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Hala Gorani Tonight
G7 Leaders Meet For First Time In Nearly Two Years; Leaders Plan To Donate 1 Billion Vaccines To Poorer Nations; CNN Speaks With Former U.K. P.M. Gordon Brown; U.K. Speeds Up Vaccine Rollout As Variant Infectious Spike; Thousands Of Olympic Volunteer Quit Over COVID Fears; Brexit Aftermath; Deadly Clashes; Nicaragua's Political Crackdown. Aired 5-6p ET
Aired June 11, 2021 - 17:00:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[17:00:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLES, PRINCE OF WALES: -- at which the global community can tackle crises when we combine political will with business ingenuity and public
mobilization. Listen (ph), we are doing it for the pandemic. So, if you don't mind me saying so, we must also do it for the planet.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HALA GORANI, CNN HOST: Well, earlier in the day, host Boris Johnson, greeted his guests with elbow bumps and smiles. You see him there with the
U.S. President Joe Biden and the First Lady, Jill Biden. And it was particularly a warm hello between the French and U.S. president. After the
two had a one-on-one conversation, Emmanuel Macron sent out an encouraging tweet saying it's time to deliver. I'm sure we will, Joe Biden.
Once everyone was in place, they gathered for the traditional family photo. But after that, the real work began. The global economy was the main focus
of today's talks and underlying it all, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic. It's something the British Prime Minister addressed right away when he
called for an equal recovery.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Be sure that we're beating the pandemic together and discussing how we'll never have a repeat of what
we've seen, but also that we're building back better together, and building back greener and building back fairer and building back more equal. And
actually more -- in a more gender neutral and perhaps a more feminine way, how about that?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Chief International Correspondent Clarissa Ward joins me now. She's been covering this G7 summit. And I understand that the U.S. President has
left the dinner and we saw the family photo with Queen Elizabeth, Her Majesty, the Queen, sitting in the center. And we were discussing earlier
how her presence is something that even seasoned world leaders would probably be at least slightly impressed by.
CLARISSA WARD, CNN CHIEF INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I think everybody's a little bit dazzled by the Queen.
GORANI: Yes. Yes.
WARD: And, you know, an interesting fact is that she met with 13 of the last 14 U.S. presidents, which is kind of extraordinary --
GORANI: Yes.
WARD: -- when you think of the breadth of history that she has witnessed. She's an institution in and of herself. So I'm sure many of the leaders
will be excited to have had that time with her.
GORANI: So, we know what the big challenges of our times are right now. There's, of course, a pandemic that we are still, depending on what country
you're in, in the middle of. There's a global economic recovery that world leaders have to think about, there is climate change, there is cyber
security. And it does make a difference to meet in person, doesn't it?
WARD: I think it really does, and for a number of reasons. First of all, we're coming out of the era of zoom diplomacy, right?
GORANI: Right.
WARD: So, for 18 months, all of these meetings have been taking place online. And it's just not the same thing, Hala. You saw as you drew
attention to that moment between Emmanuel Macron and President Joe Biden, with them touching each other as they were talking. Body language speaks
volumes as well. And you really can't replace the experience of sitting face-to-face and having conversation with someone face-to-face.
Beyond that, we're also talking about this is the first gathering in a post-Trump world. And what does that look like? What kind of a role is the
U.S. playing? How does that reshape the whole idea of the G7? I think you could kind of see that and feel that in how relaxed and seemingly pleased
they were to be in each other's presence.
GORANI: The G7 is always an evolving group, depending on who the leaders are. For instance, for the Japanese Prime Minister, this is his first G7.
For Angela Merkel, this will be her last G7. So, it's going to be interesting to see that despite the fact that these countries have shared
values, depending on who's at the top. And there's, by the way, the Japanese Prime Minister. There's Emmanuel Macron, Brigitte Macron also
walking in a little bit earlier. It is about personal relationships. Do you get on with somebody? Are you friendly with somebody?
WARD: And that is why for President Biden, this is such a natural moment for him to shine, because he has been around for so many decades.
GORANI: Yes.
WARD: He has so much experience in foreign policy. He knows most of these people quite well. He knows how to have these conversations. And diplomacy
is where he really excels. Now the challenge will be, how do you actually make substantive change? And how do you deliver on things? It's one thing
to say the right things and make the right gestures. It's another thing to actually be able to take this moment and do something definitive with it in
the face of some really serious challenges.
GORANI: Absolutely. And with the pandemic, when you talk to people who've thought long and hard about how to solve the pandemic on a global scale,
not just in rich countries, not only about promising 500 million doses, it's about funding the effort, it's about helping with distribution. These
are specifics that we don't usually get from these types of summit gathering.
WARD: We definitely rarely get those kinds of specifics.
