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Migrant Boat Capsizes In English Channel; Germany Tops 100,000 Deaths And Sets New Daily Case Record; All Three Men Convicted Of Murder In Killing Of Ahmaud Arbery. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired November 25, 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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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM and I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead. Guilty, guilty, guilty. All three defendants convicted in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. The dramatic scenes in court and what it means in the fight for racial justice in the U.S.

Yet another smash and grab robbery. The scary crime wave at stores just as holiday shopping picks up. Plus, tragedy in the English Channel. A record number of migrants are dead after their boat capsized.

ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: All right. Thank you so much for joining us. There's a few little hiccups there. Technological problems for us to deal with. But let's get to this story. At the top story we are following here. It is believed that the worst disaster involving migrants trying to cross the English Channel at least 27 people including five children, and a child died off the coast of Calais in northern France Wednesday.

This after a boat trying to reach Britain capsized in the frigid waters. Two migrants who survived are being treated for hypothermia. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson say they will step up efforts to prevent migrants from making these dangerous crossings. CNN's Jim Bittermann is following developments. He joins us now live from Paris.

So Jim, a distressing story. What is the latest on what exactly happened? And what are the U.K. and France saying about this?

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they basically accusing each other of responsibility in this affair. This is, as you said one of the worst -- one of the worst incidents of this kind and the English Channel if not the worst, they revised the death toll downward slightly overnight to 27. That doesn't make it any better. And both sides are accusing the other of having some responsibility to bear.

The British suggested that perhaps they should have some kind of joint patrols along the French coast. The French are saying that the British must step up their efforts and change their policies to make it less attractive for migrants to try this crossing. And the terms of practicality after that conversation between Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron during the night last night, the foreign minister of France and the Home Secretary of Britain are going to talk today to sort of see what they can do in a practical sense to stop this (INAUDIBLE)

In terms of details, they've arrested a fifth person as -- for responsibility in the -- in creating these the atmosphere for these migrants to come across. The person that was arrested was a German and apparently he -- the rubber raft that would -- that sank was of German manufacturer German sales. So in fact, there is some connection there to Germany. And President Macron said that he wants to walk widen out the conversation about this to European partners because he believes they bear some responsibility in these criminal gangs that are used to -- migrants are falling victim to in -- and who are thought to the passers who didn't have the -- who send the migrants out into the rather dangerous conditions out into the channel and we've seen the result of that. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Yes. Just absolutely horrendous. Jamie Bittermann joining us live from Paris. Many thanks. And joining us now from London is Tauhid Pasha, senior coordinator at the International Organization for Migration. Thank you so much for talking with us. 27 people confirmed it in this tragedy five women and a little girl included in the dead in this attempted crossing of the English Channel in these freezing temperatures.

And the leaders of Britain and France appear to be blaming each other. Who do you blame for this?

[02:05:02]

TAUHID PASHA, SENIOR CORRDINATOR, INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION: This is not about two countries under Channel but a larger universal issue we had since 2014. Our record started counting 45,000 deaths across the world. Last year alone, 4-1/2 thousand people died across the world. And Rosemary last week, 75 people died, leaving Libya on a boat in the Mediterranean.

That wasn't reported as much as this one was. And this just shows the global scale of the problem. And we really have to ensure that we can take a universal cooperative response.

CHURCH: Yes. Let's talk about that because French President Emmanuel Macron says he will not let the English Channel become a graveyard and the U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he's shocked and appalled and wants to step up efforts to deal with this migrant crisis. He and Macron have agreed to put in place joint efforts to prevent migrant crossings. What do you think that means exactly? So, they'll stop these crossings. But that doesn't solve this problem, does it?

PASHA: Not at all, not at all. A disproportionate use of barriers, putting up the borders is not going to solve this problem on its own. What we need is we need to undermine the (INAUDIBLE) business model by getting more adequate, safe legal routes and pathways. Let's bear in mind the global context here. There are up to 26 million refugees in the world. The vast majority, Rosemary, are living and staying in countries neighboring the countries that they left.

