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U.S. And France Try To Heal Diplomatic Rift; Migrant Crisis Deepens At U.S.-Mexico Border; French Ambassador To Return To U.S. After Biden, Macron Talk. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired September 23, 2021 - 02:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[02:00:08]
ANNA COREN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Anna Coren live from Hong Kong. Just to hit the French and the U.S. trying to heal a diplomatic rift, after a call between the presidents and other high level meeting has just been announced. The daunting task of providing health care to Afghans.
I'll speak to the health minister who's just been removed from his post by the Taliban. Plus, the crisis unfolding at America's southern border. Thousands of Haitian migrants facing an uncertain future.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian are expected to meet later today on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. It's a serious -- it's a sign, I should say the serious diplomatic rift between the two countries is improving. Well, earlier, France announced its ambassador to the United States would soon returned to Washington after Presidents Biden and Macron spoke by phone.
But the British Prime Minister doesn't seem as interested in smoothing things over. In his usual colorful fashion he suggested the French had overreacted to the new security deal between Australia, the U.S. and the U.K.
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BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I just think it's time for some of our dearest friends around the world to, you know, prenez un grip about all this. Donnez-moi un break because this is fundamentally a great step forward for global security.
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COREN: The White House's President Biden did not exactly apologize to Mr. Macron. But he conceded. The French should have been consulted more. Well, listen to this exchange from Wednesday's press briefing.
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JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The President is hopeful this is a step in returning to normal and a long, important abiding relationship that the United States has with France. It was about 30 minutes long. As we noted in the readout, and as you said it was extensive. But part of the -- in during the conversation the president reaffirms the strategic importance of France -- French and European engagement, I should say in the indo Pacific region. Something that we look forward to continuing to work with them on.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did President Biden apologized to Emmanuel Macron?
PSAKI: He acknowledged that there could have been greater consultation and the call again, as I stated earlier was a friendly call, and there was agreement that we wanted to move forward in our relationship.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The first translation said that open consultation but would have made it possible to avoid this situation. The English translation said the situation would have benefited from open consultation. So, similar but not entirely the same. So did the President apologize to his French friend?
PSAKI: He acknowledged there could have been greater consultation. But again, this call was really focused on the path forward and returning back to normal and the important work we have to do with the French ahead.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: France is one of America's oldest allies, and this was the first time Paris had ever recalled its ambassador to Washington. Well, CNN's Cyril Vanier has more on President Biden's efforts to repair the damage.
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In the end, it seems a 30-minute phone call between French President Mexico and Joe Biden of calls described as friendly by the White House was enough to defuse the week long diplomatic crisis between France and the U.S. France's ambassador to Washington will be returning to D.C. next week. France went into this phone call with an unusually specific list of demands.
Concrete actions to rebuild trust and crucially, an acknowledgment that the U.S. could and should have handled the whole thing better. As far as rebuilding trust and concrete steps, Macron and Biden will meet in person in Europe next month. As far as getting a sorry from the U.S. president, France came close. Although the discrepancy between the English and French versions of the joint statement does speak volumes.
A French language communique stating the crisis could have been avoided with better communication among allies. The English version doesn't go quite that far, saying only that the situation could have, "benefited from open consultations." Still, the French got something in the ballpark of an apology by the world's most powerful man, the U.S. president and they are signaling that they're ready to move on. Cyril Vanier, CNN Paris.
COREN: But as the U.S. and France tried to move on, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson used even more choice language, telling the world to move faster on climate change. At the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, he slammed what he called the world's infantile approach to the issue.
[02:05:01]
COREN: And he said humanity needs to "grow up." Nina de Santos reports.
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Six weeks before we set to host a major climate change summit on his own soil here in the U.K., Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister uses United Nations General Assembly address in New York to rally the cause for more urgent action on climate change with some rather blunt language that you can hear here.
