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Coronavirus Pandemic: France and Italy Crack Down on the Unvaccinated; New AUKUS Deal Infuriates Beijing, Paris; Afghan Female Judges Fear Reprisal Attacks; North Korea's Nuclear Ambitions; Satellite Images Reveal Construction Underway At A North Korean Uranium Enrichment Plant; Protests, Technical Snags Hit El Salvador's Bitcoin Roll Out; Indebted China Property Giant Close To Collapse. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired September 17, 2021 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[02:00:00]
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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Hello and welcome to "CNN Newsroom," everyone. I'm Michael Holmes. Appreciate your company.
Coming up here on the program, if you want to work in Italy, you will have to follow new COVID rules. They are among the toughest in the world. Also --
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NABILA, AFGHAN JUDGE (through translator): A day or two after the Taliban arrived in Kabul, my personal number was called and I was threatened with revenge, threatened with murder.
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HOLMES (on camera): A CNN TV exclusive, female judges in Afghanistan fear for their lives. And later, what new satellite imagery reveals about North Korea's nuclear ambitions.
Autumn officially starts in less than a week in the northern hemisphere and public health officials fear that colder temperatures could bring a resurgence of COVID infections. So, two of Europe's most populous countries are cracking down on the unvaccinated.
Starting October 15 in Italy, all public and private sector workers will have to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test or recent recovery from the virus. Anyone without the so-called "green pass" faces suspension and heavy fines.
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RICCARDO PENZO, ROME RESIDENT (through translator): The "green pass" is an important tool to deal with the situation. In such a serious situation, we need effective solutions.
PINO CINIERO, ROME RESIDENT (through translator): I agree with the government measure. It is a fair measure and gives us the opportunity to work safely and avoid future closures.
UNKNOWN (through translator): In my opinion, it is not fair, because if I am a free citizen, I can decide whether or not to get a "green pass."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Meanwhile, France has suspended around 3,000 health care workers who missed Wednesday's deadline to get their shots. The health minister says the majority are support staff and many have now decided to get vaccinated.
We will hear from CNN's Jim Bittermann in just a minute in Paris, but first, to Ben Wedeman in Rome.
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BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Italy has become the first company in Europe to require all workers in the public as well as the private sectors to provide proof that they are either fully vaccinated, have been tested negative for coronavirus or have recently recovered from the disease.
Thursday evening, the government announced these measures in a decree, which will go into effect on the 15th of October. Since early August, the so-called "green pass" has been required for entry into museums, galleries, sporting and entertainment venues as well as, for instance, indoor dining. Since early September, "green passes" have also been compulsory for domestic air flights, train travel between regions as well as sea travel.
Italy is eager to avoid another wave of coronavirus as winter approaches. Failure to comply with these latest measures, which are some of the toughest anywhere, include suspension but not dismissal from work as well as heavy fines for both workers and employers.
Italy was one of the hardest hit countries in the early phases of the pandemic and among European countries has the second highest death toll after the United Kingdom. But it has come a long way since then. According to government statistics, 75 percent of the population over the age of 12 in Italy is now fully vaccinated.
Ben Wedeman, CNN, Rome.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: After weeks of warnings from the government, about 3,000 health care workers were suspended this morning from their jobs in hospitals and old age homes because they have not started vaccination programs.
The health minister making the announcement said the 3,000 was only a small fraction of the 2.7 million people who work in the health care center. He said that, in fact, most of those who are suspended are in support jobs, not necessarily dealing directly with patients.
And he also said that he thinks that the 3,000 will be temporary suspensions because, in fact, people will get their vaccinations once they realize that the government is very serious about the vaccination mandates.
He also added this, he said, we are a country of rights and obligations, health care workers have (INAUDIBLE) save the sick because health care workers have always acted responsibly.
[02:05:04]
BITTERMANN: Jim Bittermann, CNN, Paris.
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HOLMES (on camera): Dr. Peter Drobac is an expert in infectious disease and global health at the University of Oxford. He joins me now from England. Good to see you, doctor. What do you make of the Italian government making this mandatory, public and private sector? What do you think about it?
PETER DROBAC, INFECTIOUS DISEASE AND GLOBAL HEALTH EXPERT, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD: Great to be with you, Michael. I'm excited about it. Frankly, it's a bold move and I think one that a lot of other countries will be watching and following suit.
