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Turkey Voices Concerns Over Finland, Sweden NATO Bids; World Leaders Visit UAE To Pay Tribute To Sheikh Khalifa; Djokovic Is Fifth Man To Reach 1,000 ATP Tour Points. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired May 16, 2022 - 10:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:00:26]

ELENI GIOKOS, CNN ANCHOR (voice over): Finland and Sweden's leaders are making its official announcing they intend to join NATO. The move ends

decades of neutrality and ignores threats by Russia of possible retaliation.

SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): The government has been building bunkers here since the 1960s, 5500 in Helsinki, more than

50,000 across the country.

GIOKOS: And while Finland is going ahead with the NATO process, the country has layers of security put in place six decades ago.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He buried his mother in a shallow grave in a crater left behind by shelling, quickly made plans to get his family out.

GIOKOS: This teenager is now an orphan of war and shouldering the burden of an adult. Raising for younger siblings all on his own.

I'm Eleni Jackass in Abu Dhabi. Welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. We start with Europe. Another step closer to its biggest security overhaul in almost 20

years. Last hour, Sweden's prime minister officially announced her government's decision to join NATO. And she says joining the alliance is

the best way to ensure her country's safety. Both Sweden and Finland have not formally announced their intent to join NATO and in decades of

neutrality.

Their decisions a direct consequence of Russia's war on Ukraine. Now in Moscow today, a warning from Russia's deputy foreign minister that Finland

and Sweden joining NATO would be a grave mistake with "far reaching consequences." Nina dos Santos is a tracking developments for us from the

Swedish capital, Stockholm. Nina, really good to see you. A lot of moving parts. And I was listening to the prime minister -- Sweden's prime minister

and also the opposition leader really standing together saying this is going to be a tectonic shift for a country that has been neutral for 200

years.

But it's something that must occur. Please take us through the process and whether there needs to be some kind of votes or whether they can go ahead

and ratify this.

NINA DOS SANTOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, they were just standing together there, the prime minister and the leader of the opposition, they were also

standing together with another country that is even more keen to join NATO, which is of course Finland, as well, just next door, Sweden's Nordic

neighbor. Ad they can go ahead with this. There doesn't need to be a parliamentary vote.

There is some potential opposition to it. It's least if you speak to people on the streets of Stockholm here, the polls aren't quite as Pro-NATO as

they are overwhelmingly in Finland. But essentially the prime minister and the leader of the opposition made clear that this is a situation that

Finland will have to confront sooner or later. I beg your pardon, Sweden will have to confront sooner or later with Finland, of course, being so

keen to join NATO.

Sweden can't afford to be the only country in this part of the sensitive Baltic Sea and in Northern Europe that is not militarily aligned and

afforded the same collective protection that Article Five, that founding treaty of NATO awards all of its members. Magdalena Andersson said that

Sweden had benefited, yes, from 200 years of its military non-alignment, politics before, but that wouldn't stand the country in good stead for the

future.

This is the message that she delivered to her party which by the way, Eleni, was pro, so it was anti-NATO, up until just the start of March. Have

a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAGDALENA ANDERSSON, PRIME MINISTER OF SWEDEN: We're now facing a fundamentally changed security environment in Europe. And when we navigate

in this new environment, the fundamental question for us is how do we best protect Sweden. And the Kremlin has shown that they are prepared to use

violence and achieve to achieve their political objectives, and that they don't hesitate to take enormous risks.

They put forward the unacceptable demands for appeasement that submission, submission of peaceful and Democratic neighbors, including Sweden.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

DOS SANTOS: So, the procedure here is that the Swedish ambassador to NATO will shortly deliver the message to NATO that Sweden does not want to join

as Finland made its decision yesterday. And then what we can expect over the next couple of days is this highly choreographed application procedure

that's going to take place in tandem with Finland. So that you have strength in numbers . We're expecting their Finnish president here, Sauli

Niinisto to come on a state visit tomorrow.

