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Russia-Ukraine Standoff; U.K. Partygate Scandal Fallout; International Airlines Suspend Some Flights over 5G; Peruvian Oil Spill Caused by Tonga Volcano Waves; Biden Tries to Reset at One Year Mark. Aired 10-10:40a ET
Aired January 19, 2022 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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LARRY MADOWO, CNN HOST (voice-over): We will not give into pressure and move our troops, says Russia, as America's top diplomats reiterated
Washington's strong support for Ukraine.
Go, prime minister, just go. That's the sentiment echoing through the U.K.'s Parliament today. Boris Johnson facing more calls for his
resignation after the Partygate scandal.
And desperation grows by the day. The United States pledges $300 million more to the Afghan people but billions more are needed from the
international community to save lives. We'll speak to the United States special representative to Afghanistan, just ahead.
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MADOWO: I'm Larry Madowo at CNN Center in Atlanta. Hello and welcome to CONNECT THE WORLD.
We start with mixed signals out of Russia over its troop deployment along the Ukrainian border. The Russian deputy foreign minister says Russia will
not give into foreign pressure and move its troops. He's also blaming the U.S. for inflaming the crisis. But he tells CNN there's no risk of large-
scale war breakout in Europe.
He spoke as the U.S. secretary of state Antony Blinken met with Ukraine's president and foreign minister in Kiev. Blinken reaffirmed the U.S. support
for Ukraine, while warning that Russia's troop numbers along the border could soon grow.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: As we meet today, Russia has ratcheted up its threats and amassed nearly 100,000 forces on Ukraine's
border, which it could double, on relatively short order.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MADOWO: Blinken says there's still a path to diplomatic solution. He'll sit down Friday in Geneva with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in a
meeting the Kremlin says will be incredibly important. Matthew Chance looks at the difficult diplomacy ahead as concern grows that Russia is preparing
to invade Ukraine again.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is the actual video, complete with soundtrack, put out by the Ukrainian
ministry of defense.
Being fired to the beat, Javelin anti-tank missiles supplied by the U.S. as part of its growing military support. It's these kinds of weapons Ukraine
hopes will help stop another Russian invasion and it wants more. Cue a flurry of diplomatic fist bumps and grand promises of U.S. support.
On Wednesday, Secretary of State Blinken visits Kiev. But earlier this week, a congressional delegation was here.
SEN. RICHARD BLUMENTHAL (D-CT), MEMBER, SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE: I think Vladimir Putin has made the biggest mistake of his career.
CHANCE: Vowing more tough action in Washington against Russian aggression.
BLUMENTHAL: We will impose crippling economic sanctions. But more important, we will give the people of Ukraine the arms, lethal arms they
need to defend their lives and livelihoods.
CHANCE: It's unclear if what Ukrainian officials call this strong show of bipartisan support will deter Russia or provoke it. It certainly doesn't
look deterred.
These are the latest images of Russia's live fire military exercises near its border, where the latest Ukrainian Defense Intelligence assessment
obtained exclusively by CNN, says Russia has almost completed its military build-up.
The assessment says, there are now more than 127,000 Russian troops poised to invade, including Russian infantry units seen here practicing urban
warfare, the kind that may play a major role if any potentially messy incursion into Ukraine if ever ordered.
Sources in rebel controlled eastern areas of the country tells CNN training has also been ramped up there. With a significant increase of rebel
fighters and heavy weaponry on the frontlines.
[10:05:00]
CHANCE (voice-over): The new Ukrainian intelligence assessment says Russia supports more than 35,000 rebels and has about 3,000 of its own military
based in rebel territory. Moscow denies having any forces there and continues to insist it has no plans either to invade.
SERGEY LAVROV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER (through translator): We do not threaten anyone but we hear threats against us. I hope all of this only
reflects emotions within the camp of Western countries. We will be guided by concrete steps and deeds.
CHANCE: But those deeds and steps seem to point to escalation. These are new images showing troops from Russia and its ally Belarus preparing for
joint exercises near Ukraine's Northern border. It may be just a distraction.
But as Russia continues to mass forces, Ukrainian intelligence says it now sees this region as a full- fledged Russian theatre of operation. In other
words, another dangerous potential front line -- Matthew Chance, CNN, Kiev.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MADOWO: I want to bring in our Fred Pleitgen, who is following developments from Moscow.
