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Hala Gorani Tonight
Trump Comments Publicly On John Bolton's Departure; Scottish Court Rules Prorogued Parliament Is Illegal; Hong Kong Stock Exchange Proposes Merger With London; Bahamian Officials: Thousands Missing After Dorian; Palestinians Furious Over Netanyahu's Annexation Plan; Trump Administration Planning To Ban Flavored E-Cigarettes; U.S. Honors Victims & Heroes From 18 Years Ago; Fighting Racism In Football. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired September 11, 2019 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:22]
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN HOST: Hello, everyone. Live from CNN London, I'm Christina MacFarlane, in for Hala Gorani.
Tonight, Donald Trump rails against Bolton's strategy, China's policy, the media and vaping: what he said just moments ago in the Oval Office.
Plus, did Boris Johnson mislead the Queen? That's the latest legal twist in the Brexit saga.
And later, as #BlueGirl trends online, an Iranian women's rights activist is calling out FIFA for tolerating the country's ban on women at football
matches.
Well, even in a government where officials can have a shelf life that feels just like minutes, the firing of the U.S. national security advisor
appeared to be abrupt. But today, we are learning from the president himself that tensions had been simmering. Take a listen to what Donald
Trump told reporters just a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: John is somebody that I actually get along with very well. He made some very big mistakes, when he
talked about the Libyan model for Kim Jong Un, that was not a good statement to make. You can just take a look at what happened with Gadhafi,
that was not a good statement to make. And it set us back.
And, frankly, he wanted to do things, not necessarily tougher than me. You know, John's known as a tough guy. "He's so tough, he got us into Iraq."
That's tough.
And -- but he's somebody that I actually had a very good relationship with, but he wasn't getting along with people in the administration that I
consider very important.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Bolton was famously a hardliner when it came to Iran. And today, Mr. Trump commented on what happened between the two countries.
Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, and they never will have a nuclear weapon. And if they're thinking about enrichment, they can
forget about it because it's going to be very -- it's going to be very dangerous for them to enrich, very, very dangerous, OK? So --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, do you want to be with him or no?
TRUMP: -- you can spread the word to Iran.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Would you consider easing sanctions to let them -- to make a meeting happen?
TRUMP: We'll see what happens, we'll see what happens.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Our Boris Sanchez is live at the White House for us. And, Boris, so even by President Trump's standards, this press briefing was
pretty wide-ranging. Crucially, though, President Trump, opening up, as we heard there, on more context as to the firing of John Bolton. What did he
tell us about whether or not this position might be filled sometime soon, and the other reasons he gave for getting rid of him?
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Right, Christina. President Trump, telling the press that effectively, John Bolton didn't get along
with a lot of important people in the administration. That ties into reporting that CNN has done, over the last few weeks, about the
deteriorating relationship by the former national security advisor, along with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
We were told by sources that the two of them had not been speaking for several weeks. Of course, Pompeo was here, speaking to the press just
yesterday, saying that he wasn't surprised that Bolton ultimately was forced to resign by President Trump.
The president said that he had a -- personally, a good relationship with Bolton, but that they didn't see eye-to-eye on a number of issues, ranging
from North Korea, as you heard there in the sound bite, to negotiations with the Taliban, Iran, et cetera.
The president, also saying that there are five names on a short list that really want to be the national security advisor, his fourth in three years.
He would not give us specifics, except to say that he'll make an announcement at some point next week -- Christina.
MACFARLANE: Yes. Also, we heard, there, Boris, President Trump talking about restricting Iran over nuclear weapons again, but also bringing up the
possibility of meeting and making a deal with Iran to possibly ease sanctions.
Now, we saw that he avoided meeting with Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at the G7 summit last month. What are the chances, do you think, of that
actually going ahead?
SANCHEZ: It's very difficult to predict, as you know, what President Trump is going to do, Christina. President Trump said, during this session with
the press, that he was not opposed to potentially lifting some sanctions to meet with the Iranians -- to meet with President Rouhani, the president,
effectively, saying that we'll have to wait and see.
He suggested that the Iranians want to speak with him. Just a couple of weeks ago, the Iranian leadership was singing a very different tune, saying
that the United States would effectively have to bow their heads in respect to Iran.
There is tough talk on both sides of this, but it's unclear exactly -- whether there's a path forward for the two sides to meet, potentially at
the United Nations General Assembly in the next week or so, in the next two weeks.
[14:05:03]
Yesterday, Secretary of State Pompeo was asked about that, he sort of played coy as well. So no real indication as to any solid path to talks
just yet.
MACFARLANE: Yes. But (ph) that General Assembly, as you say, coming up. Boris Sanchez, there for us, live outside the White House. Thanks very
much for now, Boris.
Well, tensions with Iran have been growing. And now, with John Bolton gone, will U.S. policy change? Our Becky Anderson looks at the potential
impact of his sudden departure on key foreign policy challenges.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Iran, Venezuela, North Korea: John Bolton's hawkish worldview, often putting him at odds with his
own boss. A source close to the White House, telling CNN that President Trump has, quote, "been complaining about John wanting to start a war
almost since the beginning," end quote.
