Return to Transcripts main page

CNN NEWSROOM

Bali Remain Under The Highest Possible Volcano Alert As Volcanic Activity Is Still Considered To Be High; Paris Mounts Campaign To Woo London Businesses; The Pursuit Of Truth Despite Attacks On Journalism. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired November 28, 2017 - 02:30   ET

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


[02:00:00] ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: How Trump's Pocahontas crack is contributing to a deeper divide. Thank you for joining us everyone. I'm Isha Sesay.

JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: I'm John Vause, you're watching Newsroom LA. Pope Francis decides (inaudible) capital from meeting with leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He is in country hoping that he will be able to bring an end to the violence Rohingya Muslims.

SESAY: Well since they (ph) told (ph) us (ph) to crack down, his force more than 600,000 of these Muslim visit (ph) Bangladesh before Francis is walking a very fine diplomatic line during this trip. He's been warned not even use the word Rohingya. His (ph) advisors are worried it could aggravate an already tense situation. So let's go to CNN Ivan Watson for more on the Pope's trip.

He joins us now from Hong Kong. Ivan, given that Myanmar is a significantly Buddhist country and the pope is there to talk about the plans (ph) of Rohingya. A plan (ph) which really has not measured (ph) with much sympathy on the whole in terms of the general public. What kind of welcome has he received in countries so far?

IVAN WATSON, CNN ANCHOR: Well, you know, some of the streets of Yangon were lined with cheering supporters who welcomed him. And some of them sang, you know, this is like a visit from God himself. Of course, the Christian community in Myanmar is quite small. It's a single digit percentage. There are only about 700,000 Catholics in the country.

It's an overwhelmingly Buddhist country. He was also treated to a welcome which was no initially on the itinerary from the most senior general in the military there. That's the Senior General Min Aung Hlaing. It was a short meeting along with several other military offices at the Arch (ph) Diasies (ph) in Yangon and in that meeting, the pope, according to the Vatican stressed the great responsibility that the authorities have there in trying to help manage the transition from a half century of military rule to -- to democracy.

And that's been a theme that he has stressed in the past. The pope sat down with the de facto leader of the government Aung San Suu Kyi at the Vatican last May and after that meeting, the Vatican announced that it was establishing full diplomatic relations with Myanmar. And that's something clearly that they want to promote as the pope has

arrived with this message that he's -- he's calling essentially for reconciliation, forgiveness and peace. This morning, Isha, he sat down with leaders in a closed door meeting, with religious leaders, Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, Jewish, Christian as well, this kind of interfaith approach that he has promoted in his travels around the world. Isha?

SESAY: Yes. And Ivan, just briefly, you know, as we talk about the fine line that he has to walk, if he goes too far which, you know, obviously, Vatican insiders are concerned about, hence this caution, don't use the word Rohingya. I mean, how real is the threat of backlash for the small number of -- of Catholics there in Myanmar?

WATSON: He was advised by the most senior Catholic Cleric in Myanmar, the Cardinal there, not to use that word because it's loaded politically. But, you know, I'm reminded, Isha, it was just a couple weeks ago that the U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in Myanmar, he avoided using the word ethnic cleansing in his meetings with the government.

And then published a statement accusing various figures there in the security forces of conducting ethnic cleansing. So even if the pope doesn't use the word Rohingya, he could very well repeat some of his criticisms that he's made very loudly in the past of the treatment of this persecuted minority.

SESAY: Ivan Watson joining us there from Hong Kong. Ivan, always appreciate it, thank you. Joining us now is Kate Vigneswaran. She's a legal director at Fortify Rights and she joins me from Bangkok, Thailand. Kate, thank you so much for being with us. Let me ask you, in your view, how important is it for the pope to use the word Rohingya publically while on this visit to Myanmar?

KATE VIGNESWARAN, LEGAL DIRECTOR, FORTIFY RIGHTS: Look, I think it's extremely important, Isha. The Rohingya is a term that's adopted by -- by the Rohingya community itself. They have a right to self identify, they have a right nationality. And the Myanmar government and military has been disavowing that -- that right to self identify by calling them Bengali interlopers and foreigners that should return to where they come from. To not use the term feeds into that dehumanizing the group and further doesn't play the, the diplomatic role, the role that these types of communities should be trying by putting pressure on this government to actually give these people their rights.

SESAY: Well the Pope met with me and my military chief first before meeting with the head of state or head of government upon landing there in Myanmar which points at the power of the military. In your view, what level of impact can the Pope have on this long-running crisis?

VIGNESWARAN: Look, that's right. The military does have extreme power but I think the Pope is in a, is in a position of strength at the moment because it's one of the first international figures to visit Myanmar following the latest round of attacks. He's been advising there by Aung San Suu Kyi. He obviously has her ear and he also is a political and spiritual authority. And I think for many religious groups who he has been a champion of. So I think a lot of people will be watching as we know, the international community is watching. So I think he has a platform at the moment that he can use to put pressure on both groups in Myanmar and the international community.