Very few make it across to Western countries like the U.K. and France. And so what we need is we need to have countries like the U.K. and France really stepping up their protection regimes to allow and facilitate those who are entitled to protection to be able to make entry.

CHURCH: So what is the situation for many of these migrants and asylum seekers on the ground? And how many people are we talking about here?

PASHA: So, if we look at the nationalities of those who died tragically, yesterday, the majority were Iraqis and Iranians with -- I believe some Somali nationals. So, that immediately points to you that these are people who are fleeing countries of persecution. And so what we need to do is we need to be working to ensure that those people who are fleeing those countries can get access to resettlement regimes.

That we ? they can get access to humanitarian pathways that allow them to stay in these countries. And another thing to bear in mind, some of them are families, as you said, women and children. Family reunification is very important. We should not be closing down family reunification channels, we should be opening them up.

CHURCH: And what about these people who are responsible for putting the migrants on these boats? What should happen to them?

PASHA: Well, they are part of a dangerous criminal network, where they are trafficking people, those who are using smugglers have no option but to use smugglers. And that's where the business model comes from. If we can take that away from them, and if we can try and open up these legal avenues, then that has to be the answer. So states have to be able to have a proportionate response where they are ensuring that these pathways are opened up.

As I said, we have those avenues to do that. And the numbers of people who are seeking protection in the U.K. is actually quite small. The peak was in 2012. We've had very low numbers since then. 16,000 people got protection and access to asylum in the U.K. last year. If you compare that to the global response, where we have up to three million Afghans in Pakistan and Iran alone, then that puts that into proportion.

CHURCH: Tauhid Pasha, thank you so much for talking with us. We appreciate it.

PASHA: Thank you.

CHURCH: Europe's dramatic coronavirus surge is driving cases up globally. Here's a look at where things stand compared with the previous week. The World Health Organization says infections have been increasing for more than a month. Germany is among the worst hit countries. It just topped 100,000 total coronavirus deaths and broke its daily case record for the second day in a row.

More restrictions are being put in place to help stem the tide. Barbie Nadeau is in Rome with more.

BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Europe's COVID crisis is only getting worse causing many countries to once again waste stricter options to mitigate the spread. Germany has set another daily record for COVID cases which is caused the government there to now require anyone who pulls a paycheck to be vaccinated, have a negative COVID test or prove recovery from the virus. The new chancellor has also vowed to examine whether making vaccines mandatory which is already coming into effect in Austria in February worth doing in Germany.

Italy has also just brought in further restrictions on its green pass that will pressure even more people into getting a vaccine by no longer accepting a negative COVID test is one of the requirements to end enter leisure venues. Numbers are also rising in France, but the government there has said so far they don't anticipate a new harsh lockdown, but aren't sure about further restrictions.

Elsewhere, countries that haven't been as badly hit this time around are bracing for what many feel is inevitable. Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, Rome.

CHURCH: Dr. Sham Griffiths is an emeritus professor at the and also led Hong Kong's inquiry into the SARS outbreak in 2003. She joins me now from Oxford, England. Thank you so much, Doctor, for all that you do and for talking with us.

DR. SIAN GRIFFITHS, EMERITUS PROFESSOR CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG: Good morning, Rosemary. Thank you for having me.

CHURCH: So we are seeing no sign of Europe's COVID case surge is slowing at this juncture with Germany topping 100,000 deaths and setting a new daily case record. The new incoming government now considering mandatory vaccinations. So how bad could this get across Europe and what's driving this?

GRIFFITHS: Well, at the moment, it's looking pretty bad for the countries where they're seeing this rapid acceleration. You heard earlier that 100 -- in Germany had now sadly, recorded over 100,000 deaths. And having been in the first wave in the country that have seemed to have a situation in control. So it's very worrying when you see the rates going up across Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the WHO recognize that Europe is the epicenter of the disease now.

