World Headlines; War In Syria
LU STOUT: I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Hong Kong. You're watching "News Stream" and these are world headlines. U.S. senate Democrats and even some Republicans want to delay a planned vote on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. A woman has publicly accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault dating back to the 1980s when he was in high school. He denies the accusation. A lawyer says she is willing to testify before Congress. There have been more than 1,000 water rescues in North Carolina as tropical depression Florence continues to drench the southeastern U.S. And with floodwaters expected to rise, officials are advising residents to stay off the roads. At least 18 people have been killed as a result of the storm. And At least four people have been killed in Southern China as typhoon Mangkhut moved north over the weekend. Three million people have been forced from their homes. The Philippines has been the hardest hit country so far with at least 54 people believed to have died. Idlib Province is Syria's last major rebel stronghold and Russian and pro- government forces have been bombing and shelling there for weeks. Now, that has led to medical workers demanding protection. In this march on Sunday, some 300 doctors and nurses called on the global community to safeguard hospitals and medical staff. Western countries accuse Russia and Syria of targeting civilians in Idlib and other areas, but that is unlikely to stop a looming ground assault. CNN's Jomana Karadsheh hast this story of one man doing all he can to protect his family.</s>JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There are so many ways to die in Idlib. But only the most primitive methods for survival. Hudhafa al-Shahhad is preparing for a regime onslaught in Idlib. This makeshift shelter may be the difference between life or death for his family.</s>HUDHAFA AL-SHAHHAD, IDLIB RESIDENT (through translator): We have moved some supplies, food, and water in case of an emergency, God forbid. Because Russia is striking with highly explosive bombs that houses cannot withstand. God willing, the cave will protect us from that.</s>KARADSHEH: The regime's offensive to recapture the last major rebel stronghold hasn't officially started yet, but bombs have already been raining down on Southern Idlib. Al-Shahhad hopes the cave would shelter his family from the worst of the conventional weapons. But in Syria, even a breath of fresh air is an uncertainty.</s>AL-SHAHHAD (through translator): We made the gas masks to protect our children, god forbid, if a chemical attack happens, to protect their eyes and ears. It is the least we can do.</s>KARADSHEH: Upstairs in their living room, preparing for the worst is all they can do. Residents here fear the possibility of another chemical attack. Following instructions he found online, al-Shahhad uses what he can find. Colorful paper cups, cotton, bandages, charcoal, and plastic bags to create his family's survival kit, these improvised gas masks. Al-Shahhad walks his children down into the darkness to inspect their underground hideaway. With nowhere left to run when the battle begins, this could be their only sanctuary. Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Istanbul.</s>LU STOUT: All right. From red carpets to runways, movie screens to magazines, the actress and mogul, Fan Bingbing, is usually one of China's most prominent figures. But over the past few months, she's making headlines for the exact opposite reason because no one seems to know where she is. The superstar who you may know from films like "Lost in Beijing" and "X- Men" movies hasn't been seen in public since June. Some are wondering if she could be in state custody. For more, Matt Rivers is live in Beijing. Matt, you've been watching and monitoring this story for a while now. Bring us up to speed. What happened to Fan Bingbing?</s>MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, that is the question that millions and millions and millions of people are asking here in China because she's incredibly popular. You could argue she is the most famous person in this whole country, and everyone is asking the same question, Kristie, where is she? We've got some clues, but there's certainly no definitive answer.</s>RIVERS (voice over): She's not a household name worldwide, but in China, you don't get more famous than actress Fan Bingbing. She's not A-list, she's A-plus list, think Jennifer Lawrence or Meryl Streep, which is why the fact that she hasn't been seen in public since June is a big deal. Back in May, Fan was accused of getting paid on so-called Yin-Yang contracts. Essentially, you sign a smaller contract and report that income to the government. But you also sign a bigger contract and get paid the additional tax free. One of Fan's alleged Yin-Yang contracts was leaked on social media in late May. She immediately denied the allegations, but the country's tax authority urged investigators to look into the practice more broadly. One industry source told CNN that tax avoidance scheme is universal in China's entertainment world. As for Fan, she hasn't been heard from or seen since posting these photos of a children's hospital in Tibet back in June. CNN asked both China's tax authorities and media regulators for comment on the case, but hasn't heard back. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the only department to take media questions every day. Asked about the actress, here is a spokesman. Does that sound like a foreign affairs issue to you, he said sarcastically. In other words, no comment. CNN tried to reach Fan herself to no avail. Our only clue to her status comes from this. An article posted on September 6th on a state-run media website that said Fan has been brought "under control" and is about to receive legal judgment. That article was quickly deleted, though, and state media has been virtually silent about the actress since. Certain social media posts about Fan on Chinese internet have also been censored by officials. So for now, the mysterious case of China's highest paid actress continues. We know she's missing, we just don't know why.</s>RIVERS: And Kristie, you know, if you needed any more clues as to the fact that the government is very sensitive about this, our signal here in China, the CNN signal, has been cut throughout the day as it always is. But usually it's cut when we talk about human rights or Tibet, not about actresses, but it gives you an idea. And look, this isn't just about an actress. People get disappeared by the government all the time here in this country. It's a very murky legal system. Usually it's political activists, human rights activists and not actresses, but it shows you that no one is above the lawn her in China. When China's government wants you gone, you will be. And look, the government -- we can't prove that's where -- where Fan Bingbing is. We have no confirmation of that. But, in China, despite her fame, Kristie, it's certainly possible that that's what happened to her.</s>LU STOUT: Yeah, what a mystery, and what a stunning story. Matt, thank you for your reporting. Please, keep us updated. Matt Rivers reporting live from Beijing, thank you. Now, let's turn back to one of our top stories, the aftermath of typhoon Mangkhut and the massive impact its having on the Philippines. We are going to bring up Richard Gordon, chairman and CEO of the Philippine Red Cross. Richard, welcome back to the program. We spoke to you earlier last week --</s>RICHARD GORDON, CHAIRMAN AND CEO, PHILIPPINE RED CROSS: Thank you, Kristie.</s>LU STOUT: -- about how you were getting ready for the super typhoon. Now, it's the aftermath. What is your number one priority right now?</s>GORDON: Number one priority is get the people quit from having a pity party and get back on their feet. We have to make sure that we get them roofing for those whose roofs are partially taken out. We can provide roofs right away. We can provide livelihood support right away. Maybe get them seedlings as well as fertilizer so they can plant right away. In the meantime, they can have their housing. You can just imagine somebody who lost his house, lost his fields, where is he going to get money for the school? Where is he going to get money for the food? So we want to get them back on their feet right away.</s>LU STOUT: Absolutely. And the need is so great across the Northern Philippines. What's your thinking about the overall response to the super typhoon? The Philippines is used to responding to natural disasters, whether it was super typhoon Haiyan or Mangkhut. Do you feel that the Philippines is getting better and stronger at disaster response?</s>GORDON: We are getting better and stronger, but the typhoons are getting stronger and better as well. So, you just have to keep up by many (ph) changes upon us. They're stronger. Look at what is happening in typhoon Florence -- cyclone Florence in America, all these other disasters. And now, here, super storm just a few years after Haiyan. So, we just have to keep on ratcheting up, making sure preparations are in order, get people out of harm's way. Don't dilly dally. Make sure you know where you're going so that people will be alive and safe.</s>LU STOUT: Richard Gordon of the Philippine Red Cross. Thank you so much for joining us. Wishing you and your teams the best of luck during this sensitive time. We know the risk of landslides is very, very high right now in the Philippines in the aftermath of the super typhoon. Richard, take care. You're watching "News Stream." We'll be right back.