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Search Intensifies As Ransom Deadline Looms For Abducted Nancy Guthrie; Hong Kong Court Sentences Jimmy Lai To 20 Years; Seahawks Dominate Patriots To Claim Second Super Bowl; Lindsey Vonn In Stable Condition After Surgery Following Olympic Crash; Japan's Takaichi Secures Landslide Election Win; U.S. Lawmakers Can Review Unredacted Documents Starting Monday; U.K. PM's Chief of Staff Resigns Amid Mandelson Scandal; Cartels Using U.S.-Made Ammo; Herzog Begins Australia Trip at Site of Bondi Beach Attack; Two Arrested in Plot to Kill Top General in Moscow; Iran Sentences Nobel Laureate to 7 More Years on Prison; Storms Cause Damaging Flooding in Spain and Portugal; Humanoid Robot Uses A.I. to Help Screen for and Treat Autism. Aired 1- 2a ET
Aired February 09, 2026 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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POLO SANDOVAL, CNN ANCHOR: Hey, everybody, thank you so much for joining us for CNN Newsroom. I'm Polo Sandoval in New York. And here's what's coming your way.
Authorities return to Nancy Guthrie's home as a second ransom deadline approaches for the missing mother and also a grandmother.
Also on the way, Hong Kong media tycoon and fierce government critic Jimmy Lai receives a lengthy prison sentence in a landmark national security.
And the Seattle Seahawks getting revenge in Super Bowl XL with an incredible defensive performance against the New England Patriots will take you to the sidelines.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Live from New York, this is CNN Newsroom with Polo Sandoval.
SANDOVAL: All right, we want to begin with the intensifying search for the missing mother of today's show host San Savannah Guthrie ahead of Monday's purported ransom deadline at 5:00 p.m. local time in Arizona. Investigators returned to Nancy Guthrie's home on Sunday, but they have still not identified any suspects linked to her disappearance just over a week ago, at least not publicly.
The alleged ransom note reportedly threatens Nancy's life and is demanding $6 million in Bitcoin in exchange for her safe return. In a social media post by Nancy's children over the weekend, Savannah Guthrie said we will pay. Let's go now to CNN's Ed Lavander following the latest in Tucson, Arizona. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It has now been more than a week since Nancy Guthrie was abducted from her home here in Tucson. And there is still no word on where she might be or what her fate is in all of this.
So we're following this story in a couple different fronts. Obviously, we're we know that Savannah Guthrie, Nancy's daughter and her siblings had put out the latest video on Saturday afternoon saying and communicating to the author of these alleged ransom letters that the family would indeed pay.
An affiliate here in Tucson, KGUN is saying that amount could be as much as $6 million. But we do not have any kind of follow up as to whether or not that response from the Guthrie's has triggered another response from the ransom letter writer. We still await news on that.
And we're also following and watching investigators continue returning home where Nancy Guthrie lives in this neighborhood in Tucson. We've seen them on Sunday going through continuing more searches around the property and in the surrounding area.
And even on Saturday night, we saw a small number of sheriff's deputies at the home of Nancy Guthrie's daughter, Savannah's sister, who lives here in Tucson, about 15, 20 minutes away. They spent about three hours inside the home. We saw an investigator come out wearing latex gloves, another investigator perhaps carrying a bag. We unsure of what the contents are putting in one of the law enforcement vehicles.
As I said, they spent about three hours out there late Saturday night as well. So sheriff's deputies and investigators are saying that investigative work continues all across the city as well.
All of this happening as there's still no word as to whether or not or we know that what investigators are saying that there is no suspect, no person of interest that they are officially announcing at this time this a week into this desperate search for Nancy Guthrie at Lavandera, CNN, Tucson, Arizona.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: All right. Let's get some expert analysis now and bring in former FBI agent Scott Curtis for more on this. Scott, thank you so much for joining us.
SCOTT CURTIS, FORMER FBI AGENT: Yes, no problem.
SANDOVAL: So let's pick up on what my colleague Ed Lavandera just was reporting on a short while ago. Publicly, authorities maintain that there is no suspect or no person of interest. But is it possible that authorities have indeed perhaps some information, but they don't really -- it's not so urgent to get that information out to the public at this point. Is that a possibility? CURTIS: Yes, I believe at this point that the FBI has narrowed their
focus. They probably have come up with a solid theory about who was involved and maybe why they were involved in this kidnapping. I don't believe it was all about money. There may be some underlying reasons why they did what they did here, and hopefully that'll be disclosed at the appropriate time.
