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Dismal Start to Friday Trading; Iran Awaits IAEA Report; Penn Story to Have Been about War on Drugs; Mission Underway for Britain's First Spacewalk; Trump-Cruz Battle Dominates First Debate of 2016; Police Name Alleged Mastermind of Jakarta Attacks; More Europeans Frustrated over Migrant Crisis; Loot Still Missing from Hatton Garden Heist. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired January 15, 2016 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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ROBYN CURNOW, CNN HOST: Welcome to INTERNATIONAL DESK, I'm Robyn Curnow at the CNN Center. Thanks so much for joining me.
Right now, anguished faces on Wall Street. Take a look at those numbers in the first hour of trading. The Dow is down over 380 points. Stock market
jitters that ushered in the new year are now turning into a fair amount of fear, much of it boiling down to the falling price of oil. Maggie Lake is
watching the markets from New York.
You've said it all week. In fact, you've said it all year, the volatility is here to say.
MAGGIE LAKE, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and I don't think I'm going to stop saying it anytime soon, Robyn. I mean, remember the Dow was up,
had its best year, day, since December yesterday, up over 200 points. And here we are down today.
This is being centered on the steep and rapid decline in oil. A trader on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange telling me today, "We just don't
know what that collapse in oil prices is going to mean for the global economy. We just can't quantify it. We know it's good for consumers but
is there fallout?"
They don't know that there is and that's the problem And that uncertainty is the worst thing for investors. Bad news they can handle; uncertainty,
they don't know what to do with that except hit the sell button. And that's what you're seeing today.
Oil below $30. We're also watching China. We saw those markets down again sharply. Now again, somewhat disconnected to the economy but we don't know
what's happening with the Chinese economy. We're not really sure how fast that's slowing down. That feeds into that uncertainty as well.
So you're seeing a selloff; we are now down in excess of 400 points, we're having a very pitched battle in the S&P 500 right around those August lows,
those levels we hit during that summer mayhem that we saw. Investors watching that very closely.
And we're sitting, I believe, right at that level right now. So it's going to be important to watch, 1,867, you can see on the bottom of your screen
there. If we drop below that significantly, you can expect the selling to accelerate.
Where do we end the day?
It's not clear. You may get money managers start to step in and buy some of these very beaten-down stocks but a lot of people, this is a market that
seems to be right now dominated by fear -- Robyn.
CURNOW: Dominated by fear. You were talking a little bit earlier to our colleagues and they were, at that moment, looking at how this had
stabilized in some way. It hasn't, if you look at the numbers since we just came to air.
How important is the closing going to be, as you say?
It's a long weekend ahead here in the U.S.
LAKE: And that's the problem. No one wants to be exposed. They are not going to be able to get in again, even though the rest of the world is
trading until Tuesday. That's going to put a certain amount of fear.
However, you could have that also work in supporting the market.
Do you really want to go out liquidating everything and then some good news comes in and then again you miss out on the rally?
If you miss those big days, it's as damaging as being a part of the market on these days when it goes down. The volatility works on the up side as
well. So you may see that help us stabilize into the close.
It is anyone's guess right now, Robyn, which is why we're going to be watching everything very closely. I will point out that, as we accelerate
our losses on Wall Street, you're seeing we're down 423 right now on the Dow. People are moving to safe havens, they are buying U.S. bonds.
We are seeing the bond yield on the 10-year benchmark note here drop to levels we have not seen in some time. A lot of people didn't think that
was going to happen, with the Federal Reserve apparently raising interest rates.
Also want to point out we got some disappointing economic data here in the U.S. today, so even though fear is dominating, it's also based on some
disappointing fundamentals coming through.
CURNOW: Yes, also gold over $1,000.
But let's just talk about oil. Real concerns about just how low oil is going to hit. Just this week we've seen Morgan Stanley warning it could
drive down to $20 a barrel and we've even seen World Bank of Scotland warning of $16 a barrel on the horizon. That's very much playing into it,
it's just where the bottom is.
LAKE: Exactly. And again, we don't know there. And there was always an assumption that the drop in oil was based on supply, there is an oversupply
coming from existing, from the fact that OPEC hasn't stepped up production and the possibility of Iran coming online.
