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Connect the World

Benjamin Netanyahu Brings Bomb Chart To UN; NFL Reaches Agreement With Referees

Aired September 27, 2012 - 16:00   ET

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

BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Tonight on Connect the World...

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL: This is a fuse.

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ANDERSON: An art lesson from the Israeli prime minister on Iran's nuclear plans.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN London, this is connect the world with Becky Anderson.

ANDERSON: In a somewhat bizarre and eye-catching moment at the UN General Assembly in New York, Benjamin Netanyahu says that the world must draw a clear, red line to stop Iran getting a bomb.

Also tonight...

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JOSE MOURINHO, REAL MADRID MANAGER: That's 100 percent.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The so-called Special One of football speaking to CNN just before Chelsea star John Terry is found guilty of racism.

And Russia says this billionaire is guilty of hooliganism. On the show Alexander Lebedev's son tells me why that is political nonsense.

I'm Becky Anderson in London for you. The U.S. has so far refused to declare a red-line on Iran's nuclear program. So today Israel's prime minister did it himself, addressing the United Nations General Assembly Benjamin Netanyahu said Iran was close to the final stage of building a nuclear bomb and he said it had to be stopped.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NETANYAHU: So if these are the facts, if these are the facts, and they are, where should a red line be drawn? A red line should be drawn right here before - before Iran completes the second stage of nuclear enrichment necessary to make a bomb.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Let's get some reaction to this speech. We're joined from Jerusalem by our senior international correspondent Sara Sidner. And from New York we're joined by Joseph Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund, which is a foundation focused on nuclear weapons policy and conflict resolution.

Sara, coming to you shortly.

Joseph, let's turn to you first. Your response to what we saw and heard today?

JOSEPH CIRINCIONE, PRESIDENT, PLOUGHSHARES FUND: Well, the prime minister has a point, Iran is clearly enriching uranium. The more uranium that your enrich to low levels, the closer they are to being able to turn that into a bomb. But it's not an automatic process. The prime minister seemed to indicate that Iran was going to go stage by stage moving to a weapon. We would know if they were going to enrich it to bomb grade. We have IAEA inspectors there. We don't really need to draw a red line, we in fact already have one: the IAEA inspectors, U.S. intelligence, Israeli intelligence would know if Iran was actually crossing the line and going towards a bomb.

And even if they got the material, it's another year or so to turn it into a working weapons.

ANDERSON: I want you to just have a listen to a couple of tweets we found a little earlier after Benjamin Netanyahu had spoken. A huge, but mixed reaction, it's got to be said, to the speech online. Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer tweeting, "Bibi's use of that chart was one of the most effective, gripping uses of a chart I've ever seen. Is the world listening?"

On the other hand, Jeffrey Goldberg a correspondent for U.S. magazine The Atlantic wrote, "OK, it's official, Netanyahu has no idea what he is doing. He has just turned a serious issue into a joke."

Your thoughts.

CIRINCIONE: Well, he's done actually both. Clearly we're talking about him. He has got our attention. He's top of the hour. But he's discredited himself. I mean, it's a little ludicrous to use that kind of device. It looks like a Road Runner bomb, something you'd get from Acme, you know, it's cartoonish. And he actually drew the line in the wrong place. What he means to say was you have to stop Iran from getting enough of that 90 percent weapons grade, not stop them after they built it. So he's kind of confused the issue here. But he has us talking.

ANDERSON: All right.

There was certainly no censor from the Iranian president was there on Wednesday at the UN when he accused Israel and world powers of, and I quote him, nuclear intimidation. Let's just remind ourselves what Obama had to say earlier this week on this issue.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Make no mistake, a nuclear armed Iran is not a challenge that can be contained, it would threaten the elimination of Israel, the security of Gulf nations, and the stability of the global economy. It risks triggering a nuclear arms race in the region and the unraveling of the non-proliferation treaty. That's why a coalition of countries is holding the Iranian government accountable and that's why the United States will do what we must to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And what is it that Benjamin Netanyahu wants the U.S. to do at present. I guess that is the question in play tonight.

