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Hala Gorani Tonight
Unvaccinated Djokovic Risks Missing More Tournaments; China To Sell No Olympic Tickets To The General Public; Israel Reveals First Study Of Fourth Vaccine Dose; FBI Says Texas Hostage Case Was "Terrorism-Related"; Prince Harry In Legal Battle Over Police Security; North Korea Fires Off More Missiles. Aired 2-3p ET
Aired January 17, 2022 - 14:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:00:00]
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Hello, and welcome, it is Monday, I'm HALA GORANI TONIGHT. This is what living life with COVID still looks like.
The world of sport impacted. The first tennis Grand Slam of 2022 starts without the top-ranked player. Now Novak Djokovic's refusal to get
vaccinated may cause him a problem for the French Open as well.
And if you thought about heading to the Olympics, don't. China will sell no tickets for next month's Olympics as Beijing prepares for those games, it
is still relentlessly pursuing zero COVID, locking down an entire office building with workers still inside. While much of the rest of the world
tries to vaccinate its way out of this pandemic, could another dose be the answer? We'll have details of a new study on Israel's fourth jab roll-out.
But let's start here in Europe where Serbia is welcoming home a tennis star who many consider a national hero after Australia expelled an unvaccinated
visitor that they say threatened public health. Novak Djokovic touched down in the Serbian capital of Belgrade earlier today. This is him exiting the
plane, arriving to messages of support, buildings along the waterfront illuminated saying he is, quote, "the pride of Serbia". And crowds cheering
him as they greeted him, but back in Australia, even tennis fans said he had to go.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For me, so many families have not been able to see family members across Australia and the world just because they have not
been allowed to travel and borders have been closed. So to let someone in who is not vaccinated, we all have to be -- it seems silly. So I'm -- yes,
kind of happy about it.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it was actually a good decision. We've all done the right thing, you know, in getting vaccinated. We're not allowed to
come here unless we're vaccinated. And I think it was a great decision. I'm disappointed for Djokovic because I would have loved to have seen him, you
know, compete for his 21st Slam event.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, well, let's get more on his arrival in Serbia. Scott McLean is in Belgrade with more. What are you hearing? What are you seeing,
Scott?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Hala, we were at the airport this morning when Novak Djokovic touched down. There was a swarm not only of the
Serbian press and plenty of foreign press as well, there were a lot of fans who showed up, waving flags chanting -- they just wanted to catch a glimpse
of their national hero. Though, it doesn't seem like Djokovic was interested in seeing really anybody else as he managed to, I guess, get out
through some kind of a side door without really seeing anybody there.
His ordeal in Australia has been near universally condemned in this country. The big question now is, what is Novak Djokovic thinking about all
this, especially when it comes to his future and whether or not he'll get vaccinated because that decision will likely have a huge impact on whether
he's able to compete in the French Open and defend his French Open title at Roland-Garros. The French Sports Minister told CNN today that there will be
no exceptions for France's new vaccine pass law.
That law requires people to show proof of vaccine to get -- proof of vaccination, excuse me, to get into cafes, restaurants and also sporting
venues. There is no exceptions for spectators and certainly not for athletes either. Remember not long ago, the French President Emmanuel
Macron said he was trying to "piss off", in his words, the vaccinated people in his country. Well, he's been one-upped by Australia already who's
managed to piss off almost an entire country. From the man on the street right up to the Serbian president. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEKSANDAR VUCIC, PRESIDENT, SERBIA: They think by this, this mistreatment of ten days, humiliated Djokovic, but they have humiliated themselves.
Djokovic can return to his country with his head held high and look everyone in the eye.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MCLEAN: And he's certainly done that. Look, now, you know, in Australia, Novak Djokovic was framed at least in the court case as this kind of anti-
vaxxer.
[14:05:00]
That is certainly not the impression of him here. If you talk to ordinary Serbs in the street, most of them will tell you that vaccination is a
personal choice. And even people who are vaccinated advocated strongly to us that Novak Djokovic and really anyone ought to be able to choose. Now,
Djokovic has said precious little on this actual topic. Many of his sponsors have also said little with one glaring exception, and that's the
cost. They tell CNN, they're looking to speak with Djokovic about his experience in Australia ASAP, Hala.
GORANI: OK, Scott McLean in Belgrade. Australia is not going to be the only stumbling block for Djokovic as he chases another Grand Slam title.
Any athletes who wish to compete in France must be vaccinated as we just heard from Scott. The country has just approved a new law requiring vaccine
certificates for a number of activities, and that will include those participating in sports venues. All of this obviously could, will affect
Djokovic's hopes of taking part in the French Open, which starts in May.
