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Kim Jong-un's Round Four Meeting with Xi Jinping; President Trump Must-Watch Decision; Furloughed Employees' Pockets in Pain Over Shutdown; Saudi Teen Barricated Herself; Shutdown Standoff, President Trump May Declare National Emergency For Wall; CNN Freedom Project; Texas Murder Arrest, Alleged Driver In Girl's Death Denied Bail; Tanker Fire Near Hong Kong; Auto Industry Icon In Court; Samsung Predicts Plunge In Profit; Blue Bottle Jellyfish Attack; Puppy Meets Snake. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired January 8, 2019 - 03:00   ET

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


[03:00:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Kim Jong-un visits Beijing. And while the U.S. says it's working on improving ties, the North Korean leader is holding his fourth summit in a year with the Chinese president.

And the government stuck at a virtual standstill. The U.S. president says he will now take his appeal for his border wall to the American people directly.

Plus, engulfed in smoke, a deadly five breaks out on board a tanker of Hong Kong.

Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church. And this is CNN Newsroom.

Just as the U.S. is making plans for a second summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader has arrived in Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Neither side has announced an itinerary for Kim's visit, which is expected to last through Thursday, but China remains the North's closest ally and trading partner.

CNN's Matt Rivers is live this hour in Beijing. He joins us now. Good to see you again, Matt. So why would Kim Jong-un be visiting China at this time and what could it reveal about Xi Jinping's influence over North Korea and its leader?

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is the fourth trip that Kim Jong-un has made to China in just the last 10 months or so, Rosemary. I mean, it is pretty remarkable given that, you know, just a year ago he had never left North Korea while as being its leader. And now this is the fourth time he's come to China.

In terms of why he's making this trip at this time, I think we can look at a little bit of precedent that was set in 2018 when he made his first two trips to China in March and then after that, again, to a city called Dalian on the coast. Both of the first two trips came shortly before he went and had that summit with Donald Trump in Singapore in June. The third trip that he made to China was just a week after that summit.

So basically, what it seems like, if you are going to go by 2018 in this example, is that Kim Jong-un feels the need to come to China and meet with Xi Jinping before and directly after any summit that he has with Donald Trump.

So, if you're looking at 2018, you look until now, we know that both North Korea and the United States are planning for another summit, the second summit between those leaders. We know that the United States has already been scouting locations for that summit.

And the fact that Kim Jong-un has come here to China to meet with Xi Jinping probably gives us a strong indication that that summit at least from the North Korean side they're saying that they do believe that that summit is going forward by making this trip here at this point.

In terms of Xi Jinping's influence over this whole process, remember what I said, this is the fourth time Kim Jong-Il has come to China. Xi Jinping has never gone to Pyongyang while as the leader of China. So that just shows you the way the balance of power works in that relationship. China is the economic lifeline to North Korea. They are in some ways its security guarantor.

And so, North Korea knows that. Kim Jong-un knows that, knows that he wants China on its side going into any summit with Donald Trump. And so, for those reasons, that's why Kim Jong-un is here because Xi Jinping's influence over this entire process is something that North Korea understands to be quite high.

CHURCH: And Matt, he's going to be there until Thursday. That is a long visit, isn't it? A lot to be discussed, apparently.

RIVERS: Yes. It's interesting the length. You know, when you hear about Chinese state media talking about well, it's a four-day trip from the 7th to the 10th, really though, you have to kind of parse that out because when they say it started on the 7th, well, all we know is that Kim Jong-un's train passed into China around 10.15 p.m. on the 7th. And what could very well happen is that he leaves tomorrow afternoon. It doesn't arrive back in North Korea until the 10th, therefore, completing that four-day trip.

But in reality, I think, what you're looking at is two working days here in Beijing. That said, they are going to get a lot into those two working days. If this is going to be the only time these two men meet before a summit between Kim and Trump then you can bet there is going to be a lot of talk about and -- a lot to talk about in terms of North Korea's strategy going into that summit.

CHURCH: All right. Our Matt Rivers joining us live from Beijing, many thanks to you.

Well, President Trump is ramping up his push for a border wall, preparing for a direct appeal to the American public. He will deliver a televised address from the Oval Office Tuesday followed by a visit to the border with Mexico two days later.

[03:04:56] Now this all comes as the government shutdown threatens to become the longest in U.S. history.