There's still talk that Russia plans to invade Ukraine. You asked the deputy foreign minister about the standoff.
What did he say?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You're right. I did. This was at the Valdai (ph) discussion club earlier today, where the
deputy foreign minister was on hand. And he quite frankly said he also believes it's a very dangerous situation right there down close to Ukraine
right now.
But he kept pointing to the fact that Russia has these security demands that they have made from the U.S. and its allies. And he says the Russians
are still waiting for answers about that.
And I asked him, look, how big do the Russians believe the threat of war in Europe is at this point in time?
Here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SERGEI RYABKOV, RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER: I do believe that there is no risk of a larger scale war to start to unfold in Europe or elsewhere. We do
not want and will not take any action of aggressive character. We will not "attack, strike, invade," quote-unquote, whatever, Ukraine.
It has been said dozens of times in recent weeks -- and I just reckon from this, we see the threat of Ukraine becoming ever more integrated in NATO
without even acquiring a formal status of a NATO member state. This is something that goes right to the center of Russia's national security
interests.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: And the Russian deputy foreign minister said that's the reason why Russia is acting so forcefully at this point in time and why this has
become such a pressing issue for them.
He also said that Russia wants to reverse what he calls that de facto integration of Ukraine into NATO. But he also claimed that Russia would do
that by diplomatic means.
MADOWO: The Kremlin says the meeting between Antony Blinken and Sergey Lavrov is really important. We heard Antony Blinken say he will not be
given a formal written response.
What do you make of that?
PLEITGEN: I think it's going to be very difficult for the Russians to swallow. The Russians have said, in the form of Lavrov, the Russian foreign
minister has said that the Russians want a written formal response. And they want that written formal response to come very quickly.
So that would be obviously something that the Russians would not really enjoy hearing. I did go back and listen to some of the other comments that
the deputy foreign minister made today. There was one interesting one.
He also said that the Russians want those formal responses by the U.S. and said that the Russians want a pledge by NATO to not ever take in Ukraine.
But he also said that the Russians might be willing to settle for -- get this -- a unilateral declaration by the United States to never vote in
favor of Ukraine coming into NATO.
So that's certainly an interesting thing that the Russians put forward today. Obviously, all of that makes these talks that are going to happen
between the Lavrov and Blinken all more important.
And that's certainly something that folks in D.C. are looking at closely; in Moscow as well and all the rest of Europe, as that dangerous situation
continues to unfold.
MADOWO: Right. And the line from the Americans, from Blinken today is that they still prefer dialogue and diplomacy. That is the preferable route.
Fred Pleitgen, thank you.
Just a short time ago, Boris Johnson came out swinging to save his job.
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MADOWO: The British prime minister faced the wrath of many U.K. lawmakers as most of the House of Commons erupted in fury over the escalating
Partygate scandal. Mr. Johnson is in big trouble and there were more calls today for him to resign over Downing Street parties held while England was
in lockdown. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DAVID DAVIS, BRITISH CONSERVATIVE MP: But I expect my leaders to shoulder the responsibility for the actions they take. Yesterday, he did the
opposite of that. So I'll remind him of a quotation altogether too familiar to him, of Leo Amery to Neville Chamberlain.
"You have sat there too long for all the good you have done. In the name of God, go."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MADOWO: Strong statement, "in the name of God, go."
Mr. Johnson sidestepped the issue by referring to the future outcome of an inquiry that's current underway. Salma Abdelaziz is watching all the twists
and turns in London.
Boris Johnson faced tough questions in Parliament but we say that all the time.
How did he perform today as his public outrage with them and outside Parliament grows?
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Today, prime minister Boris Johnson's strategy could be summed up as denial and distraction. Essentially, anytime
he was asked a question about Partygate, he evaded. He refused to respond to any allegations. He kicked the can down the road and pointed to an
investigation. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, U.K. PRIME MINISTER: I understand that the feelings that he has relayed to me, as I said last week -- and I sympathize very deeply with
the feelings and I understand why people feel as they do.
And I thank people very much for everything they have done. I recognize the enormous sacrifice that people have made. I apologize for misjudgments that
may be made by Number 10 and me and anybody else. But please can I ask him to wait for the inquiry to conclude.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Again, he's pointing to that investigation. We're waiting for the results of that. But already his party is running out of patience.
