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Connect the World
Taliban Move into Afghan Provincial Capital; Danger Increasing as Taliban take Control of More Territory; 18,000 Afghans Have Applied for Special U.S. Immigration Visas; Taliban Behead Former Afghan Translator For U.S. Military; Haiti Under "State of Siege" After President was Assassinated; Haitian Ambassador Talks With CNN After President is Killed; Once-Stuck Ship Finally Begins Journey Out of Suez Canal; New Report Details Police Violence Against Protesters; British Prime Minister Defends Reopening Plan; British PM: Link Between COVID Infection and Death Severed; Delta Variant Detected in Brazil's Largest City; Brazil's President Caught Up in Yet Another COVID Scandal; Bharat Biotech Denies Any Wrongdoing in Dealings with Brazil; Indonesia Expands Restrictions Across Nation; First Female Arab Astronaut Meets Public; Legend of Indian Cinema Dies at Age 98; Cannes Film Festival-Goers Asked to Spit Into Test Tubes; Businesses Welcome Return of Cannes Film Festival. Aired 11a-12p ET.
Aired July 07, 2021 - 11:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Atlanta, this is Connect the World.
LYNDA KINKADE, CNNI HOST: Hello and welcome to Connect the World I'm Lynda Kinkade filling in for my colleague, Becky Anderson. Good to have you with
us.
We start with the growing uncertainty and danger in Afghanistan coming into focus today with new video of the Taliban in a Provincial Capital. These
pictures are from Badghis Province showing (ph) Taliban fighters on motorcycles finding through the city. Another video claims to show
prisoners, freed by the Taliban, leaving a local jail. There are conflicting reports on whether the Taliban now controls that city.
Whatever the case the Taliban are certainly gaining territory, claiming to have taken 150 districts across the country since May. With U.S. forces now
largely gone from Afghanistan Iran is taking on the role in the peace process hosting Taliban and Afghan government leaders today in Tehran (ph).
Its foreign minister says the U.S. failed Afghanistan and Iran is ready to help resolve the existing conflicts. Our correspondent, Anna Coren, is
connecting us to Kabul with more on the growing danger there for many in Afghanistan and joins us now live. Anna, you've been speaking to Afghans
there who over the years have helped the U.S. alliance over the past two decades.
Talk to us about what sort of danger they're now in.
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They've helped and risked their lives as well as saving American lives. There have been so many Afghan interpreters
that we've come into contact with in the last few days, Lynda. Many of them have had their special immigrant visas to the United States rejected. Which
they say is an absolute death sentence.
They know that the Taliban are launching revenge attacks and they are terrified of what awaits them.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
COREN (voice over): Standing in the Kursian Valley (ph) in Uruzgan Province, Abdul Rashid Shirzad had just completed another mission with SEAL
Team 10. The Afghan linguist working alongside America's military elite translating for U.S. Special Forces. But according to Abdul his five years
of service has now amounted to a death sentence after the U.S. government rejected his special immigrant visa making him a target for the Taliban.
ABDUL RASHID SHIRZAD, FORMER U.S. MILITARY INTERPRETER: If they catch me they're going to kill me, they're going to kill my kids and they're going
to kill my wife, too. It's payback time for them, you know.
COREN (voice over): The father of three says his contract with the U.S. military was terminated in 2014 after he failed a polygraph test. But his
letters of recommendation from SEAL commanders reflect a translator who went above and beyond duty. Describing him as a valuable and necessary
asset who braved enemy fire and undoubtedly saved the lives of American and Afghans alike.
SHIRZAD: This is Eli (ph), he was one of our team members.
COREN: These guys were your American brothers?
SHIRZAD: American brothers, yes.
COREN (voice over): Abdul says he has no idea what he did wrong and never received an explanation. His visa rejection letter from the U.S. Embassy
stated, "lack of faithful and valuable service".
SHIRZAD: If we have peace in Afghanistan, if I had not served the U.S. military, if the Taliban were not after me, I would never leave my country.
COREN (voice over): Around 18,000 Afghans who worked for the U.S. military have applied for special immigration visas. But CNN has learned only half
are expected to be granted.
The Biden administration is in talks with a number of countries to act as a safe haven while the visas are processed. A clear sign the government is
well aware of the looming threat posed by the Taliban. But for Afghans who have been rejected the danger is just as real.
Sahal Pad (ph) as seen here dancing worked for 16 months as a translator for the U.S. Army before he too failed a polygraph test and was terminated
in 2012.
ABDULHAQ AYOUBI, FORMER U.S. MILITARY INTERPRETER: They were telling him that you are a spy for the Americans, you are the eyes of the Americans and
you are infidel and we will kill you and your family.
