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One Dead After Alec Baldwin Fires Prop Firearm on Film Set; Gang Leader Threatens to Kill U.S., Canadian Hostages; Queen Elizabeth Back Home After One Night in Hospital; New Warnings on Climate Change Effects; Biden Facing Pushback on His Climate Agenda; Refugees Stranded Along Poland- Belarus Border; UK Sticking with Current Plant Despite Expert Warnings; Protest Against Green Pass Called Off in Italy; More Than 200 People Killed in India and Nepal Flooding. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired October 22, 2021 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:19]
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN ANCHOR: A deadly accident on a movie set after actor Alec Baldwin fires a prop firearm.
An ominous warning for the missionaries kidnapped in Haiti. The terrifying threat coming from the gang holding them hostage.
And Queen Elizabeth is back at Windsor Castle after a night in the hospital. The latest on her health is coming up.
I'm Becky Anderson. You are watching CONNECT THE WORLD, and you are more than welcome.
We begin with a deadly accident on the set of Alec Baldwin's latest film in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Authorities say the director of photography
working on the film "Rust" died on Thursday after the actor discharged a prop gun. The movie's director was also injured. Baldwin appearing
distraught in these images taken outside the local sheriff's office.
Our Stephanie Elam has the latest on the investigation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on-camera): A tragic accident happening on the set of this Western movie "Rust" being filmed in New Mexico.
Here's what we know at this time. According to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, they were called just before 2:00 p.m. local time to the
set on the Bonanza Creek Ranch after a 911 caller called in about a shooting on set. What we now know at this point is that the two individuals
were shot when a prop firearm was discharged by actor and producer on the film Alec Baldwin.
That left 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins dead. We understand that she was airlifted by helicopter according to the sheriff's office to the University
of New Mexico Hospital where she was pronounced dead. And then also the director, Joel Souza, the 48-year-old was taken by ambulance to a regional
hospital. We do not know his condition at this time.
We do know that the investigation remains open and active. We know that they continue, the authorities continue to interview people who were there
on set. The witnesses to see what exactly happened here. No charges have been filed. We also know that there's been a statement put out behind --
from the production company behind the movie.
The "New York Times" reporting that it says, in part, "The entire cast and crew has been absolutely devastated by today's tragedy and we send our
deepest condolences to Halyna's family and loved ones." The statement goes on to say that production has been halted indefinitely right now while they
are providing counseling to people who are working on this movie as they try to move forward.
Obviously just devastating news. And you take a look at these pictures of Alec Baldwin. You can see he looks very distraught after this shooting
incident but still unclear exactly how this could have happened, what went wrong with this property. All of that still to be found out.
In Los Angeles, I'm Stephanie Elam.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: So what more do we know about the director of photography who died? Well, Halyna Hutchins was born in Ukraine, lived in her Los Angeles.
During her career she was involved in 49 film, TV shows and videos including "Arch Enemy" which was released last year and as we said she was
the director of photography on that Baldwin film "Rust."
On her Instagram just two days ago, she posted this selfie on a horseback ride. She wrote, "One of the perks of shooting a Western is that you get to
ride horses on your day off."
(INAUDIBLE), one of the directors she had worked with, tweeted, "I'm so sad about losing Halyna and so infuriated that this could happen on a set. She
was brilliant talent who was absolutely committed to art and to film."
Sadly deaths by prop guns are not unheard of. Brandon Lee, pictured from the left, was the son of martial arts icon Bruce Lee. In 1993 he was killed
by a prop gun while filming "The Crow." He was 28 years old at the time. In 1984 actor Jon Erik Hexon, pictured right, died on the set of the TV show
"Coverup" after putting a prop gun to his head and pulling the trigger.
In the post Brandon Lee's official Twitter page, his relatives expressed their condolences. "Our hearts," they said, "Go out to the family of Halyna
Hutchins and Joel Souza, and all involved in the incident on 'Rust'," read the message from the account which is run by his sister, Shannon Lee. "No
one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set, period."
So many unanswered questions with this story. What are the protocols where an actor is given a prop gun on set. Well, next hour, we'll speak to a
firearms trainer for film and TV about that very question. And more on the investigation, as I say, as we get it.
