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Trump's Asia Trip; Russia Investigation; North Koreans React to Trump; Senate Candidate Roy Moore and Comedian Louis C.K. Accused of Sexual Misconduct. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired November 10, 2017 - 02:00   ET

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


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GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): The U.S. president in Vietnam. And so is Vladimir Putin.

Will these two leaders come face to face?

Plus what Donald Trump had to say about how the U.S. will conduct business around the region.

And in Pyongyang, the reaction to the president's warning to North Korea is dismissed; his description of life there, rejected. What the people of that nation say about life in that kingdom.

Live from CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta, we want to welcome our viewers around the world. I'm George Howell. CNN NEWSROOM starts right now.

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HOWELL: The U.S. President is in Vietnam. This stop the fourth of his 12-day tour through Asia. Mr. Trump and several other world leaders arrived in Vietnam to take part in the annual Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.

One big question, though, that's been on the table, will President Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin meet?

After days of speculation, there are now some confusing signals. Russian officials seem confident the two men will meet on the APEC sidelines but the White House press secretary says no formal meeting is on the president's schedule at this time. We'll, of course, continue to monitor.

Mr. Trump has just concluded a wide-ranging speech to Asian leaders, where he praised Asia's economic development and called for more one- on-one trade deals and open markets. But he also warned the United States would not tolerate chronic trade abuses. Let's now bringing in CNN's international diplomatic editor Nic Robertson, following the story for us.

Nic, it's good to have you with us. Let's talk more about the president's comments at APEC.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: George, this was a speech that was expected. President Trump, delivering his view of what free trade is, which, in his view is fair trade, balanced trade, reciprocal trade.

He was very aspirational at the beginning of the speech, also reaching out to the Vietnamese who had just suffered a typhoon in the area, commiserating with them, making the audience aware that he was in touch with the people who are hosting this very important summit.

But in talking about the region here, about Vietnam, about Singapore, about Thailand, about so many countries here, he spoke with them about their individual nations, about how they had seen economic improvement in their lifetimes but, as far as the United States was concerned, in the future, trading would be not on a multilateral level.

He said we're happy to do bilateral trades with any of the countries here and it has to be on these different terms than the terms we've seen in the past. We won't allow the theft of intellectual property rights, we won't do deal with -- in countries where governments are unfairly subsidizing, supporting businesses.

We are acutely aware of the way that our businesses in the United States have lost out, of how businesses in Asia have lost out because of a lack of trust that they could develop and invest mutually. And that trust hasn't been there to make that happen.

So this was a very clear vision of trade that President Trump was expected to lay out and he laid it out.

HOWELL: All right, Nic. There were some criticisms from U.S. President Trump on the WTO, the World Trade Organization, trade certainly front and center here.

The president spoke, as you mentioned, about these renewed regional partnerships, which is in direct contrast, quite frankly, to the America first message that rallies his base. He actually mentioned that term, America first, in a way that seemed specifically tailored to this audience. Let's listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I am always going to put America first, the same way that I expect all of you in this room to put your countries first. The United States is prepared to work with each of the leaders in this room today to achieve actually beneficial commerce of both your countries and mine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: So, Nic, there, America first, you could say, retailored, rebranded for a different audience.

The question here, did that message allay any concerns about the prospect of America becoming less of a player throughout the region? ROBERTSON: Well, he also talked about the freedom of nautical and air passage in the region, specifically here not mentioning China but he was really talking about the South China Sea there, where you know --

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ROBERTSON: -- the United States views what China does there as sort of expanding its interests and putting, trying to put in place restrictions on shipping, restrictions on overflights, that the United States doesn't think is in the best interests of the region.

So in saying the United States wasn't going to allow that to happen, yes, that's the kind of support that people here wanted to hear. But that was a very brief part of his message. It was mostly about trade and represented here to APEC many members of what was going to be for a while the TPP, the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, that President Trump took the United States out of, pretty much when he came to office.

And on the margins here, it is expected that Vietnam, that Japan in particular, as well, will try to sort of regather those remaining 11 nations to pull together that TPP.

So in that respect, while he's given the United States a very clear message on trade, it's not going to undermine the interests, it appears, of the other nations here, who see other avenues about more multilateral trade, a different view of globalization than President Trump's view.

They've heard his message. He got applauded.

But how will that be put into effect?

We're really going to have to see what else comes out of the summit.

HOWELL: Many of those trade ministers involved in the TPP, indicating that they are willing to move forward without Washington. So certainly a big issue that will be part of this summit.

