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Trump Supporters Laugh, Applauded as President Mocks Ford; "New York Times" Reports Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes; Death Toll from Earthquake and Tsunami in Indonesia Raises to 1,407; U.S. and Chinese Warships Came Close to Colliding; Theresa May Dances, Defends Brexit Plans in Fiery Speech; Fan Bingbing Admits to Tax Evasion, to Pay Hundred and 30 Million in Fines; Messi, Kane Meet in Group B Action at Wembley. Aired 11- 12p ET
Aired October 03, 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)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What neighborhood was it in? I don't know. Where's the house? I don't know. Upstairs, downstairs,
where was it? I don't know. But I had one beer. That's the only thing I remember.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: A change in tone as the U.S. President takes aim at an alleged sexual assault victim. Donald Trump's comment about
Christine Blasey Ford causing an outcry, and this on the day his tax affairs made a headline splash. The very latest on both of those stories
ahead this hour.
Also, the death toll jumps again in Indonesia as the full extent of the devastation there becomes apparent. A report from Palu in just a moment.
And --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(Theresa May dancing as she makes an entrance)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, making an entrance. A defiant Theresa May defends her Brexit plan to her party. How convincing was she? We are in London this
hour.
Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson live from Abu Dhabi for you. It is 7:00 in the evening here. It's 11:00 in the morning
on the East Coast of the U.S.
As the nomination of his Supreme Court pick hangs in the balance with a critical and highly sensitive FBI investigation as you are well aware,
still underway. Donald Trump has gotten off the sidelines as it were, coming out swinging at Brett Kavanaugh's accuser. The U.S. President fired
up his supporters at a rally in Mississippi, throwing them red meat by mocking Christine Blasey Ford. Just days ago, he called her, and I quote,
a very credible witness after she testified about an alleged sexual assault. Well, that was then. This is now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: How did you get home? I don't remember. How did you get there? I don't remember. Where is the place? I don't remember. How many years ago
was it? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. What neighborhood was it? ? I don't know. Where is the house? I don't know.
Upstairs, downstairs, where was it? I don't know. But I had one beer. That's the only thing I remember.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That attack came just as a report emerged that appears to undercut Mr. Trump's self-made billionaire success story. "The New York
Times" says he took part in dubious tax schemes and outright fraud to greatly inflate the fortune he inherited from his parents. Well there are
a lots to cover for you. Let's get right to it with two of our best in Washington. Stephen Collinson, Kara Scannell. Let's talk about Trump's
behavior last night, Stephen, if we can, before we move on to these allegations in "The New York Times." Several key Senators, Stephen, who
will vote on Kavanaugh's nomination are speaking out today, sharply condemning Mr. Trump's mockery of Dr. Ford. Let's just have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. ANGUS KING (I), MAINE: For the President last night again to use this as an applause line in a political speech, and even to mischaracterize it.
I mean, he talked about she can't remember where the house was and all the mocking, she can't remember. What she did remember was being pushed into a
room, pushed on to a bed, someone on top of her trying to take her clothes off, putting his hand over her mouth. And she remembered that it was Brett
Kavanaugh.
SEN. JEFF FLAKE (R), ARIZONA: There is no time and no place for remarks like that. But to discuss something this sensitive at a political rally is
just, it's just not right. It's just not right. I wish he hadn't have done it. I just say it's kind of appalling.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And Stephen, to underscore what these senators are suggesting, the mere fact that Donald Trump, the leader of the free world, mocks anyone
is, at best, un-Presidential. What is worrying here? And we have seen this with the U.S. President before. Is this behavior which seems to throw
such scorn on women, on the #metoo movement, on anyone that he basically doesn't believe is on board with him.
[11:05:04] STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Right. And I think you can say the fact that Donald Trump managed to overcome his own
allegations of sexual assault in much the same way shows that this is tactic that actually works. Where this could backfire politically is that
Jeff Flake, who you saw there, and Republican Senator Susan Collins are two of the Republicans who hold the key to this nomination. And they have to
make a decision about whether they are going to vote and let Kavanaugh go forward and become a Supreme Court justice. This makes it that much more
difficult for them to do so if they are making their judgment on moral grounds rather than simply political grounds.
