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Cohen Faces Three Years in Prison; Theresa May Survives a No- Vote; Train Collision Claims Nine Lives; China and Canada's Dispute Broadens. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired December 13, 2018 - 03:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:00:00] KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN HOST: A high-speed train carrying more than 200 passengers has crashed near Turkey's capital killing several people. We have the latest on the rescue efforts.

Plus, Theresa May survives a threat from inside her own party. But her next steps are critical as the fate of her Brexit deal remains uncertain.

And a diplomatic feud intensifies. A second Canadian is thought to be detained in China after Canada arrested a Chinese Huawei executive.

Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Kristie Lu Stout, and this is CNN Newsroom.

Now with no confidence vote behind her, the British Prime Minister Theresa May heads to Brussels in the coming hours for the latest effort to salvage her Brexit deal. She survived her party's challenge by a vote of 200 to 117. She had promised lawmakers she would not leave the party in the next general election set for 2022.

After the vote, Mrs. May said that she will listen to the members of parliament who voted against her and she will keep pushing for assurances on the trade arrangements at the Irish border.

Now let's go straight to Anna Stewart, she joins us live from 10 Downing Street for the latest. And Anna, Theresa May, she survived the vote but she is in a weakened position and major Brexit hurdles remain.

ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Yes, she won, Kristie, but probably not by the margin she would have liked. A third of her M.P.s came out against her trying to vote her out. So, she starts today looking with quite a challenge on her hand. Let me show you some of the papers just to show you the sentiment we have.

The Daily Telegraph saying "A vote to remain but when will she leave." Not so optimistic. The Daily Mirror, a goose is cooked. "It's lame duck for Christmas." I think that might be my favor of the day. And the Daily Mail actually much more supportive. "Now let her get on with the job."

And that's exactly what she wants to do. She's heading off to Brussels any minute now as she will leave now at the back of Downing Street so we won't be seeing her. As you said, she wins the vote. But what happens next? How safe is she going forward?

And she is safe in terms of another confidence vote from within the party, because that can't happen for another 12 months. But is she safe in parliament? And the question is whether at some stage whether she might face the vote of confidence from opposition parties.

Currently, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn doesn't seem keen to want to start this off. They would need a majority which means that he need some conservative M.P.'s on side as well. But many of the other opposition parties, the SNP, the Greens, the Lib Dems have already started calling for Jeremy Corbyn to help launch this confidence vote. So, we'll see what happens in the weeks to come. But first of all, she heads to Brussels.

STOUT: Yes. That's right, less than 24 hours after surviving the vote, she has to go to Brussels. And she is seeking these assurances, these pledges from E.U. leaders. Can she do it?

STEWART: Yes. She heads to Brussels, she's got a task on her hands, she must be absolutely exhausted after the last 24 hours of intense drama. Now the question is what can she get from these leaders? Because she actually started the week if you remember heading around Berlin.

She went to The Netherlands, she's spoken to the Irish prime minister, she's also spoken to the E.U. already, on all accounts they will not reopen the withdrawal agreement, they will not give her major concessions.

And that is what she needs to change the parliamentary map. Nothing has really changed there. She didn't have the votes to get this agreement through earlier in the week. That's why she delayed the vote. She still doesn't and she won't unless she can make significant changes. Particularly regarding the Irish backstop.

Now, in terms of the language that we've had, it might be that she tries to get some legally binding, some sort of assurances from the E.U. that the backstop won't be permanent that they will in good faith negotiate a good deal with Britain and really try to avoid that backstop. But even then, even if she gets that I'm not sure it would be enough to appease all of her critics here.

STOUT: This has been such an epic quest for her. Anna Stewart reporting live from 10 Downing Street. Thank you.

The death toll in the crash of a high-speed train in Turkey is rising. At least 46 people were injured, three in critical condition. Authorities say the crash happened at a station in Ankara around 6.30 a.m. local time. There were 206 passengers on the train, rescue teams are searching the wreckage for more victims. Turkey's chief prosecutor has launched an investigation into what caused the crash.

Let's go straight to Jomana Karadsheh who joins us live from Istanbul. And Jomana, you have new information on the death toll after this catastrophic accident.

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we, Kristie, just heard the transport minister on the site there of that train crash in Ankara, announcing that at least nine people so far have been killed in this incident and 47 others were injured, according to the transport minister.

[03:05:05] He said those nine included three conductors and six passengers. Eight had died on the scene and one person died on route to the hospital. Now he said this incident took place at 6.36 local time. The train left Ankara on the way south to Konya at 6.30 in the morning and six minutes that, this incident took place.

He says it was a head-on collision with another train, a smaller train, some sort of a maintenance train that was clearing the tracks.

