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More Than 2000 Flights Canceled Today; China Attempts To Disinfect Entire City Of Xi'An; The Life And Legacy Of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired December 27, 2021 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ELENI GIOKOS, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Eleni Giokos. I'm on for Becky Anderson. Welcome to CONNEC THE WORLD live in Dubai.
We begin with the Omicron surge creating more problems for travelers. More than 2000 flights have been canceled today across the world as the COVID
variant continues to hit the aviation industry. Over the Christmas weekend more than 6000 flights globally were canceled as airline staff and crew
called out sick. And the German airline, Lufthansa says its canceling 10 percent of its winter flight schedule because of what it calls a sharp drop
in bookings.
Meanwhile, France is mulling possible new restrictions. President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet with his cabinet in the next hour. And British Prime
Minister Boris Johnson's medical advisors are briefing him today as they do regularly. Downing Street tells us no major announcements are expected to
follow that meeting. CNN's Salma Abdelaziz is in London for us and she joins us live.
Salma, you're seeing across wider Europe. Many restrictions mandates coming into play and this having such a huge impact on the airline industry.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: Absolutely, Eleni. I mean, as the Omicron variant picks up pace across the continent breaking record cases, well,
that means more flight cancellations and more travel disruptions. Consumers, of course, are less demanding of flights when people canceling
their plans during the Christmas period because of their fears around the Omircon variant or if you're in London, one out of 20 people testing
positive just before the travel periods.
You can imagine how many cancellations that cause. And then in addition to that, the other element you're seeing here of course, is sickout. Is
airline staff unable to make it to work, which means logistical and operational issues. As you mentioned, more than 2000 flights canceled just
today. Over the Christmas period, those three days more than 6000 flights canceled globally. We've been in touch with airliners.
British Airways telling us today that they've had to cancel a small number of flights due to operational constraints. Lufthansa also canceling 10
percent of its scheduled winter flights because again of lower demand. And it comes as more restrictions are being considered. European leaders back
in their offices today. I'm going to start with France where record breaking numbers of COVID cases were seen on Saturday.
More than 100,000 people recorded sick with COVID on Saturday. The biggest number that country's seen since the start of the pandemic. French
president Emmanuel Macron will be holding an emergency meeting today and is expected to announce new restrictions here in the U,K. of course. We're
also seeing record breaking numbers. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is being briefed by his scientific advisors and could potentially consider more
restrictions here.
As well Austria another country that is looking at tightening its measures, tightening lockdown rules, limiting travel particularly from countries like
the U.K. to limit the spread of the Omircon and all of this as we barrel of course, towards New Year's Eve, Eleni. I would expect that we're going to
see more and more disruptions.
GIOKOS: Yes. Salma, and truly it is devastating for travelers and people that are stuck with those thousands of flights that have been canceled.
Thank you very much for that update.
Right. As Omicron cases surge in the U.S., President Joe Biden is under pressure to boost America's testing capacity. And to do it fast. Just take
a look at the scenes at testing sites around the country. Long lines, people often waiting for hours to get tested for COVID-19 and the nation's
top health expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci addressed the issue with my colleague, Kaitlan Collins. Take a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTHONY FAUCI, CHIEF MEDICAL ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES: You know, testing is always been an issue, Kait and that has been problematic.
It has been compounded by the situation of the high demands. We had a conflation of high demands. High demands because of the concern about
Omicron which is adjustifiable concern but the high demand that was triggered by the holiday season.
[10:05:03]
FAUCI: People getting ready to travel, getting ready to go and mix with family members and friends. It's been a very, very strong run on testing.
And, you know, obviously not making any excuses for it, we should have had more tests available. But hopefully now as we get into the first couple of
weeks in January, that'll get much better.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: Omicron is spreading at rates unseen during the pandemic with daily infections. In some U.S. states, soaring to record levels, but with this
wave. Hospitalizations have remained relatively low compared to other peaks. This is similar to what we've seen with the Omicron variant in other
parts of the world. And this is important data. So we're going to bring in Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen to walk us through those
numbers.
And this is so significant because if you've got a rise in cases, we need to ascertain if these illnesses are severe enough that they're causing
hospitalizations and causing pressure in terms of capacity with regards to what the hospitals can actually deal with.
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Eleni. I want to make something clear before I share this data. Just because Omicron
thank goodness is causing to a large degree mild disease, we are still going to see a strain on medical resources for a couple of reasons. One,
the numbers are going to be so huge, the case numbers will be so huge, that even if a small percentage end up in the hospital, a small percentage of a
big number can still be a very big number.
