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Russia Disappointed by U.S. and NATO's Response; President Macron Grandstanding Amidst Russia-Ukraine Tension; More Testing Positive Despite Beijing's Strict COVID Rules; North Korea Thirst for Attention; Brits Awaits for Downing Street's Report; COVID-19 Rules Loosen in New Delhi; Regulators Approved E.U.'s First Antiviral COVID Pill; Some European Countries Easing COVID Restrictions; COVID Cases Trending Down In Most Of United States; Democrats Walk Out Of Florida Surgeon General Hearing; Canadian Truckers To Protest Mandates; United States Gun Violence Caught On Video; history In Latin America; Burkina Faso Coup; Italian Lawmakers To Hold Fifth Round Of Voting Friday; Cardinal Addresses Sex Abuse Investigation; United States Bomb Cyclone; World Marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Aired 3- 4a ET
Aired January 28, 2022 - 03:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Welcome to all of you watching us from around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber.
Ahead on CNN Newsroom, tensions simmering on the crisis of the Russia- Ukraine border. Only made worse by the U.S. and Ukraine not being on the same page.
Plus --
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UNKNOWN: I think the sooner it's dealt with, the better, basically. We all need to announce that, don't we?
UNKNOWN: The news to come out sooner or later, doesn't it? It needs to be accountable for his actions.
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BRUNHUBER (on camera): Fighting to save his job. Boris Johnson vowing he won't delay the so-called party gate report. But why is it taking so long to come out?
And encouraging signs. Some parts of Europe are relaxing their COVID restrictions as they find a way to live with the virus.
UNKNOWN: Live from CNN center, this is CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber. BRUNHUBER: Russian President Vladimir Putin has yet to comment
publicly on the U.S. and NATO's stance on Moscow's security concerns about Ukraine. But its foreign minister says the west has failed to address the main issues. Mainly, the eastward expansion of NATO. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says he will want to hear from Putin.
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ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: The response that counts is President Putin's response. And to the best of our understanding according to the Russians, these papers around his desk. And we look forward to his response.
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BRUNHUBER: CNN's Melissa Bell is live this hour in Kyiv, Ukraine. But we begin with our Nathan Hodge in Moscow. So, Nathan, all of this back and forth with written responses and so on, is this actually leading anywhere do you think? I mean, so far, the signals from Moscow as we heard there, haven't been very encouraging.
NATHAN HODGE, CNN PRODUCER: Well, Kim, the ball is very firmly in Russian President Vladimir Putin's court. The Kremlin says that they have received the U.S. written response. Putin has read it. But the Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov has also said, telling reporters that they need to, basically, wait for a couple of days. Or, it's not entirely clear but the response was not imminent while -- while Putin basically weighs his response.
But we have had some initial reaction from Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov and it has not been initially very responsive to the U.S.
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SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): There is no positive reaction on the main issue in this document. The main issue is our clear position on the inadmissibility of further expansion of NATO to the east and the deployment of strike weapons that could threaten the territory of the Russian federation.
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HODGE (on camera): So, basically, Lavrov has made it clear that there still a whole lot of distance between the U.S. side and the Russian side. Now there are secondary issues that he said where the U.S. and Russia can continue dialogue. For instance, on issues of arms control over troops in Europe, exercises, and things like that.
But the main issue keeping the two sides apart is whether or not there is a path for Ukraine to have membership in NATO. Russia has made it clear that is a redline that is a no go. While on the U.S. side it has basically said Russia cannot dictate terms about who can and cannot as a sovereign nation join the Transatlantic alliance. So certainly, there's going to be a lot of speculation in the coming
days while we wait for Putin's response. But certainly, that is the person who is going set the next, sort of turn the next page in this drama here, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. Absolutely. Nathan Hodge in Moscow. Thank you so much. Let's go now to Kyiv, Ukraine and CNN's Melissa Bell. So, Melissa, what are we to make of that call between Biden and Zelensky which reportedly didn't go well? Surely, this discord between Ukraine in the U.S. just plays into Putin's hands.
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right. The danger with this waiting game, really, Kim, is that any divisions that it might be, not only between the United States and Ukraine, for instance, but between European allies and NATO allies is that any divisions are likely only to go starker or to make themselves heard.
What we know from the American side is that that phone call that took place last night lasted an hour and 20 minutes. And according to a source speaking to CNN, a senior Ukrainian official at that call, as you say, didn't go well. With on one hand, President Biden talking about the fact that according to American intelligence an invasion is likely possibly in February when the ground freezes here in Ukraine. Making it easier for Russian forces.
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On the other hand, Zelensky rejecting that and asking that the messaging be tone down. They are of course here in Kyiv really worried about the economic impact that all this saber rattling and tough talk might have. Now both the White House and the Ukrainian side have denied that the phone call was as fractious as that.
But it does highlight that there are concerns. There are differences of opinion. Differences in messaging. Now on the one hand the American strategy, Kim, of being very open with its intelligence, being very aggressive with its rhetoric, has had the wanted impact to managing to bring together European allies.
