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Grain Warehouses in Ukraine were Attacked by Russian Strikes Days after the Grain Deal Expired; Philippines, Vietnam Plays Their First Women's World Cup Matches; Iraq Threatens to Sever Diplomatic Ties with Sweden Following the Quran Burning Protests; UN: Attacks On Odessa Have Impact Well Beyond Ukraine; "Seahorse Hotels" Aim To Save Endangered Species; Hundreds Of Golden Retrievers Gather In Scotland. Aired 2-2:45a ET

Aired July 21, 2023 - 02:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[02:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and a warm welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world. I'm Paula Newton, just ahead right here on "CNN Newsroom."

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Air-raid sirens blair across Odessa marking a destructive week for that key Ukrainian port. And as Ukraine presses ahead with its counteroffensive, we'll give you an exclusive look inside a command post on the front lines.

Now this all comes as wheat and grain prices are rising after Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain deal. Will look at how Beijing could help to step in and help.

And day two of the Women's World Cup now underway. You bet it is. We'll have all the latest action in Australia and New Zealand.

UNKNOWN (voice-over): Live from CNN Center, this is "CNN Newsroom" with Paula Newton.

NEWTON: And so we begin in Odessa, once again described as bearing the brunt of attacks from Russia. Now, the region's military administration says a caliber missiles hit grain warehouses overnight. There are reports of two injuries, along with the destruction of more than a hundred tons of agricultural products. Now, this comes not long after Odessa received the all clear after an air raid siren alert early on Friday. Listen.

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Well, that terrifying sound continues and this makes four nights in a row now that the city's residents have heard those sirens.

To the southeast, meantime, the bridge linking Russia and Crimea is up and running again after that temporary closure late on Thursday and that's according to Russian appointed officials who said the bridge was closed during an air raid alarm.

Meantime, the U.S. says its cluster munitions supplied to Ukraine have been used in battle now. The U.S. National Security Council says they've already been having an impact on the battlefield.

Scott McLean is keeping an eye on all the latest developments for us and he joins us now from London. I mean, Scott, this perhaps was a little quieter this evening but still quite destructive and menacing for the city. It's been a few days now. Is there a short-term solution? Because at this point in time there seems to be a lack of missile and drone defense in the South.

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it seems at this point, Paula, that the answer is no, that the Ukrainians can nearly hope for the best. As you mentioned, tonight was a quieter night. At first, those air raid sirens went off, and there was no incoming reported. It was only later at dawn, the Ukrainians say, that those grain facilities were actually hit.

A case in point, yesterday morning's attack on Odessa saw 19 incoming missiles. Air defenses were able to shoot down barely a quarter of them. They had more success with the Shahed drones. But the difficulty with the missiles, the Ukrainians say, is that because of the type of missiles used, things that are, missiles that are used to target ships or aircraft carriers even, and because the speed at which they fly and the trajectory that they fly at and the altitude, it makes it almost impossible for air defenses, at least the ones that they have, to shoot them down.

The Ukrainians say that they could be shot down if they had the Patriot air defenses, the U.S.-made system that is considered the Rolls-Royce of air defense systems. The Ukrainians have at least two batteries. They don't obviously say where they are, but they have previously confirmed to protect Kyiv. The difficulty with the Patriot system though, is that it is a stationary system. It is not easily moved from place to place or quickly redeployed. And that is why President Zelenskyy says, frankly, his country simply needs more of them. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Of course, our soldiers managed to shoot down some of the enemy's missiles and drones.

But unfortunately, the capacity of Ukrainian air defense is not yet enough to protect the entire Ukrainian sky. We are working with our partners as actively as possible to add additional air defense systems that can give peace and security to Odessa and all the other cities and communities of our country.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCLEAN: Now, of course, the Russian said they're targeting military targets. The Ukrainians say that civilian sites have been hit and oddly enough, Paula, one of the civilian sites hit overnight yesterday morning was actually the Chinese consulate in Odessa which is located very close to the port of Odessa. It sustained some minor damage. The Chinese said that they are following the situation closely but that no one was there at the time and so no one was hurt.

