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Yemen's "Made in America" War; Coalition Now Investigating Deaths of Two Children in Airstrike; Russia Blames Israel after Syria Downs Military Plane; Kavanaugh and His Accuser to Testify before Senate Monday; North Korea Says U.S. to Blame for Nuclear Stalemate; Tale of Two Countries, Close Together, Worlds Apart; Emmy-Winning Director Proposes to Girlfriend on Stage. Aired 11-12p ET

Aired September 18, 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] (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Our camera man asks why he isn't playing in the street.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: "Made in America, Killing in Yemen." For the first time ever, we connect you to something no one else can, investigating

exactly who's making Yemen's war so deadly.

Then the blame game. Russia points the finger at Israel for blowing one of its planes out of the sky even though it knows for a fact Syria shot it

down using Russian weapons. Why? We'll explain.

And Moon pops out of a sunroof in Pyongyang as North Korea lambastes America's gangster logic. That and a lot more this hour. It's your world

and we are connecting it for you.

Welcome to the show. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. Where this hour we are all about breaking news and breaking the news down for you. We start

with a military offensive in the Middle East that many fear could cause a major humanitarian catastrophe. This is not Syria we're talking about.

This is Yemen. The other big war wracking the region with millions of civilians caught in the middle. The strategic port city of Hodeida back in

the crosshairs of the Saudi-led coalition. It's a crucial supply point for Houthi rebels. It's also where an estimated 70 percent of aid and medical

supplies enter the country for civilian use.

This latest attempt to capture what is simply a lifeline for millions of Yemenis, comes as the coalition is on the back foot after one of its air

strikes killed dozens of children last month. The CNN report at the time traced the bomb used to a U.S. weapons company. Well now, Nima Elbagir

digs into more incidents and builds up a picture of a brutal conflict that is waged in Yemen with weapons made in America. A warning, some of the

video in this report is graphic and distressing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A direct strike in broad daylight. Rescuers rush in, but it's too late.

It's too graphic to show in full but the bodies being pulled out belong to a 3-month-old Somood and her three-year-old brother, Nabil. This cell

phone footage was sent to CNN by the rebel Houthi backed media group, Ansar Allah Media. A rare glimpse of life under bombardment in Yemen. Bussard

is taking us down through his house, down, down to the family's hiding place. This is where the children have been taught to come when they hear

the familiar drone of planes overhead. Baraa and her family aren't so lucky. They had to improvise.

BARAA, 13 YEARS OLD: This is the place where we hide. These are the things we prepared for when the planes are bombing or we hear them flying.

ELBAGIR: For the last three years, Yemen has been the sight of a devastating proxy war, pitting Iranian backed Houthi militias against a

U.S. backed Saudi-led coalition seeking to restore the government of overthrown government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. In that time local

activist groups have collected data showing an estimated 17,000 aerial strikes as Yemenis attempt some semblance of a normal life. These are some

of the stories of life under bombardment.

On August 9 the world was aghast when images emerged as schoolboys covered in blood after their school bus was hit by coalition planes. A CNN

investigation subsequently identified the 500-pound bomb dropped directly on the bus was supplied by the U.S. to the coalition.

We now know that wasn't the first or last incident of civilian deaths using U.S. made armaments. Just the first to hit the headlines in years. Using

images collected by award winning Yemeni activist group, Mwatana, and independently verified by CNN as having been American made. CNN has been

able to identify at least 11 separate incidents of coalition strikes on civilian areas using U.S. made armaments.

Lockheed Martin during the bus attack.

[11:05:00] Raytheon and the U.S. Air Force material command. It is a litany of death made in the USA. And yet the U.S. State Department has

satisfied the Congress that the Saudi-led coalition is undertaking actions to reduce the risk of arms and that armed sales to the coalition should

continue. When CNN reached out on our findings to the Pentagon, spokeswoman Commander Rebecca Rebarich, said it called upon all parties to

take all feasible precautions to avoid harm to civilians. The final decisions on the conduct of operations in the campaign are made by the

members of the Saudi-led coalition, not the U.S.

Many of these weapons were precision guided. We wanted to see the aftermath for ourselves. CNN was able to send a team to Hajjah province.

There, our camera man met a 12-year-old Hayal Javad. In April, a coalition bomb struck a village wedding.

HAYAL, 12-YEARS-OLD (translated text): We were drumming and playing in the wedding. Then the plane came and bombed us, and I got hurt. They took me

away in an ambulance.

