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Schiff Says Blocking Testimony is Further Evidence of Obstruction; U.S. State Department Orders Ambassador Not to Testify; Source: White House Involved in Decision to Block Testimony; Trump Defends Syria True Withdrawal, Republicans Rebuke Plan; Lindsey Graham Slams Trump for Removing Troops from Syria; Johnson, Merkel Talk As Brexit Deadline Closes In; U.K. shadow Brexit Secretary Says Government Plans Designed to Fail; Schiff Says Sondland's Testimony Deeply Relevant to Investigation; NBA Team Exec Tweets Support for Hong Kong, Angering China; NBA Commissioner: We're Not Apologizing for Hong Kong Tweet; Biles hoping to Add to Medal Haul in Gymnastics. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired October 08, 2019 - 10:00   ET

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

[10:00:00]

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson connecting breaking news tonight. The days of playing nice

are done. Those are the words of a source close to the Trump administration. The White House apparently taking a new hardline tack on

the impeachment inquiry. We now know administration officials were involved in pulling the plug on key testimony in the House of

Representatives set for today.

The head of the House Intelligence Committee talked to reporters just minutes ago railing against that decision. Adam Schiff says European --

the U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland's testimony is key to their investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): We were informed about an hour and a half ago by the attorney for Ambassador Sondland that the State Department would refuse

to allow him to testify today. This was after a conversations well into yesterday afternoon and evening with the State Department legal adviser in

which there was no indication that the ambassador would be a no-show.

Not only is the Congress being deprived of his testimony, the American people are being deprived of his testimony today, but we are also aware

that the ambassador has text messages or emails on a personal device which have been provided to the State Department, although we have requested

those from the ambassador, and the State Department is withholding those messages as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well Gordon Sondland's lawyer says the order to stand down came Tuesday morning just hours before he was supposed to give his deposition.

For some context, remember, text messages between Sondland and another diplomat showed he was part of the effort to push Ukraine to help President

Trump with investigations. And when he was questioned about whether Ukraine's cooperation is tied to U.S. assistance, he shot down the text

exchange saying simply, call me.

Well CNN's legal analyst Elie Honig joining us to explain how all of this affects the inquiry going forward. He's in New York for you. First,

though, let's get to Suzanne Malveaux who is on Capitol Hill. Where, Suzanne, that Sondland testimony was supposed to be taking place right now.

Just explain what's going on.

SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT: It's really a stunning turn of events here on Capitol Hill. A lot of people quite frustrated and angry on

both sides, Democrats and Republicans. We did just hear from chairman Schiff there. And he revealed something. He said that not only did they

want Sondland's testimony today but he also said they have learned that Sondland actually has emails and texts on his personal device that he has

handed over to the State Department and that he has not been allowed to provide to the committee.

So they believe that not only are they preventing Sondland from bringing forth his own story and his own testimony but that there are documents,

potentially texts and emails that he says are significant, very relevant to this case that they are not receiving.

So what is their next move here? Their next step? He said, well this is obstruction of Congress, that this is all going to go into their case for

making articles of impeachment. That this is part of the whole big picture that they had warned before that the White House and President were not

cooperating. That this would all be encapsulated in their argument for making that case. The President hitting back this morning in a tweet here.

I want to read this to you.

Saying, I would love to send Ambassador Sondland, a really good man and great American to testify, but unfortunately, he would be testifying before

a totally compromised kangaroo court. The Republicans' rights have been taken away and true facts are not allowed out for the public.

Where does this go from here? So this is what the politics comes into all of this. Because the White House is saying, as well as Republicans, you're

not going to get folks to testify. You're not get the documents that you seek until House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calls a formal vote for an

impeachment inquiry on the House floor when members come back next week. She has not done that. She does not -- she's not required to do it by the

constitution.

[10:05:00]

But it does put some political pressure on her because it doesn't give those Democrats the kind of political cover, they need some necessarily --

not necessarily wanting to cast that vote because they're in Trump friendly districts quite frankly. So she has avoided doing that. She may be forced

at this point to move forward with that when the full Congress goes back into session from the recess next week. So we'll see how she handles it.

And then clearly from the impeachment inquiry committees, they are looking at putting this into an argument for articles of impeachment and

obstruction.

