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U.S. Extends Embassy Closures; Frankenburger Unleashed: World's First Lab Grown Burger Tasted; Alex Rodriguez Suspended Over 200 Games
Aired August 05, 2013 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Tonight, closed for business. As the U.S. extends its embassy closures, we examine the evolving threat of al Qaeda in a region undergoing unprecedented change and the U.S. role in the Middle East and North Africa.
Also ahead, it looks like meat and kind of tastes like meat, but would you take a bite of this synthetic burger?
And a shot at (inaudible). Spanish football champions Barcelona take to the pitch in the Middle East.
From CNN Abu Dbabi, this is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson.
Once again, this program here in the Middle East and North Africa. Tonight still the subject of a terror alert from Washington.
In a moment, I'm going to get you the very latest on what we know about that threat to U.S. consulates. First, though, I just want to take a step back to remind ourselves that this is a period of unprecedented change across the region unleashed by popular demands for better government, but increasingly overshadowed by the bloody realities of war.
Now after the Arab Spring revolutions in Tunisia, in Libya, and in Egypt. The challenge now is how to build governments that include Islamists and secularists alike. We're going to explore how today's events play into that.
In Syria, the ongoing civil war has increased sectarian Sunni versus Shia tension. Across the border in Iraq, specifically adding to instability there, and in Lebanon. And the Syrian war also increasing the rivalry between regional heavyweights like Saudi, for example, and Iran.
And just over the weekend, Iran welcoming a new president, raising the prospect of a change of direction after eight years of tension with the west under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
So tonight, we'll connect these different stories and examine how all these developments weave into one another.
So let's start with our attention on this regional reality: al Qaeda. 19 U.S. diplomatic posts are currently closed amid fears of an attack. And INTERPOL has issued a global security alert following a series of prison breaks believed to be linked to the group. More on that from Nick Paton Walsh in Beirut in a moment.
First, let's get the very latest out of Washington from Elise Labott at -- on these embassy closures. Elise, what is the very latest from the U.S. on this?
ELISE LABOTT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, if you remember the State Department closed 22 of its embassies and consulates on Sunday. A few of them reopened today, but the State Department extended the closure through Saturday for most of them and added four posts. So now you have a total of 19 embassies and consulates across the Middle East and North Africa closed.
And that's for a number of factors. You had the U.S. intercepting some communications between senior al Qaeda operatives. You have these prison breaks that Nick will talk about in a moment. And you also have the end of Ramadan. So as the U.S. has been refining its intelligence, it's ruled out the threat in some places, still concerned about some others. And they're still trying to narrow down how much longer these embassy closures will take effect.
ANDERSON: So what is the very latest intelligence, then, in Washington on who might be masterminding any attack?
LABOTT: Well, U.S. officials tell us the greatest threat is coming from al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula. That's the al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen. Officials say that AQAP, as it's known, is in the final stages of an attack. We think the threat has been emanating from Yemen, but obviously these closures indicate that it's a little bit wider than that and less specific.
Very interestingly, Becky, the number two of al Qaeda proper has been named and he's the head of al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula: Narab Nasir al Wahishi has been named the second in command to Ayman al-Zawahiri and we understand that he is -- obviously has a lot of al Qaeda credentials. At one point, he was Osama bin Laden's personal secretary in Afghanistan in the 90s. He spent time in a Yemeni prison. And in 2008, he took over AQAP.
So really trying to strengthen the al Qaeda core group with this al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula affiliate. And officials are concerned that possibly this gentleman could be trying to strengthen his bona fide in the group and a spectacular attack on a U.S. target could help do that, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah. All right, Elise, with the very latest out of Washington for you this hour. Thank you for that.
As well as the embassy closures, of course, as I suggested police agency INTERPOL issuing a global security threat following a series of prison breaks. Prisoners have escaped from Libya, from Iraq, and from Pakistan. And that is fueling security concerns around the world.
CNN's Nick Paton Walsh investigating the INTERPOL line and more for you tonight from Beirut.
Let's kick off with these prison breaks, firstly. What do we know?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, the number is quite remarkable: 11 jailbreaks in nine separate countries in a period of just 24 days, that's what's got INTERPOL issuing this alert, three of them, as you mentioned, most likely linked to senior al Qaeda militants.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
WALSH: The guns and grenades that blew this jail open are long gone, but still the police approach cautiously. But what you don't see in this leaked video, the gruesome aftermath of a violent jailbreak at Abu Ghraib are the 500 prisoners who fled, just their abandoned clothes.
Among them, a senior Iraqi interior ministry official confirms to CNN, senior Iraqi al Qaeda, many jailed by U.S. forces over six years ago. And a key leader, al Qaeda in Iraq's minister for war Abu Abdelrahman al- Balaway (ph).
This wanted poster appearing on the interior ministry's website that same day.
