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France Recalls Ambassadors As AUKUS Dispute Escalates; U.S. Admits Kabul Drone Strike Killed Only Civilians; Taliban Call On Boys Over Grade Six To Return To School; Former Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Dies At 84; Overhaul For England's International COVID-19 Travel Rules; U.N.: Planet On "Catastrophic" Global Warming Path. Aired 3-3:30a ET

Aired September 18, 2021 - 03:00   ET

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

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ROBYN CURNOW, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Welcome to CNN. I'm Robyn Curnow.

The U.S. admits it killed only civilians and no ISIS-K fighters, when it targeted a car in Kabul, last month; 10 people died in a drone strike, including seven children.

France makes an unusual move, taking out its frustration at the U.S. over a national security partnership with the U.K. and Australia.

Plus, long haul COVID. How many suffer from it and new research, very new, which may explain why it happens.

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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Robyn Curnow.

CURNOW: From righteous strike, to a tragic mistake, the U.S. admits it killed only civilians and no ISIS-K fighters when it targeted a car in Kabul last month.

Ten people died in the drone strike, including seven children. Up until Friday, the U.S. maintained at least one of them was a terrorist linked to an imminent threat against evacuation efforts at the airport. A CNN investigation, already calling the original narrative into

question. Anna Coren has more on the reversal and what we're learning. And some of the footage you're about to see is graphic.

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ANNA COREN, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: The U.S. military has admitted that wrong intelligence led to the killing of 10 innocent Afghan civilians, including seven children following a drone strike in Kabul, almost three weeks ago, on what they thought at the time was an ISIS-K target. Instead, they killed a 43 year old aid worker and father of seven,

Zamarai Ahmadi, who they now admit had no affiliation whatsoever to any terror network.

CNN carried out an investigation, speaking to more than 2 dozen people, including family members, colleagues and bomb experts, reviewing CCTV footage and retracing Zamarai's steps that day, raising serious doubts about the U.S. military's version of the events.

CENTCOM commander General Kenneth McKenzie called it a, quote, "tragic mistake," saying he takes full responsibility, offering his sincere and profound condolences to the family.

He said they had received 60 different intelligence reports of an imminent attack on Hamid Karzai International Airport. A U.S. official earlier told us they had been monitoring intelligence from an ISIS safe house.

The drone strike came just days after an attack on the airport, when an ISIS-K suicide bomber killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 170 Afghans.

Based on what McKenzie said was a good lead, they followed Zamarai's car as went by his daily routine, believing he was loading explosives into the car when he, in fact, was lifting containers of water into his vehicle.

When he pulled into his family compound, a U.S. official with knowledge of the operation told CNN the drone operators watched the car for 4-5 minutes before taking the shot. Then they realized there were three children in the compound.

We have now learned that, with further analysis, the U.S. admits there were even more children in the vicinity of the drone strike. A total of seven children were killed; three were toddlers.

General McKenzie said there will be a review of policies and procedures that led to the strike, that took the lives of 10 innocent civilians, and that they are looking at compensation for the family -- Anna Coren, CNN, Hong Kong.

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COREN: Thanks, Anna, for that update.

Rights for Afghan women certainly seem to be disappearing by the day since the Taliban took over for the country. A building designated in Kabul as the ministry of women's affairs is now home to the ministry for the propagation for virtue and the prevention of vice under the Taliban. And that is according to this sign posted outside the building on Friday.

The Taliban also calling for boys over grade 6 to report to school over the weekend. That announcement though making no mention of female students that age, leaving many girls to fear they won't be allowed back at school. Arwa Damon is following all of that.

Certainly, it seems like women's rights and girls' rights are evaporating day-by-day, quite quickly.

ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's so tragic, Robyn. It's not just about girls' access to education in that decree.

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DAMON: But the Taliban is also saying that only male teachers that teach grade 6 to 12, should go to work, no female teachers.

CNN spoke to a 16-year-old young Afghan, who is in Kabul. And she was devastated, she just felt as if her dreams had evaporated in front of her. Just talking to her female classmates and how upset they were. And they weren't sure that would come to hold.

They haven't lived under the Taliban before. They don't know what it is like to have your right, your fundamental right, to an education, taken away from you. Simply, Robyn, because you are female.

