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9 Days Until Trump, Kim Meet In Singapore; NYT: Letter Says President Can't Obstruct Because He Has Authority Over Federal Investigation; Thousand Mourn Palestinian Nurse Killed During Protest; Anti-Austerity Protesters Clash With Police In Amman; For Third Night Thousands Protest Tax & Price Hikes; First Year Golden Knights Battling For Stanly Cup. Aired 11-12p ET
Aired June 03, 2018 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:00:00] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: And welcome. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson for you in Abu Dhabi where
the time is just after 7:00 in the evening. Two ruthless dictators Russian meddling, taxing his friends across three huge roiling files the American
President has a lot to deal with. We start this hour then connecting Trump's world. (INAUDIBLE) the countdown clock is ticking. In nine days
U.S. President and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un will meet face to face. Issues big and small still being held out before the Singapore summit gets
underway on June the 12th. Logistical hurdles like who will pay for Mr. Kim's luxury hotels stay are still TBD, as are much larger issues. Here's
the American Defense Secretary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAMES MATTIS, UNITED STATES DEFENSE SECRETARY: Especially now we must remain vigilant and we will continue to implement all UN Security Council
resolutions on North Korea. North Korea will receive relief only when it demonstrates verifiable and irreversible steps to denuclearization.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Donald Trump is not the only leader Kim Jong-un is preparing to meet with. North Korean media reports Syrian President Bashar
al-Assad is planning to travel to Pyongyang. So with nine days on the clock, will we see the master negotiator in action crafting the deal of a
decade or will Mr. Trump's picture-perfect photo op be anything but. Well, joining me now with analysis is Lena Schipper. She's The Economist Seoul
Bureau Chief joining us live from there. How is the region preparing and any real detail on the skinny on this summit at this point?
LENA SCHIPPER, SEOUL BUREAU CHIEF, THE ECONOMIST: Hi Becky. There's been a flurry of preparations over the past week (INAUDIBLE) the past week alone
and we've had the second inter-Korean summit in a month after there wasn't one for ten years. We've had high-level talks between North Korea and
South Korea and we've had an American delegation on the northern side of the Demilitarized Zone which is the border between North and South Korea.
So there's been lots going on.
ANDERSON: So we've also seen a very busy times for Pyongyang and you rightly pointed that. Let's just get our viewers bang up today. Kim Jong-
un went to China, then Russia came to him, and now North Korean media reporting Syria's president is going to travel to Pyongyang to see Mr. Kim.
They quote Mr. Assad as saying, and I quote, "the world welcomes remarkable events in the Korean Peninsula brought about by -- recently by the
outstanding political caliber and wise leadership of His Excellency Kim Jong-un. I am sure that he will achieve the final victory and realize the
unification reunification of Korea without fail." Two dictators, two family dynasties and I wonder what you think a meeting between these two
men would look like and how all of this fits in? We've got Russia and China involved at present, we've got -- we've got South Korea helping to
mediate these talks and now you've got North Korea with Assad. Where do you want to start?
SCHIPPER: Well, so I think the first thing I find out that we have to be a bit careful because there's so far (INAUDIBLE) report from North Korean
media and we haven't had confirmation from Syria and they've heard here that even if this meeting is going to take place is probably not going to
be a time soon, so no note of caution there. But apart from that, it would make sense Assad to want to meet Kim because they've got a long-standing
relationship. They go back a long way. There's been all sorts of United Nations reports about North Korea helping Assad acquire military materials
in the area of chemical weapons as the logistical support for Syria from North Korea and obviously as you pointed out, (INAUDIBLE) recently Russia
obviously as of -- has boots on the ground in Syrian and has been a big ally of Assad. So it's not surprising that he's trying to get in on this
game.
ANDERSON: Let's just step back for a moment. I wonder if you can just remind our viewers just how significant not only this meeting on the 12th
will be within North Korea and the US but the significance of all of these stakeholders who have now spent time with going into or receiving the
leader of North Korea recently and ultimately, what you think is going to come out of all of this.
