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Experts Warn of New Variant From South Africa; COVID Cases in Europe Continue to Escalate; Migrants Repatriated to Their Countries; Ugly Scene Seen in Solomon Islands; E.U. To Propose Travel Restrictions Over New Variant; Taiwan Faces Uncertain Future As China Ramps Up Pressure; Right To Vote In Germany For Immigrants; The Afghan Mona Lisa Given Refuge In Italy; Sudan Protests On Deal Of Prime Minister And Military; Citgo Six Held On Trumped-Up Charges; Big Ben's Makeover Complete; Women Worldwide Rally Against Femicide; Climate Crisis, Wonder Rock; Snow Boarding Baby In Beijing. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired November 26, 2021 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[03:00:00]
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Markets sinking this hour amid fears of a new coronavirus variant. We look at why this particular one is causing such concern.
Buildings burned and stores are looted on the Solomon Islands and protests fueled in part by the government's closer ties to China. Plus, a group of American executives known as the Citgo 6 has been detained for years in Venezuela. We'll look at what's being done to bring them back home.
Welcome to all of you watching us from all around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber. This is CNN Newsroom.
UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber.
BRUNHUBER: We begin in South Africa where concern is growing over new coronavirus variant. Now researchers fear can evade immunity and maybe more transmissible. News of the variant is sending Asian markets and U.S. futures plunging as you can see there. It's also prompted the U.K. to suspend flights from six African countries adding to its travel red list.
CNN's David McKenzie is joining me live from Johannesburg on more about this emerging variant. So, David, this seems terrifying. What more are we learning about it?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It certainly is worrying. I think it's too early to tell what the impact of this variant will be. But here is why scientists are certainly concerned. This variant has far more mutations. More than 30 in the spike protein alone than previous mutations including previous variants including the Delta variant. There are early signs and I must stress these are early signs that it
could be more transmissible. No indication yet of the severity of this variant or any information on whether it can breakthrough either previous immunity or vaccines. That could take several weeks.
But given the quick rise in cases in this region at least and the concern from other countries, you have the U.K. instituting the so- called red list. Earlier this year, Kim, we went to a lab in South Africa when the Beta variant or the Beta variant was discovered.
What happens next is they'll have to culture a live virus and then see if antibodies from previous variants can stop the replication of this virus. That would be key. The problem is that could take several weeks. And
African scientists have said that they needed to be quick in alerting the world to this possible danger. Whether it is dangerous or a false alarm that's too early to tell. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: All right. Now South Africa the country not pleased by being added to this travel red list. What impact is that going to have?
MCKENZIE: Well, it could have a very severe impact on the economy. South Africa has been limping along like many countries particularly the tourism sector. The U.K. is the biggest trade and tourist partner of South Africa. And we are approaching the main tourist season.
The South African government just this morning says that this decision, quote, "seems to be rushed." They are still going to have urgent meetings with the WHO to see if this variant will be classified as a variant of concern. There are several variants classified that way.
And if you look at this graph of comparing South Africa to the U.K. at first it appears like a bit of a question mark. Why would they put this region on the red list? On the top, you have the U.K., and on the bottom South Africa. You see there are far more cases per section of the population in the U.K. right now compared to South Africa.
In some ways it's comparing apples and oranges because of the level of testing in each country. But if you drill down and look at the last few days just in South Africa you see the significant spike in cases proportionally which is a cause for concern. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: All right. I appreciate your live reporting on this. David McKenzie in johannesburg, thank you so much.
And European nations are implementing new measures to fight soaring COVID infections. For the third day in a row Germany has record case levels. The country reporting more than 76,000 new infections over the past 24 hours. Slovakia is joining Austrian lockdown as cases there begin to soar. It's expected to continue until December 9th. And the state of emergency will last for 90 days.
And a state of emergency is also now in effect in the Czech Republic. That puts curfew on pubs and limits public gatherings. Christmas markets have been canceled and outdoor consumption of alcohol is banned.
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Portuguese officials are reinstating several restrictions beginning December 1st like mandatory indoor face masks and a negative COVID test upon arrival in the country.
Meanwhile, France says it will strengthen current COVID measures as opposed to going into lockdown or adding curfews. Now those measures include expanding the booster campaign, mask wearing and stepping up health pass requirements.
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OLIVIER VERAN, FRENCH HEALTH MINISTER (through translator): We are making a choice to reconcile freedoms with responsibility, and today, we think that we can still overcome this without relating to the most restrictive measures. If we fully use all the cards in our hands.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER (on camera): So, have a look here as you can see from that map. Much of Europe is plague by rising COVID cases. So much so that the European Union is considering an expiration date on its cross border COVID pass.