[02:05:10]

NEWTON: Yeah, as you said, really a complicated situation in Odessa that continues to develop. I want to go to our other major development though in the last few days and that's that apparently America, American cluster munitions now, are actually in play on the battlefield. Are they expected to make a difference?

MCLEAN: The Ukrainians say yes. This is fundamentally a very different type of weapon, also a very controversial weapon. And that is because cluster bombs essentially break apart into little bomblets, close to 100 of them, which spread across an area about the width of a football field. The most intensity, or the area that feels the most intense concentration of bombs is about half of that width.

And even the U.S. variety of these weapons has a dud rate, meaning the percentage of bomblets that don't actually explode of more than two percent which can pose a risk down the line to civilian populations similar to landmines. That's why the U.K. and other European countries have banned their use, but not the Americans and not the Ukrainians either.

The White House says that they are being used on the battlefield for about a week appropriately, meaning not targeting any civilian areas, but they also say, according to U.S. officials, that they are waiting for progress support to see how effective they've actually been on the battlefield, the Russians. There is evidence that the Russians have used cluster munitions in Ukraine in the past. The Russians say they haven't, but President Putin has said that if they are used against Russian troops, he will consider using them right back. Paula?

NEWTON: Okay, interesting there -- that they're going to use them for a few days and then take a wait and see approach. Scott McLean for us. I know you'll continue to follow developments in the coming hours. I Appreciate it.

Now, Ukraine's counteroffensive has been slow going as its forces navigate heavy Russian defense lines and minefields. CNN's Alex Marquardt now. He got an exclusive look at one of Ukraine's frontline units and saw what it is facing on the battlefield.

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ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SR. NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In a secret basement bunker, part of Ukraine's 47th Mechanized Brigade is desperately trying to find out how to punch through Russian lines.

STANISLAV, 47TH MECHANIZED BRIGADE: There are a lot of Russians. In here and overall. They have more guns, they have more shells, and they have more people. MARQUARDT (voice-over): CNN was given an exclusive look at this

battalion command post at the very front of Ukraine's counteroffensive in the south, filled with maps and feeds from drones. Stanislav closely watches dozens of drone feeds, helping artillery teams try to take out Russian positions.

(on-camera): You can see that from here, you can see how close they are, and you can tell them.

STANISLAV: And we guide them.

MARQUARDT (on-camera): You can redirect them farther, closer, left, right.

STANISLAV: Yes.

MARQUARDT (on-camera): How do you think the fight is going in your section?

STANISLAV: It's tough. It's tough.

MARQUARDT (voice-over): The no-man's land between the two sides is heavily pockmarked with craters from thousands of artillery rounds. But it's these little white dots, some of the countless anti-tank and anti-personnel mines that the Russians have laid, that are part of what is making Ukraine's advance so limited.

Demining teams called sappers bravely crossed the densely mined battlefield often under fire to diffuse or detonate the Russian mines.

Kral is a sapper who just got back from a mission.

We need to break through the mine barriers, he says, so that equipment and infantry can pass. The enemy uses constant artillery and mortar fire. It's hard, he says. Very hard.

Everyone here, soldiers and generals alike, admit that over a month into Ukraine's counteroffensive, progress is slower than they would like. They argue that the Russians had months to dig in and prepare.

But Ukraine was preparing as well. Soldiers like this team getting weeks of Western training and all kinds of new equipment, like this American armored Bradley fighting vehicle rarely shown to the press. The Bradley team leader named Koch is just 19. He shows us inside, which is also used to carry troops across the battlefield.

I feel very protected, he says. We know we're safe because it can withstand a lot. It has a very thick layer of armor and it has been tested in battles.

(on-camera): Why do you wear the American flag?

(voice-over): Koch is just four months out from American training in Germany. His U.S. flag patch, a parting gift for good luck from his U.S. trainer. The first day of fighting was the most difficult, he tells us. We

didn't know what to expect, what could happen, how events would unfold.

[02:10:05]

Early setbacks on this front have meant that Ukraine has had to change tactics, moving more on foot after many of the newly acquired vehicles were damaged or destroyed.