So that's where it could be a problem for the President. I think you can argue, as you do, that we have seen every standard of decorum and behavior
breached by this President, but also it does tend to work. The President of the United States can stand up at a rally and basically attack somebody
who is alleging sexual assault, who is deliberately putting himself on the other side of history than the #metoo movement and thinks there is
political advantage in that I think shows us the level to which American politics right now is being driven by tribalism and polarization more than
anything else.
ANDERSON: I have to ask you this. Is there political capital to have out of this sort of position that taking? We have to put it out there.
COLLINSON: I mean, I think there is. If you look at the way that Donald Trump has run his presidency, he hasn't tried to reach out to people who
didn't vote for him or people so soft on support of him. His entire political project is based on the views and the sentiments of the people he
was in front of at that rally last night and where he made those comments. Whether there is a strategy behind this, I think it's difficult to say. Is
the White House worried that the FBI's supplemental report will come out with some information that hurts Kavanaugh? Does it think that by
discrediting Christine Blasey Ford it can build momentum for a quick confirmation among Republicans? I think there is certainly a case in which
the Kavanaugh issue has really fired up Republicans, many of whom sort of Trump conservatives who weren't that keen to vote in the midterm elections.
And then there's also the possibility that when Donald Trump gets in front of his crowd, he wants to give them what he wants, and he is sort of
forgetting the restraint he previously had shown, even last week, calling Christine Blasey Ford's allegations credible. So, I think all of that is
sort of driving Trump's behavior here.
ANDERSON: Kara, Donald Trump lashing out at "The New York Times," and I have said that a number of times over the last two years. But this after
its explosive report about his finances. As you can see from this tweet, he is not calling it fake news. Instead, he says the paper is dredging up,
quote, a very old boring and often told hit piece on me. Now, his lawyer says the allegations in this "New York Times" piece were 100 percent false
and highly defamatory. Doesn't do much for the image though. This image of a self-made brilliant billionaire, the dealmaker, the arch negotiator.
KARA SCANNELL, CNN REPORTER: No, I mean, "The New York Times" story really challenges this self-made billionaire story that Donald Trump has repeated
very often. Often during the campaign trail where he said he received a $1 million loan from his father and turned it into a multi-billion-dollar
business. And what the "Times" story is revealing is that in fact Donald Trump was involved with his father in crafting some of these, "The Times"
calls them dubious tax schemes, some of them outright fraud. Which protected his father's wealth and then enable the transferred of that
wealth to Donald Trump. According to the "Times" review of thousands of pages of financial records and 200 tax returns belonging to Trump's father
and related companies found a significant amount of money was going to Trump even as early as when he was a toddler. When he was 3 years old. He
was receiving $200,000 a year when he was 8 years old he was a millionaire. And so, what "The Times" has revealed is that over the years Trump has
received himself over $400 million from his father. And when his businesses got into trouble, some of those casinos that ran into trouble in
New Jersey, his father was there to help bail him out. So "The Times" really is casting a lot of doubt on this claim that Trump is a self-made
billionaire.
ANDERSON: Yes, and that's the claim, isn't it? And that is what this article ultimately is disputing. Because, in the end, some might say lucky
him. You know, born with a silver spoon in his mouth as it were. Is there anything that raises legal questions that is -- I mean, we are told by the
lawyer that this is highly defamatory, 100 percent false. Anything that suggests that Donald Trump has broken the law?
[11:10:00] SCANNELL: Well, "The Times" say that they have found specific instances which they have run past accountants who have said that they are
-- that it is outright fraud, that these were fraudulent transactions. The issue here is that the statute of limitations to bring criminal charges has
long passed since a lot of these transactions were done in the '90s, 20 years ago. Whether Donald Trump or his siblings face any sort of criminal
action is not really on the table here. What the possibility is, is that there could be civil fines and the New York state tax department is taking
a look at the allegations and "The Times" story and says they're going to dig into them.
