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Has Qatar Made the World's Ugliest Supercar? Indian Carmaker to Change name of its Zica Hatchback; U.S. Presidential Candidates Head to New Hampshire; Inside a Secret U.S. Airbase. Aired 11:00a-12:00p ET
Aired February 03, 2016 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:1] BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: A CNN team uncovers a secret airfield in northern Syria. Is it a sign that the U.S. is stepping up the war on
ISIS? An exclusive report from Syria coming up this hour for you.
Also ahead, a dangerous development, U.S. health officials confirm a sexually
transmitted case of the Zika virus in Texas. This hour we're live in Brazil, a country struggling to contain the outbreak.
And is this the world's ugliest sports car? We'll find out.
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with Becky Anderson.
ANDERSON: It's just after 8:00 in the evening here in the UAE. To the war in Syria first. The government backed by Russian sair support is
gaining ground north of Aleppo. And this latest fighting putting the sputtering peace effort in Geneva on the line.
The opposition delegation of the talks is condemned what it calls Russia's indiscriminate aerial bombardment of civilian areas.
Well, the United States looking for ways to intensity the military campaign against ISIS. The Pentagon has already announced that some 50
special forces troops are operating in Syria.
Now, recently published satellite images show an airstrip being extended in Kurdish controlled territory in the north of the country. The
Pentagon only says that, quote, U.S. forces in Syria are consistently looking for ways to increase efficiency.
Clarissa Ward is the first journalist to visit that airfield amid a deepening
relationship between the U.S. and their Kurdish allies.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CLARISSA WARD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This place doesn't exist, according to the U.S. Defense Department. But behind that berm of
freshly dug earth, a small agricultural air strip is being turned into something very different -- a military air field just 100 miles from ISIS
positions.
Satellite photos show the work that has been done here in recent months. So you can see behind me, they are working to extend the runway so
that larger planes could land here. The advantage of this site is that it's well-secured inside Kurdish territory. So it could be used to supply U.S.
Special Forces deployed here in Syria.
He's coming now.
We were escorted away from the air field as soon as we were spotted -- told it was a military zone. It's another example of the U.S.' growing
military footprint in this remote corner of northern Syria and its deepening relationship with Syrian Kurdish fighters known as the YPG.
In an abandoned apartment building closer to the front line, we were given access to the YPG's joint operations room. It is a modest setup. 21-
year-old Dahan Hasaki (ph) and his colleagues talk to their men on the battlefield using newly-provided tablets, they pass on enemy locations to a
coalition command center from where air strikes can be launched.
Right now, this is the front line of Hasaka, he says. "Our comrades there have seen the movement of two enemy fighters and so we sent this
message along with their coordinates to the general command room."
When there are heavy clashes, the operations room moves to the front lines. Immediately after the strikes, Hasaki and his men rush in to make
sure that the right targets have been hit.
Who taught you how to use this? He tells us a group of foreigners and Americans trained his commanders who, in turn, trained him and his
comrades. In the skies and on the ground in Syria, the U.S. is deepening its commitment to the battle against ISIS.
Clarissa Ward, CNN, northern Syria
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERONS: And Clarissa joins me now live from across the border in Irbil in Iraq.
And Clarissa, Turkey sees the Kurds as a real threat. How are they likely to respond to this?
WARD: Well, this is obviously a big problem for the U.S. because as you said, Turkey does see the Kurds as an existential threat. They have
deemed the PKK that works very closely with the YPG, as a terrorist group. And Turkey is an important ally for the U.S., one of the U.S.'s most
strategic air bases is located in Turkey.
So essentially here the U.S. trying to balance between wanting to a appease and keep the Turks happy, but also wanting to take advantage of any
momentum they can get on the ground working with their Kurdish allies inside northern
Syria -- Becky.
[11:05:09] ANDERSON: What sort of use would this base potentially have for the U.S.?
WARD: Well, there could be multiple uses. It could be used as a logistics hub, as a way of getting in personnel, material, ammunition,
weapons even for allies on the ground. It could be used for covert special forces operations or extraction operations if they were need. And
essentially this is just 100 miles from ISIS positions, but it's well secured inside Kurdish territory.
So what it really does is give the U.S. a lot more options on the ground in taking the fight to ISIS.
ANDERSON: Clarissa Ward in Irbil in Iraq with this exclusive reporting. Clarissa, thank you.
