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Biden, Zelensky Discuss Threat of Russian Invasion; Biden hosts "Summit for Democracy" Amid Global Unrest; Unofficial Tribunal Rules China Committed Genocide; Nicaragua Cuts Ties with Taiwan, Recognizes Beijing; South African Omicron Cases Surge, Hospitalizations Remain Low; Travel Bans on African Countries Disrupting Plans; New COVID Rules spark Christmas Confusion; Biden Administration Warns of Other Options if Diplomacy Fails; Turks Struggle as Inflation Sinks the Nation's Economy; Verdict Reached on Jussie Smollett Case; Chef Travels Maldives to Learn Homegrown Recipes. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired December 10, 2021 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[01:00:46]
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone, I'm Michael Holmes. Thanks for your company.
Coming up here on CNN Newsroom, Joe Biden's reassurances to an ally, that call was with the Ukrainian president but the message to Russia with concern.
An independent tribunal rules that China's actions against its Muslim minority and now amounted genocide. A top official on that tribunal joins me to talk about the findings.
And it's no coffee at Downing Street as the P.M. faces backlash over a Christmas Party that's left the political hangover in its way.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center, this is CNN Newsroom with Michael Holmes.
HOLMES: The U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with the Ukrainian president for more than an hour on Thursday over growing fears of a possible Russian invasion. Ukraine estimates 125,000 Russian troops and now mass near its eastern border. And even though Moscow dismisses talk of an invasion as provocative, it is Russia's military and its presence that keeps growing. Besides sending money, weapons and military trainers to Ukraine, Mr. Biden says the U.S. is prepared to impose punishing sanctions against Russia, if necessary. All of this as President Biden tries to shore up global commitments to democratic values.
Here's CNN's Phil Mattingly at the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: What we know is that the aggression here is on the Russian side.
PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): President Biden moved to reassure U.S. allies as the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine still looms.
PSAKI: Our objective is to make clear the significant and severe economic consequences if Russia were to invade Ukraine, not just from us, but from the global community.
MATTINGLY: Biden's scene here in the Oval Office in the middle of his hour and 16-minute call with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is more than 100,000 Russian troops threatens the Zelensky's border on three sides.
PSAKI: The President's intention going to this call was to provide an update for President Zelensky on his call with President Putin and underscore our support for Ukraine sovereignty and territorial integrity.
MATTINGLY: Then a call with the leaders of nine eastern flank NATO allies, direct recognition of the reality even though Ukraine isn't a NATO ally, those in the region that are have grown increasingly unsettled by Russia's actions.
JOE BIDEN, (D) U.S. PRESIDENT: We have a moral obligation and a legal obligation our NATO allies if they were to attack under Article Five, it's a sacred obligation.
MATTINGLY: The calls part of a series of efforts this week around Biden's virtual call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and attempt to rally allies around potential consequences for Russian action and reassure those who would bear the brunt of it.
BIDEN: Democracy doesn't happen by accident.
MATTINGLY: A tenuous geopolitical moment coming at the same time, Biden was making the direct case for global democracy.
BIDEN: I wanted to host this summit because here is the -- here in the United States, we know, as well as anyone that renewing our democracy and strengthening our democratic institutions requires constant effort.
MATTINGLY: Biden convening world leaders for a two-day democracy summit, all at a moment, he noted the ideal itself is backsliding across the globe.
BIDEN: This is an urgent matter, on all our parts, in my view, because the data we're seeing is largely pointing in the wrong direction.
MATTINGLY: Including at home, or an attack on the U.S. Capitol in attempt to overturn an election by former President Donald Trump have underscored clear challenges. Reality seized on by those countries not invited, including China, Russia, Turkey, Egypt and Hungary. Even as Biden remained undeterred. BIDEN: In the face of sustained and alarming challenges to democracy, universal human rights and all around the world, democracy needs champions.
MATTINGLY (on camera): President Biden's week has been focused on tension with Russia, continued tension With China due to the U.S. diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Games. Iran is also center stage for this White House, obviously months of attempts to bring Iran back into compliance with the Iran nuclear deal, to this point have failed. And the White House is starting to lose its patients.