As was just pointed out, this is not the first step but just a progression in what has happened over the last several months where proof of vaccination or previous infection or a negative test has been required to get into public venues, and in some for health workers. It has actually been very positive and has led to millions of people becoming vaccinated as a result of that.
You know, frankly, as we move into the winter and a real risk of a surge in infections and a pressure on health care facilities, I think this is a really important step to damp down the further spread of the delta variant.
HOLMES: That thing is that -- most, not all, certainly, but most people seem to like these measures because they can literally save lives and allow you to get on with yours. Do you see strict mandates like this becoming more commonplace? Should more countries follow Italy's example if this is the only way we are going to emerge from this?
DROBAC: I do see this becoming more common. We are in a very different place than we were at the beginning of this year. These vaccines now have been administered to billions of people around the world. They've proven extremely effective and extremely safe.
And so at this stage, I think it makes sense. You know, our freedoms have to be balanced against the freedoms of others. I think we all have the right to work in a safe workplace, particularly for health care workers. You know, many of us -- you know, when I worked in hospital, I was required to have a hepatitis B vaccination and show evidence of that, required to have a negative tuberculosis test every year. So this actually isn't very different. I do think we will see more of that.
HOLMES: Yeah, exactly. This is a recurring question because (INAUDIBLE) rising again. We're talking about mandating vaccines for people who have refused them so far when many people around the world who want to be vaccinated still can't.
In the context of global need, mandate is a good idea right now. We should be perhaps prioritizing getting vaccines to everyone else first (ph). Can we do both at the same time? What do you think?
DROBAC: I think it needs to be both end. It is a great question, Michael. The ongoing lack of access to vaccines in much of the world is a tremendous moral failing. I think we have to recognize that the charity model where, you know, rich countries buy and use as many vaccines as they want or need and then give the leftovers to low and middle income countries has not worked.
What we really need is a new approach whereby we start to invest in manufacturing capacity, technology transfer, so we can dramatically improve and increase the supply of vaccines around the world. That needs to happen urgently. At the same time, I think vaccine mandates still make sense.
HOLMES: Yeah. France, apart from its requirements that we just heard from Jim Bittermann there, it has also made clear its position by saying, you know, to American travellers, for example, if they are not vaccinated, they just can't come in. How should nations push vaccinations in that regard without perhaps alienating people? It's a difficult balance. Or is it?
DROBAC: I think it is really the same principle, right? You know, if travellers are coming in and tourists are visiting museums and restaurants and things, you know, the virus doesn't discriminate according to the passport that you carry. And so we are really talking about the same balance of risks and benefits to the community.
So I do think it makes sense. You know, a lot of countries, including here in the U.K., have had travel restrictions based on the country that you are traveling from and the situation there. But, in fact, moving towards a policy that requires vaccination for travel is actually much more sensible and effective probably that the scattershot approach of the red list (INAUDIBLE) countries that we have been seeing in some places.
HOLMES: Yeah, great point. Dr. Peter Drobac in Oxford, England, appreciate it is always. Thank you so much.
DROBAC: Thank you.
HOLMES: Now, independent scientific advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are meeting in the coming hours to discuss whether Americans need COVID booster shots yet or third doses. The key questions being considered are is immunity waning and will boosters restore it?
Multiple studies indicate a third dose of Pfizer or Moderna's vaccines or a second dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine can turbocharge the production of antibodies.
The FDA will also examine whether immunity is starting to drop off among Americans who were among the first to be vaccinated. CDC vaccine advisers will meet to discuss boosters next week.
[02:10:00]
HOLMES (on camera): Beijing is furious over a new security deal between Australia, the U.S. and the U.K. that will eventually equip Australia's royal navy with nuclear powered submarines.
China's foreign ministry on Thursday slamming the new agreement as destabilizing in their view and said giving Australia sensitive nuclear technology is irresponsible.
Paris is also angry but for a different reason. Soon after the trilateral pact was announced, Australia pulled out of a $65 billion deal for conventional diesel powered subs made in France. The French foreign minister is calling it a stab in the back.