Jim Acosta has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: For President Trump this week it's the wall or bust. Today the White House announce the president will deliver a primetime address to the nation Tuesday night and make a special trip to the border, all part of a latch ditch effort to ram his wall through Congress. Democrats doubt the speech will be worth the air time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. JERROLD NADLER, (D) NEW YORK: I expect the president to lie to the American people. Why do I expect this? Because he has been lying to the American people and his spokespeople continue lying to the American people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: With Democrats refusing to give the president his wall, Mr. Trump is warning he may declare a national emergency to get his way. Vice President Mike Pence told reporters in an off-camera briefing that the White House council is looking at whether Mr. Trump can declare that emergency despite the fact that the president said on Twitter that there is no doubt he has that authority.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I may declare a national emergency depends on what's going to happen over the next few days.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Democrats predict that's a fight that will go to the court.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ADAM SMITH, (D) WASHINGTON: Now he'd be challenged in court because there clearly is no emergency. There is no reason for this on border security grounds. It would be wrong, it would be horrible policy and I'm totally and completely against it, but from a legal standpoint he could do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: With the shut down now entering its third week, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are facing the prospect of working without pay. The president claims he can fee their pain.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: I can relate. I'm sure that the people that are on the receiving end will make adjustments, they always do. And they will make adjustments. People understand exactly what's going on, but many of those people that won't be receiving a pay check, many of those people agree 100 percent with what I'm doing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Democrats argue it would be a mistake to cave to the president who vowed he would own the shutdown.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. ADAM SCHIFF, (D) CALIFORNIA: If you reward the president with that kind of tactic, Jake, then we are going to see every year the president shutting down the government and we just can't afford to do business that way.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: One way the White House is trying to win the shutdown battle is by declaring war on the facts. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders tried to suggest that thousands of known or suspected terrorists are coming across the border with Mexico, only to be fact checked live by Fox.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH HUCKABEE-SANDERS, White House PRESS SECRETARY: It's by air, it's by land, and it's by sea. It's all of the above. But one thing that you're forgetting is that the most vulnerable point of entry that we have into this country is the southern border and we have to protect it. And the more and more --

(CROSSTALK)

CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: But they're not coming -- they're not coming across the southern border, Sarah. They're coming and they're being stopped in airports.

SANDERS: They're coming in number of ways. They certainly, I'm not disagreeing with you that they are coming through airports. I'm saying that they come by air, by land, and by sea.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: But a State Department report out in 2017 found no credible information that any member of a terrorist group has travelled through Mexico to gain access to the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: They've killed ISIS.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: The president is also finding himself contradicted on his vow to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria after declaring late last year that ISIS had been defeated. National security advisor John Bolton now says the fight against ISIS will continue at least for now with U.S. troops.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOLTON, UNITED STATES NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISOR: We're going to be discussing the president's decision to withdraw, but to do so for Northeast Syrian in a way that make sure that ISIS is defeated and is not able or revive itself and become a threat again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: As for the White House claim that there are terrorists coming across the border with Mexico, Homeland Security Secretary, Kirstjen Nielsen insisted that is happening, but when pressed for numbers she could not provide any insisting that information is classified.

Jim Acosta, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, payday for hundreds of thousands of federal workers and contractors furloughed or still working is supposed to come this Friday, but they likely won't be getting paychecks unless the shutdown suddenly ends. President Trump is insisting he understands what those workers are going through.

Now that's little comfort to the furloughed employees that these nine government departments that have been shut down. Rents and mortgages are due, not to mention buying gas, groceries, and paying bills.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRIAN GARTHWAITE, FURLOUGHED U.S. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE: He's frozen salaries of civilian workers and now he's using federal workers as a pawn for his political agenda.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

GARTHWAITE: So, how he can say that he relates, that's I guess I would have to look him square in the eye and ask him that question.

LILA JOHNSON, FURLOUGHED U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR: My car notes soon be debited up on me, my rent got to be paid. As far as my other bills like my credit cards and loans that I owe, that's doubling up on me. So, everything is just piling up on me.

LORIE MCCANN, FURLOUGHED U.S. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE: I really have to figure out what I'm going to do. It's not that easy. I've been on a job for 28 years to go out and look for another job. How do you start all over again, you know, but if it goes on, that if it goes on much longer, then I am going to have to figure out what I'm going to do to sustain my lifestyle?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Got it. [03:10:01] MCCANN: And just to be able to eat honestly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Well, the pain from this impasse is being felt all across the country. Almost 39 million people depend on food aid to eat each month. But the Department of Agriculture, which administers the program, could run out of funding next month.

U.S. taxpayers may have to wait to get their annual refunds. The IRS has sent home much of its staff without pay, meaning of dollars in tax refunds could be delayed. Though the White House insists tax refunds will still go out as planned.

And the shutdown could hurt some of America's poorest families, the Department of Housings and Urban Development is shuttered right now. That could jeopardize rental assistance payments for millions of people.

Well, more Americans will also be feeling the effects of the shutdown at major airports. Hundreds of officers with the Transportation Security Administration called out from their shifts last week and more call outs are expected as long as this shutdown drags on.