Before the MPs even started, there was a dramatic moment. A member of his own party literally crossed the aisle and went to the opposition. And the
hits kept on coming.
One of his former top allies, his former Brexit secretary, standing up in Parliament, you played that sound, telling him it is time to go. We already
know there's a small handful of Conservative lawmakers now that are willing to take the steps necessary to trigger a leadership contest.
This is a prime minister, whose story, whose excuses and defense is running very thin a at this point. First, there was no parties. Then there was an
event but the prime minister thought it was a work event.
Then the excuse this week is that he didn't know the COVID rules, that the man in charge of setting the rules, of telling the police to enforce the
rules is claiming he didn't know he was breaking COVID rules.
It's simply beyond our ability as the public here to imagine that the prime minister wouldn't know COVID restrictions when that's his very
responsibility. Already two-thirds of adults in this country want to see the prime minister resign.
But there's no vote in this country anytime soon, so it's going to be up to his own party to get rid of him, if that's what they want.
MADOWO: And that inquiry by Sue Gray expected maybe sometime next week. It will be an interesting time to know what happens to the prime minister and
if he did lie to Parliament. Many thanks, Salma Abdelaziz, in London.
So what does all this mean for Boris Johnson's political career?
After all, two recent polls suggest up to two-thirds of the public want him to resign as prime minister. With me to discuss this is Bianca Nobilo.
He seems to have nine political lives. He survives and survives. But there's a process that could dethrone him. His own party could decide to
kick him out.
How far are we away from that?
BIANCA NOBILO, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's plausible the 54 letters required to trigger that vote of no confidence could be
received today or this week. That is plausible because of the level of frustration, concern within the Conservative Party about the damage that
having Boris Johnson continue as prime minister is doing to the party and to the public's trust in politics.
However, those letters sent to that 1922 Committee of back bench Conservative MPs can be withdrawn. There's not a lot to suggest that MPs
would be likely to withdraw them. But that's why it makes trying to guess the amount of letters received a precarious game. That could happen this
week.
Theresa May, when she was going through something similar and it was clear her party were looking to topple her, it was about a 1.5 months on the edge
of our seats expecting that threshold to be met. So it might be soon. It could be a little later.
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NOBILO: But the difference this week is, when I speak to MPs today or yesterday, they think it's much more likely that Boris Johnson will face
the vote of no confidence in the immediate future.
When I was talking to them last week, they were telling me it will probably be after May because that's the local elections in the United Kingdom,
which will be a crystal clear bellwether of whether or not Boris Johnson has any ability to continue as leader.
But a lot of them don't want to wait for that point. As you mentioned, if he's misled Parliament, that's a resigning offense. That's a very, very
serious charge. And it is the convention that a prime minister would have to resign if that was found to be true.
So that's one route out. Then there's being toppled by his own MPs. Or he survives. As you say, he many political lives, something of a political
vampire, but I think his brand is so far gone that's untenable.
MADOWO: So that no confidence vote looks more than likely but would he survive that?
Because Theresa May did survive that vote but didn't last much longer after winning that vote.
NOBILO: Yes, and I think that's because when the cat is out of the bag, when Pandora's box has been opened, you can't put it back in. So what we
saw in prime minister's questions today with a member of his own party, a heavyweight, saying, for the love of God, go, when things like that start
happening, when your own MPs start coming out and saying you need to leave, you have to resign, whether or not you survive a leadership vote actually
becomes of less consequence because your moral authority, your ability to continue is completely undermined.
So what's required for Boris Johnson to lose that no confidence vote would be more than 50 percent of his MPs, which is 181, would have to vote that
they have no confidence in him.
It is possible he could survive that and what's working in his favor, I suppose, is the lack of consensus around an obvious successor. The two
names people are frequently talking about are the Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, and Liz Truss, the foreign secretary. Rishi Sunak seems a bit
more popular. Liz Truss might be more popular with the true blue Tories in Parliament.
But neither of them are surefire alternatives to Boris Johnson. There might be a few dark horses in the race. But that's definitely something which is
making MPs a little more reluctant.
What's happening right now is very much a referendum on Boris Johnson alone and an indictment of his leadership and not so much people opting for an
alternative. So that puts them in a bit of a tricky position.
MADOWO: "A political vampire," that's an excellent way to describe this gentleman. Maybe the party might be over to -- this is a bad pun -- but
thank you.
NOBILO: I love a pun. Thank you.
