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Djokovic Back Home After Deportation; China Changes Olympic Ticket Distribution Amid COVID Surge; FBI: Texas Hostage Standoff Is Terrorism- Related. Aired 10-10:45a ET

Aired January 17, 2022 - 10:00:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:00:21]

LARRY MADOWO, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: It's a bittersweet return home for a modern tennis great. The Australian Open moves on without its number one

star after igniting debate around the world. What next with Novak Djokovic?

The Winter Olympics may have a different type of crowd that's here amid mask testing and lockdown. Beijing has changed the rules and who will

attend.

And the community left terrorized and confused as the FBI look for answers on a hosted standoff at the Texas synagogue. The Jewish community looks to

heal.

I'm Larry Madowo in Atlanta. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD. Houthi rebels are warning they will target the United Arab Emirates if they

continue operations in Yemen. This after a series of suspected drone strikes killed three people in Abu Dhabi. You can see the strikes hit near

the airport, as well as several fuel tanker trucks for the South. The Houthis are backed by Iran. They're fighting in Yemen against the coalition

of Gulf States that has included the UAE.

CNN's Senior International Correspondent Sam Kiley is in Abu Dhabi where this is unfolding right now. Sam, what more do we know about these

explosions in Abu Dhabi today?

SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, I think the first thing to say sadly, is Larry that this is the first known deaths on Emirati

soil as a consequence of this civil war in the Yemen, which in the past had sucked the United Arab Emirates into it alongside the Saudi-led coalition

in support of the government there. But this latest Houthi attack comes at least a year, more than a year actually, since the Emiratis were supposed

to have pulled out of the Yemen entirely.

And were indeed reshaping their foreign policy as one as something close to neutrality with a mission to be friends to all and enemies of none. But

what we know today is the Houthi is have claimed responsibility for a double drone attack. And the Emirati officials have confirmed that drones

or some kind of object resembling a drone was seen in the air over Abu Dhabi. There was some kind of a strike just on the outskirts of the Abu

Dhabi International Airport.

Indeed, in the area where they're building a new Abu Dhabi International Airport. And then more significantly was this strike at the oil storage

facilities and processing facilities further south. This ignited we understand according to Emirati officials, a fuel tank causing a chain

reaction, which resulted in the explosion of a fuel tanker carrying perhaps petroleum some kind of refined product.

The explosion from that killed three people, injured six others in a very significant escalation. And the Houthis have said they haven't actually

named the Emirates using a disparaging terms for a little country, as they called it. But saying that they -- this country can expect more of these

sorts of attacks. And this is in response, we understand to perhaps covert supplies or support for former Emirati allies in their ongoing fight

against the Houthis.

The Houthis have suffered some setbacks recently, which they partly attribute to the reengagement on some level of the Emirates. We haven't had

that officially have confirmed of course, from the Emirati side. Larry?

MADOWO: You mentioned these are the first deaths related to the civil war in Yemen. But these kinds of attacks are extremely rare. So was this a

warning shot?

KILEY: I think it was a retaliation. I mean, that's what the Houthis have essentially said it is. It isn't retaliation and they are threatening more.

These are extremely rare, as you rightly point out in the UAE which is a long way from Yemen, effectively, not rare at all in Saudi Arabia, which

has, of course been struck with missiles, drone attacks, and long-range ballistic missiles. In the background of all of this, of course, is Iranian

support for the Houthis.

As a lot of their missile technology, it has been revealed in the past, not just by belligerents, but the by the United Nations panels of experts, has

its roots, traces its roots and development back to Iran. And it is -- will be the subject of intense examination by Emirati officials and the

intelligence operatives to see the extent to which Iran supplied these drones, or indeed new have approved of or even ordered this attack.

And the reason for that is that this comes at a time when the Emirati is a tripping trying to warm relations with nearby Iran favoring a process of

engagement rather than isolation which had been their policy in line with the Trump administration in the past, Larry.

[10:05:12]

MADOWO: Sam Kiley in Abu Dhabi. Many thanks. And now we want to go to something that the whole world has been talking about. The visa saga that

seemed like it might go on forever. It has not ended in defeat for Novak Djokovic. He landed back in his home country of Serbia a few hours ago. On

Sunday, the tennis star who's unvaccinated against COVID lost a court challenge to stay in Australia for its tennis often.

