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CNN Exclusive Reports Prompts Action; World reacts To Trump's Security Plan; Terrifying Moments As Train Derails. Aired 10-10:30a ET
Aired December 19, 2017 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:15] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Men are sold for 1,200 Libyan pounds, $400 apiece. You are watching an auction of human beings.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LYNDA KINKADE, CONNECT THE WORLD, CNN: CNN's exclusive reporting on slavery in Libya ignited outrage and action. A flight that landed in Paris
delivering a group African migrants to places. The latest from France ahead. The thousands of people still remain in limbo. We will here from
one British lawmaker urging the U.K. to do more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We also face rival powers. Russia and China that seek to challenge American influence, values and
wealth.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: The world reacts to Donald Trump's new national security plan. We are live at the White House and in Moscow at this hour.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Emergency. Emergency. We are on the ground.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Terrifying moments at a passenger train derailed leaving three people dead and questions about how it could possibly happened.
Hello and welcome to "Connect the World." I'm Lynda Kinkade in Atlanta filling in for Beck Anderson, good to have you with us. We begin with a
new flare off in the escalating conflict in Yemen. Saudi defense forces say they have intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen. The
military spokesman say the missile was on course to hit a residential area in Riyadh. Yemen's Houthi rebels say they fired the missile taking aim at
the King's palace. Our CNN international correspondent Ben Wedeman has the very latest on all of this from his post in Beirut. I think, we just lost
his connection will get back to him shortly.
Some of the world's most vulnerable people are getting a second chance of a new life after what can only be describe as a hellish start. Frances
accepting 25 refugees from Libya today. An international organization migration repudiating 15,000 people trapped in Libya to their home
countries in the next three weeks. And it all started in part because of a report right here on CNN. You may remember the shocking reporting by our
own (inaudible) part of CNN part of freedom project where she discovered slave markets in conflict (inaudible) Libya.
(BEGIN VIDEO)
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Big strong voice for farm work he says, 400, 700, 800. The numbers roll in. This men are sold
for 1200 Libyan pounds, $400 apiece and you are watching an auction of human beings and they kept bringing out, they kept referring to (inaudible)
because (inaudible) the merchandise, all in all they admitted to us there are 12 Nigerians that were sold in front of us. And I honestly don't know
what to say. That was probably one of the most unbelievable thing I've ever seen.
A glimpse inside a nightmare didn't realize still existed in the 21st century.
(END VIDEO)
KINKADE: While news spread fast and protests right around the world. Gaining traction with some of the world's most visible people. This week
it was debated on the floors of British parliament after a petition to end a slave trade was signed by hundreds of thousands of British citizens. The
IOM has told CNN that this report burst a damn and changes people's perspectives right across the world.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When we saw people being sold as pieces of commerce, it changed everybody's mind and brought the Africans and Europeans together in
a way I haven't seen before.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well beyond the talk lives has been transformed. 25 prescreened Libyan migrants have now arrived in Paris after cooperation between the
French government the United Nations. To protect them there were no photos taken or cameras aboard the plane departing in Niger, they landed in
(inaudible) airport in the French capital. CNN's Melissa Bell is there, and joins us now. Melissa you were there when they arrived, just give us a
sense of their condition and which countries they had originated from.
[10:05:08] MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As you say 25 in all arrived this morning in Paris main airport. Yesterday morning, Lynda. Few more
will arrive tomorrow. In all, 55 refugees, they had been given that status and they come from a variety of countries from Somalia, Sudan and they have
gone through France's screening process. That is what's so different with anything that is been done before on the African continent rather than
waiting for these migrants to make their way to Europe in order then to screen them a decide whether or not they should get refugees status were
they should get that. The French have gone to cities like Myanmar and Niger and to deal with those applications there. With this particular
group, this people will be fast tracked and they are being treated as refugees and therefore France is opening its doors.