We heard from Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission speaking to Christiane Amanpour last night and saying that all options are on the table. Even some of those sanctions that had so divided Europe so far, were still on the table.
So, President Biden's strategy has worked on one hand but it does have a danger on the other. And there is some frustration here in Kyiv about what that very forceful language what might have the impact that it may have on the economy.
And of course, Zelensky is talking here to a home crowd as well trying to keep things calm at home. Now we're going to hear from the Ukrainian president later on today in a press conference. So, we'll find out more about his thinking, although according to that source once again, in that phone call he pointed, President Biden, in the direction of those talks that happened on Wednesday in Paris. The Normandy format talks, explaining that he saw some hope there. The
fact that all sides had managed to agree on the need to hold the ceasefire, he saw as some sort of progress. There will also be a call tonight between the French president and the Russian president. With the French president saying that what he hopes to hear from the Russian president is much more about his intentions and with that troop buildup along the Ukrainian border. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: Melissa, you talk about Ukrainians worried about the economic impact, but are they worried about more pressing things? I mean, how are they coping with all of this? Is there any tangible signs of people there are concretely preparing for a potential war?
BELL: Well, there is, we have been hearing from people we've been speaking to on the streets that there are those who say they are prepared to go out and fight, there are of course those who are already on the front line and have been there for a long time, Kim.
There are those Americans who are choosing to leave already after the United States announced that it was urging its citizens to do so. But life really here goes on much as it ever did. And I think the idea that that invasion is imminent is very hard to believe when you're here.
The idea that there is that much fear out on the streets, that really isn't very much how it feels. But again, there is on one hand what is going on outside of Ukraine between Washington and Moscow regarding the troop buildup along Ukraine's border. And then there is that low level of constant front line combat that is going on for several years now.
And that with those Normandy format talks the French president and the German chancellor hope to revive, hope to come back to. But here, for the time being, certainly in Kyiv, living aside at the east of the country things are very much as normal although everyone of course keeping a very wary eye on precisely what might happen next.
With the big question, as we were just hearing there from Nathan, what is in the mind of Vladimir Putin? And until he gives his answer to those proposals, those written proposals from both NATO and the United States, very difficult to know what he intends to do. And as long as that remains the case, for people in Ukraine it's going to be a little like living in limbo to wait and see what happens next, Kim?
BRUNHUBER: Yes. What in -- what's in Putin's mind so hard to divine. I appreciate your analysis, Melissa Bell in Kyiv. Thank you so much.
Now earlier, I asked Politico's chief Brussels correspondent about the upcoming conversation between the French and Russian presidents and what Emmanuel Macron hopes to accomplish. Here he is.
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DAVID HERSZENHORN, CHIEF BRUSSELS CORRESPONDENT, POLITICO: Broadly speaking, the west would like to de-escalate this conflict. They would like Russia to back off from the Ukrainian border. But Macron seems to have other aspirations here. He is in the midst of a presidential reelection campaign.
And so, there is a real question about, you know, is Macron working here now for the greater good, or really trying to insert himself at the center of this discussion, when in the past his diplomacy with Vladimir Putin really hasn't laid anywhere.
So, he says this is about eliminating any misunderstanding. The question is, is it also grandstanding on the part of a French president who is up against opponents all of whom seem more friendly to Russia than Emmanuel Macron is? So, you have to wonder why Vladimir Putin would turn around and suddenly after engaging in this long standoff after being in a dialogue directly with Joe Biden, which we know is where the Russian leader wants to be.
Why would he suddenly turn around and deliver some kind of compromise to Emmanuel Macron rather than take the time as he has said he will to study the responses, the written responses from NATO and the United States, and then come back with a decision or take the military technical response that he is warned about.
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So, a real question here about what Macron thinks he will get out of this call at 10.45 other than of wanting more attention for Emmanuel Macron himself.
BRUNHUBER: Interesting. So, skeptics might think that this is just theatrics on his part. You talk about Macron inserting himself into the process here. I mean, this week France hosted talks between advisers from Russia and Ukraine which was the first since this latest border buildup began.
So, what daylight is there between the French position and that of the U.S. and the U.K. when it comes to how best to handle this conflict?
HERSZENHORN: Overall, there isn't a lot of daylight. But Macron has been more willing to engage Putin in discussion. He's wanted to keep this dialogue going, even at times when it seems that it serves no purpose other than to give Putin more air time for his own grievances.
So, you're right, there were these Normandy talks as at the presidential advisory level in Paris but maybe the last best chance to really resolve this conflict in Ukraine was in December 2019, also in Paris when the Normandy format met for the last time in leader formation.
So, with Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, Vladimir Putin was there and they came up with nothing. I mean, it was a long, long night. I was there in Paris at the Elysee Palace for that. It went through until past midnight and as we can see, you know, two years, more than two years later we're still in this predicament.
BRUNHUBER: Do you think Macron's efforts here of diplomacy are making things more complicated from a U.S. perspective? I mean, already all the NATO nations obviously aren't talking with one voice on this issue. So, does it make it even harder to present a united front? HERSZENHORN: The front is united but it does create that risk.