If we, what we saw today was an effort by Netanyahu to force Barack Obama's hand, will it work?

CIRINCIONE: No. I don't think it will work. And there's disagreement within Netanyahu's own cabinet about whether we should be doing this. Many of the military and intelligence officials in Israel think that it's a terrible idea for Israel to launch a military tack.

Netanyahu is trying to do at least three things here. One, pressure the U.S. and the world to do another round of sanctions. Two, lay the groundwork for an Israeli military attack. It's not so much a red-line as a trip wire. If Iran crosses here, then bang, we're going to start a war with Iran. And the third thing may be a little more subtle, maybe he's playing the role of the crazy, of the madman, you can't trust me, I might do anything at any moment. And he believes that in that way he will force the rest of the international community to take stronger action against Iran.

It's not going to change Obama's policy. I don't think it's going to change the UN policy at all. I think he's overplayed his hand.

ANDERSON: Joseph Cirincione with his thoughts for you this evening. Thank you, sir.

Sara Sidner is in Jerusalem for you tonight. And what are people there think of this speech? Did it resonate? Do people think they're - that we are closer to war tonight than we were yesterday?

SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think there is a concern that perhaps we are closer to a conflict, and it's not just a conflict between Israel and Iran. The real concern here is a regional conflict. People are concerned that there will be rockets fired, for example, by Hezbollah in Lebanon by Hamas in Gaza, a proxy war if you will that Israel will find itself surrounded by enemies who have decided to act. So there is a great concern.

In fact, there was a poll done this month, a poll that basically asked Israelis whether or not they thought that Israel should go ahead with a unilateral strike without the backing of the United States. And there was a resounding no. 65 percent of those polled said that they should not do that. And then there was 77 percent of them that believed if there was a strike that there would be a regional conflict.

So there is definitely concern here that we are snaking and getting closer and closer to a war whether it be a regional war or war with Iran.

ANDERSON: All right, Sara.

You were also in Ramallah, I know, today. I want you just to talk to us now about what the Palestinian president said today. Let's hear from him and get your sense as to whether there were feelings that things there are moving in the right or wrong direction. Let's just hear from the Palestinian president at the UNGA today.

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MAHMOUD ABBAS, PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY PRESIDENT (through translator): We will continue our efforts to obtain full membership for Palestine at the United Nations. We have begun intensive consultations with various regional organizations and member state aimed at having the General Assembly adopt as a nation considering the state of Palestinian non-member state of the United Nations during this session.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Sara.

SIDNER: So what you're hearing there is Mr. Abbas basically saying that, look, he said very clearly he feels like the chance at peace between the Palestinian territories and Israel is coming to a close and that he has to try something else and so he's going to the UN saying, look, make us a non-member state first. We will work from there. And we will try to work with Israel to find a peaceful solution to our problem, but we want to be a state, whether we have voting rights or not. That is what you're hearing from Mr. Abbas.

And I want to let you know what Mr. Netanyahu said, because right after that he - some of the very first things he said in his speech he said one line toward Mr. Abbas, clearly pointed at the Palestinian Authority. He said we won't solve this conflict with libelous speeches at the UN. We won't solve our conflict with unilateral bids of statehood. So there's his reaction to what Mr. Abbas is saying. Mr. Abbas clearly frustrated. And the Palestinians clearly frustrated that they do not have statehood yet, that they are not considered a state and they want that to change.

The Palestinian Authority is convinced that it will change and that they will go ahead and get non-member stateship in the UN.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. It's been a busy couple of hours at the UNGA. Your correspondent on the story tonight, Sara Sidner, who has been in both Ramallah and this evening now in Jerusalem for you. Sara, as ever, always a pleasure, thank you.

You're watching Connect the World live from London. Our top story tonight, an art lesson from the Israeli prime minister on Iran's nuclear plans. While speaking at the United Nations General Assembly, Benjamin Netanyahu drew a red line on a diagram to demonstrate his fears that time is running out to stop Iran from building a nuclear bomb.

