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U.K. Prime Minister Faces Backlash Over Parliament Suspension; Former Swedish Prime Minister Critical of Plan to Suspend U.K. Parliament; Conte Back as Prime Minister of New Coalition Government; Dorian Now Forecast to Strengthen to Category 4: Saudi-Backed Yemen Government Accuses UAE of Attacking Its Forces; Hundreds of Employees Losing Jobs Amid Ongoing Protests; A Global Effort for the Northern White Rhino. Aired 11a- 12p ET

Aired August 29, 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: Critics call it a constitutional outrage. Hundreds in the U.K. are voicing their anger after the Prime

Minister suspends Parliament. We're live outside number 10 Downing Street.

Plus --

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You need to start preparing now if you're in coastal communities for sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW: Bracing for impact. Hurricane Dorian skirts Puerto Rico and gains momentum as it heads for the southeastern U.S.

Then --

How to save a species. We take you on a mission to keep the northern white rhino from extinction.

Hi, welcome. I am Robyn Curnow. You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD.

So Britain's Prime Minister is facing a raft of challenges today after his audacious move to suspend Parliament. Boris Johnson's action will limit

time lawmakers have to block a no deal Brexit. Now the opposition Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn, will seek an emergency debate on Brexit next

week to try and stop a no deal outcome.

Anti-Brexit campaigner Gina Miller has issued an urgent request to the U.K. Supreme Court to review the plan to suspend Parliament.

And public opposition is growing. Pro-remain demonstrators staged a sit in outside Parliament and more than a million people have signed an online

petition, demanding the Prime Minister cancel his plan to suspend Parliament.

Now on top of all that, a key member of the Conservative Party leadership resigning early Thursday. Hadas Gold joins us now live from outside 10

Downing Street. A lot going on -- Hadas.

HADAS GOLD, CNN BUSINESS REPORTER: A lot has happened just in the past 24 hours. Hard to even imagine how much has happened. As you noted, the

fallout from Boris Johnson's plan to suspend Parliament is swift. We are seeing already resignations. Lord Young, he was a long serving minister in

many different governments going back to Margaret Thatcher. He resigned saying that he could no longer stand as a result of the suspension.

And notably Ruth Davidson, who you noted, is the leader of the Scottish Conservative Party, and she resigned as well. She said it was partly to

spend more time with family. But she gave a very important message as she resigned as to what she hopes Parliament will do in the coming days. Take

a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUTH DAVIDSON, RESIGNING AS SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE LEADER: Prime Minister, get us a deal with the European Union. And what I say to people that say

they want to avoid no deal, it's what I've just said. The Prime Minister brings a deal to House of Commons as I know he is trying to do, for God's

sake, get behind it and this time have the foresight of asking, vote for it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GOLD: And, Robyn, the question now is what is the opposition going to do. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn just spoke a few minutes ago. He said that

starting on Tuesday when Parliament comes back for a brief period of time before they're suspended, they will start the parliamentary process to try

to block a no deal situation.

The question is will they have enough support from all different sides, all the different parties. Because Labour can't do this by themselves. And

also, what will happen with House of Lords, the upper chamber, who also has to approve any sort of bills. We did have a senior Labour appear in the

House of Lords, tell CNN just recently that they are willing -- many of them are willing to work through the night. And that's what we're hearing.

There's going to be a lot of nighttime sessions, possibly weekend sessions to try to cram this all in in the time we have. Because that is the big

question, that's a big pressure, the suspension puts on any attempt to pass a bill that could stop a no deal Brexit is just the time they have to work

with -- Robyn.

CURNOW: You're outside 10 downing street, the Prime Minister's residence. I assume that Boris Johnson has gamed out various scenarios here. Has this

reaction do you think played into that, and what are his next steps? What are his options and scenarios as we move forward?

GOLD: Well we've seen lots of reporting about how they have gamed out what is happening. And actually, there was even reporting before this

announcement came out that this was in the works. This is what they had planned to do. And it is a drastic move. But for people support Boris

Johnson, for people that support a hard Brexit, they see this as necessary. They see this as one of the only options left to force a decision.

The idea either being that Boris Johnson would be able to somehow negotiate something with the European Union. Some sort of updated deal that will

force members of Parliament to vote on that or they will be faced with no deal. Partly because of just the timing.