SESAY: As you watch from your vantage point there in Bangkok, Thailand, what are your expectations of substantive outcomes from the Pope's visit to Myanmar and [Bangladesh]. Do you have any expectations of something substantive coming from this or just the symbolism of the Pope's visit?

[02:05:00]

VIGNESWARAN: But I think it's a little bit of both. I think the symbolism is quite significant. But I also hope to see at least a very strong statement from the Pope following this visit or even during this visit. It will be interesting what he says when he speaks about Aung San Suu Kyi later today. But I'm really hoping for him to push for some kind of commitment at least by Aung San Suu Kyi to do more and then further calls for action once he finalizes his visit there.

SESAY: As you know, last week there was an agreement signed between Myanmar and Bangladesh for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees who fled in recent months, the violence in North Iraqi state. You know, according to this agreement, at least a little that is known, it is said that returns shall commence in two months. Are there any indications from where you stand and what you know of the situation that the Myanmar authorities actually intend to deal with the underlying issues that have long plagued the Rohingya and really set off this wave of violence?

VIGNESWARAN: No, there's, as far as where we're sitting there is no indication the government is going to do that and as a result, this agreement is clearly premature. There's been no indication they're going to unravel their codes of systemic discrimination in the forms of restrictions of militant's movement both in marriages or deal with the inter-communal violence and tensions that has been ongoing, all the violence perpetrated by the military. As far as (inaudible) I would have to say, the government and military tends to have returnees in camps and if the camps had been inexistence since 2012 are anything to go by this merely means (internment) in squalor conditions. So I think really this would be a disaster for the (inaudible).

SESAY: OK, we really appreciate it. Thank you so much for joining us.

VIGNESWARAN: Thank you (Inaudible).

VAUSE: Now the Bali where clouds of volcanic smoke continue to belch from Mt. Agung. The eruptions began Saturday sending ash over 9,000 meters into the sky and there could be more to come. Officials have issued a level IV alert, the highest possible. The main airport on the resort island has been closed until at least Wednesday leaving more than 50,000 tourists stranded while 30,000 residents near the volcano have been evacuated. Authorities say up to 100,000 still remain in the danger zone.

Pedram Javaheri joins us now from the CNN Weather Center with more on this. I guess many of those people in the danger zone there stay put.

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN WEATHER CENTER: Yes, absolutely. There's nowhere to go and officials are saying if they have to use force to get the additional 40-50,000 people they think they may have to get out of the path, they will do so. This is a very serious situation. Look at the flights, upwards of almost 200 flights cancelled out of Bali's international airport before the airport was closed and you work your way toward Djakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, 11,000 plus flights delayed. So you see that kind of ripple down effect with the airports in the vicinity of this as well, and you think about how this all plays out when it comes to airports and airplanes in general, it's not just the engine but also the abrasion with that volcanic ash that is composed of minerals, of course, volcanic glass and also just a lot of debris embedded in here as well.

You bring this into an aircraft, not only are you going to cause abrasion of the surface but this gets into the aircraft engine, the turbines we know up to 1,000 degrees Celsius in that temperature you allow all of this to essentially melt down and as it exits the engine itself it then becomes- it solidifies and it causes catastrophic engine failure within a matter of seconds this all plays out.

We've seen this happen before that's why they want nothing to do with this when it comes to the dangers associated with such a volcano and you take a look at this- this played out back in September.

We had seismic activity pick up across this region, towards hundreds of quakes per day were being recorded so we knew this was about to occur and of course several months later we had three eruptions this weekend and you noticed 127 active volcanoes, certainly no stranger in this part of the world to active volcanoes but it's not the volcano itself right now that is alone in all this.

You look at what's going on south of this region multiple tropical systems that we're watching very carefully, you bring this into the mix of course is going to cause additional dangers in Lahars volcanic debris, volcanic flow, you mix that with heavy rainfall, essentially you're going to be looking at what is the same consistency (John) of cement and that is catastrophic destruction written all over it if that occurs across this region.

VAUSE: Thank you. Ok and a ceremony honoring native American war hero, President Trump used a racial slur to insult a democratic opponent leaving many asking what was he thinking?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: You were here long before any of us were here, although we have a representative in congress who they say was here a long time ago, they call her Pocahontas.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) SESAY: It went over with a start, the moment when the U.S. President revived an old slur for one of his biggest critics, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren.

VAUSE: Donald Trump was in the Oval Office to honor Navajo War Veterans known as Code Talkers when unexpectedly he went off script and left many asking what was he thinking?

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: I just want to thank you because you're very, very special people, you were here long before any of us were here, although we have a representative in congress who they say was here a long time ago, they call her Pocahontas. But you know what; I like you, because you are special.

VAUSE: The White House later said President's Trumps use of Pocahontas was not racially motivated.

SESAY: The target though, Senator Warren, disagreed, noting the president couldn't even make it through a ceremony without using a racial slur.

