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Queen Elizabeth Announces Charles' Wife Will Be Queen Camilla; Macron Heads to Moscow on Monday to Push Diplomacy; Beijing Reports 10 New COVID-19 Cases among Games Personnel; Canadian Truckers Protest Gains Traction; Moroccan Boy Dies after Four-Day Ordeal in a Well. Aired 12-1a ET
Aired February 06, 2022 - 00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hello, everyone, I am Michael Holmes. Appreciate your company.
Coming up on CNN NEWSROOM, a royal bombshell from Queen Elizabeth. Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be getting a new title when Prince Charles takes the throne.
Plus new satellite images show a disturbing reality, a marked increase in Russian forces in Belarus near the Ukrainian border. The U.S. saying the Kremlin has 70 percent of what they need in place for a full scale invasion.
What a day two at the Olympics. The biggest surprise, coming in snowboarding, with one country picking up its first Winter Games gold medal, ever.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is CNN NEWSROOM with Michael Holmes.
HOLMES: Queen Elizabeth, making history, by announcing a major elevation in the royal family, as she celebrates her Platinum Jubilee. Britain's monarch, calling for the Duchess of Cornwall, to be known as Queen Camilla when Prince Charles becomes king.
When the couple married in 2005, they announced that she would be known as princess consort, despite having a right to the title of queen. That was due to the sensitivities, of course, surrounding the title, which was once destined for Charles' first wife, Diana. The queen, making the announcement in a message, marking her 70 years
on the throne and said, in part, quote, "And when, in the fullness of time, my son, Charles, becomes king, I know you will give him and his wife, Camilla, the same support that you have given me. And, it is my sincere wish that, when it comes time, Camilla will be known as queen consort, as she continues her own loyal service."
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HOLMES: Joining me now from Washington's royals expert Sally Bedell Smith. She is the author of both "Elizabeth the Queen" and "Prince Charles." So a great voice to have on this.
Perhaps, there was a hint of how the queen felt about Camilla with the new year, an announcement that she would be a member of the Order of the Garter, which is the highest order of chivalry.
Still, how significant is this announcement?
SALLY BEDELL SMITH, ROYALS EXPERT: It's hugely significant, not least because of the timing that the queen would issue this announcement on the eve of her extraordinary milestone of 70 years on the throne.
And, I think, she is a very commonsensical, wise thing for her to do. I mean, it's kind of masterful that she would have chosen this moment. I don't think anyone was expecting it. And as you say, by giving Camilla the garter, just a month ago, it showed, that really, she appreciates the service that she has done, Camilla has done to honor --
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HOLMES: And back in the fold, too, isn't it?
Because that says a lot about Queen Camilla, it says a lot about her role, her position in the family and how it has evolved since Princess Diana's death, right?
SMITH: Absolutely. There were years where she was persona non grata. When she became Charles' wife in 2005, his advisors, I understand, why they did it. But they wanted to mitigate any kind of dissatisfaction over his marrying her, because, the memory of Diana was, still, very fresh.
They said, all right, it is our intention that Camilla will be the princess consort. Well, that was a nonstarter, really. I think they did it just to kind of smooth the waters. But they created a kind of ambiguity about what her position, really, would be under the law, under tradition. She was always going to be queen.
But they inserted this element of doubt. And the queen, very sensibly, said it is my sincere wish that she be Queen Camilla.
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(CROSSTALK) HOLMES: And she basically said, I hope everyone treats her nicely. So she is getting in ahead, as well.
The announcement means that Prince Charles' age isn't an issue for the queen as well, when it comes to succession. There were suggestions around that the role of king might skip Charles and go to William, when the queen passes, partly for age but partly because Camilla. Well, that's out the window now, too.
SMITH: Yes, that is gone. Now the queen is in very fine fettle and talked about the fullness of time. The other message that she sent, very strongly in this statement was that she was going to continue working, as she always has, that she was going to continue to carry out her duties.
And in other words, no notion of abdicating. I think it was equally important that she emphasized that. The Camilla piece of it was the surprise and, I think, a happy surprise because it sets things out for Charles and Camilla. And it removes an element of uncertainty, that I think would have accompanied his succession and could have caused people to say, well, shouldn't she be the princess consort?
And why should she be Queen Camilla?
Now we know why she should be Queen Camilla. Not only is it what she deserves but it is what the queen, really, wants her to be.
HOLMES: I have to leave it there, Sally Bedell Smith, thank you so much.
SMITH: My pleasure.
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HOLMES: U.S. officials now believe the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, is assembling about 70 percent of the military force he needs, to launch a full scale invasion of Ukraine, a threshold, raising the stakes, with every additional soldier and weapon.
The latest satellite imagery, showing that Russian forces are gathering in strength, in Belarus. Some, are positioned less than 50 kilometers from Ukraine's northern border. Some U.S. analysts fear, if Russia were to launch an all out assault, Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, could fall in as little as 48 hours.