Let's also talk about this. All eyes are on whether the U.S. president will meet with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. This would be an important meeting with regard to North Korea, with regard to sanctions against Russia.

And certainly the optics important, significant, given the ongoing investigations into President Trump's 2016 campaign and possible collusion with Russia.

So, Nic, with regard to this meeting, are you hearing anything more?

Because there is now some uncertainty.

ROBERTSON: There is. You know, it seemed to me Russian officials played up the possibility and likelihood yesterday. By yesterday evening, they were playing it down. U.S. secretary of state Rex Tillerson said you know, normally you have a meeting of this magnitude, a bilateral like this, if you have something substantive, significantly substantive.

So the indications are that if there isn't an agreement, we're hearing from the White House spokesperson that the reason this meeting isn't happening is because of scheduling issues, not because of substantive issues.

But that seemed to be indication for secretary of state Rex Tillerson yesterday that's there wasn't enough coming together on the substantive issues, whether it's an issue of the future for Syria, the North Korea issue and, of course, the -- Russia's collusion, Russia's meddling in U.S. elections is a big issue.

When you look back to last July at Hamburg at the G20, when Putin and Trump met, the way the White House handled rolling out the content and substance of that meeting, it really did seem to backfire. So perhaps there's an additional reticence. But it doesn't seem to be happening here as far as we know so far. It could change. But at the moment that's where it stands.

HOWELL: Our international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson, live for us, following the president's trip. Thank you, Nic. We'll stay in touch with you.

President Vladimir Putin is suggesting that allegations of Russian athletes being involved in doping could be part of a U.S. plot to meddle in next year's Russian presidential election. This report coming from Reuters. Here's more of what President Putin had to say.

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VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): There are big suspicions, in retaliation for our alleged meddling in their election, the United States wants to create problems in the election of the president of Russia, which, in case it is the case, is very bad, as it undermines the very idea of the Olympic movement.

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HOWELL: Just last month there were reports that's Mr. Putin accused the U.S. of pressuring the International Olympic Committee to block Russia from the 2018 Winter Games taking place in South Korea.

In the meantime, there are new details coming to light into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, specifically, from the man who once served as President Trump's personal bodyguard.

He testified before Congress about what allegedly happened during a 2013 trip to Moscow, this, of course, before Mr. Trump became the President of the United States. CNN's Manu Raju has this report for us.

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MANU RAJU, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: President Trump's long-time confidant, former bodyguard Keith Schiller testified behind closed doors to the House Intelligence Committee as several sources familiar with that testimony tell both me and our colleague, Jeremy Herb, about some of the details about the trip that Schiller --

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RAJU: -- took with private citizen Donald Trump back in 2013 to Moscow when they were discussed, when they went there because of Trump's involvement with the Miss Universe pageant in Moscow.

Now what Schiller told the committee was an offer made by a Russian to send five women up to Donald Trump's hotel room that night. Now, Schiller said he took it as a joke. He later told Trump about it on their way up to his hotel room that night. Trump laughed it off.

Schiller waited outside the hotel room and then, after several minutes, Schiller left and said he did not know what happened the rest of the night. The reason why this is significant is this is all part of the investigation into that so-called dossier of allegations compiled by that former British agent, Christopher Steel, looking into any Trump-Russia connections.

There are some salacious allegations in that dossier. Some of those salacious allegations have not been verified. This is why some of the investigators asked about the question. They wanted to know about whether or not Russians had dirt on Trump just at the same time as they were meddling in the United States elections.

This comes as special counsel Robert Mueller's own investigation is ramping up itself. He interviewed Stephen Miller, one of the most senior aides at the White House, talking to him about the firing of former FBI director James Comey as well as things that happened during the campaign season, given that it is Stephen Miller who is so very close to Trump during the campaign season and at the White House.

But we are told that the Comey firing was first and foremost on the special counsel's mind as he starts to investigate possible obstruction of justice with the president -- Manu Raju, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Manu, thank you for the report.

Earlier on his Asian trip, President trump had some tough words for North Korea and now Pyongyang is answering back with tough words of its own. CNN's Will Ripley is the only TV reporter from an American news outlet inside North Korea. Will brings us this exclusive report.

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WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In North Korea, where the news is under strict government control, state media gave only a brief mention of President Trump's speech at the South Korean national assembly. No details of his scathing indictment of North Korean human rights and harsh words for their supreme leader, Kim Jong-un.

DONALD TRUMP (R), PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: North Korea is not the paradise your grandfather envisioned. It is a hell that no person deserves.