Well, the American Red Cross is taking action to protect the safety of he blood supply a day after the Zika virus was declared a public health
emergency. Now, it wants blood donors who have traveled to the affected areas shaded in pale green on this map, to delay giving blood for 28 days
after returning from the United States.
Well, on Monday the U.S. Centers for Disease Control confirmed a sexually transmitted case of the Zika virus in Dallas in Texas.
The patient had sex with someone who became infected with the virus during a trip to Venezuela.
Well, Brazil, of course, has been hardest hit by the escalating health crisis.
Shasta Darlington joining me now live from Rio. Is Brazil implementing any new preventative measures given the first U.S. sexually
transmitted case, Shasta.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You know, Becky, we talked to doctors and officials about this over the last week, because
there had been suspected cases. And what they keep telling us is that the focus here in Brazil is really on combating the mosquito that's the known
transmitter of the Zika virus, the one that's really spreading it across Brazil and turning this into an epidemic.
So, the efforts continue to be going door to door looking for the pools of water where they breed. They are also fumigating in areas and
there is a sense of urgency here in Brazil. We just got new some figures today that show the
number of birth defects is continuing to rise when they put together the number of babies born with microcephaly, the small heads and the brain
damage, the confirmed cases along with the suspected cases has grown 10 percet in the last week alone.
So, we're looking at some 400 babies who have been confirmed born with microcephaly, 3,700 that they're still investigating. Brazil is taking
this very seriously.
But when you have one case that's been proven sexually transmitted and 1.5 million cases of Zika here in Brazil that they believe is widely being
spread by the mosquito, that's going to continue to be the focus of their efforts, Becky.
ANDERSON: Well, Rio coming up, just six, seven months from now, the Olympics. What sort of precautions are being taken at this point?
DARLINGTON: Well, Becky, you know the organizers are trying to reassure the public that it's safe to come to the games. They recognize
that there are warnings out there for pregnant women, but they say there are zero risks for athletes and zero risks for others attending the games.
And they say that despite some budget issues, they will have plenty money to fumigate and make sure the venues are being inspected properly.
Take a listen to what the spokesman for the organizing committee said.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIO ANDRADA, DIR. OF COMMUNICATIONS RIO 2016 OLYMPICS COMMITTEE: We have worked with the local authorities to increase inspections into oversee
all the venues in search for stagnant waters and possible presence of the mosquito.
And we have sufficient funds to perform this work and we will do so.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DARLINGTON: Now organizers say so far they haven't seen any cancellations, any tickets canceled or visits that were being planned being
canceled. They also point out that because these are the Summer Olympics, but they'll be played in Brazil in the Brazilian winter, the mosquito
population naturally drops off and people will face fewer risks, Becky.
ANDERSON: Shasta Darlington in Rio for you.
Well, there's currently no viable vaccine or medicine to treat the mosquito-born virus, but the drug maker Sanofi says it can move quickly to
develop a vaccine.
Nic Robertson reports from Lyons in France.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Sanofi Pasteur believes it has an advantage when it comes to making a Zika vaccine. Why?
Because they already make vaccines for yellow fever, for dengue fever. Why is that relevant? Because the Zika virus has similarities to both yellow
fever and dengue fever.
So that, they say, with their number of researchers, with their outreach around the world, with their knowledge and the vaccines they have
already developed for yellow fever and for dengue fever, that's going to help them cut down the time it will take to make a Zika vaccine.
[11:10:14] DOCTOR NICHOLAS JACKSON, GLOBAL HEAD OF RESEARCH, SANOFI PASTEUR: Well the typical vaccine can take ten or more years. But there is
a great sense of urgency with the organization. The WHO has declared an emergency, so we need to move as quickly as possible. So we've got
technology in house, we have capabilities and infrastructure that's been established around our dengue vaccine and other viruses, so we really hope
to significantly reduce that time line and cut years off the typical amount of time that it takes to develop a vaccine.
ROBERTSON: What worries the scientists here, they say, is the rapid spread of the Zika virus.
Dengue fever, they say, carried by the same mosquito is in about 100 countries around the world, 2.3 billion people every year, they say,
exposed to dengue fever.
Right now, they say Zika virus is in about 30 countries. Realistically, they say, it's quite possible that they could spread just
like dengue fever.
And another concern as well, that right now in the United States, for example, the mosquito carrying the Zika virus can get about as far, they
believe, as Florida, as Texas, but they believe that other mosquitoes could also carry the Zika virus, and that would mean the spread that the Zika
virus could be as far north as Washington, even New York.
