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Isa Soares Tonight

U.S. to Host New Round of Talks Between Israel and Lebanon; Final Preparation in Moscow for Victory Day Parade; How Producing Ozempic Transformed a Town. U.S.-Iran Push for Renewed Diplomatic Talks on Ending War; Health Officials Race to Track Down Anyone Who May Have Been Exposed to Hantavirus on MV Hondius; U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Meet Pope Leo After a Very Public Spat Between President Trump and the Pope Over Iran. Aired 2:00-3p ET

Aired May 07, 2026 - 14:00   ET

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

[14:00:00]

RICHARD QUEST, HOST, ISA SOARES TONIGHT: And a warm welcome to one and all, I'm delighted to have you with us, I'm Richard Quest. Tonight,

sitting in for Isa Soares. As in the next hour, we could hear from Iran about a new U.S. proposal to end the war.

What we know, we'll tell you about the renewed diplomatic push. The cruise ship where people have died from the rare virus, the cruise --

the ship is on the move. Health officials are racing to track down anyone who may have been exposed.

And America's top diplomat is meeting the pope after a very public spat between the U.S. administration and the Vatican over Iran. Health

officials in at least seven countries are on the lookout for possible cases of the hantavirus which is linked to the outbreak on the cruise

ship.

The MV Hondius has now left Cape Verde and is heading to Spain's Canary Islands where 146 people from 23 different countries hope to disembark

the ship and head home. According to the World Health Organization, the W.H.O., it expects more cases to emerge, but it has stressed that

hantavirus does not spread easily, and the risk of a widespread outbreak is extremely low.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TEDROS GHEBREYESUS, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: I think everybody has the moral duty to take care of the people who are on

the ship. So, I hope those who have concerns at the Canary Island will understand and support and cooperate with the federal government.

Of course, we understand their concerns. But as I said in my statement based on the risk assessment that we have, the risk to the people in the

Canary Island is actually low.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: CNN's Pau Mosquera is tracking all of this with me now from Madrid. The ship -- when we spoke yesterday was due to arrive in the

Canaries at roughly, I think, on Saturday. Is that still the case? And I assume that the Spanish government in Madrid has basically said, listen,

this is up to us. It's stopping and they're getting off whatever you may say.

PAU MOSQUERA, CNN CORREPONDENT: That's it, Richard. Actually, the hours of the arrival of the MV Hondius have changed a little bit. So, the

latest we know is that it may arrive on Sunday around noon local time, but it could change.

And what also has changed is that finally, the cruise ship won't dock at the port of Granadilla as we were told yesterday after a meeting between

the President of the government of the Canary Islands and the Minister of Health and the Minister of Territorial Administration, they have

decided that they will just anchor the cruise ship off the coast of the port. So, it will maintain --

QUEST: Right --

MOSQUERA: A little bit of distance. And after that, what they will do then is transfer some specialists of the external health service from

the Ministry of Health to try to evaluate everybody that is on board, Richard.

QUEST: Do we know if there are other cases on board? It's not clear that I can tell at the moment. Because everybody is in their cabins and

they're all being quarantined. But do we know or have we any more cases confirmed?

MOSQUERA: So far, Richard, we know that everyone on board is still asymptomatic. Now, it is important to highlight as the W.H.O. stressed

this afternoon that the period of incubation of the hantavirus is of six weeks.

[14:05:00]

So, they expect that more cases may arise. But so far, everybody on board is asymptomatic. And authorities in Spain, they expect everybody

to continue, so until they arrive in Tenerife, Richard.

QUEST: I'm grateful, thank you. Joining me now, Dr. Amesh Adalja joins me; senior scholar from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Health

Security. Doctor, thank you. The thing about hantavirus is, it's not easy to get, but if you do get it, it doesn't usually end well.

AMESH ADALJA, SENIOR SCHOLAR, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR HEALTH SECURITY: Exactly. This is a disease that is not very communicable

between people. Even the Andes version, which is communicable between people. It's non-efficient.

But the thing is, hantavirus, when it affects your lungs and your cardiac system, can be very deadly with fatality rates reaching about 30

percent-35 percent.

QUEST: So, in those cases, in the other 60 percent or 70 percent of cases that aren't fatal, what happens? I mean, is there a treatment or

do people just recover on their own, having been given palliative care to sort of -- to build back the body's immune system?

ADALJA: So, it's lots of supportive care, which might mean oxygen, which might mean ICU level care, managing fluids, managing all the organ

systems. And some people may have relatively mild cases, but some people may have rocky cases and still recover.