ELBAGIR: You can see here the moments before the planes arrived killing 21 people, 11 of them children. This is part of the missile tail used in

attack. A weapons expert helped CNN trace it back to the U.S. made GBU-12 bomb manufactured by Raytheon.

Hayal was one of the lucky ones. Yahim will spend his life on crutches and Hayal's brother was killed. As the team conducts the interviews in the

distance, a plane is heard.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE [TEXT]: They are running away from the planes.

ELBAGIR: And the children scatter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE [TEXT]: Run!

ELBAGIR: In a rare moment of respite, Baraa's little brother is allowed outside to play with his friends in the courtyard.

Our camera man asks why he doesn't play in the street. He knows the sound by heart.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE [TEXT]: And when it hits?

BARAA: Booom.

ELBAGIR: His que to run to what safety there is.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, CNN made repeated requests for comment to U.S. arms manufacturers, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. We have not yet received a

response from those companies. The spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition told CNN it would investigate.

Turki Al Malki said, quote, the coalition takes any allegations of incidents very seriously and, quote, targeting operations are carried out

in conformity of the rules of engagement which resemble the highest international standards.

And in the last hour, the coalition have just given CNN some new information with more on that. Nima, joining me now from London, I'm got

Sam Kiley with me here in Abu Dhabi. Let's start with you, Nima. What is the very latest?

ELBAGIR: Well, we have now heard from the coalition that that latest incident we referred to them, the one that we start the piece with, that

horrifying footage of the two children being brought out of the rubble, they now acknowledge the probability of civilian casualties in that attack

and they have asked that the joint incident assessment team look specifically into that. That is -- it's a pretty rare occurrence, if you

recall, the last two times the joint incident assessment team has been brought in were during the bus attack on August 9th. And before that it

was a good two years when they were asked to look into the incident at funeral hall which killed 155 people. So, it is quite a rare occurrence

and it was only after CNN made our evidence available to them.

ANDERSON: As I understand it, these incidents, well, you can see they're jarring enough and our viewers will see that, but just the tip of the

iceberg as I understand.

ELBAGIR: Absolutely, Becky. There have been some 17,000 air strikes in Yemen over the course of this three-year war, so what you saw there, what

we showed you really was nothing. This was only what we were able to verify working with Mwatana.

[11:10:00] We were able to drill down on two international humanitarian law standards. 11 incidents, a drop in the ocean really. But if those 11

incidents that we were able to get to and we were able to verify, we're all using U.S. armaments. Then that really gives you a broader sense of how

much U.S. armaments are used and how reliant this conflict is on the weapons supplied by the United States and of course others like the U.K.,

France, but the majority is U.S. made.

ANDERSON: Nima Elbagir is in London. Sam Kiley our senior international correspondent, with us here in Abu Dhabi. Let's step back for a moment

here. How did we get to where we are? This was a civil war. Now we're talking about U.S. made weapons used by the Saudis in a coalition involved

in what was supposed to be a civil war.

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, if we take a look at the regional map where we get an idea really of how effectively

this is a war that's really becoming something of a proxy conflict. So, we've got, for example, as Nima has pointed out, we have a Saudi-led

coalition. But it also involves very heavily the United Arab Emirates, particularly in the battle in trying to Hodeida here. That is on ground at

least a UAE led operation. In both cases these are countries that use predominantly U.S. made weapons. Not only aircraft, but the ordinance, the

bombs that they drop. They've also managed to suck in of course, fighters from Sudan and elsewhere. So, on the surface this looks like a proxy war.

But why are they getting involved where there getting involved? Because that brown area there of Houthi control is now getting increasingly with

every year that goes by is greater and greater influence from both Iran and Iran's great militia proxy Hezbollah.

Now Hezbollah doesn't represent a great deal of a strategic threat as it does down here in the South traditionally as it does to Israel. Which is

dedicated to try to destroy. But from the Saudi perspective, they are absolutely allergic to the idea that along this border they're going to end

up with a Hezbollah militia from their perspective. Of course, the Houthi's being Shia. And that means if you have a permanent presence there

that is involving Iran especially that is anathema.

ANDERSON: And the Saudis will say they have evidence to suggest that this is an Iran backed militia in the Houthis, who are bringing arms in a number

of ways into Yemen not least through this area here, in through the port of Hodeida. This of course a choke point. If you just move on -- Yes,

explain why this is so strategically important and the positions for these countries? It's not just involvement for the sake of it of course.