[01:05:16]
The president, according to White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki directing his team to start to prepare for the failure of diplomacy that would almost certainly mean new sanctions on the country. The real concern right now is Iran's continued advancements with its nuclear program, negotiations still ongoing. However, it is very clear the U.S. does not have much of an idea that something will come together anytime soon. The President now telling his team to be prepared. Phil Mattingly, CNN, the White House.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: A non-governmental that widely respected tribunal in London has issued a scathing verdict on China's policies against Uyghurs. On Thursday, it concluded the treatment of Uyghurs and other minorities in western China amounts to genocide, and China's top leaders including President Xi Jinping are responsible. The Uyghur tribunal is unofficial and has no power of sanction nor enforcement. But this is how its chairman explained the verdict which came after testimony from hundreds of witnesses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEOFFREY NICE, CHAIR, UYGHUR TRIBUNAL: On the basis of evidence heard in public. The Tribunal is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the PRC, by the imposition of measures to prevent births intended to destroy a significant part of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang as such, has committed genocide.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Steven Jiang joins me now live from Beijing for more on the verdict, which was announced just ahead of Friday's International Human Rights Day. Good to see Steven. So, this U.K. accusation of genocide, of course, coming on top of the Olympic diplomatic boycotts and U.S. politicians moving to banned goods from Xinjiang. What's been the reaction there?
STEVEN JIANG, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: Well, Michael, the reaction here is not surprising, just like the verdict itself from day one since the tribunal was set up. The government here and it's the media have been relentless in attacking this setup and this process and saying, the witnesses were clowns and actors. And the whole process was based on pile of lies, a so-called political farce, orchestrated by anti-China forces aimed at smearing China. So, really familiar language by now whenever they try to push back accusations of its Xinjiang policy.
But as you said, since this tribunal is unofficial, it doesn't have sanction or enforcement power. I think when it comes to international pressure on this issue, it's the other point you made in the lead that is going to be more concerning to the Chinese, that is the legislation in the U.S. Congress. As you know, the House of Representatives just passed the Uyghur Force Labor Prevention Act, which would potentially ban all imports of goods and products made in Xinjiang.
Obviously, the U.S. Senate has passed a different version of the law and the two versions need to be reconciled before it can be sent to President Biden to sign into law. But at least a potential law would have some teeth. But all of this of course, is also taking place as the U.S. is really leading a global campaign calling out on China's human rights record, not just on Xinjiang, but also on Tibet, on Hong Kong and many other areas, which is probably why you've seen the Beijing leadership here in the past few days or weeks have been ferociously, pushing back with their own counter arguments really attacking the U.S. and its human rights record and its political system while touting their own superiority of the one party system.
But Michael, the problem is, all those arguments become feeble very quickly, when you look at one recent example how they basically deploys the entire state apparatus to censor the sexual assault allegation of their Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai. Michael?
HOLMES: Yeah, one interesting part about that House Bill, it passed 428 to one which in these days of political upheaval is pretty remarkable bipartisanship. Steven Jiang in Beijing, I appreciate it. Thanks so much.
And I'm joined now by Nick Vetch, the Vice Chair of the Uighur Tribunal. He's speaking with me from London. Appreciate you getting up early sir. So other groups of Human Rights Watch amnesty, for example, they stopped short of using the word genocide as the U.K. which says it's a word with legal force, which should be determined by criminal court. Why did the tribunal go that step further?
NICK VETCH, VICE CHAIR, UYGHUR TRIBUNAL: Well, the important thing is to understand that the tribunal was established because there is no realistic possibility of having these allegations considered a formal court such as the International Court of Justice. We went further because we are the first body that has considered evidence in public consider the facts as found and then applied the law to them. And indeed, there have been parliaments and your -- and the U.S. government, of course, that have designated this genocide, as far as the U.S. government is concerned, we're -- I'm sure on the basis of what evidence. But it is clear that our evidence was heard in public and broad seat.
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HOLMES: Tribunal, as you say it was set up precisely because no international court had taken up the issue. And you touched on that. Why do you think that is so, why hasn't it been taken up by an International Criminal Court? VETCH: Well, China is not a participant in the International Criminal Court. So that's not an avenue open. The PRC is a signatory to the Genocide Convention, and therefore, in theory, it could be hurt at the International Court of Justice. But it also holds a reservation which essentially, is the right not to turn up.
HOLMES: The witness testimony yet that tribunal was chilling, I mean, the torture, Harris Men false allegations, reeducation camps, and so on and on, given what was heard, was it in your view, a difficult conclusion to reach?
VETCH: Well, it must be remembered that there were two broad conclusions reached and regarding two different codified bits of law, crimes against humanity, which covers the suite of crimes, as you've articulated, was less complex. Genocide is a very, very complex, and some might say, I'm a piece of law, which some might say is unfit for purpose, but nonetheless, we went through all the various steps which I can explain, if you wish and good vision that we did.
HOLMES: The pushback, as we've heard is already began from China wholly expected. One paging analysts said the tribunal was a kangaroo court with, "no legality and legitimacy for its incorporation." What do you say to that criticism of the tribunal and its makeup and its processes?