VAUSE: Joining us now California talk radio host Ethan Berman, California Republican National Committee Shawn Steel and Jessica Levinson professor of law and government at Loyola Law School. Thank you all for being with us, hope you all had a good Thanksgiving. Shawn this should been a straight forward, feel good even honoring Navajo veterans.

The President, why can't he be President when the moment is called for like this?

SHAWN STEEL, CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: Actually it was a good straight forward event that a hundred of the code talkers of World War two probably wouldn't of heard about it, probably very few people would have appreciated it. Trump went off script which he does, and we're not used to that now. You're - nobodies gonna be used to it, but the fact that he called out the greatest prod in the U.S. Senate Elizabeth Warren who got into Harvard University because she claimed she had Indian heritage is something that needs to be remembered.

She was - she became a beneficiary of affirmative action which she in no way deserved and she used it for years, and she still won't even get off the dime. So frankly it's a fair shot, it's a political enemy, now look you may not like it, but listen if you're looking for Donald Trump to be nice and pleasant, that's not the Donald Trump that the people are - voted for.

[02:15:00]

VAUSE: Either before we get into - here's the response from Senator Elizabeth Warren, listen to this.

ELIZABETH WARREN, U.S. SENATOR, MA: You know I really couldn't believe it that there he was at a ceremony to honor Native American men who have really put it all on the line. To save American lives, to save lives, of people - our allies during World War two. Really amazing people, and President Trump couldn't even make it through a ceremony to honor these men without throwing in a racial slur.

VAUSE: Even here we know the arguments have been ongoing about Elizabeth Warren and her claims to Native Heritage, and there's a you know a conversation to be had, but there's also a time and a place for that conversation to be had. A lot of people are saying this is not that time and place.

ETHAN BERMAN, CALIFORNIA TALK RADIO HOST: It's clearly this was not that time and place. Not only that, the Navajo that we have mistreated so horrifically throughout American history, the President himself should've been making amends, not just saying oh the code talkers. The wonderful - they did save our butts in World War two because of the use of their language that was not able to be cracked by our enemies during the war. So we had a perfect encryption mechanism there.

But to call out Elizabeth Warren, by the way I will take great exception to what Shawn Steel just said the only reason is what he said. Why she got into Harvard was because of affirmative action that absolutely diminishes her great accomplishment and her legal experience.

VAUSE: Jessica help us get in Presidential Primary, Jeb Bush warned Donald Trump you can't insult your wife in the Presidency, clearly he was wrong. Listen to this.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF U.S.A: When these people walk in the room they don't say oh hello, how's the weather, so beautiful outside isn't it lovely? How are the Yankees doing, oh they're doing wonderful, great. They say we want deal - oh look at my African American over here look at him. Are you the greatest?

You're not gonna support me, even though you know I'm the best thing that could ever happen to Israel or you're not gonna support me because I don't want your money. Isn't it crazy, when Mexico sends it's people, they're not sending their best. They're bringing drugs, they're bringing crime, they're rapists, and some I assume are good people.

VAUSE: And so Jessica, while there is outrage over the President's comments in the oval office. There is a group out of this country which we all may think this is much to do about nothing.

JESSICA LEVINSON, PROFFESSOR LAW AND GOVERNMENT, LOYOLA LAW SCHOOL: Well in looking at that kind of best of or worse of highlights reel that you just showed. I think the theme is so startling to me is that - that actually is presidential now. So insulting so many different groups and joking about it is now the new normal, that's the new presidential. And I think that is terrifically dispiriting and there may actually as he said be a conversation to be had about Elizabeth Warren and what was on her applications.

But there is no reason that in a ceremony in which we are honoring code breakers, we are honoring people who are great patriots to use a racial slur, and it's as if he simply cannot help himself from trying to relive these kind of political feuds and school yard tussles that he had during the election.

And it's very similar to when there's a scripted and serious discussion about let's say Healthcare, Climate change, immigration, and then all of a sudden there's this pivot to, and I just want to tell you I beat Hillary Clinton and she's a crook. I mean it's just it's so I think dispiriting for people around the world to look and say this is the leader of America, this is who we elected, someone who throws racial slurs at a ceremony where we're honoring people who served our country.

VAUSE: OK, at the end of last month Donald Trump declared November would honor Native American heritage, this is part of the declaration. Native Americans are a treatment, just about rather to the deep importance of culture and vibrancy of traditions passed down through generations.

This month, I encourage all of our citizens to learn about the rich history and culture of the Native American people, signed Donald J. Trump. OK, here's some history about Navajo code talkers.

They were Native American whose language was used to send tactical messages to U.S. troops and allies during World War II because their language was so rare, it was essentially an unbreakable code. Ended up saving thousands of lives of American and allied troops in short.

Either the President doesn't know that or he doesn't care of worse.

STEEL: Actually neither. I think he cares, I think he's a very compassionate person when he wants to be, many times he is not. The charge of this being racial is bogus, it's part of the old PC crowd that Americans have walked away from with Hilary Clinton who was the last champion of that.

But to call this dispiriting, it's only dispiriting for liberals that just haven't figured out that they've lost the election, they've lost all three houses of congress and they're just very upset.

