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U.S., E.U. Preparing New Sanctions Against Belarus; Russian Bombers Fly Over Belarus Amid Migrant Surge; 15,000 Polish Forces Holding Migrants At Border. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired November 11, 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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[02:00:21]

JOHN VAUSE, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello again. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Ad coming up this hour. The E.U. and U.S. preparing new sanctions accusing Belarus of waging a hybrid war by sending thousands of migrants illegally into Europe.

Trying to keep 1.5 alive at the summit considered the last best hope to avoid a climate catastrophe. The now haggling over what was once a done deal.

And a sign of the times in India. An ancient religious festival celebrated by bathing and cleansing in what is now a toxic river, polluted with untreated sewage and industrial waste.

ANNOUNCER: Live CNN center. This is CNN NEWSROOM with John Vause.

VAUSE: Well, as the United States and European Union preparing new sanctions against Belarus. Russia sends a clear message of its own on Wednesday.

Two nuclear capable bombers similar to these making a rare flight over Belarusian airspace and unmistakable sign of support for Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko who has sent thousands of migrants surging to the E.U.'s doorstep. Poland says hundreds of migrants tried to breach the barbed wire barricades at the border overnight, and thousands more remained marooned on the Belarusian side in dire freezing conditions.

E.U.'s ambassadors and polish officials met today accusing Belarus of human trafficking. They say the regime created the crisis as revenge for Western human rights sanctions. Now they're preparing more sanctions. Poland's Prime Minister was blunt in his assessment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATEUSZ MORAWIECKI, POLISH PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Now from distance those events on the Polish-Belarussian border may look like a migration crisis. This is not a migration crisis, it's political crisis and caused for a specific purpose for the purpose of destabilizing the situation in the E.U. So, what we're facing here, and we have to state it clearly is a manifestation of state terrorism. (END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Well, Belarus denies it manufactured this crisis, has accused the E.U. of a large scale complex aggression. And Russia says the E.U. is trying to strangle Belarus, denies it is encouraged or better the standoff. We get the very latest down from CNN's Fred Pleitgen reporting in from Berlin.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Poland now says it has around 15,000 troops and border agents at its border with Belarus as the situation there remains extremely tense. And thousands of migrants still remain camped out there. Of course, the temperatures are now freezing consistently below zero during the night. And also the conditions there, very dire with very little in the way of facilities.

Of course a lot of trouble also getting food and water and especially medicine to the people there who are very much in need. Now, the Polish government says what is happening at that border is a brutal attack on its border and the Polish Prime Minister said in a press conference with the head of the European Council, that Poland doesn't consider this to be a migrant crisis but considers this to be a political crisis.

Poland of course, accuses Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko of luring people especially from Middle Eastern states to Belarus, and then giving them false promises that they could cross the border into the European Union was the polls obviously say is not true. The polls say that no one will be allowed to pass. The European Union also places the blame squarely on Alexander Lukashenko.

The E.U. says it wants tougher sanctions on Lukashenko. The E.U. was also talking about possibly taking action against airlines that fly people to Belarus. And the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. She was at the White House, and afterwards she said that she believes there needs to be a unified response.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, EUROPEAN COMMISSION PRESIDENT: This is not a bilateral issue of Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus. This is a challenge to the whole of the European Union. And this is not a migration crisis. This is the attempt of an authoritarian regime to try to destabilize its Democratic neighbors. This will not succeed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PLEITGEN: Now, of course, Alexander Lukashenko and the Belarusian government deny all of this and in fact, the Belarusian government has said at once a unified position, together with the biggest backer of the Lukashenko regime that of course, being Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin. And the Russians also said today, they're very concerned about what is going on there on the border between Belarus and Poland.

And also the Russians flew strategic nuclear capable bombers into Belarusian airSpace. Of course, the Russian saying this has nothing to do with that current situation. Nevertheless Of course it is another escalation in what is really becoming a very dangerous situation there on NATO's eastern flank. Fred Pleitgen, CNN Berlin.

[02:05:12]

VAUSE: Franak Viacorka is a senior adviser to the Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. He is living in exile in neighboring Lithuania. Franak, thank you for taking the time to speak with us.

FRANAK VIACORKA, SENIOR ADVISOR TO SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA, BELARUSIAN OPPOSITION: Good morning.

