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CNN NEWSROOM

North Korea Says U.S. Will Pay for Tough New Sanctions; Trump's Poll Numbers at Record Low; Kenya Presidential and Parliamentary Elections; Kidnapper Aimed to Sell Model Online; Emmanuel Macron under Fire for Plan to Give Wife "First Lady" Role; Animated Gay Short Film Goes Viral. Aired 12-1a ET

Aired August 8, 2017 - 00:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:00:09] JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: This is CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. Ahead this hour --

ISHA SESAY, CNN ANCHOR: North Korea vows revenge for new U.N. sanctions blaming the United States and warning of nuclear war.

VAUSE: And with poll numbers at record low, President Donald Trump takes to Twitter calling his approval rating fake news.

SESAY: Plus an animated story (ph) about a gay schoolboy crush has hearts beating and millions of views.

VAUSE: Hello -- everybody. Great to have you with us. I'm John Vause.

SESAY: And I'm Isha Sesay. NEWSROOM L.A. starts right now.

VAUSE: In the face of the toughest sanctions ever over its nuclear and missile program, North Korea remains defiant even threatening to retaliate against the U.S. for pushing the resolution through the United Nations Security Council.

SESAY: And North Korea says, the U.S. is quote, "desperate to bring the Korean Peninsula to the brink of nuclear war and that under no circumstances would the regime negotiate its nuclear weapons.

The new sanctions could cut North Korea's annual export revenue by a third.

VAUSE: Paul Carroll is a senior adviser at N Square, a group working on reducing nuclear threats. He joins us now via Skype from San Francisco.

Paul -- good to see you.

You know, at the end of the day, the toughest sanctions in the world will succeed or fail depending on how they're enforced and that actually comes down to China which has a pretty dismal record so far. So will it be any different this time? PAUL CARROLL, SENIOR ADVISER, N SQUARE: Well, that remains to be seen. You're exactly right -- John. This is all about the implementation. And you know, a traffic ticket is only as good as the policeman behind it.

And so while these sanctions on paper are extremely tough, not only are they tough in terms of what they will restrict with the North Korean economy and regime, but they haven't been this unified. The U.N. Security Council and particularly the regional powers have not been this unified in a number of years.

So on the one hands, it's a very promising opportunity; on the other hand it all depends on are they enforced.

VAUSE: Yes. We were sort of at this point last year, sanctions typically expanded though. It's seen as being very tough, also very complex. But there was this report put out by a British think tank.

And this is what it found. The narrative around the U.N. Security Council table, the sanctions are the strongest they have ever been, may be true on their paper form but it's fiction in practice. Gaps allow North Korean illicit activity to persist.

The report goes on to mention that only enforcement is a problem but illicit supply networks and private firms are still out there willing to do deals with the North.

When you look at this new round of sanctions, have those problems actually been addressed?

CARROLL: Again, I think it remains to be seen but it's important to remember there are at least two reasons you impose sanctions on a nation that is doing something you don't want it to do.

It's either to restrict or limit their ability to do that thing, in this case, North Korea and the sanctions in the early days were aimed at limiting or cutting off their ability to produce nuclear weapons and missiles. That day is passed.

Now what the sanctions are designed to do is to inflict pain and inflict pressure and force a choice in the North Korean leadership. Do you really want to continue to have dire poverty and even your own regime and leadership have very limited economic vitality or choose another path?

Now here's another point about this sanctions. It's only one-half of the equation. This is half a loaf. This is all about sticks. And what we really need to see now is what are the carrots that the international community will offer to North Korea to come back to the negotiating table?

VAUSE: And that's a good point because, you know, what's the incentive here for Korea apart from the punishment to abandon its nuclear program.

Richard Nephew who coordinated sanctions for the U.S. State Department, he made the argument on Monday that tough sanctions without a bigger strategy here which includes negotiations are in fact not only pointless but may even be counterproductive.

He says, "The win at the U.N. will convince the Trump team that they're on the right track and that they don't have to make a tough call on entering real negotiations with North Korea. This also means that the Trump team will continue using sanctions as a surrogate for strategy and inevitably as a means of avoiding developing one."

Which always seemed to happen during the Obama administration and the Bush administration before that, that essentially the win at the U.N. is a means to an end.

CARROLL: That's right. It's all tactical. You're exactly right. I think what Mr. Nephew is saying, he's absolutely right, it's necessary but not sufficient.

Sanctions can inflict pain, they can help force a choice or coerce or pressure a nation state like North Korea back to the negotiating table.

Ok, suppose they decide they will talk. What do we have on offer? What is it the United States, the South Koreans, the Chinese and so on will offer to North Korea for changing its behavior?

[00:05:04] That has not been drawn out; that has not been made explicit by any of these nations. And there's been a decade or more where that type of a strategy has not been clear, has not been in place.

And this particular administration in the U.S. -- there's no one home at the State Department. There's no one and what I mean by that is the appointees, the leadership to design such a strategy isn't in existence.

So failing that what you have is rhetoric. You have tweets in the middle of the night. And you have a dangerous situation where rhetoric can turn into actual military action, misunderstanding and accidental war.