VETCH: Well, China is right, we have no power, we are not a formal court. But of course, our very powerlessness is our power. You know, we speak as we seek to do on behalf of the citizens there is clearly interest in this from citizens across the world. And responding to this with invective is not really going to answer the question. China is a great and powerful country, and it deserves better of itself and better for its people. There are questions of a very serious, grave nature that had been asked on it, it needs to do nothing can be open and transparent about it. And that would show the leadership that is required really of one of the most powerful countries on our globe.
HOLMES: And just briefly, in the face of mounting criticism, is there any indication that you've heard at all that the situation for Uyghurs has improved in any meaningful way?
VETCH: Not as far we're aware, of course, you know, it takes time sometimes for evidence to filter through not just to ask but to the wider public domain, but not so far on that.
HOLMES: Nick Vetch, thank you so much, I appreciate you getting up early, important issue. Thanks so much.
The World Health Organization is urging wealthier countries not to hoard COVID vaccines for boosters as they tried to stop the spread of the Omicron variant. The Director General says the world is not on track to meet vaccination targets not even close, and that lower income countries remain under particular threat.
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TEDROS GHEBREYESUS, WHO DIRECTOR-GENERAL: Yesterday marked the one year since the first COVID-19 vaccines were administered. We all believed and hope that a year later, we would be nearing the end of the pandemic. Instead, the death toll has more than tripled. And the world remains in its grip. Despite our best efforts in the years since the start of the global vaccination campaign, low and lower middle- income countries have been left behind.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, many of those countries are of course in Africa where the Omicron variant was first discovered just seven and a half percent of the continence population is fully vaccinated.
[01:15:05]
Meanwhile, South Korea's daily infections hit a record high this week cases have been steadily rising to Australia's largest city, Sydney as the virus spreads in pubs and other social gatherings.
Paula Hancocks is there in Sydney joins me now. And when you look at the region, Paula, you have China seeing more cases through. South Korea, as we said, breaking records. Numbers up where you are in Australia, bring us up to date?
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Michael, starting here in Australia, in New South Wales and Sydney, you're seeing numbers of new cases going over 500 for the first time, really, since early October. But the crucial thing here, even though they're worried official say about these outbreaks and these clusters in the social events, pubs, clubs, parties, towards the end of the year, the vast majority of people here are vaccinated. So that's not translating into significant hospitalizations.
In New South Wales, you've got 93% of people 16 and over who have been fully vaccinated. And then if you look at South Korea, the situation is grim there. We know that that the new figures, new cases have been over 7000 for three days in a row now and there, they really are struggling with these critical cases and with high levels of deaths as well relative to what they have been seeing in the past.
And what we hear from officials there is the majority of those who are being hospitalized, are 60 and over. So, they would have been vaccinated early on in the process. And they are ready for a booster. We've just heard the prime minister say that now they're going to allow anybody over the age of 18 to have a booster within three months of their last vaccination, which is different to the four to five months really starting to try and crack down on the fingers there. But they did pass a grim milestone this Friday with the new cases. They've now had over half a million COVID cases in South Korea.
And then China, I mean, China is still sticking to its zero COVID policy. But what we're seeing is that is extremely difficult to achieve. They've announced another 60 cases in seven different cities. And we know that, for example, just on the border with Russia, they did have a significant outbreak there that is still continuing more than 500 have been pound to have -- to be positive in that particular area continuing with mass testing to try and keep those numbers low. But China's still sticking to the zero COVID policy, not so much in other countries. But you can see these numbers really are creeping up. And certainly, when you look at North Asia, Northeast Asia, they are heading into very cold winter months there. So, you can expect those numbers to rise as people head indoors. Michael.
HOLMES: All right, Paula Hancocks there on Sydney Harbor, I appreciate it. Thanks so much.
We can take a quick break here on the program. When we come back, we'll take a look at the ways COVID-19 travel restrictions are wreaking havoc on holiday plans this year.
Also, U.S. President Joe Biden calling on world leaders to help end what he calls the backward slide of democracy. Now, China is reacting to that. That's when we come back.
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HOLMES: Dozens are dead after an awful traffic crash in Southern Mexico. At least 54 people killed when a tractor trailer crammed with people collided with a truck and overturned. Most of the victims believed to be migrants. Emergency officials told local media the dead include men, women and children. Matt Rivers with latest.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, just a horrific tragedy in southern Mexico on Thursday afternoon were state authorities in the border state of Chiapas, which borders Guatemala say that scores of migrants were riding in a trailer when that trailer was involved in a traffic accident and overturned and as a result of that more than 50 migrants died in this accident. State authorities also saying dozens of migrants were injured as a result, many of them with serious injuries taken to local hospitals.
