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Connect the World
World Leaders Show Hugo Chavez Final Respects; Conclave Date Set; After Delays, Kenyan Election Results To Be Announced Saturday
Aired March 08, 2013 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MAX FOSTER, HOST: An elaborate state funeral for Hugo Chavez. Huge crowds and heads of state say a final goodbye before his body goes on permanent display forever with his people.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN London, this is Connect the World.
FOSTER: Also ahead...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have seen your daughter on television and on different talk shows. And they got your daughter's admitted excuse.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: The power of one. We bring you an exclusive interview with Malala's father as we mark International Women's Day.
And, the date has been set for the conclave to choose a new pope. We'll have an inside look at the favorite contenders.
World leaders, celebrities, fellow revolutionaries, friends and family all gathered in Venezuela today for the state funeral of Hugo Chavez. The late president was eulogized as a hero for the poor and downtrodden. His flag draped casket was closed a mourners paid their last respects. But officials say his body will soon be embalmed and shown, quote, for eternity.
Let's bring in Shasta Darlington live in Caracas. You've been reporting on this obviously since the start. And were you surprised by the reaction today, these enormous crowds yet again?
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it just doesn't seem to end, Max. There's so many people who are being bused in from around the country who want this last chance to see the man who was president for 14 years and who really was a hero to the poor and so many very specific ways. It's not just an abstract concept for them. You know, we've talked to people who were waiting in line to see him who say that, for example, one man who said he was given a house for free, how couldn't he come and say farewell. Another woman who said that she was the first person in her family to go to university and it was all thanks to the commandante.
So these are people who feel like in some ways they're going to the church to see a saint. They feel like they really have to thank this man for everything that they have, Max.
FOSTER: And let's just talk a bit about the ceremony, because it was actually very powerful in the end, wasn't it? And you had these world leaders, controversial world leaders, and low level diplomats from western countries. It was an extraordinary occasion and very emotional.
DARLINGTON: Absolutely. It was very -- it was interesting that we got more than 30 world leaders, but as you mentioned most of them were from Latin America or for example President Ahmadinejad. And then some low level delegations. But for the people here, it was a very important time to just look back on and pay honor to a man who was charismatic, but controversial as you said, but who really did have a dream of uniting Latin America, uniting this region, and sidelining the traditional powers like the United States.
And while not everyone agreed with him ideologically, I think there was a certain degree of respect for this idea that Latin America, or Venezuela, can do it on its own. And he really put both himself and Venezuela on the map. So I think people were paying their respects whether or not they entirely agreed with him ideologically, Max.
FOSTER: Controversial, you say, but actually very divisive as well, because he obviously very popular with the poor. We've seen that today, but the middle classes, the rich, many of the people living behind you in that extraordinary city, they are angry aren't they? They're upset that he's being turned into a martyr effectively.
DARLINGTON: They absolutely are. A lot of people here feel that after 14 years under Hugo Chavez, Venezuela is a worse country to live in. They say that it's falling apart, the economy is in tatters. They point to inflation of over 10 percent. The currency here was devalued by a third, which pushes inflation up more. And even in supermarkets these days, while this is in Cuba you can still walk into a supermarket and maybe not find sugar on the day that you go in there. So there's certainly plenty of things to complain about.
Also, the oil sector -- you know, all of these socialist programs that Hugo Chavez promoted, they were paid for by the oil reserves. And that has actually been depleted, the industry has been left in tatters, Venezuela produces less oil today than it did 14 years ago, Max.
FOSTER: And the country has to move on from this. And I guess it can do so from now after this funeral. So what does happen next in terms of leadership?
DARLINGTON: Well, actually this evening his handpicked successor Nicolas Maduro will be sworn in as the interim president. And he's also the person who will run for election, which have to be held in the next 30 days.
The opposition hasn't come out declaring who their candidate will be out of respect, really, but it's widely accepted that it will be Henrique Capriles. He's the same man who ran against Chavez in the last elections. But most polls show, and analysts agree, that Maduro will carry this election. He's going to carry the sympathy vote. There's just been this incredible outpouring of grief that we were talking about and people are trying to look for where to -- who can carry this tradition on. And it's Maduro, Max.
FOSTER: Shasta in Caracas, thank you very much indeed for that.
Well, his spirit was strong, but his body simply gave out: those are the words about Hugo Chavez from Venezuela's vice president today. Here's another look at some of the most memorable moments from the funeral.
The ceremony began with Venezuela's national anthem. The orchestra was led by Gustavo Dudamel, a Venezuelan conductor who is maestro of the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Each world leader in attendance was announced individually to applause from the crowd. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad received a standing ovation after kissing his friend's casket. He raised his fist in a revolutionary salute.