And earlier, we had heard from the state news agency Anadolu saying that this collision between those two trains led that high-speed train to derail and crash into the base of an overpass, leading to part of the bridge collapsing on to two of the train's carriages.

Now as you're seeing in those images quite a horrific scene there, you've got rescue workers who are still on the site going through the wreckage and as you mentioned, the chief prosecutor for Ankara has launched an investigation. We understand that three prosecutors are on the scene investigating the cause of this accident, this incident, Kristie.

STOUT: You've been looking at right now on your screen, just dramatic imagery and video of rescue workers, emergency crews immediately after this high-speed train collision trying to reach the injured and trying to reach the passengers who are on board. We even screened moments ago live video of the scene.

And in daylight you can see these badly twisted and damaged train carriages. The death toll sadly has risen, it could rise even further as we look at these live images of what the aftermath of this high- speed train crash looks like right now.

Jomana, as you've been reporting, quite a number of people have been injured, you know, from this after they were pulled from that wreckage. Any update on them and how they're being treated?

KARADSHEH: Well, we heard earlier from officials, Kristie, saying that more than 40 people were injured in this incident, that they were moved to different hospitals in the capital, that they were being treated, but according to officials only a number of them, about two or three were in critical condition. So, we'll have to wait and see if there are any updates on the state of the injured in this incident.

STOUT: A horrific accident. It took place earlier this day in the morning there in Ankara. Jomana Karadsheh reporting live for us, thank you.

Now anti-terror police they are now part of this international manhunt to find the gunman who attacked a Christmas market in Strasbourg, France. Authorities have released the photo of the suspect and details on his extensive criminal bckground.

We get the latest now from CNN's Ben Wedeman.

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The French police have put out a notice identifying the prime suspect in the attack on that Christmas market in Strasbourg. They identify the alleged shooter as Cherif Chekatt, 29 years old, born in Strasbourg. This is an individual who certainly has had a troubled past.

The police apparently were aware of him when he was a mere 10 years old. His first conviction happened when he was only 13. He has a total of 27 convictions, noteworthy that all of them are for petty crimes of theft and violence.

But nonetheless, this did land him on what's known as France's Fiche "S" or "S" list of individuals believed to pose a potential threat to public safety. There are 20,000 individuals on that list, somewhere between 10 and 12,000 of them are at least in theory supposed to be under police surveillance.

Now Mr. Chekatt's home was indeed raided on the morning of the attack in Strasbourg on unrelated issue. We know that his father, his mother, and his two brothers were in police custody today for questioning. No idea of whether they provided any useful information as to where Mr. Chekatt may be at this time.

But police do believe that during his time in prison which was spent in France, Germany and Switzerland, he may have been radicalized. They point to the fact that when he did carry out this attack at the Christmas market, he shouted "Allahu Akbar" or "God is great."

Now today, we heard that the French prime minister Edouard Philippe said that in addition to the 700 security forces already involved in this manhunt, they would supplement it with 500 soldiers, and in the coming days an additional 1,300 personnel at the border between France, Switzerland, and Germany.

[03:10:08] Which is Germany, of course, is very near Strasbourg has been tightened but no idea at this point where the suspect may have gone.

I'm Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Paris.

STOUT: And in Paris, a frequent reminder of the Eiffel Tower went dark in tribute to the victims of the market attack. The city's mayor says it was to show support for the victims loved ones in all of Strasbourg.

Now a second Canadian may have been detained in China. An act that threatens to escalate the diplomatic dispute between Washington, Beijing and Ottawa. Now Canada's foreign ministry identifies the man as Michael Spavor. Now he runs a company that arranges for travel to North Korea including for the former NBA player Dennis Rodman.

Now news of his disappearance comes as Canada confirms this former diplomat is being held in Beijing but the timing of their detention that's key. At the request of the United States, Canada arrested the chief financial officer of Huawei, one of the largest telecom companies in the world. She is now on bail accused of fraud waiting for her extradition hearing.

Now let's go straight to Andrew Stevens here in Hong Kong. Andrew is trying to confirm the detention of Michael Spavor. We have report that a second Canadian is missing in China. What more have you learned?

ANDREW STEVENS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right, Kristie. What we know so far is we're getting from the state media in the northeast part of China in the city of Dandong which is right on the North Korean border where Michael Spavor is living.

We understand he just come back from North Korea and he was on his way to Seoul when he was stopped by police or by authorities at least and questioned, questioned hard enough to get him or to think that it was a good idea to call the Canadian officials just to say to them that this is what happened to me and I am worried.

From that, there was silence, a 24-hour silence. The Canadians could not get in touch with him after that. And now we're learning from the state media that he has been investigated on for activities that could endanger the national security of China, which is exactly the same phrase that they're using for the other Canadian who is also detained by the Chinese. These activities which could endanger the national security of China.

