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Connect the World

Winter Olympics; Taiwan Tremor, Market Volatility; Raining On Trump's Parade; Poland Facing Criticism Over Controversial New Law; World Powers Jostle On Crowded Battlefields; Senators Working On Bipartisan Deal To Avert Government Shutdown; Skiing Down A Parisian Street; In 5 Minutes The Image Of The Day. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired February 07, 2018 - 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] BECKY ANDERSON, CONNECT THE WORLD, CNN: Crossing the border for the first time remember North Korea Kim's Dynasty may set foot in the

south, that is right, Kim Jong-un is sending his sister to the Winter Games, there we are live in Pyeongchang and searching for survivors after

the deadly earthquake in Taiwan. CNN is there were dozens are still missing. Plus we are less than an hour in to the U.S. trading there we are

going to get you check on the market from the New York Stock Exchange.

Good evening to you from Abu Dhabi is just over 7:00 in the evening you watching "Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson, we are just a couple

days to go before the 2018 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. Meanwhile before the games begin well there is already major drama coming out of the

event for the first time ever a member of North Korea's ruling family is set to visit the South. Now Kim Jong-un's younger sister is to be part of

North Korea's high-level delegation to the games, the 30-year-old said to be close adviser the her brother. Meanwhile U.S. Vice President Mike Pence

is in Tokyo ahead of his trip to South Korea for the Olympics, but a hard edge to that diplomacy held a press conference earlier with the Japanese

Prime Minister and said the United States will soon unveil its toughest sanctions yet on North Korea. Let us get you on the grounds and get you

the very latest from CNN man in Seoul Ivan Watson joining us in Pyeongchang this evening. So our man in Pyeongchang this evening Ivan Watson. What do

we know the respected sister, why is she off to Pyeongchang?

IVAN WATSON, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT, CNN: We don't know exactly why the reasoning from the North Koreans they already said that

there delegation be led by the ceremonial head of state of North Korea whose name is Kim Young-nam and now we learned that Kim Jong-un is coming

now, yes she is the sister of Kim Jong-un, she is the member of the Politburo she is also first vice director of the Central committee of the

workers party as well and in January 2017 the U.S. State Department put her on a blacklist effectively slap sanctions against her for alleged human

rights abuses and announced that any assets that they could find a hers would be frozen when she arrives here Becky she will join what is already

quite a large contingent from North Korea it's approaching 500 people now only about 22 of them are athletes then you have a tae kwon do

demonstration team more than 200 cheerleaders and orchestra with around 140 members quite a large group of people the blue house which is the name here

for the president's office in South Korea says that the decision to send Kim Jong-un's sister shows the willingness of North Korea to alleviate

tensions and the South Korean government has vowed to welcome this high- level North Korean delegation appropriately, Becky.

ANDERSON: Fascinating. All right. We wait to see how that develops in the meantime the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on his way of course to the

winter Olympics but this is not just about cutting ribbon and watching sports as one of our contributors points out today in that online. The

question is will move to improve relations with the North or tighten the screws on what he considered this rouge state?

WATSON: That judging by his rhetoric it sounds like he wants to do everything possible to criticize North Korea the government for its dismal

human rights record and try to remind the world that it was continue to isolate the North Korean regime until it gives up its nuclear weapons and

he has said that at every stop along his itinerary to Pyeongchang leading the U.S. delegation here to the opening ceremony, he's going to tell the

truth about North Korea or at least his version of the truth take a listen to an excerpt from the statements earlier today in Japan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MIKE PENCE, VICE PRESIDENTIAL-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES: We will be there to cheer on our American athletes, but we will also be there to stand with

our allies and remind the world that North Korea is the most heretical and oppressive regime on the planet.

[10:05:07] We will not allow North Korean propaganda to hijack the message and imagery of the Olympic Games. We will not allow North Korea to hide

behind the Olympic banner the reality that they enslave their people and threaten wider region.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON: Pence went on to say that the U.S. will soon unveil what he described as the quote toughest and most aggressive round of sanctions

against North Korea ever and he was bolstered by the Japanese Prime Minister since Shinzo Abe who said effectively is meaningless to discuss

anything with North Korea until it begins disarmament of its nuclear weapons. There is one important caveat in Alaska on the first day of his

trip Pence pointed out that you would still leave the door open to possible talk to some kind of possible meeting with the North Koreans, he wasn't

ruling that out even though U.S. side has not requested any kind of conversation so here's the question what happens in the stadium at the

opening ceremony when you have the U.S. vice president in one place and the sister of Kim Jong in another place could that lead to some kind of

historical meeting, Becky.

