Return to Transcripts main page
The Global Brief with Bianca Nobilo
King Charles III, Siblings Hold Vigil At Queen's Coffin; At Least 440 Graves Found At Mass Burial In Izium; White House: Team Working To Secure Griner, Whelan's Return Home; Uber Launches Investigation After Hack. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired September 16, 2022 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN HOST: Hello, and welcome to CNN's special coverage of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I'm Bianca Nobilo, overlooking the
palace of Westminster.
Tonight -- King Charles III and his siblings held a vigil at the coffin of Queen Elizabeth, as she is lying in state.
And in other headlines, we have a live report from Kyiv, where Ukraine says at least 440 unmarked graves have been discovered in the recently liberated
town of Izium.
(MUSIC)
NOBILO: Another momentous day capping off a monumental week for the royal family. In the past few hours, King Charles and his siblings held a vigil
around the coffin of their mother in Westminster rule. This, as preparations are well underway for the Queen's funeral on Monday, and more
on that in a moment.
[17:00:04]
Earlier, the King and Queen consort completed their tour of the U.K. with a visit to Wales.
As you can hear, there was a mixed reaction as the royal couple arrived at the Cardiff Castle. Much of the reception was positive, though. The king
thanked the people of Wales, saying it was a country very close to his mother's heart.
Back in London, cues have reopened for mourners to pay their final respect to the Queen at Westminster Hall. There had been opposed due to
overcrowding. There are warnings that people may now be in line for a long wait, with very cold weather, which I can testify to forecast overnight.
Max Foster is at Buckingham Palace, while Scott McLean has been among the crowds in Westminster.
Max, let's start with you. Can you tell us more about that mixed reaction that King Charles received in Wales, and how did he respond to the boos?
MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think there was a huge surprise. Well, you know, there's a lot of anti-monarchy feeling, and the
monarchy, not as pro monarchy in Wales I would say, as other parts of the U.K. It's always been that way. So, they are expecting some sort of
reaction, but I actually think we're expecting a lot more reaction.
The -- as you say, the response was overwhelmingly positive. I think the reaction that was very heartening to Prince Charles, because there were
actually quite big crowds coming out. I think in all the nations, they have said that these use this very important week to emphasize that he's the
king of all four nations and the United Kingdom, not just England.
So, you can see the cheering. There and then, there was some bowing as well. I think that was expected, but it could have been worse. Basically,
that is the last stop in his national tour. You know focuses on more and more meetings, and obviously, gearing up to that moment when all the heads
of states start flying in over the weekend. That's going to keep him and the prime minister pretty busy.
NOBILO: And, Max, how is the late Queen received when she went to Wales? Did you run into similar complicated feelings towards the monarchy?
FOSTER: Yeah, I don't really remember when there was booing or anything. But you know you never have had big crowds in Wales. I'm not really -- you
know what it's like the traditional tension between Wales and England. There are seen as more English.
Prince of Wales, the traditionally title was held by someone from Wales, but then, obviously, overtime, it was all integrated and now with the
British monarch, some people in Wales view the English monarch appointing the prince of Wales.
That's really where it comes from. The Queen, she was popular in Wales. She was practically popular in Scotland. I think that Charles, it has worked
over this time as prince of Wales, to really develop that relationship, and now handed over to the current prince of Wales, Prince William, to build up
that relationship, and create that bond really between the monarchy and Wales. This is one of the challenges going forward, as we transition.
NOBILO: And, Scott, the queues reportedly went even longer today around London debate the late Queen respect inside Westminster hall. Some say that
people have needed medical attention. What more can you tell us?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, several hundred incidents where people had needed medical attention. In fact, we just saw paramedics, or
first responders, rushing down to the lineup. The most common thing they're finding is people who are fainting, or feeling faint. And it's not
surprising, considering that people in this lineup here, we've been talking to them, and they've been here for some 12 hours already. And they still
have ways to go.
So, they still have to go across this bridge, and then go up towards the houses of parliament. That's where Westminster Hall is. That's where the
Queen's body is lying in state. So, it is getting quite cold. As well, the conditions are far from ideal, and these people have been in this lineup
since 9:00, 10:00 in the morning. And they still have some time to go.
And so, earlier today, you actually had officials who had cut off the line briefly to discourage people from coming, because it had gotten so, so
long. That didn't work out very well, that, because of course, there was just a queue to enter the queue, so they thought it was better to keep the
original queue going.
So, just wondering how long it has been in line for?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I arrived at 10:00 this morning.
MCLEAN: Ten o'clock this morning, and how long do expect to have before you get there?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Around two more, three more hours.
MCLEAN: What has been, like what has kept you going all this time?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We didn't realize quite how long it's going to be until we got in the queue. And you're kind of committed, and you think,
what's going to be the end of it? I think it makes it so worthwhile.