KILEY: No, it absolutely isn't and it's not just the Saudis that are saying that the Iranians and Hezbollah are growing in influence there.

There's physical evidence. The United Nations, a completely objective body, has confirm that. Particularly the influence of technology and the

delivery of shaped charges and of course ballistic missiles from this Houthi controlled areas have been fighting to Saudi Arabia and off towards

the United Arab Emirates.

But from the international community's perspective if you have a Houthi control of that Red Sea coast down here, you risk this area here being

choked off. 10 percent of the world's trade goes through here so it is for that reason, whatever the discomfort and embarrassment, horror of civilian

casualties and bear in mind both sides have been accused -- or have been investigated for war crimes by the United Nations . But whatever really

the humanitarian issue there is a sense in the Western powers that this coalition must prevail because of this fear of Hezbollah type control.

ANDERSON: That makes sense. The strategic story makes sense. We've also had recently an op-ed by the UAE ambassador to Washington in which he made

very clear the argument that the UAE's involvement in Yemen is in part to support an American national security issue. And just again, explain what

that means because this is multifaceted.

KILEY: Well, that takes us back to the original map there, Becky. Those two yellow patches broadly speaking and of course these are very

guesstimate related maps. But these are areas of Al Qaeda influence if not control. Al Qaeda and the American peninsula has been absolutely integral

particularly through some of its engineers in bomb plots that have extended to Saudi Arabia and attempt to send a printer bomber plot -- remember that

was intercepted heading towards an American synagogue, intercepted in the United Kingdom -- had its roots here in Yemen. The UAE and the Saudi's --

but the UAE especially -- have been heavily involved in combatting Al Qaeda alongside the United States. And that is a conflict that predates this

wider conflict.

[11:15:00] So into the battle against Al Qaeda. You know have in the international sense a battle against the possibilities or growing

probability of Hezbollah dominance of what is a strategic shipping route. And for those reasons I think ultimately the coalition is going to continue

to get Western support.

ANDERSON: Some context to a story that sadly -- well, it dominates the headlines on a regular basis. Unfortunately for all the right reasons.

Thank you.

It's rare that international media organizations get access to report on this bloody conflict which of course, makes it very difficult to cover.

CNN though was recently granted rare access. Nic Robertson's reporting gives you a sense of how the country has become trapped as a burning proxy

battlefield as Sam was just explaining. Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: This is tactical flying, just feet above the desert, banking around hills close to the Saudi

Yemeni border.

We're in Saudi military black hawk helicopters. We are flying to Ma'rib in Yemen It's about 100 miles east of the capital.

(voice-over): The Saudi's lead a coalition backing the internationally recognized Yemeni government against Iranian backed Houthi rebels. Both

sides have criticized the civilian casualties. Apache gunships ride shotgun for protection. We are the first Western journalists the Saudi

government is taking into Yemen. They promise transparency.

We travel high in the mountains, visit the Yemeni government's front lines. We're keeping low here because we've been told the Houthis down in the

valley below might be able to see us --

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: That was Nic's reporting back in January. An in-depth look there at Yemen. You can read a lot more on what is our "Made in America"

reporting online and in particular the exploration of how some of the richest countries in the world are working together to wage war in one of

the underdeveloped.

Still to come, in a complex regional battlefield, more tragic deadly outcomes. Next, a look at the state of Syria's war.

[11:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): It looks more like a chain of tragic accidents, all circumstances because Israeli plane did

not take down our plane but certainly we have to seriously look into it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaking after Syria inadvertently shot down a Russian military plane killing all 15 people on

board. Now, earlier, Russia said Israel was to blame for putting the plane in this line of fire even though it was Syrian forces who actually fired

the shots. Why the blame game? Well these lights streaking across the night sky is video released by Syrian state media purportedly shows Syrian

air defenses repelling an Israeli strike.

Israel expressing sorrow about the loss of life. But says, Syria, quote, fired indiscriminately and did not bother to ensure no Russian planes were

in the air, end quote.

Well that's a deadly incident highlighting the complex network of regional and global players each taking a stake in Syria's war. I'm joined now by

CNN's Matthew Chance. He's in Moscow for you. And our Arwa Damon who is in Turkey. Let's just start with you in Moscow, Matthew. When we all

first heard this story, it sounded very convoluted earlier on today. Moscow pulling in the Israeli ambassador, just peel the pieces apart here.

