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FBI Unlocks iPhone Without Apple; Man Hijacks Egyptian Air Flight; Donald Trump's Foreign Policy Rattles Experts; European Police Hunt For Brussels Terror Cell; U.S. Orders Military Families Out Of Southern Turkey; Trump Campaign Chief Charged With Simple Battery; Sweeping Raids In Pakistan After Easter Bombing; Obama To Discuss Heroin And Prescription Drug. Aired 11a-12:30p ET
Aired March 29, 2016 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:13] BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: Fear on the tarmac, but in the end a peaceful end to a scary hijacking. We'll hear from one person who was on
that Egypt Air plane and get the latest on the hijacker's possible motive.
Also ahead this hour...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: The scars of where the bomb was detonated. We believe one unidentified suicide bomber carried out this
attack right next to a children's ride -- unimaginable and horrifying.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Terror near a playground. I'll speak to Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesman to find out how his country is fighting back after
Sunday's bloody attack.
And thanks but no thanks. The FBI manages to unlock a terrorist's iPhone without the help of Apple. The details coming up this hour.
You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson, live from Abu Dhabi.
It's just after 7:00 p.m. locally. We begin with breaking news from Cyprus. And the peaceful end to the hijacking of Egypt Air flight 181.
An Egyptian government spokesman says the hijacker is now in police custody and the explosives belt he said he was wearing turns out to be fake.
Well, we know that all of the passengers and the crew are safe. Their nightmare began soon after they boarded a flight that was supposed to take
them from Alexandria to the Egyptian capital. But the hijacker forced the plane to divert to Cyprus.
Well, CNN's Ian Lee has been on the story all day and joins me now live from Cairo with the latest details on what is this developing story -- Ian.
IAN LEE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Becky, we're learning about what was taking place in those negotiations. We're learning that this person, Seif
Mustafa, has been described as quite erratic, disturbed, that during the course of negotiations he would change his mind a lot. He wanted to talk
to his ex-wife. They were able to bring in his ex-wife to talk to him. Then he talked about potentially releasing prisoners here in Egypt. A very
disturbed person, which is being characterized here.
The bomb this hijacker claimed to have, officials are now saying was, in fact, a fake, that he did not have a bomb. But this flight, initially 6:30
this morning local time here in Egypt was going from Alexandria to Cairo, a short domestic hop, about 45 minutes. People started to realize things
were going wrong when it was flying over the Mediterranean.
We're learning that the hijacker initially asked to go somewhere in Europe, but the flight was diverted to Larnaca in Cyprus because the plane didn't
have enough fuel.
Negotiators over the course of hours tried to whittle down the number of hostages that he had. So the very end where it was seven hostages, you had
three foreigners and four crew members. And then in the final moments of this hostage situation, you do see some of the people leaving. And then
you see one person going out the window of the aircraft making the escape.
Then security forces moved in. He surrendered. And they were able to take him away.
Everyone is, though, very happy that this ended peacefully. when you hear of a hijacking in the air, this sort of situation isn't the typical
outcome. So people are happy that everyone is safe, including the roughly 70 passengers.
ANDERSON: Yeah, all right, Ian. Thank you for that.
That is the very latest. Farrah El Dibany was a passenger on that plane. And she joins us now from the airport in Cyprus to talk about what was, I'm
sure, a terrifying ordeal. Just describe, if you will, what happened.
Can you hear me?
FARRAH EL DIBANY, EGYPTIAN FLIGHT 181 PASSENGER: Yes. Hi, Becky, hi. I can hear you.
ANDERSON: Hi. Describe, if you will, what happened?
DIBANY: Well, we took off from Alexandria going to Cairo. And this flight actually is only 45 minutes flight. So, after an hour, I was just
wondering why we were late and haven't landed yet. And then I noticed that I could see the Mediterranean Sea beneath me, so it was a bit weird. Maybe
after half an hour, they -- someone from the cabin crew asked us to give us the passports. He was collecting all passports and all IDs of all
passengers, but he didn't say anything. He just said there was a problem, we cannot say anything more.
So, it didn't seem that it was something serious, actually.
Then, maybe 45 minutes later one of the cabin crew told us that actually we have been hijacked. But that was it. She didn't even say if he was armed
or not, or who the guy is, or nothing. And we didn't even see him or didn't have direct contact with him.
Yeah -- then we were flying above the Mediterranean Sea for about an hour and a half, hijacked, not knowing where we're landing. What he wants to
do. What his intentions are.
Then, he finally decided that we should land in Cyprus. He told the cabin crew this. So, we landed, but then we didn't know that we will leave the
plane as well.
So, we were on the plane waiting for his decision to -- and then he decided that all women can leave, but then again we didn't leave, because it was a
big chaos and he was afraid. He said one by one.
Then half an hour later, he decided that all Egyptians can leave, foreigners should stay.
Yeah, and then they gave us all the passports back and we just left safe and sound from the plane -- on the bus and then to the airport.
ANDERSON: Well, that is -- that's terrific that this was -- that's terrific that you are off and safe. There were no injuries.
Let me just go through a couple of things that you described. You said that the crew just said -- a member of the crew just said that we've been
hijacked, and also took your passports and IDs. Why do you think that was? Have you got any sense of why that was?
DIBANY: Actually, nobody has an idea why they collected passports. It was not -- nobody even imagined that this could happen. Because the security
checks at the airport were very strict. They were really good this time, I mean. For a domestic flight it was very good. It was enormous security
check. So, nobody would ever imagine this could happen.
But then when they told us it was hijacked, a lot of people panicked. But thank god they were calmed down by the cabin crew and it was not a big
chaos as one would expect.
ANDERSON: Fascinating.
Sorry, you say that people were -- it was a bit chaotic to begin with, but then things calmed down a bit
How do you -- how would you describe how the crew coped?
DIBANY: Wel, I think the crew was very professional. They were very calm. They didn't give more information than they should. Actually, they didn't
say anything the guy, where he was sitting or what he was demanding, even. they just said that they were negotiating with him. and I think they were
all very strong. They didn't even show any kind of distress on their faces. They were very calming, they're trying to calm us down. And it was
kind of calm, I must say, until we landed it was calm. They were having it under control, it was very professionally done.
ANDERSON: And when you landed, how did the authorities cope in getting you off the plane?
When you landed, how would you say authorities coped in getting you off the plane eventually?
DIBANY: Well, actually we were on the plane about an hour. Nobody came to us. There was nothing around the plane.
But then when they we arrived and he actually said we can leave, there were police cars I think escorting the bus. So it was very organized. They
took us on the bus. They escorted us to the airport. And they put us in big gates, I don't know, a hole in the airport. And then they checked us.