[10:05:06]
I want to get you to Haiti now where a gang leader is threatening to kill 17 U.S. and Canadian missionaries unless his demands are met. A video
released on Thursday shows William Joseph speaking at a funeral for gang members he says were killed by police. That is at least according to a
source within the Haitian Security Force. Haiti's justice minister says the kidnappers are demanding a million dollars per hostage. The captives
include three young kids, one just 8 months old.
CNN's Joe Johns is reporting for us from the Haitian capital of Port-au- Prince, a city racked, it has to be said, by gang activity.
Joe, what more can you tell us about this video? And what do we know about this gang leader?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that he made this threat, if you will, on a video that was recorded at a funeral of individuals he said
were killed by the police and it's being taken seriously by the authorities. We know that, however, you also have to say that there have
been so many kidnappings in this country hundreds and hundreds conducted by these street gangs but they follow a very familiar script first.
There is the abduction, then there's the ransom demand and then, of course, there is the threat. That's what kidnappers do. The fact of the matter is,
people we've all been talked to have said this group 400 Mawozo is known to make the astronomical demand and then after time, negotiate it downward
depending on whatever the market would allow, if you will.
So the question now is whether that's happening, given the high-profile nature of this case and all of that said, we've even been told that this is
not one of the most sadistic gangs out here in Haiti. The question, of course, is because these are Americans and because of all that's gone on
internationally between these two countries, does that change the dynamic at all and we don't know, and we're told it could take weeks to negotiate
out this process -- Becky.
ANDERSON: What do we know about those who have been kidnapped at this point? What is their situation?
JOHNS: We don't know. We know only that it's a group of 17. It's five men, it's five women and the rest children, or six women and the rest children.
We know that their ages vary from 8 months upward and we know that they were in country with a group that is organized out of the state of Ohio but
they come from various different states around the country. Also that there's one Canadian involved.
And of late, they had been involved in trying to build houses for people who lost their homes in the last earthquake in August. So those are the
broad parameters of what we know. We don't know anything about their condition and certainly would like to know more and we know that the people
who represent the organization there with out of Ohio have asked for prayers for the missionaries' safe return -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Joe Johns is in Port-au-Prince for you. Thank you, Joe.
Reporting warning from China to the United States today, do not send the, quote, "wrong signals" about Taiwanese independence. A Chinese Foreign
Ministry spokesman saying outside interference will not be tolerated. He addressed reporters after U.S. president Joe Biden talked about defending
Taiwan during a CNN town hall on Thursday night. Have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE BIDEN, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: That's why you have, you know, you hear people saying Biden wants to start a new cold war with China. I
don't want a cold war with China. I just want to make China understand that we are not going to step back. We are not going to change any of our views.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST: So are you saying that the United States would come to Taiwan's defense if China attacked?
BIDEN: Yes. Yes, we have a commitment to do that.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the White House says Mr. Biden's comments do not make a change from the U.S. "One China" policy which acknowledges China's claim of
sovereignty over Taiwan.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth has been working so hard she landed up in the hospital this week but only for a night. A royal source tells CNN that the
world's longest reigning monarchy is back home at Windsor Castle. She is resting and undertaking light duties. The 95-year-old queen is no stranger
to a hectic schedule. On Tuesday she hosted a reception at Windsor Castle, for example, for international business leaders including Bill Gates.
The Queen also welcomed U.S. climate chief John Kerry ahead of next month's COP 26 climate conference in Scotland.
[10:10:03]
This month she has also celebrated the Royal British Legion at Westminster Abbey, attended the meetings of the Scottish and Welsh parliaments, and
held audiences with diplomats from across the world.
So a famously strong work ethic. CNN's Phil Black knows all about that and he joins me now from outside Windsor Castle. What more do we know at this
point?
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, to give it some context, the TikTok, if you like, it was on Wednesday when we first heard that the Queen wasn't
well, that she had reluctantly accepted medical advice to cancel a planned trip to Northern Ireland, that she was going to stay home and rest, and
that she was disappointed about that. But we now know there was a little more to it because Buckingham Palace has confirmed that on Wednesday night
she stayed in a private hospital in Central London for what they describe as some preliminary investigations.
