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Police Used Tear Gas, Rubber Bullets on Protesters in Hong Kong; U.S. Commission Asks Hong Kong to Withdraw Extradition Bill; U.S. Thrashes Thailand 13-0 in Record-Setting Win; Sarah Netanyahu to Pay $15,300 to Settle Criminal Case; Japan's Prime Minister in Tehran to Intervene in U.S.-Iran Dispute; Jon Stewart Delivers Angry Speech to Congress; CNN Speaks to 9/11 First Responder; 40,000-Year-Old Wolf's Head Discovered in Siberia. Aired 11a-12p ET

Aired June 12, 2019 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[11:00:00] ROBYN CURNOW, CNN HOST: Great to have you along with us. I'm Robyn Curnow here in Atlanta. Lots of news to talk about.

So let's begin in Hong Kong where we know protests there have taken a violent turn. Police used tear gas and rubber bullets against

demonstrators who stormed barricades around the main government building. Now, this was the scene a few hours ago. Protesters threw items at the

police. We also know that 22 people were injured in all.

It's nighttime now, so this is the situation on the streets right now. As you can see, it's a lot calmer, although demonstrators remain out in force.

The protests began, of course, on Sunday over a proposal to allow extraditions to mainland China. The unrest forced lawmakers to postpone

today's debate on that bill. Now, the protesters appear to be digging in. Matt Rivers has been watching all of this unfold. You're there on the

ground, Matt. What's it like right now?

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Robyn, right now it's relatively calm. Maybe you call this the calm before the storm or in the eye of the

storm, whatever you want to call it, but right now behind me there's thousands of protesters on the other sides of these barricades.

So over the last couple of hours -- we can come a little bit closer here -- they've taken all kinds of barricades, here, here, here, and they've taken

basically a lot of tools and materials from a construction site nearby. Even taken down some of the bamboo scaffolding -- if we want to come this

way, Mark -- some of the bamboo scaffolding that Hong Kong is known for. They actually make bamboo scaffolding out of bamboo and they put them here,

kind of like spikes. You know, hoping to make life harder for the police officers that might ultimately calm and try and clear those protesters out.

If you want to follow me around this way, up over here you can see that would be the police line here. So this is a big highway right in the

middle of Hong Kong. It's Harcourt Road. It's right in the financial district. And that's the police line up there. So we're kind of in no

man's land at this point.

Protests were violent earlier today, but really since around 6:00, 7:00 things have calmed down and they've kind of stayed on either side here.

And so, both sides are kind of preparing for what comes next. What that looks like, we're not really sure. But it's clear that the protesters on

this side given the barricades they've set up, the fact they haven't moved, they are expecting the cops that are up over there to come down here at

some point and try and disburse them.

When they do that, if they do that, what does that look like, is tear gas used, are rubber bullets fired? Are pelicans used? It's all possible.

We've seen it all today. We're not exactly sure how this is going to play out overnight here in Hong Kong.

CURNOW: No, obviously it's late there. It's 11:00 p.m. The fact that this conversation, this debate over this bill has been postponed, what does

that mean? Does that mean that's a political kicking the can down the road by the Hong Kong authorities where they hope they can deal with this issue

in a less challenging time or is this really an example of the power of the people?

RIVERS: Could be both, frankly, depending on which opinion you have. I think for protesters they're looking at it as a temporary win, to be sure.

The fact is it was supposed to be debated today and it wasn't. And the reason is, is because there were tens of thousands of protesters out there

who made life hard for the legislators that were inside that building.

Now from the Hong Kong government's point of view, maybe they didn't want to exacerbate the situation, maybe they didn't want to make it worse.

That's all possible, but protesters certainly look at it as a temporary win. And it hard to see how it isn't a win for them because otherwise if

they weren't out there that debate would have gone ahead as scheduled.

So yes, it is kicking the can down the road, but it's also a win for these protesters at least right now. If you're looking towards the future,

though, I don't think anyone is under the impression generally that what happened today means this bill is never going to be debated again. Well

certainly aren't there. But it did have an impact today.

CURNOW: We've seeing these images of riot police. When was the last time we saw this kind of confrontation? How aggressive is this and how unusual

is that for Hong Kong in particular?

RIVERS: Yes, I mean, it is relatively unusual for Hong Kong. We did see some violence on Sunday evening into Monday morning here in Hong Kong after

that million-person march that took to the streets on Sunday that was largely peaceful. By all accounts almost entirely peaceful. There was

some violence on Sunday night, but if you're looking for the kind of large- scale violence that we saw in the afternoon today, you'd have to go back to 2014.