There was a very strong security check. They checked our hand luggage.
And then just they provided us with food and drinks and comfort. You know, they just wanted to make us feel safe. Yeah. I must say it was handled --
yeah.
ANDERSON: You said that you actually didn't see -- sorry.
DIBANY: No, I was just saying, I must say that it was handled in a very professional way even in the airport. It was very organized.
ANDERSON: Fantastic.
You said that you weren't able to see the hijacker, because I think you said he was behind you. Was it ever clear what his motivation was? What
his motive was? What he was appealing for during the actual flight?
DIBANY: Actually no. It was never clear. And they never announced anything. So, we just hear some rumors from passengers there. One say he
wants to meet his ex-wife in Cyprus, the others said, I don't know, he wants to release some prisoners. So, it was never clear until now we don't
really know his motives. We have no idea.
And actually I saw him but I was very far, because I was -- yeah.
ANDERSON: Go on. Sorry. Describe what you were going to say.
DIBANY: No, I was just saying that I was sitting in the front of hte plane and he was in the very back. And while he was negotiating, he was behind
the curtain in the back of the plane. So, I couldn't -- I just saw his face, part of his face. I didn't want to go back -- honestly, to see more
of him.
So, yeah.
[11:10:10] ANDERSON: As you reflect on what has been an incredibly scary day for you, just give me your thoughts.
DIBANY: No, it was horrifying to be faced with death kind of -- for an hour and a half, not knowing when it will happen or how. It was
terrifying. Sort of good experience. I mean, everyone was shivering still after they left the plane for a couple of hours. People were -- they were
totally stressed out, even many hours after when we were all safe. It was very hard.
Although, he didn't have contact with us, so nothing happened on the plane. We just knew that we had been hijacked.
But, yeah, it was very horrifying.
ANDERSON: We really appreciate you taking the time to speak to us tonight. And we're just very pleased that you're safe as are all the other
passengers and crew and that there is a happy ending at the back end of all this. Thank you very much indeed.
DIBANY: At the end. Thank you. Thank you, Becky. Thank you so much.
ANDERSON: Well, let's get you to Pakistan now where funerals have been held for victims of Sunday's bombing in Lahore. The attack ripped through
a busy park killing 72 people, many of them were children.
A splinter group of the Pakistani Taliban is claiming responsibility saying it was targeting Christians on Easter Sunday.
But authorities tell CNN most of the victims were in fact Muslim.
Well, Pakistani authorities detained more than 5,000 people in raids since the attack, all but about 200 were questioned and released.
CNN's Saima Mohsin has more from the scene of the carnage in Lahore.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The park remains closed, this area remains a crime scene and police teams have been arriving as we've been here to
carry out more analysis, detectives meeting with local police.
I want to take you in to show you exactly where this attack took place inside a child's playground; families had come here because this is an
amusement park. If we take you in closer, you can see the dark black soot, the scars of where the bomb was detonated.
We believe one unidentified suicide bomber carried out this attack, right next to a children's ride, unimaginable and horrifying. While police still
work this crime scene, the military and paramilitary forces have been conducting raids in Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan. They say they've
arrested a number of suspected terrorists and found caches of arms and ammunition.
Now a Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, Taliban splinter group, has claimed responsibility for this attack, saying they were targeting the Christian community on
Easter Sunday. But the simple fact is families from all over the city come to this park. The majority of those killed and injured are, in fact,
Muslim.
And that is what people really want to point out, that they are targeting Pakistanis and terrorism has no religion.
Almost 400 people were injured. Only 90 of them have been released from hospitals so far, 300 still being treated. And those people that have
managed to get into the park have made this makeshift memorial for those killed and injured in this.
This says, "May those killed in this attack rest in peace."
Flowers have been left, candles lit. And this over here, The Lord's Prayer in Urdu and then "Lord, make me a means of your peace."
Saima Mohsin, CNN, Lahore, Pakistan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, ahead I'll be joined by the spokesman for the Pakistani foreign minister
to ask him what is being done to stop more attacks from happening. Do stay with us through the hour
for that.
Well, to Brussels now where the search for suspects there goes on. A week after terrorists attacked the airport and a metro station.
Now, the bombings, as you well know, killed 35 people and wounded more than 300. Police have been conducting raids on a daily basis. They are looking
for this man, the so-called man in white, the third suspected airport bomber.
Authorities are searching for at least eight people throughout Europe.
The explosions caused significant damage at the airport, which remains closed to passenger flights. Tuesday airport staffers began testing a
temporary setup for security screenings and luggage check in, but an airport statement says it's too soon to say when it will reopen.
Well, two of the suicide bombers were brothers. CNN's Nick Paton Walsh takes us inside their
apartment where they made the bombs.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:15:12] NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the apartment at the heart of the Brussels attacks where the Bakraoui
brothers, Ibrahim and Khalid, lived and made the bombs that tore through the metro and airport.
This video shot Monday shows how police left it. But a source with knowledge of the brothers' lives there has revealed to CNN a remarkable
incident just 10 days ahead of the blasts.
He explained to CNN that, as this exclusive video shows, police have sealed off both the top floor where the brothers lived and the one below it.
Why?
Because the brothers spilled so many chemicals 10 days before the blasts when preparing their bombs it leaked through the top floor into the
apartment below.
The fact that chemicals could have leaked between entire floors in that building betrays really how careless the brothers must have been with the
liquids they used to build those bombs but also how many signs there were to the outside world that something was amiss.
One man who regularly met the brothers there and doesn't want to be identified for his own safety told CNN they were kind men and only had two
beds and a refrigerator in the apartment.
"Each time they went up with things in their hands, suitcases, things like that," he says.
"When you saw their face, you'd have no idea they were terrorists because they were good people. I just saw one visitor just one time."
The man he recognized is airport bomber and ISIS bombmaker Najim Laachraoui. His expertise would have been vital to the brothers in
preparing the bombs.
He also explained that the brothers kept their working clothes and overalls in the basement of the building, another mysterious window onto what the
brothers did there with such impunity for so long.
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Brussels
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Well, still to come tonight, I'm going to get you back to the hijacking story that
ended peacefully in Cyprus some hours ago. CNN aviation analyst Peter Goelz is my guest on that.
First up, though, U.S. Republican presidential candidates will soon face voters in the first town hall since the war over wives erupted between
Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. We'll preview tonight's CNN event just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're with CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me Becky Anderson. Welcome back.