Mexico's President, Mexico's Foreign Minister both extending their condolences on Thursday afternoon with Mexico's foreign minister saying that citizens of several different nationalities were involved in this accident.
We know the president of Guatemala has acknowledged that Guatemalans were a part of that group of migrants heading north, the people that lost their lives, saying that Guatemala will assist in repatriating the bodies of some of those people, some of those Guatemalans who lost their lives.
You know, this is a reminder of just how dangerous this journey can be for migrants heading north. Unfortunately, it is not all that uncommon for migrants to lose their lives in traffic accidents after trying to get rides north. Although of course, this accident stands out just because of how many migrants were involved. Both those killed and also those injured. And you know, this accident comes not long after a report was released by the International Organization for Migration, which said that at least 650 people in the last year crossing from Mexico across the southern border into the United States lost their lives. That is the largest such number since 2014. This accident in southern Mexico, just a stark reminder about how dangerous the journey is for migrants on their way to the U.S. border. Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Nicaragua has officially restored diplomatic ties with Beijing after severing relations with Taiwan. The two nations signing a joint communique on Friday. This coming after Nicaragua said, it recognizes only one China and believes Taiwan is part of the Chinese territory. Taiwan claims the right to have relations with other countries and says it regrets Nicaragua's decision but will continue to promote its steadfast diplomacy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOANNE OU, SPOKESWOMAN, TAIWAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Taiwan deeply regrets that the Ortega government has decided to disregard this long standing and close friendship between the people of Nicaragua and people of Taiwan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Nicaragua's decision leaves Taiwan with only 14 diplomatic allies. China, of course, views Taiwan as a renegade province.
The U.S. blaspheme Nicaragua saying, it doesn't reflect the will of its citizens due to a recent sham election that gave Daniel Ortega another term as president.
The U.S. President Joe Biden says protecting democracies is "the defining challenge of our time." He's been meeting with world leaders for a global two-day summit focused on ways to safeguard rights and freedoms while pushing back against the rise in authoritarianism.
CNN's Kristie Lu Stout is live in Hong Kong joins me now. So, Kristie, how is China reacting to the Biden democracy summit to which China was not invited?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And China continues to denounce Biden's Democracy Forum. We heard from China's, Taiwan affairs office they call it "a political maneuver." The state-run Global Times tabloid is calling it "a joke."
Now the United States has invited representatives from over 100 governments all around the world, but China was not invited. Taiwan was invited. Taiwan is of course the self-ruling democracy that China claims is part of its territory.
Later this evening, local time., we'll be hearing from Taiwan's Digital Minister Audrey Tang, who will be discussing a topic of countering digital authoritarianism. Also speaking at this Biden Summit is the exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy leader Nathan Law. He is an individual who has been branded as a secessionist and a traitor by Chinese officials. He is due to make an address about 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, in the run up to this Biden Democracy Forum. China has been criticizing it. But China has also been casting itself as a democracy that works better than the United States.
[01:25:08]
In fact, last weekend China hosted its own virtual Summit, it invited representatives from 120 governments all around the world. At the same time, state council released a very lengthy 13 1000-word white paper that's called, "China, democracy that works" and we have an excerpt of it for you. Let's bring it up.
In this document released by China's cabinet, the State Council says, "There is no fixed model of democracy; it manifests itself in many forms, assessing the myriad political systems in the world against a single yardstick and examining diverse political structures in monochrome are in themselves, undemocratic."
Now, most international observers agree that China is not a democracy, you know, it is a single party state. There is no separation of powers. There is no universal suffrage. There is no independent media. So why is China casting itself as a democracy that works? Well, listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PROF. JEAN-PIERRE CABESTAN, POLITICAL SCIENTIST, HONG KONG BAPTIST UNIVERSITY: I think China is on the offensive. China wants to demonstrate that its political system is not only a system which deliver but also a better system. It wants to demonstrate that the one-party system, which presided upon China's destiny for a while now 70 years, is the best system for China but also maybe for the rest of the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: China watchers are saying that China is out to prove the superiority of its own political system. And this comes at a very politically sensitive time. China's economy is slowing down. And also, the Biden administration has been shoring up alliances with partners around the world that most recently has been manifested with a number of those diplomatic boycotts that have been announced in the run up to the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. Back to you, Michel.
HOLMES: Yeah, yeah, fascinating. Thank you, Kristie, Kristie Lu Stout there in Hong Kong.
