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Connect the World
Macron, Scholz & Draghi make Unannounced Trip to Ukraine; UK Defense Secretary: Russia is in a very, very difficult place; Inflation Soared to 73.5 Percent in May, its Highest in 20 Plus Years; Journalists in Mexico fear for their Safety Amid Rising Crime; UK Pushes ahead with Controversial Deportation Plan; Heat Wave Scorching Parts of Western Europe. Aired 11a- 12p ET
Aired June 16, 2022 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from London. This is "Connect the World" with Max Foster.
MAX FOSTER, CNN HOST, CONNECT THE WORLD: Hello and welcome back to "Connect the World". I'm Max foster in for Becky Anderson.
Now, air raid sirens blared as they arrived in Kyiv, the Leaders of France, Germany and Italy, making an unannounced visit to Ukraine's capital, joined
by Romania's President to show solidarity after nearly four months of war.
France's Emmanuel Macron calling it an important moment, the leaders sat down with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who thanked them after
expressing earlier criticism that Mr. Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz haven't been doing enough to help President Zelensky expressing the
need for unity to counter Russian aggression.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY, UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT: We're certain that Russia wants to show that European unity issue cannot be effective and that European
values cannot work in defense of freedom and therefore we must together break the scenario and prove to them that Europe will continue to be free
and democratic. And I stress united.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: --also told there by Irpin devastated early in the war and scene of alleged Russian war trustees. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi vowed
Europe will help Ukraine rebuild everything that Russia destroyed in Irpin.
Salma Abdelaziz joins us now, following developments for us from Kyiv. Zelenskyy very much using this line that he's used this is not just a war
between Russia and Ukraine. It's about all of Europe and Europe's values.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, and this is why these three European Leaders really the powerhouse leaders in the region came on this
visit together to try to express that unwavering solidarity, that unwavering support.
But there are cracks in the system here Max. President Zelenskyy has criticized in particular, the German Chancellor and the French President,
who he says have been soft on Moscow have been soft on President Putin. He accuses them of a balancing act of trying to balance their interest with
Russia alongside trying to still support Ukraine's fight against President Putin's aggression.
And you heard that muted tone right on the train platform as these three leaders arrived from the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
IRYNA VERESHCHUK, UKRAINIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER: I'm not sure that there will be bright announcement following the meeting. But this regardless how
it will be ending would be a historical meeting, which would either pave the way to stronger Europe or to stronger Ukraine.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ABDELAZIZ: Now, the three leaders have concluded their meeting with President Zelenskyy. And we're just receiving tape here of a press
conference of their update to reporters after their meeting. So forgive me, this is just information coming in now.
But what we understand is the key issues that were discussed were grain exports that are extremely important. There's 22 million tons of grain
trapped in Ukraine that can't be exported. That's critical for markets around Europe and Africa in the Middle East.
They appealed to Russia to allow the United Nations to try to find a solution to that. Russia is being accused here of creating a blockade of
not allowing Ukraine to export grain. They've also discussed weapons shipments, all three countries vowing to continue to provide material
support to Ukraine on its frontlines on its battleground.
And they also discussed another major issue here for Ukraine, which is their application to the European Union. We're expecting to hear tomorrow
from the European Commission as to whether or not they'll recommend candidacy status for Ukraine. Now, that's largely symbolic here, Max,
because it takes years if not decades, to join the European Union.
But President Zelenskyy has been vocal and feeling that he's excluded from the European club that as you mentioned, that this is a fight for Europe,
but somehow Ukraine is not included in that European community so all three leaders trying to show that this door is open that he is a part of the
larger European network.
But this is a meeting that was more about mending fences, trying to bridge the divide and show that these three countries that Europe at large will
continue to support Ukraine in the long haul. But again, President Zelenskyy is going to want to see action. He's going to want more than
rhetoric. He's going to want them to toughen sanctions. He's going to want to see more material support, and he's going to want to know that the door
to Europe is open, Max.
FOSTER: And also this idea that Ukraine will be defended, you know, long term by Europe by NATO and ultimately, they're looking to take back land
that has been seized in their minds by Russia.
ABDELAZIZ: Absolutely, Max. But that's a very long term vision I think at this point. If you look at the battlefield Ukrainian forces are on their
back foot. They're nowhere near the opportunity to try to take back lands like Crimea or Mariupol that was recently occupied by Russian forces.
Of course, what they're trying to do right now is just stop this inch by inch gradual forward movement of Russian forces into Ukraine deeper into
the Donbas. Remember the Flashpoint right now is Sievierodonetsk and Luhansk region.