[10:05:05]

DOS SANTOS: It could be then that we will see the Swedish government then sign on the dotted line alongside Finland and both present that application

to join NATO. Both sides have said it could take up to perhaps even a year for this membership to actually be rubber stamped by all 30 members of the

alliance that have to unanimously agree Turkey, of course, holding out they have issues with Sweden having given asylum to people from the Kurdish

community that they view as separatists and terrorists. Back to you.

GIOKOS: Yes. Really important point there. And as you say, you know, there is a sense of urgency, but this could take some time. You mentioned Turkey,

Nina, thank you so very much. Good to see you. And at this point I want to bring in Jomana Karadsheh from Istanbul. And, you know, listening to

Turkey's reservations, there's a lot of concern in terms of what this means optically, the messaging in terms of NATO nations trying to show unity, but

Turkey saying, well, actually, we have some hesitations.

Is this going to be an issue do you think in terms of getting Sweden and Finland to join?

DOS SANTOS: Well, look, Eleni, at this point. I mean, everyone was taken by surprise when President Erdogan made those comments initially on Friday

saying that he doesn't view Sweden and Finland's bid to join NATO positively, because, as you mentioned earlier, because of what he said was

their support for terrorist organizations. Of course, we've had clarification over the weekend, from senior Turkish officials.

Really elaborating and explaining Turkey's position here saying that this is not a firm, know that they are not going to block these two countries

from joining NATO, but they want their issues that they are bringing up address that they have a request for security guarantees that they want,

Max. And you know, the issue here centers around what Turkey says is support for the PKK.

That separatist extremist militant group that is considered a terrorist organization, by the United States, by the E.U. by Turkey. And Turkey

accuses Sweden, Finland and other Nordic countries of allowing members of the PKK to operate and to reside in those countries. They also have issues

that we've heard in the past with other NATO countries as well. And that is supporting and providing arms to the YPG.

That is the Syrian Kurdish fighting force in northeastern Syria that Turkey views as an extension of the PKK. They view them as the same group and they

have issues especially with Sweden, providing support for this group. And then there's the issue of lifting some of the restrictions on Turkey's

military industries, an arms embargo that is in place. But I think, Eleni, if you look at what's been going on over the past couple of days, there are

positive signs that they are moving towards some sort of a resolution, perhaps at least they're talking.

The Turkish foreign minister met with his Swedish and Finnish counterparts in Berlin over the weekend. And we've heard also from the NATO secretary

general and the U.S. secretary of state all basically saying that they are confident that Turkey is not going to block these two countries from

joining NATO, but they need to address these issues and concerns that Turkey has brought to the table.

GIOKOS: And of course, this is a delicate time. So issues and concerns will be voiced by many parties. I have a suspicion. Jomana, really good to see

you. Thank you so much. And as the Finns have said, this is part of rational fear to join NATO. And as we heard from the Swedes, they're

willing to give up 200 years of neutrality and this is all part of the domino effects of the war in Ukraine and the situation on the ground there

is moving quickly.

Ukrainian troops have now reached the Russian border near Kharkiv. Troops (INAUDIBLE) they blue and yellow stake there. This is important because it

means Russian troops will have to find alternative routes into the country. And one of those areas is just south of Kharkiv and the Luhansks region.

We've seen reports that Russian troops are targeting civilians in the city of Sievierodonetsk.

This video shows a hospital that came under attack reportedly by Russian forces. Ukrainian troops reportedly blew up a bridge linking the city to

neighboring Rubizhne in hopes it would slow down Russian troops trying to get to Sievierodonetsk. Sadly, the Ukrainian war has changed families

overnight and instantly turn children into orphans. Our Scott McLean met a teenager who is now raising his youngest siblings by himself and that's

after their mother was killed in eastern Ukraine.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MCLEAN: Yes, yeah, just love. Yeah, love is barely 18 but he now has a responsibility far beyond his age. Raising four kids, all on his own, in

his hometown in Donetsk, has been on the front line of conflict since 24. routine in mid March he and his mother left his four siblings to take

shelter at a friend's while they went to get more supplies. Suddenly two shells landed just a few steps.