I'm going to get you to the race for the White House at this point in the show. The stage set for tonight CNN town hall just hours from now,
Republican presidential hopefuls will face voters in the next critical battleground of Wisconsin. Now, you won't see any fireworks between the
candidates as they will be taking to the stage separately, but that doesn't mean things won't get heated.
For days now, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have taken a detour from policy concerns to clash bitterly over their wives.
John Kasich, meantime, is looking to stand out by staying above the fray.
Well, Trump in particular may be asked to explain some recent controversial statements on foreign policy. As one CNN analyst put it, he's been
rattling the windows of foreign ministries all over the world.
My colleague Paula Hancocks tells us how two U.S. in Asia are reacting to some of his remarks.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONENT: U.S. military drills are the largest ever. But if this man becomes U.S. president, could they be
the last ever?
Presidential candidate Donald Trump told New York Times he may pull U.S. forces out of Japan and South Korea if they don't pay more for protection.
And he may support them having nuclear weapons to counter North Korea.
A former U.S. ambassador to South Korea was blunt.
CHRISTOPHER HILL, FRM. U.S. AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH KOREA: With due respect to Mr. Trump and his real estate purchases, he has no idea what he is talking
about.
HANCOCKS: Japan, the only country to have nuclear weapon used against it has had nonnuclear and pacifist constitution since the end of World War II.
Japan's foreign minister saying it is impossible that Japan will arm itself will nuclear weapons.
South Korea focused on Trump's insistence they're not paying their share for the 70 year old alliance, comments the Republican front runner made
talking to CNN earlier this year.
TRUMP: South Korea is a money machine. They pay us peanuts. We're defending them. And I have many friends from South Korea. They buy my
apartments. I do business with them. But South Korea should pay us and pay us very substantially for protecting him.
HANCOCKS: The foreign ministry in Seoul saying the U.S. public, including its government and congress, appreciate South Korea's role and
contribution.
Some journalists have slammed Trump's comments. One editorial in the popular (inaudible) in Seoul calling them shocking, saying they could
affect the relationship.
But this man, a well respected academic, actually thinks Trump may have a point.
"South Korea possesses enough nuclear material to make 4,000 nuclear weapons," he says. "All we need is our president's approval. If we have
nuclear weapons, we'll be in a much better position to deal with North Korea."
But that's not a view shared by many. Most officials feel that their best bet at security and the deterrence against North Korea is 28,500 U.S.
troops in South Korea, 54,000 U.S. troops in Japan and the significant military hardware that comes with them.
Paula Hancocks, CNN, Seoul.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Let me get you back to Wisconsin then where the town hall is tonight.
Phil Mattingly is live in Milwaukee.
And Phil, I want to get to foreign policy and some of the Trump rhetoric in a moment but this
just in to CNN. Donald Trump standing by his campaign manager after Lewandowski was charged with misdemeanor battery after allegations he
grabbed a reporter at a news conference.
In a statement he said that Lewandowski is, quote, "absolutely innocent of this charge. And that he will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward
to his day in court." He is completely confident he will be exonerated.
Your thoughts. What do we know? What's the latest?
PHIL MATTINGLY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we had an inkling that this was coming, obviously. This all stems from Corey Lewandowski, who is Donald
Trump's campaign manager was alleged to have grabbed a reporter after a Donald Trump event and thrown her down.
Now, Corey has -- Corey Lewandowski, the campaign manager denied that he did it. On
Twitter he said that he had nothing to do with it whatsoever. The reporter, who name is Michelle Fields, tweeted out photos of her arm and
bruises there. There are a couple of witnesses there and even some video as well. She filed charges -- or she requested charges from the police.
Those charges have come in today.
Now, as you noted the Trump campaign putting out a statement saying that Corey is completely
innocent and will be fighting this charge and also pleading not guilty.
But, look, this is an issue that we knew was a possibility but it doesn't change the fact that it riles the race. There has been a lot of issues
that have surrounded Corey Lewandowski throughout this campaign. He got physical with a protester a couple of few weeks ago as well. And this is
just another one to tack on there, Becky.
ANDERSON: All right, Phil, we'll see how that story develops.
Listen, let's do some foreign policy and Trump's rhetoric. Questioning the modern relevance of
U.S. alliances that have underpinned security in Asia as Paula was reporting and in Europe since World War II. As one commentator put it, his
rhetoric rattling the windows of foreign ministries all the over the world.
Does he really mean what he says about boycotting Saudi Arabian oil if the kingdom doesn't
send ground troops to fight ISIS, for example, that NATO is an anachronism. Does he mean all of this?
MATTINGLY: I think the most unsettling thing -- and it's not just foreign minister that are worried about this, it's U.S. foreign policy hands as
well
The most unsettling thing about this is people don't know. People -- really what we saw in that New York Times interview, the 100 minute sitdown
where he laid out for the first time his in-depth thoughts about things, was that was the first time anybody had actually
really heard him try and go in-depth. And I think there's a lot of concern, obviously internationally, but even back at home from both parties
that he doesn't have a lot of depth on these issues, that he's just shooting from the hip, and that that's the same thing he would do in the
Oval Office.
What's going to be most interesting both in the town hall we're going to have here in Milwaukee tonight and also going forward is how he kind of
fleshes out what he's been saying. We just started to get a hint into some depth here, how he tries to kind of back up what he's been saying and
trying to turn it not into just a couple of ideas that may be rattle a few cages or
unsettle folks but really kind of an in-depth thought process on what he would be bringing into the Oval Office.
[11:26:21] ANDERSON: And I'm sure that my colleague and yours, Anderson Cooper will
be pressing him hard on some of these issues.
Phil, I want to show our viewers what Trump tweeted out about devastation suicide bombing in Pakistan a few days ago.
And I quote, "another radical Islamic attack, this time in Pakistan targeting Christian women and children. At least 67 dead he said at the
time, 400 injured. I alone can solve."
That remark drew some scathing responses. Some critics say it shows just how unrealistic he is while others accuse him of trying to capitalize on
the tragedy.
He said over the weekend he's a counter-puncher and pointed to his campaign trail exploits against people like Jeb Bush.
What do you think he means by that? I'm sure he's going to bring that up tonight. I'd be surprised if he doesn't with Anderson.
MATTINGLY: Yeah, what his point is on the counter-punching side of things is he's going to leave you alone unless you go after him. And there's been
some indication that that would also be how he deals with foreign policy.
I think the most interesting part of that tweet that you note and what he said about the bombing
in Pakistan is this is Donald Trump's campaign message in a nutshell. I can solve. This is something that again, traditional foreign policy hands
look at it and just shake their head in disbelief. But this is a message that resonated with a certain segment of American voters, a certain segment
of the Republican electorate and it is a message that hasn't failed him yet.
