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Russian Skater Embroiled in Doping Controversy; Russia-Ukraine Tensions are Rising; Trucker-Inspired Protest Spreading to Other Places; Coronavirus Pandemic; Top Parties Face Big Tests In State Legislative Election. Aired 2-3a ET
Aired February 11, 2022 - 02:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[02:00:00]
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KIM BRUNHUBER, CNN ANCHOR (on camera): Hello and welcome to all of you watching us from around the world. This is "CNN Newsroom." I'm Kim Brunhuber.
Just ahead, new controversy at the Beijing Olympics, after officials confirmed that Russia's 15-year-old skating sensation failed a drug test. We're live in Beijing with the latest.
Plus --
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JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Americans and Russia start shooting at one another. We're in a very different world than we've ever been in.
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BRUNHUBER: President Biden sends a warning to all Americans in Ukraine, just as Russia continues to flex its military might in an area that Ukraine depends on for shipping.
And, saving the rhinos. We're live in South Africa where some wildlife experts are trying to prevent poachers from getting to their precious horns.
UNKNOWN (VOICE-OVER): Live from CNN Center, this is "CNN Newsroom with Kim Brunhuber."
BRUNHUBER: We begin with new developments in the alleged doping scandal surrounding a Russian figure skater at the Olympics. Results from a December drug test came back positive after 15-year-old Kamila Valieva had already competed in Beijing. She was put on a provisional suspension and that was later lifted. And now, the IOC is appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Valieva helped her team take the gold in Monday's figure skating team event, and she's later to compete next week as well. So, we have all of the angles covered here at CNN. World Sports' Don Riddell joins me here in Atlanta with up-to-the-minute results. But first, let's go to CNN sports analyst Christine Brennan in Beijing with the latest in that alleged doping scandal.
Christine, you've been at the center of the reporting on this story. So, we're learning a bit more about the situation and the timeline is crucial here. So, walk us through the story.
CHRISTINE BRENNAN, CNN SPORTS ANALYST: Absolutely, Kim, yes. Today, we have found out some major news as the story continues to explode around these Olympic games.
Kamila Valieva, as you mentioned, the 15-year-old phenom, tested positive December 25th, Christmas day. We didn't find out about it until February 8th. That is a stunning lack of time where there were a lot of questions exactly who knew what, when. Is it possible that there was some kind of attempt to keep it quiet? We don't know. Those are questions we're asking obviously right now. Nonetheless, this long period of time testing positive at the Olympic Games, but the test was before the games.
Basically, the headline for me, Kim, here right now, is the International Olympic Committee has finally let us know what it thinks. After several days of their spokesman basically saying, it's a legal matter, we can't say anything, well, they said something, they said something really big today.
They are going along with their partners in the international testing authority, going to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, CAS, which sets up shop during the Olympics here, and they are going to try to overturn the decision by the Russian anti-doping agency to allow Kamila Valieva to continue to compete and practice here.
The idea there being, I know there's a lot throwing at you, but the idea being the International Olympic Committee, if this still (INAUDIBLE) to its basic fact, does not want her to practice or compete here, that is a very, very big development.
BRUNHUBER: Yeah, big development, absolutely. So, what will that mean sort of big picture for the skating events, for Russia's chances, for the competitors?
BRENNAN: What it means is the next four to four and a half days are crucial. And it's going to be in a courtroom. It's not going to be on the ice.
And it may well be for figure skating fans who can't wait to watch her and the other women compete on Tuesday and Thursday here in Beijing time, it may well be we don't know until Tuesday right before the short program, whether she's going to be able to compete or not, because what could happen is with, of course, the International Olympic Committee, with wanting to overturn that decision by the Russian anti-doping agency and others wanting to say she can't practice or compete, that could just be one part of a basically a three-act play. At that point, we would expect the Russians to appeal that decision, and then, finally, this would go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport again, where they would look not just at that particular case of Valieva being allowed to practice, but the merits of the case.
[02:05:04]
BRENNAN: They would look at what happened on December 25th. They would examine everything. And the Court of Arbitration for Sport tends to come down pretty hard on these things. That said, I'm not going to (INAUDIBLE) your guests. I don't think she could compete because of the doping -- that's my opinion, of course -- of the doping positive test.
But it really could come down to that final decision by CAS and it could be on Tuesday, right before the competition, whether she can compete or not, and then that would impact the team medal situation, which everyone is kind of wondering about. That is on the backburner right now.
But the one decision, if she's not allowed to compete here, that would certainly impact then the team medal situation.
BRUNHUBER: Yeah, absolutely. We'll be following this developing story. Great reporting from Beijing. As always, Christine Brennan, thank you so much.
All right, let's turn now to Don Riddell, who's joining me here in Atlanta, with all the latest results from Beijing. So, Don, what has caught your eyes so far?
