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Rescuers Cut Through Debris To Reach Young Girl; Governor: Worst Storm In A Century Or More; Dominican Republic Braces For Flash Flooding; Hurricane Maria Now A Category Three Storm; Sources: Probe Focuses On Flynn And Comey Firings. Aired 8-9a ET

Aired September 21, 2017 - 08:00   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:00:00] KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong and welcome to News Stream.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Racing to rescue survivors of the Mexican quake, trapped under the rubble. We have details of a very special search.

Hurricane Maria on track for more devastation in the Caribbean where it's headed and what is left behind. And North Korea's top diplomat says

President Trump's U.N. address is nothing more than, quote, a dog barking.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: All right, we're following two breaking news stories this hour. In Mexico City, a rush to save a little girl trapped under the rubble from

Tuesday's devastating earthquake.

And in Caribbean, hurricane Maria has regained strength. It is now a dangerous category three storm. Now first to Mexico, now hundreds of

members of the Mexican military volunteers as well as international rescue teams are fighting through mountains of debris.

They are racing the clock to find as many survivors of Tuesday's earthquake as they can and grief is already taking hold. At least 250 people were

killed in Tuesday's earthquake. But there are stories of hope. This soldier is holding up a list of names of those who were rescued in Mexico

City.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: And at a collapsed school, an agonizingly wait there, as well as prayers for the little girl will soon be added to that list of survivors.

Thermal sensors founder and possibly two others alive deep beneath the rubble and then a voice, rescuers were able to make contact with the girl

but they're still aren't sure of her location or how to get her out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: CNN's Rosa Flores is at the scene of the disaster and the rescue operation in Mexico City where people are putting their own lives on the

lines to reach this girl, she joined, and Rosa, what is the latest on the race to save this girl buried in the rubble?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, definitely signs of life is the latest from hearing Mexico City. About an hour ago, we saw that rescuers

made a fist and raise their hands. That's a good sign, Kristie.

And rescuers tell us that what that means is that they had listened to signs of life, they need people to be quiet. They need violins in order

for them to continue listening and hopefully following those signs of life.

But as you mentioned, I'm here about a block from the school where that 12- year-old is trapped. Now from what we understand, there could be other students trapped there as well.

But the efforts to save her and her classmates were relentless. We have been seeing a lot of resources here and in from talking to some of the

volunteers, they say there are countless resources, Marines, volunteers, other military personnel, doctors.

About 30, 40 minutes ago, pediatrician came out here asking for more pediatricians. They are asking for more resources but the actual rescue

efforts are a very delicate dance because they used human hands to remove the rubble.

Only human hands can be so delicate and careful as to not to collapse the rest of the building because they are also watching very closely for any

movement to that building.

If anything happens of course they need to get the rescuers out of that area because what these rescuers are doing is their shoring up the

building. They are shoring up the crevices, the cracks that happen through this collapse.

And then they use those crevices to try to listen for signs of life, so Kristie, a lot of tense moments here because rescuers of course risking

their lives to try to save children and the children trapped inside.

And then you've got the parents of those children have an agonizingly wait -- as they wait and hope, and pray that their child is alive. Kristie.

LU STOUT: This is a very delicate operation and very agonizing wait for the family members who are there but despite the agony and uncertainty,

Rosa, have you seen people in Mexico City coming together, showing their strength or helping where they can?

FLORES: You know, it is an amazing -- an amazing effort on behalf of everyone that we've seen here.

[08:05:00] I have never seen so many resources toward by just strangers so quickly, not only here in this location where I am at the school but I was

at a location yesterday, because of course there are dozens of collapsed buildings here in Mexico City.

We were at another area and Kristie, I was amazed. I mean people were bringing water. They were cooking food in their homes, bringing that food

to first responders to make sure that they had warm meals.

Picks, shovels -- at one point, the rescue workers were asking for wire and for nails and for beams to try to shore up these building, and one woman

simply started screaming we need money for nails.