MCLEAN: Are you comfortable right now? Are you warm?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've seen some lovely people. So you have this amazing time right now, and your kind of saving spaces for each other,
getting drinks to each other, so that's quite nice too.
[17:05:10]
But, yeah, no, I think it's better, you know, we are some a bit tired, but we are going to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
MCLEAN: You can literally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Can you describe for me what the atmosphere has been like in the lineup?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We've had -- we've had other colleagues, or friends, in the termination.
MCLEAN: How far have you traveled to be here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Bermondsey.
MCLEAN: Bermondsey, very close, in London. You didn't have to go far?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I saw two people coming from -- Liverpool. You talk to them, go on.
MCLEAN: You came from Liverpool.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm from Liverpool.
MCLEAN: And what made you want to come down?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Seventy years on the throne, after all what she's done for us, just to say thanks. Come down, and be a part of it, line up, we've
all been here since 10:00 a.m.
We've got about three hours sleep. We missed our train home. We've got nowhere to get home. So --
MCLEAN: It's a national bonding experience, it seems like.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, I think it's fair. You've got people giving coffees, teas on the doors, steps, you just don't get that anyway. It's
just, it is sad, it's heartbreaking what's going on and it's devastating, which is a sense of joy and excitement at the same time. And meeting all
these people today, has been the best thing ever, it seems like, --
MCLEAN: Just quickly, how old are you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Nineteen.
MCLEAN: There you go. Thank you.
So, there you go, Bianca, a real range of ages and, you know, places that people have come from, it's been remarkable. We've met people from all
across the country, even met people who have traveled specifically here from Canada, the United States, south Africa, and the list goes on and on.
For a lot of people, of course, this is just wanting to be part of history, wanting to witness something that, likely won't happen again in their
lifetimes, or anything really like it. And for most other people, though, this is just about paying respect to a woman that they really deeply,
deeply admire.
NOBILO: It's astonishing to say. That lady or just speaking to, Scott, has already been waiting for 12 hours, and had to wait another few more. And
she was in very high spirits. It's incredible to see the lengths people are going to just to say thank you.
Max, just one last one to you, can you tell us more about the vigil that has been tonight, and tell us about the emotional scenes from the late
Queen]s grandchildren?
FOSTER: Yeah, I mean, also for the people, if they're queuing for that long, and then if they're back in the 15 minute window, you've got a vigil
from three, four children of the Queen. But also got a chance to see the new king, it's been an extraordinary moment, I think.
Well, it's full of pomp and ceremony. It's also full of symbolism. A lot of people saying, how hard it must be for them to be standing there, morning
in front of the public, piling by. But actually, that's the whole point. This is a moment, you, know these few days are all about the public having
their rare chance to pay their respects. The families have their chance to do that. They'll have another chance to do that on Monday when they marry
her, and to have that private moment.
But this was meant to be all about the connection between the family and the public and the Queen. So, actually, this is something I think, the four
of them really did want to happen. And seeing them all in uniform as well, Prince Andrew, not officially allowed to wear uniforms, because he doesn't
have any honorary titles anymore. They're stripped away from him.
And the king allowed him to wear that uniform, in this one ceremonial event. So, this is a signal of unity, to show the world that the family is
together. This time, you know, everyone is coming together around the Queen's memory, something very heartening to her. But I think everyone in
the family's getting really sort of warned by the public reaction, really. The difference, really, people are showing at this moment, as you can see,
by the people there.
NOBILO: Max Foster at Buckingham Palace, and Scott McLean in Westminster, thank you both so much.
Police chiefs say that the Queen's funeral will be the biggest security operation in history. More than 10,000 officers will be on duty for the
event, as hundreds of thousands of mourners prepared to align the funeral from London to Windsor.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NOBILO (voice-over): These mourners are among 2 million expected to gather in London ahead of the Queen's funeral, but the capital authorities
balancing ceremony and safety is their toughest test yet. Thousands of officers are being deployed each day, 1,000 personnel alone will guard the
line to Westminster Hall where the Queen's coffin is lying in state.
[17:10:04]
Air traffic above London was suspended while the cortege made its journey there, 1,500 soldiers on hand to help with crowd control. With such large
numbers comes high risk.
NICK ALDWORTH, FORMER UK COUNTER TERRORISM COORDINATOR: The U.K., our national threat is really substantial. That means a tourist attack is
likely. We know that terrorists are attracted to crowds, and we're about to generate one of the largest crowds that you can possibly ever generate in
this country.
NOBILO: A pinnacle will, of course, be Monday's state funeral, which police say will be the largest in British's history.
STUART CUNDY, DEPUTY ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, METROPOLITAN POLICE: This is the single largest protection operation that the Met Police has been ever
undertaken. There's nothing ever that could probably possibly compare to, not just what's going on already, but what will occur on Monday at the
state funeral.