Let's bring in Alex Thomas; he's the anchor for CNN's "WORLD SPORT". So this is not what we heard just a few days ago from the French. It sounds a
bit like a reversal. Can he -- what's the future for him when it comes to the French Open? Is it a definite no?
ALEX THOMAS, CNN WORLD SPORT: I don't think it is a definite no because as we've reported on -- here on CNN for the last 18 months or so, Hala, these
restrictions and rules can change very quickly depending on how bad the COVID crisis is at any one time. We also know that it tends to get better
during the Summer which is where Europe will be heading come May when that French Open takes place at Roland-Garros in the Paris suburbs.
So it could change, but at the moment, it doesn't look good for Novak Djokovic. He's certainly got the Wimbledon Championships here in England to
look forward to, so just over a month after that French Open and the U.S. Open in August. So rules could change and could be different from all --
for all of those countries. But certainly, he's making life harder for himself by not been vaccinated. We know that over, I think at least 97 of
the world's top 100 men are vaccinated and a similar figure are on the women's tour as well.
And he is chasing this legacy of trying to be the greatest of all time in terms of men's tennis, he's level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20
Grand Slams singles titles. And really, if he's been able to get into Australia and stay there and compete in the Australian Open, he would have
been the favorite as the top seed and world number one to make it to 21. And now, we're really wondering how far down the line it will be before he
gets there, if at all.
GORANI: All right, Alex Thomas, thanks so much. Well, continuing with our COVID theme, Beijing has locked down an entire office building with workers
stranded inside after a single employee tested positive for the Omicron variant this weekend. China is not taking any chances ahead of the Winter
Olympics. The games are less than a month away, and today, officials announced they are no longer selling tickets to the general public.
So if you were thinking of traveling there to watch some of the events, forget it. Even though protecting the games is one of China's biggest
priorities by just about any metric, its response to new cases in the capital is extreme. David Culver shows us exactly what they're doing.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Omicron breaching Beijing's borders. A single case putting the Winter Olympics host
city on high alert. China's zero COVID policy making no exceptions. In the capital city, targeted lockdowns immediately activated along with strict
contact-tracing. Chinese health officials publicized the infected person's recent travel history starting with their home. We drove by the Beijing
community where the woman diagnosed with Omicron lives. Remember, health authorities say all of this sparked by just one case at least for now.
(on camera): Here we go. You can see here, this is one of the entrances and exits. It's gated off. They put these big blue barriers to keep folks
from going in and out.
(voice-over): The woman's neighbors allowed some fresh air, but confined to a complex. Their trash piling up waiting for specially-designated
disposal teams to truck it out. Many nearby businesses closed, the woman lives a 15-minute drive from the Olympic park.
(on camera): Not only where she lives that health authorities have it locked down, but also where the woman works, which happens to be in a bank
inside this building. So out front, you can see they've got these blue tents set up where a lot of times they'll do testing and processing before
they can finally declare it safe enough to reopen.
(voice-over): But if you think it's just a bunch of empty offices, look closer. COVID-control staff carting in big boxes. Inside them, can you read
that? Pillows. Bedding. People have actually been locked down at work. And these supplies might make their stay a bit more comfortable for what could
be days of testing.
[14:10:00]
Omicron not only in Beijing, cases also surfacing in several other Chinese cities, including Shanghai. Social media snowing snap lockdowns trapping
shoppers at one store. Outside this mall, a person posting that this woman was emotional, wanting to hold the child who was staring back at her from
behind the glass. Although, it is unclear when the woman and child were reunited, officials kept them all closed for two days as they tested those
inside, performing a deep clean before reopening. Sounds extreme, but most online voicing their support for the strict containment efforts.
Less than three weeks until the Olympics and recent outbreaks had 20 million people sealed in their homes. Others bused to centralized
quarantine. State-media showing these make-shift encampments built within days, mass testing is a constant. Back in Beijing, I hopped in line for my
regularly-scheduled COVID test. Test number 97 done. But if you think the heavy measures have brought life here to a halt, most who are not traveling
might say otherwise.
On Sunday, crowds flocking to this popular Beijing lake, frozen just in time for the Winter games, families enjoying the chill and seemingly
confident officials will keep COVID in check. David Culver, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Well, Chinese health officials say the woman in Beijing who tested positive for Omicron had received an international package on which there
were traces of the variant. And they say it's possible she picked up the virus from the parcel. Now, let's be clear. We've been in this thing for
two years. Global health agencies, including the World Health Organization say surface transmission of the virus is possible technically, but the risk
is very low.
