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Connect the World
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff Returning to Moscow; U.S. Hosts High-Level Ukrainian Delegation in Florida; Corruption Scandal Rattles Ukraine Amid Peace Negotiations; Zelenskyy, Macron Discuss U.S.-Backed Peace Plan; Pope Leo in Beirut's Martyrs' Square for Interreligious Meeting. Aired 9-10a ET
Aired December 01, 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 Beirut where Pope Leo is set to appear in Martyrs' Square. It's 04:00 p.m.
in Lebanon, where the pontiff is making an historic visit. It is 06:00 p.m. here in Abu Dhabi, from our Middle East programming headquarters.
I'm Becky Anderson, you're watching "Connect the World". Also coming up, peace talks on the war in Ukraine, moved to Moscow with U.S. President
Donald Trump's Special Envoy en route to the Russian capital. We're live this hour in Kyiv, for Ukraine's point of view. That's coming up next.
And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asks for a pardon in his long running corruption trial. Why now? Well, more on that later this hour.
The stock market in New York opens about 30 minutes from now, and futures drifting lower, indicating a weaker start to the trading month of December.
Volatility is still the name of the game for stock markets it seems, after a choppy November session. We start with the flurry of diplomacy aimed
forging progress and maybe an eventual deal to end Russia's war on Ukraine. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Moscow today and is expected
to meet with the Russian President there this week.
Well, his trip follows weekend talks between Ukrainian and American delegations in Florida, and some words of cautious optimism coming from top
U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: They're doing well. Ukraine's got some difficult little problems, some difficult
problems, but I think Russia would like to see it end. And I think Ukraine -- I know Ukraine would like to see that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, those problems that President Trump was referring to involved a shakeup in Ukrainian leadership with President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy's Chief of Staff, resigning amid a corruption scandal. His replacement as chief negotiator represented Ukraine at these talks in
Florida.
Well, President Zelenskyy is today in Paris meeting the French President Emmanuel Macron there seeking to rally support from European allies after
the EU and Ukraine were both frankly blindsided by the original U.S. drafted peace plan that supported Russia's key demands to end the war.
Let's get you Nick Paton Walsh, who is connecting us this hour from Kyiv. It's good to have you there on the ground, Nick. And what is the mood there
after these weekend talks and with news now, of course, that Steve Witkoff is returning to Moscow?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: I think possibly people here feel some sense of that optimism, remarked upon by
Secretary of State, Rubio and the Head of the Ukrainian negotiating team, Rustem Umerov, but really there is great anxiety as to what exactly is it
that Trump's envoy to this conflict, Steve Witkoff, is flying to the Kremlin to present.
Now, a lot of the elements of this deal, the different permutations that have been in our essentially about future states. Ukraine's potential to
join NATO, it still is a far-fetched ambition as it stands today. And I think ultimately, the questions that need answering to get some kind of
deal revolve around territorial concessions or swaps.
If indeed, Russia pulls out of some parts of different areas of Ukraine in exchange for the area of Donetsk that it still has as part of its
maximalist goals, to essentially ask Ukraine to give up the land that it's been fighting most fiercely over. So, it may well be that something has
emerged in Florida that provides a way to thread the needle there, perhaps to permit some kind of fudge that allows some sort of concession by
Ukraine, territorially, unthinkable, frankly.
Months ago, in exchange for a long, lasting peace here, that's the ultimate concern amongst many Ukrainians, is that they're now well over a decade
into a war with Russia. Here, they've seen diplomacy and negotiation essentially used as a ruse by Russia in the past to pursue its military
goals.
Clearly, with the four dead and attacks in Dnipro overnight in Russian bombing, there is no letup in Russia's onslaught. And indeed, some analysis
today said they've taken quite a lot of territory in the month of November, significantly more than the months beforehand.
So, Putin clearly here sticking to his desire to see territory given to him in exchange for a piece, possibly what might be being used to persuade
Ukraine closer to that once far-fetched idea of security guarantees from the United States and Europe. But they have to be pretty iron clad,
frankly, to convince the Ukrainian population that have been through 3.5 years that this is potentially something that will indeed last.
And they aren't just giving up territory without a fight to then allow Russia to refit and have another invasion down the line. So great anxiety,
a lot of diplomatic choreography to President Zelenskyy's team has been in Florida.