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DIDIER REYNDERS, EUROPEAN UNION COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE (through translator): Member states should accept vaccination certificates not exceeding nine months since the first round of vaccination. Beyond nine months the vaccination certificate will no longer be recognized in the absence of a booster dose.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER (on camera): For more on these developments, let's bring in CNN contributor Barbie Nadeau. So, Barbie, take us through the biggest worry spots here.
BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Well, the biggest worry spot remains Germany. Now they've three days in a row of record-breaking new cases that's putting pressure on the health system there. And yet they don't have everybody vaccinated there. They have a relatively low vaccination rate in the 60 percentile.
Elsewhere across Europe, you know, you've every country just sort of inching up in their cases. And it's very scattered in terms of how various countries are reacting to it and what they're doing on the types of restrictions.
Nobody wants to go into this sort of lockdown that Slovakia and Austria are in right now. But if people don't take the precautions and the measures and wear their masks and get their boosters, that it seems to be the inevitable way to go. Kim? BRUNHUBER: So, then, you know, if they don't want to impose all these
restrictions, they got to get the vaccination rates up. How are they planning to do that?
NADEAU: Well here in Italy they have shortened the length of time between your last, your second dose and your third dose or your booster from six months to five months. They're doing all sorts of campaigns. One of the biggest things they're doing though is punishing the people who are not vaccinated.
Here in Italy, for example, they have the so-called green pass and they're going to turn that into the super green pass on December 6th which means a negative COVID test will no longer be allowed to be the qualification to go into say, entertainment venues. Only vaccination or proof that you recovered from the virus.
So, as they put more and more pressure on the unvaccinated, they hope that those people who are holding will go in and get their vaccinations. And that they think across Europe is the only way to get out of this fourth wave. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: Yes, absolutely. All right. Thanks so much, Barbie Nadeau. I appreciate it.
And Dr. Scott Miscovich is the president and CEO of Premier Medical Group USA. He is also a national consultant to the U.S. for COVID-19 testing. And he joins me from Kailua, Hawaii.
Thank you so much for being here with us, doctor.
So, I'll start with that new variant from South Africa. You know, variant have come and go, some petered out and haven't done that much damage relatively speaking. But some scientists are call this the worst COVID-19 variant yet identified. So, what worries you the most?
SCOTT MISCOVICH, NATIONAL CONSULTANT FOR COVID-19 TESTING: Hi, Kim. The thing that worries me the most is the number of mutations and some of the locations that are reporting to have the mutation. Remember the mutations are going to make this virus more transmissible. Or it wouldn't mutate. And it is in the spike protein and it is in areas that we have never seen mutations before.
So, and they are very concerning locations and there's up to 30 of them at the same time so it's almost like a super mutant at this point. And again, we all want to clarify, we still need a lot more data that needs to come out. But right now, look how quickly.
I mean, we have an emergency meeting tomorrow by the World Health Organization that will be discussing this. So, you know this is very serious what we are finding. It's going to be stopped in its tracks.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. To do that, I mean, you need vaccinations. But I'm wondering with so many mutations what effect might that have on vaccines? I mean, those of us lucky enough to not just have got our shots but our booster as well. I'm wondering how worried should we? Because we've started to go back to the new normal, finally feeling, you know, confident that we are protected.
So, will this variant or others like it sort of undo all of that and get us back into lockdowns and shutdowns again?
MISCOVICH: Well, the first thing we need to look at is this variant as they stated. And the prior pieces will be cultured and then it will be tested against the specific vaccine.
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So, we will probably have a very express process to see if the vaccines are effective. That is number one. And when I hear the word normal nowadays it just makes me worried because it just puts such a false sense of security and people's minds across the world.
And as we now know normal means you need a third shot. And those people who only had two shots as we were seeing with the E.U. is doing right now after nine months they are saying well, that doesn't count. You better go get the next shot.
People need to understand they need to go get that third shot because of waning immunity. And God forbid, this new variant is not responsive, the only good news we have is the mRNA can change quickly within a three- month to six-month period. We could have an entire new brand of mRNA that would cover and available.
BRUNHUBER: That would be for treatments?
MISCOVICH: Well, no, that would be for a new vaccine.
BRUNHUBER: New vaccine.
MISCOVICH: Like again, the worst-case scenario in the world right now is if we find a new variant is evading the current vaccines that are present. And if that's the case the one thing that's so amazing about the mRNA technology is the speed at which science can actually adapt the mRNA particle that is in there.
So, you know, don't -- we don't want to overly stress right now. We need more data and we need to be cautious.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. But it shows as well how important vaccination, you know, not just in wealthy countries. We have the luxury of having boosters here, but all over the world otherwise. I mean, this is exactly what scientists predicted would happen if those in the developing world weren't vaccinated.
MISCOVICH: Kim, you and I have been talking about this when I've been on over the last year.
BRUNHUBER: Yes.