One of a staggering 11 jailbreaks in nine countries in just 25 days, INTERPOL told CNN, after unusually issuing an alert over the weekend. It came amid U.S. fears of a renewed al Qaeda attack. Some, in South America, or like the escape of the Bosnian Pink Panther jewel thief in Switzerland unlikely to have al Qaeda links.
But one in Indonesia on July 11 may have freed one heavy-weight militant.
CNN has also learned that in the Pakistani jailbreak, two senior militants were freed. It was captured on video just seven days after Iraq's jailbreak. Both senior in the al Qaeda linked (inaudible) Taliban, Waleed Akhbar (ph) and Abdul Rehman (ph). Hundreds of other militants escaped.
Meanwhile, a staggering thousand inmates are still at-large after breaking out of Libya's Benghazi jail. A Libyan official conceding many may have had al Qaeda affiliations.
While INTERPOL's list of 11 may mostly not be al Qaeda linked, the fact that two barely a week apart released very senior militants is fueling concerns across continents.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LU STOUT: Nick, this is the State Department in Washington's response to these prison breaks. I want to hear this for our viewers and than get your assessment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA HARF, U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESWOMAN: These prison breaks are a concern for the international community writ large. I think that was what you saw in the INTERPOL notice that went out over the weekend, but that is a separate and apart, I think, from our concern about this specific threat. But, again, prison breaks are a concern, very concerning to us and we'll continue to monitor that as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Nick, your thoughts.
WALSH: Well, Becky, you have to ask yourself these senior al Qaeda militants like the one we learned just there that emerged from Abu Ghraib, the minister of war for al Qaeda in Iraq, what really is going to be on his plate as he tries to get back into the battlefield, if you like now?
Well, of course al Qaeda in Iraq are in a very violent struggle against the Shia government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, very much mirrored by what al Qaeda in Syria are in fact facing against the Shia regime of Bashar al-Assad. And we have some Iraqi officials that many of the men that got out of Abu Ghraib were in fact probably put there by the U.S. military back in '05, '06, seven or eight years ago now.
And what a different world they must be emerging to now, seeing how al Qaeda has so much changed from back then, when its focus was the U.S. military in Iraq and perhaps American targets around the world, caught up, particularly in Iraq and Syria now, in internal, often inter-Arab struggles, the sectarian violence of both those countries, that brand use like a way of galvanizing Sunni insurgencies there, but perhaps many argue, lacking in perhaps the energy now or the space to plot attacks against Americans, which have been so much its focus for so many years, Becky.
ANDERSON: Listen, I just want to remind our viewers what the president of the U.S. has been saying about al Qaeda over the past year or so. In November 2012, President Barack Obama said, and I quote, "the war in Iraq is over. The war in Afghanistan is winding down. Al Qaeda has been decimated. Osama bin Laden is dead."
Similarly, in September of 2012, he told an audience at the Hilton in Washington, "al Qaeda is on the run and Osama bin Laden is dead."
Nick, those were the president's words. He keeps saying al Qaeda is on the run. He is he right at this point?
WALSH: I think it's pretty fair to say that after the death of bin Laden and these repeated drone strikes taking out senior al Qaeda leadership -- I mean, al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, who we hear about is being the foremost threat against Americans, most of their plot intercepted. And we hear about the most, and one of their key guys, as being taken out by a U.S. drone, that they have been set back significantly.
But we are still hearing in the past few days in many of the American newspapers anonymous administration officials talking about how, perhaps, al Qaeda have never really had such strength when it comes to cells or affiliations, splinter groups around the world.
But I think that feeds into what I was saying earlier on, so much of their fight has changed. They've become about inter-Arab struggles, about sectarian violence in Iraq and Syria. In many ways, almost trying to find a foothold in countries, almost trying to get back that space they had in Afghanistan before 9/11, that they are actually about finding the space and energy and resources to target Americans.
That's not to say they wouldn't do that if they had the opportunity, it may just be that in the turmoil of the Middle East right now, there are far more pressing tasks at hand -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Nick Paton Walsh with analysis for you tonight out of the region.
Well, still to come this evening, we're going to continue our discussions on concerns across the Middle East, taking a closer look at Egypt. There's word that the military may be ready to offer a compromise to the Muslim Brotherhood there. We're going to get a live report from there. And talk about the wider context of that story coming up.
And, Chinese consumers are once again worried about the quality of dairy products, but this time the cause of concern comes from outside the country.
And a bad day for baseball star Alex Rodriguez as he gets a hefty suspension for taking banned drugs. Much more on that story when Connect the World continues. We're taking a 90 second break, stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: A very warm welcome back. You're watching Connect the World. I'm out of Abu Dhabi for you this evening at 40 minutes past midnight.
Now a Turkish court has sentenced a former military chief of staff to life in prison for plotting to overthrow the government. He's one of 275 defendants in what is a long running trial. Each faced charges, including inciting an armed uprising against the prime minister and belonging to an underground terrorist group.
