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More than 50 People Killed by Tornados in Kentucky; Saved by a Friend; Boris Johnson Facing Christmas Party Scandal. Aired 3-4a ET
Aired December 13, 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 (on camera): Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. You are watching CNN Newsroom, and I'm Rosemary Church. Just ahead.
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UNKNOWN: I just told her to close her eyes and she started counting. She's like hide and seek, mom?
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CHURCH (on camera): Along with the heartbreaking loss, there are also stories of survival and selflessness emerging from the destruction.
Plus, new data on Omicron as the United Kingdom reports its first hospitalizations linked to the variant.
And we are live in London where the prime minister is feeling the heat for apparently breaking the COVID rules he told the country to live by.
UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Rosemary church.
CHURCH: And we begin with the desperate search for survivors after the deadliest December tornado outbreak in U.S. History. Dozens of people were killed when a series of powerful tornados tore through several states over the weekend.
Kentucky, the hardest hit, the governor says in the best-case scenario, at least 50 people died in his state. But he says crews are still finding bodies, and he fears the final toll could be much higher.
Still, rescuers are looking for signs of life as they dig through the rubble including at a candle factory that was flattened in a small town of Mayfield. Initially, officials feared dozens may have died inside that factory but a company spokesperson said Sunday that most employees made it out. Eight have been confirmed dead, though, and eight others are still unaccounted for. It wasn't just the factory that was destroyed. The entire town of
Mayfield was decimated. Tornados also caused destruction in several other towns and cities. The heads of U.S. Homeland Security and FEMA are now on the ground bringing federal resources to help.
U.S. President Joe Biden also has approved a major disaster declaration in Kentucky, freeing up even more federal funds. Kentucky's governor says the outpouring of support has helped ease some of the heartbreak.
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GOV. ANDY BESHEAR (D-KY): We're grateful for the outpouring of love. It's the best way I can describe it. From all over the country and from all walks of life, I want to thank everybody for standing with the people of Kentucky. We feel it.
In fact, one of our -- one of our biggest challenges right now is organizing the amount of people that want to help, want to donate, and want to volunteer. But you know what? That's the best challenge that any of us could -- could ask for.
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CHURCH (on camera): And as communities across western Kentucky start assessing the damage, many residents say they are just thankful to be alive.
CNN's Nick Valencia is in Bowling Green with one family's story.
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Families in this subdivision of Bowling Green are just now starting to come back to their homes -- what's left of their homes, anyway. And salvage the belongings that they are able to. This shipping container was actually parked on the other side of this street and I want to show you the power of this storm.
Just exactly what it did to this shipping container. Flipping it on its side. You can see the wheels there and the perspective just gives you a of what this resident -- these residents in this community went through just over the weekend here. Hemo (Ph), you actually were home at the time of this. You live here?
UNKNOWN: Yes.
VALENCIA: This is unbelievable to see.
UNKNOWN: Yes, yes. So, we were actually in the home while, the tornado hit. It was --
VALENCIA: What was it like?
UNKNOWN: You know, we were sleeping. It was about 1:45 when it started and, I heard sounds it sounded like gunshots. Very loud gunshots and I got up automatically and I checked, you know, the living room and every single window was blown through. Everything was thrown -- thrown in the living room and, the trailer that you were speaking of behind me here.
VALENCIA: Right behind us here.
UNKNOWN: Was actually thrown towards my window.
VALENCIA: Show us -- show us where your window is here. I mean, you can see all this debris here that is left behind. You guys are starting to clean up.
UNKNOWN: We actually moved this trailer so we can open and get some of the belongings that are in there. This trailer was actually connected to this wall right here.
[03:05:01]
So, it was on this wall here. This is my bedroom here. So, I honestly think if this trailer wasn't here, the tornado would have hit my whole home.
VALENCIA: You said there was small children inside with you as well?
UNKNOWN: Yes, I had a two-year-old niece and three-year-old nephew that were sleeping. And I'm glad God moved my brother the way he did because if he didn't move him for half a second, all that glass that exploded would have been on my niece's head and my nephew's body.
