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Shortages in Venezuela Affect All Facets of Society; A Brazilian Boxer's Gold Medal Dream; Leicester City Clinches Premier League Title; Interview with Italian Foreign Minister; Abu Dhabi's Bold Vision for Yas Island; Labour Party Wrestling With Anti-Semitism Allegations. Aired 11a- 12p ET
Aired May 03, 2016 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[11:00:19] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We have dreams and then this is above it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Leicester City clinches the Premier League title, an underdog fairy tale win stuns even the most fervent fans. We are live in
the city of champions next.
Also ahead this hour, payoffs in the Mediterranean sea. Libya spirals downward and more
people attempt the dangerous crossing to Italy. The Italian foreign minister joins me later this hour.
And...
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're going to come here and you're going to be a super hero or you're going to shake hands with Tom and Jerry, you're going
to live with Daffy Duck, you're going to have a great time.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Cartoon characters aren't the only draw on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island (ph). We're going to take a tour from above to see how the Emirate
is attracting tourists to prepare for a post-oil future. That is later in the program.
Well, they have done it. Euphoria and probably a healthy dose of shock quite frankly among Leicester City fans as their team became English
Premier Champions for the first time ever.
Now, they completed what is their incredible tail without even kicking a ball on Monday after their closest rivals Tottenham Hotspur drew 2-2 with
Chelsea.
But not being on the pitch didn't dampen the players' spirits.
This was the scene inside striker Jamie Vardy's house as he celebrated the victory with his teammates.
Well, the Foxes' run really is one of the greatest underdog stories in the history of any sport. Christina macfarlane has been soaking up the
atmosphere in Leicester and she joins me now from there.
They didn't take relegation as a threat, Christina, but as a challenge digging into their foxhole so to speak. It is unprecedented. And the
reaction, well, tell us what you've seen.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDNET: Absolutely, Becky.
It's a footballing fairy tale that the fans have been relishing here ever since that final whistle was blown down at Stamford Bridge yesterday. We
parked our truck in the middle of the city here last night and it was the wrong move. In about 5 seconds, we had fans clamoring all over the truck,
jumping up and down all over the roof. And this morning they've all been here with us outside the King Power Stadium. They made the pilgrimage here
to soak up the atmosphere, to be part of the fun. You can hear the cars going behind me here tooting their horns. We've had that for some six or
seven hours now.
We had a gospel choir who came down here to entertain the fans and the player themselves just a few hours ago drove by behind us in a team bus.
They stopped very briefly to wave at the fans before moving on.
It's very difficult to try and summarize the feelings and the emotion that the fans are going here, but what we've been hearing time and time again is
an outpouring of love and gratitude to this football club for putting Leicester City on the map.
And we've tried to summarize all that emotion for you over the past 48 hours and what has been an unforgettable time in Leicester City's history.
Have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: This is the moment the fairytale became reality. Leicester City's players celebrating the unlikeliest of triumphs as Chelsea drew 2-2
with their rivals Tottenham Hotspur and in the title to the Foxes.
Their jubilant fans at the final whistled, filling the streets with the club colors, a sea of white
and blue.
The name of Claudio Ranieri, once a surprise choice to take over, now a hero in this English
city. He returned to work on Tuesday with a smile from ear to ear.
CLAUDIO RANIERI, LEICESTER CITY MANAGER: The job is good. I'm very, very happier now because maybe if I won this title at the beginning of my
career, now I forgot. No. Now I am a very old man and I can feel much better.
MACFARLANE: The city center the morning after the night before where market store holders once only spoke of the prices for their fruit and
vegetable, now there's only one topic on everyone's lips.
[11:05:14] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It hasn't soaked in to me yet. But, yeah, we've done it. We've done it with two games to spare.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I could not believe it. I woke up this morning I thought I must have dreamt it. I thought -- I generally did wake up this
morning thinking we have won the league, haven't we?
UNIDENIFIED FEMALE: It is incredible. I mean, when I go on holiday this year, instead of seeing in a Manchester kit, I'm going to see a Leicester
City kit. And that's the reality of it.
It's just amazing. I mean, the city is alive.
MACFARLANE: Even former players shared their astonishment with the fans outside the stadium.
MATT ELLIOTT, FORMER LEICESTER CITY CAPTAIN: Under the guidance and the management of the owners here, all of a sudden a structure was put in
place, correct decisions were made, and you've seen the end result, a Premier League title. It's in the bag.
