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Trump Blasts Michael Cohen After Audiotape Released; At Least 80 People Killed in Fires Close to Athens; CNN Gets Rare Access to Air Drop Over Hodeidah; Victim Describes How He and Companion were Poisoned with Novichok; Cricket Hero Among Top Contenders for Prime Minister of Pakistan; The Fight to Save an American Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Aired 11-12p ET

Aired July 25, 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] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Fifteen tons of food and water, this is an airdrop. Help from above, hitting incredible scenes with grounds

where missiles scanning for us as we connect to 10,000 feet above battlefield Yemen. With extremely rare access looking at how life saving

help really gets there.

And then --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELTON JOHN, SINGER, SONGWRITER: He's always come to my shows in the past when I've done Madison Square Garden. He's a fan.

(SINGING) I'm a rocket man --

We'll tell you who's a big fan of the original "Rocket Man". Here's a hint. From Alaska.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF INNOVATION CORRESPONDENT: The only village inside the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge there are three topics of conversation

these days, polar bears, the weather and Donald Trump.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERRSON: And it's stunning, it's beautiful and oil drillers really want to move in. We take you to an arctic refuge.

I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi where it is 7:00 in the evening. Welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD.

This hour we are connecting you to a world that can sadden you, surprise you, shock you and amaze you. And our first story it might do all of them

at once. Donald Trump speaking out for the first time about an explosive audiotape that raises serious questions about the story long dismissed by

him, at least, as fake news. The tape was given exclusively to CNN. It was secretly recorded by the attorney once known as Mr. Trump's fixer just

weeks before the 2016 election. We can hear Michael Cohen and then candidate Trump discussing how to buy the rights to a playboy model story

about an alleged affair with Mr. Trump. Cohen talks about setting up a shell company to handle the payments and while details of the proposed

financing are muddled it's clear that both want the story to go away.

Today, President Trump ripped into Cohen tweeting, what kind of a lawyer would tape a client? So sad! He added that he's never heard of such a

thing before.

Let's bring in Abby Phillip at the White House. Abby, President Trump says he's done nothing wrong. Authorities, though, sure to scrutinize every

word on that tape to see whether any campaign finance laws may have been broken, correct?

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely right, Becky. This is the clearest sign that we have gotten so far that the

President's personal lawyer, the man he wants considered his fixer has turned and is now on the opposite side of the President on this issue. In

this audiotape it's clear that the President and Cohen are discussing this payment that AMI made to Karen McDougal who has alleged that she had an

affair with President Trump. In the audio he is heard talking about financing, that's their word, financing which we believe to some discussion

of a reimbursement to David Pecker who is the head of AMI for this payment for McDougal. Listen to a portion of this tape.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL COHEN, FORMER ATTORNEY TO DONALD TRUMP: I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David,

you know, so that -- I'm going to do that right away. I've actually come up with and I've spoken to --

DONALD TRUMP, THEN-CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Give it to me.

COHEN: -- and I've spoken to Allen Weisselberg about how to set the whole thing up with --

TRUMP: So, what are we going to pay with?

COHEN: -- funding -- yes. And it's all the stuff -- all the stuff --

TRUMP: Yes, I'm thinking about that.

COHEN: -- all the stuff because here, you never know where that company -- you never know what he's going to be --

TRUMP: And he gets it, right.

COHEN: Correct, so I'm all over that. And I spoke to Allen about it. When it comes time for the financing, which will be --

TRUMP: What financing?

COHEN: Well, I have to pay.

TRUMP: So, we'll pay with cash?

COHEN: Oh, no, no, no, no, no. I've got it. No, no, no.

TRUMP: A check?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIP: I want to call your attention to two things in that audiotape, the first is that they are discussing -- Michael Cohen creating a shell

company in order to deal with this potential transaction and the second is that the President at the very end talks about something related to cash.

Now this last point is the main part that's at issue here. The President's lawyer says that what he was telling Michael Cohen is do not pay with cash.

Michael Cohen's lawyer disputes that, saying that why would the President say don't pay with cash if he meant pay with a check.

But there are some finer points that are being disputed here between the lawyers about whether the president was instructing: to pay with cash or

check. And whether or not Cohen ever actually did make that payment.

