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Europe Holds Emergency Summit on Ukraine as U.S.-Russia Talks Set for Tuesday in Saudi Arabia; European Leaders Gather for Emergency Summit on Ukraine; Trump's "Saving the Country" Post Sparks Outcry by Critics; Xi Shows Support for Private Sector Battered by Regulation; At Least 10 People Killed in Powerful Winter Storm in U.S. Aired 9-9:45a ET

Aired February 17, 2025 - 09:00   ET

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

[09:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Well, this is the scene in Paris this hour as European leaders gather for emergency talks over Ukraine

and continental security, as President Donald Trump pushes for a deal with Moscow, is Europe being left out in the cold. It's 03:00 p.m. in Paris.

It's 06:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi, where Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is on the ground and making it clear, Kyiv will not accept any

agreement made without its involvement. While in neighboring Saudi Arabia, this hour, top U.S. and Russian officials are meeting to prepare for

negotiations over Russia's war in Ukraine.

Ukraine not at that table president -- I'm Becky Anderson. You're watching "Connect the World". All of this in just a moment. I do, though, want to

get you an update on the breaking news CNN is following this hour. The health of Pope Francis, officials have released a new diagnosis of the

Pontiff's condition.

Earlier saying he has poly microbial infection of his respiratory tract. The Vatican says new lab tests indicate a complex clinical situation. CNN's

Vatican Correspondent Christopher Lamb is outside the hospital in Rome and filed this report.

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: We're now into the fourth day of the pope's hospital visit for treatment of this respiratory tract

infection, the poly microbial infection, essentially means there are different factors driving what is making Francis unwell, but the Vatican

not saying exactly what those are.

The 88-year-old pope admitted to hospital on Friday after it was clear he was suffering from respiratory problems that was making it very difficult

for him to speak. I actually saw the pope on Friday morning before he was hospitalized, and it was clear then he was struggling to speak for long

periods because of these breathing difficulties.

The pope is vulnerable to respiratory infections because he lost part of his right lung as a young man. Now, the Vatican have not given a timetable

for how long the pope is going to stay in hospital. However, they have said that the Wednesday general audience that the pope holds each week will be

canceled this coming week.

And we simply don't know how much longer Francis needs to be in hospital. The spokesman for the Vatican, Matteo Bruni, did say today that the pope

had a good night last night, that he read the newspapers, that he ate breakfast, but clearly this is a serious infection that the pope is

grappling with, and we are expecting a further update from the Vatican later today.

ANDERSON: Right. That's Christopher Lamb reporting slightly earlier. OK, let's get on with our other headline today, and that is the war in Ukraine

in sharp focus, not only in Europe, but right here in the Middle East and very specifically in the Gulf region.

U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio arrived in Saudi Arabia a short time ago, where CNN is told top U.S. and Russian officials are preparing to hold

critical talks Tuesday on how to end the near three-year conflict. A Saudi official tells CNN the kingdom will play a mediation role.

Meantime, Ukraine's President on a state visit right here in neighboring Abu Dhabi. Earlier, Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters that Ukraine will

not honor any agreements made without its input. Have a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE: Ukraine will not participate. Ukraine knew nothing about them. Ukraine perceives any negotiations about

Ukraine without Ukraine, as those with no results. We cannot recognize anything or any agreements about us, without us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: And Ukraine dominating discussions away from here as well. EU Leaders holding an emergency meeting in Paris today, as talks in Riyadh

underscore fears that Europe will be frozen out of any negotiations. The U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer says it's a quote once in a generation

moment for security, very specifically national security on Sunday.

[09:05:00]

He said he is willing to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine if necessary to enforce any peace deal. Well, there is an awful lot to break

down. Mina Al-Oraibi is Editor-in-Chief at the National right here in Abu Dhabi, and a good friend of this show, and she joins me now.

And let's try and just pull apart what we understand to be going on at the moment. Let's start with where we know everybody is, Zelenskyy here today

in Abu Dhabi, after the UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also met the Russian Deputy Prime Minister here over the last 24 hours or so.

