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One World with Zain Asher
Brazilian President Lula Da Silva Visits The White House; Sources: Third Round Of Israel-Lebanon Talks Next Week; Judge Releases Jeffrey Epstein's Purported Suicide Note; Ships In Limbo After U.S. Pauses "Project Freedom"; Source: U.S. Note Using Dolphins In Strait To Detect Mines; Officials Pose New Theory About Source Of Outbreak; Top U.S. Diplomat Marco Rubio Meets With Pope Leo; Fears Grow over jet Fuel Costs, Shortages; BTS Visits Mexico's National Palace Ahead Of Concerts; Aired 12-1p ET
Aired May 07, 2026 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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ZAIN ASHER, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Coming to you live from New York, I'm Zain Asher. You are watching the second hour of "One World."
And at this hour, Presidents -- the President Brazil, Lula Inacio Luiz da Silva is at the White House. He's set to have a bilateral meeting and a
working lunch with President Donald Trump. Lula is hoping for enough goodwill to keep future tariffs away and prove that his country is a good
partner, just in terms of fighting organized crime.
Julia Vargas Jones is in Los Angeles, but first to begin with Alayna Treene at the White House.
So, I think this is notable, Alayna, because the two men, to put it lightly, don't necessarily have the best of relationships. One of the key
issues that came between them was the prosecution of a former Trump ally, ally or current Trump ally, Jair Bolsonaro.
And on top of that, the proposed 50 percent tariff set sort of Trump threatened and then implemented and then walked back against Brazilian
goods. Just take us through what the two men are going to be discussing today.
ALAYNA TREENE, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Yes. They have a very tumultuous relationship over the last year and a half. I would argue that
they have developed what I'd call a fragile truce at the moment.
We kind of saw that late last year when both President Trump and President Lula were on the sidelines of an Asia summit, you know, they embraced the
president later referred to him as being a very nice or seeming like a very nice man.
But that comes, of course, after everything you laid out, Zain, I mean, this whiplash from the Trump administration of these tariffs, really trying
to put pressure on Lula, but also the broader Brazilian government to drop the prosecution of his political ally, Jair Bolsonaro, a former right-wing
leader of Brazil.
But to get into your -- your main question on what they are expected to discuss, we are picking some of this up from our sources. And essentially,
they are expected to focus on talks on cooperation, on organized cream (ph), of course -- organized crime, excuse me, of course, also U.S. tariffs
on Brazil and Brazilian imports. That will be a key part of any conversation they have today.
And then also something that we know that this administration has cared deeply about and really has put a lot of attention and effort towards,
which is trying to make deals regarding other country's rare earth minerals.
So, they're likely to bring up, you know, the potential for the U.S. to have the ability to access some of Brazil's rare earth minerals.
I should note as well, we were expecting to see, already we know that Lula has arrived here at the White House. They are supposed to have a bilateral
meeting in the Oval Office that would be open to the press, you know, have some cameras inside there. That was set to take place around 45 minutes
ago, so we're still waiting to see what exactly we can learn from that.
But I think from everything we laid out, just about the ups and downs between this relationship between these two men, I mean, that will be an
astonishing thing, I think, to see if we do end up getting cameras in there, getting reporters to ask questions of these two men during this time
when they're having, you know, this kind of detente right now in their relationship, Zain.
ASHER: All right. Alayna, do stand by.
Julia, let me bring you in, because one of the sort of key pieces of leverage is, and you touched on this earlier, is this idea of rare earth
minerals, because Brazil has the second largest global deposits after China of rare earth minerals. And that's going to be key in terms of Trump having
leverage in his meeting with Xi Jinping, which is set to happen in a few days. Walk us through to it.
JULIA VARGAS JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it is interesting, because -- so Brazil is only behind China, Zain, in terms of how much of these rare
earths. They're up, but contrary to China, only about one percent of this, it's about 20 percent of the world's reserve, has been developed.
Now, Brazil has been very clear that they're not opening the doors and -- and giving the key to Donald Trump to come in and explore of this and take
it away. Their position has been, yes, we want to partner in the exploration of these minerals, but a great concern for this presidency is
the conservation of the Amazon rainforest, so that has to be done in a way that would be aligned with that efforts of preservation.
And also, they're saying, sure, we can develop this, but it must stay in Brazil, at least part of it. You can't just come in and ship it away.
Now, and I believe President Lula is also very aware of the position that he has. This is the chips that he's holding against the tariffs, on the
other hand, right? So, they're coming into this saying, yes, as your guests in the last hour mentioned, we need each other. We need to make this
relationship work. And it has worked in the past.
