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Connect the World
Irma's Aftermath; Rohingya Crisis; Drills Amid North Korea Tensions. Aired 11-12p ET
Aired September 13, 2017 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[11:00:13] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not a day went by she says without thinking that we were very lucky to live on this idyllic island. Today it
is just complete chaos.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CONNECT THE WORLD, CNN: Starting to rebuild of thousands across the Caribbean, access that the damage to their homes, to their
business and live, the basic necessity are still in short supply up next. A look on Irma's aftermath and what's being done to help those in dire
straight.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My newborn hasn't had anything to eat because I was unable to breastfeed, she is suffering from malnutrition.
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ANDERSON: Some are dead, thousands are fleeing. That woman and her baby just some of the Rohingya Muslims seeking safety. Ahead a report from
Myanmar, Bangladesh border.
That is live fire, thankfully just a drill American and South Korean. They came an invisible enemy practice for a threat that may be all too real, we
will take you to the battlefield later this hour.
Hello and welcome you are watching "Connect the World," I am Becky Anderson for you in Abu Dhabi. Now it is a week since what has been category five
hurricane Irma plowed into a string of Caribbean islands and we are just beginning to get a sense of the outer devastation that it wrath. The
locals and tourist still trapped, this scene is unfortunately too familiar, this is the hell that they been living for the pass seven days building
pieces they were toy houses water and food running out. Reports of looting and violence and all these with little to no power in many places. Those
who survive can be counted are the lucky ones we now know that at least 38 people lost their lives in the Caribbean. Rescue and relief efforts on our
underway CNN has reported across the world covering this for you with Nina Dos Santos in London with the British efforts Lisa Bell in Paris covering a
growing controversy over the official response. Meanwhile on the ground Lisa Suarez is just arriving on the US Virgin Islands for you. Let us
start with Clarissa Ward she's on Guadalupe and gives us a view of some of the damage in surrounding islands.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The island of St. Martin last week one of the jewels of the Caribbean now paradise lost. Not a day went by she
says without thinking that we were very lucky to live on this idyllic island. Today it is just complete chaos, six days after Irma pummeled St.
Martin, officials say more than 90 percent of the buildings on the island are damaged or destroyed food and water are still scarce, power remains out
for most, thousands of tourist were stranded for days.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was horrifying. Absolutely horrifying.
WARD: The desperation has led to looting and violence with reports not yet confirmed by CNN of armed men roaming the streets. Dr. McLean and Kayyem
McClay were vacationing at this resort on St. Martin when Irma struck. McClay spent several days caring for the injured, but also found himself
forced to stand guard against looters sharing this text with a colleague back home. Military is trying to control chaos but nothing is safe after
dark lots of looting I was on patrol last night with machete until sun came up. And the story is much the same all across the hard-hit Caribbean on
the British Virgin Islands one resident told CNN that the situation is only getting worse.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The supermarket here had doubled the prices. The gas station had doubled the prices. So we had runout of cash, it is just scary
and I would have died in a motorbike, a scooter came up and pulled out a gun.
WARD: Help has been slow to arrive to many of the islands where people are struggling to get my day to day and long term officials say full recovery
maybe years away. Clarissa Ward CNN Guadalupe.
(END VIDEO)
[11:05:00] ANDERSON: That is the picture. I want to focus on the Turks and Caicos Islands we now which was that very close to the center of the
storm you may remember these scene from last week as Irma caused major structural damage and power outages, it could had been a lot worst. We
want to talk about recovery now, we got John Freeman who is governor of Turks and Caicos, he joins me now on the phone, and how are you doing?
JOHN FREEMAN, GOVERNOR OF TURKS AND CAICOS: Well thank you very much. Irma has done terrible damage all over the region. And in variable ways we
had tremendous winds, we had wind damage left that we might had been expected. Some had been hit worse than others, and were now in the help
those in need help and build recovery quickly as we can stage.
ANDERSON: What do you need? Food, water, sanitation, what is the main priority at this point?