And so while people internationally might look at it and say what on Earth could he possibly be talking about, how could he possibly mean that, it is
a message that is working and it is a message that he repeats over and over and over again whether he's talking about trade, immigration, or foreign
policy or counter-terrorism. And that's why you've seen it and that's why it's not going anywhere any time soon.
ANDERSON: Phil, appreciate it. Thank you very much indeed. I just want to recap what the
news at the top of our conversation was and something that CNN is on and we'll get more on.
But as things stand at present, Donald Trump standing by his campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. This is just ahead of the latest town hall,
which will be hosted by CNN where he will appear tonight. After he was charged -- the campaign manager was charged with misdemeanor battery after
allegations he grabbed a reporter at a news conference.
Trump has said in a statement that Lewandowski is, and I quote, absolutely innocent of this
charge and that he will enter a plea of not guilty, and looks forward to his day in court.
Trump says he is completely confident that Lewandowski will be exonerated.
Taking a very short break for you. Well, the headlines after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(HEADLINES)
[11:32:57] ANDERSON: Well, authorities conducting raids detaining over 5,000 suspected
militants over the last 48 hours. The vast majority have now been released, but 216 people still under
investigation.
For more on the situation in Pakistan, I'm joined now by Mohammed Nafees Zakaria. He is the spokesman for Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs,
and he joins me now by phone.
Can you bring us up to date firstly on the investigation. What have you learned from those
you have detained?
MOHAMMED NAFEES ZAKARIA, SPOKESMAN, PAKISTAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Good evening.
In fact, the investigation is too premature and early to come up with anything right now. I think the investigation going on and the government
of Punjab, the intelligence agencies and (inaudible) they're at work.
I don't have much to share at this point in time except that this dastardly attack of terrorism -- the attacks in Lahore last Sunday has been condemned
all across Pakistan and also by the international community, in light of...
ANDERSON: What are you doing -- what are you doing as a government to reassure people that this sort of attack can't or won't happen again in the
future?
ZAKARIA: Well, you are pretty well aware that the government of Pakistan at the moment is
carrying out the military operation in Pakistan to eradicate the menace of terrorism. We are certain we are the biggest victim of terrorism having
lost more than 60,000 people, and this after the sad incidetn of the army public school more than 132 children were, you know, killed in the attack.
There was a national consensus all across Pakistan, the entire nation stands behind the government and the institutions to make sure that the
terrorists are taken to task.
The national action plan was actually charted out. It was actually a comprehensive plan, which has a consensus of all the political parties in
Pakistan. And the entire nation is behind that. And part of that was the (inaudible) military operation which is in its final phase.
This operation is going on very successfully, which is indicated, which is manifested by the fact that the terrorist incidents and the killing and the
rate has gone down. And the -- you know, the terrorists they are on the run. They're in the hideouts.
So what you saw in Lahore was one of the acts which these terror elements were on the run have carried out randomly.
So we have taken all measures.
But let me be -- you must have (inaudible) news reports also that -- the high political level, there have been a meeting with the -- and the chief
of army staff also conducted.
ANDERSON: Sir -- sir -- unfortunately this same group has vowed more attacks. You've been alluding to military operations in the past, not
least that of 2014, where dozens were rounded up, arrested, and killed. And yet you have once again a soft target in the middle of Lahore.
Whatever the military is doing in its raids, how do you prevent a soft target like that of a park being attacked again in the future?
ZAKARIA: Well, I think we all have to understand that this terrorism is a common challenge.
You have seen what happened in Brussels, you have seen what happened in Paris. You have seen a number of other areas in (inaudible) where these
soft targets they are are always available to these terrorists, and so is the case in Pakistan.
We have to taken all measures, whatever areas, or whatever the places where the operation has to be carried out, this is on. And the terror community
(inaudible). So they targeting these soft targets. We have seen, we have already...
ANDERSON: Okay.
All right, with that will -- with that, sir, the telephone line is not very good, but we do very much appreciate you joining us tonight and explaining
what the government is doing in an effort to further secure Pakistan after what was an horrific attack at the weekend. Thank you, sir, for joining
us.
Back to our top story tonight, the hijacking of the EgyptAir flight 181 earlier on today.
Well, we now know the hijacker was not wearing explosives as he claimed. Egyptian authorities will likely be reviewing security procedures in the
wake of this incident.
I'm joined now from Washington, by CNN aviation analyst Peter Goelz.
Peter, passenger who we just interviewed spoke of the ordeal and described two things, which I thought were important. Firstly, she said she was very
surprised by what was happening, clearly terrified, because the security at the airport in Alexandria had been particularly tight. She also talked of
the professionalism with which the crew and the authorities dealt with what was this terrifying incident.
How to you read everything that unfolded today?
PETER GOELZ, CNN AVIATION ANALYST: Well, we've seen tapes of the hijacker passing through security. And it appeared as though the checkpoint
functioned as it should.
I mean, he was patted down. His coat was pulled back, They checked down through his body. So, it appears as though the checking of this passenger,
of this hijacker at the checkpoint was done correctly.
But it presents an enormous challenge when you have a person claiming to have explosive devices asking to be taken to another airport and who does
not appear to be bent on his own death.
How do you respond to that? I think the authorities did do a good job. I mean, I think they responded correctly.
The crew landed the plane. They did not allow it to take off again. There apparently was a security person on board. The passengers, the bulk of
them got off in advance. So I think it was done correctly.
[11:40:15] ANDERSON: Clearly, airport security, a very tough issue at present given the current climate. You're suggesting that as we have seen
through the CCTV footage or the footage that we saw from the airport that everybody -- everybody was patted down, as it were, according to form.
I guess the next question is, if somebody wants to get through, quite frankly will they these days?
GOELZ: Yeah, unfortunately here in the United States and overseas, the tests that they run on getting illegal items or banned items through the
checkpoints have been enormously successful. And that's why you have to have a layered approach to security. That's why the cockpit door inside
the cabin should never be opened once it's closed.
So I mean, it's clear that the checkpoints are still an area of vulnerability but there are other layers that include intelligence that
have prevented a repeat of 9/11.
But you still have failures as we saw in the MetroJet where a bomb was placed on board.
ANDERSON: You're describing, then, this as pretty much textbook stuff when it comes to the way that the crew -- the pilot clearly and the authorities
dealt with what was clearly a distressing and terrifying incident, correct?
GOELZ: Yeah. Well, that will be confirmed in the after action analysis.
