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Russia Launches Deadly Missile Attacks Across Ukraine; Ukraine: 84 Missiles Fired, Infrastructure In Eight Regions Hit; Anti-Government Protests Roil Iran For Fourth Week. Aired 10-10:45a ET

Aired October 10, 2022 - 10:00:00   ET

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

[10:00:02]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Our enemy wants to scare us to make people run.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL ANCHOR (voice over): Ukrainian president urges resolve as Russian missiles rained down across his country. Vladimir

Putin makes this ominous threat.

VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): The Russian's reply will be harsh.

ANDERSON: That statement coming down this morning calling the Ukrainians terrorists fading a key bridge connecting Crimea. Plus.

As protests in Iran into (INAUDIBLE) those gathered, are garnering more worldwide support. I'll speak to that a European Parliament on that this

hour.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Hello. I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD live from Abu Dhabi where the time is 6:00 in the evening. Retaliation,

destruction and condemnation. Russia lashing out at Ukraine with the most intense barrage of missile and rocket attacks since the earliest days of

the invasion. Cities like Kyiv and Lviv far from the fighting in the east and the south were hit along with Zaporizhzhia where the nuclear plant is.

The targets, civilian infrastructure, power plants, bridges like this pedestrian bridge in the capital. Ukrainian official says at least five

people have been killed in Kyiv. At least 11 have been reported killed nationwide with dozens of people injured. 500 kilometers southeast of Kyiv

in Dnipro, explosions and stunt drivers throwing their cars into reverse.

And you can see the driver here backtracking after that second huge explosion. Ukraine's prime minister says nearly a dozen critical

infrastructure facilities across the country were hit. And the government is asking all Ukrainians to limit their energy use this evening to ease the

burden on the power grid. This happened in two days after an explosion damaged a strategic bridge linking Russia and Crimea.

Ukraine is not claiming responsibility but Vladimir Putin pinning the blast on Kyiv and his warning of more retaliation.

PUTIN (through translator): Act of terrorism on the territory of Russia, the Russia's reply will be harsh and will be -- will be -- will be

corresponding to the level of threats to the Russian Federation. I have no doubt about it.

ANDERSON: Meantime, the heads of the E.U. of NATO and multiple western nations condemning Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy set to

address an emergency meeting of the G7 nations on Tuesday. Well, let's get you to CNN's Nic Robertson tracking developments from London. Awful lot

going on on the ground, not least the speech -- a very visible speech both to his domestic audience but clearly speech aimed at the international

community from the Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier today. What did you make of what we heard?

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Well, Putin is pinning the blame for the response that he has to the Kerch Bridge and other crimes

that he says Ukraine has committed. But this very ably for President Putin it seems answers his -- some of his critics at home, critics not so much of

him but of the military operation that Russia has underway saying that Russia could be doing more, it could be hitting back more strongly.

So there's been this visible dissent in Russia to Putin's conscription campaign, so many hundreds of thousands of Russians beating a retreat over

the border so they can't be forced to fight in -- be sent to -- and forced to fight in Ukraine for Russia. This changes the narrative domestically at

home for President Putin. This is a strong response. According to Ukrainians, 84 cruise missiles, 24 UAVs drones as part of this big

operation, as you say, right across the country, Kyiv in the north Mykolaiv in the south Kharkiv and the -- and the east Lviv in the west.

Right across hitting, principally energy infrastructure. So it sends a very strong and clear message to Ukraine how Putin might in the short term

escalate this conflict. We know he's losing on the battlefield in Ukraine that his troops are being forced to withdraw and retreat in the face of

Ukrainian offensive. That's not been playing well, but this still seem to be a response which is quite simply I'm going to target your infrastructure

to keep your country up and running and I'll do it in a big and devastating style.

[10:05:11]

Whether or not there's another round like this tomorrow is unclear or in the coming weeks, but it is a very firm message to Ukraine, that this is

how he's going to play out the war with coming winter, going after the thing that will make life harsher for Ukrainians.