[12:05:15]
As, Alayna pointed out, the two men have had some kind of chemistry in the past, you know, they had that moment at the UNGA. But this has been a
relationship that has been detrimental, the -- the bruising of this relationship for both countries, not just Brazil with the tariffs, but as
we're seeing here on the screen, the imports from Brazil are very important for Americans. These are things that we put in our grocery carts week after
week, beef, coffee. Thirty percent of the coffee that we drink in this country comes from Brazil, orange juice.
So, yes, some of that has been rolled back, but there is a fear that once again, there would be some kind of tariff imposition because of a political
reason by the Trump administration.
You know, it all has been kind of like flying from the seat of their pants and kind of like understanding this kind of -- this relationship in the
hits that it's taken. It's not just these big pictures, there have been also, Zain, a few smaller happenings of diplomats from Brazil and from the
United States getting their visas denied, people being expelled over the past few months.
Now, that has stayed at a lower level. It hasn't risen to the presidency, but it has taken a little bit of a toll in this relationship and how these
two countries kind of sew up and patch up this would be really interesting to see.
In any way, I think my analysis would be that Lula could come victorious from this because in the past, when Donald Trump, when the United States
have punched on Brazil, he has actually hit back. He said, no, we will defend our sovereignty. We are independent. And we don't have to do what
you say.
So, for Lula, he does have a little bit of an advantage here, but we've seen from that video of Lula arriving at the White House, the posturing of
Donald Trump. There is already a -- a -- a willingness, a desire from Trump to dominate the conversation.
So, I'm very curious to see how this goes and -- and how they position themselves as they start to speak to press.
ASHER: Yes. Aren't we all? All right. Julia Vargas Jones, Alayna Treene. Thank you both so much.
Let's get some more perspective in all of this. We're joined again by Eric Farnsworth. He's a non-resident senior associate at the Center for
Strategic and International Studies. Thank you so much for joining us twice in the show, Eric.
One of the things that our correspondent there, Julia, was talking about was this idea that Lula has been very assertive, talking about Brazil's
independence, Brazil's sovereignty. We're not just going to do what you say. We're going to remain independent, despite the economic threat of
terrorists.
But what does he need to say in the room? Because it's one thing to sort of speak brashly about Donald Trump when you're not with him. It's another
thing when you are sitting in front of him and he does hold a lot of the cards.
So, what does he need to say in this actual meeting to ensure that he can sort of stave off more tariffs?
ERIC FARNSWORTH, NON-RESIDENT SENIOR ASSOCIATE, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: Well, that's exactly right. And he's got to speak to
two audiences, both his audience in Brazil, but also to the president of the United States, with whom he is sitting with.
Look, the -- the meeting itself, in some ways, is the victory here to show that the two presidents are meeting as equals and that there is a mutual
interest and the mutual agenda here.
And President Lula has received high marks in the past, that's correct, for standing up for Brazilian interests, particularly economically.
But you can take that a little bit too far as well. And then I guess to be a little bit careful, and to balance the support for Brazil's legitimate
economic interest with the equally legitimate interests of maintaining positive economic and political relations with the United States.
The wars in the Middle East have cut a couple of ways with Brazil. Brazil is a major energy producer. And so actually higher prices on oil and
gasoline have been pretty good for the Brazilian economy, but the hit on fertilizer has really hit and will hit Brazil's agriculture sector, which
is a very important sector in Brazil hard.
So, they're not out of the woods in this, and they do need the economic cooperation from the United States. And part of that is trying to forestall
additional punitive tariffs, and clearly that's going to be part of the agenda today.
ASHER: All right. Eric Farnsworth, thank you so much.
And just to recap for our audience, we're actually waiting to hear from Lula and President Trump. Those remarks set to happen any moment now.
And if we do get them in front of the camera, we will actually bring you back, Eric, so you'll be on for a third time in this show. Thank you so
much, Eric, if you can still hear me.
All right. Sources tell CNN, a third round of Israel-Lebanon talks are set for next week in Washington, D.C. It comes as a ceasefire between Israel
and Lebanon brokered by the U.S. last month is barely holding, especially in the southern part of the country.
This video shows smoke rising from Southern Lebanon. A day after Israel said it killed a senior Hezbollah commander in Beirut. Hezbollah has not
confirmed the killings.
[12:10:03]
CNN's Jeremy Diamond joins us live now from Jerusalem. So, just in terms of this next round of talks, it's not necessarily going to be just with
diplomats, but my understanding is that you're going to have the Lebanese president and also Netanyahu in the room as well.
Just walk us through what we know for sure at this point, Jeremy.
JEREMY DIAMOND, CNN JERUSALEM CORRESPONDENT: So, we're not quite there yet, Zain. We don't expect that there will be a meeting yet between the Israeli
prime minister and the Lebanese president, although that certainly is President Trump's stated goal here.