He was then deported. So, how are fans of the tournament feeling about the decision? Well, that depends on who you ask.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm relieved that it should have been organized before I came to Australia. So I'm glad it's all over.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It goes very highly anticipated decision making. And I think it was kind of dragged on a little bit too long. But it's great that

we've kind of put that behind us. You know, the best for Djokovic which is great tennis player but --

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I wanted to see him play.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADOWO: We've got reporters all around the world with more on the potential impact of this saga on sports, diplomacy and COVID-19 rules. Scott McLean

is in Belgrade, Serbia, but first to Paula Hancocks live from Melbourne, Australia. The Australian government really came hard on Djokovic because

they didn't want him to embolden anti-vaxxers in Australia, but what they did is make him a symbol for anti-vaxxers worldwide.

So how's the public there reacting to his deportation? And could we see him back at the Australian Open say next year?

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Larry, people we've spoken to the vast majority of them say thank goodness, this is over. It has, as you say,

dragged on. And it overshadowed the Australian Open which is a very positive time for this city. Now it did start its first day. Today, there

was a festive atmosphere on the grounds itself. And players, we've heard a sick and tired of having to be asked about Novak Djokovic, rather than what

do you think your chances are of winning.

So they will certainly be happy as well that they can get on with the tennis although Djokovic also said he was uncomfortable being the focus of

this for so many weeks. So it was a mixed response. Most people though were just happy that everyone had moved on.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For me, so many families have not been able to see family members across Australia in the world, just because they have not

been allowed to travel and borders have been closed. So to let someone in that's not vaccinated, we will have to be seems silly. So I'm -- yes, kind

of happy about it.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it was actually a good decision. We've all done the right thing. You know, in getting vaccinated, we're not allowed to

come here unless we're vaccinated. And I think it was a great decision. I'm disappointed for Djokovic because I would have loved to have seen him, you

know, compete for his 21st slam event.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think it's sad that we're not going to see the best tennis player in the world play. But rules are rules.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HANCOCKS: And the rules are if you have your visa canceled and you're deported from Australia, you cannot apply for another visa for three years.

Now, Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister was asked about that today. And he did point out that he didn't want to put preconditions on anything, but

maybe there would be an opportunity for someone to apply under the right circumstances. So not shutting the door completely.

But we've also heard when it comes to the sponsors for Novak Djokovic. Lacoste which sponsors him has said that they would like to speak to

Djokovic at the earliest opportunity to talk about the events here in Australia. So that will certainly be of concern to him and his team. And

Djokovic has something like $30 million a year in endorsements. But there are a number of other sponsors we've reached out to but they're not

commenting at this point.

In fact, Forbes has him as the 46th richest athlete in the world as of last year. So certainly the fact that one of his biggest sponsors Lacoste says

that they want to talk to him as soon as possible will be of a concern to his team. Larry?

MADOWO: Absolutely, Paula. but I'm sure that people there who bought tickets just to see him and he's not playing there. So they're making the

best of it. But Scott, Djokovic is a national treasure in Serbia. Right? And the President has made that clear repeatedly in every statement he has

made. So how has it been received back home?

SCOTT MCLEAN, CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Larry. Yes. There were fans this morning at the airport waiting for him at the VIP arrivals area. They had flags,

they were chanting and, you know, they just wanted to show their support. Unfortunately for them, they didn't even catch a glimpse of the star

though. He chose not to embrace this hero's welcome that his fans were offering him outside. He managed to sneak out of the airport some other

way.

Now that he's out of the Australian Open he certainly has a lot of time on his hands to ponder his future. And one thing he might want to consider is

what he's going to do about the French Open because at this moment, the tournament at Roland Garros in May that he is defending his title at or

would be won't allow him to play.

[10:10:03]

MCLEAN: And that's because this warning this the French Sports Minister confirmed to CNN that there will be no exceptions to the French vaccine

past law. The one that requires people to show vaccination to get inside theaters, cafes, restaurants and sports venues as well. And that applies

not only to spectators, but also to athletes. It was possible for him to play last year because they used a bubble system, that's no longer the

case.

So if that law remains in place by May, and if Djokovic just chooses not to get vaccinated, well, he certainly got some decisions to make. The next

major he'd be able to play in would be Wimbledon but you'd have to arrive in the U.K. early in order to do that, so that he could quarantine for the

mandatory period of time. Now, in Djokovic's most recent statement, he said that he was uncomfortable with all the attention on him right now.