Remember, Joe Biden convened a call of major western leaders. Emmanuel Macron was on that call. And virtually hours afterwards, one of his senior advisers comes out and tells us in the press that Macron will now reach out directly to Putin and offer a path to de-escalation. As if some path like that hasn't been apparent.
Clearly, Putin could withdraw his troops back to garrison at any moment. So, there is this risk that France does look like it is grandstanding a bit like it is a little bit off on its own here. When in fact there is a process already playing out.
Now, Biden and others would stress that in fact they are all in lockstep. But there is no real difference between the goals of Emmanuel Macron or Olaf Scholz, the chancellor of Germany or Joe Biden or any of the leaders of the NATO alliance. Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general has been clear about this as well.
They want to discourage any aggression against Ukraine by Russia. They want to de-escalate this conflict, they're willing to engage in talks with Vladimir Putin about certain aspects of the relationship. Whether that's new arms control talks or that's about limiting military training exercises in the future.
But Macron, I think will face these questions. And it does make life a little more complicated for the U.S. when it is trying to be very, very clear that there is, you know, a certain set of requirements of Putin to de-escalate. If not, if there's an attack on the Ukraine there will be a high cost in the form of sanctions and economic measures.
BRUNHUBER: All right. We will certainly be watching. I really appreciate your expert analysis. David Herszenhorn in Brussels, I really appreciate it. Thanks.
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BRUNHUBER: Another day and still no sign of the report into Downing Street parties held during lockdown. British prime minister insists he isn't delaying its release amid a scandal that threatens his political future.
Boris Johnson says the report will be published in full but didn't provide the timeline.
Bianca Nobilo reports on what could be holding up the inquiry.
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: But why this delay? Sources in Westminster that I've spoken to speculate that it could be caution over making sure that the Sue Gray report doesn't prejudice the ongoing Met investigation into whether or not some Downing Street parties broke COVID laws. Or it could be the fact that no publication date was ever set.
So, really, this isn't a delay. Additional question marks over the veracity of some of Boris Johnson's statements have been raised over e-mails from the foreign office that surface a contradicting Johnson's denial that he did not authorize the evacuation of animals from Kabul when the city fell to the Taliban. Johnson dismissed these reports.
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: This whole thing is total rhubarb. I was very proud of what our armed services did without pitting. And it was an amazing thing to move 15,000 people out of Kabul in the way that we did. I thought it was also additionally very good that we were able to help those vets who came out as well. But that the -- I can tell you that the military always --
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UNKNOWN: But you didn't intervene.
JOHNSON: Absolutely not.
UNKNOWN: You didn't --
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JOHNSON: The military always -- the military always prioritized human beings. And that was quite right. I think we should be incredibly proud of what (Inaudible) and what it achieved.
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NOBILO (on camera): Regardless of whether or not Brits or M.P.s think that party gate is painfully hypocritical, or a disproportionate distraction, there is no question that the weight for the report is monopolizing politics. The next few days will be critical for the prime minister trying to shore up support while he is fighting for his political life.
Bianca Nobilo, CNN, London.
BRUNHUBER: All right. I spoke earlier with Quentin Peel, an associate fellow with the Europe Programme at Chatham House. He is also a commentator for The Financial Times. And I asked him for his take on the progress of the inquiry. Here he is.
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QUENTIN PEEL, ASSOCIATE FELLOW, EUROPE PROGRAMME AT CHATHAM HOUSE: I think the report is effectively done but some names could yet be taken out. If the police say their investigations are still underway. And that may be a problem that is -- that is really what he's holding it up. Meanwhile, the government is effectively at a virtual standstill while we wait.
BRUNHUBER: All right. So, looking at this here it's a hypo -- hypothetical. But what might there be in that report that would push Johnson out. What would be in there that would be so bad that, you know, this would effectively end his reign there?
PEEL: I think the most serious thing would be clarity that he has lied to parliament. That he actually said untruths about the fact that he had not attended any parties or, and then he admitted that he did. And indeed, that nothing had been done in Downing Street that broke the law.
If he lied, that's a problem. The second problem I think is, if it shows that there is a culture of boozy parties going on in Downing Street while the entire country was locked down because of the pandemic, that is very damaging too. I think Johnson is a seriously wounded prime minister.
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BRUNHUBER: Quentin Peel of Chatham House giving us his analysis there.
North Korea has conducted at least six missile tests this month and now it's boasting about the apparent success of the program. It released undated photos said to be leader Kim Jong-un inspecting a weapons factory, according to state media, he urged workers to create powerful cutting-edge arms.
North Korea also put out images that said where of Thursday's tests of two tactical guided missiles and of Tuesday's testing of long-range cruise missiles.
We have the latest from CNN's Paula Hancocks in Seoul.
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This time last year Kim Jong-un revealed his weapons wish list with a five-year deadline for his experts to achieve it. This month alone has seen what it believed to be six separate missile tests. The busiest January on record.