Rene Marsh reports on how the agency is responding.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION CORRESPONDENT: On Monday, TSA held a call with agency security directors from airports nationwide discussing TSA employees calling out sick, that according to a source who was on the call. Now, the agency also said on this call that they will now start tracking sick calls nationwide.

The agency also discussed the need for incentives to entice employees to show up to work. A source on the call said that TSA head David Pekoske vowed that the agency security standard will remain the same and he also said he wanted to be transparent with the public about the number of sick calls so that travelers will know just how much time they will need to get through security.

This all comes as the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee sent a letter to the agency on Monday asking for data on how many employees have called out sick and asking the agency what is its plan for dealing with short staff if the shutdown drags on.

Now TSA does acknowledge that call-outs began over the holiday and they have increased. But they maintain that the call outs have not been significant enough to impact wait times or even security screening.

Now, TSA officers in the field they are warning that more call-outs are coming and it's mainly because many of these employees are calling in sick to find cash paying jobs outside of the government.

Rene Marsh, CNN, Washington. (END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Well, British Prime Minister Theresa May is trying to shore up some much-needed support for her Brexit deal. Parliament is set to vote next week but there is little indication it will pass. That's raising even more fears of a hard Brexit and growing cause for a second referendum.

For more now, CNN's Nina dos Santos joins me from 10 Downing Street. Good to see you, Nina. So, it looks like Theresa May will lose the vote next week on her Brexit deal. If that happens, what comes next?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Rosemary, it's likely that she'll have to return to Brussels armed with more ammunition demanding more concessions. And in fact, she hinted yesterday during a speech on the National Health Service that she may well be able to obtain some firmer language on the issues of the Northern Irish border and so on and forth than this contentious period.

However, between now and next week when the vote is going to be taking place, we now know officially it will be on the 15th of the month, there's a lot going on.

Already what we saw was doubters being invited here to number 10 Downing Street for a drinks reception yesterday evening to try and win them over, all part of this lobbying campaign. We're seeing a big social media and media push generally on behalf of the department for exiting the E.U. today to try and beef up support for her deal.

And also, at the same time we've got a broad coalition of cross-party MPs, more than 200 of them writing to the prime minister demanding that she rule out a no deal hard Brexit.

Also, today, the finance bill will be going through parliament and they are going to be using that to table amendments to try and prevent the government from raising extra taxes in the events of a hard Brexit, essentially using the finance bill to try and block at least a hard Brexit for now because, obviously, we're only about two months away from D-Day when Brexit will be happening.

In the meantime, still lots of speculation, though. Rebuffed by number 10 Downing Street that the government will have to at the last minute ask the E.U. for an extension on article 50. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Interesting. And Britain tested a no deal scenario Monday. How did that turn out and what influence might it have on the vote, if any?

[03:14:52] DOS SANTOS: Yes, that's right. You couldn't escape the irony yesterday of saying that they were not planning for a hard Brexit, but on the other hand having to plan for a hard Brexit. And it was the kind of scenes that a lot of people have talked about for some time, but just to see physically probably would also have helped to crystalize people's minds.

More than a hundred trucks heavy goods vehicles amassed near the border with the E.U., which is of course the key port of Dover, which is the main trading corridor for the bulk of the goods and services that are exchanged between the U.K. and the rest of the E.U. And we already say that the roads struggled around that area, struggled to cope with this big tail box.

Now interestingly enough the Financial Times is reporting today that trucks according to government commissioned research that the F.T. has seen would face six days' worth of queues to board ferries at that key port of Dover if we were to see customs checks of just 80 seconds being introduced.

So just an 80-second custom check could essentially cause gridlock at the border. These are the kinds of scenes that all those 200 MPs from all political denominations are desperately trying to avoid, both of this amendment to the finance bill later on today and with the letter to the prime minister earlier on this week. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Well, we shall see what happens. Nina dos Santos from 10 Downing Street, many thanks to you for that live report.

Let's take a short break, but next on CNN Newsroom why this Saudi teen barricaded herself in a Bangkok airport hotel room for two days and why she is fearing for her life.

Plus, a tumultuous year in the Middle East comes to a close. But is there hope for 2019 will be any better?

You're watching CNN Newsroom. Back in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back.

Well, France is taking a tougher stand against the so-called yellow vest protesters. Marchers in Paris Saturday began peacefully but turned violent when protesters throw missiles at riot police. The prime minister announced plans to toughen sanctions against undeclared demonstrations. He said the legislation will be modelled after laws football hooligans. There will also be increased police presence at marches this weekend.

Well, the Saudi teen who barricaded herself inside a Bangkok hotel room demanding asylum is now under the protection of the U.N.'s refugee agency. The 18-year-old says her life will be in danger if she is sent home.