She was out the next morning, back here at Windsor Castle by lunchtime, and she's still here resting, as you touched on, and also working to some
degree. Undertaking light duties. Now in terms of what's going on, we know it's not COVID but that's all we know. And that's not unusual. Because the
Queen is famously discreet with these things. We rarely hear anything about the effort and care that is taken in managing her health.
But a source within the palace has told CNN that on this occasion, the overnight stay was confirmed after the fact because the Queen deserves
medical privacy. The overnight stay was for practical reasons. The medical team was being cautious. And through its statements, the palace is using I
think an important and reassuring phrase and that is that she is in good spirits while emphasizing the fact that she is not only resting, she is to
some degree working.
So through all the statements on this, I think there is a key theme and that is please, don't make a fuss -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Phil Black reporting from Windsor Castle. Thank you.
Well, time is running out to make big strides against climate change. That at least is the word from experts but politics may be getting in the way.
Details of another new report coming up.
Plus, deadly monsoon rains and relentless -- are relentless this season across northern India and Nepal. How climate change there is factoring into
the disaster unfolding in the region.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Every country in the world will face the adverse effects of climate change. That is perhaps unsurprising takeaway from a series of
reports from the Biden administration that the U.S. president ordered earlier this year. The reports detailed how climate change is driving
migration. They also outlined the impact on U.S. intelligence and defense while laying out a Homeland Security action plan.
[10:15:02]
Speaking to CNN's chief climate correspondent Bill Weir. And I say perhaps unsurprising, I mean, these were the key takeaways but given the amount of
talk about climate crisis these days, and that by the way is a good thing, I wonder whether there was anything new that stood out from these reports
that you wanted to underline specifically.
BILL WEIR, CNN CHIEF CLIMATE CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Becky, what's interesting is that for over 30 years various agencies within the Pentagon have been
warning that climate change will be a threat multiplier. But this for the first time has all 18 entities within the American defense and intelligence
community putting out this consensus that it is very worrisome and it's more than just sea level rise, say, threatening the infrastructure of a
naval base in Norfolk, Virginia.
It is, as you mentioned, climate migration and the fear of failed states as people, millions of people are forced to cross borders looking for higher
ground. It gets specific about hot spots you worry about what happens in the Nile Delta when 80 million people can no longer grow food or have fresh
water. What happens when, you know, those folks need to head north because they can't go south through the Sahara.
What happens in Asia when the Himalayas can't provide enough fresh water for both India and Pakistan. In the North America, of course, Central
American farmers driven north by drought or hurricanes as well. And then there's also the, you know, as it updates with the times, they cite worries
about resource wars over, say, rare earth minerals that are needed to make solar panel components or batteries as the world decarbonizes.
So all of this now elevated to a topline concern. And we're seeing it play out in real time. The tension that comes, you know, a less hospitable
climate means a less hospitable form of humanity.
ANDERSON: This is fascinating time and it's as Joe Biden of course struggles to get his Build Back Better plans through, maybe watering down
if not losing completely his clean energy legislation. What kind of marching orders do these reports lay out?
WEIR: As quite fittingly, a fighter jet just goes overhead right now.
ANDERSON: Yes.
WEIR: That is what's vague. A lot of it is sort of classified, a lot of this report into specific steps. Look, the U.S. Military probably has the
biggest carbon footprint of any one entity anywhere in the world. Decarbonizing them might be a path forward. But they're such a gap between
the warnings now coming from generals as well as scientists within NASA and NOAA and what's happening in Washington.
ANDERSON: True.
WEIR: Legislation being hung up by one coal state senator, Joe Manchin. So the marching orders would be let's do something about this, let's
incentivize power companies to go clean, let's give consumers other choices to stop this problem, but we're not seeing any of that on the national
level. Meanwhile, like I'm here filming in South Carolina in Charleston, they don't have the luxury of debating this anymore.
They're planning a billion-dollar seawall to protect the historic part of the city. They're rezoning the entire city as to where and how you can
build in the future because we live in a new normal now.
ANDERSON: Very briefly, even if the U.S. were to follow up with an action plan and that's a big were at this point, what about the rest of the world?
