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Italy Impose Tough COVID Rules; Cuba Vaccinates Its Toddlers; Scientists and Doctors Aren't on the Same Page on Booster Issue; France Disgusted by Australia's Decision; AUKUS Alliance a Message to China; Images reveal North Korea Expanding Uranium Environment Plant; Evergrande Crisis, Close To Collapse; Ranchers Concerned Over El Salvador's Adoption Of Bitcoin; Humanitarian Crisis In Afghanistan; Female Afghan Judges Fear Reprisal Attacks; U.N. Climate Change Fights Falls Behind Schedule; Historic Parisian Landmark Gets The Christo Treatment; "Respect" By Aretha Franklin Named Greatest Song. Aired 3- 4a ET
Aired September 17, 2021 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Hello and welcome to CNN Newsroom, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes. I appreciate your company.
Coming up here on the program. New COVID rules for every worker in Italy. They are among the toughest in the world.
France says it has been stabbed in the back after being shot out of its $65 billion submarine deal with Australia.
And a CNN exclusive. A former female judge in Afghanistan fearing for their lives. The Taliban seeking revenge.
The start of autumn in Europe will be bringing some tough new restrictions to fight the expected rise of COVID cases on the continent. France has suspended around 3,000 healthcare 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. Others are not on board.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
THIERRY PAYSANT, FIRE SAFETY PFFICER: A hunger strike because we think that this vaccination order shouldn't be happening. And that it was imposed with sheer violence against the health personnel.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES (on camera): While Italy is mandating a green pass for all public and private sector worker starting October 15. It requires proof of vaccination, a negative COVID test, or recent recovery from infection. CNN senior international correspondent, Ben Wedeman, live for us this
hour in Rome. Ben, the toughest measures in all of Europe. Explain the new requirements for us.
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, these will come into effect on the 15th of October and not only the toughest in Europe, but perhaps in the world at this point. Basically, everyone in the public and private sector is going to have to show one of the so- called green passes. And if for some reason you show up to work without a green pass or you refused to get a green pass you can either be suspended from work without pay or receive heavy fines.
Not only the workers but employers who do not ensure that their employees are in compliance with these new regulations. Now, there is a lot of reasons for this. Of course, Italy wants to avoid the sort of lockdowns we saw last year when the Italian economy in 2020 shrunk by more than 9 percent.
So, there is a huge desire within the government but also among the population in general to get over this to get back to normal life to get the Italian economy, which essentially hasn't grown in the last 20 years growing again. Michael?
HOLMES: I know, as we all know Italy was one of the first epicenters of this pandemic so many lives were lost. How does that play into the national psyche when it comes to actions like these on vaccinations?
WEDEMAN: Keep in mind, Michael, that at this point it is 130,000 Italians have died from coronavirus. And so this is really sort of traumatized the nation to the point where there is very little resistance to ever more stringent measures to bring the entire population into compliance.
Now the Italian government wants to reach 80 percent fully vaccinated, the population by the end of September. And in fact, at this point, 75 percent of the population over the age of 12 has been fully vaccinated.
And for instance, one of the members of the coalition the government coalition, the Lega or the Lega, the right-wing party has come out in opposition to some of these measures and called for protest. But by and large, the reaction of the population has been -- there's been very little interest in any sort of anti-vax measures. The likes of which, for instance, we've seen in countries like the United States.
By and large, Italians want this problem solved, want the pandemic to come to an end so that they can get back to normal life. And most people are well educated enough to realize that until a great majority of the population is vaccinated, that simply is not going to happen. Michael?
[03:04:58]
HOLMES: Yes. Yes. Bitter experience with COVID. Ben Wedeman in Rome, I appreciate it. Dr. Peter Drobac is an expert in infectious disease and global health
in the University of Oxford. He joins me now from England. Good to see you, doctor.
So, what do you make of the Italian government making this mandatory? Public and private sector. What do you think about it?
PETER DROBAC, GLOBAL HEALTH EXPERT, OXFORD SAID BUSINESS SCHOOL: Well, 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 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 cases, for health workers.
And it's actually been very positive and has led to millions of people becoming vaccinated as a result of that. You know, and frankly, as we move into the winter and a real risk of a surge in infections and pressure on health care facilities, I think this is a really important step to damp down the further spread of the Delta variant.