What we expect next Thursday will be quite similar to what we have seen in the past, another round of preparatory talks between the Israeli and the
Lebanese ambassadors to Washington in order to set the table for the -- to create the right conditions in order for Israel and Lebanon to have the
kind of substantive diplomacy that could lead to some kind of arrangement to disarm Hezbollah and Lebanon and ultimately normalize relations between
Israel and the Lebanese government.
But we are a long ways away from that actually taking place, because there are still a number of challenges standing in the way of that more
substantive diplomacy.
We saw just last night as the Israeli military carried out its -- this strike in the Lebanese capital of Beirut targeting the commander of
Hezbollah's elite, Radwan Force, killing him in a strike that took place on an apartment building in the southern suburbs of that Lebanese capital.
It was the first Israeli strike that we have seen in Beirut since the ceasefire came into effect three weeks ago. And, of course, that's notable
because of where the strike actually took place.
But it's also worth noting that there have been daily Israeli strikes, almost daily Hezbollah fire towards Israeli troops in Southern Lebanon as
well as in northern Israel since this ceasefire took effect three weeks ago.
Israeli strikes have killed more than 400 people in Lebanon. But again, most of those strikes have taken place in Southern Lebanon, not in the
Lebanese capital, which is viewed as -- as somewhat crossing a red line here.
But the Lebanese government, you know, the president has made clear that, first of all, in order for this meeting with Netanyahu to actually
eventually happen, he needs to see an actual ceasefire, a true halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanese soil.
But at the same time, he's also made clear that this is a train that's moving in one direction. The train of Israel, Lebanese diplomacy has left
the station and everything is headed in the direction of continuing that diplomacy at the behest of the United States, from the Israeli point of
view, and from the Lebanese point of view.
We have seen now already for more than a year that there has been a real political will inside of Lebanon by this current Lebanese government to try
and disarm Hezbollah, to get to us a place where there are better relations with Israel and kind of ending this, what many in Lebanon believe is the
malign influence of Iran that is propping up Hezbollah and causing problems for people across Lebanon.
But again, a lot needs to happen in order for that to take place. And as of now, the ceasefire that currently exists in Lebanon is really won mostly in
name only. Zain.
ASHER: And, Jeremy, thank you so much for clarifying this idea that it is the U.S., it is Washington that is putting pressure on Aoun to sit down
with Netanyahu. But, of course, that has not been confirmed yet. That would be, if it was to happen, a very high stakes meeting and could inflame
tensions within Lebanon. But once again, that has not been confirmed just yet.
Jeremy, thank you so much for putting that out. Appreciate it.
All right. Voters are heading to the polls today in England, Scotland, and Wales. Almost 5,000 council seats are up for grabs in England and all seats
in the Scottish and Welsh parliaments are being contested in Northern Ireland. There are no elections there until May of next year.
Meantime, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer seen here on the left of your screen, is not expected to face a U.K. general election until 2029. But
observers say today's contest could be viewed as the equivalent of the American midterms.
What would have been considered a key piece of evidence in the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein's 2019 death, has now been made public.
On Wednesday, a federal judge released a suicide note allegedly written by the convicted sex offender. The note which has not been authenticated had
been sealed for years as part of an unrelated criminal case involving Epstein's former cellmate.
Katelyn Polantz has more.
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KATELYN POLANTZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: A note that a cellmate of Jeffrey Epstein says he discovered inside a book in 2019. That
cellmate says this is the suicide note of Jeffrey Epstein in an attempt on his life where he tried to kill himself and did not succeed. He survived
that suicide attempt and then later killed himself weeks later.
[12:15:00]
This note, the sort of thing that many, many people would have been wanting to see this earlier that was not released by the Justice Department when
they put out millions of files for transparency around Jeffrey Epstein, his time in jail, his death, as well as his crimes of sex trafficking.
But this note, it was in the hands of this cellmate for quite some time, seven years. And then "The New York Times," just in the last month or so,
went to court and said, this should be released. This cellmate has been talking about it publicly.
There's a little bit more from that cellmate, Nicholas Tartaglione, a man who's serving life in prison for a quadruple murder. He was speaking to a
podcaster earlier this year.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICHOLAS TARTAGLIONE, JEFFREY EPSTEIN'S FORMER CELLMATE (through telephone): It was in my book, yes, when I got back into the cell, I -- 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 -- 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)
POLANTZ: But now this note, in the public domain, released by the judge, and we can see what it looks like. This scribbled out words by supposedly
Jeffrey Epstein, what the cellmate says was Epstein's handwriting.
What it says is, they investigated me for a month, found nothing, so 15- year-old charges resurrected. It is a treat to be able to choose one's time to say goodbye. What you want me to do, burst out crying, no fun, not worth
it.
Back to you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. Still to come here on "One World."