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JOHNSON: My friends, the adolescence of humanity is coming to an end and must come to an end. We are approaching that critical turning point in less than two months. And I just have a 40 days when we must show that we are capable of learning and maturing and finally taking responsibility for the destruction we are inflicting, not just upon our planet, but upon ourselves.
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DOS SANTOS: While in Johnson's own inimitable style, he said that essentially the world was behaving at the moment, like a bunch of reckless teenagers not conscious of the damage that they're causing. It was time for the world to wake up, to grow up and also take more responsibility and listen to the warnings of the scientists. And the backdrop to all of this is that they've also been concerned that the diplomatic effort underway ahead of cop 26 which is set to take place in Glasgow in Scotland in just six weeks' time is falling perilously behind.
And they've also been various sets of data that showed that when it comes to the targets of climate change, namely limiting global warming to around 1.5 percent of pre industrialized levels, that is also far off the mark at the moment. Nina Dos Santos CNN in London,
COREN: The U.S. is ramping up its coronavirus vaccine donations in a major way. President Joe Biden says the U.S. will deliver an additional 500 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to low- income countries starting in January. Well, that's on top of the half a billion doses the U.S. has already promised. There'll be distributed through the global vaccination program COVAX. The announcement came during a virtual COVID summit on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly and that's not all.
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JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Today, the United States is also announcing that we're providing an additional $370 million to supported ministry these shots and delivery globally. And we will be providing more than $380 million to assist in the global vaccine alliance, Gavi to further facilitate vaccine distribution in regions in the greatest -- with the greatest need.
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COREN: The presidents of South Africa, Vietnam and Somalia among those who will address the U.N. General Assembly in the coming hours. CNN Richard Roth has more on Wednesday's action.
RICHARD ROTH, CNN SENIOR U.N. CORRESPONDENT: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his delegation that came to New York are back home, but they're going to have to be tested and followed. They left their health minister behind here in New York where he is quarantining for two weeks in a hotel room. He did test positive. He also shook the hand of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
U.N. says he never met Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The United Nations is following contact tracing protocols and nonetheless and his contact with the mission. If there was any doubt the U.S. and others might block the Taliban from becoming the official seat holder of Afghanistan here at the United Nations General Assembly that was wiped away when the United States ambassador made it clear.
They want to see deeds involving the people of Afghanistan before they give the international seal of approval to be here as a representative of their nation.
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LINDA THOMAS-GREENFIELD, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N.: Our position has been clear and it's been unified with the rest of the international community. We will not recognize the Taliban until they earn recognition. And they earn recognition by their deeds not -- and by their actions not by their words.
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ROTH: Not a big shocker in a busy long second day of the U.N. High Level week, Venezuela's President Maduro again pressing for a lifting of sanctions by the United States and blasting elites in the U.S. and Europe for keeping his people down. And finally a new one, the President of Ukraine called the United Nations a retired superhero that needs nurturing. Richard Roth CNN, United Nations.
COREN: Well, as Richard just reported, Venezuela's president made his case for the U.S. and European Union lifting sanctions against his country.
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NICOLAS MADURO, VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Financial accounts are being chased. Our access to gold has been kidnapped and blocked in the Central Bank of Venezuela's International reserves in London. Billions of dollars have been seized and blocked in bank accounts in the U.S. Europe and beyond.
[02:10:09] MADURO: It's a financial monetary, commercial, energetic and systemic criminal and cruel persecution and Venezuela raises its voice to denounce it before the people of the world.
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COREN: The U.S. is sending $247 million in humanitarian assistance and 89 million in economic assistance to what it calls vulnerable Venezuelans. A statements from the State Department said the money supports more than seven million people inside Venezuela and more than 5-1/2 million Venezuelans in 17 countries across the region.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now Ok'd a Pfizer booster shot for certain groups on an emergency use basis. It's meant for people over 65 and those at high risk of severe disease, as well as people whose jobs put them at risk of infection. CDC advisors will discuss boosters in the coming day and decide what to recommend based on this new FDA decision. Third doses are already approved for the immunocompromised and more than two million Americans have already received them.