I mean, I've explained what happened, but the kind of blame game that's going on does seem slightly remarkable.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it does although I think Vladimir Putin, the Russian President has moved to try and

ratchet down the tensions that have been mounting between Russia and Israel because of this incident. Initially the Russian defense ministry said that

the loss of the 15 lives, the 15 Russian servicemen on board that Aleutian 20 aircraft that was blown out of the sky by Syrian air defenses was as a

result of Israel's careless actions.

Of course, it came following an attack by Israeli war planes on targets inside Syria in the scramble that was launched by the Syrian air defenses

to intercept Israeli missiles. It seems that Russian plane was inadvertently taken down by one of the Syrian S200 Soviet era missile

defenses. And of course, that's led to an enormous amount of tension brewing between these two countries, Russia and Israel.

Russia now though saying that it seems to have been like a chain of tragic accidental circumstances that led to this and they're not -- they're

saying, of course, that the Israelis did not bring it down themselves. Nevertheless, it underlines the confusion, underlines the breakdown in

communication that happened clearly between the Israelis and the Russians. They've got the confliction lines that should've been used to communicate

the whereabouts of their various assets. But more importantly perhaps a breakdown in communications between the Syrians and the Russians. They

seem to have opened fire on these incoming Israeli missiles and accidentally shot this Russian plane out of the sky.

ANDERSON: This just what, less than 24 hours after we had a meeting in Sochi between the Russians and the Turks. Our Damascus welcoming a deal

struck in Sochi between Russia in Turkey to create a demilitarized buffer zone in northwest Syria. It lived province, of course, the last remaining

major rebel stronghold where an all-out assault had been feared. Turkey says diplomatic solution will prevent a humanitarian crisis on its borders.

As you digest the news on this demilitarized zone and you assess the implications of what we've seen overnight with this downing of this Russian

jet, where are we at this point?

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're in very uncertain and quite shaky territory, Becky. The critical thing is that

humanitarian catastrophe that so many aid organizations and players were warning about, that we would see transpiring in Idlib province should a

full-on assault have taken place. That at least for the time being seemed to have been averted. But I think for the time being is really the

operative part of that sentence.

Now, under this agreement you would have Russian and Turkish technical advisors trying to demarcate exactly where this demilitarized zone is.

It's expected to be about 15 to 20 kilometers wide.

[11:25:00] And under the agreement as far as we understand it, the more extreme elements within the fighting force that is inside Idlib province

would be pushed out of this zone along with any sort of heavy weaponry as well as tanks and other such military equipment.

What we understand from the Turkish side is that the moderate rebels -- as they call them -- would be allowed to keep some of their lighter weaponry.

And civilians would be allowed to remain. But there's still a lot of uncertainty with you talk to the Syrian population inside Idlib province.

Not the least because they've seen these types of agreements in the past and they have not necessary held all that strongly. Idlib, if you will

remember, was in fact, a de-escalation zone, but at is tame time it was still getting hit by a variety of different air strikes. This is such an

uncertain volatile situation, Becky, and unfortunately, the Syrian civilians know only too well that while these agreements take place, they

don't really have that big of a voice at the negotiating table.

ANDERSON: Matthew, Russia's entry into the Syrian conflict, fundamentally changed the dynamic of what was then a sort of four-and-a-half-year civil

war. At this point what is Russia's end game here? And why does Russia need Syria? Just remind us of where that argument stands.

CHANCE: Well, I think its end game is really the same as it was when they entered this conflict several years ago to bolster the forces of Bashar al-

Assad, the Syrian ally, the Syrian government in that country. They've brought unprecedented fire power to that battlefield in the form of their

air forces and missile strikes which have turned the tables in that conflict and led to enormous reverses. To the point where Idlib now, of

course, is the last province that is held by the rebels against the Syrian government. And so, this is a potentially crucial last moment.

But the issue remains the same. This is demonstrated to the world and to itself that Russia is a major player once again on the international stage.

That it can still shape the outcome of countries distant from its territory in the Middle East -- in this case Syria. And that it is back as a

military power. And that's the message Russia wanted to convey I think when it ended this conflict several years ago and it's been very successful

in achieving that aim.

ANDERSON: Matthew is in Moscow for you. Arwa in Turkey. And both have been in and out of Syria over what has been this 7-year bloody war.