[11:05:00] That would be during the occupy movement, the pro-democracy movement that took to these same streets actually. For almost 80 days

these same streets were occupied by protesters, similar to the people we see behind us. That kind of violence we haven't seen for the better part

of five years now. Back then the reasoning was slightly different. The impetus for the protest was different but the outcome appears to be the

same. Now, how long this all lasts, whether police are going to allow protesters like them to stay, that's an open question at this point.

CURNOW: Matt Rivers there in Hong Kong. CNN will continue to monitor events where you are. Thanks, Matt. Great reporting.

So many countries are, of course, keeping an eye on that story, including the U.S. A Congressional commission on China has sent a letter to Hong

Kong's chief executive asking her to withdraw the extradition bill. Our next guest sits on that commission, Democratic Congressman Tom Suozzi is

joining us now from Washington. Hi, Tom. Talk us through what the commission has to say about these events. You've heard our reporter on the

ground. It's certainly very challenging times.

REP. TOM SUOZZI (D-NY): Well, Robyn, thank you so very much for having me on and thank you for the close attention you're paying it to what's going

on in Hong Kong right now. The eyes of the world need to see what's happening in Hong Kong. The people of Hong Kong are used to having

democracy and freedom and that's all being threatened now by the mainland. You know, for years we thought that China would become more and more like

us as they were exposed to democracy and capitalism in the West. And that's just not happening. And it's manifesting with the way they're

treating their own people in Hong Kong.

CURNOW: So what leverage does the U.S. have?

SUOZZI: The leverage we have, well, right now, all the talk is about trade, trade, trade, trade. That's all the American people are hearing

about in the United States right now, is the trade fight between the President and China. We need to do a better job of educating the United

States public about how China treats its own people, not just in Hong Kong but the Tibetans and the Uyghurs and everybody else. And also about what

their long-term plans are and we need to use the leverage that we have related to sanctions and the like to try to hold them accountable.

CURNOW: The human rights group, Amnesty International, says Hong Kong police have violated international law and actually made the situation

worse. We have the senior police superintendent. He was asked when -- is it OK for police to use force. This is what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KONG WING-CHEUNG, SENIOR SUPERINTENDENT, HONG KONG POLICE: Concerning use of force, I believe that if our officer is not encountering some threat

that they are probably may suffer from serious bodily harm or even our officers think their lives are being threatened. I don't think our

officers have any necessity to use any kind of force.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW: Well, our reporters on the ground have said that the riot police were aggressive. There are 22 people in hospital. This is an

administration that has not raised the issue of human rights very much, particularly with China. Is that -- is it too much to expect that they

will do so in this case?

SUOZZI: I don't think we're going to hear from the administration in the short term. It's really up to the members of the Congress that are paying

attention to this right now to bring attention to the human rights violations that are going on. The jailing of journalists in Hong Kong.

The rubber bullets and the tear gas that's being used today to try and hold people back. The torturing of people in concentration camps for the

Uyghurs. The way they've historically treated the Tibetans.

We need to bring all of this to attention because China has a plan for the next 30 or 50 years where they really want to dominate the world

economically, militarily, technologically, on air and in the oceans and space, and people don't really realize what's going on. They're only

talking about trade issues. And it's much deeper than that. This is a very dangerous strategic adversary that we're facing right now.

CURNOW: Yes, well, many in Hong Kong will say this bill was about Chinese encroachment on Hong Kong's democratic traditions. For the moment it has

been shelved in terms of the debate. This is not over, though.

SUOZZI: This is far from over. The idea of one country and two systems has always been in place and right now mainland is trying to encroach on

that and have the power to extradite people. And who knows how they'll abuse that power. They've done it in so many other instances when they

have the power. I think it would be a dangerous precedent if they were given that power to be able to extradite people at will. You'll see

political prisoners, you'll see journalists, you'll see others subjected to unfair treatment the way they're already doing in so many places throughout

the country.

CURNOW: So what leverage do you have there on The Hill? What can you do next beyond sending a letter?

SUOZZI: Well, right now we need to call attention to this. We need the American people to understand what's going on and build the political

support from both Democrats and Republicans to work together to hold China accountable, and if possible, put sanctions in place when we see them

violating human rights.

[11:10:05] We really need to get the attention of the administration, quite frankly. We need the members of the Congress and the Senate to work

together to bring it to the attention of the administration. We know it's going on but we need to put pressure on them.