VIACHASLAV YALOV, RAISING FOUR SIBLIINGS ON HIS OWN (text): I lost consciousness for a few seconds then I saw my mother lying on her side. I

turned her over and she said I'm fine. I tried to save her. I saw that it was very painful for her to breathe. I ran for help but there was none.

MCLEAN: Unable to find any. He went back to his mother alone.

YALOV (text): I took some clothes from the backpack, I tried to stop the bleeding, to make some bandagese but the wound were so big.

MCLEAN: How long did you stay with her?

YALOV (text): I was definitely there for longer than five hours. It took me a long time to believe that my mother had passed away. I still hoped that

she was still breathing.

MCLEAN: He then had to break the news to his four younger siblings. To Nilo, Nicole, Timor and Olivia, just eight years old.

YALOV (text): I didn't know what to tell them. I was covered in blood when I entered. They were sitting in the kitchen on the left side and they

realized everything. They understood it on their own.

MCLEAN: He buried his mother in a shallow grave in a crater left behind by shelling, and quickly made plans to get his family out. Their home was

already badly damaged. A friend lent him money to take a taxi to Kostiantynivka then by train to Kramatorsk and eventually on Tel Aviv and

Drohobych in the far southwest of Ukraine where the government put them up in a tiny one-bedroom apartment.

Is your brother taking good care of you?

He says since his mom's been gone, the kids have stepped up to help with chores and dishes. He's there to help with their schoolwork. Though he has

no extended family and few friends in the city, word of his story has spread through social media. Now total strangers often stopped for a hug or

to offer help. They'll need plenty more of it until he can figure out how to balance childcare and work or eventually go back to school. Though

nothing will come easily.

YALOV (text): I'm very thankful that we all remain together. I believe very much that my mother is nearby and helping me, somehow.

Scott McLean, CNN, Drohobych, Ukraine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GIOKOS: Incredibly painful to watch and a brave young man. Just ahead, a high stakes election and a country engulfed by an economic nightmare. We're

watching to see if the results of Lebanon's big votes will be a game changer.

And North Korea is mobilizing its military as it battles its first acknowledged coronavirus outbreak. We're live in neighboring South Korea.

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[10:15:31]

GIOKOS: World leaders are descending upon the UAE to express condolences over the loss of longtime president Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited with the UAE's new president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed over the weekend, so did Boris Johnson of the

U.K. Sheikh Khalifa died Friday. He had suffered stroke in 2014. And had -- and power had largely been handed over to his half brother Sheikh Mohammed.

A U.S. delegation led by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State's Antony Blinken is visiting the UAE today. We're going to have more

on the death of Sheikh Khalifa in our next hour. And I will be speaking with a longtime analyst of Middle East politics about how the late leader

and his half brother have transformed the UAE with their embrace of the West.

Now staying in the region, voters in Lebanon are waiting to see the results of the country's first national elections since its economic meltdown. A

popular uprising and 2019 demanded the downfall of the ruling elites over allegations of corruption and economic mismanagement. The United Nations

and the World Bank say that mismanagement ended up causing a massive poverty crisis.

Now the U.N. is urging the next government to be accountable and transparent. CNN's Ben Wedeman joins us from the Lebanese capital of

Beirut. Ben, this is an important time in Lebanon and a shift in power that has been requested so long by the electorate. Do we have any idea in terms

of where this is headed -- where these elections are headed?

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Eleni, we're expecting within the first the next few minutes, some of the final results from some

areas of Lebanon from that election. But already we are seeing some results coming out. And what's significant is that against contrary to the

expectations of many, the opposition is sort of the independent candidates who emerged from the October 2019 uprising here have done surprisingly

well.

Independent candidates have won as many as 12 out of the 128 seats in the Lebanese Parliament. Now, that's up significantly from 2018 when there was

just one independent candidate. Another important development is that Iranian-backed Hezbollah has suffered something of a defeat in southern

Lebanon. Normally its stronghold where an independent has -- candidate has defeated a Christian candidate affiliated with Syria and Hezbollah.