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: Men's halfpipe was absolutely thrilling, Kim. Japan's Ayumu Hirano, whose name means to walk a dream, he is in dreamland today, having landed a spectacular gold medal here. It comes at the third time of asking he had previously finished as a silver medalist twice in this event that finally he is now the champion.
He did it in historic style as well, becoming the first person to land a triple cork 1440, and he did it not once, not twice, but three times. So, a brilliant result for him, very versatile athlete. He has been on board since the age of four, snowboards obviously. And also skateboards, he actually competed on a skateboard in his home Olympics in Tokyo just last summer.
This event also noteworthy because it was a swansong for the snowboard legend Shaun White, who, of course, has won three gold medals in this event and who has helped to popularize this event all over the world. He had already said this was going to be his last game. At the age of 35, he's calling it a day. Sadly, for him, he could not land another medal. He finished just outside the podium in fourth place.
The women super-G was also noteworthy today because all eyes were on Mikaela Shiffrin, the American skiing sensation, who is fast on her way to becoming the greatest of all time. But, as you may know, she's had a very difficult Olympics, skiing out or crashing out of her two previous races.
She is very, very early on. She was back on the slopes today, thanking her fans for all the support she has received, all the support and encouragement over the past 48 hours. She didn't get a medal, she finished ninth, but she did manage to ski to the bottom of the mountain in one piece. You can tell by the look on her face just how relieved and happy she was with that outcome.
The gold medal here going to Switzerland's Lara Gut-Behrami, her first Olympic medal. And also, a first gold medal for a Swiss skier in this event, the super-G men or women.
So, an exciting day both on the slopes, on the ice. And as you've been hearing from Christine, in the back rooms in Beijing as well.
BRUNHUBER (on camera): Yeah, absolutely. Don Riddell, thank you so much.
Well, now to the growing Russian military exercises surrounding Ukraine. Fueling fears of a possible invasion. In addition to the war games on the way in Belarus, Russia has announced five days of naval drills in the Black Sea to the south of Ukraine. A U.S. diplomat calls it provocative and an escalation.
New satellite images appear to show Russia building up its military on three sides of Ukraine. These pictures show more than 500 troops, tens and hundreds of vehicles at a former airfield in Crimea. And in Belarus, images show a new deployment of troops, military vehicles, and for the first time, helicopters.
U.S. President Joe Biden is once again warning Americans it is not safe for them to stay in Ukraine.
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Biden: American citizens should leave, should leave now. We are dealing with one of the largest armies in the world. This is a very different situation and things can go crazy quickly.
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BRUNHUBER (on camera): Ukraine is conducting 10 days of its own military exercises, training with drones and empty (ph) tank missiles provided by western countries.
Meanwhile, the latest attempt at diplomacy didn't go well as British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss visited her Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow.
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SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): I'm honestly disappointed that what we had is a conversation between a dumb and a deaf person. It seems like we listen, but don't hear. At the least, our most detailed explanations fell on unprepared soil.
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BRUNHUBER (on camera): All right, let's head to Kyiv and CNN's Melissa Bell. Russia announced circling Ukraine from three sides. Still no diplomatic breakthrough and doesn't even sound like it's closed, right?
MELISSA BELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Kim.
[02:09:59]
BELL: We started the week with some sense of hope, of optimism, that flurry of diplomatic activity kicking off with a visit of the French president to Moscow. So, (INAUDIBLE) seemed to yield at least the beginning of a conversation. We ended seeing a yet more satellite imagery of a continued Russian troop buildup close to Ukraine's borders.
Now, what we've seen as a result of those satellite imagery, the latest suggestion is that that troop buildup continues in Crimea with warships arriving at the main port there. Even as new troop deployments and weaponry emerge from that satellite imagery, more troop deployments 15 kilometers or so from the border between Ukraine and Belarus. That is, of course, extremely worrying. And the troop buildup continues in places that are pretty far from where the current joint military drills are going on.
So, an extremely worrying picture to the north and the Belarus border, and I will say to the east of the country. More troop deployments there suggested by the satellite imagery.
So, what we're seeing at the end of this week, that started with a sense of hope, of optimism that some kind of dialogue could begin, is really a pretty grim picture as reflected there in the words of the American president. Very difficult to see what further movement there could be on the diplomatic front, even as that military buildup continues.
Today, he will speak, the American president, with the NATO leaders about that grim assessment and what needs to be done next. But even as that military buildup continues, Kim, it's very hard to see what can be hoped from anymore negotiations, conversations with Moscow. You heard there the words of Sergey Lavrov himself. There is sense of pessimism on the other side as well. Of course, that is extremely worrying.
The other shift that we are seeing towards the end of the week is a change really in what's coming from Ukrainian government ministers. Until now, there had been a sense that they, at least, continued to hope for tensions to be dialed down, for rhetoric to be restrained, in order for negotiations to continue.