CNN's Alexandra Field has the latest.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[03:20:03] ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A Saudi teen who says she fears for her life if forced to return to her home country is now under U.N. protection. Monday night Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun left the Bangkok airport hotel room where she had been hold up for two days while threatened with deportation. On Twitter, she had begged to the world for help. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAHAF MOHAMMED AL-QUNUN, SAUDI TEEN: I'm not leaving until I see UNHCR. I want asylum.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIELD: She later says "I need any country to protect me as soon as possible. I require asylum." And then "I cannot leave the airport because my passport has been taken away and they won't give me a visa." Human rights groups in contact with al-Qunun demanded Thai officials put an immediate stop to the plan to send her home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHIL ROBERTSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ASIA DIVISION: She stated repeatedly that she is definitely afraid of being sent back to Saudi Arabia. She believes that her family will kill her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIELD: Now, Thai authorities are reversing course, allowing the U.N.'s refugee agency to determine whether she needs refugee protection. Previously, officials said they were deporting her because she didn't have proper documents. Thailand's immigration chief also said al-Qunun was trying to escape an arranged marriage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SURACHET HAKPAL, IMMIGRATION POLICE COMMANDER (through translator): We will talk to her and do whatever she requests. Since she escaped trouble to seek our help, we are the land of smiles. We will not send anyone to their death. We won't do that. We will adhere to the human rights principles under the rule of law.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIELD: Al-Qunun says she never planned to stay in Thailand. She said she was changing planes on Bangkok on her way to Australia when she was stopped. Before Thai authorities blocked her from going further, al-Qunun said she was intercepted by officials from the Saudi Embassy who took her passport. On Twitter, she said it had since been returned.

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry has denied the claims saying the teen was being deported for violating Thailand's immigration policies, and that its officials remained in touch with her family. The family could not be reached. They have not made any public statements.

Alexandra Field, CNN, Hong Kong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: The Middle East has always been a region filled with unique challenges and 2018 was no exception. The question for many remains, will the New Year bring new beginnings to this part of the world scarred by war and division.

CNN's Becky Anderson reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: Twenty-eighteen, a year of change in the Middle East. In particular, because of U.S. President Donald Trump whose controversial moves are rippling across the region and will shape the year to come, not least standing by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, after the grisly murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey, which was linked to the young leader's inner circle though he denies any personal connection.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FAWAZ GERGES, PROFESSOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS: A very young and untested leader is now getting tested now.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Last year was a turning point for Yemen. Thrown into the spotlight for the unrelenting grim humanitarian situation and increased scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers following the Khashoggi killing. But there was a breakthrough of sorts. Historic peace talks finally in December.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GERGES: I see a glimmer of hope, a light at the end of the tunnel. The war itself that has already destroyed Yemen as a society probably will come to an end.

ANDERSON: In Syria an almost eight-year long war seems to be ending with the Assad regime having won the military battle. That's according to most analysts. But Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops in the last days of 2018 stunned allies in the region. Trump also delivered a blow to one of the Syrian government's key backers. Ripping up the Iran nuclear agreement and re-imposing sanctions.

And while Trump says he is open to renegotiation, expectations are low.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DENNIS ROSS, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR: I'm not so sure that some of the people in the administration are keen on a deal. I think they're more keen on regime change.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Last year, we also saw the political earthquake of the U.S. moving its embassy to Jerusalem, and recognizing it as Israel's capital. A move slammed by the Palestinians. This year the region awaits the roll out of Trump's long touted peace plan. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROSS: The best case if it works is it resumes negotiations. And that is still a long way away from a deal and even longer way from even if you can get a deal can you implement it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: So, as we've seen a tumultuous 2018 is already set to be a turbulent 2019. And on top of those flash points that we've already mentioned, there are also potential new ones.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GERGES: The most dangerous theater in the world today is the Israeli- Lebanese border. It would take a spark to ignite a region-wide war.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[03:25:04] ANDERSON: So, a region and a world holding its breath to see what this year has in store. Knowing that whatever happens in Washington will have a huge impact a world away.

Becky Anderson, CNN, Abu Dhabi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Coming up here on CNN Newsroom, a woman sentenced to life imprisonment at the age of 16 for murder is now free. We will explain why she was released.

And we're getting new details about a senseless murder in Texas that shocked the U.S. What we know about the two men accused in the murder of a 7-year-old girl.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. I'm Rosemary Church. I want to update you now on the main stories we've been following this hour.

Kim Jong-un is on a surprise visit to Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The trip comes as U.S. officials are said to be scouting locations for a second summit between the North Korean leader and President Trump.

Ousted former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn told a judge in Tokyo that he is innocent of the financial misconduct charges against him. Prosecutors accused him of underreporting his income by millions of dollars and of transferring personal investment losses to Nissan.