But Britain's prime minister says the new partnership isn't intended to hurt any country and the White House denies the issue has caused a rift.
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JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We cooperate closely with France. As the president said yesterday, we have a range of shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific and that will certainly continue. We don't see this from our end as a regional divide.
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It is not intended to be adversarial towards any other power, Mr. Speaker, but it merely reflects the close relationship that we have with the United States and with Australia, the shared values that we have, the sheer level of trust between us.
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HOLMES (on camera): About as much as the U.S. and U.K. tried to smooth things over with Paris, outrage barely begins to describe the French reaction to the agreement.
Cyril Vanier with details from Paris.
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CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: France is furious after Australia's U-turn. Authorities at the highest level of government here feel that they were blindsided when the Australian prime minister reneged what was referred to in the French press as the deal of the century, $65 billion contract for 12 submarines. The French foreign minister says Australia betrayed their trust, stabbed them in the back even by switching to American technology at the 11th hour. Australia is now working with the U.S. and U.K. to develop nuclear powered subs, which travel faster and can remain undetected longer.
France is also angry at the U.S. because at its heart, this story is a power play by the White House to achieve its overarching foreign policy goal, aggressive containment of China in the Indo-Pacific with Australia here as a key ally.
Years of French negotiation, collateral damage to President Biden's strategic objective, particularly galling for France, they claim they got no heads up from the Americans. The French ambassador to the U.S. is telling CNN earlier that they weren't informed about this until they saw news reports in the U.S. and in Australia.
France's immediate response? Cancelling a function at the French embassy in Washington meant to commemorate their shared military history.
Cyril Vanier, CNN, Paris.
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HOLMES: Bonnie Glaser is the director of the Asia Program with the German Marshall Fund. She joins me now. Great to have you. Obviously, there is a geostrategic move in this nuclear deal. What do you see as big picture plan here by the U.S. in terms of its renewed interest in the Indo-Pacific region?
BONNIE GLASER, DIRECTOR, ASIA PROGRAM, GERMAN MARSHALL FUND: Well, despite the fact that U.S. officials are saying that this isn't targeted at any country and there has been no mention of China, I think that China is front and center, driving this plan of the United States, the U.K. and Australia to build up their deterrent capacity, to operate these navy subs which will be very stealthy and will operate very far from Australia's shore, closer to the -- actually operation in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
Australia is increasingly concerned about its strategic environment. This is a force multiplier, having these three countries work together in order to strengthen the rules-based order and the peace and stability in the region.
HOLMES: You made an interesting point there. It is worth revisiting. No one actually mentioned China by name when announcing the submarine deal but there is no doubt what China thinks.
The government-linked "Global Times" wrote this. I will jut quote from it for people. Australian troops are also most likely to be the first batch of Western soldiers to waste their lives in the South China Sea. Since Australia has become an anti-China spearhead, the country should prepare for the worst."
When it comes to not just to Australia but broadly in a reaction to this new deal, what might China do? How great is the risk for real world miscalculation as the tension rise?
GLASER: Well, first of all, China has tried to put a great deal of pressure on Australia economically.
[02:15:00]
GLASER: They boycotted over a dozen products. But China remains very dependent on Australia for iron or they can't find other suppliers. And Australian companies have done quite a good job of diversifying their markets.
But China will find other ways, I think, to put pressure on Australia. They will continue to use disinformation perhaps once COVID-19 loosens up. And then, if the situation improves, maybe China will stop sending tourists or students. They have a great deal of potential leverage over Australia.
As to the potential for real conflict, I myself think that there is always a risk of accident, but I don't see the risk of hot conflict very likely in the future because I don't think that China sees it as in its interest to have a military conflict with the United States and its allies in the region.
HOLMES: Biden is obviously pivoting towards the region, pivoting back towards the region. I'm curious. What do you think -- how much did the U.S. disengagement in the region under Trump advantage China? How much time and strategic positioning was lost? What did China gain?
BLASER: Well, I don't really think that Trump disengaged from the region. The United States has been trying to pivot to Asia really since 2011. Now, I think that the pullout from Afghanistan actually will aid in that transition to the Indo-Pacific. But, nonetheless, the United States, yes, under President Trump, there was weakening of U.S. alliances in the region. The United States pulled out of many international organizations.