What we heard from the Ukrainian defense minister yesterday, on the back of that news that parts of the (INAUDIBLE) Black Sea would be closed off for those military drills that will take place from February 13th, was really a plea for help, saying, we hope that our partners will come down hard and help us here. So, I think, the picture, generally, whether you're looking at it from the point of view of what's been said in Kyiv, what's been said in western capitals or Moscow, is increasingly grim. Kim?
BRUNHUBER: All right, thank so much, Melissa Bell, in Kyiv. Let's head to Moscow now. Andrei Kolesnikov is a senior fellow and chair of Russian Domestic Politics at the Carnegie Moscow Center. Thank you so much for joining us.
You wrote recently that the Kremlin is saying that it wants to avoid a conflict, but seems to be doing everything it can to provoke one. This all seems very familiar. How do you read what is going on here?
ANDREI KOLESNIKOV, SENIOR FELLOW AND CHAIR OF RUSSIAN DOMESTIC POLITICS, CARNEGIE MOSCOW CENTER: Right now, it's the point when Putin achieved his intermediary goals. He was forcing negotiations, and he achieved his goal. He was selling the treats (ph) to the domestic audience in order to inspire support.
To some extent, it's still successful, but not to the extent when Putin could be supported totally. And he can't provoke, let's say (INAUDIBLE) because of these military preparations.
BRUNHUBER: So, you think his goal is just these negotiations and not an actual invasion, is that right?
KOLESNIKOV: It's a good question because we can't interfere into the head of one man. In the autocratic system like Russia, we have to follow his own emotions, his thoughts, his intentions. And maybe invasion was one of the possible options. But for the moment, it seems to me that we are inside (INAUDIBLE), when Putin is trying to understand what to do further.
The problem is that, in my opinion, he doesn't have strategic goal and just gamble. He has only kind of tactical steps. He wants to spoil the party to the west, at least.
BRUNHUBER: Yeah. You talked about his support. I mean, in the past, Putin's foreign policy has been largely popular, but a war with Ukraine, at least right now, it seems very unpopular, according to the latest polls.
I take it comes down to the cost, the human cost and the economic cost. You summed it up with a Russian expression, bombing borones (ph). Explain this concept.
[02:14:55]
KOLESNIKOV: You know, it's kind of a proverb or modern proverb in Russia when you spoil your own population or trying to spoils the party to the west, for instance. When you invade, not with the west for instance, you are tightening the political regime inside your country, and you have some economic (INAUDIBLE) in terms of higher inflation, less real disposable income (INAUDIBLE) population.
In that sense, you hurt yourself. (INAUDIBLE) middle-sized, typical Russian city. So, in that sense, this new military campaign, a real war, it could be unpopular. Until now, military operations were quite popular and the approval rating of Putin was basically on the support after military operations successful (INAUDIBLE) just like Crimea, which provoked the wave of patriotism.
But right now, we are talking about bloody war, which will not be short, which will not (INAUDIBLE) victims just like it was when Putin took Crimea. This is another story for a public opinion. So --
BRUNHUBER: Let me jump in. Those polls indicate, by a wide margin, that Russians blame NATO, the U.S., the West, even Ukraine for all these tensions, but not Russia. So, if they were to enter a conflict and they see the West and not Putin to blame, why would he be the focus of their anger?
KOLESNIKOV: He would be the focus of an anger in the proper sense of the word, but people do not want to go to war themselves. They're ready to watch TV. They are ready for, let's say, sofa (ph), sitting only and watching something without victims.
When you think about your boys who could be sent to the real war, with Ukrainian boys, absolutely, it's another situation. Russian society has been modernized and urbanized. It looks like any other western- like society. Because of that, these people are not going to war themselves or to send their boys.
And not to mention, the sanctions, which are not so significant for Russians right now. In a case of switching (INAUDIBLE) like that, it could be very painful for the everyday life of Russians. Because of that, I think that economic consequences could be very, very serious and it could hurt the ratings of Putin.
BRUNHUBER: So, we have 30 seconds left, but I want to ask, what difference would that make? I mean, you know, he doesn't allow any real opposition. So, with those calculations affect his decision- making here?
KOLESNIKOV: You know, this is an autocracy. Putin makes the final decisions about anything. When we are following the steps of diplomats, we can't understand what Putin thinks, following the signs (ph). So, here is the rational arguments against war, and emotional, maybe arguments for the war for Putin. And we are between the machinations of his own thinking. We can only hope that rational part of Putin will win in his internal war with himself.
BRUNHUBER: Well, listen, we will have to leave it there. but I really appreciate all of your insight. KOLESNIKOV: Andrei Kolesnikov in Moscow, thanks so much.
China is imposing new lockdowns after detecting dozens of new locally transmitted cases. More details on that. And a record surge in infections in parts of Asia.