And in a move full of symbolism, Vice President Nicolas Maduro laid his sword on the casket. It was a replica of Simon Bolivar's sword, South America's independence hero.
Outside Venezuela, perhaps nowhere is Hugo Chavez more beloved than in Cuba, the country which called him a true son. Mr. Chavez supported not only Cuba's politics, but also provided a critical lifeline for its economy. Our Patrick Oppmann is in Havana.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In a crowd of thousands in the hot Cuba son, Elvira Varela fights back tears as she remembers Hugo Chavez.
ELVIRA VARELA, MOURNING HUGO CHAVEZ (through translator): He helped Cuba so much. He was like a brother to Fidel, that's why I carry his picture.
OPPMANN: It was not long ago that Cubans felt abandoned by the world. The Soviet Union had fallen, the Cuban economy was in tatters. Then, newly elected Hugo Chavez offered a political alliance and generous oil subsidies. For 12 hours Thursday, a line of mourners in Havana that stretched seemingly forever, paid Chavez their respects.
Raul Castro saluted Chavez before heading to Caracas to attend his state funeral. Absent from view, Fidel Castro sent these flowers to the man who once kept vigil next the Cuban leader's hospital bed.
There's an overwhelming sense of sadness in Cuba right now, not just over the loss of a key ally, but also with the realization that all of Cuba's efforts to keep Hugo Chavez alive were not enough. For months, Chavez was treated at Cuba's top hospitals far from public view. Even worshipers of the Santaria religion made offerings to the spirits who seemed to stalk Chavez.
And when Chavez finally succumbed, a government newscaster broke down in error announcing his death.
"Chavez is Cuban," he said. "Chavez is in our hearts."
Also on Cubans minds is Chavez's oil that powers much of Cuban industry. The future of those 100,000 barrels a day is unclear.
JORGE PINON, ENERGY EXPERT: The impact of Cuba losing that contract or that arrangement, either due to a change of government or a change of policy in Venezuela, will be disastrous not only from an economic point of view, but also from the social and political point of view.
OPPMANN: Back at the memorial for Hugo Chavez in Havana, mourners, at least those who would talk to us on camera, say the oil will keep flowing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): We hope the Chazista stay in power. I am not worried in the slightest.
OPPMANN: But as Cuba concludes a three day period of national mourning for Chavez, the pain may only be just beginning.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Havana.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: This is Connect the World. Coming up right after this break, Catholics around the world could have a new leader by the end of next week. The date to begin electing a new pope has been announced. And all the details are just ahead.
And Kenya waiting for a winner, the country's deep into its vote count as voters wait to hear who is president. We'll take you live to Nairobi.
And cricketers look back on a controversial team that came to South Africa at the height of apartheid. All that and much more when Connect the World continues.
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FOSTER: We now know the process to choose a new pope will start next Tuesday. Let's bring in our senior international correspondent Ben Wedeman who is in Rome. Finally, the details. Ben, what can you tell us?
BEN WEDEMAN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, we understand from the Vatican press office, Max, that the conclave will begin on Tuesday, the 12th of March in the afternoon. It will be proceeded by a mass by the cardinals, the 115 cardinals who will be participating in the conclave. The first vote will take place in the afternoon. After that it will be four votes a day, after every two votes we'll either see black smoke, meaning no pope has been selected, or white smoke meaning habemus papam, "we have a pope."
This could go on we don't know how long. The last time there was a conclave in 2005 it lasted for a day-and-a-half. But over the last century, the average for conclaves has been three days -- Max.
FOSTER: And in terms of the living arrangements for the cardinals, I gather we've got some quite interesting details on how they will be living over the next few days, actually.
WEDEMAN: Yes, they'll be staying in a residence within the Vatican City called Santa Marta. It's a fairly Spartan hotel, so to speak, where they will not have any access to any communications whatsoever. There's going to be an electronic jamming system in place. They won't have televisions, radios, internet, cell phones, nothing of the sort. They'll basically be going twice a day to the Sistine Chapel which is very nearby there are also electronic jamming systems. And going back to the hotel.
During the voting it's actually -- there's actually little talk going on. If there will be discussions about who might be papabile, a possible candidate for pope, those will take place back in the Santa Marta residents -- Max.
FOSTER: It's going to be a fascinating process. Ben, thank you very much indeed.
Now when the conclave starts, the 115 cardinals eligible to vote will be totally cutoff from the outside world, as Ben has been describing. Coming up, how the process works in more detail. And we'll talk about that famous smoking chimney.
Tunisia has unveiled its new government. The country where the Arab Spring began will move forward with a coalition cabinet led by an Islamist party until an election is held before the end of the year. Tunisia has been tense ever since last month's killing of an anti-Islamist politician. The previous prime minister resigned in the unrest following the killing.
