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Fuel Shortages in the U.K.; Fumio Kishida Set to Become Japan's New Prime Minister; U.K. Supply Shortage Begins to Ease; Daniel Craig's last Bond movie. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired September 29, 2021 - 02:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:00:17]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM and I'm Rosemary church. Just ahead. We could be just moments away from learning who will likely be Japan's next prime minister. We are live in Tokyo. Imagine a pill that not only fights COVID, but stop symptoms after you've been exposed.

I will speak with an expert who says we could have that by Christmas. Fresh concerns about the erupting volcano in Spain's Canary Islands. We will have the latest on new fears about toxic gas in a live report.

And we begin with Japan's election only minutes ago. We got the results of the first round of voting for the leader of the country's Liberal Democratic Party. The person who will ultimately become Japan's next prime minister. And the winner is a runoff between a former foreign minister and the vaccine czar and now lawmakers are voting in that runoff election. So let's bring in CNN's Selina Wang. She's been following the results for us from Tokyo.

Good to see you, Selina. So, as expected, two candidates now heading to this runoff for Japan's LDP leadership and ultimately, the next prime minister of the country. Who has the better chance? Fumio Kishida or Taro Kono?

SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey Rosemary. Great to be with you. Well, analysts are expecting that Fumio Kishida will ultimately defeat Taro Koto in the runoff, even though vaccine minister Taro Kono has the public's backing. Kono is known as this political maverick who isn't afraid to speak his mind and to tear down bureaucratic barriers if necessary to get things done. He speaks perfect English.

He's active on social media with more than two million followers on Twitter. On the other hand, you have Fumio Kishida, he had served as foreign minister under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He's known as a moderate liberal who is a consensus builder. He has campaigned on narrowing the income gap and has proposed a very hefty economic recovery package. Now despite the public support that Taro Kono has, analysts say that he does not have the backing of the conservative heavyweights in the LDP, since his outspoken maverick style doesn't fit what they're looking for. Whereas Kushida is the more stable and safe choice. Rosemary?

CHURCH: As we mentioned, this election will of course, decide the leader of the world's third largest economy as Japan faces the serious challenges and selects. It's the third -- the third prime minister, isn't it? In just the last 18 months also throughout this whole pandemic. So what are the main challenges ahead for whoever wins this?

WANG: Well, the next prime minister is going to have to deal with challenges from the pandemic. Japan is going to be ending its state of emergency and COVID cases are coming down. But there are still concerns around the Delta variant and curves will still remain on people's daily lives. In addition to that, there's Japan stagnant economy, rising tensions between Japan and China.

They have to strike a balance between you -- the U.S. which is a key ally, as well as China where there are rising tensions on the military front, but it's also a key business partner. They're also going to deal with long standing issues like Japan's demographic challenges and aging population as well as a labor shortage. But Rosemary as you referenced, too, it's unclear how long this person is going to stay in power since before former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Japan churned through six prime ministers in six years.

So the question remains as to whether or not Japan is going to return to this period of revolving door premiership?

CHURCH: Yes. We shall certainly see and I know you'll be keeping a very close eye on all of this. Selina Wang joining us live from Tokyo. Many thanks. Well, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has announced he will retire from the sport to pursue a fight outside the ring. The eight- division champion is planning to run in the 2022 Philippine presidential elections. Pacquiao is currently a senator and he accepted the nomination from his party earlier this month.

In a video announcement on Facebook, he thanked his fans. He says I will never forget what I have done and accomplished in my life. I just heard the final bell.

[02:05::00]

CHURCH: For the first time since the fall of Afghanistan, top American military leaders are publicly testifying before Congress about what went so terribly wrong. In the coming hours they will address the U.S. House Armed Services Committee. On Tuesday they spoke at a Senate hearing full of partisan posturing that's strayed far off the path. But the focus kept returning to the stunning collapse of Afghanistan's army and government.

And if different choices by U.S. presidents past and present could have kept the Taliban from taking over. Alex Marquardt explains how it all played out.

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ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): U.S military's most senior leadership in charge of the war in Afghanistan today facing tough questions from a Senate committee,

LLOYD AUSTIN, UNITED STATES SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: We certainly did not plan against a collapse of a government in 11 days.