As for the Republicans, we have also heard from them as well this morning. They are calling it a kangaroo court. That this is something that is

unfair. That the process has not gone well, not treated them well. They are also asking for the full transcript from Kurt Volker who testified last

week. The former U.S. special envoy to Ukraine. Because they say there is information in his testimony that the committee is not revealing that

somehow makes this all go away. And so, that's where we are right now. That political stakes could not be higher.

ANDERSON: The political stakes could not be higher is I think an understatement at this point. Suzanne, thank you for that. Stand by.

Elie, let us just remind ourselves, if we will, what Adam Schiff said last week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHIFF: We are deeply concerned about Secretary Pompeo's effort now to potentially interfere with witnesses whose testimony is needed before our

committee. Many of whom are mentioned in the whistleblower complaint. And we want to make it abundant abundantly clear that any effort by the

Secretary, by the President or anyone else to interfere with the Congress's ability to call before its relevant witnesses will be considered as

evidence of obstruction of the lawful functions of Congress.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: Well he's pretty clear about that, Elie. So what happens next?

ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, it's up to Adam Schiff. In a sense, it feels like here we go again. Because we've already been through round

one of this when Jerry Nadler and the House Judiciary Committee was trying to follow up on Robert Mueller's report. President Trump came right out

and said we're fighting all the subpoenas and, really, that strategy succeeded. Jerry Nadler and his committee got next to no live witnesses,

no live evidence on that case. They were obstructed at every turn.

Now Adam Schiff's only been in charge for a couple of weeks now but he needs to play hard ball. I think he needs to do one of two things. Either

get into court on all of these subpoenas right away. Ask for expedited ruling or just say I'm moving on. You're defying me. I'm moving on and

I'm going to assume the worst about what your testimony would have been, and we are going to bring or recommend an article of impeachment for

obstruction of justice and/or obstruction of Congress. That's the hardball approach.

ANDERSON: The days of playing nice are done, Elie. As we discuss what happens next, a very loud, perhaps not new, but very noisy position from

the Trump administration here. It's very clear that they are trying to get ahead of this.

HONIG: Yes, I don't know what days Donald Trump is talking about when he was playing nice. They've been obstructing from the moment Jerry Nadler's

committee started investigating all the way up through now. If you think about it, they've blocked or defied every subpoena and every testimony with

the perhaps exception of Cory Lewandowsky who testified a couple of weeks ago. And even he refused to answer a whole bunch of questions on the White

House's instruction. So this notion there ever was a time the White House was cooperating in any real sense is completely false.

ANDERSON: To both of you, let me start with Suzanne, do you remember anything as divisive as this in American politics?

MALVEAUX: Well, Becky, I covered the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, and that was quite a divisive time as well. I mean it was

definitely along partisan lines and there was a sense of real anger and hostility between Republicans and Democrats.

But the one thing that was very different was that President Clinton was able to really stay focused, if you will, compartmentalized when the

questions came to President Clinton. He was able to deflect, if you will, and just focus on the economy and some of the things that his

administration was doing. He put his head down and essentially really sold that to the American people. And ultimately, it was seen as more of a

partisan exercise.

Here you've got a situation where the President seems to be consumed by this impeachment inquiry. And, therefore, the country as well following

the lead here of this story line out of Washington. And it is gaining momentum. It is gaining some steam.

[10:10:00]

And there seems to be a paralysis, if you will, here, within this administration, within the Congress to get anything done. And that is a

main difference here that we see that is a stark contrast to what we saw in the Clinton impeachment process.

ANDERSON: And yes, Elie, final thought and same question to you.

HONIG: So the paralysis that Suzanne referred to, really benefits the administration. It plays in their favor to drag this out to make it feel

like it's taking forever. And the closer to November 2020 when we have an election, the more they'll be able to claim this is political.

And the Clinton impeachment I think is a really good comparison. The big difference there is when the Clinton impeachment happened, it was October

'98 into February of '99. They were just under two years away from the next Presidential election cycle. We're a full year later and closer to

the next Presidential election. So the politics here are going to be even more explosive.

ANDERSON: To Elie and to Suzanne, your analysis and reporting always incredibly important to our international viewer as we get our heads around

exactly what is going on. Thank you.

Just moments ago, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo appeared with Estonia's foreign minister. During that brief appearance, he ignored a shouted

question about why the State Department blocked Sondland in the first instance from testifying.

Well lots to sort through here, folks. CNN has got it laid out for you. The complaints, the claims and the text exchanges, all the very latest at

CNN.com, as you would expect from us.