What do we know ahead of this big climate meeting this time next week or in a week or so time?
WEIR: Well, we know that most of the world, you know, with the exception of the Gambia and Africa, none of the countries there are on target to meet
their commitments of 2015. The hope is that they would add more, you know, ambition to the commitments in the next week or so when they meet in
Glasgow there. But it is -- it touches every aspect of life, finance and housing, transportation, clothing, food, everything has to change.
It's just such an enormous challenge. We're still stuck in the debating about who goes first, who has the more responsibility to act first,
geopolitical real politic as to what countries will actually benefit from a warming world like Russia, northern latitudes will be able to grow more. So
it will be a very, very complicated two weeks in Glasgow.
ANDERSON: Bill, always a pleasure. That's our chief climate correspondent.
So we have these damming reports from the U.S. government. They may not be enough to sway some in Washington to take a big swing against climate
change. One obstacle, as we were just discussing there, Democratic Senator Joe Manchin. Essentially he's the crucial 50th vote on any legislation in
the Senate.
[10:20:01]
He's also dead set against the part of President Biden's climate agenda that pays electric companies to cut resilience or reliance on fossil fuels.
Jessica Dean joining us now from Washington with the details. What I think is fascinating about Manchin holding the power here which of course means
that, you know, Biden's agenda is in cahoots at this point, is that he was given the opportunity to write this piece of legislation. Can you just
explain for our international viewer how this comes to pass -- Jessica.
JESSICA DEAN, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Right. So, yes, if you lay it out like that, you're kind of left going, wait, walk me through this.
How does this all make sense? Senator Joe Manchin, of course, hailing from West Virginia, which is a very cold dominated state. It's the second
largest producer of coal here in the United States. So you can imagine that is top of mind for him. Those are his constituents.
He is also the chairman of the committee that oversees energy and natural resources, that sort of thing. So he has had a hand in all of this. As you
just laid out, Becky, though, he is adamantly opposed to the $150 billion plan that would encourage these companies to go to more renewable energy
sources. That was really the cornerstone of President Biden's climate plan and it looks all but dead at this point.
They're now trying to figure out, OK, if we can't do that, where would this money go? How would that work? Would it go into tax incentives for people,
trying to kind of reroute that money, but we were just hearing Bill talk about the climate summit that's coming up and of course President Biden
will travel there.
He was hoping very much to have a deal in hand that he could announce to the world and he recently had some more liberal members of Congress in the
Oval Office at the White House talking about some of this and said that it's no less than America's prestige on the line in terms of going to the
rest of the world and saying America is committed to doing this. So he is hoping to be able to deliver some results.
But at this point, as you point out, Senator Joe Manchin, that critical 50th vote, is just holding up a lot of this. So they are hashing this out
as we speak.
ANDERSON: Yes, and this could be between, what, $2 trillion and $3.5 trillion, which was the big deal, wasn't it? the very, very big number at
the back end of this, being held up by this $150 million sort of carrot and stick deal that fossil fuels companies basically don't like. It does seem
absolutely remarkable.
Jessica, thank you for explaining this sort of minutia on this and the nuance on this. We continue to watch this story. As we say, we are a week
or so away from that big climate summit and in Glasgow in Scotland, and obviously the Biden administration very keen to take a deal with them as a
show of support for others around the world. Thank you.
I want to get you to a developing story out of Brussels today where E.U. leaders are meeting amid fury over Poland. The E.U. already warning Warsaw
declaring that its challenges to E.U. rules could mean further legal sanctions.
Now look, Poland's highest court has decided the country's constitution takes precedence over some E.U. laws and this Poland's treatment of
refugees trapped along its border with Belarus. CNN managed to speak to some of the migrants and Fred Pleitgen brings us their story. Have a
listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Utter desperation in the dark and cold, refugees screaming at Polish border
guards, begging to be let out of Belarus.
They're literally caught in the middle of a standoff between Belarus and the European Union. This video provided to CNN by an activist shows a group
of Kurds and Yazidis stranded without shelter for days.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking in Foreign Language) The situation is not good. We are here for 10 days, people died here. They won't let us pass and
they won't let us return.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (Speaking in Foreign Language) Please come and rescue us. We are here with our Yazidi brothers. There is no food. There is
nothing.