Plus, showing solidarity for protesting truckers by disrupting traffic at the Ottawa Airport. We have the latest on the standoff just ahead. Stay with us. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[02:20:00]
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BRUNHUBER (on camera): After two weeks of blocking downtown Ottawa with large trucks, a protest against Canada's vaccine mandates has morphed into a catchall of grievances that threatens to spread to other areas, including the U.S.
At least three border crossings between the U.S. and Canada have now been blocked by trucks and other vehicles on the Canadian side. That includes the busiest crossing linking Detroit and Windsor. Ford, General Motors, Honda, Toyota and others say the four-day roadblock has already impacted auto plants in the U.S. and Canada.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused his political opponents of enabling a small, fringe minority. Here it is.
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JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA: The leader of the conservative party and her team have been their biggest champions, even promoting their fundraising. The consequences of these actions are having dire impacts. They're impacting trade, they are hurting jobs, they are threatening our economy, and they are obstructing our communities. I am focused on ending it.
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BRUNHUBER (on camera): Canadian officials say that more federal police are being sent to Ottawa, Windsor, and Alberta, but there are no signs that protest is nearing an end, and in fact, appears to be growing. CNN's Miguel Marquez is in Windsor with the latest.
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MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Some protesters blocking this major trade corridor between the U.S. and Canada say they will risk their lives to stay out here. Three nights, already, no sign of quitting.
(On camera): You would risk your life rather than leave this protest?
UNKNOWN: Hundred percent. Absolutely 100 percent.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Protests now starting to bite deeply into the economy. Supply chain bottlenecks, trucks backed up for hours across this bridge at Port Huron. Automakers and parts suppliers on both sides of the border starting to slow or altogether suspend production. Windsor's mayor says, well, Canadians have the right to protest. Patience, for what he calls an illegal blockade, is running thin.
DREW DILKENS, WINDSOR, ONTARIO MAYOR: There will have to be a path forward. If that means physically removing them, then we're prepared to do that.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Protesters here want all Canadian coronavirus restrictions and mandates at the national level lifted before, they say, they will leave.
JIM DOIG, PROTESTER: I am fighting like our veterans did for the freedom of this country, like Trudeau is taking away from us.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Prime Minister Justin Trudeau now a target over to many rules. The prime minister, so far, not budging.
TRUDEAU: Individuals are trying to blockade our economy, our democracy, and our fellow citizens' daily lives. It has to stop.
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Michigan's governor demanding that the border crossing be reopened, calling the blockade unacceptable. Anti-mandate anger simmering for weeks starting with opposition to vaccine mandates, even though government statistic show more than 80 percent of Canada's truckers are vaccinated.
Some provinces such as Saskatchewan and Quebec have recently announced plans to rollback COVID restrictions. But for those who believe that the government has robbed them of their livelihoods, they say it is not enough.
You want to get the entire country?
DOIG: Not only do I want the provincial, I want the national done. And I would like to see something where they can't happen again. If we can get the restrictions gone, this little bit of a disruption is our day to day for next week or two, whatever it takes, they will thank us for it.
[02:25:00]
MARQUEZ (voice-over): Miguel Marquez, CNN, Windsor, Canada.
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BRUNHUBER (on camera): And now to Europe, Britain's new travel rules just kicked in, making international trips cheaper and easier during the pandemic. Arriving travelers who are fully vaccinated are no longer subject to any COVID testing requirements before and after they reach the U.K.
And Spain has now ditched its requirement that people wear masks outdoors. The exception, crowded outdoor events.
CNN's Isa Soares looks at some of the other countries relaxing restrictions.
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ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (VOICE-OVER): In the German capital, Berlin's international film festival begins. An in- person event this year for the first time in the pandemic.
UNKNOWN: It is kind of phenomenal to actually be at a big public film festival again.
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SOARES (voice-over): In Ireland's capital, Dublin is working the return of their own flagship event next month.
UNKNOWN: We are ecstatic for the return of St. Patrick's Day.
UNKNOWN: It is good to see it back after so long (INAUDIBLE) anyways.
SOARES (voice-over): Dublin's famous St. Patrick's Day parade will return following a two-year absence after the Irish government dropped many COVID-19 restrictions last month.
Residents there eager to return some semblance of pre-pandemic life, as much of Europe appears to be learning to live with COVID-19.
In Spain, outdoor mask retirements reimposed in late December are ending Thursday, so too in France, where residents are allowed mask- free outside since February 2nd after the French government lifted a series of COVID restrictions.
By March 1st, there will be very few coronavirus measures in place, the Czech prime minister said Wednesday, as he promised to start easing restrictions and increase the numbers of people allowed at public events. The Czech Republic now joining Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, the UK and several other European nations loosening COVID rules despite staggering COVID case numbers across the region.
Many countries have seen rising infections in recent weeks, some reaching record levels. But health officials say, in Europe, there is a plausible pandemic end in sight for three key reasons.