JEFFREY LEWIS, PROFESSOR, MIDDLEBURY INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: The North Koreans are pretty methodically working through the list of missiles that they announced in January 2021. So, everything we've seen they warned us it was coming, and in some cases, even showed us prototypes.
HANCOCKS: North Korea says it's testing hypersonic missiles fast to maneuver while in flight, making it almost impossible to shoot done. A nightmare for missile defense systems. But weapons experts do question how far along Pyongyang really is.
At last week's politburo meeting led by Kim Jong-un, Pyongyang said it's considering, quote, "restarting all temporarily suspended activities." Assumed to mean nuclear tests on hold since September 2017. An intercontinental ballistic missile tests, ICBMs which could theoretically hit mainland United States. North Korea has not tested an ICBM since November 2017.
LEWIS: I think we're headed toward test a very long-range missiles including ICBMs. I think Kim has now said that moratoria are off a couple of times. And so, this is one of those things when they repeat something over and over and over again, they are waiting for us to get the message. HANCOCKS: Two important dates are coming up. The 80th anniversary of
the birth of his father, Kim Jong-il next month. Then the 110th birthday of his grandfather Kim Il-sung in April. Always national holidays, but anniversaries ending in a zero are generally marked in a more significant way.
JOHN DELURY, PROFESSOR, YONSEI UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: They've got to do something. You know, at a minimum, it has to be a parade. It has to be something that the Kim ruling regime can show to the people here's how great our country is. Here's what you should have pride in.
HANCOCKS: The Biden administration has said it's really to talk but Kim does not seem ready to listen. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a fierce supporter in engagement is running out of time. Presidential elections on March 9th, and he leaves office in May.
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DUYEON KIM, ADJUNCT SENIOR FELLOW, CENTER FOR A NEW AMERICAN SECURITY: I think North Korea might be interested in dialogue if the terms are met under North Korea's conditions. But for the time being, I think North Korea is squarely inward focused.
HANCOCKS: The country's testing has surprised some, who assume to quite a run up to the Beijing Winter Olympics. President Xi Jinping, Kim's biggest ally and benefactor is unlikely to want instability in the region.
But with the bulk of Biden's foreign policy attention currently elsewhere, North Korea may feel it has a window to test its short- range technology. And if it really does want Washington's attention ICBMs and nuclear tests are guaranteed to get it.
Paula Hancocks, CNN Seoul.
BRUNHUBER: All right. Coming up, we are not just days away from the Winter Olympics in Beijing but COVID-19 concerns are growing as more cases are linked to the games.
Plus, it hasn't been done in Honduras as 200-year history. We'll look at what the U.S. vice president had to say while attending the event. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER (on camera): China is reporting more COVID-19 cases linked to the Beijing Olympics. Just a week before the games are set to begin the president of the International Paralympic Committee announced on Thursday that he had tested positive for the virus.
And some COVID restrictions in New Delhi are being lifted as the caseload there continue to fall. There will no longer be a weekend curfew and bars, theaters, and restaurants can now operate at 50 percent capacity. So, we're covering all the latest COVID developments around the
region. Our Vedika Sud joins us from New Delhi, but first, let's go to CNN's Will Ripley in Taipei.
So, Will, with Olympic athletes and others arriving in Beijing, take us inside the COVID numbers. It seems as though many of the cases were found on arrival but still a good number, still seem to be happening inside that so-called closed loop.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, you're talking about dozens of cases. People who have been putting their health information for 14 days prior to being able to get on a plane. They get to the airport in Beijing, they're tested, they tested negative. Then they enter the closed loop, the Olympic bubble, if you will, that separates those who are participating the games from the rest of the general population.
And you have dozens of cases of people who test positive inside that closed loop. Now, granted, once they test positive, because they're tested for COVID every single day they are taken out of the closed loop to another location where they're in isolation until they test negative.
If this were to happen to an athlete it could potentially cause them to miss their competition entirely because the test that China is using are extraordinarily sensitive. But it is preventing at least for now any sort of widespread outbreak inside -- inside that Olympic bubble.
When you're talking about, you know, just over 140 confirmed cases tied to the games right now, most of them caught at the airport. Dozens of them caught after people entered inside the bubble.
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One hundred forty. It's a much bigger number of human rights organizations, 243 that are filing a petition urging countries around the world to not only engage in diplomatic boycotts but not to normalize China's government for alleged human rights abuses of the Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, of those, you know, worshipping in Tibet.
The crackdowns in Hong Kong. The intimidation of Taiwan. All of these things that have human rights group around the world accusing China of being undeserving of hosting a peaceful global sporting event. Of course, Beijing firing back saying that this is a largely U.S.-led effort to politicize sports based on what Beijing calls ideological bias, lies, and rumors.
Although those who have escaped from Xinjiang and have given their very vivid emotional accounts tell a very different story. And of course, you also have the Peng Shua tennis player who is believed to still not be allowed to speak freely even though she has some what are believe to be pretty scripted or coached appearances on Chinese state media. And some very friendly foreign media as well, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, so many issues. We're keeping an eye on there. Will Ripley in Taiwan. Thank you so much. Now we want to go to Vedika in New Delhi.
