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Voting Underway in Fifth Election in less than Four Years; Brazil's Supreme Court Orders all Roads Cleared Amid Protests; Iranian Media: 1,000 People Facing Public Trial Over Protests; PM Modi Tours Disaster Site, Visits Victim's Families; UAE and U.S. Sign Clean Energy Deal Worth $100 Billion; Taylor Swift sets Record with every song in the Top Ten. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired November 01, 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)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect your World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: This hour, three and a half years five elections and the highest voter turnout so far since 1999 that
is Israeli politics for you. I'm Becky Anderson. Hello and welcome back to "Connect the World".
Just five hours left for Israelis to choose their new government or at least try to. The stakes potentially huge for the country and the entire
Middle East, can the centrist government and Prime Minister Yair Lapid remain in control? Or will voters take a hard right turn restoring Former
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to office?
Well no matter what happens, it's important to point out that every Israeli government in the country's history has been a coalition with lesser
parties poised to tip the scales of power. Hadas Gold back with us this hour from Jerusalem. You have been out all day at the booths where people
have been polling, just describe what you've been seeing Hadas?
HADAS GOLD, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean, Election Day in Israel, it's a day off, there's no school. So you see families coming out
and lots of people coming out. And as you can see in the street leading up to the school where this polling station is, there are posters up and there
are booths set up for the different parties trying to convince people to make a last minute change in their vote try to convince people to vote for
their candidate instead.
And just a few hours ago actually, this morning, a Former Prime Minister now Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu cast his ballot at this school at
this polling station. And it was the first time in 13 years that Benjamin Netanyahu cast his ballot, not as sitting Prime Minister and as opposition
leader and he's hoping that today's vote will put him back in power.
But what's also at stake is not just a referendum on Netanyahu, who by the way, is still facing an ongoing corruption trial. But it's also a question
about the future of Israeli Government will and whether it will take that hard right turn because one of the parties that Benjamin Netanyahu will
likely need to rely on to form a governing coalition while it's a far right extremist party.
One of their leaders once convicted for inciting racism against Arabs. I asked Benjamin Netanyahu about that about the international concern that a
government under him the next government could potentially be a far right government take a listen to his response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, FORMER ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: We don't want a government with the Muslim Brotherhood, who support terrorists and deny the
existence of Israel and are pretty hostile to the United States. So that's what we're going to bring.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLD: And that allegation is referring to the first Arab party to have ever sat in an Israeli coalition that happened last year that helped oust
Benjamin Netanyahu for power. But now the question is what will happen tonight throughout the rest of the day throughout the rest of the vote, as
you noted, turnout has been remarkably high, the highest since 1999.
Polls will close in about six here and about five hours at 10 pm local. We'll get some exit polls of results to get us an idea of where things
stand. But of course, the final vote will not be in for a few more days, Becky.
ANDERSON: What are voters has been telling you? We know that the numbers are high? What do people been saying?
GOLD: Well, first of all, people are tired of having to go back to the ballot over and over again. There are some kids in their 20s who have voted
more often than most people can expect to vote until they get into their 40s but still at the end of the day, despite the fact that this is the
fifth election in three and a half years.
A lot of voters still see this as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu whether they want him in power or whether they don't want him in power.
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GOLD (voice over): By now, Israelis are experts at voting never before in the country's history have Israelis gone to the polls so often in such a
short period. The fifth round and just over three years, as no stable government has managed to take hold.
Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping to make a comeback. While the current caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid hopes to stay in
place. We had a Jerusalem's - market to see what the voters really care about. Security in the Israeli Palestinian conflict is top of mind for many
voters as 2022 has seen some of the deadliest levels of violence in years.
[11:05:00]
EFRAT HALPER, VOTER: The first issue is the occupation because it's just it's everywhere. And it's - it affects everything, everything, the
situation in Gaza, the violence in the West Bank, the militarization of the society.
DAIVD ZIGFRIED, VOTER: First of all, we need 50,000 more police and border guards and need to let them operate freely.
GOLD (voice over): Other side of the soaring cost of living?
SHAI SHOSHANI, VOTER: I want someone who will look after the younger generation that we can get a house to live in and security, which is the
most important thing in the country.
AVRAHAM LEVY, VOTER: I am thinking about security. I'm thinking of a good economy, good education.
GOLD (voice over): But like the previous four elections, many votes rests on one question, do you want Netanyahu back or not?
HALPER: I don't want BB to be a Prime Minister, so I hope he won't get in. So that's also on my mind.
SHOSHANI: I would be very happy if BB is elected. BB is the best for us. With BB the Messiah will come.