And he often turned his attention and words to Iran, which the U.S. has labeled as a state sponsor of terror.
JOHN BOLTON, THEN-U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER: Iran can never have nuclear weapons. Not against the USA, and not against the world.
ANDERSON (voice-over): In 2015, Bolton penned a blistering editorial in "The New York Times." The title? "To Stop Iran's Bomb, Bomb Iran." And a
few months ago, the U.S. came close. Fighter jets were in the air, ready to bomb Iran over the downing of a U.S. military drone. It was only at the
last moment that the U.S. president, Donald Trump, said he called them off.
Bolton's endgame seemed to be for regime change.
BOLTON: -- for the only solution is to change the regime itself. And that's why, before 2019, we here will celebrate in Tehran. Thank you very
much.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Iran's foreign minister, dubbing Bolton as a key member of the B-Team, a clever pun for a group he blames for stirring
tensions in the Middle East.
TEXT: Javad Zarif: Make no mistake: Having failed to lure @realDonaldTrump into War of the Century, and fearing collapse of his
#B_Team, @AmbJohnBolton is turning his venom against the U.K. in hopes of dragging it into a quagmire. Only prudence and foresight can thwart such
ploys.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Mr. Zarif said the world was "breathing a sigh of relief" over Bolton's ouster.
According to a source close to the White House, Bolton was concerned that Trump caves to dictators like Kim Jong Un, and that Trump was going to do
it again with Iran. But even with Mr. Bolton gone, Iran's president says they are not ready to talk.
HASSAN ROUHANI, PRESIDENT OF IRAN (through translator): America should know that warmongering and warmongers are not in their favor. They should
put both aside, warmongers and warmongering, and maximum pressure.
ANDERSON (voice-over): As the clock ticks down on his first term, Mr. Trump is looking for at least one big foreign policy win. With an Afghan
peace deal falling apart and a stalemate with North Korea, a new deal with Iran might be Mr. Trump's last chance at bagging a diplomatic victory.
Becky Anderson, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: I'm joined now by Greg Swenson, a member of the Republicans Overseas U.K. He's also a founding partner of merchant banking firm Brigg
Macadam. Good to see you, Greg.
GREG SWENSON, MEMBER, REPUBLICANS OVERSEAS U.K.: Good to be here, Christina.
MACFARLANE: Just before I touch on the peace deal that we're hearing about there, in Becky's package, I just wanted to ask you about this turnover of
national security advisors we've now seen. I mean, this will now be -- whoever is the next appointment, will be the fourth --
SWENSON: Right.
MACFARLANE: -- in this time, during Trump's time in office. Is this an issue that U.S. voters should now be extremely worried about? Because
essentially, who is making the decisions at this point?
SWENSON: Yes, I don't think it's new, because you've had similar turnover with the secretary of defense and secretary of state, so. And you've also
had interim secretaries in those positions. So it's unsettling, but I don't think that's new. I don't think that anyone should, you know, be
alarmed here.
And, you know, we don't expect things to change dramatically because even after Mattis and McMaster and Kelly left, where, you know, some of the
critics on the left were saying it was all these generals, that was not good for America or for government.
But on the other hand, you know, from the right, everybody was concerned that they were -- you know, that the adults were leaving and that the
grown-ups were no longer there. And it really hasn't changed that much.
So it's -- I think people are less worried than they would have been three years ago or two and a half years ago.
MACFARLANE: We saw, again, in the last hour, President Trump's strong words for the Taliban. I'm wondering, you know, after the public falling-
out that we've had over the plans for the Taliban to meet this week --
SWENSON: Sure.
MACFARLANE: -- at Camp David, where are we in the peace process? Is it --
SWENSON: Yes, it -- I mean, look, the timing's been odd. I think, you know, the anniversary of 9/11 probably wasn't particularly useful. But
also, more importantly, is the attack that occurred in Kabul right before this visit was going to commence.
And I think -- you know, I think he got good advice from Bolton, to not do it, to not go ahead with it. And that's what's interesting about this
whole thing is, in many ways, the president and Bolton agreed, and sometimes they didn't. Obviously, they were disagreeing more than was
tolerable for either one. But, you know, I think the president got some good advice from the national security advisor at moments like that, with
the Taliban.
[14:10:05]
MACFARLANE: Now, I just want to pivot to the special elections, Tuesday, in North Carolina --
SWENSON: Sure.
MACFARLANE: -- to more domestic issues on that front for President Trump. If his Twitter feed is to be believed, I mean, this was a big win --
SWENSON: Yes.
MACFARLANE: -- for the GOP. In reality, is that true?
SWENSON: I think it is true. Because it's not a deep red state, you know? It's a purple state, it -- I think it went for Obama at least once,
probably twice. It might have flipped. So I think it's an important state to get some comfort.
And also, there's been some redistricting and some realignment in the courts, and I think the Republicans were very worried about that because
the courts had sided, actually, for the Democrats. And in many ways, were gerrymandering to favor the Democrats.
So this is a really good moment for --
MACFARLANE: OK. Because some are saying it shouldn't have been this competitive in that state.