VAUSE: Yes. Obviously some reasons for hope, but a lot of reasons to be concerned as well.

Paul -- good to see you. Thanks for being with us.

CARROLL: Happy to be here. Thanks -- John.

SESAY: Now a new CNN polling shows President Trump is losing ground with American voters. 38 percent say they approve of the job he's doing as president; 56 percent disapprove. Now those are the worst six-month numbers for any U.S. president in the modern era.

VAUSE: Joining us now CNN political commentators Democratic strategist Dave Jacobson and Republican consultant John Thomas.

Ok -- 38 percent, that's a little better than some of the other polls other. Quinnipiac had him at 32 percent a couple of days ago.

But if you take a closer look at these numbers there are some problems for the President among his core supporters. Republicans strong approval is down 14 percent from February, not at 59 percent. And among white voters without a college degree, this is basically his base, it's 35 percent. That's down 12 percent as well since February. I've seen similar results from other polls as well.

So John -- is this why we're seeing the White House now on this strategy trying to reenergize the base -- the transgender ban, touting affirmative action on campus, you know, hitting out at the media? And is it too early to say maybe the strategy isn't working?

JOHN THOMAS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I don't think that the White House is quite frankly that strategic at this point. I think they're just trying to start getting through their agenda once they've got past a lot of the firestorms that continue to kind of whip through the White House.

And there are some interesting things that we need to dig a little deeper in those numbers. First of all, they're not good for Trump. I'm not going to try to sugar coat that.

But there are things to consider. First of all, this poll doesn't use likely voters because it's too early to look at that.

So undoubtedly, you know, Trump's approvals have dropped but what about people who are going to vote in the midterms? It's a different electorate than voted in 2016. So it's too early to really read the tea leaves definitively.

The other thing is Congress has a poor job approval. It's hit an all- time low, somewhere between 9 and 10 percent depending upon where you look at --

VAUSE: Congress has always been low though.

THOMAS: Yes but they've usually been 15, 16, 17 percent. And the drop in those numbers have largely been from Republicans disliking Congress now. And so I think what you're seeing is a frustration with all voters but even the Republican base -- with Congress, with Trump and not getting that agenda that they sent Trump to do.

But here's a bit of optimism I would give the Trump administration, not to throw in the towel just yet. Because you look at the numbers beyond polling that are encouraging. Million new jobs created, almost 1.3 million less people on food stamps than were almost a year ago.

There are some hopes for optimism but I don't the White House, without them driving their agenda -- I don't see his numbers shooting up.

SESAY: You talk about agenda so let's remind our viewers of the some of the promises candidate Trump --

THOMAS: Sure.

SESAY: -- made on the campaign trail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I will build a great, great wall on our southern border and I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words.

I'm lowering your taxes big league. My contract calls for the biggest tax cuts since Ronald Reagan.

We will also repeal and replace the total disaster known as Obamacare. We're going to stop it day one.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SESAY: So Dave -- I mean these numbers and the fall off in the base, is it simply down to the fact that those promises remain unfulfilled.

DAVE JACOBSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes. Donald Trump is a walking, ticking time bomb. And I think the reality is these numbers serve as fresh evidence of the fact that people are dismayed and they're frustrated.

This is a president that was elected on a transformational mandate to overhaul the swamp, the rigged system in Washington. He has failed to deliver time and time again.

You look at that laundry list of policies that he supposedly was going to advance as President. He's failed to deliver anything meaningful that actually resembles anything like a mandate -- or the platform that he campaigned on.

And I think people are increasingly frustrated and they're looking to, you know, the upcoming election obviously to put a message out there. I think the reality is you've got this electorate that wants their president -- it was the Republicans, right.

They want a set of objectives to be achieved. And if they're not going to deliver on it, ultimately they're going to lose at the --

(CROSSTALK)

THOMAS: I mean look, immigration is down -- granted no wall yet but immigration is down. Jobs are up. Veteran unemployment is an all- time low.

There are things to be proud about but you're right. He has to achieve those policy objectives because that's what voters are judging him on right now.

[00:10:02] VAUSE: There's also the other big sort of number out of those polls. And this goes to all his promises which are unfulfilled and a whole bunch of other stuff. When asked, do you trust most of what you hear from the White House? Yes -- 24 percent; No -- 73 percent.

You know, those numbers are devastating -- can he come back from that?

JACOBSON: I don't think you can. I mean the reality is the RNC just yesterday put out a tweet that said Donald Trump's job growth numbers -- the one million job growth numbers is unprecedented. That's a lie.

Actually in Barack Obama's last six months as president he actually created more jobs than Donald Trump has in the first six months. And so I think that's emblematic of the larger trend that we've seen from this White House.

It stems through his very first day in office when he talked about the crowd size being the largest ever. The fact that he was talking in West Virginia the other day saying he had the biggest landslide electoral victory ever.

I mean the reality is people don't trust the President. And that is a real danger.

THOMAS: They squandered an opportunity certainly to the White House's credibility and messaging. But Dave -- they're not going to win the midterms via press release. They're going to win because voters are going to look at their own economic situation and decide whether they think they're better off now than they were.