[11:05:14] SCHIPPER: Yes, so as I said, it's -- there's not just North Korean America, there's a lot of other stakeholders. There's South Korea,
obviously, there's China, there's Japan, there's Russia and the whole flurry of you know, what you've seen as the six parts at all sort of these
actors of stuff getting in on the game again. I think in South Korea and that's probably the most -- as well -- that's one of the more interesting
places of the moment because in that area it's extremely upbeat about this whole summer treat. Their President Moon Jae-in has been very active in
bringing this music about and trying to get Trump and Kim to talk to each other. And partly I think because or mainly because last year when those
tensions were rising up South Korea's look very, very worried because if there was any kind of military conflict they'd be right a little bit. So
now they're very upbeat about helping. Slightly different case than Japan where they've moved a lot more -- a lot more downbeat about the whole
thing.
There's a lot of skepticism about whether Trump has moved too quickly where he's given in to -- whether he's given too far too quickly, too much too
quickly to Kim and because they're not worried about the medium-range nuclear missiles that North Korea (INAUDIBLE) gets rid of the ones that may
endanger America. And then China, you've gotten a lot of relief I think in the last couple months because they're getting very worried also about
military conflict and the resulting instability in North Korea might result in refugee crisis in China and a lot of trouble across the border there.
And so you've got a lot of different interests intersecting.
ANDERSON: Nine days and counting let's just hear once again from Secretary for Defense. Standby.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATTIS: We welcome the Panmunjom Declaration for peace, prosperity and unification of the Korean Peninsula that was announced in April. We can
anticipate it best the bumpy road to the negotiation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So a bumpy road ahead says U.S. Defense Secretary and we have had some significant bumps already. It wasn't long ago, not talking
months, we're talking weeks that Mr. Trump called it all off.
SCHIPPER: Yes. Indeed. I mean, it was a mere what ten days ago now that he said it's not going to happen, that they were so hostile, that -- in
which they were too aggressive. I'm just not going to do it. And then it took -- it took the leaders of the two Koreas to meet and a couple of days
so Mr. Trump say well, you know, actually I am really -- well, he didn't say that but he sounded very much like never sent the letter to Kim Jong-un
saying look the summers up. So yeah there's been -- there's been a lot of up and down and I think that should give us pause in terms of what to
expect from this meeting which is obviously all the ups and downs meant that the time for preparations has been experienced short, that you can --
you can see in the -- in the flurry of activity over the past week that people have been scrambling to put it together and to put together some
kind of preparation to know what's going to happen. And Trump said, I don't think we should expect anything major on that day itself, and I think
as (INAUDIBLE) it's going to be this very long process and the best we can hope for some serious signals from North Korea, they're willing to give up
the news and sort of concession I think. This is going to actually be from the American side as well otherwise the whole thing is just going to be
dead in the water.
ANDERSON: Well, if the size of the envelope that was delivered to Donald Trump from Kim Jong-un is anything to go by, then there are at least some
decent plans from the North Koreans. And we'll talk about what we understand would be in that envelope one assumes. We only know that there
was an invitation or certainly the suggestion that this meeting -- there was a wish this meeting would still go ahead but we'll talk about that with
our next guest. Lena Schipper, for the time being, the Economist Seoul Bureau Chief, thank you. Well back now on Mr. Trump still dealing with the
investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election. And now we are getting a glimpse into the strategy of his legal team. The New York Times
obtained twenty-page letter his lawyers wrote back in January to Special Counsel Robert Mueller. This was back in January. It claims the President
cannot legally obstruct justice because well, effectively he's in charge of federal investigations. And that would amount to obstructing himself. The
lawyers also say he can terminate the inquiry at any time. Now look, Mr. Trump denies any collusion took place, calls the probe a witch hunt, has
done and continues to do so. The letter went on to say Mr. Trump could exercise his power to pardon. So if the president was found to have
committed wrongdoing, could he pardon himself? Here's what his lawyer Rudy Giuliani said about that on one of the Sunday talk shows in the States just
a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:10:47] RUDY GIULIANI, LAWYER OF DONALD TRUMP: He's not but he probably does. He has no intention of pardoning himself but he probably -- it does
say he can't.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Talk about this with a Political Analyst Julian Zelizer who is joining us from New York. Giuliani says Trump has no intention of
pardoning himself but probably does have the power to do so. What do you make of that?