FREEMAN: The main priority are power and water and we are delivering those at different rates in the islands. In Provident that is where I am now,
which is the main island of the Turks and Caicos. We have now something like to order of 50 percent of customers receiving power, we are making
real progress there. Our power supply had been working really hard, bringing extra people, a lot of extra people for that purpose. In some of
the other islands, Grand Turk Capital, much more number of people and down in Caicos they had it harder because they hadn't have power and we are
still trying to get those back to them, but we are already sending in more, our airports here are open now for commercial traffic so tourist leaving if
they wish. We are bringing things in. The UK doing a lot to help. We have and advance group, a hundred military, engineers, just move and in
order to straight things forward here.
They are already engaged in helping with the food distribution will be bringing in some special shelters to help people in South Caicos, where the
shelters are very badly damage. Provide tents, we are on the road to recovery, but some aspects will take a lot longer than others. I have been
meeting people in our town hall, a tent meeting with people that are going around the island. It has been challenging for - particularly some of
those islands but we are making the recovery lift and we are very grateful for the help from the UK and also the people being provided by UN and other
agencies.
ANDERSON: That is wonderful, that is wonderful to hear and there has been a lot of criticism that you take, didn't do enough in the early days, they
say you weren't prepared with the sort of help that was needed your response.
FREEMAN: I felt the UK was there form day 1, indeed before day 1, we were talking about all of this. But you know, one can't help reminding you over
and over again, this was a ferocious category five hurricane. We had prepared as best we could, but those winds were ferocious.
ANDERSON: What about law and order at this point. We are hearing unfortunately a lot of looting on some of these islands, I know you say you
been speaking to people in the 10 cold as it was not being very sensitive, I can tell about how people feel, a lot of anger and there are issues of
security on there.
FREEMAN: The angers, that I had noticed are around issues like power, it is quite easy to identify with the principle concerns are, people felt cut
off, they haven't got power. That we had to remedy as quickly as possible. That is why getting the airports open. Getting people moving, setting up
radio station, that is the important that we are doing now. Responding to that giving a sense that tomorrow is being realized is a really important
political goal and I think we are doing now. Yes people are angry about us. They are also really grateful, nobody died on this islands as a result
of Irma. And we're not having a significant issue of looting except right here, the police commissioner this morning tell us things are really calm,
people want to - of course there are some people who don't always want to play the game, but overall this is a resilient place and local people are
pulling together.
[11:10:12] ANDERSON: We will leave you to get on with the job at hand John, it is good to speak to you, best of luck and wish the best for you
and everybody on the island.
FREEMAN: Thanks for the opportunity. All right, thanks a lot.
ANDERSON: Thank you. The extent of the damage comes into focus across the Caribbean Puerto Rico has become an important staging area sending urgent
help to the island struggling with severe food shortages and as he was pointing out their failing communication.
Isa Soares on a boat from San Juan that is on its way to deliver aid to St. John.
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I had so many people saying to me, that government is nowhere to be seen, it has taken too long to get there. To
give you a sense, we are taking generators with us in order to actually get to (inaudible) to be able to help people, but on the ground they are
telling us there is no electricity, there no water for the people there. They are getting to the majority part of (inaudible). Trees are fallen,
electricity line are also down. Made almost impossible to try navigate the sort of scenario. They are starting to see people come and help the first
responders but they say it is too late already, they should had been here since Thursday or Friday, a week ago. So they are extremely grateful for
the many people who are coming here in Puerto Rico and dropping what they. I have seen car loads of people just supplying aid and goods and the people
here are the ones getting on this boats, they are paying it for themselves and helping those can. They are actually bringing people back to shelters
and hotels.
