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Maersk CEO Warns Red Sea Disruptions Could Last More Than a Month and Impact the Global Economy; Biden Calls on Congress to Swiftly Pass National Security Supplemental; Ukrainian Troops Contend With Weapons Shortages; King Charles to Get Prostate Treatment in Hospital Next Week, Princess of Wales Hospitalized for Abdominal Surgery; U.K. Marks 80th Anniversary of Computer That Helped End Ww2; Priests Bless Hundreds of Pets in Madrid. Aired 2-3a ET

Aired January 18, 2024 - 02:00   ET

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

[02:00:31]

ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from all around the world and to everyone streaming us on CNN Max. I'm Rosemary Church.

Just ahead, escalating tensions in the Middle East as the U.S. strikes Yemen for a fourth-time and Pakistan retaliates against Iran after a deadly attack. We're live in Islamabad with the very latest.

Plus, as Donald Trump holds a commanding lead in the GOP nomination for U.S. president, how Europe is bracing for a possible second Trump term.

And while the Princess of Wales recovers from surgery, King Charles gets ready for his own hospital stay. An update on the British Royals, live from London.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANNOUNCER: Live from Atlanta. This is CNN NEWSROOM with Rosemary Church.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: Good to have you with us. And we begin with a flurry of back- and-forth attacks between the U.S. and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

American forces recently carried out their fourth round of strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen, in less than a week.

U.S. military vessels launched Tomahawk missiles at more than a dozen Houthi missile launchers.

And the U.S. announced it's re-designating the Houthis as a global terrorist organization. Now, this comes after the Houthis successfully struck a U.S. vessel earlier on Wednesday, according to U.S. Central Command. Their one-way attack drone hit a bulk carrier ship in the Gulf of Aden. No one was injured and we're told the ship was able to carry on with its journey.

But this marks who the second direct hitch on an American ship this week, and they vow to keep up their strikes on any vessel linked to Israel until what they refer to as the genocide in Gaza is over.

Iran's foreign minister shared a similar message at the World Economic Forum.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HOSSEIN AMIR-ABDOLLAHIAN, IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): If the genocide in Gaza stops, then, it will lead to the end of other crises and attacks in the region.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: A number of shipping companies are scaling back roots in the Red Sea because of the Houthi attacks.

ITN's Rohit Kachroo visited the region and Houthi-controlled territory inside Yemen.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROHIT KACHROO, GLOBAL SECURITY EDITOR AND NEWS REPORTER, ITV NEWS (voice over): We're off the coast of Yemen, heading through the Gulf of Aden.

It's the latest target of the Houthi missiles. A few dozen miles from here, a U.S. owned vessel was hit this week. This is a vital artery, but less busy than it should be. Because these calm waters have become an unlikely frontline.

KACHROO: You can draw a line to here from Washington or from Gaza, from Tel Aviv or Tehran, because this stretch of water now sits right in the crosshairs of old conflicts and new campaigns. And what happens next will have consequences for all of us.

KACHROO (voice over): It was that attack nearby, which today led the U.S. administration to officially classified the Houthis as a terror group.

But within minutes of that announcement, 50 miles from where we were, another American-owned commercial vessel, sailing from Egypt to India was hit by a drone. Again, the Gulf of Aden was the location.

Tonight, the Houthis said they were behind the attack. A response, perhaps, to America's announcement today.

REAR ADM. JOHN KIRBY (RET.), COORDINATOR FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL: The Houthis sees the attacks, we can certainly reconsider this designation. If they don't, as the president said, we will not hesitate to take further actions to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce.

KACHROO (voice over): The rubble is old. You're looking at the results of fighting with the Houthis, who controlled territory north of here. The crisis at sea is just another chapter in this desperate decade in Yemen. The Houthi say they're doing what others won't responding to Israel's attacks in Gaza.

