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Momentum In The Push For Peace; Trucker Protests Threaten Supply Chains; CNN Investigation Raises Questions After U.S. Military Says No One Was Hit By Gunfire After Kabul Airport Bombing; Macron Hails Diplomatic Progress, Kremlin Noncommittal; Russian Warships Heading To Black Sea, Off Ukraine; Residents In Kharkiv Prepare For The Possible Invasion U.S.; Star Mikaela Shiffrin Skis Out For Second Time; Gold for Slovakia's Petra Vlhova; Shaun White Qualifies for Halfpipe Final; Eileen Gu Criticized Over Bicultural Identity; Truckers Protests Over COVID-19 Mandates; Trudeau to Not Negotiate with Angry Protestors; Boris Johnson Pressed to Apologize to Starmer; Revolt to PM Johnson Not Strong Enough; China to Invest Billions for Snow Sports; China's Booming Winter Sport Industry; 2022 Oscar Nominations, "The Power of the Dog" Leading. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired February 09, 2022 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[02:00:12]
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. You're watching CNN NEWSROOM, and I'm Rosemary Church.
Just ahead. A horrifying terror attack at the Kabul Airport last August left more than 180 people dead. Now, a month long, CNN investigation raises questions about whether that attack was fully investigated.
Momentum in the push for peace, French President, Emmanuel Macron says there's progress in the diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine. But it could take months of persistence.
And the trucker protests in Canada, and now threatening supply chains as the blockade wreaks havoc on the busiest international crossing in North America.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Center. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.
CHURCH: Good to have you with us. And we begin this hour with a CNN exclusive. Last August at the height of the chaotic U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a deadly terror attack at Kabul Airport killed 13 U.S. service members, and at least 170 Afghan civilians.
A Pentagon investigation into the attack released last Friday, said everyone died as a result of the blast, the work of a lone suicide bomber. With a four-month CNN investigation into that horrific airport attack, now raises serious questions about whether that has been investigated fully.
Nick Paton Walsh has a report and a warning. It contains graphic images that may be disturbing to viewers.
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: The blast tore into the dense crowd.
MORSAL HAMIDI, SURVIVOR AT KABUL AIRPORT BOMBING: A very high bomb blast sound, and dead people. I saw a lot of hands, legs without their bodies.
WALSH: At least a 170 Afghans, and 13 U.S. troops died after an ISIS suicide bomber struck outside Kabul Airport.
A Pentagon investigation of the attack released Friday said everyone died in the blast
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GENERAL KENNETH "FRANK" MCKENZIE, COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: The single explosive device killed at least 170 Afghan civilians and U.S. service members by explosively directing ball bearings through a packed crowd and into our men and women at Abbey Gate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: Review on this brief glimpse of bomber. CNN spent four months investigating the incident reviewing medical records and analyzing video photos, and audio of the scene. Speaking to over 70 witnesses or families of the dead, doctors, hospitals, staff, and survivors who insist some of the dead and wounded were shot.
The analysis and testimonies raised hard questions as to whether the bomb can explain all the deaths.
NOORULLA ZAKHEL, SURVIVOR AT KABUL AIRPORT BOMBING: I mean, the soldier came directly and they started firing. I've laid down when they start firing like this.
WALSH: CNN spoke to doctors and medical staff at five hospitals who spoke of seeing or treating what they say were gunshot wounds. An Italian run emergency hospital told CNN in a statement about that evening, their doctors assessed quote gunshot wounds on nine victims who arrived dead in the hour after the blast.
Seven was shot in the head, they said, but there was no autopsy done, those rare in Afghanistan. So they assessed the appearance of the wounds.
But an Afghan military hospital, a doctor recorded two other victims that were quote dead due to gunshot injuries and blast injuries from the airport attack. Then there are the survivors, one Afghan survivor was treated in the U.S. military's own Walter Reed Hospital outside Washington. He showed us his medical records asking to be anonymous for his safety. They recorded a gunshot wound to the left chest and blast injuries, too.
Another survivor, Morsal Hamidi had a bullet injury to the left side of her face, say her records from the Italian hospital in Kabul. HAMIDI: I realized that the blood is coming from my face like water
from a tap. I was hit by a bullet in my face in my right jaw here, and the blood extracted from this part of my throat.
WALSH: Dead and wounded flooded into hospitals. We spoke to a doctor who treated patients at Wazir Akbar Khan Hospital, one of the biggest in Kabul. He said he pulled bullets out of four injured patients from the airport that night.
He said he found gunshot wounds on many other dead bodies he examined, suggesting the number of people shot may be much higher. He asked we hide his identity for his safety.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There was two kinds of injuries, people burned from the blast with lots of holes in their bodies, but with a gunshot you can see just one or two holes. In the mouth, in the head, in the eye, in the chest. I removed bullets from four or five injured.