Well meanwhile, President Trump facing harsh criticism from some of his closest allies, people in his own party, I might add, blasting his decision

to pull U.S. troops from northern Syria. That's as Turkish defense officials say all preparations for their military operation in the region

are now completed.

Have a look at this video from the Turkish side of the border with Syria. You are seeing Turkish rocket launchers stationed there. And here, convoys

of troops arriving in the area. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country is determined to clear out what it calls terrorists in the area

just over its frontier.

This map shows who controls what territory in Syria. Look at the north where U.S.-backed forces, mainly Kurdish militia, are based. Well,

yesterday U.S. troops withdrew from the area ahead of the Turkish advance. And this is the desired buffer zone, if you will, that Turkey wants to

establish in this planned offensive.

We are right across this story for you. CNN has assets across the region. Our chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward is in Iraq's Kurdistan

region and full reaction from Washington, Joe Johns is live at the White House. And Clarissa, I do want to start with you. As the U.S. withdraws

its support for assets on the ground effectively, those assets, the Kurdish assets which many say leaves them hugely exposed to worst case scenario, a

massacre from the Turks. What are you hearing where you are?

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well I think both Iraqi, Kurdish, political authority here and also the Syrian Kurdish

authorities are extremely concerned and deeply troubled by President Trump's seemingly sudden decision to withdraw troops from that border area

essentially as you said. Leaving Kurdish forces very vulnerable to a military incursion which could be -- and that could dissolve into a

massacre.

But more than that, Becky, I think that they are actually very confused right now. There is a startling lack of clarity coming from the White

House as to its position on this issue. Initially it seemed that the President was giving President Erdogan of Turkey carte blanche to go ahead

and do what he wanted.

Now he seems to be rowing that back a little bit. We have seen him on Twitter in recent hours saying we are absolutely not abandoning the Kurds,

calling them special people. Saying that the U.S. is supporting them militarily with weapons but also financially. We have also seen him say on

Twitter that if Turkey and the Turkish military engages in what he refers to as unnecessary or unforced fighting, that the U.S. will respond by

devastating Turkey economically.

So the question then becomes, what is the red line for President Trump? At what point would the U.S. intervene or somehow seek to try to defend or

protect its allies on the ground in Syria? And it's important, Becky, for our viewers to remember that it is the Syrian Kurdish forces who were

largely responsible for rooting out ISIS.

[10:15:99]

More than 10,000 of them lost their lives in the process. They have been the U.S.'s most staunch ally on the ground. So I'd say concern. A feeling

of confusion. A feeling of betrayal. But mostly a lack of clarity here.

ANDERSON: Yes, they weren't just supporting the U.S. in the fight against ISIS. They were doing the hard work. Joe, let's hear from Republican

Senator Lindsey Graham. Here's what he had to say about this decision by the U.S. President on withdrawal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. LINDSEY GRAHAM (R-SC): I expect the American President to do what's in our national security interest. It's never in our national security

interest to abandon an ally who has helped us fight ISIS. It's never in our national security interest to create the conditions for the re-

emergence of ISIS.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And Senator Graham, Joe, one of President Donald Trump's strongest defenders in Congress at a time when we are seeing such divisive,

such polarized, such partisan politics on the issue of impeachment. I think we can describe a near bipartisan criticism of the President's

decision here. How does that work?

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well it is rare. I mean when you think about what's going on, on Capitol Hill right now,

Republicans actually criticizing the President of the United States not only as this impeachment inquiry moves forward, but also as we move forward

to the one-year mark before the Presidential election occurs. So, yes, it's pretty extraordinary and that also shows you the amount of support the

Kurds have in the Congress and it's interesting. The President then speaking last night.

Also, a senior administration official actually singing the same tune. Number one, saying there's only going to be something like between 50 and

100 special operators who have actually been moved out of the danger zone to another part of Syria in the event Turkey starts doing its thing, if you

will. Let's take a listen what the President has to say just last night.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I've told President Erdogan, I hope he's going to treat everybody with great respect. You have to

understand, they've been fighting various of the people that we were working with, and Turkey has been fighting them for many years. At some

point, we have to bring our people back home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHNS: So probably the most interesting thing of all, and I think did we just hear a couple minutes ago about the President's tweet, the notion that

he suggested he would obliterate the economy of Turkey in the event the Turkish military did something that he deemed in his great wisdom, almost

his words, inappropriate? So, yes, there's been a lot of movement on the message on this issue -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Clarissa, very briefly, it almost doesn't matter how many or how few assets the U.S. is withdrawing on the ground. It is this idea, isn't

it, that the administration is reneging on promising to support the Kurds who have been fighting ISIS on their behalf. And effectively, hanging them

out to dry.