MISCOVICH: And until the world is vaccinated, we are not safe. Look at Africa, 6.6 percent of Africa is vaccinated. Can you imagine if this variant in South Africa spreads through areas like Nairobi or Mumbai? Or Lagos? This would be devastating. The world has to step up. Now here's the other thing we need to understand. There is seasonality
as we see across the mainland U.S., the colder temperatures as Europe is seeing the temperatures drop. It's cold and flu season. This is spreading.
Well, the southern hemisphere of flu season is going to hit about June, July or August. We have to start vaccinating the poor countries of the southern hemisphere before that southern hemisphere has their winters when this would be very dangerous.
BRUNHUBER: I didn't want to let you know go before asking this, because you know, over the past two years you have been really active at the intersection of COVID and sport. You've been working with athletes and leagues and a number of other speakers when it comes to COVID testing and prevention, so and so.
As we head into yet another winter of indoor leagues and so on just take us through briefly what you've learned about what works and what doesn't in terms of COVID spreading among young athletes?
MISCOVICH: Boy. Yes, Kim. Thank you. Again, I had such a great experience with our Olympic teams which was such a great success and then my work with the SEC gave us such good insight. There was one answer test, test, and test. They use frequent rapid tests. The tests are now available. Even if individuals are vaccinated, we are still we are testing them because of the waning immunity.
So, the answer for indoor sports is they can go on but you need to have testing that occurs the morning before you get on the bus or before you get on the court or before you get together. Because those rapid antigen tests or even a quick PCR really can go on with the 99 percentile to know that you are not going to spread the disease.
So, at least three-time a week testing and testing anyone with symptom mythology. So, it really does work.
BRUNHUBER: Dr. Scott Miscovich, always a pleasure. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
MISCOVICH: Thanks, Kim. Good to see you again.
BRUNHUBER: The deadly incident in the English Channel shining a light on the exploitation of migrants and the inaction from the international community.
Plus, anti-government protesters turn up the pressure in the Solomon Islands and calls on the prime minister to resign grow louder as protests enter their third consecutive day. We'll have more on all of that. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER (on camera): Two days after dozens of migrants died in the English Channel and despite pledges of cooperation, the French interior minister says he will no longer meet with his British counterpart in Calais on Sunday. France had called for the talks to address the migrant crisis but both sides have been doing a lot of finger pointing.
On Thursday the British prime minister sent the plan to the French president asking for France to take back migrants to cross the channel. President Emmanuel Macron suggested France has already done plenty and that more help is needed from the mainland Europe to keep migrants from reaching France.
Meanwhile, a vigil was held in Calais, France for the 27 victims who drowned in the channel's bitterly cold waters.
CNN's Jim Bittermann is tracking all this for us from Paris. Jim, accusations from the U.K. that France isn't doing enough to stop the crossing. So, take us through what the reaction has been.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been very tough reaction here this morning. The fact is a government spokesman was out saying that accusing the Brits of double talk and were saying that the letter that Boris Johnson sent out to President Macron in fact was different from the phone call that he had been having with President Macron earlier.
So, this meeting that was supposed to take place on Sunday will still take place but it won't include the Brits. The Brits have been disinvited. The British home secretary has been disinvited from this meeting. And the government spokesperson said this morning, he said it is a letter that is poor in substance. This letter from Boris Johnson.
Poor in substance because it does not respect all the work that's been done from our coast, by our guard police, by our (Inaudible), by our rescuers at sea who on a daily basis mobilize themselves. And what the French were saying is the British have sent more protection officers to look at asylum applications on this side of the channel before people are attempting to go into these rubber life rafts and tried to get across the channel in bad weather. And we've seen the results of that two days ago. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: Yes, absolutely. On that, I mean, some experts saying increasing policing might not help. That just drives the trafficker's price up and not much more. So, take us through what other solutions are being suggested here.
BITTERMANN: Well, this idea that you would check on asylum seekers before they can cross the channel. One of the things that will do is isolate them and sort of keep them, you know, from trying to make the case. Make it across if it looks like they are going to get asylum. If you have hopes of going across legally why take a chance on illegal crossings that could help.
There are the more policing that is something. But one of the reasons that this meeting on Sunday will continue to take place for the European partners of France, Germany, and Netherlands, and Belgium is that they want to basically coordinate efforts to isolate the people who are the smugglers, who are, you know, providing the zodiac graphs and that sort of thing.
Already yesterday they arrested a fifth suspect, one of the smugglers who apparently had some connections to Germany. The raft itself that was involved in that incident was in fact purchased in Germany.
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So, they want to coordinate the efforts to break up the smuggling rings which seem to be crossing borders in Europe. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: All right, thanks so much, Jim Bittermann in Paris.
Iraq has flown home hundreds of migrants who have been stranded at the border between Poland and Belarus. Two flights carrying 608 people landed in Erbil and Baghdad a short time ago. That brings the total number of Iraqis to be repatriated to more than a thousand.