[02:20:00]

VAUSE: Is the President - as Sarah Sanders, the White House Press Secretary said, doesn't believe that this is a racial slur. But, Ethan, a whole bunch of groups representing Native Americans have come forward and said, Yes this is. Does it matter what the president thinks? Or should we take into account what the people who are at the end of this believe.

BERMAN: Yes, you need to call people what they want to be called. If somebody doesn't want to be called something, then don't call them that. And if the Native American groups are saying this is offensive, don't call us that, well we could think of lots of other words that other groups don't want to be called.

I have a Jewish background, there are words I don't want you to ever call me and I don't think just because the president thinks it would be OK that I would be OK with it. He needs to step away from this and we need to stop defending those actions.

VAUSE: OK, well the other news is that President Trump will not be heading to Alabama to campaign for the Senate candidate there, the accused child molester Roy Moore. He continues to question to the creditability this is Roy Moore of the women who are accusing him of sexual misconduct. This is him a few hours ago.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROY MOORE, ALABAMA SENATE CANNDIDATE : When a young lady is abused and I've represented many victims in cases such as this, I have not seen one who wants her picture posted on national TV especially in a political advertisement. The truth is, this is not really odd at all, this is simply dirty politics and it's a sign of the immorality - it's a sign of the immorality of our time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Jessica, the immorality of our time I guess according to Roy Moore there. But the fact that Trump is out sort of trying to stay clear if you like of Roy Moore, what does that say about Roy's chances or actually winning?

SESAY: Well, I think sadly form everything we've seen in terms of how President Trump has handled the situation, it's clear despite the mountain of credible accusations against Roy Moore, despite these accusations that include again not just sexual misconduct but accusations that include pedophilia.

President Trump in fact, if he thought he could win wound have stood behind him. So my guess is that this is a clear sign we have that the president and or his administration thinks that Roy Moore is now weak and that they don't want to stand next to him.

And we've seen this happen with a number of President Trump's picks as candidates where once it looks like either they're not going to succeed or later when they fail, he distance himself and he says the problem is they didn't listen to Trump and I think he doesn't want to have to say that. He's going to distance himself preemptively.

Sadly, I don't think it's that again all these accusations, I don't think it's that President Trump doesn't want to touch it of that him administration doesn't want him near Roy Moore. I think it's that he think he's no longer politically viable.

VAUSE: OK, part of the strategy here has been trying to discourage the woman and the stories and the reporting about Roy Moore. The Washington Post has an interesting story about a woman named Jaime Phillips who came to the paper with a false story about a relationship she had with Roy Moore, she said it happened when she was 15 years old, it all ended in an abortion.

It was all fake, the story did not check out. Listen to this.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: DO you want to explain anymore about how it was that you - how you came to call us?

JAIME PHILLIPS: No. I just saw an article last - I saw that article that was posted and that's how I reached out to you guys.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And are you in contact with other people? Are you in contact with the Roy Moore campaign?

PHILLIPS: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Or Steve Bannon?

PHILLIPS: No.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Or Breitbart?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:25:00]

VAUSE: OK, so it turns out that she was apparently working for Project Veritas, which is a group who does these sting operations on mainstream media. They've targeted CNN, as well, in the past, but Shawn, if this was an attempt to discredit the reporting by "The Washington Post" and others about all of Moore's accusers, it seems to have just backfired quickly.

SHAWN STEEL, CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN: I think this whole story about sexual misconduct is a really a great change and a landmark change, not just in the American culture, but worldwide culture and of course this -- and if it was just one republican for one time, Roy Moore is certainly a poster child, what a great hypocrite should look like.

But now we've seen a cascade of democrats, Hollywood stars and other republicans and anybody that starts shaking their finger too hard saying somebody else is a hypocrite has got to be very careful, he might be pointing at himself.

VAUSE: Will agree to that one. OK, very quickly because this brings us to the President's first Tweet of the day, back from Thanksgiving Day break. Here we go, "We should have a contest as to which of the networks, plus CNN and not including Fox is the most dishonest, corrupt and-or distorted in it's political coverage of your favorite President, me. They are all bad. Winner to receive the fake news trophy."

That's so (infant), it would seem the winner would be whoever sent that woman to "The Washington Post" with the fake story about having a relationship with Roy Moore.

ETHAN BEARMAN, TALK SHOW HOST FOR COMULUS MEDIA: Yes I mean Project Veritas got caught with their pants down this time and good for "The Washington Post." This proved that they did all the background checking on the woman with the allegations against Roy Moore.

And I just want to say this really quickly, Roy Moore should absolutely be rejected by the American people, the people of Alabama and if, for whatever reason, the people of Alabama actually vote him in, the Senate must do everything they can and reject him and minimize him, remove him and by the way, again, good job to "The Washington Post" on O'Keefe and Project Veritas.

VAUSE: Yes, and we're still wondering what the fake news trophy would look like. Maybe an iPhone with tiny little hands. OK, Shawn and Ethan as well as Jessica, thank you so much for being with us. We appreciate it.