[11:05:00] The President's lawyer saying that he did not. But what is clearly heard on the tape is that the President, then candidate Trump, now

President Trump was discussing this payment after it was made at the time the President spokeswoman said they knew nothing about it, that clearly

turned out to be untrue -- Becky.

ANDERRSON: Abby Phillip in Washington.

Well a coastal village engulfed in flames, people jumping into the sea because there's nowhere else to turn. This is the living nightmare in

parts of Greece this hour where the worst wildfires in more than a decade are claiming more and more lives in that past few hours. We have heard

that 80 people are now dead. You're looking at drone footage taken by CNN that shows just some of what is the massive destruction, very close to the

capital of Athens. Melissa Bell is on the ground with the very latest for you -- Melissa.

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, I'm here in Mati to the east of Athens, really the worst hit of the region in the Attica area. It was here

that the death toll was highest. As you say, people simply had to run to the sea for their lives.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BELL (voice-over): As morning breaks in Attica, a scene of utter devastation. The survivors begin to count the terrible cost even as the

search for the missing continues.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, we're searching in their burnt houses to see if they can be abandoned or find something more.

BELL: Christiana Fracu (ph) has come back to her home to see what's left.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is my burnt home. The wind brought an incredible, immense fire, which ruined everything. I couldn't save all my

cats and dogs. My mum's house, I thought at the beginning because she was dead because she managed to go to another little beach.

BELL: Christiana herself only survived by taking refuge on the cliff face. But 26 people died here locked in a final embrace.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfortunately, a lot of people who were trapped and, of course, they don't know -- they're not acquainted with this area. They

saw two doors which we left open. They came down, but there were just the last ones as the fire was approaching and it was very, very strong. They

couldn't make it because they couldn't find their way out to the water and they were trapped inside our house. That's all I can tell you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BELL: That is what we're seeing here in Mati today, Becky. People coming back to their house and dealing with the grief. Dealing with trying to

understand the huge tragedy that went on here. Among the survivors is Dimitra who joins us now. Dimitra, you are like so many people in Mati,

you were able because the flames came down those mountains so fast. At least you survived because you jumped into the sea. What happened?

DIMITRA STATHOPOLOU, SURVIVOR: The fire was about 20 meters far from the house and the only way to survive was to rundown to the sea. Because the

street was blocked with the cars going up and down, so there was no way to escape with a car. So, the only way was going down to the sea.

BELL: How long did you stay in the water?

STATHOPOLOU: Two hours and a half in the water swimming. We were 50 people all together keeping one another. The wind was very strong, the

fire was everywhere. It came down at the beach.

BELL: You mentioned those blocked cars -- the street that you lived on blocked by the car. That is something that's made people very angry. This

was a town unprepared.

STATHOPOLOU: Yes. It was unprepared, and they say that they knew that the fire was far. I mean, far, more than 70 kilometers far from here. And

then there was no electricity. We have -- we knew nothing and suddenly the fire come to our houses.

BELL: Dimitra, thank you for speaking to us. You can see, Becky, there is a disbelief that this could have happened so quickly without any warning

and without authorities getting more involved. But there was no preparedness plan to see those cars out of the area as this fire

approached. And of course, these terrible stories. This is a town of survivors who survived because they made it to the ocean. That night,

Becky, it was the only way out of Mati.

ANDERRSON: Melissa, what's the forecast at this point? What are the prospects for the communities there?

[11:10:00] BELL: Well, it is about dealing with the grief, rebuilding, survivors slowly coming back to what's left of their house. And beyond

those who have lost their lives or loved ones. There are people who've lost their homes, their livelihood and who are dealing with the grief of

that.

In terms of the fire itself, the fires do continue to burn but to the west of Athens. Around here it has been contained. But we've seen throughout

the day, Becky, planes flying overhead carrying out what we told our preventative measures to bring water to what remains extremely parched

earth and parched vegetation. And those conditions that allowed the wildfires to spread so quickly on Monday night, of course, remain very much

in place. The temperatures have been soaring today. The sun has been shining. The winds are strong and there are fears that this might not be

over yet.

ANDERRSON: Absolutely terrifying. Melissa, thank you.

