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Iran Nuclear Deal Fate Unclear; Lebanon Waits for Official Election Results; Hawaii Volcano Destruction; Former Manchester United Alex Ferguson in Intensive Care. Aired 11a-12n ET
Aired May 07, 2018 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00] LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST: This was the moment the Iran nuclear deal was inked and now its fate is in the balance. This hour the British
foreign secretary is in Washington making a last-ditch effort to convince the U.S. to stick with the deal. And ballots have been cast. Lebanon is
waiting for the official results of its first parliamentary election in nine years. Will it shift the balance of the government? Ahead we're live
in Beirut. Plus, you're looking at volcanic lava spreading through Hawaiian neighborhoods. And the threat is not over yet. We'll have more
on the Big Island later.
Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade in Atlanta filling in for Becky Anderson. Good to have you with us.
With just five days left and counting. The clock is ticking on Donald Trump's decision on whether to stay in the Iran nuclear deal. And today
Britain's foreign secretary is in Washington to make a last-ditch appeal. Boris Johnson has just met with the new U.S. Secretary of State, Mike
Pompeo, and we'll continue discussion this is hour. Earlier Johnson appeared on Mr. Trump's favorite morning news show to send the President a
message acknowledging the agreement has flaws, but he insists there is no better alternative.
Well, let's bring in our international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson live in London, were also joined by senior international correspondent, Frederik
Pleitgen. He is following the developments tonight from Moscow. To have you both with us. First to you, Nic, interesting to note that after the
French President, we now have Boris Johnson, appearing on "Fox and Friends" to speak directly via television to the U.S. President. What sort of case
did he make?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: He said don't throw out the baby with the bath water. What he means here is that the JCPOA,
the deal as it stands is still the best deal. This is what he argued on "Fox and Friends" and this is what he argued in a "New York Times" op-ed.
That that deal gives the international community the right for continued inspections, that it's been effective so far, that it's cut down the number
of centrifuges for uranium enrichment that Iran has. It has monitoring to make sure that they don't break out of that. It's lengthened the pathway
to make a bomb. So, this is all his effort to do that.
He perhaps chose "Fox and Friends" because as foreign secretary he's not head of state so he's not in a meeting with President Trump but did want to
get his opinions in front of the President. So, perhaps that's why he chose that particular venue to put forward his case. But he is really not
adding anything new that we can hear publicly at least on that interview, at least in "The New York Times" op-ed that we didn't hear last week or the
week before from Angela Merkel who went to Washington as well and Emmanuel Macron, the French President, who was there on a state visit. And they're
all saying the same thing.
The JCPOA does a good deal. Don't throw it out. We can work with you on some of the changes you want, but it may be too costly and have too many
negative implications, dangerous for the Middle East potentially, to actually get rid of that deal. So, this is where Boris Johnson is going
with his argument over the next couple of days.
KINKADE: He certainly has an uphill battle given that Donald Trump has called this deal insane. I want to go to you Fred on this. Because we
know that billions of dollars in sanctions were lifted as a result of Iran signing this deal. How is Iran's economy faring? Is it better off?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's really not that much better off. I would say it's really a mixed bag of
results after the nuclear agreement was, of course, put into place in 2015. The one sector that has done well since the nuclear agreement, Lynda, that
is the oil and gas sector of Iran. They've been able to export a lot more oil and gas been before. They've been building up a lot of their refining
capacities as well.
I was in several locations in the southwest of Iran, also in the Persian Gulf, where you can really see that sector is beginning to boom. However,
it's one of the only sectors that if this point is booming in Iran. And that's where a lot of the disappointment comes in especially from regular
Iranians. Because it hasn't translated into two things. One of them is foreign direct investment, and the other thing is jobs.
The Iranian government is saying they believe that it's the U.S. and some of its allies who are pressuring international companies to not invest in
Iran and that international companies, quite frankly, are afraid to invest in Iran.
[11:05:00] There's some French companies who are investing in the oil and gas sector, again, also the automotive sector as well. The French have a
long history of automobile production in conjunction with Iranian companies. But it really isn't very much beyond that. And so, the Iranian
are quite angry at that. One of the things, however, that you do also see is there is still a lot of bureaucratic red tape and uncertainty in Iran as
well. So, it really hasn't translated to the one thing most Iranians want which is jobs and more money in their pockets -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Right. Fred, just stand by. I want to bring up visual we just got in from the White House. We now have some vision of Boris Johnson
meeting there with the new U.S. Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo. This is from the State Department. Those discussions will continue today with Mike
Pompeo along with vice President Mike Pence as well as the national security adviser John Bolton. Obviously, they didn't take any questions
there. But we are expecting to hear from them later today.
