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Quest Means Business

Colombia Signs New Peace Deal with FARC, More Investment Expected; Farage Plays Up "Ambassador's Choice" Joke; E.U. Parliament President Stepping Down; Trump Makes Progress on Keeping Manufacturer in U.S.; Green Party Candidate Presses for Recount; Chinese Travel Company Buys Skyscanner; India Twenty under Forty; Holiday Shopping Gets Political

Aired November 24, 2016 - 16:00   ET

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

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RICHARD QUEST, CNN HOST: No trading in the United States. Just parades and pumpkin pies.

Ah, how are you, sir?

Nice to see you on a markets that are rising.

The only inflation is in New York, where the balloons are rising and the markets are closed for Thanksgiving. It is of course, Thursday, it is

November the 24th.

Tonight: peace at last in Colombia. The country's finance minister tells me new foreign investment is not far behind.

Mr. Brexit, you're really spoiling us. Nigel Farage and his friends share a joke with the man who would be ambassador.

And best out of three: Donald Trump's rivals raise millions for an election recount.

I'm Richard Quest, tonight, live from London, where I mean business.

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QUEST: Good evening.

Colombia is getting a second chance to end one of the world's longest running conflicts and the country's finance minister tells me he expects to

see the economic benefits very soon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST (voice-over): There was a more muted ceremony in front of 800 people, not 2,000. But the Colombian government and the FARC rebel group

have signed a revised peace deal. It will end 52 years of conflict and the idea is to bring together society and rejuvenate the economy.

JUAN MANUEL SANTOS, PRESIDENT OF COLOMBIA (through translator): This improved an adjusted agreement, thanks to the contributions of society,

incorporates the immense majority of the proposals made whilst preserving the essential objectives of the Cartagena agreement.

What have we Colombians achieved with this agreement?

We have managed to put an end to the armed conflict with the FARC and laid the foundations for the construction of stable and lasting peace, which is

broader and deeper. We have managed to end the bloodshed and ensure there are no more victims.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: Now the previous deal was rejected by voters by a very slim majority. The new deal has a variety of changes, including the FARC has to

hand over its assets, has to give more information about alleged drug dealing and there has to be greater restitution for previous crimes.

Some say that is still not enough. And they want to see stiffer penalties for previous guerillas.

Now Thursday's agreement, instead of being sent for a referendum, will be voted on by congress alone for approval.

I was joined on the line a short while ago by the finance minister, Jualicio Cardenas (ph) and I asked him if a referendum was good enough for

the first time, surely they should have a referendum the second.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUALICIO (PH) CARDENAS, COLOMBIAN FINANCE MINISTER: It was not an obligation of the government and the (INAUDIBLE) to submit this agreement

to (INAUDIBLE). It was his own initial position.

But now, with this renewed agreement, with the new agreement, which has incorporated many -- and I would say most of the points that were suggested

by the people that voted against the agreement in the first place, the president has the mandate to send it to congress because, otherwise, it

would take too long, first.

And, second, we need to move on to implementation as soon as possible.

QUEST: When would you hope to see the first solid gains economically of a Colombia that is at peace, even though you've got a cease-fire at the

moment but a cease-fire that turns into a permanent peace agreement, that allows investors to basically say Colombia has changed?

CARDENAS: Based on the experience of other countries that have gone through similar process, the first impact is on foreign direct investment.

We expect that there will be more investment in Colombia beginning next year, especially to certain sectors that have been more affected by

conflict, like agriculture and tourism. So we expect to see effects very soon. Of course, it will take time --

CARDENAS: -- to see the full effect of the peace on economic growth. And I think this will be a matter of two to three years before we actually are

able to see the full benefits of peace.

QUEST: Turning to changes in Washington in the United States, the new possibly, arguably, more protectionist Trump administration, are you

worried that Central, Latin America and South American countries are going to be -- are going to feel a chill, a cold wind of protectionism from your

larger northern neighbor?

CARDENAS: Colombia is a very strong ally. I would say it's perhaps the United States' best ally in the region. So we will expect real changes.

But of course, there is uncertainty. You cannot ignore that. And there uncertainty about trade and about economic policy in the United States.

The markets are already reflecting that. We sincerely hope that that uncertainty fades out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: The minister of finance for Colombia talking to me now.

Throughout the government's campaign for peace, the economic sense of the deal has been one of the main arguments. Join me at the superscreen and

you will see what I mean.

The IMF already says Colombia will have the most economic growth in South America next year. There you have 2.7 percent, along with Argentina, 2.7

percent. Brazil is 0.5 percent but we're well familiar with their problems and South America overall is dragged down obviously by Brazil. And look at

Venezuela in the depths of the deepest recession in generations.