[02:05:00]

And although we heard universal support for Palestinians today, many believe the missile attacks will make matters worse for all.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (through translator): Our priority is to support Gaza and our country. We support Gaza, but the Houthis are backed by the Iranians. This regime is Iranian, not Yemen.

But at Davos today, Iran's foreign minister said it was in Israel's power to end the attacks against ships. And it gave it this ultimatum.

AMIR-ABDOLLAHIAN (through translator): If the genocide in Gaza stops, then it will lead to the end of other crises and attacks in the region.

KACHROO (voice over): Gaza is the issue. And Iran's public attempt at arm twisting today is a source of frustration for Yemeni soldiers fighting the Houthis, who fear their rivals are becoming emboldened.

This drone operator just back from the North says they are stoking the conflict to win support at home.

The Houthis must have known the potential consequences when they began attacking vessels. The crisis over shipping routes is about much more than commerce and the potential for escalation may well be growing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHURCH: ITN's Rohit Kachroo, reporting there.

Well, tensions along Israel's border with Lebanon have been building for months. Now, the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces says the likelihood of a war on the Northern Front is growing.

Herzi Halevi made those comments while visiting a reservist's exercise in northern Israel. He says his country is increasing its readiness for fighting in Lebanon.

LT. GEN. HERZI HALEVI, CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF, ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCES (through translator): I don't know when the war in the north is. I can tell you that the likelihood of it happening in the coming months is much higher than it was in the past.

I can say that I think we are starting it with many more advantages. Victory, self-confidence from our side. Confidence is decreasing from their side, a lot of experience and abilities to create surprises and to move forward.

CHURCH: The IDF chief says many lessons have been learned from the war against Hamas, many of which he says are relevant to fighting in Lebanon. And there's yet another regional conflict brewing, this time between Pakistan and Iran after both countries took the extraordinary step of attacking militants on each other's soil.

Iran is demanding an immediate explanation from Pakistan after it launched strikes in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province earlier today.

Pakistan claims a number of militants were killed but Iran says the victims were actually women and children. And this comes a day after Iran fired on Sunni militants inside Pakistan. Authorities there say two children were killed in the, "unprovoked" attack.

CNN's Sophia Saifi is covering this for us live from Islamabad. She joins us now.

Good to see you, Sophia. So, what is the latest on the fallout from Iran strike inside Pakistan. Now, of course, Pakistan's response and the impact all this is having on bilateral ties?

SOPHIA SAIFI, CNN PRODUCER: Rosemary, this is of course something that's not just got the Pakistani public on aware. It's also something that seemed to have caught the Pakistani state by surprise.

They put out a very strong statement of when the strikes took place by Iran on Pakistani territory, deep into Pakistani territory on Tuesday night. The strikes by Pakistan took place this morning and in the statements that have come out from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since they've gone ahead to emphasize that -- this -- the strikes that took place this morning were on credible information of an impending terrorist activities in the country.

Now, at the same time, there's just been a briefing by the ministry of foreign affairs spokeswoman. And she said that the prime minister who is currently in Davos, he will be cutting his trip short and returning back to Pakistan.

Pakistan's foreign minister was on a separate visit to Uganda. He is also cutting that trip short and coming back before the 22nd when he was actually supposed to be there, still.

So, it's clearly a moment of crisis here in Pakistan. But that crisis is trying to be contained by the ministry of foreign affairs, saying that this was not an attack on the State of Iran, and that Iran is a brotherly friendly neighbor of Pakistan. However, Pakistan security could not be violated, Pakistan's security is sacred.

They've claimed that the militants that they targeted in Iran, when militants were separatists operating both in Iran and in Pakistan were responsible for a variety of attacks that took place in Pakistan.

[02:10:01]

That information had been shared over the past couple of months with Iran. So, we're now going to have to wait and see how Iran reacts. Whether this is a tip for tat that is going to end now, or whether this is something that is going to be part of something much larger, and then escalate into South Asia. Rosemary.