Well, crowds outside the court turned violent when the verdict was read. Police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. A spokesman from Turkey's opposition party decried the court's decision.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MUHARREM INCE, PEOPLE'S REPUBLICAN PARTY SPOKESMAN (through translator): Justice is finished in Turkey. Laws have surrendered. There is no justice, no law, no humanity in this court.
You saw the roads when you were coming here. In this country, the basic constitutional rights of a citizen to travel doesn't exist.
These are extraordinary times everywhere in Turkey. There's martial law.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, flash floods resulting from torrential rains have killed up to 53 people across Pakistan in the past few days. Entire neighborhoods have been submerged in waist deep water and tens of thousands have been displaced, according to disaster officials there.
Pakistan regularly suffers through floods, especially during monsoon season every July and August. These shot, though, pretty disturbing.
A botulism scare has prompted China to suspend imports of milk powder made by the New Zealand based firm Fonterra. On Saturday, the company said it found traces of contamination in whey powder, which is an ingredient used in sports drinks and baby formula.
Now the company's CEO rushed to Beijing in an attempt to reassure customers. David McKenzie reporting from there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Seven countries could be affected by the botulism scare, including New Zealand, but China is by far the biggest export market of dairy giant Fonterra. And the CEO rushed into Beijing to calm fear.
THEO SPIERINGS, CEO, FONTERRA: Although the chances of infection of this particular quality are very low, again we decided to be transparent to the market. Like I said, there's no report of anyone becoming ill, there's no consumer complaints. We have detected and confined 90 percent of the product, 10 percent of the affected product is under recall, so it will come in, in the coming 48 hours.
MCKENZIE: The Chinese government has acted quickly, suspending all imports of Fonterra's whey powder and dairy based powder product, and tightening of controls.
The dairy industry is a major contributor to New Zealand's economy, making up 3 percent of GDP. But speaking on CNN, New Zealand's trade minister said that their first priority is public safety.
TIM GROSER, NEW ZEALAND TRADE MINISTER: Fully understand, there are some wider issues we're going to have to go into, but right now our sole focus is on finding where this contaminated product is. It's not a lot of product, but we need to find absolutely where everything has gone to. This is not straightforward as people think, and isolate it, and then stop it.
MCKENZIE: After years of scandals involving mostly Chinese infant formula companies, mothers in China don't know who to trust.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I still don't trust local brands. It's easier to get local brands, but we won't buy them, because of negative coverage.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I don't trust domestic or imported baby formula, so I keep switching brands for him in case one has changes.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I would stop using the affected brand for now. But when the banning order is lifted, I will keep buying the same brand.
MCKENZIE: Fonterra says it will move quickly to stop any public danger, but rebuilding that trust with the public could take a lot longer.
David McKenzie, CNN, Beijing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, Zimbabwe's opposition is preparing a legal challenge after Robert Mugabe was reelected to his seventh term as president. Despite allegations of fraud, Zimbabwe's election commission declared Mr. Mugabe the winner with 61 percent of the vote. His rival, current Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai won 34 percent.
Well, Morocco's king has revoked a pardon he gave to a convicted Spanish pedophile. That was after angry protests in his country. Daniel Galvan (ph) was less than two years into a 30 year sentence for raping children when he was pardoned last week. Now that sparked big protests in Morocco's capital and on social media.
Spanish police have arrest Vina (ph) and he's being transferred to authorities in Madrid.
Well, the UK says it is committed to the people of Gibraltar and will not compromise on sovereignty. Friction has increased lately over the British territory on Spain's southern tip. Spain has recently increased security checks at the border with Gibraltar and has suggested introducing a border crossing fee for vehicles.
Well, Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron says, and I'm quoting, he is seriously worried, but will work to find a political solution.
Australia will hold national elections on September 7. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made the announcement on Sunday setting the scene for a tense contest against conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott. Both party leaders have put economic management at the forefront of their campaign promises. Polls published Monday have Abbott in the lead.
Well, Major League Baseball is suspending New York Yankee's player Alex Rodriguez for 211 games without pay. They say he's violated the rules on performance enhancing drugs and that means he is out for the rest of the 2011 season and will not play at all in the 2014 season.
Rodriguez says he will appeal this decision. The Players' Union is backing him.
Let's cross to Joe Carter who is standing by at the CNN Center.
Just give me the background on this, and your assessment on whether this appeal is going to go anywhere, Joe.
JOE CARTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, that's obviously speculation at this point. Major League Baseball said that they have, quote, volumes of evidence that link Rodriguez to performance enhancing drugs. It also says that they have evidence that proves that he tried to coerce witnesses from giving their evidence related to him using these performance enhancing drugs. They say that he also impeded in their investigation.
Now this bombshell of an announcement came down just after 3:00 pm Eastern here in the states. And basically, Major League Baseball announcing that they're suspending 13 players for using performance enhancing drugs. That would make it related to steroids, the biggest punishment in sports history.
Now 12 of those 13 players are going to start serving their suspensions immediately. And their suspensions are for the remainder of this season, that's 50 games.