MACFARLANE: A group of relatively unknown players with an aging Italian manager started
with a dream at the beginning of the season. Now Leicester City have proven that it's possible to defy the odds and be crowned champions.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MACFARLANE: And, Becky, I have to let you know that I saw a fantastic quote this morning from the chief of the Premier League, Richard Scudamore.
He said that Leicester City have made mugs of us all and that is just the most fantastic feeling, alluding, of course, to the fact that Leicester
have quite literally against the odds taken this title 5,000 to 1, and they've done so without the spending power of the big Premier League giants
like Manchester United, and City and Chelsea.
It's let everyone here and everyone in the world be able to hope that they can achieve the
same feat. And of course it's brought the romanticism back to football.
ANDERSON: Hasn't it just?
Christina, thank you for that. And English football, as Christina was pointing out, actually, often mocked for being more about cash than the
game. Well, get this, it's estimated that Manchester United spent more on players in the last two seasons than Leicester has in
its entire 132-year history.
So even as a Spurs fan, I've got to say congratulations, boys.
All right, we're moving on.
I'm following the long journey of the Olympic torch as Brazil gears up for the games in three
months time. The torch arrived in the capital of Brasilia a few hours ago. And it is slowly making its way to the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro
where the opening ceremony will be held in August.
In all, 12,000 runners will carry it through 300 towns.
Dilma Rousseff received a torch at the presidential palace earlier.
Now, the embattled Brazilian president, of course, could be impeached even before the games
get underway.
Well, CNN's Shasta Darlington is following the action from Brasilia and she joins us now live.
And Shasta, after all the controversy in politics, the economic woes and the Zika health scare, a day to celebrate, let's face it, in Brazil today
as the Rio 2016 Olympic torch relay winds its way to the stadium and some wonderful stories behind some of those chosen to be the torch bearers. Do
explain if you will.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Becky. Finally, finally we got some excitement over these Olympic Games. It has
been a long time coming, believe me.
But it was really pretty inspiring when the flame arrived right here at the presidential palace behind me. President Dilma Rousseff herself stepped
out while these fighter jets flew overhead and the school children all around us were thrilled, lots of cheers there. The torch bearer was a
beloved Brazilian athlete, a female volleyball player, Fabiana Claudino (ph).
There are going to be a lot of athletes today carrying the torch, including a surf champion, Gabriel Medina, but also a 12-year-old Syrian refugee
girl. Brazil has taken in a lot of people may not realize this, Brazil has also taken in a lot of Syrian refugees, a total of 2,000. They don't put
any limits on it, of course, a long ways to come, so there aren't as many as in other countries. But this is of course just the beginning. As you
mentioned, the torch now takes off across the country, going to be visiting more than 300 towns and cities. The idea is that a full 90 percent of the
population could get involved, get near, witness the torch if they choose to and organizers are hoping with the torch relay beginning, people will
begin to sort of put aside their political and economic woes and catch a little bit of this Olympic spirit.
We'll see if it works, Becky.
ANDERSON: All right. Shasta Darlington, thank you.
These are the other stories on our radar today. And a Somalia asylum seeker has set herself on fire at an Australian offshore processing center
on the Pacific island of Nauru. She has been transferred to Australia for treatment and remains in a critical condition. It's the second self-
immolation incident at the facility in a week.
A baby girl has been rescued 80 hours after the building classed in the Kenyan capital of
Nairobi. The 6 month old who was uninjured has been reunited with her father. Now that building collapsed as heavy rains fell last Friday. The
owner is in police custody.
Spain's king has dissolved parliament and set an election for June 26. It will be the second vote in six months. An inconclusive election in late
2015 left no clear winner. Months of coalition talks followed that vote, which ultimately proved fruitless.
Well, Russia's foreign minister says a cease-fire for Syria's largest city could be announced
within hours. Sergey Lavrov met with the UN special envoy for Syria in Moscow. Silencing the guns in Aleppo, of course, is a priority for
international negotiators as they work to revive a truce agreement that has all been collapsed. And every hour counts as the death toll continues to
rise.
Syrian state media say rebel rocket attacks in Aleppo killed at least 20 people today.