All week, voters in Kenya have held their breath waiting for results from the presidential election. Allegations of spoiled ballots flew and the electronic vote counting system broke down. But at this hour, the count is in its final stages.
CNN's Nima Elbagir is with me live from Kenya's capital Nairobi. How is the count looking at this point, Nima?
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's been Kenyatta and his rival Prime Minister Raila Odinga. There's definitely quite a bit of clear, blue water. But the contest here really isn't even about Odinga and Kenyatta's rivalry, it's about that 50 plus 1 percent that Mr. Kenyatta will have to get to avoid a second round runoff and avoid extending the attention and the anxiety that Kenyans have been going while that excruciatingly slow tally.
That anxiety will have to continue for a few more hours, Max. We're now hearing from the electoral commission. They will be announcing, they'll be hoping to announce, tomorrow at 11:00. So we'll keep you posted, Max.
FOSTER: Yeah. And in terms of how the different camps are feeling about the result. And obviously it's a very -- all elections are tense and a lot of pressure on the outcome, but are there any allegations being made on either side about this stage of the process?
ELBAGIR: Well, as you said all elections are tense, but the election here in Kenya of this -- it carries the burden with it of the 2007 violence that followed that contested poll. So even just arriving at voting day with only sporadic incidents, that felt like a victory of sorts here. And then we had glitch after technical glitch between the -- within the electronic system that was put in place to try and guard against any allegations of electoral fraud or voter malpractice.
That hasn't been entirely successful, I think it's fair to say. And so we've had claim and counterclaim and allegation from both sides, the strongest of which have been coming from prime minister Raila Odinga's clamp to actually say that they feel that the fact that the electoral system that was put in place to guard against malpractice has failed, and the fact that the electoral commission had to fall to back on the manual voting system, that that has cast the integrity of the entire vote into question.
Of course, we don't yet know who is going to emerge the victor from this, but the sense that we have been getting from Mr. Odinga's camp is that it will be highly probable that should their name not be called, their man's name not be called after the final votes are tallied, that there is a high likelihood that they are planning on going to court. But obviously all of that still to come as we wait for that final count, Max.
FOSTER: OK, Nima, thank you very much indeed.
Now a son-in-law of the late al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has been arraigned in a New York court room. Suleiman Abu Ghaith pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals. He was arrested on February 28 in Jordan.
Some extraordinary video to show you now out of the secretive North Korea. And it pictures leaders, here is Kim Jong un, being welcomed by a crowd of cheering soldiers and their families as he visits military units close to the border of South Korea.
But these new pictures were broadcast on state TV, and they come as North Korea says it's scrapped all peace pacts with the south and lashes out against a new round of UN sanctions.
Amid the latest war of words, David McKenzie reports that the Pyongyang propaganda machine is being put to work again.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's vintage North Korea, Kim Jong un at the frontlines. The message, a dictator in command of his troops, South Korea firmly in his sights.
In Pyongyang, a massive military rally and threats of war.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): You Americans, listen carefully, will you only wake up when Washington is engulfed in a sea of flames and the ground is blown into the sky with our merciless and limitless nuclear strike? Would it be miserable collapse or a white flag raising surrender?
MCKENZIE: An aggressive stance, but the hermit kingdom is now facing tougher sanctions and the key is its ally China, which could have vetoed the message, but instead after weeks of negotiations signed on.
And that's surprising to many, because North Korea has always depended on Communist China for friendship and support. It's a relationship bonded in blood.
Mao Zedong sent troops to North Korea during the Korean War. China has always welcomed the north's leaders, first Kim Il Song, North Korea's founder, then his son Kim Jong-il, hosting socialism and trade ties.
It was a warm, if slightly awkward embrace.
As China opened up, analysts say its leaders encouraged Kim to embrace progress. He didn't.
The north is focused on its nuclear program while its economy and people have suffered, conducting nuclear tests and irritating China.
VICTOR GAO, DIRECTOR, CHINA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES: Having good relationship and friendship is one thing, but even the best of the friends need to make clear what is principle stand, what is the bottom line. I think even between friends, you cannot really tolerate certain reckless behavior by the other party.
MCKENZIE: So right now, these could be Kim's only real friends as his regime moves further into isolation.
David McKenzie, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Live from London, this is Connect the World.
Coming up, America is going back to work. We'll show you what that means to Wall Street when we take you live to the New York Stock Exchange next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: You're watching Connect the World live from London. Welcome back. I'm Max Foster.
Now another record high for the Dow after, but unexpected, U.S. jobs number. CNN's Alison Kosik brings us the latest news from the New York Stock Exchange. And at least this time, Alison, there was a good reason for stocks to go up.
ALISON KOSIK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Exactly. And what's interesting is that one trader told me this morning that these jobs numbers today are much more significant than the Dow record, something we've been watching for weeks now, Max. You know, that blowout jobs report, it clinches a fifth straight day for U.S. stocks.