All this hour we've been connecting you to these conflicts and the impact they have on the people that live there. Horror, day in and day out in

this region. Many decide to leave their homes in search of a better life. But they are, well, increasingly finding that doors are shutting to

refugees. And now the Trump administration has announced it will slash the number of refugees' admissions to record lows next year. This year's cap

of 45,000 will be lowered to 30,000 in 2019. That is down from 110,000 per year in 2017 during the Obama administration's last year.

You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Coming up, Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in hold a critical summit as North Korea lashes out at

the gangster logic. Said he's referring to the U.S. We're live in Washington after this.

[11:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Your top story this hour, the Saudi and UAE led coalition is now investigating the deaths of two children in Yemen after CNN reporting on

the airstrikes there. Our Nima Elbagir has been exploring the link between a U.S. arms and a war that critics say is deadly for civilians. U.S. arms

manufacturers Raytheon and Lockheed Martin haven't responded to requests for comment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): You can see here the moments before the planes arrived killing 21 people, 11 of

them children. This is part of the missile tail used in the attack. A weapons expert helped CNN trace it back to the U.S. made GBU-12 bomb,

manufactured by Raytheon.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The American president looks on, we turn now to the United States and three other big issues plaguing the President there. Donald

Trump, trade, tensions escalating with China, and North Korea blaming Washington for the stalemate in nuclear negotiations. But Mr. Trump's

biggest problem could be the one back home. His Supreme Court pick Brett Kavanaugh and his accuser will now both testify before the Senate Judiciary

Committee on Monday about allegations of a decades old sexual assault. Could Kavanaugh's nomination and that therefore of Trump be in jeopardy?

CNN's Suzanne Malveaux reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committing bowing to bipartisan pressure, scheduling

public testimony next Monday from Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh and the woman accusing him of sexually assaulting her at a high school

party.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST "NEW DAY": Will your client, Christine Ford be willing to testify in public to the judiciary committee?

DEBRA KATZ, ATTORNEY FOR CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD: The answer is yes.

MALVEAUX: Kavanaugh has forcefully denied the allegation by California professor \, Christine Blasey Ford. And the White House said Monday that

he looks forward to a hearing where he can clear his name of this false allegation.

SEN. ORRIN HATCH (R) UTAH: I talked to him on the phone today.

MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: And what did he say to you?

HATCH: Well he didn't do that. That he wasn't at the party, so, you know, there's clearly -- somebody's mixed up.

MALVEAUX: But Democrats are calling on the FBI to investigate the claims before the hearing.

SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D), CONNECTICUT: We're going to be asking those questions in the dark. We'll be shooting in effect blindfolded.

MALVEAUX: Senator Dianne Feinstein accusing the committee of rushing the process and repeating mistakes made in 1991 when Anita Hill also testified

days after she was identified publicly of accusing Clarence Thomas of a sexual harassment. The Justice Department signaling that they don't plan

to reopen Kavanaugh's FBI background check. For now, Republicans relenting and scheduling a public hearing after a dramatic day on Capitol Hill.

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R), U.S. SENATE MAJORITY LEADER: Democrats have spent weeks and weeks searching for any possible reason that the nomination

should be delayed.

[11:35:00] SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D), U.S. SENATE MINORITY LEADER: For two long women have made serious allegations of abuse and have been ignored or

dragged through the mud.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, Mr. Trump is strongly defending his Supreme Court nominee but choosing not to criticize Ford like he has with other sexual assault

accusers.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Judge Kavanaugh is one of the finest people that I've ever known. He's an outstanding intellect, an

outstanding judge respected by everybody. Never had even a little blemish on his record.

At the same time, we want to go through a process, we want to make sure everything is perfect, everything is just right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: CNN White House reporter, Stephen Collinson, wrote about the importance of Kavanaugh's testimony for the U.S. President.

He says and I quote, it will be a vital moment for Donald Trump whose ailing presidency cannot allow Kavanaugh to be the win that got away ahead

of midterm elections. That makes Monday's encounter even more politically significant.

Stevens a regular guest on the show. Our man in Washington as it were this hour out of Washington for you. Unusual reaction from Trump to this, isn't

it?

STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Yes, it is. I think it's interesting because normally you would expect when there was a controversy

of this type the President would be out there, sort of making inflammatory remarks and tweeting. The clear strategy from the White House as it was

actually laid out by Kellyanne Conway, the president's counselor, was that the California professor, Christine Ford, should be heard. She should be

respected and she should not be insulted. The White House is clearly trying to make this process as epic as it will be as least politically

painful as possible.

