state of affairs vis-a-vis refugees in Lebanon? How is the government in the
country coping?
BASSIL: You know, imagine having 200 refugees per square kilometer in any country. You know, you can understand the heavy burden that Lebanon is
facing. And there is no justification only (ph) -- any more for their stay in Lebanon, so --
NOBILO: Even if they might say that by going back to their home country, that they still face some of the same dangers as they did before?
BASSIL: They are not forced to go back. Nobody is forcing nobody. And there are different categories where, in some -- majority of the cases,
people can go to safe areas where their houses are there, where they have no problems, political or security. And where the assistance they are
getting in Lebanon for nutrition, for shelter, education, social care, health care, they can get it on their land.
So why keep them in a place where tension is mounting, where there are real social, economic and security concerns, where they should go back to their
country, participate in the civilization (ph) of their country, be part of choosing their destiny and their leadership, and be a positive part in the
solution, and the reconciliation of Syria.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NOBILO: To Russia now. And a big twist in the case of an investigative journalist who was arrested on drugs charges. Ivan Golunov is now free.
You can see pictures of him here, as he's released.
The criminal case was dropped because of a lack of evidence, according to Russia's state-run news agency. Golunov insisted that the charge was
fabricated. The arrest sparked outrage, and an outpouring of solidarity which seemed to take the Kremlin by surprise.
Still to come on HALA GORANI TONIGHT, as the world comes out to party during Pride Month, some troubling news for the LGBTQ community. Details
on new guidelines issued by the Vatican, ahead.
Plus, having sex with someone of your own gender is outlawed in more than 30 countries in Africa. We'll tell you which country took a big step
forward for gay rights.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NOBILO: As the world celebrates Pride Month, there's outrage over a Vatican guide to sexuality.
[14:30:02] The Vatican is releasing the document to catholic schools across the world. It challenges and questions the different conceptions of gender
identity. The church rejects the idea that it can be fluid describing non- binary gender as, "fictitious."
The head of a LGBTQ leader organization slammed the report. She calls it, "The antithesis of pride and says it perpetuate misinformation and fuels
hate."
Let's bring in Father Edwin Beck. He's a Roman Catholic priest and serves as a CNN religion commentator. He joins us now from Los Angeles.
Father Beck, thank you for joining us.
FATHER EDWARD BECK, CNN RELIGION COMMENTATOR: Sure, Bianca. Good to see you.
NOBILO: Good to see you too. The New Ways Ministry which is an organization based in America, a Catholic organization, has condemned this
act by the Vatican. They said it's a harmful tool which will be use to oppress and harm, not only transgender people, but also lesbian, gay, and
bisexual people too.
There's also concern that by eliminating the notion of a gender fluid category that might make children or teenagers even more confused and that
already a demographic prone to higher levels of self-harm and suicide.
So, what do you make of this decision?
BECK: Well, Bianca, let's talk about, first of all, what it is and what it isn't. This is not an official Vatican teaching. It comes from the
congregation for the education of Catholics. Catholic education in schools.
And what it's meant to be, it says, is that dialogue about this issue, that's right in the topic, it says in the title male and female, he created
them, and he talked about a dialogue regarding gender identity.
So the point is not to discriminate. In fact, the document talks about not discriminating, no bullying, no violation be accepted against any group.
What the document is trying to say, and again, this didn't all get reported in the news, is that gender identity is not simply an individual choice or
a sociological phenomenon. That there's something biological, something a priory given about someone's gender and that that fact needs to enter the
conversation.
Now, unfortunately, I think the document does not seem to include the experience, at least the stated experience, of real people who struggle
with this issue or who say that it's more than just biology here because there's something innate also in me about this and it would be great if
that conversation was also included in the document, but maybe the invitation of dialogue says that that is still yet to happen.
NOBILO: Father Beck, I appreciate what you're saying because it's often difficult for news bulletins and the media to capture all the nuances of
what's happening. But you say it intends to open a discussion, which it might well -- that might well be the intention. But is it trying -- is the
document also trying to underscore the fact that there is a biology genetical component to gender, therefore that's a fact, that is where the
Catholic Church stands, even if they say that they're open to having a discussion. I mean, it doesn't sound like -- it sounds fairly unequivocal.
BECK: Yes, most definitely. That is the catholic perspective and that's what the document wants to put forward. It's saying that the catholic
educators, they think the cultural influence right now is going so far the other way to saying it's just a matter of personal freedom and choice that
also entering into the conversation as we teach our young people in catholic schools and catholic education so that they don't get confused,
that also to be included is the church perspective that this is also a biological given identity, the way God created someone.