But it is one of the infectious diseases that we consider high consequence, because it's usually not going to be something

straightforward. And no, there's not a specific antiviral for it. So, it's all just supportive care that you're using against the virus.

QUEST: Sorry, forgive the naive question, but why is there no care -- no cure, if you will, or no antiretroviral? Is it because it's not that

common? Is it because it's too difficult? What's the reason that no one has come up with something?

ADALJA: It's likely because it's not a very big burden of disease, even though it's worldwide and even in the United States, we might get 20

cases a year, it's not a big number. And it's big numbers that drive biotech and pharmaceutical companies to want to invest in

countermeasures against --

QUEST: Right --

ADALJA: A certain disease. So, there's not a huge market opportunity, but it is something that, you know, is lacking. It's sort of a neglected

disease because of its small -- if it's small numbers, but it has a major impact.

QUEST: So, the government in Spain says, listen, this ship is going to stop, it's going to -- we're going to take everybody off. There is no

risk. Everybody should stop getting so excited by all of this.

There's a humanitarian need. But if I was in the Canary Islands and I saw the ship about to dock next door to me, I think I could understand

the concern for those who say, well, not quite so fast. I want better guarantees. And what you're saying is, there aren't any.

ADALJA: Well, I think that there's not a major risk. I don't think that having this dock away from the Canary Islands' actual port makes much of

a difference. I think that's a political consideration. This isn't a very communicable disease that people should have been able to disembark

in the Cape Verde Islands if it were up -- if it were up to me.

This is -- a lot of people that are kind of politically positioning themselves because they don't want the specter of an infected ship in

their port, but that's not -- we have to be objective. We have to use logic and science, and that supports getting these people off the ship

and doing the tried-and-true public health principles to contain this outbreak, even though people might have these irrational anxieties with

the ship.

QUEST: So, what would you expect to happen of those people on board from your knowledge of this disease? We've got 1 to 6 weeks or however

long it is of an incubation period. Would you -- I realize this is a bit -- how long is a piece of string question, but would you expect there to

be more cases?

ADALJA: So, the transmission is going to be to those very close contacts of those original eight patients. So, we have to understand

kind of what was going on, on the ship, who was interacting with who? But I do anticipate that there likely are going to be some more cases.

I don't think all 150 people that were on that ship are exposed. I think there's probably a subset that are going to be at higher risk. And we do

anticipate maybe some of them will test positive or become ill.

QUEST: I guess at the end of the day, doctor, you know what really everybody is asking. We can -- we can dress the question up however we

like. But you know, the core question is, is this likely to be a killer virus that gets out and Armageddon follows.

And what you're telling me is, no, it's not going to. Is that right?

ADALJA: Exactly. Not every pathogen has pandemic capacity, and hantaviruses do not have pandemic capacity. This is a contained issue

relating to a virus that we know about, that spreads very inefficiently between humans. It's not on the same caliber as an epidemic or a

pandemic --

QUEST: Right --

ADALJA: Threat.

[14:10:00]

QUEST: I'm grateful, doctor, thank you very much indeed. Thank you. Now, when the Trump administration dismantled and eventually closed U.S.

aid last year, various rights groups warned of dire consequences.

And for decades, U.S. aid played that critical role in tackling poverty, hunger and inequality worldwide. Now, we're learning that the White

House plans to divert $2 billion in international health funding to pay for that shutdown.

According to a copy of the notification obtained by CNN, the money would be pulled from health programs already appropriated by Congress, and

experts say the redirected funds could result in tens of thousands of deaths.

We're awaiting on what may be an imminent response from Iran to a U.S. proposal to end the war. The Iranian media is reporting that officials

are still reviewing the details. There are some signs of hope. Iran continues to strengthen its grip on the Strait.

In a document seen by us, Tehran lays out a new set of rules for ships looking to transit the critical waterway. President Trump is optimistic

there will be a diplomatic solution soon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon, and they won't. And they've agreed to that among other

things. They want to make a deal, we've had very good talks over the last 24 hours, and it's very possible that we'll make a deal.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: And a bit of trolling online, Iran's speaker of the parliament referred to President Trump's short-lived Project Freedom as -- writing,

"Operation Trust Me Bro failed." In Islamabad is our international diplomatic editor, Nic Robertson.

You've been there quite a while now, Nic. The -- I mean, the situation, it's one of those things where it doesn't really change, but at the same

time, it's changing all the time if that makes sense.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: It makes sense to me. There's a lot that goes on and there's a lot of ambiguity about what

goes on. For example, the President of Iran today had his first ever and senior official first ever face-to-face meeting with the new supreme

leader, and what was described to be an environment where they had free communications.