[17:05:03]
And I think you also are going to have some people who will criticize and say, hold on a second, if we're talking about dealing with the coronavirus
pandemic and making sure that all the world's poorest citizens are also vaccinated, this needs to be a conversation that China is involved with
too. This needs to be a conversation that Russia is involved with too. We can't get into vaccine diplomacy because that can be dangerous, doesn't
necessarily benefit everyone.
GORANI: So many of these conversations, including, for instance, a minimum corporate tax. You've got to get other countries on board for it to work
and be effective. Clarissa, thanks so much. We'll be talking again in the coming days, I'm sure.
Many leaders and observers are weighing in on the summit, sharing their hopes and expectations for it. Earlier, I spoke with former U.K. Prime
Minister Gordon Brown, whose new book, "Seven Ways to Change the World", was just released this week. I asked him what he hoped G7 leaders will
achieve on COVID-19 and the economic recovery.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GORDON BROWN, FORMER BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: The first thing to do is to vaccinate the world. This is an economic crisis caused by a health
pandemic. And we've got to get rid of COVID. And we can only do that if we vaccinate the world. So, I'm more hopeful that the G7 this weekend will not
only dossier, that is give out a billion of the vaccines that are excess in the West, but will also devise a comprehensive plan, month by month to
vaccinate the world.
And they'll have to put up additional funding where 16 billion shot this year, 30 billion next year. If we had that money, then we could prevent the
disease spreading, mutating and coming back to threaten us. So, it's an act of self-insurance and self-protection, as well as an act of charity.
And we have the richest countries around the table. They are in a position to make a decision to fund this. I do hope that over the next two days,
they will decide that that's what they're going to do. So, we need an announcement on funding, as well as on doses to be shared around the world.
GORANI: Because, so far, we've only gotten this announcement both from President Biden and also the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson,
President Biden, saying that the U.S. will buy and donate half a billion Pfizer doses. The other big challenge is distribution. How do you overcome
some of those challenges in parts of the world where, as you know, the Democratic Republic of Congo, for instance, returned more than a million
doses to COVAX because they knew they couldn't roll them out before those doses expired? How do you overcome that challenge?
BROWN: Yes, I've also visited the Democratic Republic of Congo. I know the logistic problems that exists there. But look, we've got an international
organization COVAX. We've brought countries together to do global purchasing. We've also allocated money through that for capacity building
to be able to deliver on time the vaccinations before they expire. And I do think the key to this is funding the global organization that we've got,
and then getting the distribution systems at work.
And we've got to create a virtuous circle. What you do is you guarantee the funding, you have pre-ordering the vaccines, then you have the ramping up
of manufacturing factories in different parts of the world, in every continent. And then we'll be in a position to solve this problem. Now,
there's an immediate issue about the shortage of vaccines over the next few weeks and few months. And that's got to also be solved by those companies
and those countries that have excess vaccines now. But we do need to ramp up production and that needs a comprehensive plan. We've got a promise to
want to do this. We've actually got to do it now, otherwise, many, many thousands of people will die.
I think people forget sometimes that 80,000 people are dying a week. And that figure is very high, will continue to be high until vaccination is
around the world.
GORANI: But so it's not just pledges to distribute a certain number of vaccines, you're saying, funding is required. If the richest countries in
the world do not pledge more money for this vaccine, it is global vaccination effort, what is your biggest concern? What could happen? What
is the worst-case scenario?
BROWN: We're going to have two worlds, we're going to have the vaccinated who are richer and safe and we're going to have the unvaccinated who are at
risk of dying, and of course, in poverty. And I cannot imagine the resentments that will build up amongst young people, amongst doctors and
nurses in the poorest parts of the world, who are risking their lives to save lives, who need to be vaccinated now. But you know, in some countries
of Africa, less than 1 percent of people have been vaccinated. 60 percent and 70 percent in Britain and America, but if it's only 1 percent, then we
are creating two worlds.
This is a life and death decision that's being made this weekend. You know, I don't think a G7 has met under more difficult circumstances. But here's
an opportunity, if the richest countries of the world sitting around this table, can't make this decision, then I don't know who can. But this is a
decision not just about compassion, it's a decision about self-protection as well.
[17:10:10]
GORANI: Joe Biden, of course, this is his first in-person summit with world leaders since the pandemic began. It is also his first trip abroad since
taking office. Do you believe as Joe Biden is saying that America is back or are you concerned that it could all unravel in another few years if
another Donald Trump like characters elected in the U.S.? Do you have any concern in that regard?
BROWN: Well, I'm very fortunate. I've worked with Joe Biden. I worked with him during the global financial crisis, when he was Vice President. We went
to Latin America, did some visits together. What you see is what you get with Joe Biden. And I'm absolutely sure he's determined that America plays
its full part in the world. And we abandon the American first and only strategy of the past.