The team camps out in a narrow tree line, trying to hide from Russian drones. When their next order to assault will come, they don't know, but soon they will be back in the fight.

This is the life here, the team's gunner says. You live by the fact that you're preparing for the next mission.

Alex Marquardt, CNN, in Southern Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Now to the intense heat wave scorching southern Europe. Things are not cooling off, not even at night, and that is raising the threat of wildfires in parts of Spain and France. Now, Athens is still bearing the brunt of the heat wave. Just look at that map with temperatures expected in the upper 30s on Friday, 40s on Saturday, and Sunday. Madrid and Rome will see mid-30s.

Now, meantime, garbage collectors are threatening to walk off the job in the Italian capital if they have to work in the midday heat, and bus drivers are demanding air conditioning in all vehicles.

More now on conditions right across Southern Europe from CNN's Barbie Nadeau.

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BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: The incessant heat wave which has gripped much of southern Europe over the last two weeks continues and is now spreading north into France where several regions are under orange alert.

The devastating temperatures have been very difficult for many regions including Greece where firefighters are battling a number of blazes. In Spain record-setting temperatures have also made it very difficult. Across Italy we're expecting to see record-setting temperatures in Sardinia and Sicily over the course of the next 24 hours according to the national. weather service here.

These high temperatures are very difficult for the tourists, but they are extremely difficult for those who live here, including the elderly, the vulnerable, especially people with breathing conditions and respiratory conditions, and for the homeless, which have now been the subject of civil protection interventions trying to get them the relief they need.

Barbie Latza Nadeau, CNN, Rome.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Now more on those wildfires Barbie mentioned, residents in the Attica region of Greece, just north of Athens, are evaluating their homes and farms as a major fire there has rekindled. Firefighters are dropping water from planes and helicopters to try and douse the flames. And they're getting help from French, Italian, and Israeli crews. Now meantime, wildfires are also burning in Laconia, in southern Greece, and on the island of Rome.

So the Women's World Cup, Switzerland and the Philippines are battling it out right now in New Zealand. This is the Philippines' first time in the tournament. A short time ago, Nigeria and Canada played to a scoreless draw. And Spain and Costa Rica will go head to head in just a couple of hours from now. Probably the most anticipated match on Saturday though will be defending champ the U.S. going up against Vietnam, which is also making its first appearance in the Women's World Cup. The U.S. team is aiming, of course, for an unprecedented third straight title.

CNN's Angus Watson, the lucky man, joining us this hour from Sydney, Australia, where co-host Australia also chalked up its first win of the tournament. Obviously a relief. We just talked about Canada and Nigeria, Canada being the Olympic champs. Tough debut for both teams, really likely not happy with the draw.

ANGUS WATSON, CNN PRODUCER: That's right, Paula. Canada are one of the top teams at the competition. As you mentioned, they're the champions of Tokyo 2020 gold medalists, not quite able to get off to the start that they wanted to, and nil or draw, in a highly, a toughly fought match against Nigeria, the top ranked African team, at the competition.

Around the 50th minute, Canada had the chance to go ahead with a penalty. It was captain against captain, and a great save from the Nigerian goalkeeper, keeping the scores at nil all which is where it ended so the Canadian team will now be up against Republic of Ireland soon Australia get their chance against Nigeria next week but the atmosphere I must say for the Australian game that I was at last night in Sydney was second to none over 75,000 fans in full-voice stadium Australia watching the Matildas win without their star player Sam Kerr who announced to be injured with a calf strain just moments before kickoff. Paula.

NEWTON: Yeah, I think the important thing is you said strain, so I think many are hoping she'll be back if not in the next match, then the one after that. We have to talk about the women of the United States. They have their first match coming up, much anticipated.

[02:20:08]

WATSON: Paula, Team USA is the team to beat again at this tournament. They have the chance to do the three-peat, three in a row. No team has ever won three World Cups in a row. There will be more competition for them, 32 teams this year in playing out the Women's World Cup. But Team USA is just so stacked with talent. Up front, Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, two players to watch tomorrow and throughout the competition as Team USA in attacking side will dazzle surely as the tournament goes on and they'll go deep. That's for sure, Paula.