That's how the President described it. Iranian official described it as a sort of an aligning of, you know, the different bits of government.

But what does it actually mean? I mean, how does it -- when you're trying to think about, well, OK, it's very late in the day here and Iran

hasn't come up with its proposal yet.

And the speaker -- the spokesman, rather at the Foreign Ministry in Tehran is saying we're still mulling it over. Is it positive that the

President has met with the supreme leader who has been, you know, Pakistani officials have been worried that the supreme leader was not

able to meet with the moderates who were getting involved in the negotiation.

And his real views weren't being communicated or his real views -- those are the hardliners or that his real views closer to the moderates. Does

this make a difference? I mean, what everyone does seem to agree is that the supreme leader is the absolute guide for what decisions officials

make in Iran about these negotiations and those who purport to speak for the supreme leader.

Talk about the $90 billion that they feel that they can make on tolls in the Strait of Hormuz. They talk about dealing with the U.S. blockade by

using missiles. So, it sounds kind of hardline. So therefore, in that you say, how can President Trump be positive that it's going to get a

response that's going to move the situation forward.

A lot of other ambiguous signals as well going on. But you know, I think let's do what we did at the beginning, which is pause, take a breath,

recognize that things don't happen quite smoothly and quite a linear fashion. But if you were hoping that --

QUEST: Right --

ROBERTSON: We were speeding towards talks; I think my caution right now is perhaps not.

QUEST: Except Nic, except we may not be speeding towards much, but the damage continues from the uncertainty and the higher oil prices come

down a bit. And that's not really -- I mean, no one is -- that's the difficulty, Nic. That's the difficulty.

ROBERTSON: Well, it is, and they sort of go up and come down, and the President's been able to sort of manage them to a degree. I mean, look,

obviously, the overall trend has been very negative. But it's that boiling water syndrome -- the water starts bubbling and the President

turns it down to simmer.

And everyone -- and everyone gets used to that temperature, and then it goes up again and he turns it down to simmer. We're in that -- we're in

that kind of environment, I think. But the tensions that are playing out in the background, Iran wants the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon

or Hezbollah to be absolutely, you know, as tight-locked as a ceasefire seems to be mostly in the gulf region at the moment.

[14:15:00]

And frankly, it's not. That's been a key plank, and it -- and it looks like it's being set on fire. So, there are tensions that can bring down

this waiting period and make it even harder to get the agreement. And in that environment, the water will get hotter --

QUEST: Right --

ROBERTSON: And it will just keep getting hotter until the talks happen, and somebody turns the gas off.

QUEST: I love the analogy. Thank you, sir. Assuming they can afford to pay the bill for the gas, but you can't -- I get your point. Thank you,

Nic Robertson in Islamabad, it's late at night. America's top diplomat is Marco Rubio, and he's in the Vatican or at the Vatican with the pope.

The State Department says the two discussed Middle East and topics of mutual interest in the Americas. This week follows weeks of tensions

with President Trump criticizing the pope for opposing the war with Iran. Our Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb is with me from Rome.

Good evening to you, Christopher. It's a tricky one for Marco Rubio. He dares not -- I mean, I guess for any of the faithful who go to negotiate

with the pope at the same time as they have dual -- the Vice President is the same. They have dual responsibilities. It's tricky.

CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I think that's right. It's very tricky for him given what President Trump had been saying

about the pope until very recently, these extraordinary broadsides or you know, pot-shots against Pope Leo, the first American pope.

Of course, and that did make it difficult for Secretary of State Marco Rubio today, but he had a significant amount of time in the Vatican. He

was there for around two and a half hours. He sat down with the pope for more than 45 minutes. There was a lot discussed.

We're told that, you know, the conflict in the Middle East was on the agenda, so, was the plight of the population in Cuba. That's something

the Vatican is concerned about. But there's obviously big tensions and disagreements.

You know, Pope Leo has spoken out about the war in Iran. He's also spoken out about the treatment of immigrants in the United States. And,

you know, his whole leadership as pope is in stark contrast with that of President Trump.

So, this really was an attempt to cool the rhetoric and rebuild some of the diplomatic relationship that has been damaged in recent weeks.