When it relates to Alex Rodriguez, his suspension, as you said, Becky, much bigger number, that's 211 games. It'll start on Thursday.
Now he'll have three days to decide whether or not he wants to accept the punishment and start serving his suspension on Thursday, or whether or not he wants to appeal the punishment.
Now, if he appeals the punishment, he can continue to play and he can continue to get paid. Alex Rodriguez, of course, is baseball's highest paid player, the only player in the sports history to sign not one, but two quarter billion dollar contracts -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Alex, for those viewers who don't know an awful lot about baseball, let's just set this story in context. This is no less than a bombshell, as you said, not just for baseball, but across sport in general across the United States, Joe.
CARTER: You know, it relates to not just baseball, but all sports. I mean, for those soccer fans out there that might look at the most popular player in the league taking a hit like this on the. List of the 13 players, you've got two all-stars that are playing for teams that are in playoff contention, teams that are trying to win a world championship.
And when you relate it to Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees, it's their highest paid player.
Also on this list is the Yankee's catcher. The Yankee's, of course, are the most recognizable, most successful franchise in sports history.
Baseball tried to get out in front of this many years ago by instituting a first-time drug program back in 2003. They, by doing that, said that they had drawn a line in the sand, per se, and that they were going to have a clean sport moving forward. Well, now we've learned that baseball, in fact, did not have a clean sport and is trying to, once again, draw a new line in the sand and say that they're moving forward without having drugs -- Becky.
ANDERSON: Big story. Joe, thank you.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. I'm Becky Anderson for you.
Coming up, it looks like a burger, and apparently it tastes like a burger, so what is different about this one? More details on that coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: That is Abu Dhabi. 24-and-a-half minutes past midnight here this evening. Welcome back to the UAE. I'm Becky Anderson with Connect the World for you.
To a story a lot of our viewers are talking about, the world's first lab grown beef burger was fried up and eaten in London earlier on. The single patty made from cow cells. And it's got an eye-watering price tag. Dan Rivers reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It looks like burger, it cooks like a burger, but this beef patty was grown in a lab, not a cow, perhaps the beginning of a revolution in meat production. Of course its critics have already labeled it Frankenburger, arguing it should never replace conventional meat.
But what does it actually taste like?
HANNI RUTZLER, NUTRITIONAL RESEARCHER: There quite some intense taste. It's close to meat. It's not that juicy. But the consistency is perfect.
JOSH SCHONWALD, FOOD WRITER: The bite feels like, you know, like a conventional hamburger.
RIVERS: Not a ringing endorsement, but this is a first attempt. And of course it lacks the all-important salt, pepper and ketchup.
DR. MARK POST, MAASTRICHT UNIVERSITY: People need to understand that there are major issues with current meat production. Everybody has to ask themselves the question 10, 20 years from now if you entered a supermarket and you find these two products that are exactly the same and they taste and feel the same, but one has environmental issues and animal welfare issues and the other has not, what are you going to choose?
RIVERS: It was made by taking stem cells from a living cow, which are multiplied to create muscle tissue, which grows in strands. 20,000 strands have gone into this one proof of concept burger, or about 40 billion cells. It took three months to grow, which is quicker than a cow, but at this prototype phase, much more expensive, about $300,000, making it the world's most expensive burger.
(on camera): It may be 10 or 20 years before you can buy a culture beef burger like this in a supermarket, but it would be a vital weapon in combating global warming. Cultured beef requires less than half the energy of beef produced in a field and less than a 20th of the greenhouse gases are omitted as a result.
The problem is, the marketing, getting past the yuck factor and convincing people this is OK to eat.
Dan Rivers, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, as you can imagine, there is no shortage of opinion on test tube burgers. The famously outspoken animal rights group PETA is behind the idea, tweeting, "an historic day. PETA is very proud to also be funding lab work on slaughter-free meat."
Twitter user Sarah Jane agreed. She wrote, "test tube burger arrives. Good timing, given that producing meat from livestock isn't sustainable."
Christy Roberts got involved on our Facebook page, commenting, "in theory, I'm OK with it if it could feed hungry people, I'd be all for it, but a shortage of food is not why people starve."
Good point.
What do you think about this? The team at Connect the World wants to hear from you. Facebook.com/CNNConnect of course have your say. You can tweet me @BeckyCNN, that is @BeckyCNN. Your thoughts please this evening.
It is just before half past the hour, which means you're going to get the very latest world news headlines just ahead here on CNN. Plus, a prominent Middle East scholar says it is time for the United States to rethink its policy towards the region. We'll speak with Ali Nasser about the crisis in Egypt, its impact and the thinking beyond.
And the need for speed: an inside look at Formula 1's never-ending quest to go faster.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: If you're just joining us, a very warm welcome from Abu Dhabi this evening. This is CONNECT THE WORLD, the top stories for you this hour.