[09:05:00]
Yes, the Europeans appear to not been in the focus of these currently bilateral, potentially trilateral, discussions with Russia. Macron of
France, talking to Zelenskyy today. Zelenskyy in Dublin tomorrow, maybe the Europeans will begin to step in as they learn more about what's exactly in
this particular deal.
But it's left many here nervous. Nobody wants the war to stop faster than Ukrainians to want the front line to freeze this massive anxiety here that
they essentially end up getting pushed into a deal that gives Putin the territory he wants, and then they still don't see peace after that.
ANDERSON: Yeah, Nick, it's good to have you there on the ground. Thank you. And more on this as we move through what is, of course, a two hour show
here with "Connect the World". Thank you. Pope Leo is calling for peace and unity in Lebanon during his three-day visit to the Middle East country.
Right now, he is heading to an inter religious meeting in Beirut at Martyrs' Square. Now this is part of his effort to foster interfaith
cooperation and stability in a country facing multiple crises, including a struggling economy, political instability and a fraying ceasefire between
Israel and Hezbollah.
We'll CNN's Ben Wedeman is in Beirut for you. He is following the pope's trip there. Nick, just talk to us about the depth of Christianity in
Lebanon, and clearly, you know, sort of forefront of why the pope is there, but also about his message that he is hoping to send, not just to
Christians, but to the, you know, wider religious community?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: He's talking about, he's been talking since he got here, about the importance of unity among
all religions. And in fact, this event that he should be arriving to within minutes in Martyrs' Square is going to be an interfaith youth event where
they will be reading aloud parts of the Bible, parts of the Quran.
There will be leaders of all of Lebanon's religious communities there, and he's really stressing the importance of a unity that Lebanon is enjoying at
the moment. But of course, in the past, there have been dark chapters like the 1975, 1990 Civil War, which, although it's often described as a war
between Muslims and Christians.
It's much more complicated than that. There were Christians fighting Christians and Muslims fighting Muslims. But nonetheless, that was a period
when there was a fair amount of sectarian tension and violence. He's also encouraging the young people of Lebanon not to give up hope.
As you mentioned in the introduction, it's been a very difficult period, going back six years to that failed revolution, which was followed by the
COVID epidemic followed by the Beirut port blast, followed by the war with Israel. For many Lebanese, and it's not just Christians, it's Lebanese.
Young Lebanese of all denominations, are really looking abroad for a brighter future than this country can offer at the moment. He's telling
everyone to stay put, but certainly the reaction to his visit has been very enthusiastic. What we're seeing is the Lebanese media is following his
every step.
There's one station that we've been watching where they had four -- the screen divided into four parts with an aerial shot of the pope's car moving
toward Martyrs' Square. A shot from a car in front of it the pope mobile. Another shot from the scene where he's arriving, and more street scenes
where we've seen lots of people out. And we're also told by our friends who are traveling with the pope that he is really sort of overcome with the
warmth and enthusiasm of his reception.
I think he's having a normal reaction of those who have never been to Lebanon before, and he has not, when he discovered that, wow, this is
actually a very nice country with very nice people who, regardless of whether they're Christians, Muslims or whatever, are very happy to see him
here for the Lebanese, who have been enduring such a difficult period in their history to have the pope come here and all the attention on it, all
the excitement, is a welcome relief.
Now, of course, other Lebanese are saying, OK, it's really great to have him here, and we're happy to all the sort of fanfare that's accompanying
it, but they're hoping that beyond his words about coexistence and peace and whatnot, that something actually is done to change the rather grim
reality of life in Lebanon with a collapsed economy.
[09:10:00]
And the fact that even though the ceasefire with Israel went into effect a year ago, it's really been a one-sided ceasefire with Israel continuing
almost daily drone and air strikes on Lebanon. And now threatening if by the 31st of December, if Hezbollah is not disarmed, Israel will resume its
military activities on a full scale if that doesn't happen.
And of course, that puts Lebanon in a rather difficult position, because for the Lebanese army to confront Hezbollah and disarm it runs the risk of
a civil war. So, the country is enjoying this excitement of the papal visit, but there are worries that continue and will persist after his
departure tomorrow afternoon, Becky.
ANDERSON: -- Well put, Ben, particularly well put about the fact that Pope Leo should not have been surprised by the wonderful reception the Lebanese
have given him. After all, as you rightly point out, these are wonderful people in a wonderful country. He is just walking into this event as you
and I speak.