We also have Marco Rubio with the Russian Foreign Minister in Riyadh. So, let's just pick apart what is going on at this point. How do you read these

movements around this region?

MINA AL-ORAIBI, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AT THE NATIONAL: Now, of course, all these movements are happening after the Munich Security Conference.

ANDERSON: You were at.

AL-ORAIBI: I was at. And there was a real sense in Europe that they weren't part of the conversation. So, Zelenskyy, of course, was in Munich was

speaking to his European allies and saying, this is about European security, not only Ukrainian security. And yet the U.S. has made it very

clear that the U.S. and Russia will try to come to a sort of deal.

And they will bring in the Europeans at some point, and hopefully the Ukrainians. But it comes at a point when Europe is out of the picture

because it's seen as party to the conflict, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, are not only neutral, but are vested in trying to solve this crisis and to end the

war in Ukraine.

Of course, Ukraine has a direct impact on this region, from food imports and wheat imports to of course, the security of Europe is an extension to

here in the Middle East. And also, the dysfunction in the U.N. Security Council, with the U.S. and Russia at each other's throats for the last

three years or so has to come to an end.

So actually, it's in the interests of the UAE and Saudi Arabia to find a solution, but it's also positioning these two important strategic Gulf

countries, Arab countries, to resolve problems in a way that includes this new American administration that is looking for different allies, because

at the moment, there's quite a bit of tension with Europe.

ANDERSON: And you've just described very eloquently, why it is very specifically on this Russia, Ukraine conflict. Why it is that the U.N. and

Saudi Arabia are so visibly involved at presidents. Remind ourselves, these are two countries that have been mediating efforts for prisoner exchanges

all the way through this conflict.

Of course, these are two countries that have retained relations with both Ukraine and Russia, and have good relations with this Trump Administration.

There is also a wider sort of foreign policy of mediation that we are seeing sort of as a burgeoning effort, both here in the UAE, in Saudi and

indeed, of course, in Qatar.

Let's focus on the Saudi's, because that's where we see Marco Rubio, the Foreign Minister, effectively of the United States, and an incoming trip by

the Russian Foreign Minister, Lavrov. Very specifically, what do we know about the talks that are, that are going on in Saudi at present, as I

understand it, these are talks about talks as it were?

AL-ORAIBI: Right. Exactly. It's putting in the parameters of what does this look like. It's important, as you said, that you've had the prisoner

exchanges, which the UAE and Saudi Arabia have facilitate. That builds confidence.

ANDERSON: Right.

AL-ORAIBI: So, you know, with all people who work on mediation, they talk about the importance of having the right interlocutors, building that trust

and knowing that if you call this particular official, they can deliver. And the Saudis and Emirates have proven that if we look at Saudi Arabia

exactly as you said, specifically, Saudi Arabia is hosting talks between the Russians and Americans to say this is what the parameters look like.

Who do we invite to the table? But also, that you're going to need time to get the Ukrainians on board, and we can do that. And there is talk that

Volodymyr Zelenskyy will go to Saudi Arabia also, and he's been to Saudi Arabia previously, so that's quite important that they also have the trust

of Ukrainians to bring them around the table, eventually.

I can't imagine there's going to be a sort of deal that the Russians and Americans cut without the involvement in the Ukrainians. And we've also

heard from President Donald Trump saying we will involve the Ukrainians when the time is right.

ANDERSON: I've been told by an Arab diplomat very familiar with the matter, that Zelenskyy is likely to be in Riyadh on Wednesday this week. To step

back for a moment and take us back to where we began this conversation.

[09:10:00]

You were at the Munich Security Conference this weekend, when J.D. Vance, the Vice President of the United States, Pete Hegseth, the Defense

Secretary and others from the Trump Administration, landed what were -- sort of defining bombshells about doing business with the Russians over

trying to end this conflict.

It seemed very specifically lecturing the Europeans about getting their own backyard sorted out. You said you sat while J.D. Vance made his speech over

the weekend, describe the room, if you will. Because this is all pertinent to this conversation. Those who were there, key stakeholders, have now left

to get to this region.