MADOWO: Ahead on the show, an investigation is launched in Peru into the company that spilled thousands of barrels of oil after an underwater
volcano erupted across the ocean. We'll have the latest.
And in Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs since the Taliban takeover in August. I'll speak to the U.S. special envoy for
Afghanistan about what's being done to help them.
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MADOWO: Several airlines are canceling some of their international flights into U.S. this hour due to the rollout of 5G mobile phone technology. The
concern is the 5G antenna signal could interfere with the plane's sensitive equipment.
Two major service providers have delayed activating some antennas. British Airways, Emirates, Air India and Japan Airlines are among the airlines
canceling flights into the U.S. CNN's Pete Muntean is joining us to talk about this.
Pete, America's major mobile networks have agreed to suspend the deployment of the technology around airports in the U.S. But some airlines are still
canceling flights coming into the U.S.
What's going on?
PETE MUNTEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Suspend with a caveat, Larry. These telecom companies, AT&T and Verizon, have agreed to delay this rollout of
5G but only near certain airports.
Now airlines say they have not received enough information that they need. So they are continuing into the interest of safety as if this rollout was
still going to continue nationwide. Delta Airlines says there's been a positive development here. But in this case, they are still going to have
to cancel some flights.
You mentioned the international carriers flying into the United States that have suspended some of their flights and that list keeps growing. You can
add British Airways to the list; Emirates, Air India, Japan Airlines, ANA have all suspended some flights coming in to the U.S. because of this
concern over the 5G rollout.
The central part of this issue is something called radar altimeters, a sensitive piece of equipment on board that sends a radio beam from the
airplane that gets bounced back from the ground that gives a reading of the airplane's height.
But the issue is they operate on a similar band, a similar frequency that is also used by this 5G technology. So the issue here is that could cause
interference, especially in the most critical phases of flying, low to the ground, low altitude, in low visibility when pilots say they need it most.
We know AT&T and Verizon said they would delay this. AT&T says the federal airline regulators had two years to deal with this. And this has been
rolled out in about 40 other countries. So a bit of a blame game taking place right now.
We will see, as this develops, if more flights will be cancelled and airlines have signaled that will be the case until they get more
information. The head of Airlines for America, the top lobby here in the United States, says this is going to be a tower by tower issue. So they
need a lot of information here. And it's not coming fast enough.
MADOWO: For a lot of bewildered passengers, me included, I don't realize it could be potentially bad for me flying into an airport. Thank you, Pete.
We're seeing extraordinary new images from an environmental disaster in Peru. Golden beaches drowning in crude oil that spilled after that
underwater volcano erupted in Tonga.
A massive cleanup is underway and an investigation has been launched into the Spanish company responsible. Stefano Pozzebon has more details from
Bogota.
So Peru is about 10,000 kilometers away from Tonga. So this speaks to the strength of that tsunami.
But also how did this happen?
What are authorities saying?
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Yes, it tells you that the world is a small place when it comes to environmental disaster perhaps.
What the preliminary investigation and the environment minister for Peru has said is that the spill occurred when an oil ship was uploading some of
its crude oil onto a refinery not so far away from Lima.
And the ship was hit by a wave caused by the eruption of the volcano in Tonga, right on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. That caused about
6,000 barrels of crude oil to spill over the Pacific Ocean.
[10:25:00]
POZZEBON: And that arrived onto beaches in Lima and another municipality close to the Peruvian capital. The refinery is saying it is cooperating
with the preliminary investigation, as you said, Peru has launched into the accident and about 200 workers are working around the clock to try to clean
up the oil spill.
MADOWO: Very fascinating. Many thanks to you.
Peru is actually 10,000 kilometers away from Tonga. But there terrifying stories of survival are emerging in the days since the eruption and
tsunami. As you can see here, a thick blanket of ash seems to cover everything in sight. CNN's Phil Black reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Days after this eruption sent shock waves across the Pacific, only now is the world hearing from people
in Tonga, living with the aftermath of that blast and the tsunami that followed. The World Health Organization spoke to CNN via satellite phone
from the main island.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
DR. YUTARO SETOYA, WHO TONGA: After the eruption, initially, there was like a sound on the roof like a rain and it was actually a rain. It was
small pellets falling from the sky. And then it was followed by very, very fine ash.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
BLACK (voice-over): Aid groups now know what people need most urgently.