I mean if you look at the right track, wrong track questions -- under Barack Obama, almost 75 percent of Americans thought we're on the wrong track. Now it's down to 65 -- that's not great but it's better in the right direction.

I think people aren't going to -- they might not trust the White House but they trust whether or not they're employed.

(CROSSTALK)

SESAY: Go ahead -- Dave.

JACOBSON: Yes, I was going to say that there is evidence though that you're seeing the splintering within the Republican Party. The fact that Donald Trump has like dropped, according to the CNN poll, 13 percent among Republicans since February, that's meaningful.

That's like hard evidence that --

(CROSSTALK)

THOMAS: You're right but with one block of that wall, it probably shoots right back up.

SESAY: But the President himself doesn't seem to recognize that there's an issue here. So I mean, the fact that you have such bad poll numbers, how do you start to address them when the man in the hot seat doesn't recognize there's a problem.

THOMAS: I think he knows. I think he's wanting to rebuff the polls. And to his credit, although we trade in polls and I do trust polls, especially internal ones, they were wrong. And when it came --

(CROSSTALK)

SESAY: Even Kellyanne Conway said these polls are --

THOMAS: Right. But I'm saying that the polling that was his election were off. So you've got to understand that he might mistrust those numbers.

VAUSE: Clearly the President is unhappy with the news coverage he is receiving. So he decided to make his own. Now look at this Trump TV.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAYLEIGH MCENANY, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE SPOKESWOMAN: Since the President took office President Trump has created more than one millions jobs. The unemployment rate is at a 16-year low and consumer confidence is at a 16-year high. All while the Dow Jones continues to break records.

President Trump has clearly steered the economy back in the right direction.

On Wednesday, the President introduced the RAISE Act. For decades a steady rise in immigration --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: I really -- I really like the trumpets.

THOMAS: I like it too.

VAUSE: You know, Dave -- that's the kind of news coverage that the President wants. He's never going to get it. And apart from that that everything was wrong (inaudible) jobs, she counted (ph) the two million jobs in the first six months. Consumer confidence is not a 16-year high.

JACOBSON: No, not at all. I mean this looks like state-run propaganda. I mean this is something that you would see if you went to North Korea. And the President there talking -- I mean the reality is this is not reflective of real news. This is alternative facts.

THOMAS: I mean it's campaign advertising. Everybody does it. The fact is --

SESAY: This early? He was --

THOMAS: Absolutely. It's called constituent communication in campaign advertising. You should be doing it. I would fault any elected official that's not utilizing Facebook Live and Twitter to try --

SESAY: You know why he's doing it. Don't be disingenuous. He's doing it because he's trying to counter the narrative of all the mainstream media.

THOMAS: And I don't blame him. I mean the mainstream media does not exactly -- they're not exactly sympathetic to the Trump communications team.

JACOBSON: It could also be that he's looking over his shoulder because his Vice President potentially could be looking to 2020.

SESAY: Speaking of that -- very quickly and we're almost out of time. The Vice President's response pretty hard pushing back at that "New York Times" piece. Why?

That was a nervous laughter there.

THOMAS: I mean look, it was very clear that the Vice President doesn't -- I don't think he's looking at 2020 but he wants to make it crystal clear to the President that he is not looking at 2020. And that's why he was so strong in his rebuffing of that accusation.

SESAY: Dave.

JACOBSON: I think it was an over correction. I think it underscores the fact that he sees the writing on the wall and he could potentially be running in 2020. I think the current President --

SESAY: So your money is on a Pence run?

JACOBSON: Potentially -- yes.

VAUSE: Hey -- remember last week?

S6: What?

VAUSE: Former White House spokesman Sean Spicer --

SESAY: Oh him -- yes.

THOMAS: Who? Who?

VAUSE: Yes. Let's check in with Spicer again over the weekend.

SESAY: You know, the Spicy cam.

VAUSE: Look at Spicer -- there he is at the Red Sox game in Boston.

SESAY: Look at that smile.

VAUSE: Still smiling.

JACOBSON: Wow.

VAUSE: Look at that -- a happy man. I wonder how long that's going to last -- he's not doing "Dancing with the Stars" apparently.

SESAY: Yes.

VAUSE: This is a guy who's certainly relieved to be out of the White House.

JACOBSON: Yes. He's going to take a six-month hiatus. He deserves it frankly.

VAUSE: He's going to get an aneurysm -- about to explode there.

(CROSSTALK)

SESAY: Thank you. Appreciate it.

Now turning to Kenya where the polls have been open for just about an hour in this African nation's presidential and parliamentary elections.

[00:14:58] Incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta is seeking a second term. He's facing off against seven challenges including long-time rival Raila Odinga, a veteran opposition figure and a former political prisoner.

VAUSE: Monday, Mr. Kenyatta urged voters to turn out and poll and to do so peacefully. In 2007 more than a thousand Kenyans died in post- election violence.

SESAY: While the final week of campaigning was overshadowed somewhat by the killing of an election official and claims of vote rigging and fake news, CNN's Farai Sevenzo is in Kenya's capital Nairobi. Farai -- good to have you with us.