NOBILO: There is hundreds of dignitaries to consider from the king of Spain to France's President Emmanuel macron. They've been urged to limit
the size of their entourages. But Downing Street may make exceptions for certain guests, one of the most high-profile, being President Biden.
ALDWORTH: There is no doubt about it that the Americans a very demanding customers, in terms of security. And we recognize what each other's
boundaries are in terms of what we can ask for, and what can be delivered.
NOBILO: Planning for protests is also inevitable.
ALDWORTH: If they don't break the law, it's regrettable, but it needs to be allowed to take place. I met the Queen on many different occasions in
many different settings, and I, for one, and certain that she wouldn't be here today advocating for people's rights.
NOBILO: The crowds are still coming, but Britain has been preparing for this for many years, to ensure her majesty's final sendoff goes as smoothly
as possible.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NOBILO: Still to come tonight, grim new details about a mass burial site in Ukraine. Authorities say that some of the hundreds of bodies found show
signs of torture.
And the U.S. is announcing another massive security package for Ukraine. We'll break down what weapons are included, and which ones are left out.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NOBILO: Ukraine's president says it is critical that the world sees the horrific images coming out of the town of Izium, so that it fully
understands Russia's cruelty and terrorism. We're about to show you what could be the biggest mass burial site in Europe since the 1990s. And we
warn you, this video is extremely disturbing.
Ukraine says that it has discovered at least 440 unmarked graves in Izium after occupying Russian troops were forced. Out is his children and entire
families are among those very there. Some of the bodies are showing signs of torture.
Our Ben Wedeman is following the story tonight from Kyiv.
[17:15:03]
Ben, how much do we know about what the Ukrainian authorities have discovered in Izium?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, details are scant at this point. Journalists did get access to the site today. But the
operation of exhuming the bodies and examining them is just beginning. We did hear from the governor of the Kharkiv region, where Izium is located,
and according to him, of the bodies that have been exhumed so far, 99 percent, in his words, show signs of a violent death, and he said some of
the bodies had their hands tied behind their backs. Another had a rope around its neck. He said children are among the dead.
But at this point we don't know sort of how all of these people met their end. Keep in mind, that in March, Izium was under intense Russian
bombardment still under Ukrainian control and some of those bodies could be there. I was in Severodonetsk before it fell to the Russians, and even then
local authorities didn't have the manpower to dispose of the bodies of all the people who had been killed in the Russian shelling.
But we do know the un is sending a team from its human rights monitoring organization to Izium, and also, perhaps, down the line, they will be
sending a war crimes investigation team. Their job could be complicated by the fact that this vast area, of about 8,000 square kilometers, that has
been liberated by the Ukrainians, continues to come under all and artillery bombardment from the Russians and particularly at this grave site the
soldiers excavating there have said that they could find booby trapped and grenades among the graves. So, it could be a risky venture.
NOBILO: And, Ben, how has President Zelenskyy responded to this discovery, and what is he planning to do next?
WEDEMAN: Well, I think he's going to allow the investigators to do their job. It will take some time to analyze the DNA that's taken from the
bodies, but Zelenskyy has made it clear. He wants the world to see what has happened, to know what has happened, and to bring those behind this mass
burial site, the people there have actually been killed by the Russians, to be brought to justice.
Bringing them to justice, however, could be difficult -- Bianca.
NOBILO: Ben Wedeman in Kyiv, thank you very much.
The United States says it will send another $600 million worth of weaponry to Ukraine. The package includes ammunition for advanced rocket systems as
well as conventional artillery rounds. But it leaves out the one thing Ukraine wants most, a type of long range ammunition.
Let's bring in CNN's Oren Liebermann for details. He is live with for us at the pentagon.
Oren, can you explain what you see as the working behind this decision not to send Ukraine the type of weaponry that they do desire the most, that
does seem to be demonstrably tipping the balance on the battlefield?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: So, Ukraine for quite some time now has been requesting an ammunition known as an ATCMS. It's a long-
range precision rocket fired from a HIMARS launcher, which is one of the key vehicles, one of the key systems that has done incredibly well for
Ukraine. By long-range I mean it has a range of nearly 200 miles. It could strike deep into Russian territory.
And the Biden administration, in making its decisions, and the pentagon as part of that process, what is careful about what it saying. It has shifted
positions in the past. It has over the last six months it has been willing to send more powerful and more precise weaponry but ATCMS at least for now,
according to defense officials and others that we've spoken with, remain off the table.
Right now, the Pentagon's foot focus is known as the GMLRS, guided multiple launch rocket system munition. It is a GPS guided round also fired from the
HIMARS launcher but also has a range of 40 to 50 miles. Ukraine has used it very effectively to hit Russian supply depots, ammo depots, logistics hubs
and command posts, and more. They continue to do so do so.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Mark Milley, said the U.S. is providing thousands of rounds for that and they have been very careful and
giving a precise number in Ukraine has used it to repeatedly hit targets. The U.S.'s position is that effectively there are more targets to hit at
this point and the GMLRS round fired from that HIMARS is still and will still be an incredibly effective weapon, and that's where the focus should
be.