Nineteen US diplomatic missions will remain closed and under heavy guard through Saturday. The government says threat of an al Qaeda attack remains high in Africa and across the Middle East, this region, with a particular focus on Yemen. US cities of New York and San Francisco have also heightened security at key locations.
Well, protests broke out in Turkey after a former military chief there was sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors have said that Ilker Basburg was part of a broad network to conspire to overthrow the Islamist government. Hundreds were accused. Critics say the government was trying to silence secularists who oppose it.
Well, the CEO of dairy giant Fronterra has apologized to China and others affected by the company's contaminated dairy products over the weekend. The company said bacteria linked to botulism has been found. China has suspended imports of some whey protein and milk-based powder.
Egypt's military and interim leaders may soon offer a compromise to try to resolve what is a deepening political crisis. Reuters news agency this hour reporting that they will offer to free some Muslim Brotherhood members from jail, unfreeze the group's assets, and give them three ministerial posts. Now, they are hoping to end weeks of protests demanding the return of ousted president Mohamed Morsy.
And with more on Egypt, now news of this possible compromise comes during an intensive push by diplomats of the West and, indeed, of this region. They have been meeting with Egypt's interim leaders as well as Muslim Brotherhood officials, including a top Brotherhood leader behind bars. Let's get to Reza Sayah in Cairo for the latest. What do we know specifically at this point?
REZA SAYAH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you can feel over the past few days, Becky, that the tension is easing just a little bit here, this conflict in Egypt. And that's because diplomacy seems to be picking up momentum.
And you get the sense that many are hoping that this is the first step towards these two sides sitting down and reaching some sort of political solution, although it's important to emphasize that there's absolutely no evidence that we're anywhere near a finish line.
But over the past couple of weeks, we've seen a small parade of international diplomats come through Egypt in an effort to help break this deadlock, where on one side, you have the military-backed interim government. On the other side, you have the Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of the ousted president, Mohamed Morsy.
Today, taking center stage in Cairo, two US senators, John McCain and Lindsey Graham. They're here, look for them to meet with both sides. Of course, Egypt a critical US ally. Their visit follows last week's visit by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Her visit was followed by Bill Burns, Washington's deputy secretary of state.
So, you get the sense that diplomacy is gaining some momentum and, of course, as you mentioned earlier, Reuters reporting what sounds like progress.
Reuters reporting that the military-backed government is prepared to make an offer to the Muslim Brotherhood whereby they would release some of the jailed Brotherhood members, unfreeze some of their assets, and offer them at least three posts within the cabinet.
We should point out that we've talked to Muslim Brotherhood sources, and they deny that an offer has been made. And Becky, if this offer is legitimate --
ANDERSON: Right.
SAYAH: -- it's important to point out that it's missing the one condition that they're demanding, the Brotherhood is demanding, and that's the reinstatement of Mohamed Morsy.
ANDERSON: It's been a fascinating time, these revolving doors of diplomacy, as it were, and mediators. They include, of course, not just those from the West -- Europe and the States -- but members or representatives of the Qatar government and, indeed, those from the UAE, just here, just in Egypt last week.
I spoke to an expert earlier on today who thought that he -- or his sense was that the Qataris were there possibly talking or mediating on behalf of the Muslim Brotherhood, whereas the UAE might be there mediating on the sort of wider Gulf Sunni Arabs. Would that make sense to you?
SAYAH: Well, I think the reason you're seeing the international community get involved with different countries, different governments representing these two sides is because domestically, these two factions are simply not sitting down.
And what you have here is a classic standoff. Both sides are cornered, seemingly, with problematic positions where the other side is simply not budging. You have the interim government that's saying we simply cannot accept Mohamed Morsy as part of the process.
And then you have the Muslim Brotherhood saying he needs to be part of the process. So, this is where you need some sort of diplomacy --
ANDERSON: Sure.
SAYAH: -- and many are looking to the international community to break this deadlock. We'll see what they can do in the coming days and weeks, Becky.
ANDERSON: Reza Sayah in Cairo with the details on what is the very latest from there. Let's talk about the crisis in Egypt and other regional concerns, now, with Vali Nasr. He's the dean of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University near Washington, coming to you from there tonight. What do you make of the developments that Reza's just reporting on?
VALI NASR, DEAN, SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES, JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY: Well, I think the international community and the Arab countries are quite worried that this coup d'etat may actually unravel. And that would produce great international disaster.
So, there's a great deal of effort to try to find the way to get the Muslim Brotherhood to basically acquiesce to the coup. But there is very little in it for the Muslim Brotherhood. It's not very clear what they would gain by actually acceding to the demands of the military and vacating the street and allowing the coup to stand.
So, there's a lot of activity going on, but I think at this moment, this is near -- this is just that, it's activity with very little to show that it actually would lead to a resolution.
ANDERSON: Vali, we're watching live pictures from what is one of the very significant pro-Morsy camps. Once again, still on the streets, and the Interior Ministry obviously reminding us last week and into the weekend they were going to clear the streets of these protesters. It must be difficult for them to enact that when they are so peaceful on the streets.
