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Europe Seeing a Fourth Wave; Migrants Going to the Polish Border; Former U.S. President Obama Gave a Stark Warning; A Photo That Caught the World's Attention; International Community Condemns Daniel Ortega's Leadership; Tigrayans targeted by Ethiopian Police; Houston Music Festival Tragedy, Criminal Investigation Underway Into Deadly Crush; Rapper Travis Scott Facing Multiple Lawsuits After Eight Killed; COP 26 Delegates Push For 1.5 Degrees Celsius Limit To Warming; Singapore Court Extends Stay Of Execution For Malaysian Man; Empire State Building, Ready For The Return Of Tourists. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired November 09, 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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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead here on CNN Newsroom, a crippling surge of COVID cases in parts of Europe just as the U.S. opens its borders to vaccinated travelers.
New lawsuits and a Travis Scott cancellation fallout from the deadly chaos and a Houston music festival. Plus, Drake's first public comments since the tragedy.
And the power of the picture showing exactly what's at stake with COP26. I speak to Tuvalu's foreign minister who gave his speech knee deep in the sea.
UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Rosemary Church.
CHURCH: Thank you so much for joining us.
Well, a staggering new number in the COVID-19 pandemic, 250 million. That is how many cases have now been reported around the world. It comes nearly two years after the World Health Organization first declared COVID a pandemic. Since then, the virus has impacted almost every corner of the globe. And more than five million people have lost their lives.
Just three countries, the United States, India, and Brazil account for more than 30 percent of all known cases. That's according to Johns Hopkins University. Right now, though, it's Europe seeing a COVID search. On Monday, Germany recorded its highest infection rate since the virus began. In fact, cases are so high in Europe the World Health Organization says the region is once again an epicenter of the pandemic.
Well, despite all of that, on Monday the United States loosen its travel restrictions and reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers from 33 countries including much of Europe.
And for more, we want to bring in CNN's Nina dos Santos. She joins us live from London. Great to see you, Nina. So, only vaccinated adults are allowed to travel and every one must test negative for COVID but surging cases in Europe has some nervous about this. What's the latest?
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, there is a contradictory situation here, isn't there, Rosemary? It appears for travelers who have been so desperate to see their loved ones and go back to the United States just in time for obviously the holiday season that is kicking off in November and December.
But at the same time, Europe is currently embroiled in this fourth wave. And if you look at some of the statistics, they are pretty stark, in particular in parts of Germany. Germany's death toll is now approaching the 97,000-plus mark. And that's got authorities there extremely worried.
A lot of this has to do with patchy coverage as you can hear here of uptick of the vaccine despite the fact that about four billion people worldwide have now had a first shot of the COVID vaccine and 3.1 billion people have had both shots. There is still a lot more people who need to be convinced or to get access to those badly needed stocks. Rosemary.
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DOS SANTOS (voice over): Record new infections reported in Germany, Greece, and Slovakia. Hospital beds filling up fast and the death toll on the rise. In Austria, those not fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID were barred from bars, hotels, and other indoor public spaces under a new rule that took effect this week.
In Iceland where the health ministry recently loosened COVID restrictions masks were made compulsory once more. This is what today's epicenter of the pandemic looks like. The reason the World Health Organization says its stuttering uptake of the vaccine.
STEFAN WAGNER, WAITING TO GET SECOND VACCINATION (through translation): This is where it might went, and this vaccination point have been deserted for a long time. Now you can see how in recent days and especially over the weekend it's very popular. And I welcome that.
DOS SANTOS: From Spain recovered stands at 80 percent to Slovakia at around 42 percent. Coupled with a recent loosening of social distancing requirements over the summer and fall. The result, a massive campaign for boosters across Europe.
In the U.K., 10 million have already had a third COVID shot. For those without American citizenship but fully vaccinated, a trip to the United States is finally possible as the country reopen its borders to travelers for much of Europe for the first time in 20 months.
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Relief for airlines and travelers alike just ahead of Thanksgiving.
UNKNOWN (through translator): It's even better today to know that we are flying with a full plane and that we can finally bring these continents and cultures together again.
DOS SANTOS: Across Russia it was back to work despite transmission rates so high authorities imposed a weeklong holiday last week. With winter on its way, health experts are warning there is no time to lose and the race to once again contain COVID-19.
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DOS SANTOS (on camera): Well, as we know, Rosemary, COVID-19 gets an opportunity to thrive when there is chaos on the policy front. And many countries around the world just desperate to try and avoid another lockdown as we head into the festive season, not least the United Kingdom that is behind this huge booster campaign.