And Biden has, in fact, rebuilt, I think, particularly those Asian alliances not just with Australia, but we have better ties with Japan and with Korea. Relations with the Philippines are improving. That has been a big win for the United States. Secretary of Defense Austin was recently in the country and the visiting forces agreement has now been put back on track.
So there have been some gains but at the same time, there are concerns back in Europe and other places about our alliances. There are still questions about U.S. commitment to the region, but I think this particular agreement with Australia, which goes beyond just building submarines, is really an agreement of sharing technology and scientific know how, cooperating in defense industry. It really creates a new architecture in the region. I think it is a signal that the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region is very strong.
HOLMES: Bonnie Glaser, as always, thanks for your expertise.
BLASER: Thank you.
HOLMES: Coming up, the Taliban have told women not to work. Now, many female judges are in hiding, terrified of reprisal attacks from the men they once put behind bars.
Also, still to come, work appears to be ongoing at one of North Korea's uranium enrichment plants. We will take a closer look at what new satellite images reveal.
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[02:20:00]
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HOLMES: Welcome back. Thousands of people are still desperate to flee Afghanistan as the Taliban cement their control over the country. Among them are hundreds of female judges who now fear reprisals from the men they have jailed in the past.
CNN's Anna Coren joins me now live from Hong Kong. Anna, these judges are an example of the progress women made in Afghanistan over the last 20 years, but now fearing for their lives.
ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, Michael, as we know, when the Taliban came into power a month ago, they promised that women would be an integral part of society and that they would be allowed to work in their professions.
As we have been reporting these last few weeks, that clearly is not the case. Women are being oppressed. Among them are these hundreds of female judges who were educated during this 20-year war, where they rose to very powerful positions within Afghanistan. They now fear that they will be hunted down and killed. Take a look.
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COREN (voice-over): Childhood laughter shared by two young sisters who have no idea about the dangers they now face. Their mother, Navila, was a judge in Afghanistan, a profession now made impossible for women. The Taliban has told them not to return to work. And now, the whole family has a target on their heads.
NABILA: A day or two after the Taliban arrived in Kabul, my personal number was called and I was threatened with revenge, threatened with murder. I had to cancel my phone numbers.
COREN (voice-over): The family is currently in hiding in fear of being hunted down by men she put behind bars. Some of whom have been freed by the Taliban.
NABILA (through translator): Because of this threat from the prisoners, I change my house once every four days. I hide there and I try to never go out.
COREN (voice-over): Her fear compounded after a policewoman, eight months pregnant, was murdered by the Taliban, according to her family. A claim the Taliban deny.
Nabila is one of around 200 women judges left stranded in Afghanistan. Many of them presided over the worst cases of violence against women, including rape, murder, and domestic abuse. Some of them had even travelled to the U.S. for a judicial education program.
Under the cover of darkness and gunfire, a few dozen others have managed to get out. One experienced high court judge risked her life to flee the country after the Taliban came looking for her.
UNKNOWN (through translator): Five members of the Taliban came to my area asking my neighbors about me. I relocated again because I was so scared they could find me.
COREN (voice-over): This judge managed to escape with her nieces and nephews on a flight from Kabul after days of waiting at the airport. She wants to keep their identity hidden as she fears for family members back home. They landed safely in Poland and are now trying to get to the U.S. but the judge can't forget the life she left behind.
UNKNOWN (through translator): Now, I feel like I lost everything. Imagine you have a personality, career, respect, a home, a car, a life and everything, and suddenly you leave everything.
COREN (voice-over): As chaos and uncertainty unfold inside Afghanistan, the U.S. based International Association of Women Judges is trying to help more of their Afghan members to leave. But they say western countries need to do more.
VANESSA RUIZ, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JUDGES: Governments need to be better, more agile, more generous, frankly, in giving admission to people who are in danger in Afghanistan. We are not going to abandon them. We are not going to forget them. We are not going to let the world ignore them.
COREN (voice-over): For those left behind, like Nabila, escape is their only hope as they see no future in their homeland under Taliban rule. But she hopes one day she will be allowed to return to the bench.
NABILA (through translator): We have been working for many years to combat violence, oppression and injustice. And I want to continue with my work.
