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Navalny Detained As Thousands March In Moscow; Ambulance Packed With Explosives Kills 100 In Kabul; President To Deliver State Of The Union Address Tuesday. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired January 28, 2018 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not safe to live in Afghanistan anymore.

LYNDA KINKADE, CNN ANCHOR: It's hard to disagree with all the terrorist sneaking through checkpoints in an ambulance packed with explosives,

detonated his bomb, murdering more than 100 people. We're live in Kabul. And then an American casino billionaire handpicked by Donald Trump to run

the Republican Party's finances steps down facing multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Plus, game sets and match as tennis superstar Roger

Federer makes grand slam history. What is been ahead, we will have a live report.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD, I'm Lynda Kinkade live in Atlanta in for Becky Anderson this hour. First we're going to start in

Russia where a prominent Kremlin critic has been detained as thousands of people have rallied in Moscow and around the country saying upcoming

elections are sham. Have a look at these pictures. This is the monument Alexei Navalny was bonded away by police. Now he faces 30 days in jail and

a fine if found guilty of organizing an illegal protest. And this is the demonstration he's accused of encouraging, calling for a boycott of marches

presidential election which is widely seen as being skewed towards Vladimir Putin. Navalny's (INAUDIBLE) himself of an anti-corruption campaigner and

in an exclusive interview with our Matthew Chance, he elaborated on his opposition to Russian president.

ALEXEI NAVALNY, RUSSIAN LAWYER (through translator): He's scared of a real competition. We see in his elections that he only allowed those

(INAUDIBLE) that have not even resist, do not even do any campaigning. When they saw that we are actually fighting for people's votes, they got

scared. The famous Putin's ratings, all this 86 percent, 70 percent, all of that sociologist and political analyst love to talk about, they exist in

only one scenario and Putin places the candidates he controls.

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: But the issue of polling numbers I think is important because as you say, Vladimir Putin is

polling more than 80 percent popularity in this country. If you believe the opinion polls, your polling just two percent. I mean, how much of a

political threat does your movement really pose to his Kremlin juggernaut?

NAVALNY (through translator): I stood for election just once in my life. In 2012, I participated in the most Moscow mayor election and everyone was

showing the polls when I had two percent. Without money or any media support, I got almost 30 percent. Same thing goes for the presidential

elections. Putin doesn't have an 80 percent rating. He has an 80 percent rating when compared to other candidates who he has let run.

KINKADE: Opposition leader there in Moscow. Well, let's go to Moscow. Our CNN International Correspondent Frederik Pleitgen is following the

story. And Fred, I want to start this with the protest, rallies happening right around the country. You were out in the cold for many hours today

amongst the protesters. Give us the sense of the feeling on the ground.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, it was very difficult for these protesters to organize in the first place.

There's severe restrictions on any sort of rallies here in Russia. And certainly, the one that we saw in Moscow today was one that was not

sanctioned by the authorities and therefore as the authorities say was not legal. That's, of course, one of the reasons why Alexei Navalny was paced

under arrest earlier today. Now there were still several thousand people who showed up there and I would say that round about what we thought would

have -- would have happen. They stood there, they chanted for a while. They had some smaller signs, very difficult to get signs that these

protesters as well. They then try to march on the Kremlin. They sort of got into the vicinity of that area and then channeled away from the Kremlin

again. But by and large, it was a fairly decent turnout considering that it was fairly cold today and that also the authorities made it fairly

difficult for them to organize as well. One of the things that I do have to say, there was a large police presence in and around the rally that took

place today but at no time did we see any sort of violence, there weren't mass arrest either. So by and large, a very, very peaceful protest as

well, Lynda.

KINKADE: And Fred, no surprise of course that the ringleader of this demonstration, the opposition leader Alexei Navalny has his office raided

by police today and he has been taken into custody. What's the latest?