Belarus brought the migrants mostly from Iraq and Syria to Minsk then took them to the border but Poland refused to let them cross. Now, many of the migrants killed on Wednesday appear to have fled Iraqi Kurdistan.
So, for more on that let's bring in CNN's Arwa Damon live in Istanbul. So, many experts say that these deaths that we saw there in Calais won't do anything to stop the migrants who still want to cross. I mean, the level of desperation is so high. Migrants seem to be willing to continue taking the risk. Is that right?
ARWA DAMON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, that most certainly is the trend that we have been seeing over the years. That this migrant and refugee crisis has really been in the media spotlight. Largely due to the significant number of deaths that are occurring.
And what one really needs to realize is that when you are driven, when a human being is driven by that level of desperation, by that level of a lack of hope, a lack of faith and one's own home country, nothing is going to stop them. When it comes to the Iraqi Kurds, that by in large is due to a crumbling economy.
The fact that a lot of middle-class Iraqi Kurds who used to enjoy a fairly comfortable way of life up until 2013 are saying that that no longer exists for them in Iraqi Kurdistan. And this is brought on largely because of widespread rampant corruption. The fact that a number of things that used to be subsidized no longer are.
Record numbers of unemployment. And of course, part of all of this, especially in the recent one to two years has been driven by COVID's impact on oil revenue which that part of the country is highly reliant on and a number of other factors.
And so, even though Iraqi Kurds, for example, are being mostly driven by the hopes of prosperity, a better life elsewhere than they can provide for themselves and their families in Iraqi Kurdistan. Others are also being driven by economic factors, by hunger, by sheer poverty, by violence, by war. And the entire system to actually legally apply for asylum or
immigration. That system it must be said is broken. It's unsustainable. It's not built in a way that makes it a viable solution for all of these people who we are seeing making these various different treacherous journeys.
So, until the root causes that are driving people out of their homelands are addressed, the sad reality is that we are going to continue to see people to try to make this journey. And people are going to continue to die.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, it's really tragic. Arwa Damon in Istanbul, thanks so much.
A curfew just went into effect in the Solomon Islands after a third day of anti-government rallies in the capital. Now this is what parts of the city look like after burning and looting sprees earlier this week. Police say the latest demonstrations were held outside the prime minister's residence.
Protesters are calling on him to step down as their anger boils over a long list of political issues including his government's relations with China.
Blake Essig joins us now from Tokyo. Blake, so, what's the latest on the unrest?
BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kim, in an effort to restore peace and stability as you mentioned a nightly curfew is now in place. And police are trying to appeal to protesters by asking them to make the right choice and refrain from looting and burning valuable infrastructure. But that hasn't stopped protesters who for a third straight day have taken to the streets of the capital to demand the resignation of the country's prime minister.
Today, local police say protesters gathered at the prime minister's residence and as a precaution police dispatch fire trucks. Earlier this week, 2,000 to ,3000 protesters started gathering with some setting fires to buildings and stealing from stores. And just yesterday local journalist told CNN that fires were burning in the city's Chinatown, and that police had lost control of the eastern part of the capital.
Now this all started on Wednesday evening as anger spilled over about several domestic issues including unrealized infrastructure promises.
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The prime minister's lack of a response to a citizen petition filed months ago which included demands for the government to respect the rights of self-determination of the people and limit ties to China.
Now because of the volatile protests the prime minister has imposed a 36-hour lockdown. That lockdown is now easing. But a nightly curfew has been put into place indefinitely starting at 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. The police commissioner says that anyone seen moving around, quote, "will be dealt with."
Now to help provide stability and security, Australia has announced it has deployed police and defense personnel at the request of the prime minister. And according to local police New Zealand is providing advice and support. China is also expressing concern specifically regarding attacks over Chinese citizens and their businesses. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: All right. Blake Essig, thank you so much. I appreciate it.
Now earlier I spoke on the phone with Lisa Cuatt, the head of the group Save the Children in the Solomon Islands. This is how she described what's been happening on the ground. Here she is.
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LISA CUATT, HEAD, SAVE THE CHILDREN, HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS: It's a very distressing few days. Yes, people are scared for their safety. Although most -- most of the violence has been targeting buildings but an infrastructure. However, they're targeting infrastructure means you are targeting people's livelihoods. You know, people's families. People children as a result of this lose out in that scenario.
So, it's also very traumatic for children. You know, children are be very frightening and distressed having witnessed the level of violence. It was been -- it's been a very frightening few days. One of the major infrastructures that were destroyed over the last couple of days was one of the big high schools in Honiara. So, the students in the high school it was their exam week.
So, students, children in the Solomon Islands have already lost significant time in their education during the year due to COVID. And now, really sadly, they are also continuing to miss that engagement with education.
I know a lot of -- a lot of Solomon Islands people are very, very disappointed and very sad. They felt like the dark days of the conflict and riots of, you know, the past were well behind them. So, they are really distressed about seeing the way things have turned out in the last few days.