VAUSE: So on Wednesday, the U.S. President met with the president of the E.U. Commission, it seems to both have agreed on a number of measures, including sanctions, I want you to listen to Ursula von der Leyen speaking at the White House issues.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VON DER LEYEN: We agreed that we will look into the possibility of sanctioning those airlines who facilitate human trafficking towards Minsk and then the E.U.-Belarus border.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Sanctions on the airlines may make it harder for Lukashenko to keep doing what he's doing, but it doesn't seem too much of a deterrent. So in your opinion, what should the E.U. and the United States be doing? What would get Lukashenko's attention?

VIACORKA: First of all, it's too late because it took five months for European Union to discuss -- even discuss sanctions. On Monday there will be meeting of ministers of E.U. countries. And they will be discussing sanctions on airlines. But we should discuss sanctions on financial institutions, enterprises, companies close to Lukashenka. Because we should understand it's not about airlines. It's not about Minsk airport. It's not about border. It's about deeper political crisis which started last year when the elections were rigged.

VAUSE: You say this comes too late. Well, it does in one sense, because for days, we've heard all these adamant denails from the Belarusian President on down but back in May, after he was sanctioned for forcing that Ryanair Commercial Airliners make an emergency landing because they wanted to arrest someone on board. Lukashenko actually warned that there would be consequences saying, we stopped drugs and migrants, now you will eat them and catch them yourselves.

Is the lesson here when an unhinged autocratic rule tells you he's going to do something you should take him at his word?

VIACORKA: It's a pure blackmail. And of course, Lukashenko is raising stakes, he understands that he's insecure, he's fragile. He doesn't have support inside of Belarus. Also, he feels like some of his loyalists can betray him any day. And this is why he is trying to change the focus from Minsk political crisis to the border crisis, as you say. And when he says that, you know, European Union doesn't give me money to protect the border, of course, it's a blessing, of course, it's a blessing.

It's his obligation, international obligation to protect the border without any money from the E.U. But he's trying to turn the point that the E.U. used against him, he's trying to turn -- to use this point against the E.U.

VAUSE: You mentioned that, you know, he is sort of in a desperate situation at home and trying to divert attention, I guess that that is a very sort of toxic combination in terms of how far he is willing to go.

VIACORKA: Absolutely. And this is why we should work together, that response must be strong. And in order to prevent escalation. We don't want military armed conflict at the border. Perhaps Lukashenko wants because it will help him to stay one, two, three months, perhaps one year, but it doesn't help anyone. This is why we should divide the problem on two. Political crisis, it can be sold through a very strong comprehensive sanctions when Lukashenka will be isolated.

And humanitarian crisis which is much more difficult and it will take much more time to be resolved.

VAUSE: The German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared directly to Lukashenko's boss in Moscow to try and end this crisis to exert some influence if for no other reason, to help the innocent people who are being heard and will continue to be heard until this is resolved. Listen to Angela Merkel. Here she is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANGELA MERKEL, GERMAN CHANCELLOR (through translator): Today I spoke on the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and asked him to have an impact on President Lukashenko as well, because people are being used here. They are so to speak victims of an anti Human Policy. And something must be done about that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: You know, it's a novel approach to appeal to Putin's humanity and sense of decency, he responded by sending two nuclear capable bombers flying over Belarus. So how involved is Putin in this hybrid war? Is he calling the shots? Is he just giving a nod of approval? Or is it somewhere in between?

VIACORKA: I don't like (INAUDIBLE) that Putin is behind everything. Of course, Putin is interested in having a weak Lukashenka, contract Lukashenka and to shorten the leash for Lukashenka. And of course, we're looking at Lukashenka and then you look at Putin apparently doesn't seem so scary as Lukashenka. And they think speaking to Putin doesn't have any sense because he's not interested in finishing in ending this crisis.

What Angela Merkel and other European countries have to speak with, Belarusian people because it's up to them to change the situation in the country.

VAUSE: Yes. Farank, we'll leave it there. But thank you so much for your time. Franak Viacorka there joining us from Lithuania. We appreciate it.

