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Russian Hospital Fire; Climate Deal Reached; Marketplace Africa. Aired 2-2:30a ET

Aired December 13, 2015 - 02:00   ET

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

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[02:00:09] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: 21 people are dead. More injured at fire engulfs a hospital in Southeast Russia.

A climate deal of major significance, almost 200 nations now needs to decide whether to sign up to an agreement hailed as the best chance to save the planet.

These stories are ahead here on CNN Newsroom. We are live from Atlanta. Thank you for joining us. I'm Natalie Allen.

At least 21 people are dead and another 23 injured after a fire broke out at a psychiatric hospital in Southeast Russia. A hospital employee says there were about 140 disabled people in the hospital including 50 who were bed bound. At least 51 people were rescued on harm. So far the cause of this devastating fire is not known.

Turning out to a climate change, it is now up to almost 200 nations to do their part to combat global warming after the approval of the landmark agreement in Paris. Representatives from the COP21 conference are heading now back to their countries after spending two weeks in major talks on the climate change deal. Its goal of course is to limit global warming to 2 degrees celsius. But it also pushes for a lower limit of 1.5 degrees celsius if possible. The plan also urges donations of $100 billion a year to help poor countries suffering from climate change problems that they did not call.

Senior international correspondent Jim Bittermann is in Paris. He has more on the final day of COP21 and an emotional moment from the man who led the summit.

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JIM BITTERMANN, SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The head for administer, Laurent Fabius gabbling the meetings of COP21 due to a conclusion. He was the president of the sessions and he watched over two weeks of hard bargaining and the last 48 hours of nearly non-stop negotiating before bringing the meetings to a successful close.

For Fabius, it was part of emotional that as it was for other delegates over 195 countries. I have a small hammer he said but it can accomplish big things.

Another point earlier today, he got very emotional remembering those who died just under a month ago, and the terrorists attacks here. He said there were some who were not able to be here for this day.

LAURENT FABIUS, (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): I have particular thoughts finally for all those ministers, negotiators, activists, who would have wished to be here in these probably historic circumstances but who -- but we're not able to know this day.

BITTERMANN: Many people describe today as he grieve at historical. It was probably a little short of that in the sense that it's rare in history that the countries of the world have gotten together behind one single issue as they did today with climate change. Some are disappointed at the way things have turned out but the agreement does lay down a pathway of mechanism for countries to follow to limit the effects of greenhouse gas emissions and limit the effects of climate change. And for that reason if no other, there was a great deal of celebration as things came to a conclusion to that.

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ALLEN: And Jim Bittermann for us their in Paris. To find out more about the climate agreement and the significance of those two degrees in climate change. Go to our website, cnn.com/climate.

Speaking of the climate, there is a major storm headed toward parts of the Pacific. Derek Van Dam is there.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEORLOGIST: The Philippines Typhoon Melor known locally as Nona in the Philippines. This thing has just strengthen according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. We're going to show you all the latest information.

Remember Philippines population of about 100 million people. Luzon is the most populous island in this island chain. Here is the latest typhoon Melor. You can see 165 kilometer per hour sustain winds now gust near the center of the storm over 200 kilometers per hour and we don't believe it's done strengthening just yet.

Over the next 24 hours sustained winds at 195. It will weaken considerably as it makes landfall late Monday and the Tuesday, and we have this forecast about three days out impact in Manila in a weaker state but nonetheless still strong gusty winds and then an intense amount of rainfall are that could easily exceed 500 millimeters especially on those higher elevations.

Let's time this thing out for you if you are watching from the Philippines. We do expect landfall with this strong typhoon by late, again, Monday and to Tuesday. This is now the strongest typhoon we've experienced this particular season but it's certainly a formidable storm and we want to pay very close attention to it in the coming hours as Manila really is in the line of this particular storm.

[02:05:17] The good news is it will be in a weekend state once it reaches that region. But look at our computer models that deep shading of pink and white, that is 500 and plus millimeters of rainfall, only likely to see to see that in a higher elevations but, even 300 millimeters in a short period of time will certainly bring rainfall. You can see the wind gust across this area easily exceeding 120 kilometers per hour.

Another part of the world who experiencing some extreme weather would be the Southern United States, we had two confirmed tornadoes in the U.S. State of Texas.

Take a look at what someone picked up on their cell phone driving around in Willis, Texas. That is funnel cloud and here's the result, Natalie. Unfortunately, it did impact a mobile home park, no reports of fatalities or injuries but so very, very scary for those people.