(END VOICE CLIP)
BRUNHUBER (on camera): All right. Still to come, growing concerns over Taiwan's future. Why some fear it could become the next Hong Kong. Stay with us.
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): And welcome back to all of you watching us here in the United States, Canada, and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber this is "CNN Newsroom." Alright. This just in to CNN, the E.U. is the latest to waive new
travel restrictions over the coronavirus variant discovered in South Africa. E.U. Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen tweeted a short time ago, quote, "The E.U. Commission will proposed in closed coordination with member states to activate the emergency brake to stop air travel from the Southern African region due to the variant of concern B11529. The news followed the U.K.'s decision to ban flights from six African countries after the new variant was identified.
And fears over that new variant also sent global stocks plunging. And European markets just opened a short time ago and as you can see there they had been dropping sharply as well. U.S. markets are expected to open lower when trading begins in a few hours.
Well, as relations between Taiwan and China reached their lowest point in decades, some Taiwanese are growing wary of their island's future. China has been ramping up pressure for the island to unify with the mainland but after the way Beijing crackdown on Hong Kong's pro- democracy protests, Taiwan doesn't want to become Hong Kong 2.0.
So for more on that, CNN's Will Ripley joins me now from Hong Kong. So, Will, as you've been reporting there is lots of concern in Taiwan as many see the situation in Hong Kong as sort of a cautionary tale. Take us through the story.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Yeah. You know, I just arrived back here in Hong Kong, I'm in quarantine right now. But I just spent the last couple of months in Taiwan. And I've been talking to people there about how they'd viewed the summer of 2019, the protests they escalated. And then in 2020, that national security law that radically changed the entire system here in Hong Kong. A system that some fear in Taiwan could also be at risk.
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RIPLEY (voice over): Hong Kong and Taiwan, two islands claimed by China less than 500 miles apart. They might as well be different worlds. In 2014 student led protests broke out in Hong Kong and Taipei. Both taking aim at Beijing's communist rulers.
Taiwan's Sunflower Movement occupied the legislature for weeks. In Hong Kong, five years later, it was only a matter of hours. Two similar events drastically different outcomes.
If you hit on the exact same thing but you are in Hong Kong where would you be today?
LIN FEI-FAN, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL, DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE PARTY: I think I would probably be in jail.
RIPLEY: In 2014, Lin Fei-fan was a student protest leader. Today a political leader. He says, all of his activist's friends from Hong Kong are either in exile or in jail. Targeted by a sweeping National Security Law. A law imposed by Beijing last year. With the stroke of a pen, many of Hong Kong's freedoms promised for 50 years under one country two systems erased. What does that mean for Taiwan?
FEI-FAN: I think that tells us we must prepare. The (inaudible) from China is very -- kind of very escalating in a quite serious level.
RIPLEY: Fears are growing, China may use its massive military to forcefully reunify with the self-governing island. Those fears help Tsai Ing-wen win reelection by a landslide last year.
So, you don't believe that China even if they promised one country two systems would actually deliver that here in Taiwan?
TSAI ING-WEN, PRESIDENT OF TAIWAN: That's an issue of credibility there and the Taiwanese people have said that they worry, that they don't accept one country two systems as the formula to resolve the (inaudible) issue.
RIPLEY: Opinion polls shows support for Taiwanese independence at its highest point in decades. Students like Samuel Li, afraid for the future. Afraid the world's only Chinese speaking democracy could become the next Hong Kong.
SAMUEL LI, TAIWANESE UNIVERSITY STUDENT: Those protesters who are just as young as me getting tear gassed and you know, getting beat up by the police. I mean, that is just outrageous and devastating to watch.
RIPLEY: What do you think is inevitably going to happen?
LI: The Chinese government taking over Taiwan is going to be inevitable in my lifetime. I would believe.
RIPLEY: He worries this tale of two islands could have the same sad ending.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[03:34:57]
RIPLEY (on camera): Hong Kong is getting the support from friends including the United States. In fact there's a group of U.S. lawmakers who are on the ground in Taipei right now that arrived by surprise. And much to the chagrin of the Chinese authorities who actually sent a message to the delegation asking them to call off the trip which they of course did not.
One of those lawmakers issued a tweet shortly after arrivals saying that she had just landed in the Republic of Taiwan. Which of course there is no Republic of Taiwan, it's the Republic of China. It is known as Taiwan colloquially but to say the Republic of Taiwan is extremely provocative from a Chinese perspective because that would be tantamount to a declaration of Taiwanese independence, formal independence which the government dare despite having its own military and its own system has never has done. They don't want to cross that red line for Beijing. But U.S. lawmakers
making this kind of mistake does put that island in a particularly awkward position. Because if Beijing does feels that Taiwan is getting closer and closer to the United States that could cross a red line for Beijing and force them to do what they never ruled out which is reunify with force if necessary. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: Yeah. So many ramifications there. Will Ripley, thanks so much. I appreciate it.
