Return to Transcripts main page
Connect the World
Hurricane Maria aftermath; Catalonia Independence Vote; Trump again lashes out at critics over Puerto Rico; U.S. has direct communication with North Korea; Two women killed in France knife attack; Saudi University to set up driving school for women; Muslims take to the streets of Ashura; Former NFL star leaves prison on parole, Football Stars back Independence; Police Crack Down On Voters During Catalonian Referendum; Understanding Why Catalan Wants To Break Away From Spain; Kurdish Vote Sparks Fear Of Conflict; A Rare Look At Syria's Deir Ezzor; Report Terror Group Counterattack Defeated; Saturday Night Live Mocks Trump's Puerto Rico Response; Women In Workforce; Qatar Crisis 4 Months On. Aired 11-12p
Aired October 01, 2017 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:00:13] CARMEN YULIN CRUZ, SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO MAYOR: I have no time for small politics or comments that really don't ask for the situation.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: San Juan's mayor firing back the president of the United States hoped that he may hear his latest Twitter
targets. All the while millions in Puerto Rico are without food, running water, or electricity.
Next, we are live for you on the island until tonight. Clashes in parts of Spain, riot police disrupting the controversial Catalonian independence
vote. Coming up, the very latest for you from Barcelona.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Right just past 7 o'clock in the evening in Abu Dhabi. Hello, and welcome, this is CONNECT THE WORLD time with Becky Anderson. We are
keeping across these two major developing stories this hour.
A lot from Spain coming up. I want to start the other with the crisis in Puerto Rico as millions of Americans continue to struggle with an ongoing
humanitarian situation.
U.S. President Donald Trump again this morning launching more Twitter attacks, this time against those criticizing the way he sees the
government's response to the hurricane disaster.
That, "We have done a great job with the almost impossible situation in Puerto Rico." He said, "Outside of the fake news are politically motive --
motivated ingrates people are now starting to recognize the amazing work that is being done by FEMA and our great military.
All buildings now inspected for safety, thank you to governor of PR and to all of those who are working so closely with our first responders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Fantastic job," he says, those buildings inspections Mr. Trump is referring to. Well, the government of Puerto Rico says this --
RICARDO ROSSELLO, PUERTO RICO GOVERNO: I'm not aware of such inspection. Of course, there are areas of Puerto Rico where -- which we haven't really
gotten in contacts. Perhaps he was referring to a particular setup of buildings, I'm not sure what the contest of the -- of the messages.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the governor also said help is arriving. There had been days of mounting criticism as you will be well aware, federal authorities
accused of not responding quickly enough to the crisis.
Eleven days after Hurricane Maria smashed into Puerto Rico millions still without regular electricity service and access to gas, cash, and running
water, limited. The Governor Rossello says more help is needed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROSSELLO: Food and water is getting there, it is increasing, the logistics and the visibilities are increasing as well. Although, as I stated before
we recognized we still need to do much more.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, CNN has a team of reporters across the island covering all angles of this crisis. Dr. Sanjay Gupta is there amongst them following
the medical emergency joins us now live from San Juan. And I'm very interested to look at the medical response there. How are hospitals and
medical centers holding up, Sanjay?
SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been for them as you might imagine, Becky. Hospitals unlike just about any other building
are completely dependent on power.
I mean, you can't so much just put on a stitch or get someone on those advance one if you don't have power. So they're really (INAUDIBLE) when
that happens or if they're told that they're going to have power, but it's only going to be for a short time.
And that they can't be guaranteed when more fuel, more diesel will come for those generators. So it's certainly challenging for them. There's also
this issue of communications, you know, there's been constant reports of 40 hospitals now open, 50, 60, differing numbers. Some of these hospitals
have just not been contacted.
We've talked to some of the people at these hospitals, no one's ever contacted them. They may be listed as up and running, they don't have
reliable fuel, they don't have reliable water.
We had ourselves to take them some medications because they didn't have those medications to treat patients. So, is that really a hospital that is
up and running?
Really not because their objectives to take care of patients, they can't do that at this time, many of those hospitals. So it's challenge. In San
Juan, it's a different picture obviously.
Go 15, 20 minutes outside the city and that's -- it's -- you'll see something entirely different.
ANDERSON: Yes. What is happening to the people who can't even make it to a hospital and haven't seen any relief or aid as of yet, Sanjay?
[11:05:12]GUPTA: You know, you might imagine, Becky, if you look at the lines at hospitals, for example, they're not that long and you start
wondering, well, maybe people not need care and then you start to do the ask the next question, which is, where are the people?
They're -- many of them in shelters. Some of them going -- having gone there before the hurricane and now not able to leave. Many are still in
their communities and their homes.