HOLMES: The thing is that, you know, 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 it's the only way we're going to emerge from this?
DROBAC: I do see this becoming more common. We're in a very different place than we were at the beginning of this year. You know, these vaccines now have been administered to billions of people around the world. They have proven extremely effective and extremely safe. And so, at the stage I think it make sense. You know, our freedoms have to balance against the freedoms of others. I think we all have the right to work in a safe workplace, and particularly for health care workers.
You know, many of us are, you know, when I worked in the 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 and I do think we'll see more of that.
HOLMES: Yes. Exactly. I mean, this is a recurring question but deserves raising 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 and still can't.
In the context of global need, are mandates a good idea right now or should we be, perhaps prioritizing getting vaccines to everyone else first? Or can we do both at the same time, what do you think?
DROBAC: I think it has to be both ends rather an either/or. It's a great question, Michael. And you know, the on ongoing lack of access to vaccines and much of the world is a tremendous moral failing. And I think what we have to recognize is that the charity model where,
you know, where 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 work.
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 and at the same time I think vaccine mandates still make sense.
HOLMES: Yes. France apart from its requirement so we just heard from Jim Bittermann there. It's also made clear its position by saying, you know, to American travelers, 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: Well, I think it's really the same principle, right? You know, if travelers are coming in and tourists and 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, you know, 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 in the situation there. But in fact, moving towards a policy that requires vaccination for travel is actually much more sensible and effective probably than this scattershot approach of the red list and amber list countries that we've been seeing in some places.
HOLMES: Yes. Great points. Dr. Peter Drobac in Oxford, England, I appreciate it as always. Thank you so much.
DROBAC: Thank you.
HOLMES: Cuba isn't letting its economic troubles hold back its efforts to fight the COVID pandemic. It has produced not one but three homegrown vaccines. And now it is seeking approval of them from the World Health Organization.
As CNN's Patrick Oppmann reports Havana hopes it's getting closer to reopening its schools by holding large-scale vaccinations of children as young as two.
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PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): First comes the jab and then the tears. In this one clinic in Havana the day we visited over 230 children between the ages of two and five were vaccinated. Hospital administrators tell us.
[03:09:58] Several countries around the world have begun to vaccinate children but Cuba is believed to be the first to vaccinate toddlers on a large scale. Even though COVID vaccinations aren't mandatory here, Laura (Ph) tells me she didn't hesitate to bring her four-year-old daughter, Anisol (Ph), to get the shot.
"I am relieved," she says, "because a lot of people are still getting sick. And with a vaccine, we are more protected."
Rather than rely on importing vaccines from abroad, Cuba has produced its own homegrown anti COVID drugs. The island's government says studies show they are safe even in children and have begun sending data to the World Health Organization for its approval.
With the Delta variant, cases in children are soaring in Cuba. And just since August, 10 children have died according to government statistics. Something the doctors here tell us they didn't expect would happen.
"It's more gratifying to vaccinate a child," she says. "You put the vaccine and know they are going to be immunized and won't have serious complications or even die from COVID."
The pandemic has hit Cuba hard with food and medicine shortages. And in-person schooling canceled indefinitely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
OPPMANN: Cuban officials had said that they would reopen schools in early September. But with the surge of new cases and deaths those plans are on hold. Now, officials say that before they can safely reopen schools, they have to complete an island wide vaccination campaign that includes children.
I meet Micelle (Ph) and her daughter Paula (Ph) right before the three-year-old gets her vaccine. "I'm very happy," she says. "More than when I got vaccinated. Vaccinating her is the biggest comfort yet."
Cuba's vaccines require three doses. So there are more jabs to come for these kids. But parents say if it means that life can begin to return to normal for their children then all of the tears will have been worth it.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES (on camera): Independent scientific vaccine advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration meeting in the coming hours to discuss whether Americans need COVID booster shots yet. But medical experts are divided on the efficacy of a third dose.
CNN's Jason Carroll with those details.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): An important day in the battle over booster shots. An FDA advisory committee will meet to discuss whether it's now time for some Americans to get that added shot. This, as some states have already made plans as they await approval of a third dose rollout next week.