ANDERSON: To both of you, always a pleasure. Thank you.
Donald Trump just tweeting this regarding the Blasey Ford outcry that Stephen and I were discussing. I see it each time I go out to rallies in
order to help some of our great Republican candidates. Voters he says are really angry at the vicious and despicable way Democrats are treating Brett
Kavanaugh. He and his wonderful family deserve much better. End -- without an exclamation mark actually which is almost unique. Well at the
same rally in South Haven, Mississippi, Donald Trump went on to criticized an important U.S. ally, Saudi Arabia.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: We protect Saudi Arabia. Would you say they're rich? And I love the King. King Salman. But I said, King, we're protecting you. You might
not be there for two weeks without us. You have to pay for your military. You have to pay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And just a reminder, Trump's first official trip abroad was to the kingdom and that was in May of last year where Mr. Trump signed a
nearly $110 billion defense deal with the Saudi government.
The death toll from the massive earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia has grown to more than 1,400 people. And we are seeing more of the sheer power
of the twin natural disasters. This drone footage shows what remains along the shore of Donggala.
First responders have only just reached the area. Rescue and recovery efforts continue. Here workers are sifting through rubble at the Roa Hotel
in Palu. Unfortunately, instead of finding survivors, they are bringing out victims in body bags. And there is growing frustration that the
government's response to the tragedy and officials say there is an urgent need for food, water, and medical supplies. And this is Indonesia's
President, who has surveyed some of the damage. CNN's Matt Rivers is in Palu and he filed this report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The aid operation finally appears to be growing here on Sulawesi island days and days after this earthquake
happened. The government response does appear to be increasing. More planes are landing. Those planes have aid and then they're taking people
who need to be evacuated out. Ships have arrived bringing aid. They're also going to take people out. More rescue equipment has been brought to
this part of Indonesia to help with operations like behind me here where people could still be trapped, even alive, five days after this earthquake
happened.
However, there still remains a ton of frustration with the Indonesian government. You talk to people in these camps that have been set up for
the people homeless after this event and they will tell you they are frustrated by a lack of drinking water, electricity, food, hygiene, health
care, the list goes on.
As for the death toll, it continues to go up. And the reason for that is that they keep finding bodies in places where it's been difficult to look.
We saw that firsthand today in a village that was the victim of what's called liquefaction. So, during this earthquake, the ground underneath 744
homes that were subsumed by the earth. Basically, the ground became like liquefied, it had qualities of a liquid. Which means everything on top
sunk below. So, these homes were essentially buried in the mud. We saw that today, and it just becomes all the more worse when you think about
people are still buried in there and authorities are still trying to reach them.
So, yes, the aid is increasing. Rescue operations continue. But do expect that death toll to continue to rise. It will continue to rise as
authorities continue to just understand the full scope of this problem. I'm Matt Rivers in Palu, Indonesia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: We have seen a devastating sequence of natural disasters in Indonesia. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami. But Wednesday also saw
the eruption of the Soputan volcano, also on Sulawesi Island. Did the earthquake trigger the earthquake? Did the earthquake trigger the volcano,
or are these geological events unrelated? We know a man who can give us the answer on that, Chad Myers [11:15:00] in the house in the weather
center to explain. Tell us.
[11:15:03] CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Well, you know, a weatherman can't do anything without a percentage of chance of rain or chance of snow.
But I really do believe that the percent chance that this had anything to do with each other probably less than 5 percent. It's not zero, but
they're on two completely different faults. The fault here that goes through Palu goes to the north and to northwest. And the subduction fault
-- a completely separate fault altogether -- is about 500 kilometers away from where that volcano blast.
So here is where our fault happened. There's where our Matt Rivers is right under basically the epicenter of that in Palu right through there.
Right along that fault line, that's where the aftershocks are as well.