This is has been billed as a closely fought election with everything hinging on the turn-out. How is it looking so far?

FARAI SEVENZO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Isha -- I have to tell you it is looking incredibly like a very good advert for democracy. The queues for people wanting to vote are just incredible.

From where I live to here outside Maurier (ph) Avenue at a primary school where our CNN team is based, everybody has come in the rain to come and vote. It's looking like it's going to be a massive turnout -- Isha.

SESAY: Wow. The computerized voting system failed in 2013 as you know. It made headlines. At this stage, are we hearing any reports of any voting problems?

SEVENZO: You know, you're right. In 2013, there was a massive problem with the electronic voting system. People could not get the results back to the election headquarters on time. Kenyans had to wait 48 hours or more for those results to come back.

We've been assured by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission that those problems are now ironed out. There is one little thing. Out of 44,292 voting stations 11,153 of them do not have 3G or 46 networks so they've done a back up with satellite phones.

We're not anticipating those kinds of problems. They just were told not anticipate it. But of course, it's a massive worry -- Isha. SESAY: Yes, certainly. And as you talk about that problem in terms of Internet connection, in terms of access -- you know, that's going to open the door to potential concerns of vote rigging.

We heard from Raila Odinga ahead of the vote saying there were plans afoot to manipulate the results. You know, really at the end of the day it's not so much who wins this election, Farai, but it's a question of whether the loser will accept defeat.

SEVENZO: Absolutely -- Isha. You know, the people we've been speaking to on this Kenyan story have always said the same thing. Both men are prepared to win but neither of them are prepared to lose.

And we have had warnings from anybody from the observers, from John Kerry who's here for the Carter Foundation, from the African Union and indeed former President Barack Obama who's got many great connections with this country has urged the Kenyans that whatever decision they make in the coming days can either bring Kenya together or send it back.

So we are on the lookout of any malpractice, as indeed are the politicians themselves. It's going to be a fascinating day and we'll see what Kenya decides by the end of tomorrow, I'm sure.

SESAY: I was going to say fascinating day. When are results expected?

SEVENZO: Isha -- I reckon maybe tomorrow. We've been told by the IEBC that with nine hours of the vote being closed, we should have a clear indication of what Kenyans have decided.

SESAY: All right. Farai Sevenzo joining us there from Nairobi, Kenya. Farai -- thank you so much.

VAUSE: South African President Jacob Zuma's eight years in office have been plagued by controversy but his toughest challenge may be just a few hours away.

SESAY: As anti-Zuma protesters march Monday in Cape Town, the president prepares to face a no-confidence vote by secret ballot in parliament this Tuesday. A simple majority just 60 votes against him would mean he and his cabinet would have to resign.

VAUSE: A short break. When we come back, police say a British model was kidnapped to be sold on the dark web. Now the 20-year-old woman is speaking out about a terrifying ordeal.

SESAY: But what exactly is the dark web? And how concerned should we be? We'll take a deeper look into the shadowy world of the Internet.

That's coming right up.

[00:18:56] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SESAY: A British model who said she was kidnapped and held in Italy says she feared for her life. Police say 20-year-old Chloe Ayling was attacked in mid-July after arriving in Milan and taken to a remote cabin.

VAUSE: She spoke publicly for the first time since authorities announced a suspect had been arrested who planned to sell her online.

Barbie Nadeau reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: The young model is back home safe in the U.K. with her family and her young son. But she did speak to reporters outside of her home.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHLOE AYLING, KIDNAPPED MODEL: I've been through a terrifying experience. I feared for my life second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour. I'm incredibly grateful to the Italian and U.K. authorities for all they have done to secure my safe release.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NADEAU: Investigators here in Italy are focused on the suspect. They have a 30-year-old Polish man in custody right now. He's the person that delivered this young woman back to the British consulate in Milan after six days in captivity near the French border by Turin.

During that period of time, he bragged to her saying that he was an expert in sex trafficking, that he had made over 15 million euro selling young women just like herself. After the six days though, he decided to let her go once he realized that she was a mother.

Investigators though are wondering if he is really part of this larger sex trafficking organization or if he was perhaps acting alone fantasizing about being part of a larger organization.

This is Barbie Latza Nadeau for CNN in Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Internet security analyst Hemu Nigam joins us now. He's the founder and CEO of SSP Blue, an adviser firm that specializes in online security. Hemu -- my friend, nice to see you.

HEMU NIGAM, FOUNDER AND CEO, SSP BLUE: It's good to see you -- Isha.

SESAY: So this 20-year-old model who we just saw there allegedly was going to be sold on the dark web, the deep web as it's also referred to. What exactly is this?

NIGAM: Well, it's actually simpler than the name entails. Google has things that it searches on the Internet, what we call the public web. There are certain areas that are just designed not to be searched by Google or Bing or any of the major search engines.

That area is called the dark web. And it's actually the deep web is all of that and the dark part of it is a place where activity takes place.

SESAY: Ok. You speak of criminal activity. From the reading I've been doing we're talking about the sale of illicit drugs, or weapons, people. What's the scale of this thing?

