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Biden and Putin to Hold Video Call in Coming Hours; U.S. will not Send Delegation to Beijing Olympics; New Measures to Curb Omicron Spread. Aired 3-4a ET

Aired December 07, 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]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I am Rosemary Church.

Just ahead here on "CNN Newsroom," we are just hours away from a high- stakes virtual summit between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. And topping the agenda, Russia's military buildup on the border with Ukraine.

Travel restrictions, nightclub closures, and new mask mandates are being imposed as Europe tries to curb the spread of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Plus, the rising cost of the climate crisis. Catastrophic flooding in South Sudan has displaced tens of thousands of people, and there is no relief in sight.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Rosemary Church.

CHURCH: Good to have you with us. Well, the leaders of U.S. and Russia will soon sit down for a high-stakes virtual summit as concerns grow over Russia's military buildup on the Ukraine border. The video call between presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin coming as the Pentagon sees added military capability by Russian forces.

And U.S. Intelligence obtained by CNN estimates Moscow could invade Ukraine as soon as next month. Sources say U.S. officials are readying sanctions meant to deter Russia from launching an invasion and could target Mr. Putin's inner circle.

Ahead of his call with Mr. Putin, President Biden spoke with European allies about Ukraine, with all emphasizing the need for united front.

Joining us now from Berlin is CNN senior international correspondent Fred Pleitgen. And Fred, what is expected to come out of this high- stakes video call between the U.S. and Russian leaders?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Rosemary. Well, for the U.S., it certainly hopes -- and certainly for the U.S. allies here in Ukraine as well, they certainly hope that there is going to be a degree of de-escalation coming from this call.

Of course, it was quite interesting to see that the Biden administration, they are much trying to get allies on board before this and informed the allies before this call even took place, speaking, for instance, with the European allies like Angela Merkel, like Boris Johnson, like the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, and of course, the president of Italy as well, really trying to make sure the Russians understand that this is a united front that they are dealing with, and that the U.S. does have its allies on board with some of the things the Biden administration wants to tell the Russians would be the cost if they invade Ukraine.

I think this was the big message that President Biden was trying to stand before this call. He was saying he wanted to make clear to Vladimir Putin there would be steep costs for an invasion of the Ukraine. Certainly, the main tool for that appears to be, and this is some of the messaging that, of course, CNN and others have been getting from the Biden administration, the main tool for that would most probably be massive sanctions on a scale far larger than anything that we've seen so far, especially as regards to the situation in Ukraine, some of the moves the Russians have been making there over the past couple of years.

For the Russians, they are obviously trying to get their point of view across. The Russians have been fairly clear in the past couple of days that essentially what they want is concessions from the Biden administration, from the U.S. and its allies, that Ukraine would not become a NATO, and also that there would be no further eastward expansion of NATO.

So far, NATO itself has rejected that, Ukraine has rejected that, and the U.S. has rejected that as well. So, certainly, it seems as though as that call is about to happen, I think, six hours from now or seven hours from now, that it will be very difficult to see how these two leaders will come to terms and whether they will find some common ground. But certainly, the president, President Biden, is saying that he wants to come with a very tough message, Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Fred Pleitgen, many thanks for that, appreciate it.

So, let's talk more about this with Jill Dougherty. She is a Georgetown adjunct professor and is a former CNN Moscow bureau chief. Thank you so much for joining us.

JILL DOUGHERTY, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR AT GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, FORMER CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: Sure

CHURCH: So, President Biden faces a new test from Russia when he takes that video call with President Putin in the coming hours over rising tensions on Russia's border with Ukraine. How potentially dangerous is a call like this, particularly with Mr. Biden threatening economic sanctions should Russia decide to invade Ukraine?

[03:05:04] DOUGHERTY: Well, I mean, at a personal basis, you know, both men are very experienced. And President Biden has been around for a long time. He knows all the issues. President Putin has been in office for more than 20 years.

So, they are well aware of what they are talking about, that this is really pretty dramatic stuff, because you're right, Rosemary, you know, the potential here is conflict, a war in Ukraine and a war that could spread not necessarily but could spread to other parts of Europe. So, that is very dangerous.

But I do think, you know, underlying this is a bigger kind of geopolitical issue of what President Putin wants. He is very insistent and I would say almost angry about it. And that might be the best thing to talk about here. But the drama of this moment is really quite striking.

CHURCH: Yeah. And, of course, we don't know Russia's president's exact intent here. But we do know that he wants a written guarantee that NATO won't cross his red line by expanding eastward. But Biden has already said he doesn't accept anyone's red line. So, how will this likely play do you think?

