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Queen Elizabeth Delivers Speech to Open Parliament; Prince Philip Unable to Attend Due to Infection; The Rise and Fall of Uber's CEO; Saudi King Changes Succession, Names Son as New Crown Prince; Jared Kushner Visits Israel, Palestinian Territories. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired June 21, 2017 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:02:12] CYRIL VANIER, HOST: Hello, we have been listening to Theresa May, the British Prime Minister who has been speaking for about 30 minutes
now. We're just standing outside the chambers of parliament here in central London.
Before the British Prime Minister, it was Jeremy Corbyn, the opposition leader.
Let's debrief what they've been saying. Of course, this is a key moment for the British Prime Minister, for Theresa May. I have Carole Walker with
me. Carole is our CNN political correspondent. And, you know, it's always for anybody who likes politics, for a politics buff, this is always good
stuff, because there's always oratory skill, there's always humor, they're very good at what they do.
But let's talk about the substance. What I saw, and you'll tell me what you think, I think we saw a Jeremy Corbyn that really feels he has momentum
going into this speech. And responding to that, Theresa May seemed to dig in her heels.
CAROLE WALKER, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, absolutely.
Jeremy Corbyn made the most of his opportunities. He certainly spoke for so long that some MPs were standing up to raise points of order and suggesting
that perhaps he'd been going on a little too long.
But he was seizing this opportunity to try to point out what he sees are the lessons from that general election where his Labour Party did much
better than expected, not quite well enough to actually win the election, but he gained seats when everyone was predicting he was going to be losing
them. And when Theresa May, of course, went into the election saying that she was going to get a big, strong mandate to negotiate Brexit he pointed
out that that had been rejected.
But Jeremy Corbyn was drawing wider conclusions from that election result. He said that what that vote meant was that people were tired of austerity.
That is the cuts to public services, the restrictions on the pay increases of public sector workers, the cuts to welfare benefits that many people
have experienced.
VANIER: And he was very forceful on that.
WALKER: He was very forceful on that. And he actually welcomed a lot of what was not in the queen's speech. He welcomed the fact that many of
these ideas that have been floated about restricting benefits to some pensioners, about getting rid of the free school lunches for school
children, some of the proposals on social care for elderly people, he was delighted, he said, to see that those things were not in the queen's
speech, and they have been dropped because Theresa May knows they're also controversial on her side and she simply hasn't got the numbers to get
those through.
VANIER: Yeah, a diluted a conservative platform, obviously is good news for Jeremy Corbyn who has been fighting those policies. Tell me about
Theresa May. She was combative.
WALKER: She was on confident form despite everything that she has been through. She was even self-assured enough to crack a few jokes...
VANIER: Which is not totally in character.
WALKER: No, she's known and has been hugely criticized for being far too robotic, for sticking to these tight phrases, for failing to show
sufficient sympathy for people. It was notable that she actually delivered in parliament an apology for the response to the appalling fire at the
Grenfell Tower bloc in which so many people died. She was hugely criticized for failing to meet some of the people who had survived that
when she first went to the scene.
And today...
VANIER: She was contrite in this speech. She was properly contrite.
WALKER: She was contrite, she apologized in the houses of parliament. She promised to proceed with what she called humility and resolve to deal with
the political situation that she finds herself in, but also with the anger that she has experienced in some of the people out on the streets who feel
that she simply failed to show sufficient sympathy, simply failed to show that she was listening to the real concerns and anger of people on the
streets.
Nonetheless, what Theresa May was trying to say in that speech was that she was still sticking to her agenda.
VANIER: She will carry on.
WALKER: The overall agenda of taking Britain out of the European Union over the next two years. And indeed sticking to at least a paired back,
but some of the domestic policies which she stood on at that election.
VANIER: She now has to sell the queen's speech, which let's remind our viewers is her speech. She wrote it. The queen delivered it, but she
wrote it.
This is her policy platform. This is what she intends to do over the next two years, especially as far as the Brexit negotiations are concerned.
She's got to sell this.
WALKER: That's right. She's got to sell it. And she's actually got to get the laws through parliament without quite enough votes on her own side to
be sure that she can do that.
What I think she will try to do is, as she did there, was to say that she was acting in the national interest. She was stressing that the safety and
security of citizens, and don't let's forget we've had a series of devastating terrorist attacks here in the UK, she was insisting that safety
and security would be the priority, and that she would deliver on the vote that there was in the Brexit referendum a year ago to take Britain out of
the European Union.
You're right, she's got to persuade the wider country that she's acting in their interests. She's got to persuade enough MPs in parliament to support
her. And even if she manages to get this deal with the Democratic Unionist Party, those 10 representatives from Northern Ireland to support her, that
still only gives her a tiny, tiny...