OK. Thanks so much. Tom Suozzi, I really appreciate it. Great to have your perspective. Thanks so much for joining us here on CNN.

SUOZZI: Thank you, Robyn. Thank you very much.

CURNOW: So, the U.S. women's soccer team sends an emphatic message to the rest of the world after obliterating Thailand 13-0 in a record-setting

game. They are certainly the ones to beat. Now, those 13 goals are the most scored in Women's World Cup history. And now team USA, though, is

facing harsh criticism. They may have celebrated too much. Maybe even humiliating the opposition. That's the debate in some tabloids but the

U.S. women say they have nothing to apologize for.

So Don Riddell joins us now with more on all of this. I've just tweeted about this. Because I think, I don't know, what do you think? It's all

very well to have this conversation about sportsmanship. But don't you think there is a little bit of double standards here. Hey, the women have

done so well. They're powerful. And now they're sort of being told to be ladylike. Behave a little bit better. Is there a -- is this a false

debate?

DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: I think it's a fascinating debate and I think the American women's team should be celebrated for what they've done.

Of course they are taking a stand. They are growing the game in so many ways and they are inspiring teams like the Thai team. The question is,

should they have celebrated this much and is it a double standard? And I actually think it's very fair to criticize the American team for this.

Because if male players behaved in this way, they would have been criticized, too. If Neymar had done this --

CURNOW: What was the problem? They're running around, they're hugging, they're really, really excited. Why criticize that?

RIDDELL: It's because it gets to the point where the result is no longer in doubt. It gets to a point where it's obvious that one team is so much

better than the others. So we're not saying -- well the critics aren't necessarily saying they shouldn't have kept playing and they shouldn't have

kept scoring goals. It may well come to the point later in this group where they need a lot of goals if they're going to win the group.

CURNOW: Yes, so a differential can make a huge --

RIDDELL: Sweden could go out and do the same to the Thai team as well. The question is, does it become disrespectful to celebrate like that? Some

of these American players were scoring for the first time in a World Cup.

CURNOW: Yes.

RIDDELL: So, OK, perhaps. You can understand why they would be so excited. Megan Rapinoe, the captain, who's one player who has drawn

particular criticism because it's not the if first time she scored a goal or in a World Cup. And at 9-0 approaching double digits did she have to

celebrate in that way? Bouncing along the turf on her backside. And I make the point about Neymar and Ronaldo, if they had celebrated like that,

they would have been ridiculed. They would've been laughed at.

CURNOW: Oh, I don't know.

RIDDELL: They are ridiculed a lot. They are laughed at a lot. You see the way Neymar behaves where he's tackled and rolls around. Well a lot of

people are very critical of him. These top male players are not immune from criticism themselves.

CURNOW: But again, I'm playing devil's advocate here. But we've got kids who play team sports. So what do you say -- what is the message here, oh,

well, don't win too big. You girls have got to pull back if --

RIDDELL: Nobody is saying they should --

CURNOW: Oh, shame, let's take it down a notch. I have an opinion on this one.

RIDDELL: I can see your elevated. And I have an opinion too and I'm going to try and be very, very fair. I'm not seeing too much criticism that they

scored too many goals. The criticism is the way they behaved after those goals. And I make the comparisons to when men's teams have won big. So in

the Confederations Cup in 2013, Spain played Tahiti, obviously a mismatch. They won 10-0. It got to a point where the Spanish players where just kind

of respectfully high-fiving with each other.

You remember the World Cup in 2014 when the Germany's men's team thrashed the host Brazilian in the semifinal. That was against one of the biggest

teams in the world at home and they crushed them 7-1. They stopped celebrating after 4-0 or 5-0. Because it was kind of awkward and

uncomfortable. Now they were still trying to win the game of course. But the way you behave when you score a goal says a lot about treating your

opponent respectfully. You don't want to humiliate and embarrass them. It's OK to beat them.

And the Thai team to be fair, their coach said, you know what? This was a good experience for us. We'll learn from it. They're OK with it. But I

think some people felt that perhaps they just showed a lack of class. But that's not to say that this American team doesn't do great things for the

women's game and for women --

CURNOW: And about equal pay. And that's where it comes into it as well.

RIDDELL: And we're not taking any of that away from them. The critics absolutely recognize that. I think that's perhaps why people were

surprised they behaved in this way.

[11:15:02] Because they are good guys. You know, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan, you know, they are great role models. They do so much for women in

general and for the growth of their game. And, you know, they absolutely will be supporting a team like Thailand who don't have very much money.

And that's why it's so surprising.

