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The Winners and Losers at the Emmys; Israel's Prime Minister Meets Russian President Over Syria Buildup; Santeria's Role in Cuba; IAEA Tour Parchin Nuclear Site; Volkswagen Admits to Cheating EPA; Indian Startup Teams with Dabbawallahs for Delivery Solution. Aired 11:00a-12:00p ET
Aired September 21, 2015 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:14] BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Talking sovereignty and solutions. Israel's prime minister brings his concerns to Russia amid signs that
Moscow is beefing up its military presence in Syria. We'll have updates from you and analysis out of Jerusalem and Moscow just ahead.
Also ahead we're live in Iran as the country looks towards the implementation of this historic nuclear deal.
Plus, a recordbreaking night. We bring you the winners and the losers from the Emmys.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: A very good evening just after 7:00 here in the UAE.
Benjamin Netanyahu is urging Russia to respect Israel's security interests as Moscow deepens its military involvement in Syria.
The Israeli prime minister is delivering that message in person today to President Vladimir Putin
Now a U.S. official tells CNN, Russia now has a significant arsenal in Syria, including 25 tactical aircraft and three surface to air missile
systems. Israel is concerned that Russian weapons could end up in the wrong hands. It also wants to ensure that any future action that Israel
might take would not conflict with Russia's operations.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER (through translator): In these conditions, I thought it was important for me to come here in order
to clarify our position and to do everything so that there were no misconceptions between our forces and your forces.
And I want to add a remark on the personal and on the national level. In all the contacts we had between us, when we agreed and when we had some
disagreement, our dialogue was in the atmosphere of mutual respect.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, Russia is a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, but so is Hezbollah, an arch-enemy of Israel whose militants are
fighting alongside Syrian troops. This is a very complex situation.
Let's break it down for you. We're covering all angles tonight.
Oren Liebermann live in Jerusalem and Matthew Chance is in Moscow.
I want to start with you tonight, Oren. Israel clearly worried that Russian weapons could wind up in the hands of enemies. What does Netanyahu
hope to take away from this meeting?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, Netanyahu wants to find some assurance, or get some sort of promise that
Russian military, advanced military equipment won't find its way through Syria to Hezbollah to Lebanon and to other militant groups, so that's what
he's looking for ,some sort of promise, perhaps even some sort of mechanism to make sure that Israel's security along its tense northern border remains
secure.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LIEBERMANN: Israeli F-15 fighter jets maneuvering in the skies over Israel. The American built fighter jet giving the country a technological
and military edge in the region.
But now a new presence in the Middle East, the advanced Russian Sukhoi Su-27 in Syria, according to U.S. officials, and other Russian military
arms threatening that edge.
Satellite pictures of Latakia inside Syria show a rapid build up of an air force base with lots of Russian military equipment moving in.
Netanyahu and Putin, they talk, they've talked recently and have visited recently. And yet there is a cause for concern and a cause for
friction between these countries and these interests.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Absolutely. It relates to the provision by Russia of weapons system to some of Israel's most determined enemies. In 2006, it
was Russian Kornet missiles that reaped a terrible harvest, so to speak, of Israeli armored vehicles in southern Lebanon.
LIEBERMANN: In northern Israel, we've seen Israeli infantry and tanks in military exercises, but Israel's policy has been to stay out of the
Syrian war happening right across the Golan frontier, yet Israel says it has red lines and will not allow advanced military equipment like Russian
S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to fall into the hands of Hezbollah in Lebanon or other militant groups.
Foreign media reports that Israel has in the past struck weapons shipments headed for Lebanon.
What is Israel's primary concern here with regards to Syria and Hezbollah in Lebanon?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Israel has been in the course of the last four years determined to prevent the provision of certain weapons systems from
Syria to Hezbollah, and to achieve that, Israel has required complete air control, mastery of Syria's skies to operate when and where it wants,
anywhere over the skies of Syria.
LIEBERMANN: Analyst Jonathan Spire (ph) says Israel and Russia and not on a collision course, but with the two militaries so close he says the
two countries will have to work together to ensure a collision won't occur.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIEBERMANN: Now this was a very quick meeting and a very quick trip, but Netanyahu took with him the IDF chief of staff and the IDF head of
military intelligence. Becky, that speaks to exactly how important this meeting is for Netanyahu, for Israel's security to make sure both these
leaders are on the same page here.
[11:05:15] ANDERSON: Yeah, fascinating.