ANDERSON: Nic, standby. I want to get to Kyiv in Ukraine and where Fred Pleitgen is standing by. What's the atmosphere where you are? Just describe

how people feel. Kyiv had been spared, you know, mostly spared from this war. At the beginning, of course, there have been attacks on the capital

city. But there's a reminder that this war is going on to the people in that capital city. What are they telling you?

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. That the Russian army is certainly still very dangerous and can definitely affect

the people here in the Ukrainian capital as well. I'd say right now, Becky, situation is very tense here in the Ukrainian capital. In fact, there are

very few people who are actually venturing out on the streets. Of course, the city's mayor of Vitali Klitschko, he told people don't go outside, seek

shelter, stay inside, if you can.

He also told people who, you know, have a commute who might be coming from outside of the city to not come into the Ukrainian capital because they

simply fear that there could be more strikes by the Russians to come. And, you know, of course, it's not like the Ukrainians didn't understand that

this is something that could happen. But it's simply something that hasn't happened over the past couple of months as -- other places as well.

People were quite shocked that this happened in the early morning hours, certainly shocked that there were so many explosions that took place here

in the Ukrainian capital, but of course, in other places as well. And, you know, if you look at some of the areas that were hit, a lot of them are in

central Kyiv. And we were just at one playground that essentially took a direct hit where there's a giant crater on that playground now, but also a

very busy intersection.

Of course, we have to keep in mind, Becky, that a lot of these rocket attacks took -- or missile attacks took place in the rush hour time of the

day. They took place 8:15, 8:30 in the morning, when a lot of people were out at these intersections. And we were at one earlier where there was just

a big amount of carnage. There were a lot of burnt out vehicles, completely destroyed cars, dead bodies laying around there.

And the Ukrainians later told us that at that intersection alone which is right next to a museum and also next to a university building. Five people

alone were killed there. Now, there is some infrastructure damage also. There are parts of Kyiv that right now are without electricity. But there

are also a lot of civilians who have suffered and who have been affected by all this and of course, several killed in all of this as well.

And again, the Ukrainians believe that this is something that could continue, that there could be further strikes is something they're warning

about. They do have air defenses, they say but, you know, in the face of the fact that they are saying that over 80 cruise missiles were launched at

their territory, they weren't able to take out all of those, Becky.

ANDERSON: Fred is in Kyiv in n Ukraine. Let's get you elsewhere. Nick Paton Walsh is standing by. Tell us where you are and what you are witnessing.

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL SECURITY EDITOR: Yes. Dnipro in sort of southern central Ukraine. A key city and one that was hit by a number of

missiles. Two of them came into the scene behind me here, very quickly cleaned up by the Ukrainian. You can see just by this police line, the

depth of the crater of one of them. Now, we think that this building behind it, the roof of which is missing on one side was ultimately the target

perhaps.

It's an abandoned telecoms building it seems. There may have been some people working in there but it's certainly not what you'd consider to be a

key target. The second missile slamming in two minutes later and a bus as Fred was saying, rush hour. A bus was moving along here caught in that

explosion. We understand from health officials that five people are now critically injured in hospital over a dozen injured from that.

The bus has since been taken away and it's extraordinary speedy cleanup by Ukrainians. But it's hard to understand why necessarily two cruise missiles

were fired in here. Let me show you really what this all means, though, in terms of Russia's regard for civilian life. Next to this target, if indeed

it was the target because precision is exactly the watchword for the Kremlin's military at times.

But look at these apartment blocks. The Windows blown out, one woman was saying she was on her balcony with her eight and one-year-old, ran them

into the kitchen in that two-minute gap between the two missiles hitting. But it's cold -- really cold now as the sun's going down and they're

putting (INAUDIBLE) up to try and keep whatever heat they have left. 80,000 people in this region without power.