Now, I think the question here is can the President hold his tongue for another six days? He has a press conference later today, which it's

possible that he will be asked this. And of course, will he be able to keep his tweeting fingers under control as the intensity rises over what

this is going to be. A real massive national moment, a sort of seminal political moment with the added complications of the still unsettled

politics of the me-too era.

ANDERSON: Seminal political moment for Donald Trump. I'm pretty sure you and I have actually used that term before. And we will probably be using

it over the next couple of years. Look, the leaders of North and South Korea have wrapped up the first day of their summit in Pyongyang

recognizing the obstacles that of course lie ahead. But they were all smiles earlier as they waved to people along the streets. Talks covered

the stalled denuclearization talks with the U.S., North Korea media said Washington is totally to blame for the stalemate and accuses the U.S. --

and this was an interesting line, wasn't it? -- of gangster logic. How will Trump see this as a win? Because he's likely to make that of it,

isn't he?

COLLINSON: Certainly. I mean, Donald Trump defines things that happen in the world in a way that are advantageous to him whether they look like an

alternative reality to everybody else. I think what's really interesting here is obviously the timing of these North Korea accusations as you see

those amazing pictures of the two leaders, it looks like Kim Jong-un is trying to drive a wedge between the United States and South Korea, a

classic South Korean tactics.

And I think we've also seen in recent weeks good evidence that he's trying to sort of peel off the President himself from his much more skeptical

advisors, people like John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. You've had sort of fairly strong rhetoric going backwards and forwards between the

U.S. and North Korea, but you had that letter that Kim Jong-un sent to the President. The President then went on Twitter and warmly praised Kim Jong-

un. It was a very interesting report in "The New York Times" yesterday saying that Kim has continued his nuclear and missile development but is

doing it quietly. Because he understands how important it is for Donald Trump to have the perception of a big political win here with the North

Korean diplomacy. Trump is already trying to organize a second summit before the midterm elections even in November. So, Kim realizes how

important this is for Trump to call this a win and it looks like that's what he's trying to do with this rhetoric.

ANDERSON: Well, his third problem, China striking back of course an escalating trade war in the United States. Beijing imposing tariffs of --

what -- 60 billion U.S. goods in retaliation to the announcement of the 200 billion worth of Chinese products tariffs. Let's have a listen to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[11:40:00] GENG SHUANG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY INFORMATION DEPARTMENT (through translator): China has no choice but to

retaliate against the U.S.'s measures. To firmly defend our legitimate rights and interests and safeguard the global free trade order.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: This was a campaign promise. He said he would go out and renegotiate. He said these countries were, you know, really making America

look bad and he's certainly not held back. His supporters will say he's doing exactly what he said on the tin.

COLLINSON: That's true. I think the President appears to believe that he is increasing U.S. leverage on China and that the U.S. economy is strong

enough and is stronger than China's economy so that he will eventually emerge the winner from this situation. It's not clear this is a strategy

that is pursued by the U.S. entirety of the U.S. government. Last week we heard an announcement that Treasury Secretary, Steven Mnuchin was going to

Beijing to try and end this dispute. Now the president turns around and puts on more tariffs. It's clear -- actually if you read the Bob Woodward

book that we've been talking about the last few weeks, tariffs is something that the President believes to the core of his soul and he's going to keep

pursuing that because it's something he believes more than anything else.

It's not clear that the President has a clear understanding of exactly what tariffs do though. He keeps talking about how money is going to roll into

the U.S. coffers. How China is paying the U.S. billions of dollars in tariffs, when of course, tariffs are actually, you know, paid by the U.S.

consumer when they buy Chinese goods. You're starting to see now just a few ripples of concern from business that the tariffs are already hitting

into bottom lines and this I think is going to be a key issue there some of those key states in the midterm elections -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Well, the U.S. midterm elections, thank you, Stephen, now just 49 days away, and if you thought voters were divided in 2016, have a look

at this. This divided -- well, I guess you could describe it as a canyon. CNN went out to two counties around Atlanta, Georgia, that aren't

geographically far from each other but politically well they are worlds apart. CNN's Robyn Curnow explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): On the streets of Dekalb County, Georgia, the liberal message is loud and clear. People here are

fed up with the Trump administration and plan on voting for Democratic candidates in November.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm really scared of Republican right now. They're super racist. Nationally I want Trump out. I want the Democrats to take

over the House.

CURNOW: No surprise since four out of five people here voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I've been more disappointed than I expected I would be.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel like there's a moral vacuum that is insidious.