I think that, you know, the reasons why the rates go up are -- not confused at the compound, there to do with the fact that a lot of vulnerable people are still not vaccinated. The overall vaccination rate across Europe is only in the 60s, and that is too low to control the disease. So, insufficient vaccination, people not coming forward to vaccination. And that's one of the causes. Another, of course, is the cold weather and people coming indoors and being closer together and meeting without being able to say open the windows or meet outside.

We reckon -- we know that good ventilation is essential for dispersing the virus. And so, colder weather plays its part. And so what that does is that then makes the vulnerable people, people unvaccinated get infected, they're more likely to go into hospital and hospitals get overloaded, and the health systems are getting overloaded. And that's the big anxiety. We saw it in the previous waves. And that's anxiety in Europe at the moment.

Of course, the other factor here is that this is the Delta variant, highly infectious, about one-third of people who have it don't have any symptoms. So, it's a very difficult disease to control if individuals don't also take some responsibility. So, for example, mask wearing is something that is being looked at across Europe. It's becoming mandatory in many situations, because we know that that's a contributor to people wearing masks and they need.

That will reduce the risk of transmission of infection. That's what the research shows now. And that message is taken out loud and clear. The use of COVID passes or passports that's increasing. And there's some question now whether with a booster campaign, you (INAUDIBLE) booster, I think France is looking at this, we'll be making an announcement, but they, you now, require three shots.

So that -- it's -- the implications of this are that the government's need to act, individuals need to add and that vaccination is the underlying, you know, kingpin if we can try to control the disease.

CHURCH: So, Europe's coronavirus surges also driving up cases across the globe. So this becomes a problem for everyone.

GRIFFITHS: Absolutely.

CHURCH: What happened in Germany specifically where Chancellor Angela Merkel, as scientist herself dealt with this pandemic very well at the start. It has to be said. Now Germany is one of the worst hit countries. What went wrong in that country specifically?

GRIFFITHS: Well, I can't give you an absolute answer to that. But it could be a combination of the factors of lack of vaccine uptake. So lack of full vaccination of particularly most vulnerable groups. Germany has a fragmented -- a regionalized healthcare system and that sometimes makes it more difficult to get agreement on policies. And I think that there's some variation between the parts of the country.

[02:15:02]

GRIFFITHS: It is about -- sometimes you would think it was -- it's partly also about -- so it's about population response. It's about what are the population doing and have the government acted quickly enough. They were in lockdown, they let go of lockdown, should they act more quickly? Do they need to do something more rigorous at this point in time? And as I say, it's the Delta variant, very infectious.

People get a bit loud, you know, we go through the summers, the rates fall, people think, OK, well isn't such a problem, travel restrictions are released. And then what you see is you see that the virus taking off again, as I say, particularly in winter months. So the message is really clear. People need to get vaccinated across Europe. The booster program is being pushed and it's being pushed now for larger age groups. In the U.K. we are now offering the booster to people have 40 and I suspect as that comes in six-month time. It will be available to younger age groups as well. Children are being vaccinated. And the talk about vaccinating even younger children across Europe, as has been -- as has now started in somewhere like Israel, which is very much on top of their epidemic. So, there -- it is a complicated situation.

It is a combination of factors, but it is the reality that the cases are taking off, and the COVID remains a difficult and dangerous disease.

CHURCH: Dr. Sian Griffiths, thank you so much for joining us. Appreciate it.

GRIFFITHS: Thank you, Rosemary. Happy Thanksgiving.

CHURCH: And Happy Thanksgiving to you too. Many thanks. Well, protesters in the Solomon Islands are defying a lockdown to demand the resignation of the prime minister there. They said fire to buildings and the capital for a second day. Media reports said protesters from Malaita province came to the capital because they felt overlooked by the national government. A citizen's petition filed in August called for the government to respect the rights of self-determination of the Malaita people to limit ties with China and to resume development projects in Malaita.

