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U.K. Urges Third Shot For All Adults By End Of December; Study: Two Vaccine Doses Not Enough Against Omicron; Bercow Says Boris Johnson Is Worst P.M. He's Known; Vaccine Rules And Mandates Drive Protests In Europe; Mainland China Reports Its First Case Of Omicron; At Least 88 Killed After Storms Tore Through 8 States. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired December 14, 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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JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up here on CNN YouTube, the Omicron moment as the U.K. braces for a potential crush of new COVID patients, hopes remain high. Their symptoms may be less severe. Their chances of survival are much higher.
It's no party right now at number 10. The Ghost of Christmas Past suddenly (ph) the Prime Minister's approval rating to a record low. And an amicable trip which was an historic first. Israel's Prime Minister travelling to the UAE meeting face to face with the Emirate Crown Prince, a chance to build personal connections. A relationship once thought to be all but impossible.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN Newsroom with John Vause.
VAUSE: And wherever you are around the world, thank you for joining us. We begin with the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warning of a tidal wave of new infections driven by the jaw-dropping spread of the Omicron variant. Now comes word from the U.K. of possibly the first death in the world directly linked to Omicron, which is now spreading so quickly. It's expected to be the dominant strain in London in less than 48 hours.
According to the health secretary, the number of infections is doubling every two to three days. While there is a lot of anecdotal evidence, there is still not enough scientific data to know if Omicron is less severe compared to earlier strains of the coronavirus.
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SAJID JAVID, BRITISH HEALTH SECRETARY: While Omicron represents over 20 percent of cases in England, we've already seen it rise to over 44 percent in London. And we expect it to become the dominant COVID-19 variant in the capital in the next 48 hours.
(END VIDEO CLIP) VAUSE: England is now wrapping up the rollout of booster shots making a third dose available to all eligible adults and urging them to get it by the end of the month. A work from home recommendation now in place and soon, proof of a third booster shot will be required before qualifying for a health pass, which is needed for entry into nightclubs and other large public gatherings.
Dr. Scott Miscovich, President and CEO of the Premier Medical Group USA and a national consultant for COVID-19 Testing. Dr. Miscovich, it's good to see you again.
DR. SCOTT MISCOVICH, PRESIDENT & CEO, PREMIER MEDICAL GROUP USA: Hi, John, how are you?
VAUSE: I'm good, thank you. Well, you know, for the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, it seems his biggest concern right now part of the controversy is, you know, the Christmas parties, but it's as astonishing rate of transmission of Omicron. Listen to this.
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BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I think the idea that this is somehow a milder version of the virus, I think that's something we need to set on one side and just recognize the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population. So the best thing we can all do is get our boosters.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: So here's the thing, if the symptoms overall, a mild, there will still be a small fraction, right, it becomes seriously ill. And if Omicron is infecting 10 or 20 times more people in Delta, we still don't know, there will still be a significant number of people who need hospital care and could die. So it seems we're sort of back to facing this crush of patients and hospitals and cities and countries around the world.
MISCOVICH: Very, very well put, John, that's exactly what people are under estimating. We have too many people saying, oh, but it's not that severe. The symptoms aren't that severe. And it's milder. Well, what we do know for sure is that the rate of spread, as you see we're getting doubling every two to three days. And that was verified back in South Africa. We see it as it's surging through Europe.
And as we know London, it's going to be greater than 50 percent. You just have to do this statistics to show that so many more people will get infected so much more quickly. And we are not seeing yet the data on the over 60. That is our concern. Most of the data we're seeing right now is on the 20 to 50-year-old age group. So it is far too early to talk about mild symptoms. Right now because of the rate of spread, we are so concerned about overwhelming hospitals and deaths that can ensue.
VAUSE: And all the data which we do know, there is information out there which shows current vaccines in particular AstraZeneca and the Pfizer vaccine, not as effective against cybercrime compared to Delta. I want you to listen to the co-author of this new study which was done by Oxford University.
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MATTHEW SNAPE, PROF. IN PEDIATRICS & VACCINOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD: There is quite a drop off in the neutralizing antibody activity against Omicron compared to Delta after two days of Pfizer. Then there's around a 30 fold drop off in the neutralizing antibody levels compared to against Delta. And similarly, after two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, a significant drop off such actually the neutralizing antibodies were below the normal level detection.
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VAUSE: So just explain, you know, in everyday terms what that actually means. And does this explain why even vaccinated people are catching this version of COVID?
MISCOVICH: Absolutely. Now, the first thing I want to highlight, that study you just played is one of the ones that experts across the world look at because it's a quality study by a quality university. We have two others that confirm that exact same thing.
Now, I do want to highlight an issue, that is a laboratory-based study where they take samples, and then they put the samples compared. It's not real-life data. We want to see real-life data. But right now, all of the three studies are saying the same thing, a major drop off in the efficacy of two shots of the main vaccines that are out there in the U.K., and Europe, AstraZeneca, Pfizer across the world, and it is a massive concern for us right now.
We're seeing -- you heard what he said, it's down to nil, down to zero, the efficacy, which means that two shots, if you've had them highlighted after six months, you could totally have very little fight. Now, I want to give everybody a little bit of glimmer of hope. We do find that the T-cell or B-cell immunity can still protect you against hospitalization, and death of severe hospitalization. So there still is a little positive in there.