LEANA WEN, FORMER BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH COMMISSIONER: There is actually a pretty straightforward case to be made for why we should be allowing booster shot at this time especially for older individuals and people who are more medically vulnerable.
CARROLL: An estimated 5.2 million people could be eligible for a booster shot though there is still debate among doctors and public health experts on how effective that shot would be.
CARLOS DEL RIO, PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AND GLOBAL HEALTH, EMORY UNIVERSITY: Giving more vaccine to those people who are already vaccinated is going to do very little to sort of lessen the burden on our hospitals. We got to get the unvaccinated vaccinated in order to really change the course of the pandemic.
FRANCIS COLLINS, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH: I was one of the biggest skeptics of the docs in the White House about boosters and I've become convinced particular looking at the Israeli data.
CARROLL: That data supports the argument for an additional shot. Several studies being presented in that FDA meeting suggest that boosters would help. Moderna also saying its vaccine shows waning protection overtime and expects more breakthrough cases will start to crop up.
While booster shots could amp up protection for those already vaccinated the nation's hospital system is overloaded with COVID patients, and most of whom are unvaccinated. Nearly 100,000 Americans are hospitalized with the virus.
Now, for the first time since June, the CDC predicts new daily hospitalizations will decline between now and early October. In Los Angeles, vaccines will soon be required for indoor bars, nightclubs, and wineries. Vaccines or a negative test will also be required for large indoor events like concerts.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D-CA): We have got to break this COVID cycle, these surges that we are experiencing. We are not timid in terms of leaning in and anticipating the changing dynamic.
CARROLL: In Florida, the opposite mindset. Today, the state will begin punishing local governments for requiring their employees to get vaccinated, threatening a $5,000 fine for each violation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CARROLL (on camera): Meanwhile, some big businesses are making headway when it comes to vaccination efforts. United Airlines announced that 90 percent of its employees are now vaccinated. It was the first major carrier to require that its employees be vaccinated. [03:15:03]
Jason Carroll, CNN, New York.
HOLMES: Well, France had plenty of reasons to celebrate when Australia ordered a dozen conventional submarines. Well, now Paris is furious that Australia has changed its mind, calling the decision a stab in the back. We've the latest reactions from Paris coming up.
Also, new images raising concern about North Korea's nuclear weapons program. The activity spotted at one of its key nuclear facilities. That's after the break.
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JEAN-YVES LE DRIAN, FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): It is really to put it plainly a stab in the back. We have built a relationship of trust with Australia. This trust has been betrayed. And today I am angry with plenty of bitterness regarding this break. This is not done between allies.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES (on camera): France's foreign minister sounding off there after Australia pulled out of a multi-billion-dollar deal for conventional submarines. Paris has already canceled a planned event at the French embassy in Washington over all of this. Britain's prime minister says the new partnership isn't intended to hurt any country. And the White House denies there's any serious 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: AUKUS is not intended to be adversarial towards any other power. Mr. Speaker. But it nearly reflects the close relationship that we had with the United States and with Australia, the shared values that we have and the sheer level of trust between us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES (on camera): CNN's Cyril Vanier is covering the reaction for us in Paris. It would seem that the French were blindsided by this. They thought they had a deal, suddenly they didn't.
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Michael. The French are seething. And this is a complicated story because it involves at least five countries of notes. So, on the one hand, you have this new three- way security alliance, the U.S., Australia, and the U.K. On the other hand, you have France which has been working towards providing conventional submarines to Australia for the purposes of patrolling the Indo-Pacific.
And it's been working this beat, this deal for more than, let me say, it started in 2014, the negotiations, the governments of France and Australia have had a deal in place since 2016. And that deal was formerly inked quite a while ago. So, really, they've been working at this for seven years. Plans, designs were being drawn to make the submarines and send them to Australia.
And all of a sudden, U.S. decides that it's a new foreign policy priority is to aggressively contain China in the Indo-Pacific and that Australia is a key ally in this regard, it needs better technology, it needs nuclear-powered technology and so the U.K. and the U.S. are going to help Australia get those submarines instead.