ANDERSON: Fascinating, Ivan Watson on the spots for you this evening. Thank you Ivan. Dozens of Russian athletes are still fighting to take part

in the winter Olympics, 32 of them are appealing to the court of arbitration for sport to lift its doping ban that would make them eligible

to compete in Pyeongchang. They say the international Olympic Committee failed to provide a reason for their exclusion. The court stated aims to

reach a decision before Friday's opening ceremony.

Wall Street now where stock open with a 100 point dip just over 30 minutes ago. Over the past couple of the trading sessions well they are now up

some 200 or so points. Investors hoping that markets will regain gravelly hope the markets will go higher. Of course there are those who bet against

the market following the biggest sell off ever for the DOW on Monday billions of dollars in the balance in around the world will have their

investments in mind of course. CNN Maggie Lake riding the role of (inaudible) on the New York Stock Exchange on emerging markets editorial,

John Defterios keeping watch in Abu Dhabi. Let us talk about this market then what we are at an hour so what it seems to be 300 points swing to be

expected I think you are probably going to tell me correct.

MAGGIE LAKE, CNN MONEY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Volatility in the new normal Becky. A little bit not quite as large perhaps as we thought on Monday but

we should expect to see this swing, a lot of people didn't expect to bind to comeback a little bit, I will tell you. There is a feeling that we are

going to see this back and forth until the market decides to be take out. Are we in for a more substantial correction down? The jury -- verdict is

not in, the jury still out on that to be sure. Interesting we had been making -- talking about President Trump who cheerleading the stock market

higher hasn't said anything and he finally did tweet about the stock market in just the last few minutes and he said in the old days when good news is

reported the stock market would go up. Today when good news reported the stock market goes down. Big mistake. We have so much good, great news

about the economy.

So I guess he couldn't resist watching the volatility got him a little bit as well. Most people would agree the fundamental are good, the questions

is most of that good news is priced in and you have to worry about inflation that is going to be the debate as we move forward Becky.

ANDERSON: Something I want to discuss with John Defterios. Maggie thank you for that. Maggie is in New York stock exchange. Let us have a look at

that tweet. Let us bring it up again for our viewers. In the old days anybody, when good news was reported. The stock market would go up today

when good news is reported the stock market goes down, big mistake when we have so much good, great news about the economy. You and I had been

watching this markets for a very longer than most people watching the show being alive.

Look what goes up must come down, I mean you know we can go on and on. Loads of loads of reason that we can come up with over the years why these

markets will get into a relatively volatile state.

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: There is one thing that he is not paying attention to.

ANDERSON: It is a very good point. He is playing on the -- nobody reports on good news this days and sort about fake news. We heard this rhetoric

from Donald Trump before. Look, the point is and we had been having this discussion over the last 48 hours also, is it good and right for the U.S.

president get involved in what is going on this market?

[10:10:07] DEFTERIOS: Well it is very interesting he is reading between the lines are like the narrative of the solid, he thinks he could get 2.6

percent this year the European Union put up the expected growth projections for 2018 but he's ignoring the words that Wall Street has right now that is

over inflationary pressures pretty healthy debate taking place on inflation in fact one of his allies here visiting in Abu Dhabi Tom Barrett weighed in

as well. He thinks in fact these worries that they have at Wall Street are overrated. He was suggesting that because of technology and system and

Uber and Amazon and the rest, we had a different value chain all together now, so he is agreeing with the president of this front. I asked him, I

called him the salesman when we were in Davos at the world economic forum, I have a different narrative and this is how I see it. Let us take a

listen to what he said about Donald Trump weighing in on Wall Street.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOM BARRACK, CEO COLONY CAPITAL: I think he definitely view himself as cheerleader in chief as well as commander-in-chief and bringing hope and

new expectations to the American people that things are going to be OK. And this emotional adjust that he has by talking different vocabulary that

most presidents had spoken before and the fact that it may seem more ego driven than other presidents in the past is part of what why that core

loves it, he roots for them.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Shouldn't he broaden his base in this context, he talks about treason and the constitutional crisis over elite memos which is

taking place in the Justice Department and your investigation.