WARD: That's absolutely right, Becky. And it goes even beyond that. The European leaders are up in arms and very disturbed by this announcement as

well. Because already what we're hearing from Syrian Kurdish fighters is that if there is some kind of a military invasion from Turkey, the Syrian

Kurds who are currently guarding 10,000 ISIS prisoners, tens of thousands of ISIS prisoner family members, will, quite possibly, have to leave their

posts at those prisons and go to join the fight. So potentially, you could be looking at a serious security situation here as well.

So it's not just the Kurds who are alarmed by this. Anyone who counts on, relies on and looks to the U.S. for global leadership right now is

scratching their heads and looking around to see who else might be able to do a better job -- Becky.

ANDERSON: Yes, fascinating. To both of you, thank you.

Still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson, more on our two stories.

Plus -- the head of the NBA speaks out on an escalating row with China. That all began with one tweet. We've got the latest from Beijing for you

straight ahead.

And with Britain now just weeks away from leaving the European Union and no deal in sight, Boris Johnson talks to Europe's most important leader.

[10:20:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. With just 23 days to go until it is due to leave the European Union, Britain hurdling it seems towards a no-deal Brexit.

While both sides insist, they want a deal -- that is, the U.K. and the EU, of course -- there is currently nothing in place. And, realistically, what

needs to be secured in the next nine days. That's ahead of a key EU summit on October the 17th. Just two weeks before the 31st and the Brexit

deadline.

Just hours ago, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spoke to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The German government spokesperson confirmed the

call to CNN but didn't reveal what was said. The Shadow Brexit Secretary has just been speaking in Parliament, not mincing his words about what he

sees in the U.K. government's proposals. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KEIR STARMER, U.K. SHADOW BREXIT SECRETARY: They put proposals on the table that had massive gaps in them. Really simple questions. If you are

going to have the whole of the United Kingdom outside of the Customs Union, you need customs checks. And the government knows that and knew it when it

put the proposals forward. The EU then probes this and says, how is this going to work? Instead of adjusting the position and answering those

questions they collapse the talks six days after they put the proposals on the table. The only conclusion is the government put forward proposals

which were designed to fail and now it wants to go down this blame game instead of putting the interest of the country first.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: In times like this, we turn to our resident Brexit expert, CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson joining us from Downing

Street. And I think it's really important at this stage that we discuss what we really know about what Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister,

is suggesting as a solution to this to the European Union and what the European Union's response is to date. Give it a go -- Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: What we've heard from number 10 Downing Street today, from a source there, runs pretty

concurrently with what we've been hearing, the briefing that's been given by sources here to other British political journalists. And that is that

the discussions with Angela Merkel this morning were full and frank. That they didn't go well. That there's a perception on the British side that

they have made a big compromise.

[10:25:00]

It's a good offer. It's a strong offer. But they sense, this is from number 10 Downing Street, they sense that the European Union doesn't want

to engage in those negotiations.

Now what is it that the British had proposed that Boris Johnson had proposed here? Proposed that Northern Ireland would remain in the European

Single Market with some regulatory alignment on agricultural and business goods. On the island of Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, with the

European Union, of course. However, Northern Ireland would be part -- would leave the European Union Customs Union, would exit with Britain. So

Britain was out of the Customs Union, Great Britain, the United Kingdom out of the Customs Union and was free to negotiate trade deals post the Brexit

agreement with other countries around the world.

Now what has been briefed to some British journalists today was that the German Chancellor believes that there isn't a deal unless Northern Ireland

stays in that Customs Union. That's a red line for Boris Johnson. It's a red line for his political partners in Northern Ireland. That's where

things seem to stand. Technical discussions ongoing in Brussels but the mood music is negative. The talks are close to breaking down, Becky.

That's where we stand.

ANDERSON: Yes. And back end of this week is a sort of deadline ahead of next week and that really important -- that really important summit in

Europe. Nic, always a pleasure. Thank you.

Brexit, along with impeachment and Turkey all making news this hour.