France's president, heading to Moscow on Monday, presumably, to reaffirm NATO solidarity, as he, again, tries to discourage a Russian incursion into Ukraine -- or another one. CNN's Sam Kiley, is in Eastern Ukraine, where residents of one city are as defiant as ever, after facing down the Russians for the past eight years.
But we begin our coverage in Moscow, where the Kremlin is complaining that the West is ruining the Beijing Olympics, with so much negative focus on Ukraine. Here's CNN's Nic Robertson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The foreign ministry spokeswoman has described it as a very unsightly picture. That is, she says, the West putting all attention and focus, on what is happening in Ukraine, putting pressure on Russia and all of that, she said, detracting while the Olympics are going on in Beijing.
So more criticism, coming from officials here in Russia and meanwhile President Macron's getting ready for his meeting on Monday with President Putin, where the pair of them will talk about ways to de- escalate and bring about a reduction in current tensions.
The French president, speaking on Saturday, with both Boris Johnson the British prime minister and the NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. And interestingly both the leaders recommending and advising President Macron of France to maintain the unity of NATO, to maintain that strength of message when talking with President Putin, that NATO is all aligned.
That is very much the same message that Macron got in his phone call, a couple of days ago with President Biden and the day before that, with the prime minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau.
Why do they say this?
Partly because part of President Macron's agenda, not only to bring about some peace talks between the Ukrainian authorities and the pro Russian separatists in the Eastern Ukraine and also to get President Putin to de-escalate tensions, reduce the presence of troops around the Ukraine but he also wants to carve out a stronger foreign policy and defense voice for the European Union within NATO.
And, obviously, concerns among some that would break the picture of unity of NATO that's being presented to President Putin. But President Macron's saying not expecting huge breakthroughs on Monday.
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ROBERTSON: But the Kremlin have described President Macron as a good interlocutor -- Nic Robertson, CNN, Moscow.
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SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is a city of 1.5 million people; at least three quarters of them are native Russian speakers. It is only around 30 miles from the Russian border.
Now the end of the last month, President Zelensky here said that he fears that Kharkiv could be high on the target list, when it came to a Russian invasion. Not only because is it a Russian speaking town but it is quite close to the front line, close to the border. It is the center of the industrial heartland really, of Ukraine.
But these demonstrators behind me are dwindling now. But they came out today, in a show of unity, with the slogans here being, "East and West," that is, East and West Ukraine, united. Of course, the east of the country or some of the east of the country was illegally captured by force, by the Russian-backed separatists.
And, indeed, Russian troops annexed Crimea, due south, effectively, of the capital city. So they are deeply concerned that they are trying to demonstrate to fellow Ukrainians, that Kharkiv is, in no way, going to be a rollover to any potential Russian invasion.
There have been people hear from the far-right and the gay community. Normally, people who are loggerheads in this town, openly, in this state of friction but, here, they are trying to say, they are all coming together, particularly, as Russian speakers, to reject what they say, are the Russian threats and aggression.
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HOLMES: Sam Kiley, reporting there.
Now competition in full swing at the Winter Olympics. As day two goes underway in Beijing. Six gold medals, up for grabs or still up for grabs after New Zealand grabbed the gold in the women's slope style snowboarding.
But political tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing to cast a shadow over these games. CNN's Andy Scholes joining us in Atlanta, with the latest on the competition.
First, Ivan Watson, live in Hong Kong.
Ivan, some more Xi Jinping diplomatic meetings and a banquet with some largely friendly faces.
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Beijing goes on to celebrate the fact that it is the first-ever world capital, to host a Summer and now Winter Olympics.
It provided Xi Jinping with an opportunity to show himself and his wife, hosting leaders from around the world at this opulent banquet, with a really remarkable table at the center with all of these 3D models in it.
And it does look like the guests of honor are socially distanced, with their masks off. Among them, the U.N. secretary general, Antonio Guterres, who also had his own one-on-one meeting with Xi Jinping, and the Chinese foreign minister, talking about cooperation with China, about working together, facing the challenges of the pandemic, of climate change, of global inequality and talked about trying to get vaccines to the African continent and about Afghanistan.
There was a final line in his communique, that was quite interesting, saying, quote, "The secretary-general also expressed his expectation that the contact between the office of the high commissioner for human rights and the Chinese authorities will allow for a credible visit of the high commissioner to China, including Xinjiang."
Of course, Xinjiang has been the third rail of these Winter Olympics, the reason that the U.S. and Canada, U.K. and Australia and a number of other countries, organized a diplomatic boycott, citing the persecution of ethnic Uyghurs from there.
It also may have contributed to the decision to have a Uyghur athlete, light the cauldron, in the opening ceremonies, in Beijing. It has been the subject of recent rancor between the Chinese embassy in Canada and the Canadian government, which made fresh mention of alleged persecution of the Uyghurs, for the reason of its diplomatic boycott.
And, clearly, the U.N. secretary-general is wanting to make sure that U.N. officials could visit that region in the weeks and months ahead -- Michael.