All right, Matthew did the Israeli prime minister get what he wanted?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I'm pretty sure that he will get the kind of assurances that he's in Russia to try and
find. The meeting hasn't broken up yet. There hasn't been a statement at least from either side as far as I'm aware. But certainly, you know, the
fact the Kremlin was willing to host this kind arrangement with Benjamin Netanyahu it implies that the assurances that the Israelis are looking for
will be forthcoming from the Kremlin.
It's very complicated, isn't it, when you get involved -- the Russians are learning this -- when you get involved in the conflicts of the Middle
East, you may back one friend or ally, but you alienate another one and that's precisely what's being played out here with Israel.
Russia, I don't think, has any real interest in undermining the security of Israel, but it's concerned that that might be what it's
perceived to be doing. And I think that's why this meeting is taking place.
Vladimir Putin is certainly very clear that that's not the Russian intention. Take a listen to what he had to say before the meeting.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VLADIMIR PUTIN, PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA (through translator): As to Syria, we both understand that the Syrian army and Syria all in all is in
such a condition that it does not have a chance to open the second front. It has to save its sovereignty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: All right, so the expectation is that Benjamin Netanyahu will leave Russia with the kind of assurances he's looking for, but in a sense
it's kind of too late, because you know satellite images, if they are to be believed, and U.S. officials have been commenting on this to CNN, Russia
has already started and has quite progressed down the road of sending very advanced weapons to Syria. It already has multiple kind of very advanced
fighter aircraft in the -- on the ground in Syria. And so Israel's dominance of the skies over that region is already effectively being
challenged.
ANDERSON: Yeah, and further details from the U.S. just today on Russia's latest arsenal in Syria, including, as we said earlier, Surface-
to-air missile -- missiles -- Matthew, what's the message here from Putin? Less than a week away from his trip to New York, to the UN general assembly
where so many of the world's leaders, not Assad this year, but so many of the world's leaders will be gathering? And he will be having many a talk -
- or a meeting on the sidelines of that with a myriad of stakeholders.
CHANCE: Well, he certainly may be. And I think the message of all of this is what's really driving Kremlin policy. I mean, yes, they want to
back Bashar al-Assad. He's a longstanding ally. They see the Syrian government as, you know, a defense against the spread of Islamic militancy,
to southern Russia. They've also got their economic and their military interests, which we've spoken about a lot. But what's really happening
here is that Russia is fighting on yet another front in its battle to retain and to increase its influence in the world despite the low oil
prices, despite the sanctions by the EU and the United States against Russia, it's still a power to be reckoned with. And that, I think, is the
message that the Kremlin is really trying to put across here with some success.
ANDERSON: Super. All right. Matthew, thank you for that. And much more on what is our top story this hour. I'm going to speak with an expert
on Russia -- sorry, on Syria -- on Russia's role in the civil war. I'm going to take a look at the longstanding and strategic ties between Russia
and Syria.
And we'll also see where the United States fits in as it continues its war against ISIS while maintaining political opposition to President Bashar
al-Assad. That is upcoming on the show.
Well, right now, Pope Francis celebrating the second mass of his trip to Cuba. Huge crowds have come out to hear him speak in the city of Fulgin
(ph). It was a similar scene on Sunday when he celebrated mass in the capital Havana. This is the pope's final day in Cuba before he heads to
the United States.
Well, while we take a look at these pictures, our Rosa Flores has been following the pope on his trip and she joins me now by phone.
He's been in region now for what, 36 hours, a huge mass in Havana yesterday, how does the size of this one stack up?
ROSA FLORES, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, the size of the crowd looked a little smaller here than in Havana. In Havana I believe
we had a bigger crowd. We haven't received the official numbers yet, but this is just from me eyeing the crowd, standing here right next to all of
the faithful.
Now, Pope Francis just wrapped up a very powerful homily. We've heard from the pope now go off script twice yesterday and today a very powerful
homily speaking about Matthew.
Now if you listen and read between the lines, I believe that there really is a powerful message here because he speaks about how changing one
man, how god lived in the eyes of one man of Matthew and he went from a tax collector and later became an apostle. So, breath that in for just a few
seconds, and if you think of modern times and what's happening in Cuba right now, what would happen if one man changed his heart? And what would
that mean for the people of Cuba? I'll leave it at that.
Again, everybody is still kind of going through his homily word for word and trying to figure out the message, but I would say probably
thousands of people listen to that message here today in Oldine (ph) -- Oldine (ph) is also the province where Fidel Castro was born, where Raul
Castro was born, not too far from here actually.
So, you know, that's another important point. The pope decided to come here. This is the first pope to visit this particular province.