[10:05:04] PLEITGEN: Well, exactly. He came to this -- the rally that he himself had then called for organizing and I would say he lasted about

three to five minutes maybe as he tried to get to that rally before he was detained by the authorities. Again, that was something that he was

probably expecting. A lot protesters that we spoke to say that they were expecting as well. He then put out a Twitter statement or tweeted that he

had been detained but still called on people to come to that rally because as he said, the rally was about their future and not about him being placed

under arrest. So it did seem to energize the crowd at least for a while, many of them then chanting Navalny for president. But there was something

that by and large was expected. And you've noted also the fact that this was really part of a larger sort of cat and mouse game that was going on

throughout the better part of the day where his office were first raided in the morning by the police saying that there have been a bomb threat from

those offices and staff members were detained from him as well. And in the end, when he made it to the protest, he himself was placed in detention as

well. Something that was thought of happened. But at the same time, the big question now is how long is he going to remain in detention? It seemed

as though for what he might be charged, it could be up to 30 days which of course will make things very, very difficult for him and his movement in

the upcoming time until the presidential election, Lynda.

KINKADE: Absolutely. And this election of course happening in March. All right, Frederik Pleitgen for us in Moscow, thank you very much. We now go

to he capital Afghanistan, a city full of fear and of grief. A day after suicide car bomber killed more than 100 people, the government declared

Sunday national day of mourning with flag lowered to half-staff. More than 200 others were wounded when an ambulance packed with explosives was able

to get through security checkpoints in Kabul and detonate. The Taliban was swift to claim responsibility for the attack. Journalist (INAUDIBLE) joins

me now on the front from Kabul. As I just mentioned (INAUDIBLE), the Taliban, of course, claiming responsibility here, not just responsibility

for this but blaming the U.S. and the aggressive stance that has been taken under the Trump administration since last year. Exactly what are the

Taliban are saying?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, they are saying that all of those killed are government officials and that civilians were not in the area. That's

obviously not true. We're now hearing about a number of victims who are civilians. There was a young man, 29-year old (INAUDIBLE) who have

finished schooling and he wanted to get into a university and he was killed. So you're talking about a lot of shattered dreams and lots of

lives lost and unfortunately, this is an attack that took place right in the heart of Kabul. So there will be long-term impact on the economy, on

the lack of confidence when it comes to day to day business in life, and I think people in Kabul are demanding better security. We heard from

Afghanistan, the intelligence chief (INAUDIBLE) defense in interior, all of them very adamant that they were doing their job and they called for more

cooperation from the people of Afghanistan. Obviously, people are very angry and frustrated because Kabul has been hit time and again at least in

the last several weeks. This is the third attack. So this is the city with a broken heart and with a broken soul.

KINKADE: Yes, and we know that about 10,000 of the country's security forces have died in the last 12 months. That's according to Iraqi

officials -- Afghanistan officials rather who spoke to the New York Times. The Taliban are apparently losing about the same number. Why has this

battle dragged on for such a long time and is it getting worst from what you're seeing?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, we see a clear shift in strategy both in the part of Islamic state and the Taliban. They're shifting the battles from rural

areas and provinces into major cities including Kabul. We have to remember the American military, as well as the afghan government, have been fighting

off the Taliban and the Islamic state leadership, they have lost their mid and high-level commanders and cities are aware the Afghan government and

its international allies are vulnerable. These attacks also really restrict the work of international diplomats and its workers because it

forces them to stay behind glass walls. Obviously what we have seen are clear breaches of intelligence security and for the time being, the Afghan

government and its international allies are simply failing to prevent these attacks. Although we hear from time to time about a number of attacks that

are thwarted, a number of attacks that are prevented but you also see that for the Taliban, the Islamic state have had a lot of area of recruitment.

They've expanded there are of recruitment for the last three years. So there's no shortage of fighters willing to die for them, and then there's

also the issue of the Haqqani Network, the Pakistan based militant network. Both the U.S. and Afghanistan really wants Pakistan to go after Taliban

leadership in Pakistani cities.