[11:05:00]
ABDELZIZ: There Russian forces control about 80 percent of the city. They've destroyed three of the main bridges that lead out of that city
making evacuations almost impossible. There's one area of concern here, the Azov plant where hundreds of people are sheltered in the basement.
Officials say it's now nearly impossible to get them out because again, these routes are blocked. The United Nations has warned that residents of
Sievierodonetsk are running out of food, they're running out of water. They have no basic cleaning conditions.
So a really dire situation there in Sievierodonetsk, where Ukrainian authorities say they're running out of ammunition they're running out of
artillery, of course, we have this major announcement about more weapons coming through from NATO.
But right now, it really is a fight for survival. It's just about trying to hold that line, not really about trying to gain back territory, but really
bolster this Ukrainian fighting force that seems to be flailing in the face of a much more superior military power, Max.
FOSTER: OK. Salma, thank you! Well, at a meeting today of Defense Ministers NATO Defence Ministers, the U.S. Defense Secretary offered details of a new
$1 billion package pledged to Ukraine by President Joe Biden. And NATO says it'll move troops of equipment into Eastern Europe. The Alliance's
Secretary General says it's a plan to counter Russia's aggression in Ukraine.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JENS STOLTENBERG, NATO SECRETARY GENERAL: Russia's aggression is a game changer. So NATO must maintain credible deterrence and strong defense.
Today, ministers addressed the scale and the design of our future posture, and how we can step up across all domains, with substantial strengthening
our presence, capabilities and readiness.
This will mean more NATO forward deployed combat formations to strengthen our battle groups in the eastern part of alliance, more air, sea and cyber
defenses, as well as pre-positioned equipment and weapons stockpiles. And the new force model with more forces at higher readiness, and specific
forces pre assigned to the defense of specific allies to enable much faster reinforcement.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: The Ukrainian Defense Minister was in Brussels as well. He gave CNN an exclusive interview with Matthew Chance.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Well, the Ukrainian Defense Minister has given very few interviews since the
start of this conflict, so this was a good opportunity to get his perspective on the wars. He meets his U.S. and Western counterparts at NATO
Headquarters here in Brussels to discuss more weapons deliveries.
The United States, of course, has been at the forefront of providing Ukraine with arms donating a further billion dollars of military assistance
in the past 24 hours. And Ukraine says it has been assured that that kind of us support will continue into the future. Take a listen to what Oleksiy
Reznikov had to say.
OLEKSIY REZNIKOV, UKRAINIAN DEFENSE MINISTER: I heard yesterday and I felt that it's absolutely honestly that they saw the eyes of Lloyd Austin, for
example, or General Mark Milley or Ben Wallace, or our partners from the Baltic Congress from the Poland. And I saw their real understanding that
they will never stop, they will with us.
CHANCE (on camera): Well, the Defense Minister also told me that those new U.S. weapons like artillery guns, the multiple rocket launchers, and the
armored fighting vehicles, will allow Ukrainian forces to take back territory that's been occupied by Russia. Crucially, he told me that
includes Crimea the region, of course, was annexed by Russia back in 2014. And any attempt to seize it back by military means is likely to be seen by
Moscow as a major red line. Matthew Chance, CNN in Brussels.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Well, meanwhile China is reinforcing its support for Russia. In a phone call Chinese President Xi Jinping told Russian President Vladimir
Putin that Beijing would continue to support Moscow in issues or on issues related to sovereignty, security and core interests. They also talked about
the war in Ukraine. CNN Senior International Correspondent, Will Ripley joins us live from Singapore with more. What did you make of it Will?
WILL RIPLEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what this is Max is the continuation of these two alternate realities that exist in the
world right now. You have the authoritarian reality where best friends China and Russia are getting along better than ever. They're cooperating
more than ever.
[11:10:00]
RIPLEY: China is using its massive economy to help Russia survive and absorb some of the impact of the international sanctions overwhelmingly
from the alliance of Western countries which are going after Russian President Vladimir Putin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
And yet inside China, there's no criticism of President Putin's actions either on state media, or any of the official government communications.
It's partially because President Xi and Putin met on the sidelines of the Beijing Olympics, and reaffirmed their partnership just a matter of days,
and weeks before Russian soldiers were invading Ukraine and Russian bonds were raining down in their cities.
So you don't have that criticism at all that you've seen in the West, existing between these two, the two out of the three biggest nuclear powers
in the world Max.