VANIER: Razor thin majority, yeah.
WALKER: It only needs about half a dozen of her side to say, look, we're not going to along with this to vote with the opposition and she could
start to lose votes.
Now, I think what is keeping her in place for the time being is people are concerned that if they were to move against her, if there was to be a
leadership contest now, that could result in a Labour government, and those on her side are reluctant to see that. That's what's keeping Theresa May
in her job for the time being.
VANIER: And in this context, there's a number I think it's interesting for our viewers to remember, that's 15 percent, a 15 percent of conservative
lawmakers want to mount a challenge. They could potentially take down Theresa May, so we'll keep that in mind.
Carole, stand by.
The queen officially opened the British parliament earlier, delivering a speech written for her, as we were saying, by the prime minister and her
minority government.
Unsurprisingly, Brexit topped this agenda. Right now, UK lawmakers are debating the policies put forth in the queen's speech. Opposition leader
Jeremy Corbyn attacked the prime minister's plans for Brexit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEREMY CORBYN, LABOUR PARTY LEADER: It's in all our interests we get a Brexit deal that puts jobs and the economy first. No deal is not better
than a bad deal, it's a bad deal and not viable for this country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: Mrs. May also made remarks and offered an apology for the handling of the Grenfell Tower fire last week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Let me be absolutely clear, the support on the ground for families in the initial hours was not good
enough, people were left without belongings, without roofs over their heads, without even basic information about what had happened, what they
should do, and where they could seek help. That was a failure of the state, local, and national, to help people when they needed it most?
As prime minister, I apologize for that failure.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VANIER: And we also learned earlier today that the queen's husband, Prince Philip, is in a London hospital being treated for an infection. Buckingham
Palace says this is just a precautionary measure.
Let's see if we can find out more. Our team is covering this around the capital. Fred Pleitgen is outside Buckingham Palace. International
Diplomatic editor Nic Robertson is outside Downing Street for the politics.
Fred, to you first, what do we know about Prince Philip?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we do know that he was taken to hospital last night. And he was taken to hospital Cyril,
from Windsor Castle, so not actually here from Buckingham Palace.
And as you mentioned, the palace is saying that this was a precautionary measure, so he certainly wasn't taken there by ambulance. Apparently, he
was driven there in a car because he had some sort of infection stemming from a longer-term issue that he has.
Now, the palace hasn't specified exactly what that infection is about, where that infection is, but we do know from the past that he has had
issues with his bladder over the past couple of years, and that he has had infections there in the past and so therefore that could be one of the
reasons. However, at this point again, the palace isn't giving any further additional information.
One of the things they are saying, though, is that apparently he is in good spirits and was very sad to miss today's events that were going on.
Also, the royal ascott, which of course is going on later today. Apparently, he is in good spirits. He's walking around the hospital room,
so the infection is not so bad that he would be bound to his bed, however, his physicians here at - they felt that it was prudent to bring him to the
hospital to make sure that he gets adequate treatment there, and also to keep him there, quite frankly, to make sure that that treatment has a
chance to unfold and to start working.
Again, he's a man who is 96-years-old, has been a very robust health, which really is surprising for a man his age, who has also had the schedule that
he has, with all those public appearances he's always had, but of course at 96-years-old, he has face some medical issues, especially over the past
year, Cyril.
VANIER: Absolutely. Fred Pleitgen reporting live outside Buckingham Palace.
Let's head to 10 Downing Street not very far from where we are right now inside the houses of parliament. Nic Robertson is standing by. Nic,
you've been listening to first Jeremy Corbyn and then the British Prime Minister Theresa May as she tries to sell the queen's speech and tell me
what you think about this: my impression was this ushers in Theresa May's new reality, that she is an embattled prime minister, but she's going to
soldier on.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And that seems to me the takeaway that we can get from Jeremy Corbyn. I mean, he really seemed like
he was on fire with what - with his speech. I mean, he was reveling in the time that he had, reveling in what he was saying, you know, he said that he
hoped this minority government would listen more to the house, referencing back to issues surrounding the austerity measures of the Conservative
government, essentially saying this to Theresa May this is why you did so badly in the election.
But, you know, he wasn't the only one landing the punches. Theresa May, you know, as is her style a little bit more hesitant, a little, perhaps,
comes across as not quite so confident when she wants to deliver a joke. She was joking about one of the MPs who delivered a speech earlier saying
that it was minister of the fisheries he'd mixed up cod and (inaudible). And she was happy to see that there was no salmon (ph) in the House,
meaning Alex Salmon (ph) from the SNP, the Scottish National Party.
