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Connect the World
Argentina Celebrates World Cup Victory Over France; Former FTX CEO Is In Bahamas Court For Hearing; High Court Rules UK's Rwanda Asylum Plan Is Lawful; Highs And Lows From Football's Showcase Tournament; Iran Using Social Media To Crack Down On Protesters; CNN Investigative Journalist Drew Griffin Dies Aged 60. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired December 19, 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]
LYNDA KINKADE, CNN HOST: Hello I'm Lynda Kinkade at the CNN center, welcome back to CONNECT THE WORLD. While it was the World Cup final for the ages,
Argentina's victory over France going down in history as one of the most sensational finals of the tournament.
This was the winning goal Argentina beating defending champions France in a dramatic penalty shootout. Argentine soccer legend Lionel Messi is dazzling
on the field scoring twice. The win was Messi's first time lifting the coveted trophy. Here's how he described that moment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LIONEL MESSI, ARGENTINE FOOTBALLER: It's madness that it happened the way that it did. But it's amazing. I said at one point that God was going to
give it to me. I don't know why I first saw it. I felt like it was going to be this way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Back in Buenos Aires it was an explosion of shears as Argentina captured their third World Cup title after a 36 year wait. Well this was
the special moment meant for Argentine commentator Andreas Cantor as he announced the winning goal. He spoke to CNN's Don Lemon about the emotional
win.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DON LEMON, CNN JOURNALIST: Obviously very emotional there after the game Andres shared an emotional hug with his son Nico, who was also in Qatar,
broadcasting the game. The victory was a dream comes true for the father and for the son. And there he is Telemundo Deportes; Chief World Cup
commentator Andres Kanter joins us now from Doha. We're so happy for you and your son and I have to say that I'm hoarse and out of breath just
listening to you, waited forever for this point.
ANDRES CANTOR, ARGENTINE SPORTS COMMENTATOR: Thank you. I waited as an Argentine 36 and a half years Don, for this moment. I tried to be as
composed as I could and obviously I lost it there for a little bit. But it was an epic final; I mean a roller coaster of emotions. And I haven't seen
a more dominant final in World Cup history for 76 minutes and then Argentina have those fatigue two minutes, France tied the game and then the
roller coaster goes to overtime and the PKs, it was just too much.
KINKADE: We have reporters in Argentina and France. Stefano Pozzebon is live for us in Buenos Aires and Jim Bittermann is in Paris. Let's start
with Stefano and as we just heard there Stefano, a roller coaster of emotions, but plenty to celebrate in Argentina.
STEFANO POZZEBON, CNN JOURNALIST: Yes, indeed, I mean, what a day we experienced here in Buenos Aires on Sunday, it truly was an up and down,
never ending passion and bear in mind that this is the country of tango. This is the country where everything is just a little bit more passionate
of course.
I think yesterday, what we witness was just a moment where the Argentinean spirits came together behind these fantastic national football team that
was and behind Lionel Messi, who was really able to embody the feelings of these nation going through a very hard time right now in economics and the
social situation.
But finding a country united in the joy of a football. I was able to speak with one of the people yesterday while joined by the hundreds of thousands
of people who surrounded us, while celebrating just after the Argentinean national team won the amazing trophy of the FIFA World Cup. And here is
what she said about being Argentina yesterday what it meant for her.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POZZEBON: OK, Fidel here, my new friend Fidel tells me that he's the nicest the happiest person in the world, and he can't really express the joy that
he has with Argentina really reaching the top of the football world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:05:00]
POZZEBON: So, really what we saw yesterday was emotions or was the country coming together and then we saw the triumph of a man Lionel Messi, who left
this country when he 13, went to play football in Barcelona and then came back had a fractured relationship with the national team.
But I think yesterday he silenced that any critically could possibly have inside Argentina and abroad by showing he's arguably the greatest player
right now. If maybe Jim can argue different with Kylian Mbappe perhaps, Jim.
KINKADE: I got to go to Jim just a second. Just one quick question, Stefano what were you covered in when you're amongst the fans?
POZZEBON: Oh, that was a cocktail of mostly was a - like a shaving cream, there was beers. That was the Argentinean national drinker, which is a
mixture of Coca Cola and the Fernet, bitter liquor. I think there was some point some champagne, a lot of water. It's just Argentina is the land is
the land of passion. So yes, it was a definitely a passionate moment for hundreds of thousands of Argentina's around me.
KINKADE: Excellent. Good to see you amongst it all. Thanks, Stefano. I do want to go to Jim, certainly not the celebrations that France was hoping
for. But they certainly had an incredible comeback after being to kneel down at the start of that game.
JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, exactly. And I think that coach - summarizes what the emotions were for most friends.