COREN (voice over): Thirty-two year old Sahal (ph) confided in his best friend and fellow translator Abdulhaq.
Both had joined the Afghans Left Behind Association hoping to raise awareness for their cases.
But on the morning of May 12 this year, Sahal (ph) left Abdulhaq a voice message. Saying he was driving from Kabul to Khost Province to pick up his
sister for Eid celebrations. On the way the Taliban had set up a checkpoint, Sahal (ph) sped through but villagers told the Red Crescent.
The Taliban shot his car before it swerved and stopped. The militants then dragged Sahal (ph) out of the car and beheaded him.
Sahal's (ph) brother takes us to his grave on the side of a barren hill. Earth and stones a reminder of a life violently taken in a country that has
been left to fight this war on its own.
COREN: There are hundreds of other Afghan translators who were terminated from their contracts for what they say was unjust cause. And while the U.S.
government says it won't be reviewing those cases they fear that if they stay in Afghanistan their fate will be the same as Sahal's (ph).
AYOUBI: We kindly request that President Biden to save us. We help you and you - you have to help us.
COREN (voice over): A desperate plea from a group of Afghans who once believed America would never desert them.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
COREN (on camera): And to every single interpreter that we've come in contact with has shown us all these documents, you know, whether it be
their terms of contract, whether it be their letters of recommendation and commendation from their commanders, you know, basically saying they should
get these special immigrant visas to the United States.
For whatever reason they have been rejected. And what is happening here in the countryside, particularly in the north, just adds to the fear and
uncertainty for these interpreters that they will be targeted in these revenge attacks carried out by the Taliban, Lynda.
KINKADE: Really tough conditions for all of those you're speaking to. Anna Coren for us in Kabul, thank you very much.
Well a "State of Siege" has been declared in Haiti after the country's controversial President was assassinated. The Interim Prime Minister says
53-year old, Jovenel Mose, was killed overnight by attackers who stormed his home. The acting Prime Minister says they were quote "a highly trained
and heavily armed group". His wife was severely injured in that attack.
Mr. Moise took office in 2017. Some subsequent elections were cancelled and critics took to the streets calling for him to go. Well (ph) I want to
bring in Haiti's Ambassador to the U.S., Bocchit Edmond who joins us live via Skype from Washington. Good to have you with us, Ambassador.
BOCCHIT EDMOND, HAITIAN AMBASSADOR TO U.S.: It's a pleasure to be here.
KINKADE: We all woke up to news of this assassination of Haiti's President this morning. How did you find out? And tell us what went through your
mind?
EDMOND: You know, a sense of shock because I would never thought that my country would have reached that point (ph) because, you know, you can do an
investigation (inaudible). I thought that killing the President would have been something probably I would have seen in a movie or somewhere, not in
Haiti.
Even though we had - we have that in our past history and (inaudible) but we thought - we have thought that we will continue to have our discourse
even though our disagreements are well known. We would have continued to dialogue to, you know. to see how we can (inaudible) our differences. But
through official mean (ph).
But killing a President, that would never cross my mind.
KINKADE: Ambassador, earlier this year officials loyal to the President claimed that they had indeed foiled an attempt to murder the President;
police arresting some 23 people including a Supreme Court Judge. They were all accused of attempted coup. What more can you tell us about that?
EDMOND: That was something we discovered after (inaudible). This is - that shows you that there have been - those plans have been plotted for so long.
But now what is important to us is to know that we have a dead President in our hands. And things we would not expected. Now it's (ph) very important
to see how we can - the current authorities they will continue to work and use this moment -
[11:10:00]
EDMOND: -- to see how we can heal the nation because we are seriously divided, unfortunately.
KINKADE: Yes. The President of course, Ambassador, had been ruling by decree for more than a year. You already had this constitutional crisis in
Haiti, what are your fears going forward? What do you expect happen?
EDMOND: Well (inaudible) who is not a legal (ph) is - it is - it is an act the President used whenever there was no Parliament. It is not illegal
because most of our legal batteries formerly (ph) decrease. Now what I would love to see, I think it's very important to - at the same time to ask
and request from our international partners assistance in, you know, in investigation what happened. Trying to identify their killers and bring
them to justice.
It's very important to -- even to consider and to appreciate the fact that many head of states and head of the (inaudible) already condemn what
happened. It's very important to see how they can help with investigating that -- really that horrible act that happened at the President's residence
where they kill him. And it is very important to - to - to clarify that because this is a threat - to kill the President of Haiti to day but has
been - this is a threat on the democracy of our region.