Still to come this evening, a humanitarian crisis that could get much worse. We're going to visit some of the refugees who fled the civil war in Syria. Plus, he came out swinging, now Kremlin critic Alexander Lebedev is fighting for his freedom. Find out what his son told me when he came to our London studio just a short time ago.

Bigger than the law? Why is English football's governing body found John Terry guilty when a court says he is innocent of racism? All that and much more after this very short break. Connect the World continues. Stay with us.

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ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson for you now.

Spain's deputy prime minister called it a crisis budget designed to exit a crisis. The question now, has the government done enough with its 2013 budget. The markets were looking for signs that Spain is tightening its belt, enough at least to satisfy the conditions of a rescue package going forward with promises of tough spending cuts and tax rises. Investors at least appeared to like what they heard. You can see the Dow up, the FTSE up there, the NASDAQ and the Dax. I can tell you the Spanish market is higher as well.

And for Spaniards who have taken to the streets to vent their anger, there were new measures to create jobs and increase spending on pension.

Well Al Goodman is in Madrid for us tonight. Al, for the one in four Spaniards out of work and some 50 percent of under 25 year olds without a job, is there any light at the end of the tunnel tonight?

AL GOODMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, if you listen to the government there is, Becky. There are several points to this complex 2013 budget, but let's just run them through a few highlights. The government hopes to save $51 billion, mainly through spending cuts, not through tax hikes, although there will be a tax now for the first time on lottery earnings over $3,000. There's also going to be a new agency to monitor spending at Spain's 17 regional governments which are heavily indebted and have added to the national deficit, but the treasury minister said he was optimistic. He thinks the recession is going to be just slight in 2013. And he sees unemployment, which is at 24 percent overall he sees that bottoming out next year.

Now many analysts think that this budget - this budget for 2013 and the structural reforms that were also announced, Becky, are basically the preamble, the kind of conditions that Spain would have to put in place if it goes ahead and asks for a full bailout - Becky.

ANDERSON: So after the budget was announced, we spoke to one Spaniard unlucky enough to find herself out of work. Have a listen to what she told us.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAURA BARDERAS, UNEMPLOYED SPANIARD: I say that I have a job. And my job is look for a job, because I think I dedicate so many hours per day to look by Internet or maybe newspaper. I don't have house for the government. I don't have money now. I live with my mom. The situation here is completely impossible to here. My friends are in the same situation as me.

We are not OK with this system of government, because they think the economy can improve, but if the people don't have money to spend to buy cars, to buy - to travel, we can't progress in our economy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Now Laura's story will be very, very familiar to you living and working in Madrid. So many of the tens of thousands of people who protested over the past sort of 48 hours or so were saying they feel betrayed. They say that Spain is for sale. Is there any traction in the argument that says to redeem himself, the prime minister needs to pull the pin on the EU. Go it alone. Take back the reigns on the economy, the laws and the state. Is there any traction in that at this point? Because his approval ratings are absolutely on the floor aren't they?

GOODMAN: Well, yes, that's right, Becky.

You know the only thing that he hasn't touched yet are pensions. And he said he wouldn't touch pensions. But he's gone back on a lot of campaign promises.

And in New York where he was earlier this week, he praised what he called the majority of Spaniards who are not in the streets protesting, not making headlines, and helping to get the country back on its feet. But we don't see that so-called silent majority. What we do see are the tens of thousands of people who have been protesting. And this protest this week turning violent. Many watching to see whether that was a one-off or whether we know all these protests - there have been 1,900 of them so far this year in Madrid alone according to the government, whether we're now going to see a new turn and there's going to be more violence or not - Becky.

ANDERSON: Nearly 2,000 protests in Madrid alone this year, remarkable stuff. Al, thank you.

A look at some of the other stories that are connecting our world this hour. Tonight, here on CNN, and a potentially strong blow to Mexican drug lords. Authorities say that they have arrested a man believed to be Ivan Velazquez-Caballero, one of the top lieutenants in the Zetas cartel. Mexican marines caught him on Wednesday. He's one of Mexico's most wanted traffickers. And the government had offered a $2.3 million reward for information leading to the arrests of this man.