VAUSE: So this is something we say -- a lot of people forget about what vaccines are primarily meant to do --
MISCOVICH: Yes.
VAUSE: -- it is to reduce the severity of the disease trying to prevent you from going to hospital or dying. I mean, that's the main goal, right? It's up to prevent infection. That happens -- that's along the way. That's a good thing, but not necessarily a key requirement.
MISCOVICH: Absolutely. Absolutely. And so, you know, when I -- it just really bothers me when I hear people only focusing on purely on the mortality rate or, you know, saying some side comments about the vaccines while they don't work. Well, they are working for reducing the severity of the disease and the hospitalizations which look at across Europe, look at parts of the United States, the hospitals run to avert. We have so many people overwhelming emergency rooms, that is where we have to start.
Now we have another issue with COVID which is long-term COVID. We need to try to stop the disease and stop the disability. So you are spot on, John.
VAUSE: Dr. Scott Miscovich, thank you very much. I guess one last point here, we will wrap this but, you know, instead of clapping healthcare workers get vaccinated, get a booster. Thank you.
MISCOVICH: Pardon?
VAUSE: -- for being with us. They'd actually going to get a booster. Thank you, sir.
MISCOVICH: Yes, yes. Everybody, get your third shot. Get another shot in your arm as soon as possible. It will save lives and reduce your chance of severe disease. Please do.
VAUSE: Good advice to Crenshaw (ph). Thank you, sir.
MISCOVICH: Thank you.
VAUSE: Now quick quiz, the actions of which British Prime Minister now part of an internal investigation. He ordered into allegations of Christmas parties at number 10 during last year's locked out. Yes, Boris Johnson, who was photographed appearing to hold a Christmas quiz night. While he insists he broke no rules, the scandal appears to be dragging his approval numbers to record lows.
CNN's Nina dos Santos has our report.
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NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The U.K.'s Prime Minister once riding high among conservatives, now the target of outrage from all sides. Behind the recent outcry, festive gatherings and this Christmas quiz hosted by Boris Johnson inside Downing Street, which may have broken COVID rules limiting socializing last year. Downing Street says the Prime Minister and others attended virtually.
JOHNSON: I've certainly break no rules, but the whole thing will be looked into by the Cabinet secretary.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): First, the government denied parties ever happened until an aide was caught joking about the restrictions on camera in this leaked footage. Now, three events are being investigated.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was a business meeting.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not joking.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is recorded. This fictional party was a business meeting, and it was not socially distanced. (END VIDEOTAPE)
DOS SANTOS (on-camera): Aside from the question of parties, there are bigger issues at play. Johnson's government has been marked by allegations of sleaze of improper lobbying and of how an upgrade to the Prime Minister's official apartment was financed, which Johnson says he paid for.
Trusted lawmakers and advisers have resigned, risking once safe conservative seats, and the polls have now flipped. The opposition is sensing an opportunity.
KEIR STARMER, BRITISH LABOUR PARTY LEADER: Of course there's a question of what the condition should be, but there's also this basic question of trust, and that is broken with Prime Minister.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: OK.
STARMER: And that's why he is unfit for office.
JOHNSON: No one should be in any doubt. There is a tidal wave of Omicron coming.
DOS SANTOS (voice-over): Gears (ph) for boosters and with the threat of Omicron, Johnson is back to enacting tougher measures once more, harder to sell now to a weary public. And growing frustrations in parliament where a vote to rebel against the new moves could happen this week.
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With Westminster about to break for the holidays, the P.M.'s tenure isn't quite a breaking point just yet. But it has lost some of its spark.
Nina dos Santos, CNN, London.
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VAUSE: Dominic Thomas. Dominic, welcome back.
DOMINIC THOMAS, CNN EUROPEAN AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT: Hey, good evening, John.
VAUSE: So Boris Johnson, he was touring a vaccination center on Monday. He was asked about this photograph, which shows him hosting this quiz night at Downing Street at Christmas time last year. And he's asked would it be included in an already underway internal review. Here's his answer.
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JOHNSON: I can tell you once again, I certainly broke no rules. All that is being looked into. But if I may respectfully say to you, that I do think that when you look at -- and of course, all that was be properly gone into and you'll be hearing from the Cabinet secretary about it.
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VAUSE: OK, just how bad is this political crisis for Johnson where we're talking about a looming tsunami of COVID patients, overwhelming a healthcare system is easier compared to answering questions about that quiz night?
THOMAS: Yes. I mean, what is this pure strategy of diversion and distraction. And you've got these two crises working side by side, and of course, feeding one another. The complete crisis of trust in Boris Johnson, and his strategy is really quite extraordinary, because everybody knows he's lying. And the evidence keeps coming out in what is a long-standing sort of relationship of dishonesty with the general public that goes all the way back to Brexit.
And on the other hand, you have this real health crisis unfolding here. And the problem with this is that you need trust in the authorities for this system to work. So you see him yet again, kind of unpacking this flowery rhetoric around the tidal wave. And before that, it was war time as a way to try to sort of unite people. But the rule makers here are also the rule breakers and this is the real problem. And I think that what unfolds in Parliament bar is going to give us a real indication as to just how upset people are in the ruling ranks with the current Prime Minister.