Now as you say, Michael Spavor, he's pretty well known in diplomatic circles in Beijing. He operates tours into North Korea on a regular basis. He takes in academics, he takes in business people and he also takes in tourists as well. So, he's certainly be well known to the Chinese.

What we don't know at this stage, Kristie is exactly where he is. The Canadian embassy is making the point that he, as far as they're concerned is still missing.

STOUT: You know, the timing is making everyone wonder whether this is an act of tit for tat retaliation. Could China be doing that?

STEVENS: Well, as you say, the timing makes it look like that is a fair conclusion to draw. Add to that the fact that the Chinese threatened China with grave consequences that Canada would pay a heavy price for the arrest of Meng Wanzhou. Even though Canada was acting for the U.S., it was acting under a treaty arrangement with the United States. And a Canadian judge has granted bail to Meng.

But certainly, the arrest of two Canadians, both of them well known and both in diplomatic circles and also well known to the Chinese. Michael Kovrig, in particular, now he was a fairly regular speaker on Chinese television. He'd been invited to China for various conferences. He worked with the international crisis group which is a well-known conflict resolution operation. He's a former diplomat so he was also well known. So, the timing is

highly suspicious to say the least. STOUT: Yes. While all of this is happening, U.S.-China trades talks

are still underway in the background. It's just incredible times. We're going to have leave it there unfortunately. But Andrew Stevens, always I appreciate your reporting. Thank you very much and take care.

You're watching CNN Newsroom coming to you live from Hong Kong.

And still to come, one of the people close to Donald Trump is now heading to prison. But Michael Cohen says he's not yet finished telling the government what he knows about the U.S. president.

And a new report looks at press freedoms around the world. Why many points to this man as the leading offender in jailing journalists.

[03:15:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

STOUT: Welcome back. Now Donald Trump's former longtime attorney and so-called fixer will begin a three-year prison sentence in March. Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to several criminal counts including secret payoffs during the 2016 presidential campaign to two women who claimed affairs with Mr. Trump before he became president. Now Mr. Trump has denied both allegations.

Here is CNN's Athena Jones.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Three years - that's how long President Trump's former personal attorney and longtime fixer, Michael Cohen will have to spend in prison after pleading guilty in August to tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations, and just last month, to lying to Congress. It's the first time a member of Trump's inner circle has received significant prison time in connection with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe.

It was a day of reckoning for Cohen joined at the federal courthouse by his family and it bought more bad headlines for Trump. After detailing a pattern of deception by Cohen, federal prosecutors asked for a substantial prison sentence. U.S. District Judge William Pauley agreed, saying, "Cohen thrived on his access to wealthy and powerful people and he became one himself."

In brief remarks in court Cohen who once prided himself on being Trump's lawyer and even said he'd take a bullet for the president painted himself as a victim, saying Trump, "Time and time again, I felt it was my duty to cover up his dirty deeds." Cohen adding, "I had been living in a personal and mental incarceration ever since the day that I accepted the offer to work for a real estate mogul whose business acumen that I deeply admired."

Cohen has pledged to continue to cooperate with Mueller's investigation into possible collusion with Russia and obstruction of justice.

Speaking of the president he said he is committed to ensuring that history will not remember me as the villain of his story. In admitting to illegally orchestrating hush payments to former Playboy model Karen McDougall and adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep them quiet about alleged affairs with Trump before the 2016 election, Cohen implicated the president, saying Trump directed him to make the payments, something federal prosecutors noted in court papers.

Trump has denied the affairs and any knowledge of the payments despite being recorded discussing the McDougal payment with Cohen.

(BEGIN VOICE CLIP)

MICHAEL COHEN, FORMER DONALD TRUMP'S ATTORNEY: When it comes time to the financing which will be--

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Listen, what payments?

COHEN: Well, I have to pay--

TRUMP: In cash?

COHEN: No, no, no. I got it.

(END VOICE CLIP)

JONES: Cohen also admitted to lying to Congress and to special counsel investigators about talks to build a Trump tower in Moscow, negotiations with Russians lasted until June 2016. Even after Trump had become the presumptive Republican nominee, despite Cohen originally telling investigators talks ended in January.

[03:20:05] And Cohen admitted he discussed the project with then candidate Trump. Throughout the campaign, Trump frequently proclaimed he had no ties and no business in Russia.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I have nothing to do with Russia, folks, OK. I give you a written statement nothing to do.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: Prosecutors view Cohen's lies about Russia contacts as part of an effort to alter the investigation under Russian election meddling and ongoing probe that threatens more political and legal peril for the president.