SWENSON: Right. Well, if this was the Deep South, I would agree with that. But I do think it's always a good moment when North Carolina, Ohio
or Florida, you know, whether it's, you know, the Democrats or the Republicans, when either one wins, it's a good moment.
MACFARLANE: I just want to show you and our viewers some "Washington Post" polling that we've had --
SWENSON: Yes.
MACFARLANE: -- we've seen, here in the last 24 hours, showing President Donald Trump, trailing several Democratic presidential candidates by
notable margins for a potential 2020 matchup.
SWENSON: Yes.
TEXT: If Election Were Held Today... among registered voters: Biden, 55 percent, Trump, 40 percent; Sanders, 52 percent, Trump, 43 percent; Warren,
51 percent, Trump, 44 percent; Harris, 50 percent, Trump, 43 percent; Buttigieg, 47 percent, Trump, 43 percent
MACFARLANE: You can see there, Biden coming out, strongly, Bernie Sanders as well. What does this mean to you? What do you make of this?
SWENSON: Yes. I mean, it doesn't mean that much. I would agree that it's -- actually favors the Republicans, if they do -- if the Democrats elect a,
you know, far-right or a real progressive candidate. And as you could see in those numbers, that -- you know, Biden actually does better against
Trump than most of those.
But I think there has to be some caution. Look, it's very early, obviously, one. Two, this is going to come down to some key states. And I
think the national polls are important for trends and for fundraising and for media moments.
But, you know, look, it's going to come down, as we all agree, you know, to Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, a handful of states. So I never get too
excited about the polls. And then, of course, you have to keep in that quiet Trump voter effect.
MACFARLANE: Yes.
SWENSON: Now, obviously, the polls were wrong in 2016. If Trump is within five, he wins. The problem is if he's down 15 --
MACFARLANE: Yes.
SWENSON: -- because that -- the polling effect, you know, is there but it's not worth 15 points.
MACFARLANE: And as you say, often not entirely accurate. Greg Swenson, thank you.
SWENSON: Good to be here.
MACFARLANE: Great to have you on.
SWENSON: Thanks, Christina.
MACFARLANE: All right. Well, the British prime minister has suffered yet another defeat. This one, in Scotland's highest civil court. Judges rule
Boris Johnson deliberately misled the queen when he advised her on his intention to suspend parliament. The court found the suspension illegal.
Today's decision throws the Brexit process even -- into even more disarray. But the prime minister is resolute that the U.K. will leave the E.U. by the
October 31st deadline, despite a series of setbacks. Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: We're making great progress, by the way. We had some very good talks with Leo Varadkar in
Dublin a couple of days ago. I've talked to Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, and the mood is changing. The ice floes are cracking. There is
movement under the keel of these talks, and we can do this thing, absolutely.
But what we cannot do is fail to honor the commitment that all parliamentarians -- or the vast majority of parliamentarians -- made to the
British people, and that is to come out of the E.U. on October the 31st, and not to extend Article 50.
MACFARLANE: Well, our international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson joins me now, to try and help break this down for us, Nic. Because what's
interesting to me is that this completely contradicts the ruling that we had from London's High Court last week, where they ruled that Boris Johnson
wasn't unlawful.
For right now, this is really heading for a collision course in the Supreme Court next week. If they find in favor of the Scottish High Court, what
will that mean, first of all, for Boris Johnson?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, he faces many legal challenges, not least the fact that he's supposed to write a letter
to the European Union to ask for an extension until January, for the negotiations, which he says he won't do. So he faces that challenge.
Eleven o'clock tonight, he's supposed to produce documentation about prepared and how difficult the preparation is for leaving the European
Union, and all the communications that went into making the decision to prorogue parliament, so he's supposed to release those tonight. There's no
indication that's going to happen, so those are piling up. So there's a legal challenge.
But going into this, he knew that there would be legal challenges. I think it's very telling that the prime minister on this Facebook chat-in today,
where they get multiple, multiple questions, so the questions arrive (ph) for the prime minister process by the back room, there, at Number 10. But
at no point did he address the issue of the Scottish judges.
[14:15:02]
And also, you know, this was to sort of replace with would have been Prime Minister's Question times today, where he would have faced that scrutiny --
MACFARLANE: Yes.
ROBERTSON: -- that essentially, the Scottish judges are saying was his real rationale. So he didn't answer the question today, on this Facebook
program.
And the numbers were quite low, 8,700 people the beginning watching this, and it dropped off. People started tuning out of it, 8,500 by the end of
it.
MACFARLANE: Yes, interesting indicator. So we're set for this Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday. If they rule that it -- Boris Johnson's actions
were unlawful, would that mean that parliament are immediately recalled?
ROBERTSON: We don't know where this will go. What we do know is, the former attorney general Dominic Grieve -- who was, until last week, a very
senior member of the Conservative Party, but one of those 21 rebels that Boris Johnson threw out -- that he has said that if Boris Johnson has been
found to have been lying to the queen, because that was the process to prorogue parliament -- this would be in keeping with what the Scottish
court's judges are saying -- that if he had been found to be lying, then he would have to resign.
