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China's Hubei Province Reports 242 New Coronavirus Deaths; Quarantine to End Soon for Cruise Ship in Japan; Sudan Will Pay $30 Million to Families of U.S.S. Cole Attack Victims; Israeli-Palestinian Tensions Rise after Trump's Middle East Plan; South Korea Builds World's First Commercial Tunnel Farm; Australian Fires "Contained" for First Time in New South Wales. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired February 13, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN Atlanta, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST (voice-over): Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Lynda Kinkade in for Becky Anderson.
In the past 24 hours, there's been a massive spike in the number of people infected by the novel coronavirus. China is reporting almost 15,000 new
cases and another 242 deaths. That brings the total confirmed cases in China to almost 60,000 and nearly 1,400 deaths.
The big question: why the sudden spike?
We're going to dig into that with our correspondents in just a moment.
First, a major development in how China is handling the crisis politically. Beijing is replacing top Communist Party officials in Hubei province, the
epicenter of the outbreak. The executive director of the World Health Organization gave an update just moments ago.
He says we're still not seeing a dramatic increase in cases outside of Mainland China. We still have an opportunity to prevent the spread of the
virus. He also explained that in Hubei, medical professionals can diagnose patients with a chest X-ray instead of waiting for lab results.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MICHAEL J. RYAN, WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: As you've noticed with suspect cases, there have been some backlogs in testing. And this is also going to
help in ensuring that people get adequate care and that adequate public health measures can be taken.
So we're not dealing, from what we understand, with a spike in cases of 14,000 on one day. To an extent, this is an artifact of the reporting. And
we are working with our colleagues in China.
Our team there are working very hard to see exactly how many days and weeks and how those numbers are spread out across those days and weeks. As you've
noticed --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is following it and provides us with more context. David Culver is also in the Chinese capital
with more. We have Will Ripley standing by in Yokohama, as dozens more test positive on board the Princess Diamond cruise ship.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, we just heard from the World Health Organization and we saw those figures overnight, 14,000 new cases in Mainland China. That
compares to the 2,000 number of cases we saw increased from the day before. And it seems the way they're diagnosing this virus has changed. They're now
using CT scans.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Previously they'd get a CT scan and, if they saw evidence of pneumonia, so you see these
abnormalities in the lungs on the CT scan, that was a clinically diagnosed case at that point, not considered a confirmed case.
They'd only confirm it if the testing came back positive. Now they are saying all those clinically diagnosed cases, they're going to put into the
confirmed bucket, saying if you have this sort of pneumonia, you're living in Hubei province and come in contact with people with the coronavirus,
we'll count you as having it as well.
That's what's happened in other outbreaks as well. At some point, once you've established the virus is circulating in a particular area, from a
public health standpoint, it doesn't make a lot of difference to say we've gone up another few hundred or few thousand in a given day.
We know it's a circulating virus. That's the question they're trying to understand. Other countries are going to keep testing because you want to
know how much of a foothold it's getting. But in China, at least in Hubei, it won't make a difference at this point.
KINKADE: Do you think that gives us a clearer picture of the extent of this outbreak?
That's a significant jump.
GUPTA: That is the question. And I don't think it gives us a clearer picture. It makes those numbers maybe make a little more sense with what
we're seeing because we see how much this seems to be spreading and the numbers where they really reflect that.
But I think there's so many people out there probably still within China certainly but in other countries around the world who may have this virus
who don't have much in the way of symptoms who are not going to go to the doctor. They'll not get tested.
So you may never get a really clear picture on the total spread of this infection. And as we've talked about, that's bad news and good news. Bad
news, it's happening. Good news in the sense if people aren't getting as sick from that, that would be a glimmer of hope in all of this.
KINKADE: But interesting listening to the WHO there, they seem still very much in the dark as much as ever, admitting they don't know what's going on
but looking optimistically at the fact that there aren't too many cases transferred outside Mainland China.
[11:05:00]
GUPTA: It has been interesting and I think the WHO seems to have been, first, they didn't declare this a public health emergency. They were
against any kind of travel restrictions. They were lauding the excessive quarantines that David Culver was reporting on going on in Hubei province,
60 million under quarantine.