Now, however, we have a lot of people worrying about demand falling off.
Is the global economy slowing and in worse shape?
Is that going to hit demand?
That will make the situation even worse and put more pressure on oil. Again, some of those forecasts they say could be an overshoot. It's just
that it's now possible and it's the speed, I think, Robyn, of the decline, which is unnerving people.
CURNOW: OK. and I think we're going to keep an eye on those prices. I know you will be and we'll come back to you if there's even more movement.
Thanks so much, Maggie Lake there in New York.
Well, despite the tanking prices, Iran is eager to sell more of its oil. That could amplify what we're seeing now and the --
[10:05:00]
CURNOW: -- Western sanctions keeping it from doing that may be lifting soon.
The U.N.'s atomic watchdog agency is expected to release a key report today on whether Iran has met its obligations under the nuclear deal signed with
world powers last year. Compliance will trigger an easing of crippling economic sanctions related to Tehran's nuclear program.
For a look at what lies ahead for Iran, if and when these sanctions are lifted, Reza Mashari (ph) is the research director at the National Iranian-
American Council. he joins us now from Washington.
We're having a look, we're seeing what's happening with oil prices, with markets as well.
You know, is this a good time?
Many people saying this isn't a good time for Iran and for the global economy, for Iran to sort of re-emerge in terms of its oil capacity onto
the global markets.
REZA MARASHI (PH), RESEARCH DIRECTOR, NATIONAL IRANIAN-AMERICAN COUNCIL: Well, I think any time you have oil markets looking the way they do right
now, increasing the excess supply on the markets could have an adverse effect on prices, depending on your perspective.
But what would have an even worse effect on the oil market and international security and stability would be a military confrontation over
Iran's nuclear program and that's precisely what's been avoided as a result of the deal.
So Iranian oil is going to come back online but it's not going to be an immediate return. For Iran to resume the market share that it had before
the most back-breaking sanctions were implemented, it's going to take anywhere between two to three years.
CURNOW: With that in mind, you know, what changes are in store for Iran when this new era kicks in?
How quick will that change come, not just regarding oil but across the board?
MARASHI (PH): That's the million-dollar question. I think in the bigger scheme of things, you hear Iranian officials give all the right answers to
questions pertaining to their foreign and domestic economic policies.
But it's not just about talking; it's also about doing it and implementing it. So it remains to be seen, even if the sanctions are removed, whether
or not the Iranian government can implement proper, robust, forward- thinking economic policies that can help build a better future for the country and its people.
CURNOW: So then what's the domestic political impact of all of this?
Will it change the balance between hardliners and moderates?
Who benefits domestically from this opening?
MARASHI (PH): Within the Iranian political spectrum, the president, Hassan Rouhani, has built arguably the most inclusive political coalition in
decades. And I think that political coalition that he built created enough buy-in in the Iranian system, including the Supreme Leader, not only to get
the deal done but also to move forward with some of the other domestic policies, particularly on the economic front, that he's seeking to
implement.
And they have upcoming elections in Iran for the parliament and for a body, called the assembly of experts, which helps select the next Supreme Leader.
And I think the momentum, the positive momentum that getting sanctions removed can help bring into this race, can only help the president and his
pragmatic -- or moderate, depending on your word preference -- policies that he's been pursuing.
CURNOW: Reza, thanks so much for your perspective. Appreciate it.
Well, American actor Sean Penn has broken his silence about that controversial interview with escaped drug kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo"
Guzman, telling CBS News in a taped piece that aired just a short time ago, that he had terrible regret and that his article has failed.
Our Rafael Romo is following these developments and joins me now with more.
As this is the first time Mr. Penn is speaking on camera, what did he say, what else did he say?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SR. LATIN AFFAIRS EDITOR: Well, Robyn, you get the idea that Sean Penn wanted to set the record straight and he chose CBS News to
do so in this interview with Charlie Rose for the show "60 Minutes."
Sean Penn says that his goal was not to glorify Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman or the Sinaloa cartel, for that matter.
"What I wanted to do," he told Rose, "was to start a conversation about the policy on the war on drugs in the United States."