ALLEN: All right, thanks, Derek. In other news we're following now, police in Switzerland have arrested and charged two people on suspicion of terrorism. Geneva remains on high alert. Authority say the pair carried Syrian passports and had traces of explosives in their vehicle. Mary Moloney has more.

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MARY MOLONEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Swiss police have arrested two people after locating vehicle and finding what authorities say are traces of explosives.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Swiss authorities also saying that these two men being investigated for possible ties to a terrorist organization.

MOLONEY: Both individuals have Syrian passports and were arrested on suspicion of the manufacture, concealment, and transfer of explosives and toxic gases. According to Swiss prosecutors, they we're also arrested on the suspicion of violating the probation of groups which is al-Qaeda, ISIS, and similar organizations.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Authorities are saying do expect that to be more house searches in the coming days, do expect that to be more arrest on the coming days.

MOLONEY: Authorities have been looking for at least two people with indirect links to the suspects of the Paris attacks in which 130 people were killed. However, it is not immediately clear whether the Geneva arrests are links to those attacks.

I'm Mary Moloney, reporting.

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ALLEN: At least 87 people are dead after clashes between the military and rebels in Burundi. It is the deadliest violence since a failed coup attempt in May after the country's president announced he would run for a controversial third term in office.

More than 200 thousand people have fled in neighboring countries since then. All though this conflict is a largely political fight, there are fears it could re ignite ethnic tension between Hutus and Tutsis.

Voting is now underway in France as regional run-off election. It would be interesting to see how Marine Le Pen and her Anti-immigration National Front Party does. The far-right party had a surprisingly strong showing in last week's first round. Today's outcome could give Le Pen a launch pad for presidential bid in 2017.

Local elections in Saudi Arabia take on an added meaning now that women have been allowed to cast ballot for the very first time. The move has been described as a step forward for equality in the male dominated kingdom but other say it is a hallow victory.

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VANESSA TUCKER, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ANALYSIS, FREEDOM HOUSE: Unfortunately, it's much more of a symbolic victory and I think it's quite unlikely that this will actually mean much in terms of real change for women in Saudi Arabia. Even if women in large numbers are elected to office, we're talking about a consultative council that's really only advisory in nature. And it's important to keep in mind the much broader political climate in Saudi Arabia, which is one of extreme political repression.

Saudi Arabia is one of the top -- the worst scoring countries in freedom in the world which is our annual survey of political rights and civil liberties. And that's the large part because it's political -- it's political life is almost completely non-existent.

I think it's possible that we'll see small steps forward, but given the nature of the bodies that these women would probably be elected to, they're not bodies that would have control over policy related to women in general. They're municipal councils that relate to things like roads, parks, civic issues. So, while those are important, it's not going to be an arena in which women can push for serious policy changes in regard to women in the country.

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ALLEN: Important perspective there. And then there's this, 979 female candidates run in election but they're campaigning was complicated because the women were barred from speaking to male voters.

[02:10:02] In sports news, the groups are decided for the EURO 2016 Football Tournament later to begin in June and France. And there's at least one match up that is already getting a lot of attention.

Here's CNN's Patrick Snell.

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PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORT AND INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: For the first time ever, 24 countries will compete at next year's European Football Championships in France.

Now, Saturday's high-profile draw in Paris throwing up a potentially tricky group for two-time defending champion Spain, who will play Turkey, Croatia and the Czech Republic. But in group B, which is interest is well I'm surely peaked with Gareth Bale and his Welsh team meeting England. Welsh are playing in the tournament for the first time ever. While the first match of tournament will feature the host playing Romania at the Stade de France on June the 10th. Didier Deschamps, they blur, are also grouped with Albania and Switzerland too.

DIDER DESCHAMPS, FRANCE COACH (through translator): From these three adversaries, we know too very well because the last two years, we played against them and they gave us big problems as we weren't able to beat them.

The Swiss we have observed because we had them in our group for the World Cup. So we know them well. We know the Romanians less well but we have watched their qualification, with five victories and five draws. The best defense of all the teams that qualified but only took two goals, but in the end of the day, that says everything and nothing.

SNELL: Conspicuous by his absence in the meantime, was UEFA President, Michel Platini, who's currently serving a FIFA Ethics Committee suspension.