[11:11:27] ANDERSON: Sure.
And Rosa, I know that he's met with the Castro brothers, I believe now. And there has been some discussion about whether he's a little soft
on Communism? Your thoughts?
FLORES: You know, he met with Fidel Castro yesterday, the meeting lasted for about 30, 40 minutes. They exchanged gifts. Some of those
gifts were religious books that they exchanged. And you know we've heard that. We've heard that perhaps he's being too soft on communism.
But I think that if you read between the lines in some of these homilies and as people study them a little more, I think we're going to get
a bigger message. He really just has a gift, I truly believe, of simplifying things to a point where you need to study it to understand.
And the homily from yesterday, if you really look -- I've read it and reread it in Spanish, his native language. And to me it really appears
that it's about leadership and service and serving the poor, serving the fragile and not an ideology, not ideas. What you were referring to
Communism and he spoke about ideology and ideas maybe he didn't utter the words.
But again everyone here still analyzing and rereading those homilies to get an idea as to what he really means.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. For those who may just have joined us, Rosa alluding to the fact -- thank you, Rosa -- that today is the day, September
21, when the pope says he first felt the calling to be a priest, that was in 1953. He was 16 years old. It's also the feast day of St. Matthew, a
saint who -- with whom the pope personally identifies. And as the pope notes today, Matthew was a sinner, a tax collector, and yet he was chosen
by Jesus and that all coming out in his homily today. Fascinating.
Thank you.
The pope also receiving a warm welcome from those who practice Santeria. It is a religion that blends Catholicism and religious
traditions from West Africa. But as Patrick Oppmann now shows us, it hasn't received much recognition from the Catholic church. Have a look at
this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PATRICK OPPMANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: In the gritty harbor side town of Regula (ph) just across the water from Havana, the
faithful adore their beloved local statue of the Virgin Mary.
It's one of the largest Catholic processions, leading up to the visit of Pope Francis to the island. But not everyone here is a strictly by the
book Catholic.
Priests order the crowds not to throw money at the virgin, a veiled reference to the kind of offerings made by followers of Santeria.
Santeria has its roots in Cuba's slave trade. The slaves brought here from Africa were forced to convert to Christianity, but catholicism, mixed
with African traditions and a new religion was born -- Santeria. Many Cubans say they are Catholics and Santeros.
"You can be both at once" Isabel (ph) says. "First you have to believe in the Lord Jesus and then Santeria."
And even though the previous two popes to visit Cuba didn't acknowledge Santeria's large following on the island, practitioners of the
religion, like Anita (ph) say they are excited that Pope Francis is coming.
"It's a big deal," Anita (ph) says. "We welcome him. And we hope to see him."
Duality is nothing new for an island that is both Communist and capitalist, African and European.
Juan Carlos Toca (ph) is a Babalawo, or Santeria priest. While he has crosses and images of Jesus in his home, he says Santeria, also known to
some as the Yoruba religion, has its advantages.
"The church calms people. It gives them spirituality," he says. "The Yoruba religion is more direct with the analysis of problems and the
solution to those problems. So a lot of times people like it more, though we can say your problem is this and here is how we are going to fix it."
As the Cuban government has loosened controls on religion, the number of Santeria followers has soared.
Santeria's rise in popularity has presented a dilemma for the Catholic Church. Church officials criticize the religion being what they call a
cult, but at the same time they acknowledge that many of the people who come out the Catholic processions and services like this one are followers
of Santeria.
The Catholic church was nearly shut down in the early years of the Cuban revolution. And it's been a long road back.
With the visit from Pope Francis, the church is now trying to build up the ranks of the faithful, even if they might not be, well, always faithful
to just one Church.
Patrick Oppmann, CNN, Regula (ph).
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:16:23] ANDERSON: Well, still to come tonight, a rare look at life inside North Korea for you beyond the capital of Pyongyang. CNN's Will
Ripley visits a young woman who tells us about her journey from orphan to caregiver.
Also, as the leaders of Russia and Israel discuss the Middle East, they're going to bring you the view from another major stakeholder in the
region: Iran. And that is where we are next in Tehran. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HASSAN ROUHANI, IRANIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): The enmity that existed between the United States and Iran over the decades -- the
distance, the disagreements, the lack of trust will not go away soon. What's important is which direction we are heading. Are we heading towards
amplifying the enmity or decreasing this enmity? I believe we have taken the first steps towards decreasing this enmity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The Iranian President Hassan Rouhani there stressing that his countries' relationship with the U.S. is still a work in progress
despite the recent nuclear deal.