As busted as those homes may be, they haven't been able to seek out medical cares. So I think you start to see this pattern where now 11 days, 10 days
depending on how you count the days after the hurricane, people are starting to filter out of those communities and starting to seek care more
and more.
But it's been challenging. No power, very little water, you know, hot. You're suffering how do you -- how do you deal with it? It's just -- it's
just a miserable situation for them.
ANDERSON: Well, Sanjay is on -- in San Juan. Sanjay, thank you for that with the sense what is going on for medical facilities, hospital facilities
on the island. People across the island, of course, waiting for all sorts of supplies to arrive. Brynn Gingras shows us how the people of one town
are trying to cope.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MIRIAM CRUZ, UTUADO RESIDENT: And the wind, it sounded like a monster.
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Miriam Cruz rode out Hurricane Maria from insides this bedroom. The storm's eyewall traveled right
through mountainous Utuado, a city about 90 minutes from San Juan. The river that runs through this area rose more than 20 feet. What was your
thought looking out the window and seeing this river go up?
CRUZ: Terrible. I thought it was going to come, you know, up here, but it didn't. Thank God for that.
GINGRAS: But the flooding caused landslides and knocked out this bridge, the only way for Cruz's community to get out.
CRUZ: We were afraid that we will be left alone.
GINGRAS: But they weren't. Right now, we're crossing a river with a pole system constructed by a task force that's under the direction of FEMA. And
really across the river about 40 families who haven't seen relief up until today, up until this pole system was constructed.
This group has specialized officers, firemen, and EMS come from New York, Indiana, and Ohio. In the past week, there are teams across Puerto Rico
have saved more than 800 people.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you.
GINGRAS: This task force look after Cruz's neighborhood.
MIKE MCGUINNESS, NEW YORK TASK FORCE 1: While we were conducting out assessments that's how we receive the information from the local emergency
management officials that, "Hey, in this particular areas we haven't been able to get there yet. We have no communication with them, can you help
us?" And that's really what we're hearing here.
GINGRAS: Now residents are rushing in this new shipment of supplies and they're grateful.
CRUZ: When I saw come the first time I saw heaven. So finally we knew that they knew about our situation.
GINGRAS: But with the broke bridge food and supplies will be needed again and communications are still out. This man can't get in touch of his
daughter, bringing him to tears. What do you want to say to your daughter in Texas?
GILBERT SERRANO, UTUADO RESIDENT: We're still --
GINGRAS: You're surviving.
SERRANO: And we are -- and we are good because we appreciate your help, ma'am.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Uh-hmm. Let's bring in Brynn, she's live for us in San Juan at this point. From the comfort of this New Jersey Gold Course, Donald
Trump's tweets have been, well, effectively politicizing this crisis.
I doubt many people have the time to care quite friendly about what the U.S. President is tweeting. And when they are trying to rebuild their
lives and just survive.
But just give me a sense to the mayor, to the governor, to those who are trying to organizing relief, trying to get this island going once again,
how this sort of disclose from mainland U.S. is going down?
GINGRAS: Well, I mean, there are certainly different opinions about that. I mean, if you ask the San Juan mayor she has the strong opinions, been
very vocal about that and her, you know, saying we need help and it's bad, people are dying.
And then there's also the governor who's been a little bit more tamped in his response saying that really we're not going to publicize this, we just
need the help.
You know, governor also today said, we are looking forward to the president's visit. We want the people of Puerto Rico to know that help is
on the way.
But certainly, you know, the people, I'll be honest, Becky, with the people we talked to yesterday who are an hour outside of San Juan who are
literally on an island -- on an island, they don't even know that the president is coming.
They don't have any communications with their family members, never mind what's going on in the world. They're just trying to live day to day. You
saw how they constructed that line to get across the river.
[11:10:03] That's what they've been using for the past 10 days just to get water. There's another line that we didn't show you on the other side of
that woman's house that has like a little seat.
They have a teenager that's sitting on that seat and slides across that river to go to the town to get some supplies. I mean, these are the things
that are happening but that probably people in the mainland don't understand.
These are -- these are the situations people are in and it's hard to, sort of, convey that unless you really live this area. So I think that's
another thing.
I think the people of Puerto Rico hope that the president will actually see outside of San Juan because the situation is really black and white at that
point. Becky?
ANDERSON: Well, do we have any idea what his itineraries when he -- when he turns up? What the point of this visit is aside from P.R. at this
point?
GINGRAS: I -- to be honest with you, I don't know the president's itinerary at this point. I'm sure we're getting briefed on that as we
speak.
But I -- again, I think it comes down to what the people really hope he does and that is to understand that there is a serious need that hopefully
the rescues have been all completed, and now it's about humanitarian efforts.
And now it's about getting relief to everyone and then replenishing that relief because there's still so much that needs to be done to
telecommunication, when it comes to power, when it comes to the airport, the hospitals, as you heard Dr. Sanjay Gupta talked about.