GOLD (on camera): Many Israeli voters here in the market and across the country so that they are exhausted by the repeat election. But what's
different in this round and what's at stake is not just the return of Benjamin Netanyahu, but the possibility that the far right politicians will
have power.
GOLD (voice over): Any coalition that would bring Netanyahu back to power will likely need to rely on the growing right wing religious Zionism Jewish
power party. Party led by the extremist Itamar Ben Revere once convicted for inciting racism and supporting terrorism an idea that either delights
or terrifies the voters in the market.
ELIYAHU ZOHAR, VOTER: He's a Zionist and the Arabs will know exactly where they stand with him? They are guests here and we are the owners of this
land and not them.
HAIM HAVLI, VOTER: He says and he does. He will do anything to show who's the boss?
HALPER: Very scary, because I think he is disaster even more so than now.
YOSSI MIZRAHI, VOTER: We think is very bad for the country. Because he going to bring us - the last 20, 30 years with the Intifada and the
problems with Arabs. We want to live like this and it will be very, very difficult with--
GOLD (voice over): A veritable market views as Israelis wait to see whether the fifth time is the charm.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GOLD: And while some people may think there had been voter fatigue after five times in three and a half years going to the polls, but as we're
seeing from those turnout numbers that we've been getting so far throughout the day, highest number since 1999.
And of course, the turnout who came out to vote will really help determine whether that helps get Benjamin Netanyahu over that 61 seat marker that he
needs in order to have a ruling coalition government. Will it be the tens of thousands of Likud voters that Benjamin Netanyahu's party believes
stayed home last year?
Or will it be the Arab citizens who will come out and help change the factor especially when it comes to some of the smaller parties that could
help prevent Benjamin Netanyahu from coming back into power? Becky.
ANDERSON: Hadas Gold on the story. Hadas thank you and viewers do watch our live coverage of the election results in Israel as the polls close later 8
pm London time 10 pm in Tel Aviv midnight here in Abu Dhabi, and you can work out the times wherever you are watching in the world that is special
live coverage as the Israeli polls close here on CNN.
Well, now to the fallout from Brazil's presidential election, Federal Police working under Supreme Court orders to disperse President Jair
Bolsonaro's supporters and free up the Highway. Sao Paulo's Governor telling officers to use force if needed. The protesters have been blocking
roads nationwide since Mr. Bolsonaro's narrow loss in Sunday's presidential runoff.
The disruption to daily life being called crimes against a democratic institution, Mr. Bolsonaro has yet to concede defeat or even spoken
publicly since the results were announced. So we're waiting to see if he addresses the nation today.
Right now it is unclear if he will and if he does what he might say? CNN's Paula Newton joins us now live from Sao Paulo. And describe what you've
been seeing and what you are hearing with regard these protesters and any potential standoff with authorities at this point?
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What we've seen is that silence on the part of Bolsonaro really being weaponized on the streets, many different
cities and towns now involved in this throughout Brazil. And Becky despite the fact that Bolsonaro allies, officials governors who've come out and
said look; we will clear the streets with force.
Those protesters remain on many of the streets and highways.
[11:10:00]
NEWTON: I want you to take a look at some video that we're getting in and not too far from us here in Sao Paulo where military police against state
military police were ordered to intervene and try and get those protesters off the roads and stop their blockades.
Becky, I have to tell you that when we spoke to state police, yesterday evening, we were at a one of the protests that was leading to the main
entrance to the airport. And they told us that look, they were reluctant to intervene. Why it's because of the very pictures that you see here.
They did not want a confrontation. They did not want the situation to escalate. But in the last half day or so here in Brazil, this is called a
cause severe disruption, not the least to the airport where they have had canceled flights where they have had passengers delayed actually taking
their luggage and having to walk to the airport.
But that is just emblematic of a lot of the disruption throughout Brazil and we are talking about supply chains also being interrupted in some of
the industrial heartland and some of the farming heartland throughout Brazil.
At issue here, though, Becky is what is actually going to get these protesters off the streets peacefully? I want you to hear now from a couple
of protesters that we spoke to yesterday evening.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have a president that won at the ballot box, and they defeated the ballot boxes and put the other candidate ahead. And we're
against that. Even if Bolsonaro accepts the people will not accept it because the power comes from the people the people were the ones who put
Bolsonaro there and we're the ones who would remove them as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
NEWTON: Bolsonaro has worked very hard in the last few months to undermine the results of this election no matter how it turned out. If he lost he
said it would be because the results were fraudulent. His silence right now is unfortunately adding fuel to what has been a very combustible situation
in Brazil.