SESAY: All right, this new video just sent to us her at CNN. President Trump's daughter Ivanka has arrived in India for the Global Entrepreneurship Summit, but one person who is not there, top U.S. Diplomat Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. (Inaudible) and Tillerson doesn't want to send any senior staff to support Ivanka hitting a direct with the White House is who's representing the country overseas. Ivanka Trump scheduled to meet with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her visit. Interesting.

VAUSE: Where's Jared?

SESAY: Busy.

VAUSE: Right.

SESAY: Time for a quick break. State of America with Kate Bolduan is coming up next. Her views on Asia.

VAUSE: But everyone else, the next challenge facing the Pope on his historic trip to Myanmar, a meeting in the capital with effective leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner widely criticized over her role in the crackdown on Rohingya Muslims.

SESAY: So, she said yes, so now an American is joining the Royal Family. The latest on Prince Harry's engagement to actress Meghan Markle.

(COMMERICAL BREAK)

[02:30:31] SESAY: This is CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. I'm Isha Sesay.

VAUSE: I'm John Vause. Thanks for staying with us everybody. The headlines this hour. In Indonesia, Bali remains under the highest volcano warning possible after several eruptions from Mount Agung over the weekend. Authorities fear the first major eruption in 54 years could come at any time. Authorities say 100,000 people still living in the dangerous zone need to evacuate. But so far only about 30,000 have left.

SESAY: U.S. President Trump and his wife (INAUDIBLE) World War II. He again called Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren Pocahontas. Warren responded swiftly said the president could not even make it through a ceremony without using a racial slur. The White House denies Mr. Trump's uses of the nickname was racially motivated.

VAUSE: U.S. Senate Candida Roy Moore compares the allegations of sexual misconduct against him as being similar to the investigation into Russian election meddling. Several women have accused him of sexual assault as well as misconduct but at a Monday campaign event, he called those accusations false and malicious. Moore says, just like the Russia probe the Washington establishment wants to stifle change. In the coming hour, Pope Francis will meet with Myanmar's defector leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

SESAY: He's hoping this visit will help end the violence against Rohingya Muslims since late -- since late August. Emergency crackdown has driven more than 600,000 Rohingya from their homes and into refugee camps in Bangladesh. Pope Francis is walking a fine diplomatic line during this trip. He's been warned not to even use the word Rohingya.

VAUSE: Federal advisers are worried if he does that could make the situation worse, even provoke a backlash against the small Catholic community in Myanmar. CNN's Vatican Correspondent Delia Gallagher is on the line for us. She's traveling with the pope in Myanmar. OK. So, Delia, what is the expectation for this meeting and what is the pope had to say? Will he make that stand or will he be more diplomatic?

DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, as you say all eyes are on the first public speech and potentially the most important of this trip when the pope speaks to Aung San Suu Kyi and the leaders of the government of Myanmar. Much has been made of whether or not has will use the word Rohingya and he has used it twice in the past from the Vatican, made it very clear what his position on the issue is. Now, coming into this trip the objective of the Vatican and of the pope is to achieve a dialogue with the leader of Myanmar in order to try and resolve the issue of the Rohingyas. So, Pope Francis' general approach to these things is not to come in with a heavy hand which is why the expectation is probably that he will not use a word which for them is considered inflammatory, that will have repercussions in sense of certainly some observers might be disappointed if he doesn't use strong language in this speech

On the other hand, it might serve the pope's objective to have the ear of the leaders here not to shut down that dialogue and to be able to further some kind of peaceful solution for the Rohingya people indeed toward the other minority and general human rights in this country. And I might say, John, that we put a lot of focus on the political aspect of the pope's meeting. But this morning in Yangon, he met with interreligious leaders, he met with Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and even Jewish leaders here. And his talk to them was about trying to use their influence in order to further peace and brotherhood amongst the different religion. So you have to understand that the pope's point in coming here is yes, political but it is also to further a social change and he thinks that the religious leaders because many of these conflicts have to do with the religion.

This is a primarily Buddhist country. Of course, the Rohingyas are a Muslim minority. So he's working that angle as well. Maybe it's a little less publicized but it's important as that feels because they are the ones who can sway public opinion. There's a rising Islamophobia here. So he's working the angle to try and get the social change which is necessary to support the political change. John?

VAUSE: Yes. He met with that Buddhist leader who's being, you know, criticized using ethnic slurs against the Rohingya Muslims (INAUDIBLE) meeting to encourage peace and unity. And, you know, at least the pope is there and at least he trying to do something.

[02:35:02] Delia, thank you. I appreciate it. Delia Gallagher traveling with the pope. OK. Right now in Kenya, (INAUDIBLE) President Uhuru Kenyatta is underway, this comes after a violent and contested election.

SESAY: Police reportedly fired teargas in crowd trying to force their way into the ceremony. President Kenyatta will start his second term in office after the country's Supreme Court validated his electoral victory. The opposition does not recognize the result. Let's get CNN's Farai Sevenzo on the line. He's in Kenya's council of Nairobi. Farai, what is happening right now?