Puddled and tired, but face at last, these are the lucky ones. 25 migrants rescued from Libya given fast track refugees status in Niger and bussed to
a new life in eastern France. The first of 3,000 refugees that the French president wants to take in as part of his resettlement program.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Resettlement provides opportunity for those who otherwise have not arrived in a safe country such as in Europe. They are
arriving here certainly as solution for many refugees who are now in Niger that has been evacuated from a very difficult situation in Libya. So it is
the solution for many refugees and we also hope many other countries will follow the example of France is setting with resettlement here.
BELL: It was a pleased that the French President brought to the African continent itself on November 29th. Those migrants currently held in Libyan
detention centers needed help and urgently.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (TRANSLATOR): The African union, European Union and the United Nations have decided this evening is to act decisively. First and
foremost with extreme urgency to evacuate from Libya all those who can and who wants to evacuated and help them return to their country of origin. We
will stand in solidarity with others in this emergency operations which will be conducted in the coming days and weeks.
BELL: Since then hundreds of migrants had been evacuated from Libya. Here landing in (inaudible) in Niger showing physical scar of their ordeal.
Only a tiny numbers of this will granted asylum in France. The French government is offering a new approach and much better odds for resettlement
in Europe and had been common in this part of Africa. The first of those granted Asylum was part of the scheme will spend four months here at this
convent where they will be given help to heal from the journey and to prepare for their new life.
The 25 refugees landing here this morning represent a drop in the ocean when you consider that the international organization for migration
believes there are currently 400,000 migrants in Libya. Through this airport this morning, it was transformed into a sort of safe port that so
many have dreamt of on their new life.
I think it's important to mention also that these various initiatives both the international organization for migration efforts to evacuate from Libya
had been under way as had the President's plans trying to get screening processes up and ready in those countries before the migrants had it off on
those dangerous journey across Libya, cross dessert and cross oceans. What CNN's reporting changed, what those images change is the sense of urgency,
flights were brought forward and the numbers now being plan to be evacuated from Libya astonishingly. The IOM had evacuated so far this year 15,000 of
the most vulnerable migrants from Libya. It is now planning just in the next few weeks before the end of the (inaudible) in the first few days in
January to take out another 15,000. I think that is the measure of the power of those images, Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes. Only very powerful reporting. Melissa Bell good to have you with us. From Paris, thank you very much.
As we said earlier this CNN story has triggered debate in parliament where many praised CNN's reporting for change.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As I said it was from namely Nima Elbagir from CNN reported in a ground-breaking report. It was those pictures that really
brought this home to so many people in the west. They heard from their contact that there were two auctions going on at the same time, some people
in the Libyan government will tell you oh, no, this is only happening sporadically. On this occasion there were two going on at the same time
and the woman who actually films was an auction. Auction was also a big buyer in town that wanted to buy people. Buy people as commodity, as
merchandise for work in their farm. It is atrocious. As I'm speaking I'm reflecting on the actual words that are being used here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:10:54] KINKADE: I'm joined now from London by another British MP Chris Law. He is urging the U.K. not to stay silent in the face or such inhuman
atrocities. Chris good to have you with us. You described violations of rights a human dignity on an unthinkable scale. How this still happening
in this day and age is and what do you make of the CNN report and the impact it's having?
OK. I am just hearing we are, we don't have the guest right now. We're going to try and come back to that guest. A very important story to cover.
Now we'll take a break and we will have a story on U.S. President Donald Trump and his speech which called out Russia and China. We'll have
international reaction to his American First strategy next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You are watching CNN and this is Connect the World, I am Lynda Kinkade, welcome back. I want to take you now back to the stories we're
following. The impact of CNN's reporting on the slave trade in Libya and the cause in the U.K. to do much more. I am join now by a British
lawmaker, Chris Law, he is urging the U.K. not to stay silent in the face of such inhuman atrocities. And he joins me now live. Chris good to have
you with us. You describe of what we are seeing as violations of human rights and human dignity that are on unthinkable scale.
[10:15:00] How is this, still happening on this day of age is and what did you make of the CNN report and the impact it's having?