And now just over the last few hours saying, look, we don't know where this thing is going. So you can understand why it's not necessarily inspiring a
lot of confidence. We also still don't have the Centers for Disease Control here from the United States in China. They've been trying to get in for
some time. So we don't have a clear sense of what these numbers are and just how much the spread is.
I guess the only positive thing, again, I think in all of this is we're starting to get a better idea of what this fatality ratio is. We don't have
a clear idea on how transmissible or all the mechanisms by which it can be transmitted but the fatality does offer a little bit of solace.
KINKADE: It's seemingly low and the CDC is not in China but the WHO finally is there. All right. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, thanks so much.
GUPTA: I'll be back.
KINKADE: You certainly will. This story not going away.
The largest concentration, of course, of this outbreak outside of China is on board a quarantine cruise ship in Japan. Another 44 people on the
Diamond Princess have tested positive for the coronavirus.
And we are also hearing the Westerdam cruise ship owned by Holland America has arrived in Cambodia after weeks at sea. Will Ripley is covering that
story for us and joins us now live.
So we have heard these cruise ships were being described as contaminated prisons. Certainly people are struggling to stay on board in their cabin
day after day under this quarantine. You've been speaking to families with young families.
What are they telling you?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This has been the holiday from hell, let's put it frankly, especially for people on the Diamond Princess. At least
those on the Westerdam will be getting off the ship and getting on planes and going home because there was not a single case of coronavirus on that
ship.
The only thing that ship did was they stopped in Hong Kong, which has 51 confirmed cases.
But here in Yokohama, Japan, it's a much different situation. You have 219 cases on a cruise ship, the largest concentration outside of Mainland
China.
And of the more than 3,500 people who remain on the ship are parents with young children, who have had to find a way now in this second week of the
quarantine to keep the kids happy, occupied and keep them from going stir crazy.
So how are they doing that?
Well, take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: One, two, three, go.
RIPLEY (voice-over): This is what a cruise is supposed to be like. For parents with young children on the Diamond Princess, this only happens for
about an hour every few days. All those other hours are spent like this, waiting for the daily delivery of fresh toys, coloring books, crayons,
colorful beads.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I have this bracelet and also this one.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Arts and crafts can keep the kids busy for hours. Every morning, local jet skiers try to boost morale. Every evening, bunk
beds become trampolines.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Being trapped in this cabin, it makes you think and realize what we should appreciate, like the little moments, little details
of life.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Harvey is a young dad, who asked us not to use his last name. He's on the quarantined cruise ship with his entire family.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There's 11 of us and then 5 kids.
RIPLEY (voice-over): The youngest, 3. The oldest, 8.
What do you tell your children about why you guys are sitting there for this long?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We say there's like this invisible monster called the coronavirus and we can't go outside.
RIPLEY (voice-over): That invisible monster may have the parents more spooked than their kids. Nobody in Harvey's family is showing any symptoms
of novel coronavirus. He thinks they should all be tested anyway.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The numbers are kind of strange to me. I'm also worried because, even though I trust my own health, I don't want to be like an
invisible carrier.
RIPLEY (voice-over): The Japanese government has only tested a few hundred people out of more than 3,000 on the Diamond Princess.
Many are asking, why not test everyone at once?
Japan can only process around 300 test kits per day. The nation expects to more than triple its capacity by early next week. One day before the end of
the quarantine, the question many are asking, is it too little, too late?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If we are worried that we might be carrying, then it will affect our daily life when we go back.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's one of the major concerns. We don't want to be carrying it. We don't want to spread to the communities.
RIPLEY (voice-over): Harvey worries what could happen when they go back to Hong Kong.
Could he and his children be stigmatized?
Could they pass the virus to their neighbors, family and friends?
Peace of mind, he says, can only come if everyone on board is tested and if those tests come back negative.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIPLEY: CNN has learned that the Japanese government is now operating on the assumption they will have to test everybody on the ship before they get
off the ship. That's for their peace of mind and the peace of mind for everyone else in the communities they're going back to.
But what that could mean is a delay in when they actually get to get off and go home because it's not -- even if they're able to test a thousand
people a day and get those processed, there's still more than 3,000 people on board the ship right now.
KINKADE: Yes, certainly tough conditions for those people on board. Will Ripley, thanks for bringing us that report.
I want to go to David Culver for the big picture on what we now know.
And the big question about truth really, like how much can we determine what the real facts are when a Communist country is the only source?