Also coming up, we head to Beijing where Chinese businesses are cutting ties with the NBA over what is a controversial tweet supporting Hong Kong

protesters. Now the head of the league is defending his employees. That up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: A key player in the U.S. impeachment inquiry says the ambassador who was supposed to testify today has crucial evidence that is now being

withheld by the Trump administration. On Tuesday morning, the U.S. State Department ordered Ambassador Gordon Sondland not to appear on Capitol Hill

as he had been scheduled. It was a last-minute decision and Democrats running the inquiry were, quite frankly, furious. Intelligence Committee

chief Adam Schiff called it more evidence of obstruction.

[10:30:00]

He says Sondland has text messages and/or emails on a personal device that House investigators need to see.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SCHIFF: The American people have the right to know if the American President is acting in their interests, in the nation's interest with an

eye toward our national security and not in his narrow personal, political interests. They have a right to know indeed, the American people have a

need to know, and through this impeach inquiry, we are determined to find the answers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well the President, the U.S. President, of course, has been outspoken, even combative when it comes to speaking out about everything.

It seems, from the impeachment inquiry itself to defending the withdrawal of troops from Syria. But some are wondering why he's chosen to remain

largely silent about the protests in Hong Kong.

The fight for democracy there caught the attention of the NBA after the Houston Rockets' general manager tweeted his support for the anti-

government protests. Well, he apologized. And so did the NBA, which makes billions of dollars in the Chinese market. But now the league's

commissioner is defending the controversial tweet. CNN's David Culver joining us from Beijing where the message seems to be, David, if you want

to do business with us, you need to follow the rules.

DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The price of doing business here in China, Becky. That seems to be the message they are trying to send across.

And you know, we've seen in the past American companies that have been wanting to do business here and have had issues have caved to China's

pressures so as to appease them, apologize and move ahead with doing business. The NBA taking a stronger stance today and as you point out, the

head of the NBA coming forward. The commissioner and supporting the man who started this entire firestorm.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ADAM SILVER, NBA COMMISSIONER: We are not apologizing for Daryl exercising his freedom of expression.

CULVER (voice-over): NBA Commissioner Adam Silver standing behind Houston Rockets General Manager, Daryl Morey, after a growing backlash over the

league's handling of a tweet Morey posted in support of Hong Kong protesters.

SILVER: The long-held values of the NBA are to support freedom of expression. And certainly freedom of expression by members of the NBA

community. I don't think it's inconsistent on one hand to be sympathetic to them and at the same time stand by our principles.

CULVER: Silver stressing this is not about money and that he is not willing to jeopardize the league's values.

SILVER: I understand that there are consequences from that exercise in essence his freedom of speech and, you know, we will have to live with

those consequences.

CULVER: This comes after China's state media announced it would halt broadcasting all NBA preseason games and slamming the NBA. Stating, we

express our strong dissatisfaction and opposition to Silver's stated support of Morey's right to speech. We believe any remarks that challenge

national sovereignty and social stability do not belong to the category of free speech.

Morey's tweet set off a firestorm in China after he tweeted his support for Hong Kong protesters. China demanded a clarification of the tweet, which

has since been deleted, and the NBA responded by calling the post regrettable. The Chinese government responding to the NBA saying, it's not

going to work if you have exchanges and cooperation with China but don't understand Chinese public opinion.

Many U.S. politicians on both sides of the aisle slammed the NBA's response. Republican Senator Josh Hawley writing a scathing letter to

Silver accusing the league of putting potential profits in China over human rights. Later tweeting that the NBA should apologize for groveling to

Chinese Communist Party and cancel all exhibition games until the situation in Hong Kong is resolved peacefully.

JOSEPH CHENG, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR, CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG: They should understand that if they yield one time, then the pressure will

be greater. And it is very typical for the Chinese authorities to ask more and more.

CULVER: The creators of "South Park", Matt Stone and Trey Parker hitting back in "South Park" fashion after the Chinese government scrubbed this

episode of "South Park" from the internet Monday.

SOUTH PARK, COMEDY CENTRAL: Anybody who would betray their ideals just to make money in China isn't worth a lick of spit.

CULVER: The comedy duo issuing a fake apology saying, quote, like the NBA, we welcome the Chinese censors into our homes and into our hearts. We,

too, love money more than freedom and democracy.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CULVER: For the first time today, Becky, we had the opportunity to bring this growing crisis to Chinese officials, to hear from them directly at the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The question I posed, is China using its influence over businesses to threaten profits, to threaten bottom lines so

as to manipulate free speech?