Nic Robertson, CNN, Lyons, France.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, the list of candidates vying for the White House is now a little shorter. Republican Senator Rand Paul dropping out of the
race after he came in fifth in this week's Iowa caucuses.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump ramping up attacks on Ted Cruz who of course came out on top among Republicans in Iowa. Trump accusing Cruz of fraud
and demanding a new vote.
Well, the focus of the race is now on the state of New Hampshire where Democratic hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders preparing to face
voters at a CNN town hall.
Getting my teeth in tonight.
Let's bring in our Joe Johns who joins us now from Manchester in New Hampshire.
What does Hillary need to do to convince voters in New Hampshire after such a close contest in
Iowa, Joe?
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I think the Hillary Clinton goal at least at this stage, Becky, is just to appear competitive. She wants to
show that she can compete in any state, even here in the state of New Hampshire, which is so close to the home of Bernie
Sanders that he, in fact, spent the night last night in his home, in his bed, in Vermont even though he is campaigning in New Hampshire.
So he's a known commodity here in New Hampshire and you can expect him to push many
of the issues that he's been pushing all along that have made him very famous in these parts, including economic inequality, campaign finance
reform, attacking the big banks and taking Hillary Clinton on for her closeness with Wall Street.
So, he'll definitely be trying to play the home-field advantage, Becky.
ANDERSON: All right, that's the Democrats.
Let's cross or switch across the political divide. How is Ted Cruz looking to build off his momentum from Iowa? And what is Trump likely to
do to stop this roll?
JOHNS: Well, interesting you talked a little bit about Rand Paul getting out of the race. And one of the questions, I think, right now here
in New Hampshire is whether Ted Cruz will be a able to pull some of the support from that libertarian group that was hoping Rand Paul could get
some traction.
Now Ted Cruz is obviously a conservative and he's seen as such in the United States senate. But he's also a limited government conservative,
which has been translated by some as libertarian leaning.
So, perhaps he'll be able to make some inroads as we move toward the primary there, Becky.
ANDERSON: Joe Johns out of Manchester in New Hampshire for you this evening.
We are taking a very short break out of the UAE. This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson.
Still to come tonight, a killing by ISIS that shook Jordan to its core. But what impact has the death of a captive pilot had on the country
and efforts to fight ISIS?
We're going to be live in Amman in Jordan after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK0
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): i demand that revenge should be bigger than executing prisoners.
ANDERSON: A father appeals, a nation responds. An eye for an eye just won't cut it in Jordan as the killing of a young pilot prompts the
king to call for Earth shaking retaliation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson out of the UAE. That was our coverage almost a year ago of
news that ISIS had executed the Jordanian pilot Mouath al-Kasasbeh, by burning him alive in a cage.
Well, it brought the barbarity of ISIS into the limelight, but it also galvanized Arab nations to
ramp up their efforts against the group.
Well, in the 12 months since then, we followed the story for you from Syria, Jordan, Iraq and other places including here in the UAE as Arab
nations vowed to take the war to ISIS.
But what's changed since al-Kasasbeh's death? Well, my colleague Jomana Karadsheh covered the story from Amman a year ago and joins us this
hour from the Jordanian capital.
This was a killing, Jomana, that impacted people across the country. What's the mood like there
today, a year on?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, it's as you can imagine, not as emotional, not as angry, but this evening we are
seeing some Jordanians taking to social media, sharing their memory from that day that for many, is a dark day in this country's history.
But this is an especially emotional time al-Kasasbeh's family.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KARADSHEH: To his country, Moath al-Kasasbeh was a hero, to the world he was the Jordanian pilot brutally executed by ISIS. To his family, he
was the son who didn't live to see 28.
It's been a year of sadness, a year of tears, a year of memories. I remember him when I eat, when I sleep, when I pray. I never stop thinking
of him, and if you knew Moath, you wouldn't be able to forget him either, his father Safi tells us.
This distraught father, proud of his son, but insists Jordan should not be part of the U.S.-led coalition against ISIS. It has no place in it,
he says.
In the days following the release of the video, Jordan carried out dozens of airstrikes bombarding Raqqa, ISIS main stronghold in Syria.
But over the past year with the overwhelming majority of airstrikes carried out by the U.S., there have been questions about the role of other
coalition members, including Jordan. The kingdom says it's still very active and is pushing to do more.