And yet new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows COVID vaccinations in the U.S. have reached their slowest pace in two months. That says the daily average death toll hits a six month high. Nick Watt has the details.
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NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In North Carolina, dozens of UNC health employees have resigned rather than get a COVID- 19 vaccine.
LAURIE SCHERBEKOW, UNC HEALTH NURSE: But it absolutely is about our freedom. You know, we should have the freedom to choose.
WATT: Meantime, in the 10 least vaccinated states, there they are in red, the COVID-19 death rate was four times higher this past week than in these states. The 10 most vaccinated. Wyoming just activated the National Guard to help in overcrowded hospitals. In North Dakota, school board member is now facing a recall after winning the push for masks in schools. She's a pediatrician.
DR. TRACE NEWMAN, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER AND PEDIATRICIAN: Masks are one way of a layered approach, you know to help us keep kids in school and even if it's unpopular, I'm always going to try to advocate what's best for children.
WATT: A mask war update from down in Texas, a couple with an immunocompromised kid at home, went out for dinner and.
NATALIE WESTER, MOTEHR, ASKED TO REMOVED MASK: We just came up and she basically said you are going to need -- you pull your mask down, take it off because this is a political situation. But the owner here doesn't believe in masks. And, you know, there's a strict no mass policy here.
WATT: So they had to leave.
TOM BLACKMER, OWNER, HANG TIME SPORTS GRILL AND BAR: I spent my money on this business. I put my blood, sweat and tears in this business. And I don't want any mask in Here.
WATT: In Florida, the mask weary governor just announced his new surgeon general.
GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): But we feel that that Joe is just the right guy for the job.
WATT: Last week he wrote that the public mask wearing has had at best a modest effect on viral transmission. Not true studies show the effect is significant. Meantime, the nation's average daily death toll just top 2000 lives last a day, hasn't been that high in more than six months.
DR. JORGE RODRIGUEZ, INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIALIST AND VIRAL RESEARCHER: We are going to be living because of some people's hesitancy to take vaccine at a plateau. Hundreds of people maybe even a thousand dying on a daily basis for the foreseeable future. And by that I mean a year or two.
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WATT: And late Wednesday, the FDA in the United States has granted emergency use authorization for a third booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine for people 65 and up. Also people at risk of severe disease and people who have jobs that put them at risk of infection. Nick Watt CNN, Los Angeles.
COREN: Ahead on CNN NEWSROOM. Why Haitian migrants are crossing back into Mexico from the migrant camp under the Del Rio International Bridge? That's just ahead.
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COREN: Welcome back. The U.N. is releasing emergency funds to help prevent Afghanistan's healthcare system from collapsing. $45 million will go to the U.N.'s health and children's agencies. The UNA chief says medicine, medical supplies and fuel are running out. The head of the World Health Organization has been visiting Kabul and warns of an imminent catastrophe without urgent action.
Afghanistan's COVID vaccination rates have dropped in recent weeks, and nearly two million doses are sitting unused. To talk more about this. Dr. Wahid Majrooh joins us now from Kabul. He is the former Minister of Public Health for Afghanistan. Great to have you with us, Doctor. As we say the healthcare system on the verge of collapse, acute shortage of medicine, medical supplies and fuel. What will happen if this runs out?
DR. WAHID MAJROOH, FORMER MINISTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR AFGHANISTAN: Thank you. Unfortunately, that's a fact. We have a health system on the verge of collapse. But hopefully we're receiving good news good signals from our international partners, saved $15 million was committed by the Global Fund and now (INAUDIBLE) nations. If this contribution is channeled fastly the problem will be addressed in short term.
But if it again stops in the bureaucracy of U.N. I'm very sorry to say that but it will be a medicine after death of the patient.