MARQUARDT: Questions about the chaotic evacuation, the decision to withdraw, troop levels and how the Afghan army and government imploded so quickly.

AUSTIN: The fact that the Afghan army that we and our partners trained simply melted away. In many cases without firing a shot took us all by surprise, and it would be dishonest to claim otherwise.

GEN. MARK MILLEY UNITED STATES CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: I think there was a lot of intelligence that clearly indicated that after we withdrew that it was a likely outcome of a collapse of the military and collapse of the government.

MARQUARDT: The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs General Mark Milley, also in the hot seat over a series of revelations from the new book by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa called Peril. The book reports that Milly reached out to his Chinese counterpart in the days before the presidential election, assuring him that all was OK and that the US would not attack China.

MILLEY: I am certain that President Trump did not intend to attack the Chinese. And it is my directed responsibility. And it was my direct responsibility by the Secretary to convey that intent to the Chinese. My task at that time was to deescalate. My message again, was consistent, stay calm, steady and deescalate. We are not going to attack you.

MARQUARDT: He spoke with General Lee again after the January 6th insurrection. Milley says he told not just his boss, the Acting Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State and the White House as well.

MILLEY: I personally informed both Secretary of State Pompeo and White House Chief of Staff Meadows about the call, among other topics. Soon after that, I attended a meeting with Acting Secretary Miller where I briefed him on the call.

MARQUARDT: The hearing highlighted that the top generals thought that at least 2500 U.S. troops should remain in Afghanistan, putting them at odds with President Biden over his decision to withdraw all troops.

GEN. KENNETH MCKENZIE, U.S. CENTCOM COMMANDER: I recommended that we maintain 2500 troops in Afghanistan. And I also recommended earlier in the fall of 2020 that we maintain 4500 of that time, those are my personal views. I also have a view that the withdrawal of those forces would lead inevitably to the collapse of the Afghan military forces and eventually the Afghan government.

MARQUARDT: Biden had told ABC News he didn't remember anyone recommending those levels to him.

GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS, ABC HOST: So no one -- no one told your military advisors did not tell you, no, we should just keep 2500 troops. It's been a stable situation for the last several years. We can do that. We can continue to do that.

JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: No, no one said that to me that I can recall.

MARQUARDT: Today the White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters, there were a range of viewpoints presented to Biden.

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: I would note today in the testimony that was given by Secretary Austin, by General Milley, they made clear Secretary Austin specifically said if you stay there at a force posture of 2500 certainly you'd be in a fight with the Taliban. And you'd have to reinforce.

MARQUARDT: Milley told lawmakers that right after the November election, he got an order from Trump to pull out all troops by January 15 right before Biden's inauguration. That order was rescinded. But the Pentagon officials said today that Trump's deal with the Taliban last year to withdraw had demoralized Afghan forces and contributed to their collapse.

MCKENZIE: The Doha agreement did negatively affect the performance of the Afghan forces by -- in particular by some of the actions that the government of Afghanistan was required to undertake as part of that agreement.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MARQUARDT: General Milley face significant criticism from Republican senators on Tuesday for speaking with reporters writing books, he admitted that he'd been interviewed for at least three books that were critical of former President Trump. Senator Josh Hawley asked if Milley was distracted from Afghanistan as a result and told Milly he should resign. Milley told the senators that transparency is important for the American people to understand how the government works. Alex Marquardt, CNN, Washington.

CHURCH: So let's talk more about this with a former commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Major General Jeff Schloesser joins me now from Crystal City in Virginia. Good to have you with us, sir.

[02:10:08]

JEFF SCHLOESSER, FORMER COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES IN EASTERN AFGHANISTAN: Rosemary. Thanks for having me on the show.

CHURCH: So during the grilling of U.S. military leaders over the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, top U.S. generals told the hearing their views on Afghanistan were heard but not followed when it came to their advice to maintain 2500 U.S. troops in the country that appears to contradict what President Biden told the ABC back in August when he claimed the advice was split. What is your reaction to that?

SCHLOESSER: Well, you know, I think today's hearing was actually extraordinary. The level of oversight was uncommon, in my viewpoint. Generally, these become political rabble rousing. And I actually think that there were several members that actually wanted to get to the point of it. I do think that there is clearly the, you know, the Pentagon and the uniform side, as well as the civilian side basically sent a message about that, look, we provided our best military advice.