KING ABDULLAH, JORDAN: I know the figures of the amount of airstrikes that we did, not
counting the amount of air patrols and reconnaissance flights that we did, we have been hitting tremendous amounts of targets. We have always wanted
to hit more. And I think having a good relationship with secretary of defense and there's a couple new generals in
the Pentagon now tha I think want to fix bayonets and go over the parapet. I think that you'll see an increase in tempo.
There's been some good operations. I can't say that from the Jordanian perspective we want to
see a bit more.
KARADSHEH; Not everyone in Jordan supports the country participation in the coalition, and some worry that Jordan's position at the forefront of
this battle may it makes it it more of a target for terror organizations.
Over the past year, Jordanian authorities say they have disrupted several terror plots targeting westerners in Jordan. Most recently they
say they foiled a plot by four ISIS sympathizers who were planning to carry out an attack on Jordanian armed forces.
Jordan says this is part of a new global reality.
MOHAMMED AL-MOMANI, MINISTER OF STATE FOR MEDIA AFFAIRS: All countries are a targeted by these terrorist organizations. And their
nature, they are targeting the stability of every country and every society, that's why it's of the best interest of all countries to come together and to roll up their sleeves and to participate
in this fight.
KARADSHEH: Back in the pilot's village in southern Jordan, simple tributes to their martyr, a stark reminder of the human cost of this fight,
a war that could go on for years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KARADSHEH: And Becky, making it harder for his family because of that savage way that he was killed, the family doesn't really know when al-
Kasasbeh was killed. They don't know when to commemorate his death and they don't have a grave to visit.
ANDERSON: Jomana Karadsheh is in Amman in Jordan.
Well, as that war -- again, thank you, Jomana -- against ISIS intensifies, it's not just being fought on the battlefield. Here's an
interest piece looking at how efforts to combat ISIS could be impacting our personal freedoms on the internet, even damaging democracy in the Middle
East. A thought provoking take, you may or may not agree with it, but it's definitely worth the read. That is on the website, CNN.com.
You're watching Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson out of Abu Dhabi. It is 20 past 8:00, or just after here in the UAE.
Coming up, the Zika virus is being felt in India, but in a rather unusual way: in the board room and on the roads.
And want to pay for things without having to open your wallet? Well, a start up in Cape Town is making that happen using an app on your phone.
We'll show you how SnapScan is helping businesses and consumers alike. That's up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AMIR DAFTARI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Want to pay for a coffee using just your phone? You can with SnapScan, an award-winning
tech start up based in Cape Town.
KOBUS EHLERS, CEO, FIRE PLAY: I'm Kobus Ehlers, one of the co- founders and CEO of Fire Play. And we're responsible for the mobile payments product
SnapScan.
We started about three years ago really trying to understand how doe enable payments for the large majority of merchants in South Africa shops
and people providing services who don't have access to formal payment facilities.
I have always been involved in information systems. And I really like that interaction between systems or computers and human beings, that for me
is the most interesting junction.
For many years, many people have tried to solve the problem of giving people access to banking. That includes all of the large banks have done
a lot of work in that space and a lot of third parties. What was said, or thought, was really the technology changes that in a significant way due
to mobile phones becoming more powerful.
Today, you already use your phone to do a variety of other things than just making a phone call. And it seemed inevitable that payments was going
to be a part of that.
So, the real question for us was can you do something as simple as paying for a cup of coffee
using just your phone.
DAFTARI: SnapScan had a small start. But as they tested their product, it slowly rolled out into local coffee shops and then into retail
spaces.
EHLERS: The product that we both initially really wasn't want people wanted. So speaking to our customers, understanding what their actual
requirements was really key in building this product. So from that first cup of coffee it went to Cape Town, into Johannesburg, into coffee shops
and then larger stores and now into large retail partners as well.
DAFTARI: In 2013, the company won an award for the best application in South Africa. With some of the prize money, SnapScan collaborated with
nonprofit organization Big Issue, to help improve magazine sales across the country.
EHLERS: One of the really good fits there is, that those merchants who sell magazines at street corners or at the traffic lights, could only
accept cash. And they started seeing a decline in sales because a lot of the drivers in (inaudible) would simply say, well, I don't have cash to pay
for this magazine.
DAFTARI: SnapScan an works with private companies, too, providing easy and effective ways to pay for everyday expense like prepaid parking.