That's not to say that someone can't have a choice of choosing differently or a cultural influence or psychological influence, but it is to say that -
- to say that is not biology involved or something a priory is to leave part of the conversation out.
NOBILO: Right. And how do members of the Catholic Church feel about the fact that it is Pride Month, that people who do belong to the LGBTQ
communities in Brunei, or Russia, or Saudi Arabia, or Nigeria experience a huge amount of suffering on account of their sexuality and their gender
identity. Is there a sympathy? How does the church respond to that suffering?
BECK: Well, I think the church, again, in the document says no discrimination, no bullying, no violence. Everyone must be accepted. So
it says that in there.
However, I think to release it this month is that a purposeful choice? Perhaps. They didn't say it was. But I think it's ill timed. I think
it's tone deaf and I think, again, not to include the experience of real people who have this as an issue in their lives is a mistake because it's
seen again like this abstract group deciding for another group who they should be and what they should be.
[14:35:16] So I think the perception is valid. And I think people have a right to be concerned whoever I think most people will not read the full
document, will not see the part about, please, let's have a dialogue about this, but include this voice, and I think that's where the rub is.
I think people react right away, but I think they need to step back and say, is there a perspective here that needs to be considered in the
conversation? Can the church have a point and enter into dialogue with those who have an opposing point and maybe meet somewhere in the middle
with that? I think that's the intent, but that certainly is not the perception.
NOBILO: Father Beck, thank you for your insights and for expanding on what the guidelines are. Appreciate it. Thank you.
BECK: Thank you, Bianca.
NOBILO: Meantime, gay rights activists are celebrating a landmark ruling in Botswana. Today, the nation's high court overturned laws that made
homosexuality a crime, punishable by up to seven years in prison.
Those laws dated back more than half a century. The court ruled the ban was oppressive and deny gay people dignity and equality. In announcing the
ruling today, the judge said the time has come to decriminalize homosexuality.
CNN's David McKenzie joins us now from Johannesburg. David, what exactly does this ruling now mean for the LGBTQ community in Botswana?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Bianca, it's highly significant. It's not just about striking these colonial era laws off of
the books that have been grandfathered in by the former British colony in Botswana, but it's also about opening the space up for the LGBT community
in Botswana.
Because of that law, which really criminalized gay sex for up to seven years in prison, there was a sense from members of that community I've been
speaking to, that they lived in the shadows.
Now, this ruling was unanimous. It was very emotional in its language. I just want to read you a short excerpt. "The democratic society is one that
embraces tolerance, diversity, open-mindedness."
They say that the laws were unconstitutional. It really is a major win for that community in Botswana and a message for many other countries on the
continent, Bianca?
NOBILO: On that subject, David, where does this step forward for gay rights in Botswana fit in to the broader context of countries in Africa?
What is the landscape look like for gay rights?
MCKENZIE: Well, I think it's the exception rather than the rule at this stage. More than 30 countries or around 30 countries still criminalize gay
sex in the continent.
Again, many of those rules date back to colonial era which kind of clashes with the concept by some more conservative members of communities and
governments who say that LGBT behavior in their mind is un-African.
Many of these laws are not African. They, in fact, often British or French that have been grandfathered into the system. There have been significant
wins for their communities in Southern Africa, Botswana, as we're talking about today, Angola, Mozambique. Of course, here in South Africa where I'm
sitting, it's had a constitution for some time that allows for gay marriage and full rights for anyone to live who they choose.
But there are still countries where there's a death penalty for being gay or lesbian both here in Africa and other parts of the world. So activists
say this is an important step for the rights, the human rights of LGBT people across Africa, but it's just a step.
Just last month, in fact, the Kenyan high court really upheld very similar laws and its statute books was seen as a major blow in a country where
there has been a big opening up for these communities and further acceptance.
But still in the case of Kenya, in black and white, in the law, it is illegal. So a long way to go, I think, Bianca, but it is seen as a victory
certainly in Pride Month, very significant for that community.
NOBILO: David McKenzie in Johannesburg, thank you.
Britain's charity commission is offering a blistering critique Oxfam in a report on its group's sex abuse scandal. It says Oxfam repeatedly fail to
prevent its aid workers from sexually abusing women in the wake of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
The commission cited a culture for tolerance and poor behavior. It says Oxfam officials ignored the warning signs.
Protestors in Sudan have agreed to end their campaign of civil disobedience and to resume talks to form a transitional government. That's according to
Reuters. The reported breakthrough follows a deadly crackdown on protestors last week that left the streets of the capital eerily empty.
[14:40:11] CNN's Ben Wedeman has more. And we must warn you, some of the images in this report are disturbing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shops shuttered, normally busy streets, deserted. Pro-prodemocracy protestors
have launched a nationwide campaign of civil disobedience. After the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led an attack on a long-running sit-in
outside defense headquarters.