[02:05:14]
WALSH: U.S. Military investigators insist that was not the case.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: There were absolutely no gunshot wounds. During the course of our investigation, we found no evidence that post blast U.S. service members killed other U.S. service members or Afghans.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: But investigators admit they did not talk to any Afghan civilians.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MCKENZIE: During the course of our investigation, we did not have an opportunity to speak with Afghans on the ground.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: Yet, dozens of Afghans assert there was deadly gunfire after the bomb hit here at Abbey Gate. We've built a 3D model of the scene, here's the canal outside the gate, 45 minutes before the blast.
And then just before the device detonated its packed, and the marines are bunched up. The U.S. military said the device was sophisticated and sent ball bearings flying into a dense crowd surrounding the bomber at the time of ignition, and could be reasonably expected to have killed all the people.
Here's one of those ball bearings removed from a victim's shoulder. The U.S. military told CNN that doctors might have mistaken wounds made by these ball bearings for bullet wounds adding, they were too similar to tell apart without study of the internal wounds, and the finding of the projectile that caused it, which the Afghan hospitals could not do in a mass casualty event. For the doctor who said he pulled bullets out of four patients
disagreed.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: According to my 15 years of surgery in Afghanistan, bomb and bullet injuries are very different. When a ball bearing enters the body, it makes a big hole different from a short bullet. When a bullet enters it makes a small hole with a specific border. And when it leaves, it makes a big hole.
WALSH: Other staff at his hospital told CNN they, too, had seen bullet wounds. There is no dispute there was some shooting some in this video. Three minutes after the blast, you can hear three gunshots, but not see whose shooting. There's chaos and fear.
U.S. Marines are likely tending to injured near the gate. Children are being carried away some crouch for cover.
U.S. military investigators released drone video they said started just after this. It is patchy, but they said their analysis of the footage showed nobody running away and panic from gunfire or any evidence of shooting.
The U.S. and U.K. militaries have said there were three bursts of gunfire both at some point just after the blast. U.S. troops noticed a suspicious military aged male across the canal soon after the blast. U.S. investigators said, they fired four warning shots.
The U.K. Defense Official told CNN their troops on top of a tower fired warning shots at about the same time to prevent a crowd surge. The U.S. investigators said the British fired 25 to 35 rounds over the crowd from two positions.
Another marine team fight again, this time a male on a roof armed they said with an AK-47. Investigators couldn't say how many rounds they shot.
The U.S. and British military say all the shots were fired over the crowded canal, but did not hit anyone.
That's important to remember that none of the dozens of eyewitnesses we've spoken to have recalled seeing any other gunman be it ISIS or Taliban in that scene in the aftermath.
The U.S. official also said no other gunmen fired in the aftermath. But one marine did talk to CBS News in September, recalling a firefight with an assailant.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's blown off his feet and still has his wits about him, shot through the shoulder, immediately recovers his weapon and puts the opposing gunman down.
WALSH: The U.S. official CNN spoke to now asserts the marine spoke in error, adding no other troops investigators interviewed recalled that incident occurring.
Doubts of the Pentagon story also emerged from Afghan survivors. They also recall troops opening fire, but say civilians were hit. Morsal was there with her sister Shogofa in the trench, three meters from the blast she said.
HAMIDI: Our head from-- was fallen to my hands and I just put it on the other dead people.
WALSH: You saw the soldiers on the wall of the trench shooting down into the trench?
HAMIDI: Yes. They shoot it on trench.
WALSH: And when the shooting started, did you see it or did you hear it?
SHOGOFA HAMIDI, SURVIVOR AT KABUL AIRPORT BOMBING (through translator): Yes, I saw the soldier exactly. Some came to save their own colleagues, other stood there and fire directly towards people.
WALSH: Noorulla Zakhel said he was also in the trench hit in the head by the blast and tried to flee with his cousin, Sajal (ph).
[02:10:14]
ZAKHEL: I told to my cousin, so he'll run. We run together, when I tried to go climb out from the canal, I succeed, but I think my cousin escaped. The soldier came directly and they started firing.
WALSH: When did you find out that Sajal was dead?
ZAKHEL: In the morning time. When I called my family, "Is Sajal okay?" They said he is murdered.
WALSH: And how was his body? What were the injuries on his body?
ZAKHEL: They were just shoot him in two bullets on head, in this side and taken out from this side, and another one on shoulder.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WALSH: One survivor didn't want to be identified and said he was also in the trench. He said he saw his cousin shot in front of him. Medical reports as we cited earlier confirmed his brother and cousin were declared as having been shot.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Maybe five minutes after the blast, I tried to help my brother and cousin out of the canal, but I wasn't able to. They were alive until that point. But when the firing started, a bullet hit one of them in the head. This is what I saw with my own eyes. He died right there on the spot.
WALSH: A total of 19 survivors CNN has interviewed said they saw people shot or shot themselves. The U.S. military said the witnesses we spoke to had quote, "Jumbled memories from a concussive event and are doing their best to piece together what their brain is unlikely to remember clearly", and that no other fact backed up claims people were shot. The volume of testimony from Afghan survivors though, does present
questions as to how so many witnesses could make such similar claims.
CHRIS COBB-SMITH, CNN FORENSIC BLAST ANALYST: I feel like I know the area backwards already having looked at all that footage.