BARRACK: I think we have to judge him on facts not really what he says. What he says sets up a series of negotiating postures which is when we look

at the past it is actually been quite successful for deregulation, the economy in general. The foreign relations that he as were he is creating a

personal relationships with individuals around the world. Sometimes startling, sometimes upsetting the foreign communities that they never seen

this cadence that come out on the American sitting president. That management I conflict a bit works.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DEFTERIOS: So, Tom Barrack weighing in on Donald Trump the disrupter, you heard that on foreign policy and also the way he comments on Wall Street

now on the other sides of his narrative about the market by the way $1.5 trillion tax cut, you try to get an infrastructure bill that is struggling,

he is going to spend a lot more money in the budget using calling for government shutdown if he doesn't get what he is looking for. This will

feed into inflation so the technology disruption enough to keep inflation out there.

ANDERSON: Could I be so bold as to suggest the Tom Barrack himself is a bit of a cheerleader in chief for the U.S. president, I mean relatively

close and he is one of Trump supporters.

DEFTERIOS: In fact it is a good point to bring it out, because when you listen to him carefully though, he is saying it works this disruption, I

kind a get the sense of Tom Barack and also speaking to him over coffee afterwards he would suggesting look to your to be good if he speaks to Main

Street and speaks to Wall Street speaks of those overseas in the same tone, because right now is erratic and keeps people off-balance and he says

Donald Trump likes to keep people off balance, but at the same time it has to be normalized over time.

ANDERSON: A little bit of advice to Mr. Trump. All right john thank you for that. Now dozens of people are missing after a powerful earthquake

rock Taiwan late in Tuesday at least seven people were killed when the 6.4 magnitude quake struck the northeastern city of (inaudible) hundreds of

others were injured and more than 40 people are feared trap inside this tilting building leaning ominously as you can see the street below.

Alexander Field is there. Alex with the very latest if you will.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Becky it has been 24 hours since this earthquake struck and this is what you have behind you.

We still don't know exactly how many people could be trap in that building. Authorities say they could be around 40 that is based on the number of

residence registered to that building. There is also an inn, a small hotel inside that building, there are numbers of guest registered to that hotel.

We are still counting for. So those are the numbers missing that we are talking about, a few dozens, again these are people on account for at this

time. It is even not clear to the rest of the team that are out here whether those people remain inside the building or not but Becky just take

a look at this, we are talking about a large building literally held up by a number of beams as you can see one of those beams shooting through the

window of someone's apartment there trying to stop this building falling while they are trying to find people inside. This is the job that has

required huge volume of rescue team. We got medical staff who are out here on-site and also the ten foot tenth that are set for the rescue teams. We

had seen them coming in and out around this building there dress obviously, they got helmets and lights on their head, and they got dogs with them to

help in the search effort.

[10:15:13] We did hear from a woman who is actually inside the building, she said it took some nine hours for the rescue crews to reach her and that

of course because this is a hugely complicated undertaken. They cannot disrupt this structure any farther and their working against the fact that

there had been a number of aftershock. Look Becky, this is an area that is certainly prone to earthquakes, they have their share of earthquakes, but

in recent days they seen a state of them and they see dozens and dozens of aftershock as we made our way out here.

We drilled from Taiwan down to coast back to (inaudible) which is the city that has the hardest hit by this earthquake and as we drove here we see

this alerts on the aftershocks were happening. This is not the only building the city that looks like a total of four buildings that collapsed

because of the force of this earthquake that struck overnight. Another building with a hotel here in the city the Marshall hotel that is where a

number of people were injured were there was one fatality emergency officials are telling us at this point death toll stands in 7. They tell us

more than 200 people have been injured a couple hundred people have been rescued but all their focus and attention right now is really on these

building behind me trying to locate whether or not people remain inside and again they don't have enough time. There could be as many as 40 people

still inside that building, Becky.

ANDERSON: Just after a quarter past 11 at night there on the spot Alexander Field, thank you. We got a lot in store for you this hour on. A

lot of people are reigning over his parade, Donald Trump wants them all showing off in America's capital many others don't, why? We discuss that

up next.