NIGAM: It's -- to put it in simply financial terms -- hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars are made by criminal organizations and all the things you referenced.

And it even gets very personal. There are people out there who are saying, hey, I have for sale a video of a teenage girl that I watch every night because she doesn't know I broke into her web cam. Or I'm selling sex slaves. Or I'm buying sex slaves. So there's buying and selling that's happening here.

SESAY: How -- I mean is access to the dark web as simple as downloading the right software? Is that it?

NIGAM: Yes. It's actually really simple. Now, it used to be complicated but there's things like tor -- T-O-R -- you're going to hear about that which allows you to get into that area and then you can go from there.

SESAY: I want to talk about tor -- The Tor Project as they refer to themselves. The co-creator of Tor says this is simply a means to improve privacy and security. Others argue that this is a menace. It enables criminal behavior. How do you see it?

NIGAM: It's actually both. So there are those who are saying look, if you're living in a country that's being censored and your Internet access is controlled and you want access for political reasons and things like that this is a great way to engage in that.

But because it creates anonymity, because the financial transactions that happen, happen through crypto-currencies which many people find hard to trace, the organized crime and the typical criminal has said, well, if they can do it for those reasons, I can use for opportunities in other criminal activities. So it's both.

[00:24:56] SESAY: And you mention -- it's both. You mention the crypto-currency. Just to tell our viewers, on the dark web it's my understanding that a lot of these transactions are being done with bit-coin, a digital currency. And that has almost helped in the growth of the dark web.

NIGAM: Right. Actually what's happening is bit-coin people believe and the good thing is it's not actually as true as people think, that it's untraceable. But at the end of the day, one of the best parts about the dark web is it's connected to what I call the light web, the public web.

In other words, if you're going to sell drugs or if you're going to sell a human being for that matter, at some point that sale has to happen in the physical world. And at some point money has to go from a person's bank account to a converter to the dark web.

SESAY: Why does it seem as if authorities are a couple of steps behind these people all the time though? Or is that misleading?

NIGAM: Well, it's actually true in the sense that law enforcement is tasked with resources, needs better education, hears the word dark web and oftentimes in many parts of the world they're going to say well, that's something I can't figure out.

But the good part is if law enforcement does what they know how to do which is traditional enforcement including some online activity such as set up an undercover operation, pretend you are a buyer or seller or some enlisted type of drug --

SESAY: So it's as easy as downloading the software.

NIGAM: Exactly. And then bust the individual when they plan to do a physical transaction. So there are ways that law enforcement can embrace it. And they are starting to embrace it. There are undercover operations happening in the U.K., in the United States, in some of the other countries.

But I think what law enforcement has to do is say to themselves look, I can do this. I'm a cop. I know how to do this. I know how to investigate. Nothing's changed.

SESAY: For our viewers at home who are thinking that this is something that can be shut down, can it be? Or is it --

(CROSSTALK)

NIGAM: This is the early stage so the real question is how do you send a message to the dark web that says we are going to bring you to light? You will get prosecuted. You will eventually get arrested.

And I think at some point this is going to become the typical cop and robber chasing thing that always happens whether it's in the physical world or the online world. But the real question that we have to focus on is how do we send the message to the public like the young lady who was going on a modeling shoot.

My daughter is an upcoming singer and model. I worry somebody is going to call and say hey, you want to go on a photo shoot to a different country? So that's where the real danger lies and that's where we have to focus our attention -- in education.

SESAY: Yes. Yes -- education. Hemu -- always a pleasure. Thank you so much.

NIGAM: Thanks -- Isha.

SESAY: Ok.

VAUSE: Well, Emmanuel Macron promised French voters he would make sweeping reforms. But now the French president may not be able to keep his word. We'll explain why after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:30:01] VAUSE: Welcome back everybody. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM, live from Los Angeles. I'm John Vause.

SESAY: And I'm Isha Sesay.

The headlines this hour:

North Korea is lashing out at the U.S. over tough new sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council. Pyongyang says the U.S. is desperate to bring the Korean peninsula to the brink of nuclear war. North Korea also says under no circumstances that it will renegotiate its nuclear weapons.

VAUSE: Also now, over to Kenya's presidential and parliamentary elections, incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta is facing off against seven challenges including veteran opposition Raila Odinga. But the Tuesday vote has been overshadowed by the killing of election official and claims of vote reading and the use of fake news as a campaign tool.

SESAY: Change could come very quickly in South Africa. On Tuesday President Jaco Zuma faces a no confidence vote by secret ballot. He's facing allegations of corruption which he denies. If Tuesday's vote passes Mr. Zuma and his entire cabinet will be forced to step down.

VAUSE: Venezuela is still hunting for the remaining gunmen, paramilitary style terror attack in the town of Valencia (ph). 10 suspects are still on the run, 10 others have been arrested after they allegedly opened fire on a military barracks on Sunday. One suspect says the attack wasn't a coup attempt but a legitimate rebellion against President Nicolas Maduro.