[10:10:11] KINKADE: And Afghanistan meanwhile remains one of the poorest countries. We know literacy rate appalling according to UNESCO. There in

ten men are illiterate less than two women can read and write. For the millions of dollars that the U.S. and other international countries have

spent pouring money into the country to spent on bombs and weapons, is there a sense that some of that would have been better directed at

education?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think the Afghanistan had a lot of success stories since were removed from power in 2001. But there's a catalog of errors

brought on the part of the international community as well as the Afghan government. The issue of corruption is the major source of problems for

this country as one Afghan journal told me many years ago. If you want to destroy a country, you make it corrupt. So corruption really prevent the

people of Afghanistan from doing their work and it prevents them from their day to day life. Bu at the same time, security situation remains extremely

volatile. We have to really remember that these people were not killed on the battlefield somewhere in Musa Qala and Helmand or elsewhere. They were

killed here in the capital of Kabul. So their situation really doesn't look -- doesn't look good for the Afghan government and its international

allies who have invested here in blood and treasure. And you also have a situation where this political instability after the fraudulent election in

2014. Unfortunately, these attacks in the city mean that it's been (INAUDIBLE) and that that's a very dangerous fund for the Afghan government

and their international allies.

KINKADE: It certainly is a massive headache. (INAUDIBLE) good to have your perspective there on the ground firs in Kabul. Thank you very much.

At least 18 people have been killed dozens wounded in Yemen's southern city of Aden in clashes between southern separatists and the internationally

backed government. Both have been fighting Houthi rebels with the backing of Saudi-led coalition. Chaos in the port city is just part of country's

many worse. It's been wrapped by a civil war, hunger, and a cholera epidemic in the past three years. A CNN team has just returned from Yemen

were they were given exclusive access on the ground. Here's a bit of what they saw and what we'll be bringing you starting this Monday on CONNECT THE

WORLD.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: This is tactical flying, just feet about the desert banking around hills close to the Saudi-

Yemeni border. We're in Saudi military black hawk helicopters. We're flying from (INAUDIBLE) in Yemen. It's about 100 miles east of the

capital. The Saudi has lead a coalition backing the internationally recognized Yemeni government against the Iranian backed military rebels.

Both sides have criticized the civilian casualties. Apache gunships ride shotgun for protection. We are the first western journalist the Saudi

government has taken into Yemen. They promised transparency. We travel high in the mountains visit the Yemeni government from (INAUDIBLE). We're

keeping low here because we have been told the Houthis down in the valley below might be ought to see us. And the victims of this three yearlong war

--

(INAUDIBLE) is showing me, this is a gun truck? You used to drive this gun truck? Is it you, the driver?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

ROBERTSON: -- visit with child soldiers in rehave suffering from PTSD. Question Yemen's leaders --

How is the situation here in Aden?

What the Houthis, the Prime Minister told me are now doing is they are printing their own money with the help of Iran.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There is no government here. We have no government. We have only (INAUDIBLE) government.

ROBERTSON: And question the people about those same leaders.

l met the Prime Minister yesterday in his office on the other side of the city.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Take me to them. (INAUDIBLE). He is a liar.

ROBERTSON: What are we looking out here?

And meet Yemenis, who despite everything still have hope.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want education. We have to have jobs.

ROBERTSON: Understanding the war here, what everyone is going through is a little like peeling an onion layer after layer. We want to peel back those

layers for you, expose the war and the struggle to survive it. He says the Houthis uses picture of him taking his son to be buried to say that his son

was killed in a coalition airstrike and says that wasn't true.

{10:15:13] So many voices, so many stories, and so few have been heard before. Nic Robertson, CNN, Yemen.

You're seeing a small town down here. Are they Houthi and its town?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Some powerful reporting there by Nic Robertson. And you can see teams exclusive reporting all this week starting Monday joining us for

inside Yemen on CONNECT THE WORLD, 7:00 p.m. in Abu Dhabi, that's 3:00 p.m. in London. In Saudi Arabia, an influential Prince and billionaire has been

released from detention. Al-Waleed bin Talal was among 17 people who were arrested in November and detained at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Riyadh. The

kingdom says the arrests were part of a crackdown on corruption. Bin Talal says his detention was a misunderstanding. Still to come, another big week

for U.S. President Donald Trump. We'll look ahead to the Commander in Chief's first State of the Union Address next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: Welcome back. I'm Lynda Kinkade. You're watching CONNECT THE WOLRD. He is a Las Vegas casino and real estate mogul, a political ally of

the U.S. President but now Steve Wynn is no longer the Republican National Committee's Finance Chairman. Faced with multiple sexual misconduct

allegations, Wynn resigned. Dozens of his employees told the Wall Street Journal about a pattern of misconduct dating back decades. Some say he

pressured them to perform sexual acts. Wynn denies the allegations. In a statement confirming his resignation from the RNC, Wynn says the

unbelievable success we have achieved must continue. The work we are doing to make America a better place is too important to be impaired by this

distraction. Wynn have been handpicked by President Trump, Boris Sanchez has more not from the White House.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: On background, the White House official tell CNN that President Trump supported the resignation of