CHURCH: All right. Thanks to Sophia Saifi, joining us live from Islamabad.

Ecuador's attorney general says the country will press ahead with its crackdown on organized crime, despite the assassination of a prosecutor, who was zeroing in on transnational crime groups.

Cesar Sanchez (PH) was killed in Ecuador's largest city, Guayaquil on Wednesday. The attorney general later said this about the killing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DIANA SALAZAR MENDEZ, STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL, ECUADOR: Regarding this event which is a source of grief for us as an institution, we are currently conducting the first investigations at the scene of the crime, with the aim of ensuring as on every case of violent death, that this crime does not go unpunished.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

According to CNN affiliate, Ecuavisa, the prosecutor was also in charge of investigating the gunman who stormed a local T.V. station in the middle of a live broadcast last week.

Ecuador has been rattled by violence since one of its top drug lords escaped from prison this month, leading to a state of emergency and a nationwide crackdown on crime.

CNN's David Culver reports from Guayaquil.

DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ecuador already under a state of emergency, and yet another spark of violence here. This time involving a prosecutor who was investigating a terror related case.

Now, this prosecutor was gunned down in his car as he was headed to a court hearing. Prosecutor also happened to be the same individual who was looking into that television station that had been really just invaded essentially by 13 armed men, who went in in the middle of a live broadcast. And they had not only guns with them, but also explosives.

At one point, who need a dynamite in the front pocket of one of the news anchors. They cause terror inside that station for more than an hour.

But the fact that that was broadcast live across this city, and then, amplified really through social media around the world, is what really sparked a lot of concern and fear more than anything else.

Folks for several days, refusing to leave their home kids doing virtual learning, not going to school. And in the day since, we've started to see folks slowly emerge from that, wanting to get back to normal life.

But what played out for that prosecutor being shot and killed, Cesar Suarez is an example of this still ongoing, internal armed conflict. That's how President Noboa has labelled this.

And he says his focus is to neutralize these terror groups. Now, you need to take a step back and look at why this is going beyond Ecuador. Folks might just say that's an isolated issue with a country that unfortunately was seen as an island of peace, it is no longer, But it's bigger than that.

And President Noboa has heed on this. He's called on the U.S. to help out, to help when it comes to resources for armed forces, for police. Everything from jackets, to helmets to ammunition.

And his argument is that if this isn't stopped here in Ecuador, that drugs in particular could continue to flow north into the U.S. and cause even more chaos for Americans.

Beyond that, though, you have to think if you're destabilizing this country, then you have folks here, who for many years have been very content here and suddenly will start to think, well, we need to pack up and go somewhere else.

Where will they go? The argument is they'll go north, and they'll add to the crisis at the U.S. southern border.

For that reason, a lot of the officials here are calling on the international community to step in, and to halt the violence here at Ecuador. One that has really caused a lot of concern, a lot of fear, and one that is not expected to end anytime soon.

David Culver, CNN, Guayaquil Ecuador.

CHURCH: Still ahead this hour, showdown in New Hampshire. Donald Trump launching new attacks on his Republican rival Nikki Haley days ahead of the state's primary.

Plus, the European Union prepares for the possibility of another Trump presidency. We'll ask an expert what the E.U. is most afraid of.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[02:16:26]

CHURCH: Donald Trump will be off the campaign trail in the day ahead to attend his mother in law's funeral. He spent Wednesday in a New York courtroom out his defamation trial brought by journalist E. Jean Carroll. The former president has already been found liable and now jurors will determine damages.

At one point, the judge threatened to have Trump removed from the courtroom because he was making comments that could be overheard by the jury during Carroll's testimony.

Carroll says she endured a barrage of threats after she brought a sexual assault lawsuit against Trump. A civil jury last year found her allegations to be credible.

Meanwhile, the Trump campaign is stepping up its attacks on Republican rival Nikki Haley, ahead of Tuesday's New Hampshire primary. And Haley is creating challenges for herself.