Per the law, October 31st is the date. They've already passed legislation. That means, October 31st the U.K. will no longer adhere to a lot of the EU

regulations. So it is do or die as Boris Johnson said. That is the date. The question is will they opposition parties attempts work to try to pass a

no deal situation. There is also a lot of legal questions. Opponents have taken this to the courts now, trying to get an injunction. There's a lot

of moving parts here coming at once. We also could have a no confidence vote in Boris Johnson. That could even trigger a new election.

CURNOW: OK, wow. Thanks so much. Keeping us straight outside 10 Downing Street. Hadas Gold, thanks so much.

Now a former Swedish Prime Minister has weighed in on Mr. Johnson's plan. Taking to Twitter, Carl Bildt has said the possibility to just send

Parliament packing for a period would undoubtedly have been attractive at times, but our democracy would never allow this rightly so.

[11:05:00] By the way, of course he's talking about Swedish Parliament there. Well Carl Bildt, the former Prime Minister of Sweden, and co-chair

of European Council on Foreign Relations joins us now from Stockholm. Thank you, sir, for joining us. What did your tweet mean? What was the

point you were trying to make there?

CARL BILDT, FORMER SWEDISH PRIME MINISTER (via Skype): Well I mean, the point was clear to that one. That what we are now seeing happening in the

United Kingdom -- and I understand it is legal in some sort of way -- something that I think is unthinkable in most other countries. Any Prime

Minister with a difficult situation is of course tempted to send Parliament packing. But that is hardly possible under most constitutional rights that

we have in European democracies. In the U.K., evidently it is possible. So it is a rather sort of amazing and astonishing development that we are

seeing.

CURNOW: So you're saying it is anti-democratic.

BILDT: Well, I am saying that it will not be possible in any other country that I am aware of in Europe. It is evidently the one way or other

possible in United Kingdom that for reasons that are fairly obvious. That the Prime Minister has the possibility to send Parliament away and then go

on with the business for some point in time. The Parliament will come back sometime, but clearly it is a rather unusual, to put it very mildly, move.

CURNOW: And how is this going down in the EU in Brussels broadly?

BILDT: I think a lot of people are astonished and amazed by what's happening. But it is up to the United Kingdom and its politicians to deal

with it. There is very little that Europe or the rest of Europe can or should do. We just have had to wait and see how this particular profound

drama of British democracy plays out and trying to then help sort out the consequences.

CURNOW: Must be said, the latest profound drama.

BILDT: Yes.

CURNOW: So in many ways this is not a popular move by some people in the U.S. that Boris Johnson has done, and perhaps your opinion, too. But he

does have some support, and he suggests and those of his supporters suggest that this means business. He's actually doing something. He's trying to

draw a line that this move will concentrate minds and move closer to resolving the Brexit issue. Is that the kind of message you think that is

not being received in the EU?

BILDT: I'm not quite sure if that message is really getting received. I mean, strong men always have the tendency to say that a strongman is

necessary for anything to happen. But in the U.K., the mother of Parliament -- that's what it's always called, parliamentary democracy.

And in most European countries we are used to Parliament which are elected by the people, having a say, having the possibility to do something.

Sometimes governments have majorities, sometimes not. But parliaments are really at the heart of any parliamentary democracy and that's why this move

is to put it very, very mildly highly unusual.

CURNOW: What is your perspective then with the latest move and as he moves forward towards some sort of Brexit, your perspective on Boris Johnson as

Prime Minister, does Europe view him as someone that can be trusted?

BILDT: Well I mean, Europe -- to say the Prime Minister of United Kingdom, that's it. Let's see if he can come up with some ideas. I mean, there

have been negotiations for two years on withdraw agreement, virtually every stone that has been in sight has been turned to find solution to the Irish

issue. Whether there are any other stones that are left to be turned remains to be seen. I don't think anyone has really seen it.

But for the European Union it is essential but is open to any agreement that safeguards integrity of the single market and that respects the peace

process and peace possibilities of Ireland. The European Union is not going to throw Ireland under the bus in this, that's for certain.

CURNOW: I'm sure Ireland will be happy to hear that. You mentioned when you talk about Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, you mentioned in your

answer just before that that you alluded to him being a strong man. That's an unusual choice of words, is it not?