Well, after more than 11 hours of deliberation, a jury has found three men guilty of murder in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery. Coming up. What his parents have to say about that ruling. Plus, Turkey stages of round welcome for the United Arab Emirates Crown Prince. How the one time regional foes of rebuilding their relationship.

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CHURCH: The parents of Ahmaud Arbery say justice has been served. A jury in Southern Georgia has found three white men guilty of murder and other charges and the killing of the 25-year-old unarmed black man last year. Arbery was out for a jog when he was chased down shot and killed. CNN's Ryan Young has the latest from the courtroom as the verdicts were read.

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JUDGE TIMOTHY WALMSLEY, SUPERIOR COURT, STATE OF GEORGIA: Count one, malice murder. We the jury find the defendant Travis McMichael guilty.

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Today a jury convicted Travis McMichael, Gregory McMichael and William Bryan for the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

WALMSLEY: Count three, felony murder. We the jury find the defendant Greg McMichael guilty. YOUNG: Travis Michael was found guilty in all nine counts, his father

Gregory McMichael was found not guilty on malice murder, but was found guilty on all other eight counts. William Bryan was found guilty on six counts, including three felony murder charges. Bryan was the man who took the video of the shooting. He was found not guilty of malice murder, one felony murder charge and aggravated assault with a firearm.

WALMSLEY: Find the defendant William R. Bryan guilty.

YOUNG: All three men left the courtroom today in handcuffs. Arbery's mother sat in court when their guilty verdicts were read visibly crying. Outside the courthouse. She shared her gratitude.

WANDA COOPER-JONES, AHMAUD ARBERY'S MOTHER: I thank each and every one of you who fought this fight with us. It's been a long fight. It's been a hard fight. But God is good. Thank you for those who marched, those who pray and most of -- the ones who prayed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, Lord.

YOUNG: The jury made up of nine white women. Two white men and one black man deliberated for more than 11 hours after eight days of testimony from 23 witnesses. Earlier today before reaching the verdicts, the jury asked to see the two video clips. One of them enhance from the deadly February 2020 shooting. They also asked to hear that 911 call that Gregory McMichael made the day Arbery was shot and killed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm not here (INAUDIBLE) black male running down the street.

YOUNG: During the trial, the three defendants had claimed they were trying to make a citizen's arrest of Arbery the day they jumped into a truck, chased Arbery and killed him.

They said they suspected robbery had burglarized a nearby home construction site referring to video Arbery wandering inside that home months before being killed.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He wanted to stop him for the police to detain him.

YUONG: But the prosecution said Arbery was just out for a jog. He hadn't committed a crime and wasn't armed.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everybody in this case had a gun except Arbery.

YOUNG: Now all three defendants are facing a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for their actions and the killing of Arbery.

COOPER-JONES: Now Quez, which you know him as Ahmaud, I know him as Quez, he will now rest in peace.

YOUNG: One of the things that stood out to us Wednesday as well, everyone was out front sharing, we saw each of the men who was found guilty being walked in handcuffs to separate cars to go back to jail. We believe the federal government's also going to file charges against them and all three men, their defense attorneys plan to file appeals before another family who has been fighting for so long for justice.

They feel like they finally got it on this day. Ryan Young, CNN, Brunswick, Georgia.

CHURCH: Ethiopia's Prime Minister is reportedly directing troops on the frontline of his country's civil war with Tigrayan rebels. But authorities are not revealing what or where that frontline is. And state-affiliate -- affiliated media appears to be only airing old images of him with soldiers. Abiy Ahmed has been urging supporters to take up arms and patrol the streets. The U.K. is now joining the U.S., Germany and France and urging its citizens to get out of Ethiopia before the situation gets worse.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is warning of unusual military activity along Russia's border with Ukraine and in Crimea. It says security conditions could change without notice. Satellite images appear to show Russia gathering close to 100,000 troops along with tanks and military hardware in the region. Meanwhile, Ukraine is launching a special operation along its border with Belarus.