Zimbabwe's long-time president Robert Mugabe is proposing a referendum on a new constitution in six weeks time and a general election in the country in March, but his rivals in the movement for democratic change call the timetable unrealistic. Now it is the first time the president has suggested a referendum, which is being called for by regional mediators worried about vote rigging and violence. But the MDC says any proposals need to be agreed with its leader, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai before they can go ahead.

The presidents of Sudan and South Sudan are hailing an agreement that resolves some of their thorniest issues. It enables South Sudan to resume oil production and export through the north. It also establishes a demilitarized zone along the border. It does not address one of the most contentious issues: the status of an oil rich region. They say they will tackle that again in future talks.

Well, the Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei has lost his final appeal against tax evasion charges in Beijing. The artist is libel for back taxes and the fines of almost $2.4 million. Ai says the charges are politically motivated, named at suppressing his activism. His company agreed to pay $1.3 million in order to get his case reviewed, but Ai Weiwei says he will not pay the balance in protest.

Well, daughter of a Hong Kong billionaire has been bombarded with thousands of marriage proposals after her father declared a $64 million bounty for any man who would marry her. The offer comes despite reports that his daughter, Gigi Chao, married another woman in a recent civil ceremony. Well, Ms. Chao hasn't confirmed whether or not she is married, but told CNN she finds her father's proposal, quote, "quite entertaining."

We're going to take a very short break here on CNN. And when we come back, England's FA hands down its punishment on John Terry. Hear what they ruled and what his former manager Jose Mourinho thinks of it. That's coming up after this.

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ANDERSON: Well, you're watching Connect the World live from London. I'm Becky Anderson.

This is the time we do sport. And although John Terry of England was acquitted of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, another English player, in a criminal court earlier in the summer, the English FA itself has now handed down its own punishment against the English captain.

Mark McKay is at CNN Center. He joins us from there.

Mark, why did the FA act when a court, a criminal court, had acquitted John Terry.

MARK MCKAY, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, that's what Terry's representatives would like. In fact, they have asked for a written, detailed explanation for that decision. But here's the bottom line, a four match ban and a fine of more than $350,000 for John Terry found guilty by the English Football Association for a racially abusing Queen's Park Rangers player Anton Ferdinand last October. Terry, of course, no long with the national team. He announced that he was quitting the international game before this hearing began this week.

Now the ban would prevent him from playing for Chelsea of the English Premier League, which he is the captain. Terry has 14 days to appeal the FA's decision, which as you said, Becky, contradicts a court ruling this past summer, which cleared Terry of criminal charges related to the case.

Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho was a witness during the court proceedings. And in an exclusive interview with World Sport's Pedro Pinto, here is what Mourinho had to say about John Terry.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MOURINHO: He is not a racist, that's 100 percent. We had a squad where we had 12 African players in the squad and it was a fantastic squad. And it had always a great relation with every one of them, but in football can happen, because I know it can happen, during a football match, because football sometimes is more than a game and sometimes you have reactions that doesn't represent what you are really, probably you had a racist comment, or a racist attitude against an opponent.

And sometimes in football we look to our opponents in the wrong way. If you had that reaction, he has to pay for that reaction, but to pay is to be punished. But please don't say that he is a racist, because I know, and what I'm saying Drogba will say, Jeremy will say, Markil Alel (ph) will say, all of them will say that he is not a racist.

PEDRO PINTO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Do you think there is racism in football?

MOURINHO: I never felt it, never, in the dressing room I never felt it. And I always had African players in every one of my team.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCKAY: Jose Mourinho. You can see more of Pedro's exclusive conversation with the Real Madrid manager next Friday, October 5. It's Mourinho master class only here on CNN.

One thing we know about Jose Mourinho, Becky, he is not shy with his opinions.

ANDERSON: Absolutely not. And I guess he was asked, is John Terry a racist, not whether he thought he'd used a racist slur in that specific game. It's a little bit confusing there, but I got his point, I did get his point. And it's always good to hear from the Special One.