This is a much divided electorate. The results were very, very narrow in terms of the margin less than 1 percent. In the meantime, you have Lula Da
Silva the President-Elect is trying to carry on with a peaceful transition. But he like everyone else in Brazil, and around the world wondering what
Bolsonaro's next move might be Becky?
ANDERSON: And just to be clear, as we keep an eye on these images coming into CNN from not very far away from where you are in Sao Paulo, as you've
been reporting. What we are seeing here is a standoff between military police and truckers who've been holding up this highway - truckers one of
the groups that on the whole has been supportive of incumbent Jair Bolsonaro why?
NEWTON: So to be clear, the many truckers support the protest, but we saw protesters from all walks of life just spontaneously, if you can imagine
Becky, walking in the middle of a highway some of the trucks that you see there are trucks that want to get on their way but have just been halted.
They're blocked by traffic as well. There is this constituency, though that Bolsonaro has cultivated throughout the country of people here who want the
government off their backs. At the end of the day they look to Bolsonaro really as their figurehead for what they believe is too much government
intervention in their lives at the heart of this issue. We heard a lot of that from protesters, and we will continue to hear it.
And as we have said before, Becky, this is a much divided Brazil much different from the kind of Brazil that Lula ruled in two terms when he was
previously in office. And these people feel emboldened. They feel empowered to take to the streets because they feel they can enforce what they believe
is the election result of Bolsonaro won and those they can do that with so called people power.
What is important to point out here is that a Bolsonaro's allies, whether it was local elections or state governors, senators, Congress people, they
were very successful through these elections, Becky, and in protesting if he decides to say that somehow the presidential election results were
fraudulent.
He is undermining his own allies who now have a lot of control over a lot of local governments and state governments in this country. Not to mention,
you know, congressmen or senators.
And for that reason, again, it will be interesting to see how Bolsonaro proceeds given that they are his allies who are now ordering military
police into the streets and saying these protests must wrap and we will use force and severe fines to get these people off the streets.
ANDERSON: OK, we will continue to monitor these images we will get back to you. If it looks as if things are getting worse and says you and I speak
I'm not sure that you can see these images on a monitor where you are. But these military police as you've been describing.
[11:15:00]
ANDERSON: Now raising their shields and moving towards protesters who I think we could describe as being around sort of 150 maybe 200 meters away.
Is that concern? Or just how concerned are people? Because I guess there as you've been reporting, there is concern. How concerned are people that Jair
Bolsonaro and what he says in this speech, potentially later on today, could create real mayhem here?
NEWTON: Perhaps what's right now more fear - they're more fearful of is his silence or any ambiguity if he does say anything? It's fair to say that
given how long this has taken the Bolsonaro is really scrutinizing what he can say.
Again, he cannot impugn the results of an election that officials here have said was fair was transparent was credible. At the same time for him less
said the better we did have a tweet from one of his sons that was very ambiguous basically, he thanked his father supporters and said that we will
continue on the good of the country.
What does that even mean? That's what we're waiting for clarity. And without being too alarmist here look, the issue was always would Bolsonaro
if he lost concede actually confirm a peaceful transition of power. We still continue to wait to see if Bolsonaro will actually do that.
ANDERSON: Thank you, Paula. Keeping an eye on what's going on in Brazil Paula Newton there in Sao Paulo. Just ahead Iran boosts its support for
Moscow's war in Ukraine and the big ways Russian forces pound the frontlines with rocket attacks. Team coverage is up next.
Plus, Iran says it is holding thousand trials for people charged with crimes related to anti-government protests more on that after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back! I am Becky Anderson and you're watching "Connect the World". Some new and chilling developments in Russia's unprovoked war
against Ukraine, western officials tell us that Iran plans to send Moscow advanced guided missiles. Tehran has already supplied deadly drones but
this new expected shipment would mark a significant escalation in Iranian support for the Kremlin.
[11:20:00]
ANDERSON: Well, on top of this tensions arising over the future of the black sea grain deal, Russia claiming the corridor which allows the safe
passage of grain and oil seeds is suspended.
Yet despite Kremlin objections, the UN says more grain ships are leaving Ukrainian ports. So we've got team coverage for you. CNN's Kylie Atwood is
at the U.S. State Department, CNN's Salma Abdelaziz is live in Kyiv and Kylie, let's start with you. What have your sources been telling you about
these Iranian shipments of arms to Russia?
KYLIE ATWOOD, CNN U.S. SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: yes, so what these sources are saying is that Iran is preparing soon to send a new shipment of about
thousand weapons from Iran to Russia. And that they would include these attack drones that we have already seen Iran sent to Russia, but they would
also include these advanced precision guided missiles.