FARAI SEVENZO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, right now, as you said, Isha, they're trying to prepare for this inauguration ceremony. And you saw there in the pictures the police seem to be -- to be taking no chances or the other way of looking at it, it seem to be a bit trigger happy. They are releasing tear gas and of course using their bats to keep the people at bay. We're also getting reports, Isha, that Mr. Raila Odinga and his national coalition were meant to be holding a prayer meeting at the arrival area where we jack around the ground but skirmishes there with the police. Now, we are at this situation where there are several head of state in the country searching all together including Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel attending the inauguration. So security is pretty tight. They're moving on the street, the streets are empty.

Remember we've been doing this story for onto four months now. And Kenya, the great King that once working it is officially made the president for a second term that the country's economy and their livelihood and their lives will go back to normal. But at the moment, we're trying to watch Mr. Odinga's people are doing and jack around the ground. Whether they will continue with the day of prayer for the victims of police brutality. I know it could -- whether or not the police at Kasarani where Mr. Kenyatta had been sworn in trying to get a good one (INAUDIBLE)

SESAY: Yes. Just so I can spell it out for our viewers, the images they're seeing on their screen, to the right of their screen, they're looking at live images coming from the National Stadium Uhuru Kenyatta will be sworn in for a second term. The host of international of VIPs and dignitaries are pending that ceremony. To the left, we're looking at pictures from a short time ago of skirmishes between security forces and supporters of Raila Odinga. Farai, I don't know if you can answer this but can give me some sense of how large the crowds are on the part of Odinga supporters who were out on the streets protesting against the inauguration?

SEVENZO: Not at the moment, Isha. I can't give you any accurate thing but what these usually do is that they pick up, these are the first hour's people will be walking from Kibera, Mathare, to -- you know, all those areas that are Mr. Odinga stronghold. And then they -- and if their leader, Mr. Odinga himself or Mr. Mudavadi, all these named people have (INAUDIBLE) speak to them then the crowd will swell. But at the moment, it's not really that large a crowd.

SESAY: And is there anything Uhuru Kenyatta can say in this speech that he will give after he sworn to be president for second term in Kenya that will be able to bridge the divide in that country and bring people together and put them on the road to healing the wounds?

SEVENZO: (INAUDIBLE) that is his biggest challenge because the decisions are so raw. I mean, you're talking about death of people here and in fact, Mr. Odinga himself say this the other day. If I am the problem, arrest me, arrest Raila, take him to prison, take him to jail and if you want to shoot, shoot Raila. Because people are dying. The international coalition put it at 24 dead. And the police, the Kenyan police put it at 14 dead. So the twosome lives, somewhere in between. But Mr. Kenyatta himself (INAUDIBLE) say that like in any competition there will be winners and losers. And he called on the Kenyans to say our responsibility after the political condition is to come together and work to build the nation. How he does that given the division that currently exists at Kenyan lives if anybody get but it has been an uphill chance.

SESAY: I think certainly does. Farai Sevenzo joining us there on the line from Nairobi. Farai, we appreciate it. We're going to continue to follow the situation in Nairobi. It is inauguration day for Uhuru Kenyatta. The tensions are running high and there are protesters on the streets. We're following this for you. Stay with CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:41:33] VAUSE: It is official. The highly anticipated engagement of Britain's Prince Harry and his girlfriend Meghan Markle is finally been announced at London's Kensington Palace.

SESAY: The couples have dated for a year and a half. And as Max Foster report, they knew it was serious from the start.

MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In their first appearance as an engaged couple, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made it clear they are -- as Harry says a fantastic team.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)

HENRY CHARLES ALBERT DAVID, PRINCE OF WALES: Very first time we met.

FOSTER: Prince Harry designed the engagement ring with diamonds that belonged to his mother, Diana's collection. The centerpiece, a large diamond from Botswana, a meaningful place for Harry and now also to his future wife.

HARRY: I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana. And we -- and camped out with each other under the stars and she came and joined me for five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic.

FOSTER: The proposal came a few weeks ago at their Kensington Palace cottage.

DAVID: Cold night for us.

MEGHAN MARKLE, AMERICAN ACTRESS: It was a cozy night. We're doing just roasting chicken --

DAVID: Roasting chicken.

(CROSSTALK)

MARKLE: Just roasting chick. And it was just an amazing surprise. It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee.

DAVID: Of course.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was an instant yes from you?

MARKLE: Yes. As a matter of fact, I could barely let you finish proposing. Can I say yes now?

DAVID: She didn't even let me finish, I remember, then there was hugs and I had the ring on my finger and I was like, can I give you the ring? And she said, oh, here's the ring.

FOSTER: The couple revealed they met on a blind date setup by a mutual friend. They didn't know much about each other and they quickly learn philanthropy is a common interest.

DAVID: Both of us have passions of wanting to make change, change for good.

FOSTER: The match has been welcomed by the Queen who Megan has meet several times.