Tell me, we've been talking all week about these replacement refs in NFL. We had to sort of get a translation on what had happened over here, because it's not a game that everybody knows the ins and outs of. But we got it in the end and we totally understood that people were incredibly upset. Is this replacement referee era all over now? Are we going to see these regular refs back in action?

MCKAY: Yes, Becky, I can say with authority the replacement referees have been replaced. And here's what happened. Just before midnight New York time, a new agreement was made between the NFL and the referee's union which brings the referees back, the regular refs, the replacement referees had been replaced effective immediately. The blown call that ended Monday nights Green Bay-Seattle game and the likely reaction to it was the one that basically pushed these negotiations along, many people think.

The NFL commissioner lifted the lockout in time for the start of week four which begins later tonight in Baltimore when the Ravens host the Cleveland Browns and a crew, an officiating crew with 70 years combined NFL officiating experience will be working that game. And once the deal is ratified, the rest of the refs will be in place for Sunday's full slate of NFL action.

Hey, one more note, you know the Ryder Cup is coming up and the pairings for this weekend's clash between Europe and the United States will happen live during World Sport which begins at the bottom of the next hour. We'll see you then.

ANDERSON: Ah, can't wait. This is going to be an absolute riot this weekend starting of course Ryder Cup on Friday.

Just one questions to you before we go, what happens to the replacement refs. Do they go back to officiating on replacement games or something? What do they do?

MCKAY: Well, many have come, if you can believe this, the lingerie bowl, or college games and such. These are businessmen that go back to their daily lives. And they certainly did not have the experience of the more seasoned referees. And it certainly showed during the first three weeks of the season.

It basically, Becky, blew up in the face of the NFL saying, OK, regular refs you're out and you want to fight us in this labor deal. We'll bring the replacement in. It did not work for the NFL at all.

ANDERSON: So if you're going for a job as a former replacement ref you really don't put on your CV, "I was a replacement ref" --

MCKAY: No.

ANDERSON: -- for NFL -- no, you don't. Right, I get it. I get it.

(LAUGHTER)

ANDERSON: Listen, always a pleasure, Mark, thank you very much, indeed. Do join Mark McKay in just about an hour's time when, as you said, we're going to get those pairings for the kickoff of what is going to be a tumultuous, Chicago-based Ryder Cup. Europe versus the US this weekend.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Coming up, rough justice. That may be in store for Kremlin critic Alexander Lebedev after he lost his cool on Russian TV. His son had a lot to tell me.

Plus, forget Harry. His creator has a tale to tell about hard times, but can the author JK Rowling work her sorcery or her magic, at least, on a new audience.

And the Iraqi-born British architect Zaha Hadid tells us about her inspiration and what goes into a memorable building.

That all coming up, plus your headlines, after this.

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ANDERSON: A very warm welcome to our viewers across Europe and around the world wherever you are watching, we welcome you. I'm Becky Anderson, these are the latest world news headlines from CNN.

Israel's prime minister is urging the world to draw a clear red line on Iran's nuclear program. Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly earlier and he used a diagram to illustrate what he calls Iran's progress towards building a nuclear bomb.

Well, Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas also addressed the Assembly. He appealed for upgraded UN status for Palestinians. He also called Israel's expansion of settlements and demolition of Palestinian homes as, quote, "a campaign of ethnic cleansing."

Spain has announced new spending cuts and tax increases as it unveiled its budget for next year. This comes as the nation struggles with a huge deficit, high borrowing costs, and soaring unemployment. Despite the cuts, officials said tensions will increase.

And Mexican authorities believe they have one of the most wanted drug traffickers in custody. Ivan Velazquez Caballero is top lieutenant in the Zeta cartel. The government has offered a $2.3 million reward for this man for information leading to his arrest.

Well, "politically motivated." That is how Russian billionaire and Kremlin critic Alexander Lebedev describes the charges of holligism (sic) and assault -- I'll say that word again, hooliganism and assault -- brought against him this week.

Last year, you remember, he punched a guest on a Russian TV show. Let's remind ourselves what actually happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MAN SPEAKING RUSSIAN)

(MAN PUNCHED)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, a former KGB agent who owns the "Independent" and "Evening Standard" newspapers in prison may now face up to five years in a Russian prison.