In Britain and elsewhere, the latest on the campaign in the U.K. front is that health workers now have to get vaccinated. The government is forcing them to do so. There is a deadline by Thursday for people in the care sector to have their COVID shots.
And also, more broadly, there is still over 100,000 people in the health sector across the rest of the U.K. that also facing another deadline to get their COVID vaccinations, as well of course, a vaccination for the seasonal flu because they are desperately trying to avoid a twindemic of COVID coming at the same time as a flu later this year. Rosemary?
CHURCH: Indeed. Nina dos Santos joining us live from London, many thanks.
Well, the prime minister of Poland says a tense situation at his country's border with Belarus is putting the security of the entire European Union at risk. Thousands of migrants attempted to cross over the border into Poland on Monday. Now Poland says its military is being activated and stands ready to face any scenario.
The Polish government and several E.U. leaders accused the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko of helping to push these migrants into the area. But Minsk says the migrants are merely refugees and pose no security risk. Mr. Lukashenko denies creating any sort migrant crisis, and in fact, blames the west for the crossings. The U.S. government is warning Belarus to watch its step.
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NED PRICE, SPOKESMAN, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT: The United States strongly condemns the Lukashenko regime's political exploitation and coercion of vulnerable people and the regime's callous and inhumane facilitation of irregular migration flows across its borders. We call on the regime to immediately halt its campaign of
orchestrating and coercing a regular migrant flow across its borders into Europe.
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CHURCH (on camera): And in the midst of the growing political tension thousands of people remained stranded at the border with temperatures dipping into the single digits almost daily. They are hoping to get across the border and into the European Union before the situation deteriorates any further.
The COP26 climate meetings were focused on gender equality and science and innovation today. Delegates are also hoping to finish up rules for implementing the Paris agreement by the end of the conference. Many countries want to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels in order to avoid catastrophic climate change.
On Monday, former U.S. President Barack Obama told the conference the world is nowhere near the place it needs to be in fighting the climate crisis.
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BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: There were times when I felt discouraged. And there are other times where the future seems somewhat bleak. There are times where I am doubtful that humanity can get its act together before it's too late. We can't afford hopelessness.
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CHURCH (on camera): CNN's Phil Black is live this hour in Glasgow, Scotland. Good to see you, Phil. Some pretty grim words there from Barack Obama. What is the assessment of progress so far and what are the expectations for today?
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, there are two key issues that negotiators are trying to make progress on these final days of the talks, among others. But they both relate to that figure that you've touched on, 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The original wording within the Paris Agreement set the goal of limiting temperature increase, global temperature increase to beneath 2 degrees and preferably closer to 1.5.
In the year since, the scientists made it pretty clear it 1.5 must be considered the threshold because beyond that the science indicates thing deteriorates pretty quickly and irreversibly the impacts will start to get very severe.
So, there is a push here at this conference to end it with some language that makes it clear that 1.5 is now the goal that all countries have signed on to. That they will all work to limit temperature increase by that much.
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But there is some pushback, we are told from observer groups and think tanks keeping a close eye on these talks. They believe that some of the big fossil fuel exporting countries are resisting that push to tighten and harden up that language. This is going to be intensively discussed in the coming days.
The other point relating to 1.5 is what happens next after this conference? Because we already know that all the individual comments made by countries to cut carbon emissions are woefully insufficient in order to limit global average temperature increase to 1.5.
Again, under the Paris Agreement, that documents says countries come back every five years to review and ramp up their carbon cutting pledges. There is a widely held view here that we can't afford to wait five years, now the situation is too urgent, the window of time to act simply is too short.
So, there is a push to come back at shorter intervals, perhaps two years, perhaps even every year. This is something that could perhaps ultimately determine the success of this conference and whether or not keeping 1.5 alive in the foreseeable future remains a viable goal. Rosemary?
CHURCH: All right. Our thanks to Phil Black joining us live from Glasgow, Scotland.
Well now we want to show you some incredible images of Tuvalu's foreign minister delivering a speech to the COP26 summit knee deep in seawater. Wearing a suit and tie he made it clear just how vulnerable his low-lying Pacific Island is to rising sea levels and global warming.
Tuvalu is situated midway between Hawaii and Australia. And here is part of his recorded message.
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SIMON KOFE, TUVALUAN FOREIGN MINISTER: In Tuvalu, we are living the realities of climate change and sea level rise. As you stand watching me today at COP26. We cannot wait for speeches when the sea is rising around us all the time. Climate mobility must come to the forefront. We must take bold alternative action today to secure tomorrow.
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CHURCH (on camera): Joining me now is Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe. Thank you so much, sir, for talking with us.
