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A new development in what is a car attack in Charlottesville, Virginia; Pressure mounting for President Trump to directly condemn by name, white supremacist. The CEO of Merck has resigned from the President's American Manufacturing Council as it is known, saying that U.S. leaders must reject, and I quote, hatred, bigotry, and group supremacy; America's most important general is in South Korea right now, standing side by side with its president in every possible way; Syria getting bloodier and more desperate, the Syrian army says it has dramatically stepped up its fight against ISIS; The color-coded text gives the international games a sense of friendly rivalry. Aired 11-12p ET

Aired August 14, 2017 - 11:00   ET

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

[11:00:01] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE PENCE, VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We have no tolerance for hate and violence, white supremacists, Neo-Nazis, or the KKK.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: The U.S. vice president saying what the president did not say, direct condemnation of the deadly weekend in Virginia. Mr.

Trump is expected to speak later today. Will he strengthen his own statement?

Coming up, an update for you from the White House this hour, devising with how to deal with North Korea, America's top general and the South Korean

president are figuring that out. Peace is preferred, but they say they are ready for anything. And.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Problema (ph), it means no roof, no toilet, no showroom, no water points, no nothing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: After tearing down the so-called jungle, we see how migrants living, surviving really in Calais. That report is later this hour.

Hello, I'm Becky Anderson. And welcome to a special edition of Connect The World, live from Paris for you today where it is 5 in the afternoon. I will

be in the French capital for you for the next couple of weeks of what is a crucial time in European politics today. This country is doing 100 days

into President Emanuel Macron's new administration.

First, this hour, we head to the United States, when weekend violence at a racist rally in Virginia is having repercussions at the highest levels of

government. President Donald Trump expected to address the attack again in the coming hours. He has come under fire for his response to the rally and

the car that killed one young woman. Critics want him to specifically condemn the white supremacists. And two hours ago, one of America's most

prominent African-American CEOs quit with the Trump manufacturing council because of this. Mr. Trump then fired back on Twitter.

And a new development in what is a car attack in Charlottesville, Virginia. The man charged appeared before a judge via video link in the past hour.

The judge denied to grant bond to James Fields who is accused of ramming his car into a crowd of counter protesters, who are marching against the

white supremacists. CNN's Rosa Flores joining us now from Charlottesville in Virginia. What is the atmosphere there this Monday morning?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, inside that courtroom Becky, he was wearing a black and white jumpsuit. He kept on sniffling and all he said to

the Judge was yes, sir, yes, sir as the judge addressed him. But that is the breaking news that no bond was set by the judge, pending the

appointment of a public defender. The story gets a bit interesting because of course this was Fields' first appearance in court in the building that

you see right behind me by video link like you mentioned. And normally, we would see the judge ask him if he can afford his own attorney and if not,

one will be appointed for him. And they are usually public defenders. They are in the courtroom.

Well, in this case, the judge actually said that because someone from the public defenders' office had a relative that was somehow injured or

involved in this incident that he couldn't readily just appointed a public defender, which we would normally see there in court happen today. So he

had to look at his other list, he said. And he has appointed an attorney, public defender for Mr. Fields, but at this point, he has postponed the

bond hearing until August 25.

Now, right outside the building that you me behind me, right after this hearing, there is an explosion of emotion, two individuals from Unite The

Right rally, we believe these are the same members who were here in Charlottesville, for that rally, that eventually was canceled because of

this incident, because that car rammed through a crowded street. There was an explosion of emotion between those two individuals and a counter

protester. They were in a shouting match that that individual was blaming the media for what was going on. He was saying that the media was

misreporting all this information and any pretty much putting the blame on reporters and other photographers that were there to just like us. But

that was finalized when the police escorted that individual to the police station.

But again, the breaking news out here out of Charlottesville is that James Alex Fields, Jr., the individual who is accused of ramming through a crowd

with his car, which resulted in the killing of one 32-year-old woman and injuring 19 others faced the judge for the very first time. And now, that

bond hearing has been rescheduled to August 25, pending his appointment of a public defender. Becky.