And perhaps by extension, he is also uncomfortable with what Paula mentioned that he's seen as the sort of anti-vax hero in some circles. That

is certainly not how people see him in this country, though not by any stretch. In fact, for most Serbs that you talk to they think that

vaccination is a personal choice, even though of course, even the politicians here would like to see more and more people get vaccinated.

At the airport today, I spoke to one young man who actually is vaccinated, but he strongly supports Novak Djokovic's right not to be. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This whole thing happened in Orwell's books that this will happen that someone would lose freedom of speech, freedom of thought,

freedom of everything. He was charged when he was sentenced because he thought something he didn't even say that your kid supports our champion

Novak.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MCLEAN: And the President of Serbia yesterday was out. He spoke to the press as well. And he really left nothing unsaid in his feelings toward the

Australians. He called this a media lynching. Called it a witch hunt that with the outcome predetermined in the first place, saying that the

Australians wanted to show Djokovic how the new world order works, the new world order in which you have to be vaccinated.

And keep in mind for context here, Larry, this is a president who strongly supports vaccination, encourages people to get vaccinated. Certainly you'd

think that he wished that Novak Djokovic would get vaccinated, but he also is going to great lengths to support this country zero.

MADOWO: All right. The President and that young man is supposed to have one thing in common. They support vaccinations but also the support the biggest

star. Scott McLean in Belgrade and Paula Hancocks in Melbourne. Thank you both. And let's talk about actually the sports implications of this. Let's

bring in our Amanda Davies who's joining us now from London. So, he is the sports biggest star, Amanda, isn't he?

A if he can play at the Australian Open, if he remains unvaccinated he may not be able to play the French Open in May. So can the world number one

remain the world number one if he can play in all these grand slams?

AMANDA DAVIES, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Well, I mean, there is some serious thinking as Scott was saying for Novak Djokovic which to do. Last season

was arguably one of his best ever where he claims three of the tennis major, three of the Grand Slam titles for a significant part of it was

going for that golden slam. And people talking about him not only having broken the record as the world's number one but also on course, to claim

all four grand slams and Olympic gold.

That wasn't to be in the end. But the problem is not just the French Open as Scott was talking about ahead of the next Grand Slam of the season.

You've got the tour moving to the United States with the likes of Indian Wells and Miami events taking place and we know that double vaccination as

things stand is required for the United States of America. The men's tennis governing body, the ATP reacted to the cancellation of Novak Djokovic

shares visa talking about the regrets of how events have unfolded.

In recent weeks they said they still strongly recommend that all players are vaccinated but did concede they need more time to take stock of the

facts and to take learnings of how things have played out in recent weeks. There's no doubt that the frustration has been growing amongst the tennis

community that so much of the build up, so -- what is known as the happy slam, the opening Grand Slam of the tennis calendar has been overshadowed

by these events.

We've seen the likes of Stefanos since the past talk of how he feels that the flagbearer for their sport, the world number one has made a fool of the

rest of the players. That was his phrase. He has made a fool of us, you know, that some of the other players didn't want to get vaccinated but have

got vaccinated because they felt it's their responsibility and necessity to be able to carry on with their job.

[10:15:00]

DAVIES: The likes of Rafael Nadal saying that in his mind the solution is simple. You get vaccinated and that is where the difficulty lies for Novak

. Hokovic he's never been afraid of taking a stand or maybe being a little bit contrary to the view of the masses, but he has been so overtly anti-vax

in his stance saying he doesn't feel he should be pushed into getting vaccinated. It feels very difficult now for him to row back.

But then you almost have this unwritten chapter for the player on the brink of creating history. Of course, this was set to be the tournament, he could

have won his 10th Australian Open title, he could have won a 21st major and that would have seen him become the most decorated male player in the

history of the sport.

MADOWO: And he will not get to do that in Australia and maybe not in Paris, we'll see where he has a chance to play next, because he's still, like I

said, an exciting player, and one of the most well known in the sport. Amanda Davies for the moment. Thank you.

Up next on CONNECT THE WORLD. Children and COVID will visit a children's ward at an Israeli hospital that is rapidly filling up.