But the national command authority of the President is actually the final decision maker. And, you know, I think they laid that out. And it's important for most people in the world to understand that in many Democratic countries, you know, the final decision maker does not wear a uniform.

CHURCH: Yes, indeed. So I mean, there was no reason why Mr. Biden had to say what he did back in August, he could just as well have said it was my -- it was my decision in the end. Why wouldn't he have done that?

SCHLOESSER: You know, I'm not sure why he went the way he did. I think at the time, you know, it may well be that he actually had forgotten that military advice. It seems unusual to me. I'm not sure exactly why he went that way, Rosemary. I mean, I do think he probably wanted to present a united front. And my guess would be is that if he'd looked a little bit more deeply inside the U.S. decision making process.

You probably would have seen that Department of State and maybe the National Security Council, those advisors may well have been more clearly aligned with the idea for total withdrawal without soldiers or troops on the ground.

CHURCH: Right. So these top generals acknowledge mistakes were made during the withdrawal and evacuation process of Afghanistan. But General Milley summed it up as a logistical success, but a strategic failure. Not the extraordinary success that Mr. Biden called it overall. Was this a failure of the military, the intelligence or the President, do you think here?

SCHLOESSER: Well, I think all of the -- everybody, all of us were in some cases, you know, through 20 years of hubris, I would say, I think we're all accountable. You know, I mean, I personally wrote a book called a marathon war about this whole accountability process or the whole war in Afghanistan and being accountable. I think we all own a little bit of this. So clearly, the President does, but clearly the uniformed side and the intelligence services as well. We got it wrong for sure.

CHURCH: And the top military leaders also emphasized that they didn't plan for Afghanistan to collapse so quickly, in just 11 days. And I think most people would admit, you know, that was a hard thing to see would happen. But should anyone resign for all the mistakes in the chaos, as some senators suggested?

SCHLOESSER: Well, you know, I think that actually, the chairman general Milley who I know well was my deputy in Afghanistan put it pretty bluntly. I mean, you know, in our country, if every time that a uniform leader did not agree with the orders that are given to he or she, then we would not have a military. And, you know, it's the responsibility of the civilian leadership to set the actual decision making.

It's the responsibility of the military to give the best advice, but then to carry out those orders as long as they're legal. And this was a legal order.

CHURCH: So what lessons do you think we learned in all of this? And how could this withdrawal and evacuation have been done better do you think?

SCHLOESSER: Well, Rosemary, I mean, that's going to be the $100 question over time, you know, these hearings will just be the start, I think of a -- of a good look hard look at ourselves over these last 20 years. I clearly do think, though, that a deliberate withdrawal, not a hasty withdrawal and I would -- I would characterize hasty anything that's within just a few months, would be actually a deliberate withdrawal would have been far better.

I mean, that's a -- that is a simple lesson to learn. Something that I think we need to make sure that we don't repeat, at least in my mind, in my life this is the second time. I remember as a kid watching with my father who served three times in Vietnam watching the 1975 extraction off the embassy in Saigon. This was equally shameful and embarrassing.

CHURCH: Major General Geoffrey Schloesser, thank you so much for talking with us. We appreciate it.

SCHLOESSER: Rosemary, thanks for having me.

CHURCH: And this breaking news just in Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has picked a new leader. Former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida will now become Japan's next prime minister. He defeated vaccine czar Taro Kono in a runoff.

[02:15:09]

CHURCH: Kono was more popular with rank and file LDP members but Kishida was the overwhelming choice of party leaders. So let's go back to CNN's Selina Wang. She has been following all of these results. And of course Selina, we were just speaking. So, now we know who the new leader is. This is just as you expected, you predicted that Kishida would win this. So what lies ahead now?

WANG: Yes, Rosemary, I mean this going into this. This was one of the most unpredictable LDP leadership elections in decades. But the results ultimately showed that Japan's party elites triumphed over public opinion. Fumio Kishida was former foreign minister under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He had lackluster public support. He's this moderate liberal, also known as a consensus builder.