Just back to you, Nic. We know that President Trump has been talking about wanting to withdraw from this deal for quite a while now. Calling it the
worst ever. If he does withdraw, if the U.S. withdraws from this deal, it will affect not only the governments that have signed but also companies
and consumers, those that rely heavily on oil.
ROBERTSON: There is a potential for that. I mean, one of the uncertainty that we're seeing over the possibility that President Trump will pull the
United States out of the JCPOA, there's uncertainty in what Iran's reaction could be. And this is causing the price of oil to go up. It was $70 a
barrel for about the first-time in four years. Now that may be good for those companies -- those countries, rather, like Iran, like Russia, like
Saudi Arabia, you know, who are exporting oil. It may seem to be a benefit. But of course, when it goes up, that costs the consumer money.
So, that is likely to have a negative ongoing impact.
But of course, we have seen in the past decade or so the price of oil to be much higher than that. But it's that uncertainty and unpredictability
about what's coming that causes economic concern over and above the concern that there is -- if the United States wants to pull out of the deal, what
would Iran do? Would that escalate tensions between Iran and Israel right now over Syria. There's real concerns that could further escalate into a
broader conflict in the Middle East and that of course, would have much more serious implications for the price of oil and stability in the region
generally.
KINKADE: Absolutely. All right, Nic Robertson for us in London. Fred Pleitgen for us in Moscow, good to have you with us. Thank you.
Well problems much closer to home have been weighing on President Trump's mind a lot lately, and he's dispatched one of his new attorneys to try to
clear things up. Only Rudy Giuliani's repeated media interviews may only be clouding the waters further. He says when it comes to payments to porn
star he's more focused on the bore than the facts. Perhaps not what you might expect the President's attorney to say since facts are at the heart
of legal fights. CNN's Kaitlin Collins looks at how Giuliani is doing battle for Mr. Trump on several fronts.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RUDY GIULIANI, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTORNEY: If they don't have a case on collusion, if they don't have a case on obstruction. I'm going to walk him
into the prosecution for perjury like Martha Stewart did?
KAITLIN COLLINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rudy Giuliani ratcheting up his defense of President Trump and his criticism of the Mueller probe.
Suggesting that Mr. Trump could defy a potential subpoena to testify before the special counsel.
GIULIANI: We don't have to. He's the President of the United States. We can assert the same privilege other Presidents have. President Clinton
negotiated a deal.
COLLINS: Giuliani refusing to rule out the possibility that the President could ultimately invoke his Fifth Amendment rights.
GIULIANI: How could I ever be confident of that? When I'm facing a situation with the President and all the other lawyers are and which every
lawyer in America thinks he would be a fool to testify. I've got a client who wants to testify. Please, don't. He said it yesterday and, you know,
Jay and I said to ourselves, my goodness, I hope we get a chance to tell him the risk that he's taking.
COLLINS: This despite the President's repeated criticism of that legal move.
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The mob takes the fifth. If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?
COLLINS: The former New York City mayor also doing damage control after admitting that Mr. Trump reimbursed his attorney for the hush money paid to
Stormy Daniels contradicting what the President has said in the past.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Mr. President, did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels?
TRUMP: No. No.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Do you know where he got the money to make that payment?
TRUMP: I don't know.
COLLINS: "The New York Times" reports that the President knew about the payment when he made those remarks. Kellyanne Conway attempting to clarify
that remark while insisting that the White House doesn't have a credibility problem.
KELLYANNE CONWAY, COUNSELOR TO THE U.S. PRESIDENT: When the President said no, on Air Force One he was talking about he didn't know when the payment
occurred. It was a very fast-moving exchange between him and Catherine Lucey the AP, I believe.
[11:10:01] And so he saying he didn't know about it when the payment occurred. He found out about it after the fact.
COLLINS: Giuliani indicating it's possible Cohen may have paid off other women as well.
GIULIANI: I have no knowledge of that. But I would think if it was necessary, yes. He made payments for the President.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC THIS WEEK: Is Michael Cohen still the President's attorney?
GIULIANI: No, of course not. It would be a conflict right now for him to be the President's attorney. I am in this respect.
I don't think it's a good idea for the two of them to talk right now. Eventually they can.
COLLINS: The President's lawyer also distancing himself from the Daniels case.