Another angle here, more opposition to Poland's new law which forbids anyone from suggesting the country was complicit with the Nazi's. Why

critics say the government is rewriting history.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[10:20:05] TRUMP: One of the greatest parades I have ever seen. It was two hours and it is military might and I think a tremendous parade for

France. Because of what I witness we may do something like that on July 4 in Washington down Pennsylvania Avenue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: After taking the fantastic SPED call of France form their Bastille Day parade last summer, the American president if he wants to go

one better and quote top it. And he probably could in incredible fashion and how well he is in charge of the most powerful war machine the world has

ever known. Check this out.

Every year Washington spends more on its Army, Navy and Air Force. The world's next eight biggest spend put together that includes Russia,

includes China and includes India, Britain, France and others. Most parts of the world do hold parade some big like China and Russia some slightly

smaller. So why not America, let us ask John Kirby he really knows this stuff. He serve as an admiral with the U.S. Navy as a spokesman for the

pentagon and now he's a CNN military and diplomatic analyst. We had this conversation, John I was there last summer to see that Bastille Day parade

in France. You've taken part on it I believe yourself. Does United States would do the same right?

JOHN KIRBY, CNN MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC ANALYST: Well it was beautiful parade I got to see it there two years ago when I was a John Terry

spokesman there's nothing quite like and I agree it spectacular, but look when we are talking about the United States military that is just not part

of our military culture it's really not what we do. It doesn't mean that we don't march in parades all over the country on July 4 and Veterans Day.

Our troops participate is nothing wrong with that in and of itself and we are very proud of our and women in uniform but to parade down Pennsylvania

Avenue with hardware tanks, missile launchers, rockets that can think that is just not part of American military culture is beneath us, I think as you

rightly pointed out we are the strongest most powerful military in the world that needs to speak for itself and that's the way we've always as he

always but certainly it is a way in many, many recent years that we've treated the issue.

ANDERSON: Yes. Not quite true is it? He wants to work as you rightly point off. Showing off in downtown D.C., but it would not be the first in

the job to do it, I just want you to take a look at this, the national victory celebration parade celebrating America beating Iraq in the first

Gulf War welcoming the troops home, people lining the streets clapping and sharing hundreds of US-led coalition troops lost their lives, thousands of

-- tens of thousands of Iraqis then President George HW Bush didn't transform American culture with that, so why would you contend that this

could happen all, this time that it would just simply be un-American?

KIRBY: I don't know, I didn't say it is un-American, I said it's not in keeping with American military culture that was a victory parade at the end

of a short war that had a very concise beginning and a very definitive end. We've been in war now for 16 years in Afghanistan we are still left troops

on the ground in Iraq and Syria in and that the idea of a victory trade was actually touted or actually floated and during the Obama administration and

President Obama rightly decided against that, because we still have troops in the field they were still in and are still today at war that was a

different parade Becky, than what we are talking about here. What we are talking about here is something I fear I worry is really more design to

satisfy President Trump ego that it is to honor the troops this is about honoring them is really in my view about honoring him and there are better

ways to do that here in the United States we have troops and families that still need support, wounded warriors, there is plenty of other ways to use

those resources to honor what our troops have done them to throw some sort of dictator like the parade down Pennsylvania Avenue.

ANDERSON: And I hear you there. John is it also to satisfy hid base?

KIRBY: To satisfy his space?

ANDERSON: His based.

KIRBY: Oh his base, I am sorry I didn't here it. It could be, I don't know I will pretend to get inside the president's brain on this I really do

think this is a he is wowed by pomp and circumstance he likes the honorifics that come with being president of United States and commander-

in-chief, but I think looking is to remember he's putting his military in top position here. They are not political props, they shouldn't not be

used to make his base feel better about voting for him. They shouldn't be used to make him feel better about being commander-in-chief they are there

to defend the United States of America and one of the reasons why Becky are budget is as big as it is and is actually not quite big is as it should be,

because we have global responsibilities on a scale that none of those other countries you have an that chart actually have to contend with.

[10:25:06] We are in many ways the global peacemaker of what we like it or not we have vast responsibilities and we have to take care of those

operationally, that is the best way to spend those precious taxpayer dollars not to spend millions of dollars on, on a parade down Pennsylvania

Avenue.