President Santos of Colombia has said in the past the peace deal could add another 1.5 percentage points to the 2.7 percent. So to the deal and what

it means for Latin American economies, Shasta Darlington is in Rio.

The numbers are striking when we look at them because it shows if -- let's be blunt about this, Shasta. You have got Argentina with (INAUDIBLE) as

the president; a completely new economic environment. You've got Santos in Colombia, with the peace deal. These are the engines of growth now for the

region.

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. But I think also, Richard, you hit on something important in the economy.

A lot of these in your interview, when a lot of these numbers were figured out, were calculated, this was before Donald Trump won the election in the

United States.

So they are looking at a very different environment. And as part of the urgency, I think we were seeing from President Santos, not only because of

the fear of protectionism but Colombia has received a lot of aid from the United States.

When you talk about Plan (ph) Colombia, when you talk about fortifying its military and its fight in the drug wars against the rebels, this kind of

thing, where is that going to go under Trump?

So I think this is a new environment and, while he was expecting a boost because of the -- if he could get the peace deal through, the timing became

even more crucial here -- Richard.

QUEST: OK. But let's talk about this Donald Trump aspect. I mean, I suspect the minister's right; foreign investment -- I mean, Colombia has

been extremely well-run economy ever since.

But what is the fear with Trump?

In the sense of what policies are, on the economic front, are they looking at and deciding this could be a deep worry?

DARLINGTON: Well, I think a couple of things, Richard. On one hand, just the idea that a Trump presidency would be much more inward-looking, much

more protectionist. Looking at dismantling agreements, trade agreements that already exist and certainly not necessarily looking to fortify others,

really looking to bring jobs home, this kind of thing.

But again, on top of that, if you got a forward-looking -- inward-looking government, throwing money at the military in Colombia might not be

something that he would be that interested in.

So I think if they can secure this peace, turn this cease-fire into really a lasting peace deal, that takes some of the budgetary pressure off of them

as well. Fighting the FARC, fighting these drug wars has been extremely expensive and not just in terms of human lives but financially.

QUEST: Shasta, I talked about Venezuela and even Brazil. And until those two, particularly in the Brazilian case, until that economy picks up, one

can surely say that South America doesn't reach economic potential.

DARLINGTON: Yes. I think Brazil will continue to drag the region down. While there had been hopes in the markets that a -- by Impeaching President

Dilma Rousseff, replacing her with Vice president Michel Fenerus (ph), it's just more conservative, more market-friendly policies, that the economy

would continue to turn around maybe a bit faster. That is not happening. And that is because there are a lot of really deep-rooted problems here

from pension reform and really making it a more investor friendly environment.

I think one boost perhaps has been to exports. The currency really took a hit over the last couple of years. So it went from being way overvalued to

perhaps being undervalued. That has been a boost for some industries certainly -- Richard.

QUEST: Shasta Darlington in Rio, thank you.

Now the British government says there are no plans to make Nigel Farage an ambassador to the United States. And as this photo makes clear, he is

ready to take on ambassadorial duties. We'll explain more after the break.

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QUEST (voice-over): Now apparently these little gems are the Ambassador's Choice. Ferrero Roche, a staple at any elegant affair, which was made

popular by this ad.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): The ambassadors' receptions are noted in society for their hosts' exquisite taste, that captivates his guests.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (voice-over): (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Ferrero Roche, a taste sensation, rich, luxurious, unique.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): (INAUDIBLE).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (voice-over).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Ferrero Roche, a sign of good taste.

QUEST (voice-over): Clearly the Ambassador's Choice, certainly welcome at The Ritz which is why the ambassador not-to-be, Nigel Farage, was handing

them out. It was a party hosted by Aaron Banks (ph), who funded the leave.eu. campaign. Now you're aware, of course, Donald Trump has said

that Farage, he suggested to the British government, it will be a great choice for the U.K.'s ambassador in Washington.

Theresa May in the foreign office says that won't happen. So put away the Ferrero Roche chocolates for the moment, Mr. Ambassador.

Nigel Farage spoke to Hannah Vaughan Jones, and he said even if he doesn't become ambassador, he believes he can still play a role.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NIGEL FARAGE, UKIP: Well, in normal times, I wouldn't necessarily put the words "Farage" and "ambassador" together. However, 2016 has been a year of

dramatic change. I think anything in possible. But Mr. Trump may think it is a very good idea. The question is what does Ms. May think.