PLEITGEN: While E.U. leaders accuse Belarusian strongman, Alexander Lukashenko, of manufacturing this refugee crisis, Poland is also facing
criticism after it declared a state of emergency in the area around the border banning journalists, NGOs and initially E.U. officials from coming
in. Many of those who do try to help the refugees, refugees often lost in the vast forest of the border area, say Poland is keeping aid workers and
reporters out because border guards are forcing people back into Belarus, a practice known as pushbacks, says Piotr Bystrianin of the aid group
Ocalenie.
PIOTR BYSTRIANIN, FUNDACJA OCALENIE: They know that people will be dying there and they know this and they are continue to do this. That's why they
need to be stopped. The international community need to put pressure on Polish government.
PLEITGEN: While the Polish government has vowed to remain tough even replacing barbed wire at the border with a wall and passing an amendment
allowing migrants to be pushed back at the border, the U.N. Refugee Agency says that the new law contravenes the 1951 Refugee Convention and other
laws by undermining the fundamental right to seek asylum.
[10:25:21]
But the Polish president says Belarus' cruel policies are the real problem.
ANDRZEJ DUDA, POLISH PRESIDENT (through translator): The situation on the border is as it is. What you can see are hybrid activities from the side of
the Belarus authorities. There is no doubt migrants from different countries are being deliberately pushed across on purpose.
PLEITGEN: Poland says it's recorded more than 21,000 attempts to cross its border, all of which it called illegal, and released this video the
government says shows people trying to force their way into the country. The E.U. says it might impose sanctions on airlines that fly refugees to
Belarus.
HEIKO MASS, GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): We will have to talk about consequences for these airlines. We need sanctions that make
clear that we are not prepared to tolerate these kinds of actions any longer.
PLEITGEN: A solution doesn't appear to be in sight and those suffering the most are the ones trapped in the border area. Several have already died,
Polish authorities say, and the approaching winter will make the situation here even worse.
Fred Pleitgen, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, ahead on the show, COVID case numbers are surging in the U.K. so is it time to activate the government's plan B? What Boris Johnson
said about that on a visit to a primary school earlier.
Plus, New Zealand's prime minister interrupted.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACINDA ARDERN, NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER: Sorry. A slight distraction. Would you mind repeating that question?
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We'll tell you what happened during what was her coronavirus update.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. It is half past 6:00 or just a moment or so ago. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
Despite the hope that vaccines provide, the world is grappling with the reality that COVID-19 may never go away. Melbourne, Australia is finally
lifting its awful 260-day lockdown. Proof of vaccination still required to enter public venues there.
New Zealand says restrictions will be lifted but only when 90 percent, 9-0 percent of its eligible population is fully vaccinated. You can see people
have been out enjoying the warmer weather. The prime minister pausing during her coronavirus press conference as an earthquake hit earlier on.
Have a look at this.
[10:30:06]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Will be able to leave Auckland for domestic travel?
ARDERN: Sorry, a slight distraction. Would you mind repeating that question?
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: A lot of places going the opposite direction. Latvia has imposed restrictions on schools and workplaces. COVID incidents is up almost 50
percent in the last week. And China, another fresh outbreak with the Olympics just four months away. 35 new local cases were reported on Friday.
Meanwhile, as we have been reporting this week, Britain's government is sticking with its current plan of learning to live with this virus despite
grim warnings and criticism from public health experts in the U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson made these comments to reporters as he was visiting
a school in Northern Ireland. Cases are climbing across the U.K. but the government doesn't appear to be budging.
Let's get you to Salma Abdelaziz live from London. One of the arguments that the government has is while these cases are rising, so many people are
vaccinated. We are not seeing a similar rise in hospitalizations or indeed and thankfully in the numbers of deaths, but that isn't sitting well with
health officials in the U.K. Why?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Becky. Let's run through the numbers but just to give you an idea of how concerned health officials
are. The British Medical Association has accused the government of being willfully negligent in not putting tougher restrictions in place. That's
again because you say there has been a surge of cases across the U.K., 52,000 cases, about 52,000 new infections recorded on Thursday. That's the
highest mark seen since July.