[10:10:05]

We know from a sad casualty count about few hours ago that they think five people have lost their lives here and over a dozen were injured. That

doesn't include I think those on the bus that I referred to earlier on. But it just shows you how many civilians could have been hurt in this. How many

were hurt in this.

And the clumsiness of target selection of these cruise missiles, there was clearly a point today being made by the Kremlin that they have some

ferocity left in their military after weeks, months of us just seeing them constantly pulling back on the front lines because of poor supply lines, in

net commands, and the ability to hold positions.

They've been outmaneuvered by the Ukrainians so often. And perhaps this was a bid for Russia to answer his -- Russian President Vladimir Putin to

answer his domestic critics and essentially say we can still fight in this war and use those cruise missiles but they're not an infinite supply, and

over 80 were clearly used here. It's clearly had some damage to critical infrastructure across Ukraine. Clearly civilian lives have been lost too.

I should point out this is the beginning of this war, Russia has shown an utter disregard for civilian casualties hospitals, bomb shelters being hit.

And here is another example where these apartment blocks were caught in the blast and a bus as well. But the target, hard to understand. Becky?

ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh, she's on the ground. Thank you, Nick.

World leaders strongly condemning Russia's missile attacks. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola tweeting, what is happening now in

Kyiv is sickening. It shows the world again, the regime we are faced with. One that targets indiscriminately, one that rains terror and death down on

children. This is criminal. They will be held to account. Ukraine will win, Europe will not look away.

Let's get more from Roberta Metsola. She joins me live now live via Skype from Brussels. You say Europe must not look away. At this point, how should

Europe respond? You've seen the, you know, the consequent of the -- consequence of these attacks on Ukraine. Indiscriminate shelling of

civilian areas. What's the European response?

ROBERTA METSOLA, EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT PRESIDENT (via Skype): Well, I think today was what has been one of the toughest days to wake up to where we

see, as you say, and with the images that we see indiscriminate killing of women, children going about their daily lives. This is a clear escalation

by a panicked autocrat that has gone to the capital city of a country that is not only fighting for its territorial integrity, but fighting for the

fundamental values of life, of democracy.

This is on our continent and it's up to us to respond. We have already done a lot with sanctions, it's clearly not enough. Ukrainians are now asking

for military help. And the European Parliament stands with that.

ANDERSON: Stands with what? That's my question. Air defenses? I mean, what? Putting jets in the sky? What is the response?

METSOLA: I mean, Putin has --

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: Clearly identified that he has no limits at this point.

METSOLA: Yes. You are right. First of all, we need to see the sanctions packages that we have adopted eight so far, which ones are biting, which

ones need to be tougher which countries are not implementing them. And the European Parliament has called for more military equipments to be delivered

to Ukraine. Ukraine has very specific demands, whether it is with tanks, whether it is with heavier military systems.

The member states have that equipment, they can come together and contribute with the weapons that are needed. If they coordinate and this is

what we're asking for, then no one member state needs to be, let's say, have a dent in its military capacity, which is being questioned in other

governments, in other countries. But once we have that equipment, why not deliver it to Ukraine faster?

If anybody thought that fatigue could set in and that we could look away, these images from today, the casualties that we seem how can we look away?

And this European Parliament is one that is saying let's make sure we do whatever it takes. If Europe doesn't answer, once that Putin did not stop,

he's clearly not showing any signs of stopping. How are we going to respond? If our response is not proportionate to the escalation, then we're

just going to keep his -- seeing killing more people.

ANDERSON: Let's be quite clear. I want you to explain to our viewers what sort of teeth the European Parliament has at this point because you've

talked about countries that are not in amending sanctions. You talk about countries who aren't contributing the sort of military hardware that

Ukraine needs at present.

[10:15:09]

These are decisions being made by European countries. You don't agree with them. You're telling me the European Parliament doesn't agree with those

decisions. So let's start calling them out. What are countries doing now that they -- that they could do more of at this point?