AL-ORAIBI: That's right.

ANDERSON: You were there just before I get to Melissa Bell, who is in Paris, is going to talk to us about what's going on there. Just describe

the atmosphere, if you will.

AL-ORAIBI: There was a huge atmosphere of anticipation for the speech. Everybody stopped what they were doing to listen to J.D. Vance. There was

the main room. There were overflow rooms. Everybody went to hear what the message from Americans was. And the expectation was that was going to be,

in large part centered on Ukraine, but also that wider transatlantic relationship and security.

This is a security conference. That's not what they got. And the speech, of course, focused on Europe, and it was quite telling it J.D. Vance said that

the threat is not from Russia, the threat is not from China, the threat is from within Europe, which I think shocked everybody, because you wouldn't

prioritize that amongst most European officials.

But also, the fact that Ukraine was sidelined. It was almost like we're going to resolve this one way or the other. You've got to look at your own

backyard, and no one can debate the fact that different European countries are having their own struggles, but certainly not in the way that was

pictured by the Vice President of the United States.

Many people are saying it's the start of a new era of the ties between Europe and the U.S. And in the room, there was a sense of both surprises,

but also quite a bit of anger, the sense that we have a very serious problem, which is the Ukraine war and our security. There was also a sense

that, OK, now we need to plan.

And there were many, many, many commentators and officials I spoke to from outside of Europe, who said the Europeans weren't expecting that they're

going to have to start picking up some of the slack for security. Security guarantees for Ukraine was it look like they're not going to let Ukraine

join NATO, et cetera, et cetera.

There haven't been prep work. So, in some ways, it's quite telling that now there's a meeting in Paris. There was a meeting in Munich for the foreign

ministers from the EU to try to get together and figure out how they're going to respond, although they probably should have done their homework a

few months in advance.

ANDERSON: They probably should have done their homework a few months in advance. They were lectured, of course, they being the Europeans and NATO

by Pete Hegseth, the New U.S. Defense Minister who said Europe needs to get with the program. They need a sense of urgency.

And they need to up their own defense spending, because, frankly, we've got other stuff to deal with. We will support you in Europe, but it's not our

priority. Let's get to that. Melissa Bell is standing by in Paris for us. Melissa, you're joining us as European leaders, frankly, scramble to catch

up.

Not even draw a breath, but work out what they do next on the back of what Mina has just been talking about, which were bomb shells dropped by members

of Donald Trump's Administration on Europe in Munich this weekend. Just give us a sense of what is going on where you are in Paris.

MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think your word scramble is exactly the right one. I can't think of a meeting with such

high-profile people making their way to Paris organized as quickly as this has been, and yet, French officials really doing all they can not to look

rattled.

We've been hearing yesterday, Becky, from the French Foreign Minister, speak on French radio, saying, look, these meetings happen all the time.

Emmanuel Macron himself tweeting that this was an informal meeting. And yet we expect in the next few minutes, not just the arrival of several European

leaders, but also the president's European Council on commission, Council and commission, the Secretary General of NATO.

Clearly what Europeans heard over the course the last few days, and you just been discussing, not just Pete Hegseth's comments at NATO last week,

but of course, all that was said at the Munich Security Conference. I'm thinking here, not just of J.D. Vance, but also what Keith Kellogg had to

tell people there that, look, United States is going to negotiate hard.

We're going to get territorial concessions from Russia when it comes to Ukraine. It isn't simply that the Europeans are rattled from being left out

of a process after having contributed so much militarily and financially to the war effort in Ukraine, but also that they worry that, frankly, these

negotiations are to be carried out well.

And there's a lot of disgruntlements at the fact that they've been excluded, both because of the fact of it and because, tactically, they

worry about the way the United States is going into this given Pete Hegseth's comments last week about not foreseeing Ukraine as a part of

NATO.

[09:15:00]

That was a key plank. Remember that they saw his leverage going into the negotiations with Vladimir Putin. Hence this meeting. It's about a couple

of things really, Becky, it's trying to figure out, first of all, where Europe goes from here and how it can continue to offer security guarantees

to Ukraine?