And China's strict response to COVID is causing a big change to how spectators will see the Winter Olympics, that's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MADOWO: Rising COVID cases in China have led to a change of plans regarding Olympic ticket sales. Organizers now say tickets for the games will not be

sold to the general public. Instead, they'll be distributed by authorities. Eight Chinese cities are now reporting cases of the Omicron variant and

outbreaks in heavily populated areas, prompting more mass testing and lockdowns. CNN's David Culver has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Omicron breaching Beijing's borders, a single case putting the Winter Olympics host city on high alert.

China's zero COVID policy making no exceptions. In the capital city, targeted lockdowns immediately activated. Along with strict contact

tracing. Chinese health officials publicize the infected persons recent travel history. Starting with their home.

We drove by the Beijing community where the woman diagnosed with Omicron lives. Remember, health authorities say all of this sparked by just one

case, at least for now.

(on camera): Here we go. You can see here this is one of the entrances and exits. It's gated off. They put these big blue barriers to keep folks from

going in and out.

(voice over): The woman's neighbors allowed some fresh air but confined to a complex. Their trash piling up waiting for specially designated disposal

teams to truck it out. Many nearby businesses closed. The woman lives a 15- minute drive from the Olympic Park.

[10:20:09]

CULVER: Not only where she lives that health authorities have it locked down but also where the woman works, which happens to be in a bank inside

this building. So out front, you can see they've got these blue tent setup, where a lot of times they'll do testing and processing before they can

finally declare it safe enough to reopen.

But if you think it's just a bunch of empty offices, look closer. COVID control staff accordion in big boxes. Inside them, can you read that?

Pillows, bedding, people have actually been locked down at work. And these supplies might make their stay a bit more comfortable for what could be

days of testing.

Omicron not only in Beijing, cases also surfacing and several other Chinese cities including Shanghai. Social media showing snap lockdowns trapping

shoppers at one store.

Outside this mall, a person posting that this woman was emotional wanting to hold the child who was staring back at her from behind the glass.

Although it is unclear when the woman and child war reunited, officials kept them all closed for two days as they tested those inside performing a

deep clean before reopening.

Sounds extreme but most online voicing their support for the strict containment efforts.

Less than three weeks until the Olympics and recent outbreaks had 20 million people sealed in their homes. Others bus to centralized quarantine.

State media showing these makeshift encampments built within days, mass testing is a constant.

Back in Beijing. I hopped in line for my regularly scheduled COVID.

Test test number 97. Done.

But if you think the heavy measures have brought life here to a halt, most to are not traveling might say otherwise. On Sunday crowds flocking to this

popular Beijing Lake. Frozen just in time for the Winter Games. Families enjoying the chill and seemingly confident. officials will keep COVID in

check. David Culver, CNN Beijing.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

MADOWO: Let's go from China to Israel, which was an early global leader in coronavirus vaccinations. And right now one of its top hospitals is

conducting a study into the impact of a fourth COVID vaccine shot. But Israel is still struggling to get shots into the arms of children. The vast

majority of Israeli children under age 11 are unvaccinated. And hospitals are seeing a surge in youth cases.

CNN's Hadas Gold went to an Israeli COVID unit designated for children to check out the situation. She joins us now live. What did you find that this

children's hospital, Hadas?

HADAS GOLD, CNN COPRRESPONDENT: Yes, Larry. Last week, the Israeli government warned its hospitals to start preparing for an influx of

children being admitted to the hospital with coronavirus. Even if the Omicron variant might mean a milder disease, just the sheer number of

children testing positive. Doctors told me they're expecting at some points that tens of thousands of just children will test positive per day will

lead to a wave of new hospitalizations.

So we went to Sheba Medical Center to see a recently reopened kids COVID ward and then also took a look at the school system which the Israeli

government is vowing to keep open despite this new wave.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GOLD (voice over): For months, this children's COVID ward at Sheba Hospital in central Israel set empty. Now it's reopened, and nurses are suiting up

again, as health experts estimate that COVID cases in children will soon surge to tens of thousands per day. Dr. Itai Pessach, director of the Safra

Children's Hospital at Sheba says that during the last wave they had at their peak around 15 children in the COVID ward.

DR. ITAI PESSACH, DIRECTOR, SAFRA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT SHEBA: Or they broke that number during this week. And I'm sure it's going to be higher

because the rate of the positive people and positive children around the country is still rising.

GOLD: But something is different about this wave. Most of the kids in the COVID ward weren't admitted because of COVID.