RIPLEY (voice-over): Despite heavy restrictions on the flow of information, our government guides allow us to tell Pyongyang citizens exactly what Trump said.

"That's absurd," says housewife Ri Yongi (ph). "The reality here is very different. We're leading a happy life. And we enjoy exclusive rights."

RIPLEY: When you say you have rights that people don't have outside of North Korea, what do you mean by that?

"One example is our outstanding leader, Marshal Kim Jong-un," she says. "He is leading us to a better future. Trump has no place to talk about human rights. He is a simple war maniac."

Her answer echoes North Korea's leading newspaper, which called President Trump's words, quote, "warmongering filthy rhetoric spewing out of his snout like garbage that reeks of gunpowder to ignite war."

Li Wongil (ph) is an editor at a publishing company. I asked him about President Trump's claim that North Korea is a failed state, where most live in poverty, drawing a stark contrast to their neighbors in the South.

RIPLEY: Why do you think that South Korea's economy is so much larger than North Korea's?

Do you agree with President Trump that it's your government's policies that are to blame?

RIPLEY (voice-over): "He knows nothing at all about this part of the country," he says. "Here, we have free education, housing, medical care."

Li (ph) was raised an orphan. His parents died serving the government. Now he has a cushy job in the showpiece capital. The United Nations says most North Koreans live without regular electricity, clean water and nutritious food.

RIPLEY: What about people who don't live here in pyon, people who live out in the countryside?

RIPLEY (voice-over): "We're building our economy, even under the sanctions and economic blockade by the Americans," he says. "And even in western Countries, there's a big difference between life in the capital and small towns."

On 17 trips to North Korea, I never heard anyone criticize the government. There is zero tolerance for dissent of any kind. Defectors testifying to the U.N. often paint a much darker picture of life inside North Korea. But here, no deviation from the party line. They say this country is not hell, it's home -- Will Ripley, CNN, Pyongyang, North Korea.

(END VIDEOTAPE) HOWELL: Will Ripley, thank you for that exclusive --

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HOWELL: -- report.

You're watching CNN. Still ahead, a bombshell report. A U.S. Senate candidate allegedly pursued a relationship with a teenage girl when he was in his 30s. Details ahead. Stay with us.

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HOWELL: Welcome back to CNN NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell.

In the U.S. state of Alabama, a Republican candidate for Senate is denying allegations that he pursued relationships with teenage girls. In an explosive report, "The Washington Post" alleges that Roy Moore initiated a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was in his 30s.

The campaign says the story is, quote, "the very definition of fake news and intentional defamation."

Moore has vowed to never give up the fight and calls to withdraw his candidacy.

He tweeted this, "The forces of evil will lie, cheat, steal, even inflict physical harm if they believe it will silence and shut up Christian conservatives like you and me."

CNN's Martin Savidge has the very latest on these allegations.

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MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Leigh Corfman said she was 14 when she first met Roy Moore. It was 1979, when Moore was an assistant district attorney in Etowah County, Alabama. He was 32 years old at the time.

Corfman was at the courthouse with her mother, Nancy, for a custody hearing; even now, 38 years later, both women remember Moore introducing himself and offering to sit with Leigh while Nancy attended the hearing. They told their story to "The Washington Post;" Beth Reinhard is one of the reporters who broke the story.

BETH REINHARD, "THE WASHINGTON POST": The mom said, thank you very much for looking after my little girl and left them alone.

SAVIDGE (voice-over): Corfman told "The Post" Moore made plans to see her a few days after the hearing.

REINHARD: He picked her up around the corner from her house, took her to his house, which is in a very woodsy, rural area, about 30 minutes away, took her into the house -- at least twice that occurred -- and gave her alcohol. And on of one of the occasions undressed her, undressed himself and, you know, touched her over her bra and underwear and guided her to touch him over his underwear.

SAVIDGE (voice-over): Remember Corfman was 14 years old at the time. She said she was uncomfortable after that incident and asked Moore to take her home. She never reported his behavior to the police.

But she's not the only one with a story about Roy Moore. Wendy Miller told "The Washington Post" when she was 14, Moore approached her at the mall and told her she was pretty. Two years later, he allegedly started asking her out but she said no.

Debbie Wesson Gibson told "The Post" she was 17 when she met Moore, who was speaking at her high school civics class. They went out for a few dates and Gibson said they only kissed, nothing more.

Gloria Thacker Deason says she was 18 when she met Moore. She says they dated on and off for a few months and that Moore would buy her alcohol --

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SAVIDGE (voice-over): -- even though she was underage. She also says they only hugged and kissed.