Let's get you more from Matthew Chance, who is live for you in Moscow tonight. And the UN envoy, Matthew, certainly touting this as good news
from the Russian side, but it must be very difficult for those on the ground to think this is anything but a cynical move by the
Russians, who given their clear clout with the Syrian regime, could be accused of playing with politics here and people's lives, correct?
[11:11:37] MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah. Well, I mean certainly you could make that case for Russia. You could probably
make the same allegation for all of the countries that have become involved in Syria, the United States, the Europeans, the Arab states, the Turks.
They're all playing politics in that country and people are suffering as a result, which is what makes Syria such a tragedy.
But you're absolutely right to say that Russia wields influence, real influence, with the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad. It's the primary
military backer of the Assad regime, it's been carrying out those air strikes in support of the Syrian army, which has been making quite
significant territorial advances since the beginning of the military intervention. And of course the Russians were instrumental in brokering
the cease-fire agreement that's been enforced since February. It's crumbling, as you say now, but they're crucial again in getting it
reinvigorated and reintroduced, particularly in Aleppo where there's been such violence.
And today, Sergey Lavrov, along with the the UN special envoy to Syria Staffan de Mistura made the point that that cease-fire is hopefully, they
said, going to be implemented again very soon. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STAFFAN DE MISTURA, UN SPECIAL ENVOY TO SYRIA: We all hoped that this indication that perhaps in the next few hours we'll be able to have also a
relaunch of the cessation of hostilities and whatever name we want to call it, silence or non-silence, what the Syrians want to hear is no bombs, no
rockets, no shelling, no aerial bombing anymore, no canisters, so that they can start believing in what we are trying to do with them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: Well, that announcement that there will be some kind of cessation of hostilities in Aleppo came as news emerged from Syria of yet more
bloodshed in Aleppo, another hospital coming under fire, this time in government held territory in the city from rebel forces. We don't know
which rebel group may have been responsible for that, but there are multiple deaths. And that further complicates, of course, the equation to
see whether there can be any kind of cease-fire, cessation of hostilities in the hours ahead, Becky.
ANDERSON: Matthew Chance is in Moscow this evening. Matthew, thank you.
Still to come tonight, we are keeping a close eye on the Olympic torch and the huge crowds helping it get to Rio. Why organizers desperately hope it
will get people excited for the summer games.
Plus, I'll be joined by the Italian foreign minister after this short break to ask him about the crisis on Europe's doorstep in Libya where ISIS has
slithered in. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:16:36] ANDERSON; All right, you're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me Becky Anderson. 16 minutes past 7:00 here in the UAE where
this show is broadcast. Well, that's where broadcast from at least.
Let's turn to Libya now, a country we've been watching slide towards chaos.
Over the last few weeks, some ministries have been handed over to a UN- backed government. But with the country having been torn between two warring sites, at least for so long it's unclear how long it'll take for
the dust to settle. It is a power vacuum that ISIS has been creeping into for years
now trying to gain a foothold outside of Syria and of Iraq where its growth has forced millions from their homes.
Well, many of those refugees are now looking to get to Europe, to Italy through Libya, resulting in countless rescues like this. 26 people were
saved from the waters off Libya last Saturday as they tried to make the short but very dangerous crossing over the Mediterranean sea.
Well, it's a grave problem facing the Italian government. We're joined now by the Italian
foreign minister who is with us from Rome this evening.
Foreign minister, thank you for joining us. At this point, how would you describe what you understand to be the situation on the ground in Libya and
how that is affecting what is going on on your shores.
PAOLO GENTILONI, ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: Well, what happened in Libya is that more or less one month ago the UN-backed government established itself
in Tripoli and gradually trying to stabilize the country.
We all know that the process is a fragile process, but I think we also all know that without
stabilization of Libya, it will be very difficult to defeat Daesh and to fight smugglers and migration.
So we should not repeat the mistakes that we made five years ago. We should support the Libyan ownership of the process and the Libyan
stabilization.
ANDERSON: OK. Do you share the concerns of those who say that the UN sponsored Libyan unity government has no traction on the ground with those
who are de facto in charge of, or responsible for, what is going on in Libya and for security or the total seeming total lack of it?
GENTILONI: Well, now the security is obviously very, very precarious. But we have to consider the fact that two months ago it looked impossible for
the UN-backed government to establish itself in Tripoli. We were ready to consider it a government in exile. Now, the government is in Tripoli,
eight different ministries have been occupied by the new ministers, several foreign minister of
European countries visited the government and they are having gradually control of part of the country.