That has came as a surprise to many people. Also Hezbollah's main Christian ally, the free Patriotic Movement has suffered some serious losses in its

areas. It is no longer the predominant Christian party in Lebanon. That party is now the Lebanese Forces of Samir Geagea. So these are significant.

Now, the question is when it comes to actually forming a government, how is that going to happen?

Now in the last parliament, 71 out of 128 members of Parliament were part of the Hezbollah-led bloc. Now, it's not clear at this point, whether

Hezbollah will be able to maintain that number. But most observers seem to agree that Hezbollah will be able to maintain its coalition's majority.

Now, we went out earlier today and asked people what they thought of the preliminary results, they were coming out. They had opinions ranging from

Hezbollah, to the economy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: As well as power is not only from being in the Parliament. I mean, their influence stems from being actually having guns

and being on the ground. So yes, the influence might decrease but not very much.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Looking for change.

WEDEMAN: What was the change, you're looking for?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Change, to have new people, non-corrupted with no political agenda beyond the interests of the country and the citizens of

Lebanon.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Of course, we don't want the same people that were ruling for 30 years. And we want like our basic rights, like electricity,

everything that we don't have here.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We've been so far and that in the last couple of years like in a -- in a stagnant situation where everyone was suffering.

[10:20:07]

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So now we are hoping for a better situation where at least we have a good standard of living, people get to have medicine, they

can withdraw cash, withdrawal rate is better.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEDEMAN: And of course, Eleni, he talks about people suffering, we're talking about an economy that has collapsed. Inflation running at 200

percent, four out of five Lebanese has fallen into poverty, the local currency, the lira has lost more than 90 percent of its value. So part of

that explains why perhaps the turnout was lower than it has been in 30 years and why many people just want to see a entire new leadership in this

country. Eleni?

GIOKOS: Ben, thank you so much for that analysis. And of course, we'll be catching up with you in the next hour as we wait for those election

results. Now moving on. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is mobilizing his country's army to help fight an outbreak of so-called fever cases. The

country is in the midst of its first reported coronavirus outbreak. Earlier the health ministry said it will no longer follow in the footsteps of

neighboring China and will use a treatment-oriented approach rather than enforcing strict quarantine.

CNN's Paula Hancocks joins us now from the South Korean capital of Seoul. Paula, the numbers are extraordinary in terms of what they're reporting

when it comes to what they call fever cases. Do we know any more details in terms of hospitalizations and how serious this outbreak actually is?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Eleni, the numbers we have are the numbers that North Korea give us. We don't have any insight

further than that. Nor does the World Health Organization nor any of the other organizations that would like to help North Korea. There has been

offers of help from the WHO, from South Korea, for example, offering vaccines, masks, testing kits, but no response from the north at this

point.

So really, the information is in a vacuum. All we know, is what Pyongyang is willing to tell us. And they have said at this point, they believe

they've got about 1.2 million fever cases. That's the cumulative from last Thursday, which is when they first admitted that they believed they had

Omicron in the country. But the fact is, North Korea itself likely has no idea just how widespread this outbreak is.

When you look at the testing, it is miniscule compared to what they need to do, in order to get a grip on how widespread this outbreak is. 64,000

people have been tested according to figures given to the WHO, as of March 31. Now that's for the entire pandemic the last 2-1/2 years almost. And

that's a population of some 25 million. So, the testing itself is tiny compared to what they would need in order to understand how widespread this

is.

Now we've heard from -- through state run media from Kim Jong-un, the leader saying that he criticizes the cabinet, he criticizes the health

sector for not being able to supply medicines to pharmacies. He actually is photographed as well walking around one of the pharmacies, talking about

how it is simply not good enough saying it is a great turmoil for his country. Obviously, a recognition that this is a country that cannot cope

with a massive outbreak.

Well, it is as far as we know, completely unvaccinated. It is one of just two countries in the world along with Eritrea that doesn't have any kind of

COVID-19 vaccine program. It was eligible for COVAC, the vaccine sharing hub, but was not able to organize any kind of shipments for that. So, as

far as we know, nobody has been vaccinated. The health system within the country is fragile at best.