She was reveling in the fact that the SNP had lost seats. She made another joke at that, welcoming the leader of the SNP Party to Westminster, but
saying, well, but I also have 13 Conservative - Scottish Conservative MPs as well. That's because the SNP did so bad.
So, she was really - she was really getting her digs in there as well.
But on the Grenfell Tower incident, I think, you know, when she spoke about that she really hit the word when - the word met. When she said I met a
woman there who came out of the building only in her knickers and t-shirt, that I met, she was really delivering that - the message that she did meet
people, she did go there, which is what she was so heavily criticized for. So, you know, she was trying to address what has happened, lay her
political digs in as well, but of course the leader for the opposition doing exactly the same.
VANIER: Nic, tell me about Theresa May's grip on power? That's going to be key over the coming week, and especially when the queen's speech is
voted on. I spoke to a number of lawmakers today and they seem to be saying - they seem to - essentially they have to make do with Theresa May,
even those who don't like her.
ROBERTSON: She has, you know, 317 Conservative MPs. It's not enough to win a vote alone, unless, of course, there's abstentions from opposors, or
people too ill to be in the house to vote, so she does need that support, she does need the support of the Democratic Unionist Party, those 10 MPs.
But at the moment she seems to be struggling to get an agreement. It's been very sort of closed, or secret negotiations. We don't know what's
been going on behind closed doors until yesterday when the DUP came out and said that this wasn't going the way they expected. There was going to
be no deal before Thursday.
This morning, Damion Green (ph), the first - the prime minister's top aid was saying perhaps there won't be a deal, so both sides seems to have gone
public, you know, this does seem to imply exposing some division there, some sort of, if you will, you know, push to get past the post and get what
they want, but at the moment, you know, have to say that she has 317 and she still doesn't have that additional 10 and it's not where she would
really want to be, Cyril.
[11:15:12] VANIER: All right, Nic Robertson speaking outside 10 Downing Street. Thank you very much.
Fred Pleitgen also in central London. You're outside Buckingham Palace. We've got this covered from all angles. We're going to take a short break,
but when we do come back, the Saudi king names a new heir to the throne. How will that impact the economy and the kingdom's foreign relations? We
discuss that next on CNN. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You're watching CNN. And this is Connect the World. Thanks so much for joining me. I'm Robyn
Curnow at the CNN Center. Welcome back.
I want to talk about a surprise power shift in one part of the Middle East's most powerful nation. Saudi Arabia's King Salman has removed his
nephew as crown prince in favor of his son, Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz is now first in line to succeed the throne. Our John Defterios has
the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: A choreographed transfer of power at the heart of Saudi Arabia's monarchy. Outgoing Saudi Crown Prince
Muhammad bin Nayef pledging allegiance to his cousin 31-year- old Prince Muhammad Salman as the new king heir to the throne.
Scenes of royal deference masking radical change. All triggered by this royal decree from King Salman removing the previous crown prince, stripping
him of his titles and roles in the government. Power now consolidated in the hands of this man, Mohammad bin Salman.
His swift rise began when his father ascended the throne in 2015. Young and ambitious, he's adopted an activist approach. He spearheaded Saudi vision
2030 an economic transformation plan meant to wean the kingdom of his addiction to oil and bring about more social reforms.
As the prime minister he was the primary architect of Saudi Arabia's military intervention in Yemen against Houti rebels and their allies. Two
years on, he has yet to achieve its goals and has been criticized for causing civilian deaths and worsening the humanitarian conditions of the
region's poorest country.
And as his portfolio expands, so, too, will the challenges he has to grapple with. Chief among them, the ongoing diplomatic standoff with Qatar.
How to counter the kingdom's regional arch rival Iran and deal with low oil prices depleting his cash pile.
But the prince's backers aren't limited to his father's royal court. U.S. President Donald Trump chose Saudi Arabia as the first stop of his first
trip abroad, signaling his strong support for the kingdom and its regional policies. Support that will be key in helping the young prince push through
bold domestic reforms and pursue a more confrontational foreign policy.
John Defterios, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURNOW: OK. A lot to talk about. I want to cover this story from all angles and discuss with the mean society, its neighbors and the west. We
have John Kirby with us. He's live in Abu Dhabi. Fawaz Gerges in the professor of international relations at the London School of Economics in
London, and also joining us is CNN's military and diplomatic analyst John Kirby live from Washington.
To you, John, first. I mean, you just laid out a lot of what this means. It's not just a royal reshuffle, the consequences could be felt for years
to come. What strikes you as being key, the big challenges, is it about the economics?