We want to draw your attention to some remarkable images that have been emerging on social media in Greece. Have a look at some of these. These

are pictures that, well, quite frankly, look nothing short of apocalyptic. These are from the coast. We can't confirm exactly when or where they were

taken but they suggest a truly grim picture of the overall situation right now. Our producer, Saskia, says she saw the charred remains of dogs on the

streets. Many people as we reported tried to leave but were not quick enough and we can only imagine what they must have gone through as they

fled desperately for their lives. Some more dramatic images for you both heartbreaking and horrifying.

We've been connecting you to our extreme natural world as well as right into the center of the world of Donald Trump. Ahead, we take you to a

place where those two worlds are colliding.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: A staggering rise in arctic temperature.

Do you believe in climate change? Do you think its exist?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There is a cooling and there's a heating. The ice caps were going to melt they would be gone by

now. But now they're setting records.

WEIR: That is the exact opposite of the truth.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERRSON: As fragile as it is beautiful, Donald Trump may be about to change this pristine landscape forever.

Also, it's been called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. I got rare access to the rescue flights trying to help some of those on the ground.

We take you into the skies above Yemen. Up next.

[11:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERRSON: It's a wall that is descended into a massive humanitarian crisis one largely absent from our screens and relatively hidden from the

headlines. Despite now leaving a staggering 22 million people dependent on humanitarian aid just to survive. I recently got rare access to a UAE aid

flight. Part of a wider Arab coalition operation providing a life line to Yemenis on the outskirts of her data. The strategic port city and current

flashpoint in the fight against Houthi forces.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERRSON (voice-over): We are 10,000 feet in the air in an Emirati military plane flying over Hodeidah, Yemen. A three-year war on the ground

here has caused what the U.N. calls the worse humanitarian crisis in the world. And in this coastal province all sides are vying for control of a

strategic and lucrative seaport.

The fighting and looming battle has stoked fears of a catastrophe where aid delivery in a country where three and four people need it, could further be

hindered or even stopped. This operation along with Saudi Arabia, the UAE is co-leading the Arab coalition military campaign in support of the

internationally recognized Yemeni government and against the Iranian backed Houthi rebels.

(on camera): The travesty of this catastrophic humanitarian crisis is that it is manmade. Who is most at risk at present?

AYSHA ALDAHERI, HEAD OF UAE MEDICAL SUPPORT TEAM: Unfortunately, yes, it is man-made catastrophe. The people at risk or (INAUDIBLE) at risk are the

most vulnerable. As you're doing, the children, especially the children under five, the malnourished or the very malnourished children are at very

high risk.

ANDERRSON (voice-over): Which is why tonight we are on an aid drop.

(on camera): This is 17, it's just been loaded with 15 tons of aid, food and water individually packed into what are known as these bundles. And

they all sit on a crate. This entire thing is going to be ejected out of this aircraft at around 10,000 feet. And the way it's going to get to the

ground is with these. These are individual parachutes. If you come this way, this is what's known as an AGU. It takes the coordinates for its

intended target on the ground. And once that is fixed by the pilot, about ten minutes before the actual ejection, this entire crate should make its

destination within about 150 meters.

(voice-over): Against the backdrop of U.N. talks to try to find a political solution, and increasingly loud international criticism, the UAE

is conducting this multimillion dollar aid airdrop operation to areas captured by coalition backed forces.

ALDAHERI: This sends a message that we can reach by air, we can reach by sea, we can reach by land. So, it complements the whole humanitarian

effort. It gets let's (INAUDIBLE) of the people. Because it gives them the message, as you said, the team of the coalition is doing its best in

doubling down on the efforts to reach them and reach every single person even the people in the villages away from the cities.

ANDERRSON: Dropping aid or dropping bombs, it's clear that neither is sustainable in the long run in Yemen. But with the U.N. envoy's office

keeping tightlipped on the progress of talks, it seems Yemen's population will be looking to the skies in fear or in hope for some time to come.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERRSON: CNN was last on the ground in Yemen in December and these are the scenes that we found. Incredibly tough scenes of malnourished kids and

families just struggling to get through the days faced with hunger and a lack of medicine and shelter. Well my next guest says a worsening of the

situation in Hodeidah would be catastrophic.