SESAY: Now, the French president's timing couldn't be better. Emmanuel Macron wants to give his wife Brigitte the official title of first lady. Meanwhile he's about to pass a law which would ban French lawmakers from giving paid jobs to their relatives. It sounds Mr. Macron is being hypocritical.

VAUSE: How about that. The President insists his wife will not receive a public salary but she would have her own office and staff. Well it turns out some people have signed a petition against giving Brigitte Macron the title of first lady.

SESAY: Well as the fuse of the over the first lady title isn't helping President Macron's saving support.

VAUSE: Now his ambitious reform plans could be in jeopardy. Erin Mclaughlin has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hailed as a political protege even the possible savior of Europe, three months into his presidency Emmanuel Macron faces a drop in popularity. And serious questions about his plans for economic reform, this stark contrast with the optimism of election night.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People say we have to give him a chance. We see that new face, we see -- we want him to succeed, you know, that was the moon back then.

MCLAUGHLIN: The news bolster that Macron asserted himself on the world stage with one crushing handshake he took (ph) with the president of the United States, and delivered a message on climate change.

EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE: Wherever we live, whoever we are, we all share the same responsibility: make our planet great again.

MCLAUGHLIN: Meetings with Putin, Netanyahu, Trudo (ph) and any number of other high-profile and sometimes daring photo ops.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The French don't really care about that part. They will judge him on two things, security and jobs.

MCLAUGHLIN: By July the mood has soured, according to one poll, his approval rating dropped a staggering 10 points to 54 percent. Lower than either of his predecessors at the same point in their presidency.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the French voted for him knowing that he had an agenda of strong change, of serious reform, but they never imagined that these reforms would actually apply to them.

MCLAUGHLIN: The drop most notable for sectors facing cutbacks and labor reform, the pensioners, the civil service, workers. Reforms economist are necessary to reduce the budget deficit and improve the economy, but this couple would a serious of political missteps, many wondering if Macron can make his presidency a success.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is a window of opportunity for the President, not opportunity in the sense that there's an open road for reform, but in terms of timing, if he wants his legacy over five years to be of positive one, he has to act now and he has to choose a few battles where he really wants to invest all of his political capital.

MCLAUGHLIN (on camera): Many here say his biggest test will come in September when the French return from holiday, and some of the country's strongest unions take to the street to protest his policies. They'll be watching to see the signs of those crowns (ph) and how he handles a public show of dissatisfaction.

Erin Mclaughlin, CNN, Paris.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SESAY: Time for a quick break. Now a new animated film without words has gone viral with a heartwarming message and an element of controversy.

VAUSE: Also (INAUDIBLE) with Taylor Swift and a radio D.J. suing each other, details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:36:52] SESAY: Hello everyone. Pop star Taylor Swift is expected to testify in a civil trial over an encounter with a Colorado disk jockey. David Mueller claims he lost his job at CNN affiliate KYGO radio after Swift falsely accused him of groping her at an event in 2013.

VAUSE: Mueller sued the signer, her mother and her radio promotions director. So Taylor sued Mueller saying his action was not accident, it was completely intentional.

In other news Usher is facing a lawsuit from two women and a man who say, the signer failed to warn that he had herpes which is required by law in California where the sue is being filed.

Lawyer of Lisa Bloom in news report saying Usher was diagnosed in 2009. And an unproven report and Usher settled a similar case in 2012 for more than a million dollars. William says Usher publicly denied those claims. He has not commented on this latest lawsuit.

OK. A four-minute animated film about young love is like nothing we've ever seen before. And for many children it might be exactly what they need to see.

SESAY: The "In a heartbeat" made by two college graduates tells the story of a young boy who has a crush on another boy and in the process gives a small glimpse of the challenges faced by gay children.

VAUSE: The film has been seen more than 20 million times on YouTube, and most, not all comments have been positive.

SESAY: Yes. Well joining us now is Alonso Duralde, a film critic for thewrap.com. Alonso, it's so good to have you with us.

VAUSE: Thank you for being with us.

ALONSO DURALDE, FILM CRITIC, THEWRAP.COM: Thanks for having me.

SESAY: It's beautifully made, it's heartwarming and the score is amazing. But let me ask you why you think this tale of gay love has gone viral.

DURALDE: Well I think what's really charming about it is that, so often when we talk about young people in the LGBT community, there's this immediate accusation from certain quarters (ph) that, oh you're trying to sexualize our youth. And the thing is that, when you are a six-year-old, seven-year-old, eight-year-old and you know that you're queer, it's not about sex it's about love. And really being LGBT is about love.

And so, this is a short film that is -- it's a reminder that, you know, crushes and puppy love and all that stuff that kids go through, gay kids go through too and gay kids have crushes on other kids of their gender.

VAUSE: And that's why this works because the emotion are universal, when the gay -- whatever, this is honest and, yes sure the young boy has got a crush, we've all gone through that. DURALDE: Absolutely. It's, you know, it's a universal emotion and I think that, you know, and we're so often -- we're so used to seeing little kids getting to be romantic or getting to be love struck or whatever. But we so rarely and never get to see queer kids do that. And so -- it's really kind of shattering, a taboo that we never even knew existed.