DEFTERIOS: Well, Robyn, indeed. The economics are front and center. And, in fact, Muhammad bin Salman, who is now the crown prince, was given the
mandate a year ago with a so-called vision 2030. This is a radical departure from the kingdom of the last 30 years, reduce the dependency on
oil and transfer responsibility away from the government and into the hands of the private sector. What is difficult for the crown prince now MBS, as
he's known, is that oil is hovering below $50 a barrel. In fact, we just entered a bear market today with a correction of better than 20 percent in
oil prices.
And so what has happened since he's come in to power, we've seen cash reserves in Saudi Arabia go from better than $760 billion to just over half
a trillion dollars today.
Now, the economists and the finance ministers I speak to on the ground in Riyadh over the last month are suggesting the worst is over, and perhaps
this is why now King Salman is clarifying plans for the future.
But this also a drive towards the youth. An 81-year-old king handing power and the future roadmap for the economy, even the geopolitical structure, to
the 31-year-old crown prince. The stock market actually liked it with that clarity and relieving the big decisions for the future during this Ramadan
period, the stock market in Saudi Arabia rallied better than 3 percent, Robyn.
CURNOW: Yeah, the timing also very interesting.
Fawaz, to you, I mean, John lays out the implications in terms of the numbers, but politically this is a seismic shift. I mean, we're seeing a
more activist leader here. What are the implications? I mean, certainly a new direction for Saudi Arabia on the world stage, perhaps.
FAWAZ GERGES, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: I mean, I think what we need to understand is that Muhammad bin Salman has been the leading decision maker
in Saudi Arabia in the past two years. He has emerged as the decision maker as the leader both in terms he is the defense minister. He also was
in charge of the Aramco, the state oil company. His vision 2030 was framed in order to decrease the kingdom's dependence on oil and create a diverse
economy.
So, the reality is the royal decree today basically formalized an established situation.
This is a major dramatic qualitative shift, Robyn, from the elders to the sons. Now, the sons (inaudible) family are in charge. And this really
brings about a sea change, a generational change, not to mention is that Muhammad bin Salman, 31-year-old, an activist, ambitious, charismatic
leader, very popular with the Saudi youth in particular, who view him, who see themselves in him. He takes risks. He's basically engages the western
media. He has taken major high profile visits to the United States, meeting with President Trump, to China, to Russia, so really Saudi Arabia
now, I mean, the transition, the formalized decree by the king, represents a major shift of power from the elders to the sons a new generational shift
of politics.
CURNOW: And John Kirby, to you, the view from Washington, what does this mean in terms of the geopolitical relationship within the region, and
particularly about how Saudi is now going to deal with Iran?
JOHN KIRBY, CNN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ANALYST: Well, it's a good question. I think certainly the Trump administration will be pleased by
this announcement because they expect, and should expect, I think, that Muhammad bin Salman will be tougher on Iran. He will be looking for ways
to bolster Saudi Arabia's position in the region, particularly from a activist foreign policy perspective, and perhaps an activist - more
activist defense policy perspective. As you have rightly pointed out, he was the heart and soul, and is the heart and soul, behind the Yemen
operations. I don't think we can expect for those operations to recede any time soon.
So, I think from an anti-terror and anti-Iran perspective, which many in the Trump administration seem to espouse, they will be pleased by this and
this will be - this will move things forward in the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia, I think, perhaps even at an accelerated
clip.
CURNOW: Yeah, and John, back to you. I mean, you're in the region there. And also this also could point to a signaling of a more of the same when it
comes to perhaps a diplomatic fallout and the strokes that have been taken by the Saudis with regard to Qatar. I mean, what does that also tell us
and about this young leader and how he deals, perhaps, with this sort of more aggressive activist foreign policy?
DEFTERIOS: It's a great point that you bring up. This move is, of course, to get support of the youth on the ground. The point was raised that in
fact Muhammad bin Salman has developed that relationship with the youth being 31-years-old. And I would add to this, Robyn, over the last 12
months there's been a seachange in the attitude towards the crown prince now and what he's trying to accomplish. He had the support of the youth,
but the wider business community remained very skeptical. In the first six months of this year, I went into the Kingdom four different times, and
every time I went, the attitude has changed, it has broader support in society.
But this is not just a change in leadership only in Saudi Arabia tilted towards the youth. We've had this transition in Qatar with Sheikh Tamim
now in power, even here in Abu Dhabi with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed. They are much more aggressive than their predecessors. And some
would suggest what's taking place in Qatar right now with this blockade, what's transpired in Yemen over the last two years, and in the surrounding
areas with regards to Syria and Libya, many in the region would like to see them dial that down a little bit.
So, do we find a common ground with this new leadership pushes ahead with diversification, but at the same time calms down the region during this
period of transition. That's why many are looking to Washington, not just to stoke the fires, but also to find a common ground here so this region
can settle down over what we've seen in the last six months.