DOUGHERTY: That is really the question because, you know, you look at it, in one sense, it would be very hard for them to come to terms with what Putin wants. Actually, impossible, because Joe Biden and NATO in general are not going to give any authority or let's say any ability of Russia to define the future of Ukraine, either in NATO or out of NATO. They simply can't do that. That is not how NATO works.

And also, on the principle of it, Ukraine is an independent sovereign nation, although President Putin has written recently an article that it was quite critical of that idea. So, here we are.

But I think, you know, in the long run, I believe that President Putin wants a European security pact that goes beyond Ukraine, although Ukraine is a huge part of it, and that would give Russia kind of what it really wanted after the end of the Soviet Union, which is some type of voice and influence in the neighborhood -- the neighborhood is Ukraine, Belarus, et cetera -- where it could define to a certain extent what happens and make sure that NATO does not come into its territory.

So, no guarantee, but there might be a possibility that Biden could say, we can talk about that. But it would not just be the United States and Russia talking. It would have to include Ukraine and it would have to include the Europeans.

CHURCH: And according to U.S. Intel, Russia could launch a military offensive in Ukraine sometime in January or perhaps later as it masses up to 175,000 troops. That is about close to 100,000 right now on the border. Ukraine has said that that will be a bloody conflict. You study Putin for a very long time now. What would likely happen if this were his intent, to go and invade?

DOUGHERTY: Oh, I think it really would be very bloody for both sides. You know, Ukraine is not a weak military that it was a few years ago, let's say in 2014. And Russia is well-equipped to try to carry out a military operation in Ukraine. But Ukrainians, I think, would stand their ground as much as they could. So, it could be really devastating for the civilians in that area and very bloody for both sides.

That said, nobody knows whether it will come to that. You know, we do have this question of sanctions, and the United States is calling them potentially high-impact sanctions, things that they have not done before that they argue would be very detrimental to Russia.

And that is really kind of the leverage that President Biden hopes to have over Putin, that he will make the picture of what would happen if there were an invasion so bad if President Putin would be dissuaded not to do it.

CHURCH: All right. Thanks to you, Jill Dougherty, for joining us and for your analysis, appreciate it.

Just over 59 days until a kickoff of the Winter Olympics and the U.S. is making it official: They will not send a government delegation to Beijing. News of the diplomatic boycott has Beijing vowing -- quote -- "resolute countermeasures" over what Chinese officials call a political farce. Regardless of who is there, China says the games will be a success.

[03:10:04]

CHURCH: CNN's Ivan Watson joins me now with the very latest. Good to see you, Ivan. So, talk to us about the fallout of this decision, this diplomatic boycott by the U.S.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, just moments ago, the spokesperson for China's foreign ministry gave a briefing and blasted the Biden administration's decision to have this diplomatic boycott of the upcoming Winter Olympics, saying that this is an attempt to disrupt the games and that it is the U.S. shooting itself in the foot and it would understand the grave consequences of its moves.

Now, the Biden administration had been signaling some days ahead of time that this decision could be coming down the pipeline. And here is the White House spokesperson, Jen Psaki, making an announcement at a briefing in Washington. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: The athletes on Team USA have our full support. We will be behind them 100 percent as we cheer them on from home. We will not be contributing to the fanfare of the games. U.S. diplomatic or official representation would treat these games as business as usual in the face of the PRC's egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang, and we simply can't do that. (END VIDEO CLIP)

WATSON (on camera): So, a number of questions here, what would U.S. allies do? Would they follow suit? And Jen Psaki said, you know, the Biden administration has shared its position, but that that is up basically to the allies.

A question to the Chinese foreign minister spokesperson is -- he had hinted about countermeasures, specifically stated, threatened them in the event of a U.S. diplomatic boycott, and was asked about that, and in light of the fact that Los Angeles is scheduled to host the Olympics in 2028, and he did not indicate whether or not China would boycott those upcoming Olympics.

The last U.S. boycott of Olympics took place in 1980 when the U.S. pulled out of the Moscow Summer Games in protest against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. And that was not a diplomatic boycott. That was a complete boycott. So, the athletes who trained for four years were not allowed to participate. Rosemary?

CHURCH: So, Ivan, how dramatically different is the lead up to this Beijing Olympic Games versus the lead up in 2008?