SESAY: And another thing we rarely see is the depiction of gay kids in animation, you know, we don't see. You know, we see gay characters --

[00:40:09] DURALDE: Well, you know, there was a "ParaNorman" actually, there was -- one of the teenage characters comes out at the very last seconds of the film.

But yes, for the most part it's pretty much -- we're not, you know, seeing a lot of, you know, Pixar movies or whatever but --

SESAY: Does this change that, do you think?

DURALDE: You know, I think it's a long road ahead because you're always going to have that excuse, this is for children, we don't want to drag anything, you know, controversial or difficult and -- then there's the notion of, you know, international markets or whatever. So there's always an excuse to not be inclusive in that.

VAUSE: Yes.

(OFF-MIC)

Here's the criticism, most of the steamed criticism I find, I came from the life site (ph) used website, I never heard about it before but this is what they wrote.

It will further undermine strong healthy extraordinary necessary male adolescent relationships. Once boys and adolescent are herded towards gayness in order to deal with the very common experience of social anxiety directed the question that sexual orientation, their sexuality risks becoming rewired, and once rewired in that way it's hard to undo.

I mean its warning you. Don't watch the short firm, this short film because it makes you gay.

DURALDE: Yes. Well, putting aside the ridiculous junk science of that quote, I would argue the complete opposite, actually that homophobia is unhealthy for LGBT kids, it's just as bad for straight kids. There's a lot of studies now that say that intimate friendships between young boys fall apart because of homophobia and straight kids think that intimacy and close friendships is something for gay people or something for women.

And so you have young boys at a very early age being trained to be tough and dependent. And loosing those early friendships then later leads to depression, there's -- and I think, one out of three adult men, I think over the age of 49 claims to be lonely and that all starts in childhood. And so, if we can wipeout homophobia, it's not only going to be good for LGBT kids it's going to be good for straight boys who are going to be allowed to have close intimate friendships with other straight boys without second guessing whether or not that makes them gay.

SESAY: And -- it is worth pointing out to our viewer that it's a remarkable story. The making of this, two young college students who did this as their thesis.

DURALDE: Yes.

SESAY: And two young people who made something incredibly important.

DURALDE: Well, you know, what's so great about the technology now, you know, people are making these incredible films, you know, on their laptops or using, you know, more people have access to the tools now. And so I think more and more we're seeing just wonderful, powerful little films coming out of somebody's basement or a classroom or, you know, places that aren't big studios.

VAUSE: You said there's still a long way to go but boy, we've come a long way because this wouldn't be made 10 years ago.

DURALDE: No question yes. I think, you know, the internet has changed things. Attitudes have been evolving over time. We do have a long road ahead but we certainly come a long way no question.

SESAY: Yes, the democratization of media and the tools, you know, being able to express themselves without having to go field (ph), is a good thing for these moments.

DURALDE: Absolutely.

(CROSSTALK)

SESAY: Thank you. Thank you so much.

VAUSE: I appreciate it.

SESAY: All right, and thank you. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM live from Los Angeles, I'm Isha Sesay.

VAUSE: I'm John Vause. World Sports is up next. Don't go away because we will be back with another hour of news around the world. You're watching CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:45:15] KATE RILEY, WORLD SPORTS ANCHOR: Hello, welcome to WORLD SPORTS, I'm Kate Riley at CNN Center. Its day four of the World Athletics Championship in London, and we saw a fantastic race in the final of the women's 1,500 meters. In the closing stages, what was always fascinating and strategic event is Kenya's Faith Kipyegon, kicking early for the line and just about managed to hold on but it was a strong finish from South Africa's Caster Semenya that really caught the eye charging from well back the pack to snatch the bronze from Britain's Laura Muir.

U.S.-based Jenny Simpson took silver. Semenya is the reigning Olympic champion of 800 meters and her involvement in a major arrest (ph) remains controversial. She's previously been subjected to gender testing and her testosterone levels are three times that of a typical one.

Well this world championship marks the end of an era. It's the last time we're going to see the great Usain Bolt in action and since he's been leading the light in world athletics for almost a decade now, the search is no to find his successor and the man himself already things that we have found on the night that Bolt won his third Olympic 100 meters in Rio last year. South Africa's Wayde van Niekerk also stuns the athletic stadium with a record, a world record time in the 400 meters.

And this guy is just a born sprinter, as of 2016 he was the only sprinter in history to have run 100 meters in under 10 seconds, 200 meters in under 20 seconds and the 400 in under 44 seconds. He is going for the 200 and 400 double in London. And the only person to do that and the worlds is Michael Johnson, and that was back in 1995.

If he is going to pull it off you will have six races in six consecutive days, in Saturday through to this coming Thursday. His technique (ph) because it's unusual for sprinters to be the two and four at the same, but it sounds like he can handle it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

USAIN BOLT, SPRINTER: I think Wayde van Niekerk can really pick up his personal record, he's running fast and doing a lot for the sports, at a young age also, he's just 24 I think.