[11:05:46] ANDERSON: Rosa Flores is in Charlottesville in Virginia for you.

Well, pressure mounting for President Trump to directly condemn by name, white supremacist. He is expected to speak again on the situation in next

few hours. And the big question is this, will his second attempt be stronger than his first? CNN's Jeff Zeleny reports.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PENCE: We have no tolerance for hate and violence, white supremacist, Neo- Nazis, or the KKK.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Vice president Mike Pence doing publicly what President Trump did not over the weekend, directly condemning white

supremacist by name, after the deadly violence in Charlottesville.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We condemn in the strongest possible terms, this egregious display of hatred, bigotry, and violence on

many sides, on many sides.

ZELENY: The vice president coming to the president's defense in the face of growing backlash over Mr. Trump's response.

PENCE: President Trump clearly and unambiguously condemned the bigotry, violence, and hatred, which are placed.

I take issue with the fact that many in the media spend more time criticizing the president's words than they did criticizing those who

perpetrated the violence to begin with.

ZELENY: The White House releasing a statement from an unnamed spokesperson Sunday, 36 hours after the protest began, insisting President Trump's

comments, the crime bigotry includes white supremacists, KKK, Neo-Nazi, and all extremist groups. Top aides to the president also pushing back on the

Sunday shows.

H.R. MCMASTER, U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: The president has been very clear. We cannot tolerate this kind of bigotry, this kind of hatred.

TOM BOSSERT, WHITE HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY ADVISOR: The president not only condemned the violence, he stood up at a time and a moment when calm was

necessary, and didn't dignify the names of these groups of people, but rather address the fundamental issue.

ZELENY: President Trump ignored multiple questions from reporters after a statement on Saturday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, do you want the support of these white national groups? Do you want them to support you, Mr. President? Have you

denounced them strongly enough?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you call that terrorism, Sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just aren't seeing leadership from the White House.

ZELENY: The president's refusal to denounce the groups by name, drawing fierce backlash from his own party.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: And I will urge the president to dissuade them of the fact that he is sympathetic to their cause because

their cause is hate. It is un-American. They are domestic terrorists. And we need more from our president.

SEN. CORY GARDNER (R), COLORADO: We call this white supremacism, this white nationalism evil and let the country hear, let the world hear it, it is

something that needs to come from the Oval Office and this White House needs to do it today.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, that is our Jeff Zeleny reporting. There has been even more blowback for President Trump in the last few hours.

The CEO of Merck has resigned from the President's American Manufacturing Council as it is known, saying that U.S. leaders must reject, and I quote,

hatred, bigotry, and group supremacy. President Trump responded with this week accusing the pharmaceutical company of rip-off drug prices. We are

joined now by CNN's Dan Merica, who is at the White House. And, Dan, let's stay on this latest twit from Trump, and let's keep it up for our viewers.

What should we make of this?

DAN MERICA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Republicans even responded to this latest twit with somewhat outrage. President Trump since Saturday has been unable

to call out the white supremacist who were behind the Charlottesville violence. And by twitting on Monday morning, a criticism of somebody who

resigned from one of President Trump's council, who is a member here at the White House. Because of that, because of his the inability to call that

out, he really has raised a lot of eyebrows here in Washington. It is just the latest saga -- latest chapter, excuse me, in what has been a pretty

short saga of President Trump's inability to call up those white supremacist.

It is worth a couple of things, Ken Frazier, that CEO has been at the White House many times. There are a number of photos of him sitting either

directly next door or at a table with the president, speaking about manufacturing. It is also important to note that President Trump didn't use

Twitter yesterday at all to kind of clean up his vague statement from Saturday. And why does that matter? President Trump has made a career on

bluntness and on directness, and really his campaign was defined by the voice that she honed through Twitter. And that has carried with him into

the presidency.

Yesterday was just the fourth day in Donald Trump's 207-day presidency that he has not used Twitter to send a message to his followers. That is

remarkable for a president, especially on a day when you really had so much to say.