[02:10:01]

VAUSE: Tensions are also growing on the border between Russia and Ukraine. The U.S. is concerned by reports of unusual Russian military activity in the region and the possibility that Moscow may try to do over the invasion carried out in 2014. One official told CNN the number of Russian units has grown by two thirds in recent weeks. U.S. and Ukraine renewed their strategic partnership in Washington on Wednesday, as well as Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced his concerns.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: We're concerned by reports of unusual Russian military activity near Ukraine. We're monitoring the region very closely. As we always do, we'll continue to consult closely as well with allies and partners on this issue. And as we've made clear, any escalatory or aggressive actions would be a great concern to the United States. We continue to support deescalation, excuse me, in the region, and diplomatic resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Ukrainian President like to thank Washington for its continued support, as well as intelligence sharing.

The United States and China appear to put their many disputes to one side and have a greater greater cooperation in addressing the climate crisis. The announcement came at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow. The agreement has few details, it's vaguely worded light on specific like any firm commitments and timelines are loosely worded.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

XI JINPING, CHINESE PRESIDENT (through translator): China's carbon reduction action is a profound economic and social transformation. However formidable the task may be, we will work tirelessly to make our contribution to promoting global green transition.

JOHN KERRY, U.S. SPECIAL CLIMATE ENVOY: The United States and China have no shortage of differences but on climate. And climate, cooperation is the only way to get this job done. This is not a discretionary thing, frankly, this is science. It's math and physics that dictate the road that we have to travel.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Live now to Beijing is CNN's Beijing Bureau Chief Steven Jiang standing by for us. So, Steven, I guess, you know, there are some positives here, at least in our talking, they put the differences to one side but, you know, and the talk is good. It's all positive. But when will there be some specifics? What was the details of what they plan to actually do? When will they commit to something?

STEVEN JIANG, CNN BEIJING BUREAU CHIEF: That's right. These are the questions of course being asked around the world. And now as you say, this joint declaration came as a surprise, really, that's a reflection of the general law expectations in Glasgow from the world's top emitters, including the U.S. and China. Now, this joint declaration is basically a reiteration of their previously stated commitments in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

And of course, they promised to strengthen communication by reviving this working group. And also, of course, they pledged to further accelerate the pace of emissions reductions with China, alluding to them doing more to reduce their reliance on coal. But again, as you mentioned, in the lead, specifics are very much lacking. But this came as probably a pleasant surprise because probably mostly because of the overall relationship between the two sides, which has been basically in a deep freeze.

But this is actually making a lot of sense if you look at the schedule for the two country's leaders, Xi Jinping and Joe Biden, because for the first time, the two leaders are slated to meet virtually next week since Joe Biden took office. So obviously, both sides are trying to create a more positive develop -- positive atmosphere to really provide some momentum going into that very important summit.

And in recent days, we have seen officials and even Xi Jinping himself, really toning down their rhetoric and, you know, saying more things that the other side may want to hear for this exact reason. But, you know, at the end of the day, though, there's still so many structural differences and contradictions between the two sides that are very much in place or even deepening issues ranging from Taiwan to human rights.

Remember, Joe Biden himself once said that human rights and democracy are at the front and center of his foreign policy. And he is trying to blunt the rising authoritarianism worldwide. And China obviously is very much leading on that front. So how are they going to reconcile all the -- all those other differences and bridging their gaps is probably something we should all be watching out for doing that summit next week. John?

VAUSE: Steven Jiang, thank you so much. Steven Jiang live for us there in Beijing. But the one overriding goal for the COP26 Climate Summit was to reach agreement on how to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. But all the commitments so far have come up way shorter right now, the planet is on track for an increase somewhere between 2.4 and 2.7 degrees. And there are deep divisions emerging of the wording of the final declaration, which currently acknowledges the role fossil fuels play in the climate crisis and the need to phase out subsidies for the oil, gas and coal industries. All of this is up for debate and Saudi Arabia is among the nations opposed to the current draft.