But the FBI right now is doing, I would say, a bunch of interviewing and review analysis of a bunch of data that they have collected.
[01:05:04]
And based on that information, are coming up with additional leads to pursue or additional questions to go back to people that they've already interviewed to try to clarify some things, to try to pinpoint who the suspects may be at this point.
SANDOVAL: And so if authorities are taking that strategic path where they are holding some of that critical information close to the vest, you know, to protect the integrity of the investigation. I'm curious what that. Does that speak to perhaps a change in the level of urgency that authorities are approaching the situation?
CURTIS: Well, that's a good point that you bring up there, because I questioned the lack of urgency on behalf of the kidnappers from the beginning of this whole ordeal here. You know, they've taken an 84- year-old woman in bad health. Why wasn't there this immediate urgency to communicate their demands and to get what they wanted out of this situation there? Why did it drag on so long?
Now, I think the investigators, the FBI is using this time to their advantage so they can again narrow their focus, identify potential subjects and pursue and collect appropriate evidence.
SANDOVAL: I'm also curious in getting your thoughts about how usual it is to not have at this point established two way communication between the family and captors. And again, that's just based on what's publicly available.
CURTIS: Yes, it is unusual. Again, in a usual kidnapping scenario there, a kidnapper would want to set up a direct line of communication with the victim's family there so they can communicate back and forth, communicate their demands, establish a deadline and get what they want in short order here. Because again, time is of the essence in this situation because of Nancy Guthrie's age and health there, that increases the fact of that.
So again, it's unusual why it was so vague and indirect there. And that's why I think there may have been some other motives besides just money in the situation.
SANDOVAL: It was vague and indirect. But then when you look at the latest video from the Guthrie family that was posted on Saturday, in fact, as you were speaking just now, were showing video of Savannah flanked by her siblings. It almost seems that she directly addresses a possible captor, saying that they received their message and that she and her family understand is how Savannah puts it.
She then pleads for her mother's return so they can, quote, celebrate with her. When you listen to that, I'm curious what your takeaway from that message is. Aside from the incredible strength that's on display from Savannah and her siblings.
CURTIS: I think there is some indication there that Savannah and her siblings believe it's possible that the worst possible outcome may be facing them in this situation here. But that being said, they still would want their mother returned to them. Their worst nightmare is that they pay this money and their mother has never returned to them or it's a length of time before anybody finds where their mother is located.
And so they want to make sure at a minimum, if they're going to pay this money, if something did tragically happen to their mother, that at least they know where to go collect their mother or their mother's return to them.
SANDOVAL: No, it's an important point. It's certainly a difficult conversation to have, but certainly also important to not lose sight of the fact that investigators say that they are still confident that she's alive, that they're working hard to get her back, and that the fates and her whereabouts still remain unknown. Now as we enter week two, Scott Curtis, really appreciate your expertise on this. Thank you so much.
CURTIS: No problem. Thank you.
SANDOVAL: Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, he's been sentenced to 20 years in prison in a landmark national security case. The sentence was handed down just hours ago and is the culmination of a years long legal saga for the 78 year old billionaire. CNN's Kristie Lu Stout outside of the Hong Kong courthouse with the latest.
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KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm standing outside the court where the former Hong Kong media mogul and longtime critic of China, Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison. In December, he was found guilty of sedition and two counts of colluding with foreign forces.
Now collusion here in Hong Kong under the Beijing imposed national security law is a very serious crime punishable by up to life in prison. Jimmy Lai earlier had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
In December, the three judges presiding over the case and convicted Jimmy Lai. They called him a, quote, mastermind of conspiracies.
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They pointed out his lobbying of U.S. politicians during President Donald Trump's first term, as well as how he used his empire, namely his Apple Daily newspaper, to call for international sanctions against China and Hong Kong during the 2019 protests. Now, this has been the most high profile national security case since
the law was imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong in 2020. It's been roundly criticized by Western governments. The U.S. and other countries have called for the release of Jimmy Lai.