He has called for narrowing the income gap and has also proposed a hefty economic recovery package but he's largely seen as status quo, more of the same. Compare that to Taro Kono, Rosemary, who was the public's favorite. He's known as a political maverick who isn't afraid to shake things up, to speak his mind, to tear down bureaucratic barriers if necessary to get things done. He also speaks perfect English.

He's known to directly communicate with the public on social media. He has more than 2 million Twitter followers but Rosemary, as we were speaking about before, analysts saw Cohen's reputation as this outspoken maverick as a risk that didn't fit in with the party's conservative heavyweights. Whereas Kishida is really this safe and stable approach. But regardless, we know that Kishida is going to have a slew of challenges to deal with, including the pandemic and a stagnant Japanese economy. Rosemary?

CHURCH: All right, Selina Wang. Many thanks. Bringing us the very latest there from Tokyo. And still to come, a volcano on Spain's Canary Islands is still rafting with no end in sight. But as the lava meets the ocean toxic gases are the next big threat. We'll take a look.

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CHURCH: Lava from the volcano in Spain's Canary Islands has reached the Atlantic Ocean as eruptions continue for the 10th straight day. Emergency officials say residents on the island of La Palma should shelter in place until further notice as dangerous gases are released when the lava reacts with the ocean water. Spain has now designated La Palma a disaster zone. So let's turn to our meteorologist Pedram Javaheri. He joins me with the very latest on conditions in the area.

And Pedram, that's terrifying guidance for residents. So on that island, given the circumstances. How dangerous is all of this?

PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: Very dangerous, you know, volcanologists often talk about when we get to this point in an eruption where lava eventually reaches the ocean.

[02:20:06]

JAVAHERI: That is a very dangerous scenario for anyone within close proximity of this region and of course, that is why we've had evacuations in place. But dive in for a closer perspective satellite images show you how this eruption has taken place over the past 10 days in the lava flow. This is a couple of days old, this particular satellite image but the lava flow now reaching the Atlantic Ocean which is what Rosemary alluded to, where the dangerous events really began taking shape.

When this happens it develops what is known as laze, doesn't seem all that serious seems very simple sort of a trend that laze taking place but it's actually among the most serious when it comes to volcanoes because once lava reaches at around 1100 degrees Celsius and that interacts with seawater, we get flash boiling of the salt water within the ocean. That's exactly where this lava is, the temperature wise so we do expect as the lava boils and with a water in this region releases hydrochloric acid.

If you've heard that term, because that's the same acid that's present in your stomach to help food digest and of course you get that in gaseous form and breathe that in. It becomes very dangerous but also that flash theme leads to explosions, shards of volcanic glass, Rosemary, are released into the atmosphere. All of this makes this area a very dangerous place to be at least within close proximity of the contact point there at the ocean. Rosie?

CHURCH: Yes. A terrifying situation for all of those people nearby. Pedram Javaheri, many thanks for keeping a close eye on all of that.

The surgeon general says the U.S. is geared up and ready to vaccinate children against the coronavirus as soon as the FDA gives the green light. Pfizer and BioNTech say they have submitted data on children ages five to 11 for initial review but they are not seeking emergency use authorization just yet. Federal officials say they are weeks not months away from a vaccine for children. But that depends on when they get more data.

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DR. VIVEK MURTHY, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL: The FDA is top priority is getting COVID vaccines for the population, particularly for our children. They are standing by ready to analyze that data.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And CNN's Nick Watt has more now from Los Angeles.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NICK WATT, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pfizer just submitted key data to the FDA from trials of its vaccine in kids five to 11. So when might we expect a green light?

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR NATIONAL, INSTITUTE FOR ALLERGIES AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE: Well, I would hope that by the end of October, we'll be

there. I can't guarantee it. But I'm hopeful that that will be the case.

WATT: Around 70 million already eligible Americans still haven't had a vaccine shot. Average daily first doses in arms never been lower. Since the CDC started tracking that number. Way back in mid-January.

LEBRON JAMES, AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER: I know that I was very skeptism about it all. But after doing my research and things of that nature, I felt like it was best suited for not only me but for my family and my friends. And, you know, and that's why I decided to do it.

WATT: Unvaccinated medical workers in New York state could face penalties including termination today, midnight was their deadline to get a shot. Teachers in New York City now have until Friday 5:00 p.m. to get a shot. Some legal ping pong has been moving that deadline around.