CURNOW: I think from my point of view is that this criticism seems sort of shielded in the fact that they needed to be -- yes, you can celebrate but

should be a little bit more ladylike about it, a little bit more behaved. Just restrained. Don't be so emotional when you win. The concept this is

a debate about stereotypes about women out there, I think that's what concerns me. But as you say, these women are also fighting a very real

battle about equal pay. They are absolutely ahead of the game on -- in their field but they're not getting paid the same as men.

RIDDELL: It's very complicated.

CURNOW: And they're making a point about that as well.

RIDDELL: They are making a point about it. I mean, they made a point just by scoring 13 goals. The men's team in America didn't score 13 goals in

the last three World Cup tournaments they played in and they didn't even qualify for 2018. So it was kind of fitting that they got to the number

13.

It is a complicated subject. You know, we could go down a rabbit hole talking about where they get their money from and whether it's fair or not.

But there is no doubt that the American women's team makes a ton of money, millions of dollars for the U.S. soccer federation here. And they feel as

though they're not fairly compensated for it. That's what they're fighting for. And wherever they get to with it, it is a positive message that

they're sending out, for sure.

CURNOW: The other thing is, you know, some people might say they're just being American. Just sort of a national confidence that is -- that is kind

of endemic.

RIDDELL: An America first performance yesterday, for sure.

CURNOW: It was. You know, that's also an argument. So let's just talk about the World Cup in general, though. I mean I think it's in France,

there seems to be a lot of publicity and a lot of support behind this. It's not some sort of marginal tournament that people are sort of half

watching.

RIDDELL: I know, I mean so the Women's World Cup has been going since 1991 so it's still relatively new. It is getting bigger and better. It was

expanded to 24 teams for the previous tournament four years ago. And this feels like a turning point for the women's game. You know, earlier this

year we had Ada Hegerberg, the Norwegian player, recognized with a Ballon d'Or award. That was the first time that those awards had been given to a

women's player.

CURNOW: I remember. That was fantastic.

RIDDELL: You know, the game is definitely taking great strides. The audience figures are up. England play Scotland the other day and the

viewing figures were massive in the U.K. for that game. So clearly the game is taking great strides and is going places. But games like this

yesterday, U.S.-Thailand, show you the disparity between --

CURNOW: The players.

RIDDELL: Yes. You know, it is growing at different speeds in different parts of the world and, again, that is where the U.S. team have such a

great role to play because they're showing everybody what is possible.

CURNOW: And can lift everyone up with them.

RIDDELL: If you support women's spot. If you support women's football, if you encourage them to play and professionally and reward them for it, this

is what's possible. And other parts of the world are beginning to wake up to that. But these things take time.

CURNOW: Excellent. I think we can continue this debate over a glass of wine or something. Thanks so much, Don Riddell.

So coming up --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, FORMER "LATE-NIGHT" HOST: They did their jobs. 18 years later, do yours.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW: Former "Late Night" host and 9/11 first responders advocate, Jon Stewart, slamming an almost empty Congress on Capitol Hill.

Also, a long legal battle involving the Israeli Prime Minister's wife is ending in a plea deal. We're live in Jerusalem with the details on that

one.

And fair warning. The photos of this ancient discovery are actually really pretty gross. What this severed wolf head can tell us about years and

years of history. There you go. That's coming up.

[11:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: So the wife of Israel's Prime Minister has agreed to a plea deal over the alleged misuse of government funds. After months of negotiations,

Sarah Netanyahu will pay around $15,000 in fines and restitution if a judge accepts the agreement. The case involves catered meals delivered to the

Prime Minister's resident while a full-time chef was on staff. So let's get details from Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem. Oren, tell us more about

this.

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: So, in an indictment -- an amended indictment filed today in Jerusalem court here, it says that Sarah

Netanyahu, as well as the manager of the official Prime Minister's residence ordered some $50,000 of catered meals to the Prime Minister's

residence. In Israel that's a crime if there is a chef at the residence, which according to prosecutors there was.

This has been a case that's dragged on more than a few years, more than a few years I believe. And in this Sarah Netanyahu was charged with fraud a

year ago. After a long and drawn out process to get to a plea agreement, Sarah Netanyahu pleaded guilty to a lesser charge than fraud, the charge of

unfairly taking advantage of a mistake and agreed to pay back some $15,000. Most of that is restitution since those catered meals were ordered with

taxpayer dollars. And some of that is in additional punitive feet.