[02:15:10] PRINCE ABDULAZIZ BIN SALMAN, SAUDI ENERGY MINISTER (through translator): It is imperative that we recognize the diversity of climate solutions in the importance of emissions reduction as stipulated in the Paris Agreement. Without any bias towards or against any particular source of energy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: There is not just disagreement over how to avoid a catastrophic future. Developing nations want to know who will pay for the mistakes of the past. World's richest nations have missed their goal agree to in Paris of paying $100 billion to the most vulnerable nations for loss and damage. The Glasgow draft agreement now points to a 2023 delivery.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: It's very frustrating to see countries that have spent six years conspicuously patting themselves on the back for signing that promissory note in Paris quietly edging towards default. Now that vulnerable nations and future generations are demanding payment here now in Glasgow.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: But some areas of Kenya are experiencing severe drought for the second straight season. The crisis is here, the crisis is real, bringing shortages ravaging livelihoods of local communities and causing food insecurity for millions of people. CNN's Larry Madowo has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LARRY MADOWO, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Who leaves a car by the roadside where it dropped dead? Only someone helpless watching her livelihood crumble. Kenya has declared this year's drought a national disaster. But here in Kilifi County, it is a personal tragedy for people like Janet Monje.

Every time one of her (INAUDIBLE) drops, they can't raise it again because it's got no energy, there's no grass. And so this is what's left of her herd.

The land has dried up, and the future looks uncertain, shaky.

VASISTA MONJE, RESIDENT (through translator): I can't find grass and I have to buy water for them. That's the big problem I have.

MADOWO: Dead livestock later the landscape here. They're dying faster than the owners can dispose of them. So they leave them to rot. Thousands of livestock have died here from poor pasture conditions and water stress.

Dama Ngala tells me she's worried sick about her dying herd.

This will be the eighth cow in two weeks that they have had to slaughter and -- and she's afraid these two will go as well. So that'll be the ninth and the 10th.

DAMA NGALA, RESIDENT (through translator): My family depends on these cows. Even the economy of this area is built around them. God show us the way because I don't know what I'll do.

MADOWO: This once prosperous agricultural community has become a dusty, barren wasteland. The region has suffered two consecutive poor rain seasons and has seen more frequent droughts over the past decade.

Why are we -- are we -- should we go through this? Yet there are people out there who are the biggest polluters, who are making us go to -- undergo through this kind of stress.

Kelly Banda is a lawyer who says the impact of climate change on his area turned him into climate activist, helping his community cope with a new reality.

What's at stake here?

KELLY BANDA, CLIMATE ACTIVIST: The situation is going to worsen and I feel like my people are going to vanish. The whole situation is going to worsen. People are going to die. More people are going to die.

MADOWO: Food and water have become scars for the people of Kilifi and the animals. A perfect storm for our community dependent on the land and the livestock. The government distributes food aid to those most in need. But they say it's irregular and insufficient.

The water got all the way here.

A village elder shows me one of the many dams that have dried for months, leaving the people, animals and land thirsty.

Some have changed to producing charcoal to support their families. A major strain on the already depleted environment. This heat will sell for about $4.00. Hardly enough to feed one family for a day, let alone three.

It's rare to see older women. They're all older than 60 doing this charcoal business. It's usually younger men, but with the drought having hit this hard and many men having left the village, this is the only way they have a way to raise their families and to make a little cash.

A stone's throw away, Kilifi's coastline is a gem by the Indian Ocean. But even this marine ecosystem is under threat from rising sea levels and destruction of the mangroves that those who live around them.

A local official also blames it on the world's worst polluters.

Because you live here and you have to deal with the flooding and the hunger and the rising sea levels and the deaths that this leads to. Are you angry about it?

ZENA MOHAMMED, KILIFI DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENT: Of course, we are very angry about it because we are not the cause of all these mess. We -- there are people, there are countries who caused all this. Yes. And they've been -- they continue doing so without fear, without anybody commitment to reducing emissions.

[02:20:04]

MADOWO: That evening the community prays for blessings from above to come down maybe a little rain to save their crops and their animals. Africa contributes less than five percent of the greenhouse gases responsible for changes to the climate that is a continent most vulnerable to its consequences. Larry Madowo, CNN, Kilifi.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VAUSE: We have this just in. Germany has shattered another COVID record the past four days. I've seen daily infections hit a pandemic high. More than 50,000 new cases reported today. Up more than 16,000 from a week ago. About two-thirds of the public there have been fully vaccinated. 235 people died from COVID in Germany, Thursday. Well, from a distance it looks like snow but what you're actually looking at toxic foam covering a sacred river in India.

Details of a health hazard and an ancient religious ritual that's coming up next. And in the U.S., a dramatic testimony as a teen accused of killing two people during a highly charged protest in Wisconsin takes a stand in his own defense. Those details in a moment.