EHLERS: So, street parking for us is one of the really interesting and good (inaudible) of SnapScan where it solves a problem for both the
parking attendant who has to literally carry around a bag of cash, and that's quite unsafe and inconvenient, but also for the merchants who just
wants to park on the side of the road and doesn't necessarily have the correct change to pay.
DAFTARI: As mobile payments have taken off in southern African in the last three years, so
has SnapScan.
EHLERS: So we started off being four people in (inaudible) and Techno Park. And as the team grew, we moved to Cape Town mostly because most of
our merchants were located here and it made sense to interact with them.
Today we're almost 30 people distributed in Cape Town and Johannesburg. And we really try to set up a bit more of an informal work
environment. So, generally our culture is a pretty relaxed one, which is interesting considering that financial services is a super regulated space.
So, it really is about that balance. B eing comfortable where you work, trusting the people around you, having a place that you look forward
to go to in the day, but still obviously being responsible and conservative as far as the actually product is concerned.
DAFTARI: Amir Daftari, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(HEADLINES)
[11:31:43] ANDERSON: Somali authorities are trying to find out if a midair explosion on a plane may be linked to terrorism. The aircraft made
an emergency landing shortly after taking off from Mogadishu, but as our Robyn Kriel reports, it's believed one person died after being sucked out of a hole in the fuselage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBYN KRIEL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The terrifying moments after a massive explosion on a Dalo Airlines (ph) flight shortly after takeoff.
A calm flight attendant urges passengers to move to either the front or back of the plane. A gaping hole from the blast in the middle of the
plane is sucking anything nearby out of the the aircraft. The pilot turned around to make an emergency landing.
One man, CNN is told, was blown out of the plane by the blast and plunged
to the ground. The explosion ripped through the plane's fuselage.
Women and the elderly are helped out of their seats in the danger zone, passengers are clearly horrified.
The investigation is ongoing and airline's CEO reportedly says it's too early to say what caused the explosion.
A post-blast investigation of the plane on the ground in Mogadishu tested positive for traces of explosives. A source close to the
investigation tells CNN we also know, according to a report sent to all airport officials that the plane was delayed in taking off.
If this was indeed some kind of planned attack, experts say, a device with a timer could have been set to go off when the plane was much higher
and that, we're told, could have had catastrophic results.
The plane, however, because of the delay in takeoff was only 12,000 to 14,000 feet in the air. The cabin had not fully pressurized yet, which
meant the blast was much smaller and contained.
If this incident is terror related, no one has claimed responsibility. al Qaeda-linked Somali militant group al Shabaab launches regular attacks
in Mogadishu against government, African Union forces and civilians. But they have been silent.
Security at the Mogadishu International Airport has been tightened as airline pilots say they worry this might have been a dry run for something
much worse.
Robyn Kriel, CNN, Nairobi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, a haunting photo has surfaced from Mexico and it is stirring
outrage online and in social media. We warn you it it is very graphic.
You can see three people gunned down, one of them just a baby. We are told it is a a family.
The images getting a lot of reaction and stirring outrage, as I said.
CNN's Raphael Romo joining us now from CNN Center.
What do we know at this point, Rafael?
RAFAEL ROMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we know that this is indeed a drug-related shooting. And that's what the officials in Mexico are telling
us this morning, particularly the fact that the 7-month-old baby was shot when he was in his father's arm, but what authorities are telling us is
that apparently both parents, both victims in this shooting were related to selling drug in that part of
Mexico.
But in any case, the fact that a 7-month-old baby was shot and killed in a city in Mexico in front of everybody is creating an uproar in social
media, Becky. People just unable to understand how something like that can be possible.
On an opinion column in Mexico, a columnist is asking is it possible to imagine anything more unjust than the cold-blooded murder of a family
carrying a baby in their arms?
Now the investigation continues, but there's been a lot of drug- related violence in that part of Mexico, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah, just talk to me about that, because this is by no means a random incident, correct?
ROMO: No, not at all. If we're talking about this part of Mexico, this happened in the state of Oaxaca, but right at the border with the
state of Guerrero.
Last year alone, Becky, in the state of Guerrero, there were 2,016 homicides, that was the highest number of homicides in Mexico and a
breaking record number.
So, there's a lot of rival drug gangs trying to control this territory in Mexico and that explains the spillover violence that we have seen in
recent weeks in the neighboring state of Oaxaca.
But again, a very, very terrible incident in that part of Mexico, Becky.
ANDERSON: Finally, we know this is a problem. We are aware of what little
either is or can be done by authorities. What do we hear from them? We're hearing this reaction on social media. What is the reaction of the
authorities to this?