ANDERSON: She was my colleague, Isa Soares speaking to you. Just a couple of hours ago, there are lots of different ways that you as viewers can help
the victims of the hurricane. Go to CNN.com/impact, you can donate and join the charities that we have that all you can volunteer your own time
anything will help at this point. Now of course, every single one of us wants to do what we can to help. Just look. Shocking but often, it is our
government that (inaudible) cash to be the most quickly, but over in the Caribbean that is more complex than you might imagine take for example
right here in St. Martin, right below it you will see St. Martin, because the island is split between the French and the Dutch. Don't even share a
border in Europe and if we zoom out the whole area the hurricane screams through you'll see Europe's fingerprints all over the place British ties
especially as you can see covering what was once the new weld of course so given all that, just what are Britain and France doing to help to
investigate. CNN Nina Dos Santos is in London and Melissa Bell is in Paris, Nina to you first, there has been all the criticism about the UK
with response. Almost half of Britain's overseas territories as they are now in the Caribbean. Queen Elizabeth is the ultimate authority in or the
pretty much they will run themselves pretty much all the time with their own Prime Minister course, someone say, how much responsibility does the
British government have to the islands it's so bad, it almost being wiped out some of the way hearing about?
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, it really hit the needle on the head as far as foreign officers are concern. The days of the week buffing
the suggestion that the UK was slow to acting, well look this is not the same situation that islands like Guadalupe is facing while the city they,
the direct jurisdiction of Paris in a more integrated into the French mainland oversee these self-governing islands and so that means that the
same military infrastructure for the relief effort is necessary in place as far as the Britain is concern. Having said that, that they didn't already
have one of the most biggest warships ready in circulating in the area when hurricane on the hit and it managed to start dispatching aid from the day
after the hurricane had hit to a number of these are very badly affected islands. They just had in fact representative from the Turks and Caicos
Islands saying that the UK foreign secretary was having repeated conversations with representatives of a number of these islands making
preparations, before.
[11:15:18] Now this shipments already in the areas managed to deploy about 1000 military personnel and especially 40 tons worth of food aid. Also
shelters, lighting kits, water purifications kit, there is another 260 tons of this kind of relief material that is on its way on this second largest
warship that is on its way towards the area was set sail from Gibraltar that will take about 10 days to get back in the meantime Boris Johnson has
been spending today touring Anguilla and the British government also involves more money for the relief effort here. Theresa May said early
launching Prime Minister questions time, that they are going to put more money on the table the beefing up the relief effort to $75 million and also
matching private donations that the Britons make the British Red Cross as well having said that the representatives of a lot of this island say we
need aid urgently not within the next 10 days and even tens of millions of dollars is nowhere near enough in the long run to rebuild.
ANDERSON: Nina Dos Santos is on British airport. Melissa drop in the Caribbean ocean that is how one very forceful critic of the British
government is bashing everything during the day felt very much what he's doing but always there is something old who's like me on TV move. That is
the criticism, is that fair?
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He has been criticized for the PR stunt side in fact that he made it clear that he is sleeping while he is out
there, he is even now touring out while he is out there on St. Martin embarks he is sleeping in a couch bed, he has wash in the bucket because
after all of the local populations there have to do. This is a president who is regularly criticized for that important he attached to his image
rather than to the substance. There is a much more profound criticism which is that the French did not do enough in the very important
distinction between what Nina was talking about and this French territory the degree of autonomy or dependency in this case that they have. I mean
unlike (inaudible) and Guadalupe are actually French department in the region. St Martin are actually oversea territories, they are a part of
France. With over a different degree of autonomy to Guadalupe and (inaudible) therefor it is really towards Paris that the anger has turn and
quite rightly this storm after all which hit just a week ago, Becky wasn't the days that the islands growing and growing. It is felt at much more,
should have been done much sooner and of course we are getting the water up and running as quickly as we can.
We got the largest airlift in place since World War II to get you guys the medicine. The water purifications tablet and supplies that you need. We
had been living like this for a week. St Martin and in St. Barks really being cheered by the crowd and taken aside and given fair share of anger.
ANDERSON: Melissa is in Paris, Nina is on London, thank you both and we will do more throughout the hour. Still to come we will had Florida Keys
the hardest hit part of the mainland United States. What resident are finding when they return home is later on Connect the Worlds and United
Nations warn aid agencies must step their response massively and need money to do it at the numbers that desperate Rohingya refugees just keep growing.
We are taking a very short break, back after this.