More now from CNNs. chief U.S. affairs correspondent Jeff Zeleny.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DONALD TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Nikki Haley, in particular, is counting on the Democrats and liberals to infiltrate your Republican primary.

JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Donald Trump has Nikki Haley on his mind and in his sights, as he seeks a knockout in the New Hampshire primary, to put an exclamation point on his blowout in the Iowa caucuses.

TRUMP: You know that. The left -- that's what's happening. I have a group of people coming in that are not Republicans and it's artificially boosting her numbers here.

ZELENY (voice over): Haley now faces her biggest test yet, as she seeks to galvanize moderate Republicans and seize upon the state's crucial bloc of independent minded voters.

NIKKI HALEY (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: We can either have more of the same or we can say it's time to change and move forward.

ZELENY (voice over): In New Hampshire, Haley's rise presents the most immediate threat in Trump's march to the Republican nomination.

She bluntly tells voters they deserve better choices than Trump or President Joe Biden.

HALEY: The majority of Americans think that having two 80-year-olds running for president is not what they want.

You've got two people who put spent trillions of dollars, putting us in debt that our kids are never going to forgive us for. Biden and Trump vote to that.

ZELENY (voice over): The feud between the former president and his ambassador to the United Nations moved closer to a boiling point.

TRUMP: You have to go out, you have to vote, and you have to give us those margins.

ZELENY (voice over): Trump firing back at Haley with well-worn tactics, using racist overtones, referring to his rival by her given birth name, Nimarata.

He's also promoted false questions about her eligibility to seek the presidency. Despite being born and raised in South Carolina to Indian immigrants.

All this, as a new social media post, showed her morphing into Hillary Clinton. A tactic previously used by allies of Ron DeSantis in Iowa.

For her part, Haley was still working to clean up comments she made earlier this week, about the historic role of race in America.

HALEY: We've never been a racist country.

ZELENY (voice over): Her campaign later clarified, saying, America has long had racism, but America has never been a racist country.

DeSantis, the other Republican in the race shifting his focus to South Carolina, stepping back from an aggressive New Hampshire campaign.

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL), PRESIDENTIAL CANDATE: Yes, this is going to be a long slog. It's a ball about accumulating the delegates.

ZELENY (voice over): At a CNN town hall with Wolf, DeSantis said the mounting legal cases facing Trump could keep Republicans from winning back the White House.

DESANTIS: If Donald Trump is the nominee, the election will revolve around all these legal issues, his trials, perhaps convictions.

We're going to lose if that's the decision that voters are making based on that. We don't want it to be a referendum on those issues.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[02:20:03]

ZELENY (on camera): The stage is set for the final days of this New Hampshire primary campaign. Trump aggressively attacking Nikki Haley, trying to slow her rise here in New Hampshire. She, of course, is trying to slow his march to the nomination.

The primary vote on Tuesday will set the shape, tone and speed of the remainder of this Republican race. Jeff's Zeleny, CNN, Rochester, New Hampshire.

CHURCH: Joining me now from Surrey, England is Ian Bond, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform. Good to have you with us.

IAN BOND, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, CENTRE FOR EUROPEAN REFORM: Nice to be here.

So, former U.S. President Donald Trump is widely expected to win the GOP nomination for president after his big victory at the Iowa caucuses and, of course, likely a big wins ahead.

As a consequence, Europe is apparently making preparations for the possibility of a second Trump term. Some calling this Trump proofing. What is Europe most afraid of when it comes to Trump?

BOND: I think there are two things. The first is that Trump has made clear that he doesn't want to defend Europe indeed, he apparently told the president to the European Commission in 2020 that America would never defend Europe.

So, that's quite unsettling for Europeans when there is already a war here. And the second thing is about our prosperity. We know that Trump is very hostile to free trade. And the trade relationship between the U.S. and Europe, not just with the E.U., but with all European countries, is one of the most important in the world.