VALENCIA: What do you make of this, Hemo (Ph)? Because you look next door, and next door, the homes are gone. I mean, your home suffered some significant damage clearly. I mean, we are standing on parts of your home here. But what do you make of that? I mean, the tornado spared most of your home, while leveling your neighbors.
UNKNOWN: Yes, I'm glad. I'm thankful that I still have my mother and my father and my family with me. My neighbors that have lost their homes are literally one house, two houses from me. It's a tragedy. It's a tragedy. I'm glad, I'm thankful that God has blessed me and my family and all the families around here that are still alive and still walking and speaking. I'm blessed.
VALENCIA: Hemo (Ph), you know, you had told us off camera the reason you had the shipping container here is because you guys were going to move. You were on your way to Georgia the next morning, then the storms hit.
UNKNOWN: Yes, yes, correct. We just purchased a residence in Georgia. We packed everything up the whole day prior to the tornado. And, you know, we locked everything up. Next thing you know, the tornado is -- I mean, excuse me, the trailer is coming towards my window.
VALENCIA: Just, you know, what do you guys need right now? I mean, that's the question that we're all getting. What can people do to help you, people like you in your situation?
UNKNOWN: The most -- I mean, everybody getting together and everybody kind of being there for each other is I think the most we can do right now. Just being there for one another. God is great, so -- VALENCIA: Hemo, thank you so much. God bless you. Thank you for
taking the time with CNN. Really appreciate it. Hemo and his family, you know, they count themselves among the lucky ones here. You know, just looking at this devastation all around, so much has been made of what happened in Mayfield.
Bowling Green, though, was particularly hard hit and this is an event, you know, that they don't see here. You know, I was talking to other residents here who say they have gotten alerts on their phones before for severe weather but nothing has ever materialized. This time, it did, though. And it's going to be an event that residents like Hemo and his family will remember for the rest of their lives.
Nick Valencia, CNN, Bowling Green, Kentucky.
CHURCH: And the tornados nearly flattened the town of Dawson Springs, Kentucky. The mayor says about 75 percent of the town is gone. Hundreds of people are now displaced after their homes were turned into rubble. At least 13 people were killed. More than 100 others are missing. The town still doesn't have power, and it could be weeks before it's restored.
CNN's Ed Lavandera has the latest now from Dawson Springs.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The death toll continues to rise here in Hopkins County, Kentucky. We are in the city of Dawson Spring, a town of about nearly 3,000 people. Emergency management officials tell us that two-thirds of this city was decimated by the tornados that ripped through here on Friday night. And this is the destruction that many people are still trying to comb through at this time.
Everywhere you look, it was a stretch the emergency officials tell us that the storm left a swath about a half-mile wide of destruction. That it went from the western county line all the way to the eastern county line here in Hopkins County. They say it's unlike anything the residents of this county and this community has ever seen and that really goes well with what we have heard from residents who survived the direct impact of the storms.
Many people, who jumped into their basements if they had one to save their own lives. It was that kind of desperation that so many people here have described to us. And they do say it was over in a flash but that it was a level of intensity not just homes toppled over by the storm, but simply shredded. This is a scene where it really feels like the epicenter of a massively explosive blast.
Back to you.
CHURCH: Jeff Jennings is a resident of Dawson Springs, Kentucky, whose house was destroyed by the tornado. He is also the father of CNN political commentator Scott Jennings, who shot this video that we're showing you right now.
Jeff joins me on the phone from Princeton, Kentucky. Thank you, sir, for talking with us and I am so sorry for the loss of your home.
JEFF JENNINGS, KENTUCKY RESIDENT: Thank you. It's -- I'm glad to be here.
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CHURCH: Now, your son, Scott, spoke to CNN earlier and he said he was so shocked when he first pulled up to the remains of the family home that he wasn't even sure that he was at the right place because of the total devastation.
What were your thoughts when you first saw your home after this tornado hit?
JENNINGS: Well, to be honest, you know, you can see video time after time after these supercell tornados coming through towns and cities and until you see, you know, the homes of your neighbors, your friends, your family and your own home that has been hit by one of these, you just -- you have no idea, you know, how overwhelming it is to experience that.