But again, it is that key number hospitalizations that we are concerned about. The last time we got hospitalization figures was October 17th. There
is about 950 new hospitalizations and that was a seven-day increase of 15 percent and that's exactly what doctors and nurses across this country are
worried about.
The NHS has already echoed this fear, this concern that as the winter months approach it's not just COVID infections. Hospitals become full of
people sick with other things, as well. And so they are concerned, the NHS is concerned about reaching capacity potentially.
What did the health officials say? Well, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has said for now they're sticking to the current system, which is essentially
very little rules, Becky. If you go out in London right now, masks are not mandatory, restaurants, pubs, bars are open. What is the alternative? Well,
the government has a plan B that they could put into place. What does that look like? That would mean authorities mandating masks.
It would mean recommending people work from home. It would mean vaccine passports. But even with those measures, Becky, that really only puts the
U.K. in line with other European countries. So you have a perfect storm here. Doctors, nurses, health officials, health experts and scientists
across this country ringing the alarm saying they are concerned, saying they want some basic commonsense measures like mandatory mask wearing.
On the other hand, you have the government, you have health officials who are saying, look, this is not the same as the situation was last year. We
have a high vaccination rate and we're going to focus on making that vaccination rate even higher especially among young people. That's
something we heard from Dr. Fauci, as well, in the United States that it's about vaccinating the very young in this country -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. Salma, thank you for that.
All right. It's been a week since Italy's green pass went into effect. That requires everyone to show proof that they have been vaccinated or that they
have tested negative for the virus. Look, it's not the only country around the world by any stretch of the imagination that has a pass like this. A
smart pass. But these measures have sparked protests throughout the country. A major demonstration planned for Northern Italy today was called
off just hours beforehand. Organizers worried that it would or could turn violent.
CNN contributor Barbie Nadeau is standing by for us in Rome.
And as I said, this is by no means the only country. The UAE has a green pass for example that we showed to get into malls and things, it shows our
vaccination status and indeed whether or not we have been PCR-tested of late. But we don't have to show that in order to get into the workplace.
That's the difference here.
What's the situation today? And why did this protest fizzle out effectively?
BARBIE NADEAU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, this protest in the Northern Italian port town of Trieste, they were planning around 20,000
people from all over Italy to support those port workers who say they just can't continue their jobs by being tested every 48 hours, is what it is if
they don't have the vaccine. A lot of people don't have the right vaccine. They got vaccinated in Eastern Europe. They work at other places.
[10:35:04]
Some of these things play into the green pass debate. But the reason they cancelled this is because there was a fear, a credible fear of worrying
violence. Now we saw here in Rome just two weeks ago when they announced this green pass mandate would be taking effect, we saw neo-fascist groups
attacking the labor union offices. They were really concerned that violence like that would stop the government from listening to their very legitimate
concerns.
Now they're meeting with government officials, these port workers and people who support this protest. They're meeting with them tomorrow and
they thought it's better not to have the protest in Trieste or anywhere else in Italy if it would somehow hijack their conversation with the
government. They don't believe that the green pass is the right way forward in order to keep people in the job and in order to keep the country safe
from COVID.
It's a very, very tense debate. And you know, they're talking about protests again here tomorrow. We'll see if that materializes or not. But as
of today, things are very quiet and it's out of fear that those violent factions could have taken over the message -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. And these protests have put a spotlight on these neo-fascist groups in the country. Can you just give us some background, if you will,
briefly?
NADEAU: You know, the neo-fascist groups in Italy have long existed. You know, we've talked to a lot of people who said that Italy really has never
come to terms with its fascist past. There's fascist architecture all over the city of Rome, all over many Italian cities. You know, just this week
the Italian parliament passed a mandate to dissolve the Forza Nuova, which is a neo-fascist party.
One might ask why this party even existed, why was it allowed to exist, why they could until recently put candidates up for election? All of those
sorts of things have become part of a national debate that has been pushed forward because of the no vax protest. And it's something that Italy is
still grappling with and probably will be for quite some time.
ANDERSON: Barbie, always a pleasure, thank you.