COREN: I was going to say, the money that you have been given this emergency money. I mean, how long will that last? What? A month, a couple of months?
MAJROOH: The problem first is that we focus only on World Bank funded health facilities. If we focus on that, it will help us for two to three months. But if we look at the holistic approach to the whole system, it will not even suffice for a month.
COREN: We know that the salaries of healthcare workers have not been paid for months. We're talking what? Five months if not longer. Plus, there has been this brain drain of doctors leaving Afghanistan with the evacuation. I mean, those who remain behind are obviously working because they feel it's their duty.
MAJROOH: Yes. The unpaid salary is an issue. And we have to acknowledge the courage and the commitment of the staff who has remained and we have to incentivize it, otherwise is saved brain drain will then extend and we will lose more human capital. And it is not only the staff that we have left but the discouragement. The low morale in the health system because when you -- when you don't pay a staff member, when you don't provide them food and medicine, although they're present in the health facility but the level of motivation in the momentum available in the system is not optimal and it does not deliver what you expect.
COREN: Doctor, half of the country's healthcare workers are women. Will they be allowed to work? Are they currently allowed to work?
MAJROOH: They are allowed to work. Most of them are back to office and health facilities. But it takes time. It takes time to build up the courage or the trust with the families and provide them the facility to join the office which means there are transportation, safety on the route and the salaries and those means and inputs required for them to deliver services at the health facilities.
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MAJROOH: So it is -- it is a multi-dimensional current issue which only allowance or permission will not fulfill the needs and the required, the prerequisites to have female staff members at the health facilities.
COREN: You were pushed out of your post as Minister of Health by the Taliban just days ago. Why was that? And tell us what was it like working with the Taliban? MAJROOH: Well, the question I'm sure could be better answered by the IAEA. But for me, it was a different strange and an intranet and interesting and learning experience working with them for more than five weeks. It had its ups and downs, stresses and opportunities. But my focus was on patients and my people. And for god and myself and my family. I'm just returning back to my family and social life.
COREN: Would you have stayed on in that position if the Taliban had wanted you to do that?
MAJROOH: I would still know in positions and capacities where I feel myself effective and productive. I believe that it was better for me to get out of the ministry and let the new team lead the ministry because I would not been much productive and effective as I used to be. So I think it was the right time for me to exit.
COREN: You mentioned this new team that has come in. Do you believe that the Taliban knows how to run the country's health care system considering the crisis that it is facing?
MAJROOH: I believe in team work and it is not only the minister who work and leads but they all -- the human capital in the ministry. There are so -- although the brain drain has take out part of the team but still there are in good professional in this system, if they are provided with the platform, with the opportunity to work. And if the learning is believed as a process for everyone, I think the system will run toward a better future.
But everything is dependent how the ministry is led and how the atmosphere is provided, the space is provided to the experienced and professional human capital that we have in and out of the system to explore and implement their ideas and their plans and programs in the new context.
COREN: Doctor, considering the crisis that your country is facing but I guess specifically the healthcare system, what is your message right now to the international community?
MAJROOH: I thank and appreciate for their contribution. I tell them that the contribution they make, the achievements we make together in maternal infant mortality rate, institutional development, the level of human capital is at the verge of collapse. If we have a political look at the health system, we will not only lose the system, we are losing more mothers and children. We are questioning the mission we were promoting for last two decades.
But if we make right decisions in the right time with the right people, I believe that still there is an opportunity not only to save the gains, but also to build upon that. And I believe that our international partners will constructively work not only built between themselves which is the scenario right now. But the -- where the ministry as a technical institution to ensure that it is not a short sighted intervention to what sorts of term solutions but a longer term perspective with strategic vision that the ministry and the health system will sustain and maintain. It is momentum and operation in the longer term. Because based on our experience, the last two decades, donors, especially the humanitarian interventions will not remain long for a long time. In one day, they will come back to the government, they will come back to the technical institution saying please take it over. And I wonder if we ignore the ministry today what the minister will not have the capacity the next day to take it over.