We're going to take a break. When we come back on the program, it might not be a holly jolly Christmas for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as he faces a Christmas Party scandal and push back over new COVID restrictions. We'll discuss when we come back
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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: You're watching CNN NEWSROOM. Thanks for doing so.
I'm Michael Holmes.
Omicron variant infections are surging in South Africa but so far, symptoms appear to be relatively mild. Some good news there. The World Health Organization says COVID hospitalizations across the country remain low, but the soaring number of new cases still worries health experts.
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DR. THIERNO BALDE, W.H.O. REGIONAL OFFICE FOR AFRICA: We are really monitoring very closely the situation which is happening currently in South Africa over the past three weeks.
And I can tell you about the past seven days that we are seeing definitely a kind of major increase in the number of cases. Almost 255 percent of increase during the past seven days, in terms of the number of cases.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Africa currently accounts for 46 percent of the nearly 1,000 known omicron cases reported by 57 countries across the world. Now those escalating cases have prompted countries to restrict travel from the African continent.
And as CNN's Eleni Giokos reports, it is forcing many headed to and from the region to reconsider their plans.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Passengers in South Africa's Johannesburg Airport stand in long queues. Many looking stressed and anxious. They aren't waiting to enter the country, but trying to score a ticket out.
South Africa is one of several African countries on the travel red list of many airports across the world. The detection of a new COVID- 19 variant has countries changing rules and adding new travel bans and restrictions making it again more difficult to plan trips.
These bans are evoking pushback from African leaders and much uncertainty for travelers coming in and out of those countries.
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT: South African scientists discovered, as President Macky Sall was saying. Omicron, the new variant. And what is the results? The northern countries impose a ban to punish the excellence that comes from Africa.
GIOKOS: Some of the countries that have enforced bans on those African countries are tightening other travel regulations like mandatory quarantines, causing some tourists extra dollars.
The U.S. is requiring all inbound international travelers to test negative for COVID-19 within a day of departing. In Norway, after tiring flights, these passengers wait in line in
Trondheim Airport. The government is requiring them to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival.
In Poland, deputy health minister announcing travelers coming into the country from outside the E.U. Schengen passport-free zone will need to show proof of a negative test starting December 15th.
(on camera): When I now arrived in Greece, the Greek government was extremely helpful and by the way, the Greek government is paying for the entire 10-day quarantine. Juxtaposing that against the U.K. a quarantine rules, where one person has to pay 2,200 pounds for a 10- day quarantine, which means that it makes it a very expensive exercise if you are a tourist that is now stranded in South Africa trying to get back home.
(voice over): In Brazil, vaccine passports have been ruled out. But unvaccinated visitors will have to quarantine for five days.
With holiday season fast approaching, more changes to travel policies around the world may be in store.
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, WHITE HOUSE CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISOR: When the ban was put on, it was put to give us time to figure out just what is going on.
Now, as you mentioned, as we are getting more and more information about cases in our own country and worldwide, we are looking at that very carefully on a daily basis.
Hopefully we will be able to lift that ban within a quite reasonable period of time.
GIOKOS: Eleni Giokos, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Christmas could be put on hold this year for many people in Scotland, as health officials urge them to defer holiday parties. They are blaming a surge in COVID infections, more than 3,000 within the last 24 hours, as well as increasing cases of the omicron variant.
Public Health Scotland is asking people to postpone their plans, reduce large gatherings, meet people outside and get vaccinated, of course.
And ghosts of Christmas past are coming back to haunt the U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, engulfed in controversy over alleged Christmas parties held last year while the country was in lockdown. Meanwhile, new COVID-19 measures Johnson enacted are only adding to the confusion.
CNN's Nina Dos Santos explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): At this bowling alley in London, they are desperate for the good times to keep rolling for as long as possible. This festive season is a crucial chance to make up for last year, when parties like these were outlawed.
[01:34:51]
DOS SANTOS: But allegations the government may have broken its own ban on Christmas get-togethers back then, allegedly hosting events at Downing Street, have prompted fury.
GRAHAM COOK, CEO, ALL START LANES: Industry professionals have had to make a really tough call and put lives over livelihoods. So it really is a smack in the face to learn and understand what was happening in central government at that time. It loses all credibility.
DOS SANTOS: An aide has resigned in tears --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This afternoon I'm offering my resignation to the Prime Minister --
DOS SANTOS: And an investigation into three events has been launched.
Boris Johnson apologized before Parliament on Wednesday.
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I've been repeatedly assured since these allegations emerged, that there was no party --
DOS SANTOS: Even the birth of Johnson's daughter on Thursday wasn't enough to knock the so-called Christmas party-gate off the news agenda.