[03:20:10]
Hence, Australia reneged its deal on its deal with the French. So, if you follow me up to this point you start to understand why the French are so angry. They had a deal in place, it was inked and then the world superpower came in and said, well, we have other plans and the French deal disappeared, Michael.
HOLMES: One interesting thing was France accusing Joe Biden of being Trump like. Tell us about that.
VANIER: Yes. It really was interesting. And you know, I'm glad you asked the question. During the Trump presidency there was -- there was the volume of that conversation between Trump and European allies was so loud that it was hard to make the point that European allies often see their own strategic objectives trampled by the U.S. regardless of who the president is.
It was a case under Obama, it was the case under Trump, it is the case today even though of course the tone is much different. But what the French foreign minister said yesterday on French radio was, this look to us like Trump because it was a unilateral decision, because we did not even get the courtesy of a heads up and because it was a brutal decision. It happened from one day to the next without any consultation.
So, there is no multilateralism involved and it was the U.S. asserting its own strategic interests over ours. And in that respect, you know, it's going to remind them quite a bit of a -- of numerous instances of the Trump presidency, Michael.
HOLMES: Yes, it's going to be interesting to see how the U.S.-French relationship goes here. Cyril Vanier, great report. Thanks for that there in Paris.
Bonnie Glaser is the director of the Asia Program with the German Marshall Fund. She joins me now. Great to have you.
I mean, now obviously there is a geostrategic move in this nuclear sub deal. What do you see as the 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 that 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 shores. Closer to the In -- and actually operating in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.
Australia is increasingly concerned about its strategic environment. And this is a force multiplier to have these three countries work together in order to strengthen the rules-based order and peace and stability in the region.
HOLMES: You made an interesting point there and it's 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, and I'll just quote from it for people.
"Australian troops are also most likely to be the first batch of western soldiers to waste their times in the South China Sea. Since Australia has become an anti-China spearhead the country should prepare for the worst."
When it comes not just to Australia but broadly in reaction to this new deal what might China do? How great is the risk for real world miscalculation as the tensions rise?
GLASER: Well, first of all, China has tried to put a great deal of pressure on Australia economically. 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 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 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's 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 is, sees it as in its interests to have a military conflict with the United States and its allies in the region.
HOLMES: You know, Biden is obviously pivoting towards the region or pivoting back towards the region.
[03:24:57]
I'm curious what do you think and 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? GLASER: I really don't think that Trump disengaged from the region.
What the United States has been trying to pivot to Asia really since 2011. And 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 a 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. And relations with the Philippines are improving, and that's 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. And 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. But is really an agreement of sharing technology and scientific know how, cooperating in a defense industry. It really creates a new architecture in the region. And I think it is a signal that the U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region is very strong.
HOLMES: Bonnie Glaser, as always, our thanks for your expertise.
GLASER: Thank you.
HOLMES: Still to come here on the program, construction appears to be underway at a North Korean nuclear facility. What the new satellite images have revealed. That's when we come back.
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HOLMES (on camera): Welcome back to CNN Newsroom, everyone. I'm Michael Holmes.
Now, satellite images obtained by CNN are raising new concerns about North Korea's nuclear weapons program. Have a look at this picture taken earlier this week by MAXAR Technologies indicating construction underway at a North Korea nuclear complex. Experts say the new images show an area being built at a key uranium enrichment plant.
[03:30:00]
CNN's Paula Hancocks joins me now live from Seoul to discuss. So what is the significance and what are the concerns they race?
PAULA HANCOCKS CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, Michael, the satellite imagery has been assessed by the Middlebury Institute and what they believe is that there is an extra area on floor space that is being built. Now it has been assessed that some 1,000 square meters which they say could be housing one science and extra centrifuges. So this extra floor space means the potentially the North Korean's
could increase their weapons grade plutonium that they are producing by 25 percent. So it is in theory a very significant expansion if in fact this is what they are planning to do.
Now this is at the Nyongbyon Nuclear Research Facility as the key nuclear facility within North Korea. We've spoken to two sources familiar with the situation and they say U.S. officials are aware of this as well. And they acknowledge that it could be the case that North Korea is planning to increase significantly the amount of weapons grade uranium that it is going to be producing.