When he said that basically, when you come from nowhere, which is where they were at the end of the first half, to the point where you think you're
going to win, and then don't win, well, it's a little hard to digest. That's exactly what the coach said.
And I think that's kind of the way that fans felt as well. President Macron was there for the game. And he tried his best to console his team, but also
the French people. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, FRENCH PRESIDENT: You have the heart, the finish the desire and the talent to be here. And that's why I wanted to come to see
you to say thank you. You have made French men and women dream and they needed that. Thank you to you.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BITTERMANN : Kylian Mbappe who was the star of the match, no doubt for the French team came out and tweeted after a lot of silence finally tweeted
that today he said, do read the end wrong, which is the French to say we're going to be back and I think that's kind of the attitude of most French.
He's 24 years old tomorrow.
And as a consequence, he could make good on that promise. So I guess the message from here Lynda would be doing cry for us, Argentina.
KINKADE: I love it, Jim Bittermann for us in Paris. Good to have you with us. As always, thanks so much. Well, the debate is on is Lionel Messi the
GOAT, the Greatest of All Time. Messi has had an illustrious career. He won seven Ballon d'Or, dozens of trophies; he's paid more than thousand games
in his career.
And when Messi biographer made the case to CNN, why the Argentine legend is the best football ever, following his first World Cup win.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GUILLEM BALAGUE, LIONEL MESSI BIOGRAPHER: The Madonna debate is over, the best player in the world ever is over, that's it. So that's what it means.
Because in terms of what he'd done for 15 years, it was just the best player in the world. Try to equal that kind of consistency deliver that the
top.
The fact that he's won so many leagues, so many champions' leagues, Madonna didn't. But of course now you're going to start up a sentence with world
cup winner Lionel Messi. The NFL debates.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, another famous face was spotted at the World Cup Sunday night. Twitter CEO Elon Musk called the final game between Argentina and
France even as controversy swells unabated at his social media platform.
The Tesla and SpaceX founder tweeted earlier, should I step down as the Head of Twitter? You promised to honor the result, however unscientific the
poll might be the answer, yes. More than 17 million votes were cast and 57 percent of respondents want Musk to step down.
Well, CNN Senior Media Reporter Oliver Darcy joins us now from New York, pretty overwhelming results from 17 million Twitter users. I guess the big
question is will Musk honor them?
OLIVER DARCY, CNN SENIOR MEDIA REPORTER: That's the big question this morning and we haven't heard from Elon Musk since this poll concluded. It
did conclude 6.30 am Eastern Time and so Musk is out west, so really in the middle of the night in California. So we're still waiting to hear back and
see what he's going to do, but yes this poll has determined you know and he said he's going to abide by it that he should step down as the Head of
Twitter.
[11:10:00]
Now, Musk had said last month, that he did look, eventually to appoint someone to lead Twitter. And that's because he really needs to be devoting
his time to Tesla, his car company, which has seen its stocks slide quite a bit since he bought Twitter.
And since he's been spending all his time working at Twitter, even is spending the night often at the company headquarters in San Francisco, so
no real surprise that eventually he would step down and hand over the reins to someone else to run Twitter on a day-by-day basis.
But really remarkable way to do this by putting up this unscientific poll and letting participants on Twitter, give them the official boot.
KINKADE: And so I do wonder, I mean, you mentioned Tesla, which has, of course, taken a hit in its share price since Musk acquired Twitter. What do
people at Tesla want to see happen? DARCY: I think they want to see Elon Musk focus on Tesla. I mean, Tesla shares are down nearly 30 percent since Elon Musk bought Twitter, which is
quite remarkable. Obviously, the economy in the market hasn't been so hot lately, but 30 percent is not something to bat your eyes at.
And I think the issue with them is that for one, he's spending all his energy at Twitter. And they would like him, I think, focused on Tesla. And
the other thing too, is that he's really doing some brand damage to the Tesla brand, which is really closely aligned with Elon's personal brand.
And I think Elon's personal brand used to be this kind of edgy billionaire rocket scientist kind of guy who made electric cars, right. Now it's
becoming more of a right wing troll on Twitter. And they're seeing this other side of Elon. So I think that's not really helping the company image
as well.
And so again, I think what you would want if you're a Tesla investor is Elon to get off of Twitter to stop sleeping on the couch at Twitter and to
focus his energy on Tesla and let someone else lead the social media company on a day-by-day basis. KINKADE: Exactly moves the couch to Tesla.
All right, we'll catch up with you again soon. Oliver Darcy thanks so much. DARCY: Thank you.
KINKADE: Well, still ahead disgraced former crypto King Sam Bankman-Fried is in a Bahamas courtroom. While he is expected to walk back his decision
to fight extradition to the U.S. Plus, the U.S. judge has ordered controversial border restrictions to end this week.