It comes on the heels of another high-profile Russian trial, punk rockers Pussy Riot was sentenced to two years behind bars for hooliganism after singing lyrics critical of Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow's main cathedral.

Well, Alexander Lebedev is in Moscow. His son spoke to me here earlier in the studio. He told me that his father is fine. In fact, he quoted him as saying that he's a fighter. He has, as his father does, has questions about the response of the Russian legal system, though.

A short time ago, I talked to Evgeny and asked him whether -- certainly started by asking him -- whether he condones violence, given what we saw from his father.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EVGENY LEBEDEV, SON OF ALEXANDER LEBEDEV: No, I don't condone violence. I absolutely do not. But I think the response to what is something that happened -- I don't condone violence. We have video proof for it.

But I think the response, the response of the Russian legal system is completely out of proportion. Because this carries an almost seven years jail sentence, and --

ANDERSON: You've said it's out of proportion, and you've said these charges are politically motivated. The laws, though, are very clear on hooliganism and on assault, between two and five years. You say possibly seven. Does he believe he'll be jailed?

LEBEDEV: It's very possible, if we're judging by previous examples. If we look at the punk band Pussy Riot, they've been jailed for two years. So, I think what happened to them was out of proportion, as well.

Around them, the society was very divided. Some people thought they should be punished, the very religious group. Some people thought they should be punished mildly, and others thought they shouldn't be punished at all. But again, two years in jail I think is out of proportion.

There are other incidents of, say, police who've beaten up and killed a homeless person and they get two years in jail for that. And that -- that's not justice.

ANDERSON: Writing in Moscow on Tuesday, your father said, "I know the position of the president. He thinks it's true that if you've been funding the opposition, you are violating rule number one. If you have money, you should not interfere in politics."

This, though, is what your father told me when I interviewed him just before the Russian elections back in February.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEXANDER LEBEDEV, RUSSIAN MEDIA TYCOON: I plan to get out of business to go more into politics, but it's not that easy. I've become too big. Hopefully, it's going to take me another three to four months.

ANDERSON: Three to four months before you get back into politics?

A. LEBEDEV: Yes. And then, I would try to change this stereotype that being on the Forbes list you cannot be doing anything positive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Today, he says he wants to wind up his businesses and get out of Russia. What happened to his determination to get into politics?

E. LEBEDEV: Well, I think it's -- just, his life has been made very difficult because he's been investigated constantly. He's now been charged because his businesses have been investigated, clients fled. And it's just very difficult to live under those circumstances.

ANDERSON: And he's done nothing wrong, is what you're saying.

E. LEBEDEV: His life -- yes, absolutely. He's not --

ANDERSON: Ever?

E. LEBEDEV: Ever. Ever, apart from maybe punching that guy on television, which was wrong.

ANDERSON: Let's be serious. He is absolutely determined that this is a politically-motivated charge.

E. LEBEDEV: Well, it's a -- the response -- the response to this charge, the sentence that it potentially carries is politically motivated. Yes, there could have been a smaller charge for it, which is relative to what was committed.

But it certainly doesn't carry hooliganism with political motivation. What political motivation? That he suddenly during the course of this discussion decided that Polonsky, the man he punched, was of different political persuasion and then decided to wallop him? I can't see how that's possibly politically motivated.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Evgeny Lebedev, speaking to me for -- earlier on about his father.

I want to get you to the UN General Assembly, here, where Mohamed Yousef al-Magariaf is -- president, of course, of Libya's General National Council Congress is speaking. Let's -- let's just briefly listen in. He has been talking about the killing of Chris Stevens in Libya. Have a listen to this.

MOHAMED AL-MAGARIAF, PRESIDENT, LIBYAN GENERAL NATIONAL CONGRESS (through translator): We shall defeat the plot of the backward terrorists that do not represent Libya, who do not represent Islam. Islam is a religion of tolerance, peace, and love. Just as President Obama said from this rostrum two days ago, our future is a future that will be charted by people like Chris Stevens, not by people like his killers.