METSOLA: Well, this is exactly the point. If there are tanks that are owned by member states, if they can be delivered to Ukraine, then let's be able

to deliver them. We have already shown unprecedented unity. But now we have to do more. And that means that we show solidarity between each other. But

Ukraine is asking for our help. And if they're asking for tanks, and let's be able to deliver them.

That is -- that that is something concrete, that can be delivered, that can be done. Member States could do more, they should do more. And I think if

today's images are telling us and the actions that are showing us do not make those, let's say member states go forward, and you said what can the

European Parliament do? This parliament is made up of elected politicians from all member states.

They are being told by their citizens, we are being told by our citizens to do more. And that's our responsibility. We are adopting decisions for

quicker financial assistance to be arriving at Ukraine and to Ukraine. We are talking from solidarity and actually on the ground perspective as a

parliament, helping the Ukrainian parliament. I'm in constant contact with my counterpart, the speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, passing

legislation, taking decisions in order to add people on the sanctions list. Giving more money and ultimately, after today, let's get more weapons given

to Ukraine.

ANDERSON: Which countries could and should do more? Can you be clear, please?

METSOLA: Yes, I think all countries could and should do more. There are countries that have the tanks that have been identified by Ukraine. There

are -- there -- let's say there are 2000 tanks that are present in the European Union, that can be given. And those at least a few of them should

be sent to Ukraine. Ukraine is asking for them and the European Union has the facility to coordinate what it gives to Ukraine.

I know the high representatives very much working on this. I know from military perspective, we can do more. And I think those countries, I would

say all the way from Portugal, to Romania can deliver those weapons that are being asked for. And let's also --

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: -- this is having on European country? Go on.

METSOLA: Yes?

ANDERSON: Go on.

METSOLA: And these are countries that have already shown unity. And they can continue to do that. I was -- let's say, I continue to be encouraged by

that unity. I know that Putin's interest would be.

(CROSSTALK)

ANDERSON: OK. That is what I want to pursue with you because, you know, we talk a lot about unity. But the E.U. Commission president has urged further

unity. Have a listen to what von der Leyen clearly worried about that, as we head into a very cold winter, had to say earlier.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

URSULA VON DER LEYEN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION: Time and again, the single market has proven to be our single best asset in times of

crisis. Therefore, we need to preserve it, it's of paramount importance that we have a level playing field and that we avoid fragmentation and

distortion.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: She is clearly concerned that Europe isn't playing together at present, or certainly has concerns that it won't play together going

forward.

METSOLA: Well, the point of fragmentation is exactly what Putin wants and I completely agree with the president of the European Commission in urging

member states and their leaders to come together. There is an interest, let's say on the extreme fringes of the political scene that would like

that instability to be exploited. We in the European Parliament are here to take decisions in order to make sure that whatever help, whatever

assistance can get to Ukraine does actually get there.

And we are not going to be the ones let's say waiting for others to take the decisions before we do. I was encouraged last week, even though it's

difficult to see these decisions being taken especially in the background of an energy crisis, but by prime ministers saying we need to continue to

grow get our act together, to come together to show that unity.

[10:20:04]

What we've seen today shows that Russia will continue to escalate further. Are we ready is the question to make sure that we can respond

proportionately. And I think that this is a day when we have to be able to answer that question. Otherwise, not only would we be disappointing the

Ukrainians, but we'd also be disappointing our citizens.

ANDERSON: This is important stuff. I just want to leave Ukraine for the moment because another incredibly important story. Iran, the U.K. has just

announced a raft of sanctions on Iran's morality, police and other political figures. We've seen videos of European lawmakers cutting their

hair. Speaking of solidarity with the women of Iran, this is symbolic. What should the E.U. do at this point? What can the E.U. do? What sort of teeth

does Europe have at this point?

METSOLA: While the words women, life, liberty have certainly resonated over this past week, with not only expressions of solidarity in Parliament's

across the world, including in this Parliament and the European Parliament where we have seen lawmakers cutting their hair, but it goes beyond that. A

discussion on sanctions is being -- this -- is being -- is taking place. Now we have seen what the United Kingdom has done.