CHRIS LAW, BRITISH LAWMAKER: First of all I would like to thank CNN for bringing this report to the world stage with regards to slavery that was
going on in Libya as we know modern slavery is not just on Libya but all over the world. The numbers by the U.N. is 40 million enslavement which is
atrocious. Although the U.S. and U.K. abolish slavery more than 150 years ago now it's only in the 1980's when the last act was taken and yet today
we are still seeing, appalling us slavery and no more so than Libya itself. So when I saw you reports and what is happening here in the U.K. it has set
a debate on fire, there was a petition that was raise for the debate and parliament with over a quarter a million signatures. So very profound
indeed.
KINKADE: Absolutely incredible. Of course, we have heard the European nations are accused of being complicit in this not doing enough. Is Europe
complicit?
LAW: Yes, I would agree with that statement. Two things really to see on that. First of all is our general approach to the Mediterranean and the
migration route across the Mediterranean. The E.U. policy of what the U.K. is a member of E.U. nation states and have agreed essentially of
containment whereby the most vulnerable people in African nation who are fleeing war persecution and terror and of course extreme poverty, find
themselves ending up in Libya trying to get to a place of safety and Europe should be welcoming to those refugees and as a resulted they're facing
what's treacherous route on earth which across the Mediterranean where 2,000 people alone lost their lives trying to flee some terrible
conditions. As a result, many are ending up in detention centers in Libya. And that is the key area of exploitation. I was just going to say to most
vulnerable people to cross in safety into Europe and for all nations including the U.K. to do much more to welcome those refugees to our
country. Scotland for example is three years ahead in terms of settling 2,000 Syrian refugees and it is prepared to do more and those voices are
across the U.K. So, yes we need to step up to the (inaudible) and put pressure on the E.U. and on the U.N. to help and open up a legal corridor
from Libyan across the Mediterranean Sea.
KINKADE: Chris, we saw France today taking small group of refugees from Libya, do you think CNN's reporting could spare on other countries to
follow that lead?
LAW: It's an important step. Absolutely, I think we all have a moral responsibility but a fine responsibility, the reason that Libya is in such
peril state, this are result of direct intervention by NATO or which the U.K. partner. The U.K. we now know spent 320 million Pounds on a six month
bombing which ended toppling of Kaddafi and spent 25 million and helping to build capacity in Libya in terms of upholding the rule of law and bringing
the best on the governments. It's too little too late and use to think about what I does after the end of the war and make sure think in advance.
Si absolutely the steps are important and much more needs to be done and it need to be done urgently.
KINKADE: Keep up the good work. Good to have your perspective with us from London. Thank you very much.
LAW: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well the U.S. President's landmark national security speech has gone a reaction from some of the world's biggest powers. Donald Trump
unveiled his national security plan Monday in a speech touting America first, calling Russia and China rivals. Russia has lasted the plan as
imperial while China has called U.S. to stop distorting its intentions. CNN Nic Robertson joins us now from Moscow. And Nic, in the speech we
heard President Trump alluding to Russia's interference in the world. Pointed out didn't go as far as the document.
NIC ROBERTSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CNN CORRESPONDENT: There were 25 references in the document to Russia and most are negative and the way the
kremlin is looking at this at the press conference and a spokesman has said we're handing this out to the relevant departments and our first reaction
is this is not imperial document and clearly shows that the United States rejects a multi polar world.
[10:20:10] We had heard that from other lawmakers here as well saying they think this is an American (inaudible) this what they're hearing in the
speech, the United States was once a (inaudible) world. President Trump did sort of reach out to President Putin, he talked about where they could
be with these countries, China, Russia areas where it was in the U.S. national interests and the two countries could work together and he pointed
to a phone call that he had with President Putin over the weekend where President Putin called and to thank him, President Trump and the CIA for
helping thwarting a terror plot in Petersburg over the weekend. President Trump said, thousands of people could had been killed in that terror plot.