The U.S. economy added 236,000 jobs in February, much more than expected. The unemployment rate, it fell to 7.7 percent, also coming in better than expected. And good news, essentially helps carry the Dow to its fourth straight record closing high. And in fact, the blue chips finished higher every single day this week, gaining a total of 307 points or more than 2 percent.
But you know for all the hype about the Dow this week, traders here are really watching the S&P 500. It is a broader measure. Many see it as a better indicator as the strength of the economy. The S&P 500, it closed at a five year high today. And it's less than 1 percent away from its all time record of 1,565. And if we see that record fall, that will give the Dow, or actually if we see that record actually hit, that will give the Dow more room to run as well.
And there's definitely been sort of a mood change here on Wall Street, Max. As the week had gone on, many more bears came out at the beginning of the week than at the end. Still, they're out there. In fact, one trader this week is expecting to see a 10 to 15 percent pullback for stocks by the summer. But there's plenty of time for that to happen.
The path of least resistance lately seems to be upward. So it's been a very good week on Wall Street however you choose to measure it -- Max.
FOSTER: Well, it ended really well, didn't it? Because as you say the S&P is seen as a better barometer and it was backed up by proper economic figures, so it does suggest, doesn't it, that the economy is improving. And that's what's going to be the real benefit?
KOSIK: Exactly. I mean, you know we've been watching that -- the record high on the Dow, let's say. And what really pushed the record -- that record number on the Dow was sheer momentum and the Fed, the Fed stimulus policy, that's what really sort of moved the Dow up to that. Well now it looks like some fundamentals are starting to kick in. You know, the realization that employment is really gaining momentum in this country, that matters, especially when you look deep in the report and you can see that construction jobs are coming back, that's a big deal because that's sort of playing off the housing markets come back as well -- Max.
FOSTER: OK. Alison, thank you very much indeed. Interesting to see what happens next week.
Now the latest world news headlines are just ahead.
Plus, in just over three days time 115 Catholic cardinals will feel this world famous room to elect a new pope. Who could it be? That discussion up next.
And...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wish all the women around the globe to their goals and to meet their dreams.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Celebrating half the people on the planet and those who love them. Promoting female achievement and strength on this international women's day.
And it is considered one of the most controversial periods in all of cricket history, the West Indies rebel tour to South Africa even now 30 years on provokes very strong emotions in the region. But the players say they've been misjudged.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: This is Connect the World. The top stories this hour. Dozens of world leaders attended the funeral of Hugo Chavez today. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad kissed his friend's casket and clenched his fist in a salute. The Venezuelan president will lie in state for seven more days before being embalmed and placed on permanent display.
Catholics around the world could have a new pope by the end of next week. On Tuesday, 115 cardinals will begin meeting in the so-called conclave to elect a pontiff.
21 UN peacekeepers being held by Syrian rebels near the Golan Heights may soon be set free. The head of the UN peacekeeping force said the Filipino peacekeepers could be released during a brief cease-fire. The Syrian national coalition is calling on the International Red Cross to evacuate soldiers as well as wounded civilians.
Kenyan officials say they hope to announce the final presidential elections Saturday morning. Problems have delayed the final tally. Right now Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta is leading Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Kenyatta needs at least 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff.
We know now the process to elect a new pope will start on Tuesday, but we have no idea how long it might last. Jonathan Mann has the inside scoop, though, on how it all works.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JONATHAN MANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the oldest enduring electoral system in the world, and many of its traditions have been unchanged for centuries.
The conclave, which literally means locked with a key, dates back to a time when cardinals were locked in until they chose a new pope. Now, it's the world that's locked out, figuratively speaking, as much of the conclave will take place behind closed doors.
The gathering begins with a morning mass in St. Peter's Basilica. In the afternoon, the 115 voting cardinals, those under 80 years old, enter the Sistine Chapel, where each will take an oath of secrecy. The penalty, automatic excommunication.
After the oath, preparations are made for the election, taken by secret ballot. Lots are drawn to select three cardinals who will help collect ballots, three more cardinals to count the votes, and three others to review the results.
Printed on the ballots, the words "Eligo in Summum Pontificum," meaning "I elect as supreme pontiff." Each elector writes the name of one candidate on the lower half of the ballot and folds it in half. Cardinals are not allowed to vote for themselves.
Then, in order of seniority, the cardinals take their ballots to the altar. Each places a folded ballot onto a small disk, and then the ballot is dropped into a chalice. Once all the votes are cast, the ballots are tallied, and the results are read aloud.
More than a two-thirds majority is needed to declare a winner, in this case, 77 votes. If there is no winner, there's another vote. If there is still no winner, two more votes are scheduled for the afternoon. Voting continues up to four ballots each day until there is a winner.
