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Connect the World
UK Swelters in What Could be its Hottest Day Ever; Biden Vows "Strong Executive Action" Over Climate; Report Outlines Failures, "Lackadaisical Approach" by Police; Acting President Declares Nationwide Police Emergency; "The Beach" Island Paradise Restored from Overtourism; 10-year-old Checkers Champion Raises Money for Ukraine's Army. Aired 11a- 12p ET
Aired July 18, 2022 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well half of humanity is in the danger zone. That is the warning. I'm Becky Anderson and this is
"Connect the World".
Well, extreme unprecedented uncomfortable pan potentially deadly. Much of Europe is wilting on the record heat that is making fighting wildfires more
treacherous and making water scarcer.
The UK is facing the possibility of its hottest day ever today with temperatures soaring towards 40 degrees Celsius and forecasters warning
that Tuesday could be even hotter.
The heat wave is also melting records across France and making it much harder for firefighters there in the southwestern part of the country, to
wildfires burned more than 14,000 hectares and forced 24,000 people from their homes.
Spain also wrestling with fires extreme heat and droughts. And EU study finds that nearly half of Europe's territory including the UK, is at risk
of critical drought and that the water supply may be compromised in the coming months.
Let's begin our coverage in London. CNN's Nada Bashir is out in the sweltering heat in Hyde Park. Tomorrow it seems could be even hotter. Our
people you've been speaking to heeding the advice to stay cool and hydrated, Nada.
NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER: Look Becky, it is hard to believe that tomorrow could be even hotter than today. It is truly sweltering here in London's
Hyde Park and we have seen quite a big turnout.
It is pretty busy here people gathering in the park to sunbathe take a swim in the river side or to have an ice cream. Lots of families here and
children as well, that despite the warning from the government to stay indoors to stay away from the intense heat that we have seen, particularly
in our around the middle of the day.
As you said, potential to reach around 40 degrees Celsius that's around 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite that warning though, many have been braving the
intense he taking the opportunity to enjoy the slightly nicer weather that we're seeing now although it is pretty intense, I have to say.
But we spoke to some people earlier. They told us that despite the intense weather they are getting on with their day enjoying the sunshine as much as
they can, take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: --worried about the train being canceled, my trains already canceled. So I'm got to try and get on a different one and hope
that it's not packed out hopefully aircon.
Well, we were going to go to the --. But the queue is massive. And we were too hot stood in the sun. So we changed our mind. We're just going to head
home earlier rather than chilling out for that.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm from America. So I'm used to air conditioning. So a little--
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: While we spent some time indoors at the VNA museum. And we're just here for like five minutes to see the Diana Memorial. We've
already had one ice cream; I think we have four more to go. We're trying to limit our time out in the sun trying to stay indoors as much as possible.
But we planned our vacation several months ago. So we also want to see a little bit of London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BASHIR: And we are of course in parts of England seeing that red weather warning extreme weather warning that is the first time it's been issued
here in the UK. Other parts of the United Kingdom are under the amber warning - in parts of southern Scotland and New Wales.
They've reached record breaking figures already for this time of year. These are truly unprecedented high temperatures for the United Kingdom
during this time of year, Becky.
ANDERSON: Well, there will be those enjoying the day. Officials sell the crisis meeting as I understand it over the weekend to address what is this
deadly heat. And we're supposed to have another one today. Do we know what has come out of these meetings?
BASHIR: That's why that emergency meeting was chaired over the weekend. We've already heard from the newly appointed Health Secretary Steve
Barclay. He has called on people to be vigilant keep an eye on, particularly for the elderly and young children to ensure that they are not
succumbing to perhaps heatstroke or heat exhaustion.
And there has been a lot of work done by the government according to Barclay with regards to their contingency planning to ensure that this
intensity that we're seeing is not having a negative impact on the healthcare service.
They have been in close contact working with the hospitals across the country. The Ambulance Services, the National Health Service to ensure that
they are prepared and can cope with this intense weather.
They are expecting to receive hundreds of more calls as this weather continues to hike up particularly over tomorrow. But there have also been
some concerns around the rail services.
We've already seen disruptions there; we've seen delays because of the heat. The country simply really doesn't have the infrastructure to cope
with these intense temperatures that we are seeing much like of course we might see in the Middle East where there is perhaps more preparation for
this kind of weather clearly not in the United Kingdom.
But they are working towards that. We've heard from Kit Malthouse today, the Minister who oversaw those emergency government meetings.