It is not finished but it is a process gaining momentum. And we have no alternative to support this process.
[11:20:13] ANDERSON: OK. No alternative but to support it.
Sir, an estimated, what, 113 people died in four shipwrecks between Libya and Italy just this weekend as that crossing, as you well know, becomes the
preferred sea route for migrants to Europe. That is according to the IOM, which is the International Organization for Migration. That was earlier
today.
A multimillion dollar murderous industry run by thugs, which clearly has huge repercussions
for your country and the rest of Europe. What is the solution here, sir?
GENTILONI: No easy solution, but I think possible solution, if the goal is not to imagine to fix quickly the migration issue but to slow down the
flows and to manage them.
What should we do? More or less what we did in the Balkan route with Turkey, we should do the same with several African countries of origin of
migration. We cannot send back...
ANDERSON: One by one send them back? OK, fair enough, go on.
GENTILONI: No, it's not -- you cannot treat Libya as you treated Turkey. It is not a safe country, not at all, but you can invest European money to
have agreements with Senegal, Cote D'Ivoire, Nigeria, other African countries of origin of migrants and with this agreement to reduce the flow.
We need the same commitment that we had on Turkey in the Balkan route on Africa and the central Mediterranean.
ANDERSON: Next month, voters across Britain will decide whether or not to take their country out of the EU. And you will be well aware that
migration and the issue of refugees is a huge issue when it comes to the arguments for or against this Brexit as it is
known.
What's your advice to those voting in this referendum?
GENTILONI: Well, my advice is relatively useless, because it is an issue for UK citizens. As an Italian minister, I would consider a UK exit, a real
damage, both for UK and for European Union.
I think that this is evident from the economic point of view, but not only economics, the perspective of Europe without UK is a very weak perspective.
And the perspective of the UK without the single market is a very dangerous perspective.
ANDERSON: Interesting.
We'll talk about Julio Rugeni (ph) now, a university student who was killed in Cairo a few months ago. His death has sparked outrage I know across
Italy, including from your own government. You recalled your ambassador to highlight your disappointment with the investigation in Egypt.
Has there been any progress in figuring out what happened to Julio?
GENTILONI: Well, what we asked to Egypt is to have at least a serious cooperation in investigation, because the killing of Julio was so horrible.
And we cannot accept an Italian citizen to be tortured and killed in this way.
I have to say that until now the cooperation was not satisfactory, and this created the problem you mentioned with our ambassador. I hope that in the
next days things will change but, frankly speaking, I want to see results before being optimistic on this.
ANDERSON: I want to leave this conversation on a slightly lighter note, if you will allow me. We're just telling our viewers about Leicester City's
incredible victory in the English Premier League.
Your prime minister Mario Renzi (ph) -- Matteo Renzi, sorry -- took to Twitter soon afterwards to stay, quote, "the greatest achievement in
English football history was led by an Italian. Great at LCFC. Well done coach Ranieri #amazing."
Anything you would like to add to those feelings?
[11:25:14] GENTILONI: Well, it's true that we are very proud as Italians to have a little bit of culture Italiano on top of the Premier League.
ANDERSON: And with that, we'll leave it there. So, we thank you for your time. And a wide ranging discussion. I very much appreciate it, thank
you.
The latest world news headlines are just ahead. Plus, here's the Olympic torch as it travels through the streets of Brazil's capital. Going to get
a live report on the relay runners marking the journey for you.
Taking a very short break, back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(HEADLINES)
ANDERSON: The Olympic torch wending its way to Rio de Janeiro as one of the 12,000 relay runners who are carrying it through Brazil, three-month's
journey is going to take the torch through 300 towns.
Let's get more from our Shasta Darlington, who is in Brasilia, and this the physical evidence that the games, we are told, will go on three months from
now in the summer. As we just have a look at the pictures that we are getting in today. And I know you're in Brazil.
Just walk us through the preparations, as you will, three months out.
DARLINGTON: That's right, Becky. We're finally getting some enthusiasm over these games. The torch started in the hands of President Dilma
Rousseff but was quickly passed to the first rely runner, a really beloved Brazilian athlete, volleyball player runner Fabiana Claudino. She was cheered on by the school children around us, by
the crowds. It also is going into the hands of surf champion Gabriel Medina, a long distance runner. The Olympics are just a great opportunity
to shine the spotlight on some athletes and also their unique stories.