VAUSE: I'm glad you mentioned that because Johnson is facing a revolt from within his own party over these restrictions. In particular, this requirement of a health pass, which now you need this booster shot for entry of these large public gatherings. Here's the Health Secretary announcing the changes.
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JAVID: You'll need to show a negative lateral flow test to get into nightclubs and large events with an exemption for the double vaccinated. Once all adults have had a reasonable chance to get their booster jab, we intend to change this exemption to require a booster dose.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: So in other words, you need the two vaccines and a booster now, not just the two vaccine shots. Fortunately, for Boris Johnson, this is supported by the Labour opposition, which means it should get through Parliament. But, you know, is this the beginning of the -- of an internal revolt within the Tories against Johnson? We've sort of been here before but it seems more serious.
THOMAS: We have been here before and not just with him but with Theresa May. We got a real lesson in how the parliament can go about weighing in on particular parliamentary options and so on. And actually get distracted by the policy issues and be weighing in more on the personality of the individual. And I think that it is highly likely tomorrow that the parliament will make the health conscious decision. But that in making that decision, will send a very clear message to Boris Johnson that he serves not only at the will of the British people, but in fact, even more so currently under policy at the pleasure of his own Conservative Party who, at any moment, could get rid of him. I'm not sure there's the appetite for him to do that right now. But the message will be very clear.
Yes, you delivered a massive majority for our parliament, but currently are undermining our reputation, our credibility, our ability to govern. And I think it is likely that particularly around the vote on the issue of COVID passes, that you're going to see rebellion and you're going to see a very clear message sent to Boris Johnson that he'd better change course or else come the new year, there may be a change of Prime Minister.
VAUSE: A very clear message coming from the latest Ipsos ITV poll, which has some troubling numbers for Boris Johnson. The leader of the Labour opposition is up 13 points in a month on the question of who would make the most capable prime minister. First time a Labour leader has topped that poll in 13 years now since Gordon Brown.
Johnson's numbers are at an all-time low. And here's the former Speaker of the House John Bercow, explaining why in his opinion. Here he is.
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JOHN BERCOW, FORMER SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS: I'm sorry to say it, but I've known 12 prime ministers in my lifetime and by a country mile, Boris Johnson is the worst. His natural instinct is not to be open, not to be transparent, not to be accountable, but narcissistically to think what suits me, how can I extricate myself from this awkward situation, by what means can I aggregate blame somewhere else.
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VAUSE: Bercow is the number of Conservative MPs who fled the Tory Party joined Labour over Boris Johnson's. But how much of what he says rings true?
THOMAS: I think a lot of it does ring true, there is no doubt about it, that sort of Boris Johnson sort of general reputation corresponds exactly to what Bercow is saying. The problem is, I think, two-fold. First of all, we saw going into the last election, that the division in the opposition, and I'm not just talking about divisions within the Labour Party, but across the spectrum from the Lib Dem, has essentially paved the way for Conservative Party rule.
Having said that, this is, of course, providing an opportunity for them to come together. What we do see there around Prime Boris Johnson now is essentially a Cabinet of which many of those members themselves ran in the 2019 internal election to replace Theresa May. Many of them withdrew from the race or were voted down and ended up in the Cabinet. So Boris Johnson has around him a whole group of people who I think also share responsibility in this because they have essentially been enabling him. And the time will come when they will realize that their lack of policies and that their lack of credibility is going to force them to skip ship. And it's going to be interesting to see as that future and subsequent leadership unfolds, just how quickly Boris Johnson's demise does come about. That for the time being, his party structure, and the majority that the Conservative Party holds in parliament is is that the gel essentially that is allowing him to behave in this way and that is keeping him in place until they finally feel that the actual tidal shift comes from within their own party.
VAUSE: Dominic, thank you. Dominic Thomas there for us with the very latest insights into what's happening with Boris Johnson, and the politics. Appreciate it. Dominic, Thank you.
THOMAS: Thanks, John.
VAUSE: Across Europe are steadfast opposition to vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions is forging an uncommon alliance between the far-right, the far-left the anti-vaxxers, UA (ph) spiritualists and wellness gurus.
CNN's Melissa Bell reports from Paris. While mandates may increase vaccination rates, they may also be driving many to protest.
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MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the new front in Europe's fight against the pandemic. No longer they're hesitant, but those dead set against vaccines and COVID-19 restrictions. A fight that set to get much (INAUDIBLE).
Nearly one year into the E.U.'s vaccination program and amid a surge in COVID infections, vaccines are becoming mandatory for entire populations, or certain categories, like the elderly or healthcare workers.
ALEXANDER SCHALLENGBERG, FORMER AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR (through translation): Despite months of persuasion, despite intensive media campaigns, despite discussion in various media, we have not succeeded in convincing enough people to get vaccinated.
BELL (voice-over): In November, Austria became the first European country to announce that vaccines would be mandatory for all starting from February. The far-right Freedom Party immediately called for demonstrations.
But it isn't just the far-right. Across Europe and for populist parties from all sides of the spectrum, the COVID-19 measures and vaccines have provided a federating new focus that transcends the old left-right divide.
JEAN-YVES CAMUS, POLITICAL SCIENTIST: It's a divide about whether you trust the media or not. And it was all your trust your politicians are not of the new divide between the mainstream and the periphery. And the periphery is made of all kinds of people.