JULIAN ZELIZER, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, it's not a surprise that Giuliani is on the airwaves saying that and it's a threat in many ways
about what the President will do. But I think many constitutional experts, legal scholars, political analysts would dispute that that's really the
meaning of the pardon power, that this is a mechanism for a president to pardon themselves in the middle of an investigation like this or even after
an investigation. I don't think that would sit well in many quarters and it would be challenged I'm sure in court.
ANDERSON: We've got a number of new nuggets as it were, not least this New York Times obtaining a twenty page letter that his lawyers wrote back in
January, and we have to be clear about, this is back in January to Special Counsel Robert Mueller claiming the President cannot legally obstruct
justice because effectively is in charge of federal investigations. What are we to make of all of this? I mean, we are looming towards five hundred
days in office for the President and not many less than that for Mueller's investigation. We've got midterms coming up in November. Just walk us
through where we are at, at this point.
ZELIZER: Well that letter reflects the thinking of some high-level administration officials. They've talked about this before. The idea that
the President has the ultimate power, total control over the executive branch, so there's no such thing as an investigation that the President
can't shut down even if that investigation targets him. This is total presidential power. Many people disagree. There's many historical
examples where presidents have to allow investigations to take place. But this is coming at a moment the President's actually feeling pretty good
about the situation. He's done a lot of work to publicly discredit the investigation without shutting it down. Polls show that more Republicans
believe Mueller is overstepping his bounds. The economic numbers are pretty outstanding if you are a Republican and someone in the
administration just looking at the politics. It's the lowest unemployment rate we've had historically. And so even the midterms are now looking like
they might not be a blue wave. So it's not clear what kind of political impact this is having that's negative for him.
ANDERSON: Well, let's talk about those midterms. We're talking about the beginning of November of course. And speaking to CNN an exclusive
interview, Mr. Trump's former Chief Strategist looking forward to the midterm elections in November, he put things fairly starkly. Have a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE BANNON, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF STRATEGIST: Trump's second presidential race will be on the November later this year. He's on the
ballot and you're -- we're going to have an up or down vote. Do you back Trump's program, OK? With all this good and all it's bad, you back Trump's
program or you back removing him because that's what Pelosi and Tom Steyer and these guys want.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You pointed out that we aren't seeing the blue wave, that some people had predicted. The latest poll from The Economist Magazine in just
a few days ago does have Democrats three points ahead of the Republicans. But Bannon's own measure perhaps not looking great for Mr. Trump but his
point being that these midterms are literally a vote for or against the U.S. President, do you buy that? Do you think that's exactly what's going
to happen this time?
ZELIZER: There's some truth. When you have a President this polarizing, obviously, he will be the issue on most voters' minds. But Bannon is
essentially articulating a Republican talking point. Meaning that if the country votes for a Democratic Congress, that will mean an impeachment
process and that will mean the removal of the President. They're framing it that way as a way to scare Republican voters, even scare some moderates
about what's to come. But the truth is Nancy Pelosi doesn't support impeachment right now. She's been very clear on that and many other
Democrats, it's not clear that's their major concern. Their major concern are the policies that President Trump has put forward in areas like
immigration and the kind of presidency that he has conducted. But Bannon is saying exactly what you're going to hear over and over again on the
campaign trail vote for Democrats and you're going to have an impeachment process.
[11:15:45] ANDERSON: Fascinating. Julian Zelizer, thank you for helping us, sir, hash some of this out. We'll be back with you for another
installment very, very soon I should think. Thank you, sir.