Cities along the border of Mexico are already struggling to keep up with the migrant arrivals. And the UK's top court announces its decision over a
controversial deportation plan. We'll have all that and much more when you come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:15:00]
KINKADE: With the official start of winter just days away Ukraine's already vulnerable power grid is taking fresh hits. Ukraine says Russia launched 23
drones towards Kyiv today, a team was shut down, but their strikes hit several critical infrastructure facilities and nearby homes. Two people
were injured.
Well meanwhile Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Belarus holding talks with President Alexander Lukashenko. In a public comment earlier the two
discuss trade and their country's close relations, but did not mention Ukraine. The Kremlin says this will be a working visit, but the trip is
raising concerns that Belarus could join the fight in neighboring Ukraine.
For the very latest updates on what's happening on the ground in Ukraine, its 10 months into the war, you can go to cnn.com for much more. Well
disgraced former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is in a courtroom in the Bahamas this hour. A source familiar with the matter tells CNN that Bankman-Fried
will likely drop his extradition fight.
Once that happens, you would probably return to the U.S. quickly. Federal prosecutors from New York have charged Bankman-Fried with eight counts of
fraud and conspiracy in the U.S. CNN's Kara Scannell is following this story for us and joins us from New York. Good to have you with us Kara. So
the former CEO of FTX now likely to drop his extradition fights. Can you explain what we know right now?
KARA SCANNELL, CNN REPORTER: Yes, Lynda, good to be with you. So Sam Bankman-Fried is actually in the courtroom in the Bahamas right now, where
this court hearing is underway. And a source tells us that he is expected to drop his challenge to the extradition and hopefully move on to the U.S.
quickly to face these charges.
But my colleague who's been inside the courtroom, Patrick Altman is reporting that the lawyers for the Bahamian government and Bankman-Fried
have been clashing inside, Bankman-Fried's lawyer saying he doesn't know why they're there. He has not been able to speak with his client.
So after some of this back and forth, the judge has decided to take a recess to allow the local counsel for Bankman-Fried to meet with him so he
can discuss what's going on and what their position is. You know, Bankman- Fried has attorneys in the U.S., he is local counsel in the Bahamas and he has been detained since last Tuesday in a Bahamian prison.
So there was clearly some miscommunication here between them which they've taken a break to now try to sort out. But this has this is a big change
when Bankman-Fried was in court last Tuesday after he was arrested the previous night. His lawyer said that they would fight extradition to the
U.S.
He was denied bail and he was not expected to appear back in court until February. But he's clearly had a change. He has spent nearly a week in a
Bahamian prison, known as Fox Hill. It has a notorious rubber reputation. The U.S. State Department has issued reports where it says that there is
poor nutrition that the cells are often filled with insects, rodents and that there's little access to medical care.
So that may have been something that factored into his decision to no longer fight extradition. So once this court hearing resumes, we'll see
where it goes from there. But the plan at least heading into today is that he's going to waive extradition and then would likely return to the U.S.
fairly quickly to face these charges, Lynda.
KINKADE: And of course, Kara, it is a very long list of charges. We will stay on this - Kara Scannell for us in New York. Good to have you with us,
thank you. Well, the White House is pushing back against calls to extend Title 42. It's a controversial immigration order that was put in place
early during the Coronavirus pandemic and the former President Donald Trump to allow authorities to swiftly turn away migrants at the U.S. Mexico
border.
Well the judge has ordered Title 42 to end this Wednesday. Migrants and setting up camp at the border waiting for that to happen. And cities are
bracing for a major influx even though local shelters are already at capacity. The Mayor of El Paso Texas declared a state of emergency say
hundreds of people are now sleeping outside in freezing temperatures. Our Ed Lavandera has more.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
ED LAVANDERA, CNN SENIOR U.S. NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): El Paso's mayor says he's bracing for as many as four to 6000 migrants to be
released into the city per day if Title 42 is lifted on Wednesday.
OSCAR LEESER, EL PASO, TEXAS MAYOR: And I really believe that today our asylum seekers are not safe, as we have hundreds and hundreds on the
streets. And that's not the way we want to treat people.
LAVANDERA (voice over): City officials have started moving hundreds of migrants who were camping out around downtown area bus stations into hotels
or newly open shelter space.
[11:20:00]
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to make sure that everyone's safe. And we know that the influx on Wednesday will be incredible. They will be huge.
LAVANDERA (voice over): In the last week we're told more than thousand migrants have found refuge inside the Family Center shelter in downtown El
Paso.
LEESER: This is Sarah she came from Ecuador with her husband they've been traveling for 30 days.
LAVANDERA (voice over): She says the journey was brutal. Sarah Romero, like almost every migrant we've spoken with says they were kidnapped and held
for days in Mexico until they paid their way out. But they arrive at an uncertain time. And the chance of winning asylum in the U.S. is far from
guaranteed.