And that is significant, because that would be an uptick in Iranian support for Russia; we haven't seen them send those kinds of weapons to Russia yet.
And we know that U.S. officials and western officials have been concerned about the possibility of Iran continuing to provide the support,
particularly this kind of advanced weaponry, because it could give Russia a significant advantage on the battlefield.
They are right now, clearly not doing extremely well with their own weaponry and the resources that they have. So they're turning to Iran, if
Iran is able to boost what they're able to do on the battlefield that could be deadly for the Ukrainians. Now, these drones that we have already seen
have been really deadly in Ukraine.
So this advanced weaponry is highly concerning when it comes to what the United States is saying. They are saying that they're watching for Iran to
potentially provide more weapons to Russia. And the Secretary of State saying just last week, that the United States is doing everything that they
can to try and essentially up end these efforts, these networks from being able to allow these weapons to go from Iran to Russia, essentially, by
doing things like going after the shippers or the manufacturers of these weapons.
But it's still an open question as to if the United States could actually prevent a shipment like this from going ahead, because our sources tell us
that these preparations are underway right now. Becky.
ANDERSON: Let me get to the ground. Thank you, Kylie to the ground where Salma is standing by in the Ukrainian capital. These Iranian drones have
played a significant role in Russia's attacks. How will this news of further shipments of arms including drones potentially, but other missiles
be received where you are?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's a seriously worrying development, Becky, in the recent weeks; we've seen Russia step up its attacks on
civilians across Ukraine. At times, using these Shahed drones, these Iranian made drones that really have terrorized local populations,
including here in Kyiv.
A few weeks ago, among the victims of one of those Shahed drones was a pregnant woman and her husband, they were sitting at home in their
apartment. And why these drones are of such concern is, they have loitering munitions, they are self-detonating, they are hard to detect, and they
absolutely send people reeling in fear.
So could these be used to escalate, ramp up this attack against civilians. And then of course, we have to bring up those precision weapons. We know
from western officials that Russia stockpile of weapons has been severely depleted since the start of the conflict, particularly, its precision
weapons.
And Russia has been using what little weaponry does have to target civilian infrastructure, to target the power grid, to cut off water supplies. So
that could again, increase those attacks. And then you have to talk, of course, about the battlefield.
There we know that Russia of course, has been suffering major losses, it's running out of morale, it's running out of troops, it's running out of
weapons. So this could potentially give a boost. And you have to remember, U.S. officials are saying that Iran is not only providing these weapons at
times, it's actually training Russian troops on the ground in occupied Crimea as to how to use these weapons. So there's more there.
But then, again, just the bigger picture here, Becky, the fact that Russia would turn to Iran at this point in the conflict to obtain more weapons. I
think that tells you a lot about just how tight of a spot the Kremlin is in.
ANDERSON: Salma and Kylie, thank you very much indeed. Well, public trials are being held in Iran for about 1000 alleged anti-government protesters
that is according to an Iranian media trials for some of those indicted began last week in Tehran province. Among those accused is dissident
rapper, Toomaj Salehi known for his lyrics against the Islamic republic. State media outlet reports that he was arrested on Sunday for encouraging
the protests.
[11:25:00]
ANDERSON: And anti-government demonstrations, as you will be well aware have swept through Iran for more than six weeks now following the death of
22 year old Mahsa Amini in police custody. Well, despite a stark warning from the Head of Iran's Islamic revolutionary guard that Guard Corp,
protests continued today at several Iranian universities.
Well, CNN's Jomana Karadsheh joining me now from Istanbul in Turkey. And thousand trials to be held in public, what more do we know? Do we know who
is involved? What they will be charged with at this point?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, we are really trying to get more information. But as you know, it's very difficult for us to report on
what is happening on the ground in Iran with the restrictions, the internet restrictions that are in place to try and communicate with people.
So really when it comes to these trials, these indictments were relying on Iranian state media and the information they have released over the past
couple of days quoting judicial authorities in the country.
They say that more than thousand people have so far been indicted for taking part in these protests over the past month that includes hundreds in
Tehran province, as well as other parts of the country. And trials began over the weekend and are continuing in revolutionary courts.
These are public trials, according to state media, and according to judicial authorities. One official saying that there will be speedy trials
that will take place, some of those standing trial will be facing, some very serious charges, including attempts to overthrow the regime, the
killing of members of the security forces attempting to kill members of the security forces working with foreign entities and attacking and destroying
public property.