GIULIANI: I'm not really involved in the Daniels thing.
COLLINS: After Mr. Trump publicly undermined his longtime friend last week.
TRUMP: Virtually everything said has been said incorrectly and it's been said wrong or it's been covered wrong by the press. He started yesterday.
He'll get his facts straight.
COLLINS: Giuliani telling CNN that he's still getting up to speed. Noting, I haven't been able to read the 1.2 million documents. I am
focused on the law more than the facts right now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, President Trump's anger over the Russian probe is lighting up his Twitter feed this morning with one comment in particular raising
eyebrows. He appears to be calling on his entire party to do something to stop what he calls a witch-hunt. Saying Republicans better get tough and
smart before it is too late. Warning the investigation could affect the mid-term elections.
Well, let's bring in White House correspondent, Stephen Collinson. No surprise there. President Trump is pretty concerned about all of this.
But when it comes to Giuliani, you would think he would refrain from doing these sorts of interviews until he can actually help Donald Trump. It was
interesting hearing him say that Donald Trump will plead the fifth despite what the President has said in the past.
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right, Lynda. Every time Rudy Giuliani comes out to try to do damage control, he seems to do the
President more damage especially in the issue of the Stormy Daniels matter. I mean, when the President said last week that Giuliani wasn't up to speed
and wasn't getting his facts right, some people thought, wow, he may end up like Anthony Scaramucci the famous communications director that lasted only
ten days in the White House. But
I think we need to look at it in a slightly different way. What Giuliani is doing is something the President wants him to do, is to get out there on
television, be aggressive, fight back. That's something the President hasn't felt he's getting from his legal team so far. And Of course, you
know, this is someone, President Trump who lives on TV. He consumes cable TV all the time. So, he's not seen himself being properly defended.
Now the fact Giuliani appears to be somewhat -- or not very sort of up to speed with the case and some of facts of the law is another. But the
President has always fought the Mueller probe and any other legal issue that's pertaining against him as a political -- using political weapons
rather than legal ones. And I think that's what's going on here with Giuliani and that's why I think although he seems to be creating a mess,
it's actually something that the President is quite happy for him to do.
KINKADE: And Stephen, it's well over a year into this administration and just hearing that Melania Trump, the First Lady, is going to reveal her
platform later today. What can we expect from that? And given the scandals surrounding these allegations and affairs with porn stars, will
the President be there?
COLLINSON: I would be surprised if the President wasn't there. The practice at the White House is not to advance -- announce such appearances
by the President, but I think were he not there that would be a cause for all sorts of conversations as you refer to there, of course, the issue of
the alleged affairs the first lady has had to hear all this news coverage about.
As far as her platform it looks like it's going to be work on behalf of children and various other causes. This is an event in the Rose Garden of
the White House which is a location usually used for great state announcements. So, the White House is really wanting to make a splash of
this. And it comes, I think, at a point where the first lady is more popular broadly in the United States than her husband. She's conducted
herself with dignity. I think there's some sympathy for her in the wider public that she's had to endure all these stories about her husband's
alleged extramarital affairs. So, it will be a very interesting moment to see how she projects herself in this firestorm that's raging around Donald
Trump.
KINKADE: Yes, and there will be a lot of eyes on that. We will be watching later today. Stephen Collinson, good to have you with us. Thank
you.
Now to Lebanon where the Prime Minister Saad Hariri said Sunday's election should be seen as positive. Even though his block took a hit.
[11:15:00] He says his future movement lost about one-third of its seats. This was Lebanon's first nationwide election in nine years.
A key player in all of this is Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite group backed by Iran. Its leader is praising the results. Senior international
correspondent, Ben Wedeman, is following all of this from Beirut. Good to have you with us, Ben. First general election almost a decade, turnout
lower than last time. The Prime Minister has lost some support and Iranian backed Hezbollah seems to have gained a bit.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. In fact, Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hezbollah is on television right now.
He described the results of the election as a big political and moral victory for the resistance. The resistance in this case is Hezbollah and
its allies in Parliament. And earlier we did hear from the Saad Hariri, the Prime Minister, conceding at his future movement took a hit. They know
only have 21 seats in the parliament. That's down by about a third, although, at this point we still don't have any official results.
But it is expected that Hezbollah and its allies have gained a significant number of seats. And until now the government, the cabinet, had two
Hezbollah ministers. It's probably likely that they're going to be able to increase their total numbers. But what we've seen in this -- at least in
the election campaign -- was that Hezbollah which in the past would stress its role in fighting what was the Israeli occupation of Southern Lebanon.