[11:20:00] Lise Grande is U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen and she is normally based in the capital center. I spoke with Lise

earlier from Washington and asked her to describe conditions on the ground in and around that strategic port city of Hodeidah.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LISE GRANDE, U.N. RESIDENT AND HUMANITARIAN COORDINATOR FOR YEMEN: Before the current offensive started in Hodeidah already 25 percent of all of the

children in the city were malnourished. We've anticipated that if there is a prolonged defensive or prolonged siege of Hodeidah that as many as

250,000 people could be impacted, they could lose everything. The United Nations and the frontline NGOs have been rushing to preposition supplies.

And when the offensive started to distribute lifesaving assistance. That includes 50,000 liters of water every day, we're doing food distributions,

were making sure that health facilities stay open. We're doing everything we can to help those people.

ANDERRSON: A U.N. Security Council resolution on Yemen three years ago, called on all parties to respect international law. It also urged the

freezing of assets of Houthi leader shipment inspections and for Houthis to withdraw from areas they seized. And Hodeidah at the very center of what

is going on at present. The Yemeni foreign minister, Lise, told CNN that they will not accept anything short than a complete withdraw of the Houthis

from Hodeidah. And he went on to say that his government feels the Houthis are buying time. He said the coalition military operation didn't fail and

that they are not advancing on the city of Hodeidah. He stressed the coalition and Yemeni army will not engage in a street fight. He said,

though, patience is running out. How much time does Hodeidah and the wider Yemen have?

GRANDE: Hodeidah is the life line for northern Yemen. If that port closes even for just a few days the impact will be immediate and could be

catastrophic. 70 percent of humanitarian assistance comes in through Hodeidah. And 90 percent of everything that's needed in northern Yemen

comes through that single port and report just to the north, Saleef. This is why the U.N. has said that no matter what that port has to remain open.

In terms of the consequences of the catastrophic, we need to stress, this is a crisis that's been created by the war. Right now, 8.5 million Yemenis

are in pre-famine conditions. What that means in human terms is that when that family wakes up, if they're in that category, they have no idea how

they're going to secure food for the day. Now we estimate that if conditions don't improve, by the end of this year, another 10 million

Yemenis could be in that situation, that means 18 million innocent civilians could be suffering from severe hunger and of course from

malnutrition.

ANDERRSON: You will want a political solution as much as anybody else. And the office of Martin Griffiths, the U.N. special envoy to Yemen, has

told CNN that he is not doing interviews at the moment as talks are ongoing. He though recently said this after a trip to the Houthi

controlled capital.

All parties have not only underscore their strong desire for peace but have also engaged with me on concrete ideas for achieving peace.

Now, as we understand it, his plan includes a phase withdraw by the Houthi from the Hodeidah port and the city. Which would then be run by the

Yemenis assisted by the UAE backed forces would gradually pull back. You are with the U.N., does the U.N. really have the capacity to manage things

on the ground? And if peace isn't achieved, if these talks come to nothing, lay out for the rest of us what will happen in Yemen going

forward?

GRANDE: The crisis in Yemen is the worst in the world in humanitarian terms. By the end of the year, if the parties to the conflict do not find

a way to the negotiating table and find a political solution to end this conflict, 18 million innocent civilians are at risk of serious hunger and

malnutrition. That's a fact. And this is why humanitarians everywhere are saying enough is enough. The parties to the conflict need to start

negotiating. The United Nations is doing everything it can to address the humanitarian crisis and we stand ready to support the political process.

We also stand ready to do whatever is necessary to ensure stability in the port city of Hodeidah and other parts of the country. We're ready. We

hope the parties to the conflict are as well.

ANDERRSON: Do you understand why there would be a trust deficit when it comes to an agreement here given the activity of the Houthis on the ground?

[11:25:06] GRANDE: As the humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, what is absolutely clear is that the price of this war and civilians has been

shocking and the price is unsustainable. This is why humanitarians are asking, insisting, demanding, begging, all of the parties to stop the

fighting so that Yemenis can get back on their feet and the country can get rebuilt.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERRSON: Millions of Yemenis already in quote, prefamine conditions and millions more who could soon join them if things don't improve by the end

of this year. The words of Lisa Grande, the U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen speaking to me earlier today.

Now in a statement the coalition says humanitarian concerns are among their priorities. Spokesman Turki Al Malki, says the Houthi militia is

deliberately worsening the humanitarian situation in the areas they control in an attempt to, quote, cover their crimes against the Yemeni people. He

also says, the Houthis are deliberately detaining entry and discharge of vessels carrying oil and food in Hodeidah.