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[11:21:04] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have done us one thing that from one side innocent men or children, they are rushing towards the border out of
the fear of life and death problems. So fighting happening, inside their country, they are running and on the other side we are standing that is not
your country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: 21 pass seven here in the UAE, you are watching CNN this is Connect the World, if you are just joining us you are very welcome. You
just heard from a Bangladesh border guard. He is in untenable position confronting more than 300,000 hungry and terrified Rohingya refugees
escaping into his country Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi will address her nation next week for first time in the crisis that left schools that
created humanitarian chaos. She has been criticized to her response particularly given her previous work as a defender of human rights. She
dies and ethnic cleansing of the Muslim minority is happening at the hands of the Myanmar military. Alexandra Field told us the desperate and
uncertain days ahead for so many who fled for their lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The children are hungry and showing signs of malnutrition. Their mothers are heartbroken. My
newborn hasn't had anything to eat because I'm unable to breastfeed, she is suffering from malnutrition and we haven't received any medical support for
treatment. So we are really in a dangerous situation. Her baby was 12 days old when the family left everything behind fleeing a vibrant military
crackdown in Myanmar. The eight day journey brought them here Bangladesh where they had practically nothing. We had been living outside of the camp
for five days and we've been waiting, no one has given us any help and support, we are living in a very miserable condition.
Around 300,000 Rohingya Muslims had race across the border in two weeks. They had been with aid groups under prepared to help them.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So all the American agencies are struggling with the increased number of refugees coming in every day. Therefor we need to
scale up operations.
FIELD: Refugees in the camps are already full.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We had only just arrived here, the military came in to our village. They were slaughtering us and setting fire to our houses so
we have to leave.
FIELD: Myanmar has said it is engaging in full clearance operation, following attack by Rohingya militants that left 12 security officers dead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It has taken us seven days to get here, we cross the border by boat. If the military has seen us they would've shot us.
FIELD: A week ago this was a forest, Rohingya cleared it, and the muddy banks are now a settlement for 100,000 of them. Giving newer arrivals are
living on the roadside.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need support from international organizations from the world. They are too many of us for the Bangladesh alone to be helping
us.
FIELD: His family has shelter some food and water now, the rest are waiting. Alexandra Field CNN.
(END VIDEO)
ANDERSON: A few weeks ago many of you may have known very little about the Rohingya, our website launch a special page with a powerful image and
personal stories based fleeing violence plus a history of the group with no homeland of their own. That is CNN.com/Rohingya we will work it out for
yourself.
[11:25:00] ANDERSON: All right let's get you off to speed on the real story that are not radar right now 100 days into the Gulf crisis between
(inaudible) and for Arab state the (inaudible) it seems deepening. The latest sign, harsh word that the Arab League meeting after catches
attending minutes to discuss the crisis. Saudi Arabia the UAE, (inaudible) and Egypt couplings with their hot in June accusing him of supporting
terrorism.
State media is reporting that Iran has sign a deal to repair the war-torn country power grid. Iranian state media say the deal could be worth
millions of dollars. Iran heavily involved in the war in Syria supporting the Syrian army in their fights against rebels Al Qaeda and ISIS.
Lawmakers back by the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte voted to grant just the $20 budget for the country's Commission on Human Rights. That is
the organization that is investigating hundreds of killings in connection with Mr. Duterte's war on drugs.
Latest world news headlines just ahead for (inaudible) landscape left by hurricane Irma in St. Maarten. The power is out and food, water running
low.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You are watching Connect the World I am Becky Anderson for you here in Abu Dhabi. The top stories this hour are the following. A local
official says at least five people died in a nursing home in Hollywood, Florida the air conditioning there has been cutoff since the hurricane
struck on Sunday. Fire fighters did today help evacuate more than 100 people from the temperatures in Hollywood regularly took 30oC at this time
of the year. The UN Security Council is meeting Wednesday to discuss the crisis involving Myanmar, Rohingya Muslims. More than 370,000. That is
third of a million Rohingya had fled to Bangladesh recently to escape violence in state. Myanmar government says it's fighting terrorists there
but U.N. human rights chief says it is an ethnic cleansing.