BILDT: Well, I am quite certain that he would like to be seen as strong man. And it is of course fairly strong measure to ask the Queen -- didn't

have much choice I guess -- to send Parliament packing. It is not what we normally do. But I would guess that the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson,

sees it as a strong measure that he is entitled to take, and it is for others to sort out the legality and politics of that.

OK, Carl Bildt, always great to get your perspective here on CNN. Thanks so much for joining us.

BILDT: Thank you.

[11:10:00] CURNOW: Now to Italy. Italy hopes to bring its own political crisis to some sort of end. The country has been without a government

since the coalition collapse last week. And now a familiar face is set to become Prime Minister again. Giuseppe Conte resigned last week but it

turns out he'll actually keep his job. That's because rival parties struck a deal to avoid snap elections push by the far right. Mr. Conte says he

accepts the position but with reservations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GIUSEPPE CONTE, ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, has given me the mandate to form a new

government. A mandate which I have received with some reserve. We will have a broad-based reformist approach and have very much to resolve the

uncertainty of the past.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Well Barbie Nadeau joins us now from Rome. Certainly a little shift and I am understating this in perspective there. What are Italian saying and

what does this mean?

BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, it's an interesting thing. If you look at the polls in the last week, for example, every single party leader,

including the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, has plummeted in popularity. Which tells you that the Italians are not exactly happy

with how things are going.

And the new coalition this gets rid of the far-right League Party under Matteo Salvini, is not exactly out of the picture yet. Matteo Salvini has

taken the Facebook, has taken to his social media, to say that don't count me out yet. Let's listen to what he had to say on his Facebook live in

response to the new government under his old Prime Minister.

MATTEO SALVINI, ITALIAN LEAGUE LEADER (through translator): I am really angry, not because of my particular fate but because it's a real fact

democracy . Rest assured you won't get rid of me and the millions of Italians who support me. You don't know me. I don't give up easily.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NADEAU: That's kind of an ominous warning to this shaky coalition government. And Giuseppe Conte, who is the new Prime Minister, sat at the

right hand of Matteo Salvini for 14 months and did his bidding. So it's really, really murky waters ahead, Robyn, and whatever this government

looks like in terms of the ministers and cabinet has to pass a crucial confidence vote. And Salvini will be in Parliament when that happens.

CURNOW: And 14 months, of course, is a long time in Italian politics. But it's fascinating. He says don't count him out. The question is, did he

overplay his hand? But also then, what is the impact of this sort of new coalition grouping? How is it going to change things?

NADEAU: Well that remains to be seen. You know, the 14-month government - - Salvini was really the strong man of that government -- was really nationalistic and anti-immigration. Now the new government, which is the

Center Left Democratic Party, and still the populist Five-Star Movement, have tended in the past to be less anti-immigration. We don't know what is

going to look like. We really don't know.

There are a lot of laws and decrees that have been put in place under Salvini that would have to be reversed. And it remains to be seen just

what approach they're going to take. There are lots of refugees and migrants that are out trying to cross the Mediterranean as we speak.

Wanting to get into Italy. The first test for this government will be whether or not to let them land. That was one of the things that Matteo

Salvini said no to, he closed ports in Italy. It's very possible that Matteo Salvini will still maintain some sort of popularity by being in

position of migrants arriving in Italy again if that is what's to happen.

Lots of tests for the government. But the first one is a confidence vote in Parliament. So there's a lot to do yet before they can actually start

governing -- Robyn.

CURNOW: OK, thanks for that, Bobbie, live in Rome. Thanks.

Still to come at CNN, hurricane Dorian last the Caribbean and is now heading towards the U.S. East Coast, getting stronger and stronger by the

day -- it must be said. The dangerous new forecast for the storm. We have the latest on that.

Plus, U.S. President Donald Trump has just weighed in about the future of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Why he says a total withdrawal is not

happening anytime soon. That story as well. Stick around. You're watching CNN.

[11:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: Great to have you along with us this hour. You're watching CNN. I am Robyn Curnow. Welcome back.

Hurricane Dorian is turning into a major storm that could cause serious damage. It brushed past Puerto Rico and hit the U.S. Virgin Islands as a

category one hurricane. But then it's forecast to strengthen rapidly as it pounds the Bahamas and then approaches the southeastern U.S., and just

minutes ago we got a brand-new forecast update on Dorian. Chad, hi. And not such great news, is it?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: No, certainly not. We are up to a 215 kilometer per hour storm making landfall somewhere probably in south

Florida, the southern half of Florida. Now Miami-Dade, very populated area, Ft. Lauderdale, West Palm, all the way up to Daytona, very, very

populated.