The ballots are burned after each session in an incinerator inside the chapel, sending off the most famous smoke signal in the world. If there's no winner, they're burned with a chemical that gives off black smoke, telling the crowd waiting in St. Peter's Square that a new pope has not yet been selected.
When there is a winner, the ballots are burned alone, giving off white smoke, a sign from the cardinals that they have chosen a new pope to lead the church.
Jonathan Mann, CNN, Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Exciting stuff coming up. So, who will get the next job? Well, there's only one man that can come vaguely close to answering that, and that is senior Vatican analyst John Allen. He joins me from Rome. Go on, then, John, what's your latest thinking, at least?
JOHN ALLEN, CNN SENIOR VATICAN ANALYST: Well, the latest, of course, is that we've got a date. We know that the curtain is going to go up on this extraordinary piece of Roman theater on Tuesday evening, when those 115 cardinals file into the Sistine Chapel.
Now, aside from the great spectacle of it all and the ceremony and the expectations, of course, the $64,000 political question is, who is it going to be?
And I think the truth of it is, most people would tell you that right now, unlike last time in 2005, when there was a clear frontrunner in the person of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, who of course did become Pope Benedict XVI, this time there is no such consensus frontrunner. Instead, what you have is a fairly long list of plausible candidates with fairly evenly- distributed support.
So, I would say, Max, that these 115 cardinals have some political heavy lifting to do over the next four days to make sure that they don't go into the conclave and end up deadlocked, which is the very last thing they want to happen, Max.
FOSTER: Remind us, John, of the specific candidates -- if you can all them candidates -- that you've at least pointed to in the last couple of weeks.
ALLEN: Well, again, I say it's a long list, but certainly some of the names that would be drawing a great deal of attention would be Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, 71 years old, known as a great intellect but also a guy with real in-the-trenches experience of working with people.
Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada, who sort of brings the developing world and the first world together, spent 12 years in Colombia as missionary, speaks seven languages comfortably.
Cardinal Odilo Scherer of Brazil who would put a face and a voice on that two-thirds of the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world who live outside the West, but he's also got Roman experience. He worked here in the Vatican from 94 to 2001, so would have that insider/outsider combination that a lot of cardinals seem to be looking for.
Now look, Max, I'm not going to promise one of those three guys is going to become the pope. You know the old saying: he who comes in as a pope comes out as a cardinal. But I will tell you, those three guys are getting a serious look right now.
FOSTER: And what goes on in there from past experience? Are there are lot of disagreements and -- leading to a long conclave, and do you get any sense that there are disagreements this time around?
ALLEN: Well, look, whenever you've got a group of 115 guys who are at the pinnacle of their profession, and all of whom think they've got a pretty strong sense of what ought to happen, of course there are going to be disagreements.
Now, those disagreements are not going to unfold in the Sistine Chapel itself. Actually being in the Sistine Chapel, for those who have been through this experience before, they'll tell you, it's a lot more like going to church than going to a political convention.
The balloting is a very long process, takes about an hour and a half to -- from soup to nuts to get the thing done. So, most of their time is consumed in ceremony. The political horse-trading, so to speak, and the caucusing and all of that, goes on outside the Sistine Chapel.
In the next four days, it'll go on in national colleges and apartments of Roman cardinals. Once the conclave begins, it will go on inside the Casa Santa Marta, which is the hotel on Vatican grounds where these cardinals will stay when they're not inside the Sistine Chapel. If you wanted to find the politics of the conclave, that's where you'll find it.
FOSTER: OK, John, some exciting days coming up. Thank you very much, and good luck with the next week or so.
How long does it take to elect a new pope? Well, if the last three papal conclaves are any indication, it could be over in a matter of days, actually. In 2005, it took cardinals four votes over just 24 hours to select Benedict as pope.
In 78, when John Paul II was named pontiff, there were also four ballots taken over two days. Earlier that year, John Paul I was elected following eight ballots over three days, and he died just 33 days after becoming pope.
Next week, CNN will bring you all the smoke, bells, and analysis as the Catholic Church decides on a leader for the future.
Live from London, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, profiles in courage. To celebrate International Women's Day, how education activist Malala Yousafzai is inspiring girls across the world. Her father and a former British prime minister in an exclusive interview.
And 30 years after its controversial tour of South Africa, here why this group of West Indies cricketers say they've been misjudged.
Plus, giant special effects turn a traditional fairytale into a Hollywood blockbuster.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: Today is International Women's Day. Many global figures have been lending their voices to the cause. A longtime crusader for women's rights, Queen Rania of Jordan, tweeted "Happy International Women's Day. Let us celebrate how far we have come and remember how much more we still have to offer."