BELL (voice-over): Sophie Tessie (ph) agrees, she's helped organize several of France's COVID demonstrations.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translation): We want to create a citizen's opposition which is beyond electoral considerations and much more like a watchdog that sits outside the world of politics. To be able to tell it look here, you are no longer protecting our rights.
BELL (voice-over): Researchers at the University of Turin have found a strong correlation between anti-vax and populist sentiment, which means that mainstream governments are now taking on those they've already lost.
SILVIA RUSSO, POLITICAL SCIENTIST, UNIVERSITY OF TURIN: The results here would be that those anti-vaxxers would hold even more extreme positions. If the vaccine become mandatory than the government would need to have some kind of control about it, and this can also undermine institutional trust.
BELL (voice-over): Increasingly aggressive vaccine policies may force many more people into vaccination centers, but they're also likely to push many more forcefully onto the streets.
Melissa Bell, CNN, Paris.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Hospitals in South Korea continue to struggle with record surges and new COVID infections. On Monday, well 900 people were in critical condition. At least 94 people died from COVID. On Friday, AC -- ICU wards and hospitals in Seoul were maxing out as the virus spread among the elderly. More than 80 percent of South Koreans are fully vaccinated but fewer than 15 percent have received a booster shot.
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The first case of the Omicron variant has been reported by Mainland China. According to state media, the variant was detected in an overseas traveller arriving in the northern city of Tianjin. That was last Thursday.
For more now, we had lived to Hong Kong. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout standing by. So, these numbers are fairly small. On Monday, the Mainland reported 51 cases of local transmissions of COVID. It's currently 1.4 billion people so the numbers are tiny. But now comes Omicron on top of this, so there could be a whole new challenge for their zero COVID policy.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, now they're calling it the dynamic zero COVID policy because even China in recent weeks as a knowledge they cannot bring it down to zero but they can bring it down as low as possible. Health authorities in Tianjin have confirmed Mainland China's first case of the Omicron variant, it was detected at the border in a traveller who had arrived overseas, touching down in Tianjin last week on Thursday.
Now meanwhile, the epicenter of the current flare up of infection is in the eastern coastal province of Jiujiang. On Monday, China reported 51 new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19 including 44 new locally transmitted cases in that province. And Jiujiang is a manufacturing powerhouse. It's a shipping hub.
This is where Alibaba, the tech giant is located. This is also where you'd find Ningbo Zhoushan, this is the world's third busiest container port. In fact, it was at this port earlier this year in August, there was one single case of COVID-19 that was enough to trigger a shutdown of that port for a couple of weeks that led to shipping congestion. And it also wreaked havoc on the global supply chain as well.
Already there are reports of tens of thousands of people across Jiujiang province now in mandatory quarantine. On top of that, you have over a dozen listed Mainland Chinese companies now being forced to suspend production because of COVID-19 measures. As China tries to stamp out these very few, low number of cases, this, of course, is happening in the run up to the Beijing Olympic Games.
And the final version of the Beijing Winter Olympic Games playbook has been released in this era of the Omicron variant. Some clarity was needed about the issue of booster shots and it did offer clarity. It said that for athletes, it was, quote, strongly recommended that they take a booster shot, but that there was no mandate to do so. Back to you, John.
VAUSE: Kristie, thank you. Kristie Lu Stout live for us --
LU STOUT: Got it.
VAUSE: -- in Hong Kong.
Still ahead, a weekend of disaster in the U.S. which one it is sweeping across eight states turning tornado alley into a superhighway of death and devastation.
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VAUSE: More than a dozen aftershocks have been reported in the wake of a 7.3 magnitude earthquake of Indonesia southern coast. Shaking was felt in the city closest to the quake's epicenter, sending people into the streets seeking higher ground. So far, no damage has been reported to any buildings.
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In the United States, they're still trying to assess the extent of the devastation after at least 50 tornadoes touched down in eight states. Right now, 88 people are confirmed dead, many more are still unaccounted for.
Kentucky had the worst of it, at least 74 dead and fears that toll will rise. All the 100 people are missing. Exact numbers have been hard to pin down. And this is why entire communities reduced to rubble. Unrecognizable to the people who live there as they begin sifting through the debris picking up pieces of the live say build.
CNN's Brynn Gingras reports now from Mayfield, Kentucky.
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BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): This is suppose your house?
CARILLA SMITH, MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY RESIDENT: Right.
GINGRAS (voice-over): It's taken three days for Carilla Smith to return to this home. The emotion of what happened here Friday still to raw. This pile of rubble and debris is where a family with young children once lived.
(on-camera): What did you see that night?
SMITH: I mean it was so black, you can't -- you couldn't really, it was just so dark. You really couldn't see anything.
GINGRAS (voice-over): She says after the storm, she and her son raised toward the cries of the family trapped inside.
SMITH: And that's when they brought the little three-year-old out and we passed him along and then another lady and I were doing CPR on him and trying to save him. As a mom to know that my son is safe and I can't help save the life of that baby, I just can't done trying to breath life (ph) into him, but --
GINGRAS (voice-over): The heartbreaking stories of loss and devastation are sadly plenty in the streets of Mayfield, Kentucky. A landscape no longer recognizable to the people who live here.