And the second reason is that even if people don't end up in the hospital, they want to get tested. We've seen what a mess that has been in the United
States. They want to call their doctor. They want to go to an urgent care center. All of those things put a strain on the medical system. So let's
take a look in the United States what the numbers look like. When we're looking at cases, it has risen dramatically in the past month.
A month ago, we had about 75,000 cases a day in the United States. Now we have more like 200,000 cases. So 75,000 to 200,000 over the course of one
month, but hospitals have not gone up as dramatically. You can see by this line, it's gone up but not nearly as dramatically as cases. Now let's take
a look at the number that really is striking fear in people's hearts. The number of people getting vaccinated for the first time has gone down way
down over the past month.
About a month ago was 425,000 people per day were getting their first shots. Now it's 170,000. So you have millions and millions of Americans who
have not even gotten a first shot. Those folks remain particularly vulnerable to getting very, very sick from Omicron and to spreading it to
the rest of us. Eleni?
GIOKOS: Yes. And I mean, interestingly, the data that we seeing from countries like South Africa is that the unvaccinated are most at risk of
getting severe illness. And when you just showed me that data, the question is how does one protect themselves from Omicron? Vaccines seem to still be
the most important barriers to create that protection. What about mosques? What about social distancing? If it's also transmissible, how do you
protect yourself against Omicron?
COHEN: Right. So as you said, vaccination, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself get a booster if you're more than six months past
your second shot. That's the role at least in the United States. Masking is still important, social distancing is still important. But, you know, we
have to be very clear. Those may not work quite as well as they did with Delta. Because this variant, Omircon is so transmissible.
Should you still wear a mask? Yes. Should you still do your best to stay away from people, especially if they're not vaccinated? Yes. Will it be as
effective? No, it won't. We are going to find people who are vaccinated and who are careful who are still getting infected, but because they're
vaccinated, chances are they will have mild disease. It is much more likely you're going to get very sick if you're unvaccinated. Eleni?
GIOKOS: Yes, yes. And it's really interesting. I mean, the the numbers don't lie with regards to how being vaccinated and getting third jab can
protect you against Omicron. Thank you very much for that update.
In the global battle against COVID 19 officials in northwestern China are taking extraordinary measures to stem the tide of rising cases. Local
authorities in Xi'An began disinfecting the entire city Sunday. 13 million people were told to close their windows and doors and avoid touching
outdoor surfaces. The order comes as current health guidelines do not recommend mass disinfection of outdoor environments.
We've got Senior CNN International Correspondent Ivan Watson joining us now live from Hong Kong with more on the details. I mean, I've got so many
questions. How does one disinfect an entire city and take us through the process and where they are right now?
[10:10:00]
IVAN WATSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is -- this is a dramatic move. Xi'An, the capital of Shaanxi is China's latest kind of
COVID hotspot. And we have to be relative about this compared to most other countries around the world, the fact that Xi'An might be detecting more
than 150 new cases a day. Most of the countries would love to have numbers like that.
But China has a zero case approach to COVID. If there's even one case, it starts to adopt these very draconian measures, such that the entire city of
Xi'An some 13 million residents are being told not to leave their homes unless there are these priority workers, medical health care workers are
working in the supermarkets or what have you. And then the city government has taken the additional measure of spraying down all the public spaces
with disinfectant and telling people not to open their doors or windows or touch anything outside.
This despite the fact that the Chinese Center for Disease Control, its own guidelines warn against excessive disinfection and mass disinfection of the
outdoor environment. But clearly, the city administrators in Xi'An are under some pressure because the Chinese Communist Party's Central
Commission for Discipline Inspection has announced that 26 city officials have been reprimanded for "insufficient response to the epidemic control."
So not only our residents when these outbreaks happen in different cities, and we've seen them kind of rolling and then they get kind of squelched by
mass lockdowns and then mass testing. Xi'An is going into a fourth round of trying to test its entire population. Since this outbreak began on December
9th. They do succeed in tamping down, but it also puts the city and the local governments under immense pressure as well.
GIOKOS: Ivan, thank you very much for that update. Good to see you.
South Korea has authorized the emergency use of an oral antiviral treatment for COVID-19. The Pfizer medication called Paxlovid will be used on
patients with a high risk of developing a severe case of the disease because of underlying health conditions. And other oral treatment developed
by Merck is still waiting for emergency approval. Now if you test positive for COVID-19 in Singapore, you may have to isolate with a total stranger.