We had a chance to sit down with a boxer who has come from one of Rio's notorious favelas and is now aiming for gold.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:30:33] DARLINGTON: Huberto Custorio (ph) can take a punch or two. After all, the Olympic boxing hopeful learned on the mean streets of Rio
where he survived the worst.
"I lost my father when I was 14 going on 15, " he says. "He was killed by drug traffickers.
But he found an outlet for his rage -- Luta Pella Pice (ph), or fight for peace.
"It messed with my head," he says. "I wanted revent and boxing helped me get through it."
That's where he met his future wife, Alexandra, also a young boxer at the time.
Now, living in a small apartment in the violent Complexadumare (ph) favela where they both grew up and raising their own daughter, Hillary.
"I have to study, help at home and go to university," she says.
For Custorio (ph), boxing got him off the streets and won him a wall full of medals, but he's never far from where he started.
We're up here on Huberto's roof. We can't go out on the street. This is a neighborhood controlled by drug gangs. They're out. They're armed. And
they don't want to see a camera.
With his inspirational story, Cutorio (ph) became the poster boy for Luta Sportswear (ph) back in 2011.
Luke Dowdney founded Fight for Peace to lure kids off Rio's streets with boxing. But now they provide everything from help at school to job
training.
LUKE DOWDNEY, FOUNDER, FIGHT FOR PEACE: There's a lot of stuff going on around, especially if you've got problems at home and so on. And if you
get through like a good fighter, you are don't give, you don't quit, you keep training. And whether that means getting through and winning a
competition or whether that means staying in school and getting that diploma, I think we're all inspired by that.
Of course, Custorio (ph) hopes to be one of the lucky few, competing for a spot at the 2016 Olympics at a recent qualifier right here in Rio de
Janeiro, cheered on by family and friends.
He didn't win this match, but like a good fighter, never giving up, ready for the next.
Now organizers are hoping with the torch here on home soil, that will start to spark some Olympic spirit and really get people to pay more attention to
the games and less attention to the political and economic problems. It's going to be an uphill battle, however, Becky. At this point, it looks like
President Dilma Ruousseff could actually be forced to step down as early as next week to face an impeachment trial. And this is something that's going
to hang over the Olympics as the trial drags out over the next three months, Becky.
ANDERSON: Shasta Darlington is in Brasilia for you this evening. Shasta, thank you.
Well, frustration mounting in Venezuela as the country grapples with an economic crisis. It has led to food shortages, rolling blackouts and a
two-day work week. And many have found themselves standing in line for hours just to find something to eat or buy basic essentials.
Paula Newton is in Caracas. And your first report of the week last week really laying out just
how difficult things are for so many people. Describe what you're hearing and seeing on the streets for
the viewers, Paula.
PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you mentioned the two-day week. It's a good thing people are only working two days because
the rest of the time, they are literally scrounging for food. And when I tell you this, Becky, this isn't
just the poor of the society who have been struggling for many, many years -- as one woman described it to me, Becky, there are only poor and very poor people in Venezuela right now
and they spend so much of their time walking the line and we're going to show you what we mean.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON (voice-over): La cola, the line. This is how Venezuelans spend most of their time now, in line not for luxuries but basics: your next meal,
soap for your next load of laundry, diapers for your baby's next nappy change.
"And with a 2-year old, lining up, having to put up with this," she tells me, "we have no milk, we have no diapers, nothing. This is impossible," she
pleads.
She says she left her home at 4 am, like many here, waiting for government rations that are dwindling, ravaged by hyperinflation, government
mismanagement and an oil crisis.
(on camera): These types of lines are popping up all over Caracas. People here are looking for flour and pasta. Some were here this morning; they
were told the store had absolutely nothing. And that's the kind of scavenger hunt that's happening throughout Venezuela, people just trying to
find the basics can't find them.
[11:35:17] (voice-over): We're not allowed to shoot inside but outside people tell us they line up for hours and still get nothing.
"We are hungry, we have needs, we have no food. Look at this line, mothers who are hungry, we need food, medicine. We can't find anything.
"What's finishing us off? Hunger," she says.
Police are in control here, herding people and making sure they're shopping on their government-allotted two days a week. The only way around this,
buying from a bachaquero, a black market middleman.