North Korea is taking back the latest U.N. sanction calling them a heinous provocation. It comes as South Korea conducts its first live fire drill of
a long-range air to surface missile. It is known as Taurus Missile, has a range of 500 kilometers, capable of hitting Pyongyang. Let's all turn you
back to our top story this evening.
The growing desperation facing hundreds of thousands of people who survived hurricane Irma, most Caribbean islands unable to leave now struggling to
find food, water and fuel.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The World Food Programme estimates as many as 200,000 people urgently need help. The group mobilizing series of relief operations in
some of the hardest hit islands. Many of them as we have mentioned are European territories.
I want to cross to St. Thomas now and resident Bridget Barry (ph) there, she's helping with relief efforts in says many people on the island feel
trapped and forgotten. Just describe the atmosphere for me if you will.
BRIDGET BARRY, ST. THOMAS RESIDENT (via phone): Well, good morning. It's a little -- it's a little desperate in some areas and -- but the community
here is very, very, sharp and very, very community minded.
A lot of neighbor helping neighbor, citizens helping citizens, support from elsewhere is pretty minimal for most parts of our community right now but
we're not as bad as a lot of the European Island.
You know, because we have done this a few times before this on our part major hurricane but it's very bad, it's a little uncomfortable and it's...
ANDERSON: Bless you. I can feel in here your pain. When you describe people as feeling trapped and forgotten -- do people around just want to
get off the island or what's the sense at this point, days into to this now?
BARRY: Well, it's thousand year situation we saw in Virgin Island is to where United States citizens but you know, we don't -- we can't drive some
place else.
Like a lot of United States and so, we are the trapped, we rely on our food and water to come from most islands year-round anyway, so now when things
are in this situation, we don't have electricity to keep our food cold and we don't have shipment coming in, it's a little scary.
Our airport still closed commercial flights, so we can't leave. If you can afford a private charter, you can leave but most Virgin Islander can't
afford a private charter, that's not our economy.
ANDERSON: Were there many tourists on the island? What -- what happened to them during this?
BARRY: So yes, we had many, many tourist on island. Some of them were able to go off island on commercial flights but since our commercial
flights have ended, some area (Inaudible), brought in ferries area from Puerto Rico.
And then private citizens have organized ferries from Puerto Rico of minimal or free cost, so citizens who aren't able to leave however most
people can't afford to put themselves up and house, and eat, and all of that in Puerto Rico, or in the United States.
Most people don't have that kind of money and savings to support themselves during the time of no work and being able to afford food, and have some
clothes in many different places.
ANDERSON: And hangs the sense of desperation of course. What are authorities locally and in the states doing to help?
BARRY: So, there has been a curfew in place. We're only allowed to go out for six hours a day. Gas lanes are about five hours long, so can -- you
can kind of gauge how much we can get done in a day.
You know they have joint some electricity to some parts of downtown. Unfortunately, yesterday we had a warning that guys all doing work and that
affects us a lot.
We're a really small community and as a member of our family, that's really important to us. And so we have three distributions on island.
But a lot of places have a hard time getting out because still don't have telephone calls, and phone lines, and power lines, and trees all over the
road, so it's six hours to get around.
And so, while there are distribution place, local have taken it upon themselves, I have been helping with that distribution of bringing the pipe
from Puerto Rico and then getting checked there during curfew time to get them to the other areas to people who can't get out.
ANDERSON: Listen, what you are describing sounds very, very difficult. It is remarkable what people will do themselves to try and improve the
situation.
I have to ask this, since the days go by people get more desperate, as things are and will continue to be tough, do you have concerns about
security, about the way people will feel about remaining on the island?
BARRY: Absolutely. You know, the last time we had a major storm was 1995, the hurricane Erin.
[11:35:00] It's just a year -- a solid year for my family's home to get electricity and so, as that is going further and people are out of work
longer, that is the concern.
However, we are seeing more and more citizens who wants to get on their feet, (Inaudible) were going out. There taking their boats to Puerto Rico.
They're bringing food, they're bringing back fuel, they're bringing back water, help is becoming concern. We have a pretty healthy population.