It's aimed at preventing a migrant crisis similar to the one that erupted between Belarus and Poland. The United Arab Emirates Crown Prince is in Turkey for the first time in 10 years, and a series of economic agreements between the two countries could breathe new life into their troubled relationship. More now from CNN's Jomana Karadsheh.

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JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): It was a stunning development. The UAE's national security adviser in Ankara this summer meeting with the Turkish president. What followed even more stunning. A phone call between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the UAE is de facto ruler Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. A senior Emirati official describing the call is "positive and friendly," based on a new phase in which the UAE seeks to build bridges, maximize commonalities and work together with friends and brothers to ensure future decades or for regional stability. This week the two leaders are meeting for the first time in years.

[02:25:07]

YUSUF ERIM, MENA AND TURKEY FOREIGN POLICY EXPERT: The reconciliation that I saw the least likely or the most problems divergent interests was the UAE-Turkey relationship. So, this type of fast forwarding of the reconciliation process leading to a top level meeting is definitely surprising.

KARADSHEH: The rift emerged with the so-called Arab Spring with Turkey support for popular uprisings in groups close to the Muslim Brotherhood, putting it at odds with Middle Eastern monarchies, including the UAE to view these movements as a threat to their own rule. Tensions continued to rise with Turkish officials accusing the UAE of supporting the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey.

And in 2017, it was Turkey that extended a lifeline to Qatar when its Gulf neighbors tried to isolate Doha. The rivalry between the two regional powers played out through their expansionist foreign policy across the Middle East and Africa, where it unfolded dangerously in Libya's devastating proxy war.

But the dynamics across the region are starting to change with clear geopolitical shifts from cutters reconciliation with the Saudi-led alliance to longtime foes Saudi Arabia and Iran engaged in diplomatic talks. The UAE and Iran are also trying to deescalate tensions. And it seems Turkey is on a diplomatic spree, trying to mend ties with Saudi Arabia and Egypt and now bitter rival the UAE.

ERIM: There's a lot of changing regional dynamics that are leading actors in the region to reformulate and recalibrate their foreign policies now, the inauguration of U.S. President Joe Biden, the Aramco attack on Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed militia, the withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan led by the Taliban takeover. The perception of less U.S. engagement in the region of return to the Iran Nuclear Deal. These are all factors that are leading these countries to reformulate their strategies.

KARADSHEH: For Turkey, this is not just about mending fences, it is very much about the dire state of its economy, with inflation near 20 percent. And its currency, the Lira at an all-time low.

ERIM: President Erdogan came to power in 2002 on the back of positive economic policies. He stayed in power due to the economy, so a weaker economy before 2023 elections is definitely something he doesn't want. And the Emiratis have the money to be able to provide a booster shot for the Turkish economy.

KARADSHEH: Before relations sour Turkey was one of the UAE's biggest trade partners and both sides are hoping to pick up where they left off. With the Gulf state already eyeing more investment opportunities in Turkey.

No one is expecting one high-level meeting to resolve a decade long feud, but many are hoping this could be the beginning of the end of a rivalry that continues to reverberate across this region and beyond. Jomana Karadsheh, CNN, Istanbul.

CHURCH: In parts of the Caribbean, strikes, violence and looting all in response to new pandemic regulations. We will look at where it's happening and the French government's response.

Plus, unlikely, bedfellows agreed t form a new government in Germany. How they plan to tackle climate change and the record COVID outbreak.

[02:30:00]

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CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. More now on the rapidly rising coronavirus cases in Europe. Health officials warn that more measures must be taken to ease the burden on hospitals. The World Health Organization says Europe accounted for 67 percent of all new cases, in the past week.

Italy is among many countries weighing new restrictions, it just toughened up its COVID health pass to make it more difficult to gain access to places without being vaccinated. Meanwhile, the head of the W.H.O. warns that just being vaccinated is not enough of a COVID precaution. He says it's important to not let vaccines create a false sense of security.

Well, meanwhile, parts of the Caribbean is seeing tremendous backlash to new COVID restrictions. CNN's Patrick Oppmann shows us the violence in French territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique.