I want you to hear what the words of Christopher Hill, a former ambassador to this region. Earlier, I was speaking to him, an expert out of Beirut this evening. Just have a listen to what they had to say on Egypt, and perhaps the wider context of this story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHRISTOPHER HILL, FORMER US ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NEAR EASTERN AFFAIRS: McCain has been extremely critical of the Obama administration's reaction to the coup. The Obama administration has been very cautious about it. McCain felt that the US should be denouncing this coup. So, presumably, McCain will get a firsthand look at this.
HASSAN ROUHANI, PRESIDENT OF IRAN (through translator): The people of Iran that act to see their nation prosper and take a significant role in elections under the banner of peace and security cannot be made to surrender to sanctions or be threatened to war. Rather, the only way for interaction with Iran is dialogue on an equal footing, confidence-building that is reciprocated, and mutual respect as well as reducing antagonism and aggression.
RIAD KAHWAJI, CEO, INEGMA: The fear is that the minute the security moves in to try to disband those -- the sit-in, the marchers in squares and a couple of dissidents in Cairo, there's going to be a lot of bloodshed, and this will have some sort of huge impact on the security through the whole region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We slipped in Hassan Rouhani, the new president of Iran, sounds there, which I'm going to come to, forgive me, viewers and Vali. The words of Chris Hill and our other expert from the region tonight, do you agree with what they're saying?
NASR: Yes, I do. Given the very fact that McCain and Graham are going there, that the European Union, UAE, Qatar have got involved, suggest that the pressure is on the military and on the international community.
And in some ways, the Muslim Brotherhood is holding all the cards. They've already confronted the military, they've already given up dead, they've already accepted that this might get violent, and they are holding the cards.
So, in some ways, I don't see them leaving the streets easily without getting a serious concession from the military. And the military right now is in now mood to give an concessions. The military's attitude is, you're welcome to come in and try to get them off the streets. If you don't, we're going to clean them out.
But that will come at a very high cost for Egypt and for the region, and in some ways, we're at an impasse.
ANDERSON: Can I just get you to sort of join the dots for us this evening, Vali, if you will, on not just the Egypt story, but its impact and the wider sort of context for what we're looking at out of Cairo this evening, alluding, if you will, to what we see happening in Syria and the - - a new president in Iran.
This is a regional story, which if not capped out at this stage, could really create some sort of tectonic plate shifting going forward, and who knows where we -- or this leads in the days, weeks, and months to come? Let's just have a listen to Hassan Rouhani, for example, and some of what he said when he was installed as president this weekend in Iran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROUHANI (through translator): The people of Iran that act to see their nation prosper and take a significant role in elections under the banner of peace and security cannot be made to surrender to sanctions or be threatened to war. Rather, the only way for interaction with Iran is dialogue on an equal footing, confidence-building that is reciprocated, and mutual respect as well as reducing antagonism and aggression.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: He, of course, alluding to the West's sanctions on his country. The West -- Europe and the United States -- has an enormously full in box at this point, doesn't it, when it comes to its diplomatic sort of actions in the Middle East and North Africa?
NASR: Well, Iran presents an opportunity. This election was unexpected. You have a leader who's speaking a very different -- in a very different style, and he's saying some very positive things. But diplomacy is going to be difficult. It's difficult for Rouhani to balance the forces within Iran, and it's very difficult for the West to engage him without the promise of some of an Iranian concession.
But as we saw in Egypt, as we see in Syria, the Middle East picture is much more complicated for the West. So, we're trying to figure out how to approach Iran and how to make some positive gains when in Syria or in Egypt, our hands are full and we might be facing a much-larger crisis in this region.
And in some ways, the West is really confronting the moment of truth in this region, and connecting what is happening in Egypt, Syria, to Iran is going to be critical.
ANDERSON: If -- very, very quickly, briefly to you. Do you see the West losing influence in this region and leverage being used by, for example, the Gulf region here to gain influence where perhaps Washington, London, and the rest are losing at this point?
NASR: Well, I think the United States would like to lose interest, but I think the Middle East is defying the American president very aggressively. So, you have 32 embassies shut down because of fear of terrorism, you have a crisis in Egypt, you have a crisis in Syria, you have a potential engagement with Iran.
All of this suggests that the United States and Europe should be focusing on the Middle East, and they cannot really be giving attention to other areas of the world. So, I think there's a big gap between the rhetoric of the United States and the reality of its foreign policy challenge.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Always a pleasure, sir. Live from Abu Dhabi, you are watching CONNECT THE WORLD. Coming up, we're going to take you behind the scenes of Formula 1 next, to learn more about ultra-fast cars.
And there's a new Doctor in town. We're going to discuss the latest actor to take up the "Doctor Who" mantle.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: All right, that's Abu Dhabi for you at 45 minutes past midnight here. Let's get you one of our regular segments on this show, the Art of Movement series. We all know a Formula 1 car is a cut above the average vehicle.