And we have indeed been watching those same images that you've been describing, the aerial shot of Pope Leo through the streets of Beirut, and
he is now walking into this reception where, as I understand it from you and your reporting, he will be talking to youngsters in the next hours
about.
You know, what it's like to be in Lebanon today, this interfaith dialog that was historically started, certainly for this region, by Pope Leo's
predecessor, and now the mantle taken up by Pope Leo himself. So, shaking hands with those gathered this, again, is a inter religious interfaith
gathering here in Beirut today, Ben.
WEDEMAN: -- Becky --
ANDERSON: And you're right to point out, look, you know, there's one thing for this to be symbolic, you know, but how does he land an event that will
really make an impact, Ben? That's the big question, isn't it?
WEDEMAN: Yes. And the question is, what can the pope really do? He doesn't have the diplomatic pull to actually make the main actors in this regional
drama, Israel, Hezbollah, Iran, Hamas and others. He really doesn't. He's not able to do that. The real powers who have real influence on what's
going on.
For most among them the United States is not, it appears, really putting on the brakes. We have heard from American officials. I spoke to the American
ambassador here in Beirut last night, and when I asked him about Israel's threats to by the 31st of December, resume full scale military action on
Lebanon if Hezbollah is not disarmed by then.
He essentially told me, well, Israel, we believe Israel has a right to self-defense. Self-defense, of course, in this instance, is the threat of
full-scale war against Lebanon. And the feeling is that this American Administration and the previous administration never really exercised or
exerted the sort of pressure on Israel necessary to bring hostilities to a real end, as opposed to what's going on now, which is Israel is striking on
a daily basis target in Lebanon, almost a daily basis.
Hezbollah has yet to fire back once since that ceasefire went into effect. And of course, the wits of Beirut will tell you this is a ceasefire whereby
Hezbollah ceases and Israel continues to fire, Becky.
ANDERSON: It's good to have you on the ground, Ben. Thank you very much indeed. Ben Wedeman is in Beirut. And we will get you back to these
pictures of Pope Leo there later. Well after months of U.S. strikes on alleged drought traffic, it's in the waters of Venezuela and questions over
what comes next.
Sources say that President Trump is planning a meeting at the White House tonight to discuss the next steps. He also confirmed that he spoke by phone
to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, although he would not share details on what they discussed. But moments after that disclosure, President Maduro
made his first public appearance in days, ending speculation that he may have fled Venezuela.
President Trump has been amping up the pressure on Maduro, warning of potential strikes on land and telling pilots to avoid Venezuelan airspace.
[09:15:00]
But he told reporters not to assume that that means that air strikes are coming. Instead, he offered this explanation.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: They said, millions of people really, and probably a number in excess of that, and a lot of those people shouldn't be in our country, from
jails, from gangs, from drug dealers, from all of the people that came into our country shouldn't have been in our country causing a lot of problems
and -- drugs.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Does your warning mean that an air strike is evident? Or should we not read it that way?
TRUMP: Don't read anything into it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Senior White House Reporter Betsy Klein joining us now. You just heard President Trump speaking there. We've also must ask you about
the controversy around Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. It is related to one of these deadly U.S. strikes on an alleged drug boat, with some U.S.
lawmakers saying that if Hegseth called for what is known as a double tap strike, Betsy.
That it could be a war crime. So, what more do we have at this point on that?
BETSY KLEIN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE REPORTER: Well, Becky, the White House is facing questions about whether it committed a war crime this morning,
after our colleague Natasha Bertrand reported over the weekend that the U.S. military carried out a second follow up strike on an alleged drug boat
operating in the Caribbean on September 2, after it was determined that the first strike did not kill everyone on board.
Sources familiar with the matter telling CNN that when the initial strike appeared to disable the boat and cause deaths, it was then assessed that
there were survivors. A second strike was then launched, 11 people were killed, ultimately in total, and the boat then sank.
Now one of the sources says that defense secretary Pete Hegseth ordered, prior to the attack, that everybody on board be killed. It is not clear at
this time whether Hegseth was aware that there were survivors, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle now calling for investigations in key
committees and questioning the legality of this operation.