You know, this event will be analyzed by the authorities worldwide to see how it was carried out, how he got through, what were the responses of the
flight crew. I mean, how did the flight attendants respond. I mean, they are the first line of defense. How did the pilots respond. And it will be
analyzed and recommendations will come out of this.
ANDERSON: And with that, we're going to leave it there. Peter, thank you for joining us.
GOELZ: My pleasure, Becky.
ANDERSON: Your analysis on what was a developing story all day today. Thank you, Peter.
Well, this day would end with a major development in the political crisis engulfing Brazil. The president's governing coalition is said to be on the
brink of collapse. We'll have a live report on what that could mean for the lady on the left, the president, and hercountry.
And we're off to Kagale for African Startup tonight where for one bakery, business is booming. That is next. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
I'm Becky Anderson. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:45:13] AMIR DAFTARI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Jean Philippe Kavobotsi named his bakery after his favorite bread, brioche.
JEAN PHILIPPE KAVOBOTSI, OWNER, BRIOCHE: Brioche is a boutique coffee shop, bakery and pastry house. So we do pastry (inaudible).
DAFTARI: What started as a small, self-funded bakery has become a well- known Kagale brand gaining support from many investors.
KAVOBOTSI: We opened the first shop in May 2013. We said that the market was responding very well. After a year, we expanded to two additional
locations.
We're coming to the central production facility, that's where we produce everything.
DAFTARI: It all starts here.
KAVOBOTSI: In the region we've seen that this model is still unique. It's the first one having the centralized production facility.
DAFTARI: Jean Philippe's main concern is maintaining the quality of his products in all of his locations.
KAVOBOTSI: The baking and preparation of the product is happening there and then they are cooked for those that need to be cooked, and then they
are packed and distributed.
DAFTARI: Once packed up and ready to go, a temperature controlled van delivers the food items to the brioche locations. It's a routine done
every day.
KAVOBOTSI: Brioche is an African company with its roots in Africa and run with African staff. But it's bringing more European concept.
DAFTARI: It's also unique for a Rwandan company to expand beyond its borders. Brioche just opened in Nairobi.
The plan is to continue making everything at the central kitchen and deliver products by
road to Nairobi every week.
KAVOBOTSI: It's still the same, a bit crazy today. But we want to have the right level of ambitions. And we want to take risks because it makes
the journey exciting and interesting.
DAFTARI: But even with all its success and growth since 2013, Brioche has yet to make a profit.
KAVOBOTSI: We still (inaudible) demand for specialty pastries and bakeries is not so high. It exists even among the Rwandan depression, we still saw
the demand growing for better quality and better products.
DAFTARI: Amir Daftari, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: All right.
Updating you now on breaking news. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson.
The breaking news about the charges filed against Donald Trump's presidential campaign manager.
Now, police in the U.S. state of Florida say that Corey Lewandowski turned himself in this morning to face misdemeanor assault charges. Now, he is
accused of simple battery against a reporter at a Trump event back in March. Lewandowski is accused of grabbing and bruising her arm.
Trump has issued a statement in defense of his campaign manager and it says mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge, he will enter a plea
of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court. He is completely confident that he will be exonerated.
More on that as we get it.
I want to shift to South America now and the escalating political crisis surrounding President Dilma Rousseff.
Her governing coalition could collapse within hours creating a situation that could push her a
step closer towards impeachment.
This is according to leaders of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party who they say their members will vote Tuesday to abandon their partnership with
Mrs. Rousseff's party as she fights a major corruption scandal.
Well, CNN's Paula Newton joins us now from Rio de Janeiro. If that were to happen, no doubt that would be very bad news for a country that is already
economically in a mess, Paula.
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, a mess is an understatement.
We remind everyone the climate of everything that's going on here, suffering one of its worst
recessions. It's supposed to welcome the world in a matter of months and what is going on. Dilma Rousseff, the president of this country, could
just be weeks away from impeachment.
Now, as you were just explaining, Becky, Brazil's largest political party may vote in a matter of hours to pull out of coalition that they built with
Workers Party, Rousseff's party. And that means Dilma Rousseff will be completely exposed when an impeachment vote comes up in the next few weeks.
You know, Becky, you and I both know that Dilma Rousseff is a tough lady. She's a former political prisoner. She says she will not resign despite
many calls for her to step down. And she says she will continue to fight this kind of impeachment.
In the middle of all this, if this wasn't enough, Becky, remember that this all going on while the larajato (ph) is going on, that is car wash
operation, the absolute cleansing. Judges here claim that they are going through to try and rid this country of corruption, it's already implicated
more than half the nation's politicians and it continues to be a scandal, Becky, that just is riveting for the population here, but many of them say
enough is enough, we cannot believe that the politicians have gotten away wtih this for so long. And they're saying the impeachment, many of Dilma
Rousseff as perhaps a start of things to come in this country for a real change.
We really have to emphasize though that Dilma Rousseff is in no way shape or form associated with that corruption scandal -- Becky.
[11:50:36] ANDERSON: Well, we've talked about the economic mess that is Brazil at present. And that the corruption claims certainly painting a
troubling picture about those sort of within the leadership as it were. Is there any veracity, though, Paula in the claim by some that this crisis has
been whipped up by media owned by a handful of powerful families, and that the protesters who have been demonstrating in their hundreds of thousands
on the street are not necessarily representative of the cross-section of Brazilian public nor are they Worker's Party supporters by any stretch, are
they?
NEWTON: I think that the problem here and what you're pointing out is the polarization in society, and that's incredibly dangerous.
Now, both Dilma Rousseff and her predecessor, Lula, you know, a very popular -- once a very popular president, are painting this as the elite,
the elite trying to rob them of power in this country because they despise and really were against what they tried to do for the poor in this country.
And yet there are glimmers here, Becky, that this -- and you see it in the opinion polls. And at times now you're seeing it in the streets that is
starting to become much more.
Why? Because it seems to touch every party, every politician in terms of what they knew, when they knew it about this kind of corruption that's been
going on.
What is clear is that many, many Brazilians at this point do want a change. But what they are setting up for is a colossal battle. As I just
explained, Dilma Rousseff says she's not going anywhere. And that sets up a protracted fight, really, that could continue to paralyze this country
both politically and economically.
ANDERSON: Paula Newton is in Brazil on the story for you this evening. Paula, always a pleasure. Thank you very much for indeed for joining us.
Live from Abu Dhabi, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Becky Anderson.
Coming up, Apple didn't want to help the FBI break into a terrorist's iPhone. Well, now the FBI has done it on its own. What that could mean
for your phone's security up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. Welcome back.
Now, if you have an iPhone like millions of us do, including myself, full of personal information, it is possible the U.S. government may know how to
break into it, even if you keep it securely locked with a passcode.