Now this is also the Nyongbyon Nuclear Research Facility, it was also the focus of a report by the IAEA, just back in August, the end of August. And they said at that point that they believed one of the nuclear reactors was potentially being restarted.
So certainly it is putting this nuclear facility in focus, once again. And to put it into context of just what we've seen this week alone. We have seen North Korea test two short range ballistic missiles. We have also heard from North Korea that they test fired long-range cruise missiles over the weekend.
The U.S. and South Korea say they are still looking at the details of that. And we had South Korea on Wednesday, test firing a submarine launch ballistic missile. It will be the seventh country in the world to do that.
So, it really has shown that in the past seven days or so has increased tensions, it has increased the sheer number of military maneuvers and missile launches that we are seeing on the peninsula. And then at the end of the week, you see this satellite imagery suggesting that there is significant expansion happening at North Korea's nuclear facility.
So, certainly when you consider, Michael, that's just a couple months ago we had learned that the leaders of North and South Korea were exchanging letters. There was potential for engagement. It just shows how quickly things have deteriorated.
HOLMES: Yeah. Indeed. Paula, thanks. Paula Hancocks there in Seoul for us.
Now many remember the phrase too big to fail. Well it is being used again. Chinese real estate company, Evergrande is struggling under its staggering $300 billion debt load and it is wrestling with how to cut costs or shared assets before a default causes shockwaves throughout the country.
Kristie Lu Stout has more now on the company's struggles and what is at stake.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): 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 Evergrande has become China's most embedded developer with liabilities worth more than $300 billion. And the cast strapped property firm is struggling to pay it back.
Sending its stock price plummeting prompting ratings agencies to downgraded status and warning it could default which would sent shockwaves to China's economy.
So how did Evergrande get into this mess?
MATTIE BEKINK, CHINA DIRECTOR, ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT: It builds as many 600,000 homes annually and it's the massive that led 56 times bigger now than it was a decade ago. It's also strayed far from its core business which funded the Colossal Football Academy, a bottled water brand which then alter sold, an electric car company.
LU STOUT: Disgruntled and desperate investors have protested a company headquarters in Xinjiang. "They have 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 quote, "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 Xinjiang. And elsewhere in China, video 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.
[03:35:00]
In August, China's central banks summoned Evergrande execs and warned the company to reduce its debt. Analyst say, it's like with Beijing won't intervene.
Will the Chinese government step in to save it?
BEKINK: Here with the EIU, we do ultimate expect that the government will intervene in Evergrande's 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 their properties, then that is 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 had 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.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: The victims of the largest financial fraud in history are getting some more money to help cover their losses. The U.S. Justice Department says those impacted by Bernie made-offs Ponzi scheme are receiving another $568 million. The payouts to nearly 31,000 victims are coming from the made-off victim funds, setup by the government. Federal officials say they have now recovered about 81 percent of the stolen money.
Protesters across El Salvador voicing their anger over the president's decision to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. The cryptocurrency roll-out has hit some technical snags along the way and caused backlash among the nation citizens.
El Salvador's president claiming the international community is financing these protests. But so far given no evidence to back that up, even cattle ranchers who were usually staunch allies of the president say, they oppose using bitcoin.
CNN's Rafael Romo with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN SENIOR LATIN AMERICAN AFFAIRS EDITOR (on camera): 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 we're 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 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 it that is not that simple this rancher says. What if you don't know how much is worth or how much it's going to get devalue 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 giving 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 risk to a country's financial stability and integrity.
When the law went into effect on September 7th, the cryptocurrency market crashed losing billions in value. And the government's digital wallet for bitcoin has experienced several glitches that we are still not fully fixed a week after the launch.
The younger generation in some small business owners have embraced the cryptocurrency. But others like this protester say, bitcoin is a phony currency. Milton Brizuela, who is the president of El Salvador's Medical Association was among thousands of protesters who took to the streets a week after the bitcoin law went into effect saying, it's just another example of the presidents dictatorial bent.
We are worried about many decisions the government has taken including imposing a currency, Brizuela said.
The presidents answer?
There is no dictatorship here. What we have is a democracy. A lot of the protesters didn't even know what they're protesting about, he also said. And the ones who knew vandalized private and public property. Later suggesting that they are financed from abroad.