But also, to figure out much more speedily and effectively than it has managed to so far, how it's going to ensure its own defense, Becky.

ANDERSON: Thank you, Melissa. Melissa is at the Elysee Palace. The EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen posting on social media, quote,

Europe security is at a turning point. Yes, it's about Ukraine, but it is also about us. I mean, this is, you know, to suggest that what has happened

over this weekend is seismic.

Is not an overstatement. To suggest that the Gulf countries have a real seat at the table in what we would otherwise assume to have been a European

NATO, U.S. led effort is not an understatement.

There is an enormous transformation going on at the moment, not least, not only Saudi Arabia at the heart of what looks like talks for talks about men

to the Ukraine, Russia conflict, but also offering to negotiate between the U.S. and Iran at present. Your sense of Riyadh role on the international

stage at this point?

AL-ORAIBI: Riyadh, of course, is a G20 country. Has huge clout because, of course, of hosting of the two holy mosques, Mecca and Medina. So, in the

Muslim world, has a very big role to play, economically, a big role to play. And so, for many in this part of world, this makes sense.

You know, Saudi Arabia should play this role. And as you said, the UAE, of course, plays a very important role in cooking some of this stuff also, and

helping deliver it. Now we've got the Iran-Saudi Arabia element. What happened previously when the Americans under President Barack Obama's

Administration negotiated with the Iranians.

Oman was just a meeting point. They were not involved. And actually, the Gulf and Arab world were blind-sided. This is, of course, 2015, 2016. 2015

beginning and then 2016 the reveal. This is different this time. This is Saudi Arabia saying, actually, this affects our region.

Iran is certainly on the back foot, but America is coming with a maximum pressure policy that, frankly, people in the region, in some ways welcome,

because Iran really took too many steps to destabilize this region. At the same time, don't want to see that maximum pressure policy become a war,

because we don't need another war in the region.

So Saudi Arabia saying, you know, we're offering to mediate. Interestingly, of course, previously, Iraq under the Biden Administration and under the

just towards the end of the first Trump Administration, also tried to mediate and bring the Americans and the Iranians together, because the

Arabs need to be present to know what is being negotiated and making sure that it's Iran's actions in the Arab world that are put --

ANDERSON: And you're very right to point out that in this region, Saudi Arabia has always, but certainly over the last few years, has increased its

profile as that regional leader and for all the right reasons. I think it's also important for our viewers to understand that. I don't want to suggest

that mediation efforts aren't sort of altruistic, but let's be quite frank, countries have their national security and their own interests at heart.

Saudi Arabia has an unapologetic Saudi First policy at present, it launched a vision for its future in 2016, Vision 2030 and its foreign policy will

play to the advantage of its economic interests, as does, of course, America under Donald Trump with its America First policy.

So, I think it's important as we sort of work out why it is that everybody is taking a role and who is taking which role at present to just consider

what's in it for Riyadh at this point, in brokering or helping broker a deal between Ukraine and Russia for Donald Trump, who says he wants to see

a deal.

In helping broker a potential deal between the U.S. and Iran, Donald Trump has said he wants his own deal with Iran. What does Washington have to

offer the Saudis at this point in return? There's a lot on the table, isn't there?

[09:20:00]

AL-ORAIBI: There's a lot on the table, and we can't forget how precarious the situation is when it comes to Palestine. So Saudi Arabia is also

hosting a very important meeting on the 20th so in three, four days that will look -- that will bring together key Arab players, expected to be

Jordan, Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar coming round the table the Quinta to look at a counter proposal to what President Donald Trump has

proposed, which would be disastrous to displace the Palestinians from their homeland.

So, let's not forget that what Saudi Arabia can bring to Ukraine is hoping that they can also bring to negotiate long term peace here in the region, a

Palestinian state. So, you spoke about national security, national interest, absolutely look every country. The ultimate responsibility for

its government is to look at first people and its country.