Well, the U.S. Justice Department says that the FBI managed to unlock the iPhone of one of the shooters in the San Bernardino California terrorist
attack and they did it without any help from Apple.
Well, the department is now dropping its legal case against the tech giant. It had been urging a court to compel Apple to modify software to let law
enforcement gain access, something that Apple has refused to do, saying it would compromise security of all of us iPhone users. But it is unclear
whether Apple or, indeed, any of us will be told how that iPhone was cracked.
Let's speak to CNN Money's technology correspondent, then, Laurie Segall who is with us live
out of New York for you this evening.
On the one hand Apple has avoided being able to do something it thought was dangerous, on the other it seems like there may be a massive security hole
in its software that millions of us use. Is that what's happening here?
LAURIE SEGALL, CNN MONEY: Yeah, that's exactly what happening. I mean, what's interesting is, Apple can look at this as a victory saying we didn't
have to build software we didn't have per the government's request. But then you look at the other side and Apple has been kind of touting security
and protecting its users' data this whole time, and now they're saying -- the government has been able to find a way into the iPhone 5c, at least
that version, that model that the San Bernardino shooter had. And we don't know exactly how they were able to do that.
Now, the Department of Justice has said that in the future they will continue to pursue avenues go to court, go to phone manufacturers. So,
this isn't the last time we'll hear this kind of case.
And I think the question is a lot of folks are asking, will the government tell Apple what this exploit is or will they try to use it in the cases
they are sitting on to get the phones?
I want to read you what Apple said in a statement. They said that this case should never
have been brought. They said "we'll continue to help law enforcement with their investigations as we have done all along and we'll continue to
increase the security of our product."
So you know we're certainly almost back to square one with technology moving full speed ahead, encryption moving full speed ahead and you still
have law enforcement trying to play catch up. So, I don't think this the last time we'll hear this, Becky.
ANDERSON: Laurie on the story for you out of New York this evening. Thank you.
And stay tuned. I'll be back for 30 minutes of CONNECT THE WORLD after this short break. Some extra for you tonight as we have more on breaking
news regarding Donald Trump's campaign manager. That and other stories coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: And a very good evening. I'm Becky Anderson with this extended version of CONNECT THE WORLD. Let's get straight to our top story for you
this evening. The hijacking of an Egypt Air jet has ended peacefully. Now there are questions about the hijacker's motives and how he was able to
divert the plane to Cyprus. This video shows the suspect being patted down at the airport security checkpoint in Alexandria in Egypt where the flight
had originated.
[12:00:00] Nothing unusual there. It seems that during the flight to Cairo, the hijacker made a false claim that he was wearing an explosive
belt.
Well, the plane landed in Cyprus after several tense hours and included one person escaping through a cockpit window. The standoff ended with the
hijacker arrested and led away by police while the other 69 passengers and crew on board are all safe. But talking about just how scary this was, Ian
Lee joining me now live from Cairo. And we did hear from one passenger just in the past hour talking about how terrifying it was and also alluding
to the fact that airport security, she said, had been particularly tight in Alexandria and that the crew and authorities, she said, had dealt with this
very professionally. What are you hearing on your end?
LEE: That's right. That's what we've been hearing. Especially the fact that this hijacker didn't have an actual bomb on him, that that -- or what
he claimed to be a bomb was not a bomb. So as far as security goes, the Egyptian airport didn't allow a bomb through there, but they are still
investigating how this person could make these claims, how this all came about. But hearing from Egyptian and Cypriot officials, the investigators,
the negotiators who talked to him, they're describing a man who's quite disturbed. Someone over the course of the negotiations was talking about
his ex-wife and talking about freeing female prisoners here in Egypt, then talking to E.U. officials, someone who had many different demands. And so
when it comes to this sort of situation, they wanted to make sure that it ended peacefully, the passengers toward the end, they were able to leave.
As you described, one person made that dramatic escape out of the cockpit window. Then special forces were able to move in. The police forces were
able to move in and make the arrest, the person then surrendering. But up until that moment, they didn't know if the bomb was real or not. So they
were searching people for explosive devices, taking all sorts of precautions, but right now the hijacker, Sheikh Mustafa, is in custody, and
a lot of questions for Egyptian and Cypriot officials.
ANDERSON: Yes. And just to clarify, for those of you who may just be joining us, his motive still, it seems unclear, correct?
LEE: That's correct. He made a lot of demands over the course of the negotiations but we don't know what his motivations were. Again, they are
describing someone who is, what they're calling, disturbed. So he may not have a real clear motivation. He could just have some other sort of issue.
But that is one thing that they're going to be looking into. As far as this took place, the EgyptAir crew calmed everyone down on this flight.
When they initially notified the passengers that the hijacking had taken place, there was a bit of chaos in the cabin as we heard from one of the
passengers but the EgyptAir crew was able to keep everyone calm, get this plane safely on the ground so authorities could do their job. EgyptAir
crew doing really an outstanding performance to make sure that everything went smoothly there. That's what we're hearing from the passenger. So
right now I think everyone's breathing a sigh of relief that this ended the way it did as hijackings of planes tend to end differently.
ANDERSON: All right. Well, it's a good ending to what was a terrifying ordeal for those involved and reportedly on their way back now to Cairo,
which was their original destination. Ian, thank you for that.
Turning to the investigation into the Brussels terror attacks, a U.S. official tells CNN that Belgian authorities have asked the FBI to help
examine several phones and computers seized during the raids. Now Belgian investigators were unable to access some of the data on the devices.
According to the official, members of the FBI are already in the Belgian capital to help analyze the bombs that were used in the attacks. Belgian
investigators facing increasing criticism that they might have missed warning signs before the attacks happened. Some of those clues were even
apparent to neighbors of the suicide bombers, apparently. Nick Paton Walsh has this report for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[12:04:47] NICK PATON WALSH, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's the apartment at the heart of the Brussels attacks where the Bakraoui
brothers, Ibrahim and Khalid, lived and made the bombs that tore through the metro and airport. This video, shot Monday, shows how police left it.
But a source with knowledge of the brothers' lives there has revealed to CNN the remarkable incident just ten days ahead of the blasts. He
explained to CNN that as this exclusive video shows, police have sealed off both the top floor where the brothers lived and the one below it. Why?
Because the brothers spilled so many chemicals ten days before the blasts when preparing their bombs, it leaked through the top floor into the
apartment below.
The fact that chemicals could have leaked between entire floors in that building betrays really how careless the brothers must have been with the
liquids they used to build those bombs, but also how many signs there were to the outside world that something was amiss.