DAVID CULVER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's something that you and Sanjay were hitting on with these numbers and this reclassification. It's the only
source we have, the Chinese government and the World Health Organization is going along with it.
Other countries seem to be supportive of it because the reality is, it's the one piece of data that we can fall back on, at least for now. So you
have to hope and trust that there is some transparency to it.
You also have to look at some of the larger actions that have been taken, namely political ones. And most recently, it's been the firing of two
senior party officials within Hubei province and in Wuhan. That in and of itself is indicative of how they'll be taking the fall here.
And the central government is trying to clean up what many perceive to have been a mess created at the local level.
Meantime, we are starting to get a better idea as to who is really being impacted by this. And it's not only everyday folks in the city of Wuhan or
really across Mainland China but it's also the medical workers. They quite literally are on the front line.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER (voice-over): China has likened it to a military operation, a nation's battle against the deadly novel coronavirus. It's placed health
care workers, doctors and nurses on the front lines.
Early on in the fight against the epidemic, Chinese state media aired emotional interviews like this one, one of the nurses explaining how she
had to reassure her own parents.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (through translator): I always say it's OK since we are well-protected. Actually, I was just saying that to give them peace of
mind. We're actually afraid and worried. But as long as we're on duty, our own sense of mission will support us to do the job.
CULVER (voice-over): While Chinese officials and state media praised the medical workers for their heroic efforts, CNN has spoken with some, who
feel they've been sent into battle without armor.
As a result, they say many of their colleagues have gone from treating patients to becoming one.
One Wuhan hospital nurse, who asked we not identify her, fearing repercussions for speaking with the media, told us by text, right now it's
really a problem. Our hospital has more than 100 people who are quarantined at home.
She's one of them. She says a chest scan revealed she had a suspected case of the virus. That same nurse describing to CNN the shortage of medical
supplies, often being posted on Chinese's social media site Weibo.
These posted on state-run "People's Daily" Weibo account show them in a Wuhan hospital so desperate they resorted to creating protective gear out
of plastic trash bags. Something that Chinese health officials have publicly acknowledged.
And even while they've ramped up production of supplies, some feel it's arriving too late.
And this nurse posted she contracted the virus and is now a patient at the same hospital where she works.
"The inpatient floor I live on is filled with colleagues from my hospital," she posted. Adding, "I'm afraid the virus inside my body will come out and
infect these colleagues who are still standing fast on the front line."
DR. IVAN HUNG, HONG KONG UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL: It is a battle.
CULVER (voice-over): We video chatted with Dr. Hong, an infectious disease doctor at Hong Kong University Hospital. He warns it's not the health care
workers working directly with the confirmed coronavirus patients who are most at risk but rather --
HUNG: Those who are in the general medical ward or in the emergency -- accident emergency areas, where they triage these patients, where they are
not -- perhaps not aware that they are actually carrying the virus.
CULVER (voice-over): That is precisely what happened to Dr. Li, the 34- year-old Wuhan ophthalmologist who contracted the virus in mid-January. Just two weeks after trying to sound the alarm of a then mysterious SARS-
like illness, local police reprimanded him. Li spoke with CNN briefly by phone on January 31st.
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CULVER (voice-over): Struggling to communicate, you could hear the hospital machines pulsing in the background. He died a week later.
Li's death and the fight so many health care workers are now enduring, a reminder of the dangers facing those tasked to stop the spread.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
CULVER: We're just learning about some more of the extreme containment efforts that are currently being employed here, some that have received
criticism. Others have received praise, even the World Health Organization considering them to be somewhat effective here.
And this most recently coming out of a town just outside of Wuhan. The new regulations mean, starting tomorrow, residential complexes and apartment
complexes, homes will be sealed off and you cannot leave. They'll be bringing basic necessities in, banning vehicle traffic. It's essentially
going to be sealing off all the homes.
Of course, there are exceptions being medical workers. Besides that, everyday folks have to rely on the food and basic necessities coming to
them.
KINKADE: So tough. You mentioned earlier, David, just about the information, how we're getting it and China's response. Clearly China was
quick to build these two new hospitals to handle the outbreak.
But in the beginning they seemed to cover up and criticize the doctor who tried to flag this new virus back in December. And now we're seeing some
pretty high-profile sackings in Wuhan.