And we've seen a lot of that from America, frankly, from Europe too. Some of the behavior we saw after the Ukraine invasion was incredible. Where it

really was Europe first. In some countries, my country first. So that's the norm, but people are being perhaps more explicit about it with the Donald

Trump Administration, because that's his style.

I would say, for Saudi Arabia, hugely important to get America's ear and to be able to influence where America goes when it comes to Europe, when it

comes to the Middle East and its security, hugely important also on the world stage. Every country wants to be able to influence the direction of

where things go, and Saudi Arabia is able to do that.

Saudi Arabia today is hosting an important IMF meeting about the reconstruction. Let's not forget, be it Syria, Lebanon or Palestine, you're

going to have major reconstruction, which is about people's lives and livelihoods, but also, frankly, is big money coming in to the region, and

who will control and who will influence it.

And there's also important, you mentioned Vision 2030, What vision do we have for the world, not only for the region, and often, sadly, people look

at region in terms of extremism, no extremism. It's more than that. What does stability and prosperity look like, and how do we have each other's

backs?

And you know, one of the big conversations is, what does the world order look like? Because the U.N. Security Council, again, has not been able to

deliver. Is the G20 going to be that, or is it going to be big powerhouses around the world that can cut deals, like Saudi Arabia and the U.S.?

ANDERSON: We hear a lot about the importance of de-escalation in this region, and that speaks too very specifically what you've just discussed,

including what many will see as a very principled position from Saudi Arabia with regard the Palestinians, when it comes to the Israel-Palestine

issue.

And we hear about economic integration, of course, as we see these visions, the evolution of these economies in Saudi and the UAE, for example. We know

that there are bilateral deals on the table between Washington and Saudi Arabia at the moment, this is the economic part of success going forward.

There is a trilateral deal, of course, on the table, which includes normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia. That is all incredibly

important as we consider what is going on at prison. Some describe this era as sort of key stakeholders playing four-dimensional chess. I think that's

not a bad description of what's going on.

AL-ORAIBI: Absolutely. But there's also, I mean, look through four- dimensional chess. There's lots of planning, but there are also curve balls, things you don't expect.

ANDERSON: Yeah.

AL-ORAIBI: And I think part of what the Europeans are waking up to is that there are many curve balls, and that they need to be on the table to

actually understand what's happening Syria and the change in Syria in December, got it feels like it's a lifetime ago -- to have this seismic

change in Syria.

And Lebanon, we have a new government. What does that mean? But again, you know, there were Israeli strikes on Lebanon today. There's a question mark

over the ceasefire will hold. So, there's events that are also moving at incredible speed that can derail some of the greater plans that might be

put on the table by some of these governments.

ANDERSON: To our viewers, I hope that, that lasts what 20 minutes or so helps to sort of lay the table for you. Nothing is easy, and we get that,

and we hope we not throwing too much at you, but it's really important that we understand in principle, you know the moving parts, because, as you

rightly point out, Mina, none of this is easy, and there is a lot of distraction out there, and there are a lot of moving parts, curve balls, et

cetera.

But I think you know, thank you for being with me and helping very eloquently, sort of break down what we see going on at present and where we

perhaps see a sort of a line through today's events going forward. Thank you. Well still to come, President Donald Trump offering cryptic new

insight into what appears to be the guiding philosophy behind his leadership style, what historic world leader he is echoing? Which is up

next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:25:00]

ANDERSON: Well, a social media post by the U.S. President has some critics accusing him of acting like a dictator and declaring himself above the law.

The president's post, which first appeared on Saturday on his Truth social account, says, and I quote him here, he who serves his country does not

violate any law.

Well, it comes as his administration faces dozens of lawsuits over his flurry of executive actions and orders intended to reshape the federal

government to fall in line with his America First policies. Well, CNN's Crime and Justice Correspondent Katelyn Polantz joins us now from

Washington. His post sparking new outcry amongst his critics. What do you make of it? And what are you hearing?

KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, it's a pithy quote borrowed from a 1970 movie about Napoleon Bonaparte, but it

really is something that's capturing what Trump and his administration is doing, at least what they're arguing in court right now.