Athena Jones, CNN, New York

STOUT: Just hours after Cohen sentencing prosecutors has struck a non-prosecution deal with AMI, the parent company of the National Enquirer tabloid. Its chairman want is a long-time friend of Donald Trump. His name is David Packer. AMI will not be charged for its role in securing hush money from Michael Cohen.

And as part of the deal the company admits to making a payment in cooperation with the Trump campaign to prevent a former Playboy model's claims for an affair from being made public in 2016.

Let's get some insight on all of this. Scott Lucas, professor of international politics at the University of Birmingham. Thank you for joining us. Let's talk about why this matters. Cohen is the first member of Trump's inner circle to be sentenced to prison in the Robert Mueller probe. Is that why this is so significant?

SCOTT LUCAS, POLITICS PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM: No, it's beyond it because Donald Trump's name has come up for the first time by prosecutors in connection with criminal activity. That's what they said last Friday in the in the sentencing recommendation for Michael Cohen. It's what Michael Cohen himself has said including to the court yesterday.

And so now for the first time you have a specific charge which could be laid against Donald Trump, which is out of a campaign finance violation which is a felony under U.S. law and it is one that Donald Trump also I must trust lied about at least reporters. Now he hasn't necessarily lied to investigators but remember he has submitted written answers to questions from special counsel Robert Mueller.

And if he was asked about this and he said, I knew nothing about the campaign contribution, the payoffs which is once said, he could be in danger of perjury. But also let me add one other thing that's very, very important here. And that is, remember that Michael Cohen's conviction did not come through the special counsel's investigation, it came through a link investigation through federal prosecutors in New York.

So that means that Donald Trump is now facing challenges on multiple fronts. It's not only the question of what Robert Mueller brings directly. But you now have federal prosecutors and state prosecutors, including in New York that actually could be pursuing him over financial matters as well as obstruction of justice.

STOUT: It's the links to Donald Trump that are significant here. Donald Trump is under pressure in multiple fronts. But then there's the distinction here. You know, there's hush money payments. There's financial fraud and there's collusion. You know, a lot of fraudulent behavior, bad behavior has been revealed during this trial during the Mueller probe as well. When is he going to lead to answers about whether anyone to Trump camp conspired with Russia to interfere in the election?

LUCAS: Well, let's put it this way. This is the opening of the door just a bit against Donald Trump, and the question is how wide does it open. And remember, this is never been a case of all of a sudden one day we wake up and it's all there. It's always been a case of step by step versus Donald Trump and the other circle.

Not just the revelations about the meetings with Russian officials, not just the revelations about the possible, not just collusion but conspiracy over Hillary Clinton's e-mails and those connected with her. It has been a question which has led to indictments which has led to convictions.

Paul Manafort, Rick Gates, Michael Flynn, and it has led now to the point where Donald Trump through his lawyers has given written answers to Robert Mueller. The final step will probably be does Donald Trump speak face-to-face with Mueller or does the White House block that.

I think whether or not that occurs, probably by the spring, you'll see Robert Mueller and his team ready to lay the legal and political case against Donald Trump and the showdown comes to this. Will Mueller and his team be able to do that by the spring or will Donald Trump act through the attorney general to try to get Mueller fired before that final moment.

STOUT: But before the moment Mueller and his team they are playing their hand very strategically slowly but wow, what a case it's being formed here. Scott Lucas, thank you so much as always. Do take care.

LUCAS: Thank you.

STOUT: Now the president of Bolivia has condemned an attack in electoral court in the eastern city of Santa Cruz. Evo Morales says the protesters set fire to the building which burned to the ground. The protest began earlier this month when a court approved the president made to seek a fourth term in office.

[03:24:59] In the Bolivia's Constitution limits presidents to two terms. The election is set for October next year.

The United States has a warning for Turkey. Do not attack U.S.-backed forces in Syria. Turkey's president has said that Turkish troops would want a military operation targeting Kurdish forces. Turkey views the Kurds as a terror group. The U.S. backs the Kurds in the campaign against ISIS.

The Pentagon calls the development a grave concern that could derail the fight against ISIS.

Now the spike in jailed journalists around the world is not a temporary trend, it is sadly the new normal. That is the message in a new report from the committee to protect journalists.

Now the group says for the third year in a row at least 251 journalists are jailed worldwide. Among the worst offenders China with 47 journalists in jail, that's partly due to the crackdown on the weaker ethnic group.

In Egypt, at least 25 journalists are in prison up from 20 last year. Saudi Arabia has at least 16 journalists behind bars compared to just seven last year. And Turkey has jailed more journalists than any other country in the world, 68 according to the report.

Turkey is also where Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was killed. The government there has pointed the fingers squarely as Saudi Arabia, demanding the kingdom extradite the suspects. So, why is Turkey the country that tops the list for jailing journalists now appearing to stand up for free press.