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VAUSE: It hasn't rained this much in Alice Springs in Australia's Outback in 20 years. One man was stranded in a tree for six hours after his car was washed away. He was ultimately rescued. While storms have been sweeping across the country, leading parts of the East Coast are now bracing for heavy rains and potential flooding in the next few days.

These 14 people have been killed in Southern India as heavy rains flood the region. Several disaster teams have been deployed in the State of Tamil Nadu to help evacuation and rescue efforts. Deluge has damaged only 1400 homes. Meteorologists warn another severe weather system very likely to cross the region later today.

Well, as an ancient Hindu ritual of cleansing and bathing. But these days for many in India, it takes place in the country's most sacred and also most polluted rivers. Despite the health risks, many Hindus have been waiting in the blue waters or the Yamuna River. CNN's Vedika Sud is close by to the river. She joins us now live with more. It does seem to be clearing a little bit that toxic foam, we can see it, but it's sort of clear off a bit now. So what's the -- what's the situation there like?

VEDIKA SUD, CNN REPORTER: Yes, John, compared to the last two times that we were talking now you can see that the foam is dissolving in the water. And that's essentially because the barrage has been closed and the flow of water has been stopped for the time being, but it will start in a while and you're going to see those visuals yet again here where I'm standing on the banks of the Yamuna River which is taken to be one of the most sacred rivers in India.

Now according to the final report filed in 2020 by the Yamuna Monitoring Committee, the cause for this toxic form that you're seeing, which is now actually dissolving, is industrial waste. It's untreated sewage and it's also the lack of fresh water.

[02:25:02]

SUD: It is believed through the Green Tribunal report that to most of the year there isn't fresh water that comes into the Yamuna River. Now this passes through the National Capital Region. What we also know at this point in time is that the air pollution in around Delhi remains in the severe to very severe category in some places, you can see that haze behind me. So not only to the eyes burn, the stench from the water that's emanating from the water kind of gives you that foul taste in the mouth as well.

So usually, if there was no pandemic, I would still be wearing this mask, John, because at this time of the year, it's very polluted in parts of India, especially northern India. Now, according to the central government here in India, 25 projects have been commissioned to clear the pollution from the river, but only five have been completed until now. Also until about a couple of hours ago, I would say until about five hours ago, we did see the last lot of the crowds move out from the banks of this river.

They were celebrating a Hindu festival. And as part of that festival, a ritual that they do believe in and they think is very auspicious is to take a dip in the water. This toxic waters where they took a dip, we spoke to some of them, they said they have no choice. It's something that they truly believe in. But medical experts have warned that this could be hazardous because it could lead to a lot of skin issues.

Also, the Delhi government, which is ruled by regional party here in India, has been facing flak for the condition of this water which is extremely toxic, and has been for the last few days. They have asked the Delhi water board to deploy a lot of workers and that's been happening since yesterday to clean the form and they're doing this with the help of water sprinklers as well as ropes. But this is just a temporary quick fix solution to a problem that has been around for years here, John.

Because I've lived in Delhi for about 10 years. I've seen this happen every year. And it's getting worse year after year just during the pandemic last year, essentially when the lockdown was in place that you could breathe cleaner air, but we're back to square one here, John.

VAUSE: Yes, we're once in a good place to be when it comes to that pollution, those levels like that. But Vedika, thank you for those live report. It's very much appreciated. Vedika Sud there live in not far from the Yamuna River.

Now in the United States, a teenager charged with killing two people during racial unrest following a police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin last August. Took the Stanford day of emotional and high stakes testimony. Kyle Rittenhouse testified for most of the day Wednesday, saying he acted in self defense when he fatally shot a man who thrown a plastic bag at him.

But he also admitted he knew Joseph Rosenbaum was unarmed. Rittenhouse broke down on the stand.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KYLE RITTENHOUSE, DEFENDANT: I was cornered from -- in front of me with Mr. Ziminski. And there were -- there were people right there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take a deep breath , pal.

RITTENHOUSE: Then what I -- that's when I run.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: During cross examination the judge asked the jury to leave the courtroom twice and advice the prosecutor for his line of questioning.

New disturbing allegations of extreme violence in Ethiopia. Coming up. Amnesty International's report, accusing fighters from the Tigray region of gang rape and other abuses.