SAMANTHA BURNS, MAYFIELD, KENTUCKY RESIDENT: I feel glad to be alive. I hurt for this but I hurt more for the others that are -- at the houses around it are nothing.
GINGRAS (voice-over): Rescue and recovery efforts are underway across eight states and FEMA is helping open shelters providing food and water to those in need. More than 100 people are feared dead in Kentucky alone. Governor Andy Beshear struggling to keep his composure Monday.
ANDY BESHEAR, KENTUCKY GOVERNOR: Just a few more facts about those we've lost, 18 are still unidentified. Of the ones that we know, the age range is five months to 86 years. And six are younger than 18.
GINGRAS (voice-over): So much loss yet there are harrowing stories of survival.
DE'AMONTE WILLIAMS, RESCUED AUNT TRAPPED IN TORNADO RUBBLE: (INAUDIBLE) that this building was gone. And all this stuff was in the street, I was running full sprint.
GINGRAS (voice-over): De'Amonte Williams was racing toward his aunt's house. It was crumbled on the ground. She was pinned inside.
GINGRAS (on-camera): And you said there was actually a chimney on top of her?
WILLIAMS: Yes, her chimney collapsed on her and a couch got thrown on top of her while she was in her closet. Starting her name. And once I ran up on her steps, I could see her head poking out just a tiny little bit. And as soon as she -- we'd looked at each other, she started crying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Brynn Gingras there with that report.
Now the weekend storm. So now the deadliest tornado outbreak on record for December, could be among the deadliest ever if that toll continues to rise. Experts believe one storm cell alone may have touched down in four states lasting for more than 250 miles about 400 kilometers, which could make it the longest continuous tornado in history. Well, this disaster was exceptional. Experts say it could also be a sign of what is yet to come.
So for more on that, let's go to CNN's Meteorologist Pedram Javaheri. You know, we've talked about this, tornadoes in December, not unheard of, but has so many causing, so much damage. That's the unprecedented part here. But in all of this, there's no so direct link, which is surprising to climate change. So why is that?
PEDRAM JAVAHERI, CNN METEOROLOGIST: You know, John, when we tell you there is a link between, say, climate change and a particular weather event, that's because there's been data and decades and decades worth of data that kind of correspond with that. It almost make it a definitive pattern towards seeing these events take shape because of what's happening to -- in our warmer world.
But when it comes to tornadoes, there aren't just that many -- that much data points to go with. And that's exactly why we can't definitively say. It certainly doesn't mean that the tornadoes were not fueled by the warmth that's present in our atmosphere, the moisture content that has increased.
But when you look at the data points and not just one data point, but decades and decades of robust data, you kind of see heat waves flooding, heavy rain events and droughts. Those have had the strongest evidence really for years going back and that's why we have almost a definitive connection between climate change, human induced climate change and these patterns increasing
And in recent years, stronger evidence now suggesting typhoons, cyclones, hurricanes around the world. All of these also can be attributed to the warming waters that we're seeing and of course, more water vapor in the atmosphere, the longevity of these storms, the strength of them as well. But tornadoes, they're limited evidence with this and the reason for that is one fact alone. These are small scale localized events versus the other ones that are regional in nature. Sometimes they're in large areas of the United States or the world where you have droughts in place that last for many weeks, many months and in some cases even decades.
[01:29:39]
In recent years, stronger evidence now suggesting typhoons, cyclones, hurricanes around the world -- all of these also can be attributed to warming waters that we are seeing and of course, more water vapor in the atmosphere, the longevity of these storms, the strength of them as well.
But tornadoes, there's limited evidence for this and the reason for that is, one fact alone, these are small scale localized events versus the other ones that are regional in nature, sometimes in large areas of the United States or the world where you have droughts in place that last for many weeks, many months. And in some cases, even decades.
And again, all of this allows for really robust scientific data and research being put together to highlight these and put them together. So again, we kind of talk about these having a link to climate change. It is almost certainly because the data there is very strong. And again that's not the case entirely for tornadoes.
You take a look at this limited evidence because of the short scale events. Tornadoes typically on the ground for just a matter of minutes. Of course, the ones this past weekend were exceptional. In some cases, you noted hundreds of kilometers on the ground.
But again, as we get more reliable data to go with potentially, we could see a stronger link, associated with this. And John, one thing to note here, when it comes to tornadoes is that several ingredients you need for this our warm, moist air the surface. And also you want wind shear.
We know of course, moisture is plentiful when it comes to our planet warming and evaporating the waters out of our ocean. But when it comes to wind shear, climate change in fact has shown that wind shear or the winds going at different speeds and different altitudes, those are weakening.
So again, some of the elements, certainly point to it. But not all of them do. That's why we think the evidence is not at its strongest can link all of it together just yet.
JOHN VAUSE, CNN ANCHOR: One report came that debris had been thrown up to about 30,000 feet into the air which is where commercial airlines fly. Has that ever happened before? Is that common?
JAVAHERI: You know, with strong tornadoes it certainly is. We've seen it on radar imagery. We've seen it on satellite data as well and you kind of see debris lofted on radar itself, specifically that gets up pretty high in the atmosphere.
30,000 feet is pretty impressive, but again, when you get these storms that are EF-3s, EF-4s -- very tall storms, certainly able to loft debris high up into the atmosphere. And you kind of look at the data we talk about climate changes impacts with this, and are these going to be more prevalent.