Germany is wrapping up the process of selecting its next government but activists say millions of immigrants who live and work in Germany should have access to the ballot box including the right to vote.
Salma Abdulaziz reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HIBBA TUN-NOOR KAUSER, OFFENBACH COUNCIL MEMBER: They're unique with what we have here in Offenbach.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN PRODUCER (voice over): Local politician, Hibba Tun-Noor Kauser wants to show me the diversity on her streets.
TUN-NOOR KAUSER: We have a lot of different people from different nations with different skin color living here.
ABDELAZIZ: This is Offenbach where almost 64 percent of the population have an immigrant background. But until March of this year minorities made up just 10 percent of the local parliament, she says.
TUN-NOOR KAUSER: So the government looks old white and male. And that is a huge, huge problem. Because the government is supposed to reflect the population.
ABDELAZIZ: About one in three people in Offenbach cannot vote because they do not hold German citizenship.
TUN-NOOR KAUSER: Every decision that is happening is happening over our heads. So over the heads of the people who cannot vote. It's over the heads of the marginalized groups.
ABDELAZIZ: More than a quarter of the German population has foreign roots. But the advocacy group Mick Gloom estimates that one in seven German residents, as many as 10 million people without citizenship are disenfranchised. And lack of voting power means a lack of representation says Berlin official, Sawsan Chebli.
SAWSAN CHEBLI, BERLIN STATE SECRETARY FOR ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP: So just imagining the future of Germany will be so (inaudible). And this has to be seen and mirrored in our reality in the political arena. It's not right now but it is getting better.
ABDELAZIZ: Chebli wants the voting rights afforded to E.U. citizens in Germany to be extended to other foreign nationals and the citizenship process simplified. CHEBLI: If I live it for so many years, work and pay taxes in Berlin
then when it comes to elections I'm not allowed to vote. This makes no sense to me. It has to be changed. It is discriminatory.
ABDELAZIZ: Tareq Allaows, a Syrian refugee and activists ran for political office as soon as his immigration status allowed.
TAREQ ALLAOWS, SYRIAN REFUGEE (through translator): When I looked at the makeup of the German parliament there was no one who represented refugees like me. So I wanted to be the voice I was missing in politics.
ABDELAZIZ: Many welcomed Allaows' campaign. But a right-wing minority targeted him with daily hate mail and death threats he says.
ALLAOWS: I had to withdraw. But for me as a refugee in a society whether it is systemic racism, I had no option but to continue my political activism. I just have to change my direction.
ABDELAZIZ: And without participation and representation activists say many immigrants are excluded from Germany's democracy.
Salma Abdulaziz, CNN, Offenbach.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: The Afghan girl who captured hearts everywhere after appearing on the cover of National Geographic in 1985 has found refuge as an adult in Italy. Now this striking portrait of the 12-year-old orphan with piercing green eyes and a suspicious glare, in a symbolized displaced people in Afghanistan. It was a huge sensation but her identity wasn't known until years later. Now in her late 40s, (inaudible) has been granted refugee status in Italy. According to the Prime Minister's office she appealed for help after the Taliban took over Afghanistan in August.
Alright, still ahead at CNN investigation into the Citgo six. How Venezuela lured arrested and imprisoned this group of oil executives, we will have that coming up.
Plus, a restoration project on one of Britain's most important symbols is now complete. We will tell you for whom the bell tolls. Just ahead, stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Sudan Thursday that condemns Sunday's deal struck between the recently reinstated Prime Minister and the nation's military leader. The agreement says, Abdalla Hamdok will lead to transitional government of technocrats and will share power with the military. Prime Minister Hamdok was deposed in a coup just one month ago.
Women and their allies around the world marched against gender based violence on Thursday but in some places those demonstrations turned into clashes.
Turkish riot police fired tear gas to break up the rally in Istanbul's Taksim Square. Crowds marking the international day for the elimination of violence against women which comes about five months after Turkey exited a global treaty meant to protect them. The Turkish government saying local laws were enough.
Police in Mexico City also scuffled with demonstrators and it's not exactly clear why. But lots of damage can be seen along the path. According to Amnesty International, 10 women and girls are killed daily in the Mexican capital.
And in La Paz, Bolivia protesters threw paint at a church. They're outraged over femicides, that's the killing of women and girls on account of their gender. Bolivia has one of South America's highest femicide rates.
Five Americans and a U.S. resident have now been detained for four years in Venezuela convicted of corruption in a closed-door trial. All were executives at Citgo, the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company. But a CNN investigation has established the men, known as the Citgo Six, were lured into going to Venezuela and then tried on trumped up charges.
Our Isa Soares reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): (Inaudible) clings to a photo of her husband, (inaudible).
UNKNOWN: This was the last picture I took of him.
SOARES: The same way she hangs on to his every word. This voice mail the very first time the world is hearing from him.