From Rwanda, President Paul Kagame writes, "Women have been indispensable to nation-building in Rwanda and are critical to development and progress in Africa and worldwide. Happy #womensday."
And there's a message from Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund. It says "Today, we celebrate those who seek a more equal world in which girls have a right to education, safety, and a decent life."
It's also about honoring strong women who have changed the world, like Malala Yousafzai.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MALALA YOUSAFZA, TEEN EDUCATION ACTIVIST: If you want each and every girl to be educated, if you want peace all over the world, for that reason, we all have to fight, we all should be united. And we should not wait for anyone else to come and speak up for us. We should do it by ourselves.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: The teenage activist is spurring millions of girls across the world to fight for their right to education. Malala's father tells CNN that she's recovering fast after being shot in the head by the Taliban.
He and former British prime minister Gordon Brown today outlined plans for Malala Day to fall every year on the teen's birthday, July the 12, the promote girls' education. They both sat down with Becky Anderson for this exclusive interview and started by discussing Malala's remarkable sense of mission.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZIAUDDIN YOUSAFZAI, FATHER OF MALALA YOUSAFZAI: She's recovering very well, very fast. And to be shot, I can say that she's strong, and she's fit physically and her memory and all other respects.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Your from Pakistan, a country whose record on educating girls and equality, quite frankly, isn't particularly strong. Just how likely is it that you, we can effect change?
YOUSAFZAI: My daughter, now I can say she's the daughter of the whole world. The world owns her, and she made a difference in a way, that she stood for education, for the right of education.
Even before this tragic assassination attempt, I was called by many in Pakistan that we have seen your daughter on television and on different talk shows, and they got their daughters admitted in schools just because of inspiration.
When this tragic incident happened, small kids that had -- posters, banners, and they associated themselves to Malala Yousafzai. I think it was a big change.
GORDON BROWN, UN SPECIAL ENVOY FOR GLOBAL EDUCATION: I was there in Pakistan at the time.
YOUSAFZAI: Yes.
BROWN: I saw -- and I think 2 million people in Pakistan have signed a petition calling for universal free education. I think we saw also when we had these awful, these terrible rape incidents in India, that girls again said we are not prepared to take this anymore. We're not prepared to accept the complacency of the older generation about our lack of opportunities and our lack of rights.
And we see in Nepal, where people are protesting against violence against women, we see it in Bangladesh, where there are girls who are now saying that -- they are forming child marriage-free zones, because they don't want to be married off and denied their education before the age of 14 or 15 or 16.
ANDERSON: What role does Malala want to play going forward?
YOUSAFZAI: I think she has mentioned so many times she wants to join politics in her coming life, and I wish her good luck.
BROWN: Malala has sent a message to all of us that girls are not prepared to accept the complacency of adults, and I think what's going to happen now, you see Ziauddin and I have been working on an initiative.
So in April, we're bringing all the countries that are failing to deliver education for girls and for boys, they're coming to Washington, we're holding meetings with all the UN agencies, the World Bank, and all the potential funders, and we're saying to them, look, draw up a plan now so that every girl and every boy is in education by the end of 2015.
We will help you fund it. But you've got to do it, and there's got to be some priority now accorded to the right of children's education.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Is there a sense of naming and shaming at this point, then, in --
BROWN: Well, I think we know the countries. Nigeria has 10 million children not at school. Pakistan has 7 million. India has a large number of children not at school. Afghanistan, Ethiopia, South Sudan. We know the countries, and they know themselves.
But I think they've got to be clear that the world is not going to sit back and say for the next generation, girls are going to be denied the chance of education. Five hundred million girls will not complete their education.
So that's five hundred million girls denied the chance to realize their potential, to fulfill their dreams, to bridge the gap between what they are and what they have in themselves to become. And we cannot continue with that situation, either as a matter of human rights, but also for economic necessity and for security reasons as well.
Because mark my words, if we do not make it possible for girls and boys to get education, other people will exploit them.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Well, what would your one wish be for women around the world today? From Italy to India, here's what some of our iReporters have to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARTINA LUNARDELLI, ITALY: I wish all the women around the globe to reach their goals and to meet their dreams.
VERONICA LON PANTALEON, PHILIPPINES: To all women across the globe, I wish you all courage and strength. Also, understanding and support from the people surrounding those women with children who are abused.
JESSICA ARVELA, AUSTRALIA: If I had one wish for women across the globe, it would be for us to support each other each day, to realize we are all in this together. We're on the same team.
PATRICIA MOUAMAR, LEBANON: My wish for women around the globe is to know that their children will grow up in a safe and caring environment.
MEERA VIJAYANN, INDIA: My wish for women around the world is to have the audacity, stand up for your rights, stand up for what you believe in, stand up for your dreams, and stand up for each other. With just enough confidence, we can truly move mountains.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: We would like to hear from you. Tell us about the women you would like to salute. As part of CNN's coverage, we've picked some words of wisdom from women that inspire us. You can share your favorite quote by visiting our website.