Now we travel 500 kilometers here to the northeast and you finally see the volcano. There it is. And on a completely separate and, I would say,
unrelated fault line. So here we go. This is what we had. We had a slip strike fault. That slip strike fault is what we had, and what happens, the
landslides against each other. That is OK. That's what we expected from this earthquake. You get that sliding back and forth, not expecting the
tsunami. But something happened under the ground like under a sea, subsea landslide that created water movement somehow.
The way water usually moves is when you have the subduction zone and the volcano here and this area right through here begins to pop to the north or
up just up above the surface of the earth, even possible here. Some of the areas around the Banda Sea earthquake and tsunami may have moved as many as
60 meters up or down. So that's what we expect here. We didn't see that, but we did see the volcano and the tsunami all come together likely
unrelated, but we'll keep watching that -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Chad in the house, thank you, sir. And if you'd like to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia you know where
you can go. If you're a regular viewer this will be no news to you. If you're not, well that's CNN.com/impact. There links to organizations who
are working to bring relief. And that relief is need.
Well a U.S. warship could have been seconds away from crashing into a Chinese destroyer that challenged it last weekend. That is from a former
U.S. Navy Captain who reviewed these photos obtained by CNN. Now the Navy says "USS Decatur" was about 40 meters away from the Chinese ship the
Landzu. Officials say the Decatur made a last-minute maneuver to avoid a collision near the disputed Spratly Island. But there is a divide between
how the U.S. and China portray the incident. Ryan Browne at the Pentagon. Do explain, Ryan.
RYAN BROWNE, CNN PENTAGON REPORTER: Well Becky, the United States Navy has long kind of conducted what they call freedom of navigation operations.
Now they sail U.S. warships into the waters around some of these features that China has converted into man made islands and put military facilities
on top of. So, we're seeing this kind of rising tensions as the U.S. continues to try to do these freedom navigation operations, sailing in
there. But China very much sees these islands as their territory, they're very sensitive military locations from the Chinese point of view.
So, you're seeing the Chinese continuing to challenge the U.S. when they do this. Sometimes it's radio to radio communication. Sometimes it's
warnings. In this case, we saw that this Chinese destroyer sailed very close in front of the U.S. warship, coming about 40 meters or so, which in
naval terms is very close. That's something that's considered very dangerous. So, the United States very much putting this imagery out now to
say, hey, this was close. We need to avoid these kind of confrontations.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Ryan, thank you.
Still to come.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Not betray the result of the referendum and we will never break up our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well some are calling it Theresa May's best ever speech, but amid growing calls for her to resign, will it be enough to save her job?
Analysis after this.
[11:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May dancing on to the stage ahead of what was a crucial speech, poking a bit of fun at herself there.
Those moves have been dubbed the May bot. You might remember them from her recent trip to Kenya. And what a difference a year makes. Last year
Theresa May's world seemingly crumbling apart during that very same conference speech. Signage falling off the wall, a failing voice and a
heckler handing her a P-45 slip. That's what you get when you are being made redundant or being laid off in the U.K.
This year arriving on the stage with flair, appearing confident and relaxed. She wasted no time fiercely digging into her critics and boldly
maintaining her commitment to what is known as her Chequers Brexit plan. Explaining why she will not scrap they are proposals as many in her party
have urged her to do. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAY: If I did that, I would weaken our negotiating position and have to agree to whatever the EU offers. And at the moment that would mean
accepting one of two things. Either a deal that keeps us in the EU in all but name, keeps free movement, keeps vast annual payments and stops us
signing trade deals with other countries, or a deal that carves off North Ireland, a part of this country effectively leaving it in the EU's customs
union.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Freddy Gray is the deputy editor for "The Spectator" magazine. He joins me from London. Freddie, nothing new particularly in the speech
she made, but she made that speech with confidence, with passion. This lady is not for turning. Might have been her payoff. Is she out of the
woods?
FREDDIE GRAY, DEPUTY EDITOR, THE SPECTATOR: Well, I don't know about out of the woods. I mean, it was certainly a confidence speech. I don't want
to be critical of anyone who dances on stage ever. But I do think the trouble with Theresa May, particularly at the moment, is that she suffers
from what we call the soft bigotry of low expectations. The reason we think the speech was good this year was because her speech last year was so
catastrophically bad.