QUEST: Christopher, I'm grateful. Christopher Lamb is in Rome tonight. Thank you. As you and I continue, well, Brazil's leaders going to

Washington, and there, they'll be meeting with President Trump. Now, the two leaders have had a contentious relationship. What they would talk

about when we return.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:20:00]

QUEST: It has been a year that's been marked by insults, a tariff fight and deep policy disagreements. Now President Trump is meeting his

Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at the White House today. They're expected to talk about crime-fighting and to access to

rare earth minerals.

And the planned meeting follows the President, U.S. President threatening to strict-tariffs to pressure Brazil to drop the prosecution

of the former President Jair Bolsonaro. Our Brazil correspondent, Americo Martins joins me from London, and Kristen Holmes is in

Washington.

Let's start with you, Kristen, is President Trump likely to give much ground here? Is he going to be nice?

KRISTEN HOLMES, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Richard, this is actually become quite a scene here at the White House. The Brazilian

press just left the White House, and this is the first time that we've seen this happen since I have been covering President Trump in the

second term, where he was supposed to have an open spray.

That's of course, when the pool goes in, talks to the two leaders. Generally, this is a point in which President Trump takes a number of

questions, they have a small introduction and then the press leaves. That was canceled. The press was sitting outside waiting. They were told

to go back.

They'd be called on when they were needed. And now the Brazilian press is leaving. And it seems as though this meeting is over. So, we're

trying to get answers on what happened behind closed doors. Was it because of any kind of acrimony?

Was it because tensions grew high? We simply don't have the answers right now. But again, this is not how this usually plays out. Well,

obviously, we've seen this multiple times with these various leaders. And I will be clear, there are times in which President Trump doesn't

open these up to the press, and then they just have their meeting behind closed doors.

But this is a specific instance in which we were expecting to see the two leaders sit down together, and that just --

QUEST: Right --

HOLMES: Never happened. The doors were closed.

QUEST: Let's go to Americo, we'll come back to you on that point. What do you think was going on, Americo Martins? Do you think that the

Brazilians basically said, we are not having any of this Oval Office nonsense?

AMERICO MARTINS, CNN BRAZIL INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No, Richard, the Brazilian President left the White House. He's going -- he's

expected to give an interview now to the Brazilian press in the Brazilian Embassy in Washington. That was scheduled after the meeting

with President Donald Trump.

And according to some sources of the Brazilian government, the meeting went well. President Lula posted some pictures, friendly pictures with

President Trump, but you never know because obviously, there is a lot of sticking points to the relationship between the two countries.

So, the Brazilian government is saying the meeting went well. The Brazilian President is going to give an interview to the -- Brazilian

President -- the Brazilian Embassy, in a few minutes. We hope, and the pictures, at least, that they are portraying --

QUEST: Right --

MARTINS: Are of a friendly meeting. So, that's what we have so far.

QUEST: Kristen, I noticed when his majesty King Charles was there, they didn't spray it either. And I guess -- or they're not in the -- they

were the usual way. I guess for want of a better word, the Zelensky incident or even the Merz incident or any of the time where the U.S. has

ambushed a foreign leader in that other seat. Do they have a right to say no?

HOLMES: They do have a right to say no. And that's likely what happened with the king. I mean, we also knew when the king was coming, that there

was the potential for some kind of awkward moment if they were to have a spray.

For example, President Trump standing next to the king talking about Keir Starmer or insulting Keir Starmer is not something that the royals

want out there. But that was negotiated ahead of time. These are not usually things that are sprung on these leaders, particularly when it's

on his public schedule. These are usually things that the advance --

QUEST: Right --

HOLMES: Office here at the White House talks about with the various principals on the other side of this, they determine what's going to

happen. The fact that this was canceled last minute, that is what is really notable here, just given that this is just not how these things

usually play out.

QUEST: Kristen, I'll let you get back to your duties and I'll continue with Americo Martins. Americo, just finally to you alone, on this

question of Bolsonaro, is there any evidence that this all was going to make any grounds on that?

[14:25:00]

MARTINS: No, the Brazilian government made very clear from the beginning when President Trump slashed the tariffs on Brazil, that there

was nothing the Brazilian government could do. Because Brazil is a democracy, has an independent judicial system, and they could not

interfere with the supreme court. And I think that became very clear to the White House afterwards.

QUEST: Yes --

MARTINS: The Brazilian government act to reduce the damage on that and to reinstate that, that was an issue for the Brazilian -- of Brazilian

sovereignty. And after a lot of effort, the Brazilian government managed to put the two men together. Before in Malaysia, in the --

QUEST: Right --

MARTINS: When the U.N. Security Council happened and now. So, I think they work hard to make some sort of connection between them.