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PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the French island territory of Guadeloupe, this is the response to recent COVID mandates. A barricade of cars burned out and overturned. Pile debris, literally in the streets. Businesses looted, store fronts charred, the results of a violent backlash depend (INAUDIBLE) imposed by government overseas.

GERALD DARMANIN, FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER (through translator): The present situation in Guadeloupe is very difficult. There were shots using real ammunition against the police forces. There were barricades preventing people from going around, from going to work, that keep dialysis patients from going to the hospital, for example.

OPPMANN (voiceover): Police reinforcements are working to restore calm, as authorities impose a nightly curfew and rest dozens in the unrest. This is the second week of a general strike against coronavirus restrictions that include health pass rules and mandatory vaccinations for health workers. Compulsory vaccinations are striking a particular nerve in Guadalupe whose people once suffered exposure to toxic pesticides used in banana plantations where they were forced to work as slaves. Now, the recent protocols reopening a wound of distrust and catalyzing deeper coming to the fore.

ELIE DOMOTA, SPOKESPERSON, LKP CITIZEN'S COLLECTIVE (through translator): The prefect would not speak with us, elected officials would not speak to us, we have no answer to our demands. And the only answer the French state has given is to send soldiers and police here. That is how we are being treated in this country.

OPPMANN (voiceover): In nearby Martinique seems post chaos in another French colony, anger over the same COVID rules along with a wide range of grievances voiced by protestors subject to rules imposed from half a world away.

SERGE ARIBO, GENERAL SECRETARY OF UGTM HEALTH (through translator): Today, it is a widening of the conflict, it's a general strike that affects all sectors today in Martinique and no longer just a health and social sector.

OPPMANN (voiceover): In Martinique and Guadeloupe, protesters demand not only an end to COVID curves but also action to tackle high fuel prices, cost of living and unemployment. The French prime minister says disruptive strikes and violence must end, but acknowledges the need for dialogue. Protesters in the French territories, hoping their voices can be heard by faraway leaders as a turbulent pandemic continues.

Patrick Oppmann, CNN.

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CHURCH: Three major political parties are within striking distance of forming a new government in Germany. On Wednesday, they ironed out a deal to create a coalition led by Olaf Scholz, the so-called "Traffic Light" coalition would include his SPD party along with the Greens and the three Democrats. But as Anna Stewart reports they could be strange bed fellows.

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ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: After two months of negotiations, a new coalition deal has been true struck in Germany between three parties. Their leaders all smiling on their way to a press conference Wednesday, no doubt relieved. They're not natural allies, the FDP is pro-business and is usually more aligned with the center right than to the left leaning, SPD and the Greens.

[02:35:00]

Yet, despite major differences in some of their campaign policies, they have already reached an agreement on a number of areas. Wanting to phase out coal by 2030, eight years earlier than planned. They also hope to get 15 million all electric cars on the roads by then. A proposal though that's an example of some of the compromise that's been done. It's not as ambitious as the Green Party had set out for, they had proposed banning combustion engines in new cars by then.

Legalizing the sale of cannabis in licensed shops was another eye- catching announcement, and they're considering making COVID-19 vaccines mandatory. While this new government will want to deliver on the forward-looking policies they were elected on, they have many issues to address. Not least of which is COVID-19.

On Tuesday, Germany recorded its highest daily increase in new infections since the pandemic began. And that will be a further drag on an economy already under pressure from the supply chain crisis and high gas prices. The Bundesbank has said inflation may reach 6 percent this month.

Assuming the party members are happy with the deal, Olaf Scholz could be sworn in as chancellor as early as the 5th of December, bringing Angela Merkel's 16-year tenure as chancellor to an end. She was a steady hand at E.U. diplomacy, and she leads big shoes for Scholz to fill. Germany will play a critical role in steering the E.U.'s economic recovery, its pandemic response with a migrant crisis on the Poland-Belarus border and with tensions mounting between Europe and Russia. Anna Stewart, CNN, London.