But she got out of the woods in the sense that everybody is saying she bought herself enough wiggle room to survive another week. But we seem to
be saying that about her every week and it's slightly worrying.
ANDERSON: Well, minutes before this address that she made today, and we are going to talk about her dancing, her moves momentarily, but before the
address a Tory MP -- that's a conservative MP -- sent a letter of no confidence calling for Mrs. May to resign. Now James Duddridge says that
he is normally a loyalist, never voted against the government, but in the letter, he writes, and I quote. There comes a point that blind loyalty is
not the right way forward.
[11:25:00] Now, Freddy, it may address some of the mounting concerns, saying that she would continue acting in what she felt was the best for the
national interest and urged people to come together. Has she quashed some of the fears within her party, do you think, about where she is taking the
country? Because we know there is a civil war going on within the Tory Party. But if we get out wider than that, did that speech do anything to
sort of convince those naysayers in her party that she is on the right course?
GRAY: I am not sure it does. I mean, I think having spoken to a lot of people who were there, I think a lot of people sort of felt slightly
buoyed. People always do after a good leader's speech. But I think there still lingering doubts that she doesn't know quite how she's going to get
herself out of her Chequers quandary. And it's interesting she didn't use the c word in her speak. She said she was sticking by her proposal. She
didn't say the word Chequers, because the word Chequers has become so toxic now. Because everybody knows that it's pretty much dysfunctional.
ANDERSON: British lawmakers are having a torrid time with their EU counterparts, of course, over Brexit. Freddy, it's a rare day indeed then
when the British Prime Minister gets lauded by a European. But that is exactly what one Swedish diplomat has done. The Swedish ambassador to
London or to the U.K. tweeting this. I can only say bravo to Theresa May for starting her conference speech with Abba's "Dancing Queen." What did
you make of the moves?
GRAY: I was quite impressed by the moves. Actually, I was quite impressed by her moves in Africa not so long ago. I thought she got a very hard time
for it. And she has a reasonable sense of humor. I think she can dance. The question is, if she can walk her way through Brexit, then we'll have to
stand up and give her a round of applause.
ANDERSON: That's a great line. That is a great line because, Freddy, I really don't think that many people will agree with you that she is a good
dancer. But the beauty of today was that she clearly was taking the McKee out of herself. Let's get back to the serious stuff.
GRAY: You haven't seen me dancing.
ANDERSON: I did wonder about that. Maybe you can send me something and we can make it go viral on CNN. Who knows?
GRAY: Absolutely not.
ANDERSON: No, no, no. Let's not go down that road. No, no, no, absolutely. Tuesday, Boris Johnson, of course, gave a speech at the event
which many saw as an audition for Mrs. May's job. He attacked the Prime Minister's Brexit strategy urging her to chuck Chequers. Here is what he
said about her plans. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, FORMER BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: It is dangerous and unstable politically and economically. My fellow conservatives, this is
not democracy. That is not what we voted for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: He stopped short of an outright challenge to the leadership of Mrs. May yesterday in his speech. What does he want at this point, do you
think? What is he trying to do?
GRAY: I think not many people are willing to. But I think you have to take Boris Johnson on his word. Which is that he wants Brexit to work for
Britain. And he doesn't think that the Prime Minister's plan will work for Britain. And I think in terms of the speech, whereas May, you know,
surprised everyone by giving a good speech, Boris Johnson does have the kind of charisma and the force of personality to inspire the party. And a
lot of members feel inspired with they hear Boris. As for May, the best they can say is, oh, well, that wasn't too bad.
ANDERSON: Freddy, a joy having you on. Thank you, sir. Freddy is the deputy editor of "The Spectator" magazine out of London. Live from Abu
Dhabi, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Coming up, friends of this prominent Saudi newspaper columnist are worried about his
whereabouts and will tell you why after this.