WATSON: Well, if you look at it in terms of bilateral relations between Washington and Beijing, it couldn't be more stark. I mean, 2008 for China, many of my colleagues who covered those games, they described it as kind of China's coming out party, a moment of real pride for a country that had gone through generations of poverty and conflict previously to then really put on a spectacular show.

There were concerns about China's human rights records then, but they did not stop the U.S. president at the time, George W. Bush, from attending and enthusiastically participating. We have images of him, of the first lady at the time, Laura Bush, being at those games in Beijing, meeting with China's top leadership, including at that time the then Vice President of China, Xi Jinping, who of course is now the leader of China today.

And it wasn't just George W. Bush there but his father, the former president, H.W. Bush, who was the honorary captain of the U.S. Olympic Team. Past forward now, 13, 14 years, and relations between the world's two largest economies are strained to say the least. Rosemary?

CHURCH: Yeah, absolutely right. Ivan Watson joining us live from Hong Kong, many thanks for that report.

Still to come, details of the new restrictions being put in place across Europe as the Omicron variant of the coronavirus spreads.

Plus, South Africa's COVID positivity rate has jumped since the Omicron variant was detected. How the country is preparing in the face of another COVID surge, that is next.

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[03:15:00]

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CHURCH: So, let's get you up to speed with the latest on the Omicron variant of the coronavirus. In South Africa, new data reveals the COVID positivity rate has jumped by 24 percent since the variant was detected there two weeks ago.

In the meantime, the U.K. is tightening travel restrictions to curb the spread of the variant. Now, all inbound travelers must take a predeparture COVID test, regardless of their vaccination status. This comes as England reports community transmission of the Omicron variant.

France is planning to close all night clubs for four weeks starting Friday as officials say the country is now in the brink of a fifth COVID wave.

CNN is covering the story from all angles. Melissa Bell is live from Paris and Larry Madowo is in Johannesburg. Good to see you both. So, Melissa, let's start with you. Let's talk about these new restrictions, the closing of nightclubs and masks for kids in schools and, of course, the rising cases there in France.

MELISSA BELL, CNN PARIS CORRESPONDENT: 0That's right. In the end, what the French fry minister and French health minister announced yesterday, Rosemary, were fairly timid measures when you consider just how sharpy those daily cases have risen. We are seeing rises of about 50,000 over several 24-hour period.

That is historically extremely high. In fact, French authorities say that this fifth wave is deeper than any we have seen before. What they warn of is that as things are and without containment measures, we would see hospitals being overrun by the end of January.

And so, these steps that the prime minister insisted were -- they were seeking to find measures that were not disproportionate. So, yes, the closing of nightclubs for months, extra measures putting schools to try and keep kids apart during mealtimes, for instance, and in school yards, and also the opening up of vaccinations to children who are between five and 12 since they have been particularly important in this latest wave in terms of transmissions within schools and amongst those age groups.

So, steps that they say French authorities are aiming to try to bring those startling figures back under control without getting too much in the way of people's plans over the coming weeks. But this, of course, as the CDC places France and several other European countries in their highest risk category in terms of traveling and your risk of getting infected, whether or not you are vaccinated.

And bear in mind that what we are seeing here, Rosemary, is a fifth wave that is being driven by a surge from the Delta variant. The Omicron variant, of course, here in France as well, the number of cases fairly limited.

Overall, the European Center for Disease Control says there are about 200 cases inside Europe, but extremely worrying. Just in England, we are seeing also community-based transmission now as well. So, this could be the beginning of something even more worrying for Europeans, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Right. And Larry, let's go to you in Johannesburg, because what has it and data is showing the positivity rate is up by 24 percent with COVID with that variant. Talk to us about what you are learning about that.

LARRY MADOWO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Rosemary, COVID-19 cases are still surging here in South Africa. And this province of Gauteng, which includes the city of Johannesburg, is the epicenter of 70 percent of cases reported over the last 24 hours, just in this one province.

And that number you talked about, the positivity rate in South Africa two weeks ago was 2.3 percent. On Monday, when they did the tests, 26.4 percent of the tests came out positive.

[03:19:59]

MADOWO: So, to get into statistical leads here, that is an increase of 1,048 percent in just two weeks. That is how quickly the COVID-19 pandemic has spread here and largely driven by the Omicron variant. This is one of the ways in which that manifests itself. This is the O.R. Tambo Airport in Johannesburg. I have lived here, so I know how busy this is. This is one of Africa's busiest airports. Right now, there is only a handful of international flights taking place.

The view from here, I think this news headline best summarizes it. The country just ended its fourth wave, and you could see it is a mess for all sorts of reasons party because some people just do not want to get vaccinated in this country even though the government is encouraging them that that is the only way to be protected, that is the only way to achieve herd immunity.