CHURCH: Yes, I can imagine. And you were not actually in your home at the time. Where were you when this tornado came through? And how did you get through this safely?
JENNINGS: Actually, I watch weather and I had watched this -- this storm's progress from Arkansas up through Kentucky. And I was on the phone with a friend of mine that lived across town who had a basement, and I had stayed with them for a period of time at one point in my life.
And anyway, he -- he offered me, you know, to come over if I wanted to and I told him I was going to watch one more update and when they told me that Princeton, Kentucky, was next and then Dawson Springs, I told him I would be over there in five minutes and I was.
CHURCH: Do you think going there saved your life?
JENNINGS: You know, that -- that's hard to say. I do know of three people that lost their lives that lived out in -- in the Oak Heights vicinity where I live. So, you know, you never know.
My house -- while it is a total loss -- it does still have some of the, you know, walls standing and everything. So, you know, it's hard to say that. But I was glad to be where I was.
CHURCH: Yes. And we're glad, too. And, sir, what are your thoughts as you survey your town of Dawson Springs? And how long do you think it'll take to rebuild it?
JENNINGS: You know, it's -- it's going to take years. I mean, we're a small town. A lot of the homes, you know, have been there for several years. My home was built in '72. And -- but just, you know, the town is kind of two halves.
The half of the town that I lived on is pretty much destroyed. And it's just going to take a long time. I mean, it's hard to get -- you know, it's hard to get lumber and -- and the different things that you need to rebuild right now. CHURCH: Yes, absolutely.
JENNINGS: And, I know, it's just going -- it's going to take a long time. I don't -- I'm not sure we'll ever be the same again.
CHURCH: And you say that your house -- it's totally destroyed. So, what are your plans going forward? Where will you go?
JENNINGS: Right now, I'm not certain. You know, what I'm going to do. I -- I grew up out on Oak Heights where I live. And I still live there now. In a different home. Of course, it's -- it's going to have to be torn down and -- and rebuilt or whatever if I decide to stay there.
So, I really haven't decided yet. I'm going to just -- you know, I'm -- I'm still trying to just get my bearings after all this. It's -- it's -- it is definitely a life-changing event.
CHURCH: Yes, I mean, it just takes so long to process a situation like this. Jeff Jennings, thank you so much for talking with us and our hearts go out to you and your family and the loss of your home. Do take care.
JENNINGS: Thank you so much.
CHURCH: Thank you.
And we know that many of you want to do something to help the victims of this tragedy. The CNN impact your world site has verified ways to do just that, and will be updated as more information on resources becomes available. But you can go there right now. Visit cnn.com/impact to help.
And coming up here on CNN Newsroom. More fuel for the fire. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing new controversy over a 2020 Christmas party. We will have the latest in a live report.
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And I will speak with the chief European correspondent to Politico about fallout from the scandal and possible damage to Mr. Johnson's government. Do stay with us for that and a whole lot more.
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CHURCH (on camera): The U.K. is coping with a rising number of Omicron variant cases but British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has more problems on his already crowded plate. A 2020 photo of Mr. Johnson at a Christmas quiz party at 10 Downing Street was published by a British newspaper, The Mirror.
The event occurred while strict coronavirus restrictions were in place. It's part of a wider scandal that's hurting both the prime minister and his party.
So, let's bring in CNN's Salma Abdelaziz who joins us live from London. Good to see you, Salma. So, this comes on the heels of one of Boris Johnson's top advisers resigning over a leaked video showing her joking about an alleged Downing Street Christmas party held during lockdown. What is the latest on this photo?
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SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Well, Rosemary, last week was a week of scandal and outrage. This will be the week that we find out how prime minister Boris Johnson plans to fight for his survival. How he plans to hold onto political power because it's hard for me to just overestimate really how much the public is frustrated by this series of scandals that have played out over the last several days.