CULVER: I think what's crucial here is the distinction between local and central government. And it doesn't mean that central government is absolved
of all wrongdoing here but they certainly have come in.
And the perception from a lot of folks we were talking to earlier on, who were critical of the local government and their handling of things, is the
central government, at least started to take action a lot quicker once it reached that level.
That's the precedent that's trying to be set with some of these political figures being fired in a very public way and being pushed out and being
replaced very overtly with proteges of President Xi Jinping.
It's his opportunity to say how he feels about how it was handled at a local level and, at the same time, he's now given an opportunity to show
the world how transparent they will be.
Perhaps this reclassification, if you give it the benefit of the doubt is going to be one that allows more transparency. It remains to be seen.
Ultimately this is now a stepped-up containment effort that's been handled from the top.
KINKADE: Certainly a big test for China. David Culver in Beijing. Will Ripley in Yokohama, Japan. Thank you both for this.
Still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD, Sudan works to change its narrative. The ouster of its president, turning its back on terrorism, Sudan looks to
join the international community. We'll have a live report, next.
Plus, good news to report from Australia. Several wildfires there now contained but authorities warn the danger is not yet over. We'll look back
on the massive devastation across the continent. Stay with us.
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KINKADE: Sudan wants to make over its image in the world. You might remember these pictures from 20 years ago. The U.S.S. Cole bombed by Al
Qaeda in Yemen. The U.S. court later concluded Sudan provided aid to Al Qaeda.
Now Sudan says it will pay the families of the victims $30 million as it tries to move forward.
Sudan also wants to close the books on the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania also carried out by Al Qaeda. CNN saying talks are
ongoing for settlement with the families. They're wanting to be taken off the state sponsors of terrorism list.
This week the transitional government announced it would hand over ousted president Omar al Bashir to the International Criminal Court. CNN's Nima
Elbagir has reported extensively from Sudan and has just returned from a trip there. She joins us from London.
Good to have you with us. Certainly this seems to be a lot of concessions from Sudan.
How crucial is it for them to normalize relations with the U.S. and with the international community?
NIMA ELBAGIR, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: This is very much about getting the U.S. on board. We saw the head of the transitional
council meeting with prime minister Netanyahu of Israel, which would have been unthinkable even just a year ago.
There's very much a sense that Sudan wants the U.S. to check the box and say that all of the past has now firmly been put behind this new iteration
of the Sudanese government.
Take a look at this, Lynda.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ELBAGIR (voice-over): A tragedy far from home that would sow the seeds for the September 11 attacks on U.S. soil. More than 200 American, Tanzanian
and Kenyan lives lost in the 1998 twin bombings of the U.S. embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi. Two years later, 17 American servicemen murdered
in the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen.
The U.S. blamed Osama bin Laden but they said he had help from his then host nation of Sudan.
GEORGE W. BUSH, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's a constant reminder that people who wear our uniform make sacrifices.
ELBAGIR (voice-over): Acknowledgment for the families of the American victims at least. The Sudan justice minister said Sudan has agreed to pay
victims' families $30 million. As part of our efforts to remove Sudan's name from the U.S. state sponsors of terror list, on February 7th an
agreement was signed with the families of the victims of the 2000 U.S.S. Cole attack.
We entered into this agreement out of a keenness to settle the historic allegations of terrorism created by the former regime.
Last year, we reported on the Sudanese regime's brutal crackdown on pro- democracy demonstrators, winning a settlement for American families has been a key priority for the Trump administration, even as the litany of
torture and death grew, we discovered the U.S. was continuing normalization talks with now-deposed dictator al Bashir.
For the victims' families, this means closure. For Sudan, this is the beginning of the journey back in from the cold.
In the aftermath of the country's historic revolution, Sudan is desperately in need of a fresh start. The hope is that these settlements and renewed
U.S. support will pave the way for much-needed debt relief and a brighter future for the country and its people.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ELBAGIR: So it's not just the Sudanese government that stands to gain from this. This is very much about the U.S. political scene as well.
KINKADE: It certainly is. I want to ask you about that. Only recently the Trump administration added Sudan to its new travel ban list.
Is there a sense or an indication the concessions by Sudan will mean that that position on that list will change?
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ELBAGIR: That's certainly what members of the Sudanese government are hearing from behind the scenes. But that doesn't stop the Trump
administration from playing fast and loose with certain security concerns they say they have around members of countries from these so-called Muslim
ban list nations, Sudan being one of them.