KOFE: Thank you. It's a pleasure to be with you. Thank you.
CHURCH: Now you filmed your speech for the COP26 climate summit while standing knee-deep in the ocean. And that image has already gone viral, hammering home the impact of rising sea level on your island nation of Tuvalu as well as other Pacific islands. What are you expecting out of this in terms of global action?
KOFE: Well, thank you. We -- our prime minister delivered a very powerful message at COP, highlighting the impacts of climate change in Tuvalu. And the fact that we are sinking. So, we thought that we would demonstrate that in a video so that people have an image to look at.
So, we've been very pleased with the reaction of the public and, you know, it has gone viral. We didn't expect it to go that far up. But it has. So we've been very pleased with the impact that it has. And we do hope that, you know, it helps translate some of these commitments into actions and then we see the leaders take a strong stance on climate change.
CHURCH: And according to the World Bank, Western Pacific Ocean levels have risen up to three times faster than the global average. Is that what you are seeing on your island as you assess your nation's vulnerability to global warming?
KOFE: Yes, and in fact, where I was standing and taking my statement that used to be land many, many years ago. Behind me you see a concrete slab, that concrete slab is actually the foundation of a World War II gun that was built by the U.S. military in 1942, I think it was. And that was actually on land.
So, if you look into the video, it's now 20 to 30 meters in the ocean in the city. So, the impacts of climate change and sea level rise is something that is a reality for us in Tuvalu. And we wanted to convey that message to people that we -- although we are facing that challenge now, one day it will be other parts of the world as well. So that's the message that we have tried to convey through that statement.
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CHURCH: Right. And of course, your government tourism web site warns that Tuvalu could be underwater by the end of the century and that many of your people have already immigrated to New Zealand. So, do you believe this can be turned around if immediate action is taken? Or is it to a late for your island, do you think?
KOFE: Well, I think this technology that is available now to save our islands. Obviously, we've seen in different parts of the world nations building artificial islands. And that's a strategy and an approach that our government is taking in reclaiming land and then building up our islands.
So that's the primary strategy that we were adopting. But we're also taking steps and looking at a worst-case scenario where we are forced to relocate. And so, some of the approaches that we've taken we've looked at legal avenues where we can we're able to maintain our claims on maritime zones and also to maintain our statehood under international law.
So those are some of the, you know, the things that we're doing now and I guess not waiting for, you know, for us to get to that stage where we are fully submerged by the sea. CHURCH: And foreign minister, why did you feel the need to draw the
world's attention to your island's plight by standing knee-deep in the sea wearing a suit and tie, and did you come up with that idea?
KOFE: Yes. I came up with the idea. I thought it would be good to shoot a video and have the background as if I'm in -- at COP delivering a message and then to Zoom out and, you know, to show that I'm standing in the ocean.
We released photos before the video came out so it probably did not have that effect but I think the message is loud and clear judging from the response of the people.
CHURCH: It is certainly a powerful image there. Foreign Minister of Tuvalu Simon Kofe, thank you so much for talking with us.
KOFE: Make you.
CHURCH: Well, coming up, Nicaragua's president tightens his grip on power as many Nicaraguans inside and even outside the country say they fear his campaign to silence critics. Their stories just ahead.
And with a conflict escalating the diplomatic push to ease the crisis in Ethiopia.
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CHURCH (on camera): Nicaragua's president and his wife, the vice president taking part in a celebration after securing another term in office. Sunday's election though, has drawn sharp criticism from the international community after Daniel Ortega crackdown on his competition.
The U.S. joined other nations in condemning the vote it called undemocratic, and threatened action including sanctions to promote accountability.
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Nicaragua's election came after a months' long government crackdown on Mr. Ortega's political rivals. The action is typical of the regime's campaign to silence critics. And it doesn't stop at the country's borders.
CNN's Matt Rivers explains.
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): He calls himself an elected president, but for many, Daniel Ortega is a dictator whose regime is getting stronger and more dangerous. Under his rule, a campaign of political terror has ripped the country. Descent can lead to house arrest and jail time with some alleged they've been tortured. It is a dangerous time in Nicaragua. Something we tried to go see firsthand.
For that, we took a bus in northwestern Costa Rica to the Nicaraguan border, entering via land to try and avoid the attention of the authorities but after 10 minutes with an immigration official it was clear we were not getting in.
UNKNOWN (onscreen text): Are you working with CNN right now? Are you working with CNN right now? What report are you doing for CNN?
RIVERS (on camera): So, they just took our passports and our Mexican residency card and asked if anyone on the team worked for CNN, even though we did not offer that information. It's clear that they know who we are.
And soon after immigration officials denied our entry.