ROMO: Well, what they said after the incident happened and the shooting itself was on Friday. The incident was reported over the weekend,
but authorities didn't actually react to it until yesterday.
And what they are saying is that immediately after this happened, there was communication with authorities in the neighboring state of
Guerrero, and there was a raid conducted to target the drug gang, the rival drug gang that was apparently responsible for the shooting. So they say
we're doing everything we can to reduce the violence, but apparently based on this case and other cases, there was also a 14-year-old girl who was
shot and killed over the weekend as well.
Apparently everything they are doing is definitely not enough, Becky.
ANDERSON: Yeah, all right, Rafael, thank you for that.
Let's turn to the health crisis that we have been following. The outbreak of the Zika virus in the U.S. the Centers for Disease Control, or
CDC, create an emergency operations center to confront the disease.
Our chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, got a look inside with the center's director. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I can tell you the last time
I was here at the CDC emergency operation center was for Ebola. But this is the place where they are coordinating the U.S. response to Zika. I've
got an exclusive look at what's happening inside. Let's take a look.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Welcome to day 12 of the IMS activation for Zika vius.
every morning this is the first place CDC director Tom Frieden will look to get the latest on the Zika virus.
TOM FRIEDEN, CDC DIRECTOR: The board tells us what's going on at a glance. We see outbreaks around the world, where they're happening. We
also look at the details of our response.
This is the Zika virus.
GUPTA: That's it right there.
FRIEDEN: This is what it looks like under the electron microscope.
GUPTA: Should we be scared of Zika, or is the emotional part of this with regard to pregnant women and microcephaly sort of making this
indiscriminately more -- having more impact?
FRIEDEN: Over and over again nature deals us wild cards. In the case of Zika, the real tragedy is a family that's had a child with microcephaly
and we know that that is devastating. And I think that's what's driving the concern.
GUPTA: I know we don't have complete information, but they may look to you, they may look to you for guidance on whether or not they should get
pregnant.
And we don't know what the likelihood is that they're going to have a child with microcephaly. But they want to have a baby.
FRIEDEN: We have teams on the ground now in both Puerto Rico and in Brazil. We are working with other countries as well to try to get that
information as soon as possible.
The fact is we can't invent data. We have to collect it and analyze it.
This guy, this is a nasty mosquito. This is...
GUPTA: Is this the one?
FRIEDEN: This is the one. This is aedes aegypti.
GUPTA: is there anything good about these guys?
FRIEDEN: Mosquitoes?
GUPTA: I mean, would you get rid of them? I mean, they have caused so much -- they cause more death than wars and natural disasters and
everything put together.
FRIEDEN: You know, the mosquito kills more people than any other animal on Earth.
GUPTA: Do you have any thoughts about possibly using DDT?
FRIEDEN: The fact is that DDT was widely used 50 years ago and virtually eliminated this mosquito from the Americas. But DDT was also
widely used in agriculture. It got into the environment, and it had serious problems in the environment for many species.
It also remains in the body for a long time. So, we're looking at safer, more effective ways to kill mosquitoes.
If you're in an area with Zika, there are a lot of things you can do. Wear mosquito repellent, use long sleeves, use clothing that has with
Permethrin put into it. All of those things really work. And staying inside and screen space and air-conditioned space, really can drastically
reduce your risk of getting a mosquito bite.
[11:40:20] GUPTA: But I think it's safe to say that this is the map that a lot of people in the United States are going to be paying attention
to. Why? Because these areas of yellow are the only places where this particular mosquito Dr. Frieden was talking about are known to exist.
And even better news, potentially, is that dengue fever, spread the same way by the same mosquito only exists really in south Texas and South
Florida.
Dr. Frieden believes Zika is likely to behave the same way, which is good news for most of the country. As we get more information, we'll bring
it to you.
Back to you for now.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Sanjay Gupta reporting there.
Well, tens of thousands of people stranded in a train station in southern China on Tuesday trying
to get out of a home ahead of lunar new year celebrations. Snow blamed for delaying dozens of trains at Guangzhou railway station.
Authorities say the situation is coming under control and they are bringing in more trains to ease the crunch.
Matt Rivers has more on what is this annual travel rush.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's the largest annual human migration in the world, each year between late January and early February.
Hundreds of millions of Chinese people head home for the countries biggest holiday the Lunar New Year.