And that is certainly a troubling power dynamic that we have to continue to watch, when you have China also essentially saying it's not going to punish
North Korea for even more provocative actions, including, you know, what's long been suspected as a looming seventh nuclear tests.
The authoritarian reality, and then the Western alliances that are trying to do their best to punish Russia economically, but they're not getting a
whole lot of cooperation from China.
And of course, by the way, Max, China and Russia, also both, you know permanent voting members of the United Nations Security Council. So if
there's any action taken against the other, they can basically put the kibosh on it right away.
FOSTER: And China get steadily stronger, because Russia becomes more dependent on China, as the West turns its back on Russian resources.
RIPLEY: Absolutely, they have a large customer, you know, for their growing economy, of course, an economy that's really been struggling, in large part
because of the policies of Chinese President Xi Jinping, including his zero COVID, which is strangling and choking the economy.
In large cities like Shanghai and other places where people are being forced to live, you know for weeks or months in lock down for a handful of
COVID cases, a policy that the overwhelming majority of scientists around the world say is unsustainable.
But because President Xi said so, China is holding firm to that policy. And because President Xi said that he's best friends with President Putin,
China and Russia are sticking together Max.
So it's really is that personality driven, you have these two, you have Democratic leaders in the West trying to build coalitions, but of course,
the governments are constantly changing. These guys have been in power for a long time.
And they plan to be in power and in partnership for many years to come. And what does that mean for the future of the world order? Well, that certainly
depends on a lot of factors.
But that's one of the reasons why we're watching very closely the situation between China and Taiwan. Could China be emboldened and China's friendship
with Russia help them feel that they could survive if they tried to make a move on that self-governing democracy that they've claimed as their own
territory for more than 70 years.
FOSTER: OK, Will in Singapore. Thank you. Let's take the western view. Again then CNN Pentagon Correspondent Oren Lieberman is live in Brussels.
The meeting of NATO Defense Ministers are and this is a head of a bigger NATO meeting where they have to make some really big decisions in a couple
of weeks about how they're going to deal with Russia and increased defenses along that NATO border.
OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: That's one of the key questions. And that's to a large extent, what today was all about. The NATO
Defense Ministers and Defense Secretaries getting together to begin figuring out what the future force posture in Europe looks like?
It, of course, was a certain way for years, if not decades, as Russia is slowly made moves on, for example, Georgia or Crimea. And now as Russia has
shown this aggression and willingness to invade all of Ukraine and statements that suggests it's certainly willing to go beyond that.
It's a key question that NATO is facing, how, how many, what types of forces and how Far East do you move them? So that's what part of this was
all about? We spoke earlier today with Secretary Ben Wallace from England.
And he sounded a note of cautious optimism. As he deals with this question of first, where will NATO forces be? But also then, crucially, a question
of what will Ukraine look like.
He sounded a note of cautious optimism that we haven't heard all that much in other places, but also acknowledging the difficulty that Ukraine faces
as Russia masses these troops, here's what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BEN WALLACE, BRITISH DEFENSE SECRETARY: I think Russia, I think we're going to discover he's in a very, very difficult place, it certainly in its depth
of its reserves, and its morale, and that that will make every meter they fight for even harder.
And at the same time, we're now going to see some of these heavier weapons coming into the hands of Ukraine, delivered into the country, and that will
again, change the balance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LIEBERMANN: So it is a crucial moment here for the NATO Defense Ministers not only as they see what's happening in Ukraine, and they send in weapons,
that billion dollar package from the United States, shipments also coming in from Germany and from other countries.
But then there's the broader, bigger question of how to adjust the forces that have been here and what other forces to send in to face this
aggression coming from Russia, not only now, but moving into the future.
FOSTER: How concerned are they about the optics of all of this from a Russian perspective and see being seen as a provocation bringing more
defense --into the Baltics for example, there's applications from Sweden and from Finland.
[11:15:00]
FOSTER: I think we've lost Lauren, Oren even. We'll come back to a bit later on now. As the U.S. offers more military aid to Ukraine to American
volunteers who are fighting alongside Ukrainian troops are missing is feared.
They've been captured by Russian forces. Both are from Alabama, and were last seen nearly a week ago north of Kharkiv, not far from the Russian
border. The Ukrainian commander says they went missing during a battle.
A Russian propaganda channel on telegram did not name them but claims that two Americans were captured in the region. Some of the missing men's loved
ones spoke to CNN about them.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUNNY DRUEKE, ALEXANDER JOHN-ROBERT DRUEKE'S MOTHER: Alex did not go there as a representative of the U.S. military. He went there as a civilian with
military training. He went there on his own. He was not sent there by our government.