Jomana Karadsheh reports from Istanbul.

KARADSHEH: For Turkey's leadership, the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul was an attack on the country's sovereignty and as the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan is leading the quest for justice in this case, some found the irony in that snarling (Ph).

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

EROL ONDEROGLU, REPRESENTATIVE, REPORTERS WITHOUT BORDERS: It's quite ironic that a country like Turkey 157 out 180 in Reporters Without Borders press freedom index find it itself as a defender of media freedom or defender of journalistic rights are the global scale.

KARADSHEH: Erol Onderoglu of Reporters Without Borders spent much of his time attending trials of Turkish reporters all too frequent in a country name the largest jailer of journalists in the world by the committee to protect journalists.

Almost every month new charges are brought against opposition reporters. Just this week five journalists from the secular opposition newspapers Sozcu were charged with aiding the outlawed movement of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey says his group was behind the 2016 failed coup attempt.

Dozens more are behind bars accused of aiding or being part of this movement or the Kurdish militant group the PKK, a designated terror group Turkey has been battling since the 1980s.

Critics say the government has used the failed coup attempt as a pretext to silence those who oppose it. But Turkish officials have repeatedly denied that this is a clampdown on press freedoms. They say they're fighting terrorism and that this is a matter of national security.

In June, a young journalism student worried about the future of the profession in Turkey voiced her concerns to the president during a gathering at the presidential palace. Erdogan responded, "you are free as you are asking this to a president in his own place." The woman responded, "I want to be free when I do my job. Freedom of journalist ends when the freedom of others begins."

The president answered according to CPJ, "While there are currently more journalists and prisons in Turkey than anywhere else in the world, the number of jailed reporters has gone down."

The watchdog group however says the number of journalists detained in China, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia has gone up this year. For the third year in a row 251 or more journalists are jailed around the world, suggesting authoritarian approach to critical news coverage is more than a temporary spike.

CPJ warns hundreds of journalists jailed globally has become the new normal.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ONDEROGLU: International actors are usually dealing with fundamental rights are not -- are not there to bring good examples and I afraid that's the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump in targeting the U.S. media is not a good reference for Turkey or countries like Turkey.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KARADSHEH: With journalists under attack like never before there is little hope 2019 will be any better for what some are now calling the war on truth.

Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Istanbul.

STOUT: Our critics say stamina is not a strategy. Her supporters say she will get a Brexit deal done. More reaction as Theresa May survives another political day from hell, next.

[03:30:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Welcome back, I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Let us update you on our top stories this hour. At least nine people are dead in the crash of a high speed train in Ankara, Turkey. Rescue teams are searching the wreckage for more victims. A transportation minister says the train collided head on with the smaller train, which is on the tracks during maintenance. Three train conductors died in the crashed.

Anti-terror police joined the international manhunt for the gunmen accused of killing two people at a Christmas market, in Strasbourg France. Authorities say 29 year-old Cherif Chekatt has an extensive criminal background with more than two dozen convictions in France, Germany and Switzerland, mostly for acts of robbery and violence.

British Prime Minister Theresa May, will meet with E.U leaders in Brussels in the coming hours after surviving a no confidence vote from her own party. She is seeking reassurances from the European Union on trade arrangements at the Irish border, but that is not expected to sway her opponents.

And it has been an excruciating 24 hours of Britain's Prime Minister. CNN's Ana Stewart takes us through the dramatic lead up to Theresa May's Wednesday night win.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

ANNA STEWART, CNN PRODUCER: Theresa May returned from a whistle stop tour of Brussels in Berlin Tuesday night with a clear message ringing in her ears. The E.U. would offer no further concessions, but there was even worst news waiting at the doorstep. She would face the vote of no confidence from her own M.P.'s the very next day. 48 M.P.'s, 15 percent of the party has sent letters to the chair of the 1922 committee. Through this mechanism, a club of conservative M.P.s, the party express that is better, the chair of the 1922 committee, Graham Brady confirmed the news.

GRAHAM BRADY, CHAIR, CONSERVATIVE PARTY'S 1922 COMMITTEE: The rules are quite straightforward. The - at least 15 percent of the parliamentary of conservative party write letters to me as chairman of the (inaudible) committee, and then it is for me to inform and consult with the Prime Minister. I did that over the telephone last night and then to proceed with ballots as soon as reasonably practicable in the circumstances.

STEWART: Snub by Europe, and insulted by her own party, Theresa May then has to face Prime Minister's questions. As she often has done in this fractious process, she gave a pugnacious and confident performance against the odds.

THERESA MAY, PRIME MINISTER, BRITISH: You are right on the gentlemen said, we would get agreement in December, and we did. He said we would get the implementation in March, we did. He said we would get a withdrawn agreement and the political declaration and we did.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Her behavior today is just contemptuous of his parliament.