Let's get some insight from CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen. So, should we be worried about Omicron transmitting on surfaces?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, we should really be worried about Omicron being transmitted to person to person. Is
it as you said technically possible to catch Omicron from a surface? Sure. But really, overwhelmingly the main way people are catching Omicron is
person to person. And it seems really implausible that someone -- you know, let's say the person who sent this package from Canada sneezed on the
package, Omicron was on the package.
Would it really have survived in serious amounts and conditions to get someone sick in China? That's many miles, many days of being shipped, it
really seems implausible. If this truly were a virus that could be transmitted after surviving days of, you know, being handled in the mail,
we'd be seeing a whole different kind of spread than what we've been seeing.
GORANI: And let's talk about Israel rolling out its fourth vaccine doses. There's been a new study released on that today. Tell us about that.
COHEN: Yes, I have to say when there was a press conference today out of Israel, about the fourth dose, a study done, it was -- I'll say,
disappointing because there was actually no data released and there were some messages out there that were kind of conflicting. But we've tried to
get to the bottom of it. I'll tell you what I know. So, several weeks ago, Israel decided to start giving fourth doses to people who were immune
compromised and to health care workers and to people aged 60 and older.
So Sheba Medical Center in Israel did a study, so let's take a look at what they found. They looked at 274 of their healthcare workers who were given
fourth doses. Some got Pfizer and some got Moderna as their fourth dose. They found that the fourth dose did raise antibodies actually quite
dramatically, and what they found -- and I know this is going to sound confusing, but this is what they put out there, maybe there were slightly
lower levels of infections among those who got the fourth dose.
So a maybe is not data. But they seem to be sort of in some ways poo-pooing that the fourth dose is really all that helpful. In fact, Dr. Gili Regev-
Yochay who led the press conference, she said, look, I agree based on this data or what she found, she agrees that the current approach, giving it to
people who are vulnerable, that, that makes sense. She didn't see data that made her say, wow, they ought to be giving this to everyone. So I guess in
some ways that's the bottom line. Hala?
GORANI: All right, that's very interesting. Thanks so much Elizabeth Cohen. Still to come tonight, a rare drone attack in Abu Dhabi kills three
people. We'll go to the UAE live to find out who was apparently behind it and why it may signal a sharp escalation in Yemen's civil war. And standing
by Ukraine. Western officials visit Kiev to deliver a message of support, but also a warning to Moscow. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:15:00]
GORANI: Well, these are some tense times in Abu Dhabi. There were powerful explosions from suspected drone attacks that rocked the outskirts of Abu
Dhabi leaving at least three people dead. Three fuel trucks exploded at an oil storage facility near the international airport, and as a result, a
fire broke out at the airport itself, a wing that was under construction. Police patrolled the area after the explosions. Yemen's Houthi rebels are
claiming responsibility. CNN's Sam Kiley is in Abu Dhabi for us to tell us more about exactly what happened. Sam.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: So Hala, these were effectively two drone strikes or two different targets. There was the
outer perimeter indeed, the new International Abu Dhabi Airport which is next to the one that is functioning at the moment was hit. Two people were
injured there, and then there was an oil storage facility further south, south of the city, not very far from the airport, but south of the city
where there was a strike against an oil tank storage facility.
The burst into flames caused these other trucks to explode, killing three people, one Pakistani and two Indians and injuring another six. So this is
the first loss of life indeed. It's probably the first injuries on the soil of the United Arab Emirates since the UAE joined the Saudi-led
international coalition to enter the civil war on the side of the then government who was still the internationally-recognized government in Yemen
some years ago.
But the irony is of course, that, at least, officially, the Emiratis had pulled out of this chaos effectively in Yemen under international pressure,
under the pressure of the humanitarian crisis there, they decided to withdraw effectively by about 2020. But the Houthis are alleging that they
have gone back in, and there's independent confirmation of this in terms of supporting at least one of the militias there in the fighting against the
Houthis.
And were gaining the upper hand against those Saudi-led coalition. And it is that intervention in whatever form it's taken. We don't have any
evidence at all to point to what kind of form. It was very unlikely that it would involve any significant boots on the ground. But it could be funding,
it could be weapons, but whatever it was as far as the Houthis are concerned, they turned the tide, and this is in revenge for that, and they
are threatening further attacks.
The Houthis today, Hala, also had a press conference in which they claimed to fire ballistic missiles to have used a number of winged aircraft or may
not unmanned winged aircraft and drones.