So, we have been formally escorted out of the country, after waiting three hours they told us that we need to send a formal request to the government in order to be allowed in without giving us any reason as to why we weren't allowed in. They won't answer our questions and so now officially we're back on the Costa Rican side. Well clearly, they don't want people like us inside the country.
Our experience just a small example of the staggering level of government control faced by Nicaraguans. Since June, dozens of perceived armies of the regime have been thrown in jail while countless others have been harassed and followed.
In roughly a dozen interviews, CNN conducted with people inside the company each said most neighbors won't even talk politics anymore, fearful they could be denounced as traitors. One current government official would only speak to us over the phone as he stood in an empty field fearful of being heard.
He says only Ortega's followers are the ones who can walk freely. "The vast majority of us live in hostages, every time I leave my home, I'm terrified."
We granted him anonymity because he said government forces surveil his house constantly. If they knew he was speaking to foreign journalists he says, he'd be imprisoned.
"I was afraid to speak with you but at the same time the conviction and hope that our voice will reach others around the world makes us take the risk."
It has certainly reached other Nicaraguans around the world. tens of thousands of whom have fled the country since government crackdowns ramped up in 2018. But for many, the terror of the Ortega regime doesn't stop at the border.
Jorge (Ph) spoke to us from an undisclosed location in Mexico. He said he was tortured by Nicaraguan police after participating in anti- government protests in 2018, even alleging they used a razor blade to carve the word plomo (Ph) into his leg, a threat to future violence. Someone spray-painted his home writing quote, if you (muted) around, you die.
He says, "people I have grown up with and known have become my enemies." He fled to Guatemala and felt safe for a bit until he received this photo. Someone he says who worked for the Nicaraguans government snapped this picture of him at the bus stop that he used every day writing, quote, "you thought the Guatemalans would take care of you? You and your family are going to pay in blood. My family and I do not feel safe because we know what they can do. We wouldn't be the first or the last Nicaraguan to be murdered outside of the country."
He is still receiving threats in Mexico and though CNN has no way to know for certain that Nicaraguan state agents were threatening him, that is the consistent fear of so many here in San Jose, Costa Rica where thousands of Nicaraguans have fled since 2018.
There we met with this group of Nicaraguan exiles. Each of whom say they have perceived threats from the Ortega regime since fleeing in the last few years. One story from Raiza Hope (Ph) stood out. A Nicaraguan activist she fled back in 2019 after threats to her life. She now runs a flower shop in San Jose where her friend, Veranize Celadon (Ph), a fellow Nicaraguan activist visits her often.
About a month ago, a man entered the shop, close the door and pointed a gun. "He told us, stop (muted) around (muted). We said don't hurt us, but he started strangling me. Raiza was pistol whipped and knocked out. Veranize (Ph) kicked to the floor. She suffered knee fractures as a result.
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Crying, she says the first thing I thought about my son. This man is going to kill us. Eventually the man left without stealing anything. Both women filed a police report and suspect the same thing. They were targeted by Nicaraguan agents.
Nicaraguan human rights group say they've recorded dozens of such suspected attacks in Costa Rica in recent years. Though proving the Nicaraguan government is behind them is near impossible. Officially, Costa Rica's government says they found no such cases of Nicaraguans spies attacking exiles.
"We are always talking to Nicaragua," he says and maintaining a conversation to respect each other's sovereignty." But not everyone in the government degrees.
A senior government official with deep knowledge of the situation tells CNN there are in fact Nicaraguan intelligence operatives working right now here in Costa Rica including those that target Nicaraguan exiles, adding the number of operatives working here has increased since Nicaraguans began arriving en masse back in 2018.
The government, the source says is hesitant to speak out publicly on the issue fearing it could damage diplomatic relations at a tenuous time.
On Sunday, protests were held in San Jose. People chanting and waving the Nicaraguan flag but in Nicaragua things were much quieter. No protests were allowed these days. But it doesn't mean that they are not happening. CNN spoke to several people who said they would not vote. A form of quiet protest they said. Refusing to participate in a coronation of a dictator. Matt Rivers, CNN, San Jose, Costa Rica.
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CHURCH (on camera): Ethiopia's human rights commission says police in Addis Ababa appear to be arresting people based on ethnicity. Witnesses say Tigrayans are being targeted. And this comes days after the central government declared a state of emergency as rebel groups advanced on the capitol.
A police commander insists officers are only arresting those who have ties to the Tigray People's Liberation Front or TPLF.