Well, Mr. Rouhani met with the head of the UN nuclear inspection agency Sunday. And inspectors visited the Parchin military site for the
first time ever.
All right, of course this ties into our top story. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to Moscow to discuss Middle East
security. Israel has long been opposed to that nuclear deal with Iran. Mr. Netanyahu has called it an historic mistake.
Let's cross to the Iranian capital Tehran where CNN's Frederik Pleitgen joins me live.
Firstly, what did the IAEA learn?
[11:20:18] FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, it's interesting, Becky, because of course one of the big issues that
Israel has with the nuclear agreement was the fact that they say it's unsure what was actually going on at the Parchin military site. And they
say that they accuse, and the U.S. also accuses Iran of in the past having to -- having done research there for nuclear weapons at that site.
Now, the visit by the head of the IAEA to that site yesterday was described very differently from the IAEA and the Iranians. The Iranians
were calling this a ceremonial visit. They say that it was part of goodwill, whereas the IAEA is calling this the first inspections to happen
at the Parchin site.
And of course there is also somewhat of a disagreement between the two sides as to how these inspections were actually conducted. The IAEA says
that it is fully satisfied with the fact that it believes that all of the probes that were taken from that facility were done in a way that they say
verifies that it's first of all is actually from the Parchin site and is actually exactly the kind of probes that they were looking for to be able
to work with those and try to scientifically see whether or not work was done on possible nuclear weapons in that place beforehand.
The Iranians, for their part, are saying that it was only their people who took those probes. They there were never any inspectors on hand and
that those probes were then sent to the IAEA.
So, there's a little bit of a discrepancy, if you will, in what both sides are saying.
Of course, for the Iranians, it is also very, very important to try and show that they are fully in control of that process because, of course,
as we've been talking about, Becky, the nuclear agreement is also something that's being debated very controversially here as well.
ANDERSON: Yeah.
A discrepancy or a difference in messaging I think.
You heard President Rouhani speaking of, and I quote, the distance and the lack of trust, between his country and the U.S. What will it take to
resolve that? And what is Iran doing to expedite a resolution?
PLEITGEN: Well, you what I think first of all it's going to take us probably a lot of time is one of the things. There are still a lot of
people, especially from that generation during the time of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, of course especially conservatives here in this
country, religious conservatives as well as military conservatives as well who are very much still opposed to any sort of detente with the United
States.
And yesterday I was actually able to visit one of the holiest cities here in Iran called Kohm (ph), which has one of the holiest shrines here in
Iran. And that is also where a lot of religious clergy here, where they learned, where they studied. And that's also where a lot of their thinking
comes from. And it was interesting to see the discrepancy there, because you had some of the members of the clergy who really were very much looking
forward to better relations with the United States, openly saying this, but there were others who quite frankly told us, look, there's been so much
distrust over the past almost 40 years. It's not something that's going to be wiped away simply through some sort of nuclear agreement. They still
don't trust the United States.
I was actually speaking to one very senior ayatollah who said, look, I was on the front line as a cleric during the Iran-Iraq war. I saw our
soldiers who came back and had been exposed to gas from Saddam Hussein's military. They of course blame the U.S. and the west for that as well.
And it's certainly something they haven't forgotten yet, I'll tell you that. That conversation really went into a very, very difficult moment
when all of that was mentioned.
So, there are some people here in this country, mostly of an older generation at this point simply cannot forgive and forget yet. And who at
this point in time at least, Becky, are not willing to have closer relations with the United States at least any time soon.
ANDERSON: Briefly Benjamin Netanyahu is in Russia discussing Syria and Iran -- much said about U.S./Iranian relationship recently. But how
are the Russians viewed there?
PLEITGEN: Well, the Russians I would say are viewed in a mixed way. I mean, one of the things that we have to keep in mind is that the
Russians, of course, have had a fairly close economic ties to the Iranians. Also some military ties as well. So the Russians certainly are viewed as
more of an ally to the Iranians than certainly any of the western countries are.
But you do get the sense, at least among some of the business elite is that they're leaning more towards trying to get ties with the west going
rather than being closer to Russia. But at least as far as, for instance, the battle against ISIS is concerned, as far as relations towards Syria are
concerned, the Iranians certainly feel that the Russians are much closer to what they feel then what any country in the west does.
And if you speak to experts here, if you speak to politicians here, they will always tell you that the Russians are their ally, especially when
it comes to what they say is their battle against terrorism, where from the Iranian point of view they think that the west isn't doing enough, for
instance, to fight ISIS and they think that what the Russians are doing, especially at this point in time in Syria is exactly the right way to go.