There, you'll find our Wisdom of Women interactive feature. Input your quotes and add a background and publish it on your Facebook or Twitter. That's cnn.com/leadingwomen.
Plenty more still to come after the break. Sports, a new film, and here's a question for you: how's your week been? Hopefully not as bad as Justin Bieber's. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: This weekend, CNN is proud to bring you the latest "World Sport" presents documentary called "Branded a Rebel." It's the story -- the extraordinary story of the West Indies cricketers who breached an international boycott by touring South Africa during the apartheid era.
"World Sport's" Don Riddell hosts the program, and he joins me now, and it's an extraordinary tale, isn't it?
DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely right. I have to say, I've really enjoyed working on this project, Max, digging back 30 years to see what happened to these players, both then and now.
They have had a very, very hard time of it, or at least many of them have, by this decision to breach this international boycott, play in apartheid South Africa. And of course, given that they were from a region which had its own colonial past, they were all black players. Their lives were very difficult. Take a quick look at a sneak preview of the show.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RIDDELL (voice-over): In January of 1983, 18 young black athletes from a group of Caribbean islands arrived in South Africa. The West Indies players were in the heart of apartheid, and just by stepping onto South African soil, they had become rebels.
FRANKLYN STEPHENSON, FORMER CRICKETER: When we got to South Africa, I realized that separation, and it wasn't only black and white, it's not only the color of your skin, but it's the language that you speak, it's the area that you live in, and it's what you're allowed to do and go and so on and so on. The divisions were very, very real when we got there.
RIDDELL: After months of secret negotiations, denials, and decisions, South African Cricket Union president Joe Pamensky finally had the marquee team he was hoping for. He also knew what they were risking to be there.
JOE PAMENSKY, FORMER SACU PRESIDENT: We arranged with the Department of Internal Affairs that their passports wouldn't be stamped to indicate that they'd been to visit South Africa, because it was a problem for them internationally.
RIDDELL: Unsure of how they would be received by the country's mainly white cricket fanbase, the West Indies rebels prepared for their first test match. But they soon realized they had little to worry about.
In droves, crowds -- mainly white crowds -- came to see the legendary West Indies cricketers.
(APPLAUSE)
PAMENSKY: Well, West Indies were highly regarded. They had the most attractive players, and we thought it could also assist us, because at that stage, we were very, very keen to expand the playing of cricket amongst what was at that stage seen as the underprivileged community in South Africa.
AL GILKES, FORMER JOURNALIST: Here was a country in which no black man had ever seen a black person in competition with a white person. A black team playing against a white team and beating them. To me, that was where the real victory was.
RIDDELL: To this day, Gilkes and the players maintain that something more important than just cricket took place on that tour, an eye-opening experience for a society of white fans raised under apartheid, now cheering on a black team.
CLIVE RICE, FORMER SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKETER: They had a huge following in terms of them being heroes of so-called white South Africans who now weren't meant to be supporting them. And they created it, because that respect was earned.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Obviously, a big price they paid, Don, but now looking back on it, did they feel they were glad about what they did, if you'd look at the long term?
RIDDELL: Well, it -- that's a very difficult one, Max. I mean, 18 or 20 players went over these two tours, and for many of them, their lives have been very, very difficult. Some of them didn't want to speak to us in this documentary because they really feared reigniting the whole debate.
And even the captain of this tour, Lawrence Rowe, two years ago, he thought he'd been forgiven when his name was put on the newsstand at Sabina Park. It was named the Lawrence Rowe stand. But there was such an outcry, even nearly 30 years later, that his name was taken down.
He was unable to speak in this documentary because he feared that it would just stir up too much of the negative emotion that was aimed at these guys.
But the ones that we did speak to say they had no regrets. They are very proud of what they did in South Africa. They said they played great cricket. They also said that while they were there, they fell that they played a part in actually changing attitudes and the perception of the black race while they were in South Africa. And so they feel they had a really positive impact.
It is a fascinating documentary, Max. You can see it at four different times over the weekend here on CNN. It is airing in London at 8:00 PM on Saturday, 9:00 PM in central Europe. It's an hour-long show. As you said, we're proud of it, and it's a good watch, so I hope you can catch it, mate.
FOSTER: Really looking forward to it. Don, thank you very much for that.
Now to Hollywood, where you'd be forgiven for thinking they've run out of stories to tell. New takes on Superman, Dracula, Popeye, Jekyll and Hyde, they're all going into production. But first to hit our screens this month is "Jack the Giant Slayer."