PESSACH: We found them to be positive while we were treating them from other -- for other illnesses. So the COVID actually complex -- complicates

a little bit conditions we have to care for them, but otherwise poses no significant medical risk for them.

GOLD: Dr. Pessach is especially worried about the long-term ramifications of so many positive cases. Children with even asymptomatic COVID infections

sometimes develop a debilitating disorder called PIMS, pediatric inflammatory multi-system syndrome.

PESSACH: If the Omicron does cause PIMS, the vast -- the huge number of positive cases that we see will definitely bring a wave of PIMS later. And

PIMS is significant disorder. We know that the vaccine protects from PIMS in very good -- in a very good way. So, going back to the vaccine, if most

of the kids were vaccinated we wouldn't have to worry about what's going to happen in a month now.

[10:25:04]

GOLD: But less than 15 percent of Israeli children aged five to 11 are vaccinated. As health officials tried to get more life saving shots into

arms. The education system is soldiering on.

DALIT STAUBER, DIRECTOR GENERAL, ISRAELI EDUCATION MINISTRY: Here in Israel, we are absolutely sure that open schools are the best option, even

under most difficult circumstances, and our policy is very clear to keep schools open under any circumstances.

GOLD: At the Gretz Elementary School in Tel Aviv, open windows for ventilation, masks, and a new kind of homework.

(on camera): Because of an intense demand for testing whether at home or performed by professionals, the Israeli government has decided to give each

student in the education system three free at home antigen tests.

(voice over): The school's COVID coordinator, Miri Haviv can barely keep up with her students positive tests and quarantines.

MIRIT HAVIV, COVID-19 COORDINATOR, GRETZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: It's crazy. It's like a wave. It's a tsunami. It's not even just a regular wave. It's a

real tsunami that just flushes everything. That's it.

GOLD: But she agrees schools must stay open despite the risks.

HAVIV: I think it would be easier to shut down schools, yes, but it's a problem. I'm a mother, I have two boys. And I know how hard for them it is

to stay at home. And I think it's more important that the kids will stay in some kind of a regular routine, come back to school every day, see their

friends. It's -- I think it's much more important.

GOLD: And so the children in Israel continue on. Testing and hoping that they can make it through the tsunami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

GOLD: And Larry, in the next few minutes, we're actually expecting to see the beginning of a press conference that will show the interim results of a

study into the efficacy of the fourth dose of the vaccine against Omicron. The study is actually being done by Sheba Hospital, which is the hospital

that I visited their kids COVID ward, and they administered the fourth dose to around 102 groups of 150 healthcare workers.

So we will be hopefully seeing those results as interim results in the next few minutes. It will be interesting to see if Israel which has already been

administrating a fourth dose of the vaccine to the elderly and other vulnerable populations. If the results of such a study will spur them to

administer a fourth dose of the vaccine and more broadly. Larry?

MADOWO: And health authorities around the world will be watching that very closely because like you mentioned Israel has been a leader in vaccinations

around the world. Hadas Gold, thank you. You're watching CONNECT THE WORLD live from CNN Center here in Atlanta. Ahead. Days of volcanic eruptions

have taken their toll on Tanga. We'll you the explosion so large it was seen in satellite images.

First. Authorities say a hosted standoff at a U.S. synagogue was terrorism and investigation is reaching all the way to the U.K. We'll go live to

Texas straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:30:30]

MADOWO: Welcome back. I'm Larry Madowo and you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD. In the U.S. the FBI now says a hosted standoff at a synagogue in

Texas over the weekend was in fact, terrorism-related and targeted the Jewish community. Police in Manchester, England have arrested two teenagers

of that attack. The hostage taker was identified as British citizen Malik Faisal Akram. He died in the incident.

The four hostages were not physically harmed. Now that community is looking for answers and looking to heal. CNN's Natasha Chen is in Colleyville in

Texas and joins me now. What more are we learning, Natasha, about this attack?

NATASHA CHEN, CNN U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Larry, the police are still here at the synagogue two days later. There are many houses. It's a

residential area really close to this synagogue. So a lot of the neighbors were really in a tense position on Saturday during this 11-hour standoff.