And so far, I have to say, you know, over the last couple of weeks, since I met the president-elect I keep saying I would love to play a constructive

middleman role, if you like between the administrations. But they don't seem -- they don't seem to want me for some reason.

HANNAH VAUGHAN JONES, CNN HOST: But you are a career politician.

FARAGE: No, I'm not.

JONES: You've spent decades though --

(CROSSTALK)

FARAGE: No, no, no.

JONES: -- rallying against the British government policies and as an ambassador, you are effectively a civil servant then. And you're rallying

and promoting British government policies.

And how on Earth would you do that with a straight face?

FARAGE: Look, I don't think I'm going to be made the British ambassador.

All right?

Let's be honest about it. You know I'm not foreign office; I'm -- maybe I'm not the type. But I did have 20 years in business before getting

involved in politics. I do know how to cut deals. I do have the support - - amazingly -- of the president-elect. And do I know a number of his team, some of whom I've known for years.

I am very keen for Britain and American to get closer again. And I genuinely -- my critics would say but I spent my career in politics trying

to knock down buildings.

Well, now, I'd like the chance to try and help build one.

JONES: Lots of people wondering what a Trump administration will mean for their individual countries as well.

What do you think in the age of Britain in a Brexit environment as well, Trump can do for Britain?

FARAGE: Well, Britain's now freed. Well, we haven't quite got there but we voted to be free. We voted to be independent. We voted to get back the

ability to make our own deals and our own relationships around the world.

And I do generally think when you look at the levels of cross-investment, U.K. into the U.S. and back again, the idea that we get rid of tariffs and

make trade between our two countries easier and better I think is a real positive, a positive for both of us. And also it would strengthen our hand

in negotiating with the European Union. I'm all for it.

(CROSSTALK)

JONES: -- a special relationship is what we have always enjoyed with the United States. A special relationship or a subordinate relationship?

FARAGE: Oh, no, I don't believe in a subordinate relationship nor is that something that President Trump, as he will be, would want. He has

tremendous respect for the United Kingdom for the things that we've done together, throughout the 20th century, to fight for liberty, to fight for

democracy.

His mother was Scottish. It's something that he feels very, very keenly. We can do that in terms of trade. And I think in terms of NATO, where

there's going to be a big debate now about what NATO is for in the modern world, I think Britain potentially plays a very valuable role between

American and other European NATO members.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: Now Peter Bone is a Conservative MP, who was at the reception with Nigel Farage and joins me now.

Good to see you, sir.

Look, what role -- let's assume -- he's clearly not going to be the U.S. ambassador, I'm sorry; the U.K. ambassador in Washington.

What role do you believe Nigel Farage can play?

PETER BONE, CONSERVATIVE MP: Well, Happy Thanksgiving, first of all.

And, well, I think he has a big role to play. I think we should have leading politicians of all political parties working together to get us out

of the E.U. We all worked together to campaign to leave the E.U.

Why not use the talented people?

So if I had been prime minister, I'd have made Nigel Farage a peer, put him in the House of Lords and given him a role as a go-between. Not quite by

the -- not as an ambassador because our ambassador's a civil servant. But he could help, he could -- he has a connection --

QUEST: How?

BONE: -- with the president-elect.

QUEST: Right.

But how does the prime minister, Theresa May, swallow the Tory Party or even the elites of the Tory Party disliking Nigel Farage?

BONE: Now, you see, that's a leading question. I don't think the Conservative Party is against Nigel Farage. I think that the establishment

is Nigel Farage; a totally different thing --

QUEST: All right, how does --

BONE: -- the country --

QUEST: -- how does the cabinet, how does Philip Hammond, how does Theresa May, how does David Davies (ph), how do they work with somebody that they

have been unbridly (sic) rude about?

BONE: No, well, that's not quite right because David Davies (ph) was -- I was part of the Go Campaign; Nigel Farage is part of the Go Campaign --

(CROSSTALK)

BONE: -- they work together.

QUEST: Now, but they would not share a platform.

BONE: Oh, no, they did.

QUEST: Hammond wouldn't share a platform --

BONE: Well, no, he's different. He's gone. He's the past.

But Davie Davis (ph) shared platform with Nigel Farage and we worked together as a team. And we had Labour politicians like Kay Hope (ph).

Why not bring them all together?

Why not work together on a national interest, on a bipartisan basis?

And I think that will be better for everyone.

QUEST: is there any discretion -- because towards (INAUDIBLE) -- because, at the moment, the British government stands to be completely -- to mess it

all up, to use a phrase.

You know, look, clearly Farage is liked by Donald Trump. Britain is clearly in a very difficult position when it comes to negotiating now with

the United States in terms of Scotland (ph) and Brexit.