It's really in very difficult constitutional waters. And today, you know, this -- there's an essence of this north-south divide, which absolutely
plays into the hands of the Scottish National Party, who are itching for an election because they believe they're going to do well. And itching for a
second Scottish independence referendum, and it fuels it.
And it will fuel it further if the Supreme Court decides the other way, because you will have a Scottish court saying one thing about this issue,
and an -- essentially, from a Scottish point of view, an English court, on the other side, ruling the other way. The divisions and the danger and the
damage are very real right now.
MACFARLANE: Somewhat being sharpened. I think what people find extraordinary, though, in all of this, is the idea that Boris Johnson could
have misled the queen. I mean, we don't know an awful lot of what takes place between the prime minister and the queen as per the constitution,
it's private.
But, I mean, in this instance, would there have been any scenario whereby the queen could have pushed back on Boris Johnson's proposition to prorogue
parliament? Do we know how she could have acted?
ROBERTSON: Even if the queen felt as staunchly as the Labour opposition, as the Scottish National Party, that Boris Johnson's rationale for
proroguing parliament, which was to bring a new session so that they could put -- have a fresh raft of legislation that would deal with -- would deal
with the issues of the country outside of Brexit -- health care, policing, social services -- even if she took the opposition's view that, in fact,
this was just a cover to avoid scrutiny and to avoid questions that would be politically damaging over Brexit.
Even if she fundamentally believed that, and looked him in the eye, and he said, as we're talking now, she would have to give her assent --
MACFARLANE: Right.
ROBERTSON: -- because that's the position that she's in, that's the way the country runs. She doesn't have an option.
But it was Jacob Rees-Mogg that actually went and had this conversation with her at Balmoral in Scotland.
MACFARLANE: So her hands are tied?
ROBERTSON: Her hands are tied, but I think there will be many hands out for Boris Johnson, beyond Dominic Grieve, that would be -- it would give
deep disquiet. But it's a very political issue because, you know, the country is divided over this, the parliament's divided over this.
MACFARLANE: And what's more, we're in for another busy week, aren't we, Nic? We didn't think we were going to see it, but --
ROBERTSON: This week --
MACFARLANE: -- it certainly looks that way.
ROBERTSON: -- next (ph) week, this is a long road.
MACFARLANE: Yes. Excellent. Nic, thank you so much for breaking it all down for us.
All right. Still to come, takeovers and buyouts are always big news for stock markets, but wait until you hear about the latest unlikely merger
being proposed.
And, an Iranian woman dies after setting herself on fire to protest an unjust law. We'll tell you about the battle over women attending football
matches. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:21:09]
MACFARLANE: Welcome back. London's footing as Europe's business center is in danger due to Brexit. And Hong Kong's role as an Asian business
powerhouse is threatened by the unrest from pro-democracy protests, so it was a bit of a shock when the Hong Kong Stock Exchange proposed an almost
$40 billion merger with the London Stock Exchange.
Richard Quest, host of "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS," is with me now. And, Richard, explain to us what's going on here and why would Hong Kong want
this? What's the motivation?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oh, there's some great assets. I mean, the London Stock Exchange, it might not be what it once was, but it has
some very prized and important -- not only the trading of London itself, but the derivatives market and all the ancillary things that London has
bought over the years.
And Hong Kong sees itself as being not threatened, but it sees a good match with London. Hence this unsolicited offer, the 28 percent, 30 percent
premium over the closing price, which is quite -- which is a very hefty price, they're offering to pay.
And they've asked for certain conditions, which are technical and we don't need to go into, but essentially, they are saying, "We want the London
Stock Exchange, and we're prepared to pay for it."
MACFARLANE: Can we read anything into this? I mean, we were talking there about this sort of political unrest in Hong Kong and the fallout from
Brexit, is that playing into any of the dynamic, as to why this would happen now?
QUEST: Unlikely, no. Because I think open markets are such that both of them -- you know, the Hong Kong authorities are looking at London as being
a first-class financial center regardless.
Where, I think, the problem, of course, comes, is Hong Kong, where the Chinese authorities, the official authorities have a stake in the exchange.
The London Stock Exchange has already said, "We don't really like this," reading between the lines.
And the treasury, the U.K. treasury, says, "Obviously, we're going to look at this extremely carefully" because the question of independence, the
question of transparency as regards (ph) the Hong Kong Exchange, are not the same.
Look, this is not just an antique foreigner move by London. London has already looked at joining up with the Deutsche Boerser in Germany, with the
Nasdaq in the U.S. So they're not -- they're not closed to that idea.
MACFARLANE: But this is one of a number of brands, if you like, who have committed themselves to Asian companies? I think we did a straw poll of
this, we might be able to show you some of the lists of those names. They are varied, and they are long.
I mean, is there a concern here, that actually Britain, in some ways, is giving away too much?
QUEST: You can't avoid it. I mean, how do you stop it in open markets? If somebody -- unless there's a national security reason, or there is a
particular national interest reason, you can't just say, "We've got open markets. Oh, but by the way, you from over in that country can't buy, and
we're going to stop you from over there."