[10:35:00]

Their response is, essentially companies that have been doing business here like the NBA for three decades. They know how it works here. They know

what the Chinese people expect and they should respect that or else. And this is the "or else" portion that we're seeing play out.

ANDERSON: Yes, is that fascinating. David, is it clear where this goes next?

CULVER: As of now we know that the commissioner of the NBA will be coming to mainland China. He's going to be in shanghai tomorrow. He's hoping to

heal things a bit with the Chinese officials. Can he do that without under selling the democracy and the free speech movement? It's unclear but

that's going to be interesting to watch. And you can bet, Becky, we're going to be there. We're going to watch it.

ANDERSON: David Culver is in Beijing for you. More on that story then as it develops here on CNN.

Coming up on CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Simone Biles keeps us the edge of our seats at the world championships. We look at her

attempts to add to her gymnastics medal haul.

First, though, we take you on a journey through London where the capital's iconic red buses are set for new and cleaner future.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN BUSINESS EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR (voice-over): London's mass transportation systems were first developed in the 1800s.

These arteries of the city facilitate more than 25 million journeys every day. Deep below ground and above it to meet climate and emission reduction

targets. The difficult task of modernization is under way. The most radical change will begin on the roads first. By 2037, all buses must have

zero emissions status.

TOM CUNNINGTON, TRANSPORT FOR LONDON: London's got one of the biggest bus fleets in the world, outside China, with over 9,000 buses carrying over 6

million passengers a day. And over the years we've constantly improved the quality of our vehicles and particularly the emissions that come out of the

back of the vehicles. But that's not good enough. We realize that air quality is such an important part of London and we've got a scratch sheet

at the moment to take us from the current diesel fleet to zero emissions fleet over the next 17 years.

DEFTERIOS: A planned $14 million investment in the bus fleet will help decrease air pollutants further. Electric, hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell

models that emit only water are the future.

SADIQ KHAN, MAYOR OF LONDON: Electric vehicle revolution across our city.

DEFTERIOS: London Mayor Sadiq Khan and his team have been working hard to announce changes. And bring on board all stakeholders.

KHAN: I'm confident we have a delivery plan in place that takes us toward. Came from a standstill position of having hardly any. To making sure we've

got a plan in place to make sure we have more rapid charging points. And a coordination plan to make sure we help those who want to have the

infrastructure they need to move toward to having a reality of this electric vehicle revolution we have in London now. More electric and

hydrogen powered buses than any other city outside China. We're trying to help taxis move away from diesel and petrol to electric. But hydrogen is a

really important power source. It's clean. And I think it's a really exciting alternative to petrol and diesel.

DEFTERIOS: After trials with single deck models, the next generation of the iconic double-decker buses will be powered by green hydrogen. Produced

via offshore wind farms on the east coast.

KHAN: We've seen the evidence where we've done bold, brave things like the world's first ultra-low emissions where we monitor the knocks. So there's

a better than 20 percent reduction. That's just in two months. We've got leadership from city hall. You can make transformative change. But it's

really important you take people with you. We're trying to do that here in London.

DEFTERIOS: John Defterios, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[10:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Today, gymnastics superstar Simone Biles hoping to lead her team to another gold at the world championships in Stuttgart in Germany. Of

course, she has already taken the tournament by storm.

This comes days after these crazy moves that wowed the world. Moves that will -- are set to be named after her. The annals of gymnastics history,

getting things named after you has got to be the height of success. It doesn't seem quite ironic that it's the American gymnast is upping the ante

so far as far as innovation in gymnastics is concerned. So she feels the judges actually aren't rewarding her as highly as they might. Because,

frankly, they haven't seen this stuff before. I mean, the irony of that, I don't think, will be lost on anybody. Rhiannon is in the house. This is

all pretty impressive stuff, isn't it?

RHIANNON JONES, WORLD SPORTS: She's incredible, Becky. Absolutely incredible. Simone Biles still giving her fans plenty of reason to cheer.

And away from the chaos of the NBA/China row, while there's one player that's also giving NBA fans reason to cheer. And cry, Becky. All coming

up next on "WORLD SPORT."

ANDERSON: All coming up next on "WORLD SPORT." we're taking a very short break. Back after this.

[10:45:00]

(WORLD SPORT)

END