He said that a lot of lessons are going to be learned by the British government today and tomorrow. In terms of what they need to do to deal
with this kind of weather considering that as a result of climate change, we are likely to see more extreme more frequent types of intense heat over
the coming years in the United Kingdom and of course across Europe.
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: Nada is in Hyde Park in London, Nada, thank you. Earlier, I spoke to a climatologist and asked her how and why scientists are sure that
climate change is creating this extreme weather, take a listen.
FRIEDERIKE OTTO, CLIMATOLOGIST: There are several lines of evidence that we have that why we are so confident that climate change is playing a big role
here. And the most basic one is really basic physics. Because we know how greenhouse gas molecules trap heat, we know that overall is getting hotter.
And that does mean we are seeing across the globe, more frequent heat waves, heat waves are getting hotter, cold waves are getting fewer and cold
waves are getting less cold.
But and this is also another line of evidence is what we observe our weather records. And particularly in the UK, we have a very good weather
records, long temperature time series.
And we see everywhere that extreme heat has been increasing in recent years. And it's increasing faster and faster with increasing concentrations
of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
Then we have climate models and weather models, where the laws of physics are implemented in computer models that show that with burning fossil
fuels, temperatures are increasing.
And then we have lots of studies on individual heat extremes of recent years that show how much hotter and how much more likely they have become.
ANDERSON: That's Friederike Otto, a climatologist. Well, as Europe grapples with a record breaking heat wave, it's also bracing, as you'll be well
aware for a potential gas crisis. And this couldn't come at a worse time.
Those soaring temperatures we've been telling you about if pushed up demand for electricity to power air conditioning units in Spain, alone, demand for
natural gas to produce electricity has touched a new record.
Well, Anna Stewart is here with me now. How does this heat wave raise the stakes in Europe's gas crisis?
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Because right now, anyone who was lucky enough to have air conditioning or a fan is using it and probably at max. So at a
time when usually we have a bit of an energy demand lull in Europe, people are using more.
And this is of course, the summer where instead of using energy, you really need to be saving it this was the summer for storing gas. And actually
they've done quite well, at the moment looking at gas storage facilities in Europe, there are about two thirds full that is more than the average year.
The EU has created a mandate since the invasion of Ukraine to try and get that to 80 percent by November, but interesting warnings from the IEA
today, the International Energy Agency who said they've done a lot, but they haven't done enough, particularly on the demand side.
And he actually says that'd be a roller even if storage facilities were 90 percent full. So more than e-mandate right now in October, they could still
face serious supply disruption.
ANDERSON: Yes, we've been talking about the concerns. As we approach the winter, I think people had neglected the idea that this was going to be
forecast to be a very, very hot summer.
On the backdrop of this Europe is anxiously waiting for Nord Stream 1 to be switched back on, remind us what that is and why that's significant.
STEWART: This is such a pivotal week. And we see this a lot because there have been so many crunch points haven't they're in terms of Russian energy
and Europe since the invasion of Ukraine.
But this week, we will find out we'll Nord Stream 1, one of the biggest arteries of Russian gas to Europe, will it be switched back on. It got
switched off last week for absolutely routine maintenance that happens every year for 10 days.
Russia didn't send any more gas, though by other pipelines. And prior to this, it reduces supplies by this pipeline by 60 percent. All relating to
some issue over a turbine and sanctions, which is somewhat disputed as to why that happens.
So the big question is does it get turned back on? Or is this the moment where Russia sort of cuts off Europe from gas? And then what happens
because Europe is facing potentially a very deep recession in that scenario.
ANDERSON Watch this space. Anna, always a pleasure, thank you. Well, the heat wave hasn't spared the United States. More than 40 million Americans
are under heat alerts.
And the prospects of the U.S. the world's second biggest carbon emitter taking any action to combat climate change are looking dim after Senator
Joe Manchin torpedoed President Joe Biden's plan.
CNN Senior politics reporter writes and I quote, "As heat waves hit Europe and North America showing the real time effects of global warming. Don't
hold your breath for the United States to do it anything about it". Stephen Collinson joins us live from Washington.
[11:10:00]
ANDERSON: Stephen to talk about the fallout for President Biden and his possible alternatives, and we've got now Senator Manchin killing of any
chance of climate funding through Congress.
President Biden vowing to take executive action on an executive order, can he do that, what's the realistic chance at this point?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN POLITICS SENIOR REPORTER: Well, Biden could in theory do quite a lot in terms of putting more regulations on the energy
industry trying to cut emissions that way transit incentivize states and cities and companies to move towards a more sustainable energy future.