[14:20:00]
And this attack may tend to exaggerate the scale of the attack. But there's no doubt at all for as far as the Emiratis are concerned, that this is
significant, it has taken lives on their soil, and the Emiratis foreign ministry has just in the last few hours issued a statement saying, there
will be a payment extracted for this. It is in their words not a crime that will go unpunished and calling it a criminal escalation.
There's of course, the Emiratis are now, as you know, Hala, trying to turn away from military involvement they've had in places like Yemen and Libya
in the past towards warming relations with their neighbors, particularly Iran of course, which has been backing the Houthis. Hala?
GORANI: All right, thank you for running through all of these questions that we had. Thank you so much, Sam Kiley, live in Abu Dhabi. The
underwater volcano near Tonga erupted again early today threatening surveillance flights trying to get a glimpse of the damage on the Pacific
Island nation. It's the latest in a series of devastating eruptions over the weekend. Experts say Saturday's was the largest recorded eruption
anywhere on the planet.
On the planet in more than 30 years. You can see how massive it was from space. Even the smaller eruption on Friday sent huge plumes of ash, smoke
and steam into the atmosphere. Saturday's event triggered tsunamis all across the Pacific. Huge waves causing damage in Peru, in New Zealand, in
Japan, on the U.S. West Coast and in Tonga, home to about 100,000 people. We still don't fully know how bad things are.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALEXANDER MATHEOU, ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS: So, the challenge is nobody is in contact with anybody
on the island, and, therefore, we are all a bit in the dark about exactly the scale of the damage for what people are experiencing. Now, what we do
know is that the ash fall has been significant and the tsunami waves have been destructive. But we don't know the extent of the damage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: All right, we'll of course cover Tonga in more detail when more images and information emerge about how much damage was actually done by
these tsunami waves. Britain has just announced it will supply Ukraine with a new security system package as it faces growing threats from Russia. The
U.K. Defense Minister says the light anti-armored weapons are for defensive purposes only and pose no threat to Moscow.
This comes amid a series of meetings in Kiev meant to underscore the west's commitment to Ukraine's security and sovereignty. Germany's foreign
minister, you see her there, she's on the right, met with the Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, and there was also throughout the day a
bipartisan group of U.S. senators who met with top officials as well. CNN's Matthew Chance is live in Kiev with more on what came out of those meetings
and what kind of promises these western officials made to their Ukrainian counterparts, Matthew?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I mean, those promises are still being laid out. But what it boils down to, Hala,
particularly from the congressional delegation from the United States that's just been meeting within the past hour with President Zelensky of
Ukraine.
They're promising to look at, you know, not just to bolster the diplomatic and political support that United States has for Ukraine, but also to look
at really concrete ways in which they can, in their words, deter Russian aggression -- obviously, there are a lot of military aid that comes from
the United States to Ukraine.
That's likely to be stepped up if these senators from the U.S. Congress have their way. And in addition to that, you just mentioned the fact that
Britain has said that it will supply anti-tank weaponry to Ukraine. There's been an announcement from NATO as well, saying it's going to increase its
sort of technical relationship when it comes to training and things like that with Ukraine as well. And, so, in the aftermath of that week-long
round of intensive negotiations between U.S. officials and Russia, NATO and Russia as well that ended in deadlock, what we're seeing is a kind of --
this week, a rallying around of support for Ukraine from its western allies, its western partners.
And obviously, that's going to put the pressure even more on Vladimir Putin because what we don't know at the moment is what Russia's next steps will
be. It's a possibility that more diplomatic talks could follow if the Russians feel that's worth it. And there's also a possibility that the
Kremlin could decide to, you know, state some kind of incursion or larger invasion into Ukraine as well. At the moment, we don't know which way
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president is prepared to go.
[14:25:00]
GORANI: So, what is a potential off-ramp here, because clearly we've been reporting with you and other reporters are ratcheting up of tensions
between Russia and western allies within NATO and Ukraine as well. Where is there a possible exit? Are -- do we have any clarity on that so that it
doesn't turn into a full-blown invasion?
CHANCE: That's a good question. Unfortunately with, you know -- I don't know what the answer is. Yes look, I mean, the Russians made these
astonishing demands, really, unacceptable demands. But for NATO to stop expanding, and for a commitment that Ukraine would never join NATO, the
western officials, the U.S. have made it absolutely clear those are non- starters. They can't even contemplate that. But what they have done is offer various compromises like the revival of a missile treaty, like more
transparency when it comes to NATO exercises.