But, as you know, Robyn, the conversation about Sean Penn's 10,000-word article that appeared Saturday on "Rolling Stone" magazine has centered on
potential legal problems he may face because of it, because of this interview, and the process of how he got access to El Chapo in the first
place.
Penn also wanted to dispel the notion that it was this interview, what helped Mexican officials find El Chapo's whereabouts, which led to his
capture. Let's listen to what he had to say.
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SEAN PENN, ACTOR: We have met with him many weeks earlier.
CHARLIE ROSE, CBS NEWS HOST: On October 2nd.
PENN: On October 2nd, in a place nowhere near where he was captured. We're not smarter than the DEA or the Mexican intelligence. We had a
contact, upon which we were able to facilitate an invitation.
ROSE: Do you believe that the Mexican government released this, in part, because they wanted to see you blamed --
[10:10:00]
ROSE: -- and to put you at risk?
PENN: Yes.
ROSE: They wanted to encourage the cartel to put you in their crosshairs?
PENN: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMO: Now both Mexican and U.S. officials have told us, in the last few days, that the meeting with El Chapo contributed to the drug lord's
capture.
Kate del Castillo, the Mexican star that facilitated this interview, Robyn, may also be in legal trouble because Mexican authorities are reportedly
investigating whether she had joint ventures with El Chapo in Delaware in the United States and whether there were transfers of financial assets from
Joaquin Guzman to the famous actress -- Robyn.
CURNOW: Wow, I mean, more of this interview, just reading the article -- and as you said, 10,000 words -- you know, in reading it, it seems Sean
Penn wasn't trying to start a conversation about drugs, he was trying to start a conversation about himself.
I mean, is there the sense, as critics are suggesting, that he's just out of his league here?
ROMO: Well, I read the entire article and, yes, you have a very good point; you read it and, for a moment, you almost feel like Sean Penn was
feeling sorry for El Chapo, that he had no other alternative than to become a drug lord.
He says his purpose was not to glorify El Chapo. But in certain points you almost hear him explaining why he had to do what he had to do.
Now Mexican officials say that, throughout this whole ordeal, when he was traveling to Mexico, meeting with actress Kate del Castillo, they were
being tracked and the communications between them were being pinpointed, which ultimately led Mexican intelligence officials to find the whereabouts
of El Chapo.
And, as you know, he's now in jail.
CURNOW: He is indeed. Rafael Romo, thank you so much for updating us on this story.
Still to come at the INTERNATIONAL DESK, Donald Trump goes after Ted Cruz in the first Republican presidential debate of the new year. We'll have
the highlights and live analysis.
And a show of solidarity and defiance in Indonesia after Thursday's deadly attack. We'll go live to Jakarta. Stay with us.
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CURNOW: Well, not often you get live pictures like this. This is a live feed from NASA TV, showing a spacewalk that is taking place right now.
There you can see British astronaut Tim Peake and American astronaut Tim Kopra are trying to fix a broken power module.
CURNOW (voice-over): We understand it's about a 6.5-hour job -- and they are there they are. This is the first spacewalk for the British astronaut,
who is actually making the first-ever spacewalk by an official British astronaut. This has ignited a lot of --
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CURNOW (voice-over): -- excitement back home. People glued to their screens, watching one of their own do this quite magnificent DIY.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And Tim, as you make your way back --
CURNOW (voice-over): We'll keep an eye on those pictures, fantastic stuff.
CURNOW: In U.S. politics, Republican presidential hopefuls tried to win over voters at Thursday's debate, just weeks before the Iowa caucuses.
CNN's John Berman looks at how the two front-runners took shots at each other, pretty much throughout the whole debate.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOHN BERMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the race between Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, the current Republican front-runners, two things now
abundantly clear: it is truce off and game on.
SEN. TED CRUZ (R), TEXAS: Back in September, my friend, Donald, said that he had had his lawyers look at this from every which way, that there was
nothing to this birther issue.
BERMAN (voice-over): Cruz mocked questions Trump is now raising about the fact he was born in Canada and whether he is even eligible to run for
president.
CRUZ: Since September, the Constitution hasn't changed. But the poll numbers have.
BERMAN (voice-over): Trump acknowledged, yes, that is part of it.