Russian authorities arrested seven people captured explosives and weapons, so President Trump now while the document was sort of, you know, at
multiple levels critical of Russia, critical of its activities in other countries, and cyber activities, et cetera, President Trump if you will was
not that critical and tried to focus more on the positive and particularly showing the relationship of President Putin and Russia in a potentially
positive light. I think that is calling some critics to look at it and say, why has he done this? Why didn't he go with the negative information
contained in the document?
KINKADE: Certainly a lot of questions raised there Nic, just stand by for us, I want to go to Joe Johns also joining us from outside the White House.
Joe, President Trump spoke about nation is being cheated. Spoke about the U.S. Economy. But it certainly sounded like he was back on the campaign
trail.
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed it did sound like he was back on the campaign trail. Lynda, look, the president talk among other things about
competition between large countries meaning Russia and China, also indicating in his view that for United States economic security is national
security and really tipped his hat to the idea that other nations particularly China use their investments as well as their trade policy to
advanced their geopolitical goals. In that context the President articulated an America first view which is something we heard many times on
the campaign trail indicating that it's very the important for the United States to use this economic policies to advance the interest of the United
States, Lynda.
KINKADE: I just want to go back to Nic, stand by for us Joe, America's interests. President also spoke about partnership with Russia. Given how
we have seen the relationship between the U.S. and Russia deteriorate since President Trump came to office, is there much hope for that?
ROBERTSON: You have to look at it right now in what in a way through Russia's eyes and President Putin's eyes and yesterday as the beginning of
the 90 day Presidential election for next year, what we could expect from, President Putin themes and topic that is resonate well with his domestic
audience, because although no one expects him not to win a fourth term in office, He does want to see a high turnout and he does want to see as high
numbers of people as possible voting for him. I don't think we're going to see a change of political track by President Putin right now. That said,
you know if you look at the atmosphere here a year ago after President Trump was elected there's expectation in the Russian meet. That is
something that doesn't happen.
What appears on Russia media doesn't happen at the leadership of President Putin is not keeping with that thought. There was a broad warming towards
President Trump and that lasted into the first several presidency. That really cooled down and had a huge chilling in the summer where Russia
expelled hundreds of U.S. Embassy officials here. The concern among some parts of the Russian leadership is the relationship to United States on a
very low analysis is how do you get it out of that position? I think, don't expect a change, over the next few months, but do expect President
Putin to try to keep this sort of warm relationship where he can with President Trump particularly over cooperating on counterterrorism. I think
he sees it as beneficial to both of them. Where's something good for him and this too.
KINKADE: All right. Nic Robinson for us in Moscow. Joe Johns in Washington, good to have both of you, thanks gentlemen.
Earlier we told you about a flare-up in the escalating conflict in Yemen, they intercepted a ballistic missile fired from Yemen. The missile was on
course to hit a residential area in Riyadh. The Yemen Houthi rebel said they fire the missile taking aim at the King's palace.
[10:25:19] Our CNN International Correspondent Ben Wedeman joins us with the very latest on his post in Beirut, Lebanon. And then this is not just
a missile targeted at Riyadh, but the King's palace. This is the same palace that President Trump attended back in May.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, in the statement in regards from the Houthi rebels in Yemen, they said that the target was
Al Yamama Palace which is the royal residence outside the capital Riyadh where it appears there was a meeting of the Saudi leadership. Now the
Saudis say the missile was taken down by a U.S. supplied patriot missile battery. The missile itself, the one that was fired at the palace was what
is known as a volcano 2h which is essentially a modified scud missile very similar if not identical to the one fired in November also by the Houthis
in the direction of Riyadh international airport. At the time the Saudis took down missile. Also, with the patriot anti-missile system. But there
are questions if that was actually the case, but obviously today marks the 1000 day of the Saudi led offensive against the Houthi and we did hear
(inaudible) Houthi, the leader of the rebels (inaudible) that is their television station on (inaudible) that is their television station saying
that this is an essentially a tooth for a tooth when it comes to Yemen. Ii is important to keep in mind this battle which is essentially picks the
most wealthy Arab nation against the Arab nation's poorest Arab worlds. Keep in mind in recent weeks, in fact the last 11 days according to the
U.N. a 150 civilians have been killed as a result of Saudi air strikes. It seems it's going both ways.