WALSH: CNN hired a forensic blast analyst, former UN weapons inspector and a war crimes investigator Chris Cobb-Smith, to see what the scene could tell us about the bomb.
SMITH: It does indeed, look at that, the bomb was filled with ball bearings.
WALSH: And it was quite small, right?
SMITH: It's most certainly a small device. And virtually, nothing of the concrete infrastructure in this area that has been damaged significantly by a big blast.
I do not believe that bomb was big enough to kill 180 people at all.
WALSH: That remains under contention, and there were other experts who believe the bomb could have killed all those people. The Pentagon's investigation aims to provide answers for the families of Americans lost here. But in Afghanistan, the survivors of the blast and its aftermath, dispute the American narrative and suffer with their memories.
HAMIDI: Every night's like a nightmare for me. I cannot sleep. It's very terrible for me. But I just try to remember all my hopes, all my wish.
WALSH: Nick Payton Walsh, CNN, Kabul.
CHURCH: Well, now to the Russian military buildup along its border with Ukraine, the Kremlin is serving up a lukewarm response to claims of diplomatic progress from Emmanuel Macron.
The French President met with his Ukrainian counterpart in Kyiv on Tuesday with positive reviews of his talks with Russian President, Vladimir Putin a day earlier. But the Kremlin spokesman refused to confirm any tangible steps toward a resolution to the crisis.
Ukraine's President said he wants Russian troops out of Ukrainian territory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): President Macron and I have a very common position on the security threats for Ukraine, and all of Europe, and the whole world. The new positions, new approaches from the European leadership, we stand for the occupation of our territory.
EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF THE FRANCE (through translator): We had an exchange with the president, who told me that he would not be the cause of an escalation. The second important element is that there will be no fixed base or deployment of sensitive equipment in Belarus, France, since the beginning of this crisis has never made excessive statements on the subject.
But in the same way, I do not believe that this crisis can be resolved by a few hours of discussion.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Next, Mr. Macron traveled to Berlin for talks with the German Chancellor and Polish President. He said diplomatic efforts have resulted in new leads to de-escalate the crisis. All three leaders agreed on the importance of a unified front.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDRZEJ DUDA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND (through translator): We have to find a solution, and we need to find such a solution that makes sure that war is avoided. This is our most important objective at the moment. I believe we can achieve this, and I think the most important thing at the moment is that we work in unity and solidarity.
We have to show that we speak with one voice that we are in this together and that we cannot be broken. And I think we must also show that we will not back down.
OLAF SCHOLZ, CHANCELLOR OF GERMANY (through translator): It is our aim to prevent war in Europe.
[02:15:14]
SCHOLZ: We are very concerned about the situation in Ukraine. And our stance is identical as well. The territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine must not be injured.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: CNN's Melissa Bell is live this hour in Kiev, Ukraine. She joins us now. Good to see you, Melissa.
So, how much diplomatic progress has actually been made, given the Kremlin contradicted President Macron's interpretation of his talks with the Russian leader?
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the Russian President also during that press conference after their five-hour of talks, mentioned the fact that he believed that though it was early days, Rosemary, he did think Vladimir Putin insist that there was a possibility on the basis of Emmanuel Macron's proposal that tangible steps were taken together.
And so I think that whatever the details beyond the French claim that the Russians have agreed to withdraw from Belarus after the joint military exercises that are to be held there, and beyond his claim also that President Putin committed to not being behind any further escalation.
There is this idea that they have at least agreed to keep speaking and to try and make progress together. So essentially, he's brought Vladimir Putin to a negotiating table that hadn't really existed thus far. The point for Emmanuel Macron was two-fold, of course, to try and ensure that peace was maintained in Ukraine, but also to make sure that Europe was at the forefront of discussion.
This is, after all, in his mind, a question of European security. And so the idea is that they will continue talking with Vladimir Putin to try and create new treaties, new security guarantees, new leads for discussion, and that may allow them to find mutually satisfactory security guarantees. And I think that is a new thing in the conversation, and certainly one that seems to have dialed down the pressure.
It's important to remember I think that even whilst there is this talk of the possibility of de-escalation, looking ahead, Rosemary, the fact is of escalation all around. We saw the arrival of those ships in the Black Sea yesterday announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense there to carry out naval exercises. The-- more than 100,000 troops that remain posted outside the borders of Ukraine remain in position. And of course, a lot will depend over the next few days as to what those positions are, whether they begin to be withdrawn or whether they continue to escalate.
So far, clearly what we've seen, certainly, Rosemary, is that they've continued to be escalated. So you're quite right, we will need to see how those words translate into actions. But there is at least some hope, where before there was very little.
CHURCH: Yes, absolutely. Melissa Bell joining us live from Kyiv. Many thanks.
While the politicians work for a diplomatic resolution to the standoff, people in Ukraine are preparing for the worst, and the residents of one city have reason to be uneasy. CNN Sam Kiley reports from Kharkiv.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Kharkiv is Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine. Russian troops and ships muster on land and at sea. And few places in Ukraine feel more vulnerable than Kharkiv.