We've seen also leaders in different countries, including the German foreign minister saying that we need to agree on new packages of sanctions

against the authorities and moral police as you say, in Iran. We also need from a political perspective to make sure that those political leaders and

this I see with -- I don't want to use the word optimism because it's not the right context. But we see women rising up.

Ad here I'm -- as president of the European Parliament as a -- as a woman myself, that we preach so much and we discuss so much about what we need to

do about democracy that we are seeing really a resistance that can be very much admired in the face of such horrific circumstances that our Iranian

counterparts and friends are going through.

ANDERSON: Very briefly, many, many of these protesters are demanding a regime change. Do you believe that the E.U. should reflect that

determination? Is that something that the E.U. will be prepared to condone?

METSOLA: Well, I could say that there are increasing voices are calling for this. It has been a long time coming. We have seen a regression of rights

that is solidifying, let's so to speak, we have seen women being killed on the street. So the European Union has to always show that the values that

it defends within its confines so to speak should also be shown across the world and this cannot exclude any country least of all Iran.

ANDERSON: With that I'm going to leave it there. We thank you very much indeed for joining us.

METSOLA: Thank you.

ANDERSON: We're taking a short break. Back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:25:36]

ANDERSON: The human rights groups as Iranian security forces launched a fierce attack using live ammunition in Kurdish cities early on Monday. Now

this comes is anti-government protests enter a fourth week. Students at the University in North Tehran singing an old patriotic song. Their palms

stained with red paint to show solidarity with protesters. Well, CNN's Jomana Karadsheh has been reporting on these protests since they began, a

month or so ago. Joining us now from Istanbul in Turkey. Jo?

JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Becky, you and I have talked about this quite a bit over the past-three plus

weeks. It's very difficult for us to report on what is going on in Iran because of the communications restrictions that have been put in place by

the government because of the internet shut down. So we really see a bit of video, a bit of information emerged from the country.

And over the weekend, we were able to piece that together and gives you some idea of what's going on in the country. And there are indications and

a lot of concerns that we might be seeing this harsh crackdown intensified even further from what we are seeing. A lot of security forces heavily

armed on the streets of different cities. A lot more video we're seeing of brutality when it comes to arresting people off the streets.

Whether they're protesters or in some cases saying they're not protesters. And then you've also got the government coming out and saying that anyone

who will be detained right now, anyone who's arrested is not going to get released if they're part of these protests, who they describe as the

rioters. They are saying that they're going to have a very quick trial and they are going to get sentenced trying to deter people from taking part in

these protests.

But from what we've seen, people remain undeterred no matter what the government uses to try and stop them from joining these protests. Becky, we

have to warn our viewers that some of the video in our piece is graphic and they will find it disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KARADSHEH (voice over): This is how the fourth week of Iran uprising started. The wheels one more families forever farewell. Another young life

taken too soon.

One of several lives lost in a day of rage, a day of carnage in Iran's Kurdish region. And so the images, the regime doesn't want the world to

see. They cut off the internet and Fernando (ph) is making it hard for us to tell the stories of the dead and those left to mourn.

The little video trickling out only a glimpse into the repressive Republic and its vicious force to crush the growing dissent. The savagery caught on

camera in scenes like this in Tehran. And this. A man pleads with police to leave his wife alone. We're not protesting. She's pregnant, he says, but to

no avail. Both appear to have been forcefully dragged away. It is that tyranny that feeds the anger of those on the streets, defiant and

determined seemingly unstoppable here chasing the riot police.

At an all women's university this weekend President Ebrahim Raisi who's dismissed the thousands on the streets as rioters praise students for

seeing through what he claims as the foreign conspiracy to weaken Iran. At that same university an extraordinary moment of rebellion as young women

chant, Gracie get lost. Unclear if this happened while he was there. What's clear is the wall of fear and Iran has come down.