In the chaos that followed that killed more than 100 people according to the Central Committee Sudan Doctors, in the bloodiest day yet since the
Sudanese uprising began in December of last year.
The Rapid Support Forces were previously known as the Janjaweed, irregulars used by the Sudanese regime to crush a rebellion in the western province of
Darfur.
The International Criminal Court and the U.S. government hold that the Janjaweed responsible for committing genocide in Darfur.
The opposition led by the Sudanese Professionals Association is demanding the military hand power to civilians immediately and is calling for an
independent investigation into last week's killings.
Men in uniform, however, are shrugging off the demands, addressing his troops last week, Rapid Support Force Commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo known
simply as Hemeti, sent a stern warning to protestors.
"We will not permit chaos," he said. Code words in the Arab world for, no power to the people.
Sarah Abdeljalil, based in the U.K., is a member of the Sudanese Professional Associations, she stresses the uprising has repercussions well
beyond Sudan's borders.
SARA ABDELJALIL, SPOKESWOMAN, SUDANESE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS: The success of this revolution is a threat to a lot of regimes in the region.
It is about justice. It's not just about the people of Sudan.
WEDEMAN: And in a region where autocrats hold sway this revolution matters.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NOBILO: Salvage crews lifted the wreckage of a tourist boat from the Danube River, nearly two weeks after it capsized in Budapest.
The boat called the Mermaid was hit by a large cruise liner during heavy rain. All victims were found inside the wreckage today, bringing the
number of confirmed dead to 24 people. Search teams are still looking for more people who may have drowned.
Still to come tonight, the beloved baseball player known for his huge smile and his big bat is recuperating inside a Boston hospital. What we know
about the man suspected of shooting him when we return.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:08] NOBILO: Welcome back. Retired baseball star, David Ortiz, underwent a second round of surgery in Boston today. Ortiz' wife says he's
in a stable condition and is now awake.
Ortiz was flown back to Boston on Monday, on a plane provided by his former team, the Red Sox. He was shot on Sunday at a night club in the Dominican
Republic. And we're starting to learn a bit more about the man allegedly behind that attack.
For more on what happened, let's go to CNN's Patrick Oppmann in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
Patrick, good to see you. What have we learned from the police today? What did they said that they know for sure happened?
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We expect to get some more information shortly, either the police don't know much or they're just
not saying much. But this afternoon, there will be the first appearance for the only man who's been arrested, one of two suspects, police say they
believe is behind this attack that has left the Dominican Republic reeling.
While there is one arrest and one other suspect on the loose, police have yet to say if there's a clear motive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OPPMANN (voice-over): This video purportedly showing the moment the former Red Sox slugger, David Ortiz, also known as Big Papi, was shot at a club in
Santo Domingo along with TV talk show host, Jhoel Lopez. Just hours before, Lopez posted this picture with Ortiz on Instagram saying, "You know
that we are from the streets with my David Ortiz."
Authorities in the Dominican Republic say the shooter was on a motorcycle and ambushed Ortiz, shooting him just once in the back. The 43-year-old
was rushed today to a local hospital where he underwent surgery and doctors had removed part of his intestines, colon, and his gallbladder to stop
internal bleeding, according to Ortiz' assistant.
Doctors at the hospital said they expected Ortiz to make a full recovery.
"When he opened his eyes, the first thing he asked for was to see his family." Gonzalez, said during a press conference Monday at the Clinica
Abel, the hospital where Ortiz has been treated.
Leo Ortiz, David's father also spoke at the presser and thanked the medical team.
"On behalf of the Ortiz family, David Ortiz' work team, I want to thank the press, but especially this medical team." Ortiz' father says, he had no
idea why someone would have shot his son. Right now, police say they have one person in custody for the shooting, who was captured and held down by a
crowd of bystanders until police arrived.
The crowd can be heard repeatedly saying in Spanish. "The suspect needed to talk and fess up." Another suspect got away on foot.
The baseball legend's assistant telling CNN, it was not a robbery and that Ortiz does not know the suspect.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There goes, Big Papi.
OPPMANN: In 2004, Ortiz helped the Red Sox to their first World Series championship since 1918. Ending the so-called Curse of the Bambino. In
2013, Ortiz cemented his place in the hearts of Bostonians with this reaction in the wake of the Boston bombings.
DAVID ORTIZ, FORMER MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DESIGNATED HITTER: This is our (BLEEP) city and nobody going to dictate our freedom.