Health officials say patients 16 and older can be placed in isolation with a person of the same gender even if they don't know each other. With more
than 200 new cases reported Sunday officials say the decision is to optimize capacity. Private rooms may be available upon request and
availability.
All right. Still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD. More on the Christmas travel nightmare, as thousands of flights are canceled due to COVID. A live report
from one of the busiest airports in the world coming up.
And South Africa mourns the death of anti apartheid icon Desmond Tutu. I'll speak with the head of a foundation named after the man who inspired people
the world over to strive for better tomorrow.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT: So we are enormously diminished by his passing. But at the same time we are filled with a celebratory
moment that we should use this opportunity to celebrate his life and to try and draw as much as we possibly can the various good things that he sought
to impart to us.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was one of our nation's finest patriots. He was a man of unwavering courage, of principle conviction, and whose life was
spent in the service of others. He in many ways embody to the essence of our humanity.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GIOKOS: And that was South African President Cyril Ramaphosa honoring his countrymen, Archbishop Desmond Tutu just moments ago. The Nobel Prize
winning human rights advocates died on Sunday. Tributes from around the world have poured in for the anti apartheid activist, and week of
remembrance events have been organized in South Africa. Tutu's official funeral service will be held on Saturday at St. George's Cathedral in Cape
Town.
Our Robyn Curnow has more now on Desmond Tutu.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DESMOND TUTU, NOBEL PEACE PRIZE-WINNING ANGLICAN CLERIC: To say to you continue in the struggle. Continue in the struggle make South Africa free.
ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): When he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, the anti apartheid movement was under attack. The minority
government had banned the African National Congress and imprisoned its leaders. It was the clergy led by Tutu that stepped in to fill the void.
A decade later, the struggle paid off when South Africa held its very first Democratic election in 1994.
(on camera): For you in your life, what do you think has been the greatest thing you've ever done?
TUTU: Well, I say to people, that my happiest moment was when I was told I'm a father for the first time when our son was born, I was on cloud nine.
A close second to that is 1994 when I was standing on the balcony of the city hall, overlooking the grand parade, and introducing Nelson Mandela to
the crowd to South Africa to the world.
Ladies and gentlemen, friends, fellow South Africans, I ask you, welcome our brand-new state president out of the box, Nelson Mandela.
I actually say to God, God, I don't mind if I die now.
CURNOW (voice over): As a New Democracy took hold in South Africa, Tutu was again called on to lead. In 1995, President Nelson Mandela appointed him as
chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in front of a nation desperate to heal. A man never afraid to speak his mind, wasn't afraid to
show his emotion either.
GRACA MACHEL, CO-FOUNDER, "THE ELDERS": He is a person whose life was always dedicated to others. And the thing that has enriched him also in
knowing how to connect to different kinds of people in different states, but he committed very, very, very well.
TUTU: We owe our freedom to extraordinary people.
CURNOW: In 2007, he joined a group Prominent world leaders called The Elders. Their mission focusing the world's attention on all forms of in
justices.
[10:20:06]
CURNOW: Any regrets, sir?
TUTU: Being maybe too abrasive. And because I was right so easily becoming self righteous.
CURNOW: For you to say that?
TUTU: Yes. Yes. You know, we knew we we're right. But it was so easy for that to turn and you get to feel a lot better than your opponent. Whereas
you aren't -- you're all cause children.
CURNOW: Tutu officially retired from public life in 2010, but remained in the public eye. A man and afraid of criticism and threats from an apartheid
government. Before his 80th birthday celebration n 2011, Tutu lashed out at the South African government for denying the Dalai Lama a visa.
TUTU: One day, when you start praying for the defeat of the ANC government, you are disgraceful. I want to warn you, you are behaving in a way that is
totally at variance with the things for which we stood.
CURNOW: The country's moral compass with a voice to match.
TUTU: But in the last day --
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GIOKOS: My next guest is the chairperson of the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation. His organization described the anti apartheid campaigner
as a living embodiment of faith in action. And noted that he spoke out against injustices not just in apartheid South Africa, but wherever in the
world he saw wrongdoing. Niclas Kjellstrom-Matseke joins me now from Cape Town, South Africa.
Niclas, thank you very much for joining us. Firstly, condolences to you, to the people in the foundation and to the Arch's family.
NICLAS KJELLSTROM-MATSEKE, CHAIRPERSON DESMOND AND LEAH TUTU LEGACY FOUNDATION: Well, thank you, Elena, for having me here. And thank you so
much for the condolences and the expression of gratitude and warmth to the -- to the family.