So, where Trump to reduce the amount of trade between us, that would have a terrible effect on the European and for that matter, the U.S. economy.

CHURCH: So, what is Europe doing to prepare for the possibility of a second Trump term when it comes to trade, defense, and, of course, other issues?

I think I'd say not enough. But you know, there is some work going on, on the defense side, partly because of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022. That made a lot of European countries take their defense much more seriously.

On the trade side, it's much harder. I mean, America is such a crucial market. It's not easy for the Europeans to say, well, you know, if we can't sell to America, we'll sell to somewhere else, because there is no other market as large, as wealthy as America is.

So, it's quite hard to see what the Europeans can do to prepare for a more protectionist America under Trump.

CHURCH: So, how perilous, could it potentially be for Europe, if Trump becomes the next U.S. president, given many experts suggest the U.S. would no longer be a reliable partner on a variety of fronts, and you mentioned them.

BOND: Yes, I mean, I think there are a lot of people in Europe who are hoping that it will be no worse than it was the first time, because, you know, in the first -- in the first term, Trump was to some extent restrained by some of his experienced advisors.

People like Jim Mattis, when he was the defense secretary, and others of that kind.

I think he is less likely to be restrained this time. And so, I think Europeans have got to spend the next few months, at least starting the process of being able to defend themselves, because if Trump basically says to the world, I am not going to have anything to do with NATO in future, the U.S. is not going to defend Europe.

That is an open invitation to Vladimir Putin to continue his project to rebuild the Russian Empire, at the expense of countries that are NATO allies, members of the E.U. crucial European partners for countries like the U.K. as well.

CHURCH: Yes, of course. So, that is the big concern, isn't it? The E.U. isn't sure that a Trump administration would help defend the continent if it ever came under attack and is attempting, as you say, to build its own defense capabilities outside of the U.S.-led NATO alliance.

But shouldn't it have been doing that any way? Was this perhaps a wake-up call? Is it a wake-up call for Europe that perhaps needed to ensure member nations don't rely too heavily on the United States for military support for this very reason?

BOND: Yes, I think the 2022 invasion was the big wake up call. And, you know, if you look, for example, at France, in the aftermath of that, the French increasing their defense budget very significantly.

The Germans have done the same. You know, there is probably more that -- more that needs to be done. But I think they've been -- what they've been a bit slow to do is to kind of crank up European defense industry.

And as I say, it's not just an E.U. issue, that's also an issue for the U.K.

[02:25:01]

We also have not increased our defense budgets in the way that is really necessary. So, yes. Trump is -- Trump is a big threat, and I think, you know, the idea that we can just hope for the best is not a strategy.

CHURCH: Can we expect that E.U. leaders will be holding their breath come November this year?

BOND: No, yes, absolutely. And beyond the E.U. as well. I think regardless of who is the prime minister of the U.K. by November, the too will be holding their breath.

Trump is -- Trump was not an easy partner for the U.K.

CHURCH: Yes, I think the whole world will be watching this election in November. Ian bond, thank you so much for joining us and sharing your perspective. Appreciate it.

BOND: My pleasure. Thank you.

CHURCH: Well, more on the latest U.S. strikes in Yemen, just ahead. Plus, the additional step the U.S. is taking to prevent attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Plus, U.S. President Joe Biden warns that Congress must act now to help Ukraine. He made his case to congressional leaders at the White House, but Republicans are focused elsewhere. Details on the talks after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Welcome back, everyone.

Well, let's get you up to date on our top story. The U.S. has carried out another round of Tomahawk missile strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen. U.S. officials report the targets include missile launchers used to attack international shipping lanes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden

Houthi media confirm the strikes. The Iran-backed Houthi is control a large part of Western Yemen, including the capital city, Sanaa and the port of Hudaydah.

Earlier on Wednesday, they strike a U.S.-owned and operated vessel in the Gulf of Aden, the second incident this week.