So the expectation is that a number of them we don't know how many at this point will be facing the death penalty. And of course, this is happening in
a country where human rights organizations for years have been voicing their concerns about the judicial process in the country, a flawed judicial
process according to many human rights organizations.
And the fear is, Becky that the authorities there will be trying to use these trials to deter people from taking part in protests that they will be
trying to make an example of those who are on trial right now. But as we have seen over the past seven weeks, everything that the government has so
far used has failed to crush these protests that have now morphed into this national uprising, Becky.
ANDERSON: Jomana Karadsheh continues to cover this story. Jomana, thank you! Well, its Seoul mourns those killed in a Halloween tragedy, new
details about when police knew and overcrowded street could lead to disaster, live report from Seoul is ahead. And two days after a deadly
bridge collapse in India, we are hearing heartbreaking accounts from some of the victim's families.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: India's prime minister visited the site of a deadly bridge collapse earlier today. Narendra Modi surveyed search efforts there, met
with some of the victim's families. He also called for a detailed inquiry into the cause of the accident.
Now the newly renovated bridge collapsed on Sunday killing more than 130 people including 30 children. CNN's Vedika Sud is monitoring all of this
for us. She is in New Delhi, and she joins us now live Vedika.
VEDIKA SUD, CNN REPORTER: Becky, just imagine we do know that more than 30 people have died in this mishap, more bodies are still being recovered
according to the rescue officials. This tragedy is still unfolding Becky, it's been more than 48 hours since the bridge collapse in the western part
of India.
We're talking about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state, the state of Gujarat. You did mention that he did visit the area today; he is
touring Gujarat, which is up for elections next month. And he did meet with the injured he met with the rescue officials. And he says he's been by
what's happened.
Narendra Modi has also announced a compensation package for those who have been killed for the families of those who have been killed and injured in
this mishap. But all eyes have now turned to the company that was given the contract to maintain this bridge.
Before I tell you more about that, here's a report of how the families have reacted, how they still can't believe that they've lost their loved ones to
a tragedy which they believe could have been avoided.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SUD (voice over): And that's how it came crashing down, captured on security camera a suspension bridge collapsing with at least 200 people on
it, sending them plunging into the river in a town in western India, many clinging to the bridges safety net crying out for help.
ASHWIN MEHRA, SURVIVOR: Death was in front of us, by god's grace, we could hold the safety net and did not let our grips go loose and came out safely.
SUD (voice over): But not all survived, about 20 kilometers from the accident site women from Kanpur village console Nikita, she's lost her
husband and 11 family members.
NIKITA, VICTIM'S WIFE: My husband never goes without me. He never goes anywhere without telling me.
SUD (voice over): The colonial era bridge, a popular local tourist spot was reopened recently after renovation. Videos from Sunday evening show crowd
on the swing bridge before the cables snapped. Rescue workers scrambled to pull victims from the river, many children and women among the dead.
V.V.N. PRASANNA KUMAR, COMMANDANT, INDIAN NATIONAL DISASTER RESPONSE FORCE: It is suspected that some bodies may be there on the floor of the river.
SUD (voice over): The focus is now on a private company contracted to maintain the bridge. Criminal cases have been filed against junior
employees. The company has not responded to requests for comment by CNN. Gujarat is Indian Prime Minister Modi's home state; he's announced cash
compensation to families of victims. But many want accountability.
AZMERI ABEDA, VICTIM'S RELATIVE: It's the poor who have to pay the price. Now, what will the government do? They will give them compensation of 2000
to $5,000. But that money will not bring back the dead husband or the daughter or the son, will it?
SUD (voice over): It took 20 cents to walk on this bridge. But it's cost these families, their loved ones.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SUD: Becky, as I speak to you, there's so many families that are still standing at the banks of that river hoping that they find the loved ones
who are still missing. There's no account of those missing. And then there are some who are still waiting for answers. Becky.
ANDERSON: So sad, Vedika, thank you. Well, a shocking grief in South Korea along with anger and frustration at the lack of response to Saturday's
street crush there.
[11:35:00]
ANDERSON: Now new police records show that authorities were warned about a possible crush four hours before the deadly incident. At least 156 people
were killed when Halloween party goers were trapped in a massive crowd surge in Seoul. Meanwhile, grieving families there collecting the
belongings of their loved ones you arranged at a gym.
Well, the prime minister is acknowledging that lack of institutional knowledge and crowd considerations were partly to blame. The police chief
also admits that mistakes were made. Paula Hancocks reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): How does a night of celebration turn into this, too many people in too cramped in area.