More recently their role in defeating the small pocket of ISIS that controlled parts of the country, a very small part of the country, along
the border with Syria.
Now they're focusing on the economic angle. We did hear during the campaign, Nasrallah talking about the need to reduce Lebanon's foreign
debt, which is more than 150 percent. Its debt-to-GDP ratio in 2017. When we were speaking with supporters of Hezbollah yesterday during the voting,
many of them expressed a concern that the Lebanese economy is suffering. That it needs to be stimulated. That services need to be improved. So,
we'll have to see, A, what the final results of this election are going to be and how a new government is put together.
It was interesting Saad Hariri, the Prime Minister, did say that if he doesn't -- if the situation isn't to his liking, he may leave his post, and
he desired -- he expressed a desire to go back and do some diving.
KINKADE: And so, what is his plan, Ben, to fix the economy and to address the soaring debt?
WEDEMAN: Well, he did have something a bit of a victory in April when he went to a donor's conference in Paris and convinced donors to give either
grants or soft loans amounting to about $11 billion. So that was a vote of confidence in him from the international community. The question is, is he
going to be able to translate that into some sort of action on the ground. Certainly, there is a lot of pressure on all Lebanese leaders to improve
the quality of life and the economy.
Yesterday, for instance, I was speaking to one voter who said he did not vote for any of the establishment candidates. He went for some of the
civil society lists better out there. There are a total of 77 lists in this election. He said that three of his daughters had moved abroad
because of the brain drain. That there's simply is no or very little opportunity for ordinary Lebanese, young Lebanese, so they're moving
abroad. So, regardless of the rhetoric of various parties and politicians who participated in the election, there is very strong pressure on them to
do something about the economy and the quality of life -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Certainly, a lot of work ahead. All right, Ben Wedeman, but to have you with us, thank you so much.
Still to come, another six years for Vladimir Putin. The Russian President is running for his fourth term. But not everyone is happy the Kremlin
leader is still in office. We'll have the latest from Moscow next.
Plus, outrage in India after yet another brutal rape in the country. Indians are demanding action. But will they get it.
[11:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN, and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
The only leader young Russians have ever known has just begun his fourth term in office. President Vladimir Putin was sworn in this afternoon in
Moscow where he vowed to dedicate his life to Russia and its people. The Kremlin leader has dominated Russian politics for the past 18 years as
president and prime minister. And with this next presidential term lasting six years he's set to stay at the top for a while.
CNN's Matthew Chance is live for us in Moscow. And, Matthew, a historic fourth term in office for Vladimir Putin. But he had no real opposition
and we saw those protests over the weekend claiming that he was stifling the opposition. How did his inauguration play out today?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it played out as expected. This was a highly choreographed bit of political theater
from when the cameras first found Vladimir Putin, we saw him in his office with his jacket off working at his computer. This is a president, is the
message, who is constantly at work and just has to take a break from it who attend his inauguration ceremony.
We saw him walking, you know, kind of determinedly through the long corridors of his offices in the Kremlin, getting into a specially
manufactured presidential limousine, bulletproof, which was driven a short distance to the hall to the St. Andrews Hall, that dramatic surroundings.
You can see now where about 3,000 people, VIP guests, were there to greet him and to hear his vows as he swore -- he was sworn into office for that
fourth term. He's already 65 years old. This will mean he'll be 72 by the time this next term this current term of office, ends. If he gets to the
end of it. And that makes him, of course, the longest serving leader since Joseph Stalin. He ruled for 31 years. Putin will be up to 24 if he
completes the fourth presidential term.
You're right, people under the age of 18 -- because he's already ruled Russia as either President or prime minister for 18 years. People under
that age will know no other leader except for him. There are a lot of critics out there who have not got any coverage on state media at all.
Even over the weekend when there were nationwide protests, who are voicing their concern that this is a man who has been in office for too long. He
presides over a corrupt kleptocracy that steals from the Russian people. But none of that was an issue, none of that was even mentioned in the
following state coverage of the event over the past 24 hours.
[11:25:06] KINKADE: Yes, incredible the way that is portrayed there. His popularity, of course, Matthew, is still high even though the economy is
not great. And he has vowed to turn his attention to that.
CHANCE: He has and in fact that was one of the main sorts of thrusts of his inauguration speech. He said a few words to the 3,000 people that were
gathered there and basically saying, look, I'll serve Russia -- as you mentioned -- for the rest of my life which would have been alarming to his
critics, of course.