So I think it's -- and also, don't forget, I could get you another chart up in a minute or five, which would show how many British companies had bought
overseas --
MACFARLANE: Yes.
QUEST: You're a buyer one day, you're a seller the next. And this idea, this whole canard of, "We're selling off the family jewels," that's not
going to be the issue here. The issue's going to be one of security and transparency.
MACFARLANE: And I guess, also, that's where regulators come into play, isn't it? But, Richard, thank you very much. Appreciate your time on this
issue.
QUEST: Thank you.
MACFARLANE: All right. Well, an Iranian woman who was arrested while trying to sneak into a football stadium, has died after setting herself on
fire. Sahar Khodayari was challenging Iran's longtime ban on women attending football matches. She set herself on fire after a court
appearance last week. Human rights groups are calling on Iran to end the ban.
I discussed all of this with a human rights advocate, Maryam Shojaei, a short time ago. She is leading the call for Iran to change the laws. She
says outside pressure will be key to forcing Iran to change.
[14:25:05]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARYAM SHOJAEI, IRANIAN WOMEN'S RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND SISTER OF IRANIAN FOOTBALL STAR: The Iranian Federation, the Iranian government is the one
to blame. But we're not talking about them because we are done dealing with them. We have talked to them for a while, for decades.
Now, I think FIFA is the one to blame because Mr. Infantino, the head of FIFA, was in Tehran, watching the derby -- the blue (ph) team (ph), when 33
girls were arrested outside of the stadium. And the very next day, I sent him a letter explaining the whole situation. And after that, I sent him
eight complaint (ph) letters (ph). It was March 2018, and Sahar was arrested, March 2019.
So there was one year, so many complaints, and during that one year, I submitted my petition with more than 220,000 (ph) signatures at the time,
now we are reaching almost 300,000.
So I submitted the letter in person to the Security Council of FIFA, Ms. Fatma Samoura. And I asked her to take action. And I think FIFA is the
one to blame. And if they forced their -- enforced their own human rights and gender discrimination rules, that, I mean, Sahar was alive today.
MACFARLANE: Yes. What assurances were you given by FIFA, that they would respond to your calls for help on this issue?
SHOJAEI: They said they ask Iran to end this ban, and to provide safety for women. But releasing a statement is one thing, and enforcing it and --
it's because if -- I mean, this issue is time-sensitive, you know? We cannot wait. We have been waiting for 40 years, and I think that's more
than enough. Now, FIFA has to take action immediately, by enforcing its own human rights rules.
MACFARLANE: FIFA said, earlier this summer, Maryam, I'm sure you saw that they are calling on Iran to allow women to attend the first World Cup
qualifier, which takes place on the 10th of October. Given all your dealings with them up to now, and what we've seen in terms of their, as
you're saying, inactivity, how likely are Iran to comply with FIFA's request to allow women into that stadium next month?
SHOJAEI: So they said they're allowing women to attend the stadium for the game, which is on October 10th. But we want it to be for every game, not
for -- not only for national team. For leagues, for Iran leagues (ph) teams (ph), and all the stadiums, not only for Azadi Stadium.
MACFARLANE: What will it take for Iran to sit up and respond to FIFA? Do you think that Iran's national team need to be banned from competing in the
next World Cup?
SHOJAEI: If FIFA wants to follow its own rule, that's the only option. Because Iran is the only country that doesn't allow women to go to stadiums
at this point. So if Iran doesn't do it and FIFA wants to follow its own rule, they have to suspend the whole federation.
But I don't think that's going to happen because I'm very positive that by -- I mean, on October 10th, they let women inside and what happened to
Sahar and the whole international attention this issue received, I think the problem is going to be solved.
MACFARLANE: Sorry, Maryam, I missed the end of what you were saying there.
I just want to ask you, this must be quite a difficult subject for you, on the subject of Iran's national team being banned, because your brother is
actually the captain of that team, something you revealed in a "New York Times" article earlier this year. How much support have you had from him
and from the men's team, on pushing this issue?
[14:30:00]
SHOJAEI: I mean, he has been -- he -- our paths are different, but he's very sensitive about this issue himself, because he's one of the man who
really cares about women's right. And now, there are other players support what happened to Sahar.
Many people including players supported the issue. But at this point, this is personal for me. I know, if Iran -- if the national team is suspended
but, you know, someone died for the issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And we should, you know, that FIFA have responded to this. They say they refute the idea that
they've been passive and they're stating that they have been working with Iranian football association to ensure that women are in attendance at
World Cup qualifiers beginning October 10th.
FIFA also told CNN that they will be sending a delegation to Tehran within two weeks to inspect preparations. We'll be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: We're getting a better idea tonight of the human toll caused by hurricane Dorian as it ravaged the Bahamas Northern islands. While the
official detail remains at 50, emergency management officials are now revealing the number of missing. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARL SMITH, BAHAMIAN NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: At this point, there are approximately 2,500 individuals registered on the Bahamian
government register. This list has not yet been checked against government records of who is staying in shelters or who have been evacuated. The
database is processing is underway.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, that number gives you an idea of the enormous task facing rescue and recovery groups as they look for victims and any
survivors, especially on the more remote islands.