Eyewitnesses claim a lack of police and no crowd control. Officials say many police were deployed elsewhere in the city were expected protests,
admitting they have no guidelines for policing this kind of crowd without an organizer.
Park Chang-Ki is a parking attendant who was working across the road. He says the crowds were significant by 4 p.m. Saturday. By 7 p.m. people were
spilling into the street.
PARK CHANG-KI, ITAEWON PARKING ATTENDANT: I believe it was preventable, local officials, police and firemen checked out the area the day before,
they should have known how many people would come out.
HANCOCKS (on camera): This is the heart of Itaewon and right here is the alleyway which sloped downwards towards the main road where many people
lost their lives. It's around four meters wide, that's 13 feet. It has the wall of a hotel on one side and shops on the other side.
Now one first responder said when she arrived here, all she could see was up to 10 rows of faces; she couldn't see any legs, meaning that victims
were piled on top of each other. Now this back alley here, this is also filled with bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
We saw from images just how crammed it was. In fact, we saw one man trying to scale the outside of a building to try and escape the crush. And down
here you have the main road four lanes which just a couple of weeks ago for a festival were close to traffic.
It wasn't close to traffic on Saturday, meaning people were condensed more in this area, 20 meters away from the opening of that alleyway is the exit
of a subway which remained open, allowing people to continue arriving in the area. This video taken just after 9 p.m. shows the density of the crowd
in a narrow alleyway.
A photo half an hour later shows more people still arriving in the area by subway. So what are investigators looking for?
KEITH STILL, CROWD SAFETY ANALYST: It's always a question of starting off with the basic geometry. Looking at the crowd flow, was it reasonably
foreseeable that this could exceed safe limits? If it's reasonably foreseeable, it's predictable, and hence it's preventable.
HANCOCKS (voice over): The police chief apologize Tuesday saying the response to the emergency calls was inadequate. The police deployed just
137 officers to deal with the crowd that may have topped 100,000, the majority tasked with crime prevention, not crowd control. Paula Hancocks,
CNN Seoul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well CNN's Will Ripley joining us now from Seoul and you are at a memorial site for victims, Will.
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I am Becky. And you know, as you heard in Paula's piece there, you can see the police officers
are out here now just down the block there. That's the alley where the majority of the people died. This is the memorial here.
It just continues to grow all of these white chrysanthemums, which are the flowers that people use to mourn the dead here in Asia. You have notes you
have, you have photos, you have candles, you have bottles of alcohol, all of the traditional trappings of a memorial.
And yet you also have people out here and people have been coming here expressing their anger and their frustration with how this was handled by
the police because the police station, I can see the sign just right there across the street. This is Dr. Reagan Samgwa, who actually came here to
drop by some flower.
You were here I'm going to stand close to you, because I have my mic to hear your audio. Tell me what you saw before the deadly crash.
REAGAN SAMGWA, WITNESS: I've been living here for more than 10 years. I'm nearby. Its five minutes from my house. Then every time when there is a
Halloween party, when there is an event is not only Halloween, they usually blood the word.
RIPLEY: They didn't do that this time.
SAMGWA: Yes. But for this time, they didn't do that.
RIPLEY: So did you see what happened? I mean--
SAMGWA: Yes, I saw, I saw that. I was even one hour before the event happened. Oh my god, this is a disaster, something can happen here.
RIPLEY: And people were calling that police station right there. There were 11--
SAMGWA: No police, no anyone here.
RIPLEY: So how do you feel now here watching this?
SAMGWA: I need to leave this place, I was the other side, then something happened.
[11:40:00]
RIPLEY: Yes.
SAMGWA: Bodies. I'm weakness. I saw two girls were just behind. There are just in front of me.
RIPLEY: Yes.
SAMGWA: I saw them, they were collecting they became dead bodies, honestly.
RIPLEY: You're watching - die in front of you.
SAMGWA: Yes.
RIPLEY: I'm so sorry.
SAMGWA: I'm telling you, I tried in to do CPR and whatever. It didn't work.
RIPLEY: None of the people that they did CPR and were able to make it, yes.
SAMGWA: I am telling you, before the police came and wherever people voluntary people came, just try to help people in danger or something like
that.
RIPLEY: Tell me, tell me why you're here now; what are you doing here now?
SAMGWA: I came just you know, yesterday, I tend to drop a flower because they give us five days. I came to drop my second flowers tonight because
it's in my area.
RIPLEY: It's one of those, one of those things you saw, you're not going to be able to get out you --.
SAMGWA: I'm traumatized. I'm traumatized right away, to be honest. I'm really traumatized.
RIPLEY: And you and so many other people were out here.