[17:20:01]
As one defense official told us, they are still in a sweet spot for HIMARS with the GMLRS rounds. So that's why they are not using the much longer
range ATCMS.
NOBILO: Oren Liebermann for us at the Pentagon, thank you.
The Kremlin is trying to put a positive spin on its recent battlefield losses in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin is vowing to press
ahead with his war aims despite fresh criticism about the reality on the ground.
On Friday, in his prime minister openly rebuked Mr. Putin as they met in Uzbekistan. It's the first face to face meeting since Russia's invasion.
Narendra Modi told Mr. Putin that today's era is not of war.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has also voiced concern. And meanwhile, there's growing unease in Russia over the war where the war is going.
Senior international correspondent Matthew Chance is with us now.
Matthew, tell us -- do you think the tide is beginning to turn against Vladimir Putin, certainly when it comes to Russians themselves?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think it might be a bit early to predict that tide turning. We still got a lot of popular
support, but I will say is that what we are seeing since the extraordinary military gains that Ukraine has made in the past couple of weeks, is
increasing amounts of criticism of being publicly voiced in Russia. It's an extraordinary situation in a country that doesn't normally tolerate public
dissent, let alone official dissent from the Kremlin line.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Ukraine's gain here set to dramatic music by their own troops is increasing
Putin's loss. Russia's stunning military setbacks stirring broad public criticism at home, which shocked military hardliners voicing anger.
DMITRY PALYUGA, RUSSIAN LOCAL DEPUTY: Hi, I'm Dmitry.
CHANCE: And dozens of elected local Russian politicians too signing an official petition offered by this local chancellor demanding President
Putin be impeached. Russians have offered to pay his fines for speaking out, even to hide him, he told me, if the Kremlin tries to put him in jail.
PALYUGA: Well, obviously, Russian army is being destroyed right now. So, we'll lose people, we'll lose weapons, and we'll lose our ability to
defend.
CHANCE: And that fact that the Russian army is suffering these setbacks, that is fueling anger, isn't it, not just amongst liberal aspects of
Russian society, but also amongst hard liners as well. They're furious.
PALYUGA: Yeah. Actually pro-war activists now really feel betrayed. And there is a point where both liberal group of people and pro-war group of
people can have the same goal.
CHANCE: And like these early antiwar protesters in Moscow back in February, hard liners complain of Russia being too soft on Ukraine and
sending woefully underprepared troops into battle. But it's the heavy price Russia is paying where there may be common cause.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi, my name is (INAUDIBLE)
CHANCE: And why another Russian councilor has filed a second petition, calling for Putin to resign. The Kremlin strongman, she told me, is
depriving Russians of a future.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Russians have become poor, they are not welcome anywhere. And there is less of facilities, supplies. Russia doesn't really
produce anything itself. And I don't know what future can be for the country which is isolated.
CHANCE: Can you talk to me about what impact that lack of a future is having on people that you speak to?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ah, well, it's quite depressing now, very depressing atmosphere in Russia, and the frustration feeling fear, anger, shame.
CHANCE: The Kremlin insists the mood of the people is still with the Russian president.
But the growing criticism at home and abroad may at least threaten to take the swagger out of Putin's step.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHANCE: Bianca, tonight, at least, 70 deputies from cities across Russia have signed that petition of Vladimir Putin to resign. The five deputies
that publicly called for his de impeachment, they have been prosecuted and they have been fined several, the equivalent of several hundred dollars
each.
[17:25:00]
But it's interesting, the criticism seems to be so widespread that you are not seeing the Kremlin and its security forces taking stronger action
against what are, as I say, in the context of Russia, really quite rare public displays of dissent from the Kremlin line.
NOBILO: That's fascinating and quite revealing, as you say.
Matthew Chance, thank you so much for joining us.
Now, for decades, Queen Elizabeth considered Canada her second home. But after her death, some Canadians are starting to consider a future without
the monarchy. Details for you, ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NOBILO: A warm welcome back to a very chilly night in London.
A short while ago the Queen's four children finished standing guard at her coffin. The late monarch is lying in state at Westminster Hall until her
funeral on Monday. King Charles III was followed by his sister, Princess Anne, and his brothers, Prince Andrew and Edward.
They paid their respects as they did it St. Giles' Cathedral in Scotland earlier this week. The Queen's eight grandchildren, including Princes
William and Harry, will stand guard on Saturday.
CNN's Richard Quest is here with me.
Richard, it is another remarkable sight to see. It is such a deeply personal moment, to have the family standing guard, and then the public
respectfully milling around. How significant is this?
RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS EDITOR-AT-LARGE: Hugely. The image, for me now, of this event, one of them is going to be Charles's face. It's etched
in grief, exhaustion. The man is in his 70s and he's traveled all the country and all he has vowed to do this week.
You can just see him during that vigil, the private thoughts that were going through his head. I thought the most moving bit of that vigil was
when they were all in position -- the leader of the guards, hits it on the floor, and they just all got into position and as of one did that. And they
stood there for 20 odd minutes.
The other members of the royal family, the extended family, were there on the dais in the viewing area. Very touching. Very meaningful. Very
meaningful.
NOBILO: And it was quite an emotional scene, wasn't it, from Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie who are quite close to --
QUEST: They were. And Princess Beatrice usually has been very distressed when she's looking at flowers, she had to be comforted.
They would've been particularly pleased, I think is the word, I don't know, but that their father, Andrew, the duke of York, Prince Andrew, the duke of
York, was there, in a military uniform. I know I'm not starting uniform wars again, but he was there in a uniform because the king had said this
was acceptable on this occasion, and he will be allowed to wear uniform. As indeed we will see prince harry tomorrow, in a uniform, when they start the
vigil.
It's also fascinating, because you're going to have the four of them at different corners and they're all the different grandchildren.
NOBILO: And why would an exception have been made for the vigil?
QUEST: For Andrew, I don't really know other than the fact that it was a special respect. He actually, I'm saying it was an exception. I think he
just decided to do it. I think the view was that he said, I'm going to wear a uniform as a special mark of respect.
Harry, the king apparently -- the king apparently said to Harry, I would like you to wear uniform. You were serving members. You were in the armed
forces for ten years. You served two tours of active duty and war. So you should wear uniforms.
NOBILO: And can we remind our viewers who might not be is up to date as you are, as to why they were both not going to wear uniforms?
QUEST: Because neither of them are serving members of the armed forces. And neither of them have honorary positions in any regiment. They're not
colonels of any regiment. Anne is colonel -- admiral in the Navy, and they don't have it.
So they're not entitled. They're entitled to wear their metals. They did their distinguished service. But they're not entitled to wear uniforms.
Once you have left the service, you can't just pop the uniform on. But they were allowed to do so. I think it's fine and proper. At the end of the day
they served, both men served and the Queen would've wanted.
NOBILO: And just before we go, do you feel the mood in London changing at all as we gear up towards the funeral?
QUEST: I think there's attention starting to develop. We know something is going to happen. In a sense that we know that a big event is upon us, an
important national event is upon us. You can feel like a pressure cooker, the anticipation growing around this.
Where are you going to be? Are you going to watch? And that I suppose is what it's meant to be. It's a national, an international occasion, a
national occasion.
NOBILO: Richard Quest, thank you so much.
QUEST: Thank you.
NOBILO: The events that Richard was just describing will culminate on Monday, and pretty soon leaders will start coming here from all corners of
the globe. In fact some already have. Some will be coming from the Middle East. That part of the world hold special meaning for King Charles III, as
Becky Anderson reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The new king and his Queen consort dipping their fingers in what is believed to be the baptismal site
of Jesus Christ. Then heir to the throne, Charles' visit to Jordan and Egypt in 2021 was significant, being the first overseas tour by a senior
member of the royal family since before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The king's affection for Jordan, like his mother's, well-established. Here 2015 meeting with Jordan's King Abdullah II, a relationship that dates back
more than 20 years.
NASSER JUDAH, FORMER DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER OF JORDAN: I have no doubt in my mind that this friendship between our two royal families, between our
peoples, will continue to flourish, prosper, and get stronger by the day, under his majesty King Charles III, when we have had the pleasure of
welcoming in Jordan on numerous occasions. He knows Jordan and he knows many friends in Jordan.
ANDERSON: Over the years, he has undertaken hundreds of documented meetings with leaders around the region.
The crown prince of Bahrain, Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa, Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, the emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad al
Thani, Oman's sultan, Haitham bin Tarik, Egypt's president, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and the list goes on.
DAVID ROBERTS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, KING'S COLLEGE LONDON: There are an awful lot of very senior relationships that have a bit of history to them,
which, I'm sure will help, as it were, going forward, when it comes to reestablishing those relationships now that he is king. I don't
particularly see, you know, all that much changing, in the sense that the Middle East will continue, I'm sure, to be a key part of his portfolio.
ANDERSON: His visit to that holy site in Jordan, however, an example of the kings affinity with the Middle East going much deeper than mere
diplomacy. He has long had a keen interest in Islamic art and culture, and studied history archaeology and anthropology at the University of
Cambridge.
[17:30:08]
More recently, he spent time learning Arabic so that he could better understand the Quran. He has toured numerous ancient religious sites.
KING CHARLES III, UNITED KINGDOM: How else can we heal the divide between east and west?