HOLMES: Yes. Real quick, Ivan, the latest on the Olympic COVID cases in that bubble?
WATSON: They seem to be dropping. Only 10 cases reported on Saturday down from about 45 cases on Friday, with Olympic officials saying they are optimistic that the numbers will continue to go down.
They are also starting to pat themselves on the back for the conditions there. The executive director of the games said that some athletes say that the conditions are like paradise right now.
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WATSON: One development that the U.S. bobsledder Helena Myers Taylor, who could not carry the flag in the opening ceremony, because she tested positive, she has now been released from isolation so she can compete.
HOLMES: All right, Ivan Watson, appreciate the wrap-up.
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HOLMES: A Congolese immigrant was killed in Brazil last month and now calls for justice are growing louder after a brutal murder many are calling a hate crime. A live report is coming up.
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HOLMES (voice-over): Protests against COVID restriction spread to cities across Canada on Saturday. These trucks here blocked the major intersection in Toronto for a few hours, in line with what we've seen in Quebec City as well.
In the capital, Ottawa, noisy demonstrations have shut down the parliament area for a week. Some protesters showed up on horseback. The protests were started by truck drivers opposed to a federal mandate requiring those crossing the border into Canada to be vaccinated.
They expanded into a pushback against all COVID restrictions. Ottawa's police chief slammed the protest as a, quote, "insurrection driven by madness."
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HOLMES: Saturday saw more protests in Brazil as people demanded justice for the murder of a Congolese immigrant. Hundreds gathered in 20 cities across the country, outraged over the death of Moise Kabagambe. His family says he was beaten to death last month for demanding back pay from a kiosk where he worked.
Journalist Stefano Pozzebon is with us now from Colombia.
Bring us up to date, Stefano.
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Michael, you can see emotions are very much high by how widespread these protests were Saturday in Brazil. There were 20 cities that reported, all of Brazil's main cities; Rio de Janeiro, of course, where the murder took place but also Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Porto Alegre, also in other parts of the world, when Brazilian communities in Madrid and New York City.
It really is a murder, a crime that shocked Brazil because it brought to the forefront the deep racial disparities when it comes to exposure to violence, according to an expert that spoke with CNN in Brazil.
A Black man is three times more likely to die of homicide than a non Black. And, of course, when the ferocity of this murder was recorded on CCTV, according to the Rio police, really brought the nation to moments of reflection.
The mayor of Rio de Janeiro, by the way, Michael, announced that the bar where the murder took place will be donated to the family of Kabagambe as a mean of compensation. Kabagambe arrived in Brazil in 2011, to escape violence in his native Congo only to find a tragic death.
The one who has been silent so far since January 24th, day of the murder, president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, who, by the way, owns a house very close to the beach where the bar is located.
It is almost his local neighborhood but he did not bother him to speak to the nation or to make any reflection on to the murder -- Michael.
HOLMES: Yes, yes. That is pretty surprising -- or maybe not. Stefano Pozzebon, appreciate it. Thanks for that.
Now in Morocco, efforts to rescue a 5 year old boy trapped in a well have come to a heartbreaking end. On Saturday, rescuers managed to dig their way to the spot where 5 year old Rayan had been stranded for days. But state media say that the little boy did not survive the ordeal.
The rescue operation gripped the nation, as Al Goodman reports. Morocco's king later reached out to Rayan's family.
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AL GOODMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was a tragic accident that claimed the life of a child, said Morocco's king, Mohamed VI in a statement, according to Morocco's royal palace. The king called the parents of the boy, 5 year old Rayan, to offer condolences.
The king's call came after rescuers reached the boy on Saturday evening. He had been in the well since Tuesday afternoon local time until Saturday evening local time, more than four days.
On Friday, rescuers said he was alive. And on Thursday his father told local TV in Morocco that rescuers had gotten food and water to his son and he was hoping that he would be pulled out alive.
The rescue operation was certainly not easy, according to authorities; the well was narrow, just about a 1.5 feet wide, 55 centimeters in diameter. So they decided to dig down a parallel hole about 130 feet or 30 meters down and then try to get over horizontally.
They encountered numerous obstacles, they said, including some landslides, some boulders. But on Saturday, earlier, there was an air of optimism in the afternoon that they were getting very, very close. There were high hopes for an operation that would've turned out differently than this one did.
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GOODMAN: -- Al Goodman, CNN, Madrid.
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HOLMES: A sad story. We will be right back.
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HOLMES: India's prime minister has expressed his grief at news of the death of legendary Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar at age 92. Known as the Nightingale of India she was a playback singer, providing music to be mimed by actors for numerous movies, such as "Life of Pi" and "Lion."
The prime minister Narendra Modi tweeted, "I am anguished beyond words. She leaves a void in our nation that cannot be filled."
The singer died after reportedly being hospitalized nearly a month ago with COVID-19. Her doctor said she suffered multiorgan failure. She was 92. On that sad note, I am Michael Holmes, appreciate your company. "BLUEPRINT" is up next. I will see you in about 30 minutes.