CURNOW: Fawaz, do you think that is possible, this de facto leader now as we know perhaps modernize it domestically, but looks to be hard line on
Iran and will double down on Qatar?
GERGES: I mean, the reality is that Muhammad bin Salman views Iran as an existential threat. He has made it very clear that the strategic goal of
Iran is to take over the Islamic world, to take over Islamic holy places, Mecca and Medina of Saudi Arabia.
So, his line on Iran is very extremely - I mean, activist and muscular.
The war in Yemen, we have talked about the war in Yemen. The war in Yemen really is a regional war by proxy. Saudi Arabia and his allies view that
Iran is trying to, through the Houthi group, have taken over power. What you have, Robyn, in the Middle East is a fierce, basically, regional cold
war between Saudi Arabia and its allies and Iran. And Muhammad bin Salman believes that Saudi Arabia must stand up and must defend not only the Arab
world and the Islamic world.
So, I doubt it very much - and also made it very clear that any dialogue with Iran requires Iran to shift its policies.
Again, his view, his world view corresponds to that of President Donald Trump. So, I don't see any kind of really deescalation between Saudi
Arabia and Iran in the next year or two, because this particular regional war by proxy is playing out not only in Yemen, it's playing out in Syria,
it's playing out in Iraq, it's playing out in Bahrain and other places as well.
CURNOW: Yeah. And Fawaz makes a good point there. John Kirby to you again, the view from Washington. Ou work for the Obama administration. A
very different perspective to the Trump administration, particularly with the region.
What does this mean? I mean, do you see any attempt to dial down any rhetoric or activity, or this muscularism is going to be backed up by
Washington?
KIRBY: I agree 100 percent with what Fawaz just said. I think he nailed it exactly right. I do not see a dialing back of the temperature. I do
see more muscularity now coming out of Saudi Arabia, particularly in light of this announcement. And you have to remember that Muhammad bin Salman's
basic view of the region subscribes perfectly to Donald Trump's view of the region and how to deal with the issues of Iran and the issues of terrorism
in General.
So, regrettably, I don't think that from a foreign policy and a defense policy perspective, that things are going to get more stable and calmer in
the Middle East as a result of this.
CURNOW: To both Johns and Fawaz, thanks so much for all of your perspective and analysis. Appreciate it, guys.
OK, you're watching CNN. And world news headlines are straight ahead. We know that U.S. President Donald Trump sends a personal envoy to try and
revive the Middle East peace process. Jared Kushner is now in Israel. We're live in Jerusalem. That's just ahead. Stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(HEADLINES)
[11:33:04] CURNOW: And the U.S. State Department says it is still considering its response following the death of a U.S. college student who
was held prisoner in North Korea. Otto Warmbier died on Monday just days after being returned to America in a vegetative state. He was held in
North Korea for 17 months.
Our Paula Hancocks spoke to a U.S. Citizen who was detained in North Korea for more than two years before his release in 2014. She joins us now from
Seoul, South Korea.
Paula, thank you so much for speaking to us. Tell us more about what Kenneth Bae told you.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Robyn, Kenneth Bae was the first American to be sent to a labor camp. He was the longest
serving detainee since the Korean War. But he said that he had to speak out today, he felt, to CNN, because he was just so devastated by what he
saw to what had happened to Otto Warmbier, the fact he had come home in a comatose state and his passing.
Now, the Warmbier family has given a statement recently saying that they blame North Korea, that they talk of his tortuous mistreatment. I asked
Kenneth Bae whether he thought there could have been the possibility of torture or physical abuse within the North Korean regime when he was being
held. And he said it was possible, because he, himself, had been threatened with it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KENNETH BAE, DETAINED IN NORTH KOREA: They told me before, while I was being questioned at the time, if you don't follow along with our program
you will get something worse. They did have that line, if you don't follow and there will be something worse that can happen to you.
So I do believe that, you know, something like that could have happened to other detainee at this point, because what happened to Otto is - and I'm
worried that other detainees, what were they going through?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: So, he says that the focus now has to be on those other detainees, three Americans, one Canadian. We know from the South Koreans,
the six South Koreans being held in North Korea at this point.
He also said that he hoped that Otto Warmbier's life was not lost in vain. He hoped that this was a tragedy which would actually highlight what is
happening in North Korea. And those that are suffering from the regime. And he had a very specific message to the U.S. President.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:35:25] BAE: Every life is very important. And Warmbier's life is important, and all the detainees and 24 million people living under such a
terrible state right now. And so I do hope that President Trump would take a stand with North Korean governments in demanding all the detainees to be
free. At the same time that older issues of the human rights violations and other issues that are happening right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HANCOCKS: He did agree, though, with a growing voice in the U.S. at this point that no Americans, at this point, should be going to North Korea. He
said until the North Koreans have given some kind of an explanation as to what happened to Otto Warmbier, then he doesn't believe that U.S. Citizens
should risk going in to the country - Robyn.