Salma Abdelaziz is in London, she's monitoring the situation and joins us now live. So, Salma, what more you learning about the situation?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Rosemary, let's start with those arbitrary arrests because this is high early concerning for people on the ground and for international observers. Of course, CNN producers have been speaking eyewitnesses who are bombers of the Tigray ethnic group living in Addis Ababa and they say these arrests are becoming commonplace.
They say they're happening in the middle of the night to the elderly to the young. CNN spoke to the family of a woman who had a two-year- old child. She was arrested in prison unable to see her child for days. She had to press -- she had to breastfeed in prison. The baby, another individual that was arrested is 70-year-old priest. Again, CNN spoke to that family as well.
And this is exactly why you're hearing, Rosemary, people describing this conflict, observers describing this conflict as bearing the hallmarks of genocide. Because when people are being targeted based on their ethnicity that is the fear that they are escalating tensions there.
Let's take this back to the beginning. This all began a year ago of course when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared an offensive on the Tigray region over the course of the last 12 months. We've seen tit- for-tat escalations but what happened last week is the greatest escalation yet, right?
The Tigray rebels now forming that coalition, nine groups threatening the capitol if they do not get what they want out of a dialogue with the government. And what's concerning is the government's response to this.
Because Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, again, calling a state of emergency across the country that allows for these arbitrary arrests to take place, that allows for the conscription of people, calling on retired soldiers in their 50s to join the fight against these rebel factions.
So real fear here, Rosemary, that everything is escalating far too quickly and that this is a country very much on the path potentially to civil war.
CHURCH: Yes. We are watching this very closely as are you. Salma Abdelaziz joining us live from London, many thanks.
Well, just ahead, the investigation into that deadly music festival in Houston. Could a bad batch of illegal drugs have played a role in the casualties? Details on that and the simple the fire chiefs say might have saved some lives.
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): We have new details on the tragedy of the Astroworld Music Festival. According to the "Wall Street Journal," authorities are examining the role of illegal drugs in the incident, specifically counterfeit pills list with fentanyl and whether a bad batch might have contributed to the casualties. That's according to people familiar with the investigation. CNN has reached out for comment and will bring you more information when we get it.
Well, the medical examiner's office in Harris County, Texas says, it could take several weeks to determine what caused the deaths of eight people. And a judge says the toxicology report which could also take weeks will be a key part of the investigation.
Meanwhile, CNN has learned festival organizers had no contingency plans for a surging crowd.
CNN's Josh Campbell explains.
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JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST (voice over): A criminal investigation underway to determine what went horribly wrong in a Music Festival in Houston.
Leaving eight people dead and dozens injured when a crowd surge forward, crushing concert goers during Travis Scott's performance at Astroworld Music Festival. Three people were trampled at the same event in 2019, but a detailed operations plan for this year's festival did not include specific contingency plans for a surging crowd incident.
Instead documents obtained by CNN showed that organizers planned crowd management techniques for scenarios including a possible riot or civil unrest. There were warning signs from the start. When massive groups of people crash thru a VIP entrance earlier in the day, destroying an entrance and ignoring security personnel.
Before Scott took the stage, Houston Police Chief, Troy Finner met with a rapper and his head of security over concerns about the crowds. The chief saying in the tweet, I express my concerns regarding public safety and asked Travis Scott and his team to work with HPD for all events over the weekend.
Fans in the crowd say they could tell something was wrong early on.
MADELINE ESKINS, ATTENDED ASTROWORLD FESTIVAL: About 30 minutes before he performed, he started a timer on the big screen, as the timer got closer to coming down to zero, it just -- it got worse and worse.
CAMPBELL: The surge of people intensified when the concert started at 9:00 p.m.
SINCLAIR HOYT, ATTENDED ASTROWORLD FESTIVAL: One of the first songs, you could feel like everybody pushing up behind you like you can't move your arms, you couldn't breathe. Like you couldn't see anything.
CAMPBELL: Thirty minutes later, officials say they first receive reports of injuries in the crowd. (Inaudible) a mass casualty event at 9:38 p.m.
UNKNOWN: They say it's like a dead body move out of the way, it's a dead body.
CAMPBELL: But the music did not stop for at least another 30 minutes. Even as first responders in an emergency vehicle struggled to get through the crowd. With concert goers at times dancing on top of it. Scott maintains he has no idea how severe the situation was in the crowd as he pause and said at times to ask for help.
TRAVIS SCOTT, SINGER: I'm honestly disturbed.
CAMPBELL: The festival headliner who also acted as an event organizer now facing multiple civil lawsuits from concert goers after the deadly event. One suit saying, Scott Entertainment Company Live Nation and concert promoter Scoremore consciously ignored the extreme risks of harm to concert goers. And in some cases actively encouraged and fomented dangerous behaviors.