QUEST: Thank you. It's you I'm going to let go, Americo, because it's Kristen who is now back with me. Calm, things are moving even as we're

speaking. Tell me what we've got.

HOLMES: Yes, we've just seen now a post from President Trump talking about this meeting, and he's saying it went well. This is what he put on

Truth Social. He said that the President was very dynamic. He said they talked about many topics, including trade, specifically tariffs.

The meeting went very well. That's obviously a key point here, saying "our representatives are scheduled to get together to discuss certain

key elements, additional meetings will be scheduled over the coming months as necessary."

Obviously, trade and tariffs were set to be one of the top issues that the two discussed. President Trump has kind of been whiplash with

Brazil, giving them some of the strictest tariffs, trying to use tariffs to stop Brazil from prosecuting his pal Bolsonaro, trying to punish

Brazil through tariffs, through various things. Then he has pulled them back at times.

But again, they have had a pretty contentious relationship at various times, including insulting each other publicly. But this also lends to

other options as to why they didn't potentially open this meeting, one of them being it could potentially be nothing about this meeting with

Brazil at all. But also, given that we know that the U.S. --

QUEST: Yes --

HOLMES: Is waiting any second to get a response from Iran on a proposal that they sent over to try and end the war. So, it's always possible

that there are other bigger factors. They didn't want the press in there.

They wanted President Trump to be moving on to something else. So, obviously, all things -- we're trying to work our sources on right now

to get to the bottom of.

QUEST: Of course, it's when -- the reading of the tea leaves of these - - of these posts as extraordinary. Right, Kristen, I'm grateful, Americo, I'm grateful to both of you. Thank you, when there's more to

report, both come back immediately.

Nearly seven years after his death, a suicide note allegedly written by Epstein has now been made public. A federal judge unsealed the note on

Wednesday in the criminal case involving the convicted offender's former cell mate. Now, the cellmate says he found the note in a book right

after Epstein's first suicide attempt in jail.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

NICHOLAS TARTAGLIONE, EPSTEIN'S FORMER CELLMATE: It was in my book, yes, when I got back into the cell, I opened my book to read and there

it was. And he wrote it and stuck it in the book. And that was, I believe, the reason why he stopped saying -- because he didn't want to

go to suicide watch because I think his first thing was, oh, yes, he tried to blame me for attacking him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: The note, which has not been authenticated, said in part, "they investigated me and found nothing. It is a treat to be able to choose

one's time to say goodbye." As we continue, Russia prepares to host victory day celebrations. Don't expect to see tanks in Red Square. In a

moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:30:00]

QUEST: The U.S. is getting ready to host a new round of talks between Israel and Lebanon next week in Washington. The Trump administration is

working to extend a fragile ceasefire, even while assisting Israel with deadly attacks. An Israeli source says a strike in Beirut yesterday was

coordinated in advance with the United States, the first strike in the Lebanese capital since the ceasefire was announced. Israel's prime

minister says it killed a senior Hezbollah commander.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): This is the same senior terrorist who led the plan to conquer the north. He

thought he could continue directing attacks against our forces and our communities from his covert terrorist headquarters in Beirut. I say to

our enemies in the clearest terms, no terrorist has immunity.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: Final preparations are underway in Moscow ahead of Saturday's annual Victory Day parade. President Putin is hosting a scaled back

commemoration of the 81st anniversary of Russia's part in the defeat of Nazi Germany. Russia's defense ministry announcing a ceasefire, which

goes into effect on Friday, threatening consequences for Ukraine if it disrupts the planned celebrations.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's president is returning to the Middle East as much of the world focuses the switches away from the war with Russia. Mr.

Zelenskyy looks to strengthen his position. He's meeting leaders in Bahrain, the latest Middle East country with which they're offering to

lend a hand with drone warfare experience.

With me now from Kyiv, Dmitry Kuleba, the former Ukrainian minister for foreign affairs. The strategic relationships here are getting ever more

interesting and even more complicated because you now have Ukraine assisting many of these countries in the Gulf with anti-drone technology

and drone warfare, don't you?

DMYTRO KULEBA, FORMER UKRAINIAN MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Well, you are absolutely correct. This seems to be a beginning of a beautiful

relationship. It's not to say that we didn't enjoy good relations with these countries before that, but security is something that bounds

nations together. And President Zelenskyy acted, I think, in the best fashion possible under the circumstances to grab the opportunity.

QUEST: What is it now -- I mean, we've got this ceasefire on Friday from the Russian side. And the warning to Ukraine, don't even think of

doing anything whilst we're doing it. I mean, is this something that's likely to be on it on both sides?