KINKADE: All right. Ben Wedeman, we'll have to leave it there for now in Beirut, Lebanon. Good to have you staying across those developments in
Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Thank you.
We are live from the scene, this is Connect the World, coming up isolated on the world stage. A U.N. resolution attempting to nullify Donald Trump's
decision on Jerusalem. We will look at the fallout on that, just ahead.
[10:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to Connect the World. The top stories we're following this hour. Saudi defense was to say the have intercepted a
ballistic missile fired from Yemen and military spokesman says, the missile was close to hit a residential are in Riyadh. Yemen's Houthi rebels say
they fired the missiles.
Dramatic protests in Honduras after a court declaring combat president Juan Orlando Hernandez, the winner of the heavily disputed election. Some of
the international observers say the vote did not meet democratic standards but the U.S. is recognizing the outcome and is urging opposition supporters
to refrain from violence.
The White is blaming is blaming North Korea for the one who cried cyber attack that plagued computers around the world earlier this year. In a
Wall Journal op-ed, Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert says, the U.S. has evidence for the claim and that the U.K. and Microsoft have reached
similar conclusions.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers could soon get their first major legislative win this year. The House is expected to pass the
huge tax overhaul within hours. The bill then goes to the Senate. Mr. Trump calls it a great Christmas gift for the middle class.
Well let's get right to CNN political reporter, Dan Merica, in Washington. Good to have us with us, Dan. First, let's -- the opinion poll is out
today. Let's first focus on the president's approval rating. How does it compare after his first year in office to previous presidents.
DAN MERICA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hang on a bit. The poll that was released was actually taken last week by CNN, shows President Trump at his lowest
point in our polls' history for this president.
He's at 35 percent approval, 59 percent disapproval. Now, in historic context, that puts him at the lowest mark of a president in the first
December in office. That's followed by Reagan -- President Reagan who in 1981 was at 49 percent and then President Clinton and Obama who both found
themselves at 54 percent.
And the White House kind of dismisses these polls because they think that A, the polls were wrong in 2016 and they believe they're wrong again. And
they think the tax reform -- what you know, who will be voted on today both in the House, this morning, and then Mitch McConnell just said recently
that the Senate will vote on the tax bill this afternoon or late tonight.
they think that that will boost the president's approval rating because as they cast, it is a tax cut for the middle class, as our poll also showed
however, there are many Americans who think that it is nothing more than a way for President Trump to help corporations and rich Americans. Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, those polls of course showing, Dan, that most people think this tax bill will benefit the wealthy, not the middle class and it
appears, according to those opinion polls that opposition through this tax bill is growing.
MERICA: And I think it's also working. I mean, you think of what Democrats have tried to do. Democrats have not joined this tax bill.
President Trump tried months ago to get Democrats onboard.
They have not jumped onboard. And that is in part because of his approval rating. When the president's approval rating is low, Democrats don't feel
a need to join him. Democrats have tried to kill this bill.
It seems like they're going to be unable to do that but they have made it widely up popular. Forty-five percent of Americans in November have said
they opposed the bill. That number is now at 55 percent.
So while this is a win for the president, it certainly helps cement his first legislative victory. He will certainly tout this multiple times over
the coming day and then when he goes to Florida for Christmas, it is also an unpopular bill.
[10:35:00] So the Republicans will be left to kind of convince Americans after the fact that this is going to help them. And really what we'll see
is that will be decided when Americans file their taxes, not only in February but next year as well. And they will decide whether it helped or
hurt them in their pocketbooks really.
KINKADE: Yes, exactly. We're going to see how that plays out. Dan Merica, good to have you with us. Thank you. Well, Israel is thanking the
United States for using its veto power at the U.S. Security Council saying one defeated the many, truth defeated the lies.