In fact, U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly pressed Chinese leader Xi Jinping to free Jimmy Lai during their talks last year. China has repeatedly warned against any interference. And Hong Kong has insisted that Jimmy Lai has received a fair trial. So what happens next?
Well, an appeal could be a long, drawn out process with a low success rate. As for Jimmy Lai, he is 78 years old and has already spent more than five years in prison. Kristie Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: We'll take you to California next and a second super bowl title for Seattle. Look at the Seahawks win after they dominated the Patriots in California. Plus, reaction to the halftime performance by Bad Bunny.
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SANDOVAL: It's official The Seattle Seahawks, they are super bowl champions. The team getting revenge against New England 11 years after the Patriots took the Super Bowl title in 2015. This time, though, it was the Seahawks and quarterback Sam Darnold coming out on top, 29 to 13, the final score.
In a game that was dominated by outstanding defensive performance. Most of Seattle's points, they were scored by kicker Jason Myers, who racked up a Super Bowl record five field goals. Here's one of them. And also standout running back Kenneth Walker III. He was named Super Bowl MVP. This was the second Super Bowl win for Seattle, and it's the first for their head coach Mike McDonald, in just the second season with the team.
Other than that victory and the final score, of course, the next biggest moment on Sunday night was the much anticipated halftime performance from singer Bad Bunny. And the recent Grammy Award winner made pretty darn sure to bring the block party with him from Puerto Rico all the way to California. Look at this.
They literally recreated some sugar cane fields from Puerto Rico in the middle of the 50 yard line. Bad Bunny's performance had featured many of his greatest hits, as well as appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin. Unity. That was a big part of theme on Sunday night.
At one point in his performance, Bad Bunny said God Bless America. And he proceeded to name nearly every country in North, Central and South America. Apparently. Everybody, welcome to this party. A giant billboard also read, the only thing more powerful than hate is love.
Earlier, I spoke with Anamaria Sayre, I should say, with NPR's Alt.Latino, about Bad Bunny's performance. I asked her about his statements throughout the show and whether the message of unity and love would make it all the way to the White House. Here's part of our conversation.
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ANAMARIA SAYRE, CO-HOST, NPR'S "ALT.LATINO": You know, he's been pretty intentional lately with how he's been speaking in English. He hasn't type in the past, but lately, you know, we heard him say basically those exact same words about choosing love over hate last week in his acceptance speech for his Grammy. And I think that he really, you know, like I said, he's typically always chosen to speak almost exclusively to Puerto Rico. That message has expanded recently to be kind of this larger Latin American diaspora with this latest album, "DeBI TiRAR MaS FOToS."
And I think what we saw both at the Grammys last week and at the Super Bowl stages, he's now assuming this position of being this person who's interested in using his platform actually to speak not only to, but for Latinos principally, it seems in the United States.
SANDOVAL: Yes, I don't. Look, I completely forgot to mention the other message that he shares in English, God Bless America, before he then share appears to share this big message of unity where he and some --
SAYRE: Yes.
SANDOVAL: -- of the background dancers are quite literally shouting out the names of different countries in North and in South America. So finally, just a couple of seconds that I have left with you. What do you expect next to come from Benito Bad Bunny?
SAYRE: I think that moment that you called out is key because he says, God bless America. Oh, say, which I'll say is this beautiful word in Spanish that is to clarify an idea usually. And so there he is clarifying what America means. And I think that's what we can expect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: And U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn, she is recovering after breaking her left leg at the Olympic Games in Italy. Sources say that she is now in stable condition, undergoing surgery to treat the fracture, to treat a fracture after being airlifted to a hospital.
U.S. team officials say that the team of America and Italian doctors, they are currently caring for her, treating her. She was just 13 seconds out of the start for the women's downhill event when she then hit a gate and fell. Thousands of people were there cheering her on, but then suddenly that crowd going silent when her performance ended in that crowd crash.
As Amanda Davies reports, the accident comes after Vonn ruptured a tendon in her knee on the same leg -- on the very same leg just late last month. Listen to this.
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AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT: There's an incredible sense of sadness across the Olympic and Alpine skiing community if that is the last time we see Lindsey Vonn on the biggest stage being helicoptered off the mountain in Cortina just 13 seconds into what we know was going to be her final Olympic downhill hurrah.