But we have got to have a plan to do these things. You've mentioned vaccination, and you mentioned at the beginning, economic recovery. We do
need a coordination of monetary and fiscal policy. We do need to deal with the restructuring of debt and some of the poorest countries because they
won't recover otherwise. And, of course, we do need to work on climate change together. And that will demand resources that are provided by the
richest countries as well.
I think we've got to show that cooperation is back. But we can only show it if we're prepared to do the things that are necessary, and that includes a
Green New Deal to create jobs, companies have got to be persuaded that they need to disclose the carbon footprint. And, of course, we need to help the
poorest countries who are faced by some of the worst climate change problems with deserts and with polluted seas and everything else. We need
to help them get out of the climate change crisis that they're also in.
These are really tests now of international cooperation. It's a turning point. Now, either history is going to turn or not. We know what's wrong,
but we've yet to put it right.
GORANI: Right. And as we saw, it depends a lot on who is in the White House as well, after four years of the U.S. -- of the former U.S. President
Donald Trump.
BROWN: That's right. I think things have got to change in the relations between the different countries of the world. I think for 10 years, we've
had a defensive nationalism of terrorists, of border controls, of building walls. Then we had America first, China first, India first, Russia first.
And it ended up in this vaccine nationalism and medical protectionism.
And really, it's been very sad over the last year the kind of cooperation that was necessary to prevent the disease spreading and to treat the
disease by sharing equipment and sharing ideas just wasn't there until recently. But we've now got to prove to people that we can make that
cooperation work. The words are not enough. We've got to show it in deeds. And I do think that around that table, the richest countries are in a
position to make bigger decisions than they've been contemplating.
GORANI: Thank you, Gordon Brown for joining us, really appreciate it. The former U.K. Prime Minister and the author of the new book, "Seven Ways to
Change the World: How To Fix The Most Pressing Problems We Face". Thank you so much for your time this evening.
BROWN: Thank you. Thank you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: And still to come tonight, much more on day one of the G7 summit. We'll speak with the former Secretary General of the U.N. and get his take
on what we've seen today. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:16:27]
GORANI: U.K. government estimates show the coronavirus reproduction rate also known as the r-rate in England has risen in the past week as the Delta
variant spreads. The U.K. is seeing an alarming number of cases from highly infectious variants that has increased the urgency to get people
vaccinated. Phil Black reports from one English town that's become a brand new hotspot.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In this quarter of Northwest England, coronavirus anxiety is peaking again. Here, British
Army soldiers walk the streets, handing out information and test kits. Mobile vaccination teams work to get doses to all willing adults. And masks
are still everywhere, even outside, a rare site in the U.K.
(on-camera): You worried about what's happening around here.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh yes, definitely. If you're not, there's something wrong with you then.
BLACK (voice-over): The big science explain why. The town of Bolton is the U.K.'s leading hotspot for a highly contagious coronavirus variant.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I know a lot more people who've had it in the last three weeks than I did. Well, the last four weeks compared to last 12
months. A lot of people have got it.
BLACK (voice-over): First discovered during India's recent devastating wave, also known as the Delta variant, it has quickly become the dominant
strain in the U.K. The British government says the data so far suggests it is about 40 percent more transmissible than the U.K.'s previous dominant
variant.
An early analysis conducted by Public Health England shows it is twice as likely to result in hospitalization. It's also driven an increase in school
outbreaks, since children haven't been vaccinated.
Eight-year-old Movin (ph) Soljar lives in nearby Blackburn, a community where cases of the variants are growing rapidly.
MOVIN SOLJAR, BOLTON, ENGLAND RESIDENT: No, I don't know how I've caught (ph) it.
BLACK (on-camera): Why was he tested?
MAZAR SOLJAR, BOLTON, ENGLAND RESIDENT: No temperature, no headache, nothing.
BLACK (on-camera): It was just a routine test.
SOLJAR: Yes, routine test.
ADAM FINN, U.K.'s JOINT COMMITTEE ON VACCINATION AND IMMUNIZATION: The trends suggest that we should be alarmed, but --
BLACK (voice-over): Adam Finn is a professor of pediatrics who advises the British government on vaccine policy.
FINN: Because children tend to get this infection less than 10 to transmit it less than adults do. So certainly seeing cases amongst children is
another canary in the mine, if you like. It's another sign if it goes on going up that we're dealing with a highly infectious variant.
BLACK (voice-over): The U.K.'s vaccine program has made huge progress with more than 50 percent of all adults now fully vaccinated. At around, another
quarter of the adult population covered by a first dose. But some scientists fear this new variants could tear through the remaining
unprotected population in a wave of cases that would, once again, place huge pressure on the health system.
The government had hoped to lift all remaining social restrictions and reopen society on June 21st. Whether to proceed with that plan is looming
as one of the most difficult decisions of Britain's pandemic experience.
FINN: Opening up and having a big further wave and having to shut down again would be worse for everyone.