So at this point, I think there's just this dire of hope or need -- to make sure that he knows the need that exists here.
ANDERSON: Yes. Get it. All right. Brynn, thank you for that. Excellent reporting from the -- from the efforts on the ground. Former U.S.
President (INAUDIBLE) Bernie Sanders has slammed President Trump's criticism.
Here's what he told CNN's Jake Tapper about his reaction to the president's attack on San Juan's mayor on Twitter.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (D), VERMONT: Speaking from his fancy gold club, playing golf with his billionaire friends, attacking the mayor of San Juan
who is struggling to bring electricity to the island, food to the island, water to the island, gas to the island.
There's just -- it is unspeakable and I don't know what world Trump is living in.
ANDERSON: Bernie Sanders there, all of just amazing pretty overwhelming. There are ways that you can help survivors of Hurricane Maria.
Clearly, there's still a need for water, for food, for shelter, and for medical supplies. Even though stuff is getting intrude (INAUDIBLE) For
information to help, do use CNN.com/Impactyourworld.
Turning now to a voting so dangerous. While the Spanish government and riot police are being deployed to prevent people from entering polling
station.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: This is what we've seen in the northern city of Girona as people attempted to vote in Catalonian independence referendum. And you can see
police using batons on people.
Many of whom have their hands up and now those forcibly dragged away from voting stations. The mayor of Barcelona says more than 450 people have
been injured by police.
Still, though residents are turning out to vote. CNN's Isa Soares joins me now from outside of polling station in Barcelona. Isa?
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, there is definitely a sense of uneasiness here on the streets of Barcelona which is under three hours to
go until polls close.
Well, we are seeing many Catalonians have taken to the streets. Take a look at this, see, people basically occupying the street protecting one of
the biggest polling stations here.
This is a school and they are calling on people once they've vote, Becky, to actually stay behind, stay here and really protect the polling station
because the fear is although we haven't seen much action from the Guardia Civil in the last four hours, of course, the concern is that they will show
up unexpectedly and take the ballot boxes and those ballot papers. So very tense moment right now, any moment. Any bit of sounds these people hear
very much won't act, Becky.
ANDERSON: The British Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn speaking out, we've been keeping an eye on reaction to what we are seeing on our screens
from and politicians elsewhere. He tweeted this, "Police violence against citizens in Catalonia is shocking. The Spanish government must end -- act
to end it now." Any sense that this will stop, that -- and that the voters would be allowed to vote as they wish? What do we expect to see next?
SOARES: Becky, the -- we saw the action from that heavy handedness as some I would say from Guardia Civil in the -- in the morning, roughly until mid-
day also.
[11:15:03] Since then we haven't seen any more of the Guardia Civil actually going into polling stations and stopping -- and stopping voters.
The Catalonian government telling CNN there are more 90 percent of polling stations are still open and people can vote.
And what we've been hearing from the Catalonian government and from the government of Madrid, of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy it's just a blame
game.
One saying that their actions are unproportionate, irresponsible, unjustifiable, this is what the Catalonian was saying regarding the action
of police.
And the Spanish government, they're basically saying if there one -- is one person to blame in all of this said one parliament today is really the
president of Catalonia Carles Puigdemont.
The people not listening to what they -- what the government -- what government here are saying. They're coming out to the street, they believe
they have the right to vote.
Although it is important to point out, Becky, that in the last poll conducted by the Catalonian government back in July of this year more than
49 percentile sort of people didn't want independent, 41 percent did want independence but importantly 70n percent wanted to have a say.
There is a feeling amongst some perhaps that the event following the terrors here in the Barcelona but also what we've seen in the early hours
of this morning that we may have convinced them or the moderate to go to separate accord, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. All right. Good stuff. Thank you for that and we will follow this story here on CNN to bring you any further information that we
get as we get it. Thank you, Isa. Well, I want to get you up to speed in some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. Secretary of
State the Rex Tillerson says, the U.S. is communicating directly with North Korea. Made it clear U.S. to resolve the nuclear standoff pre-talks. The
U.S. says Pyongyang is not showing any interest in giving up its weapons. And President Trump seems to think it's all lost cause tweeting just a
while ago, "I told Rex to listen, our wonderful secretary of state that he is wasting his time trying to negotiate with little rocket man. Save your
energy, Rex. We'll do what has to be done."
Police investigating the night attack saying (INAUDIBLE) as terrorism. Two women was stabbed to death at a train station in Marseille. Military
police shot and killed the assailant. Police looking to whether that assailant had any ties to a terror organization. Saudi Arabia's Princess
Nourah University has announced plans to set up a driving school as women there prepare to take the wheels for the first time in decades.