Also, a delicate diplomacy and a dilemma for the Biden administration when it comes to Israel and the Palestinians. Details ahead.

[02:30:00]

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VAUSE: For the past year, sexual violence has been a despicable hallmark of the conflict between the Ethiopian government and rebel fighters from the Northern Tigray region. A new report from Amnesty International has found as recently as this past August, Tigray rebels' gang raped women and committed other human rights abuses. Details now from CNN Salma Abdelaziz

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Disturbing new reports emerging from Ethiopia where violence continues to escalate. Amnesty International accusing the TPLF, the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front, of mass sexual violence. The Amnesty speaking to 16 people in this report that say they were gang raped and physically assaulted by TPLF forces in mid- August in the region of Amhara.

Now, CNN has not independently spoken to these victims. So, we cannot verify their accounts independently. But we did reach out to a TPLF spokesman for their response to these allegations and here is what they told us. We take these allegations very seriously. We believe the allegations which are being attributed to our forces are basically groundless because our forces do not indulge in the very practices of our enemy forces. The TPLF went on to say that they are willing to take part in an independent investigation. But this is consistent wet we heard from the United Nations last week, which is that all parties to the conflict in Ethiopia could be responsible for war crimes and human rights in violations. We also heard more from the United Nations, 70 truck drivers contracted by the U.N. and various other various agencies have been detained by the Ethiopian central government.

Of course, the United Nations appealing for their release. This comes after 16 U.N. staffers and their dependents were also detained by authorities. Now, the United Nations has been given no reason, they say, as to why all of these staffers and drivers were arrested. But we have also been hearing from human rights groups about a wave of ethnically driven, ethnically based detentions across the capital, and across other regions as well.

And the concern is, is that as ethnic violence continues to escalate into communal violence continues to escalate the window for finding a solution is closing. Diplomats right now are scrambling to try to reach an agreement to bring down the violence, bring down the temperature across Ethiopia. The United Nations saying there is a small window of opportunity here. Otherwise, the country could be headed to all out civil war.

Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.

VAUSE: Jordan's foreign minister has defended normalizing relations with Syria because he says the status quo is no longer an option. Jordan is one of the group of Arab States moving to reestablish (INAUDIBLE) ties with Damascus. Last month, Jordan's (INAUDIBLE) to President Bashar al-Assad for the first time in a decade. The countries have reopened their borders for trade. Here is the Jordanian foreign minister.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AYMAN SAFADI, JORDANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: On Syria, our position in Jordan has always been constant. We believe that this crisis has gone on for far too long, it is caused so much suffering. And to be honest with you, we have not seen any effective strategy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: The White House is pushing to reopen their consulate in East Jerusalem which once served mostly Palestinians but was close when the Trump administration moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But it always says, it's not going to happen. CNN's Hadas Gold has details.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): When then President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital in 2018, what had been the consulate serving Palestinian was shut down.

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT: We took Jerusalem off the table so we don't have to talk about anymore. They never got past Jerusalem. We took it off the table. We don't have to talk about it anymore.

GOLD (voiceover): But with President Joe Biden, Jerusalem is very much back on the table, as the administration seeks to reopen the consulate. As Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in May --

[02:35:00]

ANTHONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The United States will be moving forward with the process to ruining our consulate in Jerusalem.

GOLD (voiceover): -- and repeated in October.

BLINKEN: We will be moving forward with the process of opening the consulate as part of deepening those ties with the Palestinians.

GOLD (voiceover): New Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has worked to create a smooth and drama free relationship with the Americans. But he was blunt when asked by CNN whether he was heading over to a conflict over the consulate and other issues.

NAFTALI BENNETT, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: No, our position is and it was presented very clearly and openly presented to our American friends that there is no room for another American consulate in Jerusalem.

GOLD (voiceover): The historic building that housed the consulate was folded into the broader American embassy when it officially moved to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

GOLD (on camera): Many Palestinians want to see the sign on this building switched back because an American consulate in Jerusalem is seen as a precursor to what they hope will one day be an American embassy in East Jerusalem, capital of a potential future state of Palestine.

GOLD (voiceover): The Israel intransigence on the issue, even as suggesting that they open the consulate instead in Ramallah seen as a direct challenge to the Americans.