ZELIZER: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Well, third big issues for the American President, we set these out at the beginning of the show, the U.S. catching flak from the group of
seven. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin got an earful from finance ministers at the G7 summit in Canada. They say they are disappointed after
the Trump administration flak tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and the E.U. You'll remember those happened at the back end of last week and they want a
decisive response. Here's Secretary Mnuchin afterwards.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVEN MNUCHIN, UNITED STATES TREASURY SECRETARY: What the group was very focused on was obviously the steel and alumina tariffs which again we're
doing to protect in particular our steel and aluminum industry. So this is, there was general concern that this could be -- create and become
larger trade issues.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, protect is an operative word here. The U.S. says that by protecting certain industries as Mnuchin mention, the tariffs help protect
its security. Well, Canada's Prime Minister says that is insulting. And here's how the Foreign Minister responded a short time ago on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRYSTIA FREELAND, FOREIGN MINISTER, CANADA: So what you are saying to us and to all of your NATO allies is that we somehow represent a national
security threat to the United States. And I would just say to all of Canada's American friends and there are so many, seriously?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, seriously? The countries have announced their own plans to hit back for these tariffs. More on this as we get it live from Abu
Dhabi. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Still to come, a Palestinian nurse lost her life while giving aid to others. Now
thousands in Gaza are mourning her killing. We'll take you live to the city for her story up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:20:00] ANDERSON: Well the skies of Gaza lit up overnight as violence once again flared. Israel says it carried out retaliatory strikes in
response to rockets fired by Gaza militants. The renewed hostilities dashing hopes of a ceasefire which was announced by Hamas on Wednesday last
week, and it comes after more than two months of Palestinian protest along the border fence with Israel. Palestinian officials say more than 100
people have been killed by Israeli fire since those began. Among them, a young nurse killed on Friday. Ian Lee joins me now from Gaza. Ian?
IAN LEE, CNN FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky, we have been learning a bit more about this young nurse. She was as we're told by her colleagues
and inspiration and that she was incredibly brave, one of the first people that would go out there and try to help people who have been injured. We
went to her family to find out more about her.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LEE: A young medics final moments, Razan Al-Najjar races to help an injured Palestinian protester. Hands raised in the air. International law
protects medics but minutes later, an Israeli sniper killed the 21-year-old east of Khan Yunis. Her friends struggled but failed to save her life, a
bullet wound to the chest. She died just hundreds of meters from her neighborhood now adorned with her smiling image. We meet Razan's father
Ashraf. He takes us inside their home. Her mother Sabreen clutches her daughter's blood-soaked vest. The sorrow weighs heavily. She tells me
they were scared for Razan, but that she alleviated their fears telling them she felt obliged to help and was clearly wearing a medical vest.
Ashraf and Sabreen now want accountability for their daughter's death.
I want justice for Razan. Here is her weapon. I want the world to know this is the weapon of Razan Al-Najjar.
Razan worked the front lines during the weekly protests near the Israel- Gaza border fence. Just last month she explained to the New York Times why she risked her life.
RAZAN AL-NAJJAR, NURSE KILLED IN GAZA: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
LEE: Israel's military says it's investigating Al-Najjar's death adding the IDF constantly works to draw operational lessons and reduce the number
of casualties in the area of the Gaza Strip security fence. Medical workers protested outside a U.N. office in Gaza City. All believe Israeli
snipers are deliberately targeting them, the charge the Israeli military denies.
Razan Al-Najjar is the second medic killed by an Israeli sniper according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, more than 200 were also injured,
many wearing vests like this. Ruza and Abdul Aziz were with Razan on when she died. They tell me they'll remember her for her bravery, and will more
than ever continue where she left off.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEE: And Becky, a number of U.N. agencies released a statement today talking about how medical workers should be able to operate without fear of
being injured or killed. The humanitarian coordinator at the U.N. Jamie McGoldrick also said the killing of a clearly identified medical staffer by
security forces during a demonstration is particularly reprehensible, is difficult to see how it squares with Israel's obligation as an occupying
power to ensure the welfare of the population of Gaza. And as we said in the reports, Israel is investigating this and they say that they do
investigate cases where civilians are injured and when they're killed and if it's necessary they will take those cases to other authorities, the
military advocate general corps and possibly look into potential charges. And now they're not saying that that's going to happen in this case but
they do say that they take these accusations very seriously. Becky?
[11:25:32] ANDERSON: Ian, there is a huge sense of frustration on the part of the Palestinians' daily life in Gaza where you are looks like this.