[02:24:59]
COREN (voice-over): Her bravery in protecting Afghanistan's women despite the dangers was to create a better future for her daughters, a generation that now faces a dark reality under the new regime.
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COREN (on camera): Michael, Nabila was incredibly brave. She wanted to be on camera. She wanted us to show her face. Obviously, we just used her first name, but she said I'm speaking on behalf of the other 200 female judges who are trapped in Afghanistan. She is pleading for help.
It is not just these female judges. I was speaking to human rights activists yesterday who runs a shelter, looking out to dozens of women and children, and she said, I must get these women and children out because the Taliban, they don't want to hear is, they don't want to see us, they have such intense hatred towards us, they are not going to let us live a life worth living.
It was truly astounding to hear those words come out of the mouth of a woman who has given her life to Afghanistan. And now, she just sees absolutely no future for women there.
HOLMES: What a dreadful situation. Anna, thanks for the report. Anna Coren there in Hong Kong.
The Dutch foreign minister has resigned over the chaotic evacuations in Afghanistan. It came after parliament voted on a motion on Wednesday condemning the way the cabinet dealt with the crisis. The foreign minister said in a statement that she stood by what had happened in Kabul but accepted responsibility.
Dutch military planes evacuated more than 2,000 people from Afghanistan in the last two weeks of August. But hundreds of Dutch citizens and unspecified number of Afghans at risk were unable to reach the airport to be flown to safety.
Quick break here on the program. When we come back, new satellite images appear to show North Korea expanding one of its key uranium enrichment plants. What could this mean for the nation's nuclear ambitions? We will see after the break.
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HOLMES: And welcome back to our viewers all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes. You're watching "CNN Newsroom." Now, satellite images obtained by CNN are raising new concerns about North Korea's nuclear weapons program. That picture there taken earlier this week by Maxar Technology indicates construction underway at a North Korean nuclear complex. Experts say the new images show an area being built at a key uranium enrichment plant.
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HOLMES: CNN's Paula Hancocks joins me now live from Seoul. Paula, tell us about the significance of the images and what concerns they might raise?
PAULA HANCOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Michael, these images were assessed by the Middlebury Institute. And what they saw is that extra floor space was being put into the Yongbyon nuclear research facility, was about 1000 meters - square meters, according to Jeffrey Lewis, the weapons experts, and he said that is enough space for 1000 extra centrifuges.
So by his calculations, judging from the satellite imagery, he said that it could be the case that North Korea could increase its - its production of weapons grade uranium by 25 percent. So a significant increase if what we're seeing on the satellite imagery is actually accurate. Now, according to two sources familiar with the situation, U.S. officials are aware of this.
And they also acknowledge the fact that this could well mean that North Korea is planning to increase the amount of weapons grade uranium that it is actually producing. And it comes just after an IAEA report at the end of August, the - the International Atomic Energy Agency said that they believe that there was a nuclear reactor that was going to be restarted within this same complex, similar situation from 38, North, they corroborated that information.
So when you put it all together, Michael, it does appear as though we are seeing some significant changes at the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Facility, the key nuclear facility really in North Korea, and it comes on the back of some missile launches. We had two short range ballistic missiles launched on Wednesday.
On Monday, North Korea said that it had launched long range cruise missiles over the weekend. We know the U.S., South Korea and Japan still looking into that claim. But it just shows how quickly things can deteriorate on the Korean peninsula when you consider just a couple of months ago, we learned that the leaders of North and South Korea had actually been exchanging letters.
There was a potential for some engagement between the two Koreas. And now you see what's happening with the nuclear facility potentially restarting and expanding. Michael.
HOLMES: So denuclearized North Korea seems ever distant. Paula Hancock's in Seoul thanks so much. Quick break. When we come back, El Salvador now, the first nation to use Bitcoin as legal tender, but not everyone's happy about it. We'll hear from critics of the crypto currency coming up. Also they're billions of dollars in debt and scrambling to find their way out when we come back, how a Chinese company could cause shockwaves through the economy.
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HOLMES: Protesters across El Salvador voicing their anger over the President's decision to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender the cryptocurrency rollout has hit some technical snags along the way and caused backlash among the nation's citizens.