CURNOW: Paula Hancocks thre live for us from South Korea. Thanks so much.
OK, so he has no formal diplomatic experience, but he has the trust and confidence of U.S. President Donald Trump. Now Jared Kushner is trying his
hand at solving one of the most intractable conflicts in the world.
Mr. Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser arrived in Israel today on a mission to revive the Mid East peace process. He's already met with Prime
Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Next, he heads to the West Bank to see Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Well, let's get an update from Oren Liebemann. He joins us now from Jerusalem. What kind of a welcome has he received?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he got a very warm welcome. And we saw
that in a video put out by the government press office where he came with the U.S. ambassador to Israel as well as another one of the president's
advisers who has been here repeatedly and has sort of laid the groundwork for Jared Kushner's big visit.
Remember, Kushner was here with President Donald Trump a month ago, but he was very quiet then, no public statements, no big meetings. Now the
spotlight is definitely on Kushner. And it's an attempt by the Trump administration to keep momentum going, to restart some sort of a peace
process that last fell apart now more than three years ago.
So, it's an indication that a peace process, restarting negotiations, or making some other sort of progress, is very high on Trump's list. The
Kushner visit raises the stakes for both Israelis and Palestinians. And yet there's not an expectation that there's going to be some sort of
concrete steps coming out of this.
There may be, it would be quite a surprise at this point, but it's just keeping the process going here.
Robyn, as you point out, the next meeting is with - in the West Bank, in Ramallah, with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The statements we got
from - right as Netanyahu and Kushner met weren't big statements, it was essentially just a nice greeting. And in fact, all Kushner said was that
he'll send his best to President Trump, to his father-in-law.
It was Netanyahu who did most of the speaking saying we look forward to working with you on peace, prosperity and security. So, we'll see what
comes out of the meeting with Abbas in just a couple of hours here.
CURNOW: The view there from Jerusalem. Oren Liebermann, thank you.
So, the man who turned Uber into a global tech giant has taken his last ride as CEO. Travis Kalanick resigned on Tuesday as chief executive of the
ride sharing powerhouse. His aggressive success at any cost attitude ended up costing him his job. Kalanick's exit comes at a very turbulent time for
Uber.
Well, CNN's Maggie Lake joins me now from the New York Stock Exchange. Maggie, was this expected or is it still a surprise?
MAGGIE LAKE, CNN MONEY: I don't think it was a surprise, Robyn, but it is an extremely notable turn of events. I mean, this is a young entrepreneur
who completely transformed, along with his co-founder, how we think about transportation. And he has survived scandal after scandal, but there was a
feeling that it had just reached a tipping point.
He had been on a leave of absence, partially due to the untimely death of his mother, grieving her, but remember this is a company that had brought
in former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to do an investigation into a culture of sexual harassment. They had had many scandals involving
pricing, involving drivers. And when you have a valuation of $68 billion, one of the most valuable startups in the world, investors were starting to
get nervous about it interfering with the future. So, they pushed him out.
Kalanick did not go voluntarily. This was a decision by major investors that they had just fundamentally lost confidence. But what's striking
here, Robyn, is it comes at a time that the company is facing a lot of competition. At some point there's a talk about going public, but now they
have no CEO, no acting CEO. They have no chief operating officer. They have no chief financial officer. They have no chief marketing officer. I
mean, there has been an exodus of top talent at this company. So, the board has got to get its act together soon and fill these top posts so that
they can chart a path forward.
So, it is a real sort of end of this extraordinary story of this startup at the beginning of a very challenging chapter for them.
[11:40:18] CURNOW: Yeah, certainly, a new era. That report there from the London - from the New York Stock Exchange, beg your pardon. Maggie Lake,
thank you.
OK. Still ahead, it was a queen's speech with one very notable absence: her husband, Prince Philip. We'll explain why the Duke of Edinburgh wasn't
able to attend. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VANIER: You are watching CNN. This is Connect the world. I'm Cyril Vanier. Welcome back to Central London. We're in front of the houses of
parliament, Westminster. Amid the scaled down pomp and ceremony of today's queen's speech there was one very famous face missing, that's the quen's
husband, Prince Philip.
The 96-year-old prince is being treated in hospital for an infection. Buckingham Palace says he's in good spirits, but that he was disappointed
to miss today's events.