NEWTON: Well, thanks so much for the analysis there and the enthusiasm because we're watching from a far away but we can feel it here for sure, the anticipation for this tournament. Angus Watson for us in Sydney, thanks so much, I appreciate it.

And we of course will have much more on the Women's World Cup coming up next hour. I'll be speaking with CNN Sports Analyst Christine Brennan about the incredible evolution of this tournament and how of course the powerhouse U.S. team has helped the sport grow worldwide.

Coming up for us though right now, protests after shocking video emerges showing two women being sexually assaulted in India. The latest on that investigation, ahead.

Plus the Pentagon and the U.S. Army share new details on the American soldier who bolted into North Korea. We'll be back in a moment.

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NEWTON: To India now where a shocking graphic video has emerged showing two women being sexually assaulted. Protests broke out following the video's release. CNN has seen the video but isn't showing it out of respect for survivors of this brutal attack and indigenous groups as the assault happened in early May in the northeastern state of Manipur.

The video shows the terrified women being forced to walk naked through a crowd of fully clothed men. The group say they were then taken to a field and gang raped, an allegation which is now under investigation.

CNN reporter Vedika Sud joins me now from New Delhi. It's really no, you have to describe this as torture. That's what this is when you see what these victims went through. Despite that, why has it taken so long for anyone to act on this?

VEDIKA SUD, CNN REPORTER: That's a question really for the administration. And we've asked that question, Paula, over and over again. I've tried speaking to the police officers in Manipur, but no one seems to be having any kind of strong response or concrete response to this question.

There are so many unanswered questions at this point, and I'll come to that in a moment. But you're talking about this video. It's deeply distressing, deeply disturbing, horrifying, terrifying. Those are just some of the comments on social media after this, about 48 hours ago.

[02:20:00]

And this incident, according to an indigenous group that has issued a press statement, took place on the 4th of May, just days into the ethnic clashes between two communities in Manipur. And we don't even know if this is just one of the many incidents or a solo incident that took place while those violent clashes were taking place in the north in Manipur.

It's taken more than two and a half months for this video to emerge. It's taken two and a half months for the police to act. It's taken two and a half months or more for the chief minister of Manipur to come out and talk about the arrests that have happened. Just four arrests. We're talking about dozens of men who are a part of that mob. These two women were forced to walk naked, Paula. It's a 26-second video. Every frame of it deeply disturbed.

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NEWTON: We've unfortunately lost Vedika there in New Delhi, but we will continue to stay on that story. Truly disturbing as she described it.

Now to the American soldier who dashed into North Korea. The Pentagon says that Private Travis King is officially AWOL or absent without leave, adding that it doesn't think he would have any intelligence that North Korea would find valuable.

The Pentagon also said there was no indication King's crossing was planned in coordination with the North. King had faced assault charges and was due to be removed from the army. The army says had he returned to the U.S. he absolutely would have faced additional consequences.

Meantime, the State Department says it relayed messages to North Korea saying King crossed on his own without any help from the United States, but wouldn't reveal whether the North has responded.

CNN's Will Ripley reports now near the DMZ.

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WILL RIPLEY, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The Korean DMZ, the Demilitarized Zone, is one of the most heavily fortified border areas in the world. That's the reason why you have barricades and spike strips and all of these military checkpoints to try to prevent people from being able to go in or come out.

There's a reason why this road has tank traps. Basically, if tanks were to come rolling down, they would blow up to stop an invasion from the north to the south. And the north has similar booby traps set up as well. So obviously, it's a highly secured area.

How did this U.S. Army private just run across? Well, we're learning that on Monday at Incheon airport, about 90 minutes drive from where I'm standing right now. He was supposed to get on an American Airlines flight to Dallas, but he told after going through all of the procedures, all the security right at the gate to the plane, he claimed that he had lost his passport and was escorted back outside of the airport, somehow made his way here on Tuesday where he was able to board, get on a tour.