In this context, I would like to express my condolences to the Libyan people and to Misrata for the death of Omran Shaban, who has joined the long list of martyrs some five days ago. Mr. President, I would like to express our deep --

ANDERSON: You've been listening just there briefly to the Libyan president speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD here on CNN. Coming up after the break, we find out how an ordinary girl from northern England became the first female Olympic boxing champion in history. That after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Right. In this week's Human to Hero series, we meet British Olympic gold medalist Nicola Adams. She became the first female Olympic boxing champion, you'll remember, after the Games introduced women's boxing at London 2012. Well, the five-foot-five fighter from the north of England told CNN what it took to get that gold.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICOLA ADAMS, OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST: There are two sides to boxing. There's a mental side and a physical side. The mental side, you have to be really confident and calm and relaxed and focused. You've got to get in there mentally, you're thinking, "I can win, and I can achieve this." And the physical side is really tough as well. There's a lot of training that goes into it.

I love everything about boxing. I love the fact that it's the work that you put in is what you'll get out of it. If you cut corners, then it's down to you when you get in the ring.

My first encounter with the ring and the gloves and a gym was when I was 12 years old. My mum took me down to the gym. She used to do aerobic.

And one particular night, she couldn't get a babysitter for me and my brother, and she took us down to the gym with her, and they had an after- school boxing class. And I think it started from there, really. I joined in, and I was the only girl there, as well.

My first competition was when I was 13. I boxed another local girl. I remember peering behind the cans there was a big curtain for the boxers to walk out under and then go into the ring, and I remember peeking out and seeing all my friends and family and the crowd all waiting for the boxing to begin.

I'd only just started boxing, and there wasn't that many female boxers around, so when I got to box, it was really rare.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Round one.

ADAMS: Training started to really pick up for me when I started boxing for England when I was 18. I was the first woman to represent my country. It was a real breakthrough for me. I couldn't believe what I was achieving, and I think it's down to my hard work and my dedication and not letting anybody put me down.

I standard day of training involves a run in the morning, strength and conditioning, I do weights, press-ups, pull-ups. And then, a boxing session.

The women tend to focus more on the technique than the power which the men do. Normally, I tend to focus on my hand speed and my footwork.

When I first boxed for Great Britain, this is one of my combinations I used, which was quite strong for me. It's a jab, then a hook to the body.

You've got to really love what you're doing, otherwise, you won't get -- you won't get through the training. The times when you have to run in the rain and it's minus God-knows-what degrees outside, and you get up and you go do the work.

I injured my back in 2009. I was packing my -- packing my things to go to a boxing match, and I'd left my bandage hanging out of my bag. And I'd fallen -- tripped over it and fallen down the stairs. They found a little crack in one of my vertebrae, so that meant I was out of boxing for a year.

I was missing what I loved doing, especially because it was at the time when they were doing the selections for the team -- Team GB to go to the Olympics. I managed to make it back in time for the last assessment camp and made the team.

The biggest moment for me was when I knocked down Ren Cancan in the Olympic final. When I walked out into the crowd, I was thinking, this is my time. I want to win this.

I just remember thinking, whatever she does, I'm going to do ten times better. If she throws a punch, I'll through five back.

Winning the medal for me meant everything. All the hard work, all the ups and downs, the highs and lows. Everything in my life has revolved around boxing, and to -- so, for me to win the gold medal was everything I dreamed about since I was a kid.

To be a champion, it does take a lot of inner belief and the will to win, the dream. I dreamed that one day I'd be in the Olympics and I'd be able to box in front of thousands of people. You need that belief giving you that little bit extra when you might be down on points or you might be tired, to just give you the little edge over your opponent to win.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: This week, we are celebrating 50 years of the UNESCO Heritage Program here on CNN. In our penultimate report on some of the world's great buildings, my colleague Nick Glass spoke to Zaha Hadid about her favorite piece of architecture. Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(APPLAUSE)

ZAHA HADID, ARCHITECT: I know that without enormous support, this project would not have happened.

NICK GLASS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just to begin, I just wondered whether you enjoy days like this?