[11:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson for you in Abu Dhabi. It is 7:32 in the evening here. A quick
recap of our top story for you. And some key senators on Capitol Hill in the States are criticizing Donald Trump for mocking an alleged sexual
assault victim. U.S. President attacked Christine Blasey Ford at a campaign rally last night while his supporters laughed and cheered. The
FBI is investigating Ford's claim that Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh assaulted her at a house party decades ago.
A prominent Saudi newspaper columnist has disappeared after entering Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday. That is according to his
fiancee, Jamal Khashoggi went to the diplomatic mission as we understand it to pick up official paperwork needed in Turkey in order to get married.
However, a Saudi official tells CNN while Mr. Khashoggi visited the consulate, he exited the facility shortly thereafter. CNN's Jomana
Karadsheh is in Istanbul. Earlier she went to the Saudi consulate and spoke to Jamal's fiancee. What did she tell -- Jomana?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, as you mentioned, Becky, we were there a short time ago and I spoke to the fiancee of Jamal Khashoggi
who was really visibly tired. She had been outside the consulate for more than 24 hours and she was very emotional about this whole situation.
Really desperate to find out any information about his whereabouts, what may have happened to him.
At one point she broke down in tears, Becky, saying that she feels that she is to blame for this situation because they have been engaged for a month.
They have been together for four months. And the only reason he went to the Saudi consulate was to obtain a piece of paper that is required by
Turkish authorities here from foreigners to get from their home countries that would allow them to get married, to prove that he is single. And he
was a bit reluctant, she said, for some time about this visit, about going to the consulate.
But finally, on Friday he decided he had to do this. He went to the consulate and she says after he left he was only there for a couple of
hours because he had to catch a flight for the weekend. She said he felt a bit more comfortable about this whole situation. He said he was welcomed
by officials there at the consulate. So, he felt fine, she says, about going back on Tuesday after he returned from his trip to try to obtain this
piece of paper. At 1:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, he went into the consulate. She waited for him outside.
[11:35:01] He left his phone with her. That's obviously a standard practice in many countries when you go into embassies. And she hasn't
heard from him since. A close friend of Khashoggi who is also the head of the Turkish/Arab Media Association here says they notified authorities
after the consulate shut down on Tuesday. And that police, he says, have inspected and looked through surveillance footage from the area and they
say they saw him going in but they don't see him going out. And that is very different, you know, a very different, you know, events that we are
hearing about from the Saudi authorities. As you mentioned a Saudi official telling CNN that he did visit the consulate, but he left
afterwards.
ANDERSON: Jomana Karadsheh on the story out of Istanbul in Turkey today.
Let's get you up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. Iraq's new President has appointed a veteran Shiite
economist as Prime Minister designate. President Barham Saleh is called upon Adel Abdul Mahdi to form a new government. Now, the constitution
gives him 30 days to accomplish that. U.S. officials congratulating the Prime Minister designate and promising their support.
Soccer superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo, is denying accusations that he raped a woman nine years ago in Las Vegas. On Twitter he wrote, rape is an
abominable crime that goes against everything he believes in. But he adds, he will not feed what he calls a media spectacle. Kathryn Mayorga says
Ronaldo assaulted her and she was later paid to stay silent.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has just said Washington is terminating a 1955 treaty with Iran. This after the U.N.'s top court used that Treaty
of Amity as the basis for a ruling. Saying the U.S. must lift sanctions against Iran if they affect anything required for humanitarian needs or
aviation safety. The International Court of Justice said Washington must ensure the sanctions, which get tightened, of course, next month, don't
affect those sectors.
It's a mystery that has captivated the entertainment world. Where is Chinese superstar actress Fan Bingbing? Well it's been three months, and
we now finally have word of what is going on. The Chinese actress is involved in a major tax evasion scheme. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout has the
rest of the story for you.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the international spotlight at the Cannes Film Festival in May, and then
suddenly out of it. Fans heard very little of Fan Bingbing when she suddenly dropped off the radar in June until now.
The Chinese superstar has released a statement on social media apologizing for tax evasion. She writes, I shouldn't have lost self-restraint or
become lax in managing my companies which led to the violation of laws in the name of economic interests.