QUEST: It's going to have a hard Brexit negotiation with the U.S. -- they would be wise to play a Trump -- pardon the pun -- card with Washington.

BONE: Well, I think there is a role to play. I don't agree with your analysis about our relationship with the U.S. I mean, you have always been

our biggest trading partner, biggest country we trade with and, of course the fall in the pound against the dollar --

QUEST: But there is going to be -- but there is going to be -- but the U.K. is going to need Washington as a friend even more so during the

Brexit. Well, of course you --

BONE: And I think Donald Trump, actually the president, he is actually more pro-British than Hillary Clinton would ever have been. So it is good

news.

QUEST: So they don't want to piss off the president.

BONE: Indeed, they do not.

And that's why we -- I mean, there are Conservative MPs with connections with Donald Trump. But Nigel Farage is a special relationship with Donald

Trump. He's going to -- I'm sure he's going to be a very good President of the United States. So why not use everybody, including Nigel, to get

better to know him and build up bridges?

QUEST: Let's talk on the wider issues, if we may, on the Brexit.

Tony Blair is trying to build a centrist campaign that basically says there should be a second referendum, once we have seen the terms of the exit.

That's a very sensible, reasonably position because, sir, surely only a fool pertinaciously sticks to a vote where the circumstances may have

changed.

BONE: What happened was everybody accepted that this referendum, this huge democratic blockbuster, that we all got involved with, people would grieve,

both sides. We would accept the result. Now, of course, Tony Blair and the Remainers (ph) are trying to rewrite history and actually trying to

change what the British people have decided.

Now in democracy, at least as I understood it, the majority, when you have an election, that's what you get.

QUEST: Right. And in a democracy, you have an election and, five years later, you have another election where you can revise and review your

previous decision.

What is -- with this crucial decision on the U.K.'s economic future, as the -- as more facts become clear, what is wrong --

BONE: Oh, come off it --

(CROSSTALK)

QUEST: -- what is wrong with having a second referendum, once we know the deal?

BONE: Well, something the European Union likes -- you just keep having referendums until you get the decision they want. Now the truth of the

matter, there are no new facts, everybody --

(CROSSTALK)

QUEST: The economics may become more clear and --

(CROSSTALK)

QUEST: -- and, with respect, if it becomes clear, if it becomes clear that there is no single market access -- I had been promised or at least --

BONE: No, no, never --

QUEST: -- surely that --

(CROSSTALK)

BONE: -- absolutely not. In fact, if we were on world trade rules, we would be far better off. I mean, there is no -- this picture of saying,

things are going to be disaster -- do you remember before the referendum, the economy was going to collapse if we came -- it's actually we got, what,

we've got the biggest growth in the G7, unemployment down, inflation down, interest rates not going up.

QUEST: Right. Do have a chocolate.

BONE: Thank you, Ambassador.

QUEST: Thank you very much.

Ooh, I always wanted to be ambassador. If you have to get a title (ph), that's the best one of all.

Good to see you, sir. Thank you for joining us.

BONE: (INAUDIBLE).

QUEST: All right, now, the president of the European Parliament is calling time on his term and (INAUDIBLE) Martin Schulz (ph) is one of the E.U.'s

most powerful politicians. Now he may be gearing up for a run against Angela Merkel in Germany.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MARTIN SCHULZ, PRESIDENT, E.U. PARLIAMENT: Over the last month, there has been a lot of speculation in the press about my future. I have now made

that decision. I may not run at a president of the European Parliament for a third term. Next year, I will run for the German Bundestag (ph) as the

head of the list of my party, the SPD (ph) (INAUDIBLE).

It was not an easy decision as it is an honor to be president of the European Parliament and I'm very thankful for the opportunity.

Germany in particular is the biggest member state of the European Union, has a special responsibility which, until now, I have tried to fulfill as a

German member of the European Parliament and in the future I will strive to fulfill from Berlin.

I will carry on my functions as president of the European Parliament with the same strength and conviction until the end of my mandate.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: Let's put this into perspective. Citigroup's European economics director is Christian Schulz (ph) -- no relation, I would doubt, at least

not that I am aware of. But he's with me. Good to see you. (INAUDIBLE).

Look, so if Martin Schulz goes back to Germany and becomes perhaps foreign minister in the coalition, what's his goal in going back?

CHRISTIAN SCHULZ (PH), CITIGROUP: Have an impact I guess. In Europe, of course he's been very important in the various crises that we've seen over

the past and especially I think, the refugee crisis, and the relations with Turkey, generally between countries. In Germany, of course, there is a job

opening. Potentially the foreign minister becomes president, so we need a new foreign minister. There is also elections next year. His party may

well be in power again.