So let me just talk you through what's happened. About a week ago, maybe over a week ago, there was reports in the local media that multiple parties took place in Downing Street. And then, on Tuesday of last week, there was that big aha moment and I know we have that video to play out for you of Downing Street officials holding a mock-press conference where they are joking, they are laughing.
They're sarcastically mocking COVID-19 rules while talking about an alleged Christmas party that took place inside the prime minister's office and residence. The prime minister took to PMQs, parliament's questions a day later. There, he denied that any parties took place but agreed to launch an investigation led by his cabinet secretary into at least two events.
One, on December 18th. The one made notorious by that video of the joking and the laughing, the mock-press conference. And a second event on November 27th. The allegation there is that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was in attendance at that party. Gave an impromptu speech at that party to attendees.
And then, over the weekend, yet another allegation. This one, coming from the tabloid The Mirror. This still photograph here, which appears to show Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a quiz.
Rosemary, this isn't just about what parties did or did not take place at what time and who was involved. This is now becoming about the prime minister's reaction to it all. His denial, denial, denial despite a growing body of evidence, all while he is trying to fight yet another variant of COVID-19 when he needs public support and compliance. It's turning out to be a very pressing time for the prime minister. Rosemary.
CHURCH: Certainly is. Salma Abdelaziz joining us live from London. Many thanks.
So, let's bring in Matthew Karnitschnig, the chief Europe correspondent for Politico. He joins me live from Berlin via Skype. Thank you so much for being with us.
MATTHEW KARNITSCHNIG, CHIEF EUROPE CORRESPONDENT, POLITICO: Thanks for having me.
CHURCH: So first, the resignation of Boris Johnson's adviser after she joked about another alleged Christmas party. Now, this photo that seems certainly The Mirror newspaper and perhaps the British public are not buying Johnson's explanation of what's going on in this new photo. So, how bad is this for the prime minister? Can he survive this?
KARNITSCHNIG: Well, I think we will find that out in the coming days to be honest because if you look at the photo at first glance, it's obviously a bit embarrassing for him and would seem to be quite politically damaging, especially given that one of the people in the photo is wearing sort of Christmas tinsel and the other one has a kind of Santa hat on.
But on closer examination, it might not be that damaging if you consider that here, he was making calls with close aides. These are people that he worked with every day. And, you know, they were taking part in this quiz.
You know, I think it's the kind of thing that people might be willing to forgive. There weren't drinks on the table there, and his camp has really gone on the offensive here and said, look, you know, we are about to face another tidal wave as he called it last night of the pandemic. With the Omicron variant taking hold in the U.K. We need to get people out there to get the booster.
We really need to, you know, get very aggressive on this front and the media, he's going after the media again is sort of diverting people's attention from this very important task on the pandemic front and talking about this party that took place a year ago. So, I -- I think he still has some wind in his sails there. And as we know from the past, he's quite good at recovering from scandals like this.
CHURCH: Yes, he survived with -- he survived many other difficulties, hasn't he? So, how likely is it, though, that we will see more leaked photos and videos in connection to the supposed multiple Christmas parties that took place during the lockdown? And will we also see more heads roll perhaps?
KARNITSCHNIG: Well, given how aggressive the British press is, I wouldn't be surprised at all if we were to see more photos like this, whether he is in them is another question.
We are getting reports now there were parties in other ministries of the -- of the British government and this was kind of a -- a normal sort of modus operandi last year with people having parties and meeting for drinks and all these kinds of things so you probably will see more details on that front.
But, you know, I think that, again, given just how serious the pandemic is, he's -- he is going to face, you know, serious challenges on that front. Also, regarding restrictions and I think he is going to have a difficult time convincing his own party to come along with him here in pushing further restrictions in the coming weeks, especially given this scandal about what happened last year.
[03:25:10]
And I think is sort of the underlying problem he faces is that if he is telling the British public that they need to batten down and prepare for another tidal wave of the pandemic and they need to put up with these restrictions, that becomes more difficult when this evidence (Technical difficulty).
CHURCH: Yes, do as I say, not as I do, right? And these leaks are coming from the inside, so someone clearly wants to expose the prime minister. Where is all of this going?