This case, though it has dragged on and certainly made headlines, is much smaller than the cases facing her husband, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin

Netanyahu, in his series of corruption investigations that's been going on for years now. Where does that stand? Well, the Attorney General Avichai

Mandelblit has said he intends to indict the Prime Minister on charges of bribery and breach of trust in three separate cases.

The original pre-indictment hearing was scheduled for this summer. That was delayed until early October and that's when we'll find out the Prime

Minister's lawyers will make their case as to why those should be lesser charges or that they should be all but dropped. And then Attorney General

will make a decision on an indictment. But the added time also gives Netanyahu time to pass an immunity law, essentially to shield himself from

prosecution. And that is why his lawyers, analysts say, have been trying to drag out this legal process, have been trying to delay the hearing even

more. And that's one of the key elements we're watch.

Because, of course, in the middle of all of this, Netanyahu has taken the country to elections for the second time this year. And it will be one of

the key questions, can he pass this immunity law with a right-wing religious coalition that he hopes to put together? So a lot going on here.

[11:25:00] Not only in terms of the legal questions against the Netanyahu family but the political questions that hang over those.

CURNOW: Yes, and it's certainly all intertwined. And what do Israelis have to say about this? Particularly all of this dirt that seems to be

attached to the Netanyahus?

LIEBERMANN: Those who don't like the Netanyahu family have found more here not to like about them. They've already decided that they're against Sarah

and Benjamin Netanyahu. And the guilty plea here for them is further evidence. Meanwhile, for Netanyahu's supporters and the supporters of his

Likud party, this is only former proof that the Attorney General is biased against the Netanyahu family, even though the Attorney General is an

appointee of Benjamin Netanyahu. And their opinion won't really shift, especially in this case. This is much smaller than the cases against

Benjamin Netanyahu. And perhaps if they change their mind, though I don't think that's likely, if they change their mind, they'll do it then when

those cases are resolved, if they're resolved.

CURNOW: Oren Liebermann in Jerusalem, we're going to leave it at that. Thanks so much, Oren.

So you could call this a story of rebirth. French President Emmanuel Macron says he will send a new friendship tree to the U.S. President Donald

Trump. The old tree died during a period of quarantine. This, of course, drew a lot of comparisons to the relationship between the two leaders.

Once blooming, then it appeared to wither. Well Mr. Macron warned against reading too much into this, he says the real symbol is that they planted it

together.

And now he's a man on a meditation mission. Can Japan's Prime Minister help reduce the tensions between the U.S. and Iran? We dig deeper into

that just ahead.

Plus, a prehistoric find in the Siberian wilderness could provide new clues about the ancient past. That story and so much more after this short

break.

[11:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: Thanks for joining us. I'm Robyn Curnow. So look at these images here. This was nearly four decades ago, Japan's Foreign Minister Shintaro

Abe arriving in Tehran with a mission to broker peace between Iraq and Iran. Now, somewhere off camera there is a young Shinzo Abe who is

accompanying his dad on that trip. Now, a generation later, Shinzo Abe is now Japan's Prime Minister and he's following in his dad's footsteps. Mr.

Abe arrived in Tehran just a few hours ago.

You see him here with Iran's President and his mission to smooth over the dispute between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran's nuclear program. It's

something many others have tried before. Well, Becky Anderson now takes a look back at those efforts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): The U.S. and Iran have always had a complicated relationship. They were close allies before the 1979

revolution. Remember, after all, they'd helped install the Shah as a dictator, replacing the Prime Minister the people had voted for, but once

the Shah was overthrown in the Islamic revolution, relations took a nosedive. Iranian students in revenge for what they saw as American

interference storming the U.S. embassy and taking dozens of American diplomats' hostage for more than a year.

The standoff only ended through Algeria brokering talks. Since then, they've barely said a word to one another directly. To get the Iran

nuclear deal signed, Oman stepping in as a back channel letting the two get together, but Obama left and Donald Trump came in and things got as bad as

ever. Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Iran deal, effectively killing it, and trampling over any sense of talking to Iran as a normal country.

But war-weary countries wanting to step in like Oman and Switzerland, stepping into their historic roles as indirect channels. And new players,

too, like Iraq, for one, caught in between a power vortex of Tehran and D.C., dispatching delegations to both capitals calling for peace. Qatar,

also a potential. It hosts a huge American base and shares a massive gas field with neighboring Iran. It could step in to help smooth things over.

Then there's Japan. It buys a lot of Iranian oil and of course is close to America.