We will go buy nails, everybody started literally getting money out of their pockets, so that they could go by nails, and so there's this amazing

effort on behalf of everyone here that we have seen around these buildings in Mexico City to do anything and everything that they can do to help.

A lot of the volunteers that are coordinating these efforts, they are not paid. But they are coordinating efforts at both resources and in -- when I

was saw rescuers, there have been picks, shovels and ask for anything, and human resources as well.

They're directing doctors, engineers, they ask for structural engineers to make sure that -- you know, that rescue workers inside are safe.

Took an amazing coordination and it's an effort that's been going on for more than 40 hours because of course, this deadly earthquake happened on

Tuesday and these efforts still continue at this hour. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, absolutely, incredible to hear. This is an inspiring team effort, a race against time. Rosa Flores, reporting live for us from

Mexico City.

We'll check in with you a little bit later, thank you so much and talk soon. We are also keeping track of hurricane Maria which is ravaging the

Caribbean for yet another day.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: The now category three storm -- it has regain strength is turning just north of the Dominican Republic. The Turks and Caicos Islands

are next in its destructive path.

Less than a day ago, Maria knocked out power on the entire island of Puerto Rico. Flooding has turned into a major, major problem there. U.S.

President Donald Trump has tweeted his support to the governor of the island saying this quote, we are with you and the people of Puerto Rico.

Stay safe.

Well, CNN has teams of reporters and journalist across the region to bring you the latest on the storm, the destruction and the recovery. We'll be

hearing from all of them in the hours ahead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Let's go now to Nick Paton Walsh. He joins us now from San Juan and Nick, described the devastation and also the concerns about flooding

there in the island.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, flash morning. And in fact, this morning here in San Juan, even though the sky is behind me are blue

and clear and people aside haven't take down the boarding that protected windows from that ferocious wind.

We see just over 24 hours ago now, still operations continuing to rescue dozens of families and one stills, the governor saying they let it down,

tweeting out that they work between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

But can only make three trips with the National Guards to pull those families out from huge flooding. They're still very much state dealing

with the extraordinary toll of 155 miles an hour series winds and deep rainfall here. Some of them we saw in our journey from where the hurricane

made landfall in the east up here to the regional capital of San Juan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH: After taking this direct hit from a category four hurricane in nearly a century, the governor encouraging a curfew each night for Puerto

Rico's 3.4 million residents, the entire in the dark after power grid was completely knocked out.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're looking at four to six months without electricity.

WALSH: Roofs ripped off buildings, homes reduced to rubble, street were swallowed by floodwaters, littered with debris, gas stations underwater,

the island's already fragile infrastructure decimated, governor asking President Trump to declare island a disaster zone.

GOV. RICARDO ROSSELLO, PUERTO RICO: This is the most devastating storm either in a century or quite exactly in modern history.

WALSH: Hurricane Maria unleashing punishing winds up to 155 miles per hour. Pelting torrential rains sideways and breaking trees in half. As

residents rode out the storm, some in shelters, others in stairwells.

I didn't see anything like this. The philosophy, powering through it, all the way the alarm and coming out, it's really strong.

[08:10:00] This is the road of destruction we encountered on our drive from the east coast of the island in Palmas, Delmar where Maria made landfall.

A gas leak, forcing us to evacuate our hotel, the scale of devastation staggering, the highway littered with dead trees, down the electrical

cables and poles, propellers snapping off wind turbines, the closer to we get to San Juan, the more dangerous became, water inundating the roadways

as we try to pass.

The storm surge is above 5 feet, turning streets into rivers, parking lots into swimming pools, the monster storm devastating much of the Caribbean.

The worst of it capture in these aerial images on the island of Dominica which took a direct hit from Maria was a category five storm. At least 14

people are dead, many others still missing. Officials estimating about 70 percent of the island's buildings damaged or destroyed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WALSH: Now Puerto Rico waking up really to the falloff storm it seem off what exactly Maria has done. It is amazing to think where the next four or

six months must this island will be without power according to local officials.