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CNN has reached out to Travis Scott, Live Nation and Scoremore for comment on the lawsuit.
Scott has seen a history of crowd control issues at his shows pleading guilty to a misdemeanor reckless conduct charge in 2015, according to "The Chicago Tribune." And a disorderly conduct charge in 2018, as reported by the "Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette." In 2019 Netflix documentary, a member of Travis's team told security guards how unruly fans were expected before the show.
UNKNOWN: (Inaudible) trying to get out and get to safety, because they can't breathe. It was so compact. He won't know how bad it could be in the crowd until we turn off.
CAMPBELL: Now, as investigators here in Texas work to determine exactly what happened, the Houston fire chief is weighing in on what could have been done differently to prevent this tragedy. He spoke with CNN's Jake Tapper on Monday and said that those who are in positions of security as well as Travis Scott himself had certain responsibilities that night.
He suggested that if the rapper or someone in the position of authority at the concert had to call for the lights in the venue to be turned on as these first responders were trying to get to the victims. That's simple act could have calm the crowd, possibly leading to a very different outcome.
Josh Campbell, CNN, Houston.
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CHURCH: Joining me now is Joey Guerra, he is a music critic for "The Houston Chronicle," and was at the Astroworld Music Festival. Thank you so much for talking with us and I am so sorry that you had to witness this horrendous event.
JOEY GUERRA, MUSIC CRITIC, THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE (on camera): Thank you, I appreciate that. Thank you for having me on your show.
CHURCH: Absolutely. So, what did you see as you were trying to cover this festival?
GUERRA: This is the third year that this festival has happened in Houston. You know, there have been issues like this in the past. You know, the last time we had this festival was two years ago, pre-COVID. And the same thing that happened this year at the beginning. People stormed the gates, you know, broke through barricades and security, and people have some minor injuries, the same thing happened this time.
You know, so I think, when that happened this year, most people didn't take it very seriously, because they thought, you know, this has happened before and we kind of contained it. You know, throughout the day, people seeing in good mood, you know, the music went on. But you know, Travis Scott kind of -- he has this very unique kind of chemistry with his audience. You know, he calls them rangers.
But I think as much as he amps them up they amp him up. So it is like this kind of -- it's a balance, you know. And I think this crowd in particular because this event was meant to celebrate Houston because most people have not been to a concert much less a big event like this in a long time and you put on top of that people have been camped overnight to get in, people had been waiting at his stage for hours with no other performer throughout the day just waiting for him.
There was so much pent-up energy, I think, excitement, you know, and when the show started it really was over the top. It took it over the top. He brought Drake out. So, it was just a lot of stimulation, you know, from all ends. And I think a lot of that is what contributed to kind of this taking that turn, you know, unfortunately into the horrible things that we've seen in these videos.
CHURCH: Was there a sense of that there weren't enough security at the gates there, because we did see that video of people rushing through the entrance there. It didn't appear to be anyone stopping them from going in. And people are getting trampled even at that particular point. Did you see enough security present with so many people there?
GUERRA: I did -- I mean, I did feel like walking through the festival during the day. I did noticed presence, you know, we saw groups of police, you did some mounted officers on horse. You know, at the entrance, there were kind of security guards jus by themselves, I could tell they were kind of serving different areas.
But when Travis got on stage, it was already very dark and that crowd really was so thick with so many people that, you know, they would have had security I think right at the front. You know, where this railings are between the audience and the stage. But other than that, there's really nowhere else for security to be.
So when things started happening, they have to fight through this crowd, who most of them probably have no clue what's going on or why securities trying to get through. So, I think it made it really difficult for them to even get near that section for a long time unfortunately.
You know, I think the Houston police chief said that they have 300 police officers, 200 security. So there was a big presence. It just -- I think it's about, you know, where they were placed and I also think, you know, was the amount -- just the amount of people that they allowed into that area. I think that is one of the big things that needs to be looked at.
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CHURCH: Yeah. Absolutely. And there was also a suggestion that someone in the crowd injected an unknown substance into at least one person's neck. What more are you learning about that?
GUERRA: Yes. That's you know, -- we heard that very -- we heard it very early on rumors about drug use, people being injected right after this happened, we started hearing that. And then the security guard who said he felt a prick in his neck that when was examined was consistent with the needle. So, those things are being investigated. You know, I know they just performed autopsies, but we are not going to get the results of that for several weeks.
So, I think that's one of the things that this is going to hinge on -- excuse me, you know, was this just people overcrowded, you know, dying because they were essentially suffocated or was there something else going on.
CHURCH: Joey Guerra, thank you so much for talking with us.