KARNITSCHNIG: Well, that's right. And there is clearly some descension in the ranks here because we are also getting reports about, you know, people in the government not going to support his policies that further restrictions and you could have some tory M.P.s coming out this week opposing that and there is expectation that you will have a lot of renegades on that front.
So, he clearly has some enemies within his own camp here. And I don't think it's clear -- it's clear who -- who they are. He has no problem with the opposition. But, you know, as I said before, he has a very good record of overcoming challenges like this, including from within his own ranks.
CHURCH: Yes. That always makes it extra difficult, though, when it's within your own ranks. politico chief Europe correspondent, Matthew Karnitschnig, thank you so much for joining us. I appreciate it.
KARNITSCHNIG: Thank you.
CHURCH: And still to come. We will have details of some incredible stories of survival after 50 tornados tore through eight U.S. states this weekend.
Plus, we'll head to the U.S. State of Illinois, where people had just an 11-minute warning before a powerful storm ripped through an Amazon warehouse. That's ahead.
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ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Back to our top story this hour. Dozens of people are feared dead after a series of devastating tornados ripped through Central U.S. over the weekend.
The storms touched down in eight states but it was Kentucky that bore the brunt of the devastation. This is what the damage looks like in Bowling Green. On Sunday, the National Weather Service confirmed the town was hit by at least an EF-3 tornado, though that rating could still increase. It means wind speeds were up to 165 miles per hour or 266 kilometers an hour.
In Dawson Springs, the death toll from the storm rose to 13 on Sunday with dozens still unaccounted for. The town's mayor estimates 75 percent of the town was destroyed, calling the situation just devastating.
But it's the town of Mayfield that's become ground zero for this disaster. It was nearly leveled just a few buildings are still standing and the mayor says her town now looks like matchsticks.
CNN's Brynn Gingras is on the ground in Mayfield where she spoke with one family who managed to ride out the storm.
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BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are seeing electric crews, volunteer fire departments, police departments descending on Mayfield willing to help everybody here get through this. And there is so much work to be done.
I just want you to see what's behind me, what I believe is a preschool. This is just some of the damage that is really all across this town of 10,000 people. This particular school is actually blocking part of the street in downtown Mayfield, and it was moved off its foundation. You could still see inside the school, some of the stuff in there is still intact.
It's quite an eerie scene and I got to tell you talking to so many people in this town, the people that call Mayfield home. They're stunned. They're in disbelief. They are trying to figure out what the next day and the next day is going to bring them. Some of them thanking God that they are alive.
We talked to one couple who hunkered down in a crawl space of their home with their 6-year-old daughter. I want to hear -- you to hear from them about how they survived this storm.
SAMANTHA BURNS, SURVIVED TORNADO IN BASEMENT: Me and our daughter were sitting on that pallet. This door here is what kept us alive basically, along with him because he was holding it with a lanyard. Just a lanyard.
DE'AMONTE WILLIAMS, SURVIVED TORNADO IN BASEMENT: I never felt nothing like that ever in my life. It felt like there were ten grown men on the other side of this door trying to pull it off the hinges.
GINGRAS: So, you are holding the door shut. You are holding your 6- year-old daughter.
BURNS: Yes.
GINGRAS: Can you just describe being a mom?
BURNS: We are just -- I just told her to close her eyes and, yes, she started counting. So, she's like hide and seek, mom?
GINGRAS: And of course, as we know, there is so much loss of life as well. Still, people are being -- there is work to try to rescue them or recover their bodies, particularly at that candle factory where so many people are still missing.
We talked to one family who lost a member of their family, a 47-year- old who was working at that candle factory at night. His family now remembering him as just a happy person and missing him this holiday season coming up. So much despair in Mayfield but again, so much resilience to move forward from all of this devastation. Back to you.
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CHURCH (on camera): Thanks for that report. And the devastation was not limited to Kentucky. This is the destruction in Edwardsville, Illinois, at an Amazon warehouse. At least six people were killed when a powerful tornado hit the building. A warning siren rang out 11 minutes before the thick concrete walls collapsed inward and the roof caved in.