But he also said that as the head of state he will do his best to make Russia prosperous and glorious is the word he used. And so, much of his
speech was like, look, basically, you know, we've difficult economic problems, obstacles that we have to overcome. And the indication is that
is going to be his priority for the next six years. Whether or not it will turn out like that I think is the big question and that's not in the
context of Russia it's not altogether certain that he will be able to turn around this country's economy as rapidly as he'd like to.
KINKADE: Matthew Chance for us in Moscow. Great to have you with us. Thank you.
Well, live from the CNN center, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, Indians demand action after the brutal rape and murder of a young woman.
As her family mourns people are calling for change.
Plus, natural beauty destroyed by natural disaster. Communities on Hawaii's Big Island are fleeing as the volcanic eruption destroys homes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00] KINKADE: You're watching CNN, and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
To the fury building up across India after police say a 16-year-old girl was gang raped and then burned to death as her house was set ablaze. Her
relatives are now mourning her death. Local police say the main suspect is under arrest. He is among some 20 men accused of participating in the
attack. Our Anna Coren has this report on how India is reacting to yet another horrific sexual assault.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The haunting screams of family members begging for justice following the alleged gang
rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl. The attack, which happened last week in Jharkhand, Eastern India, is the latest in a series of violent
sexual crime across the country.
"There was a wedding at my brother's place, said the victim's uncle. She went to fetch water and that's when the attacker grabbed her and took her
in a car. Then he raped her."
When the family complained to the local village council the accused men were fined $750 and ordered to do 100 sit-ups. Enraged by the punishment,
police say the men beat up the family and then set the home on fire. For charred remains and now the subject of an autopsy and police investigation,
multiple arrests have been made.
DEEPA NARAYAN, AUTHOR AND SOCIAL SCIENTIST: A rape is a rape and these rapes including gang rapes of young girls is increasing. It's not
decreasing.
COREN: India has been reeling from a string of highly publicized attacks that have sparked protests. Earlier this year an 8-year-old girl in the
Northern Indian state of Jimin and Kashmir was abducted, drugged, and held captive in a temple where she was repeatedly raped by several men before
being strangled to death.
Despite the national outcry over this brutal attack, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accused of being extremely slow to respond. His
days of silence widely criticized until finally addressing the crime.
"I want to assure the country that no culprit will be spared, he said. Complete justice will be done. Those daughters who have become the victim
of such crimes will get justice for sure."
But justice is sadly elusive for the surviving victims and families. Authorities claim more than 100 cases of rape are reported each day.
That's roughly one every 15 minutes. There was a 12 percent rise in the number of reported cases from 2015 to 2016. But there are more than 15,000
rape cases awaiting trial.
NARAYAN: It's a huge social, cultural problem in India and the other fact is that the conviction rate was 3 percent.
COREN: India's deep-rooted problem with rape came to international attention in 2012 when a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in New Delhi was
brutally gang raped on a minibus. She died a few weeks later. The anger and protests that followed forced the government to change the laws and
increased penalties for sexual violence. And just last month the Indian cabinet approved the death penalty for rapists of girls under 12.
But critics say those laws are yet to be enforced and attitudes still haven't changed.
NARAYAN: Unless the way women are viewed changes culturally, we're not going to see any stoppage of violence against women.
COREN: Anna Coren, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, Elia Michael (ph), and Kristie Lu Stout spoke with the chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal. She could not
contain her rage at India's rape problem and called for dialogue about her country's sexual assault epidemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SWATI MALIWAL, CHAIRPERSON, DELHI COMMISSION FOR WOMEN: What is happening in our country is that there is a complete lack of sense of justice.
People are just not scared. People feel that they can get away with anything. They can get away with rapes. They can get away with any kind
of a sexual assault on a woman and nothing will be done on them.
If certainty and swiftness of punishment cannot be guaranteed, nothing will change. Apart from that we also need complete mind-set change. I think
that is a complete silence around rapes in our country. People are molested, women are molested in buses and people move on and there is no
conversation, there is no hue and cry.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: You know, as all of this goes on we're getting word of yet another horrifying rape and assault in the same region in Northeast India.
Police in India, Pucco district which is in the same state as the other case. Say a 17-year-old girl was raped and set on fire on Friday.
[11:35:00] She survived, and official says victim is being treated in hospital with burns to over 70 percent of her body. She apparently knew
the alleged attacker who is in custody.