JOHNSON: It's neither proportionate and the responsible thing is to move to Plan B in England.
DOS SANTOS: Compounding people's ire, a fresh toughening of COVID restrictions announced this week, with most Britons told to work from home from Monday and masks made mandatory in some indoor venues.
Here, that's caused confusion, with colleagues soon unable to mix in the office but still able to socialize.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We didn't have any sort of Christmas last year. we didn't have any events last year. But the team -- I know, I'm leaving my team in the next few months and it's like we get together (INAUDIBLE) and have a few drinks. Have a good night.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. It's really lovely. So to everyone that you've only seen on a screen for a while as well. It's been lovely to see people in person and have that connection.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We all test on the day of the events. We try and get a PCR within 72 hours as well.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. DOS SANTOS (on camera): And this is how government scientific advisors
say you can party safely this Christmas, by making sure that you've taken one of these free rapid antigen tests before taking part in any large social gatherings.
So, here goes.
Not the most pleasant. Well, thankfully, that has come up as negative, which means I'm good to go. But the reality is that this procedure is just a recommendation. It isn't actually a rule.
For large-scale events in the U.K., PCR tests and immunity passports will soon become obligatory. At this point though, the best Christmas gift revelers could get is probably clarity.
COOK: The mixed messaging from governments getting on just over a week now, it immediately caused huge disruptions. We are roughly about 25 percent down on large groups at this time of year.
DOS SANTOS (voice over): As the ghosts of a Christmas past comes back to haunt Johnson's government, and with COVID making a come back, this year's holiday season may not end up being the season to be quite so jolly after all.
Nina Dos Santos, CNN -- London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Still to come here on the program, talks are reviving the Iran nuclear -- nuclear deal have resumed in Austria. But so far, it's blaming and finger pointing over why progress hasn't been made. We will discuss that after the break.
[01:37:59]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: The hopes of reviving the Iran nuclear deal getting dimmer. A seventh round of talks taking place in Vienna, Austria but negotiations have gone nowhere so far.
Iran continues to develop its nuclear program, though Tehran, of course, denies seeking nuclear weapons. And the Biden administration? Well, it's threatening to tighten enforcement of sanctions and also says it is preparing other options in case diplomacy fails.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: We believe a diplomatic resolution offers the best path to avoiding a nuclear crisis.
However, given the ongoing advances in Iran's nuclear program, the president has asked his team to be prepared in the event that diplomacy fails and we must turn to other options.
(END VIDEO CLIP) HOLMES: Joining me now from Reston, Virginia is Trita Parsi. He's the executive vice president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible statecraft. Good to have you on, Trita.
I was reading your newsletter, your email blast and you said this quote. You said "The Iran talks in Vienna last week went as badly as expected. The two sides are now dedicating themselves to the public blame game, leaving little cause for optimism."
What -- is that -- is it that bad?
TRITA PARSI, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, QUINCY INSTITUTE FOR RESPONSIBLE STATECRAFT: It's been quite bad, let's be very frank about it. Now based on the first signals coming out of the talks today, because they restarted talks again, it seems like both sides are tempering their messages a little bit and signaling a little bit more optimism and hopefully that is the case.
But the last round went badly. But it went as badly as expected. People did not expect that round to go well because this was the first time that the Iranian team -- the new Iranian team under the new Iranian government were coming in. And it was expected that they would be taking very, very strong positions that the U.S. and the E.U. would be rejecting.
HOLMES: Right. In terms of what could happen, it was interesting too, because you also talk about the so-called "coma option", essentially letting the deal collapsed but pretend it's still alive.
And as you made the analogy, must as the long-dead Israeli-Palestinian peace process is -- people pretend it's still breathing.
PARSI: Exactly. And again, I want to be very clear. I think it's a very bad option. But unlike before, where it was quite clear that if there isn't a deal, they would be a rather straight path towards a military confrontation, this time Iran -- I'm not as convinced that that is the case because of changed circumstances.
There might be a not good option and not a particularly stable option, but more stable than before in which the sides essentially stay where they are right now. Neither side aggressively escalates much further, the deal is largely dead.
But they pretend that it's alive. And by pretending that it's alive, they keep the option of returning to talks open in the future, if circumstances change.
HOLMES: Right.
Donald Trump of course pulled out of the nuclear deal at a time when Tehran was abiding by its terms. Why, then, didn't Joe Biden offer to lift the Trump sanctions when he got into office back when a more moderate Iranian leadership might have been willing to do more?