ANDERSON: Can you (inaudible) an op-ed on CNN.com a good one directing your words towards President Trump and quote you Trump should try tackling

the suicide problem as well, before spending resources on a parade. Suicide is of course a devastating issue that that deserves the utmost

attention as you know those resources, some $600 billion a year, this parade, I guess some might argue and likely to be a major distraction

logistically on money wise to what is as you point out the world's most powerful military right?

KIRBY: OK. OK. So a few million dollars in appropriate how does that compare with the cost of the weapon systems or the suicide problem as you

rightly point out from my piece I get the whole percentage think, but think about what those few million dollars can do in terms of spouse employment,

in terms of local medical care, in terms of providing outreach programs for the United States locally we have a civilian military gap in this country

and I tried to address that the piece. The best way to do to try to close that gap is to do it locally through groups and organizations all over this

country that want to reach out and help the troops. The problem in the United States is not that the American people don't support the troops they

love the troops and they do support them, the problem is that they don't know the troops and the best way to do that is against local initiatives, I

just don't think that this is or is not just about resources it is mean it is a cost a lot of money it's about, it's about what the United States

military represents to the American people and to the world and trying to find ways to showcase that and that is not best done in a way by goose-

stepping again down Pennsylvania Avenue.

ANDERSON: John Kirby, retired U.S. Navy admiral, former Pentagon spokesman and CNN military analyst, thank you. After hearing John there, viewers you

may be surprise and seeing me and say quote the White House is right writing that about another subject's on our website linking directly to our

top story this hour. North Korea at the winter games, read up on why John thinks that whether American can come out and talk there, on CNN.com, on

your phone, you tablet, and your computer where ever you like we are there with analysis.

Just ahead, Poland's facing some international backlash in a highly controversial new law. It make certain statements about holocaust illegal

and those who make them could find themselves behind bars. Stay with us for that.

[10:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: A very warm welcome. If you are just joining us, we are out of Abu Dhabi for you. It's just after half past 7:00 here.

This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson.

Well you should not rewrite history. It's never a good idea. Those words today from the French Foreign Minister, as his country joins criticism of a

controversial new law in Poland.

Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a bill yesterday that makes it illegal to accuse Poland of being complicit in Nazi crimes during the Holocaust.

The law also bans terms like, quote, Polish death camps, used in reference to Nazi ran concentration camps on Polish soil.

And Poland says the law protects historical truth and prevents the country from being flaunted. Critics though have another take. Let's bring CNN's

Oren Liebermann, our Jerusalem correspondent tonight on assignment in Moscow. From a Jewish perspective this time that Poland is simply

searching anti-Semitism. What are you hearing?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I learned exactly where a lot of the criticism has pointed to a rising nationalism or rising anti-Semitism in

Poland, let's go over some history here.

Some 3 million Jews were murdered, Polish Jews were murdered in the Holocaust, that was about 90 percent of Poland's Jewish population, pre-

World War II and some of the worst Nazi concentration camps and death camps were in Poland.

That includes, Auschwitz, Birkenau, Treblinka and Sobibor, and that is why this is so sensitive in Poland. But critics have said that doesn't excuse

what Poland is doing.

U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said it's quote, disappointing, and an attempt to go over a -- attempt to rewrite history essentially here and

that it was stifle freedom of speech.

Meanwhile, the head of the European-Jewish Association has said, he will try to challenge this in court. Even though he knows it's likely to be

unsuccessful there, but again, he points out exactly there that this poses to a rising nationalism and anti-Semitism in Poland.

LU STOUT: OK. Then why this story -- it is really an op-ed in the Financial Times today, that this is not only a painful at best for so many

people involved in such a terribly brutal time, but it also puts Poland's relations with the likes of other European countries in pretty bad shape at

a time and things, some might say a pretty though for Poland in some of its stances with its European neighbors and not at least, its relations with

the U.S.

LIEBERMANN: And that's exactly why there has been so much criticism here. It is no surprise that the harshest criticism has come from Israel. But

Israel is certainly by no means the only country putting forward that criticism.

Here in Israel, it was the Education Minister Naftali Bennett who had his trip to Poland canceled because he made it clear he would go there and sort

of help Poland realize the truth here, that many of them were responsible and were complicit in Nazi crimes.