So again, there is a whole range of options, potentially, available.

QUEST: Is he, at the moment, the junior members in the coalition, but is he well enough known, well enough liked and the respected that, if he was

the prospective chancellor for his party, he could take on Angela Merkel?

SCHULZ: Well, first of all, we have to find out how popular he is. He is probably not even in any of the popularity rankings just yet. He's a

European (INAUDIBLE), he's not a German one. So we have to find out.

He's new and that may not be a bad thing. People like new faces every once in a while in the SPD. It's a bit short of popular faces at the moment.

So there is still 10 months to go and he can become popular. He was the -- what we call Spitzencandidad (ph), he was the main candidate of European

Socialist Party. So he did become quite well known in 2014.

I think he has a good chance but there is still a big question of whether the SPD, his party, would actually let him run as candidate.

And eventually we have to say that there's still a 10 percentage point gap between Merkel's CDU and his SPD. So --

QUEST: Right. But it's always said that Merkel, certainly on the fourth term, the CD, particularly with Merkel, stands to become chancellor again,

simply because there is nobody else and the best person for the job, the biggest, well known name.

So the question surely, turning it on its head, is, if there was somebody else, is her position at risk?

SCHULZ: Well, her party is all -- it's not just her, it's also her party. It's the biggest party by a wide margin. The SPD, Schulz's party would

have to do a lot of catching up to get past her. I think that's going to be very difficult. But again, it's still 10 months to go. If Schulz -- he

seems to be a very energetic politician -- really gets the show going. it could be a good fight, which I think, for democracy, can only be good.

QUEST: In a word, just quickly, on the Brexit numbers yesterday or the U.K. numbers that we saw this -- you saw 70-odd billion more because of

Brexit, I mean, is this an early canary in the mine warning that things are going to get much worse in the U.K., do you think?

SCHULZ: Well, Brexit will probably have a cost. Whether this is the precise cost or whether it's higher or lower, we still have to see. I

think the OBR pretty benign, a pretty optimistic view on growth during Brexit. It may well turn out to be worse.

QUEST: Christian, since everybody's enjoying the Ambassadors' Reception, do have a chocolate.

SCHULZ: Thank you very much.

QUEST: Ah, there we go.

Plenty more -- well, there won't be enough left for me by the time we finish.

The European markets closed slightly higher, a quieter than usual session. The U.S. is closed for the Thanksgiving holiday. And Thanksgiving in the

U.S., a time for family and for turkey. I imagine I'll have a chocolate meself.

For Donald Trump, it's a time for business. QUEST MEANS BUSINESS. We're live in London tonight.

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QUEST: Hello, I'm Richard Quest. There's more QUEST MEANS BUSINESS in just a moment.

When she got around 1 percent of the vote in the U.S., now the Green Party has raised millions of dollars and seeking a recount.

And it may still be Thursday in America, but that doesn't mean that Black Friday sales are not already well and truly underway.

Before all of that, this is CNN and, on this network, the news always comes first.

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QUEST: There is no rest for the president-elect as Americans across the country are enjoying Thanksgiving dinners. Donald Trump says he is doing

his best to deliver on a campaign promise.

In his words, "I'm working hard, even on Thanksgiving, trying to get Carrier air conditioning company to stay in the United States. Making

progress. We'll know soon."

It's a more of a presidential tone than this tweet from a Thanksgiving three years ago.

Then he said, "Thanksgiving to all, even the haters and losers."

The president-elect is spending his holiday at the Mar-a-lago resort. As CNN's Jason Carroll is there and filed this dispatch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tomorrow, a transition call is scheduled for 10:30 am. That's when the transition team will get together and go

over who's on tap to be interviewed for cabinet positions on Monday.

Nothing going to be happening today in terms of announcements; perhaps we will hear something tomorrow, perhaps we will hear something about Commerce

Secretary Wilber Ross, the billionaire investor, is the lead person up for that particular position.

Maybe we'll hear something tomorrow about Ben Carson. Dr. Carson has already said that an offer is on the table. Trump for his part tweeting

out, saying that he is still working today, working --

CARROLL: -- trying to keep jobs in the United States.

As you know, throughout the campaign he said that companies such as Carrier air conditioning that takes jobs from the United States and takes the

overseas to a place like Mexico for example, he would impose a 35 percent import tax to try to keep those jobs here in the United States.

So what he did was today, he tweeted, "I'm working hard, even on Thanksgiving, trying to get Carrier air conditioning company to stay in the

United States, Indiana, making progress. Will know soon."