LAVANDERA (on camera): --hotel or are you worried that you're going to be deported?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't see.
LAVANDERA (on camera): You said, they're looking for anything they would like to either request asylum or humanitarian visa just something that
would let them be able to work and earn some sort of living.
LAVANDERA (voice over): Romero is one of the thousands who entered El Paso in the days leading up to the expected end of the public health policy
known as Title 42, which allowed U.S. border officials to expel migrants nearly 2.5 million times since 2020.
LAVANDERA (on camera): So here on the edge of the Rio Grande in Juarez, Mexico, not everyone is trying to cross over the people you see kind of
standing behind me. They don't want to cross just yet. They're waiting for Title 42 to be lifted, because they're worried if they crossed now they
will be deported.
LAVANDERA (voice over): Some are sleeping under the cover of this carwash and many are in barren shelters like this one called the Hope Center where
more than 100 people sleep on these floors every night. Kelly Perez and her husband have waited here two months waiting to decide when to cross into
the U.S.
LAVANDERA (on camera): Where are you waiting to cross?
LAVANDERA (voice over): They're waiting to cross because we've heard so many other
Venezuelans who have been deported. And they don't want that to happen. So they're waiting for Title 42 to get lifted to see how things play out and
then they'll decide whether or not they're going to try to enter the United States.
RICARDO SAMANIEGO, JUDGE, EL PASO COUNTY: They called you know, the Ellis Island of the Southwest.
LAVANDERA (voice over): But El Paso officials know that spirit of compassion will be put to the test this week. County Judge Ricardo
Samaniego says this area has never experienced a moment like this.
SAMANIEGO: When and if Title 42 gets lifted on Wednesday, what is it going to look like here? Everybody agrees that it's not sustainable, that there's
nothing that we're doing right now that sustainable, everything is addressing and reacting to a situation.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Ed Lavandera reporting there. Meanwhile, in another border town, McAllen, Texas, the local Democratic Congressman tells CNN that he would
like to see more action from the Biden Administration. You may recall that President Biden appointed Vice President Kamala Harris to work with Central
America on the migrant issue. But Representative Vicente Gonzalez told CNN both parties have to go beyond just showing up.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. VICENTE GONZALEZ (D-TX): I think it's great for them to visit the border. I think they should I think a lot more can be done than what's been
done. But this is not a problem from just this administration. I've been in office through both Democratic and Republican administrations.
And when Republicans are in office, Democrats come down here and point fingers at him and say you're doing a horrible job on the border. And when
Democrats are in office, Republicans come and do the same thing.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it's true.
REP. GONZALEZ: This is not a Democratic or Republican problem. It's an American problem. We need to solve it together. We need real proposals. I
don't want to see people coming down here for photo ops.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KINKADE: Well, Gonzales also says he is looking for support from the White House what he calls the Safe Zone Act. It would create a system where
migrants from south of Mexico would be required to process their asylum claims at the Guatemalan border.
Well, Britain's controversial plan to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda has been deemed lawful by the country's high court. Today's decision comes
as the UK faces record numbers of migrants arriving on its shores illegally, often in unsafe boats.
The UK's partnership with the East African country has been the subject of fierce criticism. CNN's Nada Bashir takes a closer look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
NADA BASHIR, CNN REPORTER (voice over): Another life lost in Britain's icy waters. Another reminder of the dangers faced by migrants is attempting to
cross the English Channel from Northern France. As many as 40,000 migrants have braved the dangerous crossing since the beginning of this year alone.
Now the government is doubling down on its plan to tackle illegal migration.
RISHI SUNAK, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: When legal proceedings conclude on our migration and economic development partnership, we will restart the first
flight to Rwanda.
[11:25:00]
BASHIR (voice over): It was an 11th hour legal intervention which grounded the first deportation flight in June. Now after months of deliberation,
High Court judges in London have ruled that the policy is in fact lawful, despite fierce criticism from lawyers and refugee advocacy groups.
SOPHIE LUCAS, LAWYER FOR CLAIMANTS: There are serious concerns around the functioning of the asylum system in Rwanda, as well as serious concerns
about political freedom of expression.
BASHIR (voice over): Under the government scheme, thousands of migrants arriving in the UK illegally could be deported to Rwanda to have their
asylum claims heard there. Among them is Yousef, a Syrian refugee whose name we've changed to protect his identity. He was one of the more than 100
asylum seekers due to be deported to Rwanda in June.
YOUSEF, SYRIAN ASYLUM SEEKER: I want to live in peace in the UK to work and build the future here from my wife and son. It just breaks my heart. There
is no future for my son in Syria.