So it's very important for us - for all of us to consider how we can work together and to make sure that those things do not repeat in our region and
(inaudible). So we hopefully we are - we are - we are open to receive any kind of cooperation that can help us to investigate what really occurred
last night.
KINKADE: Right, Bocchit Edmond, Haiti's Ambassador to the United States, we appreciate your time today and we wish you and your country all the very
best.
EDMOND: Thank you so much.
KINKADE: Well three months after clogging one of the world's most vital trade arteries the Ever Given is beginning its slow sail out of the Suez
Canal. The vessel run aground in late March, it took six days to free it. The Suez Canal authority then seized the vessel demanding $900 million in
compensation from the ship's Japanese owners.
Well now a lawyer for the authority tells CNN an agreement has been reached and the Ever Given is resuming its journey. The impact the blocked ship had
on global trade was something we have never seen before. Our Ben Wedeman was there covering the nerve racking story from Cairo when it happened.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)
BEN WEDERMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: As dredging work continues a fleet of tub boats stand by hoping high tide will provide the
vital window in which to free the carrier.
Almost as long as the Empire State Building is tall the Ever Given got stuck during a sandstorm and 40 knot winds. Blocking a crucial supply chain
that waves (ph) around 12 percent of global trade through the quickest maritime link between Asia and Europe.
(END VIDEOCLIP)
KINKADE: Our Ben Wedeman joins us now live for more on this. It certainly caused a major headache at the time and we've since had 40 days or so of
negotiations to come to some sort of agreement. And by the sounds of it, although we don't know the figure, it seems like it's a pretty huge number?
WEDEMAN: Yes but we don't know that precise number. As you mentioned, initially they were asking for $916 million. Then we understand that they
lowered it to $550, the counter offer from the insurance company that was representing the ship's Japanese owners, counter offered with $150 million.
Now one of the reasons why the Egyptian demand for compensation was so high was that they wanted to be compensated for the reputational damage done to
the Suez Canal as a result of that six day blockage.
Fortunately it was only six days so it was a headache, as you said before, but a relatively brief one all things considered. The Egyptian authorities,
at the time, really pulled out all the stops to try to resolve the crisis as quickly as possible because of course Egypt gets a lot of foreign
currency from the duties it receives for operating the Suez Canal.
So now the ship, this massive 400 meter container ship which has more than 18,000 -
[11:15:00]
WEDEMAN: -- containers on board it's on its way to Port Said at the northern end of the Suez Canal where the hull is going to be inspected. And
it's going to make a fairly slow journey, about two weeks, to Rotterdam in the Netherlands and finally to the U.K.
What was interesting in that signing ceremony today, which was broadcast live on Egyptian T.V., was that the lead lawyer for the Suez Canal
authority said that the Even Given will always be welcome in Suez Canal. Lynda.
KINKADE: Well that is good to hear. I mean obviously the authority want as many ships to go through that very busy transit route. What exactly is it
going to do to ensure something like this doesn't happen again?
WEDEMAN: Well that was - been (ph) debated in Egypt even before this happened on the 23rd of March. Keeping in mind that in 2015 Egypt
President, Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi opened in parts of the Suez Canal a second lane which would be vital because keep in mind where the Ever Given got
stuck there was only one lane in the canal and therefore that was basically a tight cork in the canal.
If you have two lanes you can divert ships around it and so there is talk of a further expansion of the canal. Now that 2015 expansion cost Egypt $8
billion so it's not cheap. But if the Egyptians want avoid a repeat of this intense but fortunately brief crisis, they are talking about further
expansion; another lane in that area of the canal to avoid this in the future. Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, we're not talking about spare change are we? Ben Wedeman for us on this story. Thanks so much. Well still to come, policing the police.
How one South American country is dealing with a surge in violence by the very people meant to protect it. Plus freedom or foolishness, the British
Prime Minister defends his COVID reopening plan to some of this harshest critics. What he had to say ahead.
And the more contagious Delta variant is detected for the first in Brazil's largest city. The investigation into the patient and what it means for
Brazil going forward.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. A new report just released just one hour ago accuses Colombian police of using disproportionate and excessive force in dealing
with recent protests. Colombia's national police say they're investigating 16 allegations of police murdering protestors.
[11:20:02]
Human Rights Activist say the figure is more like 70 murders by police. Journalist Stefano Pozzebon has been following this story and joins us now
live from Bogota. Just talk to us about what this latest report has found because dozen of people have been killed during protests on the streets
there.
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNNI JOURNALIST: Yes, Lynda, this is the most high profile inquiry into the actions of the Colombian Police and the
allegations of human rights abuse since the beginning of the protests here in Bogota and in other cities of Colombia more than two months ago.