Well, we've already seen one shift here that is almost definitive with the last four decades of data. And that is seeing the storms itself, migrating a little farther towards the east.
So while it's historically known as tornado alley across the central portion of the United States, that's migrated a little farther east of the Mississippi. There the population density unfortunately is higher. So these storms are becoming more fatal.
And what is really important to note here, the terrain is also very different than the Plains region of the U.S. There is a lot more hilly terrain across this region. There's a lot more vegetation, all of this can obscure tornadoes. And the tornadoes that you see the postcard images kind of small, rope-like structures out across the Plains region.
When they move across this area, a lot of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, a few of them, so they become high precipitation events. And they're obscured by rain, and they're essentially rain drafts. So they make it that much more dangerous.
And one last element here, that is very different making these storms, John, a lot more deadly is the housing is a lot different across the eastern portion of the U.S. where basements are less common than the Plains region where tornado shelters and basements are in place.
So, as the shift happens to the east, that certainly makes this a much more of a serious situation for a lot more people.
VAUSE: Yes. Getting more serious each year, it seems.
Pedram, thank you. Pedram Javaheri there with some insights into the weekend of destruction. Thank you.
Well, it was a first for any Israeli prime minister, an official visit to the UAE and talks with the crown prince.
When we come back, details of Naftali Bennett's trip to Abu Dhabi.
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VAUSE: Well, the conversation lasted for more than two hours. It was said to be meaningful, in-depth and straightforward. The focus on trade and defense. But most significant of all, was the fact that his face-to-face meeting, actually happened.
On Monday Naftali Bennett became the first Israeli prime minister to travel to the UAE, and hold official talks with the crown prince. More than a year ago, both countries normalized relations and then years (ph) of covert contact and cooperation.
CNN's Sam Kiley has details, reporting in from Abu Dhabi.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Prime Minister Naftali Bennett made history here when he met for the first time ever for an Israeli prime minister with any Emirati official here on Emirati soil.
He met for four hours -- that's two hours longer than was scheduled with Abu Dhabi's crown prince, Mohammed Bin Zayed. And then left, leaving this message behind.
NAFTALI BENNETT, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: I'm finishing a good visit here, in the United Arab Emirates. I want to thank his highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed for a very warm hospitality throughout this visit. Throughout the day we had meaningful, in-depth, and straightforward talks about our two nations, about the region, and about our economy and technology and what we can do together.
I am flying back to Israel very optimistic that this relationship can set an example of how we can make peace here in the Middle East.
KILEY: Now, what is notable about that message, is that there is no mention of Iran nor indeed of the Palestinians -- the two red letter issues of the day.
Top of the list though really is Iran with the Emiratis being severely out of step with certainly with the Israelis and even the United States. In their view that no longer is it worthwhile putting any serious pressure on the Iranians trying to get them to return to the nuclear deal that was effectively torn up by Donald Trump, which was a deal intended to reduce their capability to produce a nuclear weapon.
Now, there have been efforts under the Biden administration to revivify that agreement which lately the Iranians have walked away from, the Americans wanted greater sanctions, indicated this.
And the Emiratis were very swift to say they are not interested in any further sanctions. Indeed, they have been reaching out to Tehran, they have been planning to have a major solar farm being built in Iran. They've sent high-level diplomatic delegations. And of course, the Israelis in the background of have been threatening military action if there is no diplomatic solution to ending Iran's alleged, nuclear program.
But at the same time, this has also been a triumph for Naftali Bennett. It had been his predecessor who had effectively negotiated what are called the Abraham Accords, that normalized the relationship between the United Arab Emirates and several other Arab countries and Israel led by the Emirates.
That was a famous breakthrough in diplomacy, after many years of isolation. These two countries have never been at war together, against one another but they have certainly been extremely frosty.
It was impossible until 15 months ago for an Israeli citizen to set foot here. Now there are some seven flights a day, backwards and forwards between Israel and Dubai. Many more other tourists operations being planned. And what both sides said coming out of this meeting is that they were hoping to deepen the economic relationship already worth some $600 million a year.
And above all an invitation offered by the Israeli prime minister to Abu Dhabi's crown prince to visit at some future day Israel was made and was accepted.
Sam Kiley, CNN -- in Abu Dhabi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: Joining now from Jerusalem is Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent and analyst for "Jerusalem Post". Welcome back.
GIL HOFFMAN, CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, "JERUSALEM POST": Pleasure being here, too, John.
VAUSE: Thank you.
Now when it comes to the timing of Naftali Bennett's trip to Abu Dhabi, there was this delay because of the pandemic. But also right now there is this current uncertainty over the stalled negotiations with the Iran nuclear deal.
So is that a factor here in the why now question?
[01:39:57]
HOFFMAN: Absolutely. You had a meeting just the day before between Emirati and Iranian officials while things are getting more and more intense between Israel and Iran.
This could lead to de-escalation, the fact that they met and Naftali Bennett met with MBZ for four hours, two of them in private.
When you have those private discussions, they get into the security issues that they build their trust on. That could end up being a very significant meeting (INAUDIBLE).