One man who regularly met the brothers there and doesn't want to be identified for his own safety, told CNN they were kind men and only had two
beds and a refrigerator in the apartment. Each time, they went up with things in their hands, suitcases, things like that, he said. When you saw
their face, you had no idea they were terrorists. They were good people. I just saw one visitor just one time. The man he recognized is airport
bomber and ISIS bomb maker, Najim Laachraoui. His expertise would have been vital to the brothers in preparing the bombs. He also explained that
the brothers kept their working clothes and overalls in the basement of the building. Another mysterious window onto what the brothers did there with
such impunity for so long. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, Brussels.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, to security concerns in Turkey, now. The U.S. is ordering families of military personnel, American military personnel, to leave the
southern part of the country, including Incirlik Air Base. For more, let's turn to CNN's Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. What are your sources telling
you? Is it clear why this order is being made now, today?
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Becky. Well, the security concerns have been rising in Turkey for the U.S. for some time, and sources
are telling us this latest order for military families to leave really is about just that, the rising concern of the potential for an attack by ISIS.
What you have in front of you now is orders for about 687 military dependents of personnel at Incirlik and two other locations in southern
Turkey, to pack up and go, even their pets. The military estimating over 200 pets will be evacuated out of there in the coming days. Incirlik is
always a concern. There is massive security around the base. But you know, it's been a problem for the last several weeks. We now know that
security there has been raised to the highest level for the U.S. military. It's called force protection condition delta. There are very few places
out of direct war zones where that exists. The school on the base where children had been going to school, that had been closed for weeks.
Teachers were sending assignments home to the children. So it really became a question that the place was becoming somewhat really unlivable, if
you will, for military families. The question now will be, when are other non-essential military personnel perhaps going to be ordered out of the
Pentagon, the State Department going to great pains to say they still have complete faith in Turkey, Turkey's a valuable NATO partner, but this is a
pretty extraordinary step in a NATO country. Becky --
ANDERSON: Yes, and I think I'm right in saying that the State Department and Pentagon had been what they would describe as a voluntary drawdown in
the posts, I think, was it last September, after Turkey announced that it would take a greater role in the fight against the Islamic State militants.
Do we know how many left voluntarily at the time and why those who stayed, stayed, as it were?
STARR: Well, to be honest, I don't know how many left voluntarily at the time. You're right, of course. That had been under way for some time,
that allowing people to go if they wanted to. You know, a lot of families, military families especially, they want to stay together as much as
possible because when their military loved one is deployed directly into a war zone like Iraq or Afghanistan, they can go up to a year without seeing
their family member. So they want to keep people together as much as possible. We have seen this sort of thing in other countries around the
world, in the Middle East when tensions have risen, military family members are ordered out upon occasion. But this really goes to the ISIS threat
that the U.S. feels they are facing in Turkey. There are the other threats, of course, from the Kurds, who are anti-government with the
Turkish government. Not about that so much. Officials are telling us this really is about the ISIS threat.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Barbara, thank you.
STARR: Sure.
[12:10:01] ANDERSON: Ahead on this show, criminal charges filed against Donald Trump's campaign manager. Let me show you the video which allegedly
shows the campaign manager assault a reporter. That is him on the left there, in the center of this picture. That story coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're with CNN. This is an extended edition of CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. You are very welcome. We have a new
development in Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Police in the state of Florida have charged Trump's campaign chief for grabbing and bruising a
journalist. They gave Corey Lewandowski a notice to appear in court and he turned himself over to the police. This video from police shows the
scuffle at a rally earlier this month. The journalist, Michelle Fields, was covering the campaign for a conservative outlet. A police document
shows that Lewandowski is charged with simple battery, a misdemeanor. Let's go to CNN Money's senior media correspondent, Brian Stelter, to learn
more. This is certainly a chap with quite the reputation for, shall I say, not being quiet, as it were. Tell us about Mr. Lewandowski and what we
know about these charges.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN MONEY SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Yes. He is a former police officer, and there have been controversies in his past. POLITICO
and other news outlets have been reporting on allegations, mostly anonymously, that he has been in encounters with women before. But there's
never been an allegation of battery like this that has gone to the police and been investigated by authorities. So let me tell you what they have
investigated. The authorities in Jupiter, Florida say this morning that they believe there is probable cause to charge him with simple battery as a
result of what happened at this press conference on March 8. So at the end of the press conference, Trump is leaving the room, reporters are trying to
talk to him, and Michelle Fields, who was working for Breitbart, tried to ask him a question. She says that at that point, someone yanked on her
very hard, that she was told by another reporter that it was Corey Lewandowski. And in this probable cause affidavit, she describes it in
detail, which is consistent with her earlier telling of the story. What's kind of remarkable to me is that the Trump campaign initially very
vehemently denied her allegations. So this is before she went to the police. In the first two days after this controversy erupted, after she
said that she had been assaulted, the Trump campaign denied it. They suggested she was an attention seeker and Corey Lewandowski said he had
never met her before. Whether that's true or not, we can show you the new statement from the Trump campaign that's come in in the past few minutes.
They are saying that Corey Lewandowski is entirely innocent of the one charge. He is, quote, Lewandowski was issued a notice to appear and a
court date. He was not arrested. He is absolutely innocent of this charge. He will enter a plea of not guilty and look forward to his day in
court. He is completely confident that he will be exonerated.
[12:15:08] And so that court date is now scheduled for May 4, and just for a moment, we should try to imagine the political stakes here. The campaign
chief for the GOP frontrunner's campaign will have to go to court to face a battery charge at a time when they should be racking up delegates and
getting ready for the convention this summer.
ANDERSON: There's a town hall before that. Should we expect him to be around tonight?
STELTER: That's a good point. We are a few hours away from this CNN town hall. All three GOP candidates have committed to attending. I would be
shocked if Trump were to not show up on stage in a few hours, given that he knows the value of television coverage, knows the value of these
interviews. But he will have to address this topic. You know, initially there was a lot of dispute about what really happened on March 8. This was
very much a story that was in dispute. There was videotape evidence. It was grainy. It was unclear. Trump supporters mostly dismissed this charge
and did not believe Michelle Fields. But now there is a new angle, this new surveillance tape from overhead that does seem to show Lewandowski
touching Michelle Fields. Now, keep in mind, this isn't just about the criminal stakes or not. This is about the political stakes. And of
course, fundamentally, it's about whether Lewandowski knowingly told the truth or told a mistruth. If he knowingly said he didn't touch her when in
fact he knew he did, that could be the ultimate consequence of this story in the minds of the voters.