And you know, you have to remember the basic daily human assess that our own words but counter for not just electricity, but you know, it's hard to

keep water going which everybody wants.

Also, looking every street, there is clean up and needs to be done, actually behind me, people beginning from this hotel we're in as slowly

back together again but it's a devastatingly link this series of simple jobs people have to do, flooded roads that often from mile, you have to

drive through like a river you saw there.

So Puerto Rico really I think perhaps amazed that's one life tragic that was -- was lost is those staggering and violent winds. We're thankful for

that but possibly devastated about exactly what this is done to normal life here.

Already in debt by $70 billion and many people here below the federal poverty line but now raising over a while new challenge ahead of them.

Kristie.

LU STOUT: U.S. federal officials say that they are prepared to help but looking into your reporting with the devastation so extensive on the

island, what's the priority?

WALSH: We really people food, give them shelter, trying get electricity back going so daily lives can begin to repair. You know, (Inaudible) like

this takes year frankly to people for themselves back where they were before hurricane like this blows its way through.

So yes, billions of dollars were doubtless be requested but you know, this is -- I will say its maintenance is $70 billion. That was close to

bankruptcy before hand. (Inaudible) as well, that's close billion dollars worth of damage.

Even that 46,000 people without power before hurricane Maria turned up and that probably was a sucker punch frankly that's already weakened

population. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, no power, widespread devastation and also the federal flash flooding as well. Thank you very much indeed for your reporting. Nick

Paton Walsh there, take care. Up next, let's take you to the Dominican Republic.

CNN Polo Sandoval is standing by in the resort town Punta Cana. Let's bring him up now and Polo, this was a deadly, deadly storm there. The

island took a direct hit. What is the latest on the human toll and devastation?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this point is certainly too early to tell because the storm really -- essentially be other bands of this

storm, Kristie, swept to the region during the overnight hours.

And it's important to point out the actual eye of the storm that make a direct hit here is simply a sideswipe if you will. However, it certainly

did not mean that we didn't feel the effects.

It was all night long, the winds were certainly howling and in the last hour or so, those winds have noticeably calmed down slightly. It certainly

as not as intense as what we witness overnight.

But then also doesn't mean that we are the wards. We've heard over and over again the warning from officials that even by the time Maria has come

and done, the threat for more rain for those tropical -- at least tropical precipitation will linger which means, we could see flooding.

And also we could potentially see some mudslides as well because of the geography here in (Inaudible), so what were seeing right now again, those

wind subside.

And a bulk of the threat at this point is really the northern coast of the Dominican Republic but there are many people, obviously local here that are

anxious to see some of the damage which at the marvelous point, does not look significant at least not yet.

And then there are also those tourists, this is a very common place for at least a top tourist destination for people in Europe, parts of the United

States, they travel here.

Many of who are stranded here. Some of them tried evacuating yesterday but were simply told to instead hunkered down in hotels as the airport was

closed.

[08:15:00] And now with a new day comes new hope that they may finally be able to make their way home later today. Kristie.

LU STOUT: Yes, hurricane Maria lashes the Dominican Republic. Polo, we thank you for your reporting. Take care. Now let's find out exactly where

the hurricane is headed in the coming hours and days.

Our Meteorologist Chad Myers is monitoring the latest for us from CNN's world weather center and Chad, hurricane Maria has been carving out this

path of distraction. Where exactly is it tracking now?

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: It is north of the D.R., our Polo Sandoval right there but it is pushing so much rainfall now along the coast of the

Dominican Republic and into the mountains.

And I know are not high but there -- you know, 1,000 meters at times and that's catching the rainfall, and that rain is going to be quickly going

back down the rivers, and causing flash flooding.

Now, we are still seeing some of the backlash -- some of the back areas here back into Puerto Rico itself. So flash flood warnings are in effect

for the entire island. Everywhere, they are saying that there's just no place for this water to go.

The rain will just run off into the rivers and so therefore, there will be more flash flooding even though the storm is long gone because I have some

time, I wanted to take you to this.