VAUSE: Well, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was not discussed. And that point was not lost on Tehran. A foreign ministry spokesman telling reporters, quote, "Welcoming the prime minister of an illegitimate regime which has been the cause, the origin, and the agent of insecurity, tension and waging war for over 70 years in the Arab and Islamic countries will remain recorded and registered in the memory of the Palestinian nation, people of the region and all freedom lovers in the world, on yada-yada-yada."
Is there any milage left in floating the plight of the Palestinians to rile up the Arab world? And does the strength of that response say to anything about what was discussed by these two men?
HOFFMAN: Yes. That response really indicated that they haven't gotten with the program with Palestinian leadership. Over the last few years, we've seen how the Abraham Accords proved that the focus on the Palestinians did not help the Palestinians or the Arab world. The Abraham Accords were an attempt to get past that and say, the Arab and Muslim world doesn't have to wait anymore to normalize relations with Israel. And I was in Dubai a year ago today. I saw a beautiful relationship that could be between Israel and a Muslim country.
And perhaps, the meeting of Naftali Bennett with MBZ yesterday could lead to expanding the Abraham Accords. Naftali Bennett definitely needs a political accomplishment. His term ends in 20 months.
This particular government that has a hodgepodge of right-wing and left-wing together can't really do anything on the Palestinian front. But expanding the Abraham Accords is a consensus issue.
VAUSE: In the short term, the prospect of normalization agreements with other Arab states seems so unlikely. But over the weekend at least, the Miss Universe contest had Miss Morocco and Miss Bahrain competing. It was held in Israel.
I guess, that is a sign of, you know, normalization of the Arab world. Every journey starts with a single footstep in a high heel, as they say.
HOFFMAN: That's a good way of putting it, John. Look, Israel really went out of its way to host this Miss Universe pageant during a pandemic when Israel closed down currently to other tourists. But they did it to show the world that Israel is a safe tourist destination. And having Morocco here and having the United Arab Emirates prove that the peace is real. And also seeing how India could win this competition here builds ties between Israel and India. It is all good.
VAUSE: Very quickly -- why did the office of the prime minister actually announced that the crown prince bin Zayed would actually be visiting Israel? Why no announcement yet from the Emiratis on that?
HOFFMAN: I don't know. But Naftali Bennett, he would be able to host MBZ over here in Israel, and Jerusalem. Have him come to the Muslim holy sites here. That would be a tremendous coup for Netanyahu (SIC) politically. It would show that he has done what Netanyahu did not do.
Let's not forget, Netanyahu did meet with MBZ. That he's not the first one who did it. He was the first one who met publicly. Netanyahu met secretly with MBZ. So bringing them here would put him above Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett desperately needs it.
VAUSE: Is that really when the rubber hits the road? Because as we know (INAUDIBLE) announced when that could happen which to me, sounds like it is still up in the air, at least a little.
When that happens, is that when we know things are real? That these diplomatic relations, you know, are serious?
HOFFMAN: Look, I think that there are already very real life. This is perhaps the only issue that the Biden administration and the Trump administration completely agree. I don't see Joe Biden advancing any of the pet projects of Donald Trump except the relations between Israel and the UAE. And if he could then take this step forward by many other Arab and Muslim countries, who would be willing to recognize Israel and maybe even shake hands with Miss Israel, the next Miss Universe pageant that would be a big accomplishment for the Biden administration, as well.
VAUSE: Gil, we may be on to something here. It could be Miss Universe Pageant diplomacy around the world.
Thank you.
HOFFMAN: Go for it.
(CROSSTALK)
VAUSE: I'm all in.
Thanks Gil.
[01:44:52]
VAUSE: Russia is threatening new confrontations if NATO and the U.S. did not respond to a demand for security guarantees. According to Russian state media, the deputy foreign minister is calling for an agreement that would prevent the use of intermediate range nuclear weapons.
The comments come amid heightened tensions over Russia's military buildup along Ukraine's border. The European Union's chief diplomat says EU foreign ministers have made it clear, any Russian aggression against Ukraine will come at a high economic cost.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GABRIELIUS LANDSBERGIS, LITHUANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: I think that we are convinced that Russia is actually preparing for the all out war against (INAUDIBLE) and it is an unprecedented event probably since the Second World War.
We have to be very precise and very ready for what's coming in our messaging, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Finland's president about their shared concerns over Russia's military buildup and the need to de-escalate the situation.
Still to come a new report finds Colombian police were responsible for 11 deaths during protests in Bogota, last year. We'll have reaction to the findings in a moment.
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VAUSE: A U.N.-backed report has found Colombia national police are to blame for the deaths of 11 protesters in Bogota last year. They were killed during a wave of demonstrations against police brutality. Journalist Stefano Pozzebon is in Bogota with more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEFANO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: The Colombian National Police were directly responsible for the deaths of 11 protesters in the capital city of Bogota last year, according to an independent inquiry supported by the United Nations.
The protests against police brutality erupted in September 2020 after a video went viral, showing police officers tasing a man, who was being detained, for violating COVID-19 restrictions.
The man, Javier Ordonez died a few hours after his detention and the policeman was later convicted of murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
The incident was often compared to the killing of George Floyd in May 2020 in Minneapolis which similarly triggered widespread protests against police in the United States.
The inquiry was commissioned by the mayor of Bogota, Claudia Lopez earlier this year and Lopez broke into tears when the report was released on Monday.