U.S. President Donald Trump will make his pitch for funding a border wall in a televised address Tuesday night. He will follow that up with a trip to the southern border Thursday. Now Democrats refuse to fund the wall. The dispute has caused a partial government shutdown now in its third week.

CNN's political analyst Michael Shear joins me. He also covers the White House for the New York Times. Good to have you with us.

MICHAEL SHEAR, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Sure. Happy to be here.

CHURCH: Now we don't know what exactly President Trump is planning to say in his address to the nation Tuesday night, but what we do know is that he has said he may declare a national emergency to get military funds for his border wall. How likely is it that in the eight minutes he plans to speak that he will, indeed, declare an emergency and what would be the ramifications of just such a move?

SHEAR: So, look, I mean, I think one of the dangers over the last two years has been trying to predict an unpredictable president. So, perhaps, anything is possible.

I think it would be unlikely that what we're going to hear tomorrow is, in fact, a declaration of a national emergency which would, you know, create a both political and legal firestorm.

[03:30:00]

SHEAR: I think you could imagine legal challenges almost immediately to what he wanted to do and political firestorms on both sides of the aisle.

I think, what's more likely is going to be the President attempting to go over the heads of the members of Congress to put pressure on them by trying to ratchet up in a very national visible way this argument that he has been making that there's a crisis at the border and by delivering one of the few national addresses that he has ever made as President, to kind of, you know, put that message so dramatically out there that it will put pressure on the Democrats to cave to his demands for a border wall, which I think is the ultimate goal.

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: All right. So that is one possible scenario, but I do want to go back to this possibility that has been raised by the President himself. Does President Trump have the power to declare a National Emergency and gain military money to fulfil a political campaign promise, which is what the border wall is?

SHEAR: Right. So there is a couple of different ways he could go about it. There is the generalized use of executive power that he could -- he could say that his inherent power as President gives him the right to make a determination that a border wall is needed and he could direct the agencies to go get money to do it. That would probably be the legally most challenged approached.

There are, however, several already enacted pieces of legislation that the Congress over the years has seen fit to say in the event of an emergency the President has the following powers and a couple of those powers that have been delineated have been the power to direct the military to actually construct things that are necessary for the country's defense.

You can imagine if there was an invasion of the country from a foreign power that the President would have the ability to declare an emergency and to tell the military you have the power to erect defenses against that invasion.

And so, there are some legal theorists who believe that the President could invoke those specific already delegated powers that the Congress has said the President can have in the case of an emergency and now apply it to this idea that there is a crisis at the border and direct the military to build a wall.

Legal experts have said that is still somewhat questionable and would have to be tested in court almost certainly, but that would maybe be the strongest basis that he would have.

CHURCH: Of course, meantime, the shutdown continues, no deal has yet been made. What would it likely take to end this partial government shutdown and who gets blamed if this continues for weeks, possibly months?

SHEAR: Well, you know, the traditional -- you know, traditional political theory would have you believe that that's what both sides want to do is to avoid being blamed for this and in previous government shutdowns that's been the real dynamic, is both sides trying to deflect blame.

Now, this President has, of course, on occasion and over the last couple of weeks claimed that he was proud that there was a government shutdown and said that he would proudly accept the blame for it.

But in reality, I think that's what tomorrow night is going to be about and then also on Thursday when the President visits the border, and according to the White House, he plans to go down there and making a big show of being at the border himself.

Maybe both are an attempt ultimately to, as I said before, put pressure on the Democrats, but also to escape blame, to sort of deliver the message to the public that he is actually -- that this government shutdown isn't just for a whim, or you know, some sort of personal vendetta, but then it is rather for something that is a political emergency for the country, a real emergency for the country. And whether or not people believe him, you know, based on what's gone on for the last couple of years, it's really going to determine whether he ultimately gets blamed for this or whether the Congress does.

CHURCH: All right. We shall see what happens. We're all watching this very carefully. We don't know what he is going to say, of course, so we will just wait it out. Michael Shear, thank you so much for joining us. I appreciate it.

SHEAR: Sure.

CHURCH: Our Tom Foreman has more now on President Trump's power to possibly declare a National Emergency for his border wall.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Can President Trump declare a National Emergency to build the border wall with Mexico? In a word, yes. The National Emergencies Act of 1976 gives him that power, although it also requires him to cite the specifics.

For example, he could say there's are so many people coming into the country illegally, the immigration system is unable to handle them. The influx poses a real threat to the economy, to public services, to public safety, and so on.

So, if he did that, where would the money come from? It would be military money, dollars already destined for military construction, rerouted to building a wall by this Presidential declaration.