PARSI: I frankly think it was a mistake by the Biden administration not to do this very quickly when they came in, deal with the details and issues later on once the U.S. was back in the deal and had the moral standing of having returned to the deal, instead of the process that we are seeing now, which is now in its 8th round, so far has not produced a result, and frankly has increased tensions.
And now we see both sides not only playing the blame game. But the Iranians are escalating the nuclear program in the middle of talks and the U.S. has gone back to making military threats. That's not good.
HOLMES: Yes. Given the actions of Donald Trump, and given the Biden administration's reluctance to lift those sanctions imposed by Trump, why should Iran trust the West?
PARSI: Well, I think this deal had nothing to do with trust in the first place. But what it has been -- a new problem that has been created is that even if the United States lifts the sanctions now, there is no confidence that businesses would go back into Iran, because businesses are not here to create political change or advance nonproliferation. They are there to make profit.
And they are not convinced that the United States will stay in the deal, particularly, if in 2025, there is an American Republican president. This is a great problem for the negotiations.
So it's no longer whether Iranians trust Biden, it's whether the United States will be able to be stable enough politically to commit itself and hold those commitments.
[01:44:58]
PARSI: This is a new problem that didn't exist before and it is making the negotiations much tougher because the Iranians are, frankly, legitimately saying, why should they give up their nuclear leverage if the economic benefits that the sanctions lifting is supposed to provide them may not be coming at all?
HOLMES: And real quick, the fundamental issue is preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Is there any evidence -- you know, meaningful evidence that that indeed is their aim? Of course, Iran denies it is.
PARSI: The Iranians deny it but the issue is not whether their aim is that or not. It is to make sure that the option of them being able to big a bomb is foreclosed.
That is what the JCPOA did. That's what a revival of the JCPOA would do.
Now, the head of the CIA Bill Burns recently said in an interview that he has seen no indications or any evidence, contrary to what the Israelis have been saying, that the Iranians are moving for instance to 90 percent enriched uranium and other activities that would bring them significantly closer to that weapons capability.
HOLMES: Right. Right. Trita Parsi, always great to have your expertise on this subject. Thank you so much
PARSI: Thank you.
HOLMES: People in Turkey are struggling to survive, desperate just to put food on the table, as the economy is tanking under rapid inflation and a currency that is collapsing.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's solution, an economic model that many experts question.
Jomana Karadsheh reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOMANA KARADSHSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): In this middle class Istanbul neighborhood, people say they are getting poorer by the day. With inflation at more than 20 percent and the Turkish lira in free fall, Turks are watching their incomes dwindle as prices skyrocket.
Recep (INAUDIBLE) man says he is barely surviving on his pension. He now can't afford to take his grandchildren out.
He can't even buy them a toy -- a toy worth 10 lira is now worth 40, he says. Children want everything they see. What will we do?
But it's not just the luxuries. Many here say they can barely afford the basics.
Alsoman Ozel (ph) no longer brings a shopping cart to the market.
"I bought two eggplants, a few zucchinis, and one cauliflower," she tells us. "That's it. In the past, I used to buy kilos of everything. I used to fill up my shopping cart. Now? It's impossible."
This woman interrupt to tell us everything is very expensive. She says her husband, a tamer, hasn't worked in over a year after he got ill with COVID. The couple live off their pension and it's barely enough to cover their expenses.
"I get discounted bread from the municipality. We can't eat red meat, not even once a week. I have no idea how we are going to survive."
It's a question on the minds of many Turks, who at times are watching the cost of pretty much everything rise on a daily basis.
(on camera): The Turkish bagel, as it's known, is a popular, inexpensive street food and a breakfast staple in this country. This has gone up by 30 percent in the past few days. Shocking for a lot of people here who say if the simit wasn't spared, what's next?
(voice over): The Turkish lira lost nearly half of its value this year. More than 30 percent of that in November alone.
Most experts blame this on the Turkish president's unorthodox economic policies. To fight inflation, most countries raise interest rates. But Turkey is doing the opposite.
President Erdogan, a staunch opponent of high interest rates, that he describes as an evil that makes the rich richer and the poor poorer, has pushed the central bank to cut borrowing costs, lower interest rates and a depreciated currency he argues will boost production, jobs tourism and exports. But experts are questioning the president's plan.
CAN SELCUKI, GENERAL MANAGER, ISTANBUL ECONOMICS RESEARCH: Turkey is now raising the prices for the entire economy, for the benefit of actually around 20 or 25 percent of the economy. So it's not really helping the households that's trying to cope with high inflation.
The problem is, there is no focus on fighting with inflation which is the core of the problem right now in Turkey and the unpredictability that comes along with it.