CNN's Polo Sandoval is at the scene.
POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in southwestern Illinois, you are getting a clearer picture right now of the devastation that was left behind via the series of storms on Friday night. A look from above and you can actually see how a tornado cut through an Amazon shipping center here, causing multiple injuries and the deaths of at least six people.
In fact, today, authorities confirming their identities, they range from 26 to 62 years old. All employees at this location here. And now, operations basically shifting to cleanup as from our vantage point, you can actually see crews removing portions of the building that were structurally compromised and they are doing so confident that everybody's been accounted for.
[03:35:02]
In fact, police here on the ground confirming today that they no longer have any outstanding reports of any missing individuals. Amazon also on scene here, not just working with -- with authorities here in the cleanup process but also answering some of those important questions that we have been asking really all weekend long about the policies and procedures that are in place to keep their employees safe in the event of severe weather.
Here is how one spokesperson described what took place on Friday night as that storm moved in.
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KELLY NANTEL, AMAZON SPOKESPERSON: The tornado warning siren actually went off, and we had about 11 minutes from that time to the time that the tornado hit the ground in order to get our employees and our partners into a a safe place.
Our managers were on the loud speakers telling people to get to the shelter in place area. They were also being guided by other managers and other employees who were trying to get everybody to the safe location. We had people in two different sheltering areas.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: A separate spokesperson confirming that they are actively working not just with the community but also those families that have been affected, especially the families of those six employees who perished at this location on Friday as that storm swept through.
Polo Sandoval, CNN, Edwardsville, Illinois.
CHURCH: And still to come, alarm bells ringing in the U.K. over the Omicron variant. The prime minister says it could fuel a tidal wave of new COVID cases.
Plus, CNN checks in with one of the very first people to get a COVID vaccine one year on.
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BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Omicron is doubling here in the U.K. every two to three days. And we know from bitter experience, how these exponential curves develop. No one should be in any doubt. There is a tidal wave of Omicron coming.
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[03:39:59]
CHURCH (on camera): And that was the British prime minister sounding the alarm on Sunday after the U.K. confirmed its first hospitalizations due to the Omicron variant. Starting today, everyone in England who can work from home is asked to do so. Face coverings are now compulsory in public, and parliament meets Tuesday to consider a mandatory COVID-19 pass.
Looking at these pictures here on the COVID. I want to talk about the COVID picture in Europe as the Omicron variant spread to more countries.
I'm joined now by CNN's Eleni Giokos in Athens, Greece. And Eleni, as I speak to you, we are looking at these live pictures from Kings Cross Station in London where, of course, we know now across England, they have put in the work-from-home practice.
And so, it's making for pretty -- pretty quiet situation on the streets there. So, talk to us about the latest. How are people responding to this effort to contain the Omicron variant?
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly, Rosemary. I mean, seeing those images of a quiet Kings Cross literally gives you a sense here of the severity of the issue and the sheer fear in terms of what Omicron means for the U.K. Now the U.K. has moved from alert level three to four which means they are taking this pretty seriously.
They have also report that the first hospitalization of Omicron and they keep saying that, of course, hospitalization and death rates lag. It's a lagging indicator so we'll only truly know the impact of Omicron in the next few weeks.
The home secretary as well as the health secretary have said that Omicron will probably become the dominant variant in the U.K. by mid- December and will probably reach over one million cases by the end of the month. And that is pretty significant because these trends show that Omicron is transmissible but again this is important.
The data is showing that with regards to the vaccinated, it seems to be showing a less severe illness and that is why the U.K. is also now bringing closer the third jab that will be available for over 18s by the end of the month.
If I look at what is happening in the rest of the E.U., Rosemary, you see a rise in COVID-19 cases in most countries, which, of course, is raising a lot of red flags. In Germany last week, they had a record number of daily deaths. ICU beds starting to fill up and now they are clamping down on the unvaccinated.
They are not allowed to go into public spaces and then if you look at neighboring Austria, they are doing the same with regards to the unvaccinated. There is this big push to try and get the unvaccinated to not move into public areas.