Based on the government issued an historical degree -- decree lifting the ban. Well, same as the festival of remembrance name as Ashura have made
tight security. Muslims across the region including Iraq took to the streets to mourn the death of Prophet Muhammad's grandson Husayn who was
killed in battle in 680.
But here's a former NFL star, former murder suspect, and a convicted fellow now O.J. Simpson is a free man. He was released from prison in the U.S.
State of Nevada shortly after midnight local time.
Simpson served nine years of the 33-year sentence for armed robbery and kidnapping that goes back to an incident in Las Vegas where he tried to
steal sports memorabilia at gunpoint.
A parole board should've granted his release in July. Well, CNN's Paul Vercammen joins us now live from Las Vegas. And this was O.J. Simpson, a
man who was seen his fair share of the spotlight slipping out of a Vegas prison or sorry, out of a prison. And effectively in the night.
PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Done by, designed by the board of prison. They did not want any sort of incident, they had gone
through great lengths, Becky, to protect Simpson, worried that some other inmate might try to make a run at him and attack him late.
So they had put him in a -- basically his own cell, his own area, not having contact. And then as you said in the middle of the night the cover
of darkness, O.J. Simpson leaving at 12:08 prison.
Public information officer said to him, "Don't come back," and Simpson was lighthearted and said, "I don't intend to." It a box of belongings such as
a hot plate and some clothes.
And then he headed off into a van and he headed for here, Las Vegas. This is where he will begin serving as a parolee. Basically, they say he's
going to go within his friends.
A gated community, a very lavish and opulent place. And that he will be here for a while. Then the debate, is he going to go to Florida, which he
had said all along.
Well, right now Florida doesn't have his paperwork, the Attorney General of Florida Pam Bondi basically teeing off of O.J. Simpson, saying Florida
doesn't want him, he's a scofflaw.
[11:20:08] We don't want him turning Florida into a country club. I just spoke with Simpson's lawyer via phone. He says that Pam Bondi doesn't have
any jurisdiction on Simpson's transfer.
And that basically she's just electioneer, trying to get attention for herself because she's going to run for office next year and she'll lose.
So harsh words already, another media circus, if you will, starting to surround O.J. Simpson, Becky.
ANDERSON: Paul, thank you for that. Still to come tonight, tending (INAUDIBLE) of a hurricane disaster in Puerto Rico. A war of words erupt
on, guess what, Twitter. That's right. We'll tell you what that is all about up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: We were challenged with the catastrophe that is the aftermath of Hurricane Maria is Puerto Rico. Well, massive aid efforts are underway on
the island.
Twitter war between U.S. President Donald Trump and the San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz has been getting a lot of attention. All began with the
news conference that she held last Thursday. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CRUZ: We are dying here and I cannot fathom the thought that the greatest nation in the world cannot figure out logistics for a small island of a
hundred miles 35 miles small.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, President Trump then criticized the poor leadership in Puerto Rico and accused the people there of waiting around for help and not
doing enough for themselves. Today his tweets focused more on the aid work as what Mr. Trump called the fake media. Joining us now from Washington is
New York Times White House reporter, Michael Shear. And I think it's important for our international viewers too to understand what is going on
between mainland U.S. and the island at this point.
What should Puerto Rico have expected from the federal government? And what could they get?
MICHAEL SHEAR, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT, THE NEW YORK TIMES: Well, look I think there's two -- there are two things here going on. There's the
reality and there's the perception. The reality is that there's a fair amount of response that is being - that a fair amount of help that's being
delivered to the people on Puerto Rico.
It's a very devastating situation there and so, you know, there are clearly -- there's a clearly long way to go and people that aren't -- that help
isn't reaching everybody.
I think the perception thing is the striking difference with this president. Most presidents would try to make the point that we're helping,
we're providing help, but that -- but that there's a long way to go and that we're not there yet.
[11:25:05] What happened with President Trump is that the minute he got criticized that the mayor -- that Mayor Cruz suggested that everything
wasn't just hunky-dory and everything was all right, President Trump took it as a personal insult.
And you could see that on his Twitter feed. He -- I think he's now tweeted close to 20 times over the weekend. And almost all of them are clearly him
responding to what he perceive as an attack on him and he's lashing back out.
And that's, you know, so striking because that's different than what any president, democrat or republican, would normally do in a situation like
this.
ANDERSON: Well, as treasury secretary on one of the morning shows, Sunday morning shows in the states, he said, "Look, you know, if you hit out at
Donald Trump he will hit back at you but nothing short of a national disgrace is how one commentator has responded to Donald Trump's mocking
tone on Twitter over the weekend.