On the other side of this, a prominent Houthi official told CNN that coalition demand that's they cede control in and around Hodeidah are,

quote, impossible. He continued, we are willing to give the U.N. all supervisory authority for the port whether financially or through its

administration, on condition that the profits gained through the port are used to pay the salaries of public employees.

We will stay on this story for you and continue to ensure that you know what's going on in the ground.

Just ahead, as the investigation goes on we'll hear from a man who was poisoned by the nerve agent Novichok. Should people in the U.K. be

worried? We are live from Scotland yard for you, that's next.

[11:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERRSON: Let's get you a quick recap of the two big stories that we are following for you this hour. U.S. President Donald Trump blasting his

former attorney Michael Cohen for secretly recording the two of them discussing ways to play off a Playboy model who says she had an affair with

Mr. Trump. CNN has exclusively obtained that audiotape.

Also, we're getting new drone footage showing utter devastation in Greece where the worst wildfires in years have claimed at least 80 lives, many

people who escaped the flames are simply shell shocked.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm completely devastated. This is my mom's house. I thought at the beginning that she was dead because she managed to go to

another little beach with our dog. We saved one dog. We lost three.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERRSON: In time the U.K. is dealing with new worries over the deadly nerve agent Novichok. Four people have been poisoned this year as you may

remember beginning with a former Russian spy and his daughter, one woman died. Now authorities are admitting the public is not in the clear and

there may be nor Novichok in and around the Salisbury area. And we're hearing from one man who was poisoned by Novichok. CNN's Nina dos Santos

is outside police headquarters. What have you got, Nina?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thank you so much, Becky. At the moment, a very important line of investigation here still is trying to

determine whether or not it's the same batch of Novichok that was responsible for the poisonings in Salisbury as the other poisonings in

Amesbury. It's quite right that you mentioned, Becky, overnight we've heard for the first time from one of these victims Charlie Rowley. He has

said that he found essentially what he thought was a perfume bottle and what looked like a branded and sealed box. I can't remember where he found

it, but he gave it to his partner Dawn Sturgis as a present. She then applied it with devastating consequences. Take a listen to part of his

interview with CNN's affiliate ITV.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES ROWLEY, SICKENED BY NOVICHOK: It was 3 by 3-inch box, half inch thick which contained a glass bottle. So, you had to remove the bottle

from the cellophane wrapper, put the pump dispenser on the bottle and I ended up tipping some of my hands. I do have a memory of her spraying it

on her wrist and I guess rubbing them together. I think within 15 minutes I believe Dawn said she felt that she had a headache. She asked me if I

had any headache tablets. I went into the bathroom and found her in the bath fully clothes laying in the bath in a very ill state.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOS SANTOS: The reason why Charlie Rowley's description of this package is significant is because sources tell CNN that authorities are pursuing one

line of investigation that might suggest that there were two teams that may have targeted the Skripals. One an operational team that may have dropped

off more than one sealed containers of Novichok around the area for a separate hit team who targeted the Skripals to then intercept and use.

Obviously, that would beg the question, why was there not a sweep operation to remove some of these items, but, of course it does raise the question of

whether or not there is more if indeed he found a package that seemed to be sealed at the time -- Becky.

ANDERRSON: Nina, we've seen two separate poisonings that made three people sick and killed one woman and police now telling the public to be careful.

Have a listen to what they said, folks, last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[11:35:00] What we can't tell -- and probably we'll never be able to tell - - is actually is there anything else out there. So, all we can do is be intelligence led, go to the locations where we know that there actually

been and be meticulous with the searching.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERRSON: That sounds pretty frightening. We can't tell and may never be able to tell x, y and zed. This is -- this must be very concerning for the

general public in the area and very frustrating for officials.

DOS SANTOS: Indeed, and the line that you heard there from the Wilshire police is very similar to the line that you hear from the metropolitan

police. Essentially that large parts of Salisbury and Amesbury will probably remain cordoned off for some time until they can be sure that --

or at least they think that there is no more of this substance out that could pose a risk to the community.