As CNN's Christina MacFarlane found out, it may have more in common with a fighter jet than it does with the sort of car you and I drive. She went behind the scenes at the Williams F1 factory in the United Kingdom to look at the role of aerodynamics in what is an F1's car performance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The stalwart Formula 1 car is put through its paces in the team's wind tunnel. With it streamlined body and aerodynamic curves, it looks like it could fly. It even has features known as wings.
Wind resistance is at the center of the search for speed, and that search continues around the clock in this apparently sleep corner of the English countryside. Here, you'll find the state-of-the-art Williams F1 factory, where over 500 engineers assemble the 80,000 components that make up the Formula 1 car. And it's just one goal that's spurring them on: speed.
MACFARLANE (on camera): Now tell me, why is it we can possibly compare this, a paper airplane, with a Formula 1 car?
XEVI PUJOLAR, CHIEF RACE ENGINEER, WILLIAMS F1 TEAM: Yes, because for example, an airplane, they use the aerodynamics to fly. We use the aerodynamics just to push the car to the ground to generate grip on the tires so it can just carry more speed into the corners, into the braking areas.
MACFARLANE: I've often hears as well that the underside of a Formula 1 car is, in fact, like a wing of a plane upside down. Why is that?
PUJOLAR: Yes, because we use all the -- all the airflow is coming from the front of the car, we use the front wing, and then it goes underneath the car under the floor and just coming out the back also around the bodywork and the rear wing. We can generate a lot of load, but then we generate resistance so the car is low on the straights. So we need to find efficiency, the best compromise.
MACFARLINE: Xevi, one of the biggest developments in aerodynamics in recent years has been the drag reduction system. Here we have it in front of us. Can you explain to me how it works?
PUJOLAR: Here we've got the rear wing, and with the rear wing, we just try to generate as much load as possible to generate grip with the tires. But trying to put more and more load, we put more resistance as well to there, so we loose top speed. And then, with the DRS, what we do is we can boost some of the resistance and then gain some speed advantage.
Actually, we can see here, when the driver is pressing the switch, the rear wing is opening, and then we can go up to 50 millimeters, so when their flap is open, we've got less resistance because it just goes more gentle, and it's when we can gain 10, 15 KPH. And then, either the driver can switch it off, or when he's pressing the brake pedal, he will --
MACFARLANE: It automatically drops back.
PUJOLAR: Yes. And then, the load comes on the rear axle.
MACFARLANE: Just explain to me how and when this can be used during a race, exactly.
PUJLOAR: Every track will have a detection point, and at that point, we need to be within a second to cut in front, and then the driver will get the lights on the dash, so then he can deploy the DRS for the next straight line.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Coming up after this short break on CONNECT THE WORLD, it's a football training camp, but not as you know it. Find out where Barcelona has gone to set up a training camp for peace.
Plus, a 50-year-old cult TV show gets a new star. I'm going to get you the latest on what has been a very big announcement.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: And some news just coming into CNN from the world of media. This is an interesting story. "The Washington Post" reports that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos will buy the flagship paper and other print properties for $250 million. It notes that the purchaser is an entity that belongs to Bezos in his individual capacity, it's not Amazon.com, Inc.
Katherine Weymouth is CEO and publisher of "The Washington Post." She calls it the beginning of what is an exciting new era. As to what that era means, well, stay tuned as CNN chases the details. A really big story out there in the world of media today, "The Washington Post" reporting that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos will by the flagship paper and other print properties for $250 million.
And there's been a lot of activity in this world of media of late, "The New York Times" selling off "The Boston Globe" to the Boston Red Sox owner just in the past couple of days. That being announced by "The New York Times," which had bought "The Boston Globe" back in the mid-90s. They're selling that off for a loss.
So, a lot of movement around in the world of what you would consider to be old-style print media. Although of course, these days, everything online, so these are digital properties as much as anything else these days. Stay tuned, we'll bring you more on that story as we get it.
Now, the iconic British television show "Doctor Who" has finally announced its new Doctor, veteran actor Peter Capaldi. He will be the 12th Doctor since the series began -- get this -- back in 1963. The show has recently drawn a wider global audience. This announcement has attracted a lot of excitement. Erin McLaughlin has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ZOE BALL, HOST, BBC SPECIAL "DOCTOR WHO LIVE: THE NEXT DOCTOR": Please welcome the 12th Doctor, a hero for a whole new generation. It's -- Peter Capaldi!
(APPLAUSE)
(MUSIC - "DOCTOR WHO" THEME)
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Haze of smoke and futuristic flashing lights. British actor Peter Capaldi emerged as the next Doctor Who.
MATT SMITH AS THE DOCTOR, "DOCTOR WHO": If you're sitting up there --
MCLAUGHLIN: He takes the place of 30-year-old actor Matt Smith as the humanoid alien who travels through time, exploring the universe.