This is now 72 hours from right now at 215. I'm going to advance one more click here. Still 215, Monday morning, 8:00 in the morning, anywhere from

Daytona all the way down to Miami. There is even a potential for it to continue sliding farther to the south and maybe into the Keys, that is not

out of the question. That's why the cone is here. That's why the lines, Robyn, are here.

It could be all the way to Nassau. It could be up here to the north, missing Nassau all together. But 215 kilometers per hour in the Bahamas

would be devastating. So we don't want to forget this area right through here. I know we're trying to focus on Florida landfall because of millions

more people. But very populated through here, populated here in Tampa, also in Orlando, up through Daytona, and there's really very few people

here to miss.

There are some slightly populated areas closer to the space coast, but that would be Cocoa Beach. That would be the area there. There's the lot of

lowered land where people haven't built yet. But there's not much to miss here. We're going to hit, we're going to devastate a lot of Florida, no

matter where this thing goes.

It will die off when it hits land but it's not going to move very fast. And that's part of the problem. If it only moves about 100 kilometers in

24 hours, the amount of rainfall that comes down could be somewhere in the ballpark of 750 millimeters of rain in 24 hours. And that would be a flood

no matter where you put that kind of that water, it doesn't really matter.

So here you go, 140 kilometers an hour right now. It is getting an eye. There's a hurricane hunter in there now, looking for the wind speeds.

Found somewhere around 150 kilometers per hour. But what else happened here? From where we are in Dorian, Frances, Irma, Jeanne, Ivan, Hugo,

really, Andrew as well, within about 60 kilometers. There's not much good that happens here. Because the water is 32 degrees as warm as you'd find

on Pouquette. This is the area here if you get a storm can blow up rather quickly and that's what we have now. Seeing a big eye now beginning to

develop on the satellite picture.

CURNOW: That's a nasty family of previous storms. As you're watching this -- so just repeat -- with this latest update and wind speeds you're talking

about, this is now looking to hit as a category four. At what point do folks need to get out of the way? Because we don't know where it's going

to hit as you say. Is this going to be an issue?

MYERS: It is always an issue in Florida because I've seen it before where we tell everybody on the East Coast, go to the West Coast.

[11:20:00] And then it goes under Florida and it hits the West Coast. Then you got to chase them back over to the East Coast. So the only real thing

I think you can do at this point in time if you absolutely want to get out of there would be to go to Georgia, next state to the north. But that's a

long drive from Miami. Somewhere in the ballpark of 14 hours to get to a big city, farther to the north.

So you want to kind of hunker down but at some point in time, because there are so few roads that go north and south out of Florida through here, and

it's a long drive. Can you imagine the backup for miles and kilometers and kilometers, tens of kilometers of cars going zero miles per hour with an

approaching 215 kilometer per hour storm. You don't want that either. You don't want people stuck in cars.

CURNOW: No, you certainly don't. And as you say, I mean, Georgia where we are is a pretty long hike. With that said, I mean, many of us here have

taken in hurricane refugees for a few days, as you know. Folks need to keep an eye where they need to go and quickly. Chad, thanks so much.

Appreciate it.

OK, so Florida's governor has declared a state of emergency as we know ahead of this hurricane. It's expected to arrive on a holiday weekend.

Nick Valencia is in Daytona Beach where people there are thankfully preparing for the storm by filling up on petrol and raiding local grocery

stores. Hopefully there raiding and paying. But either way, what are the preps, and are people taking it seriously despite the fact that I see a few

folks getting a suntan behind you.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, it is bright. It is sunny out here. It is a normal day in Daytona Beach, but this is not expected to

last, Robyn. By Saturday afternoon we'll feel tropical storm force winds. And according to government officials here in the state of Florida, it's

only going to get worse.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA (voice-over): A rush to prepare for the worst in Florida. Under a state of emergency as Hurricane Dorian takes aim at the mainland U.S.

after sparing Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands of significant damage. All across the state, gridlock at the pump.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Just getting prepared before the storm comes.