And so last time, after Marilyn, there is now buried (Inaudible), I think you know how uncomfortable that is without electricity, very uncomfortable.
And now we have because while there are health concerns as well that are coming up. We know our public works is really over loaded, clearing trees,
garbage over concern.
And so we have a few things coming up, you know. You see not just security are looting across those, you know, our public health as well.
ANDERSON: You make a very good point. But we...
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Stay in touch and we do wish you the absolute best, both your family and those on the island as well. Good luck.
BARRY: All right. Thank you so much.
ANDERSON: A part from you reporting hurricane Irma and Harvey or course, CNN providing you a platform for helping their victims and do use this.
This is CNN.com/impacts. We listen to relief talking and it is clear that so many people need help.
You can donate to one of the charities that we have vetted or you can indeed volunteer your own time, whatever you do, whatever you have done,
we'll appreciate it.
Well if you think a secret state would not so secret, a nuclear program. Now North Korea is hitting back after the U.N. Security Council latest
round of sanctions.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Pyongyang calls it a heinous provocation and is now vowing to increase its strength to quote, safeguard the country's sovereignty.
The U.S. President Donald Trump, a man well-known for fiery rhetoric suggested that sanctions while they would just the start.
CNN's Will Ripley is inside North Korea. It's his 15th trip there and he showed us how people on the streets of Pyongyang are reacting to the latest
U.N. sanctions.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in Pyongyang, government officials are strongly condemning this latest round of U.N. Security Council
sanctions.
Using words like evil, vicious, calling it a full-scale but when you go out on the streets and speak with regular people, they don't seem concern at
all.
It's tough to find a traffic light in Pyongyang. Traffic cuts direct the flow of cars. The streets noticeably busier each time I come here, busier
at least for now.
The U.S. has the latest U.N. sanctions threatened to cut North Korea's oil supply by nearly a third which could strike prices for everything from
taxis to energy.
A ban on textile exports and the end of foreign labor contracts could further slash the income of this cash starved country but if you ask
(Inaudible), she's not worried.
Her refreshment stand has a steady flow of customers. She says life is improving despite round after round of increasingly heavy sanctions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We have no problems, she says. Everything I'm selling is made local. We don't worry. We rely on
ourselves.
RIPLEY: Kim Hye-song (ph) casually shrugs off threats from the United States. The U.S. President Donald Trump said that these sanctions are just
not a big deal and that there is much worse to come. Does that worry you at all?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): We don't care what the U.S. president says or what the outside world thinks about us, she says. We
don't worry because we believe in the leadership of martial Kim Jong-un. Keep in mind this is a very thin slice of life in this closed country.
RIPLEY: It's good. Reporters like us can only see what the government allows. But all over the North Korean capital, we see plenty of new
construction and increasingly modern skyline, a mandate from North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un.
Which only to prove, he can grow the economy and the nuclear program, all in the face of unprecedented sanctions for his repeated violations of
international law.
You see these posters all over Pyongyang and they pretty much sum up North Korea's official response to increased pressure from the U.S., more
missiles.
North Korean propaganda is built around their nuclear program. It symbolizes strength, independence. It is key to their national identity.
Is there anything, anything at all that could get North Korea to walk away from its nuclear program?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We'll never give them says Lee Chang Song (ph). If we did, it would mean our destruction.
RIPLEY: Around town, new posters show a pair of hands ripping up U.N. sanctions resolutions. North Korea's defiant message, they will never give
up their nukes even if that means life is about to get a lot harder.
[11:40:00] And that really is the bottom line. North Korea says these nuclear weapons are vital to their survival as a nation and they say these
latest sanctions will only speed up not slow the development of weapons of mass destruction threatening to escalate a dangerous situation even
further. Will Ripley, CNN Pyongyang, North Korea.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, meanwhile an outcry by North Korea watches after YouTube shutdown some of the countries propaganda channels. Now reach --
researchers say the channels are actually used to better understand the nation.
It wasn't clear why YouTube decided to close the channels down and that. You can read more about on our websites, like we showed you earlier. Will
Ripley is inside North Korea and he takes you on an exclusive look at the country like you've never seen before.