COREN: Yes. At the end of the day, this is a healthcare system that is looking after, you know, every day Afghans. Doctor Wahid Majrooh, we thank you for your time and your insight.
WAJROOH: Thank you.
COREN: Well, about 5000 migrants mostly from Haiti remain under the Del Rio International Bridge on the US-Mexico border seeking asylum that's down from as many as 14,000 over the weekend. Some have been released into southern Texas despite repeated claims from U.S. Homeland Security that they'd be expelled immediately.
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COREN: But hundreds are being flown back to Haiti every day. And here's what one migrant had to say.
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EDDY TEVERME, DEPORTED BACK TO HAITI FROM THE U.S. (through translator): When we arrived in the U.S. the authorities put us on a bus and sent us to jail and said we would be relieved in two days. They put chains on our feet, around our stomachs and our hands. They put us in cars and took us to the airport. There were Haitians working on the plane, who told us not to resist because there were many soldiers on the plane and they warned us that otherwise we wouldn't be mistreated.
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COREN: Well, meantime, as conditions at the Del Rio Camp continue to deteriorate some migrants are crossing back into Mexico for supplies. CNN's Matt Rivers reports.
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, very busy day here at the U.S.-Mexico border. We are in Ciudad Acuna just across the river there behind me from Del Rio, Texas. That is where thousands and thousands of Haitian migrants have been over the past week. And we saw many of them during the day today, actually crossing the Rio Grande behind me, coming here into Mexico.
And we asked many of them why were they doing that following this guideline that's been strung across the river and they came here to Mexico to get supplies. They say that the conditions inside that encampment on the U.S. side are such that if you come to Mexico, it's actually easier to get food, water. We even saw a set of parents picking up diapers and clothes on this side of the border. That's something we've seen all day long. Essentially, these migrants are kind of trapped between both of these countries, law enforcement entities, both in Mexico and the U.S. if they choose to stay in the United States. Some are being led into the U.S. after being processed by law enforcement. Others, though, are being deported to Haiti. The exact same thing is happening here on the Mexican side.
Some are being let into Mexico if they have the proper paperwork, in terms of asylum claims, others will eventually be deported back to Haiti according to government officials. That is the situation. These Haitian migrants have to choose which side to go to. We also saw some dramatic scenes earlier today. What happens here along this river is that there are regularly scheduled dam releases.
Basically dams upstream that where water is released and the water levels rise pretty dramatically in this river behind me. We saw one man and clearly migrants who are not aware of that, are not used to that. We saw one man that you can see here with his daughter on his shoulders going across the river came here to get her a meal, was going back to the encampment in the U.S.
And they almost went under because of how strong the current was, three or four other migrants had to jump into the water and actually help save not only that man but the child that was on his shoulders. And then a little bit later on we also saw someone try and swim across, clearly not a good swimmer and was actually swept down the stream. Several other migrants jumped in after him he was yelling, he was clearly panicking.
And actually Border Patrol agents from the U.S. side threw him a line that he was actually able to grab onto and pull himself to safety. So it's just a very dramatic scene here on the U.S. border. It's very difficult times for these migrants, as they have to decide where do they go from here? Do they stay in Mexico? Do they stay in the U.S. and do they take the corresponding risks from each side?
Matt Rivers, CNN Ciudad Acuna, Mexico.
COREN: Still to Come. One debt down, but another big one coming at due. China's Evergrande charts a course out of a money crunch that's worrying investors worldwide.
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COREN: The U.S. Federal Reserve may be ready to cut back on some of the major stimulus measures put in place to counter the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. A statement Wednesday hinted an announcement in November if the economic recovery continues. The Fed could also raise interest rates as early as next year instead of waiting until 2023. Chairman Jerome Powell says inflation and employment are his main considerations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JEROME POWELL, U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR: As the economy continues to reopen and spending rebounds, we are seeing upward pressure on prices, particularly because supply bottlenecks in some sectors have limited how quickly production can respond in the near term. These bottlenecks effects have been larger and longer lasting than anticipated, leading to upward revisions to participants inflation projections for this year.