Also called the Spring Festival, it's the one time each year when the families gather across the country to reunite and to get to one another.
China sees a travel boom on a massive scale. The government expects 2.9 billion trips to be made across the country. Travelers using every mean
that their disposal to make it home. Airports and railway stations get absolutely crushed with people, suitcases and get for their families until.
Highways still up with those wealthy enough to own their own cars and those who aren't proud busses and hitch ride on motorcycles, sometimes
traveling for days. Here in Beijing alone about 42 million trips in and out of the city are expected to be made. During the holidays the normally loud
and busy streets of Beijing become noticeably and almost surreally quiet.
The annual migration has boomed right along with the China's economy over the pass 30 years. Factory towns needed workers with most coming from
China's rural villages. Hundreds of millions of people spend the year away their families with a full home during the holiday is something you can
resist. Once home, traditional dinners are held and Chinese children receive little red envelops filled with cash called lucky money.
On Lunar New Years Ever roughly 700 million people watch a celebration broadcast on state T.V. that's an audience more than six times bigger than
last year Super Bowl.
And after the Spring Festival ends most people return to work and cities like Beijing fill right back up. But there are many people who take
extended holiday. The Lunar New Year holiday runs for less than 10 days. But the peak travel period last for nearly six weeks.
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ANDERSON: Fascinating.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. Coming up, this is being dubbed the ugliest car ever. But take a guess where it was made?
The answer in about ten minutes time .
Off to Barcelona to find out how the government is using technology there to save precious natural resources. That's up next. That is the
digital state.
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[11:46:00] ANDERSON: Quarter to 9:00 in the UAE. You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World. Welcome back.
It is a laid back city with a mix of sun, sea, and sand in Barcelona. The local government working hard to establish their city as a leading
European smartcity as well. Today, the Catalan metropolis is embracing the power of technology to save precious natural resources. How? Well, Max
Foster reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Barcelona, the Catalonian capital is steeped in tradition, but it's quickly becoming one
of Europe's leading smart cities.
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ANDERSON: Well, we seem to have a bit of a technical glitch there, apologies for that.
I'll tell you what we'll do. We'll take a very short break. See if we can sort ourselves out and back after this.
Coming up after that break, how does this car look? Well, it's the first ever super car to come out of one Arab nation. But find out why it's
drawing some pretty heavy criticism.
And one Indian company is having to change the name of its new vehicle because an unfortunate coincidence. A report from New Delhi also up next.
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ANDERSON: 48 minutes past the hour. A few minutes to go with us. Welcome back. This is Connect the World. And you're watching CNN, of
course.
And to one of our top stories, as fear grows over the spread of the Zika virus, its effects are being felt as far as India, but not because of
the reasons that you might think.
Our Sumnima Udas has the details from the Delhi motor show.
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SUMNIMA UDAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Nope, they are not excited about the mosquito-born disease that the WHO is calling a global
health emergency, this is part of a multimillion dollar campaign introducing the Kata motor's newest hatchback, yes, it's called the Zica.
It's short for Zippy Car -- so Z for Zippy, and Car for car. Get it?
Quick and speedy, strikingly fresh, the Zica was being promoted as the hatchback of the future
with none less than Lionel Messi as its brand ambassador. It's the first time the football star is promoting a car.
They were supposed to start taking orders for the Zica today, but all of that is now on hold as India's biggest automaker tries to figure out a
new name.
You're not planning on selling this car outside of India? The virus has not come to India, so why change the name?
GIRIAH WAGH, VICE PRESIDENT, TALA MOTORS: I think with the connected word. While the virus may not have come until now, the name and its
negative connotation is already there, it's there in the media, it is in the minds of the customer. And we wanted to avoid any kind of negative
connotation before we launched the product.
UDAS: Do you think it would have had an effect on sales here?
WAGH: It's very difficult to predict, but if it would have happened, then we would have thought it would have better to change the name.
So, I think we decided to take the plunge.
UDAS: India is, after all, prone to mosquito-born diseases.
Wow, it's quite spacious inside.
Kata Motors says this car is for the urban Indian youth. So, it's got a brand new entertainment system, lots of storage space inside for your
iPads and iPhones.
We'll have to wait a few weeks to find out what the Zica will be called hereafter. The virus itself may be thousands of miles from here,
but you could say India is already feeling the impact.
Sumnima Udas, CNN, New Dehli.
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ANDERSON: Well, it is probably a lot simpler to change the name of a car than it is to change the way it looks. Check out what some are calling
the ugliest car ever made.