HANS KLUGE, REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR EUROPE, WHO: First, a large capital of vaccine drive and natural immunity by Omicron. Second, a favorable seasonality pause, as we move out of the winter. And third, a lower severity of the Omicron variant, now well-established.
SOARES (voice-over): The outlook appearing to reassure European cities like Nice in France, where its iconic carnival is set to begin on Friday following last year's cancellation.
(INAUDIBLE), like elsewhere in Europe, preparing for the return of beloved events and the possibility of life post pandemic.
Isa Soares, CNN, London.
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BRUNHUBER (on camera): Prince Charles is in isolation after testing positive with COVID for a second time. Officials say the 73-year-old heir to the British throne is fully vaccinated, but received a positive test just hours after being at an event at a British museum with dozens of other people. A royal source also tells CNN, Charles met with the queen recently but didn't elaborate on when. The source says her majesty isn't displaying any COVID symptoms.
New Zealand is reporting its most daily COVID cases of the whole pandemic for the second day in a row, blamed the fast-spreading Omicron variant, which is also driving up cases in South Korea, Russia, and parts of Southeast Asia. Now, China is reporting dozens of new infections and imposing new lockdowns.
CNN's Kristie Lu Stout is tracking this live from Hong Kong. Kristie, Hong Kong is seeing a big surge of its own. Let's start there.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, sure. You know, look, two years into this pandemic and we are seeing record levels of COVID-19 infection across the Asia Pacific region, including here in Hong Kong. Earlier this week, the territory posted its highest ever daily rise in COVID-19 cases on record. It also reported, sadly, its first COVID- link deaths in about five months.
Tough measures already in place here, have been tightened further, including from Thursday. No more than two people are allowed to gather outside or you will be fined. No more than two families are allowed to make socially indoors, I don't know how they are going to enforce this, you would be fined.
These are record numbers of cases growing not just here in Hong Kong, but in South Korea as well. South Korea earlier this week surpassing 50,000 new daily cases of COVID-19 for the first time.
Japan also dealing with record numbers of deaths from COVID-19 as the Omicron variant tears its way across the country. On Thursday, the government there approved an extension of its state of emergency measures.
LU STOUT: New Zealand as well. On Thursday, New Zealand reporting its highest daily rise in COVID-19 cases.
[02:29:59]
This, as a country there, actually prepares to gradually reopen its borders. New Zealand is planning to do this, as well as Australia, as well as Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines, all to gradually reopen their borders after sustained closures.
Not the case, though, for zero COVID Hong Kong and for China, they remained effectively shut off from the rest of the world. Even though health experts say that such curbs fail to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, especially Omicron.
Listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. MARIA VAN KERKHOVE, COVID-19 TECHNICAL LEAD, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: Unfortunately, this virus is not done with us. So, we have to really remain vigilant. That doesn't mean lockdown. It doesn't mean shutting down societies. We will not be able to prevent all transmissions. That's not the goal.
To prevent all infection, all transmission, that's not attainable at this point.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: The technical lead of COVID-19 for the World Health Organization may say that, but China and Hong Kong are not letting go of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, China is expressing that it is highly concerned about the COVID 19 outbreak here in Hong Kong. Statement was released from the Hong Kong Macau Affairs Office, in which it said that officials and health authorities from mainland China and Hong Kong are due to meet in Shenzhen, the coming days.
LU STOUT: In the statement, it says this, "As long as Hong Kong asks for something, the motherland will surely answer it."
The South China Morning Post is reporting that the meeting could take place as early as Saturday.
LU STOUT: Back to you, Kim.
BRUNHUBER: Interesting. All right. Thanks so much, Kris Lu Stout. I appreciate it.
LU STOUT: Got it.
BRUNHUBER: Still ahead, Russia announces more military drills this time in the waters south of Ukraine. We'll see whether the war games are helping Vladimir Putin or pushing a diplomatic solution further away.
Plus, voters head to the polls in India's state elections and test the political fortunes of two main parties. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: The U.S. and Ukraine are speaking out against Russia's plans to hold five days of naval exercises in the waters south of Ukraine.
The drills are scheduled to start on Monday and come as Russia is in the middle of 10 days of war games in Belarus. Russia denies the naval drills will choke off commercial shipping in the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace will try his hand at diplomacy when he meets with his Russian counterpart in Moscow in the coming hours.
We have more now from CNN's International diplomatic editor Nic Robertson. NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR (voice-over): Russia's undiplomatic muscle kicking into high gear Thursday. Operation Allied Resolve, its massive military maneuvers, a few miles from Ukraine.
[02:35:02]
ROBERTSON: Training, it says to defend its borders. But timed as talks over its security demands begin to get traction in Moscow.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We should have to meet --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
ROBERTSON: On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron came for diplomacy. The table and the talks long. President Vladimir Putin showed him and the world, a thug.
VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): (INAUDIBLE)
ROBERTSON: An innuendo-laden insult for Ukraine's president. Putin saying it was nothing personal, but giving no clues on his next move.
16 hours later in Kiev, meeting the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, the table smaller, the diplomatic reach easier.
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE (through translator): (INAUDIBLE)
ROBERTSON: Zelensky politely parrying Putin's insult, earning praise from Europe's de facto diplomat in chief. Macron touting hope and drink festering conflict between pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine's east and Zelensky.
EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): I was able to obtain a very clear and explicit commitment from President Putin and Zelensky to the strict basis of the Minsk agreement.
ROBERTSON: In Berlin, Thursday, those commitments tested as Russian, Ukrainian, French, and German diplomats met to ramp up Minsk talks. An effort to revive the 2015 ceasefire deal.
DMITRY KOZAK, RUSSIA'S CHIEF NEGOTIATOR FOR UKRAINE: Unfortunately, almost nine hours of negotiations ended without any visible tangible results.
ROBERTSON: All week, diplomacy on the march from Washington to Berlin, the Baltics to Brussels binding allies.
BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNITED KINGDOM: Poland, and the U.K. won't accept a world in which a powerful neighbor can bully or attack their neighbors.
ROBERTSON: In Moscow, the British foreign secretary trying to land her P.M.'s message,
LIZ TRUSS, BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY: There is an alternative route, a diplomatic route that avoids conflict and bloodshed.
ROBERTSON: Two hours of talks, Thursday with a Russian counterpart, frustrations running over, diplomacy on the retreat.
TRUSS: No one is undermining Russia's security. That is simply not true.
SERGEY LAVROV, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, RUSSIA (through translator): It seems like we listen but don't hear.
ROBERTSON: As Lavrov spoke, Russia's robust military message loudly received south of Ukraine. Russian naval exercises that could block access to Ukraine's strategic Black Sea ports, and the coastline. Amping up concerns despite Russian denials, a land grab could be in the works.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROBERTSON (on camera): Military exercises plan to last at least the next 10 days. But diplomacy not dead yet. Britain secretary of defense do here Friday. And Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz next Tuesday, following his visit to Kyiv Monday.
And President Putin, yet to respond to President Macron's proposals. Nic Robertson, CNN, Moscow.
BRUNHUBER: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is taking fire from one of his predecessors, former Prime Minister John Major, who didn't mince words about Johnson on Thursday. Here he is.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN MAJOR, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: At number 10, the prime minister and officials broke lockdown laws. Brazen excuses were dreamed up. Day after day, the public was asked to believe the unbelievable. Ministers were sent out to defend the indefensible.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BRUNHUBER (voice-over): And fellow conservative slam Johnson over suspected parties held during COVID lockdowns, but also for what Major called policies that shredded Britain's reputation abroad.
Well, Johnson responded to that charge during a trip in Poland, calling it demonstrably untrue.
BRUNHUBER (on camera): London's first female police commissioner is stepping down on the heels of a damning report on the city's police culture.
BRUNHUBER (voice-over): Cressida Dick announced her resignation on Thursday, days after the independent report slammed the Metropolitan Police Service for what it called, culture of misogyny, and racism. This is how she explained her decision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CRESSIDA DICK, OUTGOING LONDON POLICE COMMISSIONER: It is quite clear that the mayor no longer has sufficient confidence in my leadership of the Metropolitan Police Service for me to continue as commissioner.
Undertaking this role, a crown appointment as a servant of the people of London and the United Kingdom, in the greatest honor and privilege of my life.
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BRUNHUBER: Investigators made 15 recommendations to improve policing practices. But to do that, London's mayor says the force needs a clean slate in their leadership.
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[02:40:00]
SADIQ KHAN, MAYOR OF LONDON: It's clear that the only way to start to deliver this scale of the change required is to have new leadership.
Right at the top, I commend her for the recent work in helping us to bring down violent crime in London. Although, of course, there is more to do.
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BRUNHUBER: Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the commissioner in a tweet and thanked her for her role in protecting the public.
BRUNHUBER (on camera): Voting is underway in India's largest state in what could be a big litmus test for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
BRUNHUBER (voice-over): On Thursday, voters lined up outside polling stations in the Uttar Pradesh state, which is home to more than 200 million people. Four others -- will follow suit in the coming days. Voting is held in several stages and results won't be announced until next month.
But the outcome could be an omen for Modi and his chances of a third electoral victory in 2024. The main opposition Congress Party has a lot on the line as well, because a poor showing could raise doubts about its party leader Rahul Gandhi.
BRUNHUBER: (on camera): So, for more analysis on this, we're joined by Gilles Verniers, an assistant professor of political science at Ashoka University, and he's speaking to us from New Delhi.
Thank you so much for being here with us. So, when we're talking about Uttar Pradesh, obviously, its size makes it the biggest political prize in the country. But why is it a bellwether? What can it tell us about the shifting political climate in the fate of Modi and his party?