Everyone there, some two million people facing electricity blackouts every few hours, only one in 10 people can get to safe drinking water. There's
widespread poverty and huge unemployment amongst the youngsters, a staggering 60 percent. All of those numbers are from the World Bank. We
had a couple of days of relative peace and after what was reported Egypt brokered or mediated and ceasefire at the back end of last week. What's
the atmosphere right now and what do you expect to happen next?
LEE: You know, Becky really it feels like one of tension and also anticipation. No one really knows what's going to happen. We need to
remember that Gaza has a number of militant factions. We heard from Hamas and Islamic Jihad that they say they're going to adhere to the ceasefire
but there's other faction as well, al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades being one of them that has fired rockets and missiles -- rockets and mortars. And so
you know, it's really hard to see for those Hamas to make sure that all these groups adhere to some sort of ceasefire. But Israel has said that
they will retaliate against Hamas. And this morning we were actually woken up to a couple of airstrikes here just north of us with Israel retaliating
against Hamas targets. They also have retaliated against al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades targets as well. And so tonight, we'll just wait and see. Are
there more mortars fired, rockets fired and if so likely Israel's going to retaliate. It isn't as intense as we saw last Tuesday but as you know
Becky, things can spiral out of control pretty quickly here.
ANDERSON: Ian Lee is in Gaza for you. Thank you, Ian. I'm in Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson coming up, thousands of
people have rallied in Jordan's for three nights in a row. It is some of the largest demonstrations there in years. We're going to talk about this
with a member of Jordan's Parliament, a young M.P. up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:31:57] ANDERSON: Chaotic scenes in Jordan late last -- late Saturday, as riot police fired tear gas at crowds of people. Thousands rallied in
the capital Amman, to protest austerity measures.
Now, these protests in Jordan have been going on for three nights in a row, a sea of people gathered outside the prime ministry on Saturday. They are
unhappy with rising taxes and prices.
Well, in response to the mass demonstrations, Jordan's King has put a halt to proposed hikes in energy prices. At least for now, that is. Let's get
more from CNN's Jomana Karadsheh. Jomana, what do you understand to be at the center of these protests? And what do we understand to what happened
at this point now that King Abdullah was intervened?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, you know, anger and frustration in Jordan with the economic situation amongst the population is
nothing new. This has been building for years. This is a country of very little resources, it's relied on foreign aid from countries like Saudi
Arabia, for example. And that foreign aid has started drying out recently.
And in 2016, they got a loan from the International Monetary Fund with that came recommendation for Jordan and conditions that they had to meet to
reform the economy, and that included austerity measures. Including scrapping broad subsidies, increasing taxes. And we've seen that taking
place over recent months.
But right now, the most controversial issue, Becky, has been this proposed tax -- income tax law where the government passed it last week. It aimed
to widen the tax base, increased the tax bracket, and also penalized those who do not pay income tax.
Now, it has to go to a parliament for a vote. Parliament is refusing to even touch this law and its current form. It has really caused an uproar
on the street. On Wednesday, for the first time ever in Jordan, trade unions did go on and they had a general strike. We have seen protests,
very peaceful on that day, and in response, Becky, the next day on Thursday, the government responded by announcing that they're going to
increase the prices of fuel and that has really angered Jordanians.
Many describing this as a provocation by the government and as you mentioned, the King did come out and he put a freeze on that, ordered the
government to stop that. But that really hasn't changed the situation when it comes to these protests.
Since Thursday, people have been going out to the streets across the country, from the North to the South in what has been largely peaceful
protests. Not only are they asking the government to withdraw this tax bill, they also want to see this government gone. They want the King to
fire the government of Hani Al-Mulki, and it seems right now, the government is not backing down, Becky, but they are really between a rock
and a hard place. How do they meet the IMF conditions, and yet, deal with this anger on the streets of Jordan that we have not seen in years?
[11:35:10] ANDERSON: Jomana Karadsheh in Turkey today, that based in Amman now for some time, until a very recently knows this story inside out.
Jomana, thank you. At the center of Jordan's crisis then is an expanded income tax laws. Some members of parliament have vowed to reject the
proposal. Joining me now is one member of the Jordanian parliament, Kais Zayadin, and these scenes as Jomana pointed out very rarely seen in your
country. What is your position with regards of this law, and do you support these protesters?