The Russians have categorically rejected that, saying, no, we don't want that compromise. We're looking for those core demands to be addressed. So,
it's left us at an impasse. Where does it go from here? Well, I mean, it could go to a hot conflict, which is what everybody's fear is. But there's
also I suppose a possibility, as I mentioned diplomacy could continue or that there could be a more permanent escalation of tensions in the region.
GORANI: Matthew Chance, thanks very much, live in Kiev. Still to come tonight, the suspect in Saturday's hostage situation at a synagogue in
Texas has been identified as a British citizen. What we know so far after the break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: We're getting new details about the hostage situation at a synagogue in Texas Saturday. The FBI now confirms the situation was
terrorism-related and targeted the Jewish community. CNN's Natasha Chen has more on the hostage taker.
[14:30:00]
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NATASHA CHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The FBI has identified 44- year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram as the man who held four people hostage at a Texas synagogue on Saturday. The nearly 11-hour
standoff ended after an FBI hostage team shot and killed Akram. All four hostages are safe and unharmed. The situation began during the synagogue's
live stream of its Saturday morning Sabbath. In the feed, you can hear Akram speaking. It's unclear whom he is speaking to, but Akram can be heard
saying he plans to die.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALIK FAISAL AKRAM, TEXAS HOSTAGE-TAKER: I've got these four guys with me, yes? SO I don't want to hurt them, yes? OK, are you listening? I don't want
you to cry. Listen. I'm going to release these four guys. But then I'm going to go in the yard, yes? And they going to take me, all right? I'm
going to end at the end of this, all right? Are you listening? I am going to die. OK? So don't cry over me.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHEN: In a statement to CNN, one of the hostages, Rabbi Charlie Cytron- Walker, said "In the last hour of our hostage crisis, the gunman became increasingly belligerent and threatening." He credited the security
training his congregation had taken part in and getting them through the traumatic event.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JONATHAN GREENBLATT, CEO & NATIONAL DIRECTOR, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: This is the first time that anyone at ADL can recall a hostage taking at a
synagogue. But unfortunately, Jewish sites have been targeted again and again by extremists over the years.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHEN: According to officials, Akram entered the United States legally in December. He was vetted and cleared prior to his arrival at JFK Airport in
New York five weeks ago. Federal authorities do not believe that this was part of a greater plot, but they are questioning how Akram was able to
travel to Texas. According to law enforcement, British intelligence officials tell their U.S. counterparts a preliminary search showed no
derogatory information on Akram.
Once Akram arrived in Dallas, he spent several nights at a local homeless shelter. The Union Gospel Mission Dallas CEO Bruce Butler told CNN in a
phone call that "We were a way station for him. He had a plan. He was very quiet. He was in and out." Now the FBI is conducting a global investigation
to try to determine a motive.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MATTHEW DESARNO, FBI DALLAS SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: I'm not ready to add any more about the demands that they were specifically focused on one
issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHEN: According to two law enforcement sources, one possible motive was a desire to free Aafia Siddiqui. Siddiqui is serving an 86-year sentence in
federal prison in Texas for the attempted murder and armed attack of U.S. service members.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Well, that was Natasha Chen reporting. And we have heard from the rabbi' since that report, he told CBS about how he acted to end the
situation, the terrifying situation. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHARLIE CITRON-WALKER, CONGREGATION BETH ISRAEL RABBI: We were terrified. And when I saw an opportunity where he wasn't in a good position, I asked -
- made sure that the two gentlemen who were still with me, that they were ready to go. The exit wasn't too far away. I told them to go. I threw a
chair at the gunman. And I headed for the door.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Absolutely terrifying. And joining me now is CNN National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem. Thanks for being with us. So the FBI is calling
this now terrorism-related. How does the FBI come to that conclusion, usually?
JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: As a bit -- so this would - - this is based on his statements and stated motives at the stage and certainly the target being a synagogue. So we do know Akram's sort of
obsession, one might say, a radicalization through this mythology of Siddiqui. In other words, he believed her to be unfairly arrested. She's in
Texas, and so that would then just begin a review or an investigation into both his radicalization process whether others contributed to it. So, that
is where the investigation will lead right now. And it will lead to several countries. He's a British national, obviously, and her ties are to
Pakistan.
GORANI: So they arrested two teenagers in the U.K., we're not entirely sure how they're related to him. How do U.S. and U.K. authorities then end up
working together on a case like this?
KAYYEM: So this is one of the probably strongest, if not the strongest intelligence-sharing relationships that we have between the United States
and the U.K. So I noticed early on that the British had shown an interest in it even by Saturday, so they were probably aware that it was their
national.