The problem is, is how sustainable is that politically in the long term, a Republican president could come in and wipe away with a stroke of a pen
rules that the president puts into force within the opening hours of his presidency.
So that is the real problem here. And that which rises questions about long term U.S. commitment. Add to that the fact that the conservative majority
in the Supreme Court just a few weeks ago, showed it was willing to cut the government's power to regulate the industry, energy industry and to cut
emissions through the Clean Air Act.
So anything that the president does could find it quickly challenged in the courts. You know, what's happening here is that this is the last real
window of democratic power, potentially, if they lose the house and the midterm elections.
And if they lose the presidency in 2024 for some real action on climate change, because the Republican Party, you know, is so against it. So the
president is vowing to do something serious. We'll just have to see how long it lasts.
ANDERSON: Well, this yet another blow to Mr. Biden's agenda. A recent CNN poll of polls shows that his approval rating is at just 39 percent. I've
seen a poll, which suggests even lower than that.
And these are sort of all-time lows for any president as he approaches the midterm seems are not looking good ahead of those November elections. Are
it?
COLLINSON: Right and first term midterm elections are always a problem for sitting presidents, they tend to get a sort of a backlash from their first
two years in office, it's a referendum on them.
They're not really competing against anyone, you know, i.e. another candidate, like for instance, Donald Trump, who could be a candidate in
2024 for the Republican nomination.
Biden's figures are, as you say, exceedingly poor, there is a strong indication from history that a president needs to be at least up around
about 45, 46 percent before midterm elections to stem losses.
So there's a very good chance that the Democrats could lose the house that would basically stymie the president's domestic agenda. It would expose his
White House to a vigorous set of investigations by Republicans on Capitol Hill for example.
Some of them are already talking about trying to whitewash the findings of the January 6th committee that is currently taking place; on the Senate
side is a little bit different.
There are some signs that some Democratic senators are running ahead of the president. But if you get what they call a wave election, when Republicans
do very well across the board, because of, for example, high inflation, high gas prices, a poor economy and unpopular president, it's going to be
very difficult for Democrats to keep hold of the Senate.
ANDERSON: So the White House is looking for some wins, and it is at least touting Mr. Biden's recent trip to the Middle East as a success. Was it a
success that is?
COLLINSON: I think you have to decide whether what Biden got was worth the backlash of that fist bump in the United States with Mohammed bin Salman,
which has got a lot of unflattering coverage.
It undermines this idea that the president put at the core of his presidency, a promotion of democracy and human rights. Long term, if, for
example, the president's trip contributed to a lowering of gas prices through more oil pumping by OPEC nations if this sort of stability in the
Arab world that has been promoted by the United States between Israel and its Arab allies, U.S. Arab allies is sustained.
Perhaps the president contributed to that. The same again with if the ceasefire in Yemen lasts longer. And if there was some kind of coming
together on the issue of what would happen with Iran on the nuclear program if the deal doesn't come back into place.
So you know a lot of foreign policy isn't the greys. Biden said one of the reasons he went there was simply to restate U.S. leadership in some kind of
big, great game, diplomatic maneuver to try and stop China and Russia making inroads in the region.
These things are all very difficult to categorize. But you know, in terms of immediate deliverables for that trip it's difficult to see exactly what
he gotten.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: Stephen Collinson is in the House, he's at CNN headquarters in Washington. Thank you, Steven and this just into CNN. He's been the face of
the COVID-19 response in the U.S.
Well, now Dr. Anthony Fauci says he is retiring. He says he doesn't have a specific date in mind. But it will be by the end of Joe Biden's current
term, 81 Fauci has served more than five decades under seven presidents advising every U.S. president since Ronald Reagan.
Well still ahead a flurry of diplomatic visits. We are keeping an eye on not least that of the leader of the United Arab Emirates hot off his trip
to Jeddah this weekend is in Paris and energy, front and center.
Details on that are ahead plus systemic failures and egregious poor decision making. That is the analysis found in a new report into the
massive school shooting in Texas. We are live in Uvalde with newly released please camera video just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: The new report by Texas lawmakers investigating the Uvalde school massacre cites multiple failures and quote "Lackadaisical Approach" by law
enforcement.
CNN's Shimon Prokupecz walks us through dramatic new body cam video giving us a close up view of the action and inaction of some of the hundreds of
officers on the scene at Rob Elementary school that day.