KAIS ZAYADIN, SECRETARY, FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, JORDAN: Yes. Well, we do support the protesters. We have been with the protesters yesterday
night at the 4th circle. These protesters are simply refusing to accept the new proposed income tax law, these protesters are saying that the
government must have started a talk, a general talk within the Jordanian society, with all segments of the Jordanian society before proposing such
event.
The essence of the problem is that despite even calls from his majesty, from the government to do so, to engage with the public, to engage with
civil society, to engage with the parties. And then, the government has failed to do so.
And therefore, in this -- in the absence of this, people are seeing that this law, and I am one of them that directly disadvantages the -- a middle
society and the poor society, as well, and this is why people are out. They are refusing this proposed amendment of the law.
ANDERSON: OK, all right. The government and protesters say, and you agree with the missed to blame. The deal is this, Jordan's security, three-year
credit line -- as far as I understand, it's to the tune of three-quarters of a billion dollars. On the understanding of the swinging economic
measures be introduced.
The IMF has a history of doing this, and that's perhaps, for another discussion. But what is the alternative because, at this point, something
has to give?
ZAYADIN: Becky, the Jordanian people at this moment are feeling as well the problems that came to us because of the continuous refugee crisis that
Jordan faces. 30 percent of the -- of people in Jordan are refugees and this is a problem that the Jordanian citizen is feeling. What does the
government have to do, as well, on the other hand, and then, reply to a question, the government has to walk the talk or talk the walk.
They have to, as well, start cutting down on their expenses. The government officials have to start with new ideas, new ways for the youth
to change in the economic situation in Jordan. This is what the government has to do at this moment, it is not a viable option anymore that the
pockets of the poor people of the middle class in Jordan is being targeted on a regular basis every time the government needs money. Regardless the
reason, the government has to now look into other options that might generate income for the government.
ANDERSON: Case 2017 survey from the economist found Amman. I was -- I was surprised by it, I have to say that Amman is one of the most expensive
cities for cost of living. On a worldwide ranking, Jordan's capital comes in at number 28, other major cities in the region trail Amman by far,
comparatively, Abu Dhabi, for example, where we are based, ranks 62, and Dubai comes in at 66.
But I've heard it time and again from Jordanians who are fed up with traditional parties, and their candidates often seen as perpetuating
patronage. Young city who decry corruption, your party represents the youth, youngsters across all of Jordan whoever they are and wherever they
are from.
What do you believe, what are you hearing from them, and what do you believe needs to change? And how do you and your party hope to help
implement that change?
ZAYADIN: Well, at beginning, we're not yet apart, we have not been licensed. So as to become a party at this moment, but what the youth needs
in Jordan is really political reform alongside with the economic curriculum. The Jordanian youth want their voices to be heard, they want
to participate. And what we are doing now in Jordan is we are moving within the explanatory note of his majesty, the fifth paper in specific,
and sixth paper.
We are trying to form political parties that are built on programs, and these programs, the youth will participate in. And maybe eventually, with
the parliaments that are made of political parties, and such political parties may form a government one day.
This is the political reform we are trying to push for, and his majesty started with it's -- in his explanatory notes, and this is what we are
trying to do. The youth needs to feel engaged in the political life, and the political scene and they have to be heard, as well.
We have a problem now in Jordan, the problem is that we are trying hardly to engage such youth and create new leaderships in the society. And
usually, such leaders and such technocrat people who are at the -- at the high education, et cetera, are usually created within political parties,
everywhere in the world, this is the case. And this is what we're trying to do in Jordan, as well.
[11:40:42] ANDERSON: Jordan.
ZAYADIN: We think it's time for us to have a real strong political reform alongside with the economic reform. Youth in Jordan are capable, are
smart, are educated, and all they need is a chance, and a lot of them do actually need this chance, and they will prove for the future for them that
we are capable of doing it, and we are capable of moving forward.
ANDERSON: And I -- and I applaud your words and I support on everything you say, so far, as what you are saying about the youth of Jordan, an
incredible generation. What happens if things don't change case?