ANDERSON: Although a Christian, the new monarch is made reaching out to the Muslim community a cornerstone of his public service. He also serves as
a patron of the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies.
FARHAN NIZAM, DIRECTOR, OXFORD CENTRE FOR ISLAMIC STUDIES: For King Charles, this search for spirituality within the Christian tradition and
then looking for commonalities with other faiths has been very important. His first major lecture at the center in 1993, he spoke about the
indebtedness to the West has to Muslim civilization. Now, that might be a fact when known to historians, but for him to stand up and say this, I
think reminded people that we are talking of a universal civilization to which all people have contributed and from which all people can benefit.
ANDERSON: Indeed, the king sees himself not as just defender of the faith but also is a protector of all faiths, a bridge traversing the Western and
Arab worlds.
So, while the Queen's passing signals the closing of a chapter, Charles's track record in the region suggests a new one is just beginning.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NOBILO: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other Canadian leaders will also travel to the UK in the coming hours. During her long reign, Queen
Elizabeth developed a close relationship with Canada and individual Canadians.
In fact, as Paula Newtown reports, some Canadians think the monarchy's time in Canada is over.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Nicknamed the Queen's cowboys, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on their musical ride. Queen
Elizabeth adored these horses. She herself wrote Burmese, her favorite, for years.
CONSTABLE JENNIFER DOWDEN, ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE: I think the finest stems from her childhood, experiencing the musical ride at such a
young age and seeing all the horses and the riders in red, just having that connection to Canada.
NEWTON: By the Queen's own admission, that connection was profound. She considered Canada her second home, visited the country more than any other,
was its Queen for nearly half of Canada's existence.
CATHERINE CLARK, DAUGHTER OF FORMER CANADIAN PM JOE CLARK: Many people felt they had some kind of personal connection to her.
NEWTON: And it is that personal connection that so endeared the Queen to Canadians.
Catherine Clark, the daughter of former Prime Minister Joe Clark, remembers a late night royal event she attended as a young girl. The Queen asked her,
what are you still doing here?
CLARK: I said I'm still here because I can't leave until you leave. So I'm waiting for you to leave. And she said, well, then, let's leave together,
shall we? And off we trotted together. And we chatted all the way to the elevator.
NEWTON: It is a standout story among many.
BRIAN BAILEY, CANADIAN WHOSE FAMILY HOSTED QUEEN ELIZABETH II: This was their gift. All signed personally. It's a pretty special photo.
NEWTON: Brian and Doug Bailey were young men when the royal family visited their farm in the province of Manitoba.
BAILEY: We had a wonderful visit with the Queen. It was one of those things that when we got word was happening we couldn't quite believe it was
going to happen. But it did. And when it happened it was just like visiting with our neighbors. Prince Charles on this side, princess and here.
NEWTON: The young prince here and a glimpse of the affection and charm that he must now live up to.
For King Charles, Canada will be a challenging testing ground. Even in this realm, a significant number of Canadians want an end to the monarchy. Many
indigenous leaders say the affection for the Queen obscured a brutal colonial relationship with Canada's indigenous peoples. That anger flashed
here in Winnipeg in 2021 with the toppling of royal statues.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I think when he accepts all the privileges the responsibility and the moral responsibility of putting things right. He
could be an ally for the indigenous people that he should be, what the agreement say we are to one another. But I'm not sure the status quo would
be so willing to see that progress be made so rapidly.
NEWTON: The Queen's second home will surely test King Charles and his position as head of the commonwealth. That position is not guaranteed by
his title. If he cannot preserve the monarchy here, he may not stand a chance anywhere.
[17:40:04]
Paula Newton, CNN, Ottawa.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NOBILO: Coming up, some movement but no breakthrough. U.S. President Joe Biden set to meet with relatives of two Americans detained in Russia,
Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan, as the White House tries to secure their freedom.
Then, critics say it's an American. Republican governors are accused of using migrants as political props, but the governor says that they are fed
up. We'll explain, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
NOBILO: Welcome back.
A significant moment for the families of Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan. They are expected to have their first in-person meetings with President
Biden today. The White House says there is some movement but no breakthrough as the administration holds talks with Russia aimed at winning
their freedom.
Joining me now is CNN's Kevin Liptak to discuss further.
Kevin, what are the families hoping to achieve from these meetings with the president?
KEVIN LIPTAK, CNN WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, they have been putting a lot of pressure on the White House to arrange a face to face meeting with
President Biden in the goal is to remain at the forefront of his agenda as their loved ones remain in detention in Russia for going on months. They
had spoken with the president on the phone a couple of weeks ago, but they still wanted to ensure that they could see him face to face, to really
reinforce their message. They want to get their loved ones home.