VALENCIA: Residents stocking up, stripping grocery store shelves nearly bare, with bottled water harder and harder to find. They're purchasing

plywood to board up windows and filling up thousands of sandbags, too.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Better safe than sorry.

VALENCIA: Officials in coastal states urging people to be prepared.

MAYOR LENNY CURRY (R), JACKSONVILLE: The impacts are unpredictable in what with will it be. Will it be the wind, will it be the flooding, will it be

downed power lines? And just prepared and be ready.

GOV. BRIAN KEMP (R), GEORGIA: In their preparedness to be ready, we're not exactly sure where this storm is going to go, but you need to start

preparing now if you're in the coastal communities for sure.

VALENCIA: The Caribbean islands feeling Dorian's strength with wind gusts as high as 85 miles per hour. Tree branches and debris scattered across

the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. Heavy rains filling the streets with water, ripping off some of the blue tarps still covering buildings in the

time since hurricane Maria hit two years ago.

[07:05:04] DARYL JASCHEN, DIRECTOR, DSVI TERRITORIAL EMERGENCY MANAGER: The damage assessment right now is primarily to our islands of St. Thomas

and St. John. The good news is we have crews still remaining here from Irma and Maria that are doing restoration.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA: And the Florida governor just gave a press conference, where he reminded us that there was about a ten year stretch where Florida did not

take a direct hit from a hurricane. But, Robyn, five hurricanes, five major hurricanes have impacted the state just in the last four years --

Robyn.

CURNOW: Yes, it's an example of climate change. So we know from Chad Myers and also from this latest update that this has been upgraded to

potentially a category four hurricane. Who's the most vulnerable when you look -- I mean, I know you've covered a lot of these before in the last few

years. We know that pensioners, people in hospital, what is the kind of plans done for people that can't move away quickly?

VALENCIA: Well, that's certainly the concern is the elderly. You know, I came from a story covering earlier this week, it was two weeks after a

criminal investigation in 2016 for hurricane Matthew where there were 12 elderly people that died in a nursing home. That is always a concern for

state officials, making sure nursing homes, those that have the most vulnerable are protected. That there are generators on hand to make sure

that if power does go out, that there's a way to keep air on and there's a way to keep people cool.

There is an expectation that rain is going to be a significant factor, expected to be 5 to 8 inches of rain, isolated parts about 12 inches of

rain. But really the wind is going to play a significant factor. Let's not be fooled by the bright sunshine and the beautiful weather behind me.

Those beach umbrellas are out in full force. This is coming here. A category four hurricane is on its way to Florida. The only question is,

where is it going to make a direct hit -- Robyn.

CURNOW: OK. Nick Valencia there, thanks so much.

Meanwhile, coming into CNN this hour, former FBI director James Comey violated agency policies when he leaked secret memos about his meetings

with U.S. President Donald Trump, and when he moved those from his office to his home. That's according to a new report from the Justice Department

Inspector General.

[11:25:03] But officials don't believe Comey knew what he was doing was against FBI rules and they have decided not to prosecute. Comey eventually

handed the memos over to the former special counsel Robert Mueller as part of the investigation into whether President Trump obstructed justice.

And still ahead, the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong is severely affecting businesses across the city. How many employees are losing jobs and their

livelihoods. We have that report.

Plus, saving one of Africa's great animals from extinction. But high risk, high procedure that they're using to keep the northern white rhino on our

planet.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: Hi, thanks for watching. This is CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Robyn Curnow. Welcome back.

The rift between two supposed allies deepens in Yemen's ongoing civil war. The country's U.N. recognized government is accusing the UAE of attacking

its forces over the past two days, killing a number of soldiers and civilians. Both sides are part of the Saudi led coalition and are usually

United in their battle against Iran backed Houthi rebels. So let's bring in Ben Wedeman. Ben is live in Beirut. Of course, you've covered this

conflict for years. What do you make of this?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think this is indicative, Robyn, of the disaster that is Yemen which has suffered since

March 2015 from this war between the Saudi and UAE backed government in the south. Against the Houthis who are backed by Iran in the north.

Now you have a situation where the UAE which is supporting the southern transitional council which now controls the city of Aden, the main port in

southern Yemen. Their forces, the Southern Transitional Council, are now in open warfare with the government of Abd-Rabbu Hadi Mansour, who is

supported by the Saudis.