KULEBA: No, listen, Putin feels weak these days. He feels threatened. He needs his parade to go without any problems caused by Ukraine or

anyone else. So, he's doing everything he can to secure that. But in sending all of these messages, Russia actually projects its weakness

because if they're so strong, they shouldn't be afraid of anything. Let's say Ukraine that they don't even treat seriously.

QUEST: You know, we're at this rather difficult -- well, it's been difficult for you for four years. But we're at this stage where it's not

easy to see what comes next because the U.S. becomes more disengaged.

[14:35:00]

Yes, the Europeans are talking about the $90 billion package that they're putting in place to assist financially. Militarily, we now know

that there is a shortage of supplies of certain anti-missiles protection. So, you're getting to the point where you can rely less and

less on U.S. assistance.

KULEBA: We are learning. We are learning how to rely mostly on ourselves. And it's a big shift. Let me say just one thing. Two years

ago, Ukraine pleaded with America and with Europe to provide long range missiles to strike targets deep into in Russia and weaken its war

effort. Two years later, Ukraine produces this long strike missiles and drones, insufficient quantity and insufficient quality to conduct these

strikes on their own.

So, it's not to say that Ukraine is not learning its lessons. It does. And unfortunately, I have to say that there is a war ahead of us. It's

quite clear what lays ahead. There will be war. The only difference is that while we spent the last four years following the news from the

front line, I think the main provider of news this year at least will be the rare in both countries, not the front line. The front line will be

more or less steady, but the increased number of long-range missiles from both sides will make it very difficult.

QUEST: Right. And on this question of financial support that the E.U. is now putting in place, I'm assuming this long-term -- medium to long-

term financial support, the fact that Orban's gone at Hungary, yes, there are one or two other truculent ones who could sort of make a bit

of difficulty, but essentially, the lack of Orban means this is much more likely to all now go through.

KULEBA: Yes, you are absolutely correct on the financing, on defense spendings, things are going to improve. I wouldn't expect much progress

on the accession track, because what happens with the departure of Orban is that those who had stayed before his back -- behind his back before

he left, will be exposed now with their skeptical views on the pace of Ukraine's accession to the E.U. But on other fronts, everything will be

more or less sustainable.

QUEST: I'm grateful to you, sir. Thank you for joining us tonight. As we continue a lot more, this is CNN. Good evening.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:40:00]

QUEST: South Korea has had an explosive global influence from award- winning films to K-beauty and film. In the premiere episode of the new CNN original series "K-Everything." Daniel Dae Kim explores Korea's

booming music industry with K-pop royalty Psy and steps inside the studio behind Korea's biggest hits. Isa was lucky enough to catch up

with Daniel ahead of the launch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DANIEL DAE KIM, ACTOR AND HOST, "K-EVERYTHING": You know, the thing that struck me about Korea and continues to strike me is that, you know,

they are a country that throughout its history has been colonized and experienced a number of wars.

You know, there was World War II and then the Korean War, almost one right after the other. And from the time of war and dictatorship and,

you know, and poverty, in a few short generations they've risen from a third world country to one that is as modern, if not more modern than

any place on the planet. And I just thought I wanted to get under the hood of how and why that could happen. What were the secret ingredients

of the culture that allowed it to take this place?

ISA SOARES, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: And you have such an incredible vantage point. Of course, your parents are both Korean, you're Korean-

American. And I love that your parents are both part, at least of the episode I saw, and I'll speak about that in just a moment because I

thought that was really beautiful.

But I also wrote down what you said right at the beginning. You said, when I was a kid, it was not cool to be Korean. You also spoke about

lunchboxes at school being the subject of shame. Look, as a Portuguese, we eat a lot of fish. I was also a subject of shame. I wonder, though,

at what point, Daniel, you felt that the world was waking up to the K- everything. When did you realize that?

KIM: That's a great question. I think when "Parasite" won the Academy Award, that was a watershed moment, I think, for Korean culture because

it was not something that was limited to just film festivals around the world, but it won the most prestigious award in our industry. And that

was an undeniable marker of things changing.

And it came, you know, at a time also where there was more of an awareness of K-pop and Korean food. Like, right around that time, in

Korea towns in Los Angeles and New York, you saw a lot more non-Koreans going to the restaurants for the very first time. And I would have

people coming up to me right around that time going like, hey, I love K- barbecue. But now, people say like, well, I love kimchi, I love tteokbokki, I love all of these other things.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

It's big. Looks like we're going to make a lot of kimchi. Dad, this is your first time ever making this, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. Ever. I think.