BASHIR (voice over): Yousef says he fled his war torn hometown of Daraa in Syria in 2017, leaving behind his wife and child in the hope of building a
new life for them overseas. Yousef's journey took him from Syria to Lebanon, and then onwards to Libya, where he says he was detained for eight
months before fleeing to Europe.
YOUSEF: We were given very little food or water, they will beat us, torture us. Then, after I left Libya, I traveled across the sea to Italy. It was a
very difficult journey. We were stuck at sea for about three days. One more day, and I think we would have died.
BASHIR (voice over): Like many refugees Yousef then traveled to Calais in northern France, where he spent weeks living in a squalid refugee camp,
waiting to be smuggled on a small boat to the UK. It's this very crossing that the government is now clamping down on, despite widespread concern
over how effective and how ethical the Rwanda deportation deal really is.
COLIN YEO, IMMIGRATION LAWYER: There's no evidence that it's putting anybody off, but we're talking about people who've fled really serious
problems, civil wars massive human rights abuses in their own countries.
BASHIR (voice over): While the High Court has now ruled in favor of the government, the court has also ruled that all potential deportation cases
must now be considered on an individual basis. And campaign groups say they are still considering all legal options to appeal the judgment. But for
those fleeing some of the worst hardships imaginable, the prospect of being turned away is almost too much to bear.
YOUSEF: They sent me to Rwanda that it's over for me. After all the struggles are faced and the long journey I've taken to reach this point, it
will be devastating. I would kill myself. BASHIR (voice over): Nada Bashir, CNN, London.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD, joy in the streets of Argentina as it overshadows a troubling economic reality. We're going to
discuss the importance of a World Cup win to a nation hit hard by the financial crisis.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
KINKADE: Welcome back, I'm Lynda Kinkade at the CNN Center, you're watching CONNECT THE WORLD, good to have you with us. Well, this belt sports world
is still amazed over what's been called one of the greatest football matches in World Cup history.
Argentina's victory over France on penalty kicks was filled with dramatic turns and spectacular play. And it all ended with super star Lionel Messi
finally clutching the World Cup trophy, the one championship that had eluded him in one of the greatest careers in football history.
And even before Sunday's nail biting finish, the World Cup had been filled with ups and downs. Our Don Riddell runs us through the tournament's
biggest moments on and off the pitch.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT (voice over): It was 12 years in the making, arguably the most controversial World Cup of all time; allegations of
corruption and criticism of Qatar civil and human rights records dominated the build-up. But on the eve of the tournament, the FIFA president
deflected all of the criticism.
GIANNI INFANTINO, FIFA PRESIDENT: If you want to criticize someone come to me criticize me. Here I am you can crucify me. I'm here for that. Don't
criticize Qatar, don't criticize the players.
RIDDELL (voice over): And when the action kicked off, it was relentless. The host team Qatar quickly slipped out of you, but many of the underdogs
had their day. Saudi Arabia's sensational win against Argentina set the tone for a tournament of upsets. Japan came from behind distant Germany the
next day.
In the background, the controversy lingered protests about Qatar's domestic policies were brief, but impactful in saying that they were silenced.
Germany found their voices and in refusing to sing Iran signaled their empathy for the bloody uprising back home.
For some it was a painful World Cup. Christian Pulisic's injury was enough to make everybody's eyes water.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You called it I believe the pelvic contusion heard around the world.
CHRISTIAN PULISIC, AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER: Felt around the world.
COOPER: Oh, felt around the world.
RIDDELL (voice over): But the real pain was the loss of two migrant workers who died as a result of workplace accidents during the tournament and the
sudden passing of two media members who were covering the action, the Qatari photo journalist Khalid al-Misslam and the celebrated American
sports writer Grant Wall.
On the field history was made, Stephanie Frappart lead the first all-female refereeing crew at a men's World Cup. And the group stage kept the fans on
the edge of their seats, while the drama put news anchors out of their minds.
RICHARD QUEST, HOST, QUEST MEANS BUSINESS: I saw you last hour. I have absolutely no hesitation in saying to you this is yours make, this keep of
mess is yours to try and interpret and make.
RIDDELL (on camera): Richard I'm not even sure I want it. It's so complicated. Isa Soares asked me earlier. So if this happens, and this
happens, what does that mean? And I was like, I need to consult my notes I don't know.
RIDDELL (voice over): And when the dust had finally settled, a New World Order emerged. This was Asia's most successful tournament and the same to
for Africa, for whom Morocco became the standard bearers for a continent and the Arab people. The Atlas lines had blazed a trail to the semifinals,
making heroes of themselves and stars of their mothers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are playing home. This is a good time for everybody from Qatar from the Middle East, the Arab countries all over the world.
They love it. They're having a different experience and they're enjoying their time.