Well, Americans have more tools now to fight the coronavirus. The Centers there for Disease Control has approved booster shots by Moderna and Johnson
& Johnson. The agency already signed off on Pfizer boosters. Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNN he believes more people will be eligible for the extra doses
soon. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, U.S. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: The boosters now are recommended particularly if it's
an MRNA booster. People 65 years of age or older or 18 to 64 either who have an underlying condition or who are in occupation or place where they
live that put them at high risk.
I would be rather confident that as we get further and further over the next weeks to months that the age limit of it is going to be lowered.
(END OF VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, the CDC in the States also endorsing the so-called mix and match approach. That means Americans can get a different booster than their
initial vaccine. Of course in other parts of the world people still struggling to get ahold of their first dose.
Football star Mo Salah is seeing double and so too soon will the world. That is ahead in sports.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:40:27]
ANDERSON: We are seeing an unusually long monsoon affecting northern India and Nepal. More than 200 people are dead after torrential rains and
flooding hit the region.
CNN's Vedika Sud has more on what is this devastation.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VEDIKA SUD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Rescuers with their hands interlocked trying to fend off the deluge of water on the streets of this
north Indian town. They are greeting a human chain to evacuate stranded people.
Unseasonable torrential rains have been pounding northern India and Nepal for days, killing and injuring hundreds of people. In the state of
Uttarakhand heavy rains caused landslides and left not just homes but people's livelihoods under water.
FATIMA, AFFECTED VILLAGER (through translator): We have nothing left. A television, refrigerator, washing machine, clothes, groceries, everything
washed away. Our beds are also destroyed and the house and flooring have also developed cracks.
SUD: The downpour has destroyed crops and blocked roads, disrupting the lives of locals and tourists alike during one of India's festive months.
PUSHKAR SINGH DHAMI, CHIEF MINISTER OF NORTHERN UTTARAKHAND STATE (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): We are trying everything possible to provide and supply
necessities for those affected. Our government is with the flood hit victims. The farmers have faced losses so we are trying to assess that and
provide compensation as soon as possible.
SUD: Similar scenes unfolding in neighboring Nepal where entire airports including tarmac and runways are flooded. Nepal began receiving heavy
rainfall on Monday after low pressure system developed over northern India which brought in moisture from the Bay of Bengal causing heavy rainfall
over the region.
In villages, waterlogged homes mean people don't have a place to sleep but some dragging their beds out to dry areas. Farmers are trying to salvage
what they can from submerged patty fields but losses are mounting. Monsoon rains usually only last until September but experts say the longer monsoon
season can be tied to climate change.
Vedika Sud, CNN, New Delhi.
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ANDERSON: Well, a programming note, we'll have extensive coverage of COP 26 Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, November 1st through the 12th. Do
tune in to CONNECT THE WORLD each day for that, and for the latest climate news, you can use the site which is CNN.com/climate.
All Right. Question for football fans especially Liverpool Football Club fans. What would be better than one Mo Salah? How about two Mo Salahs? The
Egyptian born superstar meeting his very life-like wax double at Madden Two Swords in London. Salah says working with the artist, it was an amazing
experience.
Alex Thomas is with us, and I have to say, I have seen some terrible likenesses particularly of sports stars in the past. This isn't bad. I have
to say, he's not a kid but then he likes to dress up a little bit. We know that. What do you think?
ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Very similar, isn't it? Although not sure I've ever seen Salah in a shirtless "Saturday Night Fever" style suit
before. What is clear, Becky --
ANDERSON: Oh, I have.
THOMAS: This underlines his status as a real megastar in the game and possibly even more underrated than he should be and for opposing defenders
it feels like there's two Mohammed Salah's on the pitch at times anyway, so maybe not much different.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: It's great. Good stuff. All right, you got "WORLD SPORT" after this and we'll be back top of the hour. Stay with us please.
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[10:45:46]
(WORLD SPORT)
[10:57:47]
THOMAS: That is all your WORLD SPORT for now. Back to you, Becky.
ANDERSON: Thank you very much indeed, sir.
I'm Becky Anderson, you are about to see the second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD. Couple minutes break. Back after that.
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