JOY BLACK, ANDY TAI NGOC HUYNH'S FIANCEE: When he went there to volunteer. And he wasn't, he knew he wasn't doing was easy, but he was doing what was
right and what he truly felt called to by the Lord to do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: Two Britons and the Moroccan have already been sentenced to death by Russian backed separatists for fighting with Ukraine in the Donetsk
region. You're watching "Connect the World".
Like the heat inflation is soaring across large parts of the world. Up next what the U.S. Central Bank is doing to offer reassurance about the world's
biggest economy. And with an inflation rate soaring about 70 percent across the food, transportation and pretty much everything else has skyrocketed in
Turkey. We'll look at how people are dealing with it.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: The man who runs America's Central Bank is trying to calm consumer and investor nerves over inflation. U.S. Federal Reserve Chief Jerome
Powell is announcing America's largest interest rate hike in almost three decades.
He says it was Friday's eye catching may inflation report that led to Wednesday's dramatic rate rise. The big worry now is a possible recession
isn't helping Wall Street is trading deep in the red as you can see, giving up its post Fed decision gains.
Investors are beginning to question whether the Fed could execute a soft landing and avoid a recession. CNN's Matt Egan joins us live from
Washington where the Fed is based.
This was meant to reassure the markets but because it was such a big number. It was quite frightening to a lot of people.
MATT EGAN, CNN REPORTER: Yes, Max the market reaction has been pretty interesting. Markets tanked on Friday and Monday, as there's this
realization that inflation just keeps getting harder.
And the Fed is going to have to do more to cool up. Let we actually saw markets go up yesterday when the Fed carried through and announced this
three quarters of a point rate hike.
[11:20:00]
EGAN: And today a bit of a hangover 700 point decline for the Dow but 2.4 percent, even bigger losses for the NASDAQ. And I think this actually makes
more sense, because there's nothing about what happened today, that really eases this vast uncertainty facing investors.
The main question remains, can the Fed get inflation under control without causing a recession? And Powell was asked about this yesterday. And he
said, yes, it's possible. But he also conceded that that task has become more challenging the last few months.
And it's actually largely out of the Feds control, because this is subject to swings and spikes in commodity prices, in part caused by the war in
Ukraine. And I don't think that's really a reassuring message to investors that not even the Federal Reserve can control whether or not there's going
to be a recession.
That is, again, mostly because they've been pretty late to this inflation fire, right? I mean, for months, they thought that it would put itself out.
Now they're coming to the rescue by trying to put it out by raising interest rates.
But because they're late here, they have to do more. And this is tricky. I mean, if they do, if they don't do enough, then we could see inflation stay
hot and get hotter. And if they do too much Max, they could slow the economy, right into a recession. FOSTER: Yes. Is it possible situation,
isn't it? We're very focused, obviously on the share markets there. But what are investors doing as they rush away from these riskier investments?
Where are they putting their money? Is there any hope for them right now?
EGAN: Yes, I mean, people are getting out of risk assets everywhere. I mean, that's why we've seen the NASDAQ take an even bigger hit. I mean, the
S&P 500, the main benchmark U.S. index, fell into a bear market.
That happened actually to the NASDAQ much earlier. And that's because people are nervous. And when they're, they're concerned; they don't want to
be involved to assets. You know, crypto, crypto is pretty turbulent, even during normal times. And that's why people have gotten out of crypto as
well.
We've seen Bitcoin lose another 5 percent today, it's down by more than 50 percent so far this year, and that is because it is a speculative asset. I
mean, there's a lot of potential with crypto, a lot of potential in Bitcoin.
But it's untested, you know, in a period of high inflation of extreme market volatility. So people are taking money out of stocks, and they're
putting more money and they're leaving it just in cash.
And what's important to remember here is that money in the bank earned absolutely nothing for the longest time. Now, because central banks around
the world, including at the Fed, are raising interest rates, savings rates are going to start to go up.
Of course, the problem is, inflation is so high that even if you get 2 percent in the bank, it's still going to lose value against inflation. So
there are not too many places for investors to hide.
I do think Max, we need to remember that bear markets, even though they're painful, they're not permanent. And, you know, if you got out of the market
in March of 2020, during that really scary time, you would have missed out on an epic boom, in stocks that are going to go down in history books is
one of the best ever.
So this is not a fun time for investors. But thankfully, you know bear markets don't last forever and eventually there should be another bull
market.