We followed one customer on a shopping trip as covert as any drug deal. But he's buying food.
(on camera): And this is what goes on here. Black markets have opened up in so many neighborhoods. People just can't get the essentials; salt, sugar,
the basics, which they have to try and find on the black market.
(voice-over): Products are marked up at more than twice their fair value than on supermarket shelves. It's also illegal, another reason neither
buyer nor seller wish to be identified.
Few can afford it, though, so Venezuelans walk the line, spending much of their lives now in la cola, the queue, already one of the most detested and
humiliating rituals in this country's history.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
NEWTON: Now, Becky, beyond the black market what has also happened, especially because of the crazy inflation rates in this country, is there's
been a barter system. So, you might have a product like flour that I want. I have got extra sugar. We trade and that's how we make it happen.
Literally, that's how we put food on the table.
And because I know that at Connect the World you follow the oil industry very carefully, we've said it, we'll say again, largest prove oil reserves
in the world right here in this country, but right now this is the liquid gold. Again, the absurdity of this economy, very hard to even get your
hands on this. And if you do, you will pay for this about 50 cents. For 50 cents, you can still fill up your entire car with gasoline in this
country -- Becky.
ANDERSON: The irony of it all.
So this is a very basic question, we tried to answer it last night. We didn't have an answer 24
hours later. Have you worked out why? How did this happen?
As you point out, this is a country that sits on the largest proven reserves of oil in the world.
NEWTON: I mean, Becky, look, there is going to be huge debate as to how and why it happened. For the people that are here in Venezuela, they have
seen the economy spiral out of control. Shortage is nothing new, inflation nothing new. What's happened now is that they literally cannot feed
themselves and do not have medicine.
The economic system here has been mismanaged to the point where not on is oil production
down and they were already suffering, remember that they need all of that oil, exported. It's the only way they get any revenue here in Venezuela
and yet they import almost everything that they need.
With that equation, as that oil price dipped, Becky, we had the crisis in the last year and a
half. That's it. This country is out of money, dwindling of foreign reserves as well. And that's why the people of Venezuela are now suffering
with even the basics. And it is an equation that you can't get away from, at least not in the short term.
In the next several months, the government also not really able to come up with an adequate
solution at this point, Becky.
ANDERSON: Paula Newton on the story out of Caracas in Venezuela for you.
Well, in Iraq, an American service member has been killed 30 kilometers north of Mosul. He was an adviser to Peshmerga forces fighting ISIS and
was killed after the enemy broke through the front lines, we're told.
Jomana Karadsheh following developments from Amman. What more do we know at this
point, Jomana?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Becky, we're learning more from American officials who are now saying that this U.S.
service member was a Navy SEAL who was assisting the Peshmerga forces. As you said that this attack took place about 30 kilometers north of Mosul.
Now, American officials say as a standard practice, he was not on the front lines, he was about 3 to 5 kilometers back from the front line, but when
ISIS launched this attack on the Peshmerga defense lines, they managed to break through the front line and that this service member was killed in the
firefight that broke out.
Now the u.S. says it responded with an F-15 and drones, dropping more than 20 bombs, they say.
And, Becky, we're also hearing from Iraqi Kurdish officials, from the Peshmerga commanders in the area, this doesn't seem to have been an
isolated attack. There were several attacks, we're hearing, what sounds like a coordinated major offensive that was carried, an assault by ISIS
militants, on a number of different Peshmerga front lines in northern Iraq that was carried out using suicide car bombs and other militants attacking
these Kurdish front lines.
Now, the Peshmerga say that they have managed to push ISIS militants back with the help of coalition air power from some of these defense lines that
were attacked, but as of a couple of hours ago, clashes were ongoing at least in one area.
Really highlighting here, Becky, that while ISIS may have lost some territory in recent months
in Iraq and in Syria, the group still has that ability to carry out major attacks like this that we are seeing today, Becky.
[11:41:04] ANDERSON: Jomana Karadsheh o the story for you this evening.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson.
Coming up, Britain's opposition Labour Party facing a crisis over allegations of anti-Semitism within its ranks. Details on that are ahead
tonight.
And a self-taught pianist now taking center stage around the world. And he is only 12 years old. We'll have that story in about ten minutes.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. You're watching CNN. This is Connect the World with me, Becky Anderson.