BLACK (voice-over): The government is blamed by critics for moving too slowly to stop travel from India, allowing the variant to take hold here.
The government says that assessment is unfair, but what it does next will be fiercely scrutinized in a country that has sacrificed much and is
desperate to move on.
Phil Black, CNN, Bolton, North West England.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Well in Japan, thousands of volunteers say they are quitting the Tokyo Olympics this summer. Many are citing health and safety concerns as
the coronavirus continues to spread nationwide there. CNN's Selina Wang spoke with some of them.
[17:20:10]
SELINA WANG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thousands of Tokyo Olympic volunteers have quit and for the ones that have not, they have the added responsibility of
keeping themselves safe from COVID-19. Many of the volunteers I spoke to who have already quit or who are thinking about it said that their vision
of the Olympics has been shattered. Their excitement turning into disillusionment as they have seen mounting problems, including cost
overruns for these games, sexist comments from the former Tokyo Olympic head and now the country barreling ahead with these games despite surging
COVID-19 cases.
JUN HATAKEYAMA, FORMER VOLUNTEER: I think it's belittling human lives. Yes.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WANG (voice-over): Jun Hatakeyama is one of some 10,000 Tokyo Olympic volunteers out of 80,000 that is quit amid pandemic fears.
HATAKEYAMA: I just quit because for my health condition, and to show my opinion that I'm against the Olympic Games.
WANG (voice-over): When college student Hatakeyama signed up to be a volunteer, he was excited to witness the world's best athletes come
together at this Olympic Village. Instead, he's witnessed mounting problems.
HATAKEYAMA: The Olympic Games is belittling the human lives. Our lives are not normal, so it's an emergency now. So I think why can we hold an Olympic
games in 2020 now?
WANG (voice-over): An army of enthusiastic volunteers has been key to the success of recent games, helping to operate venues, assisting spectators
and athletes. Tokyo organizers say fewer volunteers this year won't impact operations given no foreign spectators and downsizing of events. But
volunteer Nima Esnaashar, a language teacher who lives here in Hyogo Prefecture, says protection hasn't been nearly enough.
(on-camera): What COVID protection have you been given as a volunteer?
NIMA ESNAASHAR, VOLUNTEER: We are going to get two masks and a bottle of hand sanitizer.
WANG (on-camera): So that's it.
ESNAASHAR: That's it.
WANG (voice-over): Volunteers are asked to take public transportation between their homes and Olympic venues. And for those who live outside of
Tokyo, they have to find their own lodging. Esnaashar hasn't quit yet, but says he's thinking about it.
ESNAASHAR: I could be bringing back COVID to my family.
WANG (voice-over): Organizers say the Olympics can be held in a safe bubble with the majority of the Olympic Village vaccinated. But many public health
experts say that's impossible, especially if there are tens of thousands of largely unvaccinated and untested volunteers at Olympic venues across Tokyo
and Japan. And less than 4 percent of Japan's population fully vaccinated.
BARBARA HOLTHUS, VOLUNTEER: We are not being given neither testing nor a vaccine. So, and we have to go in and out of the bubble at all times.
There's a significant potential of this becoming a super spreader event.
WANG (voice-over): Normally a symbol of national pride and excitement in the host country, many volunteers this year instead are scared, largely
left on their own to protect themselves from COVID-19.
HATAKEYAMA: I think the meaning of Olympic Game was completely forgotten.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
WANG: The head of the Tokyo Olympic Committee just announced on Friday that they'll vaccinate 18,000 Olympic workers, including staff, doping testers,
coaches, and some volunteers if they come into close contact with athletes. But it's unclear how many athletes this would involve. And at best, it
would only cover a small proportion. There are 70,000 Tokyo Olympic volunteers. But not all of the volunteers I spoke to said they're worried
about their health. Some said they're confident in the COVID-19 protocols in place, and that they are still excited to be a part of a global
celebration.
Back to you.
GORANI: All right. Selina Wang, thanks very much.
Well, world leaders are wrapping up the first day of the G7 summit. They're also wrapping up that dinner at the Eden Project. We are told that Joe
Biden, the U.S. President and the First Lady have left the venue. On the agenda today, discussions on the global economy with a focus on the global
tax rate and aid for countries in need.
You see there the family photo with the Her Majesty, the Queen there, seated in the middle. There's Justin Trudeau to her left and Angela Merkel
for whom this is the last G7. To the right of the Queen, Emmanuel Macron trailing behind there. There was a reception attended and hosted by Queen
Elizabeth along with Prince Charles who urged leaders to fight climate change. In the same way they have fought the pandemic. Listen.
Earlier, the British Prime Minister underscored the emphasis that they're putting on the COVID outbreak by calling on his partners to work together
on pandemic recovery. And to, quote, build back better.
I'm joined now by Former Secretary General, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. Thanks very much for joining us very much.