FOSTER: OK, thank you very much, Matt. Now, it's not just the U.S. feeling the heat the war in Ukraine and rising energy costs are fueling price
increases in several countries.
Within Turkey, the inflation rate went up to a staggering 73.5 percent in May. And while many countries are raising interest rates to try to curb
inflation, the Turkish President is taking a different approach as CNN's Jomana Karadsheh explains.
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There's one thing that dominates conversations here and that is the state of the economy. While so many
countries around the world are facing rising inflation, Turkey is facing its worst inflation in more than 20 years.
According to government figures, inflation rate hit 73.5 percent in May, gas that is more than 70 percent and many believe that in reality, it is
much higher than that. People are struggling to keep up with this continuously rising inflation rates the cost of pretty much everything has
gone up.
Transport has gone up by more than 107 percent in May compared to the previous year. Household goods furniture more than 82 percent, but the one
that has hit so many so hard is the cost of food. Everyday staples have gone up by more than 90 percent.
[11:25:00]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KARADSHEH (voice over): Restaurant owner Barris (ph) says with prices going up several times a month, they can't have fixed prices anymore. Costs are
going up. But they can't keep raising their prices, he tells us, we used to see some customers four or five times a month. Now we see them once a month
if at all he says, it's an economic crisis says, business owner --.
We used to talk about people in Russia buying one tomato at a time. Now, that's our situation. We are in the same boat.
Restaurant worker - says he's struggling to make ends meet and is drowning in debt. It's like we work for nothing. Our work goes down the drain, he
tells us every day we sink lower and lower, he says.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KARADSHEH : The war in Ukraine rising global energy prices and the local currency, the Turkish Lira, losing about half of its value over the past
year have all contributed to the situation.
But many economists blame much of this on President Erdogan's unorthodox economic policies. Turkey has been facing double digit inflation for years
now. And many countries to fight inflation would raise the borrowing costs but not in Turkey.
The President is a staunch opponent of interest rates that he describes as an evil that makes the rich richer and the poor, poorer. And he's recently
doubled down on that and said that Turkey will continue to cut interest rates.
He believes that a depreciated currency, lower interest rates will boost production jobs, exports and tourism. But experts have been questioning the
President's plan and warning that it will backfire and that it is the Turkish population that will continue to bear the brunt of this. Jomana
Karadsheh, CNN Istanbul.
FOSTER: Now another bad week for crypto currency Bitcoin, the world's most valuable digital currency has plunged more than 30 percent this week. It's
hovering around $21,000 right now, that's down from a record high last November of $69,000.
And as the digital currency market continues to crumble, Coinbase is warning of what it calls a crypto winter. The Crypto Exchange says it's
laying off almost 1/5 of its workforce.
After sharp criticism of Brazil's handling of two missing men, there's a break in the case now. The details of what happened to the British
journalist and his Brazilian companion coming up.
And we ride along with journalists in a country where covering the news is fraught with danger. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
FOSTER: Two important developments and a mysterious disappearance in Brazil. Authorities say a suspect has confessed to killing a British
journalist and a Brazilian expert on the country's indigenous peoples.
Human remains have been found, and more arrests are expected. CNN's Shasta Darlington has more from Sao Paulo.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A breakthrough in the disappearance of the British journalist and indigenous expert who were last seen a week
and a half ago in a remote region of the Amazon. On Wednesday night, Brazilian authorities announced that a suspect being held in relation to
the case had admitted to killing DOM Phillips and Bruno Pereira.
The suspect was identified as Amarildo da Costa Oliveira, a local fisherman. Police said he confessed on Tuesday night and the following day
he took them to the area where the men were allegedly murdered.
There they found human remains which are being sent to Brasilia for analysis. The two men vanished during a trip in the Javadi valley in the
far western part of Amazonas state on June 5.
The protected region is home to several indigenous communities including uncontested tribes. But in recent years, illegal activity has flourished
with land invasions from illegal loggers, fisherman, poachers, as well as drug traffickers.
Phillips and Pereira were on a trip to do research for a book about conservation efforts and challenges. Both men had recently received death
threats. While indigenous groups immediately sent out search parties on the day they went missing.
Authorities have come under fire for what critics called a slow and inefficient response to their disappearance. Activists and indigenous
groups have staged protests across Brazil and around the world to denounce that official response.
And also the administration of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro which they say has turned a blind eye to criminality in the region. During his
administration deforestation has surged while the agencies tasked with monitoring the rainforest have been defunded.