And they are taking some kind of confidence and the fact that early preliminary data shows that even though the Omicron variant is more transmissible, it looks like it is less severe. It does not lead to a lot of hospitalizations and it will not lead to deaths. And some younger people say, okay, so, we are going to be fine.

However, some doctors say no COVID infection is a good infection, however severe, however mild, because you might end up still with long COVID symptoms.

So, this is one of the few international flights taking out from here in Johannesburg. The only flight I've seen out of Africa all morning we have been here, one to London and one that is going to Dubai later this morning.

CHURCH (on camera): All right. Our thanks to Larry Madowo and Melissa Bell joining us there live, appreciate it.

Well, as countries continue to grapple with COVID-19, scientists are already turning their attention to the next pandemic. One of the co- creators of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine says the threat could be even worse and the world needs to prepare now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SARAH GILBERT, PROFESSOR OF VACCINOLOGY, UNIVERSIT OF OXFORD: There will be a disease. Why? This will not be the last time a virus threatens our lives and our livelihoods. And I would like to finish on a high note, but the truth is the next one could be worse. It could be more contagious or more lethal or both.

We cannot allow a situation where we have gone through, all we have gone through, and then find that the enormous economic losses we have sustained mean that there is still no funding for pandemic preparedness. The advances we have made and the knowledge we have gained must not be lost.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Sterghios Moschos is an associate professor of molecular virology at Northumbria University. He joins us now from Newcastle, England. Thank you so much for being with us.

STERGHIOS MOSCHOS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF MOLECULAR VIROLOGY, NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY: Good morning and thank you for having me.

CHURCH: So, of course, we heard it there. It is daunting to think that we are not even out of this pandemic, and now one of AstraZeneca's co-creators is suggesting the next pandemic could be even worse and we need to prepare for it. Do you agree with that prediction? And what do we need to be doing now to be ready for the next pandemic?

MOSCHOS: Yes, I certainly agree with this prediction, and we really need to cast our minds in the last five years, how many misses we had. In the past five years, we have seen three separate substantial cases of Ebola outbreaks, including the 2015 West Africa pandemic, which basically had us all pretty scared about getting hemorrhagic fever reaching communities and our societies and our economies.

We had the Zika virus pandemic effectively that stand out of what we have observed in Brazil. We now have to deal with coronavirus, which has actually been taken seriously and actually has had tremendous damage to the global economy.

The reality is that in the modern society, these are no longer once in a century event because the way that we interact with each other, the frequency of travel, the density of the population is literally all (INAUDIBLE). So, tens to hundreds to thousands times bigger than it used to be 100 or 200 years ago.

As a consequence of that, the frequency of the events that allow for these diseases to spring up, reach people, transmit between people and grow on a global scale is actually much higher.

CHURCH: And the problem too, though, with this current situation is we have all the tools at our disposal right now for this current COVID pandemic. The vaccines, the various treatments, and new COVID pills on the way. But we are not using all of these tools to their fullest extent. Everyone should be getting their third shot, their booster shot, but that is not happening, even in some countries where there are sufficient supplies to allow that to happen.

So, what needs to be done about that? Because there is a lot of people who are anti-vaccine right now, right across the globe, and cannot be convinced that this is the way to go. What will happen to that population across the globe?

MOSCHOS: Frankly, they will become ill and then they will not be able to be covered by a vaccine to be protected.

[03:25:03]

MOSCHOS: Their families will suffer, they will suffer, many of them will die, many of them will lose quality of life because they will get long COVID, and they will learn the hard way what we have known as scientists in over 100 years about the efficacy of vaccination.

I will say this. To be arguing about third doses in the developed nations is extremely selfish (INAUDIBLE). And what corona has (ph) taught us something is that calls from people like myself over the last six months to a year that we need to be vaccinating the developing nations because that is where the next variants will come up from have been verified. Delta arose in India. Omicron arose in South Africa. Both of these areas at the time didn't have sufficient vaccination.

So, please, for the love of God, we need to vaccinate the world if we want to get out of this. We need to maintain those measures that prevent transmission within our communities so that our health care systems are not overwhelmed, so that people who have things like cancers can be treated for their other diseases.

We need to stop being selfish and start looking about the rest of society and the rest of planet as well, because at the end of the day, if the rest of the planet grows ill, we will grow ill as well. It is not just about America, Europe or United Kingdom anymore. We are globalized planet.