[17:25:08]
What do you hope to hear from G7 leaders specifically when it comes to combating the pandemic in poorer countries?
BAN KI-MOON, FORMER U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS: Thank you for this opportunity. G7 summit is taking place during one of the most
challenging times in recent history caused by COVID-19 and climate crisis in pattern (ph). Unless we address these two challenges with global
partnership urgency at the same time was people will have to suffer continuously from uncontrollable crisis. In this regard, I'd like to
emphasize two points. First, provision of vaccines and other medical supports for the vulnerable developing states.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as chair of the G7 said that the G7 leaders will provide at least 1 billion doses of vaccine and President Joe Biden of
the United States also announced that the U.S. will provide 500 million doses. This global leadership is what we expect at this time. But much
more, of course, we expect more to come for those vulnerable developing states. Second, we should not forget that COVID-19 was caused by the
degradation of our ecosystem. Therefore, climate action and fighting pandemic must go hand in hand.
In this regard, I'm urging again and again, the G7 leaders and other OECD countries to mobilize $100 billion they have promised already for
mitigation and adaptation measures. This is a promise --
GORANI: Yes.
KI-MOON: -- by the industrialized nations to help many developing -- vulnerable developing states. And --
GORANI: And it's a -- Secretary General, if I may jump in.
KI-MOON: -- many -- there are many countries, (INAUDIBLE) country -- yes?
GORANI: If I may jump in, this is a -- it's a crucial time really for the world in terms of these big multinational organizations, because many
people say they have just lost trust in them. The United Nations, you were a Secretary General between 2007 and 2016, you yourself admit in a book
that you've written in "Resolved" that in Haiti, for instance, because of the behavior of some U.N. staff that people have just lost trust in the
U.N. How do you address that? This -- we're really in an age where there's so much skepticism directed at these big organizations, if they don't work
for the ordinary person.
KI-MOON: United Nations can function only with the support of the member states. There should be a global partnership. This is a very important
vision for all the people of the world. In sustainable development goals, one of the most important part is mobilizing global partnership. That is
why we have -- I had been urging as a secretary general, that one of the billion dollars must be mobilized for mitigation and adaptation actions.
You mentioned about --
GORANI: Yes.
KI-MOON: -- the Haiti, I have mobilized $9.9 billion. That is when we were able to see global partnership. President Clinton and Hillary Clinton, and
I was sitting together with the world's leaders to mobilize $9.9 billion, which was the highest amount of any, such a global fundraising for --
GORANI: Yes.
KI-MOON: -- Asian people. We need at this time, much, much more, much, much more to address the climate action. Now, you may remember that recently,
the SIPRI, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, pointed out that the wars and military spending last year only rose to almost $2
trillion despite pandemic.
GORANI: Yes.
KI-MOON: It rose while global GDP shrank by 4.4 percent. I think if we reduce even a bit of the military spending, we'll be able to fight back the
pandemic and climate change. We need urgency --
GORANI: Yes.
KI-MOON: -- the global action based on global vision. No one will be safe until everyone is safe.
GORANI: All right. Ban Ki-Moon, thank you so much for joining us and you have a book coming out, "Resolved: Uniting Nations In A Divided World".
KI-MOON: OK, thank you very much.
GORANI: Thanks for joining.
KI-MOON: Thank you.
GORANI: Thank you --
KI-MOON: Bye-bye.
GORANI: -- with your thoughts this evening.
Still to come tonight, the first day of this year's G7 summit caps off with a royal affair. But before that, world leaders had plenty to talk about
during their first in-person meeting in nearly two years. Details ahead, stay with us.
[17:30:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: More now in our top stories, leaders of the world's advanced economies are meeting in Cornwall, England, the first time they've gathered
face to face in nearly two years. The global economy topped the agenda for today's talks. Of course, there were discussions about the pandemic, the
COVID-19 pandemic which continues to rage in much of the world, even though obviously in richer countries. Many people are now vaccinated.
Just a short time ago, the British royal family and the G7 leaders gathered at the Eden Project for a reception. It's a biosphere. You see behind them
there with a reconstituted rain forest and all sorts of species of plants.
Let's bring in our Chief White House correspondent, Kaitlan Collins. And it must be it's always a thrill. I mean, even for seasoned politicians to meet
Her Majesty, the Queen, and she was really there at the center of that family photo. And she was hosting the whole affair.
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN CHIEF WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: And she's been so much more involved that I think you would typically see, of course, it's
different since the British Prime Minister is the one hosting this, but to see them not only coming for the family photo doing this dinner earlier,
and also, you saw Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge with the First Lady earlier visiting a school. You've really seen the royal family so
involved in this summit. And of course, we still have on Sunday when President Biden is going to actually go to Windsor and meet with the queen,
talk to her. Of course that is not only her first one on one meeting since the pandemic with another foreign leader.