CURNOW: This county is also diverse. More than 50 percent of the people who live here are African American. At Hodgepodge coffee house we met

baker and barista, Dee Dee McNeil, who is also proudly liberal.

DEE DEE MCNEIL, BARISTA: I would say we're as divided as we could be.

CURNOW: Like many Democrats we talked to, she says she struggles to find common ground with Republicans.

MCNEIL: I've cut off complete ties with any of my friends who are somewhat even somewhat Republican.

CURNOW (on camera): So, you've cut off any friends or family who are Republican?

MCNEIL: Yes.

CURNOW: You can't have them in your life?

MCNEIL: No, I can't be around that person who doesn't understand how it affects me.

CURNOW: As you can hear, people in this part of Atlanta feel they have little in common with Republicans and they certainly going to vote against

this presidency. Just an hour away you have a community that is the complete opposite. And we're going to listen to what they have to say.

(voice-over): Even though Hall County, Georgia, is only about 80 kilometers away, the politics here could not be further from Dekalb County.

Nearly 75 percent of voters here supported Donald Trump in 2016. And many people I talked to at Pigtail's BBQ restaurant plan on supporting

Republicans again this election.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The one thing that I'm looking for in this next election and all future elections is a leader, somebody that can get people

from one side of the aisle to the other.

CURNOW (on camera): How divided is America?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would say it's quite divided.

CURNOW: Do you blame the President for that?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

SKIP NAVIN, REPUBLICAN VOTER: I don't like how Trump's been treated. I think he's a man of action.

CURNOW (voice-over): For some die-hard supporters of the President, provoking liberals has become a business. I met with Skip and Teresa Navin

who run a company making pro-Trump t-shirts.

CURNOW (on camera): What are some of the stuff you put on your t-shirts?

SKIP NAVIN: White racial issues. We live in Hall County, this is all Georgia. I don't see racial issues here. But it's always talked about.

So there seems to be a divide that's been created. I'm not sure why.

TERESA NAVIN, REPUBLICAN VOTER: I am really tired of political correctness.

[11:45:00] I don't hate anybody but I don't like people calling me a racist or a bigot just because I'm a Trump supporter.

CURNOW: Do you find it difficult having conversations with Democrats?

SKIP NAVIN: I find it difficult reasoning with them.

CURNOW: Have you cut out any Democrats from your life?

SKIP NAVIN: No, but they certainly have cut me out.

CURNOW (voice-over): A political and personal gulf between Americans that is repeated across the country.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well, after an interview with Skip and Teresa Navin, they reached out to CNN to say a bit of a change of heart. They want to make t-

shirts for liberals too as well as the bridge the divide shirt. We're going to follow up for you on that story.

Live from Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Coming up, the race to find survivors of what is a horrifying landslide in

the Philippines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The rescue workers who are here say this is incredibly difficult and sensitive work.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: CNN's Alexandra Field on the scene of what is this rescue operation. Her report up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Well, this was the scene as super typhoon Mangkhut slammed the Philippines last weekend. But the worst was what would come next. The

torrential rain caused a massive landslide in northern Luzon Island. Rescue workers still racing to find the victims, as CNN's Alexandra Field

is at the site of that rescue operation. Have a look at this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: At the very top of the hill this is where the landslide started. The mud and dirt cascading down

the mountain here in Itogon, trapping dozens of people, many of them still missing. And this is also where a special rescue unit from the Philippines

is now doing their work. They're setting up a rope system so they can lower supplies down to other rescue workers. This rope system has also

been used to bring the bodies of victims back up the side of this hill.

That's the site of the disaster just down there. We're told that miners and their family members had taken shelter in a bunk house. They thought

they could ride out the storm safely there. The bunk house started lower down on the hill but when the mud and debris came ripping down that hill it

was pushed even farther. We are told that they're now finding bodies that were trapped inside the house and that they're also finding the bodies of

miners and family members that were thrown from the house.

These are people who all lived out here on the hillside in homes that are similar to that. They figured they couldn't weather the storm there and

that it would be better for them to move a bit lower down. The rescue workers who are here say this is incredibly difficult and sensitive work.

They don't want to make a misstep. They can't bring in heavy equipment. So, they're digging by hand and with the use of small tools like shovels

hoping that they'll hear someone down there. But it's been three days now, hope beginning to fade.