And I have to warn you. This video that we are about to show you is disturbing and at times has strong language.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN REPORTER (voice over): New body cam video released by the Uvalde Mayor shows the frantic first moments police arrived on scene at
Rob Elementary. This video taken by Uvalde Police Sergeant Daniel Coronado as he made his way inside the building, but within moments more gunshots.
[11:20:00]
PROKUPECZ (voice over): After taking cover outside Sergeant Coronado gives his first update on the situation to responding officers.
SGT. DANIEL CORONADO, UVALDE POLICE DEPARTMENT: Are you OK guys? He's on inside this building we haven't been contained. He's going to be on the
building on the west side of the property, careful with the windows facing east right there.
PROKUPECZ (voice over): Minutes later Coronado tells dispatch what he believes is happening, that the gunman is in one of the school's offices,
not a classroom.
SGT. CORONADO: Male subjects in the school on the west side of the building. He's contained. We've got multiple officers inside the building
at this time. He believes he's barricaded and one of the offices I messed up is still shooting.
PROKUPECZ (voice over): But as the minutes continue to tick by the urgency first seen by the initial response fades away. Instead Uvalde police
officers are seen hunkering down waiting for more backup, critical moments pass by at a time children were still alive in the classroom.
At one point you can hear Sergeant Coronado asking for permission to open a door into the hallway where armed officers are already inside.
SGT. CORONADO: Officers inside the building, am I clear to open the door here on the south side of the building?
PROKUPECZ (voice over): It's after this moment that we learned that Uvalde consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pete Arredondo is
inside the building as other officers crowded around looking for guidance.
Arredondo has been a central figure in the state's investigation of the shooting. DPS Director Steve McCraw calling his actions on the day of the
massacre an "abject failure" as more officers arrive and more inaction, you can hear police begin to seek direction.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are we doing here?
PROKUPECZ (voice over): We also have video from Officer Justin Mendoza, who also arrived on the scene at 11:58 local time. Police help the first
students and teachers from a nearby classroom escape the building.
At the same time Sergeant Coronado can be seen helping children escaped from a window outside. At this point it had been nearly 25 minutes since
police first entered the building.
More than 12 minutes later, we get our first glimpse of Chief Arredondo in the hallway of Rob Elementary. You can hear him pleading with a gunman to
give up, but seemingly unaware that children may still be inside the classroom.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That could be peaceful. Could you tell me your name? No, please.
PROKUPECZ (voice over): Moments later a critical piece of the puzzle from the camera of Officer Mendoza 911 dispatch gives a chilling account from a
student still in the classroom.
911 DISPATCH: WE do have a child on the line.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What was that?
911 DISPATCH: It's going to be room 12 unintelligible. He is in the room full of victims, full of victims at this moment.
PROKUPECZ (voice over): And yet, even with that information, six minutes go by without any sort of response. Then we see Arredondo with a set of keys,
trying and failing to make entry into a classroom near where the gunman is barricade eventually handing the keys off to another officer who does make
entry.
More heavily armored officers arrive but no one gives the order to go in, then suddenly a new round of gunfire. But after those gunshots Arredondo
again tries to talk with the shooter.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you hear me sir?
PROKUPECZ (voice over): And again minutes later.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sir, if you can hear me please put your firearm down sir. We don't want anybody else hurt.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I know I know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's what we're doing; we're trying to get him out.
PROKUPECZ (voice over): After no response police still stand around without much urgency. Over the course of the next nearly 30 minutes we see more
officers arrive. The video obtained by CNN cuts out moments before police breached the classroom and killed the shooter at 12:51 local time.
By then many young innocent children and their two teachers were dead. Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Uvalde Texas.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, that is really disturbing, isn't it? Let's get you straight to CNN's Ed Lavandera who is also covering the story in Uvalde in Texas.
What's the fallout from the release of this video and the report being?
[11:25:00]
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, in terms of leadership of the police departments here in Uvalde, we haven't seen much. The Peter Arredondo, the
chief of the school district police department, he was put on administrative leave several weeks ago.
He's also since resigned his position as a city council person here. Also over the weekend, we learned that one of the higher ups in the Uvalde, the
city Police department was also put on leave, the city Police chief was out of town on the day of the shooting.
So the other officer that was the acting chief for that day has been put on administrative leave. But beyond that, we really haven't seen much fallout
yet for the officers that have arrived there that were part of that initial response at the shooting at Rob Elementary.
And this is one of the things that Becky has really been weighing heavily on many of families and people close to these families, as they deal with
this intense information that was in this report, which really painted such a devastating picture of the Police response.