They are arguing that the power of the presidency, the power of the executive to make decisions about his government should have very little

parameters on the edges of it. This is something that he posts that quote on social media, and then, of course, Democrats on Capitol Hill immediately

start saying, this is the talk of a dictator.

But there is a series of very real court cases going on right now where judges are looking at the power of the presidency, the power of Donald

Trump to fire people in the executive branch, including people that Congress wanted to sort of insulate from politics and give more

independence to.

There is quite a lot happening where Donald Trump and Elon Musk at the Department of government efficiency are trying to get rid of certain

agencies that they don't like, get rid of large swaths of the federal work force, and, of course, usurp some congressional power, or at least things

that Congress traditionally did in the past, like appropriate money into certain areas, sign off on how you're paying the bills.

So, what's been happening just in the past couple days, including yesterday, is that Trump has one case that has now landed before the

Supreme Court. It's the very first case testing this theory of Trump's presidency and all of these policies he's putting in place by executive

order.

And that case is about whether he can fire someone who's supposed to be an independent watchdog fielding whistle blower complaint from the federal

work force. It's a very fast-moving case before the Supreme Court, but the Justice Department, the acting solicitor general is argue already arguing

in briefs there, don't infringe on the executive's power. Trump should be able to do whatever he wants.

ANDERSON: Well, it's good to have you. Thank you very much indeed.

[09:30:00]

Chinese businesses have been struggling for years under a growing heap of regulations, but President Xi Jinping extending a friendly hand, today is

China's private sector turning a corner that in your business news, up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Chinese business leaders are seeing a major show of support from their government after years of stifling regulation. Chinese President Xi

Jinping hosted a gathering of top tech executives and entrepreneurs in Beijing today. State media describing it as a symposium on private

enterprises.

Analysts say China may want to rev up private sector innovation to confront stiff competition in the global marketplace. Well, Anna Stewart following

this for us from London. But the markets in the U.S. closed today, so not sort of responding to anything that's going on in Asia.

It is, of course, Presidents Day, but we understand Alibaba Founder Jack Ma attended this meeting in Beijing. Public hasn't seen him much during the

private sector clamp down, as it were. So, what's going on?

ANNA STEWART, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this was interesting. Over the weekend, there was much speculation, would we or wouldn't we see Jack Ma at

this big meeting. They'd been hyped up, and we did. And really, the reason it's so interesting is Jack Ma played quite a pivotal role, if you look

back at Beijing's crackdown on tech.

From sort of 2020, the government had stopped a massive IPO he was planning for the angry. Right at the 11th hour. It was going to be a $34 billion

IPO. And soon after that, Becky, he sorts of disappeared from public life. It was shortly after you've been quite critical about President Xi in a

public speech, and really, he hasn't been seen much since.

So, seeing Jack Ma at this meeting with other tech CEOs, with President Xi really sent a huge message. And we're looking at video there, and you'll

see some of the characters there. You know, we got CEOs and executives from Alibaba, Tencent, Huawei, BYD, Xiaomi. But also, what's really interesting

is who you don't see.

So, one of the companies notably absent was Baidu, and actually, following that, the share price dipped 7 percent. So, this is very much about the

visuals. Investors very keen to see who is there and who isn't.

ANDERSON: It's fascinating, isn't it? What does this very public show of support by Xi Jinping mean, or say, for private Chinese businesses, going

forward, it has been somewhat difficult for them to operate under the sort of atmosphere that Xi Jinping has instituted over the last couple of years.

[09:35:00]

So, are we seeing a real shift here?

STEWART: Yeah, it's been a bit of a roller coaster. In 2018, private enterprise was really kind of welcomed by President Xi. 2020 you had the

crack down as really difficult years. It's felt like this crack down on tech has eased, I'd say in the last few months, or even in the last kind of

year or two.

It has ease, and we've seen, of course, the great success of a company like DeepSeek, and that sent tech stocks in China absolutely soaring -- HANG

SENG actually at its highest level for three years. Earlier today, it slipped back a little bit since the message couldn't mean clear. It is both

the visuals but also the readout we had.