HADID: Well, actually, I enjoy them if I'm not always exhausted. Yes, I mean, I think it's very nice. It's finished and you hand it over to the client.

GLASS: And did you have an original drawing from which you worked? Was there a single idea?

HADID: The original idea was really a branching tree. That had more to do with the lines in between all the rocks or the crevices.

GLASS: Do you have a great building from the past above all others that you love?

HADID: I've -- when I was a child, I was seven years old, and I went to see -- when I went to Cordoba with my parents. I didn't realize how much it was in my mind until I went back again a few years ago to Cordoba to see the great mosque again.

Of course, as a child, I didn't understand. I just thought it was an amazing space. But I didn't understand that it was amazing because it was a hybrid. It's an existing building with these cathedrals, which are dropped in it. And they bring in light to a very -- rather darker space, because they are marble or they're white or whatever. So, it's all like a modern project.

GLASS: What should a great building do? What effect should it have on the visitor?

HADID: Well, it should, I think, inspire.

GLASS: What is your favorite building of those you've built so far?

HADID: They are all very different, and I like them in all different ways, but I suppose Rome. And this one, I mean, I think -- I like that period of work.

Kind of brutal, tough, on the cusp of fluidity. Rome is kind of overlaid with history. And the site is not necessarily an historic center. It was a car factor, and it was converted to military barracks. And I decided to completely demolish them, because I thought a new institution, like a museum for contemporary art, should not be house in an existing building.

The idea was to kind of flood the site, like a delta. So, the main buildings are like big rivers, and the smaller veins are like the bridges and so on. Like streams. Big streams and small streams.

And the art -- I did the art slow and seamlessly through these rivers.

It's a very horizontal museum, so all -- everywhere you have lines coming through the building.

GLASS: Were you inhibited, building in Rome?

HADID: No, I wasn't. Actually, building in an historic city, and the contrast of the old and the new, is very exciting. Because these cities were never done in one period. They were done over thousands of years.

And so, why suddenly now we have to freeze time and say, oh, we should never build anything which can have in any way shape the existing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Zaha Hadid speaking there to Nick.

In tonight's Parting Shots, JK Rowling has moved on from the Harry Potter phenomenon to take on the adult world in her new novel, "The Casual Vacancy," just out today. Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been a relatively quiet day here at this bookstore in Westland, and none of the hallmarks of a typical JK Rowling book launch. We haven't seen any extremely long lines, I haven't seen anyone dressed up as a wizard.

But then again, this book isn't exactly targeting a wizard's audience. This is an adult book with adult themes, like substance abuse. Nevertheless, people here still want to read it. Joining me now is Rashme Gil (ph). Rashme, I saw you checking out those books back there.

RASHME GIL, BOOKSTORE CUSTOMER: Yes.

MCLAUGHLIN: Are you considering buying "The Casual Vacancy"?

GIL: Well, I am, which is why I was looking at them. JK Rowling has been such a big bestseller -- the Harry Potter books have been a big seller, so I thought I'd see what the new book's going to be like, because I know this is more of an adult theme.

This is more catered towards adults. So, yes, in that respect, I thought I'd check it out and see what all the new fuss is about with JK Rowling.

MCLAUGHLIN: The Harry Potter series was such a phenomenal success. Do you think she can repeat that same magic with these books?

GIL: See, that's what I wanted to find out. I haven't read the book. Interested in buying it and having a look myself. It -- this is the thing. When you've had something like Harry Potter, how do you -- how do you better that? How do you make something bigger and more exciting or -- even if it's not exciting, different, which is more -- so it becomes more interesting for people?

And that's what, I suppose, I'm interested -- I'm intrigued. I think that's the word I'm looking for. I'm intrigued to know what she can offer after having such a fantastic era, if you like, with Harry and his friends. So, I think that's the word I'm looking for: intrigued to see what it's all about.

MCLAUGHLIN: As for JK Rowling, well, she says that she's proud of this work and she wrote it for herself.

Erin McLaughlin, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Good for her. I'm Becky Anderson, that was CONNECT THE WORLD. World news headlines up after this. Do not go away.

END