DONALD TRUMP, REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Because now he's doing a little bit better. No, I didn't care before.
BERMAN (voice-over): But in their most pointed exchange in this race so far, he said, there is more.
TRUMP: Here's the problem: we're running, we're running, he does great, I win. I choose him as my vice presidential candidate and the Democrats sue
because we can't take him along for the ride.
I don't like that, OK?
CRUZ: Well, listen, I've spent my entire life defending the Constitution before the U.S. Supreme Court and, I'll tell you, I'm not going to be
taking legal advice from Donald Trump.
TRUMP: You don't have to.
BERMAN (voice-over): The battle moved from Canada to New York, in the charge from Ted Cruz that Donald Trump represents what he calls "New York
values."
CRUZ: Everyone understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal or pro-abortion or pro-gay marriage, focus around money and the
media. Not a lot of conservatives come out of Manhattan. I'm just saying.
BERMAN (voice-over): Trump responded uncharacteristically somber by invoking September 11th.
TRUMP: We rebuilt downtown Manhattan and everybody in the world watched and everybody in the world loved New York and loved New Yorkers. And I
have to tell you, that was a very insulting statement that Ted made.
BERMAN (voice-over): For the most part, the other candidates focused their fire on the president.
GOV. CHRIS CHRISTIE (R), N.J., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This guy is a petulant child.
BERMAN (voice-over): And Hillary Clinton.
JEB BUSH, FORMER GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: She's under investigation with the FBI right now. If she gets elected, her first 100
days instead of setting an agenda, she might be going back and forth between the White House and the courthouse.
BERMAN (voice-over): Though Chris Christie unleashed on Marco Rubio for dodging a question on entitlements.
CHRISTIE: Now you already had your chance, Marco. You blew it.
BERMAN (voice-over): And Marco Rubio, with just a few minutes to spare in the debate, did some unleashing himself on Ted Cruz.
SEN. MARCO RUBIO (R), FLA., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Ted Cruz, you used to say you supported doubling the number of green cards. Now you say that
you're against it.
You used to support a 500 percent increase in the number of guest workers, now you say that you're against it.
You used to support legalizing people that were here illegally, now you say you're against it.
You used to say that you were in favor of birthright citizenship, now you say that you are against it.
BERMAN (voice-over): Cruz fought to respond.
CRUZ: At least half of the things Marco said are flat-out false. They are absolutely false.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CURNOW: Well, there's always a lot to talk about with this race. CNN Politics executive editor, Mark Preston, joins me now live from Washington.
You know, it doesn't get dull, does it?
Donald Trump telling one of our correspondents that the bromance is over between him and Ted Cruz.
They've dropped the buddy-buddy act, haven't they?
MARK PRESTON, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: They have dropped the buddy-buddy act. And it just goes to show you how close this race is between these two
gentlemen. And I think that was clear last night, in fact, acknowledged last night, Donald Trump said, Robyn, he would not be questioning whether
Ted Cruz could actually become the President of the United States because he was born in Canada had he not been doing so well in the polls.
And Ted Cruz, who I was just with in New Hampshire just a few days ago had said he had no intention of attacking Donald Trump or doing anything with
Donald Trump other than smiling.
And, of course, 48 hours later, Robyn, they are going right at it.
CURNOW: OK, going right at it.
You know, is Donald Trump a petulant child?
Or does he or is he looking presidential?
That's the big question.
PRESTON: Well, you know, a very good question. I think our viewers around the world are wondering that as well because Donald Trump, when he's on
these debate stages, when he's doing these interviews on CNN or other news outlets, he doesn't talk about specifics when it comes to policy proposals.
He talks in these grand arching themes and he also talks about how he's going to make America great again. He also is very transparent when he
attacks people. He says, you know, the only reason I'm attacking Marco Rubio is because he's not nice to me or, the Republican Party --
[10:20:00]
PRESTON: -- I may leave it because they are not nice to me. And for many folks here in the U.S. -- and I'm sure around the world -- are wondering,
does Donald Trump have the temperament to be President of the United States?
CURNOW: Yes, but he did have one moment where even Donald Trump critics sort of went, oh, OK, we'll give them this one and that was about that New
York issue and how it seems Ted Cruz didn't play that so well.