So, Vedika, on one hand, welcome news from any in terms of some restrictions being lifted but not when it comes to restrictions parents in Delhi wanted to see lifted most, which is the ban on an in- person schooling which has been going on for some, what, 600 days?
VEDIKA SUD, CNN PRODUCER: Absolutely. That remains 600 days for the older kids and over 650 days according to the petitioners who are parents to this case to the Delhi government as well. As a central government here in India it's 650 days.
Kim, very quickly, according to the United Nations India has seen one of the longest closures ever since the outbreak of the pandemic. We are talking about more than four million children who have been forced out of classroom situations because of COVID-19 since March 2020.
So, on Thursday, there was a very important meeting being held by the Delhi authorities. And this petitioner who we have spoken along with other petitioners who are parents had actually gone a day before on Wednesday to meet the deputy chief minister of Delhi, handing over that petition that said that our children are suffering.
There can be mental health issues, there can be anxiety issues. So, let's just get these reschools open. It's been long enough. The Delhi government did promise that they would forward it during that meeting. But the call is taken by the Delhi left governor who heads the disaster management authority. And he feels it's not time yet to reopen schools.
The ramifications according to educators can be catastrophic. And we had a lot of parents complaining about this after they heard that schools will not be reopening in Delhi. And they have a point here. Because they say you are ready to reopen bars, you're ready to reopen theaters, you're ready to reopen restaurants at 50 percent capacity. Is that more important than having our children in schools in a controlled environment where you have about 20 to 30 to 40 students in a classroom?
That is the question. But also, there are nervous parents, aren't they, who don't want to send their children back to school at this point. So, it is a difficult decision for the governments to take, the central government to the state governments.
At this point in time, the silver lining Delhi is seeing lower cases than earlier. Earlier this month there were about 20,000 plus new daily cases being reported in Delhi. Today, it's over 4,000. Hopefully, that should help in making a decision sooner than later to reopen these schools. Our kids, they say, the parents say need to be back as soon as possible, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, absolutely. Vedika Sud, thank you so much. I appreciate it.
SUD: Thanks, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: More of the pre-pandemic life makes it come back into Europe despite high levels of infections. Still ahead, how some European countries learn to just carry on. Stay with us.
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Welcome back to all of you watching us here in United States, Canada and around the world. I'm Kim Brunhuber this is "CNN Newsroom."
The European Union has approved its first antiviral pill for treatment of COVID. On Thursday the European Medicines Agency gave the greenlight to (inaudible), drug developed by Pfizer. The U.S. and Britain have already authorized it. The E.U. agency approved the drug for COVID patients who have underlying conditions that put them at risk of severe disease.
Meanwhile, some European countries are moving from trying to do away with COVID to learning how to live with it. As you'll see they're easing their restrictions even if the virus is still very much a threat.
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BRUNHUBER (voice over): (Inaudible) his blackboard reads were back open. Welcoming dinners for the first time in 2022. Restaurant staffer resuming their usual duties this week. That the Netherlands relaxes COVID restrictions. Business owners hope this time it is for good.
FRANK TOERING, RESTAURANT OWNER: So hope this is the last time. That we have the freedom to work and (inaudible) fun things. So, really, really, really hope this is the last time.
BRUNHUBER: The Netherlands is among several European nations now easing rules imposed to control the spread of the Omicron variant. Mask requirements unlimited business hours will soon be lifted in Denmark as the country aims to end remaining COVID measures by next week after they were initially loosen two weeks ago.
In Austria, a so-called lockdown on the unvaccinated is coming to an end.
On Wednesday the country's chancellor said the pressure on hospitals has eased and he promised an end to all restrictions if infection rates remained stable.
In England an end to most coronavirus measures began Thursday. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Omicron appears less severe than previous variants and encouraged booster shots and the use of anti-viral drugs over restrictions to fight the virus.
Still COVID numbers remain high throughout Europe. Denmark the Netherlands, and Austria are all seen rising infections which may only increase as restrictions relax. The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland, all reporting record daily new
cases this week. That's also the case in Germany where parliament is set to debate proposals to require some residents get vaccinated.
Russia also reporting record numbers this week with hospital officials say patients seem to be exhibiting less severe symptoms as the variant spreads at record speed restrictions are lifting in what may be a pandemic first. Officials and residents across Europe perhaps choosing to carry on with COVID-19.
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BRUNHUBER (voice over): So for more on this, Jim Bittermann joins us now live from Paris. So Jim, as we just saw there in many countries, we are seeing rising case numbers but lower in restrictions. Explain the contradiction here?
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, it's a pretty tough one to explain, Kim, on the surface but I think underneath, there are a lot of things you can kind of see what the logic is. Basically like you outlined in that package there. In fact there are a number of countries where restrictions are being lifted including this one.
France this week, next Wednesday will lower restrictions on wearing masks in public and the mandate to employers to have people -- as many people as possible working from home. In Denmark, the Prime Minister announced that all restrictions are going to be taken off as of the 1st of February. And she said in a news conference, she said tonight we can find a smile again.