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JON JENSEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They are fast, they are furious, and usually imported from Europe.
But soon the Gulf may have a super car of its own. Meet the Elibriea, recently unveiled in Qatar.
It was desgined and built in Doha, the brainchild of Abdul Wahab Ziaullah, a Texas A&M engineering graduate.
How does it feel to have, you know, your own sports car at 27?
ABDUL WAHAB ZIAULLAH, ELIBRIEA CREATOR: Well, it feels awesome to have accomplished such cumbersome and such a lovely task.
JENSEN: The concept took two and a half years to build and lots of money, though Ziaullah won't say how much.
He got funding from Qatar's national research fund and a local business eager to see it hit the market.
"This idea won't stop here at the prototype stage," he says. "It has big potential to grow."
The car has a V8, 525 horse power engine. "It is a very nice and modern concept," he says. "It's a good development and accomplishment for
the country."
Not everyone, though, likes the jet like design. Some on social media even calling it hideous and the world's ugliest car.
But at least the Elibriea would be in good company. One popular auto review site Edmunds calling this, a high powered Lamborghini the ugliest
car of all time.
Ziaullah says he's taking it all in stride.
ZIAULLAH: The fact that there are a large pool of people who love the design is far more enough for me to pursue it on the further development
stage.
JENSEN: He's hoping his fast car will sell big, and roll off local lots later this year.
Jon Jensen, CNN, Abu Dhabi.
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ANDERSON: What do you think? Do you love it or do you hate it? Let us know your thoughts. You can use our Facebook page and comment there on
that piece and on anything else that you've seen on the show. Find it as Facebook.com/CNNconnect. You know how to do that.
Get in touch, tweet me @BeckyCNN, of course. @BeckyCNN.
Well, tonight's parting shots, a freshman at Drake University in Iowa is winning the internet right now after his performance during Hillary
Clinton's speech Monday in Des Moines. He's earned the nickname sticker boy, among other things.
Here's Jeanne Moos.
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JEANN MOOS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I'm sure Hillary Clinton wanted the audience to chew over her speech.
CLINTON: And we have to be united.
MOOS: But maybe not quite so literally.
What are the different nicknames you've had?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've gotten sticker boy, sticker man, idiot, that's a popular one.
MOOS: 18-year-old Peter Clinksdale's (ph) masticated throughout Hillary's speech.
The Drake University freshman bopped his neck. What look the like a sneeze into his arm was actually a dance move called The Dap (ph).
CLINTON: To have a real contest of ideas.
MOOS: The only idea Peter had was to mess around after he and a friend managed to seat
themselves right behind the candidate.
[11:55:04] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I noticed that there were a lot of cameras pointed at me and
I just started goofing around.
MOOS: And viewers couldn't look away.
Can we all just agree that #stickerkid is the one to bring our nation together?
CLINTON: We have to be united.
MOOS: Peter's not a Hillary fan, though he once posed with Bernie Sanders, he's not passionate about any candidate, and instead of bothering
to caucus, he came here to fool around.
Making fish faces behind Hillary Clinton on national TV I bet he faced a wrath of his parents
when he got home around 1:00 in the morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My dad was on the computer just laughing at everything that was
happening. He's like you're so stupid.
MOOS: And when the speech ended, Peter danced.
Mashable tweeted the MVP of Hillary's speech is clearly dancing sticker guy who joked about selling his leftover Hillary stickers for
college tuition.
The dance gesture he made is the move of the moment. Even Hillary has attempted it.
Behind her back Hillary hasn't been had. She's been dapped.
Jeanne Moos, CNN, New York.
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ANDERSON: A programming reminder for you before voters in New Hampshire cast their ballots. Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders will take
part in a presidential town hall there. They will face the people, answer their questions directly and make their crucial closing arguments.
Will they make them laugh? Who knows. That's Thursday, 12:00 p.m. London, 4:00 p.m. Abu Dhabi time.
You can work out the times locally for you I'm sure wherever you are watching in the world, only on CNN.
Well, before we go this evening, let's just recap our top story and developments in the war in
Syria.
The government backed by Russian air support gaining ground we're told north of Aleppo. And this latest fight sputtering the peace effort ongoing
in Geneva on the line. The opposition delegation at the talks has condemned what it calls Russia's indiscriminate aerial bombardment of
civilian areas.
Our top story this hour.
CNN, of course, continues after this very short break.
END