And Trump really, you know, threw that one home.
PRESTON: Right. And, in many ways it was a softball here in the U.S., softball, throwing the ball up and Donald Trump was allowed to hit it out
of the park, to talk about rebuilding Lower Manhattan and overcoming 9/11.
But two points on that, talking to a rival in another campaign pointed out to me, you know what, a lot of people rallied around 9/11, it wasn't just
New York City, which is true.
And if you listen to what Ted Cruz had said in his answer, he described "New York values," because it was all spurred on some comments Ted Cruz
made about "New York values." "New York values" means pro-gay, pro- abortion and socially liberal.
What that is is a dog whistle to voters in Iowa and South Carolina to try to get them to support him in the upcoming caucus and primary. That's
where Donald Trump right now and Ted Cruz are fighting.
So overall, globally, yes, that was a win for Ted Cruz. But when it comes down to the actual votes in Iowa on February 1st, I think Ted Cruz might
have won that one.
CURNOW: OK, Mark Preston, thanks so much. Appreciate your analysis. And you probably saw our next story. We'll let you go and show our audience on
Wednesday.
A young song and dance group took the stage at the Donald Trump campaign rally. They are called the USA Freedom Kids. They incorporated some of
Trump's famous lines into their act, without irony, it seems.
For some, though, they stole the show. You've got to look at this one.
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CURNOW: Only in America. The group was formed by the father of one of those girls, who is, of course, a Trump supporter.
Much more news after the break. Stay with us.
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CURNOW: This is CNN, I'm Robyn Curnow. Thanks so much for joining me.
A groundswell of anger and defiance in Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, after Thursday's deadly attack in the commercial hub of
Jakarta.
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CURNOW (voice-over): ISIS is claiming responsibility and police have confirmed the name of the apparent mastermind. As we learn more about him,
Indonesians are going online to tell the world we are not afraid.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CURNOW: Let's go right to our Saima Mohsin. She's in Jakarta.
Hi, there. Tell us what you know about the investigation.
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Robyn, police have been conducting raids today. This morning, they say they arrested at least three people
they believe were linked to this attack but they're not quite sure just how yet. They are waiting to confirm that.
They are also, of course, named that --
[10:25:00]
MOHSIN: -- main suspect they believe to have been the main recruiter and financier of this attack, Bahrun Naim. Now he is a 32-year old, we
believe, Indonesian man, known to authorities for quite some time.
He started off in a nonviolent extremist organization, Hizb ut-Tahrir, looking to set up a caliphate around the world but not the kind of
caliphate that ISIS want. He did go to jail and was imprisoned here for hiding ammunition that was used in an attack against police just not far
from here, in Java.
That was in 2010. He was released in 2013. Just two years later he slipped through the nets and we believe he's now in Raqqah, Syria, from
where he is orchestrating these kind of attacks. And he is trying to become the new leader of ISIS in Indonesia. Some very sinister
developments there -- Robyn.
CURNOW: Sinister developments there. Meanwhile, there has been this groundswell of reaction from the public. Tell us about that.
MOHSIN: Yes, this is not insignificant at all and incredibly important, as you can imagine, for any city that's targeted in this way and, in
particular, perhaps even more so for Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim population.
Serious concerns about ISIS gaining a foothold here. And then you see average Indonesians, 200 million Muslims out of the 250 million people
living here, mostly moderates, coming up to me and telling me, look, this doesn't represent us. We don't want this to represent us. We are not
terrorists. This is not the Islam that we practice and know about.
And just to give some perspective on that, Robyn, there are 500 fighters around about, it is believed, to be conservative estimates, but experts
tell me around 500 fighters have left Indonesia, as well as many others in Southeast Asia, to go to Iraq and Syria.
About 500 out of 200 million Muslims and 250 million Indonesians, so a lot of people coming out. You mentioned that Twitter hashtag in Indonesian
that means, "We are not afraid," trending here since the attacks on Thursday.
And, of course, today at Friday prayers, the imam at the grand mosque -- I was there today for Friday prayers -- making a very vociferous and strongly
worded statement during his sermon, saying that terrorism is a crime against humanity.