Basically saying talking to a very relieved audience. This is a lot of people who would've liked to see the restrictions going away completely. Other countries however are not taking away the restrictions. Germany and Sweden for example are not.
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So, it's a mixed bag of things. And basically the contradiction is that the numbers are still going up. The number of infections in France are well over 300,000 per 24-hour period. And in other countries as well. Similar kinds of things.
But the numbers in the ICU units the intensive care units dropping to some extent in some countries like here in France. And as a consequence the severity does not seem to be there with the Omicron variant. And because of that, people are basically thinking that they can remove the restrictions. The pressure is enormous from the public but also from the business community as well, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: Jim, do you get the sense that even if these results in cases rising that this changes is more of a permanent one, signaling a change of outlook? I mean, some countries like Spain are saying, you know, listen, we want to treat COVID more like the flu.
BITTERMANN: Well, here is what the WHO, the World Health Organization's European Director said earlier in the week as some of these numbers are starting to come in. They said, it was plausible that the region meaning Europe was moving towards the kind of pandemic, the pandemic in game.
So it is plausible. The question is, is it too soon now to declare the pandemic over and done with as some governments would like to do? And that is something that is an open matter for debate, that was debated in the newspapers here at this morning in France, a couple of leading doctors suggesting for instance, it is way too early to lift the kind of restrictions the way the government is planning to on Wednesday. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: Yes. We are having that same bitter debate about, you know, the end times of COVID here in this country as well.
Jim Bittermann, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
BITTERMANN: You bet.
BRUNHUBER: The U.S. appears to be easing out of COVID crisis mode. Just take a look at all the green on the map there. New infections now trending down in 34 states. And that is fueling a wave of optimism.
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SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think there is a lot of positive indicators here and I think there is a lot of people who share this optimism if you just look at the numbers. You know, things are -- cases or at least coming down. Hospitalizations starting to come down.
Testing now is something that is being taken more seriously. Masks getting out there. Trendsetting in the right direction and there are lots of things in place to potentially buffer what maybe some resurgence over the next several months.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: But deaths are still spiking with an average of nearly 2,300 Americans lost every day. That's more than doubled the daily totals from two months ago.
And as CNN's Alexandra Field reports, it is not just infections and deaths diverting. So our American attitudes on how to move on from the pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FRIEDEN, FORMER CDC DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT/ CEO, RESOLVE TO SAVE LIVES: I am more optimistic about the pandemic today that I have been since it was declared a pandemic nearly two years ago.
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Public health experts can't predict if or when the next COVID surge might come. But many are increasingly certain this one is nearly behind us.
FRIEDEN: In another few weeks, the Omicron flash flood, not a wave, but a flash flood will have largely passed.
FIELD: Some states haven't reached their Omicron peak yet. In Montana there is an onslaught of new cases. They are up more than 50 percent in just the last week.
ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE: When you have 2,000 deaths, 150,000 hospitalizations and you have people who are now getting infected to the tune of somewhere around 700,000 a day we are not there yet.
FIELD: Pfizer and Moderna are both working on Omicron specific vaccines. It isn't clear that they will be needed but COVID has brought surprises before.
PAUL BURTON, CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, MODERNA: I think hopefully we'll get into spring and into summer and have a period of stability. But we have to be prepared.
FIELD: Vaccine manufacturers and public health experts are keeping close tabs on an Omicron's sub-variant. It isn't considered at this point a cause for alarm. Most Americans are eager to put Omicron behind them and still divided over how to. The politics of vaccines and masking taking center stage in Florida.
SEN. LAUREN BOOK (D-FL): Typically, do the vaccines work against preventing COVID-19. Yes or no?
JOSEPH LADAPO, FLORIDA SURGEON GENERAL: Thank you again Senator. You know, yes or no questions are not that easy to find in science.
FIELD: Democrats walked out on a confirmation hearing for the Republican Governors pick for surgeon general.
BOOK: It was sort of interesting to hear the surgeon general say that he is guided by science but at that at the same time says that mask- wearing is an extreme measure.
FIELD: In New York, Sarah Palin rejecting the CDC's isolation guidelines two days after testing positive for COVID she is spotted eating outdoors at a restaurant. Palin reportedly also ate inside that same restaurant while unvaccinated. A violation of city rules two days before she tested positive.
[03:40:03]
But parents across the nation deeply divided over whether children should continue to have to wear masks in schools. Now the head of one of the largest districts in the nation in Maryland, just outside of D.C. saying that she doesn't see an end to the mask requirement anytime soon. She says there is no magic number when it comes to the vaccination rate that would trigger the end of the mitigation efforts.
In New York, Alexandra Field, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE) BRUNHUBER: Some angry Canadians are voicing their frustrations over
vaccine mandates. Crowds lined the streets near Toronto cheering on truckers headed to the nation's capital to protest the government's vaccine mandate for cross border truck drivers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNKNOWN: Trying to get this country back, you know? It's not just for the truckers but we support them. But it's for the entire country. It's actually for the entire world. Like, just -- you know, if you want to make some decisions and do things on your own and that's fine. But if people don't want to then we should have the choice to choose. Yeah. Freedom.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: The truck drivers are due to arrive at parliament hill in Ottawa on Friday. Organizers insist all demonstrations will be peaceful.