The streets of Bogota have all but quieted down. Tiredness (ph) has caught up with the protestors but the legacy of these two months is often made by
personal tragic stories including those of the tens thousands (ph) of people who died into the streets here. We profiled one in particular,
Lynda. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
POZZEBON (voice over): The night of May 1st everything changed for Marlin Nino and her family. In the meets (ph) of a violent wave of protest that
shook Colombia for two months and left dozens of dead protest is triggered by now recalled tax reforms that evolved into broader movement against
income (ph) and equality and police brutality. Nino's brother, Brayan, was hit by a gas canister shot from a police vehicle.
According to preliminary investigations by the Colombia Attorney General's office, witnesses told CNN they tried to revive Brayan on the spot and
took him to the nearest hospital. But the 24-year old protester was pronounced dead soon afterwards.
MARLIN NINO, SISTER OF BRAYAN NINO (through translator): In that moment I couldn't pull myself together. The only thing I did was call my aunt and I
told her my brother, my brother, they killed my brother. And then I was in shock.
POZZEBON (voice over): More than two months later a police major is in custody and being investigated for Nino's death. But Marlin fears that
won't be enough and soon another family will have to mourn a loved one. Brayan's case is one of hundreds of accusations against the Colombian
Police investigated by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights as part of a full inquiry into human rights abuses during Colombia's protest.
The inquiry found that the Colombian authorities employed excessive (inaudible) force on several occasions that resulted in serious injuries
and in one case, the death of a protestor.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, Colombia's Justice Minister, Wilson Ruiz pledged zero tolerance for police abuse but stopped short of
supporting structural reforms.
WILSON RUIZ, MINISTER OF JUSTICE, COLOMBIA (through translator): First we need to understand what really happened there and what caused their death.
That's what our investigation and Justice Minister is for and I welcome the investigation from the authorities (ph) to clear the facts in front of the
country. As Justice Minister I can assure you we will never cover up a murder.
POZZEBON: The report is calling for full transparency over the issue of police violence. Much of that will depend on the Attorney General's office
just here. They're the ones investigating the allegations.
POZZEBON (voice over): We heard (ph) they're able to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice will have a lasting impact far beyond the court.
Mistrust of Columbia's institution dates back to more than 50 years of civil war. The government now claims left-wing guerrillas have infiltrated
the current (inaudible) to seek (ph) (inaudible). An accusation the Puente Movement firmly (ph) denies.
But the time has come for a deeper reckoning says Ingrid Betancourt, a former Presidential candidate who was kidnapped by rebel guerillas and held
for over six years.
INGRID BETANCOURT, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, COLOMBIA: This is part of what we could have expected introducing people from the war to the civil
(ph) society and that we needed to adjust our institutions and now that people don't hear the sound of the gun machines they want to be in the
street protesting for their rights.
POZZEBON (voice over): In 2016 Colombia embarked on a journey toward peace but five years after the official resolution of armed conflict the peaceful
transition is yet to be fully realized.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
POZZEBON (on camera): Lynda, what is really at stake here is, as you said, who is policing the police. Who is checking the people who are meant to
check and keep people safe. And has (ph) happened so often across the world in the last two years. Those investigations that a Colombian Attorney
General is moving into the police actions and will bring to trial.
Have all the potential of becoming a Colombian version, if you want, of the Derek Chauvin trial in the United States and have the occasion and the
opportunity to start - kick start a national conversation onto the role that the Colombian state wants its security forces to have in a country
that is now in theory at peace, Lynda.
[11:25:01]
KINKADE: Stefano, these protests began as a result of a change to a tax reform bill. But there are so many grievances, as we have discussed, in
equality, poverty, land reform, healthcare, education issues. All of this seems to have exacerbated. These problems have got worse since the pandemic
hit, right.
POZZEBON: That is correct. The pandemic has only made our bad situation even worse and Colombia has been here before in recent times. Colombians
took the streets to demand and to protest exactly on those grievances in November and December of 2019 and again in September 2020, during the
pandemic.
And frankly I was able to ask to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, just an hour ago, if they were fearing that if their
recommendations to the government, which include reform in the police, dismantling the police attachment to the Minister of Defense, for example,
which here in Colombia controls the national civil police. And attachment to more civil ministry like the Justice Ministry or the Interior Ministry
like in other countries.
I've asked the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights if they were fearing that unless these things were taken into consideration they will
have to come back here because those grievances are still very much present for million of Colombians, Lynda. They say that -- the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights said that they welcome though perhaps the opportunity to start a global conversation - a national conversation here
in Bogota, Lynda, about the role of the police.