We know that this British citizen is 44 years old. Police ultimately recovered a gun from him but no explosives. Here's what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHEN: The FBI has identified 44-year-old British national Malik Faisal Akram as the man who held four people hostage at a Texas synagogue on

Saturday. The nearly 11-hour standoff ended after an FBI hostage team shot and killed Akram. All four hostages are safe and unharmed. The situation

began during the synagogue's live stream of it's Saturday morning Sabbath. In the feed you can hear Akram speaking, it's unclear whom he is speaking

to but Akram can be heard saying he plans to die.

MALIK FAISAL AKRAM, SYNAGOGUE HOSTAGE-TAKER: I've got these four guys with me, yes? So I don't want to hurt them, yes? OK. Are you listening? I don't

want to cry. Listen. I'm going to release these four guys (INAUDOBLE) but then I'm giong to go in the yard, yes? (INAUDIBLE) but then I'm going to go

in the yard, yes? I'm going to die at the end of this, all right? Are you listening? I am going to die. OK? So don't cry over me.

CHEN: In a statement to CNN, one of the hostages Rabbi Charlie Cytron- Walker said, in the last hour of our hostage crisis, the gunman became increasingly belligerent and threatening. He credited the security training

his congregation had taken part in and getting them through the traumatic event.

JONATHAN GREENBLATT, CEO AND NATIONAL DIRECTOR, ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: This is the first time that anyone at ADL can recall a hostage taking at a

synagogue. But unfortunately, Jewish sites have been targeted again and again and again by extremists over the years.

CHEN: According to officials, Akram entered the United States legally in December. He was vetted and cleared prior to his arrival at JFK Airport in

New York five weeks ago. Federal authorities do not believe that this was part of a greater plot, but they are questioning how Akram was able to

travel to Texas. According to law enforcement, British intelligence officials tell their U.S. counterparts a preliminary search showed no

derogatory information on Akram.

Once Akram arrived in Dallas, he spent several nights at a local homeless shelter. The Union Gospel Mission Dallas CEO Bruce Butler told CNN in a

phone call that we were a waystation for him. He had a plan. He was very quiet, he was in and out. Now the FBI is conducting a global investigation

to try to determine a motive.

MATTHEW DESARNO, FBI DALLAS SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE: I'm not ready to add any more -- any more about the demands that they were specifically focused

on one issue.

CHEN: According to two law enforcement sources, one possible motive was a desire to free Aafia Siddiqui. Siddiqui is serving an 86-year sentence in

federal prison in Texas for the attempted murder and armed attack of U.S. servicemembers.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHEN: The rabbi spoke to CBS this morning describing those moments where they got out. One of the four hostages was released earlier in the day

Saturday, that the remaining three included the rabbi and he said that in those in that final hour, he saw that the suspect was not in a good

position. He saw that they were close to an exit signal to the other two people to get ready to go through a chair at the suspect and they were able

to escape.

So incredible crisis training that helped them their. Akram's family also released a statement saying that they do not condone any of these

activities. They wholeheartedly apologize to the people here mentioned that Akram had mentioned health issues but did not elaborate on that, Larry.

MADOWO: Especially the fact that religious communities have to go through this sort of training speaks to the kind of world we live in right now.

Natasha Chen, thank you for your reporting.

Let's get you up to speed now on some of the stories that are on our radar as we speak. South Korea says reasons North Korean missile tests are very

regrettable. Earlier Monday, Pyongyang launched two suspected short range ballistic missiles, the parent for tests just this month alone. The U.S.

which imposed fresh sanctions last week cause the actions destabilizing.

Flood disruptions are dragging into the new week. Thousands of flights have been canceled and delayed Monday. Many of these are in the U.S. where as

you can see the East is digging out from the weekends went strong.

A nurse in Italy is under arrest for allegedly faking COVID shots. Authorities say this video shows the suspect spilling a vaccine dose into

gauze before sticking the needle into a patient's arm. Police also say the people she pretended to inoculate went along with the scam to get a COVID

half pass.

Australia and New Zealand are working to get emergency relief aid to Tonga after tsunami waves caused by an underwater volcanic eruption heavily

damaged parts of that country. While communications out of Tonga are limited New Zealand's High Commission they're released an update, saying

there was significant damage along the western coast of Tonga's main island. Clouds of ash have blanketed the area hindering some recovery

efforts.

Australia and New Zealand send reconnaissance flights to better assess the situation early Monday. Meteorologist Jennifer Gray joins us now. Is this

the worst of what we have seen or could there be more, Jennifer?