I should say, though, to caution this, Becky, that a Public Health England which is responsible for the public health side of the messaging on this

case has been very consistent to this messaging. Saying all the way since the Skripal attack back in March that there is a low risk to the public.

But however, the public should take certain precautions. Namely if you did not recognize an object on the floor, you didn't drop it, it's a container,

a container, a vial, don't touch it. Just be sure that you don't try and touch foreign objects. If you believe that you may have touched something

that's suspicious, obviously alert authorities but make sure that you wash your hands, wash your clothing and also wipe down any electronic devices

with baby wipes and so on and so forth. Because obviously they're trying to remove the possibility of people having long-term exposure to any trace

elements of Novichok -- Becky.

ANDERRSON: Nina dos Santos is outside Scotland Yard. Nina, appreciate it, thank you.

You're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. We are out of our programming hub right here in Abu Dhabi where it is 7:36.

Coming up, violence and intimidation in Pakistan as the nation goes to the polls. What the election means for Pakistan and the world? That up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERRSON: Welcome back. It's been another deadly election day in Pakistan, a country that is vital to security across the world especially

in the fight against terrorism. 31 people dead and dozens are injured after a blast outside this busy polling station in Balochistan province.

Outside another voting station at least one man killed after a fight broke out between supporters of rival parties. This as millions vote in what

could be the country's most consequential election in years.

This is an election that is a three-way race between two members of Pakistan's political dynasties and this man, Imran Khan, who's considered

to be the front-runner of this race. His main claim to fame, leading Pakistan's cricket team to win the World Cup in 1992. He has since been in

politics since at least '97. But his party has fared pretty poorly in past elections. Well for all of this, I'm joined by Ravi Agrawal. He's the new

managing editor of the extremely well respected foreign policy magazine, the former New Delhi bureau chief for us here at CNN.

[11:40:05] Ravi, this election may just be his time, I'm talking Imran Khan. His rivals allege that he has support from Pakistan's hugely

powerful military. How prepared though is he to run a country of 200 million people, one that is massively in debt to the IMF and armed with

nuclear weapons?

RAVI AGRAWAL, MANAGING EDITOR OF FOREIGN POLICY: Well, Becky, that's the thing. There's really no way of knowing how prepared he is because he's

never held public office. He's never run any form of government in Pakistan and he's run for election three times previously and each time he

lost. So, there's no way of telling how he's going to be able to govern. What we do know however is what he said in the past in terms of policy.

He's ridden a wave of, you know, a mood of change in Pakistan. He's also been quite vocal against America for many years now. So, those are two

things that we can expect him to stick to.

There are obviously reports that the military has been telling members of other parties to defect to Imran Khan's party for quite a while now. So,

there's always a hint or suggestion then that the military may be in control even if he were to win which would then mean the military calls the

shots.

ANDERRSON: Pakistan has been a key U.S. ally but in the past Imran Khan has called for the removal of some U.S. diplomats, Ravi, from Pakistan. He

also heavily disagrees with Donald Trump's policies for what they are in Pakistan and in Afghanistan next door. Here's what he said to CNN in an

interview last August. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

IMRAN KHAN, PAKISTANI PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump, this administration does not fully understand the implications of what they're

doing.

The U.S. should think of leaving Afghanistan. Because as long as there are troops in Afghanistan there's always going to be a problem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERRSON: Were he to win this election, what prospects for relations between the U.S. and Pakistan?

AGRAWAL: There already quite troubled. In January of this year Donald Trump tweeted saying that Pakistan has been taken all this aid, $30 billion

in 15 years from the U.S. and the U.S. has gotten nothing in return. Pakistan retaliated by summoning the ambassador in Islamabad and giving him

a bit of a telling off. So, it's very clear that no matter who wins, this is going to be a tense relationship. And that's because of the changes

here in Washington, D.C. where you have a president, who wants to appear to be winning deals around the world and restructuring relationships that

have been long in place, so there's that.

But on the other hand, Imran Khan I think very astutely has picked up on the mood in Pakistan, A, for change, but B, also, a wider anti-American

sentiment in Pakistan. There is a Pugh survey that showed that 63 percent of Pakistanis are not in favor of strong relations with America. So, he's

banking on that being a very popular sentiment.