So right now what they're doing is looking at what they call derogatory information. They claim now he's not on any list. Sometimes that changes.
They'd later learn that that's different.
[14:35:02]
Whether he had any interaction with law enforcement or any organization that law enforcement is looking at, the arrests of these two teenagers is
still in a black box right now. It is hard to tell what that is related to and what part of it. And then the third piece I will say, which is worth
noting on the U.S. side, is how did he get a weapon? That will be of interest as well to law enforcement?
GORANI: Right. And so the question, the obvious question then if the determination is made, that this was terrorism-related as if this was part
of some sort of wider plot, if anyone else was involved, what's your gut feeling on this? It doesn't like they're looking for anyone else.
KAYYEM: Not right now. And the FBI was pretty clear about that that they were not continuing this investigation. So we'll separate the general sort
of Jihadist terrorist threats, which tends to be not targeted, right? So we, we still know that synagogues, the Jewish community are targeted.
That's a general concern, and this specific kind of threat.
In other words, there a bunch of people we would anticipate coming out in support of Siddiqui, or some sort of launching of a series of attacks. The
latter, there's just no evidence that that's the case. So this investigation may focus on him and his actions generally.
But of course, as we know, the -- and you know the threat environment out there is, you know, especially for the Jewish communities, coming both from
the Islamic jihadist threat, as well as the right-wing threat in the United States and in Western Europe.
GORANI: Sure. Thanks very much, Juliette Kayyem, as always.
KAYYEM: Yes.
GORANI: Thank you.
KAYYEM: Thank you.
GORANI: Still to come to -- thank you. Should Prince Harry be allowed to pay for his own U.K. police security? I'll ask someone who knows the firm
well, the former head of Royal Protection, we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Britain's Prince Harry is taking legal action against the U.K. Government to allow him to pay for police security when he visits from the
U.S. The prince and his family lost taxpayer funded protection after giving up royal duties in 2020.
Now when he's at home in California, he and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, pay for their own private security. But the prince says that team
doesn't have adequate jurisdiction to provide protection abroad.
My next guest knows the threats the prince may be facing, Dai Davies has -- was formerly the head of Royal Protection.
[14:40:05]
He's joining me now from Wales. Thanks for being with us.
So who makes the decision? Who decides whether or not Prince Harry will be granted police protection if he says he will pay for it? And why would this
be so controversial? Why not just grant him this? I mean, he's one of the most high profile royals.
DAI DAVIES, FORMER HEAD OF ROYAL PROTECTION: Well, very good morning, or good evening, wherever you are. Well, let me explain. We've been protecting
Royals since George III third in 1760. We generally manage it quite well without any interference from young royals and those who've chosen to live
in your lovely country. That's their prerogative, but he's given up being a member of the royal family.
And in my day, we protected 22. That's narrowed down now to quite a few, less than about five or six get full time protection. So in truth, he's
decided and he's made his own bed, and he has to lie in it. Now, is it controversial for our intelligence services, which included my former
command, our Secret Service and other agencies, who have determined in their wisdom, that he is not at risk.
And with great respect, he can bring his private security, which I understand he has in California, and ironically, I worked in California.
It's far more dangerous than actually this country, I would very respectfully say, the use of firearms, et cetera in our country is very
closely related. So the truth is --
GORANI: But what if he pays for it? What if --
DAVIES: -- we don't or they don't think --
GORANI: I get that, but what if he pays for it?
DAVIES: Well -- yes, go on. Yes. That's the --
GORANI: There's no cost of the taxpayer.
DAVIES: With great respect -- well, with great respect, we don't do that either. We're British. And we've managed it quite well without Prince
Harry. And let me just say, look, we've had enough problems with his uncle Andrew, the last thing we need, this is a public argument. Why doesn't he
just approach his Father, Prince Charles, have a quiet word? If there is a risk, the Metropolitan Police, my old command, will give him protection.
But it's assessed at the moment that very few Royals in our country, different when they travel abroad, but with great respect to him and his
lovely lady, they made their choice.
If they don't want to come here, I don't know what he basis his fears on. Yes, of course, there are people who want to harm our Royals, they always
have been, but they will be adequately, if he stays in a palace, they're protected, and so on, so forth. So I don't know where he's coming from. But
we don't allow, I repeat, is --
GORANI: I think the argument -- I get that. I think the argument is, look, they have intelligence, they have access to the kind of information that
potentially could help police security determine whether or not there's a threat against his family. I think that is the argument here being made by
Prince Harry, that he was a royal, obviously, he decided to detach himself from the Royal Family as an official working member of the family. But when
he comes back, he's still at that same level of risk. That's the logic behind this request.