All four women tell "The Washington Post" they were initially flattered by his attention. But as they grew and Moore's prominence in Alabama rose, they he found his behavior troubling.

REINHARD: They see he's running for such a high office, U.S. Senate. They also feel that it's hypocritical of him to be saying things like homosexuality should be illegal when, in their experience, he was looking for teenagers to date at the mall when he was in his 30s.

SAVIDGE (voice-over): Moore calls "The Post" story, quote, "completely false and a desperate political attack."

His campaign has called the story "fake news" and points out the paper has endorsed Moore's opponent in the Alabama Senate race.

But "The Washington Post" stands by its reporting and Leigh Corfman told "The Post" she has no political agenda and has voted Republican in the past three presidential elections.

REINHARD: "The Washington Post" reporter was in Alabama doing some reporting on Roy Moore's supporters, when these rumors were emerging that he had had relationships with teenage girls.

Two of us spent weeks in Alabama, pursuing these leads that we got. And, as we say in the story, none of the women were eager to go public. They were all off the record when we first spoke to them. And it took multiple interviews before they agreed to speak publicly because, in the end, they felt like they needed to do it.

SAVIDGE (voice-over): Martin Savidge, CNN, Gadsden, Alabama.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Martin, thank you.

There is a long list of Republicans now calling on Moore to step aside in that Senate race if the allegations are proven true.

In a statement, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said this, "Like most Americans, the president believes we cannot allow a mere allegation in this case, one from many years ago, to destroy a person's life. However, the president also believes, if these allegations are true, Judge Moore will do the right thing and step aside."

Alabama lawmakers reacted to the story, saying they need more information before asking him to withdraw.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm just -- it's just come to light and I've just read it. It's very, very have disturbing, what I've read about. And I'll have more to say, I'm sure, after I learn more.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does he need to step down?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I'll have more to say about it after I learn more about the facts.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, I don't know. It's a devastating, nasty story. If the revelations, if that's true, I don't believe there would be anyplace for him in the U.S. Senate. OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just think it's interesting and a little odd that this story is now being introduced to the national media at this time in the campaign.

I think most of the people in the state of Alabama would be very disappointed if someone that had been alleged to have engaged in that type of activity, had been proven that they had engaged in that activity, was continuing to represent them in any formal capacity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Lawmakers there saying if proven true that he should step aside but the U.S. Senator John McCain, he didn't pull any punches in responding to that report. He tweeted this.

"The allegations against Roy Moore are deeply disturbing and disqualifying. He should immediately step aside and allow the people of Alabama to elect a candidate they can be proud of."

In the meantime, the U.S. Senate has passed a sexual harassment resolution. It requires senators, staff and interns to participate in mandatory sexual harassment training. More fallout for actor Kevin Spacey in the sexual harassment

allegations against him. Spacey is being cut out of the upcoming film, "All the Money in the World." He will be replaced by actor Christopher Plummer.

And another celebrity also under fire, this one comedian Louis C.K. Five women are accusing him of sexual misconduct. The allegations part of a bombshell report in "The New York Times" and the response to those allegations has been swift, including HBO cutting the comedian from an upcoming special and its on-demand services. CNN's Tom Foreman has this report.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you having a good time?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is it OK if I stay here for a few more days?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let me think about it and then we'll talk later.

OK?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I love you, too.

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Even in the best of times, "I Love You, Daddy" might be controversial. A movie about a divorced man...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is that your girlfriend?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, God, no, that's my daughter, China.

FOREMAN (voice-over): -- whose teenage daughter starts dating a much older film director.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE) Leslie Goodwin.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Isn't that weird?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not that weird. He likes young girls.

(LAUGHTER)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, he does.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: China.

FOREMAN (voice-over): But now the premiere and a promotional appearance on "The Late Show" have been canceled after a "New York Times" report --

[02:25:00] FOREMAN (voice-over): -- that the film's star and director exposed and fondled himself in front of women in several incidents.

LOUIS C.K., COMEDIAN: Well, you know, sexual perversion is a problem. It's -- you can't stop it. People got to do what they got to do and --

FOREMAN (voice-over): It's the kind of behavior Louis C.K. frequently jokes about in his standup act.

LOUIS C.K.: Getting kind of a rapey vibe from this girl.

(LAUGHTER)

LOUIS C.K.: Do you think I'm just going to rape you on the off chance that hopefully you're into that (INAUDIBLE)?