They say that this is an operation that could take days, weeks, even months to finish the work that has to be done so delicately. Up here on higher

ground there is a staging ground. It's where loved ones are waiting, hoping for some good news. In Itogon, Alexandra Field, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Good luck to them. Time for a quick break here. We will be right back.

[11:50:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GLENN WEISS, DIRECTOR: My girlfriend, Jan. Jan, you are the sunshine in my life. And mom was right, don't ever let go of your sunshine. You

wonder why I don't like to call you my girlfriend, because I want to call you my wife.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Academy Awards director, Glenn Weiss, receiving an Emmy for his work and he used his speech to propose to his girlfriend, Jan Svendsen. We

are happy to report that she said yes. That was one of many exciting moments at Monday night's Emmy Awards. Joining us with more on the

highlights our senior media correspondent, Brian Stelter in the house. You saw two people from SNL were hosting. Was it funny?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: It was OK. But I thought the best part of the night was that proposal and the way at the very and he

said at the end thank you to the Academy for helping him televise his proposal to the world. It was really a beautiful moment. I felt Colin

Jost, Michael Che, they kept the show moving, they mostly stayed out of the way. But what I thought was mostly interesting about their opening sketch

and their jokes this the show, is that this wasn't aimed at President Trump. You know, and a lot of these award shows liberal Hollywood takes

aim at Republican politicians. But instead at the Emmys most of the jokes were actually at Hollywood's expense. It was self-deprecating nearly one

year into the me-too movement Here's a taste of what Jost and Che said last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL CHE, CO-HOST, EMMY AWARDS: It is an honor to be here sharing this night with the many, many talented and creative people in Hollywood who

haven't been caught yet.

COLIN JOST, CO-HOST, EMMY AWARDS: This year the audience is allowed to drink in your seats. Hope you're excited about that. Yes, because the one

thing Hollywood needs right now is people losing their inhibitions at a work function.

Netflix of course has the most nominations tonight. That's right and if you're a network executive that's the scariest thing you can possibly here.

Except maybe, sir, Ronan Farrow is on line one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

STELTER: Very true. Farrow responded by saying hey, I'm not that unpleasant on the phone. But I thought the jokes that were self-reflective

looking at Hollywood were useful. They were -- they were refreshing because often times these events are all about self-congratulation. And

yes, there was plenty of that. But Hollywood still has a lot of reckoning to do about abuse of power, about treatment of women, about representation

in the media. So, it was good to hear those topics come up.

And case in point, this was the most diverse nominee lineup at the Emmys ever and yet most of those people of color who were nominated, many of the

women who were nominated were looked over, were passed over. So, it is an example of how the TV industry might be looking inward and that's a good

thing but still has a lot to do to actually be fully representative.

ANDERSON: Yes, you're absolutely right. So too the winners who came out top in the end?

STELTER: We saw HBO and Netflix competing all night and they actually tied by both winning 23 awards at this year's Emmys. So, what you see is the

power of streaming TV coming to the forefront. On those same lines, Amazon had a big night for their comedy, "The Marvelous Mrs. Meisel". Which I

feel like I now have to watch. It's winning so many awards in this age of peak TV when there are hundreds of shows that might be deserving of awards.

These events are useful because it helps you figure out what people inside Hollywood think are the most deserving. What are the best shows. So, that

was a big winner "Game of Thrones" won for best drama. And we also saw a few new shows highlighted like HBO's "Barry", which won two awards early in

the night.

[11:55:00] So, there wasn't any single dominant winner. We saw a lot of different awards for a lot of different TV shows which reflects this very

busy, broad world of television right now.

ANDERSON: Doesn't it just. Brian, always a pleasure. Thank you, sir.

STELTER: Thank you. Thanks.

ANDERSON: Well, we have got time this evening before we close this show for our parting shots. You'll be happy to hear which is tonight video of

Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro, feasting on pricy steaks and smoking cigars at what is a fancy restaurant in Istanbul Monday night. Well, that

video is drawing condemnation in the midst of his country's food crisis. Mr. Maduro and his wife here eating at the restaurant of the celebrity chef

known as "Salt Bay" for his signature seasoning of steak. Venezuela's opposition says the meal is proof of the President's disregard for his

country's mounting humanitarian crisis. Rampant inflation, higher food prices, have forced many Venezuelans, as you all know, to skip meals, a

practice that is being called the "Maduro diet".

I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD for those who are new with CNN. Up next, it's the "EXPRESS" of course but thank you for watching.

Join us the same time same place tomorrow.

END