DAVIES: Well, last time he came, he wasn't provided with security. And he seemed to manage reasonably. Yes, one photographer chased him. But they do
that to all our royals. And most of them just flap them off like you do a wasp. The truth is we are better placed, with all respect to Harry, to
judge. And as I say, we've been doing it for 300 years. And with the exception of one or two, nobody has got at them. Certainly in my four
years, nobody got near them. So I can assure you, we haven't just come off some kind of, I don't know, Sputnik or rocket, we know what we're doing
very modestly.
GORANI: No, no, but I don't think --
DAVIES: And have been doing it --
GORANI: Obviously --
DAVIES: In my day, I protected many royals.
GORANI: You know what you're doing and that's obviously why Prince Harry wants that level of protection, presumably. How many people in the Royal
Family today get this level of police protection? Don't use private security but use a taxpayer funded police protection?
DAVIES: It's dropped off hugely since I was doing -- I mean, I'm not party now to how many actually, but I know at least 10 have dropped off this
24/7. But all the, you know, --
GORANI: And they used --
DAVIES: -- their homes and things are --
GORANI: And they used private then. So those who drop off, they then have to use private security, presumably?
DAVIES: If -- yes, if indeed they have anything. Obviously they're given advice, alarms, and all the rest of it as with any other private citizen.
[14:45:01]
You see we regard Mr. and Mrs. Windsor now as private citizens. He's chosen his path, good for him, that's his prerogative, but he can't expect to come
backwards and forwards and be a royal some of the time, and sometimes not. The threat is always assessed for all of them. If it's perceived that there
is any kind of threat, action would be taken and he would be provided at taxpayers' costs. At the moment, those cleverer than I now who are in
command than I did, he doesn't deserve it.
GORANI: Dai Davis, thank you so much for joining us there with that inside look, the Former Head of Royal Protection joining us from Wales.
Still to come tonight, treacherous conditions disrupt travel across the eastern United States as a massive winter storm brings heavy snow. Will it
impact if you're planning on flying to the U.S.? Will it impact your trip? The short answer is yes, it will. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Unlawful and destabilizing is how the U.S. is describing North Korea's latest missile test, its fourth this month. South Korea says the
North launched two short range ballistic missiles Monday from Pyongyang's International Airport. It follows earlier launches that involved ballistic
in what Pyongyang said were hypersonic missiles. Leader Kim Jong-un seems intent on building up his missile program despite devastating economic
problems caused in part by COVID-19.
Some journalists in Hong Kong are starting the year unemployed after a new wave of crackdowns there because of pressure from mainland China. CNN's
Ivan Watson spoke to journalists who are now questioning their future in Hong Kong.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IVAN WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is what it looks like when the Hong Kong Police knock on the door of a local journalist carrying a search
warrant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: What time did they show up at your door?
RONSON CHAN, FORMER DEPARTMENT ASSIGNMENT EDITOR, STAND NEWS: 6:00 a.m. I woke up in my dream.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Police take Ronson Chan in for questioning. That same morning, they raid his workplace, the independent online news portal Stand News and
arrest at least six other people tied to the outlet, accusing them of publishing seditious material.
Within hours, Stand News shuts down for good. And just days later, another independent news site, Citizen News, closes preemptively citing the
deteriorating media environment.
[14:50:06]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAN: Today, getting the foreign correspondent interview is quite dangerous, honestly.
WATSON: It's dangerous for you to talk to me right now.
CHAN: Yes. Yes.
WATSON: Why?
CHAN: I'm afraid that it will become evidence saying that we become an agent of further foreign power. But I still think that I have to speak out
what happened in Hong Kong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: The Hong Kong authorities say they're going after criminals, not silencing journalists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CARRIE LAM, HONG KONG CHIEF EXECUTIVE: So these actions are law enforcement actions. These actions have nothing to do with so-called suppression of
press freedom, or suppression of democracy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: The government says it is not targeting journalists.
CONNIE, FORMER APPLE DAILY JOURNALIST: This line, this was a lie.
WATSON: Connie, who doesn't want her full name published for safety reasons, worked as a journalist at the tabloid Apple Daily. It shut down
last June after police raided its offices, seized its assets, and arrested at least nine executives and staffers on charges of collusion with foreign
powers. After a 16-year career as a journalist in Hong Kong, Connie's now unemployed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CONNIE: I'm thinking of leaving Hong Kong.
WATSON: Why?