ANDERSON: Brian's in New York for you this evening. Thank you, Brian. You can hear the Republican candidates answer questions directly from
voters Tuesday night, CNN hosting a new town hall in Milwaukee in Wisconsin. Watch it here live, 1:00 in the morning London time. I'm sure
you can work out at what time it will be where you are watching around the world. Do join us for that.
Pakistan cracking down on suspected militants in Punjab province in the wake of Sunday's bombing in Lahore. Authorities detain more than 5,000
people in a series of raids over the last two days since that attack. Most of them are being released, but a couple of hundred are still in custody.
Families of the victims have started to bury their loved ones. At least 72 people were killed, a suicide bombing in a crowded park, of course. CNN's
Saima Mohsin takes us to the scene in Lahore.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SAIMA MOHSIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The park remains closed. This area, of course, remains a crime scene. And police teams have been arriving as
we've been here to carry out more analysis, detectives meeting with local police. Inside, a child's playground. Families had come here because this
is an amusement park. If we take you in closer, you can see the dark black soot, the scars of where the bomb was detonated. We believe one
unidentified suicide bomber carried out this attack right next to a children's ride, unimaginable and horrifying. While police still with this
crime scene, the military and paramilitary forces have been conducting raids in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan. They say they've arrested a
number of suspected terrorists and found caches of arms and ammunition. Now, Jamaat ul-Ahrar, a Taliban splinter group, has claimed responsibility
for this attack, saying they were targeting the Christian community on Easter Sunday. But the simple fact is, families from all over the city
come to this park. The majority of those killed and injured are in fact Muslim, and that is what people really want to point out, that they are
targeting Pakistanis and terrorism has no religion. Almost 400 people were injured. Only 90 of them have been released from hospitals so far. 300
still being treated, and those people that have managed to get into the park have made this makeshift memorial for those killed and injured in
this. This says, may those killed in this attack rest in peace. Flowers have been left, candles lit, and this over here, the lord's prayer in Urdu
and then, lord, make me a means of your peace. Saima Mohsin, CNN, Lahore, Pakistan.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Still ahead tonight, with the U.S. facing a growing drug epidemic, President Barack Obama says he plans to do something about it.
Next, what he plans to tell a summit on drug abuse. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: You're watching CNN. This is CONNECT THE WORLD with me, Becky Anderson. You are very welcome. In just two hours, U.S. President Barack
Obama is going to speak at a summit on combating drug abuse. Now, his administration has just unveiled new steps to fight the country's heroin
crisis and the abuse of prescription drugs. So our very own chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, will moderate a discussion panel with
president Obama. He's with us now from Atlanta, Georgia. Sanjay, a big deal for a president to address this summit this afternoon. Why is this on
his agenda today?
DOCTOR SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think that this has been an issue that's been building for him for some time. There
was various town halls where this issue kept coming up. And you may know, Becky, about how significant the problem is here in this country. Every 19
minutes, on average, someone dies of an accidental opioid overdose. Every 19 minutes. So it's an epidemic. It's a manmade epidemic. But there are
some solutions that are starting to emerge. And I think that as far as preventable deaths go, this is very high on the list, and I think it's why
he's spending time on this. He's spending an entire day flying here, talking to people at this conference, listening from former addicts who are
recovering now. So you're going to hear a lot from him on what the plan is moving forward.
ANDERSON: There are quite a few administration actions that are part of this plan. What are the highlights?
GUPTA: I think a couple of the highlights are making community health centers. These are health centers that are within communities as opposed
to going to hospitals, finding a community health center. People may be more inclined to go. They're going to fund those with more money. They're
also going to do things that are slightly more controversial. For example, there's a medication called Narcan, Becky. It essentially can reverse an
overdose. So if someone is in the throes of an overdose, you can give this by injection or even intranasally, and it can revive someone, even someone
who appears to have stopped breathing. You know, it can save lives. The criticism has been, does it also enable drug users? Does it also provide
them a safety net so they think there's less risk in doing this? So that's something we want to talk about. But the administration's position is,
let's make more of that drug available all over the country.
ANDERSON: I've got to ask you, before we go, how were you chosen as the moderator for the event this afternoon, Sanjay?
GUPTA: Well, I heard they could not get you, Becky, over there in Abu Dhabi, so I think that was probably the main reason why. I think it has a
lot to do with -- I've done a lot of reporting on this issue for several years now and I think that that's in part the reason. And also this idea
that we're looking at solutions. A lot of our reporting is focused on, what do we do about this? We know the crisis, we know the numbers, we've
heard the stories, those are important, but what's the path going forward? And I think that's how this all came together. I'm going to moderate and
ask the questions but they've chosen the panelists and they gave us no ground rules as part of this, Becky.
ANDERSON: All right. Well briefly, you're a slam dunk as far as I'm concerned, to be moderating this. By the way, it would never have been me.
Just briefly, what is the scale of this problem, Sanjay?
[12:24:44] GUPTA: The scale of this problem, it's enormous. You talk about -- just talk about deaths. 28,000 people die every year
accidentally. More than half of those come from a prescription drug. So someone who got a prescription from their doctor, taking the medication as
directed, and as a result, they died. Also, again, this is a mind-numbing statistic. You'll appreciate this over in Abu Dhabi. But 80 percent of
the entire world's pain pills, the entire world's pain pills, are consumed here in the United States. We are 5 percent of the world's population. We
take 80 percent of the world's pain pills. Nobody thinks that's a good idea. It doesn't mean that people who have chronic pain shouldn't be able
to get treatment, they should. But clearly, we overmedicate here in the United States and we're paying for it with lives, tens of thousands of
lives every year.
ANDERSON: Dr. Sanjay Gupta on the story. For you, Sanjay, it's always a pleasure to have you on. Thank you very much indeed for joining us. A
decent story and a fascinating one, thank you.
The month-long fight between the U.S. government and Apple is over. The FBI has managed to unlock the iPhone of the San Bernardino attackers
without Apple's help. What's not clear now is whether Apple will be told how the phone was cracked. The Justice Department has dropped its case
against the company, but it's not saying what's been retrieved from the phone. We'll get more on that as we get it, of course. And finally, an
Australian highway slowed to a crawl this weekend. Call it marsupial mayhem. A rogue koala wandered onto a Queensland roadway, causing traffic
to slow in both directions. He sauntered alongside the cars, dawdling as drivers snapped photos on their phones. A police officer calmly tried to
corral the jaywalking critter. The koala eventually ended up safe in a tree nearby.
I'm Becky Anderson. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. We've got the headlines coming up for you. Thank you for watching. Thank you for watching. Very
good evening. Don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