MOHAMMAD SHTAYYEH, PRIME MINISTER, PALESTINIAN NATIONAL AUTHORITY: By all means, Ramallah is not Jerusalem, and Ramallah is not the capital of Palestine and the same way that Abu Dis is not. And therefore, for us, the consulate in East Jerusalem it has a lot of political significance. We want this consulate in Jerusalem to be the future American embassy to the State of Palestine. And therefore, when we say that we wanted to be there, of course we want to be there.

GOLD (voiceover): A choice then, for President Biden, pick a fight with Israel's new government or quietly and not in so many words except what Trump said, that for the U.S. at least, Jerusalem is most definitely off the table. Hadas Gold, CNN, Jerusalem.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAUSE: Well, mending fences and making nice with one of the America's oldest allies. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is on a five-day visit to France, meeting with President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace. That is after the diplomatic storm caused by a surprise U.S., Britain, Australia security deal, which caused France a multimillion- dollar submarine contract. She's putting a very positive spin on current relations.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAMALA HARRIS, U.S. VICE PRESIDENT: We have discussed the fact that indeed I do believe and I think we share this belief that we are at the beginning of a new era which presents us with many challenges but also many opportunities. And when the United States and France have worked together on challenges and opportunities, we have always found great success because of shared values and shared priorities.

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VAUSE: And there was no mention of the sub snob. President Macron thanked Kamala Harris with coming to Paris.

Still to come here, for a boss who does now what is downtime, well, a new law to shield workers personal time from overbearing employers. That is up ahead. Also, this.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ignition. And lift off.

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VAUSE: A trip to the International Space Station after rocket launch here in Florida, four members on board. We'll tell you all about it in a moment.

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[02:40:00]

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Three, two, one, zero. Ignition, and lift off

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VAUSE: Another journey to the International Space Station. Four- member crew on its way after blasting off Wednesday night on board SpaceX rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Talking with the Space Station scheduled for Thursday evening. After that three U.S. and one European astronaut will spend six months conducting experiments. This is the fourth time NASA has used SpaceX, a private company, to send astronauts to the International Space Station.

Electric carmaker, Rivian, got a jolt after making its Wall Street debut Wednesday. Its initial public offering was the largest globally this year. Shares started trading at close to $107 dollar, a 30 percent leap over its IPO. Finished just over 100 bucks. That's the largest IPO for a U.S. company since Facebook back in 2012. At its peak today, Rivian was valued at $98 billion, that's more than General Motors and Ford. Even though Rivian only started producing vehicles two months ago. And all that is dwarfed by Tesla, now valued at a trillion dollars. Explain to me how that works? Earlier, Rivian CEO talk to CNN about the company's plans to meet the growing demand for electric cars.

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R.J. SCARINGE, RIVIAN, CEO: We got so much backlog that we are just focused right now on making sure we execute these products. I get a lot of notes from customers saying, hey, we're super excited. When can we get our car? And so, we are very focused on that. And, of course, in parallel to that, we also have our commercial ends. And I think often it's perceived that there is some level of decision, one versus the other, or shouldn't we've designed the business to run multiple programs at the same time.

We have two very separate completely independent production lines from these two products, and that's what we've been building. As you and I talked about a couple of years ago, that's what we've been focused on building is the organizational discipline and scale to be capable of running multiple programs in parallel.

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VAUSE: Well, tens of billions of dollars are expected to be spent today on what is known as the world's biggest shopping. But Singles Day feels a little different this year. Here's the grandchild of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, and it's taking on a more cautious turn. That's because the company is dealing with raising inflation that's slowing Chinese economy on a regulatory crackdown on their operations.

Alibaba says, (INAUDIBLE) shipping focus this year from pure sales figures to sustainability, that's good, and inclusiveness, which is also good.

Portugal is drawing a line between professional and personal time. In this country, many people are spending a lot of time at home and working at home. The nation just passed a law that bans employers contacting employees outside normal working hours. It says employers must respect workers privacy and family time. How about that?

New rules also require companies to compensate workers for any extra expenses associated with working from home like higher electricity and gas bills. I've been told that for months.

I'm John Vause. Please stay with us. Kim Brunhuber will take over at the top of the house with more CNN Newsroom. In the meantime, stay with us. World Sport is up next.

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