President Xi saying that he hopes that the private sector won't just serve the country and abide by the law messages we're used to sort of hearing,

but also get rich, promote common prosperity and also make new and greater contributions to China. So clearly, the private sector here now very much

part of the hopes and dreams of Beijing.

ANDERSON: Good to have you, Anna. Thank you very much indeed, and it was good to have Anna here with us in the UAE, last week at what was the World

Government Summit. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Welcome back. You watching "Connect the World" with me Becky Anderson, out of Abu Dhabi, where the time is just before 20 to 7 in the

evening this Monday. Argentine President Javier Milei is facing calls for impeachment after he appeared to endorse a cryptocurrency whose price

soared then tanked when the price dropped, thousands of investors lost money.

Milei mentioned the currency in a social media post, then deleted the post, hours later. Opposition lawmakers are accusing him of scamming his 3.8

million followers. Milei's office tells CNN the incident was a mistake. Well, CNN's Espanol Correspondent Cecilia Dominguez joining me now from

Buenos Aires.

Milei is a former economist turned president. How serious is -- what happened? It doesn't look as if we've got our correspondent. Let me see

whether we can sort out that technical issue. And while we do that, I am going to take a short break. I'm going to get you up to speed on some of

the other stories.

Sorry, that are on our radar this hour. And at least 10 people have died after a powerful storm swept across the United States over the weekend.

Most of the deaths happened during major flooding in Kentucky. More than 20 centimeters of rain fell across Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee and

hundreds of thousands of households lost power.

[09:40:00]

Well, the storm will be followed by an arctic blast, bringing bitter cold to the south. South Korean officials say K drama actress Kim Sae-Ron was

found dead at her home in Seoul on Sunday. Kim's body was discovered by a friend. Police say there are no signs of foul play, and officers are

investigating the circumstances of the 24-year old's death.

China is accusing the U.S. of a serious regression in its policy towards Taiwan. Last week, on its website, the U.S. State Department dropped the

phrase, we do not support Taiwan independence. A position long held by Washington, China warning the Trump Administration to, quote, immediately

correct its mistakes or risk further serious damage to China-U.S. relations.

Well in the lead up to the Oscars, the eyes of the cinema world were on London on Sunday night for the BAFTA Awards, "The Brutalist" one big for

leading actor Adrien Brody and Director Brady Corbet, but papal selection drama "Conclave" took home the gong for best film.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What happened?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They say, a heart attack.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You know how rumor spreads, and one and a quarter billion souls watching.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, thought, no Lawrence, it seems the responsibility for the conclave falls upon you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The supervision of --

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: I have to say -- predictions, though, for the Oscars are still hard to make. In addition to the favorites, there were some surprises, "A

Real Pain's" writer, director, Jesse Eisenberg took the best original screenplay award. He spoke to my colleague Max Foster about the broad

appeal of the movie.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JESSE EISENBERG, WINNER FOR BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY OF "A REAL PAIN": I guess the unusual thing about it, but I can't even parse it, because it's

my own thing, is that perhaps it takes the kind of well-worn theme, which is like Holocaust themed movies, and maybe comes at it from an angle that

feels a little, I don't know, newer or more modern, more welcoming, less sanctimonious than a lot of the movies made on the similar theme. So maybe

that's right.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: The Best Actress category Mikey Madison edged out the favorite Demi Moore, who has been riding high on her comeback performance in the

substance. Madison spoke to Max about the film that she stars in "Anora".

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAX FOSTER, CNN ROYAL CORRESPONDENT: Why do you think the film hit a nerve? You got any feeling for that?

MIKEY MADISON, WINNER OF LEADING ACTRESS FOR "ANORA": I mean, I think Sean makes films about humanity and touches on really interesting subject

matter. And I don't know, I mean, I think that there was just something really special in the air when we made this film.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Great. All right, we are going to take a very short break. "World Sport" is up after this. I will be back in 15 minutes time for the second

hour of this show. It's a very, very busy news cycle, not least in this region of the Gulf and Middle East. Please stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[09:45:00]

(WORLD SPORT)

END