He had booked a tour. It was apparently the passenger manifest was approved by the United Nations command and he along with about 40 other people took a bus down this road over to the unification bridge, and less than five miles that way is the Joint Security Area where he was able to basically, according to others who were on the tour with him, run across ignoring the calls of guards and get into a North Korean van where he was whisked away.

Now where he is now after being in North Korean custody for Wednesday and now Thursday, still an open question because the North Koreans have not released any information publicly and it may be quite some time before we officially know anything about this soldier's whereabouts or when he might have a chance of getting back to the U.S.

Will Ripley, CNN, in South Korea near the DMZ.

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NEWTON: U.S. officials have confirmed to CNN that China-based hackers recently broke into the email of US Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns. Now Burns is just the latest named official to fall victim to a sophisticated hacking operation that began in May, but wasn't discovered until a month later. Microsoft eventually determined the hackers were in fact based in China.

Even though the hacked government accounts were not classified, administration officials suspect they gave Beijing valuable insights into U.S. thinking ahead of the second wave Secretary of State's visit there last month.

Israeli lawmakers are expected to vote Monday on the first part of a controversial judicial reform plan, and hundreds of protesters marching through Tel Aviv to Jerusalem plan to be there. They say the move would strip the Supreme Court of most of its power, but supporters, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, claim it's necessary to restore balance to the branches of government.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): Even in these moments, I would like to tell you that efforts are being made to reach an agreement on the reasonableness bill. I sincerely hope that these efforts will be successful, but even if not, the coalition's door will always remain open.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(VIDEO PLAYING)

NEWTON: Polls show the judicial reform plan is widely unpopular in Israel. Hundreds of military reservists are now vowing to refuse voluntary service if it passes.

Now there's growing animosity between Sweden and Iraq after an attack on the Swedish embassy in Baghdad and threats from Iraq to sever diplomatic relations with Sweden. Now this is all the fallout from reports of a planned Quran burning in Stockholm.

CNN's Salma Abdelaziz takes us through the events that have caused so much outrage. [02:25:07]

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The inflammatory actions in Stockholm are sending ripple effects across the Muslim world. Salman Mamaki, the same man who just last month was engaged in burning pages of the Quran outside a major mosque in Stockholm, held yet another demonstration, this time in front of the Baghdad embassy, the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm. The demonstration lasted about 45 minutes. He was issued himself and his translator permits by Swedish police to carry out this protest, although they emphasize that the permit is for the gathering, not for the happenings at the gathering.

The event, the protest, was live-streamed in the video. You can see Salman Mamaki, that man, that individual, wiping his shoes at one point with the Iraqi flag and appearing to step on pages of the Quran. It does not appear that he burned the Quran in this incident on Thursday.

Still, again, there were repercussions. Even before the demonstration took place, hundreds of demonstrators in Baghdad stormed Sweden's embassy in the city, setting part of the building alight. They were mostly followers of Muqtad al-Sadr, the prominent Shia cleric who was outspoken on this issue.

Iraq's government cracked down, of course, saying that it arrested certain individuals, that they would face legal consequences for the storming of the embassy, but at the same time threatened to sever diplomatic ties with Sweden for permitting the demonstration, for permitting this protest to go ahead in Stockholm.

As the event was taking place, Iraq took the first steps in that, expelling, asking Sweden's ambassador in Iraq to leave the country, and at the same time recalling its Charge D' Affaires from Stockholm as well. We did see there was information from a telecommunications giant which suspended the license of Sweden's telecommunication giant Ericsson that was suspended by Iraqi authorities as well but still causing huge reaction, huge anger across the Muslim world.

Salma Abdelaziz, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Still ahead for us, Russia's war on Ukraine takes a toll on the world's most vulnerable. Global food prices are spiking after Moscow's exit from a critical grain deal with Ukraine, how China could step in to help. That's next.

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[02:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN ANCHOR: UN Secretary-General is condemning Russia's series of attacks on Odessa this week.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON (voiceover): Antonio Gutierres said the described -- destruction of port facilities is having a negative impact well beyond Ukraine. Grain prices spiked on Thursday, and wheat and corn futures continue to rise after Russia's decision to pull out of the deal allowing Ukraine to export grain through the Black Sea. Kyiv is accusing Russia of trying to increase world food prices. Ukraine supplies 10 percent of the world's wheat and 15 percent of corn.