RIDDELL (voice over): But in the end, we got the final that many were expecting, France against Argentina was an instant classic. Kylian Mbappe
scored a hat-trick, but was heartbroken as Argentina edge did on a penalty shootout, meaning that Lionel Messi has now won the only trophy to have
eluded him, elevating him to the pantheon of greats and finally placing him alongside his great compatriot Diego Maradona.
FIFA say that this has been the best ever World Cup history will be the judge, but for so many different reasons, it has certainly been one of the
most memorable. Don Riddell, CNN, Qatar.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: It certainly has. And as you can imagine, the World Cup victory sent Argentina fans into a frenzy. Thousands of people feel the streets of
Buenos Aires and other cities in a mass celebration. The championship provides a much needed distraction for a country that has been suffering
terrible economic pain.
[11:35:00]
As Argentine journalist Natalie Alcoba wrote when the World Cup began, a prolonged economic crisis has eviscerated the value of the Argentinean Peso
and send the annual inflation rate soaring to 88 percent in October. Argentineans are praying for reprieve, even if temporary in the form of
football glory. And Natalie Alcoba joins us now live, good to have you with us.
NATALIE ALCOBA, JOURNALIST: Hi, how are you?
KINKADE: Good. So it was amazing seen as stands in Qatar packed with Argentinean fans. What's the feeling in Argentina?
ALCOBA: Yes, I mean, I think it's felt like we've been living a bit of a dream, definitely after yesterday incredible match. You know, some of the
expectations attached to this team, Argentina is one of those. I think it's one of the most football crazed countries in the world and certainly Messi
who had been chasing this trophy for so long.
There were so many expectations on him and hope that he would actually be able to attain it. It had been 36 years in Argentina won a World Cup and so
finally, when victory, when victory arrived, it was this incredible explosion of emotion. You know, all of the big words, joy, relief, hope,
just jubilation really being able to, to celebrate in the streets to hug each other to I mean, there's tons of tears in winners --.
And in particular, people flood to a central monument in the city, this giant obelisk. And so, I mean, I walked with the crowds. From one part of
the city there, we crossed it. And it was just a sea of people that were kind of descending onto this, this central, the central location.
And if you looked out from above that particular avenue is enormous. Every inch of it covered and fans in the jersey, people dancing, this was like
the simultaneous pulsating of the crowd. It really, it was amazing.
KINKADE: Yes, it really is just incredible scenes that you're describing now that we are seeing images of. Of course throughout this World Cup,
you've been speaking to business owners, some of which one couple said they had to go air conditioning in order to buy a television screen so that
customers could watch the World Cup. Give us a sense of the economic crisis facing Argentineans right now.
ALCOBA: Yes, it's been a brutal year any Argentine will tell you that. I mean, we're coming up on close to 100 percent inflation over these past 12
months. You know, there were moments in time this year where prices were changing on a weekly basis.
It's obviously really difficult to plan for your life to know what things are worth. You know, people forgoing you know, certain expenses, having a
pickup extra jobs in order to be able to make - that make ends meet. That's been the reality here all year. This is a country as well, that's used to
high, you know shockingly high levels of inflation.
But this is on a level that hasn't been seen in a really long time. And so the World Cup was the thing that was on the horizon, that was, you know, a
chance to, to kind of shelve some of those concerns for a moment, even though never really because this is life and we have to pay our bills.
But you know, to be able to think about something else to be able to focus on something else, to be able to just feel good, to be honest. So there was
so much wrapped up into in this month.
KINKADE: And it is its good to have that reprieve as you described it as certainly a lot of debate as to whether Lionel Messi is the GOAT, is the
Greatest Of All Time. I saw Lebron James, calling him the GOAT. I saw David Beckham describing him as the king. How was the debate playing out in
Argentina? Is there even a debate there?
ALCOBA: I mean it's all love it's all love for Messi, right. I mean, certainly, like, you know, at points in his career, he kind of lived under
the shadow of Diego Maradona, who was this larger than life figure in Argentina and had brought the cup home.
So there was that thing that was just out of reach for Messi and now that he's achieved it, I mean, it's just adoration. It's, pride. It's like
people were really, really happy for him.
KINKADE: And Natalie Alcoba, sorry, just cut out there at the end, but good to have you with us and congratulations to you and everyone in Argentina on
this incredible World Cup victory. ALCOBA: Thank you so much. Thank you.
[11:40:00]
Well, let's get you up to speed on some other stories on our radar right now. And a frantic search and rescue operation is underway for 31 time Navy
sailors missing after their ships sank in the Gulf of Thailand. Strong winds tilted the ship allowing ocean water to flood its electrical systems.
106 sailors were onboard when the ship sank.