Now on Wednesday during an interview on YouTube, Bolsonaro accused Phillips and Pereira of being reckless. For many in Brazil Wednesday's announcement
by federal police a tragic ending to two man's efforts to document reality in the Amazon, Shasta Darlington CNN, and Sao Paulo.
FOSTER: A danger for journalists that we just heard about in Brazil is also an issue in Mexico. The facts outside of warzones Mexico is the most
dangerous nation the media, with 11 journalists killed so far this year.
U.S. lawmakers have been urging President Joe Biden to put more pressure on Mexico to protect its journalists. CNN's Matt Rivers has been looking into
the dangerous job of covering crime in Mexico. Matt?
MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Max not only have 11 journalists been killed so far this year, but 34 have been killed since President Andres
Manuel Lopez Obrador took office in late December, or excuse me in early December of 2018. The problem simply is not going away.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
RIVERS (voice over): --Mexico, in a country plagued by homicide, this city stands out nearly 800 murders already this year, say state officials, which
means the people reporting on those crimes are busy.
This we get to see firsthand meeting up well after dark with freelance journalist, Arturo Rosales, it's not long before we're off to what police
say is a murder scene.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Are you scared sometimes of your work, because you're working in very complex situations.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, mainly in areas with a lot of conflict.
RIVERS (voice over): Dangerous neighborhoods like here in Los Alamos where a body was found left in the street. Arturo gets to work snapping photos,
and going live on Facebook. He just describes the basics time, location, manner of death in a city like Tijuana where murders are often linked to
organized crime, even just reporting the facts can be deadly.
Margarita Martinez was a well-known crime reporter in the city, a happy guy with a quick wit and a big smile. He was killed outside his home earlier
this year. A best friend, he taught me everything I know.
Aguilar (ph) is a journalist too, one of Martinez's best friends. They work together at countless murder scenes and Aguilar worked at Martinez's too. I
had to see it he says, I had to see it it's what we do; we cover homicides, now I witnessed his.
[11:35:00]
RIVERS (voice over): Prosecutors detained 10 people for the crime, though none have been formally charged. Authorities say those detained have ties
to organized crime, but haven't given an exact motive for the killing.
Martinez's death is tragically not that unusual in Mexico. 11 journalists have been killed so far this year. According to Human Rights Group article
19, a number the Mexican government disputes as to high.
Mexico Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says his government is committed to protecting journalists.
The difference from before he says is that in all these homicides, there have already been people detained, and there is no impunity. But that is
simply not true. The governments own statistics show that more than 90 percent of crimes in Mexico go unsolved.
For Sonia Dianda (ph) herself 81, a journalist, it creates a morbid reality. She says whatever threats obstacles to their work, whoever kills a
journalist, there are no consequences because we live in a country of impunity.
The Mexican president also routinely attacks journalists he doesn't like as enemies, often claiming coverage that is critical of him is really just an
attack on the Mexican people.
Critics say comments like those contribute to the violence journalist's face. How many journalists had been killed, he says a whole lot. That's the
truth. That uncertainty, the danger surrounding this job is with Arturo Rosales as he drives around Tijuana each night.
He says there's not much confidence in the government because there is no protection. Arriving at our last scene of the night, Arturo goes through
the motions, and we find out what happened.
RIVERS (on camera): The driver of that car right there that's now on its side he was shot while actually driving the car that would make this at
least the 10th homicide that's been recorded in Tijuana in just the last 24 hours.
RIVERS (voice over): And Arturo says he'll keep being there to document as many as he can, even though he and all his fellow journalists know that
they could go from covering victims to becoming a victim at any moment.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
RIVERS: Max, it's important to delineate here what kind of journalists are facing threats, you know, international journalists, not so much national
level journalists, to some extent but really, when we're talking about the threats that journalists the kind of journalists facing threats, its local
journalists, its people who are living in the same communities that they are covering.
And as a result of all this violence, you have seen a decimation of local news in many parts of Mexico, a free press in some parts of Mexico yet
another casualty of the violence and corruption that plagues civil society in this country.
FOSTER: Is it fair to say that you as an international journalist then don't feel under the same threat and are able to report freely?
RIVERS: I think we're able to report freely, but not from everywhere around the country. There are some places that it is simply too dangerous for us
to go to. And if you start doing certain kinds of stories, you could put yourself and your family at risk.
But those are decisions that international journalists like me and others, other colleagues here in the country, we can make those decisions on a case
by case basis.
If you are out there every single day like a local journalist who are covering these crime scenes who are investigating murderers who are looking
into local corruption, it is incredibly dangerous.