Today we have heard from the information minister of the Mansour government, that UAE planes have struck forces loyal to the U.N. recognized

government which is supported by Saudi Arabia. We understand that at least 40 people have been killed, more than 70 wounded in this battle.

[11:30:00] Basically between one side in the Yemeni civil war. And this really underscores how hopeless the war in Yemen has become where the so-

called Arab coalition is falling apart. It's forces fighting -- rather it's the forces the Arab coalition supports fighting among themselves.

This also underscores the other absurdity of the Trump administration hope at one point a few years ago of forming a what was called an Arab NATO.

Which would have been composed of forces from the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates in addition to Egypt and Jordan. And keep

in mind that of course the Iranian backed forces in the north are probably sitting back and watching with a certain amount of amusement as the Arab

coalition in the south seems to be falling apart. So it's a mess on top of a mess, enclosed in a disaster -- Robyn.

CURNOW: With that in mind, why? Why have they turned on each other?

WEDEMAN: Well basically, the United Arab Emirates has been supporting separatists, South Yemeni separatists who want to create their own

independent country. Which actually existed before the early '90s when the country was forcefully united with support from Saudi Arabia. And it goes

beyond that.

The UAE is highly suspicious of the Mansour government which has friendly relations with the Isla party in Yemen, which is affiliated with the Muslim

Brotherhood. And UAE is a sworn enemy of the Muslim Brotherhood. So they've never really trusted the U.N. recognized government that has the

full backing of Saudi Arabia. So it's one of these endless rifts in the Arab world, and there doesn't appear to be any chance at this point of some

sort of reconciliation on the ground in Yemen. It's a civil war within a civil war.

CURNOW: OK, Ben Wedeman, always great to get your perspective. You've certainly been reporting on all of these areas for decades. Thanks, Ben.

So the U.S. President Donald Trump says his plans to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan to 8,600. He announced that in interview with

Fox News Radio. It comes a day after the U.S. Defense Secretary and Joint Chiefs Chairman briefed reporters first time in a year. They spoke as the

Taliban and U.S. negotiators reportedly are near a deal. That could lead to the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan. The top U.S. general

made clear any agreement will have certain conditions.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GENERAL JOSEPH DUNFORD, CHAIRMAN, U.S. JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: I'm not using the withdraw word right now. We're going to make sure that

Afghanistan is not a sanctuary, and we're going to try to have an effort to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW: Currently there are about 15,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan alongside NATO troops training and advising Afghan forces.

And now to Hong Kong where the chief organizer of the city's largest protests has been attacked. Jimmy Sham says masked men carrying a baseball

bat and knife attacked him and a friend at a restaurant. Sham escaped injury. His friend was taken to the hospital. Hong Kong police say

they're searching for the suspects and condemn all acts of violence.

And of course, months of unrest in Hong Kong are having a huge, huge impact on the city's hotel and restaurant industry. As Paula Hancocks now

reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The food is just as good, and the opening hours just as long. But business is bad at

Man Kee's award-winning noodle restaurant. The owner says people are afraid to eat out since police used tear gas on the streets of his

neighborhood Sham Shui Po.

SIMON WONG, MAN KEE RESTAURANTS OWNER (through translator): In fact, the revenue of our business has recently dropped by 20 percent, due to

protests.

HANCOCKS: Empty tables are becoming more common around Hong Kong, and at least 700 people lost their jobs after more than 15 restaurants shut down

in the last two months, according to an industry union. A recent survey by a restaurant workers union found 99 percent of those polled said their

business has been affected by the protests.

KWOK WANG HING, EATING ESTABLISHMENT EMPLOYEES GENERAL UNION (through translator): Many people dare not go out to dine due to series of

protests, particularly foreign tourists and mainland Chinese tourists.

HANCOCKS: He says 32 countries have issued travel warnings of varying degrees for Hong Kong. Tourists are choosing to stay away. And that's

hurting the hotel business. A five-star hotel worker spoke to us on condition of anonymity.

[11:35:00] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last year, 2018, July and August, the normal occupancy rate is around 70 percent to 80 percent, right now is 50 percent

occupancy rate.

HANCOCKS: Hotel Union Workers Union says around 10,000 people have been affected, cost cutting measures, include asking workers to use up their

annual leave or take lower pay. That makes a big difference to hotel workers who typically earn the equivalent of less than $2,000 of U.S.

dollars a month.