Wearing bib number 13, the American clipped a gate with her shoulder, lost control and landed with a real crunch in an incredibly awkward, painful looking position.
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The Cortina crowd, her fellow athletes and the rest of us watching on, stunned into concerned silence. She was taken straight to hospital. U.S. Ski and Snowboard provided an update. Simply saying Vonn has sustained an injury and Agency AP are now reporting the she's undergone surgery on a left leg fracture at a hospital in Treviso here in Italy.
Her sister admitting to media at the course it was scary when you see the stretches being put out, but that she dared greatly and put it all out there and that she certainly did, it had all the makings of the most incredible comeback story, didn't it?
We and she knew she was taking a risk getting giving it one last shot at an Olympic medal, competing just nine days after fully rupturing her ACL on her left knee. But for all those who questioned her, this was the race she had as her ultimate focus since she made her decision to return to skiing after her 2019 retirement and subsequent knee replacement surgery.
One final shot at an Olympic medal on the course that has been so good to her throughout her career, where she's been the most successful female alpine skier of all time. It feels a really unfair, brutal end to a trailblazing career, as you have to suspect it will be.
Well wishes and tributes have been pouring in from across the skiing community, including from her teammate and the athlete who ultimately took gold, Breezy Johnson. You have to feel for her somewhat the massively contrasting emotions as she claimed the biggest push prize of her career to become Olympic champion for the first time, having missed out on Beijing 2022 through an injury suffered on the very same course and served a 14 month ban for missing three out of competition drugs tests.
The 30-year-old from Idaho came back to win world championship downhill gold this time last year. And this is the icing on the cake, but with a side of sadness given how it ended for Lindsey. Amanda Davies, CNN, Milan.
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SANDOVAL: Thanks, Amanda. Let's get you caught up on the current medal count. At the top of the pack, Norway with three golds. The United States right behind with two. Italy, Japan, Austria, Germany. They all have one gold medal each rounding up the top six. As for who is leading the medal count overall, well, that would be the country hosting the Winter Olympics. That's Italy with their nine medals overall.
Still to come here on CNN Newsroom, Japan's first ever female prime minister was gambling under popularity when she called for a snap election. Well, it apparently paid off in a pretty surprising way. We'll take you live Tokyo.
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SANDOVAL: Welcome back. You're watching CNN Newsroom. I'm Polo Sandoval in New York. And Japan's prime minister is thanking voters who handed her party a major victory in Sunday's snap election. Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party securing a two-thirds majority in the lower house of parliament. That the LDP's best ever result.
And also gives the ruling coalition the ability to override votes in the upper house of Parliament. Let's get more on what all of this means and go to CNN's Hanako Montgomery joining us from Tokyo. Hanako, you and I spoke about 24 hours ago. There were even concerns about possible voter turnout because parts of Japan were getting hit by snow. Well, apparently that she was still able to pull this off.
HANAKO MONTGOMERY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Sanae Takaichi's huge political gamble, one where she literally put her job on the line, has paid off, I mean, to the extent that we could not really expect. I mean, most experts I've spoken to really said that it was likely that the Liberal Democratic Party would secure a majority in Japan's lower house of Parliament.
But the fact that the LDP was able to secure more than two-thirds of seats is truly something unexpected and historic. And what that now means is Takaichi will be able to pass through any bills, really with little to no opposition. So making her leadership and her really, I suppose, her job as a politician much, much easier.
Now, Takaichi has a long list, a long laundry list of issues that she must tackle from the get go. First, of course, is the Japanese economy. We've seen record high inflation, a sliding Japanese yen against the very powerful U.S. greenback, and of course just voters feeling very frustrated with the fact that wages aren't increasing. So she will have to tackle the Japanese economy to appease these voters, to appease the Japanese public and show that she's on the right track to make Japan a much stronger economy.
Now she must also deal with foreign policy. In her brief time as prime minister, less than four months, she has shown that she's quite able and adept at really tackling different foreign policy issues and developing deeper ties with foreign nations. For example, Italy's Prime Minister, South Korea's president, also the U.K., Canada, and including the U.S. President, Don.
In fact, when it comes to Trump, Takaichi has shown that she has a very good personal relationship with him. In fact, last week on Truth Social, Trump went so far as to endorsing her as the Prime Minister of Japan, encouraging the people of Japan to vote for her in this very local election.