FOREMAN (voice-over): Indeed, the comedian has built a TV show, an army of fans and a reputation as a comedy ground broker with his coarse talk about sensitive matters.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: China is a minor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A minor what?

FOREMAN (voice-over): But the accusers named by "The Times" are saying his jokes about sexual misconduct aren't just fiction. In numerous instances, they say, they were invited to private places, such as hotel rooms, where he stripped off and masturbated in front of them.

Then they say they felt pressured to keep quiet and act like nothing was wrong.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I mean, everybody's a pervert. I'm a pervert. We're all perverts. Who cares?

FOREMAN: CNN has not independent confirmed any of these allegations. We have reached out to Louis C.K. for any comment and have heard nothing yet. And his publicist told "The New York Times," the comedian will not be answering any questions -- Tom Foreman, CNN, Washington.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Tom, thank you.

The subject of sexual harassment was front and center in a CNN town hall on Thursday. Among those taking questions, the former FOX News anchor, Gretchen Carlson. She sued then FOX News chairman and CEO Roger Ailes for sexual harassment.

She later resigned.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: How can America drive real progress in addressing sexual harassment of women and men in Silicon Valley, in Hollywood, in all industries and in everyday places, when we have a man sitting in the White House who has boasted on tape of grabbing women's crotches and is currently facing allegations of sexual harassment himself?

GRETCHEN CARLSON, FORMER FOX NEWS ANCHOR: Yes. It's such a great question. I get it asked every single day. In simple terms, the difference is that every American has a vote. We can fire people in private business. But we can't fire somebody that's been voted into office until the next election.

I'm working in a bipartisan fashion to change the laws to take the secrecy away from this issue and I am very optimistic. I was just there Tuesday, meeting with senators and members of the House, that I'm going to get this bill passed. It will take the secrecy out of forced arbitration, which is in so many employment contracts right now and gives no voice to women when they're sexually harassed.

And then, when that bill passes, it will land on the desk of President Donald Trump. And I hope that he will sign it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOWELL: Gretchen Carlson there. And, again, the former CEO and chairman of FOX, Roger Ailes, he resigned after that.

Of course, you'll want to catch the very latest on this CNN town hall, "Tipping Point: Sexual Harassment in America" with CNN's Alisyn Camerota, it airs at 10:00 am in London, 6:00 pm in Hong Kong, only here on CNN.

Time for a very quick break. "STATE OF AMERICA" with Kate Bolduan is up next for our viewers in Asia but for other viewers around the world, the news continues after this break. We'll tell you about asylum seekers, who reached France to find that their struggle is far from over. The conditions they may face at a migrant camp -- still ahead.

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GEORGE HOWELL, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Welcome back to NEWSROOM. I'm George Howell with your world headlines this hour.

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HOWELL: Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are ordering citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible. And the United Arab Emirates is telling citizens not to travel there from anywhere. The Saudis have accused Lebanon of declaring war on the kingdom. Given the presence of Iran- backed Hezbollah and the Lebanese in the Lebanese government.

It comes after the Lebanese prime minister unexpectedly announced his resignation while visiting Riyadh. He accused Iran of meddling in the region and causing devastation and chaos. For its part Hezbollah is calling on Saudi Arabia to stay out of

Lebanese affairs. One Hezbollah lawmaker says the Saudi regime is suffering a acute internal crisis and needs to stop, quote, "aggression against the countries and the people of the region."

He says that the bloc reaffirms the need to safeguard political and financial security and stability in Lebanon.

An ominous warning from the United Nations about Yemen. It comes on the heels of the Saudis responding to that rocket attack on Riyadh and amid a massive crackdown on corruption. CNN's Becky Anderson has details for us.

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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Life in one of the Arab world's poorest countries is about to get worse. Millions could be about to starve to death. The U.N.'s humanitarian chief warning Yemen will soon sink into the largest famine we have seen in decades.

That warning coming after a Saudi-led military coalition tightened its air, land and sea blockade of the country. It was the Saudis' response to this: Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen firing a ballistic missile at the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. The missile was intercepted just after the strike. Saudi foreign minister Jubeir blaming their arch rivals.

JUBEIR, SAUDI FOREIGN MINISTER: We see this as an act of war. Iran cannot lob missiles at Saudi cities and towns and expect us not to take steps.