President Trump fielding questions on all of this on Air Force One last night, listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Number one, I don't know that that happened. And Pete said he did not want them. He didn't even know what people were talking about. So,
we'll look at -- we'll look into it. But no, I wouldn't have wanted that, not a second strike.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KLEIN: Now, the U.S. has conducted 20 known strikes on these alleged drug boats in the Caribbean, as well as one in the Eastern Pacific, and this
September 2nd striking question is actually the first time that the U.S. military had targeted one of these boats. It also comes as the U.S. has a
mask, a major show of force in the region that includes roughly 15,000 U.S. troops in the area, along with dozens of warships.
The president has been briefed on a wide range of options, including targeted options on Venezuela's military and government facilities, as well
as potentially a more direct attempt to oust her the country's President Nicolas Maduro. President Trump confirming yesterday that he has spoken by
phone with Maduro, though, as you mentioned, he declined to provide any details, but all eyes this evening on a key meeting happening in the White
House.
The president set to be briefed on next steps by Secretary of Defense, Pete hedge Seth, along with Secretary of State, Marco Rubio and Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, on what the path forward in Venezuela might be, Becky.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, Betsy, thank you. Right. You're watching "Connect the World" with me. Becky Anderson. We are programming out of our
Middle East broadcasting hub here in Abu Dhabi. Coming up, can you be pardoned from a crime you haven't yet been convicted of?
Well, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is hoping so, but the opposition say that means that he is guilty.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:20:00]
ANDERSON: Well, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is formally asking for a pardon in his long running corruption trial. In a letter to
President Isaac Herzog, Mr. Netanyahu argues that dropping the case is in the quote, public interest. He posted this video on his social media page
after the letter was publicized on Sunday.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: My personal interest has been and remains to continue the legal process to its end, until full acquittal
on all charges. But the security reality and the national interest require a different course. The State of Israel faces immense challenges alongside
tremendous opportunities to repel the threats and realize the opportunities.
National Unity is required. The continuation of this trial is tearing us apart from within.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Herzog alone has the power to grant pardons in the country. His office says he is considering the request. Well, several weeks ago, you
may remember the U.S. President Trump also penned a letter to Mr. Herzog requesting a pardon for the Israeli Prime Minister.
And this was his message to the Israeli parliament when he was there at the Knesset back in October.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Hey, I have an idea. Mr. President, why don't you give him a pardon? Give him a pardon, come on. Whether we like it or not, this has been one of
the greatest wartime presidents. This is what been one of the greatest wartime presidents and cigars and champagne. Who the hell cares about?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's Donald Trump's view. But of course, he doesn't make the decision here, or at least he shouldn't be making the decision or
getting involved. CNN's Jerusalem Bureau Chief, Oren Liebermann joins us now live. Oren, Netanyahu is asking for a pardon for something he hasn't
been convicted of.
This long running trial is still ongoing so. Why do you think Netanyahu has made this move now, and what is the likely response from the president?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN JERUSALEM BUREAU CHIEF: Well, it certainly seems like President Donald Trump is a big part of the calculation here. That clip you
just showed a moment ago is at least one of at least three times in which Trump has weighed in on this.
He did so on social media as well, and then he himself wrote a letter, or perhaps his lawyers wrote a letter to President Isaac Herzog, asking him to
quote, fully pardon Netanyahu in his ongoing corruption trial. So that at least seems to be a part of the calculus of Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu.
He had long promised that he would fight these charges until the end. The trial itself started in mid-2020. Netanyahu started testifying in December,
so 11 months ago at this point, and it's expected that the trial will last years, especially because Netanyahu frequently asks for cancelations or
delays for his trial dates and for his testimony on grounds of national security or diplomatic reasons.
So, the trial itself has been very much and we've seen it dragging on. Netanyahu here arguing, and you heard it in the clip you played from the
video he released yesterday that pardoning him would do away with the divisiveness around the issue. He is treating the corruption trial itself
as the divisive issue.
Instead of the person facing that corruption trial, he has long been accused of being one of the most divisive political figures in Israel,
especially when it comes to Israel's Arab population, Israel's leftist population here. What's worth noting is what's not in this one-page letter
from Netanyahu, there is no admission of guilt.
[09:25:00]
There is no acknowledgement of any sort of remorse for his actions, and there is no promise for his future political life. The head of Israel's
opposition says that all has to be in there if the president is to consider this pardon. Netanyahu faces charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust.
He has repeatedly maintained his innocence, but this is the first time, obviously, we have seen a step like this, formally requesting a pardon.