Well, the U.S. stood alone in opposing a resolution that attempted to nullify Donald Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
Palestinian leader said they fully expected it but they say what's important is that the vote clearly demonstrates that the international
community's of Mr. Trump's move, Palestinians plan to turn to the U.N. General Assembly, next.
Well, let's get more now from CNN's Oren Liebermann. And, Oren, clearly for the first time in six year, the U.S. used their veto power here and
they were all alone.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Everyone was expecting that that would be the results of this vote. Fourteen voting in favor and the other 14
members of the Security Council in the U.S. would veto.
The U.S. wasn't at all ashamed of that vote. In fact, U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley said, she is proud of her vote, flipping the script
essentially and saying it's everyone else who should be ashamed of their vote.
Meanwhile, the Palestinians and many other countries for that matter are saying look, the U.S. is standing alone in their foreign policy, nobody
agrees with them, of course, other than Israel in this case.
And that's how they're casting it and they say, when they go to the General Assembly, where the U.S. doesn't have a veto power, that message or that
image will be reinforce when they say there will be an overwhelming resolution or overwhelming vote in favor of a very similar resolution or
perhaps even the same resolution. Again, it will be the U.S. standing on its own for the most part with Israel by its side on this one.
KINKADE: And, Oren, we know the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence was due to fly out tonight to the Middle East. He has delayed that trip. He said
it's because he's need it to push through the U.S. tax bill. How is this being viewed in the region?
LIEBERMANN: well, I think there's little doubt here that that is exactly why he's delaying this vote because his tie-breaking vote in the U.S.
Senate is so critical to Republicans.
His delayed -- and this is the second delay, there was one delay about 48 and now this one of a month because the trip is running-up against
Christmas and New Year's, and the holidays.
His delay is essentially -- it won't change the dynamics of what will happened on the ground here. The Palestinians still refuse to meet him.
Whether the meeting happens in December or in January, doesn't make a difference.
The Israelis will still very much welcome and we expect to see protests while he's here visiting the Old City of Jerusalem meeting with the
Israelis. That part of the visit won't change. All that will change, Lynda, here is the timing essentially.
KINKADE: All right. We'll see how that trip plays out when it happens in the middle of January. Oren Liebermann, good to have you with us. Thank
you.
Well the United Nations Human Rights chief is now speaking out about the killing of a disabled protest in Gaza calling it incomprehensible shocking
and. The wheelchair-bound man was among five Palestinians killed last Friday during protest against Mr. Trump's decision on Jerusalem.
The U.N. 13 other protesters were approaching the Gaza border fence when he was apparently shot in the head by Israeli forces. According to the Times
of Israel, the Israeli army says it did not intentionally shoot the disabled man and cannot determine the cause of his death.
You are watching Connect the World. Still to come, hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans have left the island since hurricane Maria hits including
these two college students, where now getting an education in Miami. The recovery process in the U.S. territory has been slow and painful. We'll
have an update, next.
[10:40:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN and this is Connect the World with me, Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back. We're going to be at South Africa now where one
man is carrying the hopes of millions. Cyril Ramaphosa is the new leader of South Africa's governing party.
He replaced President Jacob Zuma at the top of the African national Congress and is now likely to be the country's next president. Mr. Zuma's
turn runs out in 2019 but may be pushed out of the presidency early because he is near in corruption scandals.
Well Ramaphosa has made some promises to South Africans, especially about the economy. CNN's David McKenzie joins us now from Johannesburg with more
on all of these. Firstly, David, just give us a sense of what this all mean for the future of Jacob Zuma.
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's too early to tell, Lynda. And one issue that might hamper all Ramaphosa's at least stated, to help
combat corruption and take on corruption at the highest levels, is that the leadership team that has been voted in by the ANC and a very tight race is
really made up of people who are loyal to Ramaphosa.
And those would be seen as loyal to the embattled of national President Jacob Zuma but it was a striking moment when they announced those results.
Earlier President Jacob Zuma had left the stage and you almost felt his power leaving the stage with him.