Now, Takaichi as early as Monday, so just a few hours ago thanked Donald Trump for that endorsement and for his kind words, also adding that, quote, the potential of our alliance is limitless. So really just emphasizing the strength of the US-Japan alliance here.
Also mentioning that her visit to the U.S. in March, her expected visit, will be one of greatness and of course will be an opportunity to develop that alliance further. So again, long list of issues Takaichi must tackle. But for now, a moment of victory for the Japanese prime minister.
SANDOVAL: CNN's Hanako Montgomery following every step of this election. Thank you, Hanako. The most recent release of the Epstein files by the Justice Department is shedding light on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's links with billionaires, royals, government officials, both U.S. and abroad.
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SANDOVAL: Well now, a letter obtained by CNN from the Justice Department reveals that the U.S. -- or at least that lawmakers in the U.S., that they will be able to view some of this unredacted -- some of this material but unredacted starting today Monday.
They will have access to more than 3 million pages of information released to the public.
A spokesperson for House Democrat Ro Khanna, actually says that he already has an appointment scheduled for the coming hours. And the rules say that only lawmakers and not their staff can view the files.
And while they can't bring in any outside electronic devices, they will be able to take notes as they review those pages.
And in the meantime, a deepening scandal in Europe as well after the latest release of these Epstein files. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's chief of staff has resigned. Morgan McSweeney exits as his boss deals with blowback over his appointment of Peter Mandelson as his ambassador.
Here's CNN's Melissa Bell with more.
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MELISSA BELL, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Further fallout here in Europe as a result of the latest revelations from the Epstein files in the shape of the resignation of Morgan McSweeney. He was, until Sunday, the special adviser to the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Keir Starmer, who's been under a great deal of pressure over what British authorities may or may not have known at the time when Peter Mandelson was appointed to be Britain's ambassador to Washington.
Now, he's now caught up in a criminal investigation by London's metropolitan police trying to figure out what Peter Mandelson may or may not have passed on to Jeffrey Epstein back when he was business secretary in 2009.
Mandelson himself has apologized for his relationship with Epstein, but a lot more, no doubt to come, as a result of that criminal inquiry. And Keir Starmer remaining under a great deal of pressure from his own Labour backbenches.
Here in France, it is Jack Lang, a former culture minister who had to resign over the course of the weekend after a great deal of pressure had been building over the course of last week about his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.
He had been since 2013 at the helm of the Arab World Institute. Over the course of the weekend, he resigned after facing, not just pressure from France's foreign ministry and the Elysee Palace, but also a judicial inquiry looking into allegations of potential tax evasion.
Elsewhere in Norway, there's been further fallout, not just for the royal family in the shape of the Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who's had to apologize several times over the course of the week about her relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, but also for Norway's political classes.
It is a former prime minister now who is at the heart of an investigation into allegations of aggravated corruption.
Thorbjorn Jagland, has said, through the shape of his lawyer that he will help with that investigation as much as he can. Essentially, his ties with Jeffrey Epstein are being investigated.
What we understand from the latest documents is that in the wake of the death of Vitaly Churkin, who had been Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, Jeffrey Epstein then went through Jagland to try and connect with Russian leadership in the shape of Vladimir Putin or the foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov.
Now, that probe continuing, but it is perhaps the one that's been launched in Poland that is of most interest worldwide.
We understand from Donald Tusk, the prime minister, who announced this week that the Polish government would now be launching an investigation to consider what links, if any, there may have been between Jeffrey Epstein and Russian secret services.
That probe, looking into those allegations of exactly why Jeffrey Epstein was collecting all of the information that he did.
Still, the fallout continuing across the European continent because of the sheer quantity of the documents and the depths of the relationships that they appear to show.
Melissa Bell, CNN -- Paris. (END VIDEOTAPE)
SANDOVAL: A new investigation is showing us how Mexican cartels are getting their hands on powerful ammunition made in the United States for the U.S. Army. The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and "The New York Times", they published a new joint report this week. It reveals how military grade ammunition produced in a Kansas City area plant owned by the U.S. government, how its ending up in the retail market for anyone to buy, specifically powerful 50- caliber rifle rounds.
Cartel members are using this ammunition that's meant to destroy vehicles and light aircraft to launch deadly attacks on Mexican police, military officials, and even civilians.