This is a brand-new called GOES-16 satellite, an amazing high definition view of the storm. We can't show you the radar for Puerto Rico because the

hurricane knocked it out. The weather service down there says it could be weeks before they can even get there.

The roads are so bad to the top of that hill. But you notice right here, there's a little indentation at the very last part of this eye. I believe

this is trying to make a smaller eye at all lot like a figure skater as she stands on one leg and has her arms out spinning slowly.

The storm is going to try to bring its arms in and spin quickly and that is going to happened in the next couple of hours. So the form at somewhere

almost 200 kilometer per hour wind gusts but that could go up from here.

Certainly more rainfall coming down for the Turks and Caicos, they can take the rain, that's not a big deal. I mean there are some hills in the Turks

and Caicos, in 30, 40, 60 meters high but the water runs off rather quickly.

It's not like Puerto Rico where we have 1200 meter mountains here and that water just gets to the top and has to go downhill rather quickly, sought a

very big island either.

We still have the hurricane warnings for Turks and Caicos and the forecast is forward to be a garble as we call it. Hopefully on the side, visiting

Bermuda, Harvey is behind that sign and missing the lower 48 states of the United States, and turning out into the ocean.

And hopefully, also missing Atlantic, Canada, we don't want to forget about them because Nova Scotia to Bay of Fundy, Newfoundland always can be out

there, they just kind of sticks out there in the Atlantic just waiting for a hurricane to hit it.

So far so good heading off to the east but possibly, heading toward the British Isles of it can keep itself together. So that's maybe a week and a

half away.

But if you're in Britain anywhere along the aisles, you need to be watching the storm because it could be heading your way not as a hurricane but

certainly something more sinister, 60, 70 kilometers per hour always makes a big storm up there.

LU STOUT: So strong to be contaminated within this storm that's on the move. Now hurricane may have sought in Puerto Rico already but what is the

forecast for the island because they're dealing with some pretty serious, some even call it, catastrophic flooding there. Will there be even more

rain ahead?

MYERS: Not as much as they had when the eye made landfall. Clearly there are probably spaces there that had 800 millimeters of rain in about 24 hour

period. So the storm is long gone and moving away but there are still showers.

So 100 millimeters of rain can still cause flash flooding here. The problem with this is I'm not even sure how three million people can live

without power or water for weeks or months at a time.

LU STOUT: Yes.

MYERS: It would be hard to go camping for me for three or four days and not have those life but I guess -- now all the sudden you don't think of

them as luxuries anymore, just please give us something. Let us clean up. Let us plug-in something to keep our food cold. It's going to be tough.

LU STOUT: That's right. Ahead of the arrival of any sort of additional aid, the power grid up and running very, very tough conditions for the

residents in the areas in the Caribbean that have been by this latest hurricane. Chad Myers reporting, as always, thank you.

MYERS: You're welcome, Kristie.

LU STOUT: You're watching News Stream and coming up -- sorry Chad, you're going to add one more thing? Sorry, we just missed him. We'll you up

again later in the program tomorrow, OK?

Coming up right there on News Stream, we have got new developments in the U.S.-Russia meddling probe. What the Washington Post says Paul Manafort

offered to do for a Russian billionaire. Keep it here.

[08:20:00] (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: All right, coming to you live from Hong Kong, welcome back. This is News Stream. Now we got significant developments in the Russia

investigation. Now CNN has learned special counsel Robert Mueller has requested White House documents related to the firings of James Comey and

Michael Flynn.

While the Washington Post reports that Trump's former campaign Chairman Paul Manafort offered to give the Russian billionaire, quote, private

briefings on the 2016 campaign.

Now our senior Washington Correspondent Joe Johns is following all the developments for us. He joins us now live from New York. And Joe, Robert

Mueller asking for specific documents from the White House, what is his team looking for now?

JOE JOHNS, CNN WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: It was pretty clear from our reporting and the reporting of others in Washington D.C. that the Special

Counsel is now looking into the questions surrounding the president himself.

We know the president has said before that infact, he was not under investigation. He said the FBI director even indicated that to him.