Here there's only 30 miles from the Russian border. The city of about a million and a half people, at least 75 percent of them speak Russian as a mother tongue. Demonstrations like these are important because this city could be one of the first to get attacked in the event of an invasion.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President has warned as much that U.S. officials are saying that Vladimir Putin could order an attack at any time.
ANNA ZYABLIKOVA, KHARKIV RESIDENT: Every day I'm trying to be calm. And I'm trying to go through my daily routine. But I'm trying to have this thought, "Okay, where are my documents? Where is food? Where is my mom? Do I have enough money?"
KILEY: In a city that's been identified as a potential Russian target by the Ukrainian president, there are attempts to carry on as normal.
But for many, this is the new normal.
VIKTORIA MAKARA, KHARKIV RESIDENT: I don't want to flee, so I need to protect the city, my home, my family.
KILEY: Ukraine has expanded its military, but it's a long way behind Russia in military night. So it's taking these Wreck T-64 Tanks from the 1960s, and rebuilding them from the chassis up to rush to the frontlines.
Much like Ukraine is trying to build and defend a democracy in a landscape much haunted by the Russian dominated Soviet Union.
Sam Kiley, CNN, Kharkiv.
CHURCH: Masha Gessen is a staff writer for The New Yorker and author of Surviving Autocracy.
[02:20:18]
CHURCH: Masha just returned from Ukraine after extensive reporting there, and joins me now from New York. Thank you so much for being with us.
MASHA GESSEN, STAFF WRITER, THE NEW YORKER: Thank you for having me.
CHURCH: So Russia's President Putin made a disrespectful and derogatory comment about Ukraine's president in the midst of intense shuttle diplomacy efforts. But while President Zelensky replied with skill and grace, where does all this leave diplomatic efforts?
And is Vladimir Putin simply stringing the West along with these talks just to buy more time before he launches an invasion?
GESSEN: Well, I don't know that an invasion is the goal. I think, in fact, this diplomatic ongoing diplomatic kerfuffle is the goal, right? What Putin wants is to be the center of the world's attention, to be the unpredictable one, to be the one who's every word seems to matter for the fate of the world.
And to keep reminding the world just how much power he has to destabilize European security, to cause a-- an energy crisis in Europe, to send energy prices soaring throughout the world, to name a few things that have nothing to do with Ukraine for which Ukraine is merely sort of the playground or the staging ground.
CHURCH: And that's interesting you say that, because if that is his goal, he's actually been quite successful so far. France's President, Macron claims he obtained a clear and explicit commitment from both leaders to strict compliance of the Minsk Agreement intentions. But he also thought Putin had agreed to a military de-escalation, which the Kremlin very quickly denied. So what exactly has Putin agreed to so far? Because the optics are
very much in his favor, showing him in control, certainly through various news conferences, pushing hard for his demand to end NATO expansion while continuing to mass Russian troops at Ukraine's border.
GESSEN: Well, Putin claims that there's-- there is no need to talk about military de-escalation since he denies any intention to escalate the war in Ukraine, right? We shouldn't be saying that we're talking about an invasion of Ukraine because of course, Russia invaded Ukraine eight years ago, and for the last eight years.
And this is essential to remember for the last eight years there has been a shooting war that claims casualties every day, right? So we're not talking about starting a war. We're not talking about a new invasion. We're talking about the risk of a major escalation, right?
But Putin denies that that's on the agenda. So he removes de- escalation. The problem with this game is that there isn't a clear offer, right? This game actually only ends, and I hate calling it a game, but he's very clearly playing.
And it ends with an invasion, a full scale invasion or some kind of major escalation. I don't think we know whether it's going to happen in the next weeks or months, or it may take a few years. But this constant brinksmanship can only end with bloodshed, unfortunately, right?
And this ended itself, this drawing attention to himself, this constant diplomatic, high stakes negotiations, you know, they're time limited. The world cannot constantly be revolving around Vladimir Putin. And so he's going to have to escalate in order to draw more and more attention to himself.
CHURCH: And what do most people in Ukraine want to see happen here, and what impact would a Russian invasion likely have if it happens?
GESSEN: It's amazing that we-- how rarely we ask that question, right? What do people in Ukraine want? And we do have a fair amount of information on that, because Ukraine, unlike Russia, is a country where the public is a country in which people have opinions and are not afraid to express them.
So we do understand that Ukrainians more than anything else, and this is true of Ukrainians in the East and West of the country. And it's even true of Ukrainians in so called ungoverned territories. They want an end to the conflict. They want an end to the war.
There's probably more public support for negotiations with the self- proclaimed leaders of the breakaway republics than Ukrainian leaders even realize, because there's such a strong need to have this tension and then to stop living with the constant threat of violence.
CHURCH: Masha Gessen, thank you so much for joining us.
GESSEN: Thank you for having me.
CHURCH: And still ahead, another devastating blow for an American superstar. We'll look at what could come next for Mikaela Shiffrin?
Plus, China's American born Snow Princess, Eileen Gu is a standout star of the game so far.