Right, to a bit day in the race for the White House. Let's get you to Indiana where polls are now open and voters choosing a presidential
nominee. It is 11:43 in the morning. It is expected to be a close contest between the Democratic candidates.
And since Indiana's delegates are awarded proportionally, tonight's results will not dramatically alter Hillary Clinton's overall delegate lead. For
her campaign, it is all about managing expectations. It says Clinton is bracing for a loss, perhaps an effort to deny Bernie Sanders any momentum
if he pulls off a win.
From golf caddie to one of Donald Trump's most trusted campaign confidantes, the Republican frontrunner's social media manager has quite a
story. You can read about his unlikely rise into Trump's inner circle on the website. You'll also find much more about the presidential race, you
know that. The latest polling predictions and analysis all at CNN.com.
Well, to the United Kingdom now where it has been a difficult week for the opposition Labour Party. They are facing a crisis over claims of anti-
Semitism within the party members, including an MP and the former mayor of London have been suspended.
Now, it all comes ahead of local elections. Phil Black explains.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:45:14] PHIL BLACK, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This isn't how politics in Britain is usually conducted. These men are supposed to be on
the same team.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, you're a lying racist.
BLACK: They're both party of Labour, Britain's main opposition party, a party now in crisis of allegations of deep-rooted anti-Semitism among some
of its members.
DAVID CAMERON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I think it is very simple. Anti- Semitism is effectively racism.
BLACK: First, it was revealed Labour's Naz Shah shared an image on social media before she was elected suggesting Israel should be relocated within
the United States.
CAMERON: made remarks about the transportation of people from Israel to America and talked about a solution and is still in receipt of the Labour
Whip is quite extraordinary.
BLACK: Naz Shah apologized.
NAZ SHAH, LABOUR MP: I accept and understand that the words I used caused upset
and hurt to the Jewish community.
BLACK: She was still suspended by the party, but defended publicly by one of its prominent members.
Remember the man being shouted at the on the street, that's Labour's Ken Livingston who said this in a radio interview.
KEN LIVINGSTON, LABOUR PARTY MEMBER: Let's remember when Hitler won his election in 1932, his policy, then, was that Jews should be moved to
Israel. He was supporting zionism and his went mad and ended up killing 6 million Jews.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's time to apologize.
BLACK: His suggestion Adolf Hitler supported the creation of the Jewish state inspired outrage within Labour.
He refused to apologize. The party suspended him, too.
(CROSSTALK)
BLACK: Labours Sadiq Khan is fighting to be the first Muslim mayor of London and believes these recent events are part of a wider problem.
SADIQ KHAN, LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR LONDON MAYOR: I think it's quite clear that there are too many examples in our party of people with anti-Semitic
views where action isn't taken quickly enough.
BLACK: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn initially insisted the party doesn't have a problem with anti-Semitism. Days later, he announced an internal
inquiry along with a new code of conduct.
JEREMY CORBYN, LABOUR PARTY LEADER: And know we stand absolutely against anti-Semitism in any form.
BLACK: But Corbyn's critics have long been worried about his leadership issues on this. He once referred to members of terror groups Hamas and
Hezbollah as friends.
CORBYN: I used it in a collective way saying our friends were prepared to talk. It doesn't mean I agree with Hamas and what it does. No. Does it
mean I agree with Hezbollah and what they do? No.
BLACK: for Britain's Labour Party, this is a crisis at the heart of its values, a party with a long, proud record of fighting discrimination is now
accused of being deaf and blind to widespread anti-Semitism within his own ranks.
Phil Black, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Phil Black there for you.
Live from Abu Dhabi, this is Connect the World. Coming up, at just 12 years old -- let me repeat that, at just 12 years old, he is already
nominated for not one but two Grammy awards. We're going to hear from Joey Alexander in your Parting Shots this evening that is next.
And we're going to take you to an island, wonders complete with a Formula 1 racetrack, a Ferrari world and a water park. Hear about the next big
attraction on Yas Island here in Abu Dhabi.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:50:09] ANDERSON: This is CNN. You're watching Connect the World with me Becky Anderson out of the UAE. Welcome back.
Earlier in the show, we reported on the impact low oil prices are having in Venezuela. Well, the price of crude also a key concern for this region
where many of the world's major producers, of course, are located. And that is why Abu Dhabi has big plans to move away from its reliance on oil
income and focus on other industries such as tourism, for example.