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DR. MARIA VAN KERKHOVE, ACTING DIRECTOR FOR EPIDEMIC AND PANDEMIC THREAT MANAGEMENT, WHO: This is not COVID. This is not influenza. It spreads very,
very differently.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: What international health officials are saying about the deadly Hantavirus and its spread as they confirm two more cases of the disease.
And Iran is laying out new rules for the Strait of Hormuz. We look at what they mean for ships that have been stuck in the critical waterway.
And it's not a whale tail. How dolphins are helping the U.S. military on the battlefield, just ahead.
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ASHER: Sources tell CNN that Tehran is expected to respond today to a U.S. proposal to end the war.
Among the critical sticking points are, security and authority in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran says that safe passage through the Strait will be
possible under new procedures.
A document seen by CNN shows the vessels will be required to give details such as their country of origin, destination country and nationalities of
owners, managers and crew.
[12:20:03]
Many shipping companies and seafarers are still in limbo after the Trump administration reversed course on a plan to guide ships through the Strait
of Hormuz.
CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich is following the story for us from New York. Vanessa, what more can you tell us?
VANESSA YURKEVICH, CNN BUSINESS AND POLITICS CORRESPONDENT: Well, listen, this new proposal by Iran, trying to get folks to move through the Strait
of Hormuz with this new port authority and the short-lived Project Freedom really didn't change a lot for the 1,600 vessels that are stuck in the
Strait of Hormuz and the more than 10,000, upwards of 20,000 seafarers that have been stuck on those ships.
Project Freedom was something that the president announced earlier this week, but then quickly reversed course on and pause. So, it was in really
process for 48 hours.
During that time, we know that the Trump administration was calling shipping lines and offering the military guide out of the Strait of Hormuz.
We do know that about two, just two vessels took them up on that offer, out of 10 vessels total that moved out of the Strait on Monday.
That is really just such a microscopic percentage compared to the 120 vessels, Zain, that normally move through the Strait of Hormuz on a daily
basis, moving 20 percent of the world's oil.
And that is why, because there's essentially been a closure of the Strait for about two months now where vessels do not feel safe moving through that
region, you have seen oil prices and then gas prices rise because of it.
Maersk was one ship that -- one company that confirmed that their ship, in fact, did make it out with a military guide. Hapag-Lloyd, another major
shipping company say -- says that they have four ships still stuck in the Strait.
They were looking to use the U.S. military. But since the pause and since a strike on a vessel on Monday night resulting in injuries, they're going to
have to relook at how they're going to get those ships out.
Zain, this is a really, really specific calculation. One that, yes, a few ships and shipping lines took during Project Freedom, but that most
shipping lines will not entertain. You're talking about what could happen with personnel injuries or worse, people being killed, strikes and hits to
multi-million dollar vessels that are so critical to the infrastructure and business of these shipping lines.
And then, Zain, the fact that insurers will not ensure these vessels and these companies during wartime. So all of this plays into the calculation
of trying to get out of the Strait of Hormuz. And the majority, the vast majority of shipping lines have just been waiting it out.
We know, according to analysts, we've spoken to, really, what everyone is waiting for is a peace deal, a structured peace deal, and a peace deal that
both sides commit to for a substantial amount of time before these shipping lines decide to move cargo and personnel out of this region.
We know that many folks have been stuck there for over two months now. That is a long time to be stuck in one place. But, of course, for these shipping
lines, the safety of cargo and personnel, above all, is really paramount here.
And we know that a lot of shipping lines are just waiting for some sort of answer that a peace deal is coming, coming soon, and just waiting to see
how that all plays out.
No shipping line executive telling Gene Soroka, the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, wants to be the first to make a move. They want to
see how this plays out and, of course, get everyone out very safely, Zain.
ASHER: All right. Vanessa Yurkevich, thank you so much.
All right. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says that Iran is not using dolphins to confront the U.S. Navy as concerns mount over Tehran laying
mines in the Strait.
Hegseth would not, however, confirm or deny whether the U.S. is using Kamikaze dolphins. It may not be widely known, but the U.S. Navy has been
using dolphins for more than 50 years.
CNN's Haley Britzky is here to explain. I mean, this is something I honestly knew nothing about, this idea that there is this decades-old
program with the U.S. Navy that they can actually use dolphins to detect mines potentially in the water. Just walk us what we know.
HALEY BRITZKY, CNN U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER: Yes, Zain. So, this is a program I think a lot of people don't know a lot about, but as you said,
it's been happening for decades, certainly no stranger to the -- to the U.S. military.
But essentially what this does is the program trains and bottlenose dolphins, as well as sea lions, in the Pacific anyway, to detect things
underwater, whether that's mines or something else, and also to sort of guard ports and alert them of, you know, people coming in towards the port
when the U.S. is trying to protect the port.