And we know with the emergency meetings over the weekend that Kim Jong-un health. He's now got the military involved to try and help but it is very

difficult to see how we would get any accurate information, how North Korea itself would get an accurate grip on just how widespread this outbreak is.

And as I say, there have been many that have been offering aid whether of course Pyongyang accepts outside aid is another matter. Eleni?

GIOKOS: Yes. Paula, thank you so much. Good to see you. Now U.S. President Joe Biden and the First Lady are set to travel to Buffalo, New York

tomorrow to visit the families of the victims of last weekend's deadly mass shooting. At least 10 people were killed in what authorities say was a

racially motivated attack. And official says the suspect told authorities he was targeting the black community. Now investigators are reviewing a

manifesto posted online. Joe Johns has the details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LIZ BOSLEY, BUFFALO, NEW YORK RESIDENT: I'm sad. I'm hurt. I'm mad because I never would have thought it would have happened here in the city of

Buffalo.

[10:25:03]

JOE JOHNS, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Pain and sorrow as the city of Buffalo, New York mourns the death of 10 people in a mass shooting at

this local supermarket.

LENNY LANE, PRESIDENT, THE FATHER'S ORGANIZATION: It's heartbreaking, it's heartbreaking. It's heartbreaking. It's broken.

JOHNS: Members of the community and shock as some witnesses are now recounting the tragedy.

DOMINIQUE CALHOUN., COMMUNITY ACTIVIST: People are crying, people are running out, people were trying to get into their loved ones were inside.

The officers are pulling up fire trucks ambulance and it was just -- it was just a horrible situation.

JOHNS: This as we're learning more about those who lost their lives. Aaron Salter, a former Buffalo Police officer killed after exchanging gunfire

with the shooter. Ruth Whitfield, 86 years old and the mother of a retired buffalo fire commissioner and a longtime substitute teacher. 77 year old

Pearl Young, a long-term substitute teacher described as a true pillar in the community.

The dead whose names have been released ranging in age from 32 to 86 according to police, three others were wounded.

MAYOR BYRON BROWN, BUFFALO, NEW YORK: Were heartbroken. Many people with tears in their eyes, families that have lost loved ones. I'm telling the

community to grieve, but let's stay strong.

JOHNS: The 18-year-old suspects taken into police custody apparently unharmed. Buffalo Police described what they saw before the arrest.

JOSEPH GRAMAGLIA, BUFFALO POLICE COMMISSIONER: He was very heavily armed. He had tactical gear, he had a tactical helmet on. He had a camera that he

was live streaming what he was doing.

JOHNS: Saturday night he appeared before a judge.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I understand my drudges.

JOHNS: And pleaded not guilty to first degree murder prosecutor said. Local police and federal agencies are learning more about the suspect and his

possible motives. Reviewing a 180-page manifesto attributed to him that was posted online. Police believe the shooting was racially motivated.

GRAMAGLIA: The evidence that we have uncovered so far makes no mistake that this is an absolute racist hate crime. It will be prosecuted as a hate.

JOHNS: Officials say the suspect is from Conklin, New York, about 3-1/2 away from the predominantly black neighborhood in Buffalo.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So you came from outside of our community and did this (INAUDIBLE)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Our community didn't deserves that. No one deserves that it's wrong.

JOHNS: A bishop in Buffalo sending a resounding message to people across America.

BISHOP DARIUS G. PRIDGEN, SENIOR PASTOR , TRUE BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH: Don't tell me you're grieving with me. If you did not address racism in your

pulpit today. Don't tell me that. Don't tell them you understand my pain. If you were silent in your houses of worship today, or at your job

tomorrow, or wherever you are, this is the time for people to say it's wrong.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GIOKOS: Well, that was Joe Johns reporting. Now coming up. It doubles as a sports hall and a children's play area but it could just be the key to

survival in the face of an attack. A look beneath the streets of Helsinki.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:30:41]

GIOKOS: Welcome back. I'm Eleni Giokos in Abu Dhabi. And you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Now the Swedish government has published a statement on

its Web site saying it has decided to apply for NATO membership but follows Finland's announcement yesterday. But Finland's Parliament's still needs to

approve the measure for both countries doing so will end decades of military non alignment. So what comes next?