[03:35:00] Mrs. Speaker, the parliament says is a pulling behavior needs to be held to account.

STEWART: But at that very moment, Theresa May suggested the House of Common that further talks are possible. In Germany, Angela Merkel was (inaudible) to the (inaudible) said the deal on offer was the final deal. With the votes schedule at the afternoon, M.P.'s returns to their offices and tea rooms to plot, chats and talk to the media. At last, as night fell, Graham Brady delivered the verdict.

BRADY: The number of votes cast in favor of having confidence in Theresa May was 200 and against was a 170. Under the rules set out in the Constitution of the conservative party, no further confidence vote can take place for at least (inaudible).

(APPLAUSE)

STEWART: A victory for Theresa May, who survives yet another political day from hell and demonstrated her remarkable fortitude. All be it, at a cost. She told in 1922 committee, she will not be standing in the next election. Ana Stewart, CNN, London.

(END VIDEO)

LU STOUT: Now there is surviving help and then there's marching through it. Theresa May will be back among her European neighbors soon, hoping to persuade them to cut her a better Brexit deal. Richard Quest breaks down Mrs. May's quest for Brexit.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN EDITOR AT LARGE: Surviving the confidence vote was the easy part in many ways for Theresa May. Now she's still needs to get the Brexit deal done and through Parliament. On Thursday, there is an emergency summit of the E.U. Council of the leaders, it takes place in Brussels and the other leaders, 27 of them are adamant. They will not renegotiate Brexit. They will discuss how to help get the deal ratified. Now the fact the Prime Minister had a large majority today of her our own M.P.s strengthens and she goes to Brussels with a renewed mandate and can insist almost on certain renegotiations. January 21st is the deadline for the Downing Street set for a meaningful vote in Parliament. On whatever Brexit deal that she brings to them. May be the original one, probably not, because of Mrs. May is able to squeeze a package of reassurances of the Brussels that she might alter the deal sufficiently to get a decent vote in Parliament on with. It is still looking unlikely.

March the 29 Brexit Day and Parliament hasn't approved the deal on nothings in place, the U.K. crushes out that any defined relationship with the E.U. for the future. As for Mrs. May herself, well, one bit of news and good news for her. For the next 12 months, she is secure. She can face another vote of confidence and she is assured conservative lawmakers she will not stand in the next general election, which is scheduled for 2022.

Between now and then much can happen. She is safe. Who knows who will replace? Richard Quest, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO)

LU STOUT: Thousands of people in Hungary took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the so-called slave law. The legislation would allow employers to ask staff to work up to 400 hours a year in overtime. Mr. Victor Urban's right wing majority push the law through and effort to oust the labor shortage. He is also known for pushing strict and anti-immigrant policies.

The U.S. Senate is expect to vote Thursday on a bill to curb U.S. support for the Saudi led war in Yemen, but House Republicans have tinkered with the legislation to make sure it will not come up for vote there or make it to the U.S. president's desk. Still the resolution reveals growing discontent in Congress, with Saudi Arabia, especially after the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi. He was under Bernie Sanders and Congress has a moral imperative to act.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS, (I), VERMONT: For the sake of the United States Constitution and the fact that it is Congress and not the president that has the authority to make war. For all of these reasons and more, Mr. President, I ask strong support for this important resolution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Now the U.S. Secretary General, Tony Gutierrez will be in Stockholm Sweden on Thursday for the final day of Yemen peace talks. Negotiations so far have led to an agreement to allow international flights into the capitals Sanaa. Oil and gas exports will also resume to help bring currency into the impoverished nation, but the war inside have not (inaudible) deal on who will control the critical core city of Hodeida on the Red Sea. Bombs are still falling on Hodeida and CNN has rare footage showing the immediate aftermath and artillery strike there. Nima Elbagir has this report and a warning. These are graphic images you will find disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

[03:40:00] NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: An ambulance reaches up to one of the few remaining hospitals in Hodeida. What we are about to show you is incredibly difficult to watch.

In the jumble of bodies, a boy in yellow searching for his mother. Little bodies are carried in crate in blood soak cloth. Everywhere shocked and blood and death. This man is searching for his wife. He finds instead the body of his three year old sister. It is too much to take in. My wife, he asked.

In surgery, the baby is fine. A glimmer of hope but all too quickly lost. My mother is dead. Even as the peace talks continuing in Sweden between Yemen roaring parties, the U.S.-back Saudi led coalition and Iran back Houthi rebels, saw too the violence on the ground.

This footage was sent to CNN by the Houthi rebels back (inaudible). Eyewitnesses tell CNN, the members of these family were killed during artillery strike on the coalition air cover. A charge, the coalition denies. Saying Houthi continues to target civilian in Hodeida. This is just a glimpse into what is like almost every night in the besiege city.