CURNOW: Explain where you are right now and what happens to people leaving in Afghanistan.

DAMON: We are in the Turkish city of Von (ph) that is very close to the border with Iran. This is one of the main transit areas, for Afghans who are trying to flee, though, across from Afghanistan, all the way through Iran and eventually, if they are lucky, make their way here, where they will either end up caught by the Turkish authorities or they will end up being processed, eventually in what Turkey calls, deportation centers. Although now, they are more like holding centers, because Turkey, since the fall of Kabul, has not been departing any Afghans back to Afghanistan.

If they do manage to evade capture there are any number of safe houses, that are located throughout the city. But Robyn, they are sleeping out in the open, in ditches and the various different gullies that snake through the mountains here.

It is a very difficult and treacherous journey, the nights are cold and the days are hot and in the past , you would mostly see young men coming through here. Now what authorities are seeing more and more of, is families. Little children, also making this journey.

When you ask why they, say we left for our kids. One mother remembering what was life was like, when they were under the Taliban, when she wanted an education it was in an underground secret school. She doesn't want the same for her daughter.

When we look at what happened in Afghanistan, especially over the last 24 hours, with that lack of mention of what is going to happen with schooling, for girls and for women, with the return of the feared ministry for vice and virtue, all of these who were fleeing, these worst fears are, now, very, much being confirmed.

CURNOW: Thank you for that reporting there. Arwa Damon.

So France is also very angry with the new defense deal between the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, that it was taking an important step of recalling its ambassadors to the United States and Australia, 2 of its closest allies.

The security pact aims to provide Australia with nuclear powered submarines, using American and British technology. The announcement effectively killing a defense contract between Australia and France. French officials especially incensed that they were not informed about the trilateral partnership or that the sub deal with Australia, was actually, in jeopardy, because of it. Jim Bittermann, joining us from Paris.

More on the fallout from this decision, Jim, hi, good to see you. Certainly, there has also been some eyebrows raised, particularly here, in the States, at the French reaction.

So why is President Macron reacting like this?

Such as recalling ambassadors, normally meant for competitor states?

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SR. INTL. CORRESPONDENT: As far as we can determine, it has never happened with France and the United States. It is on a couple of levels, that, the French are so livid.

Basically, it's a deal and it's $65 billion on the table that has gone away, part of the ship building industry, that was going to create jobs, that sort of thing.

Secondly, there is a betrayal, the feeling that they got together and negotiated this whole thing, secretly, for months. And in fact, a U.S. official said, it was undertaken with a high degree of discretion. That may be as it is. But the fact is, the French were in the Pacific, even as late as last May, with a show of force against the Chinese.

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BITTERMANN: I think the French would argue, too, that the French interests in the Western Pacific is just as large, in, fact if not larger, than what the British have. The French have these overseas territories in Polynesia and New Caledonia.

And then, on the other hand, this plays into president Macron's hand, where he has been preaching for some time, to his European allies, there must be more strategic autonomy, less dependence on the United States, developing their own military forces and so, in a way, long term this may be in president Macron's interests or, perhaps, it fits into his narrative as he makes this argument to European allies.

CURNOW: In many ways, Americans have made it clear, even since President Obama, their national interests and security focus, needs to be in the Asia-Pacific region, to counter a rising China, for example.

Do you think the continent should have been or need to be prepared for new alliances, for America, turning elsewhere, besides old Europe? BITTERMANN: That, is exactly, what president Macron has been preaching for some time now. And it's going to continue that way, with his European allies. The fact is this was telegraphed ever since Obama, as you have suggested, that the Americans said that Europe was not as important as the interests of the United States.

Definitely, there was some telegraphing of this move, but it came as such a shock, this move because the negotiations of this deal, the new security pact, taken in was described as a secret. Basically, there was just no hint of any of this going on.

This G7 meeting, with President Macron and President Biden, looking very chummy and very friendly but I think, the question now, is where does this all lead?

Where the French going to end, this if they are going to end this?

Or, is this going to continue and developed into more than a rift than a snit?

Sir Peter Ricketts (ph), who is a longtime British ambassador here, said, overnight, he tweeted, you can expect more French measures, including in NATO, which is an ominous sign of things. And in the past, as you recall the president de Gaulle splitting with NATO.