Those economic interests are now costing Fan the equivalent of nearly $130 million in taxes and fines. She's admitted to using so-called yin-yang
contracts for films. Meaning she signs an official contract for a specified fee which she reported to the authorities, but then signed
another bigger one without reporting it.
One alleged ying yang contract was first leaked on social media in late May. She denied it. But tax authorities urged investigators to look into
the practice more broadly. She disappeared after a trip to a children's hospital in Tibet in June. And there was widespread speculation she had
been detained. China watchers believe the authorities are using the superstar to send a strong message to others.
RYAN FERGUS, ANALYST, AUSTRALIAN STRATEGIC POLICY INSTITUTE: The authorities have taken this opportunity to kill a chicken to scare the
monkeys, as the Chinese saying goes. So, it clearly has been an endemic problem of tax evasion in the entertainment industry.
It serves as a warning to the rest of the entertainment industry that they need to get their tax affairs in order.
LU STOUT: Tax authorities have said that companies and individuals in the film and TV industry who rectify their behavior by the end of the year will
avoid punishment. Because she is a first-time offender, the government says Fan has avoided jail time for now. She's also made it very clear
where her loyalties lie. In her statement, she says, without the good policies of the Communist Party and the state, without the love of the
people, there is no Fan Bingbing.
Kristie Lu Stout, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:40:00] ANDERSON: Live from Abu Dhabi, you are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[speaking foreign language]
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Japan looks to grow its influence in Egypt with big investments in education. Details on that up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're watching CNN and CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. Welcome back, 7:42 here.
This weekly been exploring the increasing influence that Japan is having across the Middle East. Youth employment or unemployment a major challenge
in some parts of this region, and with one of the best education systems in the world, Japan now transferring its know how hoping to make a dent in
what is a high jobless rate. Ian Lee has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KHOULOUD (text): My name is Khouloud. It is nice to meet you and I'm a student at E-JUST.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Apologies. Seem to have a technical glitch on that. We will see what we can do. Perhaps we can bring you that tomorrow as we continue
to take a look at the Middle East looking East. This is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson. We will take a short break. Work ourselves out. Back
after this.
[11:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: In just a few hours London's Wembley Stadium will see a clash of the titans. On one side Lionel Messi often called the world's best player,
on the other, Harry Kane, often called the world's best striker. Kane's Tottenham set to play host to Messi's Barcelona in a Champions League group
B match. Barcelona winning their first group match on the back of a Messi hat trick. While Tottenham, well they came in needing a win after --
needing a win in this game after losing their first. Of course, football clubs are more than just one man beyond Kane.
Tottenham came into this match with a lengthy injury list I am afraid. Rhiannon Jones is at Wembley ahead of what is tonight's big match. This is
Champions League week once again. It had it two weeks ago, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. If you are an avid football fan, you are glued to these
screens. This picture has been billed as Messi versus Kane. Kane said he would love to one day emulate Messi's goal scoring record. Who do you
think will come out on top tonight?
RHIANNON JONES, CNN WORLD SPORT: Becky, first of all, you have to admire Harry Kane's ambitions there with those comments in the press conference
yesterday. But I've got to say Lionel Messi, because you have to look at those phenomenal numbers from the superstar. Of course, he has scored the
second highest number of goals in this competition, in the Champions League, behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He's already on eight goals so far this
season to add to his 500 plus goals scored during his illustrious career with Barcelona. 103 of those scored just in this competition.
And, well, you can't doubt that he is going to keep on going. He scored his eighth hat trick last time out in this competition. Harry Kane though
also impressing after a bit of a slow start this season. He's back scoring. He is on five goals so far this season. And he scored nine goals
in just 11 Champions League games.
Now, compared to Messi's, that doesn't seem an awful lot. But actually, it's the same average as Messi's per game. So, he's not doing too badly
but he still has a long way to go to reach those dizzy heights, those numbers, those impressive figures that Messi keeps on racking up. But he
has said that Messi is his inspiration. So perhaps tonight that will spur him on to score his own hat trick -- Becky.