KIM: Mom is a pro. When I was a little boy growing up in America, my non-Korean friends would come to my house and my mom would be making

kimchi or there would be kimchi in the house and they would come in and say, oh, what is that terrible smell? What is that smell? And so, it

made me feel bad about the kimchi that I love, you know. But now it's so funny that so many non-Koreans love kimchi.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KIM: So, the sophistication level of people's knowledge of Korean food has risen, you know, substantially. And that's been really fun to watch.

When people say, hey, you know, kimchi is a superfood. I know about its antibiotic properties. I'm like, I'm all I'm still touched and I'm a

little like surprised to hear that kind of compliment.

SOARES: Yes. And look, my kids love kimchi. One's 10, one is eight. I didn't know what kimchi was when I was their age. So, that is

incredible. Speaks so much to the point you were making. You were talking about, of course, "Parasite." And I wonder from your experience,

because I know you have been a longtime advocate for better representation in Hollywood, just really picking up from that.

Do you think that as Korean culture becomes increasingly visible globally, as you're talking about culture, food, everything else that

you mentioned here, do you think that momentum is translating or are you seeing it, Daniel, that being translated into meaningful opportunities

for Asian actors and storytellers in Hollywood?

KIM: It's a great question. To the first part, I would say, yes, there is more of an influence of Korean culture into our entertainment than

I've ever seen. You know, when you go to a BTS or a Blackpink concert and, you know, it's they're selling out the biggest stadiums in the

country and you have people of all races, ages and genders singing songs in Korean when they're not Korean is something I never thought I would

see in my lifetime. So, that is massive.

[14:45:00]

As far as its impact on Korean-Americans, that's a more nuanced question because you may remember in the 1980s, there was a Hong Kong cinema wave

where they brought over directors like John Woo and Wong Kar-Wai and we thought at that time, maybe that would lead to more work for Asian-

Americans. It didn't.

And, you know, there is a perception of Hollywood where they want the people who are the most successful and if that means that those actors

would be Korean, then they'll hire Koreans. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're going to hire Asian-Americans or Korean-Americans. And so,

there needs to be some synergy between the two groups where they show an appetite to work with each other. So, it can actually help both sides

progress.

SOARES: And so, then let me go back to what I was that I hinted at earlier and was your parents, because I found it really lovely that you

included your parents and their story in this documentary, in this series. And I wonder what they took away from your visit and from the

journey to Korea.

KIM: Well, you know, that was another surprising part of it to me because we shot a lot of this in Seoul and my parents were very familiar

with the city from when they lived there. My dad went to school there, as did my mom. And so, what I was surprised by was how little they

recognized the city, you know, from the time when they were going there as college students to today. We were in the heart of Seoul, in the

central part, and they did not recognize a single building in the area. And in some ways, they were more of a tourist than I was, because I'd

visited Seoul, you know, so many times over the past 10, 15 years. And so, that to me was the biggest marker of how far the city had come, how

much things had changed.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUEST: Be sure to watch the premiere episode of the new CNN original series, "K-Everything." Daniel Dae Kim explores Korea's booming music

industry with K-pop royalty Psy and steps inside the studio behind Korea's biggest hits. "K-Everything" is on Saturday on CNN. I'm sorry, I

am not with Isa on the question of kimchi. I know. I know. There we go.

Right. In a moment, the production of the weight loss drug transformed a small Danish town. A special report from Kalundborg, in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[14:50:00]

QUEST: Novo Nordisk is the maker of the weight-loss drug Wegovy, and there are very strong sales of its new pill version, which is excellent

news for the pharmaceuticals company, as well as the Danish city where Wegovy is produced. The global demand for these weight-loss drugs has

transformed the town of Kalundborg, Anna Cooban has been.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANNA COOBAN, CNN BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Sailing season is getting underway in Kalundborg.

COOBAN I can't even drive a car. But now I'm driving a boat.

MARTIN HOGH SORENSEN, KALUNDBORG RESIDENT: Yes, yes. That's nice.

COOBAN: And you just take over if this is not going well.

SORENSEN: If you turn the other way, then the boat will, in a while, turn a little.

COOBAN (voice-over): In this small city in Denmark, you either work for Novo Nordisk or you know somebody who does. Martin Sorensen spent 25

years there. His friend Anne Louise Eliason manning the sails, 27 years.

SORENSEN: It is changing because we have a lot of international workers now. So -- and that, of course, influence the picture, just the daily

life in town.