It's a moment of reckoning for a country that is still reeling from more than five decades of civil conflict. And is perhaps it still has not come
to terms into the role of its security forces in this peaceful era. But those issues are definitely in the forefront of all the people who have
taken to the streets here in Bogota. Lynda.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly serious issues raised in that report. We'll see what comes from it. Stefano Pozzebon, good to have you with us from Bogota,
thank you.
Still ahead on Connect the World we're live from London where the Prime Minister was asked if it's reckless to lift COVID restrictions in the face
of up to 100,000 new cases every day.
Plus, for the first time, the Delta variant rears its ugly head in Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo. What we know about the man who was infected and
why it has authorities so concerned.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he has taken -- he has taken a balanced and reasonable approach to lifting COVID-
19 restrictions.
He filtered questions in the House of Commons today about his plan for reopening England in less than two weeks. The U.K. is facing a new wave of
infections propelled by the Delta variant.
Officials warn that they could soon see 100,000 new cases a day.
CNN Nina dos Santos has been following his plan and the criticism it's facing. She joins us now live from London. And Nina, since the end of May
the U.K. has seen a rise in COVID cases. The opposition today saying that we could see a summer of confusion and chaos.
NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, that's right. So, Keir Starma obviously putting that to the prime minister or prime minister's question,
which is the weekly event when obviously the opposition gets a chance to put these difficult questions to the cabinet and the prime minister
himself.
And as you were saying, he was -- Keir Starma was essentially laying out this sort of mixed message from the government, if you like. On the one
hand we had the start of the week Boris Johnson the Prime Minister having this big press conference announcing the COVID restrictions including most
controversially, Lynda, the wearing of masks would come to an end in two weeks time. But despite that he also said that COVID cases could reach
50,000 per day in a couple of weeks by then.
Then a day later the health secretary was sent into Parliament to deliver the message that actually the figures by mid August could be something like
100,000, which is much, much bigger than the peaks we saw in the early waves of the pandemic last year.
So essentially Keir Starma was saying that on the one hand you're talking about losing all these restrictions but then you've got a time lag between
also other restrictions that are still going to be latent in place for some time.
And that includes the need for people to self-isolate for 10 days if they've been contacted to say that they've been near anybody who has tested
positive for COVID even if they've had two doses of the vaccine.
Now that we have since learned apparently is going to be ending in mid August. But that means there's a six week time lag between the ending of
the COVID restrictions and also the time when people still have to isolate for. Ditto for school children as well.
And it's this disconnect that Keir Starma went right to the heart of here. This is what the prime minister said when he tried to rebuff that type of
criticism a couple of our hours ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF UNITED KINGDOM: We are seeing a wave of cases because of the Delta variant, but scientists are also absolutely
clear that we have severed the link between infection and serious disease and death.
And currently there are only a 30th of the deaths that we were seeing an equivalent position in previous waves of this pandemic. And that has been
made possible thanks to the vaccine roll out, the fastest of any European country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DOS SANTOS: Well it has to be said that we're expecting potentially more messaging from people like the transport secretary throughout the course of
the next few days. Remember we've, as I said before, heard from the education secretary talking about changing the rules for schools in the
summer. Then obviously the health secretary talking about changing the rules for self-isolating when more people have been vaccinated.
But it's this sort of drip-feed of messaging with, of course, the start to the week saying that, you know, all these COVID restrictions including
masks would be gone. That is the mixed message that yet again Keir Starma says that the British people are getting from the government. Lynda?
KINKADE: Yes, certainly mixed messages indeed. All right Nina dos Santos in London. Thanks so much.
Well the Delta variant also being detected for the first time in Brazil's most popular city Sao Paulo. The hospital system there has already been
struggling with extremely high case counts. And as we know the Delta variant is more contagious than the original COVID-19 virus.
Well the Health Ministry says the infected patient is self-isolating. He works at home and says he hasn't traveled and denies having had contact
with people who've traveled. Well, this brings the total number of cases of the Delta variant across Brazil to 15.
Well, the vaccination program there began in January, but many Brazilians have had a hard time at getting their hands on a dose due to shortages. The
country's president Jair Bolsonaro has taken the brunt of the blame and now he's caught up in even more allegations of corruption related to procuring
COVID-19 vaccines for his country.
[11:35:10]
Here's our Shasta Darlington.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JAIR BOLSONARO, PRESIDENT OF BRAZIL: (Foreign language).
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Once riding high amid the chorus of cheering supporters Brazilian President Jair
Bolsonaro wave of popularity now crashing hard into the rising tide of discontent, as cries for his impeachment seem to grow louder by the day.
Fueled in large part by his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and ignited by allegations of governmental corruption in vaccine acquisition that
opponents say delayed the delivery of high efficacy vaccines like Pfizer BioNTech that could have saved more lives.