SAMGWA: Yes, exactly. A lot of you have been traumatized saying that like dead bodies, people are putting plastic bag and whatever. Oh my god.
RIPLEY: It's unthinkable. Dr. Samgwa, thank you, thanks for talking.
SAMGWA: Thank you.
RIPLEY: Yes.
SAMGWA: Thank you very much.
RIPLEY: I mean the things he's saying we hear over and over and over again, people have been out here. Some people come here, Becky, they stand here at
this memorial. And they just stand and start screaming. Screaming why didn't the government do more? Why didn't the police do more?
You have a police station right there. You have, you had 11 calls Becky, 11 phone calls. People you could hear screaming and groaning in the backdrop
in the background on these emergency calls. And nothing was done in time.
ANDERSON: Will Ripley is in Seoul in South Korea. Will, thank you. We're going to take a short break at this point. I'm Becky Anderson. You're
watching "Connect the World", stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, the UAE where we are and the United States are working to grow clean energy investments to the tune of $100 billion. U.S. Chief
Energy Envoy Amos Hochstein and the UAE Climate Envoy Sultan Al Jaber signed the framework deal hours ago here in Abu Dhabi.
Now this aims to fund and deliver 100 gigawatts of clean energy globally by 2035. A statement from the White House said both countries intend to
"Vigorously pursue clean energy in emerging economies". Well, this one of the major headlines coming from what is the ADIPEC Energy Conference
happening this week, a gathering of global stakeholders not just across the oil and gas industry, but these days across the energy industry as a whole.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: And that includes energy diversification first and foremost. Robin Mills is the Head of the consulting firm, Qamar Energy closely
tracking developments here in the gulf and beyond. And he's here with me to discuss some of this.
Let's start with this deal, the White House describing this as a major achievement for President Joe Biden's climate agenda. Just explain the
significance of today's announcement.
ROBIN MILLS, CEO, QAMAR ENERGY: Well, there's a few important parts of it, you know, it's a big announcement, as you said 100 gigawatts and an
estimated bill of $100 billion. So you know serious money and serious amounts of energy to be delivered. It focuses on developing countries.
There's been a lot of criticism that climate finance is not targeting developing countries, it's not being delivered to them. And at the same
time, fossil fuel investment to developing countries is cut off. Therefore, they need to be given a fair alternative.
And also, I think the four sectors that are focused on you know, so there's one part of it's about cleaning up traditional energy cleaning up the
hydrocarbon production using a cleaner way, another part about other forms of clean energy that are more familiar in a renewable energy.
But another part about nuclear power, which I find pretty, pretty interesting that the U.S. Administration has put that as a key part of
this.
ANDERSON: And I think it's important to underscore just the strategic partnership that the U.S. has chosen to have with the UAE. Just explain to
our viewers, how this country has provided some sort of early mover or had some early mover advantages that is, when it comes to energy
diversification.
MILLS: Well, you know, the UAE, a massive oil and gas exporter, you know, critical member of OPEC, and yet it was also the first country in the
region to set a net zero carbon target, it hosts mass star clean energy vehicle which was established back in 2006.
It hosts the international renewable energy agency, it has the world's largest single site solar power project, it has a very successful civil
nuclear power project. So it's been an early movement in a whole set of clean energy technologies.
ANDERSON: And will host the COP28 here, of course, next year. For years, the strategic relationship between these two countries has been based on
security. And that relationship has certainly faced some challenges, recently. Does the fact that the U.S. has chosen the UAE to build this
enormous partnership within clean energy?
Do you think signal a new iteration in that relationship away from sort of the oil and security paradigm that we've seen this relationship and others
around the gulf through in the past into a new era posts oil?
MILLS: I think the UAE, you know, has already played that wrong for quite a while. But it's interesting that the U.S. in particular has kind of moved
beyond that. So the UAE was already a very active invest in renewables, including in the UK, in other developed markets, as well as developing
countries.
So it's already been kind of internationalizing that push, and it has relations, of course, you know, with various countries, the UK being one of
those. But to put it, you know, serious money behind initiative with the U.S., I think, absolutely is a sign that how do we mobilize the vast
amounts of capital that are required for developing countries, you know, without the U.S. having to pony up for everything?
ANDERSON: Yes, let's be quite clear about this. We are just 10 days out from the next cop, which is served to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.
And climate financing will be a very big talker there. The UAE has made energy diversification a key pillar of its economic strategy and a post all
future.