Our Paula Newton went to one of those islands and joins me now from Nassau.
And, Paula, we heard that the latest figures registered at 2,500 missing. Although, as we heard, this is not yet been checked. Do we expect that
number then to drop?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We do. These are difficult numbers to grasp, obviously. And it actually shows the logistical problems
that they have had, trying to find those that have needed help and obviously trying to find those that are missing.
Christina, I can tell you, having a look at the list, and on the islands that I've been on, I know those people are alive, because I saw them. So
they need to go through and cross reference those names.
[14:35:02]
So the good news there, Christina, is the fact that they will be able to shrink that number of the missing and be able to inform families.
Remember, these are -- islands scattered over several hundred kilometers. It is difficult logistically, and that is exactly what we found out when we
went to Great Guana Island.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON (voice-over): It's tough but crucial to reach every corner and crevice of these battered islands. We touched down in the now scarred Great
Guana Cay on a mission with the United States Agency for International Development, USAID. They've tasked search and rescue from Fairfax County,
Virginia to help out.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Right here used to be the police station.
NEWTON: Local residents give them some bearings --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No one's missing so far that I know of.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So that's -- I mean, really, really good news.
NEWTON: -- and they get an assessment. Incredibly, no one has died here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You guys, help unload the truck over there while we talk to the head honcho.
NEWTON: They help stock food in the church -- now a makeshift shelter -- offer medical assessments, and then move on to a house-to-house search,
gathering intel for the Bahamian government as they try and get a handle on the magnitude of what happened here.
DANIEL GAJEWSKI, FAIRFAX COUNTY URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE: So what we've done is I've walked around the building, I've assessed the building to make
sure that no one's calling out, nobody's in there, so I marked it clear.
NEWTON: The truth is, Dorian's cuts through these islands and cays were menacing. The Cat 5 storm path is in red, and it slashed right through the
Abacos. You can see Great Guana Cay, just north of its path. The darker the dots, the more structures destroyed or damaged. USAID says the first sweep
of all the islands and cays is now nearly complete.
GAJEWSKI: Lately, it has been a lot of reconnaissance, a lot of building structures. And then from there, kind of, getting a pulse on the locals on
what they need.
NEWTON: Getting to isolated local residents has been a challenge. And because of money and means, there has been an island divide. Places like
Guana Cay are only now getting any kind of official help. It's been the wealthy patrons of the exclusive Baker's Bay Golf Club on the island that
have sent private helicopters and supplies, even evacuating the injured and vulnerable, residents say.
Tom Brady, a star quarterback for the New England Patriots, posted that his family had been traveling to the Abacos for many years, adding it was "now
our responsibility to help them."
TROY ALBURY, CHIEF, GREAT GUANA CAY FIRE DEPARTMENT: I am not the biggest fan of Baker's Bay. I have not been. I fought them for 10 years in court
because I didn't want that golf course built, but they have been our savior during this.
This is going to take a lot of money, a lot of time and a lot of dedication. And I pretty much stood up in the meeting last night and
cried. I said, "We can't do it alone. We need help, lots of help."
NEWTON: USAID will continue to help with recovery efforts, taking its cue from the Bahamian government. But the truth is, some locals have lost
everything and have no insurance. It was just too expensive in recent years. The cruelty of this storm did not distinguish between rich and
poor. But already, the recovery has.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: So the issue here is that, at least, the government is beginning to grapple with what happens next. We have a price tag of about $8
billion. That is a start.
But again, Christina, as you just heard, when you start to calculate all those people who not have insurance, and for good reason, it was
prohibitedly expensive.
You are going to start to deal with that income divide again. Those who could afford insurance have already, you know, spoken to insurance
companies about people trying to assess the damage and everyone else is literally scavenging through their homes to see what they can salvage.
Christina?
MACFARLANE: Yes. Certainly is a very long road to recovery for them.
Our Paula Newton there, live. Thank you, Paula, for bringing us that report.
Now, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is under fire today for a campaign pledge to annex parts of the West Bank, if he's reelected.
The United Nations, European Union, and Arab League, are among those criticizing his plan to claim the Jordan Valley as part of Israel. But
some of the fiercest reaction comes from those who would be directly affected, the Palestinians themselves.
Palestinian Authority Leader, Mahmoud Abbas, is threatening to tear up all signed agreements with Israel if the annexation goes through. The Jordan
Valley makes up about a third of the West Bank, and is considered the Palestinian breadbasket.
One official explains its importance. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAEB EREKAT, SECRETARY GENERAL, PALESTINE LIBERATION ORGANIZATION: It's impossible to have a Palestinian state without the Jordan Valley. This is
the border, this is the water, this is the agriculture, this is tourism, this is history, this is the ancient gate.
How can someone imagine me having a (INAUDIBLE) without my 57 kilometers in the Dead Sea? And what do they speak about my prosperity? My prosperity
is not going to come through donations from Ireland, and Britain, and France, and the states. My prosperity will come effect and control my
natural resources.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[14:40:04]
MACFARLANE: Well, some critics dismissed Netanyahu's annexation pledge as an election stunt. A last-minute ploy for right-wing votes. But the prime
minister says the Jordan Valley is just the beginning. Promising to eventually all West Bank settlements in coordination with Donald Trump's
White House.