GIOKOS: And Niclas, I think I speak for many South Africans. This is an emotional time. It's a painful time. It's hard. But looking back at the
images and some of the, you know, the clips that we saw from the Arch. He was such a cool guy. He was so much fun. He always joked, he had multiple
pots of wisdom. He scolded us when we needed to be scolded like we were his children. I want you to take me through some of the most interesting
encounters you've had with him over the past while and how you've been given the task to ensure that you make good on what he stands for through
the foundation.
KJELLSTROM-MATSEKE: Well, thank you so much. And yes, I have so many great stories to share from the Archbishop Desmond Tutu and actually the very
first time I met with him, I was standing in front of my house in Sweden at the time with my four children, and they were young and queuing up waiting
for this prominent guest of ours. And they asked me daddy, who is this Is a this a king or is a president or what is he?
And I said no. He's an archbishop. And my kids were very young, didn't really know what that was. And I said, it's kind of a breeze. But he's the
boss. He's the leader. And he's very important. The kids were not so impressed. And when the cars rolled up, and the Archbishop, no delay
stepped out. Father looked at me. And then he looked at the children, and he walked up to my oldest son who was eight at the time.
And fist bumped him and said, hey, what's up? And that's how he could connect with anyone at any time on any level. The children burst out in
laughter, they ran up and hugged him. And since that day, they have that communication with no filters. I'm sharing this because the Archbishop
would do this with anyone to connect.
GIOKOS: Yes. Absolutely. He was as I said, infectious laugh. He was cool. And, you know, I remember we played the clip art in Robyn Curnow's package.
When he scolded the ANC and he warned the ANC that they are disgraceful. Their behavior is disgraceful. How would you describe what he thought of
the psyche of South Africa in the last few years? Because I know that he's been out of the public eye for some time.
But did you get a sense of whether he felt disappointment or that we were on the right track in South Africa?
KJELLSTROM-MATSEKE: No, absolutely. I mean, every time we met if the two minutes it would be into politics. And South African politics, the global
politics, American politics, he would call out anyone.
[10:25:09]
KJELLSTROM-MATSEKE: Old friends, old foes, if they did wrong. And he would see that in amongst the groups of his old friends within the political
party that was so profoundly important for the liberation of South Africa. But he would see that if there was wrongdoing, he would call them out. It
didn't matter if it was a clerk, or a volunteer, or the president. And he would lash out and make that profoundly well known that unacceptable.
And this is what is the face -- faces for most people's, you know, the fact that we adored the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, we adored him for the strength
he had to call up anyone, even old friends. And that's obviously something that we all would love, if we all could do ourselves, but we need the
strength.
GIOKOS: And we do absolutely. You know, he won the Nobel Prize in 1984. It was way before, you know, South Africa became a Democratic country. And it
was interesting because it was based around an event that was very violent and he came out and he spoke to people, and he said, they should be calm
and that freedom comes with peace. And they should think about peace.
It was such an interesting message. And so vital, because then he headed up the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, he was very critical of the TRC.
And that it didn't deliver what he really wanted. Tell me about what he thought.
KJELLSTROM-MATSEKE: Well, I mean, Desmond Tutu's view on his work there was to bring out and an opportunity for people to actually be honest with
themselves and be that in front of others, even in front of victims and the world. And in order to do so, you actually create the bridge, where you can
at least listen to your former enemy and it gives you an opportunity to understand. You don't have to agree, you don't have to respect the action
but it gives you an opportunity to understand.
And that is the basis for healing, for reconciliation, but it is up to the parties if they want to reconcile. And father was pushing this agenda and
helping us with the ability and the technique to forgive. But it's not a given thing that you must do it.
GIOKOS: Absolutely. Look at the Arch wasn't afraid to talk about politics to call to account those that were doing wrong. And I hope that future
generations will look back at some of those messaging and may he rest in peace, Niclas. Thank you very much. Good to see you.
KJELLSTROM-MATSEKE: And thank you on behalf of the family of the Tutus. Their gratitude to the rest of the world for showing the love in this
difficult time.
GIOKOS: Thank you, Niclas. Thank you. Now it's a travel nightmare for some. Thousands of airplane flights are being canceled as COVID forces pilots to
call in sick.
Coming up. A live report from one of the world's busiest airports.
And Israel is leading the way on the next step to fight COVID. We'll pick in on the start of a trial testing a fourth shot of a vaccine.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:31:01]
GIOKOS: Welcome back. I'm Eleni Giokos in Dubai and you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. COVID is once again causing havoc in the U.S. travel industry.