The draw playing out though amid tight security in the aftermath of the recent terror attacks on Paris. A heavy police presence outside the Palais des Congres ahead of proceedings with Euro 16 organizers with this message for the French public.

GIANNI INFANTINO, UEFA GENERAL SECRETARY: I would like to take this opportunity in the name of UEFA to express my solidarity towards all French people during these difficult times. Our thoughts are with all those affected by the attacks of the 13th of November.

SNELL: The tournament lasts for a total of four weeks with the final, all to take place at the Stade de France on July the 10th.

Patrick Snell, CNN.

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ALLEN: And that is our news. Thank you for watching. Marketplace Africa is next.

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[02:15:11] ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to Marketplace, Africa. We cover the biggest economic trends impacting the continent. Now, this week, we're looking at Ethiopian agriculture, but particularly focusing on what many have called "the next superfood," teff.

Walking (ph) over here so I can explain what exactly teff is for those of you who haven't heard of it. teff is actually a grain grown mostly in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It is the main ingredient for injera which is a flat bread and it's a big part, a huge part of the Ethiopian diet. But many foods can be made from teff including cookies, brownies and pancakes as well.

And so this pancake particularly will go down nicely with just a little bit of maple syrup. Now, teff is gaining popularity around the world because it's so versatile and has a high nutritional value. And because there are now fewer export restrictions, teff may soon become a global commodity. We found out how some businesses are trying to profit.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: A meal with injera bread as its centerpiece, a typical scene in Ethiopia. This pancake-like bread is a staple of the local cuisine and it's also big business. Injera is made with the ancient grain, teff. And according to the Ethiopian Agricultural Transformation Agency, Ethiopia grows nearly five million metric tons of teff for the domestic market alone.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you look across Ethiopia, teff specifically is the most important commodity for Ethiopia both from production site as well as consumption site. teff is native to the country, but it's also a huge part of our culture.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: teff test into flour and then into injera. It's a staple loved by Ethiopians, not just at home, but around the world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We produce, as they said, over 95 percent of the world's production of teff. The largest market at the moment for teff is actually the Ethiopian diet as well. We use it for traditional Ethiopian foods.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This injera will go to Washington D.C. or little Ethiopia, home to the largest Ethiopian community outside of Africa. It's the main market for Mama Fresh, a major producer of ready made injera

Hailu Tessema runs the family business. They started exporting in 2008.

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HAILU TESSEMA, FOUNDER OF MAMA FRESH: We are exporting 50 percent of our product in U.S., the rest 50 percent, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Nigeria. And every year, the demand increased by the foreigners from 7 to 10 percent.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The appeal for injera by more foreigners comes as the world's smallest grain is being held as a super food, a high fiber and protein rich nutritional wonder.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People are recognizing the nutritional value the teff has, that recognition in market opportunity, like any market opportunity is driving more entrance than a lot of countries are growing teff, the U.S., Canada, even as far as Australia, that production is based on market demands.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: teff is also gluten-free, now carried by more and more food stores. Holland and Barrett, a British health food chain with over 600 stores, is one of many western shops that predicts an increase and demand for teff.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: At the moment in Holland and Barrett, we have three branded products. To test our products, and I crack the bread with teff flour inside. Well, the gluten-free industry is growing enormously year on year. With that market, it's worth hundreds of millions, we can tap into that and even in a small way, then there's an enormous potential for that. And if we compare it to (inaudible) and what's happened with that, it come from a (inaudible) health food product into mainstream supermarket.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In 2006, Ethiopia banned the export of teff flour and grain, only allowing cooked products to be exported. Earlier this year, the government launched a pile of project partially lifting the ban.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The concern that Ethiopian government had in the past about exporting, was in making sure that there was sufficient amount of supply for the domestic market. For urban consumers as well as the rural poor.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The export ban was also due to concerns that local prices, were on the rise. Some 6.5 million small farmers grow teff, the most widely planted crop in Ethiopia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over the past four years, the new technology has been introduced to over two million farmers, and it is actually contributed to a 40 percent increase in yields. This increase in yields has given the government confidence that it limited systematic export of teff, can gain small holder farmers in Ethiopia the kind of increased income without harming the domestic consumers.

Now that we have an increasing supply that can meet domestic market demand then we believe we can tap into the global market.

[02:20:21] UNKNOWN FEMALE: Mama's Fresh also sees potential benefit in being able to export teff flower abroad along with the injera it already exports. A pound of teff seeds cost about $6 and teff flour can reach out to between $6 and $10 per pound he says. And demand is growing.