In spite of U.S. government promises in October, to deliver a cease- fire within 30 days, that month has long sent pass. Much of what was filmed here so graphic, we are not going to show it in full. Outside, two little lifeless bodies side by side waiting for love ones to claim them.

This man (inaudible) a litany of lost. His daughter and his son, his other daughter and her husband, it is too much. Inside, the boy in yellow, finally finds his sister as he comforts her. Other children are carried out, there is just no more room at this hospital.

Outside his grandmother began to (inaudible), and he attempts to comfort her, it is all too much. Nima Elbagir, CNN, London.

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LU STOUT: There's just too much death, too much suffering and our coalition spokesperson denies responsibility for the attack telling CNN this quote, we have no knowledge of this and it is widely recognized that the Houthi militia is continuing to target civilians with all types of weapons in Hodeida province and its cities. Un quote.

On five new cases of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo have pushed the total number there close to 500 and this outbreak, it began in August. Since then 250 deaths have been linked to Ebola, the World Health Organization says the crisis could go on for another six months.

A 92 year old Holocaust survivor has died after was hit by a car while crossing the street in Portland Oregon. Arthur Veena was the only member of this family to survive the Holocaust, as a teenager he spent three years in concentration camps until it was freed in 1945. He wrote an autobiography and he dedicated his life to teaching students about the Holocaust and about genocide. Police said the driver of the car did not see him and won't be charged. A new morning about climate change, but can delegates (inaudible) in

Poland agreed to make the hard decisions necessary to meet their target. We will dig into that next. Plus an art display like no other, giant pieces of an iceberg are left to melt all in an effort to call attention to global warming.

[03:45:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: A warning from the U.N. Secretary-General on climate change. Antonio Gutierrez says the planet no longer has the luxury of time to find solutions to global warming. He told delegates at the global climate conference in Poland that they must resolve political issues and moved to Paris come to agreement forward. Nick Paton Walsh has more from the conference.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the last 48 hours of these really make or break talks for averting catastrophe on the planet. The U.N. Secretary General Antonio Gutierrez has returned to the talk. Now some say they were always expecting him to do that, because that's the nature of the fixed time negotiation. Things get tense towards the end, the heavy lifting has to occur then and then some say it's unexpected and perhaps a sign of things are necessarily going with the phase the one that would require.

Now in a speech that he gave, he said clearly that key political issues remain unresolved. They are running out of time. Now, his concern seems to be around the ambition of what they are trying to attempt here and also the complexity of it. Now, really, this is the follow-up meeting from the Paris agreement in the 2016 ushered in by the Barack Obama administration. That set the tone of what countries want to do with the greenhouse emissions, but really is here that the technicalities have to be worked out. Many call it the rule broke.

Establishing how we measure emissions, whether developed countries and developing countries have different rules for measuring their emissions. How transparent those necessarily are. It sounds technical, and there are some here who say, well, listen this is all about technicalities, we can work it out in the future date, but really climate change is an extraordinary technical issue. We are 12 years away from producing our emissions by 1.5 degrees to avert catastrophe and the clock is ticking incredibly loudly here and without both technical questions being answered, how do you actually guarantee emissions are in fact going down.

The tone of the summit, some say, jeopardized by over the weekends, the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Strange bedfellows, frankly, all casting doubt to one of the key scientific reports about the need for urgent action in the next 12 years and then on Monday the U.S. strangely, many say, they are launching a side event promoting responsible fossil fuel used. Clean Fossil fuel used, because there is a lot of hard work here. A lot of conflicting agendas, a lot of concerns that would really be a general tone coming out of Washington has given many here wiggle room to not make him comfortable choices and this case speech, from Antonio Gutierrez, the U.N. Secretary General.

Really I think, reminding people what's at stake here. There is no debate about the science. There is no debate about exactly what has to be done. Emissions have to be lowered drastically. The question is to the next 48 hours. See world powers and everyone else agree exactly how they are going to do that and stick to it. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN.

(END VIDEO)

LU STOUT: In art installation of ice is drawing crowds in London, some 24 iceberg pieces had been placed in front of the Tate modern in London and in display called ice watch.

[03:50:04] The chunks came up from a fjord in Greenland, after they broke off from an ice sheet. The Scandinavian artist behind this wants people to realize the effects of climate change in the Arctic and to prompt action. It is on display until December 20.