Of course, the Iranians having been upping the ante there in Syria as well, Becky.
[11:25:13] ANDERSON: Fred Pleitgen is in Tehran for you.
We're live in Abu Dhabi. Thank you, Fred.
This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Coming up, how much longer will we see scenes like these? We're going to talk to a security
analyst on the Middle East and ask him about how he thinks Syria's civil war can be resolved.
Plus, this year's Emmy Awards show wasn't just star-studded, it also included an historic first. And a good one. We'll tell you why after this.
First up, though, find out how the birthplace of the Titanic is getting a new lease of life more than a century on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDREW STEVENS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It was here the Titanic was born, an infamous heavyweight of history. Deemed the Ship of
Dreams, it was Belfast's crown jewel. From this very spot, the vessel sailed to Southampton for her maiden voyage in 1912, one that ended in
catastrophe.
Hundreds died, and to this day the story of the Titanic still captures the world's sympathy. Over the following decades, Belfast's manufacturing
prowess took a deep plunge, turning the ship yards into skeletons of their former glory.
CONAL HARVEY TITANIC QUARTER: There was a decline in the shipbuilding industry over a long period of time and eventually by the 1990s it was a
growing realization that we needed something new.
STEVENS: Today, the old shipyards are being reborn as the Titanic Quarter with the aim of taking the abandoned area and transforming it into
a modern commercial hub for businesses and families.
The eponymous project is ambitious in its scale and sheer importance to the city.
UNIDENTIIFED MALE: Titanic Quarter is around 200 acres in land, so it's the largest waterfront redevelopment site in Europe.
STEVENS: Costing half a billion so far, it now consists of new office buildings, a science park, residential housing, an exhibition center and
leisure and entertainment options.
But the most significant element remains its heritage. Anchoring the vast space is a museum dedicated to the sunken liner. And next to it, the
very drawing boards where the Titanic was conceptualized.
HARVEY: That building has been preserved and will be turned into a Boutique hotel by the end of next year.
STEVENS: Since opening in 2012, the museum has already attracted more than 2 million visitors, spurring growth in the rest of the city.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tourists in the past 20 years didn't come to Belfast. Now they're starting to come and that is our future.
STEVENS: Business is picking up as well. The likes of Citigroup and Microsoft have set up shop here side by side with local startups.
HARVEY: Bear in mind there was something like 35,000 people employed in the ship yards if you go back. By recreating something new and getting
that employment back up again, I think that's so important to Belfast.
You know, Belfast it's come out of a period of stagnation and difficulties, troubles. And it's moving forward very, very positively.
Titanic Quarter is a symbol of that.
[11:30:22] STEVENS: An area steeped in history that's propelling this city towards a brand new future.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:33:05] ANDERSON: At just after half past 7:00 here in the UAE, the top stories for you this hour on CNN. Israeli prime minister Benjamin
Netanyahu is in Moscow today to stress concerns about what the U.S. says is a Russian military build up in Syria. Israel is concerned that Russian
weapons could end up in the wrong hands. It also wants to ensure that any future action Israel might take would not conflict with Russian operations.
Well, Pope Francis is celebrating the second mass of his trip to Cuba. You're looking at live pictures out of Olgine (ph). It comes a day after
the pope celebrated mass in the capital Havana before a huge crowd. The pope will head to the United States on Tuesday.
And the Council on American Islamic Relations is calling no Ben Carson to withdraw from the Republican race for the White House. These are live
pictures coming to you. He's facing widespread criticism after saying that a Muslim should not serve as U.S. president. Carson also said Islam isn't
consistent with the values of the U.S. constitution.
Well, shares in top selling automaker Volkswagen have plunged after U.S. regulators say it played dirty with supposedly clean diesel engines by
installing devices that can cheat emissions tests.
VW's CEO apologized today for breaking consumers trust. And he's promised an external investigation.
Let's do more on this. Maggie is standing by in New York for you for the latest. And an apology from the head of the company, but that hasn't
put the breaks on what is, you know, a serious fall in the car maker's share price, 18 percent when I last looked.
Is the CEO Jim Self now at risk do you think?
MAGGIE LAKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's quite possible, Becky
I mean, listen, we have seen other CEO of car companies facing very serious challenges with recalls. GM comes to mind with Mary Barra. And
she was able to survive that.
The difference there, though, she had just taken the position as CEO, even though she was a company veteran. And she got good marks for the way
she handled it.