An expert I spoke to pointed to 2003 in Southern Iraq when the U.S. used dolphins to look around the area for mines.
And what they do essentially is they drop these marker buoys next to the mines. That's what they're trained to do. And so that a -- a U.S. diver can
go down and remove the mine essentially and -- and clear the area and make it safer.
[12:25:04]
Of course, that's something that was asked about in the context of the Strait of Hormuz. We know that Iran has been laying mines in the area,
that's something the U.S. military has had to contend with.
But the expert I spoke to said that they would not be used, the dolphins, that is, would not be used in active hostilities like this. Largely,
they're used after hostilities have ceased to come in and clear the area.
So a source familiar confirms that the U.S. is not using dolphins in the Strait of Hormuz now, nor would they as sort of this situation is obviously
very ongoing and active.
But something that I do want to point out, because I know there's always concern about animals in this environment and being used in this way, the
expert I spoke to said that, you know, something incredible about this program is that these dolphins have the opportunity to leave the program
and go back into the open water every time they go out for training or for operations. And that they continuously choose to come back because they
like the free food, who wouldn't? They like the safety that -- that is provided against predators.
And they like the game. We know that dolphins are very intelligent. So, it's sort of a game for them to -- to find these things and kind of do this
work. And so that's, you know, something that -- that to keep in mind with this program. But as of right now, the U.S. is not using dolphins in the
Strait of Hormuz. Zain.
ASHER: All right. Haley Britzky live for us there. Thank you so much.
All right. Still to come on "One World," we're learning new details about the cruise ship with the Hantavirus outbreak, as health officials race to
contain the spread.
And later.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(CHEERING)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: I think it's safe to say that Mexico City is pretty excited this week. Details ahead on the red carpet treatment to K-pop sensation BTS.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Welcome back to "One World." I'm Zain Asher.
International health officials are working to trace and treat people who may have been exposed to the deadly Hantavirus outbreak that's linked to
the cruise ship, MV Hondius.
The World Health Organization has confirmed five cases of the disease and suspects in three -- suspected, rather, in three other patients.
[12:30:05]
All of this as the ship heads to the Canary Islands in Spain. According to the WHO, the risk of contracting the virus is low. And it spreads
differently from COVID.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VAN KERKHOVE: This is not COVID. This is not influenza. It spreads very, very differently. So, there are different precautions that people are
taking. So, we are supporting the ship's operators and the mitigation measures that they are putting on board.
And as we've said, we are working to have a proper and full disembarkment procedures step by step to support authorities in the Canary Islands for
the next stage of the people who are on board.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ASHER: CNN's Randi Kaye takes a look at how it began and where we are now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
VAN KERKHOVE: This was an expedition boat, and many of the people on board were doing birdwatching.
RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Turns out a birdwatching tour may be the source of this Hantavirus outbreak.
According to the "Associated Press," two Argentine officials investigating how this started said their government is leaning toward the idea that a
Dutch couple contracted the virus while birdwatching in the city of Ushuaia, Argentina, before boarding the ship.
The "AP" reports the couple visited a landfill during the tour and may have been exposed to infected rodents.
That 70-year-old Dutch man was the first to die on the ship, days after they left port in Argentina.
His 69-year-old wife died about two weeks later. The rest of the people on board, including nearly 150 passengers, are now on a three to four-day
journey from Cape Verde to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Spain has agreed to receive the ship there.
Upon arrival, the plan is for all passengers to be taken to a nearby airport and sent back to their home countries. The 14 Spanish citizens will
be examined and go directly into quarantine at a Madrid hospital.
KASEM HATO, MV HONDIUS PASSENGER (through translator): This is the country of Cape Verde in front of us, but it is forbidden to go down to it.
KAYE (voice-over): This travel vlogger on board posted on social media about the predicament they now find themselves in.
HATO (through translator): Today was supposed to be the last day of our 35- day trip on the Atlantic, but it is clear that our journey will not end here because Cape Verde refused to receive us on its coast.
KAYE (voice-over): This medical evacuation boat removed three sick people from the ship.
On their way to the Netherlands, a source from Spain's health ministry told CNN that Morocco refused to let the plane carrying two of the evacuees land
to refuel. Instead, it made an unscheduled landing at Gran Canaria Airport to do so.
VAN KERKHOVE: People are usually infected through contact with infected rodents, or their urine, their droppings, or their saliva. Human-to-human
transmission is uncommon.
KAYE (voice-over): Yet in this case, the World Health Organization believes the virus may have been transmitted person-to-person on board. Following
lab tests confirmed this is the Andes strain of the virus, which has spread among close contacts before.
VAN KERKHOVE: We're also working with authorities for anyone that has left the ship.