But now here in New York as the president continues very high level meetings with a number of world leaders from places like South Korea and

Japan, the administration is focused like a razor on the issue of this investigation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: Special Counsel Robert Mueller turning his attention toward President Trump himself. Sources tell CNN, Mueller is requesting documents

and information from the White House related to a range of events including the president's firings of former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn

and former FBI Director James Comey.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Comey. When I decided to just do it, I

said to myself -- I said you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story.

JOHNS: Sources also saying Mueller's team is seeking information about the president's Oval Office meeting with Russian officials the day after Comey

was fired in May.

According to the New York Times, in that meeting Mr. Trump called Comey a nut job before noting that firing him relieves great pressure he was facing

because of Russia.

President Trump's personal attorney Ty Cobb, telling CNN that out of respect for the Special Counsel and this process, the White House is not

commenting but is committed to fully cooperating with the investigation.

But that also swirling about how much the administration will comply after a reporter from the New York Times overheard Cobb and a colleague

discussing in public last week.

The friction within the White House about handling investigators demands. Sources tell CNN that Mueller is also interested in speaking with a number

of former and current staffers in addition to aides.

[08:25:00] Who were on board Air Force One during the creation of the initial response to news of Donald Junior's Trump Tower meeting with a

Russian lawyer in June 2016.

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, PRESS SECRETARY, WHITE HOUSE: The president weighed in as any father would base on the limited information that he had.

JOHNS: All of this coming as the Washington Post reports that President Trump's former campaign Chairman Paul Manafort offered to provide briefings

on the race to a Russian billionaire closely allied with the Kremlin in the July 2016 email, just two weeks before to accept the Republican nomination.

The Post reports that while there is currently no evidence that the briefings took place, the email shows Manafort's willingness to profit from

his role in the Trump campaign. Manafort's spokesman told the Post that the emails were inoculums.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: Now as to Paul Manafort's home that was raided in July and it is also very clear that the Mueller team is trying to put pressure on him.

They have indicated among other things that he could be charged with crimes.

And CNN reported just earlier this week that he was wiretapped twice, in fact the last time perhaps even this year. Kristie, back to you.

LU STOUT: Yes, the pressure is certainly on Paul Manafort and in report you mentioned sources say that Robert Mueller, the Special Counsel is

interested in speaking with a number of former and current White House staffers. Do we know who?

JOHNS: We know some of the. We know Sean Spicer, the former Press Secretary, the former chief of staff at the White House, a number of

individuals who were present and listening if you will when the president made certain decisions. So quite clear, that now this issue has reached

the office of the president looking into what he did and what he didn't do and why.

LU STOUT: So Mueller's investigation finally hearing in on President Trump and his actions while in office. Joe John reporting live for us from New

York, thank you. You're Watching News Stream.

Up next, the relentless hurricane Maria still battering the Caribbean. CNN flew over the Island of Dominica for the first time since the storm hit

there. And we will show you the vast scale of destruction when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching News Stream and these are your world headlines.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Rescuers believe they are getting closer to a young girl trapped in the ruins of the school in Mexico but they haven't pinpointed here exact

location and some tragic news to come from that scene.

[08:30:00] We have learned moments ago that the body of a female employee has been pulled from the rubble. Now Tuesday's earthquake destroyed dozens

buildings. At least 250 people were killed.

U.S. President Donald Trump is wrapping up his meetings at the United Nations. North Korea is the top concern as he taps the leaders of Japan and

South Korea. He is also scheduled to meet with the presidents of Afghanistan, Turkey, and Ukraine.

A truck carrying aide from the Red Cross has crashed in Bangladesh killing nine people. Fourteen people were hurt when the truck went off a road and

into a ditch. The truck was carrying aide and Muslim refugees from Myanmar.

Hurricane Maria is turning north of the Dominican Republican as a category three storm. It is making its way towards the Turks and Caicos islands. The

monster storm has knocked out electricity across the entire island of Puerto Rico and flood water rescues are underway.