Winterkorn comes into this in a different situation. She has already been through a power struggle within the company with the former chairman.
There are some that are unhappy with his leadership already before this story broke. And coincidentally there are reports that the board is
actually due to vote on his contract on Friday. So the timing could not be worse for him and for the company.
And this is a big challenge for them, billions, as you said, Becky, wiped off the value of this company. This is what Winterkorn himself had
to say. He said he apologized. He didn't admit to any wrongdoing, but he said, and I quote here, I am personally -- I personally am deeply sorry
that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public.
And this is what analysts are worried about. How much damage, lingering damage, will this do from a PR point of view. As you said, they
were -- they're accused of having software in the cars that tricked emissions testing into thinking that that was a clean vehicle when actually
out on the road the car would then admit up to as much as 40 times the emissions. And this is important, because diesel was the big push for
Volkswagen here in the U.S., 20 percent of their sales. They had been investing billions in building plants. The manufacturing here, including
in Tennessee.
This was the cornerstone of their growth strategy. What happens now? They've halted all sales of new and used vehicles of Diesel. They said
they're going to launch an external investigation. How long this goes on? No one knows.
What we do think is they're going to be facing billions in fines, some analysts say as much as 18 billion and possibly criminal charges. So this
is a very, very dark day for Volkswagen.
ANDERSON: All right, Maggie Lake on the story for you.
Let's return to one of our headlines this hour. And that is Israel's attempts to influence Moscow as signs point to a Russian military buildup
in Syria.
Now the fighting there has dragged in a crowd of international players, as you will know.
Russia is a key supporter of Bashar al-Assad. The president and a U.S. official tells CNN that Moscow has a number of fresh assets on the
ground there, including fighter jets, tanks and personnel. It's just one of many external actors there with Syria turning into a battlefield for
various proxy wars.
More than 300,000 people have died in the conflict, according to human rights activists and something like 11 million have been displaced, half of
the country.
I want to look more into the complexities, then, of what is going on there.
To discuss, let's bring back CNN's senior international correspondent Matthew Chance who is live for you in Moscow tonight.
And the United States has a significant military presence across the Middle East, Matt. This map for our viewers based on data from QZ.com
shows the size of its regional footprint, countries where America has forces are highlighted. Let's bring that up for our viewers please.
And as you can see many of them, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia and right here as well the UAE.
Now contrast all that with this, Russia's single military outpost in the Middle East. Its small naval facility in Tartus in Syria.
Well, given this contrast, Matt just how important is Syria to Russia's Middle East strategy?
CHANCE: Well, very important. And I think those maps that you just showed illustrate just how far Russia has fallen in terms of its influence
in the Middle East since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It used to be a major player, of course, in the region. Strong allies, not just of Syria,
but of Egypt and of Jordan, of other countries as well.
And that's all drifted away over the course of the past couple of decades, made worse by the invasion of Iraq, made worse by the defeat and
the toppling of the Gadhafi regime in Libya as well, all of which were essentially client states of Russia.
And, you know, Moscow has made it clear that, you know, its red lines -- we talked a bit about Israel having its red lines that it doesn't want
to see crossed. Well, Moscow has its red lines as well. And it's kind of made one of those red lines, drawn a line in the sand when it comes to
Syria. It doesn't want to see the same thing happen in Syria as happened in Libya, as happened in Iraq, as happened to the other countries that were
previously close allies of the Soviet Union and by extension Russia as well.
And that's why -- that's why it's backing Syria so strongly. If Syria falls, it is its last toe hold in the Middle East. The Kremlin believes
that its influence in the entire region will also go down with it.
ANDERSON: The U.S., Matthew, may not have boots on the ground in Syria, but it is very much militarily involved in the conflict. And it
makes no secret of it. Listen to an exchange that took place at a U.S. congressional hearing last week.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:40:10] LLOYD AUSTIN, COMMANDER, U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND: Talking four or five.
UNIDENITIFIED FEMALE: As I see it right now, this four of five U.S. trained fighters -- let's not kid ourselves. That's a joke.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're counting on our fingers and toes at this point when he had envisioned 5,400 by the end of the year.
AUSTIN: The new Syrian force program has gotten off to a slow start.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So, even if they are fumbling in the execution of their goals there, the U.S. is still funding rebels and training fighters. Why
is Russian military involvement seen as being so much more sinister? And is there frustration in Moscow over perceived double standards?