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CHURCH: Sweden's first female prime minister says she still wants the job despite resigning on a first day. Social Democrat, Magdalena Andersson, stepped aside after the Green Party pulled out of the coalition. Andersson said she wants to lead a single party government. The 54-year-old mother of two has served as finance minister for the past seven years. Sweden's parliament speaker is expected to put Andersson forward for a new vote.

Scientists have been sounding the alarm about global warming. Now, we are learning, temperatures have been on the rise for longer than we thought. Coming up, a new study on conditions in the Arctic Ocean.

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CHURCH: Barely a week after heavy rains and floods battered British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province is bracing for more storms that could make matters worse. Utility company BC Hydro estimates damages in the millions from previous storms and preemptively draining some reservoirs to create space for the rainfall. Officials expect the coming storm to be short lived, but may bring rains of up to 15 millimeters.

[02:40:00]

A new study finds the Arctic Ocean has been warming for much longer than previously thought. The study was published in the journal of "Science Advances," researchers found temperatures and salinity, the saltiness, of course, in the water was fairly constant until the early 1900s then suddenly increased.

So, let's being in meteorologist, Derek Van Damme.

So, Derek, this is a real concern, of course. What more are you learning about this Arctic Ocean warming study.

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST: All right. The start of the 20th century, that is when we started to supercharged our atmosphere with carbon dioxide, with the burning of fossil fuels. These heat-trapping greenhouse gases, like methane, carbon dioxide that allowed are planet to rapidly warm. And in the Arctic, it's happening about three times as fast as the rest of the planet as well.

But the concern is, and what they found with this latest data, it has revealed some very interesting points because our computer models, the actual climate models that scientists used to predict how the climate will change in the decades to come may not have actually taken into consideration this earlier warning in the Arctic Ocean, and that has ramifications for our climate and weather patterns going down the road.

So, let me try to break down for you here. You can see the global carbon dioxide trend and how that's directly associated with the increase in our temperature across the planet. But there are these conveyor belts of water transport across the Atlantic Ocean. That's right where the Arctic Ocean meets and that's exactly where the scientists have found some of these latest discoveries, just off the Coast of Greenland.

We're seeing these changing ocean currents as it moves this warmer tropical water from the south and re-distributes it across the north into the Arctic Ocean. And they're seeing this further instability due manmade climate change, and that has ramifications again on the weather patterns and also the sea ice as well. Look at this feedback loop, this is impressive, with the study, they're starting to realize that sunlight, as we warm the Arctic, it obviously starts to melt the sea ice. And so, it's no longer reflecting the sun's light, it's actually absorbing it as solar energy within the dark ocean waters. And that. of course, has a warming impact and influence as well.

Why does this matter? Well, it's going to have an enhancement on the jet stream. This is what drives weather patterns and climate across the planet. And if we get these almost waves, we have the potential, Rosemary, to see brutal arctic blast of cold air across Europe, for instance, changes in monsoon patterns and even a long-standing drought over Western Africa. Back to you.

CHURCH: Unbelievable. Thank you, Derek Van Dam, for keeping a close eye on all of that. Appreciate it.

Well, a massive pile of illegal drugs has gone up in smoke in Pakistan. On Wednesday, officials burned about 18 metric tons of confiscated narcotics with the street value of $1.3 billion. The drugs included heroin, hashish, cocaine and crystal meth. Pakistan is a major transit route for drugs coming out of Afghanistan, the world's top heroin producer.

Well, "Time Magazine" has released its top 100 photos of 2021 documenting some of the year's biggest moments, photos featured in the magazine and on its covers includes scenes on the attack on the U.S. capitol on January, a girl thrilled at winning a big U.S. spelling bee, a distraught woman as wildfires threaten her house in Greece and a Palestinian girl whose home was demolished in Israeli airstrikes in May.

I'm Rosemary Church. I will be back at the top of the hour with more CNN Newsroom. World Sport is coming up next.

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