China, for example, has increasingly turned to Ukraine as a source of key food supplies in recent years and is in fact the top destination for grain shipments. Beijing's influence could be pivotal in getting Russia to the negotiating table. Listen.

MAO NING, SPOKESPERSON, CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY: (Through a translator) We hope that the parties concerned will properly resolve international food security issues through dialogue and consultation. China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear-cut. We will continue to play a constructive role in facilitating the political settlement of the crisis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: Rana Mitter is a professor of U.S.-Asia relations at the Harvard Kennedy School. And he joins us now from Oxford, England.

I really appreciate getting your insights on this, especially as Odessa and its ports continue under attack at this hour. I mean, China will take its time to try and decide if and when to intervene. But what do you believe the Chinese leadership is weighing right now in terms of pros and cons?

RANA MITTER, PROFESSOR, U.S.-ASIA RELATIONS, HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL: Well, this morning, Paula, I think the Chinese authorities will be quietly a little bit alarmed because one of the buildings that was damaged in the most recent Russian air raid was in fact, the Chinese Consulate in Odessa. Although I don't think anyone there was killed. But the bigger picture for them will be balancing two things.

One is trying to make sure that what it calls its friendship without limits with the Russians, which are declared at the Beijing Olympics last year, continues to be strong. In other words, they want to make sure that they back up Russia's broader position that the war is really the fault of the United States and NATO.

On the other hand, they don't want to sacrifice their position as wanting to be honest brokers. They have a delegate called Li Hui, who is currently doing a peace tour to try and create some sort of peace agreement between the Russians and the Ukrainians. They're trying to balance those two priorities.

NEWTON: And I want to get to that larger priority of trying to get an actual peace agreement here. But specifically, if this escalates when it comes to the lack of a Black Sea deal, and the fact that it's now actually escalated tensions. Do you believe they will be forced to try and intervene sooner than perhaps they would have liked?

MITTER: I think there is a likelihood of that because one out of every five tons of grain that was shipped from Ukraine was in fact, going to China. China is a very hungry country. It needs to import a lot of food. And this would be a serious blow in terms of food supply.

If you look at China right now, they're actually hastily and almost on an emergency basis, increasing the amount of agricultural land that is available for growing crops, growing grain in China itself. And that's partly a response to this particular crisis that is emerging in Ukraine at the moment. But obviously, they can't grow green instantly so trying to make sure there's food supplies restart would be a priority for Beijing.

NEWTON: Yes. And China has economic pressures of its own and certainly doesn't want to deal with increased inflation. Now, if we go to the larger picture, so many have been skeptical as to whether or not China is serious about actually being an honest broker in this.

You know, you have so much background in this and you've studied throughout Chinese history, both recent and in the past, what it's capable of. Where do you see its posture now? Do you actually believe that it first would be willing to be an honest broker, and doesn't have the depth to do that at this point, the cloud -- the leverage?

MITTER: I think the advantage that China has is, so far it has maintained officially but -- the position that's neutral. And actually, the Ukrainians who are the group who have to really be brought into the negotiations are to some extent playing along. They don't want to alienate China, but at least because they remember that before the war broke out, China was the single biggest trading partner of any -- as any one country with Ukraine. So, they're willing to actually treat the Chinese negotiation tactic seriously.

On the other hand, there is an obstacle in the way, which is right now, China still finds it almost impossible to say straight out that Russia has violated the sovereignty of Ukraine by its invasion. And if they don't cross that particular diplomatic line, it's hard to see how they could start a negotiation with the Ukrainians.

[02:35:02]

One element that they will put into the mix is the promise or at least the sense that they will provide some sort of reconstruction funds. And that is something that actually has a historical precedent to one of the many ways that China -- the People's Republic of China has tried to gain favor in the wider world is by building bridges, roads, and so forth. Both back in the days of Chairman Mao in the 60s with its partners then, and also more recently, through what's called the Belt and Road Initiative. So, China may try and offer the capacity to actually provide money and reconstruction as part of the mixture that gets Russia and Ukraine to the table.