And unspeakable says Bernie Sanders, the White House pushing back against his criticism of their response to the crisis. Here's what the White House
Budget Director told my colleague Jake Tapper on "STATE OF THE UNION" have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICK MULVANEY, WHITE HOUSE BUDGET DIRECTOR: I think it's unfair to say that we haven't done everything we can because we have done everything that
we can and we'll continue to do so. It's unfortunate that the Puerto Rico mayor wants to -- excuse me, the San Juan mayor wants to sort of go against the grain. We'd love to have her on
the team as we pull the same direction.
My understanding is that as of yesterday she had not even been to the C.M. Operation Center in her own cities.
ANDERSON: He said the criticism is unfair, and you would say what?
SHEAR: Well, look, I mean, I'm not on the island but I have colleagues that are and obviously there's a lot of reporters that had been on the
island.
And what they documented was a very slow effort to reach parts of the island. That's not to say -- I mean, and we've seen the images of FEMA
workers and of -- there had been some stories even just this morning of people from the mainland that are there, you know, helping.
Obviously, you know, the president and the White House doesn't want to undercut those people, those are folks that in some cases had been working
for weeks at hurricanes that started with Harvey and Irma.
And so there is a -- there's a dual imperative here. You do want to portray and not undercut those people that are helping but, you know, it's
-- it is, I think, rich for the president who is sitting up in Bedminster and his aid to be describing a situation as sort of, you know, going really
great and that we're doing all we can when the people on the ground, both the mayor in her case, but also reporters who are indecently documenting
this are suggesting that it's not all working all that great and that more needs to be done.
ANDERSON: You're needed there. We're going to take a very short break, but thank you for that. President Trump heading to Puerto Rico on Tuesday
for the first time. Look, Michael, we'll keep an eye on that I'm sure.
So his visit may remind some of when President George W. Bush flew over New Orleans after hurricane Katrina in 2005. He said he was on his way back
from vacation and didn't want to get in the way.
So he settled for a bird's eye view. Bush heavily criticized for being detached or uncaring. He made multiple trips to the region later but never
fully recovered from that event.
Coming from Abu Dhabi, still ahead, getting out of the -- getting out the vote in Catalonia despite police incredible scenes in the heart of Europe
as the vote for independence popped up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:31:21] PEP GUARDIOLA, COACH, SPANISH FOOTBALL TEAM: Is a -- is a day for the democracy, so what the people are looking for, the people say is
illegally or not legally. No, it's not about illegal, it's as to the people what you want to do in their lives is a party for the democracy and
chance everyone to allow to vote, that's simple, I mean, nobody knows what would be the results.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Manchester City Boss and former FC Barcelona player and manager, Pep Guardiola there, you'll recognize him, reflecting on today's
historic and let's call it controversial referendum in Spain's Catalan Region, he's not the only footballer who are coming out in support of the
Catalan right to vote, Barcelona Star Defender Gerard Pique seen here and received a round applause on casting his ballot earlier today before he
rushed back to Camp Nou to take part in the teams match against Las Palmas.
Well, that game is going ahead right now, it's in the second half, and Barcelona have just scored, go up one nil. But the company give statement
right before the match saying, it'll have to be played behind closed doors, an empty stadium, but even with no spectators in the stadium, they just
tweeted this out moments ago, reminding the world where they stand, so football and politics. Just another day in Barcelona, right? But let's
get more, journalist Sara Canals joins me now. You and I spoke during the weekend of the Barcelona attack, it was a very difficult time for the city,
but we saw the city come together and you've felt that sense of nationalistic fervor. So, you live and work in Catalonia, your reaction
then to the era ordinary scene surrounding this vote, if you will?
SARA CANALS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, here it's been pretty extraordinary with -- we're living an extraordinary day, it's no longer a matter of
independence, whether we want to -- we want to stay or we stay or leave Spain. It's just a matter of the right to vote, I mean, we're -- with
during the last two weeks, we've been seeing Spanish Police seizing ballot boxes, seizing ballot -- detaining Catalan Government Officials, also
blocking websites. So, well, we've been seeing people just coming up taking the street and chanting that they want to vote. They are just
claiming democracy.
ANDERSON: Well, the government claims that it is illegal of course, so let's take a look at the key issues behind what is this independence vote
and why it's happening now, Catalonia a semi-autonomous region, with its own culture language in the history, of course, support to break away from
Madrid has gained momentum since 2010 when Spain suffered a financial crisis while the region has considerable powers in areas such as tax
collection, some feel too much money get redistributed to other areas of Spain that aren't as wealthy as Catalonia.
There's some of the issues Catalans have with Madrid. But when it comes to succeeding independence, and if you strip of demotions and fervor out of
this, Sara, where does this leave the average Catalonian? Do they want to go at it alone or not?
CANALS: Well, I think this is a crucial matter, in order to understand this whole crisis, I mean, it's true that Catalonia has its own identity,
its own language, its own history and tradition, and historically, the majority of Catalans were not grow independence, were not separated.