MARKLE: It's incredible. I think, you know, A, to be able to meet her through his lens, not just with his honor and respect for her as the monarch but the love that he has for her as his grandmother, all of those layers have been so important for me. So when I met her I had such a deep understanding and of course, incredible respect for being able to have that time with her and we've had a really -- she's an incredible woman.

FOSTER: Harry has recently opened up about how the death of his mother affected him. He says, Diana would have been thrilled with his future wife.

DAVID: They'd be thick as thieves, without question and she would be over the moon jumping up and down, you know, so excited for me. But then probably being friends -- best friends in Meghan, so now it's -- like, you know, it is days like today when I really miss her being around and miss her to share the happy news with but, you know, with the ring and with everything else that's going on, I'm sure she's --

MARKLE: She's with us.

DAVID: I'm sure she's with us. Yes. Jumping up and down somewhere else.

FOSTER: Markle has given up her acting career and plans to concentrate on courses that are important for both her and Prince Harry. Max Foster, CNN London.

SESAY: It is like a very happy couple.

VAUSE: They do.

SESAY: It's sweet.

VAUSE: They have all the fun.

SESAY: They're going to have a lot of fun. All right. Well, at this hour, the Bank of England is expected to layout worst case scenario for banks all in Brexit not fund.

VAUSE: Yes, not fund. Meantime, Paris is calling banks and business fleeing London ahead of the divorce from the E.U.

[02:45:04] Melissa Bell explains what some are calling the "Macron effect."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: Paris the "City of Love," but could it soon be the "City of business?" To the northwest of the French capital, its business district, La Defense, grows by the day. Because space is being found for the 10,000 jobs the French authorities are hoping to lure here from London by 2019. Partly through aggressive advertising, Brits are being urged to ditch the fog in favor of the frog, and even locals are making their way home. Claire Vacher and her digital marketing start-up moved to Paris from London a month ago, because as it grows, she says, it's going to need to hire.

CLAIRE VACHER, DIGITAL MARKETER: Before, you didn't have like any sort of issue to recruit people to come to London, nowadays a lot of people asked themselves like twice before moving to London, but it's just that because they don't feel it that much. It's not as attractive as it used to.

BELL: Big business and banking are also bullish about Paris. The CEO of Goldman Sachs tweeted that he was struck by the positive energy of the city. "Strong government and business leaders," he wrote, "are committed to economic reform and are well through the first step," he said, "not to mention, the food."

Good news for Emmanuel Macron who's been trying for months now to change France's image. The European Banking Authority has announced it's moving from London to Paris. The French President wants banks and businesses to follow.

EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): There's something happening in France, there's momentum. What is this thing? There are men and women in this country who want to act to invent, innovate, men and women who want to be proud of their country. They want their country to succeed.

BELL: French business leaders are encouraged. Pierre Vauterin is a company that makes aeronautical parts on the outskirts of Paris. Labor law reform has made it easier, he says, to adapt to market cycles. Business confidences goes to a 10-year high. But Pierre says there is still a long way to go.

PIERRE VAUTERIN, CEO, TRIUMPH CONTROLS FRANCE: 35 years of stupid economic decisions cannot be reversed in five years. And we still have a big and heavy bag in the back to hand race of the competition worldwide.

BELL: Business leaders here La Defense points out the vast attracting start-ups might prove relatively easy, drawing big business to France could prove harder simply because the tax burden remains as great as it is, and changing that they suggest will take a kind cultural shift here in France towards things like money and success and a cultural shift that would take far longer than the five years of Emmanuel Macron's presidential term. Melissa Bell, CNN in Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Well, next on NEWSROOM L.A., the U.S. President lashing out again at the meeting with accusation of fake news while at the same time embracing a Web site which spreads conspiracy theories as is linked to anti-Semitism.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: Well, you may by now be numbed to it or you choose to overlook it, but U.S. President Trump is constantly hitting the media with a fake news label and promoting unreliable or truly fake news.

VAUSE: Over the weekend, Trump embraced a Web site with sycophantic reports about him and his presidency. Well, at the same time, this Web site spreads conspiracy theories, it's also aligned with the alt- right and White Nationalist, it was the kind of journalism which Mr. Trump said was basically what he wanted to see. Here's Brian Stelter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[02:50:13] BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: President Trump wins tons of praise from his favorite shows on Fox.

SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: You guys want to start with good news? Who'd want some good news?

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Go ahead.

HANNITY: Right. You don't get a lot of good news in the media.

TRUMP: Well, you don't get so much.

STELTER: But sometimes he wants more, enter MAGA Pill, it's a Web site that pushes links to right-wing conspiracies about the Seth Rich murder, Pizza Gate, and John Podesta's e-mails. The story starts here on Twitter. Over the holiday weekend, Trump tweeted a promo for Fox and a dig at CNN, and then he apparently scrolled through the replies where he saw MAGA Pill, that's short for "Make America Great Again Pill." The site was cheering him and touting his accomplishments. Trump was impressed, tweeting in response, "Wow! Even I didn't realize we did so much. Wish the fake news would report."