This is not a part of Islam and Islam should not be used to spread fear or violence among people -- Robyn.
CURNOW: Thanks so much. Saima there on location in Jakarta. Appreciate it.
Well, still ahead here at the INTERNATIONAL DESK, a bus full of migrants and refugees is sent to Berlin as a form of protest. More on that story
when we come back.
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CURNOW: And hello, there, I'm Robyn Curnow. You're watching the INTERNATIONAL DESK. Here's a check of the headlines.
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CURNOW: More Europeans are now questioning the wisdom of allowing in so many migrants and refugees. The impact is being felt across the continent.
Atika Shubert joins us now from Berlin, where a bus full of refugees has been sent to the German chancellor in Berlin.
Explain this to us, hi, there, Atika.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, this was a bit of a political stunt but it made a point that many Germans are asking about now,
which is just when does Germany reach capacity on the refugees coming in?
This was done by the administrator of an area called Landshut and this area has had an influx of refugees coming in, so much that they've had to put
refugees in a festival tent because they've run out of places to house them.
And what the administrator there said is that, well, if Merkel doesn't give me more resources, then I'm going to ship her these refugees. And he told
this apparently to her three months ago. And he made good on his promise last night. Take a listen to what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PETER DREIER (PH), DISTRICT ADMINISTER OF LANDSHUT: (through translator): I told the chancellor in an open letter three months ago that our
capacities would be exhausted. I'm always in favor of putting these people up in a humanely way, not in temporary shelters, for a month in gymnasiums
or anything like that. We simply cannot provide humane accommodation at this rate and in these numbers anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUBERT: Now there are 57 refugees on the bus and it took them most of the day to get here. It was really more of a symbolic gesture. They did not
meet in person with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But the point was made and it's not the only town. There are a number of cities and towns here that feel they are just under too much strain, that
they don't have any more school gymnasiums or community halls to house all the refugees and they say there has to be a slowing down of the numbers and
more resources being put in -- Robyn.
CURNOW: Indeed. And you say that's a symbolic move. Also in Europe, some nonsymbolic moves being taken. Switzerland, Denmark looking how they can
recoup some of the money that is spent on refugees. Tell us about that, some controversial plans.
SHUBERT: Yes, Denmark has been debating legislation, which would say that if any refugees or asylum seekers come across with any assets of more than
a certain amount, they would be taken by the state and be used to pay for their accommodation and other services while they were staying in Denmark.
In the meantime, Switzerland has actually already put this into effect and, in fact, it's a law that's been in place the last 20 years or so. And what
it says is any asylum seeker who comes in, if they have assets over 1,000 Swiss francs, which actually amounts to less than $1,000, then they can be
confiscated and, again, used to pay for their accommodation, social services and basic care while they're in Switzerland.
Now we did call the secretary of migration there. They said this has happened to only a little bit more than 100 asylum seekers out of tens of
thousands that have been accepted into the country.
But it is a policy in effect and say its basis is basically social benefits, that even Swiss nationals who want to get benefits from the state
need to prove that they are making less than 1,000 francs a month, so that's the basis of it.
But as you can imagine, it's still being heavily criticized by refugee aid groups that say taking away the possessions of a refugee as they come in
just isn't going to help the situation at all and, in fact, leaves them in a position even more destitute and reliant on the state.
CURNOW: OK, Atika Shubert, thanks so much for that update on the controversial issues across Europe.
[10:35:00]
CURNOW: UNICEF says its staff in Syria witnessed a teenager in the besieged city of Madaya die of hunger this week as food continues to arrive
there. The U.N. charity says a 16-year old named Ali (ph) died in a makeshift hospital. A second wave of aid reached a number of besieged
towns, including Madaya, on Thursday. The United Nations general secretary said the use of starvation as a weapon is a war crime.
A setback in the fight against Ebola. Just hours after global health experts said the outbreak in West Africa was over, the World Health
Organization has confirmed a new death from the deadly virus in Sierra Leone, in a town near the border with Guinea.
Health officials had warned there might be some flare-ups and called for caution and vigilance. The epidemic killed more than 11,000 people since
emerging in late 2013.
Still ahead, guilty verdicts in what's believed to be the largest burglary in British history. We'll have more on the Hatton Garden heist and how
police got their guys.