(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
SOARES: Since he left on a business trip to Venezuela yet to return.
UNKNOWN: After four years I think that yes, that the U.S. government has failed us.
SOARES: Hadher Toledo (ph) and his colleagues left Houston on November 19th 2017. Called to a meeting in Caracas by Citgo's parent company, PDVSA. As they gather in a conference room, Venezuela's feared military intelligence sweep in and arrest the five Americans and a U.S. resident. General Manuel Christopher Figuera (ph) was a senior intelligence officer, very close to President Nicholas Maduro, until he turned on him and fled to the United States. He says the Citgo Six was set up.
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UNKNOWN: It was a well prepared trap to arrest them. There was no arrest warrant. SOARES: Initially the six were held in a prison controlled by the
agency Figuera was part of. Now in the United States he tells us that he takes responsibility for his actions.
UNKNOWN: I feel responsible not just with them but because I was part of the nefarious structure that today is destroying our country.
SOARES: Their families and lawyers tell us that they are kept in an overcrowded cells. No windows and in the most unsanitary conditions. They say they've had to buy everything from food to water, toothpaste, to even toilet paper. Have a listen to what Toledo asked for just a few weeks ago.
(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
SOARES: Early this year, the Citgo Six were moved to house arrest. Only to be thrown back in prison in October. Hours after a Maduro ally was extradited to the United States. Throughout, President Nicholas Maduro has accused them of theft and embezzlement. Of taking kickbacks for (inaudible) deal.
NICOLAS MADURO, PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA (through translator): A few days ago, as head of state, I requested an urgent investigation given the serious claims that I was made aware of and the embezzlement of our company Citgo, of a blatant and massive robbery at Citgo.
SOARES: The main accusation against the six that they have tried to renegotiate the Citgo debt without consulting with (Inaudible) or Maduro. The military officer behind their arrest. Sitting in court the Venezuelan authorities have received information from its intelligence sources in the U.S. but offered no proof.
CNN obtained documents showing that the board of Citgo's parent company PDVSA explicitly authorized negotiations. In addition, look closely, only one of the six, Jose Pareda (ph) was part of the conversations. The deal by the way never went ahead. And the company that was mediating the refinancing move (Inaudible), says no money was ever exchanged. Still they were convicted.
The arrest of the Citgo six took place after protesters began pouring on to the streets in 2017. Venezuela's once booming oil industry was on its knees. The country under a mountain of debt. And sanctions imposed by President Trump crippled PDVSA's ability to move profits from Citgo back into Venezuela. At the flow of cash dried up, the regimes blame and fear strategy kicked in.
TAREK WILLIAM SAAB, VENZUEALAN ATTORNEY GENERAL (through translator): They are saying this is all part of an internal struggle. What internal struggle? This is corruption. Corruption of the most rotten kind.
SOARES: Former Venezuelan oil minister, Rafael Ramirez ran PDVSA for a decade under Hugo Chavez.
Once an ally he became a threat to Maduro's rise to power. And a potential challenger to the presidency when their leader and mentor Hugo Chavez died suddenly in 2013. He fled into exile when he received word Maduro wanted to arrest him on corruption charges, charges he denies.
UNKNOWN: The arrest and the way where they were detained is an instruction by Maduro to spread terror to generate fear.
SOARES: So they were set up?
RAFAEL RAMIREZ, FORMER PRESIDENT OF PDVSA: Si, Claro. Yes, of course they spread fear throughout the PDVSA, throughout the country. A feeling of fear and terror with regards to the security forces started to grow around the country.
SOARES: A fear that only increased with (inaudible) of PDVSA employees. Fifteen arrested since 2017 according to Venezuelan NGO, (inaudible).
BILL RICHARDSON, NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR: It seems that they have been used as, you know, as bargaining chips.
SOARES: Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Bill Richardson, is navigating this minefield in an effort to end the freedom of the Citgo six. He tells me what he believes Maduro's intentions are.
RICHARDSON: They don't want any further sanctions. They want sanctions lifted. But you know the relationship has been so poor in the last four to eight years that I am the one that is talking to the Venezuelans and the U.S. government doesn't talk to them.
SOARES: Since he took office, President Biden has said little on Venezuela. Its policies some say isn't existent. A different approach to former President Trump. For Carlos Anez and the families of the other five in Venezuela, the fight for justice has been lonely with silenced they say from the U.S. government.
CARLOS ANEZ, SON OF DETAINED CITGO EXECUTIVE: I always apologize to my dad for, you know, not having delivered this how I feel. I feel like I haven't delivered until he is home. And if he's not home then I'm not applying the right kind of pressure or I am not getting my mission accomplished.
[03:50:06]
SOARES: A battle that will continue as long as the Citgo Six are seen as a valuable bargaining chip. For a regime that has few options left.
Isa Soares, CNN.