GILLES VERNIERS, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, ASHOKA UNIVERSITY: Well, Uttar Pradesh is India's largest state. It commands a major political weight. So, in terms of sheer numbers, it's a state that matters enormously. The majority of the BJP and the Prime Minister Modi at the center is currently pretty thin, and it relies on its -- and it report on its ability to keep sweeping that particular region.
And so, losing ground in Uttar Pradesh now, two years ahead of a general election will be picked up as a signal that the BJP can be challenged at the center.
But the state of Uttar Pradesh matters for more than just numbers. It's a state that matters also symbolically because for good and bad reasons. It's seen as a barometer of national politics. It is a state that is a key to the edifice of BJP's national domination, not just in terms of numbers, but as a symbol.
This is where the BJP has waged only ideological battles on religion. This is where the temple of Ram is being built by, by the state which is a major victory of the Hindu nationalists.
This is also a state where cause divisions are particularly salient politically and are therefore key to this discourse of inclusion that the prime minister offers.
And so, the state also is governed by a chief minister who is a Hindu monk in who personifies the merger of the fusion between religion and politics. And so, these elections are also a test to see whether the mode of governance associated with that particular regime, fairly authoritarian, majoritarian in -- pro-Hindu will receive popular sanction. If it does --
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BRUNHUBER: So, it's essentially a referendum on the government's vision of the country as a whole, I guess. So, what are you expecting? I mean, they've won handily their -- over last few elections. Could they actually lose?
VERNIERS: No one really expects them to lose because for a number of reason, they have, you know, a lot of -- they keep a lot of advantages. The opposition space remains fragmented, and in the Indian context, that almost, you know, mechanically props up the main party, the party that is in a dominant position.
So, what analysts are going to look like is to what measure they will be able to retain the huge majority, they currently have nearly 80 percent of the seats in that enormous state.
And so, even if the BJP would lose some number, maybe you know, 20 to 25 percent of those seats, they would keep the majority, but it would send a signal that they can be challenged in the -- in the Hindi heartland, in the political hearts of the domination in the next general election. BRUNHUBER: What would be behind any perceived loss of support? Is it -- is it Modi's response to COVID?
VERNIERS: Again, I'm going to link the national politic with state politics because politics at the state level matters, you know, quite, quite, quite a lot. The state of Uttar Pradesh has been badly affected by COVID, in particularly the second wave last spring, like the rest of the country.
But this is a state where public authorities have denied the reality of the pandemic, have denied that, you know, mass death, that, you know, bodies were piling up, you know, on river shores.
[02:45:00]
VERNIERS: And it's the only state in the world that has used anti- terror legislation to crack down on not just opponents but also citizens who turned up to social media to ask for help for, you know, oxygen, and medications, or simply denouncing the shortages in hospitals.
BRUNHUBER: Yes. Well, just quickly, we only have 30 seconds or so. But just to elaborate on that, I mean, this election, you know, it's reputed to be the largest democratic exercise in the world this year. But lots of questions have been asked about the health of India's democracy, you know, just beyond the politics, but the courts, police, campaign, finance, as you said, accusations that the government's been using software to spy on the phones of opponents, activists, journalists.
So, just quickly, if you could, so, what kind of path are we heading down here in Indian terms of its democracy?
VERNIERS: So, India is a good example that you can have a relatively or reasonably healthy electoral democracy that does not translate in democratic governance.
What India has seen over the past few years is unprecedented level of political concentration, concentration of political power, and concentration of economic power, as well.
And the form that it takes is the form of a Hindu majoritarian state, which is felt, you know, harshly by, minorities. And so, what is really at stake in these elections is whether the kind of regime which in Uttar Pradesh is more exacerbated and in the rest of the country will find popular sanction, which could encourage the BJP in other states that it rules in the national level to push further into that direction.
BRUNHUBER: Yes, so much at stake, as you say. Gilles Verniers, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.
VERNIERS: Thanks for having me.
BRUNHUBER: South Africa's rhino population is under threat from illegal poaching, but groups are coming together to protect these creatures. We'll explain in a live report after the break. Stay with us.
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BRUNHUBER: South Africa's rhino population has decreased dramatically in recent years. Their falling numbers-driven in part by poachers seeking rhino horns to make bonus -- bogus medicines.
South Africa's government says 451 rhinos were poached last year, a 13 percent increase over the year before. CNN correspondent David McKenzie is standing by for us in South Africa's Kruger National Park and joins me now live.
David, I read the rhino poaching in South Africa climbed for the first time in seven years. I've been to Kruger, have been close to those magnificent animals. I really sad that they're in decline. I understand you've just done some reporting on efforts to save the rhinos. What can you tell us?
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, the key number is that 70 percent drop in 10 years, and it's about the trends. And this iconic species here in its stronghold in the Kruger National Park is under threat.