Now to a disaster in slow motion as lava continues to flow on Hawaii's Big Island. Experts say there's no way to predict when the Kilauea volcano
will stop erupting. Toxic cases are also a threat as fissures continue to open up. By the end of the weekend 10 fissures had opened and 26 homes had
been destroyed. Pahoa states the community of about 1,700 people on the Big Island has been evacuated. Some residents were allowed to return
briefly to retrieve pets and personal belongings.
Now I want to go live now to Hawaii where our Stephanie Elam is following the natural disaster. And Stephanie, dozens of homes now destroyed. Do we
know if they can get insurance for volcano damage?
STEPHANIE ELAM CNN CORRESPONDENT: They can, Lynda, they can. There is lava insurance here in Hawaii. The problem with it it's astronomically
expensive. And so, the residents that we spoke to say they say it's just cost prohibitive. They know they're moving into an area that these vents
can open up. But, still, they're willing to take the chance. And so, to get a better idea of what the damage looks like, we headed up into the sky.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM (voice-over): The eruptions seem incessant. A cluster of fissures spewing molten rock and devouring all that's in its path including more
than two dozen structures. From a helicopter we can see the destruction is dynamic. At the head of the churning lava, a curtain of fiery red visible
through a veil of smoke and volcanic gas. Earlier in the day this molten march glowed brightly in the predawn light. Now it's clear more buildings,
likely homes, are lost.
ELAM (via helicopter): That right there is devastation. You can see it looks like at least three structures that are on fire there where the lava
has flowed deep around basically (INAUDIBLE) building.
ELAM: These volcanic vents continue to ravage the community of Leilani estates opening unpredictably along the lower east rift zone of the Kilauea
volcano.
ELAM (via helicopter): There is the circular house where you can see where the lava first broke out. You can see that it's still smoldering
surrounded by the dead trees that were burnt there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via helicopter): The fissures were actually breaking open further up the ridge zone right now and so pretty much every morning I
come out it's been a little bit higher up.
ELAM: The destruction snakes across the landscape in waves of black. We head about 15 miles to the source.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via helicopter): That big crater, that is Puu Oo.
ELAM: All of this began when to the southwest the Puu Oo vent of Kilauea collapsed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (via helicopter): So that used to be almost flat up top, to craters up there, it almost collapsed into one big hole.
ELAM (via helicopter): (INAUDIBLE) Move all of that magma all around and now that we'll have to pay for the recovery.
ELAM: An outbreak that continues to threaten thousands of Hawaiians with eruptions, earthquakes and toxic emissions. But while scientists know what
is happening, they don't know how long it will last.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELAM: And for the people who live in these areas, they know they're taking a gamble by building a home in these areas right along this east rift zone
of the Kilauea volcano. From the helicopter we could see other communities that you can see where the lava has flowed through there and they built
their homes right back up again on the lava. So, it's something that some of these people just feel it is worth it even though the losses can be
devastating and tragic -- Lynda.
KINKADE: Wow. So, Stephanie, how are authorities dealing with this given we don't know how long it could go on for?
ELAM: Right. And so, they keep studying it. You will see USGS, the U.S. Geological Survey, out there assessing this, learning from this, knowing
what's happening here. But what they're doing is basically monitoring it. And they're allowing people in to get what they need, check on their homes
but they have to get back out mainly because of the air quality and the threat of more fissures opening. But they're also assessing the schools
around here to make sure they are still safe which they have deemed they are. They're opening the schools up in that area again today.
This after a 6.9 earthquake rattled the area on Friday. Because of that they weren't sure there was going to be any structural damage. They said
they're fine. They're going to keep life as usual as much as they can and keep operating because, again, this could be going on for days, weeks, even
months ahead.
KINKADE: Wow, it's incredible. Some very stoic people there. Stephanie Elam, really incredible pictures to see from here. Thanks so much for
bringing those to us.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
[11:40:00] Still to come, the football world sweeps aside its differences to support a man who has changed the game as we know it. Alex Ferguson who
is in this hour is in intensive care. We'll have the very latest in just a moment. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: You're watching CNN, and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I am Lynda Kincaid. Welcome back.
Well from longtime rivals to players old and new, Manchester and beyond is united by a single message right now. Be strong, boss. Support has been
pouring in for Sir Alex Ferguson who remains in intensive care following surgery for a brain hemorrhage. The former Manchester United boss is the
most successful manager in the history of English Premier League. And his influence extends far beyond football itself. Well our Don Riddell is here
with more on Alex Ferguson. Obviously, tributes coming in far and wide just let us know how is he doing right now?