ANDERRSON: You've edited I know a piece in your magazine by Hussein Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's former ambassador to the United States. And he takes a

pretty pessimistic view of this elections. He writes, and I quote, whatever the result on election day, the outcome will not rid Pakistan of

its chronic instability and poor civil military relations.

Do you believe that? And if not elections, what can change Pakistan?

AGRAWAL: Right, well, Hussein Haqqani who's the former Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. -- the point he's trying to make is that Pakistan's

military has gone through the same cycle several times where it wants to back a candidate. It wants that candidate to win in democratic elections

and then it wants to in some form control that candidate. It really wants to keep control of key relations with India, the United States, with

Afghanistan. It wants to control defense. It controls much of the economy as we know. Now in doing so, however, it hobbles democracy and the person

who is prime minister is never really able to grow into that role. And therefore, you then have the situation where every single Pakistani prime

minister since 1947 has failed to complete his or her term. And then the cycle repeats itself where the military once again is either in power or is

backing someone else in a democratic election.

So here we are today with elections where the news in Pakistan is that the military has been backing Imran Khan, the new candidate. Someone who is a

change from the previous two dynastic parties that are widely seen as corrupt. That have both had prime ministers in hopscotched power in

Pakistan for many years.

[11:45:00] So, we could see a change if Imran Khan wins. The question is, what really changes in terms of policy. What really changes in terms of

relationships with key vital countries that are neighboring Pakistan? And that really remains to be seen.

ANDERRSON: That's the most important, of course, being India. How would you describe relations between the two at present and again, what prospect

under the stewardship of an Imran Khan run government?

AGRAWAL: There was a great hope under the previous Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, that he may be able to strike some sort of a peace deal with India

and especially with a right wing Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, the theory being that when you have a leader who's conservative, they're more

hawkish and therefore less defensive and able to strike peace deals. But that didn't really happen on both sides in large part because India too is

going through a moment of great flux. Where there's a mood of Hindu/Muslim tension and its very popular to sort of criticize Pakistan in India. And

so, it's unlikely that this year, in a year where India is heading to elections early next year, that India will have much of an appetite to

really try and move towards any form of peace with Pakistan.

ANDERRSON: Ravi, always a pleasure. Thank you, sir. Ravi Agrawal is out of Washington for you today.

Coming up, making sure that mother nature herself isn't left out in the cold. The price some say America could pay for the Trump administration's

environmental policies. That up next. Don't go away.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR (voice-over): These are the oil field of Prudhoe Bay that fill the famous pipeline and power countless lives. But since there are billions of

barrels elsewhere nature lovers have long argued there is no need to drill here. And for decades that argument held until --

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: One day a friend of mine who's in the oil business called, is it true that you have Anwar in the

bill? I said I don't know, who cares.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERRSON: Well but how things have changed. As we reported around this time yesterday, Donald Trump has since taken a keen new interest in

Alaska's resources. Especially if it means going in there to drill for oil. It's yet another aspect of our theme today. Donald Trump's world

versus the wild world. And whatever the outcome, the mere prospect of that battle is already putting people in Alaska on edge. Here's Bill Weir.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WEIR (voice-over): In a little hamlet of Kaktovik, Alaska, the only village inside the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, there are three topics

of conversation's most days, polar bears, the weather and Donald Trump.

[11:50:07] (on camera): Are you a fan of President Trump?

CHARLES LAMPE, KAKTOVIK RESIDENT: Yes, he did us good things. Now he does bad things. I'm grateful that he got that bill passed.

WEIR (voice-over): December's tax cut bill also opened the Arctic refuge to drilling and the government is now moving fast to lease 800,000 acres on

this pristine coastal plain. This is where the last great caribou herds give birth. A place brimming with life and beauty made all the more

fragile by a staggering rise in Arctic temperature.

(on camera): Do you believe in climate change? Do you think it exists?

TRUMP: There is a cooling and there's a heating.

If the ice caps were going to melt they would be gone by now. But now they're setting records.

WEIR: That is the exact opposite of the truth and this time lapse of NASA satellite data clearly shows how the relentless burning of fossil fuels is

melting the Arctic at a record pace including the oldest, thickest ice seen here in white.

Which is why more and more emaciated nanook are wondering into town. They need sea ice to make dams and hunt seals and without it whale scraps are

the next best thing.