[11:35:10] But of -- as you said, Catalan is one of the wealthiest regions in Spain, and because we've -- we go back as you said to 2010, Spain has
reluctant to -- has been reluctant to negotiate, for example, mortification on the wealth distribution system. And all of these things, the reluctancy
of this modification and also the unwillingness to dialogue and talk about a possible referendum has fueled this feeling of leaving Spain, of
independence (INAUDIBLE) in the region. But it's crucial to understand that back in the days in 2010, I mean, before --
ANDERSON: Oh, technologies just let us down, but you heard Sara's thoughts, saying -- Sara is a journalist we met during weekend in Barcelona
when -- rough weekend recently when the city came to a halt of course after the terror attacks there not able to get out back on even when, you know,
we'll keep you well upstate in what's going on in Catalona as this vote in this referendum continues. So that -- so what a weekend has been for a
search in national identity as the Catalan's push for independence to Spain.
Let's take you back the Kurds in Iraq, that was beginning of the week of course, Baghdad's stepping up effort to isolate the Kurds after their
overwhelming vote for independence Monday, an agreement among Iraqi riling Turkey, its effect to band all flights to and from the semi-autonomous
Kurdistan region, it seems Iraq's Kurds are on a collision course with their regional and global power that has to be said.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says, their referendum lacks legitimacy. Well, from Iraq across the border to Syria, another state
struggling with a poison of ISIS and what is becoming multinational and very messy fight in recent weeks. The focus -- excuse me -- has been on
the eastern province of Deir Ezzor and the city by that name, it was held by ISIS for years, but government emersion troops claim the victory weeks
ago, Russian forces gave Fred Pleitgen rare access last month.
FRED PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Flying into one of the most important and most brutal battlefields in Syria. Protected by
heavily armed gunships. The Russian Army took us to the former ISIS stronghold Dier Ezzor. We've known the Syrian and Russian Army has managed
to put the ISIS back, there's still are a lot ISIS fighters here in this area. That's why taking the helicopter is the safest way to get to Dier
Ezzor. After landing in this dusty desert town close to the Iraqi border, the Russian army takes us to the city's center. ISIS ruled most of Dier
Ezzor for more than three years, and besieged government-held parts of the town. Now, commerce is returning here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Russia is a friend, a very, very good friend. We like Russia, we respect and appreciate them. What Russia
did for us is so great (INAUDIBLE) too great to describe.
PLEITGEN: The Syrian Army backed by Russia is pressing on, releasing this video of forces crossing the Euphrates River, a move aimed in beating ISIS
back even further, but which also puts them at odds with American Allied Forces trying to push to Dier Ezzor as well.
MAJOR IGOR KONASHENKOV, SPOKESMAN, RUSSIA (through translator): Our forces have already pushed ISIS about five to six kilometers away from the city on
the left side of the Euphrates. But the most important thing is the blockade on the city has been lifted and the people are receiving
humanitarian aid.
PLEITGEN: Russia believes they will oust ISIS from its remaining territory in Southeastern Syria very soon. But the U.S. and its allies are also
moving towards this part of Syria leaving Washington and Moscow with a task of avoiding a clash when ISIS is gone. Fred Pleitgen, CNN, Deir Ezzor,
Syria.
ANDERSON: Well, since Fred Filmed that report, there were being some developments that showed just how fluent the situation is. ISIS launched a
series of counterattacks on Thursday the fight against the Syrian army and its allies, since their victory around Deir Ezzor last month. Monitoring
groups told CNN that the Syrian Army and Russian forces still not recaptured key roads, but Reuters news agencies reporting that the Syrian
forces and their allies did repel this attack, citing a military media unit run by Hezbollah.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Back for its 43rd Season, Saturday Live picked up where it left off, taking jam of the job at President Donald Trump. This Sunday, his
response to Puerto Rico crisis, no treat, no quote was left unspoofed and it is out parting shots this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:40:07] ALEC BALDWIN, AMERICAN ACTOR: Yes, Mayor, you wanted to talk to me?
VANESSA BAYER, AMERICAN ACTRESS: Yes, Mr. President, I'm so glad to have you on the phone. I'm begging you, Puerto Rico needs your help.
BALDWIN: I hear you loud and clear and you called the best person for the job. Trust me, I know things are as a local, say, Despacito. We want to
give you more help to you, we'll you get immediately probably about Tuesday or Wednesday (INAUDIBLE)
BAYER: Mr. President, that's not good enough.
BALDWIN: Well, you should have paid your bills. FEMA takes a few days unless you joined FEMA Prime.
BAYER: What are you talking about?
BALDWIN: Never mind, I don't know if you know this, but you're in an island in the water. The ocean water, big ocean, with fishes, and bubbles,
and turtles that bite. We want to help you, but we have to take care of America first.