In France, you are seeing record numbers of daily positive cases that are coming through ICU beds and hospitalization, also, increasing. But the question is in terms of how dominant Omicron is right now and how prevalent it is, that is still trying to be worked out and of course, as data is coming through.
Overall, Europe is taking a stance on getting vaccines and that is going to be an interesting move as we see more protests, for example, in Austria where thousands of people have hit the streets and you are seeing that happening in many countries across the continent. Rosemary.
CHURCH: All right. Our thanks to Eleni Giokos joining us live from Athens. I appreciate it.
Well, Martin Kenyon won people's hearts last year during a CNN interview on being among the first to get a COVID vaccine. He quickly became a viral sensation with his special British humor.
CNN's Cyril Vanier caught up with him to see how he is doing one year later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTIN KENYON, FULLY VACCINATED 91-YEAR-OLD: I said, what's this thing you're doing the vaccination? They said, yes.
CYRIL VANIER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Remember this from a year ago?
KENYON: I hope I am not going to have the bloody bug now. I don't intend to have it because I've got granddaughters and I want to live a long time.
VANIER: A dash of humor, a zest of dry wit, and good old-fashioned British common sense.
KENYON: There's no point dying now when I've lived this long. VANIER: This from newly vaccinated 91-year-old Martin Kenyon on the
day the U.K. rolled out the world's first COVID-19 vaccine.
UNKNOWN: I was sitting here. I'm sure Jim, too, beaming from ear to ear that entire interview.
VANIER: For a brief viral moment, six million views on Twitter, Martin was everyone's cup of tea. Gushing headlines and a star turn on Good Morning Britain.
KENYON: Who are you?
VANIER: When we catch up with him at his London home, Martin hasn't changed one bit.
So, Martin, how have you been? It's great to see you. It's been a while.
KENYON: I am still alive. That's the most important thing, isn't it? A whole year of being alive since I last saw you. I've been very well.
VANIER: How does he feel about his overnight fame?
KENYON: I never saw any of it. I never dare to see it. I still haven't seen it. It requires other people to tell me about it. I've never seen what was in -- ANC is he called? What are Americans?
VANIER: CNN? We're very fond of you at CNN.
[03:45:01]
KENYON: CNN. CNN, that's it. The fact is that when this thing happened, other people did see my name in the paper. Every single London newspaper was there which was a shock.
VANIER: So how is life after vaccination?
KENYON: I can't really pretend it's changed at all. I had the injection. I remember going to get it. I took my initiative and got on with it.
VANIER: One thing inoculation does help with? Seeing his granddaughters.
KENYON: And they love their grandfather. That's the great thing. They take a great deal of care about me. I couldn't be luckier. I couldn't be happier.
VANIER: Like last year, Martin plans to spend Christmas with his family. Unruffled by the pandemic but cautious he got his booster shot more than two months ago. The vaccination card always in his back pocket.
Do you have any parting thoughts for us?
KENYON: I think you are lovely. VANIER: I think you are lovely, too. Thank you very much.
KENYON: Ciao.
VANIER: Cyril Vanier, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: He certainly is lovely and it is all about staying alive. We'll be right back.
[03:50:00]
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CHURCH (on camera): Welcome back, everyone. Well, Naftali Bennett is now the first Israeli prime minister to make an official visit to the UAE. And at this hour, he is meeting with the crown prince more than a year after the two countries normalized their relationship. Mr. Bennett says he will be looking to further deepen ties during his trip.
And CNN is covering all the angles of this story. Sam Kiley is standing by for us in Abu Dhabi. And Hadas Gold is tracking developments from Jerusalem. Good to see you, both.
So, Sam, let's start with you. How much coverage is this story getting there? And what's likely to come out of this meeting?
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is a visit really that means a lot more to the Israelis than it does to the Emiratis. That's not to say that from the Emirati perspective, it's not important. It's very important for the Emirati perspective to try to get the trade relations going, to deepen their relationship, particularly with their ambitions to expand the whole idea of a Silicon Wadi to work very closely with the Israelis in the tech sector.