Back in Aguilares, even those who support the president otherwise say, introducing bitcoin was a mistake.
Everything that he has 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 is convenient or not, this rancher says. If the president is wrong then we are all wrong.
[03:40:11]
For now most of these ranchers say they will stick to what they know. A cash system that works 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 bowl.
Rafael Romo, CNN, Mexico City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Coming up here on the program, we'll hear from a female judge in Afghanistan who fears for her life now that the Taliban have released the men she once put behind bars. You're watching "CNN Newsroom," we will be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is getting worse. The head of the U.N. Refugee Agency, Filippo Grandi, warns the circumstances are desperate and urgent help is needed.
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FILIPPO GRANDI, UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES: Our teams are here in Afghanistan. They have never left and we are looking forward to strengthening this effort. For that we will need more support. This crisis is not going to go away anytime soon. Humanitarian solidarity, resources to meet the needs of so many vulnerable people are urgently needed now.
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HOLMES: Grandi just finished the three-day visit through Afghanistan where he was shown a warehouse with relief supplies. He says that half the country's population needed humanitarian aid even before the Taliban took over.
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GRANDI: In the last few months alone, hundreds of thousands more than a half million Afghans have been freshly displaced by recent fighting. Adding themselves to the millions that were displaced in previous years. Many of them are sleeping out in the open. Food is very scarce in the country. Medicines are lacking. The situation from the humanitarian point of view is pretty desperate.
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HOLMES: According to the U.N. refugee agency, Pakistan is host to about 1.4 million Afghan refugees. And it's estimated another 1 million Afghan refugees are in the country but unregistered, 780,000 in Iran, 117,000 in Turkey. More than 3.5 million people are internally displaced within their own country.
And hundreds of female judges are desperate to flee Afghanistan knowing they have no role in a nation ruled by the Taliban. They also fear revenge attacks by the men they sent to jail in the past.
CNN's Anna Coren joins me now live from Hong Kong. It just shows, you know, these women benefited from the progress over the last 20 years and now there are left fearing for their lives.
[03:45:10]
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Yeah. Absolutely. Michael, this is a generation of women who have been educated over the last 20 years and when the Taliban took over they promised that women would still be an integral part of society and that they would be allowed to work. This is clearly not the case.
And we speak about these judges, these powerful women in Afghan society who presided over some of the country's worst cases, locking up these men who are now free. And these women fear they have a target on their heads.
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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 Nabila, was a judge in Afghanistan. A profession now made impossible for women. The Taliban has told them not return to work. And now the whole family has a target on their heads.
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 and I had to cancel my phone numbers.
COREN: The family is currently in hiding. In fear of being hunted down by men she put behind bars. Some of whom have now been freed by the Taliban.
NABILA: Because of this threat from the prisoner, I changed my house once every four days. I hide there and I try to never go out.
COREN: Her fear compounded after a police woman, 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 traveled 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: 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: Now I feel like I lost everything. Imagine you have a personality, a career, respect, a home, a car, a life and everything. And suddenly you leave everything.
COREN: As chaos and uncertainty unfolds 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 WOME 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 and we will not going to let the world ignore them.
COREN: 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: We have been working for many years to combat violence, oppression and injustice and I want to continue with my work. COREN: 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 a brave and courageous and in speaking to CNN, we asked if she wanted us to hide her face, she said no. That she is representing the 200 other judges in the country who need to get out.
And look, they are speaking to organizations and obviously there are people who want to help. But, you know, it is such a difficult thing to do to flee this country when it is governed by the Taliban. And whether there are people who are looking for you, trying to hunt you down. She wrote to me just a short time ago and she said, you know, we are terrified. We are scared for our lives.
HOLMES: Yeah. What a dreadful situation. Anna, thank you for the reporting. Anna Coren there.
Now a historic landmark in Paris. A subject of the big cover-up, just ahead on "CNN Newsroom." A dream fulfilled at last for the late artist Christo.
[03:50:06]
Also a blunt warning the world is losing the fight against climate change and even the pandemic shutdowns aren't helping. We will be right back.