Steve Wynn from the Republican National Committee. There's some questions as to how the White House would approach this situation considering some

inconsistencies in the past when responding to sexual assault allegations. If you recall in just the past two months, the White House simultaneously

demanded the resignation of former Senator Al Franken while backing Alabama Senate Candidate Roy Moore. Two men that were both accused of sexual

misconduct. President was actually supposed to see Steve Wynn last week out of a fund raiser in Mar-a-Lago. The President couldn't attend the fund

raiser because of the government shutdown but Wynn took the stage and gave a speech in which he defended the President and his agenda. Here's some

more of what Steve Wynn said Saturday night at Mar-a-Lago.

[10:20:13] STEVE WYNN, FORMER FINANCE CHAIRMAN, REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE: But then all of a sudden once again in American history an

unlikely person, perhaps the most unlikely of all since Abe Lincoln, Donald John Trump became the 45th president of the United States to the chagrin --

to the hysterical chagrin -- of the other side. He was their worst nightmare.

SANCHEZ: Though in 2016 President Trump called Steve Wynn a great friend, the two men have historically had some rocky moments. They were competing

hotel and casino tycoons who have known each other for 34 years. Ultimately with President Trump handpicking Wynn to be the Finance Chairman

for the RNC and now on Saturday, again, the White House official telling CNN that the President backs his resignation in part to limit any kind of

political damage that could hit the RNC or the White House. Boris Sanchez, CNN at the White House.

KINKADE: Well, politically damage is just the loads of things Mr. Trump will be wanting to avoid this week as he prepares to deliver his first

State of the Union Address. Joining me as we look at the week ahead is Larry Sabato, he's the Director of the University of Virginia Center for

Politics. It's great to see you, Larry.

LARRY SABATO, DIRECTOR, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CENTER FOR POLITICS: Thank you, Lynda.

KINKADE: Looking at this State of the Union Address, some are saying that his speech in Davos at the World Economic Forum was a warmer. The way he

stopped to the scripts, some say it as (INAUDIBLE). He was one of the few world leaders not to get a standing ovation. What can we expect from

President Trump on Tuesday?

SABATO: We can expect the usual two Trumps. You have teleprompter Trump which you had in Switzerland. That was a prepared speech written by his

staff and he read it confidently from the teleprompter. Naturally, the rough edges had rubbed off. The same will be true for the State of the

Union Address. There will be lots of lots of applause lines geared to the Republicans who dominated Congress who will be in the room who will give a

150 standing ovations. The real Donald Trump is the other Trump. That's the Trump who tweets. That's the Trump who off the cuff says outrageous

things causing controversies that step on his own message day after day after day.

KINKADE: So it's interesting what -- seeing that and the fallout from these speeches and the tweets. In terms of the issues he will discuss, I

understand immigration will be key, he wants to give on 1.8 million undocumented immigrants a pathway to citizenship in exchange for $25

billion for a border wall. Let's just take a listen to what the Democrat's Nancy Pelosi had to say about that plan.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REP. NANCY PELOSI (D), CALIFORNIA: On the subject of DREAMers, since last night, the President put forth a plan. Let me just say what I said last

night. That plan is a campaign to make America white again it's a plan that says over 50 percent of the current legal immigration will be cut

back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KINKADE: So certainly not a lot of support by the sound from the Democrats. They say that immigrants are crucial to America's past and to

America's future. He's going to have a bit of a hard time convincing them to stick -- to approve and to agree to this plan.