The country aims to have 50 percent of its energy mix from clean sources by 2050. Given current oil demand, though, the UAE's Energy Minister is
warning about divesting from hydrocarbons too quickly, have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SUHAIL AL MAZROUEI, UAE ENERGY MINISTER: We're not the only producers in the world; we're producing less than 50 percent of what is produced. And
there are others who need to do also their part in investing, and encouraging investments, as we need it more than ever, to complement the
role of renewable energy that the world is facing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So he's talking here about, you know, ensuring that there is enough investment and he is pointing the finger at other countries outside
of OPEC, investment in your oil and refinery business, as well as this sort of twin track for clean energy. Does he have a point here?
MILLS: Well, look, I think the world as you know, and we've seen this very clearly this year, you know, but the warnings were there before and move
down a track of reducing investment in traditional energy, oil and gas in particular, which is understand for climate reasons, but not replacing
there was sufficient investment in clean energy and end users.
So if you still have cars that are running on oil, and you haven't replaced them electric vehicles, you know, and yet you lack sufficient oil
production, you have a problem and the same for natural gas. So absolutely, there has to be you know this bit of a strong focus of the minister and
others from the UAE that this investment has to continue, but in a cleaner way.
[11:50:00]
ANDERSON: Amos Hochstein, the Biden's top Energy Envoy is in Abu Dhabi. He was at the ADIPEC event and was there to sign this deal. He said that
energy prices must be priced in a way allowing for economic growth. What do you expect to see so far as an oil, gas, et cetera, going forward at this
point?
MILLS: Well, I think you know, we're in a funny situation there. You know, oil prices are a little bit high, maybe they're not excessively high by
historic standards, natural gas prices are very, very high obviously because of the situation with Russia.
So that is indeed a big problem how do you replace that amount of gases that's been lost, but there is this concern. We heard this from the Indian
Minister earlier as well, you know, some countries that simply cannot afford to pay these energy prices, their economies will slow down that will
hit demand or they will turn to alternatives, you know, quicker than they otherwise would have done. And I think Amos Hochstein was hitting the same,
the same points on that.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, sir, always a pleasure.
MILLS: Thank you.
ANDERSON: Thank you very much indeed, your analysis and insight is really important. Up next on "Connect the World" it may sound like a broken
record, but Taylor Swift is broken another record, the story of her dominance over the top 10 after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Taylor Swift who doesn't just have a single in the top 10, she's got all 10. Songs from her new midnight's album currently hold every single
spot in the billboard top 10. No artist has ever had all 10 to themselves. And that feat gives her 40, 40 top 10 hits in her career, the most of any
female artists in history surpassing Madonna who has 38. CNN's Entertainment Reporter Chloe Melas is joining us now.
This is remarkable. And it is the reason we are talking about it, because this is new and different. And therefore this makes news Chloe.
CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: It does make news, but it's just comes as no surprise because as somebody who's covered entertainment for
nearly two decades, meaning myself, I've never seen anybody work as hard as Taylor Swift. Another album and like you said, holding the top 10 spots on
the billboard list. I mean, that is just unbelievable.
But let me tell you a little bit more about her album, Midnight. So debuting number one in 14 countries and then she is the only artist to have
five albums debut with over 1 million units sold in their first week in U.S. Nielsen history.
And so that is only behind Adele's 25 for the biggest debut by a female artist in billboard history. So it's just unbelievable. Just the success
and I think it just also goes to show you her devoted fan base. I mean, you know, it's right up there. Like you said with Madonna, Adele, Beyonce, when
music comes out from these female artists, those fans they are just hungry for it.
And as you can see, she's also an incredibly talented not just, you know, musician and singer and artists on stage, she writes her own music too. So
she is just a multi-hyphenate star.
[11:55:00]
ANDERSON: And she has fans all over the world. Many of you may be watching this show. So what do we know about touring at this stage?
MELAS: Well, just moments ago, Taylor Swift announced a tour. It is called the era's tour, it's going to kick off this spring, I'm looking down
because it literally was just announced. She just announced it on social media.
She says it's called the era's tour, because she's going to take it to the past, and bring it to the present. So we're going to go through all of her
heads, and she's going to be kicking it off this spring in the U.S. And so she hasn't announced international dates just yet. But that will be
happening.
But yes, she's really excited about it and she has a whole slew of artists that are going to be going on tour with her, including paramour. So I'm
really excited about that.
ANDERSON: Well--
MELAS: She's busy. She is a busy woman, makes me tired, just explaining it. I'm exhausted.
ANDERSON: Chloe, always a pleasure. Thank you.
MELAS: Thank you.
ANDERSON: And thank you for joining us, wherever you are watching in the world. "Inside Politics" with John King is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:00]
END