Carrier, for its part, releasing its own statement, saying, "Carrier has had discussions with the incoming administration and we look forward to

working together and nothing to announce at this time."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUEST: Jason Carroll, who is in Florida.

The election was several weeks ago but the ramifications and rancor continues. Jill Stein was always the long-shot candidate. Now she's

demanding a recount. Join me at the superscreens and we'll talk about exactly -- now, look, Jill Stein, she, Green candidate and the campaign is

warning now of possible hacks into the electronic counting and balloting system.

So far, there is no other evidence to back up these claims but Jill Stein and her party are using them to justify the call for a recount and they're

asking for audits and recounts in three of the crucial Rust Belt states, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. They have historically all been

Democrat. They -- Pennsylvania and Wisconsin have gone when for Donald Trump; Michigan still has not been called. It's believed to be too close

to call.

But the fact that these three Democrat bellwethers turned as they did, has given Stein and the Greens cause for concern. So the way in which they've

managed to get this and to fund this, they mounted a campaign to raise $4.5 million and now they're more than 90 percent of the way there towards that,

$2 million early on on Thursday that would help pay for the call for a recall.

Even with a recount, Jill Stein won't win. She got about 1 percent of the vote in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. But that's not really what it's about.

It's the idea is to draw attention to the bellwether states, to draw attention to the Green Party's core and, most important of all, Stein

insisted when she spoke to Paula Newton, this wasn't an effort to overturn the ultimate result as to who had won the election.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JILL STEIN (G), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The anomaly is remained to be seen. To my mind, the real concerns here are that we know there was

hacking going on all around this election, hacking into voter databases, into party databases, into individual e-mail accounts.

And in addition to that, we know that the voting systems that we use, many of these machines, are wide open to hacking.

In fact, some of the machines used in Wisconsin have been made illegal by the State of California after it was proven how easy it is to tamper with

them and to install basically malicious programming.

So it is really unfortunate that the American people are in a position right now, where we're very skeptical.

We're not only skeptical about the vote and the election, people have a widespread cynicism about our basic institutions of government, about the

Supreme Court, about the executive, about Congress, you name it.

PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The states, across the board, said this voting system is sound.

Why now?

Why after the vote?

STEIN: Well, you know, I was approached by a variety of computer scientists and election integrity experts, who said they now felt that

there was a critical mass of evidence, that we could prove this in court, and, well, prove in court not fraud but prove in court that we need

reassurance, that we need quality assurance built into the system.

NEWTON: This isn't an effort then to overturn any kind of a result?

STEIN: It's not and I don't expect that the result is going to be overturned, by no means. I don't think that kind of evidence is there.

But I think this is very important for us to ask this question, is there -- can we be sure that our votes were accurate?

Let's count the paper.

NEWTON: Dr. Stein, what did you think when you heard President-Elect Trump talk to "The New York Times" about the climate accord and that he is still

looking at it?

STEIN: To me, what that said was that we, the voters, need -- and we, the American people, need to keep standing up.

And you know during the presidency of Richard Nixon, who was a very repressive, authoritarian and corrupt president, we achieved all kinds of

great things. We established the Clean Air and Water act, the EPA; we got women's right to choose from a very conservative Supreme Court and --

STEIN: -- we brought the troops home from Vietnam.

I think we have come a long way since then and we've gotten into a more passive kind of democracy. I think what we've learned in this election is

that we need to be out there, engaged in our democracy if we want it to work for us.

And I thought it was a positive sign to see him sort of taking steps back from his prior position, that he was going to basically tear up the Paris

accords.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: Jill Stein, talking to Paula Newton.

In a moment, a new connection as the Scottish-based airfare site, Skyscanner, has a new owner with global ambitions.

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QUEST: It's called the deal of the day, Skyscanner has been snapped up by Seatrip (ph) for a record $1.7 billion and the deal combines the Scottish-

based airfare site with China's biggest online travel company. The Skyscanner CEO, not surprisingly at that price, is thrilled.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By joining forces with Seatrip (ph), we're going to get a step closer to making travel simple. It is intricate, it's not solved

yet and, by having operational independence, we will focus on the things we love doing. It's an exciting time that allows us, in the future, to bring

even better tools to travelers all over the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: Oh, well, the better -- but we've got the best tool of all, Simon Calder is with us, the travel editor at "The Independent."

And so I was surprised, it is a lot of money.

SIMON CALDER, "THE INDEPENDENT": It most certainly is and my hat is off -- is doffed to the three guys who set up Skyscanner, basically Manchester

University graduates, who, frustrated in not being able to find the best deal for a ski flight. They've now sold what could turn out to be

absolutely peak flight comparison.