(on camera): But skinny, hungry polar bears aren't the only warning sign up here. That is the Kaktovik airport and they're moving it away from the

coast due in part to sea level rise. They're seeing more and more freakish rain storms in the winter and blizzards in the summer. But at the same

time, all the modern creature comforts in this town, from the clinic to the school, were paid for with oil money. And with the promise of fresh

millions for their native corporation, most of the folks here are eager to tap into the one product that is changing their land forever.

GLEN SOLOMON, KAKTOVIK RESIDENT: What do we use for whaling? We use gas and oil. What he we used to go hunt caribou? We use gas and oil. We have

this right to develop on our own land.

WEIR (voice-over): A so-called scoping meeting with federal officials lays bare just how emotionally divisive the issue has become.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Think about what's going to happen to this land if there's an oil spill and the response that's going to come along with it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you for that message. May I ask where you are from?

WEIR: That loaded question and the tension in the room shows how much resentment there is for outsiders who want to protect the refuge. And to

the Inupiaq here on the coast those environmental rivals include the Gwich'in tribe up in the mountain, folks fiercely oppose to drilling.

FAITH GEMMILL, NEETSAII GWICH'IN TRIBAL MEMBER, ARCTIC VILLAGE: So, they're quite in with the oil companies. We've told them our position, our

culture, our spirituality, our traditional way of life is based on the caribou and we're not willing to give it up.

ROBERT THOMPSON, POLAR BEAR GUIDE, KAKTOVIK: I'd say they have the moral high ground. They're trying to preserve their culture and the people that

are pro-oilers are doing it for money.

WEIR: Back in Kaktovik, Robert Thompson is known as the local antidrilling gag fly, a wildlife guide who carries a revolver just in case that skinny

polar bear gets grouchy.

THOMPSON: This gun is more powerful than what Dirty Harry got.

WEIR (on camera): Is that right.

(voice-over): He points out that the native owned Arctic Slope Regional Corporation is worth billions thanks to royalties from other drilling

sites. But that wealth does not trickle down. And his neighbors here believe that tapping the refuge will finally bring the wealth and respect

they deserve.

(on camera): There are a lot of people in Chicago or Dallas or Iowa who believe this is their land too. It is a national wildlife refuge like a

national park.

LAMPE: Yes.

WEIR: And they want to keep it pure --

LAMPE: But they will never set foot here. I don't think it's right for them to be able to tell us what we can and cannot do with our own land.

You know, we're the best stewards of our land.

WEIR (voice-over): That is the kind of local support pro-drilling lawmakers like Lisa Murkowski love to highlight. The senator is a driving

force behind opening Anwar and she insist that's wildlife won't be harmed. Despite our numerous requests, she refused to be interviewed. One reason

may that be unlike the President, she is one Republican who believes in manmade climate change but wants her state to keep drilling regardless.

FLORIAN SCHULZ, FILMMAKER, WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER: If this will happen here, it would just destroy the entire place.

WEIR: Up at the refuge, photographer, Florian Schulz, is one outsider who has spent years here, capturing the magic of this place and he hopes

everyone, including the good folks at Kaktovik, will take the long view.

SCHULZ: I'm using resources. I'm driving a car, but I feel we need to think in new ways. We need to think in new technologies and stay with the

value of keeping wild landscapes. Because once they're gone, they're gone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[11:55:05] ANDERRSON: Remarkable stuff. Parting shots, tonight, a potentially big discovery far from earth. For the first-time scientists

say they have found evidence of a large body of liquid water on Mars. Italian researchers report signs of a 20-kilometer-long lake beneath the

frozen south pole. Huge deal because water is needed to sustain life, of course. The data came from the Mars Express spacecraft. Outside experts

have not yet been able to confirm the findings. Whether or not there is life on mars, none of us are going to live there any time soon. It won't

be our planet B, so to speak.

For now, this planet is all we've got and if that matters to you, you might want to check out our website, CNN.com to learn about ways to help save it.

At the start of the show we promised you to connect you to amazing, shocking, saddening stories and we ended on one that we're sure does all of

the above with Bill's reporting.

I'm Becky Anderson. That was "CONNECT THE WORLD," thank you for watching. We leave you with video of sardines jumping into a fisherman's boat to

escape a larger fish. Take from that what you will. Good night.

END