Mr. Trump welcoming its Prime Minister's offer to mediate. Abe will become the first Japanese Prime Minister since the Iranian revolution to visit

Tehran, where he's expected to meet with the Supreme Leader. When it comes to the art of making a deal between Iran and the U.S. then it seems to may

take a lot more than two to tango. Becky Anderson, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW: So the big question then, can Japan broker peace between these longtime rivals? Let's bring in someone who can help us answer that. Ali

Vaez is the Iran project director for the Crisis Group and he joins us now from Washington.

[11:35:00] Great to have you here. So this is an extremely challenging mission. What is realistically possible, achievable here?

ALI VAEZ, IRAN PROJECT DIRECTOR, CRISIS GROUP: Good to be with you, Robyn. I think the best that we can expect the Prime Minister Abe to achieve in

this trip is a potential freeze in the cycle of escalation that we have witnessed between Iran and the U.S. in the past few months. Meaning that

U.S. has continuously ratcheted up sanctions, strangulating the Iranian economy in the past few months, and the Iranians have started to roll back

their compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal and they're also escalating in the region as we have seen with incidents in the UAE and the Persian Gulf

as well as Saudi oil pipelines.

CURNOW: Some of those were never proved to be Iranian-linked, but either way, what kind of preconditions do you think the Iranians would be locking

for before they would agree perhaps to talk to the U.S.? So far, they've said, we're not talking.

VAEZ: So there are two possible pathways for negotiations. One is a prisoner swap that the Iranians have offered back in April, but that is

preconditioned by the U.S. side that expects Iran to at least release several of the U.S. prisoners in Iran as a sign of, first of all,

seriousness and also goodwill gesture. Then there is the second path, which is negotiating over a better nuclear deal, a broader nuclear deal and

that is, I would say, preconditioned on the Iranian side by their requirement that the U.S., first of all, lift some sanctions or suspend

some sanctions because the Iranians would not negotiate with a gun to their head.

CURNOW: And this, of course, is from the Iranian side. The Americans seem intent on a different path, particularly under John Bolton. So let's talk

about Mr. Trump and what he wants here. He was in Japan just two weeks ago. We know that he's extremely close to Mr. Abe. Well, he plays golf

with him, so let's figure out whether that's extremely close or not, but either way, how do Iran's leaders view Mr. Abe? Do they see him as an

honest broker, as the direct conduit to the U.S. President?

VAEZ: Well, I don't think they consider him as totally neutral because obviously he is much closer to the U.S. than he is to Iran, but they

understand that compared to other mediators that you have mentioned in Becky Anderson's report, basically compared to Swiss or the Omani or the

Qataris, the Japanese have a unique position because they have a direct link to the President allowing them to go around the President's national

security team, who are not very keen on reaching a better deal with Iran but rather they are seeking to change the regime or enter into a military

confrontation with Iran.

And I think the fact that Prime Minister Abe announced his intention to visit Tehran when President Trump was in Tokyo is quite telling, and the

fact that he also had a conversation with the President on Monday of this week and he would see the President again in Japan towards the end of this

month for the G20 summit. So it's pretty clear that he's trying to be a direct mediator between President Trump and the Iranian leadership.

CURNOW: Yes, and also perhaps another example of how the State Department and the national security apparatus here in the U.S. has been sidelined and

you're seeing these sort of direct interpersonal kind of conversations. So with that in mind then, what is the -- what does the Japanese Prime

Minister in Japan -- why is it in their national interest to have this conversation?

VAEZ: Well, look, Japan relies on Middle Eastern energy imports for its energy security. It's not just the fact that Japan as a result of U.S.

sanctions has cut off its imports from Iran that matters here. Which is, in fact, hurting Japanese refineries in a very damaging way. But the

reality is if there is any kind of conflict in the Persian Gulf the price of oil will go up and Japan's import of oil and gas from other countries in

the region, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE, will also be interrupted.

And that is definitely something that Japan doesn't want to see. And, again, as you had in your report, I think there is also personal interests

here for Prime Minister Abe because his father failed to mediate between Iran and Iraq during the Iran/Iraq war in the 1980s and so I think it's

some kind of redemption if he can manage to de-escalate tensions at this critical juncture.

CURNOW: Politics is always personal, isn't it?

VAEZ: Absolutely.

CURNOW: And the personal is always political. Ali Vaez, thanks so much for your great insight there. Thank you.

VAEZ: My pleasure.