Because it is really interesting, the way that the space is so fluid but the airlines now saying, actually, we're not so sure about the business

model of these flight comparison websites --

(CROSSTALK)

QUEST: -- the problem as far as the airlines are concerned?

(CROSSTALK)

QUEST: -- at the end of the day, you see the price and you click through to the airline's website.

CALDER: Ah, you sometimes do but sometimes you click through to an online travel agent. People indeed like Seatrip (ph) and that online travel agent

might be very good. It might turn deliver fantastic personal service. It might actually turn out to be a complete nightmare that fleeces you for all

sorts of extra charges.

And Sir Tim Clark, the president of Emirates, was saying recently that he actually thought the online travel agents were taking rather too much value

out of the airline passenger transaction he was going to find ways to squeeze them out.

QUEST: Right. But the issue, of course, whether it be Skyscanner or Kayak or any of the others which are out there, the issue is this -- I can go to

Emirates' website or I can go to BA's or United's or whatever. But I'm only seeing their fares. I want to be able to compare the fares.

CALDER: Oh, yes. And there are many ways to do it, including the ones you mentioned; of course there are places people like could do hop from

Iceland. There is even one called Hopper, which will allow you to see if the flight is like to get more expensive or less expensive. All sorts of

fantastic I.T. opportunities out there.

QUEST: The airlines haven't got an answer to -- against that, though.

CALDER: No, their -- except, well, here is what Michael O'Leary, chief executive of Ryanair, has been talking about. He says actually, us

airlines, we're going to put together a kind of vanilla one ourselves and the great thing is that you won't be diverted off to various online travel

agencies you've never heard of.

We will do it ourselves. We can get a fairly cheap, vanilla way of doing it. You know that you just come to us and we'll give you the straight

deal.

And that actually echoes something that Stereos Hargieana (ph), the founder of easyJet, actually first moved it about 15 years ago.

QUEST: Let us pause and enjoy these pictures of today. If you look at the monitor you'll see, here we have the pictures of the A351 1000 when it took

flight today for the first time. It is the largest of the 350 variants. Perhaps from the 366 people on board, I mean, this is the death knell,

these large -- along with the 777X and others, 900s, these are the death of the four-engine aircraft, isn't it?

CALDER: Well, it is except that you get airlines such as British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, the two long-haul giants of the U.K. They still have lots

of them. And British Airways in particular say our passengers love them. The aircraft themselves cost us nothing -- they were paid off years ago.

Yes, the maintenance cost is high; yes, the fuel --

QUEST: Ah, but these -- well, as long as fuel is low, then it will be better off.

Here is the 350 taking off.

Simon, wonderful to see you, ooh, and don't -- please, please, I'm -- the ambassador is being delinquent in my duties.

CALDER: Your Excellency, thank you.

QUEST: Take two.

Ooh, look at him, he's ruined me pyramid.

Not the first time. Right. Thank you sir.

Now, the Indian entrepreneur Konika Tekerewal (ph) is looking to add to her own fleet. As a 28-year old, she set up her own private jet company. It's

all in a country where women make up only three in 100 CEOs. All of that after surviving cancer in her early 20s. The JetSetGo is one of our "India

Twenty under Forty."

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(MUSIC PLAYING)

KANIKA TEKEREWAL (PH), INDIAN ENTREPRENEUR (voice-over): (INAUDIBLE). (INAUDIBLE) making clothes (ph). I am Konika Tekerewal (ph). I'm 28 years

old and I started JetSetGo Aviation Services (INAUDIBLE) Limited. It is the one-stop shop for private aviation travel. I once had a customer come

to me and ask me, but, Konika (ph), why are you hiring a private jet (INAUDIBLE) rocket science?

I'm willing to pay you as much as you want. So (INAUDIBLE) started JetSetGo to solve this problem.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

TEKEREWAL (PH): (INAUDIBLE) private aviation is still very, very (INAUDIBLE) in India. I mean, America has 40,000-plus private jets;

whereas, India has about 300 private jets and helicopters together.

But on the other hand, the market is very, very fragmented. You don't have one big private jet operate. You've got over 250 small operators operating

one machine or two machines, which is why I think we've come into (INAUDIBLE) the market and to be able to be operating India's largest

private jet (INAUDIBLE).

So we have taking our various aircraft from various owners, wherein we manage and operate these aircraft for the owners.. So we take control of

the crew, the engineering, the food, the services, the marketing, all of it. And it is all (INAUDIBLE) belongs to them.