But all the signs the Sudanese are getting is that Sudan is being moved off that list of state sponsors of terror. It's necessary. It's important. It's
the only way this transitional government and the democracy experiment itself will survive. Whether they can trust President Trump, just months
out from inaction, that all still remains to be seen.
KINKADE: It certainly does. We'll see how this plays out. Nima Elbagir, thanks so much.
Coming up here, CNN sits down with one of the architects of Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan. That interview is straight ahead. Stay with us.
You're watching CNN.
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KINKADE: Welcome back.
A couple of days ago, Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas visited the United Nations, stating loud and clear that Palestinians will not
accept the Trump administration's proposed Middle East plan, even as the creators of that plan called it an opportunity of a lifetime.
CNN's Oren Liebermann sat down with one of those architects, President Trump's former special representative for international negotiations and
former Middle East envoy, Jason Greenblatt. Oren is standing by in Jerusalem with more on that interview.
Certainly a great get, getting that interview.
[11:30:00]
KINKADE: We know for more than two years, Greenblatt worked alongside Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner to devise this very divisive Middle East
peace plan.
Just what did he tell you?
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Jason Greenblatt was a critical part of this team for years until he stepped away a few months ago. He's still
intimately familiar with the details of the plan.
It's a fascinating time to speak with him because, just a couple of days ago, Mahmoud Abbas was shredding this plan, saying it's not the basis for
negotiations.
But Greenblatt believes Abbas could still be a partner for peace with the Israelis.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LIEBERMANN: Jason Greenblatt, thank you for sitting down with us. We're 2.5 weeks from an Israeli election, another one.
Are we going to see Israel annex parts of the West Bank before that election?
JASON GREENBLATT, FORMER U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE: I think prime minister Netanyahu has been clear. He's been working with the White House.
It's something we'll have to watch and wait and see what the Israeli government decides to do. I'm confident they'll do it in coordination with
the White House.
LIEBERMANN: You think it will happen immediately after the election then?
GREENBLATT: I'm not going to speculate.
LIEBERMANN: Do you see a situation in which there is an annexation before the U.S. election in November?
GREENBLATT: Again, I don't want to speculate. It's a decision the Israeli government has to make. But I believe that they've committed to work with
the White House and they'll do it together in a way that makes sense for them.
LIEBERMANN: Members of the administration, that is the Trump administration, as well as Israeli ambassador to the U.N. Danny Danon
pointed out this is a starting point for negotiations. Except it appears to only be a starting point of negotiations for one side, whereas Israel gets
a green light to annex.
How do you square that circle?
Those seem like two different offers to two different sides?
GREENBLATT: The two sides have to be together at the table. If the Palestinian leadership decides to ignore the offer on the table, life goes
on. They cannot continue to turn down offers and not even engage.
This is an historic time for the Palestinians. They could either engage and go down the road and see if peace could be achieved or choose not to and
then time will move on. You can't keep land empty forever.
LIEBERMANN: If they engage, does the administration stop Israel from annexing and begin a negotiations process before there's annexation?
GREENBLATT: I don't know how that's going to work. Depends when they engage, what the annexation process is, how seriously they engage. It's
something I can't predict. I don't want to speculate.
LIEBERMANN: Two days ago, Israel's ambassador to the U.N. says for progress to be made, Mahmoud Abbas has to go. There has to be a change of
leadership.
Do you agree?
GREENBLATT: We, the United States, are not regime change agents. So president Abbas is the leader of the Palestinians, who live in Judea and
Samaria, what others call the West Bank.
He's not the leader of the Palestinians in Gaza. Sadly, they're subjugated by Hamas. But he's the leader today. And I believe he's the leader who has
the ability and the power engage on this and bring Palestinians home to a realistic state.
If he chooses not to, that's his prerogative but we don't call for regime change. It's not appropriate.
LIEBERMANN: You think by what you said that Abbas could be a partner for peace?
GREENBLATT: If he takes it seriously, he could be a partner for peace. He's an historical figure. He has something to him among Palestinian people
that I think they'll respect a deal that he brings to them. But he has to be willing to do it. He has to be courageous enough to do that. And I hope
he does it.
LIEBERMANN: We're aware of the reality of Abbas' situation. He's aging.