[11:10:35] ANDERSON: Well, it is a busy morning for the president. He is back in Washington, albeit briefly meeting his chief of staff, General John

Kelly, followed by the Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and we believe the FBI director. And we know that they are discussing that violence in

Charlottesville. And indication that the president is likely to make a more robust statement about the weekend's events?

MERICA: You know, we expect to hear from him around 3 o'clock hour here Washington, D.C. We will see that. Hopefully, we will see that live. We

will obviously air that on CNN and CNNI. But we have been told that he is expected to address the Charlottesville violence. When asked whether he

would forcefully and by name a cry the white supremacists behind this, we have said, it is basically up to him. It remains to be seen.

The reason this is significant is that if this continues to go for a couple more days where President Trump has not said something, this is going to be

even bigger. Because what you're seeing is Republicans here in Washington criticizing the president for his silence. Something that I took note of

this morning, Trump surrogates, these people who basically go on TV with talking points directed from the White House, you know, Republicans

including on our air, have said that they expect President Trump to call out white supremacist for the Charlottesville violence.

So it is an indication likely being told that he might say something a little more forceful that he said on Saturday.

ANDERSON: Dan Merica is at the White House for you in Washington. Dan, thank you.

MERICA: Thank you.

ANDERSON: We are in Paris, America's oldest ally, where even here in this city, North Korea and its reckless attitude is a terrible and dark threat

because France, just like well pretty much everywhere in the world, wants to diffuse what is really a nuclear nightmare coming from this man,

Pyongyang almost unimaginably brutal and tyrannical dictator, Kim Jong-un, and his obsession, obsession with these missiles, that could carry

annihilation to almost anywhere on the face of the earth, especially of course to America. Its most important general is in South Korea right now,

standing side by side with its president in every possible way. That image translating here into the two countries' yearly and massive war games.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSEPH DUNFORD, CHAIRMAN, U.S. JOINT CHIEF OF STAFF: I will tell you that today, when you look at the rhetoric coming out of North Korea, the

exercises are more important than ever. As the general talked about, there is a direct linkage between these exercises and our ability to effectively

respond.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: As you would expect from Connect The World, we are all over this story for you. And CNN's Anna Coren in Seoul where some thousand pieces of

big artillery bolted down in the north aimed right now, and David McKenzie in Hong Kong, a region of China, which, by far and away, Pyongyang does the

most amount of business. Let's start with you, Anna. What are people making of the meeting between Dunford who we just heard from and South Korea's new

president?

ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, Becky, that welcomes the visit from the General Dunford who of course is America's top general. He

is the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, and he was here to meet not just with the South Korean president, but with top officials to

reassure the commitments of America to South Korea, and also discuss the military options, if there is in fact any provocation from the north.

General Dunford saying that that they will use full force from the military, if North Korea acts improperly.

Now, when we asked him what those military option plans would be, he would not drawn on that. Nobody comment on the rhetoric, the inflammatory

language that has been coming from the U.S. President Donald Trump for the past week, which many feel has further exacerbated tensions here on the

Korean Peninsula. Now, we attended that press conference with General Dunford this afternoon. And I asked him whether or not he was planning on

suspending those joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, something that they hold every single year, which always

antagonizes the North Korean regime, General Dunford, as you heard from that sound byte, he said, no, in fact, they are going ahead and they are

more important than ever.

Now, Becky, it is important to note that General Dunford is now on his way to China, where he will meet with officials tomorrow to Athens to pressure,

place the pressure on North Korea to stop testing its missiles and nuclear weapons and to come back to the negotiating table in the hopes, Becky, of

one day denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

[11:15:35] ANDERSON: David, you're in Hong Kong, an autonomous territory in Southeast China, North Korea's largest trading partner, China, of

course. Now, Soviet won't buy any more of its coal line and sea food, expected repercussions in that?

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, certainly, Becky, because this is strictly off the back of those increase U.N. Security Council sanctions

that came in just a few days ago. And China and other countries had about a month to get their act together and banned those imports. So this is

something that China has repeatedly said it will do standby any U.N. Security Council resolutions. And by signing up to those resolutions, China

from its point of view says that it is not doing enough to pressure North Korea into ending the nuclear and missile programs.