ZAYADIN: Well, I think things will change. Everyone in Jordan sees that this is the way forward. I think change will come from within, it will
come from us, and we are moving correctly, a little bit slowly but on a right track. And this is what we have to support, and this is what we have
to encourage and enhance for our youth in Jordan.
And I think, what I feel from the youth in Jordan is that they want -- they are hopeful, and they see that there is hope in Jordan, and they want to
stay in Jordan, and they want to serve Jordan.
All Jordanians, they have this inseparable relationship with Jordan, and this is extremely important, and this is what built countries eventually,
and this is what gives us hope as youth and these people of this country.
ANDERSON: Kais Zayadin is a member of Jordan's parliament in Amman, joining us today from Amman. Thank you for joining us. Just ahead, a
Cinderella story in hockey and a wild and woolly game in NBA. Sports, coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Let's go to Kuwait in the UAE. Welcome back, I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD, bringing to you from our
Middle East programming hub.
And normally, when a new sports team launches, well, it struggles at first, that's make -- you know, growing pains, cast of players struggling to mesh.
Not so though for the Vegas Golden Knights, an ice hockey team in the U.S. here in their first season. And they aren't just doing surprisingly well.
They didn't just make it to the playoffs, they've made it all of the way to what is known as the Stanley Cup Finals, the championship of the National
Hockey League where they are battling the Washington Capitals in a best of seven series.
It has been a wild ram, and now I'm joined by wild Patrick Snell, for more on what is this precocious team. There is more to Vegas in gambling and
doubt we know it.
[11:45:38] PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Cleary, Becky, yes, it really has been an incredible story. They were 500 to one at the start of the
season. This is to remind our viewers, this is their very first season of existence, as well. It kind of reminds us, doesn't it'll be a Leicester
City story when they famously went on to win the English Premier League title, and on to 5,000 to one, but it's just been an extraordinary story
all of the way long.
I have to say, though, they do have a bit of work to do despite all the good vibes that been producing on Saturday night. They fell 2-1 behind in
their series with the Washington Capitals. Who've themselves, Becky, are looking to win the Stanley Cup for the first time.
Though we should point out, they've been around actually a lot longer since the 1970s at the Caps' Russian superstar Alex Ovechkin, having a special
night for him on Saturday night in the nation's capital, D.C. He is absolutely desperate to lead this team to a famous victory, he got a great
top shell finish there, at 3-1 in favor of the Capitals on Saturday night.
His 14th first strike in the playoffs, as well. And Game Four is Monday night. So, what do we have? We have the Capitals with a 2-1 series
advantage now after Game Three. But this shouldn't be tracked from what has been an incredible story, Becky because earlier in the series, we saw
those frenetic pre-game scenes when they played in front of their home fans, it really has to be seen, it really has to be witnessed to be
believed incredible stuff.
ANDERSON: Yes, fantastic stuff. All right, well, look, anybody predicting the NBA Finals, are going to be boring. And you might want to think Game
One between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors through up a bucket load of drama.
A controversial call as scuffle that led to an ejection and a stunning historic 51 points from LeBron James, blew our minds, and it wasn't enough
on the night, though. Apparently, tell me what happened?
SNELL: Oh, yes, the other night was -- and you know, this would just be a really, really busy time and a hugely busy weekend for American sports all
of the way, not just the hockey, but the climax -- this is the climax to remind our viewers to the basketball season here in the U.S.
Game Two of the best of seven NBA Finals, later on, tonight. Cleveland Cavaliers and LeBron, the superstar of the sport as you mentioned, his team
looking to level a series but just reflecting back on what happened the other night.
The defending champion, the Golden State Warriors, they won the open although Cavs found it will tell you, look, it could have been very, very
different story indeed. Had J.R. Smith, not shall we say, dithered much to LeBron? Look at that prostration there on LeBron's face, the body
language, you could see it. He did a J.R. with (INAUDIBLE) with the team's level on points and just over four seconds of play left.
The incident left LeBron, highly frustrated, though he says he's not letting it distract him from fully focusing on the challenge ahead. Take a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEBRON JAMES, FORWARD, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS: It's a new day, and for me, and I'll woke up -- you know, feeling excited about the opportunity forsee
a better today. And excited about the opportunity that presents itself tomorrow.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SNELL: It's all to play for then, later on, tonight in the U.S., Becky, back to you.