Have you thought about who you'd see or like to see to replace Abbas?
GREENBLATT: I don't look past president Abbas. I spoke to him many times in 2017 until they cut us off. Our deal was designed for president Abbas.
If there's a new leader, I hope the new leader is able to take it seriously. To me, president Abbas is the leader who can bring this deal
home.
LIEBERMANN: You see normalization happening between Israel and the Arab states with the Palestinians coming to the table or without?
GREENBLATT: Certainly with. Without, I would say over time. I don't -- nobody in the region is interested in abandoning the Palestinians. Every
leader that I spoke to in the region, every society, all the people, they want to help the Palestinian people. Nobody wants to leave them behind or
desert them.
However, they also themselves all need to move forward. They'll do it within their own political space, within their own national security space.
They'll all make their own decisions. Slowly but surely we're seeing dramatic shifts.
LIEBERMANN: How soon until we see president Benjamin Netanyahu or any other prime minister after these elections or next elections meeting with
the leader of, for example, Saudi Arabia?
GREENBLATT: That's a great question. I don't know the answer but, like the economic transactions, they're essential to getting past this conflict. I
think that's again a mistake from the past.
I understand why it happened but I think the time has come to recognize those meetings can only enhance the prospects for peace and enhance
everybody's lives.
LIEBERMANN: One of the key points and arguments I believe you've made and other members of the peace team have made, once the Palestinian people see
what's in the plan for them, the economic in Bahrain.
[11:35:00]
LIEBERMANN: And the political part, they'll put pressure on their leaders to make change to engage to come to the table here. Yet recent polling from
the Palestinian center for policy and survey research has shown 94 percent of Palestinians oppose the plan.
Do you think that's going to change and why does that number stand in such opposition to the expectation you had?
GREENBLATT: I never said this would pressure the leadership. I'm not even sure that's possible. What I did say and still agree with, despite the
poll. I've seen the poll. They will take the time to absorb the plan and realize how many benefits could come to them from the plan.
Ultimately, it really is up to them. If they don't want this plan, then nobody is going to force them to take the plan. Nobody can force a deal
here. It's one of the most fundamental problems with the way this plan continues to be handled by the Palestinian Authority.
There is no country in the world, not the U.S., the world superpower, no group of countries like the European Union, not the United Nations who
could force a deal here.
The only road to peace lies through the leadership of the Palestinian people and the leadership of Israel. If they work together to get through
this, then everybody else will help them get through it. Nobody is going to deliver anything without the two sides getting together and negotiating
directly.
LIEBERMANN: If you look at the current state of Israeli politics, the mess that it is but regardless of that mess, Netanyahu's coalition partners, to
the right of the Likud Party have rejected it outright.
Do you think it would be hard to get a majority because of its endorsement of a Palestinian state?
GREENBLATT: I would not have predicted a third election. Like the Palestinians, it's up to the Israelis. The only difference is the Israelis
have a democratically elected government and the people do get to vote freely and also freedom of speech. How they end up reacting to it in the
next government, you know, your guess is as good as mine.
LIEBERMANN: Let's get that government first.
Are there parts of the plan you don't like?
GREENBLATT: That's an interesting question. No, I was one of the chief architects with Jared Kushner and David Freedman and stand by it 100
percent. I think it's an achievable plan, realistic. It requires tough compromises on both sides.
But I think it is something that could really just allow both societies to thrive and prosper and live together in a way like never before.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LIEBERMANN: One of the things Greenblatt wouldn't speculate about is the timing of all this movement on the Israelis side or on the U.S. side. The
formation of a U.S.-Israel joint committee to map out the annexation.
The timing is crucial here. Although he's no longer on the inside of the team, the timing is something we'll be watching very carefully, certainly
before the election but of course, after it as well.
KINKADE: Yes, I want to get more of a sense on how this is playing out in Israel ahead of the election given that the Palestinians clearly are not
buying into this Middle East peace plan.
LIEBERMANN: It's playing much bigger on the Israeli side, of course. Prime minister Netanyahu welcomed the plan upon its release. We saw how jubilant
he was when it was put out there and promised annexation within a week.
That hasn't happened and that's turned into disappointment for the right wing who still push Netanyahu to annex as quickly as possible. If there is
no annexation before the election which is now 2.5 weeks away, it's beginning to seem likely there won't be annexation, it could cost
Netanyahu.