KAYE (voice-over): In fact, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health has confirmed that a passenger who traveled on the first leg of the voyage and
disembarked at St. Helena on April 24th has now tested positive for Hantavirus. That passenger, according to the cruise company, is being
treated at a hospital in Zurich. His wife, who was with him, has not shown symptoms, but is self-isolating as a precaution.
Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. Time now for "The Exchange." Joining us live now is epidemiologist and infectious disease expert, Dr. Ravina Kullar. Dr.
Ravina, thank you so much for being with us.
I think the sort of main question I have is really about contact tracing at this point in time because, as I understand it, after the first passenger
passed away on the ship, there were several passengers that were actually allowed to disembark and go back to their home countries.
So in terms of contact tracing, how does that process work?
DR. RAVINA KULLAR, INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERT AND EPIDEMIOLOGIST: Yes. Thank you, Zain, for having me on.
So, you know, as you stated about over 20 passengers disembarked from the ship and they dispersed throughout various countries. And so how contact
tracing happens is that it's important to getting in contact with those individuals and then also find out from those individuals who they came
into contact with as well.
So, being that this virus has an incubation period of about eight weeks, so that means that a patient, a individual could take up to eight weeks to
develop symptoms. Those individuals -- it's really important that those individuals that disembarked to get -- get a hold of them and to have them
quarantined for at least eight weeks.
ASHER: However, you -- I mean, you're the doctor, not me. So, explain to me if this is accurate or not. Once you find out who those passengers have
come into contact with and you get their names, you then have to figure out, or do you have to figure out who those people have also come into
contact? I mean, doesn't it go on and on and on? So, where does it end? How does that work?
[12:35:02]
KULLAR: That's correct, yes. I mean, that's why it's so important to have boots on the ground at each of the countries to really have the
organizations are here at the U.S., we have the CDC. Other countries have their authorities as well to really work on. They have contact tracing.
They have experts that really deal with these outbreak -- outbreak cases.
And so having those individuals -- you're right, so it's a chain -- it's almost like a wildfire, having those individuals that disembarked really
finding out the exact -- exact individuals that they came into contact with and who they came into contact with.
So, really getting that information from them is so critical in this situation to prevent this from being a wildfire outbreak situation and --
and potentially another pandemic.
ASHER: Especially because so many people you come into contact with are people that you don't necessarily know, as in people that you are sitting
next to on a train, for example, or on a bus. I mean, that's what makes this so scary.
However, authorities do say that the risk of the wider public is low. And I think that is important to underscore.
When it comes to how Spain is handling this, what is the right way to handle quarantining, yes, of course, the sort of native Spanish people,
Spanish passengers who are on board that ship, but also quarantining the other passengers who are disembarking and going back to their home
countries?
How long should they be quarantined in Spain for? Should they be quarantined in Spain? Should they be allowed to go back to their home
countries and -- and quarantine there? There's been mixed reports about how Spain is going to be handle -- handling this.
KULLAR: You're right. I think Spain is still trying to figure out how to handle this situation. And from being an epidemiologist and being aware of
this virus, the way it works, it's really important that these individuals that disembark, they get quarantined in a single location where they have
no contact with anyone else.
So them being sent to our airport where they could come into contact with other individuals, in my view, is not the appropriate way to go. They
should be quarantined at -- at an individual location and being kept in there and -- and being monitored for any signs and symptoms that they might
-- might -- might have with the virus.
Being that, it could incubate for at least eight weeks. They need to be quarantined in that location and not leave that location for eight weeks.
ASHER: We know that the Andes strain does allow for human-to-human infection, which, of course, is scary. But again, as I mentioned, the risk
is still low.
In terms of the risk, A, the risk of contracting it from somebody else, if you happen to be sort of sitting next to them, number one, and the risk, if
you do get it to actually passing away, what -- what is the likelihood of that?
KULLAR: Yes. So, you know, we can look at the Andes outbreak that happened in 2018. And out of -- in that -- in that publication, there were 34
confirmed cases and 11 people died.
And what led to it being a super spreader event is that people came into close contact. So, you look at that publication and there was a birthday
event, there was a wake as well.
And the important aspect of this virus is that you have to -- the patient has to be symptomatic. You have to be in close proximity --proximity of
that -- close to that individual and also be -- be within close proximity for extended period of time. And then you would have a higher risk of
contracting it.
And then, you know, the important thing is once you develop those symptoms, the flu-like symptoms of fever, of muscle aches, of diarrhea, to
immediately seek treatment.
So, all we have now is symptomatic treatment. Likely those individuals would likely need to be hospitalized, put in the ICU potentially and put on
a ventilator.
But the main thing is that once you develop those signs and symptoms is to seek treatment as soon as possible.
ASHER: All right. Dr. Ravina Kullar, thank you. Thank you so much.