A friend of one of the victims of the school shooting reacted to what he read in the report.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JESUS RIZO, FRIEND OF VICTIM, JACKLYN JAYLEN CAZARES'S FAMILY: As humans, we're not; we're not designed that way. We should care for each other. And
that's I think that's what bothers a lot of us that there could have been a time that they could --in, maybe not all of them were going to make it but
at least in their final moments to hold their hand to comfort them, to let them know that they're - but they did the total opposite of that.
They stood there as people bled out. They stood there as they took their final breath.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAVANDERA: And you know, Becky, so that is really one of the most devastating things. Well, it's that question of what if, what lives could
have been saved? How many lives might have been saved?
Had the officers burst into that room much sooner? We do know that there was several students who made 911 calls from the room, a teacher, one of
the teachers who died, messaged her husband that she had been shot.
He was one of the officers responding to the scene there as well. So it's that question of what if that weighs so heavily on these families here in
Uvalde.
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely and totally understandable. Thank you. Well, ahead on the show, a nation in crisis Sri Lanka's acting president declares
a nationwide public emergency when we get a close up look at the struggles that pushed everyday people to their breaking point.
Also ahead the UAE leader heads to Paris to boost ties and talk energy, we will talk to a Middle East analyst about the significance of his visit and
other meetings in the region.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: While Europe is staring down the barrel have an energy crisis and the impact that that will have on people's livelihoods. Sri Lanka is in
free-fall, a crippling economic crisis severe shortages of basic supplies and searing public anger all leading the country's acting president to
declare a nationwide public emergency.
Now this gives the military and police wide ranging search and arrest powers. And new regulations may be put into place to suppress civil unrest.
Well, months of demonstrations hit a tipping point last week when protesters took over government buildings and forced the president to
resign.
Earlier our Will Ripley was on the streets of Colombo looking at the real world impact of what is this awful crisis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I'm in Colombo at one of the few gas stations that's actually pumping petrol right now we had to
drive around past at least two or three before we found this one.
And we could spot the fact that it was open because the line was stretching, not even around the block, but like several blocks down.
RIPLEY (voice over): In Sri Lanka these days, they say petrol is more precious than gold, which explains the heavily armed guards.
RIPLEY (on camera): I've never seen anything quite like this. We've been talking to people waiting in these lines, some of them waiting as long as
six days.
RIPLEY (voice over): Like 19 year old Anuda Gunashinghe, he just graduated from high school.
RIPLEY (on camera): How long have you been waiting here?
ANUDA GUNASHINGHE, COLOMBO RESIDENT: Since Monday like six days?
RIPLEY (on camera): Six days?
GUNASHINGHE: Yes.
RIPLEY (on camera): So how do you live? What do you do?
GUNASHINGHE: Live in the car. My dad's here. So we basically switch like two days each in the queue.
RIPLEY (voice over): Like pretty much everyone else here. He's been doing this for months.
GUNASHINGHE: People shouldn't have to do this, you know, just suffer in a queue for so long. And then just get fuel for their basic necessities.
RIPLEY (on camera): Do you have any trusts left and politicians in your government?
GUNASHINGHE: None, none at all. They stole money by fooling us and then we are the ones who have to suffer while they lead luxury lives.
RIPLEY (on camera): Yes, sure.
RIPLEY (voice over): The fuel ran out three cars before he made it to the pump. He has to wait two more days.
RIPLEY (on camera): The price is so expensive; it has skyrocketed because the fuel is in such short supply. So people are spending in a lot of cases
almost their entire income, just to fuel the vehicle that they use to get around to make a living.
It's hard to imagine that people have been living like this for so long. Here you can understand when you stand in the midst of all of this may have
the anger. The anger on the streets here from people who just want to be able to live a normal life and don't want to have to spend days waiting in
line for something basic, like fuel, like food, like medicine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Will Ripley reporting there and he join me now live. You've just spoken to the acting president. What did he tell you?
RIPLEY: You know there could not be a bigger difference, Becky between what I witnessed in that fuel queue and the almost palatial parliament building
here in Colombo.
It's on its own island, it sits on its own island, absolutely stunning, and in many ways symbolic because some have accused the Parliament of having a
real disconnect with the people, you know, they're kind of on their island.
And everybody else is struggling and waiting in those lines for their basic necessities. And so I sat down with the acting President Ranil
Wickremesinghe.
He was the Prime Minister whose personal residence was set on fire during the protests. He is now the acting president and he is a front running
candidate for the presidency, it's going to be the members of parliament that choose.