GUERRA: Thank you for having me.
CHURCH: And Travis Scott's next concert has been canceled. Organizers for the day in Vegas Music Festival announced he will no longer be performing this weekend.
And rap star, Drake, who made a surprise appearance at Astroworld is accused of inciting the crowd and at least one civil lawsuit. In his first public remarks about the incident he wrote in part on Instagram, my heart is broken for the families and friends of those who lost their lives and for anyone who is suffering. I will continue to pray for all of them and will be of service in any way I can.
Just ahead here on CNN, what a Glasgow agreement might look like as some major countries resist to push to limit global warming to 1.5 degree Celsius. Back with that in just a moment.
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CHURCH: We have more on the Climate Summit that's underway in Glasgow. Right now, COP26 delegates are hoping to finish up rules for implementing the Paris agreement by the end of the conference. Many countries want to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, above pre-industrial levels, in order to avoid catastrophic climate change.
But environmental activists say some of the leading fossil fuel producers, including China, Russia, and Saudi Arabia are resisting efforts to adopt this goal. Meantime, Former U.S. President Barack Obama told the world, Monday, that it is falling short in fighting the climate crisis.
So, let's bring in Mark Maslin, he is a professor of Earth Science at the University of College, London. Thank you so much for joining us.
[03:45:01]
MARK MASLIN, PROFESSOR/EARTH SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF COLLEGE, LONDON (on camera): Pleasure to be here.
CHURCH: So Former U.S. President Barack Obama declared the U.S. is back when it comes to dealing with the climate crisis. And he took a swipe at his predecessor, Donald Trump, for pulling out of the Paris agreement and criticize the leaders of China and Russia for their absence at the summit and for not doing enough. He says the world is nowhere near where it needs to be. But once Joe Biden gets this climate bill passed, could that signal the U.S. is truly back do you think?
MASLIN: Well, I think the U.S. had really turned a corner. I think the announcement earlier this year that they are going to half the actual emissions by 2030 and will hit net zero by 2050. Basically said that they were on track to actually look after the Paris agreement and lead the world.
And I actually think that the Biden's climate sort of bill is really important, I think the infrastructure bill that went through is also very important. And I think what is really problematic is a lot of people don't realize how important the actual bill is, because there were 10 million jobs that are currently in the global green economy in America. Where's there only 350,000 in fossil fuels.
CHURCH: That is a very important point. And so I do want to ask you what you think the final Glasgow agreement will look like? What would likely include?
MASLIN: So, I think what people need to realize is that Glasgow is much more about how we actually put together the Paris agreement. So we have lots of little agreements, all the way through last week, deforestation, on coal funding and things like sort of -- how we actually pay for adaptation.
So I think the big announcement will really be much more about reassuring that the countries of the world really are going to get to net zero as soon as possible. And we do need to deal with, particularly Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Australia, who are all trying undermine the actual Paris agreement all through this week. So I think that's going to be critical, we need to look about.
CHURCH: Yeah, and of course, not surprisingly major fossil fuel producers resisting the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal. And those producers have been very well represented at COP26. Let's just listen to BP CEO, Bernard Looney, talking to CNN's Christiane Amanpour. We'll bring that up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERNARD LOONEY, BP CEO: We have an ambition to become an integrated energy company, to become a net zero company. And the reality is, Christiane that the world needs companies like ours to transition. You simply cannot build and scale enough new green companies fast enough. Seventy percent of the world's emissions come from companies and sectors like ours. Unless we transition, the world is not going to transition.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: So, do you agree with that? Because major fossil fuel producers are resisting, as we said, the 1.5 degrees target along with Saudi Arabia, China, and Russia. How much do you worry that the fossil fuel producers and the leaders of these nations and others will obstruct and resist preventing any real action on this climate emergency?
MASLIN: Well, the first thing I would say is, I do not have any worries about climate companies like B.P. or Shell because we can regulate them, actually the people that invested in them can actually shift in away from fossil fuels to renewable energies.
I think what people forget is if we look at the biggest 25 fossil fuel companies in the world, 19 of them are state or parts state owned. And that is where the problem comes in. This is why Paris agreement and (inaudible), is so important, because those countries are subsidizing those fossil fuel companies, to a bill of about $2 trillion per year.
So we need to encourage countries to stop subsidizing the fossil fuel companies and therefore what happens is, you will make renewables even more affordable and better value. And so again, I think it's that mind shift of shifting away and actually opening up the market.
And again, this is where I gets frustrated where people on the free market side support fossil fuels. They seem to want to subsidize them at the same time which I think is madness. We literally let fossil fuels fight it out with renewables. And we know that they are cheaper, and better, and safer.