[02:50:02]
MCKENZIE: That is mostly because of poaching, and the chopping off the horns, killing the animals, and selling that material for bogus medicine as you said.
In Asia, we were out with a team here in Kruger that is dehorning those animals, taking those horns off. It doesn't hurt the animal and it's an extreme measure they're doing alongside other anti-poaching measures to try and save this animal.
I spoke to the head ranger of Kruger Park, she spoke with the level of passion that you've seen with all the people we've met here in this park.
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CATHY DREYER, HEAD OF RANGERS, KRUGER NATIONAL PARK: So, I 'think no matter how many times you go, it always hits you the brutality. It's very hard to think that another person can actually be that evil and that brutal.
You know, a lot of people say we should stop calling it poaching of rhino, it's a murder of rhino. They are literally killing our rhino, murdering our rhino. So, it's always an emotional thing. It's harder when there are orphans involved.
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MCKENZIE: And those orphans, we met some of them. The extraordinarily cute animals that they are often left to die of their mothers when they are poached, and they've been reared by hand to try and work to save the species. Kim? BRUNHUBER: All right. Thank you so much, David McKenzie. I really appreciate that. David in South Africa's Kruger National Park.
The stunning tale of escape and friendship became an animated masterpiece. Have a look.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (INAUDIBLE)
TEXT
We need to flee with --
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BRUNHUBER: Flee has already done something no film has done before, ahead of this year's Academy Awards. Stay with us.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Coming?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We trust you.
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BRUNHUBER: Some six months after the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, an animated film is striking a chord ahead of this year's Academy Awards.
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TEXT
There's a lot of crime. We need to flee with --
BRUNHUBER (voice-over): Flee revisits Afghanistan in the 1980s, showing the turmoil through the eyes of a young refugee. As Michael Holmes reports, the film has already made Oscars history.
TEXT
We needed to get out right away.
You can't stay here.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A teenage boy flees violence in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
JONAS POHER RASMUSSEN, FILMMAKER: I met him when I was 15 when he arrived to my hometown. And he was 16, and he came all by himself from Afghanistan. And I grew up in this very small rural Danish village. So, I was kind of, you know, from the very beginning I was curious about why did he come and how? But he didn't want to talk about it. And I, of course, respected that.
HOLMES: Danish filmmaker Jonas Poher Rasmussen tells the story of the boy's journey from Afghanistan to Denmark in the new animated film, Flee. Now, in his 40s, the refugee uses the pseudonym, Amin Nawabi, to recount his escape from Afghanistan in the movie, which combines his narration with real archival video.
TEXT
What does home mean to you?
Home?
It's someplace safe.
Mujahideen attacks Kabul.
RASMUSSEN: While the animation was really to make sure that we could bring the past back alive, because most of the story takes place in the past, but also because it's a very subjective story, and it's really about memory and trauma.
So, with the animation, it will be more aggressive about this thing that's otherwise hard to kind of really show. And then, putting in the -- a couple of footage was really, you know, about reminding people that this is a true story, and underneath everything is real life.
[02:55:09]
HOLMES: Nawabi shared his story with Rasmussen over 20 years, as their friendship grew.
TEXT
What's the earliest thing you remember?
Some things are hard to talk about.
Have you ever told your story before?
No.
RASMUSSEN: The film really was born out of me being curious about my friend. I didn't think I want to do a refugee story, and then, you know, went out and found a refugee. This was really about friendship just as much as about refugees, you know. And about having secrets.
And then, of course, when a refugee crisis hit, I think we were like a year or two into the process of making the film. My perspective kind of change.
I kind of felt a need to give the refugees we saw on the highways in Denmark and rest of Europe, a human face.
TEXT
It still hurts.
To think back to it.
HOLMES: This was also a journey of self-discovery as Nawabi is a refugee and gay. Rasmussen says that it means the world to Nawabi that others can relate to his story.
TEXT
When did you first realize you were gay?
I wasn't very old. I was enamored with Jean-Claude Van Damme.
I also like Jean-Claude Van Damme, but for different reasons.
Have you tell Kaspar any of these stories?
No.
HOLMES: The film won the Grand Jury Prize for excellence in filmmaking at the Sundance Film Festival a year ago. Also, two BAFTA nominations, among other awards.
Flee also made Oscar history for receiving nominations for Best International Feature Film, Best Documentary Feature, and Best Animated Feature. It's the first movie ever to be nominated in all three categories.
RASMUSSEN: But I think you haven't kept the story a secret for so long. So, all of a sudden, being able to share it, and share it with the world, and seeing that people can actually relate to a story, it really means a lot to me.
HOLMES: Michael Holmes, CNN.
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BRUNHUBER: Thanks so much for joining us. I'm Kim Brunhuber. I'll be back with more CNN NEWSROOM in just a moment. Please do stay with us.
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