Our Sam Kiley travelled to the West Bank to look at the dimming prospects for peace.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): We weren't allowed to film it, but we've just crossed from Israeli territory onto the
West Bank, which was a landscape captured by the Israelis in the Six-Day War in 1967. And since then has been seen, at least by the international
community, as occupied territory.
KILEY (voice-over): Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian leadership to deliver two neighboring nations living in peace, began in
1991 and they limped on for decades, punctuated by terror attacks, Palestinian uprisings and continued expansion by Israel into disputed
territories like the West Bank.
Now the peace process, effectively nonexistent since 2014, has collapsed. Israelis are banned by their own government from entering Palestinian
Authority controlled areas.
The West Bank is divided into area A under Palestinian control, area B under Palestinian administration but Israeli security control, and area C,
entirely under Israeli control.
Jewish settlements have steadily increased and, while electioneering, Israel's prime minister has repeated his promise to annex the settlements.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): With God's help, we will extend Jewish sovereignty to all the communities, as
part of the land of Israel, as part of the state of Israel.
KILEY: The Trump administration says that it has an unpublished deal for both sides. Palestinians are cynical. They see Trump as openly favoring
Israel, especially after moving the U.S. embassy to the divided city that both sides claim is their capital.
ALI HAMRAN, GARAGE MECHANIC (through translator): No one if all the Palestinian people think that those suggestions can be in benefit of the
Palestinian people. So people are so depressed and will never trust the American administration or any other.
KILEY: Palestinians have consistently said that the growth of settlements are an impediment to peace and frequently accuse some settlers of
intimidation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): They attack us almost every day. They burn our trees, throw stones, so we leave our house. If you look
there, they burned the trees last week. All we can do is film them and document those attacks.
KILEY: Settlers also come under attack on the West Bank. There are killings on both sides. Clashes are frequent around places like this.
DAVID HAVIRY, SETTLER SPOKESMAN: Some people who live here do different kinds of teachers and builders and movers and --
KILEY: From outposts, towns like Ariel grow and that's no accident.
KILEY (on-camera): Would you support still a two-state solution?
HAVIRY: I think that that idea was a huge mistake to begin with, and people who, to this day, have not realized that the two-state idea is a
mistake. And my prescription is that Israel, the sovereign country that has controlled this area for the past 52 years, needs to complete and take full
responsibility for this region.
KILEY (voice-over): That's not going to fly with most Palestinians.
NASSER AL QIDWA, YASSER ARAFAT FOUNDATION: There is nothing called one- state solution. That means greater Israel, that means Israeli expansion, negation of the Palestinian national rights, Palestinian national
existence, even.
KILEY: But polls consistently show that belief in and support for a two- state solution dropping below 50 percent on both sides. So the idea is not dead yet, but the nails are going into its coffin.
Sam Kiley, CNN, on the West Bank.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: Well, elsewhere, Australia says three of its citizens have been detained in Iran. It's not said why they were arrested. One woman
who has Jew-British Australian citizenship has been in jail for more than a year. An Australian couple was arrested a few months ago.
Australia says its citizens should be extra cautious about traveling to Iran, because foreigners can be arbitrarily detained or arrested.
All right. Still to come tonight, the U.S. president calls it a growing epidemic, the government could crack down on some e-cigarettes. More on
that, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:45:49]
MACFARLANE: Welcome back, the Trump administration says it's planning to effectively ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes to help tackle the
increasingly dangerous problem of vaping. The ban should take effect within the next few months.
U.S. President, Donald Trump, talked about it a short time ago at the White House with his wife Melania by his side. She tweeted on her own concerns
about vaping a few days ago. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Vaping has become a very big business, as I understand it like a giant business in a very short period
of time. But we can't allow people to get sick and we can't have our youth be so affected. And I'm hearing it and that's how the first lady got
involved. And she's got a son, together, that is a beautiful young man and she feels very, very strongly about it. She's seen it, we're both reading
it. But people are dying with vaping. So we're looking at it very closely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, six deaths from vaping are now reported in the U.S. along with hundreds of suspected vaping-relating illnesses.
And our Tom Foreman reports on what's fast becoming a full-on effort to hold it.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. DAVID PERSSE, PHYSICIAN DIRECTOR, HOUSTON HEALTH DEPARTMENT: It needs to be thought of as an injury to the lungs by -- caused by something in the
vaping, and it is very severe.
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In Houston, doctors are sounding the alarm as three people are hospitalized after using e-
cigarettes.
In New York, the Bloomberg charity is getting 160 million to fight what's being called an epidemic of vaping.
MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, FORMER MAYOR, NEW YORK CITY: Kids are dying, people are dying now, and getting addicted. The timeline is yesterday, not tomorrow.
FOREMAN: And in Washington, the First Lady herself has tweeted, "I am deeply concerned."