Finland and Sweden must send a letter of intent along with a timeline to implement any necessary changes. After formally submitting their intent,

all 30 member states must vote on whether or not to accept them which can be a lengthy process. But in this case, NATO has promised to fast track the

applications.

Meanwhile, Helsinki is on high alert. Moscow is threatening retaliation due to the change in posture. Finland has an extensive underground network in

place, should they face attack an extra. An layer of security since the country has refrained from looking to other nations for military assurances

until now. CNN's Nic Robertson shows us around the shelters.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Question is when is a parking garage, not a parking garage? And the answer is when it's part of a

tunnel and bunker network to be used in case of war. And there's one country threatening that war, potentially the big threat, Russia.

ROBERTSON (voice over): Tomi Rask, Helsinki City Rescue Department is going to show us around. 20 meters, 60 feet below ground. Cut into Helsinki's

bedrock.

ROBERTSON (on camera): How quickly can you put this together in case of war?

TOMI RASK, PREPAREDNESS SPECIALIST HELSINKI CITY RESCUE DEPARTMENT CNN: Seventy-two hours.

ROBERTSON: And 6000 people in here. How many people can you fit in shelters in the whole of Helsinki?

RASK: Over 900,000.

ROBERTSON (on camera): So that's enough for the population plus visitors?

RASK: Yes, yeah, it is.

ROBERTSON (voice over): The government's been building bunkers here since the 1960s, 5500 in Helsinki, more than 50,000 across the country. Enough

for 80 percent of the country's 5.5 million population.

RASK: Deeper and deeper.

ROBERTSON: Yes.

But the scale of it not the only surprise some of its open to the public.

What's this?

RUSK: Horrible game.

ROBERTSON: This is a bunker with a sports hall?

RUSK: Oh my goodness.

ROBERTSON (voice over): Much of it jewel use to offset the costs.

RUSK: So, this is one example of our dual purpose use off the shelf.

ROBERTSON: Dual purpose. Yes. So sports every day of the week, time of crisis. What happens here?

RASK: All the sporting goods stacked away, all these halls, they sweltering halls are divided by smaller sheltering rooms.

ROBERTSON (voice over): And not just sports halls, children's play areas, possibly the safest in the world. Cafes, even a swimming pool.

RUSK: Yes. With an Olympic-sized ball.

ROBERTSON (on camera): Yes. Olympic-sized. OK. Wow. Wow.

ROBERTSON (voice over): But everything here with one purpose in mind. Blast doors, gas barriers, decontamination areas even the two billion year old

bedrock more than just blast proof.

ROBERTSON (on camera): So, it is a nuclear bomb, the rocket self absorbed radiation, keeps everyone here safe.

RASK: Yes. That's the idea.

ROBERTSON: It and the tunnels as well they're curved so that they also prevent some of the blasts coming through.

RASK: They take the most of the -- of the hit.

ROBERTSON: And now it's a car park.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a car, again.

ROBERTSON: Again. But that's quite bizarre feeling.

RASK: Yes.

ROBERTSON: One minute you're preparing for a wall the next minute you're playing hockey and now it's a car park.

RASK: Yes. Here you can see the different layers.

ROBERTSON (voice over): And before we leave. Rask shows another shelter just begun.

[10:35:04]

ROBERTSON (on camera): Drill a hole in it, put explosives and blow it and move forward

RASK: Yes.

ROBERTSON: Thank you. Goodbye. Cheers. Good bye. Here come the traffic. This looks like the way out. Absolutely fascinating. Intriguing.

Nick Robertson CNN, under Helsinki, Finland

GIOKOS: All right. So one quick programming note. Tune in in a few hours for Christiana on Paul's exclusive interview with Deputy Taliban leader

Sirajuddin Haqqani. And that's on Amanpour 9:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi, 9:30pm in Kabul right here on CNN.