CLAUDIA LOPEZ, MAYOR OF BOGOTA, COLOMBIA (through translator): This is painful for the soul. But it is necessary to rescue and recover our democracy.
[01:49:49]
LOPEZ: The pain we feel and confirming something we denounce in September last year is enormous.
POZZEBON: She later apologized for the loss of lives and pledged to present the results of the report to the Colombian president Ivan Duque and to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights.
Police violence remains a contentious topic in Colombia, more than five years after the peace agreement with FARC. Earlier this year, protest against inequality again erupted in violence and left dozens dead, triggering calls for structural reforms within the police which, in Colombia, responds to the ministry of defense.
President Duque has a place to prosecute any perpetrator of police abuse. But maintains his support for the institution as a whole and for its current leadership.
Stefano Pozzebon, CNN -- Bogota.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
VAUSE: In a statement to CNN, Colombia's national police say they are interested in having justice delivered and those responsible for those events must be punished. Well, the Pentagon here will not punish U.S. troops evolved in an air strike last August that killed 10 Afghan civilians, seven children among them.
The botched drone strike came as the U.S. wrapped up its withdrawal from Afghanistan. Tensions were running high after a bombing killed scores of people at Kabul's Airport, including 13 U.S. troops.
Here is the Pentagon press secretary explaining a review of the air strike and recommendations by senior commanders.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN KIRBY, PENTAGON PRESS SECRETARY: The Secretary reviewed their recommendations. I won't get into all of them. Some of them are understandably classified, but he approved their recommendations.
So I do not anticipate there being issues of personal accountability to be had with respect to the August 29th air strike.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: It took weeks before the Pentagon eventually admitted they had hit the wrong target, calling it a mistake. But only after reports with civilian casualties. It originally maintained it hit a legitimate ISIS-k target.
Still ahead this hour, COVID outbreaks are forcing a pause in the season from the hard court to the NBA. These are pictures of the premier league.
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VAUSE: USA gymnastics and the U.S. Olympic Committee have reached a $380 million settlement. Hundreds of victims of former Team U.S. Dr. Larry Nassar.
A number of those gymnast testified before Congress, saying they're abuse complaints were mishandled. And their lead attorney says, they're calling for further, criminal, prosecution.
Nassar is currently serving multiple decades long prison sentences, for sexual abuse and child pornography.
Well, COVID-19 is wreaking havoc on the world of professional sports once again. Manchester United next match against Brentford is postponed because of an outbreak of the virus. Premier League said the decision was made following guidance from medical advisers. Man U temporarily shutdown some training operations after players and staff tested positive on Monday.
In U.S. sports, 37 National Football League players testing positive for COVID-19 Monday. The NFL previously said 94 percent of players were vaccinated while nearly 100 percent of other league personnel.
Certain eligible staff are now also required to get boosters by December 27th. The mandate does not apply to players but anyone who has direct contact with them like coaches and trainers.
[01:54:55]
VAUSE: In the National Hockey League, the Calgary Flames have had their pause to the season because of a COVID-19 outbreak. At least three games now postponed after six players, one staffer entered the league's COVID-19 protocol.
The NHL expects additional positive cases in the coming days. The third time this season a team has had to reschedule games because of an outbreak.
And the NBA has postponed the Chicago Bulls next two games after 10 players and several staff members entered the league's COVID protocols.
Last week a source told CNN, 97 percent of NBA players were vaccinated. Now we have a spoiler alert, spoiler alert for fans of "Sex And The City". Ok, many of you were shocked when the long-awaited reboot killed off Mr. Big -- (INAUDIBLE). But not as shocked as Peloton. Their stock, tumbled, after the episode that was released.
Moments into that first episode, Mr. Big suffered a fatal heart attack, following a Peloton bike ride. The surprising twist, that's surprising to the company, sending its stock down 11 percent on Friday. But Peloton quickly reclaimed the narrative and just like that Big is back. He lives.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You look great.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I feel great. Shall we take another ride? Life is too short not to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VAUSE: Because it goes on to explain the health benefits of cycling, Peloton has since recovered some of those share losses. "Sex and the City's" long awaited reboot airs HBO Max, which just like CNN, is owned by the parent company Warner Media.
Nominations for the 79th annual Golden Globe Awards were revealed Monday. The awards show highlights the best in TV and film according to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. What do they know?
Here are the nominees for Best Motion Picture Drama. Both "Belfast" and "The Power of the Dog" earned seven nods each, leading in the film categories.
These are the nominees for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy. Stephen Spielberg's remake of "West Side Story" made the list. He also earned a nod for the Best Director.
Winners set to be announced January 9th, but right now, the awards show does not have a home after NBC backed out because of diversity issues with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Elon Musk launched the first ever tourist mission to earth's orbit. This year he became the richest person in the world. And now the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has been named "Time Magazine's" 2021 Person of the Year.
Time's editor-in-chief says the designation is a marker of influence. Few individuals have had influence in Moscow, on life on earth, and, potentially, life off earth as well.
The tradition from Time started in 1927. Man of the Year and was evolved over the years to consider the impact of a group, a movement, or ideal and we can never forget 1938 which named Adolf Hitler, Man of the Year.
Thank you for watching CNN NEWSROOM. I'm John Vause.
Please stay with us. CNN NEWSROOM continues after a very short break with Rosemary Church.
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