In favor of a contract for Bharat Biotech's COVAXIN, a less proven vaccine at a much higher cost, a contact that many of those took to the streets in
protest this weekend say may have led not only to delays in vaccinations, but also unethical financial gain for Bolsonaro lawmakers.
KIM KATAGUIRI, BRAZILIAN CONGRESS MEMBER (through translator): It is a question of principles. It is a question of values. It is a question of
morals. It is a question of repudiating and rejecting the criminal negligence that has led to over 500,000 deaths.
DARLINGTON (voice-over): Bolsonaro speaking to reporters after a whistleblower testified to congressional investigators that he had warned
the president about the alleged contract improprieties, displaying the dismissive defiance he has become famous for.
BOLSONARO (through translator): As far as I'm concerned there is nothing wrong with the contract. Not a penny was spent on COVAXIN. You people who
want to judge me for corruption you're going to get it wrong. I'm incorruptible.
DARLINGTON (voice-over): That COVAXIN contract now suspended. And for its part, Bharat Biotech releasing a statement denying any wrongdoing. Saying,
"As of June 29, Bharat Biotech has not received any advance payments nor supplied any vaccines to MOH Brazil. Bharat Biotech has followed a similar
approach toward contracts, regulatory approvals and supplies in several countries worldwide where COVAXIN is being supplied successfully."
Meanwhile opposition lawmakers ceasing on Bolsonaro's cratering popularity amid allegations of graft (ph) by combining some of the more than 100
already existing impeachment requests against the president into a so- called super request for his ouster.
And the Brazilian Supreme Court green lighting a criminal inquiry last week into Bolsonaro for his handling of the matter.
Leading to a palpable sense of anger amongst protesters and opposition lawmakers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): That's a dollar that Bolsonaro and the Ministry of Health wanted to earn on each vaccine they bought on the
life of every Brazilian. We have more than 500,000 COVID-19 deaths in our country and it is the result of genocidal policy, which trivialized the
strength of coronavirus in our country.
DARLINGTON (voice-over): With the protests against Bolsonaro likely to gather steam as the investigation runs its course, the death toll from
COVID-19 still rising, albeit more slowly then before with more people joining the ranks of the grieving as the pandemic rages silently on.
Shasta Darlington, CNN, Sao Paulo.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well Indonesia is trying to get a grip on a record number of daily deaths, so it's extending its COVID restrictions across the country.
Java and Bali are already under a strict lockdown with places of worship and shopping malls closed. People are working from home and from today 43
more districts and cities will see tighter restrictions until July 20.
Still ahead on Connect the World a legend in Indian cinema has passed away. A look back on how Dilip Kumar changed acting in Bollywood in just a
moment.
[11:39:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:41:15]
KINKADE: Do what makes you happy. That's the motto of the Arab world's first woman astronaut. Nora al-Matrooshi officially met the public for the
first time today since making history when she joined the UAE's Space Team in April.
She was chosen from more than 4,000 emirates including 1,400 women. Well let's meet her. Nora al-Matrooshi joins me now live from Sharjah just next
to Dubai.
We are having some difficulties connecting with her just at this moment. We will try to reconnect with her.
I understand we might have her now. Can you hear me?
NORA AL-MATROOSHI, FIRST ARAB WORLD WOMAN ASTRONAUT: Yes. I can hear you. Can you hear me?
KINKADE: I can. We have -- we have lift-off. Excellent. We have connection. Congratulations to you. Out of the thousands, 4,000 that
applied more than 30 percent women you were successful. How do you feel?
We are having some difficulties with that connection.
We're going to take a quick break and see if we can reconnect with her. We're going to be right back. Stay with us.
[11:42:40]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:44:20]
KINKADE: Welcome back. One of the greatest actors in Bollywood history has passed away. Dilip Kumar won India's best actor award a record eight times.
He was a pioneer in Indian cinema, considered the first method actor in Bollywood history.
Kumar was knowing for playing quite, often sad characters and was the biggest star in Bollywood in the '50s and the '60s. Kumar was 98-years-old.
Well for more perspective on Kumar's impact on Indian cinema I'm joined by director and screenwriter Feroz Abbas Khan. Good to have you with us.
FEROZ ABBAS KHAN, INDIAN FILM DIRECTOR: Thank you. Thank you for having me.
KINKADE: And Kumar received the highest honors both in India and Pakistan for his acting over the past few decades. Explain for us his legacy.
[11:45:10]
KHAN: I think he is a legacy that is going that's going to be very difficult to follow because you have to understand that he was born in a
country that was a British colony. He saw the freedom struggle.