OPPMANN: Ortiz is a near certainty to be a future Hall of Famer. But as the baseball community rallies around one of its brothers, the question
remains, why Ortiz?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
OPPMANN: And Eddy Garcia's mother and attorney are here. I had a chance to speak with them just a few minutes ago. And they denied that they had
anything to do with the killing. They said he's a simply motorcycle taxi driver that he ferries passengers all over the city. And that if he took
someone, the alleged gunman who shot David Ortiz, well then he did that without knowing, that he would never have done that purposely.
And his mother told me that she sends David Ortiz good health and she hopes that he has a quick recovery.
NOBILO: Patrick, at the end of your piece there, you asked the question, why Ortiz? Do we know anything about a possible motive here?
OPPMANN: It's just the most striking thing is that everyone you talk to here is so proud of David Ortiz as a baseball player, as the man that he's
gone and played baseball on the world stage. And this is a baseball-crazy country. And that he's one of the best they've ever produced. But on top
of that, that he's come back here, that he's not cut ties with the island, that he stayed local, as it were, that he likes to come and go out and
shake people's hands and sign autographs.
He has a foundation that helps so many people here. So whether or not they're baseball fans, people are proud of David Ortiz and they say it just
makes no sense. Not only that he would be shot, but that somebody would have intentionally targeted him, that remains a big mystery here.
NOBILO: Patrick Oppmann in the Dominican Republic, thank you.
[14:50:59] Actor and comedian, Jon Stewart, appeared before the U.S. Congress today, bitterly angry that lawmakers have not yet fully funded a
health care program for 9/11 victims and first responders. Congress is due to vote on more funding the program Wednesday.
Stewart who is from New York demanded that they take action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JON STEWART, ACTOR AND COMEDIAN: They responded in five seconds. They did their jobs with courage, grace, tenacity, humility. Eighteen years later,
do yours.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBILO: Though some members of Congress were present, there were many empty chairs in the committee room, something that made Stewart even
angrier.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEWART: Behind me, a filled room of 9/11 first responders and in front of me a nearly empty Congress. Sick and dying, they brought themselves down
here to speak to no one.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NOBILO: A lawmaker in the room defended the turnout. He pointed out that every member of the subcommittee at the hearing was in attendance and that
members from the full committee may have been on other official business.
There's more to come in our broadcast. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NOBILO: Population in parts of Africa is booming and that means growing pains like traffic and pollution. In our Going Green report, we went to
Nairobi to look at how environmental activists are trying to keep Kenya clean.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. With a population that has doubled since 1986, this is a city that's struggling with traffic,
pollution, and waste. But even here with seemingly insurmountable environmental issues, there is a growing movement of people determined to
improve their surroundings.
SAM DINDI, ENVIRONMENTALIST: I'm Sam Dindi an environmentalist. My dream is to see Nairobi become green and go back to its former glory.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Born and raised in Nairobi, over the years, Sam Dindi has watched his city become ever more consumed by waste. Seven years ago,
he decided to do something about it and dedicate his life to volunteering and campaigning to protect the environment.
DINDI: Particularly, the environment begins when we are at home. It doesn't have to be Masai Mara or Mount Kenya starts. It from where you
are.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With a group of volunteers, Sam's day begins with a cleanup along the banks of the Nairobi River.
DINDI: It's full of the solid waste from the markets, from households, from the industries, the environment is degraded. It feels sad and awful.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Through the efforts of Sam and the volunteers, they have transformed part of the riverbank into a park for the local residents.
DINDI: I believe this is what you're supposed to do. If you copy this example and it's not hard. It just needs determination and the will to
transform our rivers.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But Sam's activism doesn't stop here, heading to local schools, Sam's spreads awareness about conservation to Nairobi's next
generation of citizens.
[14:55:08] DINDI: Today let's talk about air.
ALL: Pollution.
DINDI: Air.
ALL: Pollution.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Teaching over 10,000 school children about conservation.
DINDI: I feel hopeful. It's not all doom and gloom, because this is the next generation.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: From river cleanups to school visits, Sam's message of cleaning up the city is slowly being embraced where residents of Nairobi
are taking responsibility for a cleaner future into their own hands.
DINDI: Nairobi belongs to us, the environment belongs to us and it's only us who solve the situation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NOBILO: And finally, a new emerging sport is bringing thrill-seekers into the French Alps. Reuters reports over the weekend, around 20 competitors
showed up for an event that is aiming to set a world speed record for traversing a slackline.
This man, right here, is a physics student. And, yes, they do fall, but fortunately they're tethered. The slackline was perched 300 meters from
ground and it is 800 meters long. The organization used to drain to string it between the two cliffs.
Well, on that, disturbing visual. Thank you for watching tonight. Stay with CNN. "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" is up next, and Hala will be back with
you tomorrow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