And I -- and I think it is once again, I've said this a couple of times already, that the risk of the public remains low. But it is obviously as
important -- important to note that those who have been in contact with anyone on that ship, with anyone who has had Hantavirus, of course, if they
do become symptomatic, they do have to treat -- seek treatment as you point out.
Dr. Ravina Kullar, thank you so much.
All right. A strong relationship. That is how the U.S. State Department describes today's meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pope
Leo.
While the purpose of this trip is not meant to be political, Rubio does have an opportunity to dampen tensions between Washington and the Vatican.
CNN's Vatican correspondent Christopher Lamb explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTOPHER LAMB, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Broadly speaking, the meeting was productive. I mean, Secretary of State Marco Rubio was inside the
Vatican for around two hours. So, it wasn't just a meeting with Pope Leo, it was also meeting other Vatican officials.
[12:40:06]
I saw a Vatican official just a few moments ago, and I asked him how he thought it went, and he said, good. And I think the fact that this meeting
happened is going to be of some encouragement for the Holy See and the Pope who clearly want to have a channel of dialogue with the Trump
administration.
Pope Leo, after all, is the first American pope. And he is someone who does seek common ground with leaders from across the world.
We know from a readout from the secretary, from the State Department's office that the meeting discussed the situation in the Middle East and a
shared commitment, quote, to peace and human dignity.
And I think there is something that perhaps the Vatican feel it can work with. But there is, of course, these unprecedented tensions between the
Pope and the President of the United States who has launched really extraordinary attacks against Pope Leo, mainly because of his opposition to
the war in Iran.
And, of course, the meeting today will probably need to be followed up by other meetings to try and mend fences and rebuild the relationship.
Of course, a lot depends on how President Trump reacts. Will he continue to attack the Pope or will there now be more harmony? I think that's still
very much in the balance.
But clearly today, a meeting that has in some ways reestablished a channel of dialogue at a time of extraordinary tension between the papacy and a
U.S. administration.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ASHER: All right. Still to come, your summer holiday travel could get much more expensive as jet fuel prices take off. A reality check on where they
land with our business reporter, just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ASHER: All right. Let's check and see how the U.S. markets are doing now. Let's take a look. The Dow is down half of one percent. S&P 500, down a
fifth of one percent. The NASDAQ, up slightly higher. This is your business breakout.
Shell says profits jumped by more than a billion dollars in the first quarter as the Iran war sent oil markets into turmoil causing what the
energy giant calls unprecedented disruption. Campaigners have renewed call for a windfall tax as households face higher energy bills.
[12:45:04]
Shipping giant, Maersk, warns, the Iran war is costing the company only half a billion dollars a month in higher fuel prices. The global trade
bellwether says inflation and weaker consumer demand could become a dangerous combination for the world economy, even as -- even if, rather, a
U.S. run peace deal is reached.
U.S. airlines spent more than $5 billion on jet fuel in March as the Iran war sent energy crisis soaring. The U.S. transportation department says
fuel costs jumped 56 percent in just one month with airlines facing their biggest crisis since the COVID pandemic.
CNN's David Goldman joins us live now from New York on -- with more on the soaring jet fuel prices.
You have Lufthansa talking about cutting approximately 20,000 flights. I mean, a lot of airlines are doing this. The United CEO talked about the
fact that, yes, air -- airline prices will have to come up. They have to sort of make up for the rising costs in jet fuel.
Just explain to us what's ahead for us during summer travel.
DAVID GOLDMAN, CNN BUSINESS SENIOR REPORTER: There's a perfect stew brewing for higher airfares this summer, unfortunately, Zain. I hope you bought
your summer travel tickets.
ASHER: I have not.
GOLDMAN: Oh, my goodness.
ASHER: I have lots of doubt (PH).
GOLDMAN: OK. Right after this, I want you to go and book it now. And here's why. So, jet fuel prices, as you mentioned, are up enormously this year.
And so as you talked about, airlines need to cut flights to compensate.
Now, when you sell less of something and, you know, consumers continue to demand that thing, then prices go up and that is key.
People still want to travel, whether it's revenge spending or they just want to get away. People are buying airfares for the summer and that has
created these conditions for those airfares to go up and up.
Kayak said that domestic and the United States, domestic airfares are up nine percent over the past week alone. And that's why I want you to go
right after this, Zain, in the commercial break.
So, the other thing that you need to keep in mind is Spirit went out of business. So that was two percent of all flights in the United States.
So, now, there's even less inventory. Other airlines are going to have to make up for those flights and that means less places to sit and,
unfortunately, higher prices for you and me.
ASHER: Where are you going this summer, David?
GOLDMAN: You know, OK. So, here's the thing my kids have eight weeks of camp. It's a long --
ASHER: This is going to be a long story. I said just a one word answer, then it's like, well, let me tell you.