[02:35:00]
El Salvador's president claims the international community is financing these protests but so far given no evidence to back that up. Even cattle ranchers who are usually staunch allies of the President say they oppose using Bitcoin. CNNs Rafael Romo with more.
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RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They have come from across the country bringing their best cattle in high hopes for a tidy profit. Welcome to Aguilares, a town in North Central El Salvador where live cattle trading is a long time tradition. It's the kind of place where you look at people in the eye.When a deal is made and you shake hands and exchange cold hard cash. Other than feed and pasture these cattle ranchers now have an additional worry. They know the government has legalized the new digital currency called Bitcoin and rumors are running rampant.
The truth is, it's not that simple,this rancher says, What if you don't know how much it's worth or how much it's going to get devalued tomorrow? What if it goes up? It's like gambling. Earlier this month, El Salvador became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in addition to the U.S. dollar.
President Nayib Bukele says using Bitcoin as legal tender, will attract foreign investment, help lower commissions and remittances and give an alternative to people outside the banking system.
Analysts for the International Monetary Fund which provided an emergency loan to El Salvador last year and is working on another have warned that adopting Bitcoin as legal tender posed a serious risks to a country's financial stability and integrity.
When the law went into effect on September 7, the Cryptocurrency market crashed, losing billions in value. And the government's digital wallet for Bitcoin has experienced several glitches that were still not fully fixed a week after the launch.
The younger generations and some small business owners have embraced the Cryptocurrency. But others like this protester say Bitcoin is a phony currency. Milton Brisuella, who's the president of El Salvador's Medical Association was among 1000s of protesters who took to the streets a week after the Bitcoin law went into effect, saying it's just another example of the President's dictatorial bent.
We are worried about many decisions the government has taken including imposing a currency Brisuella said. The President's answer? There's no dictatorship here. What we have is a democracy. A lot of the protesters they didn't even know what they were protesting about, he also said, and the ones who knew vandalized private and public property, later suggesting that they're financed from abroad.
Back in Aguilares, even those who support the president otherwise say introducing Bitcoin was a mistake.Everything that he's done is good, at least what he had done so far, this rancher says, but introducing this currency was not right. Which bank is backing it he wonders.
You have to be patient and get information about it so that you know how you can best use it and if it's convenient or not, this rancher says.If the president is wrong, then we're all wrong. For now, most of these ranchers say they will stick to what they know, a cash system that's worked just fine for generations, and even though some are open to using a Cryptocurrency in the future, their main worry is that Bitcoin can be as volatile as this bull. Rafael Romo, CNN, Mexico City.
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HOLMES:Many people remember the phrase too big to fail. Well, it's being used again. Chinese real estate company Evergrande is struggling under its staggering $300 billion debt load. And it's wrestling with how to cap costs or shared assets before a default causes shockwaves. Through the economy. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout with more on the company's struggles and what's at stake here.
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KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's the Chinese giant that lives up to its name. Evergrande is one of the biggest real estate groups in China. Owner of a football team, it's also built a football academy thought to be the biggest of its kind. It's also building the world's biggest football stadium, a massive lotus flower that will seat 100,000 and its latest claim to fame.
The Hong Kong listed Evergrande has become China's most indebted developer with liabilities worth more than $300 billion and the cash strapped property firm is struggling to pay it back. Sending its stock price plummeting, prompting ratings agencies to downgrade its status and warning it could default which would send shockwaves through China's economy.
[02:40:00]
So how did Evergrande get into this mess?
MATTIE BEKINK, CHINA DIRECTOR, ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT: It's built as many as 600,000 homes annually and has a massive debt load 56 times bigger now than it was a decade ago. It's also strayed far from its core business. It's founded a colossal football academy, a bottled water brand, which it then later sold and an electric car company.
LU STOUT: Disgruntled and desperate investors have protested at company headquarters in Shenzhen. They've cheated me out of all my money. I have nothing left says one unidentified investor. The real estate giant said online speculation about its bankruptcy are 'completely untrue' adding the company has indeed encountered unprecedented difficulties at present, but the company is determined to do everything possible to restore the operation as usual, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of customers.
That has done little to pacify angry investors in Shenzhen and elsewhere in China. Videos circulating on social media show what is described as an Evergrande protest in Hainan, in Nanchang and in Chengdu.CNN could not verify the footage. In August, China's central bank summoned Evergrande execs and warned the company to reduce its debt.