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COREN: Well, shares of Chinese real estate giants, Evergrande, are rebounding after the company announced the settlement of a $36 million debt. Evergrande faces another deadline on an $83 million interest payments. Although, they couldn't negotiate an extension. The developer owes more than 300 billion in debts spread across the vast sectors of the Chinese economy and among foreign investors.
Well, let's go live to Beijing and CNN's Steven Jiang who has all of the details.
Steven, there is a lot of talk that the company will default on this $83.5 million interest payment today. However, I also understand that there is a 30-day grace period in which negotiations can take place. What does this all mean?
STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: Well, Anna, at this stage, the company, as a whole, is not an immediate danger of default by extension a collapse which is why you have seen investors in Hong Kong seem to have taken a collective sigh of relief with stock prices, not only Evergrande but also related companies surging even with the revelation that one of Evergrande's major shareholders have been dumping at stocks in the past few weeks and they continue to do so.
Now, this company, of course, is by no means out of the woods just yet. But one challenge facing the authorities right now is trying to assess the true scale of its liabilities because according to Chinese media, Evergrande has been very good at hiding its liabilities both on and off its balance sheet by disguising debts as equities or acquisitions to have yet to be paid for.
But, again, at this stage, most people seem to think even with that astounding $300 billion figure in liabilities, this is still a manageable problem within China's current political and economic structure and is not posing a systemic threat to the Chinese financial system. Anna?
COREN: Steven, most analysts and investors expect that the government or related entities will step in in some capacity. What are you hearing and, I guess, what are the issues that authorities have to contend with?
JIANG: That's right. Most people seem to agree. At this stage, we are now going to see a wholesale government bailout. Obviously, the Beijing leadership is trying to strike a very delicate balance here. On one hand they are trying to cool down the real estate market and curb excessive borrowing in the sector as exemplified by Evergrande's problem. But on the other hand, real estate is more than 7 percent of China's GDP. So, any lingering uncertainty, not to mention collapse, what causes implications, far and wide.
So, what we are likely to see according to analysts says some workouts, not bailout from the government aimed at softening the blow for small investors, some of whom, of course, have been staging protests at Evergrande offices throughout China in the past few weeks. As you know, social stability has always been the top priority for the ruling communist party here. So, you know, these potential government actions, obviously, very much in line with Xi Jinping's common prosperity theme as well as he tries to redistribute wealth and including social fairness. Anna?
COREN: Steven Jiang joining us from Beijing. Good to see you. Many thanks for the update.
[02:35:00]
Well, Ukraine's president is vowing a strong response following an attack on one his top aides. At least 10 shots were fired at Serhiy Shefir's car outside of Kiev Wednesday morning in what police are calling an assassination attempt. The driver was hospitalized with three gunshot wounds, while Shefir was uninjured. This is Shefir after the attack at a briefing with the officials. Well, Ukraine's interior minister says, the purpose of the shooting wasn't to scare but to kill.
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DENYS MONASTYRSKY, UKRAINIAN INTERIOR MINISTER (through translator): The purpose of this crime was not to intimidate, particularly with the first aide to the president of the Ukraine. I also emphasize that the president's team cannot be intimidated. The reforms that have been initiated, including the reform in the fight against organized crime, they will be continued.
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COREN: Police still do not know who was behind the attacks. CNN's Matthew Chance has the latest.
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MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Serhiy Shefir is a real close associate of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky. He's officially an assistant to the president of the Ukraine. And it's quite a shocking attempt on his life. If you listen to the details of what actually happened. He was driving in a car near a village outside of the capital of Kiev. But when according to Ukrainian officials that I've spoken to, at least 18 shots were fired from automatic weapon from the trees along on the side of the road. At least 12 of those bullets hit the car.