And the idea that people are continuing to do that work is frankly one of the bravest things I've ever seen.
FOSTER: Incredible, Matt, thank you for joining from Mexico City. Let's get you up to date on some other stories on our radar right now. An anti-Rwanda
rally in the Democratic Republic of Congo ended in looting on Wednesday.
Today, the DRC broke some diplomatic ties with Rwanda; the DRC is also requesting that all Rwandan troops in Congo withdraw immediately. Congo
accuses Rwanda supporting the M 23 rebel group, Rwanda denies that charge.
The World Food Program has begun distributing vouchers in Sri Lanka, where more than one in five people are considered food insecure. Sri Lanka's
devastating economic crisis sparked heated protests earlier this year.
Hip hop star Lil Wayne will not be performing at a British music festival after being denied entry to the UK. The Wayne has multiple convictions in
the U.S. for illegal gun possession.
And the UK Home Office says anyone who has been sentenced to more than a year in prison is automatically denied a visa. Still ahead, Britain says a
controversial deportation plan is still in motion, despite a legal injunction from the European Court of Human Rights. I will speak to a human
rights lawyer about the issue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:40:00]
FOSTER: The UK says it's going to move forward with its controversial policy of relocating asylum seekers to Rwanda, despite a legal setback. The
inaugural flight was grounded when the European Court of Human Rights intervened.
But Britain's Home Secretary says the government remains committed and that plans for the next deportation flights are already in the works. The policy
has faced widespread criticism from human rights groups around the world since it was first unveiled by Britain's Prime Minister.
My next guest is a human rights lawyer who's representing one of the asylum seekers who has a remarkable story. Shadi Sadr joins us now live from
London, thank you so much for joining us.
So just take us through your client's story. You know what you can tell us about them?
SHADI SADR, HUMAN RIGHTS LAWYER: Thank you for having me. As you may know, in November 2019, Iranian thousands of Iranians came to their street in
processing the increase in fuel prices. The nationwide protests soon to come antigovernment tone, demanding the Islamic Republic of Iran's leader
goes away.
The authority's response was shocking. Over the course of less than a week they killed part and wounded thousands of protesters arrested and tortured
thousands more, there are many still languishing in prison.
Within the context of the protest, a major police officer in a small town refused to use firearms against peaceful demonstrators. And by doing so he
actually acted completely opposite to the government's orders and saved many lives. Consequently, he was arrested, tortured and sentenced to five
years imprisonment. While he was released on bail, he contacts the Iran atrocities tribunal offering his evidence to the Tribunal.
The Iran atrocities tribunal also known as Oban tribunal is an independent international people's tribunal that investigates the allegations of crimes
against humanity committed by the Ukrainian authorities during the November 2009 protest.
It's also a reaction to the EU, to the U.S. and also to the UK Governments, the international community in general. Not taking action against the
Iranian government committing those crimes.
[11:45:00]
FOSTER: But - just to clarify the case, so you're representing the police officer who got out of Iran and came via Europe, and ultimately in a boat
to UK, is that correct?
SADR: Yes, this, this brave, a whistleblower, testified before the tribunal. And then the Iranian authorities put enormous pressure on his
family to reveal his location in Turkey.
And then he had no option, but to leave and escape Turkey because Turkey was no longer --. So on 14th of May, he arrived on UK shores in a small
boat. And only in like two weeks after that, he was handed by a notice of removal confirming that he will be he will be transferred forcibly to
Rwanda, in the first flight.
FOSTER: Can I ask you, he came via France, presumably?
SADR: He doesn't know. Because the smugglers took them across the Europe in a container and then they found themselves in, in forest somewhere unknown
to them. And then the smugglers forced them into a very, very small boat heading to the UK shores.
FOSTER: But this is what the government is saying they're trying to tackle. They're trying to tackle the smugglers, and trying to deter them from
bringing people into the UK. And by saying, you're going to end up in Rwanda, instead.
So he's actually the example of what the government is saying they're trying to prevent, isn't he?
SADR: Yes, but as he said, first of all, he was at the hands of smugglers, so he didn't have any control over the route, or the direction or the
destination. Second of all, as he said, they were hanging around in international water, when a British naval ship was actually a British naval
ship collected them and took them to the, to the UK.
So they didn't actually have control over the like being transferred from international water to the UK soil.
FOSTER: So what's your understanding now? The government says they're going to press on with this strategy of putting people on these planes to Rwanda,
is he set to fly out the game? What's his current situation?