SABATO: Let me just predict flatly that 95 percent plus of the Democrats Congress both houses, will oppose this plan. So he's not going to get many

Democratic. I'm not sure he'll get more than two or three. But here's the surprise, Lynda. The right wing of the Republican Party including much of

his base is in revolt. They are furious that he is including up to 1.8 million immigrants in his "amnesty program." You have Steve Bannon's old

outfit, Breitbart, calling Trump amnesty don. So he's losing support on his own base, not just among Republicans. It's clear this plan is going

nowhere. He's going to have to scale it down if there's any chance of a compromise.

KINKADE: And Larry, just very briefly, I want to show you the cover of Time Magazine right now which has a very isolated America. Take a look.

Do you see it? Trump's America first agenda showing that he is making America isolated from the rest of the world despite what he said at Davos

that it could -- should be America first but not America alone. Could he - - could be the U.S. become more isolated under President Trump?

[10:25:26] SABATO: It's already happening and it's going to continue to happen. That's the great cost for America in the long run of the Trump

Presidency. No matter how long it runs, it's going to take the next president years, maybe it will take two presidents to restore to the extent

possible America's role in the world. The miscalculation by the Trump administration has been that somehow the earth would stop turning, that if

America withdrew some of its international compacts would dissolve. Of course, that's ridiculous. And other countries including Russia and China

are moving into the void. So this is mistake of historic importance and it will be -- it will take years, maybe decades to recover from it in the

United States. The world will do fine.

KINKADE: Larry Sabato, always great to have your perspective. Thanks so much for joining us.

SABATO: Thank you, Lynda.

KINKADE: We will bring for you special coverage of Mr. Trump's first State of the Union Address to Congress and the American people right here on CNN.

A special programming kicks off on Tuesday 8:00 p.m. in New York, 5:000 a.m. Wednesday morning in Abu Dhabi. Well ahead of that big address,

another big debut event, Grammy's. Just hours away, it is the U.S. music industry's biggest show and if other world shares any indication politics

and pop culture are sure to collide. Chloe Milas, tell us what to expect.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHLOE MELAS, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: New York, the city Jay-Z famously paid image to now hosting the Grammy's for the first time in 15 years. So

it's fitting the rapper also happens to lead the pack in Grammy nominations. He's up for eight including album of the year. Kendrick

Lamar, Bruno Mars come in second and third as the most nominated artist. (INAUDIBLE) to perform at the show which will be hosted again by late

night's James Corden.

JAMES CORDEN, ACTOR: Let's get it on with the show.

MELAS: But music's biggest night comes at a complicated moment for the entertainment industry. A sexual harassment reckoning that spawned the

#MeToo movement has dominated awards shows. Expect to see white roses on the Grammy red carpet and a message of female empowerment.

SHANON COOK, TRENDS EXPERT, SPOTIFY: There are some very strong self-aware female musicians who are going to be taking the Grammy's stage. You've got

(INAUDIBLE), you've got Lady Gaga, you've got Pink, Lorde, Miley Cyrus. I think we're going to see some really strong wonderful moments.

MELAS: Musicians tend to be more unbuttoned, unpredictable crowd, but here at Madison Square Garden, there's a sense that anything can happen on

Grammy night and that probably includes some jabs at President Trump.

COOK: Historically, the Grammy's hasn't been as politically charged as other award shows but given that we're just a little over a year past the

election and the mood in this country is very fired up and still very divided, I would be very surprised if no artist spoke about politics at all

at the Grammy's this year.

MELAS: The topic of race may also come up especially in light of President Trump's controversial comments about African countries. Either way, the

Grammy's are already sending a strong message of diversity. This year, the seven most nominated artist are all people of color. And Despacito, the

Latin crossover sensation could make history. It could become the first Spanish language song ever to win song of the year. Chloe Melas, CNN New

York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Well, Jay-Z is bringing the full force of his fame to advocate women's rights. He spoke to our Van Jones on the first episode of CNN's

new "THE VAN JONES SHOW" describing how critical the fight has become.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VAN JONES, CNN HOST: In this #MeeToo moment, in this Time is up moment, does that give you hope for your daughter? How do you make sense of this

new rise of women's voices?