But he has, you know, at least from what we're seeing, in early indications, a lot of support from inside parliament. And they're the ones
who are going to we're going to choose the person who runs Sri Lanka for the remainder of the former president's term.
And a lot of people view him as being more of the same, more of the same because he was a part of the old administration. And what I felt found
striking was how much he's really trying to distance himself from the president that he was working for two months as Prime Minister before, you
know, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa left this country in exile fled to the Maldives and in Singapore.
And what I asked him, you know, he talked about the importance of giving people the truth. And that's something that the former administration was
accused of not doing a whole lot of. So that was how it was one of the questions I asked him, Becky, take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY (on camera): You said earlier as president, it's important to tell the truth. Do you think that the previous administration was telling the
truth to the people of Sri Lanka?
RANIL WICKREMESINGHE, ACTING SRI LANKAN PRESIDENT: No.
RIPLEY (on camera): They were not.
WICKREMESINGHE: They were not.
RIPLEY (on camera): They were lying to the people.
WICKREMESINGHE: They're covering up facts.
RIPLEY (on camera): What were they covering up?
[11:35:00]
WICKREMESINGHE: That we are bankrupt that we need to go to the IMF, answer this.
RIPLEY (on camera): So what would you like to say to the people now truthfully, as somebody who could very likely be their next president?
WICKREMESINGHE: But tell the people I know what they're suffering. We have, we have gone back. We have to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps, but we
can do it. We don't need five years, 10 years. By next year let's start stabilizing. And by the end of, certainly by 2024, let's have a functioning
economy, which will start growing export oriented economy, a dynamic economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RIPLEY: Sri Lanka's acting president speaking to me just moments ago and he said that he does respect the right of protesters to peacefully protest.
There are huge, potentially huge demonstrations scheduled for tomorrow.
But he said he will not allow another government building like the presidential palace, or the prime minister's office or anyone else's
official residence to be occupied. He said the police and the military have been authorized to take whatever action is necessary to stop people from
storming public facilities and obstructing the business of Parliament because it's going to be their job to elect the new president.
And he says he will not allow protests, no matter how large they are to stop that from happening, so a very clear warning from the acting president
to protesters. He says you're welcome to do it peacefully.
But don't try to pull what happened a couple of weekends ago with the setting the residents on fire his own personal residence on fire and
storming and occupying the presidential palace. He said that's not going to happen under him, Becky.
ANDERSON: Will Ripley is on the story. Thank you, Will. Well, Iran's President is hosting his Turkish and Russian counterparts in Tehran this
week; Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan is heading to Iran Monday for talks with the President Ebrahim Raisi.
Russian President Vladimir Putin will join them on Tuesday. And we are told that they will discuss the issue of exporting grain from Ukrainian ports.
NATO member Turkey has tried to play a mediating role of course in Russia's war on Ukraine. Russia is also a common topic of discussion with Russia and
Iran supporting the Syrian regime while Turkey helps some rebel groups.
Well, more diplomatic visits UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed is meeting his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in Paris today to boost ties
and amongst other things discuss the future of energy between both nations.
France is trying to diversify its fuel sources away from Russia because of the Kremlin's war on Ukraine. And this is Sheikh Mohammed's first overseas
trip to a Western capitalist president of the UAE.
Well, the visit comes on the heels of Joe Biden's first trip to Saudi Arabia, as U.S. president, of course, the UAE leader, are also present in
Jeddah this weekend. Let's bring in Middle East Analyst Anne Gadel to discuss all of these developments.
She joins us now live via Skype from Paris; it's good to have you Anne.
ANNE GADEL, MIDDLE EAST ANALYST: Thank you, Becky.
ANDERSON: Let's start with this trip of Sheikh Mohammed, it's my understanding today that we will get an announcement of a comprehensive
strategic energy partnership between the UAE and France, which will accelerate already existing partnerships.
And in the context of short term energy security, provide France with some much needed support in terms of diesel supply, which could be very
consequential given the current energy reality in Europe.
What do we know at this point? And why is this deal if indeed, this is what we get so consequential for France at this point?
GADEL: Well, as you said, the announcements and the agenda of the visit are going to be dominated by energy issues. Because the key concern in France
are the economic consequences of the war on Ukraine, as you said, and the sanctions are consequences of the sanctions.
So France is looking to diversify the energy supply sources, and it wants to really foster renewables, green energy production, but also nuclear
energy. So what we're expecting is, of course, a lot of announcements are to that regard.