Even the regime's attempt to control the narrative also briefly disrupted. Hackers interrupted state T.V. Saturday evening newscast with this video. A

target superimposed on the face of the supreme leader. And at the bottom of the screen, the faces of Mahsa Gina Amini and three of the young women

who've died in the protests, Nika Shahkarami, Hadis Najafi and Sarina Esmailzadeh with a message that reads, join us and rise up.

The streets of Tehran were already rising up that night with some of the largest protests in the capital so far.

[10:30:03]

Scenes replicated across the country because the government claims calm has been restored and the so-called riots are mostly over.

Daytime brought more students back out in force protesting on campuses across the country.

And young school girls waiving their forced headscarves joining in the daring chance.

Their fearless prize for women, life, freedom, reverberating louder than ever through the streets of Iran.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON: And more on the international reaction to this crackdown coming up on this show.

Right after this short break, more than six months after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Moscow launches a violent barrage of deadly airstrikes in

cities across the country. And President Vladimir Putin this morning warning more attacks could be on the way.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Russians are trying to annihilate us and wipe us off the face of the earth. That is the view of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

following what appears to have been the heaviest wave of attacks on his country since the first week of the war. Ukraine says 84 missiles struck

cities across the country, targeting power plants and civilian infrastructure. Including this. Terrifying footage of the moment of blast

went off in Dnipro in eastern Ukraine.

A children's playground in central Kyiv among the sights here as well. At least 11 people were killed, 64 others injured in the strikes. All of this

part of Vladimir Putin's reply after a massive explosion damaged a key bridge linking Crimea and Russia on Saturday. CNN contributor and former

CNN Moscow bureau chief Jill Dougherty joins me to discuss these developments. And that's not to suggest by any stretch of the imagination

that we feel as if he was provoked into this action.

He has absolutely no right nor reason for this action. Jill, our audience will have heard Mr. Putin start words earlier this hour about what he

intends to do next. I just want to play a little bit more of that speech. Standby.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PUTIN (through translator): The terrorist shelling of the cities and towns in Donbass for over eight years. It's act of nuclear terrorism.

[10:35:03]

I mean, the rocket strikes on the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant that Ukrainian shell services conducted three acts of terrorism against that

Russian nuclear power plant and of course trying to disrupt the lines of energy supplies.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Jill, what do you make of what we heard from President Putin this morning and what we've been witnessing unfolding in Ukraine?

JILL DOUGHERTY, FORMER CNN MOSCOW BUREAU CHIEF: President Putin has a way of trying to justify everything that he does, in kind of legalistic terms.

So look at what he said, you know, that those Ukrainian terrorists, this is all in quotes, destroyed or damage, critically important civilian

infrastructure. Therefore, Putin says, I have the right to retaliate against critically important civilian infrastructure.

So you could look at the strikes that Putin carried out, as, you know, trying to hit some -- let's call the military targets but look at all the

damage to civilians. Look at the people who were killed in those strikes. Either its incompetence by the Russian military, because they don't know

how to apparently strike with a AMAT or I -- they don't care. And I think it could be a combination of both.

Because part of this right now, I believe, is to strike terror in the hearts of the Ukrainians. And if they happen to kill civilians, then that's

a way of terrorizing the civilian population. And in a sense, you could say that's some of the objective of what Vladimir Putin wants to do right now.

ANDERSON: Jill, over the weekend, the Russian defense minister appointed a new commander for what it calls it special military operation in Ukraine.

Who is he? And what do we know about him?

DOUGHERTY: Well, his name is Sergei Surovikin. And he is a general, he's been in the Russian military going back, you know, around the time of the

end of the Soviet Union. But I think you'd have to say he was best known for directing the forces in -- the Russian forces in Syria, to essentially

wipe from the map, the city of Aleppo, I'm sure you remember this very well, Becky. So, this is a man whose techniques are really, you know, flat

Earth.