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CURNOW: We're back and I want to tell you about an unusual meeting held at the Vatican earlier. Pope Francis met with executive chairman of Google's
parent company, Alphabet. The session with Eric Schmidt was brief and private. The pope is known for being tech savvy and he is the first
pontiff to hold a Google Hangout, he's also been active on Twitter.
He's called the Internet a, quote, "gift from God," but he's also warned that it should never replace human contact.
Detectives investigating London's Hatton Garden jewelry heist are still hunting a mystery suspect. The metropolitan police issued an urgent public
appeal for help in tracing the man only known as Basil and the missing two- thirds of the loot.
Now it comes after three elderly men were found guilty of being involved in last year's raid. Our Phil Black has much more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: First it was the scale, the ambition, the professionalism of the $20 million heist that took place here at the Hatton
Garden Safe Deposit Company over last year's Easter long weekend that created headlines around the world.
But then not long after that, police announced that they had caught who they thought was responsible and that was pretty surprising, too, a gang of
largely gray-haired men of advanced years, led by a 76-year old.
Four of those men quickly admitted their guilt; four others have been fighting the charges in court. Today three of them were found guilty.
Now the police say that not long after the burglary, this gang was feeling pretty cocky, bragging about having gotten away with it, joking about what
a great movie it would all make.
And the police say they knew this because, unbeknownst to the criminals, they were following them and listening in on their conversations.
[10:40:00]
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BLACK (voice-over): At a glance, it looks innocuous, a white transit van travels through the back streets of London at the start of last year's
Easter long weekend. Nearby, two men in high-visibility vests are on foot. Again, on the face of it, unremarkable. But this was the moment caught on
security cameras that a $20 million jewelry heist began to unfold.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was one of the largest burglaries that has ever taken place within London in recent times. It was meticulously planned
over a three-year period.
BLACK (voice-over): The target, the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company in the heart of London's Diamond District.
This video shows how the gang of thieves used a fire escape to come and go from the building over a period of three days, careful to hide their faces
from the camera.
Once inside, they used a lift shaft to access the basement. They cut through metal bars and drilled through a thick concrete wall to climb into
the vault, where they raided dozens of boxes containing precious stones and valuables.
The thieves casually loaded two wheelie bins into the transit van and drove away, leaving little forensic evidence. In the end, investigators followed
data from land lines and mobile phones, to a gang led by pension-aged, highly experienced criminals.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They thought they pulled it off, they thought they'd, obviously, secured their own pension pot.
BLACK (voice-over): The police began their surveillance operation, planting listening devices in their cars and swooped in to make arrests
after the suspects were seen moving some of the stolen goods.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They'll break in. They'd thought they'd got away with it and they were talking about films being made themselves.
BLACK (voice-over): Four men fought the charges in court; four others admit they were involved; one insisting he wanted to come clean, showed
police where he hid part of the loot, under a memorial stone in a London cemetery.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They were callous, had no consideration for those victims of crime whatsoever. And I'll ask members of the public to
actually look past their actual age. They were well-schooled individuals in relation to criminal activity. Members of the public should look past
the glamorization of this crime.
BLACK (voice-over): Prosecutors say only around one-third of the stolen items have been recovered. Around $14 million worth is still missing.
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BLACK: Police are still looking for what remains of that loot. They are also looking for another man. They say his name is Basil but that's all
they know but believe he played a crucial role in the job, that he was the one with the key to the front door here at the Hatton Gardens Safe Deposit
Company and let the gang in on both nights the burglary took place.
Despite all the preparation, all the knowledge that these guys had about the inside layout and the obstacles they would face, the police say they
have no reason to believe that this was an inside job.
CURNOW: Phil Black there. And, of course, a lot of the preparation and divvying up of the spoils afterwards seems to have been done in that local
pub.
Well, that does it for us here at INTERNATIONAL DESK. Thanks so much for watching. I'm Robyn Curnow. I'll be back in just over an hour with more
on the U.S. markets. But don't go anywhere, "WORLD SPORT" is next.
We will leave you, though, with some more pictures of British astronaut Tim Peake on his first-ever spacewalk.
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