SAINIANA ROKOVUCAGO, PACIFIC HEAD OF PROGRAMMES, IFRC: Today for the first time, did we get to speak to the secretary general of the Tonga Red Cross
Society, who confirmed that water is the number one issue.
BLACK (voice-over): Much of the local water supply is contaminated by ash from the volcano is and seawater from the tsunami. New Zealand navy ships
are on their way with vast stores of fresh water and desalination equipment. Aid flights are possible because the runway of Tonga's main
airport is cleared of ash and debris. Tonga will welcome the aid deliveries but doesn't want people from outside the country to help distribute it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEAN CASEY, COVID-19 INCIDENT MANAGER, WHO PACIFIC: It's a COVID-free country and they want to stay that way. And bringing in teams brings with
it risk. We have a lot of COVID around the world at the moment. Omicron variant is circulating and including in neighboring countries here in the
Pacific.
BLACK (voice-over): Communications are still a big challenge, especially with the outer islands. The one underwater cable linking Tonga to the world
is damaged and will take weeks to fix.
New Zealand geologists predict the volcano will continue to be active in the coming days and weeks. The volcanic island first rose out of the water
only seven years ago. These satellite pictures are from before and after the recent eruption. The blast has destroyed almost everything above the
surface -- Phil Black, CNN, Melbourne, Australia.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MADOWO: Like he just said, Tonga is one of the few countries in the world that is COVID free. The World Health Organization wants to make sure it
stays that way, so they are not sending crews to the island.
It's unlikely they would have been allowed in anyway, because they have strict COVID-19 policies. The WHO says it is still working to send much-
needed supplies there.
We're going to take a quick break here. We'll be right back.
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MADOWO: Welcome back. I'm Larry Madowo and you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD.
Later today, U.S. President Joe Biden is set to hold his first news conference in months and on the eve of his first anniversary in office. It
comes as his presidency and the country struggles with the pandemic, record inflation, his agenda stalled in Congress and plenty more. Jeff Zeleny has
the story.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE BIDEN (D) PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES: This is our historic moment of crisis and challenge. And unity is the path forward.
JEFF ZELENY, CNN CHIEF NATIONAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As President Biden enters his second year in office that unity is elusive.
With a very same crisis and challenge still burning red hot and complicating his path forward. The optimism from Biden's inaugural address
--
BIDEN: Bringing America together --
ZELENY (voice-over): -- tempered by the bitter reality of a capital and a nation even more divided. And a president scrambling to find his footing.
From an unrelenting pandemic, to stubborn inflation to dangerous threats to democracy at home and across the globe. The White House is trying to reset
and restore a floundering presidency.
Tonight, election reform on the cusp of failing in the Senate, the latest example of the limits of presidential power in today's Washington, where
Republicans are loath to cooperate and Democrats with a razor thin majority struggle to compromise.
JEN PSAKI, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: There's been a lot of progress made. We need to build on that the work is not done. The job is not done.
And we are certainly not conveying it is.
ZELENY (voice-over): Still in March Biden signed a $1.9 trillion American rescue plan to ease the economic fallout from COVID-19. And months later, a
$1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bravo.
ZELENY (voice-over): A landmark accomplishment that is eluded Presidents of both parties.
BIDEN: Despite the cynics, Democrats and Republicans can come together and deliver results.
ZELENY (voice-over): But that bipartisan bridge did not extend to the second part of his economic agenda, the Build Back Better plan stalled in
the Senate and facing an uphill road in this midterm election year.
But above all, top White House officials concede the first year of the Biden presidency has been complicated and consumed by coronavirus.
Remarkable gains were made on vaccines. But the President summertime declaration of success proved utterly premature.
BIDEN: No longer controls our lives. It no longer paralyzes our nation and it's within our power to make sure it never does again.
ZELENY (voice-over): A fall wave of the Delta variant followed by a winter surge of Omicron played bear the failures in COVID testing and eroded
confidence once again in the administration's grasp of the crisis.
BIDEN: It's clearly not enough if we'd known we would have gotten harder quicker if we could have. ZELENY (voice-over): On the world stage. Biden
reassured allies after the whiplash of the Trump era.
BIDEN: America is back.
ZELENY (voice-over): Yet the prospect of a new Cold War is now an urgent fear. That was not apparent during Biden's summit with Vladimir Putin in
June, which focused on cyber attacks. A threat overshadowed by Russia's aggression toward Ukraine.