As the cast and director of the new 3D blockbuster explains to Becky, technology means old tales can now be told better than ever.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
IAN MCSHANE AS KING BRAHMWELL, "JACK THE GIANT SLAYER": Fee fi fo fum.
ANDERSON (voice-over): Words that have echoed through generations, now more frightening than ever. "Jack the Giant Slayer" is the new larger- than-life take on one of the world's most famous old fables.
NICHOLAS HOULT, JACK IN "JACK THE GIANT SLAYER": This story's very different to the story that you kind of -- is widely known. It has one giant in that story, and Jack has a cow and things like that.
Whereas in this, there's a whole race of giants and they're fast- moving and clever and a real army of evil, hungry fellows.
ANDERSON: It is when these monstrous creatures kidnap Jack's love interest, Princess Isabelle, that he's compelled to climb the beanstalk.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The legends are true.
EWAN MCGREGOR AS ELMONT, "JACK THE GIANT SLAYER": Our mission is to find and return the princess.
HOULT AS JACK: I want to volunteer.
MCGREGOR AS ELMONT: What do you suppose is up there?
ANDERSON: It's a portrayal that would not have been possible even five years ago, director Bryan Singer demonstrating just how far film technology has come.
ELEANOR TOMLINSON AS PRINCESS ISABELLE, "JACK THE GIANT SLAYER": Now you're here.
HOULT AS JACK: I had to.
BRYAN SINGER, DIRECTOR, "JACK THE GIANT SLAYER": It's a challenge because there's a lot more to know, but once you know it, it makes your job a lot easier. For instance, we have something called SimulCam, where I can performance capture the giants, and then later on my live action set, I can project them into the camera.
So, wherever I point the camera, the giant's there with the actor, doing the scene. These things are now possible.
ANDERSON: The technology has also changed the way that actors do their job.
MCGREGOR: The truth is nowadays that there's green screen work and CGI in many aspects of filmmaking, even films that aren't fantasies. So, it's something that we've all got used to doing, I guess.
ANDERSON: And on this film, the stars also had to get used to being uncomfortable.
STANLEY TUCCI, RODERICK IN "JACK THE GIANT SLAYER": On the beanstalk, we're on harnesses, and we're -- each of us had to have a stunt person that was holding a rope or a cable to which we were attached so we didn't fall. If we did fall, then they would grab us.
TOMLINSON: They did a body mold of us, basically, so that you would fit perfectly into this harness, and then they would dress you over the top of it, and then they'd be able to move you like the giant had you in his hands. And it was -- it was fantastic. It was so exciting.
My mum happened to be on set that day, and she couldn't believe what they were doing to her kid, but yes, it was amazing.
BILL NIGHY AS GENERAL FALLON, "JACK THE GIANT SLAYER": Are you ready, my brothers?
ANDERSON: And while Bill Nighy may have escaped a harness in his role as the chief giant, his vocal chords didn't go unscathed.
SINGER: He came up with this hard -- this Northern Irish accent, and then he went into his car, closed the doors and windows, and screamed for 20 minutes before shooting every day to literally damage his voice for the day to create that voice of General Fallon.
NIGHY AS GENERAL FALLON: Onward and downward!
ANDERSON: All to make a small tale taller than ever.
HOULT: You need a spectacle nowadays to go to the cinema.
MCGREGOR AS ELMONT: This little farm boy.
TOMLINSON AS ISABELLE: Not at all.
ANDERSON: Becky Anderson, CNN, London.
NIGHY AS GENERAL FALLON: Who are you?
HOULT AS JACK: It's Jack!
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Parting Shots: Justin Bieber's week ended as it began today, badly. This was what happened as the teenage star left his hotel in London this evening.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUSTIN BIEBER, SINGER: (expletive deleted)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's that?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You lost it, man.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What did you say?
BIEBER: You're a (expletive deleted) piece of (expletive deleted). (expletive deleted). Who (expletive deleted)?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Justin was heading to London's O2 Arena where he's been playing a series of concerts this week, which have been all too eventful. On Monday, he was late on stage. Some parents pretty angry about that.
On Thursday, he left the stage for 20 minutes whilst he was treated for breathing difficulties. And today, after that incident, as we just saw, he tweeted, "Rough morning. Let the paps get the best of me." Erin McLaughlin is outside London's O2 Arena again. Erin?
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Max. I was just inside the arena. Justin Bieber was on stage, he was performing. He does seem to have slowed down a bit since I last saw him perform on Tuesday night. He was sipping water in between songs, wiping his brow.
Other than that, he was singing and dancing and the Bieber maniacs, if you will, the Bieber fans, absolutely loving every minute of it, Max.
FOSTER: OK, Erin, thank you very much. Erin on Bieber watch into the foreseeable future. You don't know what's going to happen with him.
I'm Max Foster, that was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thanks for watching.
END