CHANCE: I think there is. I think the perception of it being sinister very much depends on your viewpoints, your vantage point when you
look at this situation. It's not seen as sinister from here in Moscow. In fact, they're proposing it as a way of, you know, bringing to an end what
has been a brutal, and continues to be a brutal and devastating civil war for Syria.
I mean, no one disputes the fact -- I mean, not even those individuals we just heard in that congressional hearing, no one disputes the fact that
the United States policy in Syria has been a shambles. It has not been able to achieve its goals. It hasn't brought an end to the fighting. It
has contributed, if anything, to the outflow of millions of people in terms of refugees. And, you know, that creates a space for the Russians to go in
and say, look, you know, we've got an alternative. What we should have done all along and what should have been all along in terms of
international community, we should have backed Bashar al-Assad, that's what we've been advocating. That's what we're now going to do aggressively.
And, yeah, that's a winning argument when you look at the context out of which it comes.
ANDERSON: Nobody else has come up with a solution, so briefly what does Putin take to New York, to the UNGA next week? We discussed earlier
that he will be there and he'll have a lot of meetings on the sidelines.
What's his plan?
CHANCE: You know, it's not clear. You know, the Kremlin hasn't told us what the plan is. In fact, I heard one sort of unconfirmed rumor that
he's just going to go in and out and make his speech and he's not going to meet anyone unless it's President Obama. And so that's one possibility as
well.
But, I mean, clearly the intention is to go there and to set out as starkly and as clearly as possible what the plan is for Syria.
Now they framed it very much so far in terms of battling ISIS. That goes down very well with the rest of the international community. No one
is opposed to the idea of battling ISIS.
I think the reality, though, is going to be much more challenging for the Russians. It's not just ISIS that are fighting the Syrian government,
remember. There's a whole host of other rebel groups as well. And already there are signs that those rebel groups are sharpening their knives in
preparation for a confrontation with the Russians.
ANDERSON: Fascinating.
All right, well we will wait to see just how long President Putin does spend in New York and whether he does get a meeting with the U.S.
president.
For the time being, thank you very much indeed for joining us.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Coming up, Sunday was a big night for Hollywood and we'll have the
highlights, including a first from the Emmy awards.
And we head to the bustling streets of Mumbai to see how one tech startup is turning to traditional business methods to get around. That's
in our special series Growing India. And that's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:46:42] ANDERSON: Well, we return tonight to India for the second part in a special series on Connect the World. All this week we are going
behind the headlines to show you glimpses of India often overlooked in statistics.
Tonight, we're in bustling Mumbai where an innovative startup is turning to an age old answer to deliver its goods.
CNN's Mallika Kapur has been running around the megacity.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MALLIKA KAPUR, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's like clockwork, an intricate network that permeates the urban sprawl of Mumbai. The
Dabbawallas, literally translated they're an army of lunchbox carriers. Monday to Friday, they pick up fresh, home cooked meals to deliver to
workplaces across the city. And it's all done with flawless efficiency and legendary accuracy.
(SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
KAPUR: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
UNIDENITIFED MALE: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
KAPUR: (SPEAKING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)
An incredible feat in a city where roads and buildings are often unmarked and addresses confusing.
But these lunchbox delivery men claim they make less than three errors for every million deliveries, navigating traffic, choked roads by train,
bus, bike and foot, all in time for lunch.
Now, they have some extra business. India's largest online retailer Flipkart realized it needed help with some of their last mile deliveries in
Mumbai. And as someone who lives here, I can tell you no one knows the city better than the dabbawallahs.
Dabbawallahs, that's a really unique delivery method. Why did you team up with dabbawallahs.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, when we looked around and saw what we could do with the dabbawallahs in terms of being able to get our packages to
customers in a very, very efficient way while partnering with local experts, dabbawallahs are a natural choice.
KAPUR: Why do you call them local experts?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They're local experts in the sense that they carry all the knowledge of the city in their heads.
KAPUR: It's an entire supply chain system designed to be on time. In an era where competition is fierce and customers want shorter delivery
times, its' a low cost and low tech solution.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In Bombay, in many cases, and many cities in India, the addresses are not really, really methodical. There's no method
to the addresses. So, looking at an address it's very hard to know where exactly you have to deliver the package.
So, if you're using somebody who doesn't have that local knowledge, what that means is that they're spending a lot more time trying to deliver
the package.
KAPUR: It's very interesting that you've taken a centuries old tradition and you're kind of turning it on its head.
UNIDENFIFIED MALE: Exactly. As I mentioned, you know, for me in particular, I mean having used the dabbawallahs many, many years ago.