SHAWN "JAY-Z" CARTER, RAPPER AND BUSINESSMAN: It has to happen. This movement and everything that's going on and is what we're finding out is

like everything else. It was like racism, like everything. It existed the whole time. And we just -- it's almost like we normalized it. The

normalization of the things we have to do to survive for women to like got to work knowing that this sort of abuses happen every day -- happen in

every day because you can look and you know logically you say, why would you stay there? What's the alternative? What's the alternative? You have

to survive in America and in order to survive, you have to normalize this. So, this is been going on, so over the -- what they get uncover it if the

world that correct yourself. This is -- this is what it has to happen.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KINKADE: Just an excerpt of a very powerful interview and I urge you to go to CNN.com to watch that interior in full. Well, this is CONNECT THE

WORLD, still to come, parts of Paris have become one giant river just (INAUDIBLE) could the sun rise, we'll go there next. Plus, history is made

at the Australian Open in Melbourne, more on the Grand Slam showdown, just ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KINKADE: Welcome back. Well, it's half past the hour, let's check in on some of the stories we're keeping on our radar right now for you. The

United Arab Emirates is in mourning, following the death of the mother of the President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. She was first wife of

the UAE founder, condolences are pouring from right across the world.

The founder of furniture giant IKEA has passed away. The company says. Ingvar Kamprad died peacefully in his home in Sweden at the age of 91. He

started IKEA when he was just 17 years old with money his father gave him for doing well in school.

Paris is on flood alert as River Seine continuous to rise after overflowing its banks from days of heavy rain. The river should peak in the coming

hours at nearly six meter, that's about 20 feet. Not quite as that as first feared. Our Jim Bitterman, reports.

[10:35:09] JIM BITTERMAN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Stabilizes, the word everybody is using this morning because the situation

is headed towards stabilization. The river levels are still rising and there was some rain overnight. But the sun here in Paris is expected to

peak sometime during the day today or overnight tonight.

At about a little less in the levels of the flood of 2016, but there are big differences between this flood and that flood. And one is that

December was a very rainy month. And at the month of January, according to some people was the second waters in almost a century.

And because that the -- because of that, the reservoir is around Paris which can have a buffering effect on the flood waters, in fact are now

full. And if there's any further rain, it has no place else to go.

But here now as a precaution, officials in Paris have evacuated some of the low lying apartments, basement apartments, and especially on the west side

of Paris. And that they have taken works of art out of some of the museum, out of the basements of some museums. They have as well, close down a

gallery in the Louvre here, behind me.

In terms of damages, there is no way to estimated exactly right now. But officials are saying, our former security official for Paris for example,

said that he expected it to be in a hundreds of millions of Euros. Especially, when one considers that the river traffic is the major

transport hub for Paris.

The river traffic has been cut off now for a days. As well, they won't be able to determine exactly the expected damage because we have to wait for

the flood waters go down, that could be weeks. And I can endure proper inspection of the underground railroads, the putting's of the bridges, and

other things that are presently submerged. Jim Bitterman, CNN, Paris.

KINKADE: Jim Bitterman reporting now. Well, even though they're on a heat wave in Australia, it won't stop raining. Reigning, a word that is for the

king of the court tennis champion Roger Federer, arguably the greatest male tennis player of all time after winning his 20th Grand Slam title at the

Australian Open.

Now, the Swiss superstar beat Croatia's Marin Cilic in five sets just a few hours ago, taking his 6th title in Melbourne. Cilic, the world number 6

notched 16 ace serves, but it just wasn't enough to solve Federer.

Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, won her first Grand Slam title by defeating Romania's Simona Halep on Saturday. Now the win propels Wozniacki to the

number one ranking in the world. WORLD SPORT's Don Riddell, joins me now to discuss all of this. Great to have you here on set.

DON RIDDELL, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yes.

KINKADE: Don, this was incredible for Federer, redefining the limits when he have 36 years of age when most other players are retiring, he is

smashing records.

RIDDELL: It is just extra ordinary. I mean, I think we've ran out of superlatives to describe Roger Federer of many, many years ago. But, what

he is doing now at this age, it really is the career renaissance.

And if you looking at him the last 12 months, he won the Australian Open, he won Wimbledon last summer. He was in the open again, he won seven

titles last year. I mean, it's just absolutely remarkable and he's making it look easy. And he's career rivals -- guys like Novak Djokovic, Rafael

Nadal, they heard again. Andy Murray has just had to have a hip surgery and he is out into at the least, this summer. And here he is, just bearing

on like a spring chicken.