Oh, really? MAGA Pill was just an obscure pro-Trump aggregator of articles. Though, with the presidential thumbs up, its Web server crashed. And the President was criticized for, one again, promoting a source of conspiracy theories.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A lot of these sites are powerful because there's a kernel of truth. When you look at it, a lot of it is conspiratorial, a lot of it is demonstrably false.

STELTER: These conspiracy laid in charts, they are extreme fringe. Now, we don't know if Trump clicks through to the site or fact-check any of its claims, but promoting a little know big fan like MAGA Pill has been a theme of Trump's first year in office. He calls real news fake.

TRUMP: You're fake news.

STELTER: While propping up illegitimate sources. A year ago today, Trump claimed that millions of people had voted illegally. His voter fraud panel has found no proof of that. And you know his other conspiracy theories, President Obama's birthplace, Muslims celebrating on 9/11, Ted Cruise's father and JFK, wiretaps during the campaign. With reporters constantly scrutinizing Trump's fact-free claims, Web entrepreneurs see a market opportunity. That's why MAGA Pill was tweeting at the President. And today, a new assault on the press. Trump tweeting that he wants to hold a fake news contest, complete with a trophy. There's a contender for that title living right here. Brian Stelter, CNN New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: Well, as Brian mentioned, Donald Trump criticized CNN International with a weekend tweet (INAUDIBLE) making our correspondents and crews reporting from around the world at harm's way.

SESAY: Well, Mr. Trump calls CNN fake news, but for nearly four decades, CNN has been the constant here in the United States and all around the world. Our journalists in front of and behind the camera risk their lives in the most dangerous of places every single day to bring you the facts.

VAUSE: Something which insults or false accusations will not stop and even the loudest critics can't silence the facts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: ISIS less than a kilometer away firing at Iraqi special forces position. This is a constant day-in-day-out. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wait.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We're leaving this area. There's gunfire all around us.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We've never been this far inside rural North Korea.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: We have to wrap it up right now, though, because our escorts are understandably quite anxious about spending too much time on scene.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A panicked family now trapped in their room, smashed the window and screamed for help. We managed to get the mother across to safety using a foam mattress and it immediately became clear the cause of her panic, their daughter was severely disabled.

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They and we are caught in the open. It started one of the (INAUDIBLE) seemingly taking a potshot. Across the line, there's something in the distance. A lot of our fighters had opened up, then there was some big return fire.

SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Minutes into our flight now, Sabena stops breathing. This young woman is going into cardiac arrest. It is aggressive but I just delivered a cardiac thump, a quick strong hit to the chest. Whether it worked or not, I can't say for sure but she came back.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is basically what is left of rebel-held Aleppo, the streets are largely deserted, the buildings have been destroyed and the people who once lived here have been pushed out.

We don't know the enemies but we do know that there's a Taliban stronghold about a kilometer from here at the base of these mountains.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Across the world, people watching this broadcast is that Zimbabweans are celebrating. How do you feel?

[02:55:04] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: After days of nothing, the insurgence have finally amassed around the compound getting attacked on all sides.

Come on, hustle up, grab it and get ready. Oh, Jesus.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: These are locals here. We're handing out whatever they have. And you can see the children, the families running to collect. International aid organizations are trying to take a more organized approach.

RIPLEY: It's really not a matter of if but probably when, when it comes to North Korea.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've got little Aziza here, she's not happy because she says her father got left behind. The gunners are opening fire on targets below. They're protecting the helicopter. But it's terrifying these little kids who are traumatized after their week trapped on that mountain. The problem is we're flying over ISIS front lines. This is the only protection we have right now to protect the aircraft and its precious cargo.

GUPTA: All of a sudden this area filled with smoke. There is concern that there may be another bomb or another attack coming, so I've asked for all the lights to be turned off. They don't want to be a target themselves.

CLARISSA WARD, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're not welcome on this shore, the coastguard waves them further on. How many hours have you been on the boat? Since early in the morning? Do you know how to swim? No one does.

NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've been waiting the last few hours just to receive word as to whether the auction has started. I'm speechless. I don't know how to put this into words. There were human beings auctioning off other human beings.

DAMON: We realized we're trapped, vehicles, wreckage everywhere. Our MRAP takes a direct hit.

LEYLA SANTIAGO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Even FEMA hasn't set foot in some parts of Puerto Rico. This woman doesn't even know who I am. But I'm the first person she's seen land here since Hurricane Maria battered the island.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: I am so proud to call each and every one of those people on camera, behind the cameras throughout this network, colleagues, and friends.

VAUSE: Actions speak larger than words.

SESAY: It is a tremendous network. And CNN and CNN International are not beholden to any state, autocrat, or political organization.

VAUSE: And despite Mr. Trump's criticism, CNN will continue to put the facts first.

SESAY: And that's it for us. That's -- and thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles, I'm Isha Sesay.

VAUSE: I'm John Vause. Please follow us on Twitter. In the meantime, the news continues with Rosemary Church in Atlanta after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)