SMITH AS THE DOCTOR: Just remember who's standing in your way!
MCLAUGHLIN: By Monday, Capaldi's name was trending on Twitter, his face splashed across the tabloids. And at the Who Shop in East London, where you'll find everything from Daleks to dolls, people seem pleased that seasoned actor is now at the helm of the cult classic.
UNIDENTIFIED CHILD: He looks pretty cool, and I'm excited.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he's a rather handsome man, and he's going to play different from Matt Smith.
WILLIAM HOYLAND AS LORD GOOLDING, "THE THICK OF IT": Thank you for returning to this inquiry, Mr. Tucker.
PETER CAPALDI AS MALCOLM TUCKER, "THE THICK OF IT": That's no problem. I had a hair appointment, but I think they can fit me in next week.
MCLAUGHLIN: Capaldi, who is perhaps best known as the foul-mouthed spin doctor on the BBC series "The Thick of It" is the oldest actor to take on the character since the first Doctor Who, all the way back in 1963.
NEIL SEAN, ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: And I think everybody thought that we were going to get this new, young, sexy Doctor. But we didn't. And I think it's kind of a great move for ageism as well. We're always hearing about people being too old for TV. Well, at 55, he's proven you can get a new brand new career, which is good.
MCLAUGHLIN: As the series heads into its 50th year, the time- traveling hero has yet another new face.
Erin McLaughlin, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right. Let's follow our theme on the Middle East today, shall we? And got some big sports stories out of this area. Arsenal hoping to sign a wonder kid from here, the United Arab Emirates, while Barcelona Football Club are on a Middle East peace tour.
Patrick Snell from "World Sport" joins us now for more on both of these stories. What do you want to start with? Let's start with Barca in the Middle East.
PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Ah, take a pick. Yes, good idea.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: Go on.
SNELL: Barcelona Football Club. You know, Becky, everywhere they go, they really do attract worldwide headlines. This trip certainly no exception as well. The Catalan kings are currently touring Palestinian and Israeli territories over the weekend, let's remind our viewers. They mingled and played with the locals, giving football clinics.
But Barca actually traveling to the West Bank city of Bethlehem after meeting the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas at his Ramallah headquarters. They held a football clinic as well near the southwest bank town of Dura.
Among the squad, of course, is Lionel Messi, the mercurial Argentine star. But footballer's also visiting Jerusalem's Old City to stand at the Western Wall before giving a coaching session as well to more Israeli youngsters in Tel Aviv.
And Barcelona players and coaches attended a reception as well in a busy, packed schedule, wasn't it? They met up with the Israeli president Shimon Peres at his residence, where he called those who actually made the trip "messengers of peace."
This is definitely an iconic and historic visit, Becky, no question about that. The kings of Spanish football on the road, and it's certainly interesting to see where they've been.
ANDERSON: That's right. Well, the fans of Arsenal Football Club would say that they were the kings of north London. I wouldn't agree with them, as you know.
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: But they have their sights on rising UAE star Omar Abdulrahman. Now, apparently he made quite an impression during the Olympics. What do we know about this chap?
SNELL: Well, absolutely, yes. He's a player that has been courting plenty of attention, Arsenal going for high-profile targets like Luis Suarez of Liverpool. Liverpool looking as though they're not going to do business.
But let me tell you a little bit about this talented 21-year-old. He's from the UAE, goes by the name of Omar Abdulrahman, and it's reporters the Gunners are seeking a one-week trial for him. The youngster, who apparently who has been attracting the attention of other big clubs, the usual suspects, Man City, Real Madrid, of course.
But his club team, by the way, Becky, is Al-Ain, and this kid really did sparkle, you may recall, at the UK Olympics last year. That's when he really did catch the eye. He helped his team -- his league team, I should say -- with 8 goals and 16 assists, too.
He's quite a player. Arsene Wenger, of course, is famed for bringing in new talent and developing them. This is going to be interesting to see if actually they -- if they get him for the one-week trial, he's got to impress, clearly, but at 21, he comes highly recommended, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yes. I love that shot we've just been using when he's running. He's obviously so fast that the cameraman can't actually catch him --
(LAUGHTER)
ANDERSON: -- they just this woosh.
SNELL: Well, he is 21.
(CROSSTALK)
ANDERSON: Oh, no, go on, it's not that one.
SNELL: He's 21, he's at the peak of his fitness.
ANDERSON: Not that one, where is it? There he is!
SNELL: Whoosh! Blur!
ANDERSON: I know!
SNELL: Blink of an eye, he's gone.
ANDERSON: There you go.
SNELL: Yes, Gunners fans --
(LAUGHTER)
SNELL: Gunners fans on Twitter are already getting excited about this kid. We'll have to see if he's the real deal.
ANDERSON: All right. Good stuff. Thanks, Pat. I'm Becky Anderson, that was CONNECT THE WORLD from the UAE. Thank you for watching.
END