[02:25:22]
CHURCH: But the spotlight is also highlighting a brewing controversy. The details next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CHURCH: Day five of the Winter Olympics is underway in Beijing. And we've already seen another stunning disappointment for Americans skiing star, Mikaela Shiffrin, who skied out of her first slalom run after missing an early gate. It comes just days after she crashed out on the first run at the giant slalom.
Meanwhile, the spotlight is still shining on China's Snow Princess skier, Eileen Gu born in the U.S. but competing for China. She won her first Olympic gold on Tuesday. But since then she's faced renewed questions about her citizenship and nationality.
And CNN Steven Jiang is standing by in Beijing with those details, but let's start with World Sports, Patrick Snell joining me right here in Atlanta. Good to see you, Patrick.
So you have all the Olympic highlights, including of course that tough news for Mikaela Shiffrin. What's the latest?
PATRICK SNELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Rosemary, another really, really disappointment for the USA superstar, Mikaela Shiffrin. A case of Deja Vu, actually, you might say, and not in a good way either on day five of competition at Beijing's Winter Games.
The 26-year-old enjoy just a big, big setback in China after skiing out on the first run of the slalom earlier today, and failing to finish. Would you believe this, for the second race in a row? Just to reset for our viewers.
So earlier in the week, Shiffrin crashed out of the women's giant slalom event that was after just 11 seconds, the race in which was the defending gold medal is now two days on the United States compared to the recording. And now they did not finish after skidding out of control missing a gate after just five seconds.
The four-time world champion won gold in the slalom, a Sochi Games in Russia in 2014, and finished fourth remember that in South Korea four years ago left visibly devastated by the outcome here. Fighting back tears afterwards, sitting alone as well on the side of the course for several minutes in apparent shock, and just utter in disbelief.
Shiffrin saying afterwards that she felt pretty awful, but it won't feel awful forever. Adding she felt pretty low right now. Reaction coming in from U.S. Ski & Snowboard team tweeting a heartbreaking DNF or "Did Not Finish" for Mikaela Shiffrin, "She is okay, but disappointed." While American skiing legend, Lindsey Vonn taking a social media, "Gutted for Mikaela Shifrin, but this does not take away from her storied career and what she can and will accomplish going forward. Keep your head high."
Well, Shifrin still has opportunities potentially left open to her depending on what indeed she does decide to compete in.
[02:30:00]
But just for context here, the two races she skied out in, that's the giant slalom and now the slalom by far her favorite ones and did indeed represent her best chances to medal. So, we'll see what happens next.
Now, you want to get to this, because in the last few minutes, we can tell you some significant news. Slovakia's Petra Vlhova has taken the gold medal in slalom claiming her first ever Olympic medal finishing, and listen to this, her country's first alpine medal at a Winter Games as well. Ahead of the Austrian competitor Katharina Liensberger and the Swiss, Wendy Holdener
So much -- so much going on today. I want to tell you all about the American snowboard superstar, Shaun White, whose revealed his decision to retire after these games. The 35-year-old competing at his fifth games, calling time on an amazing career. And how about this performance because after crashing out on his first effort earlier, White lying down a strong second run, this in the men's halfpipe competition, bouncing back in style. A blistering second run putting White in fourth on the leaderboard. Why is this so important? Because it guarantees him a spot in the final on Thursday where he's aiming, he hopes, for a fourth Olympic gold. He's joining 11 others right now, including Japan's Ayumu Hirano who leads the field at the moment.
A busy, busy Wednesday. I did warn you Rosemary, back to you.
CHURCH: You certainly did and covered it very well, indeed. Many thanks, Patrick.
So, Steven, American born Eileen Gu who's representing team China is letting her critics know exactly what she thinks about them. What she saying and what's been the reaction?
STEVEN JIANG, CNN BIEJING BUREAU CHIEF: Eileen Gu has undoubtedly conquered China, literally crushing the internet when she struck gold. And she actually continues to dominate the social media chatter here, but the one thing she seems unable to bridge is this growing division between the United States and China, which is not taking place not only on geopolitical level, but also on a people -- to people level. So, as you said, she has faced criticism in the U.S. for, "Betraying her birth nation to represent China." And there are lingering doubts over whether or not she has indeed renounced her U.S. citizenship. But now she's facing new criticism for her supposedly towing the Chinese government line on some several sensitive issues, including Peng Shuai, the Chinese tennis star, but also this country's extensive internet censorship system. Eileen Gu has been fighting back though and here's what she said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EILEEN GU, OLYMPIC FREESTYLE SKIER: And in that sense, I'm not going to waste my time trying to placate people who are, one, uneducated, and two, probably you're never going to experience the kind of joy and gratitude and just love that I have the great fortune to experience on a daily basis. So, yes, if people don't believe me and if people don't like me, then that's their loss. They're never going to win the Olympics, so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JIANG: As you can imagine, that clip has now gone viral in China with many hailing her answer as the perfect response to address not just her critics but also China's critics. But many here have also pointed out that kind of directness, eloquence, and confidence she displayed in that video seemed to be more of a product of her American upbringing. So, in better time, that kind of bicultural identity would probably be an undisputed asset instead of a source of controversy. But right now, it seems even somebody like her unable to unite an increasingly fractured world, Rosemary.