KAPUR: Yeah, you believe in it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yeah, exactly, I believe in it. And now for them to be able to show up at my parents' home with a package from Flipkart that
I've ordered for them, it's -- the circle has come full circle in many ways.
KAPUR: Sometimes, simplicity works best. An old fashioned Indian solution for a new age business model.
Mallika Kapur, CNN, Mumbai.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[11:50:10] ANDERSON: There is still plenty more on Growing India come this week here on Connect the World as we explore the rapid changes across
what is that vast country.
Tomorrow, it's Made in India. We take a look at the booming auto industry that's making the country a global player. That's in Growing
India Tuesday 7:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi, or at the times locally to you that you will I'm sure be able to work out.
Well, live from Abu Dhabi this is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. Coming up, find out what prompted a young woman in North Korea
to take in a house full of orphans and why her actions made the country's leader sit up and take notice.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: A glimpse into a country we rarely get to see. North Korea has invited CNN's Will Ripley back to the country after he asked to meet
people outside the capital Pyongyang when he was last there. Well, officials took him to meet a 20-year-old woman that the government says is
a shining product of North Korean collective society.
Orphaned in a country's famine during the 1990s, she's now dedicating her life to caring for other orphans.
Will has her story.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILL RIPLEY, CNN INTERNATIONAL: North Koreans born 20 years ago during the Great Famine are too young to remember when these fields were ravaged,
when hundreds of thousands died from starvation.
Jang Jong Hwa doesn't remember the mother and father she lost.
My parents died a long time ago. I was so young, she says.
The 20 year old is part of a generation of orphans, now young adults, born during the 1990's humanitarian crisis North Korea calls The Arduous
March. A family with three children of their own took her in.
My adoptive mother was so kind to me, she says. A kindness she's trying to repay by serving the state, caring for a house full of orphans
while also working full time.
Jong gets help from family, friends and neighbors. She began taking in orphans when she was 18, just out of secondary school. Now, she's caring
for seven of them. An achievement recognized by North Korea Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un.
Jong shows us laptops sent by the state for the kids to study with, but she doesn't have batteries to turn them on. The family, including all
seven orphans, live in standard government housing, sharing a one bathroom apartment in a working class neighborhood 45 minutes west of Pyung Yang.
The oldest orphan, Jong Un Jong, is 16. Her parents died working in a state owned steel mill. The other workers took turns caring for her, her
brother and sister until Jong brought them home.
At first, she was like my older sister because she's only four years older than me, but now, I call her my mother, she says.
She and her sisters say they want to join the army to serve Kim Jong- un, and their younger brother wants to play soccer.
When I grow up, I'm going to be a very good football player to please our leader, he says. All tell me they consider their leader their father,
something we hear everywhere in North Korea. Jong says she hopes these kids will grow strong to serve the nation.
Our country is one huge family, she says. And here, country always comes first.
Will Ripley, CNN Nampo City, North Korea.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, your Parting Shots tonight. And we've got a look back at not a first in Hollywood, the 67th Primetime Emmy Awards made
history on Sunday night. And here's a look at some of the highlights.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ADAM SAMBERG, COMEDIAN: The CEO of HBO recently said that he doesn't think password sharing for their streaming services is a problem. The user
name is Khaleesifan3@emmyhost.com, the password is of course password1.
RICKY GERVAIS, COMEDIAN: Back again to lose another one.
So take a picture of that. Thank you so much. Thank you.
Tweet that.
LADY GAGA, SINGER: And the Emmy goes to.
RICHARD JENKINS, ACTOR: That was Lady Gaga just gave me.
So, dad what did you do last night?
AMY SCHUMER, COMEDIAN: I knew I should have written something down. Thanks everybody who has helped me in my -- the girl who gave me this sort
of a smoky eye.
JUILIA LOUIS-DREYFUS, ACTRESS: To quote our political satire Veep, "what a great honor it must be for you to honor me tonight." Oh wait, oh
god, oh no, no, I'm so sorry, "Donald Trump said that. I'm sorry."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jon Hamm, Mad Men.
(CHEERS)
JON HAMM, ACTOR: There's been a terrible mistake.
VIOLA DAVIS, ACTRESS: To all the writers, the awesome people, people who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a
leading woman, to be black.
JEFFRY TAMBOR, ACTOR: I'd like to dedicate my performance and this award to the transgender community.
TRACY MORGAN, COMEDIAN: Only recently I've started to feel like myself again. So, which means a whole lot of -- y'all women going to get
pregnant at the after party.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: I'm Becky Anderson, that was Connect the World. Thanks for watching.
END