A dramatic end to a police chase in Houston, Texas, Thursday. A shoot out that left three police officers wounded. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(POLICE SIREN)
(SHOOTOUT)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: While the shootout continued, the police say the three officers hit are now in stable condition. Now the suspect then carjacked another vehicle and later barricaded himself in the house. Police say he surrendered after several hours and is now hospitalized because he was wounded when officers returned fire.
A shocking report on sexual abuse in the Catholic Church, even takes aim at the senior church leader who commissioned the investigation. You'll hear what Carmel Marks has to say about it.
Plus, parts of the U.S. could be slammed with a powerful winter storm this weekend. We'll go to the CNN Weather Center for details ahead. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: For the first time in its 200-year history, Honduras now has a female president.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
(APPLAUSE)
(CHEERS)
[03:45:00]
BRUNHUBER (voice over): Xiomara Castro was sworn in Thursday in a soccer stadium in the nation's capital. She won a landslide victory with the promise of fixing the systematic problems behind poverty and corruption.
XIOMARA CASTRO, HONDURAS PRESIDENT (through translator): Poverty increased by 74 percent, to make us the poorest country in Latin America. This speaker by itself explains the migrant caravan of thousands of people of all ages who flee to the north, Mexico, and the United States. Looking for a place and a way to subsist regardless of the risk that it implies for their lives.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER (on camera): U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris attended the inauguration met up with the President Castro where they discussed the flow of migrants to the U.S. border. She says the two nations can work together on that as well as bolstering Honduras' economy.
Burkina Faso's new military leader is speaking out for the first time since seizing power in a coup on Monday. He's asking for global support for the West African nation and insist that the constitutional order will be restored, quote, "When conditions are right."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PAUL HENRI DAMIBA, LIEUTENANT COLONEL, BURKINA FASO'S MILITARY LEADER (through translator): I call on the international community to support our country so it can emerge from this crisis quickly and resume its march towards development. I understand the legitimate doubts raised by this break in the normal functioning of the state. But I would like to reassure Burkina Faso will continue to respect its international commitments particularly the respect of human rights.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: People gathered on the streets of the capital Monday to cheer the change in power. Frustrations have been growing at the now former government's handling of Jihadist attack.
It all turns out a third or even a fourth time wasn't the (inaudible) in Italy this week. Italian lawmakers failed to elect a new president after a fourth round of voting Wednesday. The (inaudible) parties leaders blamed each other for the failure. At least Prime Minister had been the front runner but only got five votes and then worries over pulling him from his position in a sensitive time.
A fifth round of voting will be held Friday. The threshold required for victory falls from 2/3 majority to an absolute majority. It will lead the presidency is largely ceremonial. The Prime Minister holds most of the power.
The Catholic cardinal which commissioned in exhaustive investigation into sexual abuse in the church in Munich, Germany has now addressed some of the issues that were documented. Cardinal Marx himself was implicated in the report of failing to take action in at least two abuse cases.
CNN's Delia Gallagher has more on how the church is responding to the disturbing findings.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Cardinal Marx did not respond in any detail to the specific accusations from the report that he himself mishandled two cases of sexual abuse. He did say, he takes full responsibility. He asked for forgiveness. And he said that he accuses himself mostly of not having taken enough into consideration of the victims perspective.
The cardinal who is the current archbishop of Munich and the man who commissioned the report as well as a close adviser to Pope Francis instead spoke more generally about his response to this report which found nearly 500 victims of sexual abused in the Archdiocese of Munich over a 75-year period. Here is some of what he had to say.
CARDINAL REINHARD MARX, ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF MUNICH AND FREISING (through translator): After having read the report I am repeatedly shocked about the harm and suffering of the affected persons. And also what the perpetrators have done and how those responsible have behaved. What is clear here in the expert report is that there is a dark side. And this will continue to be visible in the future history of our church.
GALLAGHER: Cardinal Marx was also asked about the role of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI whom the report found also mishandled four cases of sexual abuse while he was Archbishop in Munich in the late 70s and early 80s. The cardinal said that the Pope Emeritus wants to clarify this. Has said he will clarify this and should be given the opportunity to do so.
In fact on Monday, Pope Emeritus Benedict released a statement saying that he would be reading the report as for understanding that given his age and the length of the report, almost 1,900 pages it would take some time to get his statement.
Now Cardinal Marx last year offered his resignation to Pope Francis over the general situation of sexual abuse in Germany which at the time he called a catastrophe. During the press conference on Thursday, he made reference to that offer of resignation which Pope Francis declined and he said that he intends to continue working if that can be helpful.
Delia Gallagher, CNN, Rome.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: This year's International Holocaust Remembrance Day came with warnings that lessons are being lost and twisted in this era of misinformation. A memorial ceremony was held Tuesday at the Auschwitz- Birkenau death camp in Poland marking 77 years since its liberation. Auschwitz set up by Nazis is where more than a million people were killed. Most of them Jews.