Why is the worry exploding now? In just the past few days, the Centers for Disease Control reported a huge jump in the number of people developing
mysterious lung illnesses after vaping to over 450. At least, a half dozen are believed to have died. The American Medical Association has now come
out urging people to avoid the use of all e-cigarette products.
And the Food and Drug Administration has warned Juul Labs, the leading manufacturer, about misleading advertising and statements, especially to
school kids where vaping is growing exponentially.
REP. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI (D-IL): Did the presenter call Juul, "totally safe" more than once?
CALEB MINTZ, TESTIFIED AGAINST JUUL LABS: Yes.
FOREMAN: Juul, says that school outreach program was ended in 2018, and the company will fully cooperate with probes into their marketing and
products.
JAMES MONSEES, CO-FOUNDER, JUUL LABS: We never wanted any non-nicotine user, and certainly, nobody underage to ever use Juul products.
FOREMAN: But that's not enough for the governor of New York who is launching a state investigation complete with subpoenas.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): This is a frightening public health phenomenon.
FOREMAN: Even as reports of more serious problems keep rolling in.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He passed out and he would not wake up. 15, 16 years old, you don't want to start doing that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: And Tom Foreman joins us now. Tom, this is a frightening issue for many people who, perhaps, mistakenly think that vaping is safe.
[14:50:04]
First of all, do they know what the link is between vaping and these illnesses you spoke of in your piece?
FOREMAN: No. I think that's what's making this complicated right now. They do not know precisely what is causing this action or if it is actually
the vaping that is causing these people to get sick, and in some cases, to die.
Health officials think there is clearly some kind of length, but they haven't been able to firmly establish it yet. So, of course, defenders of
vaping say, well, you don't really know and other people are saying, you know enough.
There are so many reports right now, there's so much concern, particularly with younger people, why allow it to go forward when you might be able to
find a link, investigate, then see where you stand.
MACFARLANE: Until we heard from President Trump just then, but this appears to really be becoming a political issue. It seems, as well, to be
uniting both parties. Take a listen to this democratic senator what they have to say on this issue.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. DICK DURBIN (D-IL): This is not a safe alternative to tobacco. We really need the FDA to step up. They have the authority today to end the
flavor pods that attracts these kids. They have the authority today to take many of these devices off the market. It's time to step up or this
epidemic is going to grow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: So, Tom, is anything likely to be done since there is this sort of bipartisan support now?
FOREMAN: I think there's a fair chance something might be done. Dick Durbin, who we just saw there, he's been an outspoken, a pundit for vaping
for quite some time right now.
Now, the president has weighed and saying he is going to simply take an executive action to do something about this. The trick with the Trump
administration is he frequently says these grand things, then industry people start bending his ear, and 10 days later, it amounts to nothing or
not nearly as much as he claimed it would.
So I will guarantee that the people who are interested in this issue will be watching over the next couple of weeks to see if this really comes in
to, as we mentioned, some real action, as opposed to a lot of handwringing that goes away as soon as the headlines fade a little bit. Christina?
MACFARLANE: Yes. We will be watching as well. This is an important issue. And, Tom, thank you for your report and bringing us the latest on
vaping.
FOREMAN: You're most welcome.
MACFARLANE: All right. Well, more to come next, including the latest installment in our series on racism in football. Black managers are
extremely rare in the English League. We talk to a man who's been there about the challenges he's faced and what needs to change.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MACFARLANE: That was the day that forever changed the United States of America. September 11th, 2001. Nearly 3,000 lives were abruptly taken
when planes hijacked by terrorists crashed into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and a field in the state of Pennsylvania.
Today, the U.S. remember those tragic events of 18 years ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: President Donald Trump and the First Lady Melania marked the anniversary at the White House at 8:46 a.m., the moment the first plane
crashed into the North Tower of the World trade Center.
[14:55:04]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Michael Andrew Bang, Catherine Bentos (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And my uncle, Brian Christopher Navatni (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And my uncle, Michael J. Armstrong. We think of you always. You're never far from our thoughts. We love you.
MACFARLANE: Well, some of the ceremony was held in New York City at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza as loved ones read the names of every person killed in
the terror attacks.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Now, we want to turn to a story, we're taking a closer look at all this week. The scourge of racism in football and the efforts to fight
it. As diverse as English England's Premier League is on the pitch, in the dugout, it's a different story.
Black managers in English football are extremely rare. And until recently, that included Chris Hughton, at the top level with Brighton. He's been
speaking exclusively to football journalist and anti-racism campaigner, Darren Lewis.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS HUGHTON, FOOTBALL MANAGER, BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION: We've lost a generation of really influential black players that we feel, you know,
could have made very good managers. When I came through an era where, you know, the perception of black individuals in football was good set of
forwards, good wingers, fast, strong, but not really captain on a management material.
I've made my debut in '79. You would have, at times, you know, a host, you know, sections of a crowd giving you racial abuse. Players calling you a
black so and so.
So you had two choices, grin and bear it, work through it, or let it get to you. And certainly, I wasn't going to allow them to affect me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, it's certainly an important issue in sports. And when you learn more on -- for going to cnn.com.
But stay with us, because coming up next, we've got "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS." But for now, thank you for watching.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