[03:35:10] Question three, though, is this really a national emergency and does that matter? What is actually considered a national emergency? That is where the legal language gets stickier. In 1934, the U.S. Supreme Court said basically the situation should be urgent and infrequent, really big, like in the scale of a national disaster, and not reasonably expected or anticipated.

The illegal immigration issue is certainly big on the scale of a public calamity, but it has been discussed for years. So, can you say that it really is urgent, or infrequent, or reasonably not anticipated or unexpected? All of that could be open for legal challenges, which could stop the President's actions even if he wants to go that way.

And lastly, if he did this, could Congress stop him? Yes, both the House and Senate could vote to rescind the emergency order. But unless the President was willing to sign their resolution, they would have to do it with enough support to override the veto from the President's desk, which is a tall order considering his Republican Party still controls the Senate.

But then some legal minds say using emergency powers to build this wall is also a big stretch and they doubt it will work even if technically the President can try it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: Tom Foreman with that report. And you can watch President Trump's Primetime address as well as the response by the Democrats right here on CNN. That starts at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday in Washington, 2:00 in the morning Wednesday in London, 10:00 a.m. in Hong Kong.

Well, according to a new report from the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, a growing number of girls are being reported as victims of human trafficking. Girls account for 23 percent of all known trafficking victims globally. The figure is based on the most recent data from 2016 and it's up from the previous number in 2014.

Boy's account for 7 percent of reported trafficking victims. The report also finds armed conflict and migration are likely to make children more vulnerable to trafficking. And girls are typically victims of sexual exploitation while boys are more often exploited for forced labor.

A woman serving a life sentence for killing a man who bought her for sex when she was 16 has been granted clemency. Cyntoia Brown will be released on parole in August after 15 years in prison. She was supposed to serve 51 years before she could even try for parole. But activists, lawyers and celebrities came together to bring national attention to Brown's case. CNN's Martin Savidge has more.

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MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Cyntoia Brown was convicted of killing a man who had solicited her for sex in 2004, when she was 16. At the time, she herself was a victim of sex trafficking. She claimed self-defense. The prosecution argued she killed as part of a robbery.

She was tried as an adult and found guilty of first degree murder and got life in prison, meaning that she would not be eligible for parole until she had served 51 years behind bars.

Many felt that was excessive given how young Brown was at the time and also that her circumstance wasn't taken into account, such as child abuse. Her case drew national notoriety as an example of the need for judicial reform and the tragedy of human trafficking. Many big name politicians and celebrities lobbied on her behalf, including Rihanna and Kim Kardashian.

The governor of Tennessee, who is on his way out of office, commuted Brown's sentence to parole. Here is the reaction from her attorneys.

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CHARLES BONE, CYNTOIA BROWN'S ATTORNEY: We are up here to say thank you to everyone here and everybody across -- around the world who has been involved in pleading for, praying for the release of Cyntoia Brown.

J. HOUSTON GORDON, CYNTOIA BROWN'S ATTORNEY: Her story, though, is a story that should be a catalyst for a lot of others. Thousands of other juveniles. We need to see this as a national awakening to change the draconian laws that allow juveniles, children's to be placed in adult prisons when they're just children. They're not little adults.

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SAVIDGE: Brown turned her life around while behind bars. She got her high school diploma, then her Associate's Degree, and is working on a bachelor's degree.

In a statement she thanks the governor and her supporters and pledged, "With God's help, I am committed to live the rest of my life helping others, especially young people. My hope is to help other young girls avoid ending up where I've been." Brown will be released in August after serving 15 years in prison. Martin Savidge, CNN.

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[03:40:05] CHURCH: A judge in Texas has denied bail for a man connected to the death of a 7-year-old girl. The shooting death of Jazmine Barnes shocked the country. A second suspect is in custody in the case, which investigators think was a horrible case of mistaken identity. Nick Valencia is following developments in Houston, Texas.

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NICK VALENCIA, CNN NEWS CORRESPONDENT: The shooting death of 7-year- old Jazmine Barnes shocked not just the community of Houston but really captured so many people's attention across the nation. And it was a shooting that was initially thought to be race related. In fact, it was one of the lines of investigation that the Harris County Sheriff was going down.

They released a composite sketch at the time in a day's after the shooting of a white male who they thought was the suspected shooter. But over the weekend, they took into custody two African-American males and what they're now calling a case of mistaken identity.

One of those suspects made his first court appearance on Monday before a trial judge. Both suspects, however, could be facing capital murder charges. And it was after those two individuals were taken into custody that the father of Jazmine Barnes said, he finally got the chance to mourn where it be on Tuesday -- sometime Tuesday morning that they will finally lay their little girl to rest. Nick Valencia, CNN, Houston, Texas.

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CHURCH: After a short break, nearby witnesses heard a loud bang then smoke and flames engulfed a kerosene tanker near Hong Kong, the rescue efforts ahead.