[03:50:09]
In Berlin, the German chancellor and president of Israel's Knesset laid a wreath at the memorial to the murdered Jews of era. And in Brussels the holocaust survivor who is now 100 years old spoke to the European parliament and condemn those who would dare compare government pressured to get vaccinated against COVID to the yellow stars forced upon Jews.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARGOT FRIEDLAENDER, CENTENARIAN HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR (through translator): It is with disbelieve that now as a 100 year old, I have to see how symbols of our exclusion by the Nazis so-called Jewish star, The Star of David are shamelessly being used today by the new enemies of democracy on the streets to style themselves in the midst of a democracy as victims. On a day like today we must stand together that the memory of the holocaust remains alive and is not abused by anyone.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER: And she went on to say we cannot change what happened but it must never happen again. The Nazis killed 6 million Jews during the holocaust. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BRUNHUBER: It was a rare sight, heavy snowfall covering parts of Northern Israel and the West Bank.
CNN's Hadas Gold takes us there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
HADAS GOLD, CNN POLITICS, MEDIA AND BUSINESS REPORTER (voice over): It is not often Jerusalem looks like this. Snowfall overnight covering the Dome Of The Rock, Western Wall Plaza and all of Jerusalem's holiest sites.
In a city often full of tension and conflict sometimes only an act of nature can show the common humanity. Here at Damascus' gate kids and adults alike throwing some snowballs while families took advantage of school being out for some unique sites and photos.
And at the Western Wall similar scenes of playing with some praying.
More than 15 centimeters fell overnight. The most snow Jerusalem has seen since 2013. Schools were canceled and some of the roads between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv close. So while the snow is not expected to stick around for very long, for now for these few hours become quiet envelopes the City Of Gold.
Hadas Gold, CNN, Jerusalem.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BRUNHUBER: And joining me now is meteorologist, Derek Van Dam. Derek, some extreme weather there and I understand we're expecting some here in the U.S. as well.
DEREK VAN DAM, CNN METEOROLOGIST (on camera): Yes, first let's start across the Middle East. Because what can you really do when your city shuts down from snow that hasn't been piled up like this since 2013? When you get outside, you take advantage of it and you do a bit of sightseeing in your own town, right?
I think that's a pretty good thing to do. And on a snowy Thursday afternoon that's what people are doing there in Jerusalem. Now look there is more snow in this forecast. Especially for the West Bank. Some of the higher elevations of Israel even into parts of Lebanon as well as a low pressure system still skirts the eastern portion of the Mediterranean.
You can see the precipitation just starting to pile up across this area. Most of this will actually be rainfall for the lower elevations near the coast. But again you stark it into the mountainous areas above 1,000 feet or so and you will have some minor snowfall accumulations going forward.
[03:55:04]
Now the other top story here in the eastern parts of the U.S. just issued within the past five minutes blizzard warnings for a large majority of the eastern coastline of the U.S., I should say into New England. But let's focus in on that so you can get a better idea.
Winter storm warnings and blizzard warnings I should say, just hoisted for Eastern Massachusetts including the metropolitan region of Boston. And also for the coastal areas of New Jersey. We've also had winter storm warnings that have been included for New York as well as Long Island. These were watches before this.
And now all of our computer models3 coming together an agreement on what will take place here within the next 36 hours as a bombs cyclone, a termed that we often use as meteorologist when a storm strengthens along the coastline, it reaches a certain criteria and it strengthens and produces a significant storm. And that is what we're anticipating. We could see its evolution here within the next day and a half.
One thing I want you to take note of is the wind forecast for the East Coast. We could see hurricane-force wind gusts mid-day Saturday. And you start to combine that with extremely heavy snowfall. You reduced visibility and you meet that blizzard criteria. Especially along the coastline and of the National Weather Service recognizing the coastal areas of New Jersey and Eastern Massachusetts are the some of the hardest hit areas with the reduced visibility and blizzard conditions.
I want to show you these comparisons of snowfall totals because this is important. We are starting to see an uptick in our snowfall totals for places like New York and Boston. But some of the outer fringes of our computers starting to max out there near Boston with the potential for over two feet of snowfall. I mean, that is just unheard of. Incredible to think if that actually panned out in Boston.
Kim, back to you.
BRUNHUBER: We'll be tracking that through the weekend. Derek Van Dam, thanks so much.
Well space mystery as scientist fascinated. Astronomers saying unknown spinning object shown in these photos of Milky Way with that star symbol l is releasing giant burst of energy every 18 minutes. The theory does include it's the remnants of the collapsed star or a dense neutron star.
Researchers say they'll keep watching the object to see if it continues to turn on and off. One scientist says that the object is in our galactic backyard just 4,000 light years away as quote, "Kind of spooky, because nothing else in the sky does that."
Interesting. Well thanks so much for watching. I'm Kim Brunhuber, enjoy the rest of your day. "CNN Newsroom" continues with Isa Soares next. Stay with us.
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