That secret state watch is Saturday, 4 P.M. Abu Dhabi time, that's 1:00 PM in London. And you'll work after yourselves the time wherever you are
watching in the world, and wherever you are, you are more than welcome.
Meanwhile, across the border, South Korea is preparing for any possible escalation. They have been taking part of joint military exercises with
the United States. Exercises that have knock on down -- well, it has to be said with Pyongyang. Paula Hancocks has more.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, this U.S. marine division has come over from Japan to do this live fire drill alongside the South
Korean counter part. They say it's very important that they do this kind of training together. So deliberately, they can fight alongside each
other.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HANCOCKS: Engaging an imaginary enemy, the combined force of tanks, artillery, and ground fire. Two countries, united on the battlefield.
South Korean air support covers for U.S. Marines on the ground.
The U.S. Military says that this kind of live-fire drill is vital to make sure that they know how to cooperate, to communicate, to fight alongside
their South Korean counterparts.
So, this is why this training happens throughout the year here in South Korea. Of course, they say that they don't have a specific enemy in mind
while they're doing this drill. It's not necessarily how North Korea sees it.
CAPT. DAVID ROOKS, FIRST BATTALION, U.S. MARINE: U.S. Marines are always prepared for a fight. It doesn't really matter who's on there. And you
know, we're -- we do our best to not specify a particular -- particular enemy.
HANCOCKS: Pyongyang has called joint exercises radical and dangerous, proof of a hostile American policy intent on invading the north. But for
the U.S. Third Marine Division, if you don't train, you can't fight.
NICOLAS DUNCAN, MARINE GUNNER, U.S. MARINE: It's really there to build and strengthen that bond that we have with them. That way, we have a common
understanding for that combined approach to conflict, so, it allows us to be able to shoot, move and communicate across the battlefield or if that
battlefield may be at.
HANCOCKS: Two nationalities fight side-by-side, showing Pyongyang, if you engage one, you fight both.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HANCOCKS: I found it Russia has suggested that these drills should actually be put on hold and return for North Korea freezing their nuclear
and then missile program. It is a suggestion that the U.S. has rejected. They don't accept it. In fact, they have called it insulting, Becky.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: You're watching Connect the World. Coming up, Israel's Prime Minister warns that war is coming unless the world takes tough action
against Iran. Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to CNN during his historic trip to Latin America. That is next.
[11:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson, it is 7:45 where we all in the UAE. Benjamin Netanyahu making
history this week, he is the first sitting Israeli prime minister to ever visit Latin America.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Mr. Netanyahu, he met with Argentina's president and in those are today. He next heads to Colombia and Mexico before traveling to New
York for the annual U.N. General assembly, his number one priority as urging the world to take tough action against Iran.
But Mr. Netanyahu is facing some tough challenges set off his own closer to home and he gave an exclusive interview to CNN in Espaol while he was in
South America. Oren Liebermann following that part of the story from Jerusalem. Oren.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, extensively, this trip was about picturing the Israeli technology -- selling Israeli technology on
water, agriculture, cyber and more to Latin America but very quickly both of his meetings with the Latin American leaders, in an exclusive interview
with CNN's Jose Levy, this became about Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LIEBERMANN: In a preview of what's likely to be his upcoming U.N. speech next week, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu railed against the
Iran nuclear deal in an to exclusive interview with CNN and warned, it's time the world toughened up on Iran who want's to avoid a war.
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER: Everybody is on their target list sooner or later, but we are first on their target list, and they say
openly, we are going to destroy the state of Israel. There is only a few months possibly a few weeks.
LIEBERMANN: Netanyahu was the most vocal critic of the Iran deal. He toned it down after the deal was finalized but with President Donald Trump,
making overtones against the court, Netanyahu sees a new window of opportunity.
NETANYAHU: These images could be changed, it should be changed so that the removal of restrictions on Iran's nuclear program should be not a matter of
the change of the calendar but of change in the Iran's aggressive behavior.
LIEBERMANN: Israel sees Iran as the greatest threat in the region with its growing influence in Syria and the increasing strength of Hezbollah in
Lebanon.