The U.S., Trump administration has repeatedly said they want China to do more than just standby those Security Council resolutions, but China has a

very different calculation here. Yes, they want to see tension decrease. They want to see the nuclear programs stop. But they don't want to see a

wholesale collapse of the regime of Kim Jong-un anytime soon. And so, they are moving more cautiously perhaps than some would want. But they are

saying they are doing more than enough and come to the table as they should.

Later today, President Trump though will be pushing his trade representative to potentially open up investigations into Chinese trade

practices with the U.S. Many in China see that as a complication saying that it is not helpful to ask for China's help on North Korea on one hand,

but potentially turn the screws on them in bilateral trade on the other. Becky.

ANDERSON: David McKenzie is in Hong Kong. Anna is Seoul. Thank you. It is hard to see or tell where this is going. But it seems to be pretty sure by

destination, especially with Pyongyang threatening Guam. That of course belongs to America. It is a U.S. territory, which is kind of the strongest

military problem that we have ever seen, so is there any reason for the people of what is this beautiful tropical island to worry about. We will

take you there after this.

Syria getting bloodier and more desperate, the Syrian army says it has dramatically stepped up its fight against ISIS. But Syrian commanders say

that as ISIS moves its territories, it is fighting more intensely than the places it still controls. CNN's senior international correspondent Fred

Pleitgen today ran a look at Syrian positions on the frontline. He joins us now live.

FRED PLEITGEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky. And what we saw there was the Syrian military really moving a lot of reinforcements into a lot of this

position and exactly for that reason that you said. They say that as the U.S. and its allies are pushing ISIS out of places like Raqqa, a lot of

those ISIS fighters are moving further south and attacking positions of the Syrian military.

Now, the Syrian military is fighting back in a big way. It has won some big territory back over the past couple weeks, and especially over the past

couple of days. But ISIS is also increasing its attacks. Here is what we saw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: An assault on ISIS in the eastern Syrian desert. The Syrian government says it has drastically stepped up its offensive against the

terror group on various fronts. It recently released this video showing their gains on the battlefield.

Syrian military gave us access to one of those front lines where ISIS, too, was increasing the pressure the local commander says.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): You feel that the fighters of ISIS are brainwashed. He said they are coming here to die. They're fearless.

They fight until the end.

PLEITGEN: ISIS is attacking this area because it is near a strategic road and a pipeline.

But also, the Syrian army believes because the group is losing so much territory in other parts of Syria and Iraq.

As ISIS gets squeezed out of its urban strongholds like Raqqa, more and more of its fighters are coming down into this region. And the men we're

with say they had to deal with a lot more ISIS attacks than before.

And sometimes, those attacks amount to massacre. ISIS fighters invaded the village of Akareb in May, killing more than 50 civilians, according to

Syrian government media.

Nine-year-old child says he was forced to watch his mother, brother, and two sisters get executed by the militants, barely surviving himself.

[11:20:29] UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I acted like I was dead he says. They started stepping on me. But I didn't move at all. The

massacre in Akareb has fueled hatred towards ISIS among Syrian government troops bowing to route the terror group at any cost.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I am ready to fight day and night against ISIS, this fighter says. We have decided already that ISIS will not

get out of this area.

PLEITGEN: And the commander adds getting rid of ISIS is only a question of time because the Syrian Army has decided to defeat them totally in this

area. We tasted their massacres like the one in Akareb.

Both attacking and defending against ISIS are difficult in this desert area. Still, the Syrian army and its Russian backers say ousting the terror

group from the southeast of the country is now their main priority and they hope to accomplish that task in the coming months.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: So, as you can see, Becky, some of ISIS' hit-and-run tactics having some devastating consequences for the civilians in that area, of

course in other areas along that front line as well. And you know, just when we were at the front line, it was so interesting to see there were

warplanes overhead the entire time, either Syrian or Russian. And so, while we were there on the front line, we saw about a dozen airstrikes on

villages that were occupied by ISIS. You can see the campaign is in full swing.