By doing this, we're making (INAUDIBLE) profitable for the owners and getting superior service and better price to (INAUDIBLE).

Mahatma Gandhi once said that, "First the world ignores you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you and then you win them over."

So I think we have gone through this phase over the past three years, you know, one step at a time. I think 3.5-4 years back, when we started, we

were doing one flight a week. And (INAUDIBLE). Today as we speak, we have a jet (INAUDIBLE) in the sky every minute of the day.

I personally believe that India's going through a revolution and what you see happening in there today is amazing. I mean, 10 years ago, India would

not appreciate a woman (INAUDIBLE) running a private aviation company.

So I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 21 years old. And (INAUDIBLE) kind of made me fearless because (INAUDIBLE) the treatment that went on.

The one thing that kept coming back again and again to me was everything is possible and that's exactly what (INAUDIBLE) makes happen. You know, we

have had customers tell us (INAUDIBLE). We've done it. You had customers (INAUDIBLE) serve them food that's not available in India. We have flown

people to other parts of the world (INAUDIBLE). So I think we make everything possible.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUEST: In any other year, Black Friday is pure, naked, shameless capitalism. And 2016 is not like any other year. Like everything else, it

is getting a political first, after you've had a moment to think about that as you "Make, Create, Innovate."

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QUEST: Ah, what a day. Celebrations galore. There were floats, balloons, well, there is the marching bands, there's the floats and there are the

giant balloons, which, of course, are quintessentially part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade, it was the 90th one that they have held.

It's one of America's favorite traditions and soon after all of this has taken place, the adults will get their own moment of joy and they go

shopping. In about five minutes from now, 7:00 to be precise, Macy's flagship store in Manhattan is to open its doors and the Black Friday

holiday sales begin a day early.

Politics is everywhere and this year, Americans are faced with a politically charged holiday shopping season as Clare Sebastian explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

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CLARE SEBASTIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Getting ready to shop this holiday season?

Get ready for a political minefield.

SEBASTIAN: Despite the election being over, social media has been awash with calls from both sides of the political spectrum to boycott certain

retailers because of their perceived political leanings, public statements or products they stock.

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): One prominent campaign, #GrabYourWallet, arose from comments Trump made about women in an "Access Hollywood" tape leaked

in October.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, the election is over but we can vote with our wallets every day. I think that the issues that the Trump camp's raised in

our culture transcend politics to some degree.

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): The campaign keeps a spreadsheet of stores to boycott: DSW or Designer Shoe Warehouse; clothing store T.J. Maxx and

Bloomingdale's, all on the list for stocking Ivanka Trump branded products.

The companies have not commented. And there are the pro-Trump campaigns, thinking of having a drink while shopping? #BoycottPepsi is spreading

after fake news reports suggested the CEO told Trump fans to, quote, "take their business elsewhere." PepsiCo has not commented on the boycott.

And there's a growing anti-Starbucks campaign --

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): -- #TrumpCup after a Trump supporter posted a video, showing a Starbucks employee refusing to write the name "Trump" on

their cup. Starbucks says it does not actually require its staff to write or call out names.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're hearing the post-election vitriol quite high or quite expansive. Normally things would have calmed down a bit by now. We

(INAUDIBLE) later. This has been a very different kind of election.

SEBASTIAN (voice-over): As to the heart of New York holiday shopping, Macy's, this is something both sides agree on. Macy's stopped selling

Donald Trump branded products like ties and cuff links last year after his comments about Mexican immigrants.

TRUMP: Macy's, which is extremely, a very disloyal company.

SEBASTIAN: So now some Trump supporters want to boycott Macy's. And because the store still stocks Ivanka Trump branded products, so does the

other side.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It wouldn't influence my spending.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's still not OK and we still want to improve things. And boycott stores if you want to.

SEBASTIAN: So while experts still expect strong sales this season, it seems some Americans may be making a list of where not to shop (INAUDIBLE)

twice -- Clare Sebastian, CNNMoney, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUEST: Keep the money in the wallet. A "Profitable Moment" after the break.

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QUEST: Tonight's "Profitable Moment" from London: I could wax about political about Nigel Farage and his possibilities as Ambassador Farage but

that all seems a bit too much on Thanksgiving.

Instead, well, Ambassador, why don't you enjoy a chocolate from the Ferrero Roche range?

Because that's "QUEST MEANS BUSINESS" for tonight. I'm Richard Quest in London. Whatever you're up to in this Thanksgiving Day, I hope it's

profitable. And I'll see you back in New York next week. Hope you don't mind if I -- I'll take two.

END