CHURCH: Right. I think in America, there is -- around 20 percent of Americans have had their third shot, so it is pretty low here anyhow. Sterghios Moschos, thank you so much for joining us, appreciate you.

MOSCHOS: Very welcome.

CHURCH: Italy is now enforcing its COVID "super green pass." Many venues are now off limits unless you are fully vaccinated or have recovered from the virus.

CNN's Ben Wedeman has details now from Rome.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Monday, Italy's new "super green pass" went into effect, meaning only those who have been vaccinated or recently recovered from COVID-19 can enter bars, restaurants, cinemas, gyms, theaters, discos and stadiums. Anyone trying to sneak around these new rules could face stiff fines.

The "super green pass" supersedes the original green pass. It went into effect here in mid-October, which barred anyone who wasn't vaccinated from going to their place of work. No longer is a recent negative COVID test sufficient to get by.

The "super green pass" is intended to convince or some might say compel anti-vax holdouts to get the shot. It is just short of a vaccine mandate, but not by much. Almost 85 percent of the population of Italy, over the age of 12, has been fully vaccinated.

But with the holiday season fast approaching and the Omicron variant popping up across Europe, the authorities here don't want to take any chances.

I am Ben Wedeman, CNN, reporting from Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH (on camera): And still to come, severe flooding in South Sudan has displaced tens of thousands of people who are in desperate need of assistance. CNN is there.

Plus, why some activists argue African countries like South Sudan have been hit hard by the consequences of climate change.

[03:30:00]

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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Rescue workers in Indonesia are digging through layers of ash and debris to find survivors of Saturday's eruption at Mount Semeru. At least 34 people have died. Heavy rain is hampering the rescue efforts. Hundreds of homes have been destroyed in East Java province. And officials say about 2,000 people are in evacuation centers. Mount Semeru, is one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes.

Well, for a country that is just 10 years old, South Sudan, is facing a nightmare scenario from the global climate crisis. One in which it's had little hand in creating. The country is both drowning and drying up with wet seasons marked by extreme rainfall and flooding followed by long periods of drought.

The U.N. says the current flooding in South Sudan's Unity State is the worst in 60 years. Affecting close to a million people. And there are fears the situation will only get worse.

CNN's Clarissa Ward is in the flood zone, and shows us the devastating toll the crisis has taken.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CLARISSA WARD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Just four months ago, this was a bustling town of 11,000 people. Then, the floods came. Biblical in scale, leaving it submerged underwater, and largely cut off. As we arrive in Ding Ding, there are a few signs of life. Just some belongings stashed in the tree tops. The only protection from the water is that had inundated much of South Sudan.

So this entire town has been flooded since August, and the waters are still getting higher and higher, even though the rainy season is now over.

Hi.

A group of women catch sight of us, and want to talk.

Hi. Where are your homes? Have your homes been destroyed?

They survived years of vicious civil war here, but these floods may pose the greatest threat yet. They tell us their crops have been completely destroyed.

So what are you living on right now? What are you surviving on? The lilies! The water lilies.

UNKNOWN: Yeah.

WARD: Are people getting sick from the dirty water?

Many people have water borne diseases, Mask Raqasar (ph) explains. The wells are all covered, so we have to drink this water.

Well, South Sudan is no stranger to seasonal flooding, Unity State hasn't been hit like this since the early 1960s. Scientists say the floods have become much more intense and unpredictable in recent years, in part because of global warming.

James, hi James.

James Ling (ph) is one of hundreds of thousands who have been displaced. He agrees to show us what is left of his family home.

Oh my god! That is your motorcycle!

UNKNOWN: Yes.

WARD: Nothing is left, except for his children's drawings on the wall. Since the conflict erupted, we have never had rest, he tells us. We've been constantly running, displaced. Our children had no relief from the dangers.

Now, he is forced to flee once again. The journey to the promise of dry land is long and arduous. The lucky ones travel by boats. Most swim or wade, moving slowly but purposefully through the muddy waters. Some push makeshift floats, piled high with family members and possessions.

We come across a group of women whose raft is stuck in the mud. The men of the family have gone to try to save their livestock.

[03:35:10]

Noriqa tells us they left their destroyed home four days ago.

Have you been pushing this raft for four days? Yes, they tell us. Along the way, they say their food ran out. How old is your baby?

UNKNOWN: Five, to six months.

WARD: Five to six months. Are you worried about your children?

Yes, I am worried, she says. And that's why we keep moving. They still have several miles to push, before they reach this narrow strip of dry land. According to UNICEF, some 6,000 people have now settled here, completely dependent on aid to survive.