Carlos Ghosn, one sat atop an automotive empire. Now, he's in court facing years in prison, what he just told a judge. We will take a look at that when we come back.

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. A fire on board an oil tanker en- route to Hong Kong has left at least one person dead. Police say the vessel was transporting kerosene and the fire broke out as it passed near Lama Island. The crew jumped into the water as flames engulfed the ship. Marine police rescued 23 crew members. Two people are still missing.

Nearby residents said they heard a loud bang that shook their windows. A large hole in the ship can be seen suggesting an explosion before the fire.

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim is resigning three years ahead of schedule and that could bring a challenge to U.S. dominance of the institution.

[03:45:07] The U.S. traditionally picks the group's President, but the White House has not said if President Trump will name a successor or provide a list of potential candidates. Other countries have been increasingly critical of U.S. authority over the global development bank. Well, for the first time, Carlos Ghosn has appeared in court pleading innocent to the charges that landed him in jail. The former head of Nissan, an icon in the auto industry, is accused of financial misconduct. Ghosn told a judge he did not under report his income or transfer personal investment losses to the company. Ghosn has been in a Japanese jail since November 19th when he was arrested.

So, let's turn now to Kaori Enjoji, who is live in Tokyo. Kaori, what did Carlos Ghosn's lawyer reveal at his news conference just a short time ago and what more did we learn about these allegations against Ghosn?

KAORI ENJOJI, JOURNALIST: Well, Rosemary, the veil of mystery surrounding the arrest of Carlos Ghosn seven weeks ago finally really being lifted today as he spoke to the court earlier on today, as you mentioned, and his defense team have just wrapped up a 90-minute press conference here in Tokyo.

There are two issues at the heart of this investigation. One of them has to do with underreporting his income between the years of 2000 to 2018. His defense lawyer, Mr. Motonari Otsuru, says that he can't understand why this would be -- might be interpreted as financial wrongdoing.

But he says, and as also Carlos Ghosn said in a statement to court today, there was no binding agreement for him for that money to be paid, that anything that was set in stone and that he would have received was made in the financial statements, which is required by law.

The second issue is far more contentious and far more serious and that is effectively embezzlement, using corporate money for your own personal gain. And this is where I think the prosecution will try to focus on if this goes to trial.

I can tell you that his lawyer, Mr. Otsuru, who used to be a prosecutor himself and he has been a successful one at prosecuting white collar crime in Japan is now on the other side and he says that he -- there are minutes that show that although Carlos Ghosn was faced with a huge investment loss as a result of the Lehman crisis -- the Lehman collapse 10 years ago -- he did not incur -- he did not force Nissan to incur losses on his behalf.

It gets a little bit technical, Rosemary, but we're talking about foreign exchange swaps. Carlos Ghosn was being paid in yen, because Nissan is a Japanese company, but he is basically saying he is a dollar-based person. So he had to lock in these foreign exchange transactions to try and make sure he knew how much money he was going to be making.

But because the dollar-yen tanked as a result of the financial crisis, he was left with a huge loss and he had to put up more collateral for these foreign exchange transactions. He didn't have that collateral right away according to his lawyers.

So, he transferred that contract to the name of Nissan, but with the understanding, the lawyer says, that Nissan -- that Carlos Ghosn has agreed with Nissan that Nissan would not incur any monetary loss as a result of this transfer. And once Carlos Ghosn had that money, had that collateral to put up, he took back the foreign exchange contract.

The million dollar literal question right now is the $14.7 million that keeps recurring. This is the sum that Nissan paid to a businessman in Saudi Arabia. The prosecution seemed -- the prosecutors seem to be saying, according to his defense team, that this was -- this kind of money was paid to this businessman as a thank you payment for putting up the collateral for Mr. Carlos Ghosn when these investments started to turn sour.

But the defense rebuts this proposition entirely and says that, no, these were legitimate transactions, business transactions and they have the documents to prove it. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Very well explained. Kaori Enjoji, thank you so much for that live report from Tokyo. I appreciate it.

Well, the economic slowdown affecting businesses around the world has hit Samsung. The world's largest smartphone maker just announced its fourth quarter profit is said to drop 30 percent from the year earlier. Samsung blames slow demand for its memory chips and increased competition in the smartphone history.

Last week, Apple had a similar story saying it would sell fewer iPhones than expected blaming lackluster (ph) to demand in China cause by the U.S. trade war.

[03:50:08] Well, meanwhile the world's biggest annual tech expo is getting underway in Las Vegas. But amid the ongoing U.S.-China trade war, Chinese companies are taking a lower profile this year. Our Samuel Burke tells us why and shows us some of the latest gadgets on display.