But I think the more concrete announcement that we can expect for the moment, it will be the deal on a diesel supply for France, which in the
short term optic will help, obviously the economic situation.
But I don't expect anything regarding boosting the production primarily due to the fact that the UAE are close to reaching their production capacities.
And they're really tied to the format the OPEC plus format.
But we're expecting a lot of announcements and really exciting announcements on renewables, nuclear energy and green energy, specifically
hydrogen.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: Yes, and this is the sort of energy security, energy sort of diversification story that we hear so much about energy sustainability
going forward. It's no accident that Sheikh Mohammed has chosen Paris phase first visit to a Western nation as President of the UAE.
In fact, Sheikh Mohammed advisor Anwar Gargash says it was a conscious one a conscious decision for Paris to be the first visit. I live in the UAE
this comes as no surprise, this is a relationship, which goes back years across a whole raft of files. The benefits for the Elysee Palace at a time
like this then are evident, aren't they? GADEL: Yes, absolutely evident. And I might add to what you just said that it's I think it's a sign of
appreciation towards France that's perceived in the UAE as a reliable partner in the region.
Let's not forget that France sort of hasten to provide logistical and defensive support to the UAE after the ACT knock attacks in January 2022,
when the U.S. has been perceived to be not in such a hurry to provide any support.
And I think this visit is also a message could be a message sent to the U.S., which is the traditional ally of the UAE in the region, in a context
where the U.S. is withdrawing from the region.
It's not perceived as a reliable ally anymore. So yes, yes, the Elysee has a lot to take advantage of this visit.
ANDERSON: Yes, Joe Biden, of course, inviting Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed to Washington during the bilateral meeting they had in Jeddah this weekend.
But as we are pointing out, the first visit to a Western nation is to Paris.
This past weekend, U.S. President Joe Biden met with the leaders of Saudi and the UAE amongst others and leant on them to increase that oil
production. The Gulf producers are seemingly in the driver's seat when it comes to relations with U.S. and other Western countries at present aren't
they?
GADEL: Exactly. I think the Ukraine war has had sort of catalyst effects on international relations. And we've seen the Gulf countries playing their
own cards, and pushing their own interests.
Understanding that probably the U.S. is not only withdrawing from the region, but is also a bit weaker than it used to be. So they've been
playing this energy card really hard. And they've also been playing this sort of hedging game.
This is sort of confusing game not aligning with the West and wanting to maintain relations with Russia, not wanting to engage in a confrontation
with Russia also regarding the energy production within the OPEC plus formats.
So yes, indeed, I believe this. This is the current situation with the Ukraine war and also the situation in Iran with the JCPOA. In a stalemate,
basically, the situation is really changing.
And the western countries are really taking the measure of the massive changes that are happening in international relations at the moment.
ANDERSON: Yes, it's a region on the move of the Gulf and the wider Middle East at present. Thank you. Well, ahead on the show, a 10 year old girl
plays checkers to help Ukrainian army, but she's not just any 10 year old checkers player, more on that, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Well, as the world opens up to travel once again tourist destinations are attracting visitors from across the globe inevitably. But
what impact can the increasing numbers of travelers have on natural environment.
It was a question many of us have asked. Today on "Call to Earth" a marine habitat destroyed by over tourism has been restored to its former glory
providing a potential model for sustainable travel going forward, have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the turquoise waters of this tropical island, a place of breathtaking beauty. It's inspired a generation of travelers. This
is Maya Bay made famous by the year 2000 movie The Beach starring Leonardo DiCaprio.
But over the following two decades, this island paradise became an environmental nightmare, attracting up to 5000 tourists per day.
THON THAMRONGNAWASAWAT, DEPUTY DEAN OF THE FACULTY OF FISHERIES, KASETSART UNIVERSITY: Before we have 100 more in the bay, people walk on the vision.
Not see this - they see other people here. They don't have given the - feed themselves because they very crowded.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Boats and beach goers destroyed the coral in the bay shallow waters, reducing it by over 60 percent in the past 30 years. The
line in the sand came in 2018 when the Thai government made the controversial decision to close the money making tourist destination and
begin to restore the ecosystem.
The man overseeing that restoration is a time Marine Scientist known as Dr. Thon. Since the bay closed, he and a team of volunteers have planted over
30,000 pieces of coral to kick start the regeneration of the ecosystem.
THAMRONGNAWASAWAT: Had now hollow of - by themselves. So we decreased our transplant project and left the Mother Earth doing her job.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're using a fast growing coral cultivated thereby. Dr. Thon says without this transplant work, it could take 30 to 50 years
the reef to regenerate naturally in the bay.