ANDERSON: And any indication, very briefly, any indication from Herzog as to where he's going to land this decision?
LIEBERMANN: Not at all, and he's being very careful with his answers. He just released a statement a short time ago, saying he would consider it in
the most correct and precise manner. Still, this process, and there is a process involved here, is expected to take some number of weeks.
ANDERSON: Good to have you, sir, thank you. Oren Liebermann is with us out of Jerusalem today, where the time is 04:25 in the afternoon. Let's get you
up to speed on some of the other stories that are on our radar right now. And more than 1100 people are dead after heavy rain triggered floods and
landslides across parts of Asia.
In Indonesia, rescue teams are struggling to reach the hardest hit areas of the Sumatra province, where the impact of Cyclone Senyar was catastrophic.
More than 460 people are still missing. Local media there reporting that police and military have been deployed to help victims.
In Sri Lanka, more than 300 people are reported dead after a separate cyclone there triggered massive flooding and landslides. Sri Lanka's
President says that the country is facing what he calls the most difficult rescue operation ever. Thousands of families are stranded without power or
supplies as emergency shelters there filled capacity.
And you are looking at flood waters triggered by cyclone fueled downpours in Thailand. Storms there have created treacherous conditions, killing at
least 176 people. Thailand's Disaster Agency says search and rescue operations are underway. Well coming up, why Saudi Arabia is looking
towards East Asia, announcing plans to deepen ties with Japan and its world funds, future Investment Initiative Summit in Tokyo.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. I'm Becky Anderson in Abu Dhabi. You're watching "Connect the World", and it's good to have you on board. I want to get you
live to Wall Street, where the trading day is just about to get started. It's a shortened working week last week, of course, the Partnership for New
York City will be ringing the opening bell today that is a nonprofit working to promote the city as a global business hub.
[09:30:00]
Well, we are just moments away from the opening bell. Remember a volatile November. So, investors will be keenly focused on whether they can get
through December on the up and without the sort of volatility that they had to contend with. But there is a myriad of things that are in the view of
investors as it were.
Let's take a look at how the markets are opening then on this Monday, the first of December, also known as Cyber Monday, of course, when holiday shop
is search for deals online. The big three U.S. indices were expected to be lower, and the DOW and the S&P both off.
Let's let that NASDAQ settle just a little bit. There you go. I did think that that was probably not the direction it was going. All of these major
indices were expected to start lower, and that is indeed what we are seeing. Let's get you a look at cryptocurrencies, because a risk aversion
seems to be hanging over the markets, particularly digital assets, as we enter what is this last month of the year.
And you can see once again, these both off, both Bitcoin and Ethereum off, once again today. So, keep an eye on those the decline, this quite
significant decline that we have seen now of late in both these cryptocurrencies. May explain why precious metals and oil are trading in
positive territory, or certainly have been doing.
We've got crude there at 59 plus some Brent Crude at 62 and change gold at nearly pushing towards 4300, of course, at 4276 and silver also higher
today. They're not significantly higher today, but we've seen this push up. All of this coming a week and a half out from the next Federal Reserve rate
decision.
Investors are increasingly betting on a cut now, and President Trump is teasing an even bigger change. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: -- Fed Chair --
TRUMP: I know who I'm going to pick.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, tell us --
TRUMP: I'm not telling you. We'll be announcing it. Thank you very much, everybody.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's President Trump. Well in this region, all eyes are on Saudi Arabia, which is due to release its budget for 2026 soon. It's
expected to reveal how the Saudi economy will fare at a time of big spending plans and weaker oil prices, of course. So those as we see, are
just pushing higher today.
This is the kingdom pivots away from its large scale or gig of projects like Neom and towards AI advanced tech, critical, minerals, tourism and
more. And this comes as the kingdom sovereign wealth fund is looking eastward to deepen its economic ties in Asia. The Head of PIF Yasir al
Rumayyan remain announcing plans to more than double investments in Japan at their future Investment Initiative Summit in Tokyo. Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
YASIR AL RUMAYYAN, GOVERNOR OF SAUDI PUBLIC INVESTMENT FUND: Asia is big for us. We want to have better ties, better relationships, better
procurement process, access to the supply chain. In Japan, I think at some stage, it was one of the largest partners for Saudi Arabia, and we want to
get that back.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, I want to bring in the power behind the FII brand. Richard Attias is the Chairman of the FII Institute Executive Committee, joining me
from Japan today. Good to have you, sir. Thanks for making the time for us. First on this sort of geo economic interest in Japan and Asian markets more
broadly, what's the growth potential that you're hearing from leaders there, Richard?