ANDERSON (voice-over): Iran denying supplying the Houthis with missile while the kingdom's increasingly assertive foreign policy stance coming at a time of major change back home also this week a newly formed anticorruption squad led by the 32-year-old crown prince Mohammad bin Salman. Went two arrests, a number of high profile princes and businessmen all in line with plans to diversify the economy and modernize society. His critics saying it's simply a way for him to solidify power.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The king of Saudi Arabia takes very, very seriously the issue of --

[02:35:00]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- corruption, waste and mismanagement.

ANDERSON (voice-over): The Saudi attorney general said more than 200 Saudis have been called for questioning on corruption charges that cost the country at least $100 billion. While the kingdom is moving swiftly at home and abroad, the world is watching, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman reshuffling the government, promising women they will drive while rolling out an ambitious employment and diversification agenda along with combating terrorism and extremism with a moderate view of Islam. His supporters saying he's pushing reforms in a country yearning for change. The naysayers say the crown prince is simply consolidating power for himself while upending traditions -- Becky Anderson, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Becky, thank you.

In Eastern France, President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to clear the streets of all migrants by the end of the year. Right now, hundreds are living in shanty towns at the camp of Blida (ph). Aid groups say it is dirty and dangerous there. Local authorities wanted to close it down but the camp has only grown. CNN's Melissa Bell has this report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For years now, local volunteers have been doing what they can to help. Today they brought bananas, lots of them, for the several hundred migrants whose home is the Blida (ph) camp on the outskirts of Metz in Eastern France.

For four years now, during the spring and summer months, local authorities have officially housed asylum seekers who are waiting to hear on their claims here; beyond the fence, a sort of life in limbo for the migrants.

Some came through nearby Germany after having claims turned down there. Metz is the town where migrants arriving in Eastern France can apply for asylum, all are now officially in the care of the French state as their applications are processed. They've been given a parking lot to give on and not a great deal else.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (Speaking French).

BELL (voice-over): The aid groups who've helped them say there are currently more than 500 migrants living here and they keep on coming, families sent by local authorities with a map for whom the struggle to survive is far from over.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's so dirty, to be honest. It's not a place to live in. It's not a place to live in.

BELL (voice-over): Local authorities say the camp is necessary because of a shortage of temporary accommodation. They say there are 100 new arrivals every day in the mozan (ph) department and that they do what they can to move the migrants on to proper housing as quickly as possible.

But these were images taken with a phone. The local prefecture would not let us in even when we tried to accompany a local MP on her tour of the camp.

Caroline Fiat (ph) says she's not surprised the local authorities were reluctant to let us in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (Speaking French).

BELL (voice-over): Emmanuel Macron has said that he wants there to be no more migrants on the streets of France by the end of the year. The French government says it wants a system that is at once more efficient to expel those whose asylum applications have failed but also more humanitarian to accommodate those still waiting to hear.

That's going to mean an awful lot more temporary accommodation being made available and fast, not only in order to house those who are currently begging on the streets of France but also to house those who are currently being taken care of by --

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HOWELL: Welcome back to NEWSROOM. For some people, a trip to Japan could be a foodie paradise. But don't tell that to the U.S. president. When he dined in Tokyo, he chose some classic American fare. Here's our Jeanne Moos with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Trump may have moved on from Japan but he left behind a sizzling culinary star: a burger blessed by the president.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's in Japan and he's eating hamburgers.

MOOS (voice-over): Japan's prime minister ate one with him at a golf club before the two men teed off. The Japanese prime minister tweeted a photo of the burger bromance that included Heinz ketchup, saying, "We're getting down to business right away over hamburgers."

But the business that boomed was Munch's Burger Shack. This chef and owner was asked to come to the golf club to prepare the VIP burgers. President Trump pronounced his "very good."

Now what was already considered one of Tokyo's best burger joints is going gangbusters. One of the two branches even ran out of meat. Munch's posted on Facebook that "it was an honor to serve President Trump" but warned customers of trouble due to congestion, given their new popularity.

And to think that when President Obama visited Japan, he and the prime minister ate at a legendry sushi restaurant, where meals run 300 bucks. Trump's cheeseburger cost $10.50.

Tweeted one fan, "Trump won the election because he eats hamburgers and not high-end sushi."

We all know the president loves his KFC and McDonald's. He even did a McDonald's commercial.

TRUMP: A Big 'n' Tasty for just $1?

MOOS (voice-over): Now he's inadvertently advertising for a Japanese burger joint.

Will the Kobe Jack cheeseburger end up being rechristened the Trumpburger?

The menu hasn't changed yet, but this was a happy meal from Munch's Burger Shack -- Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOWELL: Thanks for being with us. I'm George Howell at the CNN Center in Atlanta. "WORLD SPORT" is up next.