So now that he is ANC president, Ramaphosa might be able to push through some of those reforms but you will have to give in to that president seat
first. And Zuma might not be willing to vacate it. Lynda.
KINKADE: So how will Ramaphosa tackle corruption and how crucial will it be for him to look inwardly at his own team?
MCKENZIE: Well, the big issue in some people's mind is he was the deputy president for several years at the right hand of Jacob Zuma. So he is
linked to the president who is the one who should be many say prosecuted for these allege crimes.
But he has managed I think politically to keep some daylight between himself and Zuma. So the big issue will to be if he has the political
capital within the ruling ANC to either recall the president or effectively rule from behind the scenes.
It's certainly too early to say. This elective conference is still ongoing. There are still disputes amongst some of those top positions. So
until it's all over and we move into the new year most likely, we won't know how Zuma stands.
KINKADE: And Ramaphosa has also -- it said that he hopes to improve the South African economy. What sort of promises has he made and can he
deliver?
MCKENZIE: Well, he says that there should be a new deal for South Africa but he hasn't been all that big on the specifics like many campaigns.
South Africa has a struggling economy at the moment. It's limping out of a recession but it faces yet another ratings downgrade but ratings agency,
and that could see a lot of investments to continue to flow out of this country.
A lot of people are kind of holding their breath when it comes to doing business in South Africa seeing first who got this leadership post, and it
is Ramaphosa and invest friendly leader.
But then, what he does next is not going to be a short-term fix for this country which has seen its leadership between the African consonant as an
economic powerhouse slip away somewhat. But many think if he does a few things in their minds, in the right direction that he could help kick-start
this economy.
[10:45:00] But again, a lot of work to be done and he is hampered by his political cache at the moment within the party.
KINKADE: Yes, a lot of work to be done and a lot of hope. David McKenzie, good to have you with us. Thank you. Well, let's turn now to the
incredible slow pace of recovery from hurricane Maria on the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.
CNN's Bill Weir is tracking the push to restore the island's badly damaged electrical grid. The disaster in Puerto Rico is just one of the many that
the U.S. is struggling to manage. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BILL WEIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: When we first met Diana and Miguel in the hills of Aguas Buenas, they had just made it through the worst storm of
their lives. But the fight for survival was just beginning.
The Vietnam vet had just a few doses of insulin spoiling in a powerless fridge. When I went back a month later, the transmission tower that nearly
crushed them inside their home was back up. Wow, that's a good sign. Look at that, they got it back up. How are you?
Folks at the V.A. had seen our story and sent help. Miguel was resting and Diana's spirits were high. "I'm going to keep fighting," she said, and
then pointed up. They put a flag on top of the tower.
But just before Thanksgiving, her hope turned to grief and she wept over the flag atop Miguel's coffin. The aftermath was just too much for him.
But will he be counted as a victim of Hurricane Maria? After reporting by CNN and others, sparked an official review, the fatality number could jump
from 63 to over a thousand. But that is just one horrible puzzle to solve here.
How the hell did you get this contract? White Fish, the tiny company promised $300 million to help fix the grid was fired just weeks into the
job. The head of the island's power authority quits amid the scandal.
And now as the Army Corps of Engineers struggles through the jungle terrain, a third of the island remains in the dark. About 20,000 blue roof
tarps have been installed. But another 50,000 are waiting.
But Puerto Rico is just one of dozens of disaster zones from the Caribbean to California, nearly 5 million Americans have filed for federal aid in
just the last few months. And among those begging for help is the guy in charge of helping.
BROCK LONG, ADMINISTRATOR, FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: I haven't been here six months yet. And what I hope to do is inform, you know,
Americans about how complex this mission is. It might be a time to sit back and say, are we in charge of too much?
WEIR: After career as an emergency manager in Georgia and Alabama, Brock Long was tapped by President Trump right before one of the most destructive
summers in American history.
But he's been there long enough to say that FEMA is broke, and the system is broken. Many of his 19,000 personnel have worked such long hours,
they've hit a pay cap and will have to give back over time. What does that do for morale? Are there people who are essentially working for free?