(on camera): Protests like this one are becoming almost a daily occurrence here in Hong Kong these days. There is no sign of them letting up. And

it's just adding to a sense of instability in the city. Some workers from hotels, airlines and restaurants are willing to stand with the protesters,

even though they know that there is a chance it could affect their livelihoods.

(voice-over): At the Man Kee noodle restaurant, there's a signed apologizing for the inconvenience of the protests and asking patrons to

avoid talking politics. But sometimes it can't be avoided.

WONG (through translator): Lots of people ran to our restaurant to escape tear gas fired by the police. We were forced to shut down immediately.

HANCOCKS: Lost revenue or worse is fast becoming a reality for some businesses in Hong Kong, even those trying to stay out of the unrest.

Paula Hancocks, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW: Thanks for that, Paula. Live from CNN center, this is CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up. There are only two northern white rhinos left in the

world and both are female. We'll look at the medical procedure that vets hope will save the animal from extinction. That story next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CURNOW: Hi. You're watching CNN. I am Robyn Curnow. Welcome back.

Some good news for the world of wild animals. The World Wildlife Conference in Geneva has taken major steps to protect threatened and

endangered species. Among the highlights, member nations placed a near total ban on selling baby African elephants captured in the wild to zoos.

The conference also added new protections for giraffes and sharks. And also, for the first time in a long time, the chances of survival for the

northern white rhino are looking up. Farai Sevenzo report on what's become a global effort.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the race to save the northern white rhino species, the stakes are high. As veterinary

scientists tried a new procedure for the first time. Their hopeful silence was deafening.

Their mission, to extract eggs from the last two northern white rhinos to save the species from extinction. The team successfully gathered five eggs

each from two female rhinos in Kenya, Najin and Fatu. This remarkable achievement, born of signs and hope, shines a light for white rhinos'

prospects after Sudan's last male northern white rhino died early last year. His sperm along with sperm of another who died in 2014 sits frozen

in incubators both in (INAUDIBLE) production.

Najin and Fatu can't carry pregnancy by themselves. And collecting their eggs was only one step in the process. Scientists manage to artificially

inseminate seven of their eggs with the frozen sperm. Now the next task will be an embryo transfer to a southern white rhino, which will be

surrogate to carry it to full term.

JAN STEJSKAI, DVUR KRALOVE ZOO: What you do next. It means that we have to somehow develop technique for embryo transfer. And only (INAUDIBLE) we

have gained, cooperate with the zoos in Europe

SEVENZO: The world may soon see another northern white rhino. But the fight to save this species from extinction is far from over.

[11:40:00] Farai Sevenzo, CNN, Nairobi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CURNOW: And in our Parting Shots today, climate activist, Greta Thunberg, has finally made it to New York after 15 days at sea. The teenager sailed

onto the U.S. on a zero emissions boat to lessen her carbon footprint. And she's in New York for next month's U.N. Climate Action Summit. She had

this message for the U.S. President when she arrived.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GRETA THUNBERG, ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVIST: It's strange. Everyone always asks me about Donald Trump. But I mean, my message for him is just listen

to the science. And he obviously doesn't do that. So I mean, as I always say to this question, if no one has been able to convince him about the

climate crisis, the urgency, then why should I be able to do that. So I'm going to now focus on spreading awareness and that people in general will

start caring and realize how big of a crisis this is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW: Wise words from a teenager. Simple advice. Everybody has to do their bit.

So you know those mini soap and shampoo bottles you find at hotels? You've probably stockpiled a few in your bathroom. Well you may not find them

anymore on your next holiday. Marriott International, the world's largest hotel chain, is saying good-bye to all of these little, little plastic

containers that you find in the hotel bathrooms in favor of larger, more ecofriendly bottles. The company says the move will keep almost 2 million

pounds of plastic from ending up in landfills each year. That is certainly great news.

And just a little programming note from us. CNN is hosting a town hall on the climate crisis on September 4th. Put that in your diary. We want of

course to hear from you. The 10 Democratic candidates will take audience questions about their plans to curb climate change. If you could, what

would you ask. Get in touch on Instagram or Facebook and mention @CNN climate.

I am Robyn Curnow. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thanks for joining me. From myself, the team here in Atlanta, in Abu Dhabi and in London, thanks

so much for watching. Have a wonderful day.

[11:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)

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