Right now, the main prize for the Syrian military though is there is a war to the south of Raqqa. They say they want to take that place back at almost

any cost. They're not putting a timeline when they are going to do that, but they have made some significant gains on the road over the past couple

of days. Becky.

ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen on the ground for you in Syria.

Still come this hour, it may look like a military drill, but it isn't. It is sport. We will take you inside Russia's International Army games. That's

next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: This is Iran's parliament overwhelmingly passing a bill promising to counter sanctions by the United States. These sanctions

described by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani's undermining the landmark 2015 nuclear deal.

Also on that list of U.S. sanctions were North Korea and Russia. They may be giving as well a sample of their military power. Russia won top place at

the international war games in Moscow. CNN's Oren Liebermann was there to witness what was quite a spectacle.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The color-coded text gives the international games a sense of friendly rivalry.

Given the name of the hallmark event, tank biathlon is more reminiscent of the Olympics than a military exercise.

Make no mistake, this is a spectator sport. And it seems all is fair in love and war games.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I think that this shows how developed the Russian's armed forces are, says this young woman. And I'm

very proud that they can stand up for us. I'm sure now that they can do it.

LIEBERMANN: Russia's latest fighter jet, fifth generation Sukhoi Su-57 highlighting the air show, and culminating a century of Russian military

history.

As the U.S. prepares for its own military exercises with South Korea, this seems Russia's way of reminding the world of its own strategic allies. As

the Kremlin urges calm in the Korean Peninsula, the competitors' list here for the army games is who is who of countries that Trump has recently

threat, including China, Iran, and Venezuela.

Nearly all of the countries competing here were non-NATO countries, a de- facto alliance working together.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I think that this is just a showcase of our strength, don't touch us and we won't touch anyone, this

man says. And in general, our strategy is world peace. Everyone says so, including the president. This is our truth.

LIEBERMANN: Russia was the heavy favorite. After winning the games, every year since they started, in 2015.

The Russian defense minister Sergey Shoygu on hand to award the trophy declined to speak to CNN. In all, 28 countries took part in 28 events.

Russia is in first place in 19 of those events, a chance of military glory without the battle. Oren Liebermann CNN.

ANDERSON: The latest world news headlines in just ahead.

Plus, back to work and down to business, Theresa May's one priority, she returns to number 10 from her summer break. You guessed it, we're talking

Brexit.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:30:01] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: If you are just joining us, you are very welcome. We are out in Paris, this is the specialization of the

Connect The World, the top stories for you this hour, an hour past 5 Paris' time.

The U.S. military's most senior officer is assuring up ties in Asia to deal with North Korea. Jason Dunford held talks with South Korea's president.

Dunford says next week's military drills between U.S. and South Korea will go ahead as planned.

The man accused of ramming his car into counter protests in Virginia has been denied bond. James Fields getting caught by a video link, police says

he was behind the wheel of a car that barreled into group marching against white supremacist. One woman was killed. Fields is facing several charges,

including second-degree murder.

In Burkina, Faso, at least 18 people were killed, nearly a dozen wounded in an attack on a restaurant in the Capitol. Authority says the two attackers

were also killed. There has been no claim of responsibility there.

Also in Britain now, which might be enjoying a new spell of sunshine, but for Prime Minister Theresa May, the summer break is well and truly over.

One of things that the top of the Prime minister's to-do list since as she returns to work, well, overseeing new details of the Brexit plan. That is

expected, shed more light on the U.K.'s position. When it comes to wishes like a single market and the question of the Irish border, we're covering

all side of this from both London and Europe. Nina Dos Santos standing by for the outside 10 Downing Street while Chris Burns is in Berlin. For you

Nina, the British Prime Minister back from her vacation and ready for the business of Brexit. Any clear yet well that effectively means from the

British perspective?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, she has attended a divided cabinet on this issue and they become increasingly divided publicly as well

when she has been away in the three weeks of absence, Becky. So what was had -- very different views, the home secretary saw different views on

immigration to the prime minister. Then we have Fox who is responsible for trade saying that he wants a hard Brexit. He does not mind if the U.K. gets

kicked out of the current agreement with the EU and goes to WTO rules.