LONG: We got to -- we got to fix that problem. And I've been very vocal, you know, within Congress. I mean, you know, yes, it impacts morale. We
cannot do this alone.
Any time FEMA is the first -- you know, the first responder and the primary responder like we were in Puerto Rico, it's never an ideal situation. But
I do believe, you know, for example, with Puerto Rico, that we kept that island from complete and total collapse.
WEIR: You think so?
LONG: I do.
WEIR: But things are so dire there now. Ten percent of the island has evacuated to Florida. Stephanie and Victoria are among the quarter million
Puerto Ricans who fled so far.
They're grateful to Miami's St. Thomas University for taking them in. But they're worried about an entire future influx. Do you feel like Americans
on that island? Do you feel like second class Americans?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's like we felt -- we feel we aren't a priority, you know? We aren't being taken the care we deserved to be taken on the
island.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we need the help. We are really needing the help.
WEIR: So, when President Trump goes to Puerto Rico, for example, and throws paper towels to the storm survivors, what sort of message does that
send? And how do you grade it based on that?
LONG: You know what, President Trump has been incredibly -- you know, supportive of our emergency management. At one point, we were having day-
to-day conversations with the White House and he is highly involved.
He calls me directly. He's very engaged. His message to me is, help people. And expedite the processes to do so. People are excited and
asking, hey, what about me back here? He picks it up, he throws it.
And the media captured it and can spin that story any way they want but I was in the room. He generally cares about the people in Puerto Rico, about
the people in California, about the -- about the Americans in Texas and Florida as well.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Bill Weir with that report.
[10:50:00] Well, still to come, a tragic death in the world of Korean pop. We'll look at the life of Korean superstar Jong-hyun and here from the fans
who are now mourning their musical hero.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN and this is Connect the World with me, Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back. Well in today's Parting Shots, Korean pop music
simply known as k-pop is one of the biggest exports to come out of South Korea in the past decade with millions of fans around the world.
And it's now making waves in the U.S. after popular boy band, BTS, made its debut on American television last month. But today, those fans are
mourning the tragic death of one of k-pop's biggest stars, Jong-hyun.
He was the lead singer of the hit group, SHINee, who paved the way for other acts like BTS. The 24-year-old performer died Monday in an apparent
suicide. Fans are remembering him for the music he brought into their lives. Now Kristie Lu Stout has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: He was a star of one of South Korea's biggest boy bands. A successful solo artist and songwriter but less than
two weeks after his last concert, fans are mourning.
Kim Jong-hyun, the lead singer of the k-pop band SHINee. He was found dead Monday and what police say was an apparent suicide. Outside the hospital
in Seoul on Tuesday, fans spoke of their shock.
ASHANA WILLIAMS, SHINEE FAN: To come and show respects to him and his family, and to his loved ones. I have family with mental health issues.
So it hit home. And it was very personal.
KIM YEON-JUNG, SHINEE FAN (through a translator): It didn't feel real. Is this even real? Is this a dream? I asked myself.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through a translator): He was full of emotions and a sensitive person. He must have had lots of hardships but hid them, and
didn't show them to others. That must have been the toughest part for him.
LU STOUT: Details are emerging of the singer's final days. He was found collapsed at an apartment in the South Korean capital Monday evening.
Rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead that night.
Later, a friend released a long SMS message which she said Jong-hyun has sent her in the weeks before his death. In it, he describes himself as
broken from the inside and asks her to post the text if he were quote, to disappear from the world.
[10:55:00] At just 27-years-old, the singer was already a towering figure on the k-pop scene. He shot to fame with SHINee nearly ten years ago and
recorded a string of popular hits.
The band has just been on tour and released their album. His single, released in April was titled, Lonely. Fans paid tribute to their hero on
Twitter. Thank you for making our hearts flutter with your music, wrote one. We will always love you said another. Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong
Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, I'm Lynda Kinkade. Thank you so much for joining us for this edition of Connect the World. We'll see you next time. Thanks for
watching.
END