CURNOW: I want to get you up to speed now on some other stories. That are on our radar. There you go. Right now. An Ebola outbreak in the

Democratic Republic of Congo is spreading. Three cases are now confirmed in neighboring Uganda, they involve a 5-year-old boy who's died of the

virus and two of his family members who had all travelled to Uganda from Congo. One medical charity says the outbreak has entered a quote, truly

frightening phase.

And India is evacuating nearly 300,000 people along the west coast ahead of a tropical cyclone. Officials in the state of Gujarat say around 6 million

people could be affected in what could be the strongest storm to strike the region in decades. It is expected to make landfall in the next 24 hours.

And nearly 100 protesters are being detained in Moscow after taking part in a march in support of the arrested and now freed, investigative journalist

Ivan Golunov. Golunov was arrested last week on drug charges, his supporters say were fabricated. Authorities dropped the charges on

Tuesday, citing a lack of evidence.

And the man leading the pack in the race for Britain's next leader dodging a question on snorting cocaine just minutes after launching his campaign.

Now front-runner Boris Johnson officially announced his bid for Prime Minister in London. He's hoping to ride the Brexit wave all the way to 10

Downing Street.

[11:40:00] Live from Atlanta, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.

So coming up next, a stunning ovation after an impassioned speech from former "Late Night" host Jon Stewart as he reprimands Congress for their

treatment of surviving 9/11 first responders. We have a conversation on this issue. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: For more than 17 years, look at that skyline, two significant buildings missing. Americans have soberly remembered the attacks of

September the 11th. Memorials across New York continue to stand in memory of thousands of lives that were lost. This is one of them at the 9/11

Memorial in downtown Manhattan, and in honor of the first responders, so many of them who sacrificed everything. They rushed in to save as many as

they could before those towers fell.

Now, the first responders who were fortunate enough to emerge from the rubble that day were promised that their bravery would not be forgotten.

So a fund was approved by Congress to help those hurt in the attacks, particularly those who fell ill or sick afterwards. But now there is a

chance that money may no longer be available. So on Tuesday, former "Late- Night" host and 9/11 first responders advocate Jon Stewart faced Congress and he choked up as he delivered this very powerful message. I want you to

take a listen. Take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JON STEWART, 9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS ADVOCATE AND COMEDIAN: Behind me, a filled room of 9/11 first responders, and in front of me, a nearly empty

Congress. Sick and dying they brought themselves down here to speak to no one. It's shameful. It's an embarrassment to the country and it is a

stain on this institution.

There is not a person here, there is not an empty chair on that stage that didn't tweet out "never forget the heroes of 9/11. Never forget their

bravery, never forget what they did, what they gave to this country."

Well, here they are. Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity, time. It's the one thing they're running out of. They

did their jobs with courage, grace, tenacity, humility, 18 years later, do yours!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[11:45:00] CURNOW: One of the first responders who testified Tuesday was retired New York Fire Department Lieutenant Michael O'Connell. He joins us

now from New York. Just hearing those words brings a lump to my throat. How does it make you feel? You were there.

MICHAEL O'CONNELL, RETIRED LIEUTENANT, FDNY: Yes, Jon's a major advocate for us. It was an emotional day and, you know, that says it all right

there. He wears his heart on his sleeve, as many of us did on that 9/11 day.

CURNOW: So what does he -- just for our world audience, what is he fighting for, for you? Just explain what you could potentially lose.

O'CONNELL: We're fighting to refund the Victims' Compensation Fund, which is a fund that is available as a benefit to sick and dying first responders

and anybody else that is affected by 9/11. It's not just civil servants, it's anybody that lived down there, the students that were sent back to the

schools, down at Stuyvesant High School and the elementary schools. They were told the air was safe and you can go back to school. It's many people

who are still sick from the effects of 9/11.

CURNOW: How many first responders do you think are sick or still facing the physical health effects of this? I mean are there numbers here that

you can explain?

O'CONNELL: Just to give you the numbers of as to where we're at.

CURNOW: OK.

O'CONNELL: We lost six first responders last week alone. I believe there was 23 first responders that passed away within the last month. There's

been almost the same number of first responders that have passed since 9/11 than on that horrific day.

CURNOW: From what?

O'CONNELL: Various illnesses. Mostly cancers. I have a disease called Sarcoidosis

that has killed many. Auto respiratory diseases. Many different types of lymphomas. There're many different cancers that are affecting the 9/11

community and they keep coming in droves.

CURNOW: Why is this fund going to run out and why -- and why are you facing this situation?