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D-NY): Average vaccinations per day have gone up 45 percent, 45 percent since the mandates were put in place. WATT: Mandates that cover more than teachers and note a claimed cause doesn't always equal effect. Meantime, a county judge in Arizona just ruled the ban on mass mandates and public schools violates the state's constitution. Down in Tennessee.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody's frustrated no matter where you are with this issue.

WATT: A federal judge ruled one of the state's biggest school districts must mandate masks, parents and others protested.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I just -- we just want to be heard.

WATT: OK. Now here are the signs.

DR. ROCHELLE WALSENSKY, U.S. CDC DIRECTOR: We have numerous studies from last school year that repeatedly demonstrate that school outbreaks are prevented when we have masking in schools.

WATT: So briefly back to LeBron James and his decision to get vaccinated. He made it clear he's not promoting anything. He's not trying to get involved in anyone else's business. Fair enough. He's a basketball player, not an epidemiologist, but his personal decision to get vaccinated could convince others to do the same and that might get the U.S. a little closer to that still vague goal of herd immunity. Nick Watt, CNN, Los Angeles.

CHURCH: Meantime, drug companies are working to develop pills to treat the coronavirus. Merck and Pfizer are preparing to report the clinical trial results for their experimental antiviral pills. Both companies and their partners say they could seek emergency authorization for their pills by the end of the year.

[02:25:01]

CHURCH: Infectious disease experts say preventing the virus through vaccines is still the best way to control this pandemic but they admit more convenient treatments are needed.

Timothy Sheahan has been working to help pioneer these therapies. He is a virologist and assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Thank you so much for joining us.

TIMOTHY SHEAHAN, VIROLOGIST, UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, CHAPEL HILL SCHOOL OF MEDICINE: Thank you, Rosemary for having me.

CHURCH: So we know at least three different COVID antiviral pills are currently being tested in clinical trials. How close are we to having access to these pills that could stop COVID-19 in its tracks? And is this how we all get back to normal?

SHEAHAN: Well, I think we're very close, you know, the drug development process is a long process. And I think we're finally seeing a few of these come to fruition. I would guess that we're going to see emergency youth -- emergency use authorization for at least one if not more than one antiviral drug by around Christmas time. CHURCH: Now, that sounds very encouraging. Of course, this form of antiviral treatment would involve a short term regimen of daily pills that would fight the virus early after that initial diagnosis. So, how exactly do these oral antivirals work? And will everyone be able to afford this do you think?

SHEAHAN: Yes, that -- whether or not they'll be able to afford them. That's definitely a question about my pay grade. But how do they work? I can definitely answer that. They work by stopping the virus from replicating in one's body. So an anti -- unlike a vaccine, a vaccine is intended to prevent infection. And antiviral drug is something that you take after you know that you're sick and after you know that you have COVID-19.

And what it will do, it will stop the virus from replicating in your body, the symptoms associated with that infection should diminish. And you should feel better in a -- in a short period of time or a shorter period of time than you would have if you hadn't taken the medication.

CHURCH: So are you still suggesting people get vaccinated and just have these COVID pills for those who can't or won't get the shot? And of course, for any symptomatic breakthrough cases for those who are vaccinated? Or do you worry that people will avoid the shot to take the pill?

SHEAHAN: Yes. Those are really, really good questions. And I think first and foremost, the best tool, the best weapon we have against COVID is the vaccine. Preventing infections is a much better thing to do than treating them after people have been sick.

CHURCH: Right? Of course, I mean, they will -- we've seen this, you know, those who were very hesitant, who will never take the vaccine presumably will come to rely on a pill like this. Of course, that's inevitable, isn't it? But I did want to ask you this because the COVID-19 vaccines are unable to stop the transmission of COVID-19. Certainly, that's our understanding with the data we have today. But these antiviral pills apparently can limit the transmission of COVID- 19 to others. How does that work exactly?

SHEAHAN: So, you know, like, you know, the vaccine basically trains your immune system to fight the virus, it makes antibodies that can neutralize the virus in your body. Antiviral drug pills kind of work in a similar way and that they, you know, try to eliminate the virus from your body, but perhaps they do it in a more rapid way than your natural immunity can. But I think the vaccines may not prevent 100 percent of the transmission, but they must prevent some because the virus definitely declines at a quicker rate than if you're not vaccinated.