They don't have nutrin, they don't have enough food for them to eat.

WARD: They don't have bathrooms, they don't have food?

LUEL DING, UNICEF, EDUCATION OFFCIER: Nothing.

WARD: And there are more people arriving every day?

DING: People are continued being displaced and continue coming.

WARD: You're obviously doing everything you can, but is it enough?

DING: This is not enough and that is the reason why we are calling for donor communities, to make sure that our children get to schools, they get health care, they get (inaudible), you know, we prevent them to die.

WARD: As defatted stagnant waters continue to rise, so do diseases like diarrhea and hepatitis e, malnutrition in children is now at its highest level since 2013. Those who make it all the way to the state capital, Bentiu, find little sanctuary.

Some of the main roads have been turned into waterways. Cars, replaced by canoes. Just a mile further, the ghostly remains of what was once a commercial hub. This used to be the central shopping area in town, as you can see, completely destroyed.

According to authorities, 90 percent of Unity State has been impacted by these floods. Here, the effects of climate change aren't a hypothetical problem in the future, but rather, a real disaster in the present.

LAM TUNGWAR KUEIGWONG, HON. MINISTER OF YOUTH CULTURE AND SPORT: We are fighting to block this water or not to reach here.

WARD: Minister Lam Tungwar, concedes local authorities were completely unprepared. And they are now unable to cope with the scale of the crisis.

KUEIGWONG: We don't have any sufficient for survival

WARD: How much longer can you cope with this situation, as it stands?

KUEIGWONG: Realistically, I can tell you finally, we don't know. But we're just worried about the next rain, because we are told that the water behind me will not go now. It will not recede right now or dry up. It's going to take a while because it is deep water. WARD: They don't have long, the next rains are expected in May, and

if the current waters don't recede, the fear is that this area will be wiped off the map. Dikes are being built to try to hold back the encroaching waters. But a handful of diggers are no match with a vast flooding. Breaches are common, leaving many with no choice but to take matters into their own hands, hastily improvising protection for their endangered homes, as the waters quietly continue to rise.

Clarissa Ward, CNN, Unity State, South Sudan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: And as Clarisse noted in her report, scientist say flooding in South Sudan has become more severe in part due to global warming. They argue it is one of many African countries hit hard by the consequences of climate change.

And yet, research shows, Africa has played a very small role in contributing to the crisis because it accounts for very little of the world's overall carbon emissions compared to much richer countries. Despite this, some argued there is growing pressure by wealthy nations to slow down Africa's economic development, in an effort to fight climate change.

For more on this I'm joined by Todd Moss, the executive director of The Energy For Growth Hub. Thank you so much for being with us.

TODD MOSS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE ENERGY FOR GROWTH HUB (on camera): Great to be with you.

CHURCH: Now, you have written about your concerns regarding African nations being viewed by wealthy countries as a threat to the planet. What do you mean by that? And why do you think that theme is emerging at this particular time?

MOSS: Well, climate change is clearly a very urgent problem. Africa, is obviously an important player on the world stage. But, the starting point for this discussion has to be some basic facts. First, it's that the rich world that is -- it's the rich world that's responsible for climate change, not the poor countries.

[03:40:09]

In fact, 48 poor countries and Africa with over a billion people have contributed just 0.6 percent of the cumulative emissions that cause climate change. And number two, a big reason for is that energy use is hugely unequal.

Today, the average person in Africa uses less electricity than a typical American refrigerator. I mean, Americans use more electricity, playing video games, than the entire country of Nigeria uses for its whole economy.

So, Africa's needs are huge and their contribution to global emissions is just miniscule. That's why they should have the most flexibility in the energy transition. And in some ways, we've got it all upside down, and it's just wrong.

CHURCH: Why is that happening do you think?

MOSS: Well, look, it is really hard, we know we have to make big changes to our economy. Energy transitions take a long time, but it is really hard to get those changes in rich countries. The political costs are just very high.

Look at the fights in the United States over where to build wind farms, or build transmission lines, look at the huge political fight right now over higher gas prices. And that's all politically difficult, but it's easier for the British government, or the American government, to push the problem on to other countries especially poor ones and Africa. It's easier to blame foreigners then deal with the simple fact that it is Europe, and North America, that have caused climate change. And they are the ones that have to change the fastest.