The army told "The New York Times" that contractors who sell ammo, they are required to comply with all federal and state regulations governing the sale of commercial ammunition.
Joining us now are Isabella Cota and Ben Dooley, both reporters for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
Welcome to the program.
BEN DOOLEY, REPORTER, INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS: Thanks, Polo.
ISABELLA COTA, REPORTER, INTERNATIONAL CONSORTIUM OF INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS: Hi. Nice to be here.
SANDOVAL: It's great to have you both with us. Let's dive deep into the reporting that you have put together here.
[01:34:48]
DOOLEY: Sure.
SANDOVAL: It reveals a troubling irony, which is while the Trump administration considers some Mexican cartels, foreign terror groups, as we saw the administration sign that about a year ago, it's those same groups that are using U.S.-made ammunition to wage these military-level battles.
In going through --
DOOLEY: Right.
SANDOVAL: -- I'll start with you, Ben.
As you went through this mountain of data, the documents that you obtained and your colleagues, was there -- or I should ask, where is the apparent loophole that, I should say, continues to allow these powerful 50-caliber parcels of ammunition to end up in the wrong hands?
DOOLEY: Yes. Thanks. That's a -- that's a great question. So basically, this army-owned plant has permission to sell ammunition to the civilian market in the U.S. So it's going to online stores. It's going to gun shops.
And from there it's being bought by smugglers in the U.S. in states like Texas and Arizona, and it's being carried across the border to Mexico, where it's being used by cartels to fight Mexican authorities.
SANDOVAL: And Isabella, in the reporting, I see that it includes a story of a widow of a Mexican police officer who was killed in a cartel shooting, really putting a human face to this -- to this issue that continues decades later. And she said that there isn't enough being done to curb the flow of U.S. guns and ammunition into Mexico.
Do you have a sense of what actions need to be taken, perhaps in the U.S., also in Mexico, in an effort to try to curb the number of weapons that are ending up on your side of the border?
COTA: Yes, I think -- I think that when we read stories like Brenda's, the widow who you mentioned, I mean, just really briefly, her story is heartbreaking because her husband was in Michoacan and he was a policeman who was supposed to face organized crime with bullets that he had to buy himself, sometimes guns that he had to buy himself.
And when I spoke to Brenda, she really complained that there's no way that policemen could face organized criminals who have 50 caliber ammunition.
So this is really the face of the terror that this involves. And the truth is that this story is bringing light to an issue that we don't know a lot about, because we know about the initiative that President Sheinbaum and President Trump announced late last year called Mission Farewell, which is to curb gun smuggling and truly the traffic of weapons from the U.S. to Mexico.
But we don't really know a lot about ammunition itself. So this is really coming out to be a new point of contention between the two governments. It's going to be the focus on the ammunition I think, starting now. And we'll have to see what kind of different strategies the two governments can actually collaborate on to not just tackle weapons, but also the ammunition that is being smuggled through the border.
SANDOVAL: Yes, I recall that President Sheinbaum really calling this a breakthrough cooperation agreement that they reached in September. But to your point, this is leading to some questions about what's going to be done to try to prevent, as you said, the ammunition to make its way south of the border.
Ben, when you see the numbers to the statistics that you -- that you both and the rest of your team pored over, I wonder if you can give our viewers around the world a sense of the numbers.
At what rate is -- are in the case of 50-caliber rounds of ammunition, are they being trafficked south of the border?
DOOLEY: Sure. So, you know, we don't really have good figures on that. Our information is based on what's being seized at the border, and that's just a fraction of what's going across.
So I think it's important for people to understand how powerful and dangerous this ammunition is. It's extraordinarily destructive. It's not like a normal -- a normal bullet.
It's used to -- by the military to attack vehicles. It can bring down a helicopter, can shoot through -- you can go online and see videos of it shooting through a manhole cover.
So the numbers are not huge, what's being seized? But, you know, the consequences across the border are really genuinely significant.
We talk to folks from the ATF who are working these cases, both here in the U.S. and in Mexico. And, you know, they say that when the cartels have these bullets -- sorry, these rounds in their hands, you know, it really tips the scales in their fight against Mexican police or, you know, the military, even.