That was a hint that the French were going to develop their own new nuclear forces, which they have. Really, it's clear, there isn't an indication on where this will all go, Robyn.

CURNOW: Surely, also, an indication of this growing multipolar world and this new kind of geopolitical horizon. And, a landscape, that is forming as they watch. Jim Bittermann, always good to see you, beautiful day in Paris by the looks of things and thank you so much for bringing us the report.

So Algeria is remembering its longtime, former president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika. State-run media say that he died on Friday, at the age of 84. Bouteflika ran Algeria for two decades, leaving a legacy of both success and controversy.

Becky Anderson reports his final run for office led to his political downfall.

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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST (voice-over): It was a political career, ending in upheaval. Seemingly unscathed by the 2011 Arab Spring, it was his bid for a fifth term in office that brought about Abdelaziz Bouteflika's downfall, sparking mass protests across Algeria.

He was first elected president in 1999. He inherited a country, battered by a 7 year Islamic insurgency which cost the lives of at least 150,000 Algerians. Many describe the vote as flawed. All opposition candidates, pulling out on the eve of the poll, claiming election fraud. But the military backed leader, a former foreign minister, moved

quickly to establish his legitimacy. He called and won a referendum, offering amnesty to militants, in return for peace. The violence didn't end overnight but many fighters, laying down their arms and returned to civilian life.

He also began to breathe life into the economy. During his tenure, new roads were built, new shopping malls. He, also, reopened Algeria to the world in 2003 and he welcomed the first president of France, the old colonial power, to visit the country. He also backed the war on terror, visiting Washington, frequently. He was reelected in 2004 and 2009.

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ANDERSON: Many accused his campaign of electoral fraud, even though opposition and the press became more vocal over the years. His strong- arm tactics were also criticized. Security forces, quelled protests by ethnic voters seeking greater rights, in 2001. They did the same, a decade later, during the Arab Spring.

When thousands of Algerians demanded more freedom. He managed, however, to survive. But militant Islam in Algeria, did too. Several bombs ripped through the capital, Algiers, in 2007, claimed by Al Qaeda's North Africa branch.

In 2013, dozens of hostages were killed in a terrorist attack, at a gas plant, in the south. And, in 2014, ISIS-inspired militants in Algeria beheaded a French tourist. He won a fourth term in 2014 but, after suffering a stroke a year earlier, the ailing president retreated from the public eye, raising concerns over his ability to rule and ultimately, sparking an unprecedented series of peaceful demonstrations, calling for change.

In the end, it was a swift fall from grace for the infamously reclusive octogenarian. After 2 decades in power, he was forced out, after 6 weeks of popular protests. It is a new but uncertain chapter for Algeria, an oil rich OPEC member, on the doorsteps of Europe, still, trying to put an end to militant Islam at home.

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CURNOW: Ahead, international travelers will find their arrival in England a little less complicated, only if they're fully vaccinated as well. I will explain.

Plus, a new CDC study, suggesting that certain groups of people may be more at risk for long term COVID symptoms. We take a look at these findings, that's next, as well.

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(MUSIC PLAYING) CURNOW: Some good news for fully vaccinated travelers, arriving in England, from October 4th the U.K. government is scrapping its complicated traffic light system and swapping the green, amber and red ranking of countries for simply, a red list of no-go destinations. It doesn't cover Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, just England. Nina dos Santos has all the details. Nina?

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NINA DOS SANTOS, CNNMONEY EUROPE EDITOR: Just after the coronavirus containment plan for later on in the year, they also promised to update travelers on the restrictions to enter the U.K.

Things are going to be simplified as of October the 4th and good news for countries coming off the red list in the U.K. This is a list of nations, deemed risky, in terms of prevalence of COVID-19. As, such people who entered the, shores from these nations, have to go to an immediate, mandatory quarantine period, in a hotel.

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DOS SANTOS: But no longer, will that be a case of a return to the U.K. from Turkey, Pakistan, the, Maldives, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Oman, Bangladesh and Kenya.

And, there is good news for travelers who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If they have had both of their shots, they will no longer have to take a test before departing upon their journey. They will still have to test upon their return but the government is trying to make that simpler and also, more cost-effective too.

There are plans to remove the current requirement for a polymerase chain reaction or PCR test on day 2, a more sophisticated and expensive but also more accurate COVID-19 test. They will be replacing that with a much cheaper lateral flow test, instead.