A close call for passengers on a Hawaiian Airlines flight at least 36 people were injured after severe turbulence rattled Sunday's fly from
Arizona to Hawaii. When college students say it felt like the plane was free falling. The airline says they will inspect the aircraft before
returning it to service.
A Peruvian railway operator says train services to and from the ancient city of Machu Picchu are resuming on an emergency basis after about 300
tourists got stranded. Rail services were interrupted last week because of protests over the arrest and impeachment of former President Pedro
Castillo.
Well still to come on CONNECT THE WORLD Iran's crackdown extending to the digital realm. How the regime is using protesters cell phones and social
media to silence them.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: Welcome back. One of Iran's best known actresses has been arrested just days after she condemned the execution of an Iranian protester.
According to Iranian state media, the actress who starred in the 2016 Oscar winning film, The Salesman is accused of criticizing the government without
evidence to support her claims.
It follows reports that another footballer has been arrested for allegedly participating in demonstrations in Germany. A football agent says the
former national team captain was banned from leaving Iran four weeks ago wasn't allowed to attend his team's training camp in Dubai.
As demonstrations continue across Iran, CNN has learned that authorities are using technology to gain access to protesters cell phones and social
media accounts. The government is then using that information as evidence to suppress arrest and in many cases, prosecute them. CNN's Katie Polglase
reports.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
KATIE POLGLASE, CNN INVESTIGATIVE PRODUCER (voice over): Moody, reflective, like many teenagers, Nika Shahkarami considered her Instagram page as a
space for self-expression. But her death on September 20, during protests in Iran, turned her into an icon.
And her Instagram page into a blank slate, which disabled it and why another mystery surrounding what became yet, happened to her. CNN
previously revealed evidence suggesting Nika was detained at the protests shortly after this video was filmed. But the Iranian authorities have
always denied any involvement in her disappearance or death.
[11:45:00]
Now CNN can exclusively reveal that Meta, Instagram's parent company, investigated Nika's account after she disappeared, concluding them they
were not involved in disabling it. In other words, it was either Nika herself or crucially, someone with access to her account that took it down.
And as recent reporting by the intercept revealed Iran's highly sophisticated system for phone hacking, it raises the question of whether
social media platforms can keep accounts secure. When protests erupted in Iran, Nika began using Instagram as a diary for her activism, but this
online activity may have ended up working against her.
After Nika's death, the Iranian state began publishing evidence like this CCTV footage, attempting to clear the state of any involvement in her
death. First, they said she was pushed from this building, and then she fell from it. Next, they reference suicidal messages in documents extracted
from Nika's mobile and Instagram conversations.
It was an open acknowledgement they were accessing her phone and her social media accounts, but she's not alone. As flames engulfed the notorious Evin
Prison in mid-October, inside was Negin. She was accused of sharing activist posters like these on Telegram, the encrypted social media
platform. We've changed her name for her safety. Her words are read by an actor.
NEGIN, POLITICAL PRISONER: I think they already had my telegram chats because they often talked about it. There were certain photos. I had shared
relatively political photos. They would show me the photos from that telegram to claim I was the admin but I kept denying it.
POLGLASE (voice over): She says the Iranian authorities had obtained these chats despite not yet having Negin's phone. She believes they hacked her
account and she now faces six years in jail.
While in prison, the Iranian authorities reactivated Negin's telegram account. She says it was to see who tried to contact her and reveal the
network of activists she was in touch with. And the same tactic may have been used with Nika's telegram account. As weeks after her death, two of
her friends noticed her account was back online. It disappeared shortly after.
Nika's family is still reeling from her death. One close family member told CNN authorities are still refusing to return her phone. The Iranian
authorities have not responded to CNN's request for comment. While Meta said they couldn't share specifics on Nika's account, but they confirmed
they did not originally disable it.
Telegram told CNN in every case they had investigated the device had been confiscated. Or the user had unwittingly made such access possible by not
setting a two-step verification password or using a malicious app impersonating telegram. Still, questions remain as to whether Meta telegram
and other tech companies are doing all they can to protect their users as the world wakes up to the increasingly tech savvy ways regimes such as Iran
are using to monitor and hunt down activists.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: Well, CNN Investigative Producer Katie Polglase joins us now from London, incredible reporting there, Katie. Just to give us a sense of how
significant it is that the Iranian government can access these social media accounts. And what can people in Iran do to protect themselves?
POLGLASE: Well, Lynda, it's incredibly significant, because these platforms are so popular. I mean, Instagram is used by 90 percent of Iranians. That's
a percentage of 86 million people. So the numbers we're talking about here are vast and telegram as well. It's an encrypted platform.
It's been used a lot by activists to organize this movement, galvanized support behind the protesters. So the platforms we're talking about in this
investigation are very prevalent. They're very popular, in fact. And I think it's important to note that the fact that these are encrypted, the
fact users believe these are secure platforms for them to be talking for them to be organizing these protests, makes any kind of evidence any
indication the Iranian government is able to access them incredibly concerning.