By giving nature a helping hand, the hope is to maintain the delicate balance of tourism, environment and economy. Maya Bay reopened to the
public in January 2022 and tourists are returning.
But now numbers are limited to just 300 visitors at a time, leaving plenty of room for selfies and rules protecting the recovering - all strictly
enforced. A new Jessie at the back of the island enables boats to dock without entering the bay allowing other life to return. These black tip
sharks are thriving in the shallow waters.
THAMRONGNAWASAWAT: When we cross the bay, only three months the - reef shark come back. They keep on making some of them give birth. So there are
a lot of things happening in Maya Bay that is not only the horror rave.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Dr. Thon hopes Maya Bay can act as a model for other tourist destinations at risk and help change perspectives at home and
abroad.
THAMRONGNAWASAWAT: --the image of Thai tourism, share the image that we are not just the country that are crazy about money. We would like to save --.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The legacy of a lifetime, his work will help protect this incredible environment for generations to come.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: Remarkable part of the world. Let us know what you are doing to answer the call with the #calltoearth. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PRINCE HARRY, DUKE OF SUSSEX: On my wall, and in my heart every day, is an image of my mother and Mandela meeting in Cape Town in 1997. The photo was
presented to me by the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, whose friendship and inspiration were their own treasured gift.
My wife and I had the honor of introducing our four month old son to him back in 2019. When I first looked at the photo, straightaway, what jumped
out was the joy on my mother's face, the playfulness, and cheekiness even.
The pure delight to be in communion with another soul so committed to serving humanity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Prince Harry there gives the keynote address a short time ago marking Nelson Mandela International Day at the UN. He and his wife Meghan
Markle is in New York for the UN's annual commemoration.
One of the things that have been so impressive about Ukraine's resistance against Russian attacks is how people in that country have come together
doing whatever they can to help the fight.
My colleague Alex Marquardt spoke with a 10 year old, a 10 year old girl who is raising money to support Ukrainian soldiers. Have a look at this and
learn how.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT (voice over): At a small folding table outside of busy Kyiv shopping center, Valeria
Yezhova, just 10 years old quickly and methodically dismantles every opponent who sits down at her checkers board.
Defeated they dropped money onto the growing pile of bills and her box next to a sign that reads we are helping the Ukrainian army. What many who are
playing her don't know is that for Valeria checkers is no simple hobby.
She's the world champion for her age, taking home the trophy last summer. I really wanted to help our army and soldiers and I asked my mother what I
should do, she said. My mom asked me what I'm good at. I said playing checkers.
In nine days outside the shopping center she raised more than $700. She then presented it to the head of a foundation that buys equipment for the
military, Sergey Pritula, a celebrity and activist whom Valeria calls her hero. He broke down in tears. She says that at first people hesitated to
play her. Then as they watched her beat everyone more and more stepped up to try their luck.
MARQUARDT (on camera): Have you ever lost any of the games while you've been doing this?
MARQUARDT (voice over): I've never lost here she says. Word quickly spread about the young champion doing her part for her country. When this man
heard from his wife that Valeria was playing nearby, he quickly left work and ran over.
Valeria is already a legend here, he says, he'd rather lose to her. She's doing a great job helping the Ukrainian army. She's probably touched the
whole of Ukraine.
Other kids from her checkers club have followed Valaria's lead. Ukraine's children feel this war profoundly.
[11:55:00]
MARQUARDT (on camera): You think about the war a lot, or are you just trying to live here normal life?
MARQUARDT (voice over): I would like to live a normal life but during the war, it's difficult, she says, of course I'm scared. There are a lot of
negative feelings.
The defeated ask for photos with the growing star Valeria is poised, calm, and all too happy to oblige.
MARQUARDT (on camera): Shall we play a game?
VALERIA YEZHOVA, CHECKERS CHAMPION: Yes.
MARQUARDT (voice over): She also obliges me with zero hesitation in her moves.
MARQUARDT (on camera): I forgot about going backwards.
MARQUARDT (voice over): As my pieces fly off the board.
MARQUARDT (on camera): There's nothing I can.
YEZHOVA: Thanks for playing.
MARQUARDT (on camera): Thank you for destroying me. Thank you very much for the game. It was an honor to play with a champion.
YEZHOVA: Thank you.
MARQUARDT (voice over): Alex Marquardt, CNN Kyiv.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Wonderful. Thank you for joining us. "One World" today with Julia Chatterley is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