Well, I recently got the chance to take a chopper ride with Mohamed al- Mubarak who is the chairman of Mural Asset Management (ph), amongst other things, to discuss what is a necessary new reality. Have a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: It's no secret that 2016 has been a roller coaster ride for oil markets. The twists and turns at the price of crude has prompted Gulf
producers, like the UAE, to reexamine their economic policies, shifting away from their dependence on oil and investing in projects for a post-oil
reality.
Projects like Yas island, Abu Dhabi's vision of the future, a tourism and leisure hub designed to lure visitors from around the world.
MOHAMED AL-MUBARAK, ABU DHABI TOURISM CHIEF: The story is it's just beautiful.
ANDERSON: So, I got a chance to go for a ride with the man spearheading the island's development, Mohamed al-Mubarak.
The plan to develop Yas Island, I believe, was initiated back in 2006. Take me back.
MUBARAK: This chopper ride really gives me goosebumps, because the crown prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed flew over this island. He
wanted to create a destination for all.
A links golf course that you see on my left, really one of the most stunning pieces of real estate in the world. Look at the back drop of a
grade a Formula 1 racetrack, the back drop of one of the largest public arts pieces in the world with Ferrari World. I mean, this does not look
like your conventional theme park. Yas Mall, which last year brought over 22 million visitors in its first year to the island.
So, you're starting to really see a very special place in less than 10 years we've accomplished that.
The Warner Brothers theme park, which is a major new attraction to the island, something that's
extremely close to my heart, me being a comic fan, to grow up reading Batman and Superman and Wonder Woman and Justice League to have them here
in Abu Dhabi and sharing them with the rest of the world is really special.
You look at the site, it's an enormous site. And we wanted to announce Warner Brothers with a lot of realism behind it. So when we announced
Warner Brothers, we announced it looking like this, 30 percent complete, we announced it with a major contractor on board, all the rights ordered and
with my hand on my heart promising the world that in 2018 you're going to come
here, you're going to be a super hero or you're going to shake hands with Tom and Jerry or you're going to live with Daffy Duck and you're going to
have a great time.
ANDERSON: These are uncertain times, let's face it. Just how challenging a project is this?
MUBARAK: His highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, was very clear. He wants to see an economy that is not reliant on just oil. And you're seeing
the merits of that every single day here.
The major part of that obviously is tourism and what tourism can bring to the United Arab Emirates.
ANDERSON: How are you set up now to absorb the sort of shocks that you and I will have to assume may be out there, whether we can forecast them or
not?
MUBARAK: Certainly. I think to forget that the UAE is still a very young country. And at a young age you learn a lot of things. You're going to
make some mistakes.
What's special about the UAE that its learned and progressed extremely quickly and it's matured.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: Mohamed al-Mubarak speaking to me there in the chopper.
A disclaimer for you, Warner Brothers and CNN, of course, are both owned by our parent company Time Warner.
Well, the thrills and spills then as UAE charts its course as a post oil economy, or at least sets out its vision. Let us know what you think of
the stories, the show. What's caught your eye today?
Get in touch with me on Twitter. Tweet me at Becky CNN. Let me know your thoughts. And you can always follow the stories that the team is working
on throughout the day by going to our Facebook page with cheers. At Facebook.com/CNNConnect.
He's only 12 years old and he has already performed at the White House. Joey Alexander was born in Indonesia, and at the sage of 7 -- 7, taught
himself how to play the piano.
Well, now his album nominated for two Grammy awards. And we caught up with the child
prodigy before his performance at a festival here, the Abu Ddhabi festival, which is tonight your Parting Shots.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
[11:55:22] JOEY ALEXANDER, PIANIST: I started when I was 7, learning from the masters, copying the songs of John Coltrane. Jazz is a lot to learn.
It's a language, you know.
What I really love about Jazz is that freedom, the freedom to express our thoughts and to express myself.
I don't really plan it, like when I improvise, I don't really plan it, it just comes naturally.
Musically you're thinking where you're going. Every note is important. It's not just notes, you know. You try to feel it when you play. I never
thought I would do such improvisation. I just love the music.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANDERSON: And from there he went on to the White House, played for Obama last Friday. Good for him.
I'm Becky Anderson. That was Connect the World. Thank you for watching. From the
team here, a very good evening.
END