While on the other hand, we have the occupant of the building next to me, number 11 Downing Street, opening petitioning for some kind of a period, so

that there are the businesses to deal with in less than 20 months from now. Now, that's the kind of situation that Theresa May is coming back to. She

is obviously going to be having meetings with all of these key departments to try and identify strategy that as you said addresses those two key

points.

First priority will be what to do about the border with Northern Ireland. We have of course what the government with its in own considerations to

consider there from Northern Island. And also, they'll have to talk about the issue of the Customs Union, what type of relationship the U.K. will

want with other EU countries going forward after 2019.

And now, we know that the U.K. has to publish a series of documents by August of 21st, to get ready for its next monthly rent of EU negotiations

on the subjects of Brexit. We almost see David Davis, the Secretary of State that exiting the EU heading back to Brussels to talk to his

counterpart of the European Commission Michel Barnier. That meeting is set to take place on August of 28th, so people are expecting more details to

come over the next 7 to 10 days' time. No words yet on when any of these specific papers are going to be released. But the 21st is the deadline.

They have to get things ready by. Becky.

ANDERSON: Neither outside number 10 then would be British perspective. The campaign kicking for one of the German elections next month with Angela

Merkel very much at the wheel of this European truck, how big a deal, Chris, is the European project to her domestic audience in this campaign?

CHRIS BURN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, very much so, in fact -- and what is going to be very important to see is how strong she comes out of

this September 24th election. That could have impact on how strong the negotiating position is on the side of the EU 27. Now, she lost her

campaign -- the final stretch of her campaign over the weekend. She made a speech which was rather lackluster, but also making the point and look

things are going well up to now, that you know unemployment is about 5.5 percent, and here I am going to try to fix some things about pensions,

about the social issues, about housing, fine.

But then we also saw other parties now. They are supposed to get her CDU CSU which are expected get somewhere around 40 percent. But what about the

others, who was she going to have to coalesce with to form a government? And so, we saw the greens today launch their campaign from Brandenburg Gate

today, riding up on bicycles and driving off in a green sort of car that does not use gasoline or diesel. And the diesel scab was really what has

recharged this campaign. It has caused a lot of anger there. There have been new revelations about a cartel among the German companies to set

standards. But also, the surprises other than millions of recalls of diesel cars and they had a diesel summit where they promised between the

government and business here to fix some software so there wouldn't be cheating on the diesel emissions as we saw in the U.S. in 2015. But that is

not enough.

[11:35:39] ANDERSON: Right.

BURNS: According to a lot of the opposition people here, they want to see more action and that would consider a way at Merkel support. Becky.

ANDERSON: Chris is in Berlin, Nina in London. One of the issues that is likely to play into this German election will be immigration. It certainly

played into the Brexit vote. We're talking about the refugee crisis. There has been a wiring new development on the front line of that disaster.

Two non-government organizations are suspending search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea. And this is because they feel

threatened by the Libyan authorities. A reminder, nearly 118,000 migrants and refugees have made what is very dangerous journey across the Med this

year. But more than 2400 people died between January the 1st Sunday night of August with a fatality rate of 2 percent. Melissa Bell here in Paris

with more. Melissa.

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is of course a huge issue here in France, although it hasn't quite played out in the front as it did in

the United Kingdom. But of course as we saw during the elections, this is one of the big questions that Emanuel Macron is going to be facing. And we

have been hearing really mixed messages from the French government on what it intends to do in one hand trying to crack down, trying to make it

faster, the process faster so that immigrants or certainly refugees are called really quickly whether or not they can stay and then moved on if

they come. But also, this announcement, they are going to try and create more places to try housing them in the meantime.

So in one hand trying to reach out for more human face, and on the other, nowhere that top has been more strikingly than up in Calais. You will

remember that it was this site in France, one of its biggest refugee camps. It was a slum that has existed for several years. It was finally torn

down. This is what has now become.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BELL: The Calais port, a haven for rare plants and migrating birds. Soon, this reserve will be complete, but already, nature has taken over.