But I kind of want to circle back to the notion that you brought up before and that's, you know, will people depend on drugs rather than take the vaccines? And I think the drugs have, you know, lots of utility beyond people who are reluctant to take the vaccine, especially as new variants emerge that may get around vaccine induced immunity. So I see antiviral drugs being used, not only in people who are not vaccinated, but also people who are vaccinated who have breakthrough infections or who may have some kind of immunodeficiency.

So I think there's a lot of -- there's a broad application to antiviral drugs above and beyond people who are not vaccinated.

CHURCH: Right. Very important point there. But first, of course, get vaccinated and then we should have these pills by the end of the year. That is great news. Timothy Sheahan, thank you so much for talking with us. We appreciate it.

SHEAHAN: Wonderful. Thanks for having me.

[02:30:00]

CHURCH: And still to come on CNN Newsroom. Tensions flair at a U.K. petrol station as the country grapples with a fuel shortage. But there are signs the crisis maybe easing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Back to our breaking news this hour, Japan's ruling party now has a new leader. The person who will ultimately become Japan's next prime minister. Fumio Kishida defeated Taro Kono to become president of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party. Kishida received a total of 257 votes to defeat the (INAUDIBLE) who received only 170 votes in the runoff. Kishida had served as the country's foreign minister from 2012 to 2017.

Well, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says, the country's fuel supply shortage is beginning to ease. The Petrol Retailer Association says just over a third of its members are without fuel, which is down from about two thirds on Sunday. But many drivers are still waiting in long lines to fill up. The problem isn't a lack of gasoline, but of truck drivers to deliver it. The prime minister was urging people against panic buying.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: We now are starting to see the situation improve while hearing from industry that supplies are coming back onto the forecourts and in the normal way. And I would just really urge everybody to just go back their business in the normal way and fill up in the normal way when you really need it. And, you know, thing are -- will start to improve.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: And while it may be slow, the return of petrol is a welcomed site as tensions are flaring among some drivers. One confrontation turned violent when a man one reportedly pulled a knife on another motorist in line before jumping on the hood of his car.

And CNN's Nina dos Santos joins me now from London live. Good to see you, Nina.

So, these frustrations aside, there appears to be some optimism that this fuel supply situation could be improving. What are you seeing out there and what is it looking like long-term?

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNNMONEY EUROPE EDITOR: Well, that's another situation that we're seeing in some of the biggest urban areas like, for instance, the streets of London here in the capital cities. You can see gas stations, the moment they open, it attracts really, really long lines. This one, behind us, we're in the bar of Kensington and Chelsea, goes back at least a block and a half, before 7:00 am.

[02:35:00]

So, that's the situation that we're seeing inside some of the more urban areas. But across the rest of the country, the government and the Fuel Retailer Association, as you are pointing out, are keen to try and signal that this is starting to abate, that motorists now they have full tanks that will last for a while and they will no longer be piling into gas stations like the one behind me.

But the gas crisis is just part of a bigger systemic issue with the U.K.s reliance, heavy reliance on just in terms of supply chains. We've had shortages of all sorts of other items too. And that's the problem, it's this feedback mechanism that is panicking customers whether they're after fuel or anything else. The backdrop to all of this as well, Rosemary, is badly needed, economic recovery after multiple lockdowns during the pandemic and there's fears that this type of fuel crisis could start to scupper (ph) that.

But, by the way, anybody who's managed to make their way to the front of the line here, at this gas forecourt, they're going to be greeted by the highest price of petrol in eight years. So, it is inflation, it's concerns about the economy, it's concerns about supplies that's in the back of people's minds whether they are going for fuel or anything else. Later on, in the air (ph), people are concerned about a natural gas crunch. There's also be shortages of carbon dioxide, a gas that's needed in the food preservation industry. So, that is why people are worried.

Let me just take one look behind. As you can see, the police are arriving. And this is the type of scene you see on some of the big petrol stations where obviously they need to fill up too and they need to get priority, sometimes they also need to be there to assure security. Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yes. Absolutely. Nina dos Santos, keeping a very close eye on the situation there in London. Appreciate it.