So it seems he's tried to shift this campaign away from that and onto other subjects, onto other topics to talk about. Meanwhile, the Palestinians have
rejected it. However it plays out, we'll be watching it on this end and whether it becomes a wedge issue.
As I said in the interview, those to the right of the Likud Party have rejected the endorsement of a Palestinian state and are trying to score
right-wing points in doing so.
KINKADE: Oren Liebermann, we'll leave it there. Great interview. Thanks so much for bringing that perspective.
This hour, we are also following a political shake-up in the U.K. as prime minister Boris Johnson reshuffles his cabinet. U.K. finance minister has
resigned. His departure is the most high-profile change to the government. Sajid Javid is the shortest serving finance minister since 1970.
Javid will be replaced by a rising star in the Conservative Party and previously served as chief secretary to the treasury.
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KINKADE: Let's get you up to speed on other stories that are on our radar.
British regulators are investigating the CEO of Barclays over his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The company says Jess
Staley knew Epstein professionally but Staley told Barclays he had no contact with him since becoming head of the bank back in 2015. Epstein died
in jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
The investigation into Italy's former interior minister can begin. It comes after the senate voted to drop Matteo Salvini's legal immunity. The
investigation stemmed from Salvini when he was in office not allowing 130 rescued migrants to disembark in Italy.
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KINKADE: A source tells CNN Britain's Prince Harry is in talks with Goldman Sachs about an appearance on an online interview program. The
series talks at regularly features people from the business world as well as other professions. Guests are not paid for their appearances.
Still ahead on the show --
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Deep under the mountains of South Korea, with no natural sunlight, something is growing. It's a salad.
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KINKADE: A highway tunnel becoming an underground farm. It's next in today's "Call to Earth."
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[11:40:00]
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KINKADE: "Call to Earth" is a call to action for the environment to share solutions to critical issues like global warming. Deforestation or plastic
waste. It's a long-term priority for all of us here at CNN to work with you, our audience, to drive awareness and inspire change. So we can enter a
sustainable future.
In this week's "Call to Earth" it may seem like an unlikely place to be growing fruit but one company is going underground to tackle the challenge
of production of food for the future.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Deep under the mountains of South Korea with no natural sunlight, something is growing. It's a salad. This is the
world's first commercial tunnel farm constructed inside a disused highway tunnel. This man created it.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This tunnel was the very first highway in South Korea.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): The tunnel's sharp curve caused several collisions so they decided to carve out a new, more gently curved route
next door. The old tunnel is now being used to grow salads, leafy greens, even strawberries and to encourage them to grow, classical music is being
played throughout the tunnel.
Chai recommends Beethoven over Schubert.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The biggest advantage of an indoor farm is that you can keep the amount of sunshine steady.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Using LED lights allows Chai and his team to grow year round. They emit only the spectrum of lights that plants use
to photosynthesize. New methods like this can help tackle food production in the face of climate crisis.
[11:45:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Global warming is already escalating soil erosion, water scarcity and the loss of vegetation, leading to declining
yields in crops.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): The population is only growing but the environment is getting worse to grow various vegetables. I think this
will be the only alternative to put healthy food on our table in the future.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): In 2017, agriculture accounted for 9 percent of all global greenhouse gas emissions but vertical farming could
radically reduce this figure.
The space taken up by a traditional farm is huge, often requiring trees to be cleared and the vehicles that till the land or harvest crops burn even
more fossil fuels. Traditional farms use much more water than vertical farms. And it's usually lost in the soil and can't be recycled.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): Common indoor farms control the temperature and humidity using a lot of electrical energy. But underground
tunnels like this create a natural heat exchange, maintaining a steady temperature.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): And that's what makes this farm uniquely successful. In fact, Chai has planned to build many more farms
using the same technology but in suitable urban locations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): I think the system to grow crops far away from the city and then transport them will disappear. Plants
easily grown at home, at nearby stores or even at metro stations. That's the kind of urban farm I think will take place all over the world.
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KINKADE: A farm in a metro station. Wouldn't that be a good idea. We'll continue showcasing inspirational stories like that as part of our new
initiative. And let us know what you're doing to answer the call with #CallToEarth.