ANDERSON: Patrick Snell in the house. Thank you, Patrick, as you going to get going. Your show "WORLD SPORT" starts just about 10 minutes from now
that is right after CONNECT THE WORLD. So, enjoy that and stay tuned for that.
And speaking of sport, we are a week and a half away from one of the biggest global showcases. The World Cup, Iceland making their first-ever
appearance in the tournament after stunning the world and becoming the darlings of Euro 2016 and they've got a tough group to get through there,
but also no shortage of belief. We talked to one of the team's stars, Gylfi Sigurdsson, about what they will need to do. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GYLFI SIGURDSSON, ATTACKING MIDFIELDER, EVERTON, ICELAND: Hi, I'm Gylfi Sigurosson. Everton, and Iceland's midfielder.
Obviously, I can't wait for the World Cup and very much looking forward to it as something that's myself, I think, were still the players have been --
have been dreaming of, and yes, it's -- if you look at the group, it is a very tough group. Hope we will retain last looking to win the tournament.
And then, two other teams are very strong, and then, ourselves. And so, they're our difficulties as one of the best players in the world. I want
to bless best players there played the game. So, defensively, we'll going to have to be very good, and that's one of our strengths.
And normally, we're very good to come part to defend very well as a team and I think we can have to be doing everything we can, not just to stop in
for the rest of the players because they've done an incredible spot.
It's fantastic and, of course, it was very special, and special times, then, for Everton, who kind of doing it for the first time and everyone was
noticing it. But you -- nothing those are the things you kind to remember for the rest of your life, and it was -- yes, very special.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:51:07] ANDERSON: Good luck to all of them. For you to World Cup, every team that goes to the World Cup, of course, has designed to match
league. Winning the tables, they've got their designs on themselves. Online, we'll going to show you the freshest gear of this tournament. And
that is CNN.com.checkthatout. Up next, we are right by an active volcano. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Right, evacuate or get arrested? In Hawaii, some residents near the erupting Kilauea volcano have only those two options left. Seven
people have been cited for loitering in a disaster zone. And officials are worried the people who stay could get trapped by the lava.
The volcano's first eruption rocked Hawaii's Big Island, four weeks ago. And molten rock has spewed from volcanic fissures as they're known ever
since. Scott McLean has the very latest for you.
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After an entire month, Kilauea continues to erupt, cutting off roads and destroying well over 80 homes so
far. Now, most of the lava flows are by fed by one single fissure which at times have shot some 200 feet into the air. In fact, you can see the smoke
from that fissure in the background several miles away.
Now, new video though shows that, that fissure is not sending lava as high anymore. Still, the massive amount that it is producing continues to cause
problems. This afternoon, a lava flow some 300 yards wide, cut off a main highway near the coast, the last remaining escape route for some
communities.
Meanwhile, at the Kilauea summit, things have been unusually quiet in recent days. Brand new drone footage shows that the main crater of the
volcano has been blocked by boulders and debris. Geologists say that the lack of activity could mean one of two things. Either this cycle of
explosions and eruptions is coming to an end or there could be pressure building under the surface which could lead to a much larger explosion down
the road.
Experts aren't sure which outcome is more likely. And so, the national park that houses that crater will remain closed indefinitely. Scott
McLean, CNN, Pahoa, Hawaii.
[11:55:33] ANDERSON: Well, just in time for a few parting shots tonight. Sometimes, while a little common sense goes a long way, like, a really long
way. Like, maybe having the sense not to risk your life toasting marshmallows over active volcano vents. Yes, apparently, that is a thing.
America's geological agency warning people not to try it for -- well, they say, several reasons. The fact that the lava is over 2,000 degrees,
though, should be reason enough, but it went on when Twitter user (INAUDIBLE) ask the USGS, replying, we're going to have to say no, that's
not safe. Please don't try. And rattling off a laundry list of chemical reactions that could go really wrong for you, just saying.
I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD, from team working me and those working with me around the world, it is a very good evening. Thank
you for watching.
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