Well, if you want to sign that the world is getting back to normal, have a look at what happened in London on Tuesday. There was a star- studded Gala including members of the royal family for the world premiere of the new "James Bond" film. "No Time to Die" was originally set to hit theaters in early 2020. But, of course, was delayed because of the pandemic. Star, Daniel Craig, says he's glad they're finally getting to show the movie to the public.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DANIEL CRAIG, BOND ACTOR: It is such a great relief. It's such -- I mean, at a certain point, for me to come and celebrate with all the other casts and crew and get it into the cinemas and we're here. And I -- actually, a year ago, I didn't that was going to happen. So --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: It's going to be fabulous. And by the way, "No Time to Die" will be Daniel Craig's last time playing James Bond. Producers says, they will start looking for new Bond in 2022.

Well, a man is betting big on nature to give the economy a boost. We hit the water for a look at our man's tourism ambition. That's coming up after the short break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:40:00]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, a man is pushing its economy forward, boosting investment in tourism. Eleni Giokos has this look at some of the country's many natural wonders.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN BUSINESS AFRICA CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): One of the best ways to see Oman's natural beauty is on the water. So, we are heading out with an adventure operator, Mark Evans.

GIOKOS (on camera): Good morning.

MARK EVANS: Hello to you.

GIOKOS: What are you looking at?

EVANS: Well, you have chosen a great day.

GIOKOS: Yes.

EVANS: You've chosen a great day. The way is incredibly clear and there's a lot of life down here already.

GIOKOS: It's gorgeous.

EVANS: So, I don't think we need to go out in the boat. You can go snorkeling here.

GIOKOS: Absolutely beautiful. Lovely to meet you.

EVANS: Yes, you too.

GIOKOS: Thanks for taking the time. I'm so excited.

EVANS: Pleasure, pleasure.

GIOKOS: What are you going to show me today?

EVANS: Well, Oman sells itself. I won't need to show you anything. It's just fantastic.

GIOKOS: All right. I'm already sold by the way. But let's go and take a look.

EVANS: Yes. Great.

GIOKOS: Wow. How lucky. Dolphins. Amazing. Look at that. We are surrounded by dolphins. I mean, it's truly spectacular.

GIOKOS (voiceover): With an escort of dolphins, we sailing to an area just off the Coast of Muscat called Bandar al Khairan. It is known as a great place to go snorkeling. So, that is exactly what we're going to do.

EVANS: And if we are lucky, we might see a turtle.

GIOKOS (on camera): Oh, really?

GIOKOS (voiceover): As luck would have it, we see a turtle straight away and lots of other beautiful marine life as well. Mark is originally from the U.K. He's always had a passion for the outdoors and has traveled the world. He came to Oman 17 years ago and decided to stay.

EVANS: It is just such a perfect place to live. It is the size of my own country, Britain, but with only 4 million people. I can have 5G, Wi-Fi in a beautiful coffee shop in a fantastic hotel. And yet, within two hours' drive, I can be a thousand feel in the mountains or a desert the size of Belgium or backpacking into the mountains to a little village where there's no electricity and no water. It is an incredible country and really lock my door. I feel incredibly safe. And the Omani people are very popular for a reason.

GIOKOS (on camera): It feels like I'm in a land of contradiction where on one hand I'm seeing tradition and culture so entrenched in the way of doing things. But on the other end of the spectrum, the country wants to diversify and modernize on all fronts.

EVANS: I think that's what makes Oman so special. It may not be the wealthiest country in the region, but in terms of thinking and wise leadership and a growth at a pace that does not destroy the culture but culture and economic development move forward hand-in-hand Oman's got it pretty bang on, I would say.

GIOKOS (voiceover): The tourism sector is set to be one of the primary beneficiaries of the airport expansion. As of its 2040 vision plan, Oman aims to attract more than 10 million visitors a year.

MOHAMMED AL BARWANI, CHAIRMAN, OMAN AIR: Tourism in Oman has been growing at about 8 percent a year, that is before the pandemic. And we expect that growth to continue. Oman is unique. Oman is Oman.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Beautiful. Thank you for joining us. I'm rosemary church. World Sport is up next. And I'll be back at the top of the hour. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)