The tiny island of Dominica is struggling after Hurricane Maria raged through. A spokesman for the prime minister tells CNN 14 people were

killed. Water and food are scarce. There is widespread looting and the population has gone into survival mode. Michael Holmes got a bird's eye

view of what the storm left behind in this Caribbean nation.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hurricane Maria hit Dominica at full category five strength and showed no mercy,

plowing through villages, towns and the capital Roseau. Not a tree untouched across the island, thousands snapped in two, no greenery left.

There was spectacular rain forest here. No more.

Now, this is as close as we or anyone can get to Dominica, at least for now the airport shut down, they're hoping to open it in the hours ahead to see

just how bad things are down there. But we can see from up here, this island has been hit and hit hard. We passed low, battered by the remnants

of Maria. Our pilot unable to land before on the ground. Safety checks have deemed the runway safe.

The damage is island wide. Whether it's a town or village, there is debris covering the landscape like confetti. Houses ripped opened, torn apart,

roofs gone. We saw some cars moving, but no people. We did see evidence of numerous landslides on this mountainous island. The usually blue-green sea

rendered brown in places from the earth swept into it.

Dominica has an agricultural-based economy of sugarcane, banana plantation, citrus, and most of that is exported. From what we can see up here, that is

gone. And the loss of those resources and that income is going to be devastating for this island and its people. Of course, the immediate

concern is the 73,000 residents here, making sure aide gets in and quickly.

Medical treatment, power, fresh water, and shelter the immediate priorities. Regional officials planning for aide flights and voyages to

begin in force on Thursday from the nearby island of St. Lucia and hoping for clarity on just what has happened to the island of Dominica. on

dominica. Michael Holmes, CNN, over Dominica in the Caribbean.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LU STOUT: Most of the island is absolutely pummeled by the hurricane.

Turning back to the quake in Mexico, the international community is pitching in, sending rescue teams as well as aide. And during his weekly

address from St. Peter's Square, Pope Francis encouraged Mexicans not to give up hope.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE FRANCIS, POPE OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH (through translator): Yesterday, a terrible earthquake devastated Mexico. I saw there are many

Mexicans today among you. It caused many victims and material damage. In this moment of pain, I want to express my closeness and my prayer to all of

the beloved Mexican population.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LU STOUT: Pope Francis there. Many people captured the moment that Mexico earthquake struck on their smart phones including one tourist. Ester Tellas

(ph) shared this video on Facebook from Mexico in an area about 190 kilometers south of Mexico City.

You can see people milling around the El Cristo monument enjoying the view below. You can hear people laughing. There are children in the background.

One woman appears to be taking a drink of water and then all of a sudden, there is sheer panic as they feel this quake.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Mama.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (INAUDIBLE)

The experience was terrifying and that she and her family suffered minor injuries.

[08:35:00] Right now, a young girl, a 12-year-old girl is trapped alive beneath a collapsed school in Mexico City. CNN's Rosa Flores is at the

scene with the latest. She joins us now. Rosa, the race is on to reach and save this girl. What's the latest?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, it's been more than 40 hours and rescuers here continue to zip through this rubble trying to get to that l2-

year-old girl. But it's a very delicate dance (ph), Kristie, for these rescue workers. I just talked to one rescue worker who finished a 36-hour

shift. He says that there were about 25 of them that have been here for 36 hours, going home for the first time.

He talked about the roller coaster of emotions that they have been feeling as volunteer rescue workers as they take that debris by hand, tried to

remove it so carefully to make sure that they don't collapse the rest of the building, to make sure that they don't collapse the building and

perhaps cause death rather than life, which is what they're trying to preserve.

But it's a very slow, painstaking process. The other thing that he pointed out is it rained overnight. That was a challenge for them as they try to

remove that debris and get to that little girl. The other thing that they're doing is they're shoring up this building to make sure that these

rescue workers can get inside as safe as can be. So what they is shore up parts of the building with beams, wood, whatever they can find and then

they try to listen for life.