And they say it's likely Beijing would intervene. Will the Chinese government step in to save it?
BEKINK: We here at the EIU we do ultimately expect that the government will intervene in Evergrande case, as it will not allow the companies defaults to spread into the banking system. NIGEL STEVENSON, ANALYST GMT RESEARCH: The problem is if large numbers of those buyers of properties don't receive those properties, then that's going to cause contagion into other property developers. People are going to lose confidence.
LU STOUT: There's just too much at stake. China's economy is sputtering. Because of its aggressive response to the Delta variant and supply chain issues. Chinese markets have plunged as regulators target tech education and other private enterprises. A major default is the last thing China needs. So Evergrande living up to its name has become too big to fail. Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.
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HOLMES:Now if you plan to see Paris's legendary Arc de Triomphe anytime soon, you're in for a bit of a surprise.The entire monument has been wrapped up like a gift. So spectacular,the French President Emmanuel Macron was on hand Thursday for the display's inauguration. It's courtesy of the imagination of the late Bulgarian artists Christo who was obsessed with wrapping things on a huge scale, bridges, islands, buildings.
Christo's nephew completed the display after the artists passed away in 2020. It cost about $16 million but the wrapping comes off in just 16 days. It's recyclable too, apparently. Thanks for spending part of your day with me. I'm Michael Holmes, you can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @HolmesCNN. World Sport coming away next. I'll see in about 15 minutes.
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[02:45:00]
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ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: - and the two separated for the night. One of the officers concluding the situation was a result of a mental health crisis. No charges filed.
CHIEF TODD GARRISON, NORTH PORT POLICE: Yes, there was a disturbance. Yes, it was captured on body camera, their interaction with law enforcement, but beyond that, you know, I don't know what it has to do with the disappearance.
JONES: North port Florida Police say they've talked to the attorney for Petito's fiance, but Laundrie is not talking and many questions remain.
GARRISON: Two people went on a trip, one person returned and that person that returned isn't providing us any information.
JONES: In a statement Tuesday, a lawyer for the Laundrie family said they are remaining in the background at this juncture and will have no further comment. A lawyer for Gabby's parents Richard Stafford, saying. RICHARD STAFFORD, LAWYER FOR GABBY PETITO'S FAMILY: Please, if you or your family have any decency left, please tell us where Gabby is located. Tell us if we are even looking in the right place. All we want is for Gabby to come home. Petito's family last heard from her in late August.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I received a text on the 30th that was the last communication I had.
JONES: Petito's parents believe she was last in the Grand Teton Yellowstone area of Wyoming. They reported her missing to Suffolk County, New York Police on September 11. According to the National Park Service, multiple law enforcement agencies are investigating Petito's disappearance. Meanwhile, this search continues for a vibrant young woman excited about living the van life.
GABBY PETITO: I love the van.
BRIAN LAUNDRIE, PETITO'S FIANCE: We've been lucky so far at all the places we've stayed, but I say this is one of the best so far.
JONES: Now, nowhere to be found. Gabby Petito's family is furious that the Laundrie family isn't being more forthcoming, calling Brian Laundrie's silence reprehensible. Meanwhile, Petito's stepfather has now travelled to Wyoming to help look for her. And he's asked anyone who may have been visiting the Grand Teton Yellowstone area and taking pictures or videos to go through them and see if they see Gabby. Don?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: Athena, thank you so much. Gabby Petito's family begging her fiance's family for any information as you just heard there from Athena. What are Police doing to try to talk to Brian Laundrie? That's a question for Chief Todd Garrison. He's next.
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[02:50:00]
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LEMON: It is a mystery that is deepening by the day.The whereabouts of 22 year old Gabby Petito unknown tonight, disappearing while traveling cross country with her fiance. He returns home to Florida without her and won't talk to Police. So joining me now is Chief Todd garrison of North port Florida Police department. Thank you so much for joining us, Chief. I appreciate it.
GARRISON: Thanks for having me.
LEMON: So let's talk about Gabby's fiance, his name is Brian Laundrie, he is now a person of interest, we understand. Can you tell us what that means?