SADR: So our campaign focused on the fact that Rwanda is not a safe country for someone like him, because the Iranian government has an open hand in
African country so they could kidnap him and take him to Iran.
And also according to the UNHCR and Human Rights Watch report, so rule of law and independent judiciary doesn't prevail in Rwanda. So there is no
guarantee that their cases are being processed in according to the international human rights law. I think--
FOSTER: But the British government is guaranteeing that it will be handled properly. And it's untested so far. So how do you know that's --?
SADR: But as far as we know, there are twitting. So according to the Rwanda plan, the Rwandan authorities are in charge of processing the cases, the
asylum cases. And if someone is granted refugee status, that person can remain in Rwanda as a legal resident.
And if he's not granted refugee status, he'll be he or she will be deported to the country of origin. In either case, for someone like our witness,
this brave citizen of the world who only saved live and testified about atrocities, this is his only crime that he committed.
So the lives of someone like him, and I believe the other Iranian refugees, or will be in great danger, because they are--
FOSTER: Just explain that because, yes, what happens if they end up back in Iran?
SADR: So they will be definitely executed. This person, this particular whistleblower will be actually executed if he is returned to Iran, to
Rwanda.
FOSTER: So how is he now what's happening? Is he in some sort of hospital or detention center?
SADR: He's still detained and although his ticket to Rwanda was canceled the notice of removal has not. So the risk of being placed in another
flight is still hanging over his head.
[11:50:00]
SADR: And the uncertainty about the future is quite stressful. And the situation the atmosphere amongst other refugees in the detention center is,
is quite, it's terrible because they, they have been traumatized over and over once in their countries of origin.
Then in day route to hear by smugglers and again in the past two years with, like different decisions by the governments, the court proceedings,
and then now the uncertainty and the risk of being transferred to Rwanda. So they have been traumatized over and over.
FOSTER: Shadi Sadr from justice. For asylum seekers, thank you very much indeed for joining us. We're going to be back in just a moment.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FOSTER: Parts of Western Europe are being scorched by an unseasonable heat wave with blistering temperatures across the region. And the brutal highs
are coming even before summer officially begins. Al Goodman has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
AL GOODMAN, CNN MADRID CORRESPONDENT (voice over): A usually bustling town square is nearly empty Wednesday terraces with few patrons all trying to
stay cool. Spaniards are sweltering in the earliest heat wave in four decades, setting scorching temperatures across the country.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We do have heat here in the summer into November. But we weren't prepared for this because the change was so drastic. We weren't
able to adapt to how quickly it got hot.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We have to do things indoors because I don't think we can cope walking under the sun.
Spain's state Meteorological Agency says a cloud of - from North Africa is heating Western Europe with unseasonably blistering temperatures, experts
point to global warming for the extreme heat and say it poses a risk to public safety.
RUBEN DEL CAMPO, SPOKESPERSON, SPANISH METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY: Spend summers are getting hotter and hotter. The current summer lasts more than a month
longer than in the 1980s in general morbidity and hospital admissions and people with previous health problems well, this hospital admissions
increase as a consequence of the heat.
GOODMAN (voice over): In the southwestern Spanish city of --many schools closed early this week to protect students from temperatures students in
neighboring France also sweltering as the nationwide baccalaureate exam for philosophy is administered Wednesday.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Being in a room for four hours where there's no air conditioning is going to be hard in this heat. I brought some cold bottles
of water but it's complicated to concentrate when it's so hot.
GOODMAN (voice over): Searing heat in France has also come early as the country tries to combat the impact of the climate crisis. On Tuesday,
France announced a 500 million euro plan to re-grain cities and develop urban cool islands in an effort to fight global warming.
The need for climate solutions increasingly urging as the cost to stay cool rises. The heat wave is boosting demand for air conditioning. While
European natural gas prices spiked this week amid a U.S. outage and the Ukraine war tightening supplies from Russia.
[11:55:00]
GOODMAN (voice over): Now, residents in Spain, France and elsewhere may have to find creative solutions to stay cool as the sizzling temperatures
may soon become standard in an increasingly warming world. Al Goodman, CNN, Madrid.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOSTER: Before we go is the end of an era online after nearly 27 years Microsoft's Internet Explorer is no more. The worst sound in technology
what's the most popular web browser in the world.
Explorer has been on a steady decline for nearly two decades its debut in 1995 changed the way people got information online but fear not. Explorer
has now been replaced by Microsoft Edge.
Thanks for joining us that was "Connect the World". CNN continues after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[12:00:00]
END