CHURCH: Professor Mark Maslin, thank you so much for joining us, we appreciate it.
MASLIN: Pleasure.
CHURCH: Well, Singapore's court of appeal has just extended the stay of execution for a Malaysian man after he tested positive for COVID- 19. Activists have rallied for 33-year-old Nagaenthran Dharmalingam, who was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in 2010, saying he has intellectual disabilities.
[03:50:10]
His lawyer says the stay of execution will be in place until the court deals with all appeals. He had been scheduled for execution on Wednesday.
International travelers are returning to the U.S. and one iconic New York spot is ready for them. A trip to the Empire State Building. Just ahead.
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CHURCH: Recapping our top story this hour, the U.S. has reopened its borders to fully vaccinated international visitors. Many flights Monday were full of traveler's eager to see loved ones they haven't visited in nearly two years. Delta spokesman said the airlines has seen a 450 percent increase in international bookings in the six weeks since the reopening was announced. The travel ban halted tourism from 33 countries along with land entries from Mexico and Canada.
Well, a must see for many of those visitors to New York is of course, the Empire State Building, 2020 was a tough year as many tenants left their offices in the building and tourist stayed away.
Richard Quest, reports at the iconic skyscraper is ready to welcome crowds once again.
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RICHARD QUEST, CNN BUSINESS ANCHOR (voice over): The highest structure raised by the hand of man. So said The New York Times when the Empire State Building opened in 1931. It opened as the depression got underway. The building got the nickname of the Empty State Building, it was only a quarter full. That nickname the Empty State Building could had been used again last year when the pandemic hit.
TONY MALKIN, CEO, EMPIRE STATE REALTY TRUST: Well, there was a ban on all non-essential workers from the entrance into office buildings. By the middle of March of 2020 to about 3.5 percent of the turnstiles swipes into our buildings that we had in the year earlier period of 2019.
QUEST: Are you surprised that more people didn't just hand back (inaudible) and finish it? Go out of business? MALKIN: Let's put it this way. There was a lot of surprise in March,
April, May of 2020. It was what we like to call the land of pivot and flex. Constant fluidity in the situation.
QUEST: For nine decades, the building has stood in the center of Manhattan, the defining feature of New York's (inaudible) skyline.
MALKIN: It's bulletproof.
QUEST: $165 million renovation had just been completed when COVID arrived. And tourism revenues went to zero. But the owners held their nerve. And the spirit that this building was first conceived, they plan for the future.
Now to this building itself. It's magnificent. But tourists are back.
MALKIN: The tourists are coming back, yes.
QUEST: Are you ready for the bonanza that is about to arrive once the U.S. opens up to pretty much Europe and those transiting through Europe?
MALKIN: I'll tell you, Richard, we are. And I will tell you something else. What has really changed a lot, when we shut down and we did shut down from March through July here at the Empire State Building, we re- thought, first time ever, we don't need to redeveloped $165 million redevelopment of the observatory attraction.
[03:55:13]
But for the first time ever we went to absolute zero and we rebuilt our business in a different way.
UNKNOWN: Welcome to the world's most famous building.
QUEST: This is 103.
MALKIN: that's right.
QUEST: Alright. Hold on to your hat.
We can see The Edge?
MALKIN: Right.
QUEST: We can see The Rock and we can see the summit.
MALKIN: Right.
QUEST: And on the other side is where the World Trade.
MALKIN: Right.
QUEST: I mean, you are showing a view of each other.
MALKIN: Well, actually no. We are the center of it all. We are the center of New York City. There is an international recognition. It lives in the hearts and minds of everyone from five and six-year-olds to 90-year-olds and how does it happen?
QUEST: The Empire State Building has appeared in many movies and TV shows. And when it comes to the holidays it is a colorful part of the cities culture.
MALKIN: It speaks to the concepts of hopes and dreams. Everybody has hopes and dreams. And this doesn't belong to one culture. It was built by many cultures. And it caught the fancy and the fantasy moment of the world.
QUEST: It is 50 years since the Empire State was the tallest building in the world but that doesn't matter. Because today there are bigger, smarter, (inaudible), taller buildings but none quite like this.
Richard Quest, CNN, at the Empire State Building in New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: He was having far too much fun. So, join us on Wednesday for the first ever call to earth day. CNN is partnering with schools, individuals, and organizations around the world to raise awareness of environmental issues. It will be a day of action dedicated to conservation, environmentalism and sustainability. Follow us online and on TV, and follow the #calltoearth on social media.
And thank you so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. I will be right back with another hour of CNN Newsroom. We just keep it coming here.
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