And still to come. Two Hollywood stars battling in court after a one week break, they are back at us. The letters from Johnny Depp versus Amber Heard

in just a moment. As well as Barcelona's women's football team made history on Sunday details in our sports update.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:38:16]

GIOKOS: The sensational trial between Hollywood stars Johnny Depp and Amber Heard is back in session with her returning to the witness stand. The trial

took a break after May 5 because the judge had a previously scheduled conference to attend. It is expected that herd will wrap up her testimony

later today. And then be cross examined by Depp's attorneys. CNN's Chloe Melas is tracking developments in this case.

Chloe, really good to see. I tell you. It's been absolutely polarizing when I see how this has blown up on social media, but it's in caught in terms of

what really matters. And we could be seeing a final end to the depth versus heard case.

CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: Yes, well, we know from the judge that she has told the jury that she hopes that they can start deliberating

on May 27. So we still have a little bit of time. Amber Heard taking the stand again this morning. They were playing multiple audio clips from her

relationship with Johnny Depp. She's talked about multiple instances in which he allegedly pushed her up against a wall and slapped her.

Again, more of that incredibly jarring testimony. But I have to say that a week ago, she seemed more emotional. I'm seeing people on social media who

said that she seems a bit subdued today. A bit calmer and how she's telling her side of the story. She's also looking at the jury just like she did

last time. Johnny Depp still keeping his head down, whispering to his attorney he appears to be drawing. Again that is something that has gone

viral.

Some of, you know Johnny Depp's outfits and things like that also have gone viral too. But this afternoon is when we could expect things to heat up and

perhaps take a dramatic turn. And that's when Amber is expected to be cross examined by Johnny Depp's legal team.

[10:40:04]

MELAS: So it'll be interesting to see if they can poke any holes and the things that she has said in her multiple days on the scan.

GIOKOS: You know, Chloe, it seems that this one was like a jewel case or jewel trial that's been going on. So the one that we actually seeing in the

courtroom and the other on social media, and I guess this is where it's going to be quite important when you say she's going to be cross examined,

what is the sense that we're hearing in terms of the validity of her case and as we starting to see information jarring, of course, hearing

information that's coming through from her side.

MELAS: It's so incredibly nuanced and complicated, because all of the photos so far that Amber Heard's team has shown as evidence shows some

redness, maybe slight bruising, but in the, you know, examples that she's given of being thrown up against the wall as she claims, you know, a broken

bottle was put inside of her by Johnny at one point when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by him.

So, you know, some people are saying on social media, because we don't know what the jury is thinking that the sort of receipts, the evidence that she

has doesn't really add up to the examples that she is telling. So, that is why it's going to be so interesting to see what happens when she is cross

examined this afternoon, and it could take several days. Then we are potentially going to hear from Johnny Depp again because he is expected to

take the stand again as well.

GIOKOS: All right, Chloe Melas, really good to see you. Thank you so very much for that update.

World number one men's tennis player Novak Djokovic achieved another career milestone. Over the weekend becoming just the fifth man to reach 1000 wins

in ATP two matches. He did it by beating Norway's Casper Ruud in the Italian Open semifinals on Saturday. And then for good measure he went on

to win the tournament on Sunday, not dropping a single set along the way.

It's the first title for Djokovic since winning the Paris Masters in November. And it's been a perfect season for the Barcelona's women's

football team. They smashed attendance records and approached each game as if it was the only one. The results made their fans and sponsors

deliriously happy. World Sport anchor Amanda Davies now joins me to tell us more about this amazing team and their achievements. And I have to say,

Amanda, they were on fire.

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, Eleni. And they have been -- all season they're being talked about as arguably the greatest women's side of

all time. They had long since claimed the league title in Spain but this match on Sunday represented their 30th league game of the season and their

victory saw them complete an unbeaten perfect season. When I say unbeat not only unbeaten.

They won 30 games of 30 played. And they're looking to go on from here. They've got the Champions League final to come and domestic cup final as

well. Looking to repeat what would be an historic treble of trophies. And interestingly, they weren't the only women's side making history this

weekend. We've got more on that coming up in just a couple of minutes in World Sports.

GIOKOS: Exactly. We're going to a short break and Amanda will be back with you.

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