The queen's son, Prince Charles, attended the opening of parliament in his father's place.
Let's get the latest details from CNN's Ian Lee. He's live outside the hospital where Prince Philip is receiving treatment.
Ian, how is Prince Philip doing? What do we know?
IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's right, Cyril. This is a precautionary measure. And again the prince is 96-years-old.
We're told that he is up and about. He's moving around, although disappointed because he did miss the queen's speech today to parliament,
also missing her attendance at the royal - at the Royal Ascott.
He's had a few health scares in the past. In 2011, he had surgery on his heart for a blocked artery. Then in 2013, he had exploratory surgery on
his abdomen.
Last May, he announced that he was going to retire from public life in September, but really, Cyril, one of the big indications that this isn't
very serious comes from the queen herself, who has been married to Prince Philip for many decades. She's still going about her life as usual - Cyril
VANIER: All right, Ian Lee outside the hospital where Prince Philip is receiving treatment. Thank you very much, Ian, for the update.
Next on Connect the World, newly released dashcam video that shows just how fast an ordinary traffic stop takes a deadly turn. The fallout from that
video and the officer's acquittal in court. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:46:25] CURNOW: Welcome back. You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World. I'm Robyn Curnow.
Well, now to a police shooting in the U.S. that sparked new outrage after a jury acquitted the officer involved. Just released dash cam video shows
how quickly this routine traffic stop turned deadly. CNN's Ryan Young has this report from Minnesota.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHILANDO CASTILE: Sir, I have to tell you, I do have a firearm on me.
JERONIMO YANEZ, POLICE OFFICER: OK.
RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Newly released dash cam video showing the crucial moment that led up to this deadly encounter
last July.
DIAMOND REYNOLDS, CASTILE'S GIRLFRIEND: You shot four bullets into him, sir. He was getting his license and registration, sir.
YOUNG: The shooting of this man, 32-year-old Philando Castile by St. Antony Police officer Jeronimo Yanez ignited nationwide protests over the use of
force by police. After Castile's girlfriend Diamond Reynolds broadcast the shooting's horrific aftermath on Facebook last July.
REYNOLDS: Oh, my God, please don't tell me he's dead.
YOUNG: Just after 9:00 July 6th, in Falcon Heights, a small predominantly white neighborhood outside of St. Paul, Minnesota, Officer Yanez stops
Castile believing he resembled a suspect in a robbery and had a broken headlight. Diamond Reynolds is seated in the front passenger seat, her 4-
year-old daughter in the back seat.
YANEZ: Reason I pulled you over you, your brake lights are out.
You have your license and insurance?
YOUNG: Castile can be seen handing Yanez his insurance card and also telling the officer he has a gun. The situation turning deadly in just
seconds.
CASTILE: I have to tell you I do have a firearm on me.
YANEZ: OK, don't reach for it. Don't pull it out. Don't pull it out.
(GUNSHOTS)
REYNOLDS: You just killed my boyfriend.
YANEZ: Don't pull it out!
REYNOLDS: He wasn't.
YOUNG: Yanez fires seven shots, five of them hit Castile, two in the heart.
YANEZ: Don't move! (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
Don't move! Don't move!
REYNOLDS: Oh, my god!
YANEZ: Don't move!
REYNOLDS: Don't move, baby.
YANEZ: Code three. Get the baby girl out of here.
YOUNG: Yanez lets out a tirade of profanity as Reynolds begins her Facebook broadcast, narrating a video that will go on to be seen by millions.
YANEZ: I told him not to reach for it. Id told him to get his hand off of it.
REYNOLDS: You told him to get his ID, sir. His driver's license. Oh my God.
YOUNG: Also seen for the first time, Yanez's backup, Officer Joseph Kauser positioned on the passenger side of Castile's car. His casual demeanor up
until the moment of the shooting prosecutors say demonstrates he did not feel threatened during the traffic stop.
Kauser told a Minnesota jury early this month he was unaware there was a firearm in the car and was surprised when he heard shots ring out because
he didn't know Yanez had pulled his weapon, saying he did not hear the majority of Yanez's interaction with Castile and maintained he never saw a
gun in the car.
Also caught on camera moments after the shooting, statements Yanez made to fellow officers.
YANEZ: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
I told him to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) stop, he had his hand on it.
YOUNG: And minutes later, this exchange between Yanez and a supervising female officer.
YANEZ: I told him to take his hands off of it, and he had his grip a lot wider than a wallet, and I don't know where the gun was. He didn't tell me
where the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) gun was.
YOUNG: Prosecutors say it was roughly 15 minutes after the shooting that Castile's gun was discovered in his right front pocket by an officer
assisting with chest compressions on Castile.