Probably about an hour and a half ago, we saw these rescue workers, Kristie, raise their hands like this. Now, that is a sign of life. People

here know that they're supposed to be quiet whenever they see that because rescuers are listening for that sign of life and they're trying to follow

it to save it. Kristie?

LU STOUT: Incredible. A sign of life, to listen for signs of life. Rosa Flores reporting for live for us. Thank you so much.

You're watching "News Stream." Still to come, what North Korea's top diplomat is saying about President Trump's fiery warning for his country.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LU STOUT: Welcome back. U.S. President Trump did not mince words when it comes to North Korea in his speech at the U.N. General Assembly early this

week. But Pyongyang doesn't seem to be taking his remarks too seriously. North Korea's top diplomat told reporters that Mr. Trump's address amounted

to quote, "the sound of a dog barking."

Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho also said that he feels sorry for the U.S. president's advisers. North Korea is expected to behind the agenda when

President Trump meets the leaders of Japan and South Korea in a few hours. But the White House is also grappling with another nuclear-related issue,

growing concern that President Trump could pull the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal. Jim Acosta has more from New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you very much, everybody.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Listening to President Trump talk about the Iran nuclear deal, it sounds as if he is

setting up another reality TV-style cliffhanger.

TRUMP: I've decided. I'll let you know. I'll let you know.

ACOSTA (voice-over): All week long at the United Nations, the president has signaled he may be on the verge of scrapping the Obama administration

agreement designed to pause

[08:40:00] Iran's nuclear weapons program.

TRUMP: Shock.

ACOSTA (voice-over): Adding to the rising tension, Iran's president condemned Mr. Trump's speech to the U.N.

HASSAN ROUHANI, PRESIDENT OF IRAN (through translator): The ignorance, absurd, and hateful rhetoric filled with ridiculously baseless allegations.

ACOSTA (voice-over): The president is offering no apologies for his U.N. address.

TRUMP: Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself and for his regime.

ACOSTA (voice-over): Despite the complaints from Democrats.

JOHN KERRY, FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: You have to ask yourself, is America safer because of Rocket Man? Did we bring anybody to the table as a

consequence of that language?

ACOSTA (voice-over): Including Hillary Clinton.

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: I thought it was very dark, dangerous, not the kind of message that the leader of the

greatest nation in the world should be delivering.

TRUMP: The depraved --

ACOSTA (voice-over): Top Trump administration surrogates appear to be attempting to soften some of the president's tough talk. Take Ambassador

Nikki Haley's caution on the Iran nuclear deal.

NIKKI HALEY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS: It's not a clear signal that he plans to withdraw. What it is is a clear signal that he is not

happy with the deal and that the United States is not safer because of it.

ACOSTA (voice-over): Making a rare public appearance in New York, former President Barack Obama didn't mention his successor by name, but he seemed

to call on the road to reject the divisive politics that launched Mr. Trump into power.

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: The rise of nationalism and xenophobia and politics that says it's not we, but us and

them.

ACOSTA (voice-over): Across town, the first lady was giving a speech about children being exposed to the dangers of bullying on, of all places, social

media.

MELANIA TRUMP, FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES: We must turn our focus right now to the message and content they are exposed to on a daily basis

through social media, the bullying, the experience online, any person.

ACOSTA (voice-over): Critics wonder those pleased to stop bullying should be directed to the president who just last night slammed the Emmy Awards

tweeting, I was saddened to see how bad the ratings were on the Emmys last night. The worst ever. Smartest people of them all are the deplorables.

Perhaps the president wasn't a big fan of former Press Secretary Sean Spicer's latest spin at the podium.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ACOSTA: As for the prospect of the U.S. pulling out of the Iran nuclear deal, the Iranians are blocking at the idea of crafting a new agreement.

Iran's president told reporters at the U.N., it's just not realistic to think his country would enter into a new round of negotiations. Jim Acosta,

CNN, New York.

LU STOUT: And that is "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout. Don't go anywhere. "World Sport" with Amanda Davies is next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:45:00] (WORLD SPORT)

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