The U.S. has listed the Houthis as a specially designated global terrorist entity, which will trigger sanctions. Houthi leaders say they will not stop their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza.

Well, a number of shipping companies are scaling back roots in the Red Sea because of the Houthi attacks.

[02:30:01]

U.S. officials are warning American merchant ships to steer clear of the waterway. And some insurers are refusing to cover American, British, and Israeli vessels against war risks. Vincent Clerc, the CEO of shipping giant Maersk, is warning that the disruptions could last for more than a month and result in shipment delays and price hikes, and in turn impact the global economy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VINCENT CLERC, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, MAERSK: The exact cost of it is something that is really unfolding and that we are trying to get our arms around. You have different levels of cost. The first one is, it takes about 8,000 miles more to get from China to the U.K., south of the Horn. That takes these couple of weeks. That means that we have ships that suddenly have to sail full throttle. That means more emission, more fuel. It means also that they will not be, despite that, back on time in China. That means also the containers take longer time to turn. So you just have costs piling on here and the longer this is going to last, the more this is going to cost.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: U.S. President Joe Biden is calling on Congress to swiftly pass more funding for Ukraine, stressing that it is vital for protecting the free world. The president met with congressional leaders from both parties at the White House Wednesday in hopes of finding a way out of a weeks-long impasse. Republicans are demanding that any new funding for Ukraine be tied to passing tighter border security.

Senate majority leader and top Democrat Chuck Schumer came away from the talks saying he is more optimistic than ever before leaders will reach agreement on both the border and funding for Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER, (D-NY): There was tremendous focus on Ukraine and an understanding that if we don't come to Ukraine's aid, that the consequences for America around the globe would be nothing short of devastating.

REP. MIKE JOHNSON, (R-LA): We understand that there is concern about the safety, security, sovereignty of Ukraine, but the American people have those same concerns about our own domestic sovereignty and our safety, and our security.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CHURCH: A Ukrainian presidential advisor warns any slow solutions to the war will have disastrous long-term impacts not just on Ukraine, but on the world. And while the country waits for more aid from the west, troops on the frontlines of forced to ration ammunition for weapons that are often decades old. CNN's Fred Pleitgen reports from eastern Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice- over): The battle is already in full swing when the artillery unit gets their orders. Their battle cat Ceoma (ph) follows the commander to the U.S. provided M777 gun and they get to work.

PLEITGEN: Soldiers have now been given in (ph) target and they are working as fast as possible to try and fire as many rounds as accurately towards the Russian positions.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): Three rounds; that's it. The commander tells me ammo shortages are a real problem here.

There is more of a deficit, he says, when we were in Zaporizhzhia direction, we used 50 to 60 shells a day. Now, it is 20 to 30 maximum. The resupply truck only brings a few more rounds and with U.S. military aid ground to a halt, things could get even tougher for the Ukrainians soon.

We are near Maryinka on the eastern front. The Russians recently managed to take Maryinka after essentially annihilating the entire town with their artillery. Moscow's forces face no ammo shortages, the Ukrainian say, after getting around a million artillery rounds from North Korea in the past year.

Even as we prepare to leave, the position is under Russian fire. We drive away constantly watching for Russian drones and possible artillery impacts. Different day, different frontline, similar problems for Ukraine's forces, major shortages. We are in the battle zone near Avdiivka with a Special Forces Unit called Omega. It's 22 degrees below freezing. They want to fire artillery rockets at the Russians, but lacking western arms, they've mounted a Soviet-era launcher on a U.S.-made pickup truck. They set up fast, but then this.

PLEITGEN: So one of the issues that the Ukrainians have using this very old technology is that sometimes it simply doesn't work. It is very cold right now. They think something is frozen and it is just not working.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): All they can do is de-rig and leave before the Russians see them. UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We wanted to strike at the

enemy's positions, but unfortunately, sometimes it happens, the equipment does not work. He says, technology does not stand still. And as we can see in this war, the technologies from the west are giving very good results.