SANDOVAL: Yes. I have about 60 seconds with you both. I'm wondering if I can get some closing thoughts. I mean, we've known for decades that it's about drugs. And oftentimes people being moved north of the border and then weapons and money often going south.
What is it that's changing right now based on all of your reporting? I mean, why is this such a critical issue that hopefully both administrations, both in the U.S. and Mexico, will tackle?
[01:39:52]
SANDOVAL: I'll start with you, Isabella. Yes.
COTA: Thank you. I'll be very, very brief. I just want to say that we're getting a picture of how much this ammo is being used slowly, and we're getting a picture of it right now.
I mean, throughout the course of this investigation, we got three documented cases. We got access to the investigative files that basically showed that these casings, these Lake City casings are showing up in multiple crime scenes, organized crime is.
So I think the issue here is that these are ammunitions that are supposed to be for armies and not for organized criminals. And that for Mexicans is a really difficult reality to swallow.
SANDOVAL: Ben, I have a few seconds.
DOOLEY: Yes. Sure. You know, the U.S. Army here, they have said themselves there's no oversight of the production and sale of this ammunition. And, you know, once it gets to the civilian market, there basically no regulations. Anyone can buy it in pretty much any quantity, with very few exceptions.
And, you know, as long as that continues to be the case, it's going to continue flowing across the border.
SANDOVAL: Yes. I think we just scratched the surface today. So certainly encourage all of our viewers to read that reporting from you.
Isabella Cota and Ben Dooley, thank you so much for your time and for your reporting.
DOOLEY: Thank you, Polo.
COTA: Thank you for having us, Polo.
SANDOVAL: And we'll be right back with more.
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SANDOVAL: The Israeli president is in Sydney at this hour. It's all part of his multi-city trip that's aimed at expressing solidarity with Australia's Jewish community after the deadly Bondi Beach shooting.
President Isaac Herzog laid a wreath at the site of the Hanukkah celebration, where 15 people were killed in December.
He has received a warm reception from a government that's determined to show solidarity with its grieving Jewish community.
But some people there are upset over the visit and accused the president of being complicit in civilian deaths in Gaza.
[01:44:46]
SANDOVAL: Let's get more on this now from CNN's Angus Watson joining us from Sydney as we try to learn more about this visit. What else are people saying?
ANGUS WATSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Polo, let me take you back to December 14th last year when two ISIS-inspired gunmen opened fire at Hanukkah Festival, killing 14 people and injuring many more. 14 Jewish people and one Catholic person -- a photographer who was employed at the event.
That was deemed an anti-Semitic terror incident and immediately the Jewish community in Bondi asked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to invite the head of state of Israel, Isaac Herzog, the president, to Australia, to grieve with them. And that's what is happening now.
I was at Bondi this morning just right where that massacre happened in December, and the prime -- and the president laid a wreath and he comforted the grieving families of victims and survivors.
One survivor told me it gave her great solace that the president of Israel was there, that she felt like as a Jewish person that Israel was looking out for her wherever she may be in the world.
But of course, this has also divided a large part of Australian society. On the one hand, we have people who want Herzog here to help the grieving Jewish community.
On the other hand, we have people who are extraordinarily upset after over two years of graphic imagery coming out of Gaza, in which 70,000 Palestinians are killed, tens of thousands of those innocent civilians, including children.
That is the anger that's bubbling up now at these protests in the center of Sydney. And in fact, around the country now, people saying that they don't want Herzog here at all.
Now, it's important to remember that in Israel, President Herzog has a largely ceremonial role. He's the head of state. He is not a decision maker in the same way as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, when a special inquiry of the United Nations deemed Israel's actions in Gaza as genocide, you will remember that the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for Netanyahu's arrest.
What the U.N. said about Herzog was that his comments about Gaza, about the October 7th attack, had made it -- had implied that the Palestinians as a whole, the entire nation, was culpable for the attacks in -- on October 7th, on June 2003.
So we have here a situation where the U.N. has said that while Herzog isn't directly responsible for genocide, that he may have incited it with his words, Polo.
SANDOVAL: Our thanks to Angus Watson for that live report from Sydney.
In the meantime, some absolutely devastating storms, they continue hitting parts of Spain, leaving behind flooded cities.
Still ahead, the areas that are seeing the biggest impact from the severe weather and where concern grows as more rain is expected for the region.