It is also the first time since Prince Phillip passed and what we were hearing earlier from White House officials is that they do think he has
this understanding, you know, this empathetic side that President Biden often deploys and they do expect that to be part of that conversation when
they are together on Sunday.
GORANI: So one of the things we're learning now is that leaders are expected to agree to a landmark health declaration that they'll sign
something called the Carbis Bay Declaration on health, tomorrow Saturday, vowing to take steps to ensure to avoid a few pandemic and to remedy the
global devastation of this one.
[17:35:04]
COLLINS: I think what you're seeing from the takeaway with this, and the vaccine sharing announcements that we're getting from the United States and
the UK and likely other countries to follow around this meeting is they really want to solidify the G7's place as a leader in a situation like
this. And they see other actions that places like countries like China and Russia are taking, and they want to make sure that G7 has a big role in
this.
And I think that has been something that you heard Prime Minister Boris Johnson talk about at length as he did today at the beginning of that
roundtable saying nothing replaces having this in person diplomacy and being face-to-face. And we don't want to go through this again.
And I thought he was actually really candid in those remarks, because he said, we did make mistakes --
GORANI: Yes.
COLLINS: -- some things that we would not do again, and I think this declaration will be part of that of, we weren't prepared enough for
something like this and look how it affected the United States and the UK. Yes, they're doing much better now with the vaccination programs, but look
how they were with the transmission. And so I think that's part of this declaration.
GORANI: Absolutely. And that addressing a pandemic requires cooperation and collaboration, and they've come to that realization certainly.
Interestingly, Melinda French Gates will also be part of the event tomorrow. What -- How different is it for Joe Biden to meet these leaders
in person? We were mentioning that Angela Merkel is on her way up. But for instance, the Prime Minister of Japan, this is his first G7. What -- How is
it different for Joe Biden, who you cover, and who's now president, to do this in person?
COLLINS: I think it's so different because his first meeting as president with another foreign leader was on Zoom, essentially --
GORANI: Yes, yes.
COLLINS: --with the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. And as they're always worried, there were these technical difficulties, it's awkward, they
can't do the press conference. And as reporters actually detracts from your ability to report on it as well, because you miss those key moments that
sometimes only happened when they are in the room with one another. Or you can see them side by side, as they're relaying how that meeting went or
answering questions from reporters.
And so, I think when it comes to President Biden himself, he does fashion himself as this diplomacy maker. And that is always kind of been his
signature political style for decades. And so I do think he likes to be in person. And I do think he thinks it's helpful on issues where they do
disagree, because they don't agree on everything --
GORANI: Yes.
COLLINS: -- to talk about it in person, rather than it was --
GORANI: It was interesting to see the body language with Boris Johnson and the White House released an interesting photo of the two men from behind
with Biden's arm around Boris Johnson shoulders. But then you had a very, very friendly embrace between Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron, slightly
different body language there. But Joe Biden is someone who likes to, you know, put his hand on his shoulder --
COLLINS: Yes.
GORANI: -- and hug and the rest of it. He's quite elbow bumper.
COLLINS: He's not just quite tactile. Right. Right.
GORANI: So this also makes it, first of all, it's just -- the visuals are different.
COLLINS: Yes. The visuals are different. But those are, again, those key moments that you can sometimes miss. And what I was thinking about earlier
today was when Merkel was saying she was so glad to have President Biden there in person, that photo from 2018, the G7 in Canada, where President
Trump was not going to sign the communique at the end, and he was pushing back against it. And it was one of those iconic photos of his relations
with world leaders where she is kind of standing there over this table, and he's sitting back with his arms crossed.
And you don't even need to watch the two of them interact or get closer here that you can see it all in that picture. And so I do think, the body
language with the President and the French president, and we will wait to see what tomorrow holds as well. Does reveal a lot more than just the
readouts you get from the spokes people on either side.
GORANI: Sure. Yes. And we'll see, it's an important health declaration. Will it lead to, you know, tangible, concrete results when it comes to
addressing the pandemic. That also is something we'll have to keep following. Thanks so much, our chief White House correspondent, Kaitlan
Collins for joining us this evening.
And we're just days away from the highly anticipated meeting between the U.S. and Russian presidents. And we're learning more details about how
those talks will play out.
And an exclusive interview with CNN, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin wants to discuss what he called the poor state of their
country's relationship. But as of now, they're not expected to hold a joint press conference. Here's more of what the Kremlin spokesperson said with
Matthew Chance.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DMITRY PESKOV, KREMLIN SPOKESPERSON: Since the very beginning, we have noticed that President Putin will be open for any alternative. He can and
he will be ready for a joint press conference and he will be ready for his own press conference with the Kremlin crew and those swilling journalists
for (INAUDIBLE).