TESSEMA: Around 7 or 10 countries had asked me to export teff flour for them. They are waiting for us.

ASHER: Cedric could break here on CNN, when we come back we'll talk to a woman who founded the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange. Find out how she (find) could spread the contest across Africa.

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ASHER: Welcome back everybody, Eleni Gabre-Madhin is a CEO and founder of Eleni, LLC. It's the company that helps to create commodities exchanges across Africa to trade crops. Gabre-Madhin has founded the ECX free commodity exchange in 2008 and she was CEO until 2012. She also sits on a board of an agricultural company called Syngenta. She sat down with my colleague Eleni Giokos in Cape Town and talks about how to create more successful exchanges on the continent.

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: How many commodity exchanges are currently operating on the continent?

ELENI GABRE-MADHIN, FOUNDER, ELENI LLC: Well, at the moment, besides of course this suffix (ph) which is here in South Africa as well as Ethiopian Commodity Exchange, ECX. Really, they're not very many operational exchanges, there is an (effort) to Rwanda as well as -- which is the East Africa Exchange and then my company has recently launched a project in Ghana to start up the Ghana commodity exchange, and we're also about to start the back ground work in Tanzania, and we're also on the ground in Cameroon.

GIOKOS: Let's look at how big the Ethiopian Commodities Exchanges has become. Put it into numbers for us.

GABRE-MADHIN: The Ethiopia Commodity Exchange currently trades $1.5 billion annually. That's the trading value, which translates to -- in the value terms 10 times the value traded on the Ghana's stock exchange, seven times the value traded on the Nairobi Securities Exchange.

GIOKOS: Let's take a look at what impact it has on the smallholder farmer. The reality is that agriculture sometimes they come from 70 percent of most African GDPs. And it's a really big number. It's a big contributor to GDP. But this is not formal.

GABRE-MADHIN: Well, particularly for small farmers who could have been and usually think of a local market. It's a weekly rural market, you know, the Saturday market, the Thursday market, and on that one day of the week, the farmer, you know, who will go by donkey, with a cart, on bicycle where the herd is and will get to the market and she or he, farmer, will not know what the prices prevailing in the market before they set, you know, the comfort (ph) on their journey. They don't even know what quality of produce they have. They don't know what quantity they have because they don't usually have scales in their farm.

So, they're at a tremendous disadvantage in terms of the playing field which is very, very skewed in favor of the merchant.

So, what happens I think with the commodity exchange primarily is to empower both sides really of the market and to level the playing fields so that the farmer goes to the market knowing what prices are and able to really get a third party assessment of the quality and quantity.

[02:25:19] GIOKOS: So, let's look at Ethiopia at the moment. And we know that they, you know, doing the more traditional food for trading and each commodity would have specific time allocated in the (inaudible), right? It's not going to move and it can become electronic (inaudible) that going to change the playing field...

GABRE-MADHIN: Oh, that's a huge change, online trading or electronic trading is really the name of the game. Well, we had wanted to introduce that from the very beginning. But because we tailored the commodity exchange model to the conditions of the country, we held off for, you know, three to five years while the market really learned the rules, the standards of, you know, how to deliver, the warehouse receipt system, all the things appearing in settlement, the payment system. All the things that really made to exchange work.

But now we've got to the very exciting time where we can, you know, move into online trading which basically means that they can go right to the local, you know, trading center or eventually hopefully on their mobiles and trade (ph) directly themselves. And that's going to increase the volume and the frequency of trade and really deepen the scope of the market.

GIOKOS: You are working on feasibility studies as well in Cameroon, tell us about what's your experiences there because you're -- you're looking at more the regional exchange, aren't you?.

GABRE-MADHIN: Yes. Well, you know, cocoaa is obviously a very regional product commodity. So Cameroon, Nigeria, we've done feasibility studies in both countries. Cote d'Ivoire is the other big player obviously. Very, very big player, and then Ghana. So, these four together represent 83 percent of the world cocoa production.

So, if you want a big vision, big idea, West African cocoa exchange in five years.

ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: Gabre-Madhin also said that the crop that she is most excited about for the future is maze because of its widespread popularity across the continent. And that does it for us.

Don't forget to go to our Facebook page and our website. Keep up with all of our stories and share your thoughts. I'm Zain Asher, thank you so much for watching. I'll see you next week in the Marketplace.

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