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HOLMES: The world is falling way short of commitments made in the Paris Climate Agreement. The three U.N. agencies reporting, greenhouse gas emissions are increasing despite lockdowns and an economic slowdown during the pandemic, with levels for some sectors returning to pre-pandemic levels. One U.N. expert says, that is a surprise.
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PETTERI TAALAS, WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORG. SECRETARY GENERAL: And then there have been some thinking that the COVID lockdown would have a positive impact on the real atmosphere which is not the case.
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HOLMES: The report also says the gap between where greenhouse gas emissions are and where they should be is larger than ever. And scientists are calling for bigger cuts in emission to meet the target set in Paris.
Now the late Bulgarian artist, Christo, have an obsession with wrapping things on a spectacular scale, bridges, entire island and buildings. So, it's no surprise that the French President, Emmanuel Macron, was on hand Thursday for the inauguration of a project Christo dream up 60 years ago.
CNN's Saskya Vandoorne has more on the cover up at the Arc de Triomphe.
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SASKYA VANDOORNE, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER (on camera): It took 90 climbers and 25,000 square meters of silvery blue fabric to transform Paris's most famous war memorial into a new work of art.
CHRISTO, LATE BULGARIAN ARTIST: That cross of the four archers is incredible, you have a nonstop wind. And it cannot believe it how the fabric above you will be like a moving, living person because all that will be also wrapped.
VANDOORNE: That was the vision of the late Bulgarian artist, Christo, as he spoke to CNN in 2020, one of his last interviews. Conceive 60 years ago when he was a young man in Paris, the project successes is rooted even further in the past.
Paris' archives were the key to its construction. Engineers poured over drawings of a 50 meter high monument, studying where they could drill into the 19th century structure.
UNKNOWN: Some of the statues they have wings, they have swords, they have trumpets. So we built these cages around the statues to protect them from the fabric, from the climbers, from the construction site work.
VANDOORNE: Using textiles to transform historic monuments and landmarks is what made Christo and his late wife Jeanne-Claude famous. Small islands off Miami covered in two (inaudible) of flamingo pink. The 16th century (inaudible) draped in golden sandstone. And Berlin's Reichstag, covered in silvery gray.
The bill for wrapping the arc? More than $16 million. Funded through the sale of Christo's art. The installation will open Saturday but many visitors and Parisians have already formed an opinion.
UNKNOWN: There is engineering, there is art, there is poetics even, and this kind connects to everybody.
[03:55:06]
UNKNOWN: It's not really the kind of art that I like but it's only for three weeks, so I'm OK with it.
UNKNOWN: What -- I didn't expect is that it is at the same time so monumental and so sensual.
VANDOORNE: The recyclable fabric IS designed to evolve with the weather. The red rope, a poetic interpretation of the French flag. Years of planning and 12 weeks of round the clock work have gone into making a sketch come to life.
Wolfgang Volz, who worked with the couple for 50 years is part of a team overseeing the project. The first time he has done so without them.
WOLFGANG VOLZ, PHOTOGRAPHER: I miss them now. But I will miss them tremendously in that fantastic moment when you see it. It is done. They look at it and they say it's not bad.
VANDOORNE: Like all of Christo's artwork, it will be short lived, just 16 days.
CHRISTO: You cannot own it, you cannot bought it. It will be gone. I will never see it again. And that is also the magnetic force of our project. They are not something that stay.
VANDOORNE: The ephemeral nature of Christo's work, all the more poignant for being brought to life after his death.
Saskya Vandoorne, CNN, Paris.
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HOLMES (voice over): Oh boy, listen to that. Aretha Franklin getting some well-deserved R-E-S-P-E-C-T. As "Rolling Stone" Magazine names it the greatest song of all-time. The top 500 songs list was created by polling more than 250 artists, songwriters and industry figures. It was just amended for the first time in 17 years. And if you are wondering, here is the top five.
Number one, as we said, "Respect" by Aretha Franklin. Written, of course, by the great Otis Redding. Number two, "Fight The Power" by Public Enemy. In at number three, "A Change Is Going To Come" by Sam Cooke. Number four "Like A Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan and rounding out the top five, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana.
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HOLMES (on camera): Thanks for watching "CNN Newsroom." I'm Michael Holmes, do stick around. Another great hit, Kim Brunhuber will pick up the coverage after the break.
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