Netanyahu didn't rule out military action, only days after the Syrian military said it was Israeli aircraft that struck a military facility in
Syria.
NETANYAHU: Aside from trying to build atomic bombs, they're trying to place the Iranian army in Syria, they want to colonize Syria the way they
colonize Lebanon.
LIEBERMANN: Netanyahu also praised Trump's efforts to reach an Israeli- Palestinian peace deal but like Trump, refuse to commit to a two state solution, the international consensus on the future of the region.
NETANYAHU: The principle of the other state is -- is that Puerto Rico or is that North Korea, is it Switzerland, or is it Kazakhstan or another
Iran. So I don't think this conflict is about the Palestinians did. I think it's the about injection of Jewish state.
LIEBERMANN: Netanyahu suggested Israel would have to keep occupying at least part of the west bank in any agreement, a condition the Palestinians
unequivocally reject.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:50:00] LIEBERMANN: The background of this trip is the fact that Netanyahu and his wife are under separate criminal investigations. The
attorney general has mad it clear, he intends to indict Sara Netanyahu on charges of fraud and breach of trust pending a hearing.
Meanwhile, investigations hangover Prime Minister Netanyahu that the police have said they are investigating him for breach of trust and for bribery.
It's up to the police and the attorney general to decide whether to indict the prime minister. Becky, there isn't a clear timeline for when that
could happen but it will be sometime in the coming months.
ANDERSON: Thank you, Oren. So we just heard from our Israel's leader facing some legal hot water. But up next, the exact opposite for one
Australian movie star, it involves, age, Mr. Walt Disney and six million bucks, the fascinating details, up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson, 7:55, just minutes to major court victory frustrated interest
Rebel Wilson before we close out this hour.
She's just been awarded US$3.6 million in a defamation lawsuit against violent media, who she said viciously tried to take her down with a series
of falls articles. So Sharnelle Vella from Australia Seven Network has the details for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHARNELLE VELLA, REPORTER, SEVEN NETWORK: Rebel Wilson made it big Hollywood and has now landed the biggest defamation passed in Australian
history.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think she's going to be absolutely fought into her ugly face, she crushed it.
VELLA: Awarded $4.5 million to Pitch Perfect star was originally willing to settle for just $200,000.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The damage suffered ban as Wilson to substantial damages is award to vindicate her and nail the line.
VELLA: Bauer Media published eight articles which granted Wilson a liar. They claim to Canadian fabricated details about her upbringing age and
connection to Walt Disney. The lavish lies made Wilson list on 200 Hollywood movie roles.
The judge based his decision on three facts. He said Bauer Media used a paid source with an axe t grind and then failed to properly investigate the
allegations. It then repeated them when it knew they were wrong and wage to campaign of lies to increase profits.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The publication tells a long rafting and profound impact on Ms. Wilson.
VELLA: Rebel has always made it clear. This is never about the money and was always about standing up to bullies.
PETER FORD, ENTERTAINMENT COMMENTATOR: Those usual suspects and stood up in magazines week after week are probably thinking, should I have a go at
this.
VELLA: Bauer Media is considering whether it will appeal Rebel Wilson that was bound to donate the money to charity. Sharnelle Vella, Seven News.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANDERSON: The words from Stevie Wonder, the hand and hand hurricane relief (Inaudible) and he had a lot more to say. Have a listen.
[11:55:00] STEVIE WONDER, AMERICAN MUSICIAN: We've come together today to love on the people that have been devastated by the hurricanes. The love
goes to the action, that preface no color of sin, no ethnicity, no religious, at least no sexual preferences and no political persuasion, it's
just love.
As we should begin to love and value our planet, and anyone who believes that there is no such thing as global warming must be blind or
unintelligent. Lord, please save us all.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: He was among aid lifters including Oprah, George Clooney and Beyonce say who came out to raise millions of dollars to the victims of the
storms that have pummeled the U.S. and the Caribbean. I'm Becky Anderson, that was Connect the World, form the team here, it is a very good evening,
same time, same place tomorrow.
END