Just kind of destroying places. And you can almost see that now, beginning as his strategy. He's hardly in his position. And we have these attacks all

over Ukraine. And if you look at this, so why is Putin doing this? I mean, again, I think Putin when you really come down to it, he does want to

terrorize Ukraine. But I think he also feels insecure at home. And he wants to prove to Russians that he is strong, that he is able to take the fight

to the enemy.

He's been at, you know, Putin has been under pressure from the extreme party of war of people who just say, you know, you're not doing enough, you

want to just take this war to the wall. And that seems to be what he is doing. But I don't think it's a sign of strength. I think it's a sign of

weakness.

ANDERSON: Jill Dougherty is in Washington for you. Formerly our Moscow bureau chief for years. Probably forgotten more about Russia than we will -

- most of us will ever know. Jill, thank you very much. Your analysis and insight is so important at this point.

Well, look, it all feels like a lot of bad news, isn't it? It's important that we report on all of this. Good to have a bit of light relief every so

often. So coming up. It was an historic weekend for the NBA.

And Abu Dhabi. Our first -- our interview on the first games in the Gulf with a Hall of Famer no lease -- no less is after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:41:20]

ANDERSON: ell, last week for the first time in its history, the NBA, the National Basketball Association played preseason games here in Abu Dhabi in

the UAE. The 2021 one is Milwaukee Bucks lost out to the Atlanta Hawks twice in front of sellout crowds at what is an 18,000 seat Etihad Arena. I

sat down with an NBA legend, Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal to discuss what this partnership means for the region to get his opinion on the weekend

star performer.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, AMERICAN FORMER PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER: It's historic because I know for a fact because I used to be a kid and loved

watching game. But when you watch it on T.V. at the house that everybody get a certain feeling. And you never think you can get a feeling better

than that. But you can't when you go into the arena. You know, I remember when I -- my dad always used to use the Dr. J motivation for me to do well

in school.

Hey man, you got C's if you bring this up to a B on November 8th which is in 15 days, and your next test is on the seventh. If you pass this test, I

take you to the Knick Game and Watch Dr. J. It's great. And then, I'm in a train and I pull out the Madison Square Garden. I'm like, oh my God, this

place is real. Right? And then you go in and you smell popcorn and you smell Pretzels and your dad get you a Pretzel and a soda and we walk into

the seats. And so I know the basketball is a global sport.

ANDERSON: This multiyear partnership isn't just about bringing big teams in. This is fantastic. And the atmosphere in the Etihad Arena, these past

couple of nights has been absolutely phenomenal. And what about Trae Young's performance?

O'NEAL: Yes. Last night, he took over the game at one point and that's what superstars do. You know, I always try to take pride that if you and your

daughter paid a lot of money to watch me play, I have to -- I have to give you a great performance.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Shaq in the house. You can watch out full interview in the next hour.

Well, most dominant Formula One driver in the world won his 12 race of the season on Sunday. But what Max Verstappen didn't know was that he also won

something much bigger. Amanda Davies with World Sport here to explain. Amanda?

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes, Becky. I don't think anybody has been in any doubt that Max Verstappen was going to claim a second world

championship this season because he has been so dominant. But I don't think anybody including the man himself thought that after a range shortened race

in Japan yesterday, yesterday was going to be the day even despite that race when traditionally historically, when a race has been shortened to

only 75 percent of its meant to be race distance.

Then the number of points awarded gets cut. So Max didn't think you'd got enough to take him over the line. But it turns out there had been a change

of rules. And there was the most bizarre awarding of a world championship in Formula One history.

ANDERSON: Wow.

DAVIES: You don't suspect he is minding too much though. You suspect the party was well underway in Japan come the end of the day and he gets his

chance to celebrate in Austin in a couple of weeks time. We've got more on that coming up in just a couple of minutes.

ANDERSON: Lovely. All right. That's World Sport up after the break. We are back with CONNECT THE WORLD after that.

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