ANDERSON: We'll see. We'll see. Any Spurs fan will be hoping for that. They will tell you that the last CL game was a very painful watch. Five of
Spurs' key stars out. But could this be a good time for Pochettino's team to spring a surprise, do you think?
JONES: Well, as good a time as any, Becky, because despite those injury woes, and also, I must add the fact that Spurs don't have much strength in
depth. Because they were in fact the first English Premier League side not to have a summer signing. So, they don't have much strength or depth to
add to all of those players -- the star players out injured.
But that said, Barcelona arrive here in London far from the best form because they have not actually won a game since that drumming 4-0 of PSV.
They've dropped seven points in as many league games. They conceded eight goals so far this season. As good a time as any for Pochettino's men, who
have a fantastic record in the group stage in this competition here at Wembley. Last season they won all three of their games in the group stage
here, scoring three goals, and they beat Borussia Dortmund and even champions, Real Madrid. So, who knows, in front of an 80,000 strong crowd
perhaps it can happen tonight.
[11:50:00] ANDERSON: Yes, they did. What a wonderful night it looks tonight in London. Good for you. Thank you for that. What time is it in
London? It is 7:45 here. It is 4:45 in the afternoon.
As we mentioned, soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is denying accusations that he raped a woman nine years ago in Las Vegas.
On Twitter earlier he wrote, rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything he believes in. But he adds he will not feed what he calls a
media spectacle.
Now Kathryn Mayorga says Ronaldo assaulted her and she was later paid to stay silent. We will be following that story very closely for you here on
CNN.
Getting back to that story this week that we have been exploring, the increasing influence Japan is having across the Middle East. Youth
unemployment is a major challenge in some parts of this region. And with one of the best education systems in the world, Japan transferring its
know-how, hoping to make a dent in the jobless rate. Let's give this a go again. Ian Lee with more.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IAN LEE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): At the Egypt Japan University of Science and Technology, or E-JUST, the Asian nation's
influence is everywhere. If you are undergraduate student at this university near Alexandria, learning Japanese is mandatory.
KHOULOUD MANSY, STUDENT E-JUST UNIVERSITY (text): My name is Khouloud. It is nice to meet you and I'm a student at E-JUST.
MANSY: It has the Japanese-style and we all know that Japanese is different from other countries in the world. They have a good technology
because we have the Japanese people with us. They -- they are supervisors. They have everything. It's good to have those people working with us.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Anybody want to try?
LEE: E-JUST is seen as vital to Egypt creating a knowledge-based economy. A sector needed to reduce a youth unemployment rate at more than 30 percent
according to the World Bank. Open in 2010, the university is already among the top in Egypt for research and innovation.
AHMED EL-GOHARY, PRESIDENT E-JUST: Supporting university a top-notch university in Japan, Tokyo University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and
this is including 15 Japanese universities. I believe that we don't have any excuse not to be number one in Egypt.
LEE: With state-of-the-art equipment from Japan, masters and PhD students are undertaking ground-breaking research. Mohamed Salem under Japanese
supervision is aiming to develop low-cost solar powered technology that can make fresh water from saltwater while producing electricity at the same
time.
MOHAMED SALEM, PHD STUDENT E-JUST: The problem is that the water crisis, we face right now, and the energy crisis, is that electricity is very
pricey. So, if we can manage to get fresh water, that would -- that doesn't cost anything but the initial cost and small operating fee, it
would be very beneficial for anyone.
LEE: With financial and technical assistance from Japan, Egypt is harnessing knowledge to create an economy of the future. Ian lee, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And tomorrow "MIDDLE EAST LOOKS EAST". From honest brokers to potential peacemaker. We will look at Japan's role in the Middle East
peace process.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NASR ATYANI, JAIPCO GENERAL MANAGER: The electricity here station is founded by Japan. This one founded by Japan. So, Japan is -- the role of
Japan is main role here in JAIPCO project.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. For our teams around the globe in Atlanta and Abu Dhabi, thank you for watching. Have a
good evening. CNN, of course, continues after this short break. Stay with us.
END