UNIDENTIFIED MAN: (speaking foreign language)

BELL: Early nine months ago, another kind of migration was associated with this area. The jungle was the stuff of nightmares. But for most 10

thousand migrants, it was a life of sorts, until it went up nice in smoke along with their dreams of reaching England. The migrants were vast and

resettled to other parts of France and given the option of going home.

In May, the French government refused a request by aid agencies to provide any further help to migrants in Calais. It wants to avoid a new camp

springing up. And so, what was long pit stop for migrating humans will now be one for migrating humans the one for migrating birds. The site is also

on their path between African Northern Europe.

The plan for the nature reserve is a long-standing one, put on hold by the migrant crisis. And by October, just a year after it was cleared, the area

will be almost entirely cleaned up and ready for both birds and the visiting public.

LOIC OBLED, LOCAL ENVIRONMENT PROTECTIVE AGENCY: It was such a shame to see in the media that Calais was mentioned a problem of migrants. We try to

offer another way to think Calais, and we try to build a project that is very exceptional.

BELL: For the migrant haven't just gone away, humanitarian organizations reckon that there are about 600 of them currently living rough around

Calais. That is because French authorities have decided no longer to help them at all. This is the only place where they are allowed to receive any

kind of distribution of food or blankets. And even here, it is a daily story of police brutality to be told.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (speaking foreign language)

[11:40:01] BELL: He reached out to the Mayor of Calais who wasn't available for an interview and to local police who did not respond. He is

one of those trying to make a lot of the migrants here a little bit more human. He has no choice he says now that the jungle is closed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For them, it means no roofs at all, no toilets, no showers, no water points, I mean, nothing. OK, it's only food and only

water are the necessities they can find is from Brussels' organization, so I believe we have only tired people.

BELL: Tired people who were also undeterred, sleeping rough and dreaming still of English shores. Close to a jungle that will soon look like this,

a heavenly pits top for birds heading north.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Fascinating. Emanuel Macron, 100 days or so give or take, into presidency, how many couple of days off as one does in Paris and France at

this time of the year. How's he doing?

BELL: It is remarkable how far down he has flipped in the opinion polls, a man who started with a sort of 65 percent rating, approval rating, is now

down to about 35 in some of the French polls. It's an astonishing collapse. But of course, in a sense, it is the measure in a sense of the

expectation on which it came in.

Clearly, he's going to have to deliver this few days, but as soon as he gets back, the pressure is going to be on to get his very inexperienced

group of people who were now in charge of the national assembly behind him to help him push through some reforms that will justify the initial

enthusiasm that we saw.

ANDERSON: Melissa with me here in Paris. It is about a quarter to the hour. A beautiful day here in Paris. Coming up, prayers for peace, we head

to Guam where people are using their faith to cope with fears about North Korea's ambitions. We will explain why and how after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[11:45:01] ANDERSON: It's quarter to six in Paris, you are watching CNN. This is Connect The World with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back. Now, before

the break, we were looking at Europe's migrant crisis. People from across Africa and the Middle East desperate to get there. We're going to show you

some incredible pictures from on such space paralyzed by poverty.

Just look at the sheer power of this current of mud as rescuers are searching through the aftermath of this right now. Mud slides like this

caused by massive flooding, thought could have killed at least 200 people according to the International Red Cross talking to CNN, an awful number

that could jump significantly. CNN Farai Sevenzo is in Nairobi, covering this story for us. What do we know at this point?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESSPONDENT: Hello, Becky. What we know is that this is as you say those numbers, 200 are dead and there could be many

more. In the early hours of Monday, a massive rain in this town was falling and if you have been to this town, it's a beautiful city because

all these houses are built in gradient and there are so many hills. But this water, the sheer volume of it took down the hill and the regions of

the area. And the most affected area is Portuba. And as you say, people was scrambling, imagine the hour in which this mud slide happened to risk

people who have been asleep. And we are expecting the numbers to rise.