So, what the White House has is that they aren't necessarily going to deliver them the news that they wanted, which is that these people are
coming home, but they do say that there is movement on the front. They have not specified what that movement is, only to say that Russia continues to
reject this offer that was put on the table several weeks ago which would've been a prisoner swap for these two Americans for an arms dealer
that is being jailed in the United States.
Now, these meetings were set to begin within this hour. They are happening separately. One meeting with the wife of Brittney Griner, one with the
family of Paul Whelan, but the fact that they are happening on the same day shows that how intertwined these cases are, and it really rates that United
States will really only accept a deal that will release both of them at the same time.
Now, while we don't expect any necessarily breakthroughs today, next week we could see some potential movement on this when the American secretary of
state, Anthony Blinken, and the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will be in New York for the United Nations general assembly. We don't know
whether they are meeting, but this could certainly be a venue to talk further about this case which President Biden certainly wants some movement
on as they their detentions progresses, their conditions deteriorating, certainly their families will continue this pressure as their detentions
continue, Bianca.
[16:45:08]
NOBILO: Kevin Liptak, thanks so much for that update.
Now, critics are blasting it as craven and inhumane, accusing Republican governors of United States of trying to score political points at the
expense of vulnerable migrant men, women and children.
But the governor say that they're fed up, with what they say is the failure to secure the U.S. border. Fifty migrants who were flown to Martha's
vineyard two days ago, at the direction of Florida's governor, now have been relocated to Cape Cod, where they are expected to receive humanitarian
assistance. They're expected arrival, on Wednesday, quote caught local authorities off-guard, even though some migrants said they were promised
jobs and housing.
Many of them from Venezuela, and mission grappling with political and economic crisis, with no end in sight.
CNN's Miguel Marquez joins me now from Martha's Vineyard.
Miguel, we were speaking to yesterday about the migrants, and sort of attention they were receiving. How did they greet the news that they
received today?
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN U.S. CORRESPONDENT: I mean, it was like the end of a summer party this. People have only been here for two days. They mixed with
people from Martha's Vineyard to had no idea who they were two days ago.
And they came together. There was no panic. There was no chaos. There was no madness, no fear. But there was sort of a resolve on the part of people
here on Martha's Vineyard, to help people as much as they can. So they collected anything from donations, clothes, food, they had legal assistance
for them.
Here is how one volunteer put it, when asked about the sort of intersection of their lives, these people who live on these islands of the coast of
Massachusetts in these, you know, desperate migrants who came from Venezuela.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LISA BELCASTRO, VOLUNTEER WHO ASSISTED MIGRANTS: My heart breaks for them because they were not at the first priority. But I hope that for all of
them, that in all of their travels that they've had right now, that these three days, I hope they feel exceptionally loved.
MARQUEZ: And I know it's such a heartwarming, very sweet to see you guys standing by them, one by one.
BELCASTRO: Everyone's crying.
MARQUEZ: Everyone is in tears, including some of us. I mean, this was two days of your life. How much did you bond with them? How much -- how did you
get to know them?
BECASTRO: They're in my heart, forever.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MARQUEZ: So, it is relatively easy for people to sort of focus on these 50 people here in Martha's Vineyard. The problem is, these 50 or so
immigrants, they're claiming asylum, probably all of them at this point, they have papers, they have legal proceedings and other states, some of
them in Los Angeles across the country, others in Washington state, also across the country, Cincinnati, back in Texas.
So, by bringing them here, and sending them here to prove a point, to which everybody agrees, there's a problem of immigration in this country. But to
prove that point you think Venezuelan refugees, Venezuelan refugees, by the way, Ron DeSantis supports and doesn't like the government of Venezuela and
has spoken out a very much against them over the years, that, to use them in this way will only complicate their lives even more. That is the bottom
line for folks here.
Back to you.
NOBILO: Miguel Marquez for us at Martha's Vineyard, thank you so much.
Now, we're following a rapidly escalating story in Haiti, where anti government protests are growing increasingly violent. They are angry about
rampant inflation in North America's most impoverished country. They said across the capital city of Friday, and attacked the state-run TV network.
Haitian police are now banning anyone from carrying firearms in an effort to calm the situation.
Our Patrick Oppmann is tracking this developing story.
Patrick, we spoke yesterday, and you give us an update. But what's the situation today? It seems like it's deteriorating after a week of
escalating violence.
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Neither side is giving and, and as you mentioned, there's terrible eluding that's really the headlines here, which
really will affect the Haitian people. This World Food Programme, the warehouse for food, a lot of through that was destined to schools, for
about 100,000 cases what we are told. And it was a all ransacked. And part of it was set on fire.
And the World Food Programme says that none of their employees, thankfully, or heard, but of course, you had food stolen, tons of food stolen. And
then, the facilities were lit on fire. So, that will affect the people who are using that food to survive.
Of course, there's a dire shortage of food right now. And people are of course very angry about the government has proposed, and said they would
double the price of fuel in that country.