But on a political and diplomatic level, they are very seriously out of step. So, from the Emirati perspective, they are currently in a -- pursuing a policy of the emirates, first. In particular, that is manifested in improved relations with Turkey, with Assad regime in Syria and, above all, with the Iranians.
There's even, in the last week, been announcement, Rosemary, of an Emirati investment in a solar farm in Iran. That's sort of investment and the Israelis would probably like to see in the Negev desert. But this is coming at a time when the Emiratis are forging their own way in terms of their role in the international community. Away from the unreliable partner that they see in Washington.
Where they are also out of step but Washington, Israel of course, keen to put a great deal of pressure on Iran from the Washington's perspective, to get the Iranians to return from the nuclear treaty. From the Israeli perspective, to prepare the world ultimately for potential attacks if the Iranians continue to develop their nuclear capability, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Right. And, Hadas, how significant is this for the Israeli prime minister and what will he be trying to achieve on this visit?
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's a very significant event for the Israelis and the Israeli prime minister. I want to paint a picture to you to how significant of a change this is because just a few years ago, Israelis couldn't even enter the UAE. In 2017, an Israeli, when he won a judo competition in Abu Dhabi, authorities there refused to fly the Israeli flag or play the Israeli national anthem.
Now, we are seeing an Israeli prime minister being welcomed into Abu Dhabi with an honor guard last night and now going to the crown prince's private palace. It's a striking image to see an Israeli prime minister wearing the traditional Jewish kippah headdress sitting in a room full of Emirati officials, sitting next to the crown prince.
So, it's a very significant moment for the Israelis and I should actually note it was supposed to be a former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the one who was the signatory of the Abraham Accords the normalization agreements who was supposed to be on the inaugural trips.
He had several trips to the UAE planned. They were cancelled at the last minute so instead now it's the new Prime Minister Naftali Bennett who is going. Now in his public remarks he has talked about how this visit is meant to really strengthen the relationship, the ties between the two countries.
Now, there are no reporters with him on this trip. No reporters witnessing this meeting, we are seeing these pictures and images which we also should note we don't have audio with showing this video of the two meeting. But you can see that they are trying to project this warm relationship between the two.
Naftali Bennett talking about how they want to really work on trade, on, as Sam said, Silicon Valley sort of investments between the two countries. And I should note actually business wise, there have been a big increase in business.
Some $600 million worth of trade between the two countries in the first seven months of 2021. But for sure, top of mind in this meeting is likely going to be Iran because, of course, Israel is very concerned about a nuclear Iran, their rhetoric about being ready to strike militarily if diplomatic negotiations fail continues.
And so there may be an attempt by the Israelis to try to pull the emirate Emiratis away from this recent reproachment we are seeing between the Emiratis and Iran. Rosemary.
CHURCH: All right. Our thanks so Sam Kiley and Hadas Gold joining us there. I appreciate it.
Well, a woman who brings beauty and hope to homeless men and women just got a special award. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: The 2021 CNN hero of the year is --
KELLY RIPA, ACTRESS: Shirley Raines.
(CROWD CHEERING)
[03:55:04]
CHURCH (on camera): You just heard it there. Shirley Raines is this year's CNN hero of the year. Raines and her nonprofit beauty to the streets have been a mainstay on Los Angeles' Skid Row for the past six years. And she provides food, clothing, and hair and makeup services to thousands. Raines says her goal is to make broken people feel hope.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHIRLEY RAINES, CNN HERO OF THE YEAR: First and foremost, I want to thank the amazing nine honorees I've been with. This journey has not been easy. I stand before you today a very broken woman. My life will never be the same since my son died but it's important that you know that broken people are still very much useful. We are very much useful.
(APPLAUSE)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH (on camera): That is a powerful message and if you would like to support Raines' work or any of the nonprofit organizations at the top 10 CNN heroes, you can also make a donation and all donations made by January 3rd will be matched by Subaru up to $50,000 per hero.
And I want to thank you so very much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. Have yourself a wonderful day. CNN Newsroom continues now with Isa Soares.
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