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: If there isn't a joint press conference, as you know, U.S. officials are telling us there
won't be, how disappointing will that be from the Kremlin's point of view because one of the main reasons Vladimir Putin wanted to go and meet
President Biden is that he could appear on the same platform, show that he is a global statesman. That won't be an opportunity that's going to be
offered to him without your joint press conference with it.
[17:40:07]
PESKOV: No, this is not -- this is not a case at all. And this is not the purpose of President Putin couldn't come (INAUDIBLE). There is no sense for
him improving that he's world statesman and so on and so forth. The main reason for him is poor state relationship between our two countries and a
critical level of his relationship with demands and the demands is something between our two countries because this is the only way to -- this
is the only way to arrange an evaluation fixing our relationship to prevent further, further degradation of our dialogue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, Dmitry Peskov speaking with Matthew Chance. We'll be right back. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. Well, as a dispute between the UK and the European Union over Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland protocol as it's called
threatens to cast a shadow over sthis G7 summit. Thousands of loyalists marched through the streets of Belfast today, protesting the post-Brexit
treaty.
Now it seeks to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The EU is pushing for it to be implemented but talks
with the UK have stalled.
Social media footage shows protesters setting fire to a large, united Ireland banner used by the Republican Party, Sinn Fein.
The Palestinian Health Ministry says is really troops shot and killed a 15- year-old boy during protests in the West Bank today. It says another six Palestinians were wounded. Israel says it was responding to quote, riots,
saying hundreds of Palestinians were burning tires and throwing stones at soldiers. The protesters were demonstrating against the recent expansion of
an Israeli outpost near Nablus.
Democracy in Nicaragua appears to be plunging further into authoritarianism, the head of a crucial election in November. Police have
detained seven opposition leaders as President Daniel Ortega moves to consolidate his power. And there are concerns that the crackdown could get
even worse, Matt Rivers reports.
[17:45:03]
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Growing concerns that Central American strong man is clinging to power by silencing his
biggest critics. In Nicaragua, leader Danielle Ortega's forces have arrested more than a half dozen opposition leaders in just the last week,
months ahead of November's elections.
It started with the arrest of Cristiana Chamorro, a prominent opposition figure and the daughter of former president Violeta Chamorro, who ended
Ortega's first stint as president in 1990. Police took over the street outside Chamorro's house pushing journalists back as they went to arrest
her for charges, including, quote, ideological falseness in relation to a free press group she ran in the country after harassing her with
allegations of money laundering.
Chamorro had recently announced her presidential campaign and was widely seen as someone who could challenge Ortega at the polls.
This is the product of the fear and terror that Daniel Ortega has in the face of transparent competitive elections said her cousin Juan Sebastian
Chamorro, who is also running for president for a separate party.
But just a few days after that interview, he was also arrested. At least seven opposition leaders including four presidential candidates have been
detained and charged with vague, quote, national security violations. They'll all likely be disqualified from running for office moves human
rights groups, they clearly show that Ortega who returned to power in 2007 is trying to wipe out competition and secure a fourth term.
JOSE MIGUEL VIVANCO, EXEC. DIR. AMERICAS HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH: What we have in Nicaragua at this stage is pretty much a facade of democracy.
RIVERS: Though critics say Ortega has long been undermining Nicaraguan democracy, 2018 was undoubtedly a turning point. Massive anti-government
protests led to a crackdown that left more than 300 people dead according to human rights groups, the majority killed by security forces. A protest
became the government's justification to enact a slew of vague new laws that have banned protest and essentially criminalized anyone who speaks out
against the government.
If the government knew you were speaking to foreign journalist, what would happen?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're consider me a traitor to the country. They can make up some crime and take me to jail for who knows how many years.
RIVERS: We're hiding the identity of a man will call Juan for his own safety. He opposes Ortega and took part in the protests but says the
government has terrified citizens like him into silence.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here the person that raises their voice basically gets marked or identified as a traitor to the country.
RIVERS: And human rights groups say so called traders often experience torture at the hands of the country's notoriously ruthless security
services. A lawyer of one of the presidential candidates now in custody, Felix Maradiaga said in a statement that Maradiaga was quote very badly
beaten shortly after being detained.
The Ortega administration did not respond to requests for comment but other governments are speaking out. A senior U.S. State Department official
tweeted that Ortega's recent actions, quote, should resolve any remaining doubts about Ortega's credentials as a dictator. The international
community has no choice but to treat him as such.
(on camera): The United States has now levied sanctions against several top Nicaraguan government officials, including Daniela Ortega's daughter, but
they are relatively targeted sanctions if it wanted to the United States could certainly implement sanctions that could hurt the economy in a more
broad way.