BAYER: Wait, you do know we're a U.S. territory, don't you?
BALDWIN: I mean, I do, but not many people know that, no.
BAYER: Sir, we just need help, please?
BALDWIN: Well, that woman was sort of nasty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Uh-hmm. The audience might be laughing but only to alleviate the heartache that we all feel too, we're actually sorry for the people of
Puerto Rico. I mean, reminder, they are waging the help prior, they still need food, water, shelter, and medical supplies for all of those affected
by Hurricane Maria. You can help at cnn.com/impactyourworld, need (INAUDIBLE) organizations where you can donate your time or your money.
I'm Becky Anderson, that was CONNECT THE WORLD from the team working with around the world. It is a very good evening.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:09] JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN FINANCIAL ANALYST: Coming up on "MARKETPLACE MIDDLE EAST". This region has one of the lowest international
rates of women in the labor force. We assess the social and economic cost.
NOUR AL HASSAN, CEO, TARJAMA: Half of the society sitting at home not working, you have a paralyzed economy.
DEFTERIOS: And four months into the Qatar crisis. It's costing the country billions and having not knockdown effects across the region.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DEFTERIOS: Here in the United Arab Emirates, they have one of the highest rates of women in the workforce in the region. It's actually one of the
great success stories, but in the Middle East and North Africa, the numbers tell quite a different story. Of the 20 countries in the world with the
lowest rates of women in the workforce, 16 are in the MENA Region. This is spite evidence that equal access to jobs boosts GDP and contributes to
long-term economic growth. Salma Al Balushi is brushing up on her flying techniques at the Etihad Airways Simulator. She was among a growing number
of female pilots with the airline, but a decade ago, when she joined, she was one of the first.
SALMA AL BALUSHI, PILOT, ETIHAD AIRWAYS SIMULATOR: It was a huge thing when they told female in aviation as pilots. The difficulties for us as
female, it was just hard to part to convince and the society at that time that I want to go to aviation and it's a -- it's a mixed environment. Oh,
I'm going to be wearing a uniform.
DEFTERIOS: The UEA has actively encouraged women to enter the workforce, as the result, 47 percent of females in the country are in the labor force
rising to two-thirds in the public sector.
AL BALUSHI: I'm not going to say that my life is perfect, balancing is actually needs to -- so much support. My first support is a work the way
they managed our schedules and everything, but it takes more support from home also. The way my husband supports me and the way my mom, she's the
biggest there supporting pillar, and she takes care of kids if I'm away, and if my husband is working.
DEFTERIOS: But in other countries, rates remained low. In Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, around 20 percent or less of its female
population are in the labor force. One woman trying to address that imbalance is Jordanian, Noor Al Hasa. She established a translation of
contact creation business back in 2008.
AL HASSAN: If you look at Jordan today, a majority of high paid jobs go for men, if you go to employers today due to maternity leaves and other
reasons, they prefer hiring a man versus a woman. Most of the women, even if they work, the second she gets married, she drops out of the workforce.
DEFTERIOS: Ninety percent of her more than 400 full and part-time employees are women working across six countries in the region.
AL HASSAN: I push my female, big parts of it falls on companies like us. We can't only depend on government that can't really fill this huge gap, we
have 60 full-time Jordanian women in our team. Women want to work.
DEFTERIOS: According to the international monetary fund, if (INAUDIBLE) governments would have encouraged female participation in the workforce
between 2000 and 2011, it would have added a trillion dollars that of economic output. That's a big number. Let's bring in Sophie La Ray, she's
the CEO of NASABE, a business facilitation company, that is a huge number. We've seen some success, but only pockets. What's holding up further
progress would you suggest?
SOPHIE LA RAY, CEO, NASEBA: I think nothing is holding up anymore, but what has been taking place in the past was an economy that was driven by
oil. Since the oil price has dropped, we have seen a massive change, I would even say a paradigm shift where governments are leading knowledge-
based economy, they have to pave the way towards a more sustainable economy and more sustainable countries. And women economy empowerment is out of
the pillars of that strategy.
DEFTERIOS: It sounds a little bit radical, would you go as far to suggest that need a quote system to move this along at a faster phase?
LA RAY: Well, it has worked, it has worked in Europe. In the region, if not being put in place, except for Dubai, whether we got to vote, well,
it's part of a cultural shift that has to done in minds of people, but as well, sometimes you have to initiate some push to make it work. To make it
happen.
DEFTERIOS: It's also simple math if you live better than half of your population on the sidelines, you just don't have that economic prowess or
output that you normally would have in the society?