And instead, it is just easier to say, well we're making big changes, we're planning on big changes by 2040, 2050, and the big problem are those billions of poor people out there that could ruin our climate plans if they become too rich, if they start using more energy, if they start living our lifestyle, even though it's Africans that have contributed the least to the problems of climate change.

CHURCH: So, how do you shift the burden of fixing climate change issues back on wealthy and developed nations? And have them carry the full weight of this issue, until developing nations are able to do their part when it comes to cutting emissions?

MOSS: Well, I think we're going to start to see pushback. We saw some of that at Glasgow at COP26, where some African country said enough is enough. You know, we're dealing with a global recession. We're dealing with vaccine apartheid. And now you're asking us to shoulder a disproportionate part of the burden for climate change.

And what I find really kind of worrying and distasteful is this growing narrative that the problem is actually out there, it's not in the rich countries. It's in the poor countries, but really blaming Africans for future emissions is just unjustified fearmongering, and it is wrong. By wrong, I mean it's morally unethical, but also by wrong, I mean, it is factually incorrect.

If Nigerians double, triple, quadrupled their energy consumption that's not a bad thing. That's a great thing. It means more people will be living modern lives and modern economies. And, we actually shouldn't worry too much about that because Africans using a lot more electricity is very, very unlikely to cook the planet. That's again, just more fearmongering.

CHURCH: All right, Todd Moss, thank you so much for joining us. We appreciate it.

MOSS: Thank you.

CHURCH: A controversial candidate in France kicks off his presidential campaign, with violent results. We'll take a look and have a live report.

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[03:45:00]

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone. Well, French police are launching an investigation into the violence at Eric Zemmour campaign kickoff rally Sunday. BFM TV reports 62 people have been detained in connection with the attacks at the event. The far-right candidate Zemmour is running to be France's next president.

Cyril Vanier, was at the rally and joins us now with details. So, Cyril, tell us what more you are learning about this.

CYRIL VANIER, CNN SHOW HOST (on camera): Well, Rosemary, Eric Zemmour is by far the most polarizing political candidate in France at the moment. Most polarizing figure I would say, period, in France. And he has earned himself some diehard fans but also some bitter enemies. That is why we went to his first campaign rally where the violence that turned out was both rhetorical, Rosemary, and also very real.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VANIER (voice over): Eric Zemmour's first steps as presidential candidate overshadowed by violence. France's conservative columnist turned far-right ideologue attacked on his way to the stage. Moments later the former journalist delivered his first official campaign speech.

ERIC ZEMMOUR, FAR-RIGHT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (through translator): No obviously I'm not racist, no you, you are not racist. All that we want is to defend our heritage, we are defending our country, our homeland, the heritage of our ancestors.

VANIER: Eric Zemmour defended himself against accusations of fascism, of racism, and misogyny. He promised zero immigration and singled out (inaudible). This is the reaction he has been getting.

(CHEERS)

(APPLAUSE)

VANIER: Even two years ago this would all have been unthinkable. He has not possessed of obvious charm, he has never held political office and has been convicted twice. Found guilty of inciting racial and religious hatred. In today's political landscape it turns out, the perfect resume for a fire breathing populist campaign.

ZEMMOUR: They are thieves, murderers, rapists, that's all they are. We have got to send them back.

VANIER: This diatribe about underage migrants in France, one of countless controversies. Yet even that pales in comparison to his writing. Islamist incompatible with France, he expounds in a best- selling book. Foreigners who come in their thousands, and hundreds of thousands, tomorrow in their millions, are invaders. He says Arabs are to blame for France's problems explains this

political analyst and Zemmour critic. Politically has found a gold mine, a gold mine distilled into viral TV soundbites over 20 years. This from a Jewish son, a Bulgarian immigrants.

ZEMMOUR: We must give first name to what we call the calendar that is to say the names of Christian saints. Well your mother was wrong?

VANIER: Provocations tolerated in part because Zemmour was seen not just as a journalist, but as an intellectual.

This is specifically French says the author of a recent Zemmour biography. He hypnotized part of the French population with his knowledge of history, his love of French literature. So how far can Zemmour's popularity take him?

In France's fragmented political landscape, he is seen as having a real shot at reaching the final round of the presidential election against the incumbent Emmanuel Macron. But his first campaign steps have been shaky and pictures like these won't help.

An anti-racist group silently protesting at his rally, violently assaulted by Zemmour's supporters.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VANIER (on camera): Rosemary, just a short while ago, Eric Zemmour appeared for an interview on French TV bearing a cast on his wrist. A way of showing that he is the victim here, and not the other way around.