And Poland canceled his trip there because of that. He said something very powerful. He said, the blood of Polish Jews cries from the ground and no

law will silence it. Again, the head of the European Jewish Association promising to challenge this in court even if he knows that's unlikely to

succeed.

[10:35:05] ANDERSON: Oren Liebermann is out of Moscow this evening. They are on assignment on what is an incredibly important story for you.

All right, Oren, thank you for that.

Well the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 107 people have been killed in air strikes on rebel held areas near the Syrian capital in

the past two days. Those attacks happened in the Eastern suburb of Ghouta.

And Syrian government says it is attacking armed group in the area. This footage was really spying opposition group. So CNN cannot verify these

latest attacks. Meanwhile, NATO allies, Turkey and the U.S. still at loggerheads over American support for Kurdish forces in Syria.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accuses Washington of working against Turkey's interests, and now, Damascus has accused Israel of

attacking a Syrian military position from Lebanese air space.

The Israeli Prime Minister visited the Israeli controlled Golan Heights as the international community considers under Israeli occupation and Syria

considers its territory. Let's bring in our senior international correspondent, Ben Wedeman, who is following all of this from Beirut,

neighboring Lebanon.

Syria's battlefield, it seems and this is -- I can't believe I am saying this, but they seemed to be getting more complex and more crowded, and

civilians as ever, bearing the brunt.

Just bring us up-to-date with what you know on the Ghouta situation and break down what we know across the board with these different rhetoric and

these different parties involved.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well what we are seeing, Becky, really a dramatic escalation in the fighting in Syria since

the beginning of the year.

What we see for instance in the Ghouta area, which is east of Damascus, specifically the Eastern Ghouta, that is an area with a population of

around 400,000 people that has been under siege now for five years.

They haven't gotten any food shipment into the areas since November. The population is now in addition to the risk of violence and risk of

starvation. Now, in the last three days we've seen intensified air strikes by Syrian forces.

We saw for instance, at least 80 people killed yesterday, 27 people killed so far today. Now yesterday, there was artillery fire from that area into

the Old City of Damascus itself, chewing five Syrian civilians according to the official Syrian Arab news agency.

And so, what we're saying is that the situation is really dramatically worse than it was before. The United Nations is calling for a month long

cease-fire to allow humanitarian supplies to get into the Eastern Ghouta, and to evacuate the wounded and the ill.

But it doesn't appear this point that the Syrian government is willing to give ground there. In addition to that, you have the ongoing Syrian

government operation in Idlib province in the northwestern part of the country where you seen 300,000 people displaced some of them for the second

or third time since the beginning of the war.

And of course since the 20th January, Turkish forces have been operating in the Afrin area, in the northern part of Aleppo province. Becky.

ANDERSON: Meantime, we have got the Turkish president -- I shall say telling -- an inverted comers the U.S. telling in strong terms, the U.S. to

withdraw from (Inaudible) threatening Turkish troops in -- is this a threat of the U.S. should be taken seriously and what are the consequences about?

WEDEMAN: Well, the consequences are, we have the potential of Turkish and American forces in Syria in a direct confrontation. These are both members

of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and therefore, yes, it's a threat that should be taken seriously.

And there is no indication at this point whether he's going to carry out that threat but it would represent a further escalation of Turkish military

operations in Northern Syria.

The Turks have even suggested that they might go as far as the Iraqi border to try to crush the YPG, which is the Kurdish force, supported and armed by

the United States. So what you have ongoing in Syria right now is the array of forces, American, Russian, Turkish, Syrian, Iranian, Lebanese.

[10:40:10] You have foreign fighters with ISIS and Al Qaeda, extremely dangerous situation even for Syria at this point. Becky.

ANDERSON: Ben Wedeman on the story out of Beirut for you this evening, folks. Thanks, Ben. We're live from Abu Dhabi, you are watching Connect

the World. I'm Becky Anderson.

Coming up, lawmakers appear to a potential budget deal in the U.S., tough remarks from the president aren't helping matters it seems. The latest

from Washington is after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well senators in Washington have been burning midnight who are working around the clock to try to finalize a bipartisan budget deal that

would avert the threat to who have yet another U.S. government shutdown.

Now they do appear close to a compromise over the immigration. But as, Abby Phillip, now reports, comments by President Donald Trump and his chief

of staff, may not be helping the court. Have a listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If we don't change it, let's have a shutdown. We will do a shutdown and it's worth it for our country.