[11:50:09] LA RAY: According to the world bank, if you unleash women economic principles? You can generate about $12 trillion of growth
worldwide, it's the -- it's the lots of money, it's no longer a question of epics or existing to do, a nice thing to do, it's just -- it's just making
complete friends.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
DEFTERIOS: Almost into the economic embargo into Qatar and the situation can be best described as a political stalemate. It's not good for business
in the broader region, and certainly not Doha, which has had to move into emergency mode. On June 5th, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates,
Bahrain, and Egypt, severe diplomatic ties and transport links with Qatar. They accuse it of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the region.
Accusations which Qatar denies. So far, it has been very costly with Qatar pumping $40 billion into support its economy and financial system in the
first two months alone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Certainly, the impact it's been most felt in the trade, terrorism and the banking system, from a trade perspective, imports are
down somewhere in the vicinity of about 40 percent, compared to the equivalent months last year. That's because of the closure of the lands,
sea, and air, routes for importing goods into the country.
DEFTERIOS: It's estimated of $30 billion fled its domestic banks during June and July. Higher import costs have led to food inflation, some food
product are now being sourced from Iran and Turkey, ahead of the 2022 World Cup, Qatar had been spending a half billion dollars a week on its
infrastructure projects.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Certainly, the extent to which we're seeing construction material imports, usually coming in via Dubai or via the land
bridge Saudi Arabia, that is being affected, and they have had to be redirected by other ports, we can see an increase in cost there, and also a
significant trailing out of the timing.
DEFTERIOS: But this crisis is not only impacting Qatar but the whole region and Bahrain, in particular, is feeling a pinch.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bahrain, my largest, the largest exposed to the Qatar crisis, specifically from a trade, from a services perspective, from FDI
perspective, it's still relatively small, so it wouldn't go blowing that out of proportion, but I would say from in their perspective of Bahrain's
financing needs and also from Bahrain's banking system needs. This is where the newer effects of the potential spillover this will have -- will
be felt.
DEFTERIOS: Robin Niblett is the director of Chatham House in London. We caught up with him to discuss why does it make or break situation for
Qatar's young Emir. Sheikh Tamim, this is his first big test, because we had to prove to the Qatari people he can manage it and to the outside world
that he's strong enough to resist the pressure from Saudi Arabia and others?
ROBIN NIBLETT, DIRECTOR, CHATHAM HOUSE LONDON: You know, this is a test of wills of a new generation. So it's not Tamim against King Salman, Tamim
against crowned Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
[11:55:10] So it is in a way he can't fail, because this is a test of which of the new generation are going to determine the future of the gulf. And
my impression would be that if you are -- Tamim at this time, this is a moment we have to demonstrate your metal, so he needs to be able to set a
tone that he is a survivor, that he's there for the long term, he's a young leader, but least assured he can be there for 20, 30 years.
DEFTERIOS: How much damage does this cost for the broader Gulf States? Does it rattle this idea of an open market that's willing to grow, wants to
grow, is it open to the open to the outside world?
NIBLETT: I think this is can only be seen as a negative player on the attractiveness of all Gulf States of foreign investment. Most people who
will invest or companies that will invest into the gulf will want to know that the overall environment is benign, and that overall environment is
defined by the health of the oil sector. And the all sector is unpredictable, it seems to be kept around $55 a barrel. So if you're going
to be making a choice to invest anywhere in the world, and you see that there's a real spat that's emerged between the leaders, it seem to be very
personal.
And, you know, at the same time you're saying if you're the leader of Saudi Arabia, we're launching the vision 2030 for Saudi Arabia, you think whole,
well -- but this is somebody playing poker, you're asking me to invest at a time that you're embarking on a really high stakes player with one of your
neighbors, which is more important to you. Getting the upper hand on a diplomatic standoff within the Gulf or are you really committed to the
investment in the region?
Because I'm going to have to make a choice of political risk and you're raising my political risk when you already have a bad relationship with
Iran, Iraq is unpredictable, you got the war in Yemen, Syria is unresolved, you know, it really makes one feel that a foreign investor I'd say this is
a government just focused more on its geopolitical position in this economy.
DEFTERIOS: Since we have this coalition going against Qatar, but no structure we then say the Gulf Cooperation Council itself, did they need to
move into something that is much more driven by governance rather personal relationship or even if I can say it tribal relationships very hardcore?
NIBLETT: The GCC seems to be -- to be a reflection of the political structure, of its memberships, which is extremely tightly controlled
internal government structures, whether it's one the dominance which is Saudi Arabia, and therefore, the Gulf just reflects centralized control and
then the centralized controlled of a dominant player which is Saudi Arabia. Unfortunately, the spat with Qatar has ended up just exposing for the world
of the GCC in ways you has the structure of power relationships amongst a few families.
DEFTERIOS: Robin Niblett Chatham House on the Qatar embargo which proving difficult to solve, but also raises the question about governance within
the gulf cooperation council to avoid sudden shocks. Political or otherwise.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
END