KARADSHEH: President Erdogan is promising results within six months. But with the 2023 elections fast approaching, much rides on his ability to deliver.
SELCUKI: At the core of President Erdogan's success for the (INAUDIBLE) House of the Past 2 Decades was his ability to deliver for middle and low income households.
[01:49:51]
SELCUKI: And now it seems to have completely turned around where you know, middle income and low income households are really suffering.
KARADSHEH: The suffering may cost Erdogan at the polls. But for now it's ordinary Turks who are bearing the brunt of this political gamble.
Jomana Karadsheh, CNN -- Istanbul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: A verdict has been reached in the Jussie Smollett trial, the actor accused of lying to police about being the victim of a hate crime. That's next after the break. Do stay with us.
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HOLMES: A jury has found actor Jussie Smollett guilty of lying to police about being the victim of a hate crime. Smollett told authorities in January of 2019 that he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack near his Chicago apartment.
More now from CNN's Omar Jimenez.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The jury deliberated for a little more than 9 hours and convicted Jussie Smollett on five counts of disorderly conduct, for making false police reports that he was the victim of a hate crime and the victim of a battering.
Now, the prosecution wanted jurors to believe the Osundairo brothers who testified that Jussie Smollett recruited them to stage a fake hate crime. Special prosecutor Dan Webb said this verdict sent a resounding message that he did what we said he did.
They also said that he lied under oath when he testified and that that is something they are going to consider at sentencing.
The defense for Jussie Smollett said or they wanted jurors, I should say, to believe Jussie Smollett, who said the Osundairo brothers were lying and that he had nothing to do with what he says was a real hate crime attack.
He has maintained his innocence for nearly three years now since January 2019. And he still maintains his innocence even after this particular verdict. But the jury in this case disagreed.
Next steps? There will be a hearing in January to begin the process or begin the road toward sentencing. I should say Jussie Smollett's defense team says they will 100 percent appeal this ruling.
And on the civil side, the city of Chicago says they will continue to pursue their lawsuit against Jussie Smollett to recoup the damages or the costs, I should say, incurred from the investigation that the Chicago Police Department did.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Well, some participants in a Saudi Arabian beauty contest for camels wanted to win so badly they injected their animals with botox. Yes, camel botox. The King Abdul-Aziz (ph) camel festival awards more than -- wait for it -- $66 million in prize money. There was a lot at stake here.
Officials discovered dozens of cases of tampering, including the use of botox, silicone and other fillers. More than 40 camels were disqualified and owners will have to pay fines of up to $27,000.
And this isn't the first botox bust at this festival. A dozen camels were kicked out for a similar offense back in 2018.
The Maldives, the republic of islands in the Indian Ocean, has world- class restaurants, of course but few of them highlight the local cuisine.
Anna Stewart now with a story of one chef with a recipe to change that.
[01:54:59]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Hi.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hello.
MOHAMED ADIL, EXECUTIVE SOUS CHEF, DHIGALI MALDIVES: Hi.
STEWART: How are you doing today?
(voice over): Chef Mohamed Adil oversees five restaurants at this Maldivian resort. Recently, he's been on a mission to cook more Maldivian dishes with the country's quintessential ingredients.
ADIL: If I have fresh tuna, I would like for people to see that how fresh it is. And so that's where my inspiration begins.
You can see how fresh they are, even though the gills are removed. It's still bright red. I mean this is the first thing that I would check if I want to see how fresh the tuna is.
So what we are going to make is panucucul (ph) -- it literally means chicken of the ocean and there is a thin slice of tuna and it is marinated with the spice plants.
This is black peppercorn and some cinnamon and this is fenugreek. I've heard that it's not an ingredient which is very popular. But some people do it. And this is something I learned from my grandma.
This is not a dish that you have every day. It's usually made on special occasions. So this is something that I've seen when I was a child.
STEWART: Mohamed has been working his way up through the restaurant industry for 10 years. He's cooked at several hotels across the country, experience that helped hone his skills but also given him a new perspective on Maldivian fare.
ADIL: Even though we have many resorts in the Maldives, very few highlights on the Maldivian cuisine. I think we, Maldivians have to take the blame on that.
When you are Maldivian I think it becomes your responsibility to showcase what your grandparents have passed down to you. And it becomes your responsibility to give that experience.
STEWART: Mohamed hopes to bring more recognition to Maldivian cuisine by traveling the nation to learn about regional recipes. And then featuring them back here.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: I'm Michael Holmes. Thanks for your company.
Kim Brunhuber picks things up from here as CNN NEWSROOM continues in a moment.
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