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: We haven't heard anything from the club or from the family since he underwent this emergency surgery on Saturday. And
that news really came as quite a shock. Bearing in mind that we'd all seen him just one week previously at old Trafford with the Arsenal manager,
Arsene Wenger looking in great spirits and in good health. So, this has come as a real shock.
We know that it was in an emergency procedure. The statement said it went very well but he would remain in a period of intensive care to allow for
the best possible recovery. So, that's all we have at the moment. But, I mean, this has caused a lot of outpouring of emotion. Of course, in
Manchester but in England and really around the whole football world. Because this man was so incredibly successful. He transcended his sport
and was revered by so many people.
KINKADE: Yes, tell us more about his legacy. Sir Alex Ferguson and all the titles and awards that he has taken home.
RIDDELL: I mean, I don't know how many times he must have rebuilt the trophy cabinet is house because in his career he won 49 trophies and
titles. 38 at Manchester United, 13 Premier League titles. He won the Champions League twice. Of course, he won the memorable Treble in 1999 in
dramatic circumstances. So, he had an extraordinary career.
Of course, he made Manchester United what they are today. I mean, they are one of the world's biggest sports brands, and that has a lot to do with
Alex Ferguson in his 26 1/2 years at the team. He's coached some of the best players, Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Christiane Rinaldo,
to name just a few. And they don't see him as just another football manager. I mean, they revere him as a father figure. And you mentioned,
you know, be strong boss. That's what they've all been calling him in social media. You know, be strong boss. We're fighting with you, boss.
And of course, rival managers, Alex Ferguson when he was a manager wasn't always the easiest person to get along with.
[11:45:00] Many in the media will tell you that. You know, other people within the game will tell you that. But he was a great man. He is a great
man. And we've been hearing from some of the managers this week and these are their thoughts.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BRIAN KIDD, MANCHESTER CITY CO-ASSISTANT COACH: He really thinks that Alex is indestructible. You know, we've all been brought up with him. And,
again, Manchester United, it's unreal. You know, under pressure -- he was under every day to produce. It's phenomenal. Obviously, all of us at
Manchester City is in our present thoughts with Kathleen and the kids you know. We wish him a speedy healthy recovery.
Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager: I wish him and his family all the best. He will be in good shape again. I'm 100 percent sure and looking forward
to seeing him again.
ANTONIO CONTE, CHELSEA MANAGER: We hope to see him more quickly and to have our best wishes to recover very, very soon.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIDDELL: So, that was some of the comments from some of the other Premier League managers. Actually, we began with Brian Kidd who is coach at
Manchester City, but he was with Ferguson at United for their early success. And so, obviously a great man of respect from him. And just
everybody's rooting for him.
KINKADE: There just doesn't seem to be any comparison. When you look at his legacy and his achievements and just the words of the tributes that
we're hearing from the likes of Beckham and the likes of Christiane Rinaldo.
RIDDELL: You know, we referred to him as the most successful manager in the history of English/British football. I mean, he might be the most
successful manager in the world game. And, honestly, it's hard to find a comparison in any other sport. I mean, perhaps Vince Lombardi here in the
United States. I mean, it's impossible to fathom being that successful over such a long period of time and to stay at one club for nearly 27 years
and be winning trophies on a regular basis for the entire time. I mean it's extraordinary.
KINKADE: And that in itself is virtually unheard of. They jump around to who's paying the most.
RIDDELL: This has come hot on the heels of Arsene Wenger stepping down as manager of Arsenal after a period of 22 years. And you know, we won't be
seeing anything even like that again. So, Ferguson's record I think will be untouchable.
But he really did transcend the game. I mean, it's not just football where he's left his mark, obviously, with business. You know, he's got a very
smart mind and clearly a very good managerial mind. So, in more recent years since he retired from football in 2013, you know, he's been lecturing
at the Harvard Business School and passing on his, you know, his knowledge and his managerial knowledge there.
So, there's a lot of people that want to learn from Alex Ferguson. And even though he retired from football in 2013, he's still been very active.
He's a regular face at Manchester United still. He's still a big part of the club. And at the age of 76 he looked like somebody who would go
forever. You just heard Brian Kidd there saying, he seemed like he was indestructible. So, I think that's why this has taken a lot of people
aback. And you know, a lot of people across the football spectrum really rooting for him now.
KINKADE: Yes, hopefully he pulls through. All right, Don Riddell, good to have you with us. Thanks so much.