CHURCH: Yes. Indeed. Pretty unique situation for sure. Patrick Snell and Steven Jiang, many thanks to you both for joining us. Appreciate it.
Well, a growing truck approaches over COVID mandate is slowing things down at North America's busiest border crossing. Threatening the supply chain between the U.S. and Canada. More on that in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:35:00]
CHURCH: Truckers in Canada vow to keep on protesting until the government removes COVID-19 restrictions. The protests are even having an impact in the Unites States with truckers blocking the Ambassador Bridge connecting Winsor, Ontario to Detroit, Michigan. It's the busiest border crossing in North America in terms of trade. Some Canadians though support what the truckers are doing saying they've had enough of all of the COVID rules. Here's CNN's Paula Newton.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Freedom, it's the mantra here. And what has become an eyesore of a parking lot right in front of Canada's Parliament. It stretches for blocks. It's gone on for days. The message, the same, we're done with COVID and we're staying until the government is to.
DORAN, TRUCK DRIVER: Until the end until everything's over. Until problems get solved.
NEWTON (voiceover): For Doran, behind this rig for 17 years, the vaccine is the problem. He says he's vaccinated but feels he was forced into it. He wants the freedom to choose. As a father, he admits he is stressed losing hundreds of dollars every day he's out here.
DORAN: But there is something more important than this, you know, life than the money. You know, if you don't do -- make any changes now, we're going to lose our freedom.
NEWTON (voiceover): But here's the thing, it's not just truckers, it's not just about the vaccine mandates. These Canadians drove five hours and are here to have their say. Because the truckers tapped into a pandemic fatigue. They say, they can no longer endure. And they say they are vaccinated.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm 100 percent.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Double dose. Got my QR code. For what the --
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I even made and sold masks at the beginning of this. But you know what? When you keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result, that's the definition of insanity. We're insane right now. We keep doing the same things over and over again. Nothing is changing.
NEWTON (voiceover): To get change, they say, they're staying put. No one has brokered a way out of this.
NEWTON (on camera): And now political leaders and police have learned the hard way that these kinds of truck blockades can pop up anywhere, right across the country in a moment's notice.
NEWTON (voiceover): The latest, effectively paralyzing one of the most important supply chains across any border in the world. The Ambassador Bridge in between Windsor and Detroit. Officials say, it may seem easy to resolve, but confrontation and violence is a real risk.
DREW DIKENS, WINDSOR, ONTARIO MAYOR: And so, everyone here is trying to deal -- at least on our side, is trying to be sensible, fair, and reasonable. Recognizing that we live in a democracy and that protesting demonstration is a natural part of the democracy. But also, recognizing that, it doesn't mean you can you take your protest to the point of closing down the busiest economic core between the United States and Canada.
NEWTON (voiceover): But what's at stake couldn't be clear for both Canada in the U.S. A movement of truckers that can stand their ground, it seems anywhere, and so chaos. It's for that reason that auto industry executives are joining other high-profile Canadians in warning American supporters of this protest to back off.
FLAVIO VOLPE, PRESIDENT, AUTOMOTIVE PARTS MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION: Let's see if Ted Cruz or the attorney general in Texas or any other number of American personalities, are going to stand up for the manufacturers in Michigan who can't get their products exported, or the petrochemical companies in Texas that rely on part suppliers turning those petrochemicals into plastic parts and sending them North to the border.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON, (on camera): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remains resolute. He says, he is not negotiating with angry crowds and that that would set a dangerous precedent. Having said that, he also points out that living up to those vaccine and mask mandates would actually end a lot of these COVID restrictions much sooner. Paula Newton, CNN, Ottawa.
[02:40:00]
CHURCH: Trevor Harrison is a political sociologist at the University of Lethbridge and former director of Parkland Institute. He joins me now from Lethbridge, Alberta in Canada. Good to have you with us.
TREVOR HARRISON, UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE POLITICAL SOCIOLOGIST AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF PARKLAND INSTITUTE: Nice to be here, Rosemary.
CHURCH: So, you wrote, in the recent opinion piece, about conservatives pandering to protestors at Canada's border. And you asked whether the country's Conservative Party was still a legitimate opposition or whether it was just a sad echo of Americas Trump Republicans. What did you mean by that?
HARRISON: Well, we know that over the years, certainly the Conservative Party here has had very strong connections to the Republic Party. And so, some of its tactics in the last years seems to be, kind of, mimicking that. But it's deeper that just simply mimicking the Republican Party or Trump supporters. The Conservative Party over the years has always had factions within it. And it's very difficult to hold those factions together.
And what's happened in recent years is, of course, everybody is just fed up with the pandemic and the restrictions, that I suspect that's very much the case in the States. But the party is kind of now jumped on this, the understandable anger and frustration of people. But it's been using it in some ways as a very -- much a, kind of political tool here to go after the liberals.
And the other thing I should add, of course, is that the -- we had a federal election here just in the fall, and again, the Conservative Party did not come out victorious. So, they're very frustrated with that. And so, this is kind of another way to play politics with it. So, I think that's part of what's actually going on with this particular movement. It is very much a very partisan protest at this point.