COOBAN (voice-over): In Kalundborg, past meets future. On one side of town, a medieval church. On the other, an enormous factory pumps out

weight loss drugs for the world. According to Novo, their operation sits on a site larger than Monaco.

KASPER BODKER MEJLVANG, EVP OF GLOBAL MANUFACTURING, NOVO NORDISK: I started my career here in Kalundborg some 20 years ago. And it is just

mind-blowing the transformation the site has gone through.

COOBAN (voice-over): I've been given exclusive access inside the factory.

COOBAN: So, I'm about to go into a room where they make vast quantities of semaglutide, which is the key ingredient for weight loss drugs and

diabetes drugs. And basically, it's medicine that has to be shipped all around the world. So it's a highly-sanitized environment.

COOBAN (voice-over): These injectable pens will be sent to the United States to serve its huge appetite for weight loss medications. It's

Novo's biggest market, but also home to its largest competitor, Eli Lilly. Globally as well, competition is rising.

COOBAN: So, in places like India and China, already you've got pharmaceutical companies making generics.

MEJLVANG: Yes.

COOBAN: How do you feel about that? What does it mean for this factory that we're standing in right now?

MEJLVANG: Based on the investments here, we can make huge volumes to supply to the whole world, to the demand of millions of people.

COOBAN (voice-over): Back in town, it's time for a coffee break. Shaun Gamble, originally from New Zealand, used to work for Novo before

opening his cafe on the harbor.

SHAUN GAMBLE, CAFE OWNER: I was working in what they call the warehouse and just packing all the finished products onto pallets, onto trucks and

sending them around the world.

COOBAN (voice-over): Recently Novo has hit somewhat of a rocky patch. In September, it announced thousands of layoffs globally, though mostly

across Denmark.

GAMBLE: The mood changed when you're talking with people. I mean, I also knew a few people who were laid off, buildings still going on. So,

I think we're hoping the momentum carries on again. It was just a little glitch.

COOBAN (voice-over): I asked the mayor if Kalundborg depends too much on Novo Nordisk.

MARTIN DAMM, KALUNDBORG MAYOR: We are dependent on Novo Nordisk, but not only Novo Nordisk. Many years ago, we have just one company in

Kalundborg and when it was broke, the whole city went down. So, today, we have more companies.

COOBAN (voice-over): Novo is hoping its new Wegovy weight loss pill, released in the U.S. in January, can give it a boost. And Novo's chief

executive says the company is making those pills on American soil.

MIKE DOUSTDAR, CEO, NOVO NORDISK: If you think about this Wegovy pill from the creations of the raw material all the way to tableting of the

product to packaging it and, of course, to shipping it, it's all made in the U.S., in North Carolina, by Americans, for Americans.

COOBAN (voice-over): Still, an ocean away in Kalundborg, this city of fewer than 17,000 people remains a perhaps unlikely engine of the global

weight loss rocket ship and as residents are hoping for smooth waters ahead.

COOBAN: How does it feel that this town is one of the centers of this weight loss drug revolution, and that now it's getting international

attention? How does that feel?

SORENSEN: Of course, a little proud. Yes, yes, yes.

COOBAN (voice-over): Anna Cooban, CNN, Kalundborg.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

QUEST: Now, some news to put a smile on your face, if you are a fan. The K-pop superstar group, BTS paid a visit to Mexico's National Palace

and was greeted by, Beatlemania type sight scenes. A multitude of screaming fans, probably more. Estimated around 50,000 members of the

so-called BTS Army were there. Just look at that.

[14:55:00]

The lucky fans were able to catch a glimpse of the band after their meeting -- the band's meeting, that is, with the Mexican president,

Claudia Sheinbaum.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I have known BTS since I was 13 years old. I'm 25 now, and I am extremely excited. I have been

waiting for them for almost 10 years. So, I am really, really excited.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

QUEST: The group will play their first show of three in Mexico City later today. And finally, love you and leave you with the story of the

rover versus the rock. NASA's Curiosity Rover has been roaming the Martian surface for more than 13 years, but it recently encountered a

problem unlike any in its history.

Curiosity's drill got stuck as it was boring into a rock. NASA scientists spent days vibrating the drill, spinning it in an effort to

dislodge the rock. After five days, they finally found the perfect angle to get the rock to stone to fall away. The 28-pound rock hit the Martian

surface, fractured into, there we go, into many pieces, and Curiosity continued to drill into other nearby rocks. All of that distance away,

my goodness.

Thank you for staying with us. "What We Know" is coming up next. Because the news never stops. This is CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:00:00]

END