O'CONNELL: Well, the fund's running out because it's so successful. There is an extremely difficult vetting process that anybody has to go to, to

actually apply for this fund, and the Special Master Rupa who is doing a phenomenal job with the actual fund is distributing the funds the way they

should be, and that's why it's running out because it wasn't -- it wasn't funded the proper way in the beginning and we had a five-year window to

show them that it's working, and it has.

CURNOW: So, what next? How do you -- how do you make this work for you? What do you -- what is your next political move here?

O'CONNELL: Well, my team, the Feel Good Foundation, along with guys like Jon Stewart, we go down to Washington almost every month. We've made about

40 trips already this year walking The Hill. It's really just getting the message out there, showing them that this is a serious issue and that the

numbers are significant, and it's not just a New York problem or a Washington problem, this is a national problem. People came from all over

the country, all over the world to help us on September 11th and the months that passed.

And they're getting sick and they're still dying. So we go lobbying. We walk the halls. We knock on their doors. We basically, you know, show

them the statistics as to how people are still sick and dying and you hoping that they jump on board.

[11:50:00] CURNOW: So, I think there's been a significant rise in claims in recent years. I think the number is 24,000 in the last three years.

More than the first five years of the fund combined. So why is that? And you say it's about success. Is it because people are getting sicker now or

is it about people knowing more about the funds or what is it? Why are the payouts more now in the last few years?

O'CONNELL: Well, just to give you a little brief synopsis, we had over 200 stories of office building that fell on top of us and we didn't find a

desk, a computer, a chair, a light bulb. The toxic air we were breathing in down there for years hit some people within the first few years, it hit

some people within five years, and you're seeing certain cancers that take about 15 to 20 years to metastasize.

What's happening is those cancers are now coming out, you know, significantly more now than they were in the first couple of years. So

that's why their numbers are climbing. We estimate probably another 20,000 claims that are still yet to come across our table.

CURNOW: Do you feel like you've been betrayed by the American people? Is this a double victimization in many ways?

O'CONNELL: You know, in my experience, going down to our federal government, it's a humbling experience. You see that you have to fight

when we shouldn't have to, but it's an experience that I'm willing to take on, just like so many did that day. And I think we'll win. I think, you

know, in the long run we're going to come out on top because we'll never stop fighting until every last person is taken care of.

CURNOW: Wow. Thanks so much. Your bravery continuing so many years later. Perhaps unnecessarily so but thank you very much for that fight.

Lieutenant Michael O'Connell, good luck, sir.

O'CONNELL: Thank you. I appreciate it.

CURNOW: You're watching CNN. More news after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: We've been talking about it, haven't we? This stunning win for defending champions in the Women's World Cup on Tuesday. Alex Morgan was

perhaps the star of the U.S., as it took on Thailand. She netted five goals for the American team in a game that ended 13-0. Now before playoffs

she spoke to CNN World Sport about the legacy she wants to leave and who inspires her. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[11:55:00] ALEX MORGAN, U.S. SOCCER PLAYER: My favorite World Cup memory is, of course, standing on the podium and hoisting the trophy with my

teammates in 2015 in Canada. What was going through my mind was looking around at the fans and seeing that not one person had left the stadium in

that moment because everyone wanted to see the celebration that ensued after and then afterwards, we did celebrate and all went and saw our

families.

My husband was in the stands so I got to give him a kiss after, and just hoisting the trophy all around the stadium for the fans to see. One of the

most difficult defenders to face is Chris Rampone, and she was our captain on the national team for many years, and played until she was almost 40

years old, which is just incredible. I can't imagine these legs being good to go when I'm 40 years old, but she was able to do it and also just so

strong.

You know, she had two babies and was able to raise two children while being a full-time athlete, which was just incredible. So her arms were

incredibly strong. Like, I could never get around her. You know, obviously I look to my mom, I look to my parents, my husband, who also

plays professional soccer. Abby, one of my former teammates who was so loud and just -- just always encouraged the team and always put the team

first. So, yes, I'd have to say those people.

I would like my legacy to be one that shows that I not only fought for myself but fought for the next generations of athletes who come through.

That they find it easier to play the sport because there is less distraction of them being questioned of having a seat at the table.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW: So, in tonight's "PARTING SHOTS", scientists unearth an amazing prehistoric find in eastern Siberia. Look at this, this 40,000-year-old

severed wolf head was found preserved by ice complete with teeth, fur and tissue. Officials are now building a digital model of the skull and brain

for further study. Scientists say because of climate change more discoveries are likely in the region as the planet warms and ice continues

to thaw.

Wow. So I'm Robyn Curnow. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thanks so much for joining. More news continues.

[12:00:00]

END