Nearly 1500 airplane flights were canceled in the U.S. on Sunday as pilots and crews called in sick due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. It
appears hundreds more will be canceled on Monday as well. All of this comes as millions of Americans are trying to get home after the Christmas holiday
weekend.
CNN Nadia Romero is tracking the story from one of the world's busiest airports in Atlanta, Georgia. I can't imagine getting the news that you're
one of the people that has lost their flights. It must be absolutely traumatizing. What are you seeing on the ground there? What are travelers
telling you?
NADIA ROMERO, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Eleni. It's so interesting because a lot of people who are looking at their cell phones, who were
checking their e-mails and text messages, making sure they didn't get an alert from their airline. Unfortunately, for some people, they learned
about those cancellations or delays. And when they arrived after doing whatever it took to make that trek to the airport, bring all your baggage
and then figuring out that you can't fly out today for whatever reason.
So we just had our last check more than 850 flight canceled domestically. So within the U.S. today, just starting off. So as you said, we can imagine
that there should be some more flights canceled or delays because there's that ripple effect that happens all across the world. When you have just
one flight that's canceled. Now you're adding almost 850 So far, domestically, more than 2000 globally.
Flight just today over the weekend, we saw thousands more. We spoke with one woman who said that she was supposed to be flying from Atlanta to
Wyoming. But it was the weather, not the Omicron barrier. But it was the weather that delayed her flight, she had to call her employer and tell them
that she wouldn't be able to make it in today. She was supposed to land yesterday.
We also spoke with other people who were trying to fly out today, they've encountered some troubles. I listened to some of them talk about what they
had to do to get on that plane safely. And luckily for them, they were actually able to get on their plane.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NICK GORDON, AIR TRAVELER: They called us and said that there was some malfunction, whatever that may be. And so our flights leaving a little
earlier now.
RANI LALL, AIR TRAVELER: We actually changed our flight to a nonstop flight just to in hopes of hopefully not having any cancellations. It was a little
bit stressful because of, you know, obviously COVID and everybody taking precautions but, you know, we're ready.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMERO: Yes, Eleni. It's been so interesting to hear how people have tried to navigate around the normal inconveniences of holiday travel. Now you add
on the Omicron variants and the flight crews that we're seeing shortages across all these different airlines, trying to figure out ways for many
people to see their family and friends who they haven't seen since before the pandemic.
So two years ago for Christmas 2019, people said they were going to do whatever it took to see their family and friends. Eleni?
GIOKOS: Yes. And let me tell you flying in this environment is tough and absolutely risky. Thank you very much for that update.
An Israeli hospital is looking into how effective a second booster shots may be against COVID-19. It's vaccinating dozens of staff members with a
fourth dose. That child started today and journalist Elliott Gotkine was there. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JACOB LAVEE, FORMER DIRECTOR, SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER HEART TRANSPLANTATION UNIT: Let's do it.
ELLIOTT GOTKINE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Gets another shot in the arm. This says the Sheba Medical Center is the first time in the world
healthy subjects are receiving a full shot of COVID vaccine.
LAVEE: So, I don't feel much as a guinea pig. My own immunity has dropped below the threshold. And therefore not only am I myself exposed,
potentially exposed to the Omicron. But more importantly, I might be a potential hazard to my heart transplant patient that can take care of.
GOTKINE: His colleagues, all of whose antibody levels have also dropped were lining up to play their part in this trial designed to show if a
fourth shot of the Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective.
[10:35:07]
GOTKINE: (INAUDIBLE) is among the first 150 health workers at the Sheba Medical Center, just outside Tel Aviv to receive the fourth dose of the
vaccine. It's not the much publicized rollout of the fourth shot campaign, but it could be a step in that direction.
That at least is what Prime Minister Naftali Bennett seems to want. Last week, he welcomed the decision by a panel of experts to recommend the
additional booster for over 60s health workers and people with suppressed immune systems. But the health ministry's Director General has yet to sign
it off. Some health experts remain unconvinced.
GILI REGEV-YOCHAY DIRECTOR, SHEBA MEDICAL CENTER HEART TRANSPLANTATION UNIT: I didn't think that it's right right now at this moment. It's may
change in a week. You know, it depends on what we see is happening in England. What's happening right now here. If we see that there is more
severe disease, maybe we'll be correct. I think that's why it's so important to start a research as soon as possible.