[03:50:02]

Look, the truth is that violent clashes between far-left and far-right groups are part for the course including at these rallies, what's going to be interesting to watch now is how much political momentum Eric Zemmour is going to gain if any.

He has a platform that is undiluted far-right populism in way that has never been implemented in a western country to this day. That's what his biographer was pointing out. Will that actually get into the second round of the election as some political commentators have pointed out, it might, or he will he flame out because he is somebody who has little to no political experience and only just created his political party, Rosemary.

CHURCH: Yeah, we will continue to watch this and see what happens, Cyril Vanier, bringing us that report live from Paris. I appreciate it.

Well three more hostages kidnapped by a notorious gang in Haiti have been freed, they were part of a group of 17 missionaries abducted back in October. At least 12 people though including several children are still being held captive.

CNN's Matt Rivers reports. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Good news out of Haiti Monday morning, with word that three more missionaries kidnapped more than six weeks ago by Haitian gang have been released. That includes a mother and her child according to a senior U.S. official. Seventeen people working on behalf of Christian aid ministries were taken at gunpoint back in mid-October including 16 Americans and one Canadian.

In a statement Monday morning the group said we are thankful to God, that three more hostages were released last night. Those who were released are safe and seem to be in good spirits. As with the previous release we are not able to provide the names of the people released, the circumstances of the release, or any of the details.

Among the kidnapped were an infant, a three-year-old, a six-year-old, and two teenagers. It's unclear which of those children has been released. Two other hostages, both adults were released just over two weeks ago. Bringing the total to five freed so far.

Well that is undoubtedly good news, it also highlights that 12 people remain hostages, of the 400 Mawozo gang. The group, authorities say, is responsible for the kidnapping. One of Haiti's most powerful, the group has built a reputation recently for violence. Using kidnapping as a key way to earn income and terrorize the community it dominates, a Port-au-Prince suburb, called Croix-des-Bouquets.

The gang's leader says I'm ready to fight with anyone, I don't need many guys with me, sometimes people kidnap people, take cars, and the parents called me to negotiate. I negotiate and take the money. Back in October we spoke to a French priest, who have been kidnaped by that same gang earlier this year, who told us about one of the places the gang held him.

It was like a dark hole, he says, like a prison cell. The last place we we're in with no windows. At the beginning they were giving us food once a day by the end they stop feeding us. They force us to go hungry, he said. Believing it was a negotiation tactic. This as Haiti's interim government led by Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been unable to curb swelling gang violence across the country. Security forces at time overmatched by criminal groups.

Some, have even managed to cut off the flow of fuel into the country in recent months, leading to critical gasoline shortages nationwide. A source in Haiti security forces tell CNN that negotiations are ongoing between the gang, and Christian aid ministries. It's still unclear why five of the original 17 were freed, but the hope is that the remaining 12 still being held hostage will follow them to freedom soon.

And amidst to all of this we should be reminded here that is not just foreigners facing these kidnapping threat in Haiti. In fact, it's far more likely that a kidnapping victims will just be an ordinary Haitian citizen. According to the latest numbers released by Port-au-Prince- based NGO that tracks kidnappings across Haiti from January to the end of November of this year. There has been at least 901 kidnappings recorded in Haiti. And those are just the kidnapping that this group knows about. Of all of those, just a small percentage involved foreigners. Which means, the vast majority of kidnappings victims for ransom are ordinary Haitian citizens. The kidnapping threat on that island, very much remains.

Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.

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CHURCH: And will be right back.

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[03:55:00]

CHURCH: This is, Milan, Italy. Where the city celebrated its annual tradition of lighting a large Christmas tree in Piazza del Duomo. This year's tree has at least 80,000 LED lights along with hundreds of red and silver Christmas bulbs and dozens of bows. Once the holiday season is over, wood from the tree will be repurposed and 10 new trees will be planted to replace this one.

Or when it comes to yuletide decorating, for one German couple, more is more. They are the German world record holders for having the most decorated Christmas trees in one place, a total of 444. No two trees are the same and themes include Stormtroopers and superheroes. More than 10,000 Christmas balls, and 300 strings of lights are used in the display. The couple starts putting the trees up months ahead of time to have them ready for the first Sunday in December.

And Spain's sunny Canary Islands, take a look at these incredible detailed nativity scenes sculpted at a sand. It's part of an event to mark the beginning of the Christmas season. It took eight people, a week to build these scenes and they will stay protected by a huge wall of sand until January.

And thank you so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church, have yourself a wonderful day. "CNN Newsroom" continues now with Max Foster.

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