Now, it's worth noting telegram did offer us some advice when we approached them for this investigation. They said that often when accounts had been
compromised, when they investigated the cases, they found that it was because users did not have two step verification on.
Now what that means is you need to receive a code but also a password. And it's the two together that keep your account safe when you activate it. But
the fact that these kinds of measures are in place, the fact that these need to be taken into account, while useful and very important for users to
be taking into account.
It does sort of raise the larger question as to how these tech companies can continue to protect their users, given how sophisticated the ways in
which the Iranian government is now managing to access people's devices and even their social media accounts.
KINKADE: All right, Katie Polglase, a great reporting there. We will check in with you again on this story in the coming weeks, thanks so much.
[11:50:00]
Well, if you want to find out more about the ongoing protest movement in Iran and other news in the region, you can go to our Middle East
newsletter, you can sign up at cnn.com/Mideast newsletter. We're going to take a short break, we'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KINKADE: I want to take a moment now to remember a much loved colleague and friend Drew Griffin. He had cancer and passed away over the weekend. CNN's
CEO Chris Licht set in a note to staff "Drew's death is a devastating loss to CNN and our entire profession, a highly acclaimed investigative
journalist, he cared about speaking the truth and holding the powerful to account. He was hard hitting but always fair". CNN's Anderson Cooper looks
at Drew's life and legacy.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DREW GRIFFIN, CNN: It was too hot--
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): During his nearly two decades at CNN Drew Griffin was known for his tenacious reporting.
GRIFFIN: Are you worried you'll be indicted before the election Sir?
COOPER (voice over): His interviews were unwavering.
GRIFFIN: I don't think you really understand how votes are cast collected and tabulated in this country.
COOPER (voice over): And he gave a voice to those who didn't have one.
BIANCA AUSTIN, BREONNA TAYLOR'S AUNT: Well, we don't expect it to be easy. We don't expect the truth to be easy.
COOPER (voice over): Drew was a gifted storyteller dedicated to seeking the truth and holding the powerful accountable.
GRIFFIN: Why do you continue to push the lie that the 2020 election was so low?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's not a lie.
GRIFFIN: It's a lie; you have no proof as we've looked at all the facts.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I tell you, hold on.
COOPER (voice over): And Drew's stories had real world impact.
GRIFFIN: Well, if Uber doesn't release the number of drivers who are accused of sexual assault. So CNN decided to count up ourselves.
COOPER (voice over): After CNN questioned Uber about a string of sexual assaults by drivers, the company made major safety changes to its app and
revised its policies.
GRIFFIN: Excellent reporting. Thanks to you and your team.
COOPER (voice over): Drew exposes serious issues at VA hospitals across the country, revealing a broken system. Veterans are dying while waiting for
care.
PAULINE DEWENTER, PHOENIX VETERAN'S ADMINISTRATION SCHEDULING CLERK: As a particular veteran was screaming, please do whatever you can, don't let the
VA do this to another patient or another veteran. We do not deserve this type of treatment.
COOPER (voice over): That led to the resignation of the VA Secretary and an overhaul of the VA scheduling system.
GRIFFIN: Gas here in--
COOPER (on camera): He covered business and terrorism, the environment and politics. And there were many people over the years who didn't want to
answer his questions.
GRIFFIN: Please talk to us Director. Director Helman?
GRIFFIN: Did the background checks of those companies not reveal the fact that you are accused of torture and murder? Do you know Alex Bergman, a
convicted felon who apparently runs one of these clinics and has been billing the state of California for several years, despite the fact that
there have been complaints?
COOPER (voice over): Drew won most of journalism's big awards, but that's not what motivated him. He cared about people and how they were impacted.
While he was covering the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, he ended up rescuing a man from floodwaters.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So don't go backwards. All right, sir. You're right. All right, hold on, hold on.
COOPER (voice over): His job as a correspondent took him all across the country.
GRIFFIN: It wasn't that long ago, these wild pony grass lands were just that wild. Now almost everywhere you look is a gas rig.
[11:55:00]
COOPER (voice over): And to different parts of the world. But his favorite place was home. He was deeply devoted to his family, his wife Margot (ph),
and his three children, Ele, Louis and Miles as well as two grandchildren. Drew Griffin will be missed by all of us.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KINKADE: And Drew Griffin was 60 years old and we are sending all our love to his family right now. Well stay with us, "ONE WORLD" with Zain Asher is
up next, you're watching CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ZAIN ASHER, CNN HOST, ONE WORLD: Hello, everyone. I'm Zain Asher in New York and this is "ONE WORLD".
END