But by doing so, it would run the risk of punishing ordinary Nicaraguans for the sins of their leader and also maybe even creating an economic
situation that would force more migrants to leave that country head north to the United States. That is certainly something that the Biden
administration would want to avoid. Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
GORANI: Well, after year - a year's delay because it not years, just one year, delay because of the pandemic, the Euro 2020 football tournament has
finally kicked off. Italy defeated Turkey three nil in the opening match ins front of a crowd of about 16,000 fans in Rome Stadio Olimpico. The
tournament is spread out across the whole continent. 24 teams will play in 11 cities over the next month. The final set for Wembley Stadium in London
on July 11. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[17:51:26]
GORANI: While G7 leaders meet here in Cornwall, another head of state is raising eyebrows. Halfway around the world. North Korea's Kim Jong-un has
appeared on state media for the first time in weeks looking noticeably slimmer. Experts were quick to point out his apparent weight loss and
speculate what it might mean but it's going to only be speculation. Will Ripley has our report.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Time may not be the only thing Kim Jong-Un's watch is good at talent. Can it also be a
barometer for the North Korean leader's level of fitness? Kim is often pictured wearing the same wealth $1,000 IWC Swiss timepiece believed to be
one of his favorites.
Images released Saturday by North Korean state media and analyzed by South Korean media appear to show the watch fitting on a much tighter notch than
in previous signings, indicating a thinner wrist and sparking widespread speculation about a weight loss transformation.
Side by side video comparisons do appear to show Kim to be much more spelt now than in 2020. But far from just being an internet curiosity, Kim's
suddenly slimmer appearance could have geopolitical implications. His weight is one of many things global intelligence agencies monitor.
(on camera): Why would spy agencies in South Korea and the US be looking at something like Kim Jong-Un's weight?
COLIN ZWIRKO, SENIOR ANALYTIC CORRESPONDENT, NK NEWS: His health is obviously a concern of foreign governments in the region because the
country has nuclear weapons. He's -- it's a dictatorship with the personality leadership systems. So, if something happens to the leader that
affects regional security.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Experts have long assessed that Kim Jong-un was at high risk of cardiovascular disease. His family also has a history of heart
issues. Kim's father and grandfather both died of heart attacks while head of North Korea.
In November 2020 the National Intelligence Service of South Korea reportedly told lawmakers they believed Kim Jong-un's weight had ballooned
to about 140 kilograms 308 pounds, speculating that he had gained some 50 kilograms, 108 pounds since coming to power in 2011.
In recent months, the already reclusive Kim has been out of the public eye more than usual, amidst rumors of declining health, his reappearance
Saturday on the global stage arguably reigniting that conversation among foreign intelligence agencies. Could this sudden shedding pounds be the
result of some mysterious illness? Or is he thinner by choice, a conscious effort to achieve better health and extend his longevity as leader? The
answer, only time will tell. Will Ripley, CNN, Taipei.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
GORANI: As G7 leaders work through their agenda, U.S. First Lady Jill Biden and the Duchess of Cambridge are focusing on some of their own interests,
children and education. They met for the first time the two women toured a school together not far from Cornwall today. They visited a classroom of
four and five-year-old students. They also took part in a roundtable discussion where Joe Biden, a lifelong educator and teachers spoke about
the importance of early childhood education.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JILL BIDEN, U.S. FIRST LADY: Thank you for everybody for this program today. Thank you to the Academy.
[17:55:02]
I met some wonderful teachers and principals and most of all the children who were so inspiring and so well behaved. I know I couldn't get over it.
And I want to thank the press too for covering this because early childhood education is so important to lay the foundation for all of our students.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, during her appearance Friday, the Duchess of Cambridge also mentioned the new addition to the royal family. Her niece Lilibet, born
last week to Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Your Royal Highness. Do you have any wishes for your new niece, Lilibet?
KATE MIDDLETON, DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE: I wish that was the very best I can't wait to meet her. Because we haven't yet met her yet. So hopefully that
will be soon.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Well, we're getting a bit more insight into these evening's G7 events, the Prince of Wales Twitter accounts sent out a few photos but
here, they are full screen for you. And you can see the Queen, Her Majesty, the Queen, walking into the reception and talking with Boris Johnson and
his wife, Carrie Johnson. And you can see the Prince of Wales and his wife, Camilla, they're behind her and there's a full screen version of that
photo.
Let's take a look at what other photos. Oh, there she is the queen, Queen Elizabeth. Smiling widely Justin Trudeau and here's another one of the Duke
and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and his wife Kate with the Macron's, Brigitte and Emmanuel, Emmanuel Macron, of course, the President
of France.
There you have it. The Queen looking well, smiling, hosting an event and meeting world leaders in Cornwall. Interesting photos coming to us. I'm
sure we'll have more in the coming hours. Do stay with CNN. We'll have a lot more on our top stories. The very latest out of Cornwall, of course,
and the big headlines around the world for you on CNN.
I'm Hala Gorani. I'll see you next time. I'll see you tomorrow from Cornwall, stay with CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