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SANDOVAL: Russian investigators say that Ukrainian intelligence is behind the attempted assassination of a top Russian general in Moscow on Friday. They say that they have made two arrest -- a suspect that was detained in Dubai, and an alleged accomplice. Another alleged accomplice was reportedly -- at least he managed to escape into Ukraine.
The suspect is accused of firing several shots at the deputy head of Russia's main intelligence agency. He survived the shooting and has since regained consciousness in the hospital.
Ukrainian officials have denied any connection to the generals attack.
And Iran has sentenced Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi to over seven years in prison. Her lawyer confirmed the sentence in a social media post.
The human rights activist was found guilty of gathering and collusion and propaganda. Her supporters say that she had been on a hunger strike since last week, but that she ended that strike in the wake of her sentencing and with declining health. The new convictions, they come after Iran cracked down on dissent
during deadly nationwide protests recently. And as it also tries to negotiate with the U.S. over its nuclear program.
We want to get you to Venezuela now, where the family of a key opposition figure says that he was kidnaped by armed assailants shortly after being released from prison.
Juan Pablo Guanipa was among several high-profile political prisoners who were freed on Sunday. Well, that move, just the latest effort by the government to satisfy U.S. demands for the release of those held for political reasons.
Guanipa's Primero Justicia Party is accused of -- is accusing the Caracas regime of being behind this kidnaping.
Spain's prime minister planning to visit areas that were hit hard by this weekend's storms. Thousands of people, they have been forced to leave their homes after severe weather damage actually caused some dangerous flooding. And Spain and Portugal, they are bracing for even more bad weather ahead.
Here's CNN's Ben Hunte.
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BEN HUNTE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT: A series of storms is drenching parts of Spain and Portugal. Storm Marta is the latest weather system to dump heavy rain across the already waterlogged Iberian Peninsula.
Some places have been inundated with water, like this town in Spain's Andalusia Region. Floods gushing through its narrow streets as emergency crews battled to reinforce barricades.
But many houses have already been engulfed by the rushing waters, and some residents say they fear even more water could be accumulating in the nearby hills.
MARI CARMEN LOPEZ SANCHEZ, RESIDENT (through translator): Knowing the mountains, too, I can imagine what's underneath them, how the aquifers are doing and all that. And that water has to come out at some point.
HUNTE: In southern Spain, more than 11,000 people have been forced to leave their homes because of recent storms. And nearly 170 roads across the country have been shut down.
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HUNTE: The ground is so wet there are fears of landslides in some areas. Many people say they're just hoping for a dry spell to take stock of the damage.
PEPI CARO, RESIDENT (through translator): We hope this will end soon and pass, and that we will see what is there. Because there is nothing else to do but wait, wait and wait. And the more hours that pass, the more desperate we become.
Nearby Portugal has also been hit hard by back-to-back storms. More than 26,000 rescue workers have been deployed to help manage the floods.
And three municipalities in flood affected areas have postponed a presidential runoff vote by a week because of the extreme weather. Though the vote continued in other parts of the country, many voters armed with umbrellas managed to cast their vote in the very soggy conditions.
Ben Hunte, CNN.
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SANDOVAL: Researchers in China have reportedly developed a humanoid robot that uses A.I. to help diagnose and treat children with autism. According to state media, the robot is fitted with a noninvasive wearable brainwave sensor that's embedded in a headband.
Well, that sensor picks up on electrical signals within the brain, converts those patterns into commands for the robot, and then generates data that can then be analyzed and interpreted by clinicians.
Researchers say that the robot can adjust how it interacts to suit each child's unique needs.
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KONG XIANGZENG, A.I. RESEARCH INSTITUTE, FUJIAN AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY UNIVERSITY (through translator): When a child struggles to respond to certain questions, the robot can guide them more flexibly and quickly towards the correct answer.
It also provides therapists with precise baseline data, making it easier for them to work together with the parents to develop personalized treatment plans for the child's next stage of therapy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANDOVAL: More than 13 million people in China live with autism. The robot already being used in collaboration with hospitals and autism rehabilitation centers.
We do want to thank you so much for joining us on CNN NEWSROOM.
I'm Polo Sandoval.
The news continues with my colleague Ben Hunte. After a short break. Don't go anywhere.
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