Presidential spokesperson said that the country is traumatized. Now, you know, Sierra Leone, Becky. It's just south of the border. And this national

disaster is going to make the entire health system go backwards by several years again. So it is a story we are watching very closely. And we would be

just calling the U.N. as the story develops, we may try to get more for you as the hours come on. But this is a very serious crisis for Sierra Leone

right now.

Anderson: Please do, please do. We will let you go and what your sources on that. Thank you.

Back to all our top stories today, the war of words between the U.S. and Pyongyang, Donald Trump's top general, Jason Dunford, the Chairman of the

Joint Chiefs of Staff is now in South Korea to address the growing tensions in the region. This comes just days after North Korea announced it is

putting its final touches on a plan to fire missiles surrounding Guam, which you remember is a U.S. territory. For more on this, let us bring in

CNN's Martin Savidge. Martin, your line from Guam, deeply Catholic island where faith, it seems, is helping people cope during this time of great

uncertainty.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN COPRRESSPONDENT: It is, the government leaders here have been trying to calm the people mainly by telling them that there is

nothing to fear, that the island is safe and sound, and that the defense forces will protect the island from whatever may come. But there is a still

background level of worry and to deal with that many people are turning to the church.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: In every church, in every few, they prayed for peace while is a deeply Catholic island. And after a week of escalating threats including

nuclear annihilation, people sought shelter in their faith. At the main cathedral, biblical readings spoke of God's protection.

And while the priest asked his congregation how they would spend their 14 minutes, a blunt reference for a plot time of the North Korean missile for

launch.

Before the service, the Father Paul Ganigan confessed to struggling to find the right words.

PAUL GANIGAN, PRIEST: It is very difficult trying to really -- you know, especially the threat of nuclear explosion, but by calm, it is really

difficult to really bring the message of inner peace.

SAVIDGE: Outdoors at noon in the capital of Hagatna, hundreds more people gathered to pray. With its palm trees in beaches, this is usually a place

people come to get away from it all, but now, Guam is in the middle of it all, targeted by North Korea for its American military bases and U.S.

citizens. Saturday, President Trump called the governor, promising America had Guam's back.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE United States: We are with you a thousand percent.

SAVIDGE: The reassurance welcomed in this U.S. territory, but often feels overlooked and misunderstood by Americans on the Mainland.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The words of the president in a phone call, he gave to the governor is different.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it helps a little bit. I think we are blessed to be protected.

SAVIDGE: There's another reason Guam has fears. This is one of those Pacific islands where World War II was fought, the vivid and brutal

memories have been passed down.

[11:50:15] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have faith. I cannot worry because my mom went through it during World War II

SAVIDGE: On Guam, they are worried and feel helpless. So they reach out to another superpower simply seeking peace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: There is another kind of fear, Becky, that they have here and it is an economic one, 30 percent of the island's economy is generated as a

result of the U.S. military and U.S. military forces and their families that are here. Sixty percent of the islands' income is generated by

tourism and that has been the real concern of the fallout from all of this is that it could chase away or cause those tourists to be afraid. So far,

there is no indication of that. Last year was a record year for tourism on the island of Guam, and they are on pace for another one this year, at

least they were. Becky.

ANDERSON: Fruitful thought. Martin, thank you. You are watching Connect The World. I'm Becky Anderson. We are live at Paris for you. We will be

right back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: All right. Welcome back. Breath taking, isn't it? Paris' iconic skyline, not far away from -- there is the picture of the Eiffel Tower,

there you go. What a beautiful day. But it is not so much aside, it is a single, simple sound that is so iconic to England.

(BELL RINGING)

ANDERSON: Big Ben's famous chimes. Get ready to say it in just a week from now. Anytime that you will hear that is like what we just showed you on a

recording, I think this landmark will fall silent for four years while workers get busy on keeping it in top order as they say. But fear not,

listeners and viewers, there are a lot more chimes and important moments like remembrance.

We are never silent on social media. We've got you covered with all the latest headlines, world views and more. So do use the Facebook page, that

is Facebook.com/cnnconnect. It's great to be back.

[11:55:01] I'm Becky Anderson and this is Connect The World. Thank you for watching, working with me in here in Paris. It is a very good evening for

here. See you tomorrow.

END