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SAMUEL BURKE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: CES is supposed to be all about riding the next consumer wave, but this year some folks are hopping off. We're seeing 20 percent fewer Chinese start-ups than last year and that seems to be because of the trade war which also is worrying American executives.

I've been talking to CEOs like the CEO of this e-scooter company called Jetson, this one will set you back about $200, put new fancy lights on it. Josh Sultan, the CEO of that company tells me that he is using CES much like other tech executives to try and figure out how he can manage the trade war.

JOSH SULTAN, CEO, JETSON ELECTRIC BIKES: It is going to be very important that we explore it from all angles. We're going to be talking to our competitors. We're going to be talking to manufacturers. We're going to be talking to our customers. It will definitely be on the agenda of every meeting we have. Ten percent, 25 percent tariffs are big numbers. They're going to affect not just the way we manufacture but the way that our consumers purchase product. BURKE: But the hurdles from the trade war aren't stopping them from launching new products like this e-scooter which costs $100 and it's meant for kids, 8-year-olds. Don't worry, I'm taking the helmet with me wherever I go in case any kids want to try it out. They think the more that mom and dad are using those popular e-scooters that kids will want to use them as well.

But as we're talking about the U.S. and China, manufacturing, it is interesting because I'm hearing more and more analysts saying that China in some aspects is out innovating the United States. This might be one example. This is a camera from DJI. That is the drone company, but they also make cameras. It has what is known as a gimbal.

That means no matter where I'm going the camera stays on that point. Whether I go left or right the video is meant to stay smooth. It will cost you about $349. It takes pictures as well as video. We are outside the Bellagio Hotel and those famous fountains went up and you can see for yourself how smooth that footage is.

Now, for me, what's missing is a microphone. I would like to be able to go and interview people on it. DJI says a microphone will come soon. But a company like this, their innovation really shows you how they can give an American company like GoPro a run for their money.

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CHURCH: Samuel Burke there. Well, an outgoing puppy comes across an unfriendly snake. Coming up, the chance meeting that could have had a pretty grim ending. We're back in a moment.

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CHURCH: Well, environmental change in Hawaii has now led to the extinction of a species. George was the last known Hawaiian land snail of his species. And when he died on New Year's Day at 14 years of age, researchers say his species died with him.

Scientists had tried to save the land snails by breeding them in captivity, but all of them had died except for George. The snails were once common on the island, but researchers say climate change and invasive species led to their demise.

[03:55:06] Well, thousands of beach goers in Australia got a nasty surprise over the weekend when they were stung by man o'war jelly fish. Now, the blue bottle jelly fish invasion was so bad, lifeguards had to close several beaches over the weekend on the Gold and Sunshine Coast and further south in New South Wales.

The onslaught was the result of strong winds that forced the blue bottles ashore. Now, according to the rescue organization, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, more than 3,500 people needed treatment for those stings. That is a lot. You have to be careful of those.

Now who could blame a puppy for expecting to be welcomed with open arms wherever he goes, but one young pup had a close encounter and nearly learned the hard way that snakes prefer to be left alone. Adam Hegarty of Australia's Nine Network has the story.

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ADAM HEGARTY, REPORTER, 9NEWS NETWORK, AUSTRALIA: It is hard in your mouth stuff. Little Alfie, the Jack Russell oblivious, a four foot carpet snake lying just fate away. The 12-week-old pup runs over, the snake attacks, but help is on the way, big sister, Maggie, and mom, Carolyn.

CAROLYN KONG, PET OWNER: He started screaming, screaming. As I grabbed him, I felt the snake wrapped around him.

HEGARTY: Carolyn is terrified of snakes, but she doesn't hesitate. She grabbed it, flinging it aside.

KONG: I didn't really think about it. It was quick and I just -- it had wound itself -- all of him was wound up.

HEGARTY: Then with Alfie safely in her arms, they retreat. Curiosity ain't a killer today. Now, don't be mistaken. Little Alfie has some bite in him too. He belongs to Carolyn's daughter, but we dare say it is Carolyn who has earned some extra affection from one very lucky pooch.

KONG: In the heat of the moment you just have to act and do what you've got to do. So, you know, he is a sweet little thing and he is part of our family, so just to save him.

HEGARTY: So, what would you do? Better yet, what should you do?

MICHAEL THORBURN, SNAKE CATCHER: I wouldn't suggest it, because it can be dangerous, especially if it's a venomous snake, but obviously I know people are a little bit protective of their pets.

HEGARTY: Especially runs as cute as this. Adan Hegarty, Nine News.

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CHURCH: All right. What would you do for your puppy? Thanks for your company this hour. I'm Rosemary Church. Remember to connect with me any time on Twitter at @rosemaryCNN. We love to hear from you and the news continues next with Max Foster in London. You're watching CNN. Have a great day.

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