I would love to see a shutdown if we don't get this stuff taken care of.

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Trump calling for another shutdown if Democrats don't agree to his immigration demands, despite the

fact that at the same time, Senate negotiators were touting bipartisan progress on a budget deal.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), MAJORITY LEADER: I'm optimistic that very soon we'll be able to reach an agreement.

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D), MINORITY LEADER: We are closer to an agreement than we have ever been.

PHILLIP: The Senate budget negotiations do not include immigration overhaul, a longtime Republican goal. The Senate's two year includes a

boost in defense spending, alongside additional domestic spending the Democrats have been calling for. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders left to

clean up the president's remarks.

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I don't think that we expect the budget deal to include specifics on immigration reform, but we

want to get a deal on that. As we've said, we don't want to hold the government hostage over these items.

PHILLIP: Late Tuesday, Senator Lindsey Graham also indicating the Senate may be making progress on immigration.

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R), SOUTH CAROLINA: I felt really bad yesterday. I feel better today. People are -- I think we've got a way forward that

seems to be fair to everybody. We're back in the ball game now.

PHILLIP: This effort coming amid backlash over these remarks from the president's chief of staff about undocumented immigrants who did not sign

up for President Obama's DREAMer program but would be given a potential path to citizenship under the administration's proposal.

JOHN KELLY, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: The difference between 690 and the 1.8 million were the people that some would say were too afraid to sign up,

others would say were too lazy to get off their asses, but they didn't sign up.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: It's just an offensive comment, though, isn't it? Just on its surface?

[10:45:00] SANDERS: I think that's something you would have to decide for yourself.

PHILLIP: Kelly later doubling down after Democrat Steny Hoyer reportedly pushed back against his remarks in a closed-door meeting. Kelly, also

telling reporters that the president is not leaning one way or another about releasing the Democratic rebuttal to the GOP memo alleging FBI

surveillance abuses.

KELLY: This is a different memo than the first one. It's lengthier. It's -- well, it's different. It will be done in a responsible way. But again,

it's -- where the first one was very clean relative to sources and methods, my initial cut is this one, who is lot less clean.

PHILLIP: Kelly adding that ultimately, the president is waiting for a recommendation from the deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein, and FBI

Head Christopher Wray, even though he ignored their concerns about the Republican memo last week.

The back and forth coming as CNN learns that President Trump remains eager to speak with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team, despite concerns from

his lawyers.

The president is also eager to hold a grand military parade in Washington after praising France's Bastille Day celebration last year.

TRUMP: It was one of the greatest parades I've ever seen.

PHILLIP: The Pentagon confirms the president's request but stresses that the planning process is in its infancy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, Abby, is joining is now live from Washington. And we've been discussing, Abby, the president's parade request earlier in the show,

coming as it does, as Congress as you point out continues to baffle about funding the government.

Look, will it be childish to suggest that on the Democrat side, no deal but Donald Trump frankly better than any deal, whatever the consequences and

that's what's going on.

PHILLIP: It certainly depends on which kind of Democrat you are. if you are a Democrat in a very liberal district, then yes, no deal with Trump is

better -- is better than a deal with Trump that the base hates.

But I think there are a lot of other Democrats you are in districts that may be President Trump did very well in or states that he wanted who look

at it a little bit differently.

On the other hand, I think what you're hearing from Democrats is what you saw a little bit on the case of yesterday, which is that sometimes with

President Trump, the deal that you think you're going is not the one that you end up getting.

Trump often changes his mind. He was talking yesterday about a government shutdown -- just weeks after, there was an actual government shutdown in

which he accused Democrats of trying to shutdown the government to withhold military spending over immigration.

So he's really made a 180 turn on that and that's why I think a lot of Democrats out there see Trump as an -- you know, an unreliable negotiator.

And frankly, a lot of Republicans are starting to say that they would, rather, the president to stay out of it and allow them to negotiate these

bipartisan deals on the budget and on immigration.

ANDERSON: Well, I would say that he very, very unlikely, a shutdown of course looming. All right, Abby, good to have you on. Abby Phillip, out

on Washington for you on what is a cold day there. Live from Abu Dhabi where there weather is slightly better, this is Connect the World.