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BRUNHUBER: In response to CNN, the U.S. State Department said it continues, quote, "to seek the unconditional release of the Citgo Six and urges Maduro to allow them to return to their families in the United States."
We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRUNHUBER: One of London's most revered landmarks Big Ben is about to show off its long awaited make over. The clocks, their inner workings, even decorations on Elizabeth's Tower, all painstakingly refurbished.
Now CNN's Bianca Nobilo reports the famous bell is ready to ring out a spectacular show.
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BIANCA NOBILO, CNN PRODUCER (voice over): Big Ben is getting ready to show a new face this year. With freshly restored dials appearing just in time to rang in the New Year. Just as in years past. London's iconic clock tower has been hidden from view for nearly four years. Hundreds of crafts people have worked on the largest restoration project since Big Ben was built in 1859.
NICK STURGE, BIG BEN RESTORATION PROJECT MANAGER: We are at the stage now where we can start to bring the scaffold down from the building all the way to the ground. Which is a massive milestone for the project and one that we are extremely proud of.
NOBILO: The team at (Inaudible) special project began dismantling the scaffolding Monday. It's a process that will take months. But by New Year's Eve, project manager Nick Sturge says all four clock faces on the tower will again be visible to the public.
STURGE: It's been quite a journey. We've replaced lots of stain. We've replace all of the clock face glass. We take off of all the cast iron on the roof level and repaired it and put it back on.
NOBILO: The 107 million dollar restoration is no small project.
ALEX JEFFREY, BIG BEN CLOCK MECHANIC: There is thousand parts in total. More than. The entire clock including everything, weighs, hammer work, cranks to the better looking pieces. Wheels and gears. It weighs over 11.5 tons.
NOBILO: All of those pieces restored to original colors and specifications. Clock hands and numerals have been repainted a bright (inaudible) blue. The clocks original color scheme replacing the black details of recent years. The floral emblem symbolizing the four countries of the U.K. are also repainted. Matching Charles Berry's original design. The clocks gravity powered mechanisms are also returning to their roots.
JEFFREY: We have to go back to how it was originally run. We want to. You know, it's a very impressive clock, well designed. So, once we are ready to -- once the reassembly work has been complete. It will be gravity run again.
NOBILO: Those electric dolls will be restored to gravity powered ones in the spring. When the great (inaudible) will resume chiming each quarter and striking every hour.
Bianca Nobilo, CNN, London.
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BRUNHUBER: As global warming melts the glaciers in Greenland, there has been a surprising find. The process forms and ultra-fine silt which could benefit farmers around the world that is already showing some promising results.
CNN's Lynda Kinkade has the details.
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LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): In Greenland a paradox is unfolding. As glaciers disappear due to global warming. At the very same time that melting is helping to form an ultra-fine silt that has the potential to cool the earth.
One scientist is calling it a wonder material. When you used on farmland the silt dissolved in rainwater releasing nutrients and boosting agricultural production while trapping carbon dioxide. Scientists at the University of Copenhagen say one metric ton of glacial rock flower can absorb between 550 and 660 pounds of CO2 from the air. Which farmers can use as carbon credits.
Tests have already ramped up researchers in Ghana finding the application of this material to the soil offset the impact of rain and heat and boosted May's production by 30 percent.
MINIK ROSING, GEOLOGIST, PROFESSOR AT UNIVERSITY OF CPENHAGEN: If you have rock flower instead of fragmented rock the plants have 80,000 times easier access to the good stuff it needs to grow. And so this is kind of more a less a unique product to Greenland.
KINKADE: Greenland is home to one of the two remaining ice sheets in the world and the only one in the northern hemisphere. In Denmark scientists that multinational brewery of Carlsberg discovered that adding 25 metric tons of glacial rock flower per hectare increase crop yield by 30 percent on their barley fields.
PAI ROSAGER PEDAS, SENIOR SCIENTIST, CARLSBERG RESEARCH LABORATORY: You can see more clean product compared to a very processed in organic phosphorus fertilization strategy. Where this could be a more directly from nature sort of say. Where you need less processing and therefore less impact on the nature.
KINKADE: Researchers are already planning a large-scale field test in Denmark and Ghana. They are trying to assess if it is feasible to shift the rock flower to farmers around the world. Many already use other finely grained rocks on their farms but the added benefit of absorbing CO2 from the air makes glacial rock flower a potential game- changer.
Lynda Kinkade, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: At 11 months old, she is too young for the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics but have a look at this. This snowboarding baby, well, she looks like she has a future. She's lighting up the slopes and Chinese social media with her skills on the hills. Her parents say she started two weeks ago and it came naturally to her. Her dad say he's been aspiring to become a professional snowboarding coach. Well, she is never too young to start.
Alright, that wraps us this hour of "CNN Newsroom." I'm Kim Brunhuber, thanks so much for joining me. News continues now with Isa Soares.
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