[17:50:06] That essentially, they're going to be taking away subsidies, because they cannot afford to continue to give these subsidies.
But that has made many, many people angry. People say they're not able to make money, they're not able to work if these subsidies are taken away. And
unfortunately, it means and they're targeting international aid organizations like the World Food Programme that have scaled up in the last
few months, as the need has gotten so much worse, and the sad realities, by attacking programs like the World Food Programme, that Haitian children
will now go hungry because they have taken away literally, the food that was destined for those children.
NOBILO: Patrick, you mentioned people being angry at the government and, obviously, the economic circumstances. But what is the government doing to
respond to this? And who is in charge?
OPPMANN: You know, that is a great question, because for sometime now, the prime minister of Haiti, Ariel Henry, who of course is acting as head of
state because the previous president was assassinated. And so, there is a crisis of leadership. You mentioned that the police have told people they
cannot take guns out in the street, even if they have a legal permit to do so. And people are just ignoring that.
The sad reality in Haiti is now that the gangs are better armed than the police. The police tend to not go in many neighborhoods across the country,
even in whole parts of cities where the gangs hold sway, and are essentially in control. So, this is a losing battle on the part of the
police and the government, and many people tell us that essentially, they don't see any government services, any police, and that it is a gangs and a
sense of lawlessness that is increasingly in control of this country.
NOBILO: Patrick Oppmann for us in Cuba, thank you very much. Good to talk to you.
Five separate backs across Lebanon were all held hostage on Friday. The latest in the string of attacks by people who nearly got to their own money
out of the banks. And severe economic crisis in Lebanon has forced banks and the government to enact strict limits on bank withdrawals. A Lebanese
army official says that Fridays series of holdups appears to have been coordinated. But it's not clear if that's true.
There are increasing signs, also, that the U.S. economy may be slipping into recession. U.S. stocks have had another tough day on Friday, to cap a
week steep losses. That's because FedEx, the shipping giant, his businesses tied to economic activity, says its revenues will be a half billion dollars
less than expected this year. That drove FedEx stock and the rest of the stock market into yet another losing day.
Uber is investigating a cyber security incident. Someone hacked into the company's computer network using Slack. Reporters say that hackers sent
messages to employee, think that the company has suffered a data breach. Explicit photos also posted on an internal page.
Uber says there is no evidence the hack involves sensitive use of data, but it's not clear exactly how far into Uber's systems and the hacker was able
to penetrate.
CNN cybersecurity reporter Sean Lyngaas joins us now from Washington.
Sean, great to talk to you and have you on the program.
Should we be concerned about this? Should people be locking off Slack? Or my producers or the team could be in trouble if that's the case?
SEAN LYNGAAS, CNN CYBERSECURITY REPORTER: Great to be here, Bianca. I think it's obviously the challenge is not unique to Uber, in terms of
protecting their networks from stuff like this. There is evidence that the hacker was able to target a specific employee at Uber and compromise their
accounts, and then, moved through the network. Hackers shared a screenshot of evidence that they had compromised the network with CNN.
We weren't able to independently verify this, but experts I spoke to said that it appears that the hacker has compromised quite a bit in terms of
access, you know, the screenshots included suggestions that they were in the Slack at Uber but also, in other accounts at the company administrative
accounts.
And this isn't the first time this has happened to Uber and it's not a surprise, because big companies are targets. But in 2016, Uber suffered
another data breach that it's exposed information on some 57 million customers and drivers. And in that case, they were accused of covering up
the breach, and had to settle with authorities here to the tune of many million dollars.
So, this is not a new experience for Uber but it seems to be very much not a drill, and it's something that they're going to be working on over the
weekend -- Bianca.
NOBILO: And as you say, this isn't a new experience for Uber, but clearly, they are still vulnerable. Do you feel like they've learned from the
previous hacks?
LYNGAAS: I think, I'm sure they have sought to learn, for sure.
[17:55:01]
But the thing about this, it can happen to even organizations with really mature security programs, because once you get in through one user and you
are not detecting that, it can escalate pretty quickly. So, you know, oftentimes, maybe not in this case, but hackers will target the weak link
of someone on their mobile phone who works at the company, that might be using a personal device that has less security checks. And then, move
through the network. So, it's not easy, Bianca.
NOBILO: Uh-huh. Sean Lyngaas, thanks so much for joining us.
Before we go, we want to remind you about what happens this weekend. It will be full of events honoring the Queen before her state funeral on
Monday. And here is what we can expect. The Queen will continue to lie in state until Sunday, another vigil will be held by her grandchildren,
tomorrow. And Sunday brings a gathering of world leaders and national moments of silence.
Well, that's it for this hour. I'm going to go and de-thaw and have a very hot beverage.
But do stay with CNN, and have a great weekend. And I'll see for the special coverage on Monday.
"THE SITUATION ROOM" is next.
END