GOTKINE: Initial results from this study are expected by the end of the week, by which time Israel's rising COVID caseload will likely be even
heavier. Elliott Gotkine, CNN, Ramat Gan Israel.
GIOKOS: All right. Let's get you up to speed on some other stories that are on our radar right now. Three members of the K-Pop group BTS have tested
positive for COVID 19. The group recently returned to South Korea from a U.S. tour. In a statement the management company said RM and Jin tested
positive for COVID after Suga. All three had received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Taliban have dissolved Afghanistan's Independent Election Commission. The Taliban spokesman tells CNN they have reached peace, so there's no need
for the commission. It was formed in 2006 to oversee elections. The spokesman says the Taliban will revive the body if needed in the future.
We've just gotten word a second dam has burst in northeastern Brazil, where heavy floods and torrential rain have pounded the area. Even before this
latest development at least 18 people have lost their lives in the state of Bahia, and some 20,000 others are displaced. Stefano Pozzebon reports from
the crisis from neighboring Colombia.
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Torrential rains and floods left more than a dozen deaths and hundreds of injured in the northeastern Brazilian
state of Bahia over the weekend. Bahia is one of Brazil's poorest states in the entire north eastern region had been suffering from a drought in the
year so far. But a state's governor Rui Costa said to reporters that tens of cities have been impacted by the catastrophic damaged caused by the
floods.
RUI COSTA, GOVERNOR OF BAHIA, BRAZIL: This is a massive tragedy. I can't remember seeing anything like this in Bahia's recent history. Given the
amount of cities and houses involved. It's truly terrifying. There are so many houses and streets that are completely underwater.
POZZEBON: The state civil protection agency said that at least 16,000 people have been left on less and thousands more of these place (INAUDIBLE)
floods. The local meteorological services forecasting even more rain through Monday and Tuesday, potentially inflicting even more damage on the
population already impacted by the disaster. For CNN, this is Stefano Pozzebon. Bogata.
GIOKOS: Still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD. The sun is shining down on Melbourne's cricket grounds but there is not a smile inside on the English
team. We'll tell you why after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:40:56]
GIOKOS: Welcome back. Now everyone's friendly neighborhood Spider Man is now a friendly neighborhood billionaire. Spider's latest outings, Spider
Man: Nowhere Home has cost $1 billion at the global box office. The first to reach that mark since the start of the pandemic. Tom Holland stars as
Peter Parker who is of course tasked with saving the Multiverse from supervillains spanning the characters nearly 20 years from history.
Nowhere Home is also the first film to reach the billion dollar mark since 2019 Star Wars: The rise of Skywalker. And it's the second largest domestic
opening of all time. I do miss going to the movies I have to say.
OK. So, fans of Minnesota Vikings football game came for the game with the Rams which by the way the Vikings lost. But what made everyone very happy
was the halftime show. Take a look at this. Just look at these adorable corgis wearing Christmas costumes, of course, and tiny centers on the backs
but have you seen them run? They go. They lined up on the 40-yard line and took off down the field to meet the owners in the end zone.
Does it really matter one after seeing this? Well, the 12 good boys and girls all deserve a nice treat I think. Very sweet. OK. They say that hope
springs eternal. But that's not necessarily true when it comes to winning crickets coveted ashes. I'd like you to take a look at these dejected faces
of England's players. They tell the story better than any score. It's not going great and Melbourne, but I will leave it Patrick Snell to give you
the numbers because they matter right and where we stand right now, Patrick to explain these faces.
PATRICK SNELL, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: I, you know, as an England cricket (INAUDIBLE) I tell you one. These are very alarming. By the way I just want
to get back to that Corgi video. Wouldn't you agree, Eleni? Sorry.
GIOKOS: Yes. You're just trying to deflect about these bad numbers.
(CROSSTALK)
SNELL: Sorry. I'll get back to the cricket. Yes, look, the ash is not going well for England but fair play to Australia, they are in total control.
They only need to draw this test at the famed MCG. One of the sports great settles and horse, Eleni. A real cauldron of passion there. This is the
Boxing Day test. They only need to draw it to retain the ashes which they already hold. But I wouldn't be surprised if they go on and win it very
comfortably indeed.
What England have to do to have any chance to stay alive is just ahead in World Sport in just a few moments. Stay with us for that.
GIOKOS: I have a feeling you're licking your wounds and so is the England team. We will get more from you in just a moment.
SNELL: Yes. That sums it up nicely.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:45:00]
(WORLD SPORT)
[11:00:00]
END