Then he saw the partition of the country by which his own birthplace went to Pakistan, but he decided to stay back in India. And then he saw the
post-partition or post-independent India. So he has been part of the Indian experience.
He has a huge place in the hearts and minds of the people and the history of India culture, history of India for almost seven decades. So, it's
extremely difficult, in fact, really that there's anybody who's going to be like Dilip Kumar.
So shortly -- he not only was a great actor by what really happened with him that he became a reference point and a turning point as long as star
(ph) act (ph) was a concern, because at time that even he was acting most of the acting was usually influenced by theater, but he brought in the
cinematic drama to acting.
I mean, the parallel to that would be in the United States when Stan Slavaski (ph) was, you know, somebody that was usually influential and then
you had these (ph) stars (ph) work and still (ph) actor, et cetera (ph), a completely new kind of acting that came into Hollywood. That's the same
kind of impact that Dilip Kumar had. And not only actor were inspired by him, but they were actually imitating him and they made the huge careers.
So in that sense Dilip Kumar was this one unique person who was I would call him an actor, star and a citizen.
KINKADE: Of course Kumar was 98-years-old. The last surviving star of the so-called golden era. He won best film over eight times for his acting. Can
you explain for us what his standout rolls were and why?
KHAN: I think he was, you know, he was called the tragedy king in his times. And most of the times, you know, the films he did where he played a
tragic part and that's the reason that I think he decided to create the kind of an acting for himself which was more intimate, because if he had
does this extremely bombastic theatrical acting and when you went into a close-up it would look quite ridiculous.
So he did these parts which were very, very tragic and some of his best work to me, there's a film called "Ganga Jamuna" which is outstanding. Then
there's a film called "Devdas." And then there's a film on which is I did a musical play called "Moghal-e-Azam." These are the kind of standout
performance that you had.
He, in fact, went through a phase where he had to talk to a psychiatrist because he was extremely getting into a kind of a depression playing all
the tragic roles. And he had to get out of that. And then what he did was that to do that he started doing comedy parts. And so that really helped
him live a very healthy life as an actor.
KINKADE: Yes, you often hear about actors trying to break away from a type-cast type role, which he certainly did.
KHAN: Yes.
KINKADE: But his skills were recognized overseas. I was reading that he turned down a role in the Hollywood blockbuster "Lawrence of Arabia." Do
you think he ever had any regrets over that?
KHAN: Well, he hasn't expressed any regrets over that at all, because if he had we would know about it. I suppose that at that time he felt that
being the kind of an actor and the star that he was there in India, that was far more important than him.
That also tells you that Dilip Kumar was not an actor who needed a validation from anywhere else, and particularly from the west tell him how
good an actor he was. I think he was very sure and confident of himself. And I suppose that he felt that was not a part for him and he decided not
to do it.
KINKADE: You certainly have spoken about how he has big shoes to fill for anyone sort of following that acting path. Just explain for us how he is
being remembered in India.
KHAN: I think the good thing about being in cinema is that you don't age. So, his films are being shown again and again and I think the television,
you know, shows you his films. So, he was liked, he was continuously part of the consciousness of the -- of the Indian audience that watched cinema.
And you know that cinema, India, it's very, very strongly linked with each other.
And so he is remembered very fondly because there's one thing about Dilip Kumar that you had to understand that his values as a citizen were the same
as an artist. He didn't do parts because he just wanted to do them. His value system had to reflect the kind of work that he did.
So all the work that he did had dignity, grace and it had something to say. And that's what a kind of legacy which is going to be very difficult,
because he was an extremely a rare citizen of the country because he had experience, as I said, the partition, he experienced colonial rule, he
experienced post-India, an independent India.
[11:50:10]
And he was -- he lived an idea of India which he wanted to project and he wanted to contribute that in the work that he did. And I think that's very,
very special. So whenever you look at Dilip Kumar you remember him as an extremely cultured, dignified person who was, of course, extremely charming
too.
KINKADE: Well Dilip Kumar, of course, was 98-years-old. Really good to get perspective from you on his life and his legacy.
Feroz Abbas Khan, thanks so much.
KHAN: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well I want to take you back now to the interview with the first female Arab astronaut Nora al-Matrooshi. We have established communication
again. She's joining me now on the phone from the UAE. Good to have you with us. And just firstly, congratulations on being named the first female
Arab astronaut. How do you feel?
AL-MATROOSHI: First of all, thank you. And thank you for having me today. Honestly it feels amazing and wonderful. The feeling of achieving something
you've worked hard for and yearned for, for a very long time is extremely gratifying.
But at the same time it's a huge commitment and responsibility knowing that you are representing your country and your people.