Yanez was found not guilty of second degree manslaughter Friday and on two cunts of dangerous discharge of a firearm for endangering Reynolds and her
daughter. Yanez testified last week he feared for his life because Castile put his hand on his firearm, not his wallet or identification, telling the
jury, I didn't want to shoot Mr. Castile. That wasn't my intention. I thought I was going to die.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:50:27] CURNOW: Thanks to Ryan for that piece. Difficult to watch.
In the meantime, the Philippine President is pledging to rebuild Marawi, a city in the middle of a raging battle against ISIS. Tens of thousands of
families have left in the past few weeks, some have found shelter with friends and families, others are stuck in evacuation centers. Ivan Watson
takes a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: These are some of the people, the civilians, who have been forced to flee their homes during four
weeks of vicious fighting in the city of Marawi after ISIS affiliated militants tried to take over the city and have fought the Philippines
military to a standstill.
Now the president of the country, Rodrigo Duterte, just came and spoke to some of the displaced persons and he promised to rebuild that city.
RODRIGO DUTERTE, PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES: You will find in your heart to forgive my soldiers and (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE) for declaring
martial law (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE). I have to drive them out, but I am very sorry.
WATSON: But here is the problem, the ISIS militants are not giving up that besieged town of Marawi, even though the military has been carrying out
daily airstrikes, soldiers continue to take daily casualties. And this scene here, these people who have been displaced, they're just the tip of
the iceberg, the Philippines government says some 338,000 people have been forced to flee their homes and even more ominous, ISIS has established
itself, it has found a foothold here for the very first time in Southeast Asia.
Ivan Watson, CNN, Iligan (ph), in The Phlippines.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURNOW: Well, thanks to Ivan for that report.
I want to take us straight to London where Cyril Vanier is standing by there in front of the houses of parliament.
It has been a big day there, a lot of focus on the prime minister and the leader of the opposition. Some pretty combative speeches we heard a little
bit earlier, Cyril.
VANIER: Yeah, very combative, especially on the part of Theresa May.
I think what we saw today, politically in Britain was very interesting, because the queen's speech was really aimed at setting the stage. And so
the stage was set today, and what is that? Well, you have a Labour leader, opposition leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who feels clearly that he is riding a
wave of momentum. He has already said that he intends to use this week to take down Theresa May, whether they can do it or not is another matter, but
that is his intent. And you could see that he was brimming with confidence when he kicked off the debates in the houses of parliament behind me.
As against that, in front of him, you have a Theresa May who was contrite. She apologized, but, but crucially, she was combative, too. She knows that
even though there's not a huge deal of enthusiasm for her right now within the ranks for the Conservative Party they essentially their future and
their political future is pegged to her, because they don't want another election and they certainly don't want the election of - victory and
potential other election, of Jeremy Corbyn.
CURNOW: Yeah. And certainly as you've said, I mean, Jeremy Corbyn certainly played to the moment. He said that Theresa May had no majority,
no mandate, no authority and no legislative agenda. All of that, of course, pointed towards the fact that the UK is trying to negotiate its way
out of EU.
VANIER: Absolutely.
Again, this goes back to Jeremy Corbyn riding that wave of momentum. And, you know, it's interesting, if you look at approval ratings, how those two
curves are really crossing paths, Jeremy Corbyn is obviously on the way up, and Theresa May is starkly on the way down.
Think about this, think of this, Robyn, that less than a year ago, Theresa May was more popular than Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair at their
respective heights. And today, well, today she has lost her majority. So, I think that tells you everything you need to know about the state of
British politics and the amount of trust that the public has in her.
And also, Robyn, there's another thing I want to mention, which is fashion diplomacy. And we're going to bring up those pictures of what - how the
queen was dressed today when she gave her queen's speech.
Notice the blue, notice the yellow on her hat.
So, there was quite a lot of talk, especially online, that was this, question mark, was this a nod to the European Union? You think about it,
it does look a lot like the EU flag.
The question as to whether or not the queen was doing it on purpose remains open, but we did obviously put that question to our royal correspondent and
she noted that the queen, you know, changed her dress, her attire, before then going to the Ascott races. So, again, another hint that the queen was
potentially doing this on purpose, and potentially, yes, sending out that message, a nod to the EU on a day when we're talking about Brexit.
[11:55:26] CURNOW: OK. I don't know, I think the queen has been inscrutable for decades. So, I think trying to read her mind is a
difficult one.
But in terms of what Theresa May has to do now, she has to do a deal with the DUP. So, certainly also a busy week beyond that speech.
Cyril Vanier there on the ground in the heart of London. Thanks so much.
I'm Robyn Curnow in Atlanta. You're watching CNN.
END