RICHARD ATTIAS, CHAIRMAN OF THE FII INSTITUTE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Thank you for having me, Becky. In fact, you know the prime minister, the New
Prime Minister of Japan, was extremely clear in her remarks and speech. 17 sectors were identified for investors, of course, AI semiconductors, but
also space and many more.
So, this is first the roadmap for Japan, and then we'd say that Indonesia and other countries which were represented today, they also highlight
almost technology by far.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
ATTIAS: And I think all this region wants to have a seat at the table on the AI trends and on everything related to technology, defense and high, I
would say, semiconductors and high infrastructure project also.
[09:35:00]
ANDERSON: Yeah, Japan's economy has struggled this year with Trump's tariffs and of cost of living and inflation crisis. The Yen, though, is way
up today on the news of a possible interest rate hike. And you've spoken to Japan's New Prime Minister, as you say, and she's trying to solve these
headwinds with a massive, $130 billion stimulus package that has concern markets.
You asked her about that on stage. Let's just have a to her response.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SANAE TAKAICHI, JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER: The Takaichi Administration intends to raise both Japan's economic growth potential and domestic and
international confidence in Japan's public finance by conducting strategic fiscal spending to realize a strong economy while steadily improving debt
indicators.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: What did you make of her message, Richard?
ATTIAS: -- she concludes by saying, Japan is back, and it was almost the message that we are hearing here in Japan from all CEOs and also government
leaders, not only from the prime minister. Masayoshi Son, you know, the Founder of South Bank at the closing remarks, said that Japan is back, but
also Japan is starting to awake.
So, I think this big giant will probably be at the table of many conversations, including on economic diplomacy strategy. They want to play
a role. They want to build more alliances, including with the GCC countries. And it was a very optimistic ambience, to be honest.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
ATTIAS: And it was not only coming from the political leaders, but from the business leaders who were attending the FII in Asia.
ANDERSON: And finally, then let's close with that, because we are seeing a significant uptick in pith investment and partnerships with Japan. So where
does Saudi see that bilateral relationship? Richard, can you explain?
ATTIAS: You know, first of all, it's a strategic ally. Number two, as you know, Japan, main strategic ally is United States of America. So, I see
this, I would say, partnership being also related to how Japan is also close to United States and, of course, to Saudi Arabia. I see that
happening in data centers.
His excellency, Yasir al Rumayyan, was extremely clear in his remarks. He even suggested that Saudi Arabia could be the data center of many Asian
countries, including, of course, Japan. So, I see very concrete short-term partnership in this area to start with, in addition, of course, of
everything related to renewable energy and traditional partnerships.
ANDERSON: Yeah. Well, it's good to have you. Thank you, Richard. Richard Attias coming to you live from Tokyo today, and thank you for staying up
because it's it is very late there. I appreciate it. Thank you.
ATTIAS: Thank you.
ANDERSON: With the Milano Cortina Olympic games coming into focus. Mikaela Shiffrin continues to impress. More on that is after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:40:00]
ANDERSON: American Alpine Skiing Star Mikaela Shiffrin continues to dominate. On Sunday in her own state, she sped to victory yet again as the
Olympic countdown continues. Carolyn Manno joining me now. Carolyn, she really is a force to be reckoned with, isn't she?
CAROLYN MANNO, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: She is. And she is looking so formidable as we approach the Milan Cortina Olympics, which is now on the
horizon and coming into view. And this happening, Becky, a year to the day, after a really significant crash that eliminated a couple months of her
season last season.
And she admitted, left her with a very severe case of PTSD, and she has worked so tirelessly to bring herself back mentally from that, and now
you're seeing the payoff on the slopes, because she is just on fire. Nobody can catch her. Nobody's been able to catch her for months now on the World
Cup circuit.
And I think it's going to continue from here, she is the song queen, no doubt about it. We'll have more on "World Sport", on Mikaela Shiffrin. A
whole lot more coming up just a couple minutes.
ANDERSON: Superb. All right. Well, folks, stick around for that. We will be back in 15 minutes with more. "Connect the World". Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[09:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
[10:00:00]
END