NEWTON: Yes. They've been quite prolific in that sense, right around the world, as many of us have seen for ourselves. I guess the issue is here, do you believe China can step up in a different way now when it is needed? You have pointed out that it has made moves in the Middle East to be the kind of peace broker that it really hasn't seen in its history before.

MITTER: I think it has the capacity to have quiet words behind the scenes with Russia. For instance, I think a lot of people will say that it's possible that one of the reasons that Russia has stopped threatening to go nuclear in this war is that it may be the case that Xi Jinping and Putin had a conversation behind the scenes in which Xi warned Putin against that. If that is the case or if they have that sort of influence, then it's possible that China may be in a position to have a quiet conversation directly with Moscow to actually say there is a point beyond which it's necessary to reach some sort of compromise.

If they can send that sort of signal, which would almost certainly be in a backroom, not in public, that it may be possible to also send signals to Kyiv to suggest that there is a serious deal to be done. But I don't think we're at that stage yet. That's probably to come the next few months, rather than the next few days or even weeks.

NEWTON: Yes. And possibly months is optimistic, right? As long as it isn't the next few years. Rana Mitter, thanks so much for your insights. I really appreciate it.

MITTER: Thank you, Paula.

NEWTON: Still ahead for us. Checking into the seahorse hotel. A new strategy aimed at saving the population of these unique sea creatures. We'll explain all of it after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NEWTON: A unique new strategy aims to restore the dwindling population of an endangered seahorse in Australian waters. Now, hundreds of baby seahorses have been released into what scientists are calling hotels, placed beneath the surface of Sydney's harbor. Isa Soares has our story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voiceover): This may look like divers simply releasing seahorses into the ocean. But the divers like to think of it this way. Seahorses checking into a new hotel room. The room is a structure made from biodegradable metal, a construction of the Sydney seahorse project, working to conserve the endangered white seahorse species.

[02:40:07]

MITCHELL BRENNAN, PROJECT MANAGER, SYDNEY SEAHORSE PROJECT: But essentially what we're trying to do is to give the seahorses habitat. So, the reason that these seahorse species are endangered is through habitat loss. So, the loss of things like sea grasses and soft corals.

So, the seahorse hotels, we placed out into the wild. And then over time, they will accumulate lots of natural growth, including sponges and algae, and become a suitable habitat for the seahorses replacing that habitat that's been lost or degraded in the past.

SOARES (voiceover): Seahorses aren't actually fish. The white sea horse, also known as the Sydney seahorse is one of two seahorse species in the world to be classified as endangered.

BRENNAN: This is largely due to human impacts, including the effects they have on their habitats. We've seen dramatic population losses, which means that we need to act now in order to help these guys persist into the future.

SOARES (voiceover): Above sea level, several hundred seahorses are bred at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science aquarium. In 2020, 90 of them were released from this facility into the wild.

BRENNAN: After one year, 20 percent of these seahorses were still found on the seahorse hotels, so it's a really positive first sign. As well, nine seahorses were observed to be pregnant within the wild, which is really positive for their reproductive success of them after they're released.

SOARES (voiceover): This month, they release more than 350 seahorses, hoping to save them from extinction and conserve the ecosystem. Isa Soares, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NEWTON: And finally for us, hundreds of Golden Retrievers from all over the world gathered in Scotland recently.

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NEWTON (voiceover): That's too funny. The dogs and their owners made the pilgrimage to the breed's ancestral homeland in the Scottish Highlands. Yes, I didn't know that.

The gathering marked 155 years since the first litter was raised by a Scottish Lord in the 19th Century. And now you know. The five-day event was filled with contests and fun activities. Of course, there must have been treats, and needless to say the guests of honor had a -- wait for it, possum time.

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NEWTON: You got to spell. I love those ducks. Thanks for joining us. I'm Paula Newton. "WORLD SPORT" is up next, and then I'll be back in 15 minutes with more CNN NEWSROOM.

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