BIDEN: Look ahead in three to six months and say did the things we agreed to sit down and try to work out did it work.
ZELENY (voice-over): Biden sought to reset the Russian relationship. Now Putin is testing Biden and Western allies.
For all the challenges outside any president's control, one of the most devastating periods of Biden's first year was a decision that he made and
stands behind.
BIDEN: I was not going to extend this forever war. And I was not extending a forever exit.
ZELENY (voice-over): The Swift follow the Afghanistan government and the chaotic evacuation that followed, including 13 Americans killed in a
suicide bombing, raise critical questions about competence that Biden and his team still struggled to shake six months later.
BIDEN: I take responsibility for the decision.
ZELENY (voice-over): Yet taking responsibility marks a noted change between Biden and his predecessor, who looms even larger one year out of
office.
[10:35:00]
ZELENY (voice-over): That point was clear on the anniversary of the Capitol attack.
BIDEN: He's not just the former president. He's a defeated former president.
ZELENY (voice-over): And that advisors say is a glimpse into Biden's current mindset. He's no longer ignoring Trump and his assault on
democracy. The outcome of his second year will help shape how Biden answers the biggest question of all, likely by this time next year. Will he run
again?
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MADOWO: CNN's Jeff Zeleny there. Thank you for that report.
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MADOWO: Let's get you up to speed on the stories on our radar.
Days after Houthi rebels attacked fuel trucks at the airport in Abu Dhabi, the UAE is calling for a meeting of the Security Council. They want the
Houthis to be designated as terrorists. The UAE has been part of the coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen.
Israeli police have demolished the home of a Palestinian family in East Jerusalem. Officials say the site has been designated for a school for
children with special needs in Sheikh Jarrah. That's one of several East Jerusalem neighborhoods where buildings housing Palestinian families face
the threat of demolition.
And an ancient prayer hall has been discovered in a mosque in the Iraqi city of Mosul. The room is more than 800 years old, according to AFB. It
was found during renovations on the mosque, which was damaged during a siege on ISIS in 2017.
Still ahead, celebrations in one of Africa's smallest nations after one of the biggest football upsets in recent memory.
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MADOWO: Researchers believe think may uncovered who betrayed Anne Frank's family and revealed their hiding place to the Nazis. It's the result of a
six-year investigation into a mystery that has puzzled historians for nearly 80 years. CNN's Paula Newton has the details.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Her story lived on long after its writing, an enduring reminder of the horrors of the Holocaust.
The diary of Anne Frank ends abruptly, presumably before Nazis found her and her family in 1944.
For decades, a question lingered: how were they discovered after nearly two years in hiding?
Now there may be an answer. A betrayal potentially uncovered in what had long been a cold case.
PETER VAN TWISK, INVESTIGATION TEAM MEMBER: Only one scenario fits the classic motive: knowledge and opportunity.
NEWTON: A team of historians, criminologists and data specialists identified who they believe is the most likely suspect: a Jewish notary
named Arnold van den Bergh.
VAN TWISK: We went through kilometers of archival material.
[10:40:00]
VAN TWISK: And the big advantage of artificial intelligence is that it can point out connections that it's very difficult for a human being.
NEWTON: It comes after the discovery of a crucial piece of evidence. An unsigned note given to Anne Frank's father, all documented in a new book,
"The Betrayal of Anne Frank."
ROSEMARY SULLIVAN, AUTHOR, "THE BETRAYAL OF ANNE FRANK": We have circumstantial evidence but it indicates that an anonymous note that was
given to Otto Frank after he returned from the Auschwitz camp, having lost his entire family, the anonymous note identified Van Den Bergh as the
person who had given over addresses of Jews in hiding.
The researchers say that if Arnold Van Der Bergh was the culprit, he likely surrendered the information to save himself and his family.
RONALD LEOPOLD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ANNE FRANK HOUSE: I think what this new theory is bringing us is not just information about what has happened
here on the 4th of August, 1944, but very much also about the -- the behavior of people, the choices they have made, decisions they have taken
during a very difficult period of time.
NEWTON: Some experts have cast doubt on the allegations, questioning the centrality of the anonymous note given to Frank's father. Who betrayed Anne
Frankly perhaps still in question as her tragic story of loss and suffering endures -- Paula Newton, CNN.
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