WAYDE VAN NIEKERK, SPRINTER: I should always feel for the month (INAUDIBLE). I mean, it gives me obviously boost in my career but at the same time it makes me feel good because he respect me as the person I am and I respect him as the person he is. And it gives me great confidence to go forth in my journey to continue achieving great things. I mean, I'm getting the backing a legend of the sport, that he believe in the great things that I can do and become a legend in the sport also.

I'm looking forward to see what the future holds for me. But me --

(OFF-MIC)

-- such an ordinary -- very boring person, I've never really saw myself as a public figure or someone that would be on the spotlight and I'm really there and it's something that I need to get used to and something I need to get comfortable. And so, hopefully in the future I'll slowly but surely warming up and then share some character but right now it's extremely difficult for myself.

I started in high jump, from high jump going to 100 and 200, from 100 and 200 due to injuries I ended up going to the 400 and I just started going -- I started climbing the ranks every year and I started to see something is happening. So --

(OFF-MIC)

-- from, it's a record to a world record, and now I think the sky is the limit for myself right now because, if I think I would do this, like the way I won, and now why not go for even more impossible.

I can show (INAUDIBLE) natural person that's really just goes out there and hasn't reach -- and show them any average person can reach what is they want to do and --

(OFF-MIC)

-- it comes with a legacy with that -- honorable right now, it's the last thing to focus and right now it's just how it goes and becoming the best athlete that I can be. If you asked me a few years ago 400 meter world record, possible, I'll probably be shocked and right now I'm thinking why not, I have never thought I'd be a leader, 400 meter world record today so why not believe in the 200?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[00:50:13] RILEY: What a talent. Still to come on the show, Jose Mourinho says he's ready to fight, he's not talking about the catch line though but for the signing of one of the world's top players.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

RILEY: Many of Europe's top teams have playing each other during the preseason this summer, but the first game to really count will be on Tuesday when Real Madrid and Man United line up in the Super Cut in Macedonia. It's the traditional curtain raiser to the continental football season. It's between the winners of the Champion's League and Europa League. It will be an interesting event, United manager Jose Mourino going up against his former team for the first time.

It's noteworthy too because Mourino has made no secret of the fact that he would like to sign one of Madrid's star forward Gareth Bale if he's available.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOSE MOURINO, FOOTBALL MANAGER, MANCHESTER UNITED (through translation): If it's true what you are all writhing, which I have no idea if it is, is another entering and Gareth is in the exit door, I will be trying to wait for him on the other side and trying to put up a fight with some other coach that is waiting too. But if plays tomorrow it will be the most evident sign that he will continue.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RILEY: Well it's just over eight months now since that devastating plane crush in Columbia that killed 71 people and wipeout most of the Chapecoense football team. Only three players survived and the club has been trying to rebuild this year. Every step they taken since then has been little short of miraculous, and one of the most inspiring tales has been the recovery of Alan Ruschel who today played for the first time again.

Ruschel had said beforehand that he wanted to swap shirts with Messi, he also got to see him score faster run out 5-0 winners on the night, and it wasn't just any home game, not only did an emotional Ruchel get to play at the new camp, gets his shirt autographed by the one and only Lionel Messi and what a great pic this is of Ruschel with his fellow crush survivors Neto and Jachson Follmann, alongside Luis Suarez and Messi.

An emotional night for sure for the Brazilian team but didn't get the chance to see their fellow countrymen Neymar as he famously made his exit from the new camp. And Ernesto Valverde, his manager says it's time for the club to move on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERNESTO VALVERDE, FOOTBALL MANAGER, FC BARCELONA (through translation): Neymar has been a great player for Barcelona but he's not here and we have to look forward. Right now I don't care to look back and see what has happened but to look forward, to see my players and solve the problems we may have or that may arise to try to win more matches.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[00:55:03] RILEY: Well, after their heroics at the weekend, the Netherlands women's soccer team got to show off their spoils, their new trophy was put on display for all to see on Monday after winning the Euro 2017 championship. As you can imagine the home fans went mad as the team celebrate. A sea of orange (ph) met the winners as they celebrate their achievement on the day the host of the tournament beats Denmark 4-2 in a thrilling fashion in Sunday's finals.

Now in golf (ph), he might get several chances to win the big trophy but chances to make history can be rather rare. This week the American Jordan Spieth will get his one and only chance to win all four golf majors at a younger age than Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods was 24 and a half when he completed the career slam. Jordan will be 25 this time next year, Jordan's quest is one of the leading narrative going into the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, however that they risk (ph) is Rory McIlroy who simply loves this golf course.

It was the scene of his first PGA tour win back in 2010. He won there again in 2015 when he also shot a course record 61 which stands. And of the seven times that he's played there he's finished in the top 10 six times. If Jordan is going to make history this week we expect Rory will have something to say about it.

And by the way, somebody else, new kid always coming and player spoiler, just the look of this weekend, the Bridgestone Invitational is the evidence of that. Japan's Hideki Matsuyama shoot a blistering 61 and win his 5th tour title by five shots. And this guy is red hot, that's his third win this season in fact, a major breakthrough could be just a few days away, and if so it would also be a first major win for male Japanese golfer.

All the best to them. That is it for us. Thank you so much for watching. I'm Kate Riley. Stay with CNN.

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