The leaders of the U.S. and North Korea are gearing up for their historic meeting and relations appear to be on the upswing. However, inside North
Korea the leadership has some critical words for Washington. Our Alexandra Field explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEXANDER FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We could be just weeks away from an historic summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and the North Korean
leader Kim Jong-un. But before that much anticipated sit down happens North Korean state news slamming the U.S. A North Korean official quoted as
saying that the U.S. is misleading public opinion by suggesting that North Korea is coming to the negotiating table on the topic of denuclearization
as a result of pressure, economic sanctions and that international campaign of maximum pressure.
Instead the deputy foreign minister of North Korea insists that the progress that we are seeing happen on the Peninsula is a result of that
other historic summit between North Korea and South Korea. These are similar lines put out there before by North Korean state news. This is an
opportunity again for North Korea to flex its muscle before heading into the summit claiming credit for the cascade of developments. Really a
change in atmosphere that we've seen that dates back to February when North Korea sent its Olympic team to participate in the games and South Korea.
A lot was decided at that North Korean/South Korean summit including to talk further about denuclearization and also to work toward a lasting peace
treaty that would put to an end a Korean War. Some 65 years after the fighting. But the details of all this will have to be worked out when
President Trump and Kim Jong-un come together.
President Trump has said that a date and a location for the summit has finally been set but he hasn't revealed any of the details of that. In the
meantime, much of the world is watching, waiting to see if North Korea will make a good faith effort.
[11:50:00] Put a goodwill gesture out there before the summit by releasing three American detainees. Just a week ago there was heavy speculation that
the release of those prisoners would be eminent. It came about when the President's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani announced that the three men
would be freed last Thursday. Thursday came, and Thursday went. But administration officials insist they're confident that North Korea will
release the detainees before the summit. The President himself has teased that people should stay tuned that there are developments in the works. In
Seoul, Alexandra Field, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, we're going to have much more of CONNECT THE WORLD coming up after a very short break. We'll be right back, stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
You're watching CNN, and this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Welcome back.
Well it's the way to share large amounts of data using the same technology that underpins bitcoin. But despite the buzz the rounding blockchain, many
people still don't understand how it works. And because of its huge potential, major car companies and even countries themselves are now
exploring how the technology could change the very future of our digital economy. Here's CNN's Clare Sebastian with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNNMONEY CORRESPONDENT: Imagine you're in a room with lots of people you don't know. Sharing large amounts of important
information. Nobody is in charge but somehow you trust everyone. This room is like a blockchain.
Blockchain was first invented for bitcoin, a new digital space with a whole new set of rules. To get started on the blockchain you need computer
power. Each computer on the blockchain is known as a node. And here is where the trust comes in.
When a transaction happens between two users, the request is broadcast to the whole network. The amount and a digital key representing each user.
The other nodes on the network verify it and then add it to a shared digital database organized into blocks. We all have access to the data.
Nothing can be deleted or changed. So, no one can cheat.
The fact the database is maintained by everyone on the network means financial transactions can happen without a bank, contracts without a
lawyer, in theory even voting without essential election authority. I don't know much about the other people in this room but one thing I do know
we're all volunteers donating our computer power to the blockchain. So, what's in it for us? Well, you get paid. In the case of bitcoin
confirming transactions and creating new blocks involving solving complex mathematical problems. It's called mining. The reward for doing that is
new bitcoins. Other blockchains also reward participation with digital tokens in some cases.
Not all blockchains are the same. Some may be huge and public like bitcoin which now needs giant processes to keep it running.
[11:55:00] Some may be off line or private. But as the concept takes off it may forever change the way we work together in the digital space. Clare
Sebastian, CNNMoney, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, in today's parting shots, it was a stormy Saturday, night on U.S. television. Stormy Daniels, the porn star at the center of one of
the controversy engulfing the U.S. President, made a surprise appearance on the late-night comedy show, "Saturday Night Live." Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEX BALDWIN, PLAYING TRUMP ON SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: Just tell me what do you need for all of this to go away?
STORMY DANIELS, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE APPEARANCE: A resignation. I know you don't believe in climate change, but a storm's a-coming, baby.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, you can always follow the stories the team is working on throughout the day by going to our Facebook page, Facebook.com/CNNConnect.
Among other things we have, a story of a possible yacht of the future. One that can fly. And you can also follow me and get in touch with me on
Twitter. You can tweet me at Lynda Kinkade. Well, I am Lynda Kinkade and that was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thanks so much for watching. See you
tomorrow.
END