CHURCH: And as you've been speaking, we've been looking at these images from Ottawa antivaccine mandate protestors there. Now, they are blocking U.S. trucks at the border on International Bridge. So, what exactly is going on at these protests? Because the longer they stay, the more they ignite support from Conservative politicians in both Canada and the U.S. and also tap into antivaccine sentiment across the globe, encouraging antiestablishment behavior and sedition. HARRISON: That's true. And I think what's -- it started out as a relatively small issue. The federal government-imposed restrictions or a mandate to be vaccinated on truckers coming across the border. The United States has also brought in similar kind of rules. Most of the drivers in Canada, 90 percent of truck drivers, are vaccinated. It began around that very particular issue.
And as I said, I think, conservative minded people here thought, well, this is a good way to kind of rally the troops and go after the federal government. The problem is that, in fact, most of the measures taken against the vaccines -- against the pandemic, the COVID, is they are imposed at a provincial level. Much the same, perhaps, as in the United States.
That -- so, what's happening, in many of those provincial governments are in fact conservative governments. So, one of the things happens with protests sometimes is you light the fire but you're not quite sure where it's going to keep burning. So, now the protests are actually going after many of the provincial government restrictions as well. So, it's quite unpredictable. And, again, it's feeding off the understandable anger and frustration. We all want to be out of this. And yet, you know, it's become -- at a point when we're actually getting close to the end, it suddenly has exploded into all of these protests by the people.
CHURCH: Yes, that is a sad situation, isn't it? Because, I mean, after all too, we're all experiencing pandemic fatigue. So, what does it signal to you when politicians in various nations exploit a situation like this?
HARRISON: Yes. It's something about where our politics are going is that, you know, people are using it on all sides these kinds of things to kind of stir up and really play to their base. And again, we see that in Canada. I think you're seeing it in the States. Bet you see it also in other countries, like Europe as well. And rather than politicians bringing people together around something and having a kind of rational discussion, you know, instead we see a lot of politics being played.
I have to say here at the federal level for both of our major parties and at the provincial level, the governments in charge and their oppositions have not done a very good job here, frankly, handling the situation.
[02:45:00]
They kind of stirred the pot rather than try and do temper the main sense.
CHURCH: Yes, exactly. Residents there are just overall of the honking, aren't they? All of the noise and all of the disruption. Trevor Harrison, thank you so much for joining. We appreciate it.
HARRISON: Thank you. Have a good evening.
CHURCH: And in New Zealand, protesters demonstrating against vaccine mandates sought inspiration from the Canadian tactics, blocking streets, surrounding parliament with trucks and campers. The protesters were largely unmasked. They are pledging to camp outside the building until COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. The protest came ahead of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's first speech of the year. She says, the demonstrators do not represent the majority of people in New Zealand. The Prime Minister's approval ratings have plummeted recently. Many residents disagree with how she handled COVID restrictions.
The British Prime Minister is facing the most serious challenge yet to his leadership. The latest controversies impacting Boris Johnson and his efforts to change the subject.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
JACQUELINE HOWARD, CNN HEALTH REPORTER: Ginger is often used to dress up a dish or add spice to a meal. But a growing body of research shows that this root can have big benefits for overall health. Study suggests that ginger can help calm an upset stomach, often caused by nausea related to pregnancy or chemotherapy. One easy way to get ginger into your diet is with a breakfast smoothie. Blend one carrot, three apples, and a one-inch piece of ginger root with a squeeze of lemon, then stir and sip. Another easy way to add ginger to your diet is to puree it into a ginger pumpkin soup or add it to your favorite meal as a sauce. Another plus, ginger can help you unwind.
According to a University of Georgia study, when ginger is consumed, either raw or heated, it helps ease muscle pain after working out by as much as 25 percent.
CHURCH: The British Prime Minister is facing fresh cause to apologize over comments he made about the opposition labor leader in parliament. Boris Johnson falsely claimed Keir Starmer protected notorious pedophile Jimmy Savile before his death in 2011. Starmer was head of public prosecutions at the time. British media report that Downing Street says, Mr. Johnson has no intention of apologizing. Even after this incident happened on Monday.
You're seeing protesters harassed Starmer outside parliament before he had to be escorted into a police car. Boris Johnson condemned the behavior as absolutely disgraceful. It's the latest controversy to hit the Prime Minister as he fights for his political survival. His latest strategy, a partial reshuffle of his cabinet. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER (voiceover): Britain's Rebel Prime Minister is in serious trouble.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a business meeting.
ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): Boris Johnson's administration stands accused of breaking the rules, throwing multiple boozy parties under his roof during lockdown.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We placed him partially --
ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): Police are investigating to determine if crimes were committed at the heart of government. An earlier civil investigation found a culture of excessive drinking and failures in leadership and judgment at 10 Downing Street.
BORIS JOHNSON, UK PRIME MINISTER: I get it and I will fix it.
ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): A defiant Johnson has ignored calls for his resignation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In the name of God, go.
ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): And ordered a shakeup of his team. He reportedly saying, I will survive, to his new director of communications who described his new boss as not a complete clown but a very likable character.
[02:50:00]
The Prime Minister's fate now lies with his own Conservative Party. At least, nine Tory MPs have taken steps to remove Johnson and submitted letters of no confidence to the 1922 committee, which oversees the party. Among them is MP Tobias Elwood.
TOBIAS ELWOOD, BRITISH CONSERVATIVE MP: It's almost like a Trumpesque approach to dealing with some of the challenges of short-term survival. We should be an exemplar of good democracy. And at the moment, I'm afraid this is not our finest hour.
ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): If the committee receives 54 letters, that's 15 percent of Tory MPs, a vote to unseat Johnson would take place. But while there is a will, there is, for now, no way to depose Johnson.
ELWOOD: Many of my colleagues, you know, we don't believe that this is going to get better. And therefore, this is a, you know, a miserable dry path to a very, you know, dark place.
ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): Without a strong alternative to replace the prime minister, the revolt against him remains fractured and disorganized. And, if a vote is triggered, at least half of Tory MPs, that's 180 lawmakers must vote against Johnson to force him out of office. If the vote fails, Johnson would be protected from attempts to oust him for a full 12 months.
JOEY JONES, FORMER ADVISER TO FORMER BITISH PM THERESA MAY: If they're going to strike, they have to be confident that they can get it right and that they can muster the numbers. That, it seems to me, is largely why people are continuing to be hesitant at the moment.
ABDELAZIZ (voiceover): For now, Johnson clings to power, dragging his party's reputation and credibility down with his own. Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE) CHURCH: China's Winter Sports industry is booming thanks to the Olympics. After the break, we'll look at how the country is keeping tourists interested despite a lack of natural snow. Back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
China is hoping winter sports fans will stick around after the Olympics are done. The country has poured billions of dollars into growing its ice and snow sports tourism since being announced as the Winter Games host. And even though much of the snow is being made by machines, tourists seem to be taking to it naturally. CNN's David Culver has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): Beijing playing host to its second Olympics. But these are the first Winter Games held in China's capital city. Given that many parts of China rarely see below freezing temperatures, winter sports are traditionally not as popular. But that is changing. Eric Zhang and his toddler twins just got back from a ski trip in Northeastern China. Growing up in Southern China, Eric never even saw snow until he moved to the U.S. for college. It was there he started skiing. And now, as a dad, he's made it a family hobby.
ERIC ZHANG, SKI ENTHUSIAST: I had so many friends around me and then they starting to learn ski. We are starting to learn snowboarding, right.
CULVER (on camera): Even as adults?
ZHANG: Even as adults, right. And then so, we are bringing our kids to -- onto the snow then the industry is going to be booming.
CULVER (voiceover): Booming in typical China fashion. Take Jiang City, Shanghai, the lack of snow and ice, not a problem. Artificial skating rinks, like this one, are built annually with the help of snowmaking machines, giving kids in todays' Southern China, a luxury, generations before them never experienced. Getting a feel for the slopes on the ski simulators.
[02:55:00]
In the past five or so years, more than 100 of these climate- controlled machines have sprung up in Shanghai alone.
CULVER (on camera): As people across China warm up to the idea of winter sports, you've got more and more indoor ski facilities, like this one here in Shanghai, that are opening up. And with that, you have a rapidly expanding market for it.
CULVER (voiceover): As part of its Olympic campaign, the Chinese government unveiled an ambitious winter sports development plan in 2016. They mean to construct 650 skating rinks and 800 ski resorts by the end of this year. And to grow the scale of the industry to top $150 billion by 2025. A lucrative market that attracts both domestic and international businesses.
China is proud of his surging craze. Since Beijing won its bid for the Winter Olympics seven years ago, the government says it has successfully motivated more than 300 million Chinese to participate in winter sports. A target set by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014.
We should take the opportunity to popularize ice and snow sports, Xi stresses. But China's speedy growth also brings problems. The quality and service of its ski resorts are still relatively behind more traditional ski resorts in the West. There are also environmental concerns. The massive artificial snow making in ski resorts stretches already exhausted water resources.
Back in his shanghai apartment, ski enthusiast Eric Zhang, hopeful for what's ahead.
ZHANG: I think with the Olympics is going to be a strong booster for this, you are going to see the huge boost in enthusiasm and passion of the Chinese people in this winter sport.
CULVER (voiceover): In Olympic ambition for a once ruled nation, prime to making winter sports mainstream to last long after the closing ceremonies. David Culver, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CHURCH: The nominations are in for what's called Hollywood's biggest night. We learned Tuesday, which films and performers will have a chance to win at next month's academy awards ceremony. Leading the pack, "The Power of the Dog" with 12 nominations. Jane Campion was nominated for best director for the film. She is the first woman ever to be nominated twice in that category. The film is also up for awards in the best picture and best actor categories among several others. It is a great movie worth a watch.
Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Rosemary Church. I'll be back after a short break with more news from all around the world. You're watching CNN. Stick around.
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