Coming up, take a look at this. No, it is not the French Alps, it is a Paris suburb, snow and hits the French capital. We will get you there live

after that.

And that is not all that is pretty unbelievable, if you are wondering, am I really looking at what I think I'm looking at? We'll the answer is, yes

you are. This is got to be the image of the day. For the full story of what is going on here, stay with us.

[10:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CAR CRASH)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking Foreign Language)

ANDERSON: Horrific scenes from right here in Abu Dhabi in the last 48 hours of heavy fog conditions caused a massive 44 call pileup, 22 people

were injured.

Low visibility was blamed for accident. And to all of you viewers here, that morning fog is forecast to continue. So, do remain vigilant. You are

watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson. Welcome back.

Well, the City of Light has been transformed into a winter wonderland. Just feast your eyes on these images. Paris is seeing exceptional snow

fall right now.

And many -- well, many are pretty but it's not without its setbacks. The Eiffel Tower, shuttled of tourists and it has caused chaos as you can

imagine on roadways across the French capital. Let's get you to Paris. Mellissa Bell is live for us. Melissa, how is it and what is the forecast?

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The forecast is of ice tonight and more snow on Friday. So there will be more of that travel chaos that you

mentioned. Not just here in Central Paris, but also outside Paris.

Here, we've had 12 centimeters of snow at stake on the ground but in greater Paris for the suburbs, it was more like 20. So you can imagine the

misery for the commuters this morning with so many trains and buses not running, Becky, and inside Central Paris, it was quite an erring felling

this morning.

We woke up, track to key empty. A city deserted of its inhabitants and mostly people who normally come in and make that commute. Have a look at

that, we're up Basilica du Sacre-Coeur, which is the highest point in Paris.

And that is the view. From here you can see that the snow not has stop, and has blanketed so many of Paris' famous monuments. Of course for the

kids, they are having a field day, and this part of Paris has been turned essentially into ski slope.

So people were skiing down it from the early morning. And the kids even now using skate boards, plastic bags when they don't have sledges, which of

course, you simply cannot have in Central Paris. Becky.

ANDERSON: This following what some of the wettest weather on record. How long did this will continue?

BELL: Well, I think its one of the questions that the authorities have really been struggling to cope. Paris simply doesn't get this kind of

weather, Becky. You have to go back to 2010 for similar snowfall level and 1987 phrasing more than this.

The authorities are infact, Paris has said this morning that look, we are not Montreal. We are not Moscow. We will never be prepared for these

kinds of conditions. And so, for instance, this is going to have to be patient and do what they can.

In fact, they have been advised, even for the next few hours and into tomorrow, not to take their cars, so extreme of the weather conditions.

And there are those who have real tales of misery. People stuck on roads all night lone, people having to sleep in train stations. It is not a city

equipped to deal with.

And we have had extra snow, now predicted for Friday and those icy conditions predicted for tonight, we're expecting still more chaos over few

days. And Paris simply not to get back to its usual self for some time.

ANDERSON: Well, keep those boots and keep warm, and stay safe, Melissa Bell. It does look beautiful, doesn't it? But its jolly cold. Well, your

Parting Shots tonight, let's get you right to some more stunning pictures.

Just look at this, if it looks unbelievable, it is. This is perhaps the image of the year, let alone of the day. You are looking at test dummy,

named Starman, orbiting our planet at tens of thousands of kilometers an hour.

All at while at the wheel of a bright red electric sports car, after being blasted into space throughout the world's most powerful rocket in use

today.

All built by an eccentric billionaire by the name -- yes, you have got it, Elon Musk. Well, Starman is now cruising off further into space, along the

way, here swinging by over Australia.

[10:55:03] The soundtrack is pretty killer, too. He is listening to, David Bowie's, Space Oddity on an endless loop.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(DAVID BOWIE: SPACE ODDITY)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Good song. Not sure on listening it one repeat forever. But there is nothing repetitive us of course online, who was fresh and

interesting. It's one of very best of what we do at CNN, let me start that again, Facebook.com/CNNconnect. That is Facebook.com/CNNconnect.

Connect with us at your show, after all, we want to hear from you. I'm Becky Anderson. That was Connect the World. From the team here and those

working with us around the world, it is a very good evening. Thank you for watching. IDesk with Robyn Curnow, up next.

END