This is CNN. We'll take a quick break. We'll be right back.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a bush fire crisis that just gets worse every day.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Have you ever seen anything like this before?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Never in my life.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As far as this vessel is concerned, they have been brought here to conduct any evacuations.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Water bombing aircraft have just been activated. Allowing them to hit those fire hot spots as much as possible.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Julianne and Bruce are one of thousands of families that have returned to their homes that are no longer there. And while the
rain has arrived, it's only short lived. Those dry, hot conditions are expected to return and there are still months remaining of Australia's fire
season.
[11:50:00]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Basically, I'm outlining the inaction of our government and saying that we're tired, we're done. It's time for change.
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KINKADE: CNN there on the ground in Australia reporting on the devastating bushfire season which started back in September and has been dragging on
for months and months.
Today we have some much-needed good news. After heavy record-breaking rain, all of the fires in the state of New South Wales have now been contained.
One fire north of Sydney burning for 210 days, that's more than half a year, has finally been put out. A couple of dozen fires south of Sydney are
still burning but they are under control. That's according to the fire services.
In this moment of good news, I want to take a moment to reflect. I'm an Australian, of course. And watching this crisis unfold from the other side
of the world has left a constant pit in my stomach. We are, of course, used to seeing bushfires every year.
But this fire season was different. Starting with the sheer scale. Since September, nearly 18 million hectares of bush land and forest have burned.
At least 33 people have died. And over 3,000 families have lost their homes.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was a war. It was an Armageddon. It was black here. You couldn't see more than 20 meters. There was heat. There were
explosions. There was flying -- I came over this morning expecting to see no houses. And how people didn't die here yesterday is beyond me.
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KINKADE: You'll also remember these heartbreaking images, toddlers having to bid farewell to their fathers. Volunteer firefighters, who sacrificed
their lives to battle the blaze.
As skies turned blood red leaving parts of the country choking under some of the worst air pollution in the world, our beaches washed up ash, turning
the sand black. And our animals lay strewn on the side of the road. Over a billion were killed, many like this koala, desperately in need of water.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: At the moment, it's well over a billion native mammals, birds and reptiles.
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KINKADE: We're seeing these pictures, it was sometimes incomprehensible. They felt in a sense like an attack on what we identify as being
Australian. The sun, the beach, the animals, family and one of the biggest parts of our Australian identity is nature. Joining our hands when you need
it the most.
That we've seen throughout the devastation. We've seen some extraordinary acts of bravery, of courage, of kindness. Both the nation and from across
the world. Uniting to help those who have been impacted.
But this fight is not over yet. Authorities are warning the fire risk is certainly not over. Typically, it ends in March. Right now there are severe
storms, flash flooding and a cyclone battering the country. And those flooding rains have already raised fears that the debris and ash will be
swept into the water supply.
Australia, no doubt, is resilient. It will recover and certainly many people are looking at ways to minimize this fire risk in the future.
Australia's climate crisis has been building over the years with the weather getting hotter and drier for decades before this season's raging
bushfires.
The continent was grappling with extreme heat and one of the worst droughts in history. We can read all about that and much more by logging on to
cnn.com.
The road to recovery sure to be long and tough. If you want to help the victims of Australia's devastating bushfires, please log on. Check out our
cnn.com/impact. You'll find plenty of links to information on charities we've vetted that can help in the effort.
I want to tell you now about the oil company trying to go green. It's an ambitious new initiative from BP. The plan includes eliminating or
offsetting all of its carbon emissions by 2050. Critics are criticizing the announcement, calling it vague.
Climate change movements like the Extinction Rebellion have targeted oil companies like BP and Shell in the past, many times with protesters
covering themselves in fake oil to show their anger. We'll stay on that story and see how that pans out with their efforts.
We want to go to an unusual view of wildlife. It's two mice fighting over crumbs. Not your typical wildlife photo.
[11:00:00]
KINKADE: Try telling that to the photographer, Sam Rowley. This image capturing those two mice in the London subway platform has won a
prestigious award for wildlife photography from London's Natural History Museum.
It's called "Station Squabble" and it was picked from more than 48,000 images.
Rowley says he spent several nights trying to lie on the ground at London's Underground stations just to capture a moment like that.
Looks like a boxing match.
I'm Lynda Kinkade. Find me on Twitter @LyndaKinkade. That was CONNECT THE WORLD. Thank you for watching. I'll see you same time tomorrow.
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