CONNIE: Because this is not safe anymore.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Hong Kong used to be the freest corner of modern day China, a former British colony that was supposed to be spared the strict government
censorship in Mainland China.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: You can see that gas right there.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: The city was home to a feisty local press corps. In 2000, reporters shouted questions at then Chinese leader, Jiang Zemin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEVE VINES, FORMER PRESENTER, RTHK: Hong Kong was also a very big center for international coverage in the Asian region, precisely because it was a
place where you didn't need to worry about someone knocking on your door in the early hours of the morning.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VINES: Hello, and welcome to The Pulse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: For 20 years, British journalist Steve Vines hosted a new show on Hong Kong's Public Television Network. But he packed up and left for this
rain-soaked corner of England last year after he watched Hong Kong authorities arrest dozens of opposition politicians and activists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VINES: It was just breathtaking. Every day, somebody was arrested, some organization was forced to close down, somebody else had been fired. I
mean, it was just relentless.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: The Hong Kong authorities insist journalists can still work here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Is there freedom of the press in Hong Kong today?
TOM GRUNDY, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, HONG KONG FREE PRESS: Yes and no. It's difficult in that we feel that there is enough for us to continue, but it's
certainly put the industry in crisis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Tom Grundy is Editor-in-Chief of the Hong Kong Free Press. He hopes authorities don't muzzle his small nonprofit reader-funded news site.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GRUNDY: We don't know where red lines are, the goalposts keep moving for the moment. We're staying put and pressing on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: The last year has been a bitter lesson for the city's heartbroken newly unemployed journalists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHAN: I trust them for over 27 years.
CONNIE: So I just hope that anyone still have freedom of speech, just you must hold it tight.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Ivan Watson, been watching CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: Now millions of people across the eastern United States are under winter weather alerts today. There is a massive storm system that's blowing
through. Heavy snowfall, take a look at the pictures there, high winds are causing widespread issues with power outages leaving many people shivering
in bitterly cold temperatures. The storm is also causing road closures as well as thousands of canceled flights. CNN's Pete Muntean is live at
Washington National Airport with more. What should our international travelers know about this weather system, Pete?
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, this travel chaos really is not over yet, Hala, because as this winter storm moved up the East Coast, it hit a
lot of major hubs for the airlines. Just look at the latest numbers from flight tracking site FlightAware, 1,600 flight cancellations in the United
States. Today, the ripple effect has continued from yesterday when more than 3,000 flights were canceled across the U.S.
This issue really hit places like Charlotte, North Carolina really hard, a place in the southern U.S. typically does not get a lot in the way of snow,
90% of all departures there were canceled yesterday. About a third of all departures canceled today.
[14:55:04]
The airport just posted an update saying it does anticipate things to be busy as folks try and catch their flights today, but a lot of people were
stuck for days. This was what one passenger told us.
GORANI: Oh, I'm sorry. I thought we were going to hear from that one passenger. What are airport officials saying --
MUNTEAN: I thought so, too.
GORANI: OK. That's all right. Let's keep talking. What are airport officials saying about when this might clear up? I guess obviously it's
weather-dependent, but then in these cases, you always have these backlogs as well.
MUNTEAN: Yes, you know, there is a bit of a reverb effect that continues to take place for a few days. When planes and crews are out of position, that
is bad for the airlines. Luckily, the weather is quickly improving. They was snowing here yesterday in D.C., now it is cleared out some. The
temperature has improved. They've been able to plow and salt critical roads, runways, taxiways, ramps that the airlines rely on and airports rely
on so things should get back to normal relatively quickly, airports tell us. But there will be some folks still disappointed as their flights may be
get delayed or canceled another day again, Hala.
GORANI: All right. I guess if you can stay put, stay put in this weather. Thanks so much, Pete Muntean.
The chairman of Credit Suisse has resigned and is now making a public apology. This comes after an internal investigation reportedly found that
Antonio Horta-Osorio broke COVID-19 rules. It's not his first scandal since taking over Switzerland's second biggest bank just eight months ago. Horta-
Osorio says a number of his personal actions have led to "Difficulties for the bank."
And finally, tonight a -- speaking of COVID, a Mexican news presenter is giving voice to the frustration that many people around the world are
feeling right now.
His very network. This colorful invective comes from Leonardo Schwebel, a host in Mexico's Guadalajara State. He tells CNN that it's important to --
in a calm voice, that it's important to open the debate about the issue and yes on the masks, please wear your masks.
Thank you for watching tonight. I'm Hala Gorani. Stay with CNN. Quest means business is up next. I'll see you next time.
END