What's saved the lives of the occupants inside the car, the driver, and Mr. Shefir, is that the driver, instead of stopping in the road, apparently, put his foot on the accelerator and sped away. He was hit with three bullets and is currently recovering in hospital. Serhiy Shefir wasn't injured at all, and has spoken about how this was an attempt to sort of destabilize the inner circle of President Zelensky.
There has been a suggestion inside of Ukraine that Russia may be linked with this, but not just the Russians have rule that out and denied it. But also, the Ukrainian officials that I've spoken to says that that's not something they are really considering seriously.
Mr. Serhiy Shefir was somebody who was associated very closely with the attempts inside Ukraine to erode the power of the oligarchs, the small circle of business people that wield considerable power and influence in the country. He was also involved in judicial reform and attempts by Volodymyr Zelensky to get rid of some of the judges that are corrupt and that are in the pockets of some of those oligarchs.
And so, what Ukrainian officials are saying tonight is that, you know, this is rather than an attempt by a foreign state to destabilize Ukraine, this is an illustration of just how much is at stake for some of these oligarchs inside the country and to what lengths they will go to to hang on to what they've got.
Matthew Chance, CNN, Moscow.
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COREN: The World Health Organization says millions of lives could be save if nations follow its new air quality guidelines. We look at the recommendations after the break.
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[02:40:00]
COREN: For the first time in more than 15 years, the World Health Organization is revising its air quality guidelines. It says, air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to our health, leading to about 7 million premature deaths every year. The recommendations are aimed at reducing maximum exposure levels for six pollutants. The W.H.O. says millions of lives could be saved if these guidelines are followed.
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DR. TEDROS ADHANOM GHEBREYESUS, W.H.O. DIRECTOR-GENERAL: Since the last update in 2005, a substantial new body of evidence has accumulated further demonstrating the degree to which air pollution affects all parts of the body. From the brain, to a growing baby in a mother's womb, at even lower concentrations than previously observed.
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COREN: Meteorologist Derek Van Dam joins us now with much more.
Derek, I mean, this is an issue that affects all of us. What more can you tell us? DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Yes. An important issue, too. Because these new guidelines are really, Anna, recommended by government and the World Health Organization to help these governments craft, do air quality measures for -- and regulations for their individual countries. This is important for particularly vulnerable populations like China and into India as well.
But what they're focusing in on is what is called the fine particulate matter. These are very, very small particulates that are created through the burning of fossil fuels using our vehicles, for instance, wildfires, as well as agricultural practices that we use. And they're particularly dangerous because these particles are so small, they can be lodged deep within our lung cavities. They've been linked with health complications like asthma, upper respiratory illnesses, as well as heart disease.
So, you can imagine that as small as they are, we need to do something about it. And what the World Health Organization is recommending is slashing the quantity in half, literally taking these fine particulate matters and cutting them in half to improve the quality of our air. So, those are the guidelines they're trying to enact.
And, in fact, they've got some hard data to help solve this new recommendation. Because back in 2016, if the current -- if these proposed 2021 guidelines were enacted, they have the potential to reduce the fatalities that occurred because of the air pollution by 3.3 million people worldwide. So, that is quite impressive. And we know that air pollution is one of the leading mortality factors in the world when we consider 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe this air exceeding the World Health Organization's recommendations.
And it's particularly interesting too, because in 2020, we saw a dramatic increase in this fine particulate matter that they are honing in on right now because of the wild record number of wildfires that occurred over Western, U.S., parts of South America and into Eastern Australia as well. So, that time of the year, it was a difficult year. But, of course, that was on the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic as well.
So, both of these working in unison together just shows how important it is that we get both of these crises under wrap. Anna, back to you.
COREN: Derek, appreciate it. Thank you very much. And I'm Anna Coren. Thank you for spending part of our day with me. More of CNN Newsroom at the top of the hour. World Sport is next.
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