JENNIFER GRAY, CNN METEOROLOGHIST: We're hoping that this is the worst of it. I mean, there's really no way to know when you're dealing with

something of this magnitude. But we do have some incredible imagery out of this region, unfortunately, is impacting the region very, very badly. We're

having some very poor air quality, as you mentioned, recovery from those tsunami waves.

And also that ash is going to take a really long time to disperse. Look at this, a shot up 12 miles into the sky. It's going to take quite a long time

for it to disperse because it is so high in the atmosphere. And those shockwaves were felt and heard around the world even as far away as Alaska,

almost 10,000 kilometers away, registered in the Alaska Volcano Observatory. Even the U.K. recorded some of these shock waves and it made

it to the U.S. a second time.

So it just shows you how powerful this volcanic eruption was. And look at it. You can see the cloud of ash and steam just shooting up into the sky.

Lightning was sparked within the cloud because it was so powerful as well. That ash cloud is traveling to the west, it's going to disperse all over

the Pacific. So we could have some far reaching impacts. Because of this, it moved over Queensland on Monday, 40 to 60,000 feet into the atmosphere.

And some reports have it even higher. It's going to take it quite a while for it to disperse. Currently, no threat to aviation. But of course,

that'll be something that we'll monitor in the days and weeks ahead. So you can see that cloud just slowly starting to head to the west. And here's an

interesting timeline of what happened. This picture was taken in mid- November and and then compare it to about a month and a half later when we started seeing the smaller eruptions.

And you can see the smoldering right there. And then the entire caldera just collapsed into the ocean when we had this huge eruption on Saturday.

And that was one of the things that triggered those tsunami waves all across the Pacific as far reaching as the U.S. West Soast. So, those

submarine landslides also caused -- is what caused those tsunami waves as well. So look at that. We had a tsunami waves up to a meter or more for

some of these areas close by.

And then far away even about a meter around Port St. Louis and California, Crescent City, California about a meter. So you can see how far reaching

this was. And then the lightning within the volcanic eruption to me is just incredible. The stunning imagery right here, look at that all of the

lightning strikes. And what causes this basically is as this ash cloud basically comes up into the sky, we see that the debris is positively

charged.

The charges continue to build within the ash cloud and then the lightning results to try to balance those charges. So it's just such an incredible

sight. These pictures really tell the story, Larry, but a lot -- a lot of time will have to pass before that area in the Pacific can recover.

MADOWO: Far reaching indeed. And those images just incredible as you mentioned. Jennifer Gray, thank you. Coming up. A shock for a jury Football

Club in a big upset the African Cup of Nations. We'll have the details in sports coming up.

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[10:42:19]

MADOWO: I have been looking forward to talking about this all show. A stunner in the African Cup of Nations Sunday. Equatorial Guinea put a stop

to Algeria's 35-game and beaten run. 35 games and beaten doesn't sane. The defending champions are now fighting to qualify out of the group stage

after the one kneel upsets. They'll need to win in the final game to make it through. CNN's Amanda Davies joins us now with the look at that upset.

Everybody in my timeline has been going crazy about this, Amanda, because it's just like Equatorial Guinea is a tiny team and Algeria defending

champions. How does this happen?

DAVIES: Yes. I don't think it's any underestimation to call it one of the biggest shocks in AFCON. history. A team as you said in Equatorial Guinea.

They're ranked 114 in the world. This is the first time they've qualified for the finals by REITs. They've only been there previously, because

they've been hosting the competition. A country with a population of just 1.4 million beating the team who are the defending champions, they won the

Arab Cup in Qatar just last month.

The scenes were sensational. It really was a fantastic occasion. Great moment to celebrate and set things up brilliantly, as you mentioned,

heading into the final rounds of group games with things nail bitingly boys.

MADOWO: Do you think really quickly that Equatorial Guinea could put a laser? Remember that season the laser ended up winning the league and when

AVCON?

DAVIES: Oh, I mean, everybody can dare to dream, can't they, Larry? I mean, yes, I would say why not at this point. We -- it would be a long shot. I

don't know whether anybody's got any money on them. It would certainly be a long shot and that there would be others who perhaps would feel they have a

much better chance. But why not? That's why we love it.

MADOWO: Stranger things have happened in sports. Amanda Davies is back right after the break with WORLD SPORT. And I'll see you the next hour.

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