KINKADE: And of course, on the -- in the months ago, he himself was suffering from the knee injury --

RIDDELL: That's right.

KINKADE: And when it come back he's had, and we were talking briefly earlier. I met him as the years ago, really nice guy. Unbelievably nice,

and you of course, interviewed him. What's your take on the personality of Roger Federer?

RIDDELL: Well, I think this is what makes him so special, everybody that is met him or anybody that's kind of encounter him, just comes away with

just a sense of what an amazing man he is. It's not just that he is arguably the greatest tennis player -- male tennis player of all time.

You know, he's making a case to be consider one of the greatest athletes of all time. But he is just such a good guy. You know, he's just so

gracious, he is generous, his humility, his humor. He's a really nice guy to be around, and he was very emotional at this match today. And I think,

that's partly because he wasn't expecting that his wins to still coming at this age. But you can see what it means to him, and that's infectious.

You see him be moved and it kind of moved you to because you can really connect to him. And that's just one of many things that makes him so

special. I mean, he is a champion obviously, a legend, an icon but he is just a regular guy. And giving everything that he accomplished, that's

arguably his greatest achievement, right? He's just (INAUDIBLE).

KINKADE: He is just a normal guy and it was pretty powerful to watch his reaction when he was in tears.

RIDDELL: Yes, even -- yes.

KINKADE: Even after -- time after time winning, he still affects him.

RIDDELL: Yes, but as I say I think more soul now.

KINKADE: Yes.

[10:40:01] RIDDELL: More soul now because he wasn't expecting it at this stage of his career, and this ran could keep going. I mean, look at what

he's got ahead of him in 2018. I doubt, he's in (INAUDIBLE) into retire. He travels with his family, they're very supportive.

KINKADE: Yes, yes.

[10:40:14] RIDDELL: He's still winning, why stop? Yes.

KINKADE: Yes. We'll keep watch -- and we'll keep watching Don Riddell, good to have you with us as always. Thank you so much.

Well, for our "PARTING SHOTS", we go from the tennis court to the royal court of Egyptian Pharaohs. It's taking as much into it in (INAUDIBLE) to

move an enormous statue, Ramses II, known as Ramses the Great. As it (INAUDIBLE) millennia ago. CNN's Zain Asher, reports.

ZAIN ASHER, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: An 83 tons statue of Ramses II, considered one of ancient Egypt's greatest rulers has been moved to a new

home. Escorted by a marching band, a mounted military guard and much fan fair, the 3,300 year old grand statue was transported 400 meters in a

specially built cage to the Grand Egyptian Museum.

Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great ruled ancient Egypt from 1279 to 1213 B.C. He is known for conquering large areas of Nubia, and what is now

Sudan and Syria. And for building on a Colossus scale.

This is the fourth and (INAUDIBLE) final moved the statue has made in its long history. It was moved once in the 13th century B.C. and not again

until 1954, when Egypt's President ordered that it be brought to Cairo.

It stood outside Cairo's main train station until 2006, when the government moved it to a temporary location in Giza, fearing that auto emissions would

damaging the granite. Its new home is Egypt's massive Grand Egyptian Museum. A 650,000 sq. for facility that is still under construction. The

museum is intended to reignite the country's tourism sector. Damage by years of violent instability.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHI HAWASS, FORMER MINISTER OF STATE FOR ANTIQUITIES AFFAIRS: This event is going to be the most important culture event the world. Because it will

tell the world about the Grand Museum, it will tell the people that it's of the safe condiment of us.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ASHER: Ramses now stand as the ancient to the museum, waiting to welcome tourist through its doors. Zain Asher, CNN, New York.

KINKADE: Well, as well known as Egypt's (INAUDIBLE), so, Iran is first beautiful (INAUDIBLE). And its new blanket in its capital, a blanket of

snow. Good news for the children, school is close. Don't be like that, some fun in the snow. Well, I'm Lynda Kinkade. That was CONNECT THE

WORLD. Thanks so much for watching.

END