PLEITGEN (voice-over): The unit later did manage to fire three rockets after troubleshooting for several hours. Delays that can be costly in a war where Ukraine is already badly outgunned.

Fred Pleitgen, CNN, in eastern Ukraine.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[02:35:00]

CHURCH: Unexpected medical announcements from the British royal family about the Princess of Wales and King Charles, while she's in hospital and what he's to be treated for. A live report from London coming up after a short break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CHURCH: Some unexpected medical concerns from the British royal family. King Charles will go into hospital next week to treat an enlarged prostate which is benign. And Kate, the Princess of Wales, had successful abdominal surgery on Tuesday and will stay in hospital for up to two weeks. So, let's bring in CNN's Royal Correspondent Max Foster, who joins us live from London. Good to see you, Max. So, both royal health issues have taken the U.K. and the rest of the world by surprise, haven't they? What more are you learning about this?

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we are not going to be giving -- getting any more updates as I understand it, unless the princess leaves hospital or takes a turn for the worse. They're trying to limit the amount of information because its medical information, they feel they have the right to keep that private unless there is a major development. So, no new updates this morning, but certainly a lot of attention on that hospital where the princess is right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FOSTER (voice-over): From her recent engagements, the Princess of Wales has looked well and been in good spirits. The first suggestion that she may have been unwell came on Wednesday when Kensington Palace announced she was in hospital, recovering from abdominal surgery. It was successful and a source told CNN it wasn't cancer-related. She would need to remain in hospital for up to two weeks though, and up to three months recuperating at home in Windsor.

All engagements and travel have been put on hold as they have for Prince William, as he takes care of his family. Then news that King Charles would also be going to hospital next week with an enlarged prostate. We are told it is benign and it was announced on the same day because it meant he had to cancel a meeting with government ministers on Thursday in Scotland.

In total, three out of four of the most senior British working royals out of action. And no further updates expected until the princess leaves hospital or takes a turn for the worse. Kate is keen on fitness and enjoys playing sports, so she is expected to recover well. The palaces rarely release private medical details, which is why they haven't explained in what the surgery was actually for. But she could have been spotted leaving the hospital and questions would have been asked why she was canceling engagements.

A source told CNN that the king took the view that sharing his condition would encourage other men to have their prostates checked.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[02:40:00]

FOSTER: So without these three key royals out there and receiving these treatments, or in Prince William's case, supporting the princess, it does put a lot of pressure on the remaining members and Edward and his wife, Sophie, and the queen, of course, to carry out duties. So we do expect them to be out about next week, Rosemary. But I think people will notice a change here because these are three quite busy royals who are normally involved in all sorts of events.

But the princess in particular, we are not going to see her for months. I do think there is a bit of a sense of shock about the fragility it really exposes about this system, particularly after the queen died. And she's such a young, vibrant figure and no one really saw this coming.

CHURCH: Yeah, absolutely. Wish both a speedy recovery, of course. Max Foster joining us live from London, many thanks.

Well, the United Kingdom is celebrating the 80th anniversary of Colossus, the world's first digital computer. It was created in 1944 and used in World War II to decode German messages which helped pave the way for the ally's successful D-day invasion. Many experts credit the computer with shortening the war.

The two-meter tall machine cut the time it took to decode messages from weeks to just hours. Despite its important role, Colossus remained a secret until the early 2000s when its existence was revealed And before we go, Spanish priests want to remind you, your pets are

worthy of God's love to. In Madrid, priests offered blessings to hundreds of dogs and cats on Wednesday to mark the Feast Day of St. Anthony, the Abbot, Spain's patron saint of animals. A priest who conducted the blessings says the animals deserve it as they give love, companionship and loyalty to their owners. Amen.

(LAUGH)

CHURCH: I'm Rosemary Church. "World Sport" is next, then I will be back in 15 minutes with more "CNN Newsroom". Do stick around.

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