GARRISON: Well, you know, we're conducting a missing person investigation and two people went on a trip and one person returned. And that person is Brian. And you know, we're looking for Gabby. And he's not willing to provide us any information. So you got a look at what it is and right now he's a person of interest into her disappearance.
LEMON: Yes, listen, there is it's a little bit nebulous, the definition of known suspect and person of interest are two different things. You just want some answers from him? Is that what you're saying?
GARRISON: Absolutely. Because we don't know what happened. You know, we don't know where she's at. We don't know if a crime has been committed. So we just need some - some answers so right now he's a person of interest.
LEMON: OK. So she, Brian was traveling alone with Gabby, he could be the last person to see her as you said, you know, you want to know what's happening. But he's not talking to you, he's not talking to investigators,no one.Legally, can you compel him to answer questions? And will you get a search warrant for his home or his property?
GARRISON: You know, right now, he's - he's invoked his fifth amendment right. So I can't compel him to speak. All of our information has been directed through an attorney, you know, that can change.The attorney, you can come forward and say, listen, Brian wants to provide a statement now. You know, and we're open to that. As far as getting a search warrant for his house, no, we're not working on a search warrant for the house right now.
In order to get a search warrant, you have to be tied to a crime and right now, we don't have a crime.
LEMON: OK, that very interesting. It's not like the crime surge you see on television, right?Do you have to go - you have to meet certain bars in order to present.
GARRISON: Right, right. That's correct.
LEMON: Right. I think you had that, what is it called? Not reasonable doubt. But there has to be something to compel you, a probable cause to get a search warrant.
GARRISON: Right.
LEMON: OK. So listen, we saw the video of the altercation between the couples in Utah. What can you tell us about the incident? And do you believe it is connected to Gabby's disappearance?
GARRISON: We really, truly don't know if it is, you know. They are a young couple, it's not uncommon that young couples have disputes. It's not uncommon - uncommon that young couples cry during an altercation. This altercation obviously, rose to some level of physical touching. But we don't really know if it has anything to do with her disappearance.
We know that, you know, she was communicating after this disturbance. So we don't know if it's related yet. LEMON: OK, so you said touching. What do you mean by that some level of touching? Was there a physical fight?
GARRISON: Yes. Well, from what we've gotten from the body cameras, she said she hit his face or slapped his face.
LEMON: Now, you said that you've spoken to her sensor that she's communicated. Is this a communications by texts you're referring to?
GARRISON: Yes. Yes.
LEMON: Are you sure? It was her from her device, but do you know if it was her?
GARRISON: Well, we do know that, she was a I'm having communication with her mom via FaceTime so we know that that it was her at that time.
[02:55:00]
LEMON: Are there any other persons of interest and what comes next in this investigation, Chief?
GARRISON: You know, right now there are no other persons of interest. I believe Brian has the information. I believe people around Brian may also have the information. And you know, we're pleading to those people to, you know, come forward, provide us the information that we need to find Gabby, and reunite Gabby with her family because she deserves it, her family deserves it.
LEMON: Is there anything in this about what the - the evidence that you are talking about the communications, the contact with Police, any of that, does that somehow this scenario help you in the investigation? Does it lead you to some sort of conclusion about a scenario that could - could have happened, something that could have happened to Gabby?
GARRISON: You know, we're analyzing everything. We're keeping an open mind. And, you know, we haven't surmised, you know, any ideas exactly what has taken place?
LEMON: So whose jurisdiction is this case? You're in Florida, where Gabby was living with her fiance's family recently, Gabby's family is in New York. And Gabby's believed to be last heard from when she was in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. So is it all of these agencies, whose jurisdiction is it?
GARRISON: Yes, it's a multi-jurisdictional case. We are working jointly with the FBI and the local authorities out in the statesof Wyoming and Utah. So everybody kind of has some involvement in this. The federal partners, you know, allow that jurisdiction to cross state - state lines. And, you know, that's why it's important that we're, we're working this together.
LEMON: Chief, please keep us updated. Thank you so much.
GARRISON: Absolutely. Thank you.
LEMON: The DHS issuing a warning ahead of Saturday's right wing rally at the Capitol, a memo saying violence could break not just on the day of the event, but possibly tomorrow as well.
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