But this has been greeted by the airline and the hospitality sector with glee. They have been pummeled over the course of the pandemic by these restrictions being imposed upon travelers, to the U.K.

They said it was the shot in the arm the industry needed and, it could make a real impact, straightaway. These rules are changing just before a crucial travel period, which is the half term holiday for school children, across England.

And, also, it reflects the fact that there is a larger amount of immunity against COVID-19 and the country with 8 in 10 adults, having been vaccinated, in some form, against the virus. And, with plans to roll out the vaccination program, to the next target group, which is 12- to 15-year olds who, as of this week, they were eligible to get one shot of a Pfizer vaccination -- Nina dos Santos, CNN, in London.

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CURNOW: Vaccine advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, voting against recommending a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine, for most Americans. Instead, the committee is recommending the booster shot, only, to people 65, years and older and, those at high risk of severe COVID.

The FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, must still give its approval. The CDC advisory committee, scheduled to, meet next week.

And, for those who do contract the virus, we are learning more and more, about what is called long COVID. A new CDC study, finding that one third of its participants, experiencing symptoms of long COVID.

The study also found higher rates among women, African Americans and those over 40 and, people with pre-existing conditions. Fatigue and loss of taste and smell, were the most common extended symptoms.

In the meantime, a team of Arkansas researchers identified a possible cause of long COVID. They say, an antibody appearing weeks after initial attacks disrupts a key regulator of the immune system.

Earlier, I asked the lead researcher of the University of Arkansas team of what they discovered. Take a listen.

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DR. JOHN ARTHUR, UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS FOR MED SCIENCES: What we found is that there is an antibody against one of our own proteins in patients that have been infected, with the coronavirus. That protein is called ACE2 and it is important in regulating the balance of the control of the immune system.

So it makes a lot of sense that it could, potentially, be one of the causes of long COVID.

CURNOW: When does this happen?

It doesn't necessarily happen when you get infected with COVID, does it?

ARTHUR: No, in fact, we think it would take a little while, probably, at least 2 or 3 weeks. First, you have to form an antibody against the coronavirus. And, only after you have that antibody against the coronavirus, then, would you be able to forward this antibody, which recognizes your ACE2 protein.

CURNOW: So what happens?

Basically, your body is reacting to itself?

ARTHUR: It is. This is an auto antibody, that reacts against yourself.

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CURNOW: Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, a startling new report on the climate crisis, which warns of catastrophic warming. We look at what can be done to change that.

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CURNOW: A stunning warning, after a new United Nations report on global warming. The planet is on, a quote, "catastrophic path, leading to massive loss of lives and livelihoods."

The report says, the Earth's warming at a rate far above what it should be targeting. U.N. security general, Antonio Guterres, said the time to act is quickly running out.

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ANTONIO GUTERRES, UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL: It is time to ring the alarm bell. If you take the commitments made until now by member states, we will still get to the end of the century with an increase of temperature to 2.7 to 2.9. So we are on the verge of the abyss.

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CURNOW: The report comes after a summer on the Northern Hemisphere, filled with extreme winter weather events around the world, fueled by climate change, with wildfires, droughts, flooding and hurricanes.

Crews in central California in Sequoia National Park are getting creative to protect the world's largest tree. The General Sherman tree, older than the Roman empire and taller than the Statue of Liberty, is, now swaddled in fire resistant material, as you can see here.

Park rangers and firefighters are racing against the clock to cover and protect many of the 2,000 other sequoias against a wildfire that is rapidly approaching. Officials estimate up to 14 percent of these giant trees were wiped out in a single fire last year.

However, it's not all bad news. These ancient trees have adapted to fire, releasing seeds, when the temperature is right.

And, also, some news from near Earth's orbit. The all civilian SpaceX crew are zipping around Earth, every 90 minutes, right now. They are having weightless fun but also, doing science and medical research, eating cold pizza and having video chats with patients on Earth.

They are, also, taking in those amazing views of our beautiful, blue planet. The crew splashes, down near Florida, later on today and of course, we will be covering, that here on CNN.

I'm Robyn Curnow, I'll be back in about 30 minutes time, with more CNN news. "AFRICAN VOICES CHANGEMAKERS," is next.