Now a strong storm is moving into the Mediterranean and heavy snow could fall on some unusual places. Meteorologist, Pedram Javaheri, joins us with more. Pedram?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Hi, Kristie, pretty fascinating set up here when it comes to the weather. We have ahead of us across portions of the Mediterranean, wait until you get a hold of what is happening here, because we do have the system pushing right in from the West toward the East. Not unusual, the pattern, a little more unusual and that we do have a nosedive in the jet stream were the steering environment in the atmosphere. So, a lot of cold air is beginning to spill farther and farther toward the south. Now take a look at this, high temperatures in Madrid. Mind you here, on the final week of autumn in the northern hemisphere are comparable to what's happening in places like Dublin. So kind of tell you, the flip-flop in the pattern across this region. That cold air is really shifted to the south. Showers are possible the next couple days and the system will make a mariner hazard at least across the Western met here with powerful gusts up to 60 or 70 kilometers per hour for the next couple of days, but follow the storms system as it migrates a little farther toward the east and noticed that winter weather radar, Northern Africa, some snow showers possible across portions of the Sahara desert.

System is not done, once we get in towards a Friday and Saturday. It pushes a little farther towards the East, produces a tremendous snowfall across the Balkans, and in particular places such as (inaudible), working its way towards Bosnia and Herzegovina significant snow accumulations possible there. As much as 45 to nearly 60 centimeters in a few spots but follow it all the way down there to the bottom of the screen there, just south of Algiers into the northern tip of the Sahara Desert. That is snowfall forecast to accumulate across portions of northern Africa into the Sahara which is somewhat unusual, but in recent years we've had happened a couple of times.

In fact, in the past 40 years across the Sahara, we had three known snow events, 1979 and February, December of 2016. We cover that you're on CNN and the weather department and earlier this year, you might've have seen some of the incredible footage coming out of that region with snow showers again across northern portion of African and if you think the counterintuitive climate change should make it warmer not so the case. Portions of northern Africa, portions of Europe are seen a cooling trend at the end. That is why it is called climate change. Not necessarily global warming. I did take her correspondence was expected to happen with at least the next couple days, yet again across that region.

The trend across Paris, it is going to warm up here. Notice Friday's high temperature of only one there that is the coolest temperature I could find in Paris going back to March 20th which happened to be the first day of spring, so the seasons have certainly shifted and feeling like it at least the next couple of days even across Paris there, Kristie.

LU STOUT: Climate change can make our planet warmer or cooler in certain parts. Pedram, thank you for pointing that out. Many thanks to you take care.

Now, up next here in the program, in the world of fashion. It is not what you wear, it's how you wear it. And apparently that applies to U.S. politics as well. We got the details next.

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LU STOUT: In the coming hours Virgin Galactic will attempt to blow pass its previous record in which the 80 kilometer mark, the edge of space when it tests its rocket powered plank called the DSS unity. Richard Branson's company, Virgin Galactic has been trying to develop planes into caring tourists into space.

[03:55:05] The company, has conducted the three test flights over the past eight months that had pushed it supersonic plane progressively higher. We will be monitoring the test flight. We will keep you posted on its progress.

An image of U.S. House member Nancy Pelosi has been lighting up the Internet, social media users are giving her rock star treatment for dining the shades and a bright red jacket after that tense meeting with President Trump. Here is CNN's Jeanne Moos.

(BEGIN VIDEO)

JEANNE MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The now famous Oval Office meeting. There was a lot of shade thrown, but when Nancy Pelosi put on shades for exactly 5 seconds that became the moment of fans immortalized. Pelosi like a rock star that look when you just got finish manhandling a man baby.

The new power suit for women, red coat, sun glasses, nerves of steel. For a politician who almost sought her position as House Speaker to be blown up, it must be sweet to be compared to the cool dude in CSI Miami.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Burn bay, burn.

MOOS: Critics threw cold water when you are getting excited by Nancy Pelosi putting on sunglasses, you need to take a deep breath, and maybe look in the mirror and tell that whoever made Pelosi gangsta by adding Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Pelosi joins other sunglass wearing women who went viral like Hillary and Elizabeth Moss for mad men, but the meeting President Trump, Nancy didn't chop the two leaders to death.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Nancy and Chuck, Nancy. Will you have walls Chuck, Nancy, I have not pass in two seconds. The last time Chuck, Nancy, I need 10 votes from Chuck.

MOOS: But why waste time with two separate names when you can combine them into one, Nanchuck. Nanchuck was the brainchild of two CNN anchors, Lemon and Cuomo, or if you prefer Lemonoumo. Cuomo gave Lemon credit.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: My name is not good. I have Peloomer and Chelosi. Nanchuck is great, because it is like what Bruce Lee would do with those things.

MOOS: From Bruce Lee to Jay-z. Pelosi - Nancy Pelosi, also known as Nanchuck. Jeanne Moss, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEO)

LU STOUT: And thank you for joining us. I'm Kristie Lu Stout. The news continues next with Max Foster in London. Keep watching CNN.

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