KINKADE: Absolutely. And, of course, there were a lot of people that applied for this, you know, for this particular role, more than 4,000. Over
30 percent of those were females. Just take us through what the selection process was like.
AL-MATROOSHI: So first off the selection process was a pretty long process. They -- the astronaut office at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space
Centre checked the applicant's qualifications first and then they went through with I think it was around three rounds of interviews. They also
did a bunch of medical tests according to the NASA -- the NASA test spec usually astronauts go through.
We also had several teamwork sessions to -- so that they can check and see if we do have the teamwork skills required as astronauts.
KINKADE: So certainly a tough criteria. And we're just looking at pictures, Nora, of you working out on the treadmill and doing pushups. So
you not only have to be intelligent, you have to be fit for this sort of a role. Talk to us about the training --
AL-MATROOSHI: Yes.
KINKADE: -- in the years ahead. What can you expect?
AL-MATROOSHI: Do you mean the training at NASA or the --
KINKADE: Yes.
AL-MATROOSHI: -- or the initial training that we're doing here?
KINKADE: Both. So you've got -- I understand that the next three years of training ahead of you before a possible mission, right?
AL-MATROOSHI: Yes, exactly. So currently me and my colleague Mohammad are going through some initial training. We have started learning Russian and
we have both got our diving license. We'll be doing a few extra swimming classes and we'll be starting also a few private pilot license classes as
well.
To be honest, what we expect from the -- because me and Mohammad will be joining the NASA astronauts that will start training at the beginning of
next year. So, we're expecting to be doing the exact same training that all the other NASA astronauts have done in the years that have passed.
KINKADE: All right, well we wish you all the very best. Hopefully we can chat to you again soon as you proceed in your training.
AL-MATROOSHI: Yes, hopefully.
KINKADE: Nora al-Matrooshi, good to have you with us. Thanks to you.
AL-MATROOSHI: Thank you for having me.
KINKADE: Well the glitz and glamour of the Cannes Film Festival has returned to the French Rivera. The annual event was cancelled last year, of
course, due to the pandemic. This year's COVID spit tests are part of the deal. Thousands of festival-goers including the highest paid A-list actors
are being asked to spit into test tubes over and over again.
Well some people are bristling at the extra layer of COVID caution, but as our Cyril Vanier reports, festival organizers say they're doing everything
they can to keep people safe.
[11:55:05]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CYRIL VANIER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After a year of washout organizers of the Cannes Film Festival are rolling out the red
carpet once again ahead of it's 74th edition.
Cancelled last year and usually held in May, this year the festival will run from July 6th to 17th. And it is back with a stacked line-up, 24 films
from 16 countries will be competing for the grand prize.
Those in the running include "Annette" staring Marion Cotillard and Adam Driver.
Actor and director Sean Penn's "Flag Day. And Wes Anderson's "The French Dispatch" staring Timothee Chalamet. "Malcolm X" director Spike Lee will be
heading the diverse jury from seven countries.
SCOTT ROXBOROUGH, EUROPE BUREAU CHIEF: The whole film industry has been so hard hit by COVID and by the cinema lockdowns that came with the safety
measures that everyone is really hoping that this Cannes will be sort of a kicking-off point, a sort of a reopening, a sort of reentry back into the
world for the whole film industry.
VANIER (voice-over): But festival organizers have made it clear that this year's edition will be unlike any other. Strict safety and health measures
will be in place. That means stars won't be exchanging kisses and hugs on the red carpet steps.
Although France lifted its coronavirus curfew and mask ordinances in June, festival attendees will have to wear masks indoors. Testing centers have
sprung up next to the festival venue. Guests will spit saliva into tubes and those who can't provide negative COVID test results will be turned
away.
The usual glamorous parties will also be scaled down, all in an effort to keep movie-goers and festival attendees safe.
DAVID LISNARD, CANNES FRANCE MAYOR (through translator): Well there is no situation with zero risk, but objectively speaking it's safer to go see a
film at the festival than to go shopping in a supermarket.
VANIER (voice-over): Many businesses, such as the restaurants and hotels are relying on the festival to help recoup their losses from the COVID
lockdown.
MELANIE DE PREST, OWNER OF L'EPICURIEN RESTAURANT (through translator): We missed it in terms of finances too. We won't lie, we are thrilled. We
remained positive since the beginning of the crisis, so we are delighted to see tourists again.
VANIER (voice-over): With some international travel restrictions still in place the number of high-spending tourists will be lower than usual, but
still a welcomed site.
Cyril Vanier, CNN.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well that was Connect the World. I'm Lynda Kinkade. Our thanks to all the team behind the scenes working hard to bring you the show. One
World with Eleni Giokos is next.
[11:57:50]
END