GOLDMAN: So, it's national parks for us, I think. How about that?
ASHER: Oh, yes. OK. So no international -- no international trips.
GOLDMAN: You know, I -- I guess I can't afford it.
ASHER: It's so -- you know what, that's another -- I'm kind of hoping that maybe by the time I book, even though I'm going to wait to the very last
minute that maybe by some miracle, prices would come down.
And that's actually an important point because even if there is a deal reached, it's still going to take a while for it to trickle down to lower
prices, right?
GOLDMAN: Yes. And if there's a huge decrease in airfares, that's a bad sign, Zain. That means that we're going into a recession. We don't want
that. So, you know --
ASHER: Goldilocks.
GOLDMAN: -- it's a silver lining. That's right.
ASHER: One goldilocks. Just right.
GOLDMAN: Yes.
ASHER: OK. I think I'm going to go -- I'm probably going to go to Lagos this summer. Visit my --
GOLDMAN: Oh, that's great.
ASHER: Yes. Yes. Highly recommend Lagos.
GOLDMAN: OK. Good. All right. Maybe I'll meet you there.
ASHER: I'm going to push my home country.
All right. David Goldman, live for us. Thank you.
GOLDMAN: Thanks, Zain.
ASHER: I'm going to hold you too, and maybe like, how -- how was your trip to Lagos, David? I'm going to hold you to it.
GOLDMAN: Yes, yes, yes. OK. I'll report back.
ASHER: OK.
A German tourist has been awarded more than $1,100 after he couldn't find a sun lounger around the hotel pool while vacationing in Greece. The man
claims, the loungers were unavailable even as early as 6:00 A.M. and so he and his family were forced to lay their towels on the ground.
The traveler says that he paid around $8,500 for an 11-day trip. Judges ruled in the man's favor and against the tour operator saying that the
family's needs were reportedly unmet.
All right. Still to come, three letters for you, BTS. The K-pop sensation happily waving to fans before their concerts in Mexico City. We'll take a
closer look at what this moment means to fans and also, importantly, to Mexico's economy as well.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:50:10]
ASHER: All of those screaming fans, so happy to get a glimpse of the global sensation, BTS, from a balcony of Mexico City's National Palace. The South
Korean group waved to their thousands of fans at the Zocalo.
By their side, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. On X, Sheinbaum says, the BTS promotes a culture of peace and inclusion. Later today, BTS will
pay their first -- play their first of three shows in Mexico City.
Let's discuss all of this with Valeria Leon, live for us from Mexico City. I'm just discussing some of my producers during the commercial break. It's
quite rare to see a pop group no matter how big they are, no matter how beloved they are, meet with the country's president where they're playing
right before a concert. Just explain to us BTS' popularity in Mexico, Valeria.
VALERIA LEON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Totally. And that wasn't a concert, but it certainly felt like one here in Mexico City. We're talking of more than
50,000 BTS fans packed Mexico City's iconic Zocalo Square and just for a chance to see this K-pop supergroup for a few minutes.
The band was invited by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum ahead of their sold out concerts here in the Mexican capital.
And the scenes were extraordinary. Thousands of mostly fans screaming, crying, after waiting for hours under the sun just to see them appear.
And -- and when the members started speaking in Spanish, the crowd absolutely erupted. One of the members telling fans, I love you or Te amo
and thank you very much in Spanish, while President Claudia Sheinbaum stood beside them on the balcony of the National Palace.
And for many, this moment was especially important because getting tickets to the concerts has been almost impossible. The band show's tonight and
this weekend in Mexico City sold out extremely fast, leaving thousands of fans without tickets.
So, yesterday's public appearance became a rare opportunity for many fans to see BTS in person. Even if only for a few minutes, there were seven
minutes, around seven minutes that these members started greeting to this crowd.
And what makes this even more unusual is the role of the Mexican President herself. Months ago, Sheinbaum publicly asked the South Korean officials
for more BTS concert dates in Mexico after a demand for tickets exploded.
She said, she decided to invite the group because of what she called their messages of peace and love in their music. And the announcement caught many
people by surprise.
And now, all eyes turned to tonight's concert here in Mexico City. Expected to be one of the biggest music events of the year in the country, Zain.
[12:55:09]
ASHER: You know, I've heard people sort of liken it to Beatlemania. I mean, the popularity of BTS in -- in Mexico cannot be understated.
At one point, just about sort of seven years ago, six, seven years ago, they were a sort of a niche -- niche group, and now, they've sort of taken
over the entire country almost like the Beatles in Mexico.
Valeria Leon, live for us. Thank you so much.
And that does it for this hour of "One World." I'm Zain Asher. Thank you so much for watching. "Amanpour" is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
